Ukrainian Defense Minister Declares Retaliatory Action Following Assaults
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umierov responds to intense Russian assaults on his nation. "Ukraine is preparing its countermeasures. Weapons from our own manufacturing," the Defense Ministry cites him stating on X. He additionally pleads with Western allies to amplify Ukraine's long-range capabilities and remove restrictions on strikes on military installations in Russia.
16:12 Wagner Group Speaks: No Mercenaries in Ukraine CurrentlyThe Wagner Group claims that their mercenaries are no longer engaging alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. Based on a declaration shared on Telegram, as reported by "Kyiv Independent", they are currently working only in Belarus and Africa at the moment. According to the group, Wagner mercenaries are neither a part of the Russian National Guard nor ranked within the Russian Defense Ministry. "At present," Wagner is not taking part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group proclaims. "If the scenario alters," it will be announced.
15:40 Kyiv Suffers Longest Air Raid Alert since Conflict BeganDue to substantial Russian attacks on Ukraine, an air raid alert persisted for 7 hours and 46 minutes in Kyiv. This is the second longest air raid alert in the capital since the conflict commenced, journalist Denis Trubetskoy writes on X. The longest one lasted 9 minutes longer, he adds. As per former advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, Anton Gerashchenko, the air raid alert extended up to 10 hours in other regions of Ukraine.
15:15 Russia Reports Counterattack in KurskRussian troops have assaulted Ukrainian soldiers at over a dozen locations on the front in the Russian region of Kursk, the Moscow Defense Ministry reveals. Ukrainian attacks were also repelled at seven other locations in Kursk. Furthermore, Ukrainian forces were shelled at 16 locations in the Sumy region, which borders Kursk on the Ukrainian side.
14:55 IAEA Chief Plans Kursk Nuclear Power Plant InspectionIAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is personally coordinating the inspection of the Kursk nuclear power plant in the Russian oblast of the same name, where Ukrainian troops have reportedly entered. Grossi expresses concern about the scenario and emphasizes that the safety of nuclear facilities must not be jeopardized under any circumstances. The visit is scheduled for Tuesday.
14:47 Fire at Omsk's Largest Oil RefineryA fire has broken out at Russia's largest oil refinery in the city of Omsk, the operator Gazprom confirms. Two individuals were injured, but the facility is still operating, according to the statement issued by the state-owned energy company. The fire at the Omsk refinery has been quelled, and operations are proceeding as usual.
14:32 Russia Declares Targeting of Western Weapons and AmmunitionThe Russian Defense Ministry announces that it has attacked gas compressor stations and power transformers in Ukraine. The energy infrastructure, which supplied power to Ukraine's military-industrial complex, was targeted with drones and missiles. Western weapons and ammunition stored at two Ukrainian airfields were also targeted, the ministry alleges.
14:09 Reports: Over 240 Russian Soldiers Captured in Kursk
Ukrainian forces have allegedly apprehended more than 240 Russian soldiers since their surprise incursion into the Russian region of Kursk at the start of August. The "Washington Post" analyzed over 130 photographs and videos taken since August 6th. Most of these appear to have been taken by Ukrainian soldiers and shared on social media. The analysis also incorporated photographs 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, supporting the claims of Ukrainian authorities that they have apprehended hundreds of Russians during the incursion," the paper writes. It reports that a substantial number of young military personnel were captured, seemingly surrendering without resistance.
13:43 Unidentified Object Enters Polish Airspace
An unidentified object is reported to have entered Polish airspace and presumably landed on Polish territory during the Russian attack on Ukraine. The state news agency PAP reports this, citing the army's operations command. The search for the object, which is not believed to be a rocket, is ongoing. "During the massive attack on Ukrainian territory on Monday, an object likely entered Polish territory," General Maciej Klisz, the operational commander of the armed forces, told Polsat News. The "Guardian" reports, citing an army spokesman, that the object is likely a drone.
