The assault on the dam yielded minimal significant harm.
16:46 Ukrainian Defense Minister Declares Retaliation for Russian Assaults Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov has declared retaliation against the significant Russian attacks on his nation. "Ukraine is preparing its retort. Weapons of our own production," he says, as quoted by the Ministry of Defense on X. He also implores Western allies to magnify Ukraine's long-range capabilities and remove constraints on attacks against Russian military facilities.
16:12 Wagner Group Denies Presence of Mercenaries in Ukraine The Wagner Group denies having its mercenaries involved in the ongoing conflict alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. According to a statement published on Telegram, and reported by "Kyiv Independent", Wagner mercenaries are currently operational only in Belarus and Africa. The Wagner Group asserts that its personnel are not engaged in the Russian National Guard or the ranks of the Russian Ministry of Defense. As of now, Wagner is not participating in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group claims, adding that any changes to the situation will be announced.
15:40 Kyiv Experiences Second Longest Air Raid Alert since War Began Due to Russian attacks on Ukraine, an air raid alert in Kyiv lasted for 7 hours and 46 minutes. This is the second longest air raid alert in the capital since the war began, according to journalist Denis Trubetskoy. The longest lasted 9 minutes more, he writes on X. According to former advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, Anton Gerashchenko, the air raid alert lasted up to 10 hours in other regions of Ukraine.
15:15 Russian Troops Attack Ukrainian Positions in Kursk According to the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow, Russian troops have attacked Ukrainian soldiers at numerous locations along the front in the Russian region of Kursk. Ukrainian attacks were also repelled at seven other locations in Kursk. Additionally, Ukrainian forces were shelled at 16 locations in the Sumy region, which borders the Russian Kursk.
14:55 Grossi Leads IAEA Inspection of Kursk Nuclear Power Plant The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is leading the inspection of the Kursk nuclear power plant in the Russian region of the same name. This is due to the serious situation, Grossi announced on X. "I reiterate: The safety of nuclear facilities must not be compromised under any circumstances." The visit is planned for Tuesday. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers entered Kursk in a surprise attack on August 6.
14:47 Fire Erupts at Russia's Largest Oil Refinery A fire has erupted at Russia's largest oil refinery in the city of Omsk, according to the operator Gazprom. Two individuals were injured, but the operation continues, the state energy company said in a statement. "The fire at the Omsk refinery is under control. The automatic safety system of the facility has detected a fire in the technical equipment," it said. Production remains unaffected.
14:32 Russian Forces Strike Energy Facilities and Western Arms in Ukraine According to the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow, Russian forces have attacked gas compressor stations and power transformers in Ukraine. The energy facilities were targeted by drones and missiles, the ministry reported. They had been supplying the military-industrial complex of Ukraine with electricity. Additionally, Western weapons and ammunition stored at two Ukrainian airfields were struck.
14:09 Washington Post Reports over 247 Russian Soldiers Captured in Kursk Since their surprise incursion into the Russian region of Kursk at the beginning of August, Ukrainian troops have reportedly captured over 240 Russian soldiers, according to a report by the Washington Post. The newspaper analyzed over 130 photos and videos taken since the incursion on August 6. Most appeared to have been filmed by Ukrainian soldiers and shared on social media. The analysis also included photos taken by a newspaper photographer from a prison where captured Russian soldiers are reportedly being held in Ukraine. "The verified images show at least 247 Russian prisoners and support the claims of Ukrainian authorities that hundreds of Russians were captured during the incursion," the newspaper writes. According to the report, large numbers of young military personnel were taken captive, apparently surrendering without resistance.
13:43 Unidentified Object Enters Polish Airspace During the Russian attack on Ukraine, an unidentified object entered Polish airspace and likely landed on Polish territory, according to the state news agency PAP, citing the army's operations command. The search for the object, which is not a missile, is ongoing. "During the massive attack on Ukrainian territory on Monday, an object probably entered Polish territory," General Maciej Klisz, the operational commander of the armed forces, said as reported by Polsat News. The Guardian reported, citing an army spokesman, that the object was likely a drone.
