Latest on the Special
Operation in Ukraine
August 19th (Gazeta.ru)
11:54pm
Kissinger warns against prolonging
the conflict in Ukraine.
11:46pm
Portuguese Foreign Ministry opposes
EU travel ban for Russians.
11:25pm
S&P upgraded Ukraine's credit
rating from ' SD ' to 'CCC+'
9:54pm
The operator of the Ukrainian gas transport
system announced the possibility of
compensating for supplies via
Nord Stream in other ways.
9:50pm
The total amount of US military assistance to
Ukraine under the Biden administration
exceeded $10 billion, Secretary of
State Anthony Blinken said.
9:47pm
Germany has handed over three more Gepard anti-
aircraft self-propelled guns plus 11 M113 tracked
armoured personnel carriers and a thousand
dry rations to Ukraine, the German
government's website reports.
In general, Ukraine has already received 15 Gepards,
44 M113 armoured personnel carriers and more
than 400 thousand dry rations from Germany.
9:43pm
The Minister of Education of the Russian Federation
Sergey Kravtsov said.. that more than 14 thousand
volunteers are involved in supporting the families
of teachers arriving in Russia from the DPR
and LPR.
9:26pm
Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin did not
rule out that builders from the DPRK will be
involved in the restoration of
the Donbass.
"I want to say that North Korean workers are very
productive, they work in our country, we know
them. They know how to work,"
Khusnullin stressed.
9:10pm
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
said that Canada will not be able to
help Europe with gas supplies in
the near future.
8:46pm
British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, said that
"Russia has no moral right to attend the
G20 summit" in Indonesia, while the
military operation in Ukraine
continues. (Lol)
8:27pm
Air defense systems repelled a missile attack on
the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station,
in the Kherson region, head of Kakhovsky
district administration, Vladimir
Leontyev, said.
8:06pm
The Russian economy is coping with sanctions
better than expected in the West, writes the
Financial Times.
The publication suggested that in the long term, the
Russian economy may face serious difficulties due
to the lack of access to Western technologies that
China or other partners of Moscow, will not be
able to offer. (Lol)
7:47pm
"I am currently working in the Government. As well
as many of the townspeople, I heard clapping in
the centre. Similar sounds were heard earlier in
the area of Strelka. In the bay... practiced air
defense. The story is the same as yesterday.
According to preliminary UAV data. The
targets have been hit. We remain calm.
The military is doing a great job. We
will support them," said the
governor of Sevastopol.
7:40pm
Statement of the Interdepartmental Coordination
Headquarters of the Russian Federation for
Humanitarian Response:
In Artemivsk, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are
stationed in the dormitory of the agricultural school,
roadblocks and firing points are deployed in the
immediate vicinity;
In Slavyansk, Ukrainian military personnel are stationed
at the Lokomotiv sports complex, and artillery and
MLRS are located on the adjacent territory;
In Prelestne on the territory of the museum complex,
the Ukrainian military equipped a stronghold and an
ammunition depot;
In Novoukrainka, on the territory of private houses,
the Ukrainian military has placed strong points
and artillery positions, from which they are
firing at the positions of the Russian
Armed Forces;
14,275 people evacuated to Russia
from Ukraine and Donbas;
6:35pm
The Council of Ministers was formed in the
Kharkiv region, headed by ex-Mayor of
Krasnodar Alekseyenko, the regional
administration reported.
6:22pm
To feel confident, Russia needs a strong rear
in the form of a reliable and developing
democratic political system,
Vladimir Putin said.
6:16pm
The transition of the LPR and DPR to the same
educational programs with Russia, will take
five years, said the Minister of Education
of the Russian Federation,
Sergey Kravtsov.
6:05pm
Denis Pushilin said that Russia, Belarus and Syria are
ready to send observers to the tribunal of foreigners
accused of mercenary activities.
The DPR and North Korea discussed Pyongyang's
participation in the trial of the Ukrainian military.
5:57pm
The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine announced
the seizure of assets of the company, which,
according to the supervisory authority,
is connected with Gazprom.
4:40pm
Senator Eduard Isakov said that he stopped
communicating with his daughter because
of her "anti-Russian position" about the
military operation in Ukraine.
4:30pm
The Ukrainian authorities said that 10
more grain ships are preparing to
leave the country's ports.
"There are also more than 40 applications for
calling at Ukrainian ports," said the Minister
of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Alexander
Kubrakov.
4:25pm
Employees of the Zaporizhia NPP recorded
a video with a request to stop the shelling.
12:40pm
Consolidated units of the Armed Forces of the
Russian Federation and the People's Militia
of the Republics of Donbass left the
industrial zone of Soledar and
entered the city, under the
control of several streets.
11:48am
Turkey will continue to make efforts to resolve
the Ukrainian crisis through diplomacy and
negotiations - Erdogan.
11:22am
Russian Foreign Ministry: we do not accept Kiev's
thesis --- about "self-defense", Ukraine is already
openly talking about an attack deep in Russian
territory, this is an escalation at the instigation
of the United States.
