Video evidence reveals Russians are struggling to control a blaze at the Proletarsk oil storage facility.
The oil storage facility in Proletarsk, situated in southern Russia, has been blazing for over a week now, as depicted by recent satellite imagery from NASA's Fire Information and Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS). This inferno, affecting over 70 individual tanks, was initiated by a Ukrainian drone strike during the early hours of August 18th.
Unverified reports suggest another attack took place on the 19th at dawn. The local government of Rostov has declared an emergency in the Proletarsk district due to the ongoing situation. According to the state news agency TASS, as of Wednesday, 47 firefighters have sustained injuries from the flames.
The intense air raid has also impacted a neighboring nation of Ukraine, prompting Poland to deploy interceptor jets, as reported by the PAP news agency. Aircraft from other allies were also involved in the operation. The Ukrainian air force alleges that Russia temporarily deployed 11 long-range Tu-95 bombers, equipped with cruise missiles, and even fired off hypersonic Kinzhal missiles towards Ukraine, attacking from the Black Sea.
Ukrainian soldiers are said to have shot down a Russian cruise missile utilizing a machine gun mounted on a pickup truck in the morning hours in the western region of Transcarpathia. Governor Viktor Mykyta shared a video of the event on social media. According to his statement, the missile targeted the region from neighboring Lviv and was successfully intercepted by the 650th separate anti-aircraft machine gun battalion. However, the authenticity of the video and the type of missile cannot be independently verified.
Over fifteen Ukrainian regions have been hit in a significant Russian attack before dawn, as per Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. He stated, "Today, 15 regions experienced Russian firepower in a massive attack. The assailants used various weaponry such as drones, missiles, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. There are casualties and injuries." Ukrainian sources report that energy infrastructure has been affected in four oblasts. Authorities in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Rivne, and Lviv claimed that their energy infrastructure was the intended target. Electricity and water supplies were reportedly disrupted in some areas in Kyiv, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
09:40 ISW: Russians Deploying Forces to Kursk, Which Fought on Less Important Fronts in Ukraine
The Russian military might be transferring troops from less significant sectors on the Ukrainian front to the Kursk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Commanders 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 briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend regarding combat operations in Russian territories adjacent to Ukraine. The ISW's recent report suggests that the Kursk region could be the targeted area. The ISW has observed the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, and 11th VDV Brigade involved in fighting in the Kursk region and has received indications that the Russian military leadership has recently repositioned elements of the 56th VDV Regiment from the Robotyne area in western Zaporizhzhia to the border region. The Russian military command is reportedly opposing operational pressure to withdraw troops from strategic offensive initiatives to seize Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, as stated by the ISW's experts.
09:14 First Deaths Reported from Massive Russian Shelling
At least three individuals have perished in Russian air raids, as reported by Ukrainian officials. Deaths have been reported in Luzk in the west, Dnipro in the east, and Zaporizhzhia in the south. Luzk's mayor, Ihor Polischtschuk, declared that a residential building was struck by "an enemy attack" and one person was killed. The governors of the Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions announced explosions in their regions on Telegram and urged citizens to seek cover. Earlier, the governor of the central Poltava region, Filip Pronin, reported that five individuals were wounded in an assault on a manufacturing facility.
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08:50 Ukraine Vigilant as Belarus Relocates Troops Close to Border: "Belarusian Involvement Would Intensify Front"
Ukraine is closely monitoring Belarus as it moves troops near their shared border. The current operation is larger than previous ones, and Belarusian involvement in the conflict could potentially be catastrophic, as explained by ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald.
Various explosions are echoing throughout multiple Ukrainian cities, following a significant Russian airstrike reported at 07:24 (see entry for details). The "Kyiv Independent" news outlet mentions that alarm sirens wavered across the nation around 6:00 AM local time, and explosions first resounded in Kyiv around 8:30 AM, with more ensuing after. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko confirms that power is out in "several districts" of the capital, and there are complications with the 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: Russia claims exit of 20 Ukrainian dronesAs stated by the Russian Ministry of Defense, 20 drones targeted Russian territory from Ukraine have been intercepted by Russian air defenses. The dismantling took place over the Saratov region, with nine drones shot down, three over Kursk, and two each over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Tula. One drone was detected travelling through Oryol and Ryazan regions.