13:21 Dam North of Kyiv Hit by Suspected Russian Missile In the large-scale air attack on Ukraine on Monday morning, a dam north of Kyiv was reportedly hit by a suspected Russian missile, according to Ukrainian media reports. A part of the hydroelectric power plant can be seen on fire in a video shared by journalist Yaroslav Trofimov of the Wall Street Journal, among others. "If the dam breaks, millions of people downstream could die," Trofimov wrote. Official statements on the damage to the structure are not yet available.
12:57 Zelenskyy labels it as "severe assault" by RussiaAs per Ukrainian sources, Russia utilised over 100 missiles and nearly 100 Iranian-origin drones in the latest substantial attack. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a Telegram post, described it as "one of the most severe assaults." Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed success in striking all targeted Ukrainian facilities during these massive attacks on the nation's infrastructure. Zelenskyy explained that this was a "combined" attack, involving more than 100 assorted missiles and around 100 Shahed drones. The Russian Ministry pronounced it as a "massive strike utilising high-precision long-range weapons" on "important energy infrastructure facilities."
12:38 Ukraine urges West for permission to assault Russian territory interior
Ukraine urges the West to permit employing the weapons to strike deep within Russian territory. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, via Telegram, such a move would "swiftly put an end to Russian terror."
12:09 Peskov perceives negotiations with Ukraine as obsolete
Russia conveys that talks with Ukraine over a ceasefire are virtually irrelevant. The incursion of Ukraine into the border region of Kursk is unacceptable, asserts Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian presidential administration.
11:41 Munz: Belarusian army lacks strength
Dictator Lukashenko brings together tens of thousands of soldiers at the Ukrainian border, a situation that sparks concern among countries. However, as per ntv correspondent Rainer Munz, this is primarily a display of strength rather than a genuine threat.
11:25 Intelligence hints at Russian sabotage behind Geilenkirchen alarm
An intelligence report about a possible threat resulting from a Russian sabotage act using a drone triggered the temporary increase in security level at the NATO airbase in Geilenkirchen near Aachen. There was a strong indication from a foreign intelligence service about potential preparatory actions for a possible Russian sabotage act against the NATO base, German security circles stated.
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11:20 Satellite images: Russians struggle to control Proletarsk fuel depot fire
The fuel depot in Proletarsk, southern Russia, has been engulfed in flames for over a week, as indicated by current satellite images from NASA's FIRMS fire and forest monitoring system. The fire at the depot, containing over 70 individual tanks, was started by a Ukrainian drone attack on the night of August 18. Unofficial reports indicate a fresh attack on Friday morning. The Proletarsk district authorities have declared a state of emergency. According to TASS, 47 firefighters have been injured in the fire so far.
10:50 Polish fighter jets mobilized
The massive morning air attack also impacts a bordering nation to Ukraine: Due to the proximity of Russian attacks to the Polish border, Polish military interceptors were scrambled, as reported by the news agency PAP. Allied aircraft were also involved in the operation, as per reports. The Ukrainian air force stated that Russian army temporarily deployed 11 long-range bombers Tu-95, carrying missiles. Moreover, according to reports, hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were fired at Ukraine. Attacks were also reported from the Black Sea.
10:22 Ukrainian Soldier Fires at Russian Cruise Missile with Mounted Machine GunA video shared by Governor Viktor Mykyta on social media shows Ukrainian air defense soldiers in the western Transcarpathian region firing at a Russian cruise missile with a machine gun mounted on a truck. The missile, allegedly launched from the neighbouring Lviv region, was reportedly shot down by the 650th separate anti-aircraft machine gun battalion. The video's authenticity has been confirmed by the RTL/ntv verification team. However, the specific type of missile shot down is yet to be independently verified. According to the Kyiv Independent, it was not the machine gun fire that downed the missile, but a Ukrainian air defense missile, as stated by ex-Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat.