9:30am
Head of the Naval Academy Viktor Sokolov announced
that he has been appointed acting Commander of the
Black Sea Fleet.
9:13am
Russia is fighting the puppet regime in Kiev,
and the Ukrainian people will be the main
beneficiary of its defeat — Patrushev.
9am
The fire at an ammunition depot in the Belgorod
region is localized, there are no serious
damage to households, the head of
the Valuysky gorokrug, Alexey
Dybov, told RIA Novosti.
8:36am
The West does not stop preparing for an open armed
conflict with Russia — Secretary of the Russian
Security Council, Patrushev.
8:24am
Germany would be wise to negotiate with Russia on
gas, so as not to suffer from their own sanctions,
wrote on Twitter the head of the Bundestag
Committee on Energy, Klaus Ernst.
8:12am
Rescuers remove abandoned and damaged vehicles
from the streets of Lisichansk. The Armed Forces
of Ukraine often put up barrages of cars taken
from local residents.
7:58am
The FSB detained a Russian agent of the SBU in
Krasnodar, for espionage. For a fee, he illegally
received and transmitted abroad information
that could be used against the security of
the Russian Federation.
7:18am
It will be difficult for Western companies that have
announced their withdrawal from Russia to return,
because according to the laws of the market,
their niches are occupied by competitors,
Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry
and Trade, Viktor Yevtukhov, told
RIA Novosti.
7:08am
The heating season in Ukraine may be disrupted due to
the projected lack of electricity caused by the shelling
of the Zaporozhye NPP and subsequent power
outages from the station to the territories
controlled by Kiev, Vladimir Rogov, a
member of the main council of the
Zaporozhye administration,
told TASS.
6:57am
The US, making sweeping statements on the situation
around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, does not
disdain outright lies in unrestrained attempts to
denigrate Russia, the Russian Embassy in
Washington said, in a statement.
____________________________________
A unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
surrendered in the DPR --- after
correspondence in Telegram
August 19th, 11:31pm
(Lenta.ru)
One of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)
laid down its weapons in the DPR. This is reported by
the press service of the People's Militia (NM) of the
republic in its Telegram channel.
According to the military, in the village of Zaitsevo, an
artillery strike was made on the fortifications of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine, after which an offer to
surrender was sent to the servicemen via
Telegram.
After the correspondence in the messenger, the fighters
of the unit surrendered, and its positions came under
the control of the DPR People's Militia.
_______________________________________________
Biden ordered --- to allocate
new military aid to Ukraine
August 19th, 8:07pm
(Lenta.ru)
President of the United States, Joe Biden, officially
ordered the allocation of a new package of
military assistance to Ukraine. This is
reported by RIA Novosti.
In a memorandum sent from the White House to the
Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, Biden said to
have delivered $775 million.
Earlier it became known that Washington will transfer a
set of ammunition for the HIMARS MLRS, 15 unmanned
aerial vehicles, Harm anti-radar missiles, TOW anti-
tank missiles, as well as about a thousand
Javelin ATGMs.
Later, a high-ranking representative of the Pentagon,
said that the US wanted to supply Ukraine with new
types of weapons, and thereby, change the state of
affairs "on the battlefield."
According to her, the United States needs to... "ensure
the success of the Ukrainian army" on the battlefield
in the southern and eastern regions of the country.
__________________________________________
The DPR recorded a shortage
of ammunition in the
Ukrainian army
August 19th, 7:46pm
(Lenta.ru)
The head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, said that the
Ukrainian army is experiencing a "hunger"
in ammunition.
Head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)
Denis Pushilin said that the Ukrainian army
is experiencing "a certain hunger" in shells
in certain areas of the front. His words
are quoted by RIA Novosti.
He said.. that the lack of ammunition was recorded by
intelligence. "These are the data that our intelligence
gives us, and in fact what we feel in certain areas of
the front, where our units no longer face such
serious resistance," Pushilin explained.
The head of the republic also noted that the Ukrainian
artillery has changed its strategy and is already
working more precisely, and not "in areas",
as before.
Earlier, Pushilin announced a possible death penalty for
five foreign mercenaries who fought on the side of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), emphasizing that
the decision will be made by the court.
Five foreign mercenaries were charged on August 15th,
in the DPR court. Four of them are charged with being
mercenaries, and one is charged with recruiting
mercenaries. None of the defendants
agreed with the charges.
_____________________________________________
Russia, Belarus, Syria to send
observers to tribunal against
mercenaries — DPR leader
August 19th, 6:59pm (TASS)
Russia, Belarus and Syria --- are ready to send
their observers to a tribunal against foreign
mercenaries that the Donetsk People’s
Republic (DPR) plans to hold, DPR
leader, Denis Pushilin, told the
Rossiya-1 TV channel
on Friday.
"We sent requests to a number of countries.
Russia, Belarus and Syria have confirmed
their plans to send observers," he noted.