07:24 Russia initiates extensive airstrike on UkraineCurrent reports suggest that Ukraine is being subjected to a massive airstrike, which includes land, air, and naval assaults from both Russian missiles and drones. "Explosions in Kyiv at the current hour as Ukraine faces a massive Russian missile and drone attack from land, air, and sea," reports the Kyiv Post. Military analyst Nico Lange adds that Russia is utilizing missiles launched from Black Sea ships, 11 Tu-95 bombers, drones, and ballistic missiles. The aggressive Russian airstrike on Ukraine is underway. Reports of explosions in various cities have been confirmed.
07:07 Chechen commander reports Ukrainian casualties in KurskChechen special forces led by Achmat and the 2nd Special Forces Brigade have claimed to have inflicted damages on Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region by destroying two armored personnel carriers, five armored combat vehicles, and one French-designed light tank (AMR). General-Major Apti Alaudinov, the commander, confirmed the elimination of an automatic grenade launcher unit and a mortar and the destruction of tanks, artillery, and drones. He furtheradded that the advance of Ukrainian troops has been halted, and they haven't been particularly successful in advancing either. Reports indicate that Russian forces are eliminating enemy troops and liberating settlements.
06:41 North Korea: Kim Jong Un encourages construction of kamikaze dronesAccording to the North Korean state news agency, KCNA, their leader, Kim Jong Un, advocates for the production of kamikaze drones as part of their war readiness preparations. Kamikaze drones are unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with explosives and intentionally directed towards enemy targets. Russia is believed to have used Iranian Shahed drones in Ukraine, and North Korea has reportedly strengthened their military ties with Russia. The test for kamikaze drones was conducted on Saturday amid heightened tension with South Korea. Photos released by the state news agency show white drones with X-shaped wings flying towards target tanks, culminating in an explosion. The targets are believed to resemble South Korean K-2 tanks.
06:34 Ukraine: Over 1100 Russian soldiers "eliminated" in a dayUkrainian military sources have reported that over 1100 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured in the past 24 hours, increasing the total number of allegedly neutralized Russian troops to 608,820 since the start of the war. However, these figures cannot be independently verified. Ukrainian military forces claim to have destroyed four Russian tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 47 artillery systems, one multiple rocket launcher, one air defense system, and 39 drones.
06:12 Kyiv Warms Minsk Against Harmful ActionsUkraine has issued a warning to Belarus to withdraw its troops and military equipment from their shared border, citing excessive pressure from Moscow. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs admonishes Belarus for refraining from hostile actions and urges the withdrawal of its troops from the border region. Ukraine warns against potentially disastrous decisions, not wishing to compromise its relations with Belarusians. Belarus has yet to accept the allegations. Ukrainian reports suggest the presence of Belarusian special forces and former Wagner soldiers along with tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and engineering equipment in the Gomel region near the Ukrainian border. The statement asserts that Ukraine has no intention of instigating hostilities against Belarusians.
05:46 Damage to Russian Homes from Fallen Drone DebrisThe Russian region of Saratov has reported damage to several residential buildings according to the regional governor due to debris from downed Ukrainian drones. Both Saratov and Engels cities have suffered consequences, with emergency services on the scene. Engels houses a significant Russian strategic bomber base.
03:52 Russian Air Defense Repels Kyiv Drone AttackAir defense forces in the Kyiv region are on high alert, according to Ukrainian sources, in response to Russian drone attacks. A statement from the regional military administration on Telegram reads: "Enemy drone movement detected! Air defense systems in the region are active." No information regarding possible casualties or damages has been reported as of yet.
00:19 Zelensky Describes Reuters Team Attack as "Completely Intentional"During his evening speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the unfortunate incident of a deadly rocket attack on Reuters journalists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. The assault resulted in the death of a team member and left two others injured. The deceased individual was identified as Ryan Evans, a former British soldier who had joined Reuters in 2022, providing security advice to journalists in Ukraine, Israel, and at the Paris Olympic Games. Zelensky referred to a "normal city hotel" that was leveled by a Russian Iskander rocket, labeling the attack as "completely intentional, meticulously planned." His sympathies went out to Evans' family and friends. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has initiated an investigation into the attack, which took place on Saturday at 22:35 local time. Reuters is still waiting for confirmation as to whether the rocket was launched from Russia and if the hotel was intentionally targeted. Russia remains silent on the matter.
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The local government in Rostov has requested assistance from The Commission to manage the ongoing emergency in the Proletarsk district due to the oil storage facility fire. The authorities in the affected regions have appealed to The Commission for aid in restoring the disrupted electricity and water supplies caused by the airstrikes.