13:21 Ukrainian Dam Near Kyiv Hit by Russian Missile
In the extensive air attack on Ukraine this morning, a dam north of Kyiv was reportedly hit by a Russian missile, according to Ukrainian media reports. A video shared by numerous journalists, including Yaroslav Trofimov of the "Wall Street Journal," shows part of the hydroelectric power plant on fire. "If the dam breaks, millions of people downstream could die," Trofimov writes. Official information about the damage to the structure is yet to be disclosed.
12:57 Zelenskyy Describes Attack as 'One of the Heaviest' by Russia
Russia has released more than 100 missiles and nearly 100 drones in the latest extensive attack, according to Ukrainian reports. "This was one of the heaviest attacks," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video message posted on Telegram. The Russian Ministry of Defense, conversely, claims on Telegram to have "hit all designated goals" in extensive attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Zelenskyy clarifies that it was a "synergistic" attack, involving "more than 100 missiles of various types" and around 100 Shahed drones of Iranian origin. The Russian Ministry of Defense characterizes it as a "massive strike with high-precision long-range weapons" on "important energy infrastructure facilities."
12:38 Kyiv Urges West to Authorize Deep Russian Territory Raids with Provided Arms
Ukraine is urging the West to permit the employment of given weapons for strikes digging deep into Russian territory. According to Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, such an action would swiftly put an end to Russian terror, as stated through Telegram.
12:09 Peskov: Russian-Ukraine Truce Talks Now Insignificant
Russia deems negotiations with Ukraine regarding a truce as virtually irrelevant. The penetration of Ukrainian forces into the Russian border region of Kursk is intolerable, as stated by Dmitry Peskov, Russia's presidential administration spokesman. A response is deemed necessary, with no talks concerning a truce and the topic considered no longer relevant.
11:41 Munz: Belarusian Army Capabilities Overestimated
Dictator Lukashenko has amassed tens of thousands of troops at the border with Ukraine, causing concern among neighboring countries. However, according to ntv correspondent Rainer Munz, this serves more as a display of threats than an actual danger.
11:25 Sources: Russian Sabotage Suspected in Geilenkirchen Alarm
Intelligence indicates a possible danger from Russian sabotage activities using a drone that triggered the heightened security level at the NATO airbase in Geilenkirchen near Aachen, according to German security sources. There was a strong indication from a foreign intelligence agency of preparation for a potential Russian sabotage operation against the NATO base.
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11:20 Satellite Images: Russians Unable to Suppress Proletarsk Fuel Depot Fire
The fuel depot in Proletarsk, southern Russia, has been in flames for more than a week, according to current satellite images from NASA's FIRMS fire and forest monitoring system. The fire at the depot with over 70 individual tanks was started by a Ukrainian drone attack on August 18, according to unofficial reports. Another attack occurred on Friday morning. The Proletarsk district authorities have declared a state of emergency. Over 47 firefighters reportedly were injured in the fire by then, as reported by TASS on Wednesday.
10:50 Poland Deploys Fighter Jets
Due to the proximity of the Russian attacks to the Polish border, the Polish military deployed interceptors, as reported by the PAP news agency. Aircraft from other allied nations were also involved in the operation, as reported by Ukrainian air force sources. The Russian army temporarily deployed 11 long-range bombers Tu-95, carrying cruise missiles, according to the reports. Additionally, according to the reports, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were fired at Ukraine, with the country also threatened from the Black Sea.
10:22 Ukrainian Soldier Allegedly Shoots Down Russian Cruise Missile with Machine Gun
Ukrainian soldiers from an air defense unit supposedly shot at a Russian cruise missile with a machine gun-mounted truck in the western region of Transcarpathia in the morning. Governor Viktor Mykyta shared a corresponding video on social media, along with statements that the rocket was directed at the region from the neighboring region of Lviv and was shot down by the 650th separate anti-aircraft machine gun battalion. The authenticity of the video was confirmed by the RTL/ntv verification team, but it cannot be independently verified which type of rocket was shot down. According to the "Kyiv Independent," however, a machine gun shot was not responsible for the shootdown, but rather an air defense missile from the Ukrainian armed forces, as reported by former air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat.