Pushilin said earlier that Ukrainian nationalists would
have to face a tribunal. According to him, one of the
trials will take place... in the city of Mariupol. The
DPR Foreign Ministry, in turn, said that work on
the necessary documents --- was underway.
Militants from nationalist units such as the Azov
(outlawed in Russia) and Aidar battalions, as
well as Ukrainian service members, are
expected to be brought before
the tribunal.
_________________________________
Over 3.5 million refugees arrive
in Russia from Ukraine, Donbass
since February
August 19th, 6:14pm (TASS)
More than 3.5 million refugees have arrived in Russia
from Ukraine and Donbass, since February, law
enforcement agencies told TASS on Friday.
"According to updates, 3.5 million refugees, including
almost 500,000 children, have arrived in Russia
since February," the spokesperson said.
Citizens of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s
Republics make up 50% of the internally
displaced persons, over a million are
Russian citizens... and the rest are
from other countries. Russia has
already paid 6.5 billion rubles to
them in one-time aid payments.
______________________________________
Security to be tightened --- at
Zaporozhye energy facilities
— authorities
August 19th, 6:13pm (TASS)
Security will be tightened at the Zaporozhye Region’s
energy facilities after the Ukrainian special services
blew up a high-voltage power line pylon in Melitopol
on August the 17th, a member of the Zaporozhye
Region military-civilian administration’s
council, Vladimir Rogov, told TASS
on Friday.
"Yes, of course, [security will be tightened], to the
extent that human and other resources permit,"
said Rogov, the chairman of the movement
We are with Russia.
At the same time, Rogov noted that enhanced security
measures were already effective at the region’s
energy facilities, but the law enforcement and
security personnel available, was still not
enough to guarantee the security of
energy facilities 100%.
On Friday, Rogov said that on August 17th, Ukraine’s
special services blew up a high-voltage power line
pylon in Melitopol. Another sabotage attempt was
upset. The explosion’s aim was to disrupt the
operation of the unified energy system of
the Zaporozhye Region.
Earlier, Rogov said that in July 2022, up to 12 terrorist
attacks were prevented in the Zaporozhye Region.
The region’s authorities stress that Kiev is trying
to interfere with the efforts to restore life
to normal.
Recent months saw assassination attempts against
officials and explosions near the head office of the
Zaporozhye Region’s police force and at a power
plant in Berdyansk.
_________________________________________
UN chief Guterres speaks for
demilitarization of Zaporozhye
nuclear power plant in Ukraine
August 19th, 4:48pm (TASS)
The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) in
Ukraine, needs to be demilitarized, UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres
said on Friday.
"First of all, what is true is that if it is demilitarized as
we propose, the plant, the problem will be solved,"
the UN chief’s press office quoted him as saying
to journalists upon a visit to the city of Odessa.
"Obviously, the electricity from Zaporozhye [NPP] is
Ukrainian electricity, and it's necessary, especially
during the winter for the Ukrainian people, and
this principle must be fully respected,"
he added.
Guterres arrived earlier in the day in the Ukrainian city
of Odessa --- where he is scheduled to hold talks on
grain exports with Ukrainian President, Vladimir
Zelensky, and the Turkish leader, Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
The Zaporozhye NPP is under the control of the
Russian army. Over the last few days, the Kiev
regime has delivered numerous strikes against
the station’s territory --- using drones, heavy
artillery & multiple launch rocket systems.
In most cases, the attacks are repelled by Russian
air defense systems. However, some rockets hit
the NPP’s infrastructural facilities, including
nuclear waste storage sites.
_____________________________________
Ukrainian special services
blow up transmission tower
in Melitopol — authorities
August 19th, 4:47pm (TASS)
Ukraine’s special services blew up a power
transmission tower in Melitopol -- while a
second sabotage attack was prevented,
Vladimir Rogov, a member of the chief
council of the Zaporozhye Region's
military-civilian administration,
reported on Friday.
"A terrorist attack by special services [of Ukrainian
President Vladimir] Zelensky, was thwarted in
Melitopol. Around noon on August 17th, the
police of the Zaporozhye Region received
information - about a blast 500 metres
from the "Yuzhny" post in Melitopol.
As it turned out, one of the four
power transmission towers
was destroyed by blast,
but the power supply
was not disrupted,"
Rogov wrote on his
Telegram channel.
Police cynologists found another explosive device
with a timer set to 12:40 on one of the three
remaining towers. The explosive device
was neutralized, he blogged.
The aim of the attack was "to disrupt the unified
energy system of the region and prevent the
flow of electricity from the [Zaporozhye]
nuclear power plant," he said.
Earlier, Rogov said that up to 12 terrorist attacks
were thwarted in the Zaporozhye Region in July.
The regional authorities point out, that Kiev is
trying to hinder the return to peaceful life
in the region.
In recent months, there have been assassination
attempts on officials, explosions near the
region’s main directorate of the Interior
Ministry, at a power station in
Berdyansk... and
other incidents.