10:03 15 Ukrainian Regions Battered by Russia - Energy Infrastructure TargetedMore than half of Ukraine's regions were attacked by Russia in the early hours, as per Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. "Today, 15 regions were attacked in a massive Russian onslaught. The assailant employed multiple weapon types: drones, missiles, hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. There are casualties," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram. Ukrainian officials report that energy infrastructure in four regions was struck. Authorities in Saporizhzhia, Sumy, Rivne, and Lviv reported energy infrastructure attacks in their regions. In certain Kyiv areas, electricity and water services were disrupted, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
09:40 ISW: Russia Shifts Focus to Kursk from Lesser Battlegrounds in UkraineAccording to experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), it appears the Russian military is transferring troops from minor battlefronts in Ukraine to the Kursk region. Top officials from the Russian 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, 11th Airborne Brigade (VDV), 56th VDV Regiment (7th VDV Division), and 51st VDV Regiment (106th VDV Division) reportedly discussed combat operations adjacent to Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin, which might refer to the Kursk region. The ISW has detected activity from the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, and 11th VDV Brigade in the Kursk region, and they've heard whispers that the Russian military leadership lately moved components from the 56th VDV Regiment from the Robotyne area in western Saporizhzhia to the border region. The Russian military leadership appears to be resisting pressure to pull troops from strategic objectives to capture Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, as per the ISW experts.
09:14 Initial Casualties Reported from Russian Aerial BombardmentUkrainian authorities report at least three deaths due to Russian air raids. Casualty reports have arrived from Luzk in the west, Dnipro in the east, and Saporischschja in the south. Luzk's mayor, Ihor Polischtschuk, mentions that a multifamily building was hit by an enemy attack, resulting in a single fatality. The governors of Odessa, Saporischschja, and Kharkiv regions report explosions in their respective regions and urge their residents to seek shelter. Earlier, the governor of the Poltava region, Filip Pronin, reported that five people were wounded in an attack on an industrial facility.
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08:50 Ukraine Keeping an Eye on Belarus Troop MovementsUkraine is keeping a keen eye on the military movements of Belarus near their shared border. The current activity is larger than usual, and an impending military invasion by Belarus could have catastrophic consequences, as noted by ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald.
08:22 Explosions Rattle Several Ukrainian Cities - Power Outage in KyivExplosions are being heard in numerous Ukrainian cities following the intense Russian aerial assault (see 07:24 entry). Air raid sirens echoed across the country around 6 a.m. local time. The first explosions in Kyiv were heard just before 8:30 a.m., with more soon following. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, mentions that power is out in "several districts" of the capital, and there are also water supply issues on the right side of the city. Explosions have been reported in Kharkiv, Odessa, Vinnytsia, Saporischschja, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, and Kryvyi Rih.
07:53 Moscow Announces Destruction of 20 Ukrainian DronesRussian air defense has supposedly taken out 20 drones directed towards Russian territory from Ukraine, as per the Russian Defense Ministry. Nine were intercepted over the Saratov region, three over Kursk, and two each over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Tula. A drone was discovered over the regions of Oryol and Ryazan.
07:24 Russia Launches Intense Assault on UkraineUkraine is currently experiencing an intense assault, as per various reports. "Explosions in Kyiv at this time as Ukraine is under a massive Russian missile and drone strike from land, air, and sea," notes the "Kyiv Post" on X. Military expert Nico Lange reports that Russia is launching missiles from ships in the Black Sea and from 11 Tu-95 bombers, while also utilizing drones and ballistic missiles. "The Russian aerial attack on Ukraine is massive." Reports suggest explosions are being heard in various cities.
07:07 Chechen Commander Details Ukrainian Casualties in KurskFighters from the Achmat special forces of the Chechens, along with the 2nd Brigade of special forces, claim to have annihilated two armored personnel carriers, five armored combat vehicles, and a light tank of French design (AMR) in the Kursk region over the past day, according to Russian state news agency TASS, citing General-Major Apti Alaudinow, the commander. "In addition, we've wiped out a unit of automatic grenade launchers and a mortar, as well as destroying a cannon," he said. "Through these attacks on these military facilities, our forces have reportedly inflicted significant losses on the Ukrainian troops." As per Alaudinow, the advance of the Ukrainian troops has been halted. "The enemy is indeed trying to advance, but without success. We've already initiated attacks on several fronts and liberated some settlements. I believe that this work will continue every day."