10:03 Over Half of Ukraine's Regions Attacked by Russia - Energy Infrastructure in Danger
More than half of Ukraine's regions have been under attack by Russia, as reported by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in an early morning report. "This morning, a massive Russian attack targeted 15 regions. The enemy used various types of weapons: drones, missiles, hypersonic missiles. There are casualties and injuries," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram. According to Ukrainian reports, energy infrastructure was hit in four regions. Authorities in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Rivne, and Lviv reported on Telegram that their regions' energy infrastructure was under attack. In some areas of the capital Kyiv, electricity and water supplies were disrupted, as reported by Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suspect the Russian military is transferring troops from less essential sectors to the Kursk region on the Ukrainian front. Leaders 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 near Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend. This likely pertains to the Kursk region, as suggested by ISW in their latest report. The US think tank has spotted elements of the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, and 11th VDV Brigade in the Kursk region and has hinted at the deployment of parts of the 56th VDV Regiment from the Robotyne area in western Saporizhzhia to the border region. The Russian military leadership is reportedly holding back on withdrawing troops from their main offensive attempts to capture Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, according to specialists.
09:14 Fatalities Reported from Hefty Russian Strikes
At least three casualties have been reported in Russian airstrikes, as per Ukrainian authorities. Reports of fatalities have surfaced in Luzk in the western part of the country, Dnipro in the east, and Zaporizhzhia in the south. Luzk Mayor Ihor Polischchuk stated that a multi-family building was hit by an "enemy attack" and one person was killed. The governors of Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions shared on Telegram about explosions in their regions and urged residents to seek shelter. Earlier, the governor of the Poltava region, Filipp Pronin, reported that five people were harmed in an attack on an industrial facility.
Read more here.
08:50 Gathering Troops: "Belarus Entrance into War May Extend Battlefront"
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Ukraine is monitoring closely the concentration of Belarusian troops near their shared border. The current troop concentration is larger than previous ones, and Belarus entering the war could be catastrophic, as explained by ntv correspondent Nadja Kriewald.
08:22 Explosions Occurring in Multiple Ukrainian Cities - Power Outage in Kyiv
Explosions are happening in various Ukrainian cities due to the extensive Russian airstrike (see entry at 07:24). According to "Kyiv Independent", air raid sirens were heard throughout the country just before 6 AM local time. Shortly before 8:30 AM, the first explosions were heard in Kyiv, followed by more. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reportedly stated that power was out in "several districts" of the capital and there were also issues with water supply on the right side of the city. Explosions have also been reported in Kharkiv, Odessa, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, and Kryvyi Rih.
07:53 Moscow: Claims to Have Destroyed 20 Ukrainian Drones
As per the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian air defense has annihilated 20 drones aimed at Russian territory from Ukraine overnight. Nine were intercepted over the Saratov region, three over Kursk, two each over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Tula. One drone was detected over the regions of Oryol and Ryazan each.
07:24 Russia Launches Extensive Aerial Assault on Ukraine
Ukraine is currently experiencing an extensive attack, according to repeated reports. "Explosions in Kyiv at this hour as Ukraine is under a massive Russian missile and drone assault from land, air, and sea," reports the "Kyiv Post" on X. Military expert Nico Lange writes that Russia is simultaneously firing missiles from ships in the Black Sea and from 11 Tu-95 bombers, and is using drones and ballistic missiles. "The Russian aerial attack on Ukraine is massive." Explosions are reportedly heard in several cities.
07:07 Chechen Commander Reports Ukrainian Losses in Kursk
Fighters from the Chechen special forces "Achmat" and the 2nd Special Forces Brigade allegedly destroyed two armored personnel carriers, five armored combat vehicles, and one light tank of French design (AMR) in the Kursk region over the past day, according to the Russian state news agency TASS, citing the commander, Major General Apti Alaudinov. "Over the past day, we have also annihilated a unit of automatic grenade launchers and a mortar, and destroyed a gun," he said. "Through these attacks on these military facilities, our people have inflicted substantial losses on the Ukrainian troops." Alaudinov added that the advance of Ukrainian troops has been halted. "The enemy is indeed trying to advance, but without success. We have already begun to destroy the enemy in several areas and liberate some settlements. I believe this work will continue every day."