________________________________
Some NPP workers may be
Ukrainian intel agents,
Zaporozhye regional
official says
August 19th, 4:12pm (TASS)
Ukraine’s intelligence agencies, actively worked to set
up an agent network at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power
Plant, so there may be many sleeper agents, member
of the main council of the Zaporozhye Region’s
military-civilian administration, Vladimir
Rogov, told TASS on Friday.
"Two fire spotters have already been caught. The NPP
has a large staff --- and the SBU [Ukraine’s Security
Service] other intelligence agencies and punitive
bodies of the (Ukrainian President Vladimir)
Zelensky, and the (former President Pyotr)
Poroshenko regimes, have been active
here for years," he pointed out.
According to Rogov, Kiev’s law enforcement agencies
often sought to intimidate the plant’s workers to turn
them into their agents. "The odds are high that there
still are people who have links to Ukrainian intel
agencies and cooperate with them," the
official noted.
"These two people (fire spotters - TASS) knew that
the targets of attacks included the peaceful city
[of Energodar] and the very nuclear power plant
where they work. One of them even suffered a
minor wound. Still, they did not stop working
for Kiev," Rogov noted. He added that
security measures had been
tightened at the facility.
Two employees of the Zaporozhye plant were
detained for directing Ukraine’s artillery fire
on August 17th. They are facing a sentence
of between 10 years and a life in prison
on terrorism charges.
____________________________________________
Ukrainian attacks
kill 29 civilians,
injure 58 over
the week
— Morozova
August 19th, 2:43pm (DAN)
Ukrainian attacks on Donbass have claimed 29 civilian
lives and left 58 people injured across the DPR, over
the week, the Republic’s Ombudswoman, Daria
Morozova, said.
“Over the week, from August 12th till August 18th, 127
members of the defence and law enforcement were
killed, 368 members of the defence and law
enforcement were injured. Twenty-nine
civilians were killed and 58 injured,”
she said.
The war in Donbass has claimed at least 8,661
lives since 2014, of those... 119 were children.
________________________________________________
Russian aviation eliminates
50 Azov and Aidar militants
in occupied DPR
August 19th, 12:11pm (DAN)
The Russian Aerospace Forces.... eliminated over
50 militants of the Azov and Aidar armed groups
(banned in the DPR), in the DPR's northern
occupied territories, the official
representative of the Russian
Defence Ministry, Igor
Konashenkov said.
“High-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace
Forces, hit the temporary deployment locations of
units of Azov nationalist formations in Nikolaevka
area... and the Aidar nationalist formations in the
Soledar area of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Over 50 nationalists were liquidated, as well as
12 pieces of military equipment,” he said.
Konashenkov added that the Russian army also hit six
command posts of the Ukrainian armed formations,
including the 115th mechanized brigade, in the
Artemovsk region, in 24 hours. The personnel
and military equipment of the enemy was
destroyed in another 247 areas.
Russia started a special military operation to denazify
and demilitarize Ukraine on February 24th. Russian
President, Vladimir Putin, said that the decision
had been made after the DPR and LPR Heads
addressed him asking for help.
The Russian leader said that the only goal is to
protect people who have been continuously
shelled and subjected to other forms of
genocide by Ukraine, for eight years.
____________________________________
MoD: 'Kraken' Nationalists
Gun Down 100 Ukrainian
Servicemen - Who Fled
Amid Russian Forces'
Advance
August 19th, 11:55am (FNA)
A commander of the 'Kraken' regiment had previously
admitted to seizing homes in the private sector,
after the Russian Defense Ministry stated
that the nationalists have set up firing
positions in residential buildings,
thus endangering civilians.
Nationalists from Ukraine's 'Kraken' regiment have
gunned down 100 Ukrainian servicemen, who fled
their positions amid the Russian Armed Forces'
advance in the Kharkov region, the Russian
Defense Ministry said on Friday,
Sputnik reported.
The said servicemen were part of the 58th Motorized
Infantry Brigade -- whose divisions were eliminated
by the Russian forces. The remaining servicemen
fled their positions, the ministry added.
"As a result of the offensive actions of the allied forces
in the Kharkov region, on August 14th, 2022, units of
the 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine in the area of the settlement
of Udy, were defeated. Amid the onslaught of
Russian troops, the remnants of the unit fled
from their positions, and left the settlement.
In order to suppress panic -- and intimidate
personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
-- the nationalists of the armed group
"Kraken" --- demonstratively gunned
down 100 servicemen of the 58th
Motorized Infantry Brigade.. who
left their positions," the Russian
MoD elaborated.
During the Friday briefing, the ministry added that
the Russian forces had destroyed more than 100
Ukrainian servicemen of the 14th Mechanized
Brigade in the area of Stary Saltov, in the
Kharkov region.
In addition, the Russian forces conducted a precision
strike targeting a warehouse storing weapons and
military equipment of the 65th Mechanized
Brigade, destroying more than 15 units
of armoured and motorized vehicles.