6:41 North Korea: Kim Jong Un Pushes for Increased Production of Suicide DronesNorth Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has urged the creation and manufacture of more suicide drones as a "significant aspect of war readiness," reported the state news agency KCNA. The announcement came during a test of domestically crafted drones. Suicide drones are unmanned aerial vehicles packed with explosives that steer towards enemy targets. Russia has been consistently using Iranian drones of the Shahed type in Ukraine. The relationship between North Korea and Russia in terms of military cooperation has grown stronger. The drone test, according to KCNA, took place on Saturday amid escalating tensions with neighboring nation South Korea. Snaps captured by the state agency show white aerial objects with X-shaped wings flying towards tank targets and detonating. According to South Korea's news agency Yonhap, these mock targets resemble South Korean K-2 tanks.
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6:34 Ukraine: 1140 Russian Soldiers Reportedly Killed or Wounded in 24 HoursAccording to Ukrainian military reports, 1140 Russian soldiers have been lost or injured in the past 24 hours. Since the start of the conflict, the count of slain Russian military personnel has reached 608,820. These statistics cannot be independently verified. Kyiv claimed that four Russian tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 47 artillery systems, one multiple rocket launcher, one air defense system, and 39 drones have been destroyed.
6:12 Kyiv Warns Minsk Against Regrettable MistakesUkraine is urging Belarus to evacuate the large troop contingents and military equipment it alleges are amassed at their shared border. In a statement from the Foreign Ministry, the Minsk government is asked to "abstain from hostile actions" and withdraw its forces from the border area. Ukraine cautions Belarus against making "regrettable mistakes" due to Moscow's influence. No response has been issued by Belarus, Russia's close ally. According to Ukrainian reports, Belarusian special units and ex-Wagner mercenaries are among the troops stationed at the border, armed with tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and engineering equipment deployed in the Gomel region near Ukraine's northern border. The statement concludes by stating that Ukraine "has never initiated hostilities against the Belarusian people and will not do so in the future."
5:46 Russian Governor Reports Damage from Ukrainian Drone DebrisThe Russian area of Saratov has reported damage to various homes caused by debris from downed Ukrainian drones, as per the local governor. The cities of Saratov and Engels are impacted, with all emergency services mobilized according to the governor's message disseminated via Telegram. Engels serves as a strategic bomber base for Russia.
3:52 Air Defense Reports Drone Attack on KyivUkrainian air defense systems are currently active in the Kyiv area to combat Russian drone attacks, according to Ukrainian sources. "An enemy drone movement has been detected! Air defense systems in the region are active," the regional military administration stated via Telegram. No updates have been given regarding potential damages or casualties thus far.
0:19 Zelensky Describes Reuters Team Attack as "Completely Targeted"In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Zelensky spoke about the lethal rocket attack on Reuters journalists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. A Reuters employee was killed and two others injured when a hotel was hit, the agency reported. The victim, 38-year-old British ex-soldier Ryan Evans, had been working for Reuters since 2022, offering security advice to journalists in Ukraine, Israel, and at the Paris Olympics. Zelensky described the attack as "completely targeted, calculated." "My sincere condolences to the family and friends." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office announced a preliminary investigation on Telegram. The incident happened on Saturday at 22:35 local time. Reuters has not been able to verify if the rocket was launched from Russia or if the hotel was intentionally targeted. No statement has been issued by Russia.
Catch up on previous events here.
The Commission has expressed concern over the potential compromise of nuclear facility safety in the Kursk region due to the ongoing conflict. The Commission, in reference to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is urging for the situation to be addressed to ensure safety measures are not violated.
The Wagner Group, despite being accused of mercenary involvement in Ukraine, has officially denied any participation in the conflict alongside the Russian army, limiting their operations to Belarus and Africa as of now. The Commission, in this context, could be any relevant governing body responsible for maintaining peace and security in the region.