06:41 North Korea: Kim Jong Un Advocates for More Self-Sacrificing DronesNorth Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has urged the creation and manufacture of more self-sacrificing drones as a vital component of war readiness, as per a report by the state news agency KCNA. This statement came during a demonstration of locally produced drones. Self-sacrificing drones are unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with explosives, programmed to collide with enemy targets. Russia frequently uses Iranian Shahed drones of this kind in Ukraine. North Korea and Russia have beefed up their military collaboration. The drone exercise, according to KCNA, took place on Saturday amid mounting tensions with South Korea. Official photos show white floating objects with X-shaped wings swooping towards tank targets and detonating. As per the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the target objects were modeled after South Korean K-2 tanks.
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06:34 Ukraine: 1,140 Russian Soldiers 'Nixed' in 24 HoursAs per Ukrainian military records, 1,140 Russian soldiers have been either taken out or injured in the past 24 hours. This raises the total number of "eradicated" Russian military personnel since the conflict started to 608,820. These figures cannot be corroborated independently. In the latest tally, four Russian tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 47 artillery systems, one multiple rocket launcher, one air defense system, and 39 drones have been destroyed.
06:12 Kyiv Warns Minsk Against Committing 'Disastrous Errors'Ukraine has advised Belarus to relocate its substantial troop contingents and military equipment away from their shared border. In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government in Minsk is urged to abstain from hostile actions and withdraw its troops from the border area. Ukraine cautions Belarus against making "disastrous errors" under Moscow's influence. Belarus has yet to respond. According to Ukrainian reports, among the troops at the border are Belarusian special forces and former Wagner mercenaries. The equipment includes tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and engineering equipment, stationed in the Gomel region along the northern border of Ukraine. The statement also underscores that Ukraine "has never initiated hostile actions against the Belarusian people and will not do so in the future."
05:46 Russian Governor Reports Damage from Drone WreckageIn the Russian region of Saratov, several residential buildings have been damaged due to debris from downed Ukrainian drones, according to the regional governor. The cities of Saratov and Engels have been affected, with all emergency services on standby. Engels is home to a strategic bomber base of Russia.
03:52 Air Defense Reports Drone Assault on KyivUkrainian reports suggest that air defense systems are operational in the Kyiv region to fend off Russian drone attacks. "Enemy drone infiltration detected! Air defense systems in the region are activated," the regional military administration reports on Telegram. No information is currently available regarding potential damage or casualties.
00:19 Zelensky Describes Attack on Reuters Team as "Precise and Calculated"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the deadly rocket attack on Reuters staff in his evening speech. One employee was killed and two others were injured in the attack on a hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, as reported by the agency. The deceased was identified as British former soldier Ryan Evans. The 38-year-old had been working for Reuters since 2022, counseling journalists on security concerns in Ukraine, Israel, and the Paris Olympics. Zelensky described a "typical city hotel" as having been destroyed by a Russian Iskander rocket. The attack was "precise and calculated." "My condolences to the family and friends." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office had announced a preliminary investigation into the attack on the Telegram platform. It occurred on Saturday at 22:35 local time. Reuters could not confirm whether the rocket was fired by Russia or if the hotel was intentionally targeted. No Russian statement is available.
You can read all previous developments here.
In light of the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, Ukraine's Defense Minister urgently calls for Western allies to increase Ukraine's long-range capabilities and lift restrictions on striking Russian military installations, citing the intensifying Russian assaults on his nation.
Given the escalating tension, the Wagner Group maintains that their mercenaries are not currently engaging alongside the Russian army in Ukraine but are instead operating only in Belarus and Africa at present.