The ministry then added that the Russian forces had
destroyed the positions of Azov & Aidar Battalions
in Nikolaev and the Donetsk People's Republic,
killing over 50 nationalists.
As for the Kherson region, the Russian air defense
systems have intercepted 12 HIMARS MLRS
shells over the past day, the Russian
Defense Ministry stated.
"A Tochka-U ballistic missile was intercepted near
the village of Yubileinoye, 12 shells of the HIMARS
multiple rocket launcher system, were repelled in
the area of Novaya Kakhovka, in Kherson region,
two shells of the multiple launch rocket system
were destroyed - near Topolskoye settlement
and Suligovka settlement in Kharkov region
plus two anti-radar missiles manufactured
by the US, were intercepted in the area of
the settlements of Alchevsk & Stakhanov
of the Lugansk People's Republic," the
ministry said.
In addition, Russian air defenses shot down
13 Ukrainian drones in the Kharkov and
Nikolaev regions, over the past day.
A total of 1,770 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles,
as well as 267 warplanes, 148 helicopters, 366 anti
-aircraft missile systems, 4,347 tanks and other
armoured combat vehicles, 807 MLRS, 3,315
field artillery guns and mortars, and 4,958
units of special military vehicles, have
been destroyed since the launch of
the special military operation
in February.
____________________________________
Palestinian Succumbs to
Israeli Gunshot Wounds
in West Bank
August 19th, 11:36am (FNA)
A Palestinian on Friday succumbed to his gunshot
wounds inflicted by Israeli soldiers in the
Northern West Bank city of Tubas,
according to the Health Ministry.
The Ministry confirmed in a press statement that Salah
Tawfiq Sawafta, 58, suffered a critical injury in the
head and later succumbed to his wounds at a
hospital, WAFA news agency reported.
Sawafta was shot by Israeli soldiers in the head
as he was walking out a local mosque after
performing the Fajr prayer, during a
raid in Tubas city.
A young man, who remained unidentified, was hit
by a live round in the thigh, in the course of the
ensuing confrontations.
_______________________________________________
Ammunition Depot Catches
Fire --- in Russian Region
Bordering Ukraine
August 19th, 11:35am (FNA)
An ammunition depot caught fire on Thursday night
near the village of Timonovo, the governor of
Russia's Belgorod Region, Vyacheslav
Gladkov, confirmed. There are no
casualties, he said. The area
is just across the border
with Ukraine.
"An ammunition depot caught fire... near the village of
Timonovo in Valuysky urban district. According to the
latest reports, there were no casualties, no injuries.
The head of the district is taking the residents of
the villages of Timonovo and Soloti, to a safe
distance," Gladkov said, on his Telegram
channel, RT reported.
Emergency services are on the scene and the
cause of the fire is under investigation,
he added.
Since the start of Moscow’s military operation
in Ukraine, Kiev’s forces have carried out
numerous strikes on settlements and
border checkpoints --- in Russia’s
regions of Belgorod, Bryansk
and Kursk.
The attacks, which mainly involved drones and
mortars --- have hit both infrastructure and
residential areas, resulting in destruction,
injuries, and several civilian deaths.
An adviser to Crimea’s governor, also said on
Thursday evening, that Air defense systems
have been activated in the city of Kerch,
in the vicinity of the Crimean Bridge.
Videos circulating on social media, showed
what looks like a missile piercing the night
sky, and sounds of explosions.
Oleg Krychkov posted a short message on his
Telegram channel, saying that according to
preliminary information, “Air defense
systems have been activated in
Kerch. No danger for the city
and the bridge”.
There was a sound similar to that of thunder,
with car alarms going off as a result,
Russia’s TASS news agency
reported, citing the Kerch
city council.
Social media users have been sharing videos
which purportedly depict the incident. The
footage features a bright object moving
across the night sky that looks like a
missile, with some videos also
capturing the sound of one
or several explosions.
The operator of the Crimean bridge, which links
the peninsula with the Russian mainland, told
journalists that there have been no traffic
disruptions along the transport artery.
Vladimir Rogov, member of the Russian military-civilian
administration in Ukraine’s Zaporozhye Region, said
on his Telegram channel, that “according to
preliminary data.. a Ukrainian drone was
shot down, far away from the Crimean
bridge”. He added that no casualties
or material damage, have
been reported.
Thursday evening’s activity comes amid
a series of incidents in Crimea, recently.
On Tuesday, a temporary ammunition depot in
Northern Crimea was targeted in what the
Russian Defense Ministry called an act
of sabotage.
Ammunition stored at the site exploded, causing
damage to power lines, a power station, a
railroad and several residential houses.
Last week, a fire at a military airfield near the resort
town of Novofyodorovka and a subsequent wave of
explosions claimed the life of one civilian and
left 14 more people injured.
Russian authorities did not report any findings
that would indicate foul play behind the fire.
While stopping short of claiming responsibility, several
top officials in Kiev have hinted that Ukrainian forces
may have been behind the incidents. They also
warned that more such fires and explosions
could be expected in Crimea in the near
future, and also threatened to target
the Kerch bridge.
The US government has given Ukraine the
go-ahead to target Crimea, the outlet
POLITICO reported, citing a Joe
Biden administration official.
_______________________________
Coalition liberates Zaitsevo
on Gorlovka outskirts
August 19th, 10:28am (DAN)
The Russia-led coalition has liberated the
northern part of the Zaitsevo township,
the DPR Territorial Defence HQ said.
“As of August 19th, the group of DPR and LPR
forces, with the fire support of the Russian
army, has liberated 270 localities,
including Zaitsevo and Dacha,”
the report reads.
The township of Zaitsevo.... is located north
of Golrovka and is within its administrative
boundaries. It has remained one of the
hottest spots, since 2014, as the
northern part was occupied
by Ukrainian forces -- and
the southern part.. came
under fire, continuously.
The operation to denazify and
demilitarize Ukraine began
on February the 24th.
____________________________________
Seven killed, 23 injured in 24 hours
as Ukraine shells DPR 60 times
August 19th, 9:01am (DAN)
Ukrainian militants shelled the DPR 60 times
in the past 24 hours, the Republic’s Mission
to the JCCC said.
The enemy used heavy artillery, including of NATO
calibres, MLRS systems, and mortars, to target
11 townships.
One civilian was killed in Donetsk, four were killed
in Gorlovka, two in liberated Svetlodarsk.
Twenty-three were injured, including two children;
21 houses and three infrastructural facilities
sustained damage.
On Friday morning, multiple damage
was reported in Gorlovka.
_____________________________________
Foreign Affairs names scenarios
for US intervention in Ukraine
August 19th, 8:41am
https://en.news-front.info/
Professor Mierschmeier has said in a piece for Foreign
Affairs, that there is a risk of US intervention in the
conflict, in the event of a major Russian victory
in Ukraine.
University of Chicago political science professor
John Mearsheimer, concluded in an article for
Foreign Affairs magazine, that the situation
surrounding Russia’s special operation in
Ukraine could turn into US intervention
in the conflict.
According to the expert, there are several scenarios
for US intervention. If the situation is not resolved
within a year, official Washington, may consider
introducing small contingents of ground troops
to help Ukraine, the author suggested.
A more likely scenario of U.S. intervention is if the
Ukrainian army starts to collapse, and Russia
gains a major victory. In this case, given the
intention of the US President Joe Biden’s
administration.. not to allow such an
outcome, the United States could
try to turn the situation around
by getting directly involved
in the fighting.
The final scenario of US intervention... involves an
unintended escalation: Washington is unwittingly
drawn into the military conflict by an unforeseen
event, that unfolds in an upward spiral,
concludes Mearsheimer.
_______________________________________
Russian lawmaker says talks
in Lvov didn’t guarantee
Ukraine will stop
‘nuclear blackmail’
August 18th, 11:34pm (TASS)
State Duma Committee on International Affairs
Chairman Leonid Slutsky said the talks of UN
Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, the
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky,
and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan
in Lvov, on Thursday, didn’t provide
guarantees... that Ukraine will
halt its "nuclear blackmail."
"The situation around the Zaporozhye NPP is only
heating up. And the talks in Lvov, have not yet
given clear guarantees, of an end to nuclear
blackmail from the Ukrainian side," he said.
According to the lawmaker, Kiev "repeats false
accusations against Russia, like mantras ---
completely distorting the picture of what
is happening today in Zaporozhye."
"In this situation, it’s really necessary to compare
notes. And, quite likely, it could be the format of
an extraordinary meeting of the Duma Council,"
he said.
The lawmaker said State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav
Volodin, has indicated that he would discuss with
the leaders of parliamentary factions on Monday
the possibility of holding that meeting.
Zelensky, Guterres and Erdogan held talks in Lvov on
Thursday. It was decided that the UN would support
the mission of IAEA inspectors to the Zaporozhye
NPP if Moscow and Kiev agreed to the visit.
Turkey will help to rebuild Ukraine's
infrastructure that was destroyed.
According to statements by the sides, the prospects
for development and settlement of the Ukrainian
conflict were discussed at the talks. However,
the office of the UN Secretary General said
that there’s still a long way to go before
negotiations to halt the hostilities
could start.
____________________________________
Ukrainian military’s shelling
kills five, leaves 23 wounded
in DPR on Thursday
August 18th, 9:51pm (TASS)
The Ukrainian military’s shelling killed five civilians
and left another 23 wounded, in the Donetsk
People’s Republic (DPR) on Thursday, the
DPR mission to the Joint Centre for
Ceasefire Control & Coordination,
said in a statement on Telegram.
"A total of 28 civilians, among them four children, were
affected -- by the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attacks on
August 18th, 2022. Five were killed and 23 suffered
wounds, including 14 people in the previously
liberated city of Svetlodarsk," the
statement reads.
According to the mission, the Ukrainian military fired
353 munitions, particularly using Grad multiple
rocket launchers and heavy artillery.
____________________________________
Ukrainian militants organize
munitions depot in music
school of DPR’s Toretsk
August 18th, 9:49pm (TASS)
Units of the Ukrainian armed forces have organized
munitions depots in a music school, in the town of
Toretsk in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR),
with artillery and multiple rocket launchers
deployed nearby -- to shell local populated
areas, Mikhail Mizintsev, chief of Russia’s
National Defense Management Centre,
reported on Thursday.
"In Toretsk, the Donetsk People's Republic, Ukrainian
army units organized strongholds, and ammunition
depots in a music school and a palace of culture,
deploying artillery and MLRS positions to the
adjacent territory, from where they shell on
a regular basis the nearby settlements. At
the same time, civilians are not allowed
to leave their homes, and nationalists
actually use them as human shields,"
said Mizintsev, who also heads the
Russian Joint Coordination HQ, for
Humanitarian Response in Ukraine.
According to his data.. nationalists have organized
firing positions on the territory of school No. 23 in
the Donetsk settlement of Kurakhovka, deploying
heavy armour, artillery guns, and MLRS. The
approaches to the school - were mined, but
the local population was deliberately not
warned about it, he said.
_____________________________________
Ukrainian troops move into
university dormitory
in Kharkov,
Russian military says
August 18th, 9:41pm (TASS)
Ukrainian troops.. have moved into a university
dormitory in the city of Kharkov, setting up an
ammunition depot there, Head of Russia’s
National Defense Management Centre,
Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev,
said on Thursday.
"In Kharkov, Ukrainian troops moved into a university
dormitory. An ammunition depot was set up there,
and there also are numerous armoured vehicles
nearby," said Mizintsev, who heads Russia’s
interagency coordination centre for the
humanitarian response in Ukraine.
According to him, Ukrainian troops established combat
positions for heavy armoured vehicles & ammunition
depots, near private houses in the city of Dnepr,
without evacuating civilians from the area. In
Nikolaev, nationalists turned an industrial
college building.. into a barracks and a
stronghold, establishing checkpoints
and firing positions around it.
____________________________________
Blood Spilling In
Ukrainian Steppe
August 18th (SouthFront)
The warring sides continue fighting in Ukraine.
There is a slow advance... of the Russian army, on the
eastern outskirts of the city of Soledar. Units of the
6th Cossack Regiment of the Luhansk People’s
Militia are fighting in areas near the Knauf
plant, weakening the enemy’s defenses.
They reportedly managed to take two
fortified strongholds of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine.
On the Ugledar front lines, a Russian advance
was reported near the village of Vladimirovka.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reports daily,
on the heavy losses of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine --- on all the front lines.
According to the Ministry, the Russian Aerospace
Forces (VKS) hit the 37th battalion of the 56th
Motorized Infantry Brigade of the AFU
deployed near Avdiivka. As a result
--- it completely lost its combat
capability. Losses of personnel
exceeded 60 percent.
More than 80 Ukrainian servicemen of the Ukrainian
18th Battalion of the 35th Marine Brigade, were
killed, and more than 50 others wounded, by
strikes by the VKS in the areas of Belaya
Krinitsa and Velikoye Artakovo.
Russian artillery killed over 250 Ukrainian
servicemen of the 95th Airborne Assault
Brigade, in the area of the settlement
of Mazanovka, of the Donetsk
People’s Republic.
Russian forces hit a temporary base of foreign
mercenaries --- in the city of Kharkiv. As a
result, more than 90 militants were killed.
In the Mykolaiv region, about 60 Ukrainian soldiers and
8 units of military equipment were destroyed by the
VKS, near the town of Posad-Pokrovskoye. The
strikes hit the temporary deployment point of
the 1st battalion of the 28th Mechanized
Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It was reported last night that Russian missiles struck
at the Ukrainian facilities in the town of Zatoka in the
Odessa region. According to unconfirmed reports,
about 300 Ukrainian servicemen and foreign
mercenaries, were killed.
The Ukrainian military.. is responding with strikes
on the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics,
including on civilians.
Over the past day, 379 Ukrainian munitions hit the
territory of the DPR. As a result, one civilian
died in the village of Krasny Liman.
Ukrainian forces also hit the village of Pervomaiske
using the US HIMARS MLRS. One civilian was killed
and three others were injured as a result of the
shelling. In total, 80 civilians have been killed
and 253 injured in the LPR, in 6 months.
The Ukrainian military continues shelling the city of
Energodar. More shells hit dangerously close to the
Zaporozhie nuclear power plant. On August 17th,
two employees of the NPP were detained in
Energodar --- for adjusting Ukrainian fire
on the facility.
________________________________________
Sevastopol, Crimea: UAV
shot down near Belbek
airport by means of
air defense
August 18th, 9:12pm
https://en.news-front.info/
Recently, according to preliminary data, an unmanned
aerial vehicle was shot down near Belbek airport, by
means of the air defense -- Governor of Sevastopol
Razvozhaev.
There is no damage. No harm done.
He added that it is necessary to remain calm
and receive information from trusted sources.
__________________________________
UN, Kiev, Ankara, coordinate
actions on grain exports,
NPP issue -- Ukrainian
top diplomat
August 18th, 6:11pm (TASS)
Presidents Vladimir Zelensky of Ukraine and Recep
Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye and the UN Secretary
General, Antonio Guterres, coordinated their
actions on Ukrainian grain exports, and the
situation around the Zaporozhye Nuclear
Power Plant, Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Dmitry Kuleba, said on Thursday.
"The presidents and the secretary general coordinated
- not only their positions, but also their actions - on key
issues, that is, the grain corridor, the Zaporozhye NPP
and - certainly - the release of our prisoners. It means
that they did not just talk about something, but made
agreements --- on who will do what next," he said in
a video on Facebook (an Internet platform banned
in Russia since it is owned by Meta corporation
deemed extremist by Russian authorities)
following a trilateral meeting in the
Ukrainian city of Lvov.
__________________________________
Zelensky discussed the situation
around the Zaporozhye NPP
with UN Secretary General
August 18th, 5:08pm
https://en.news-front.info/
The President of Ukraine said that at a meeting
in Lviv he discussed the situation around the
ZNPP... with the UN Secretary General.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said
that he had discussed the situation around
the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, with
UN Secretary General António Guterres
in Lviv.
“The UN... must ensure the security of this strategic
facility,” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel,
adding that a “demilitarization and complete
liberation from Russian troops” should be
carried out at the station.
Zelensky said that he agreed with Guterres, the
parameters of a possible IAEA mission to the
Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
“The President and the Secretary General of the UN
have agreed on the parameters of a possible IAEA
mission to the Zaporozhye NPP,” the Ukrainian
leader said, in a statement published on the
website of the Ukrainian leader, following
his meeting with Guterres on Thursday
in Lvov.
It also states that the trip of the IAEA representatives
to the nuclear power plant “should be carried out in
a legal way” ...through the territory free from
Russian troops.
Zelensky and Guterres agreed to continue
coordination on the grain initiative.
_____________________________________
Ukrainian President’s Advisor says
with capabilities of Ukraine, the
Crimean bridge can only be
“scratched”
August 18th 4:58pm
https://en.news-front.info/
Aleksey Arestovich, adviser to the head of Zelensky’s
office, now says that Ukraine would - technically -
not be able to destroy the Crimean bridge
According to Arestovich, the Crimean bridge can
be “scratched”, but not destroyed. With the
capabilities of Ukraine, only a symbolic
blow can be delivered, which, apart
from rejoicing in Kyiv, will
give nothing.
Today, nothing threatens the Crimean bridge from
Ukraine, because there is - simply - nothing.
“You can hit it with a symbolic blow --- everyone is
terribly happy. But we see: how hard and long the
Antonovsky bridge is, being destroyed and it has
not yet been destroyed. Kerch, is several times
stronger, bigger, stronger. You can shoot, the
question is, whether it will fly. Shooting just
to hit the Crimean bridge and do nothing
serious, is a dubious story,”
said Arestovich.
Just a month ago, Arestovich claimed that Kyiv would
strike at the Crimean bridge at the first opportunity
-- as soon as there was a chance to hit it. He also
stressed that Ukraine’s “partners” from the US,
forbid strikes on Russian territory, but Crimea
is “originally” Ukrainian territory, and the
bridge passes over the “territorial
waters of Ukraine.”
________________________________
Serbian president to address
nation over fruitless talks
on Kosovo
August 18th, 4:58pm (TASS)
Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, will address the
nation on Friday, over fruitless talks with Albin Kurti,
the prime minister of the unrecognized Republic of
Kosovo, the Tanjug news agency reported on
Thursday, citing a member of
Serbia’s delegation.
"President Vucic.. will make a public address upon
his return to Belgrade tomorrow. It will be one of
his most important addresses," Director of the
Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar
Petkovic said.
Earlier, Vucic and other members of the Serbian
delegation, declined to make comments to the
press, after the talks with Kurti in Brussels.
"We thought that reaching a compromise, was
possible. None of our delegation’s members....
will make any statements," Petkovic stressed.
The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borressl said after
the meeting that the EU, Serbia and Kosovo had
failed to reach a solution to the issue of
Serbian license plates and IDs in
northern Kosovo.
_________________________________
Israeli Forces Martyr Another
Palestinian Youth - During
Incursion Near Nablus
August 18th, 4:17pm (FNA)
Israeli troops killed another Palestinian youth
during an incursion on a holy site, near the
city of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.
The 18-year-old, Waseem Nasr Abu-Khalifa,
succumbed to injuries he sustained after
being hit by Israeli gunfire, at Joseph's
Tomb, East of Nablus, presstv reports.
It came after Palestinian resistance fighters
exchanged fire with Israeli forces during
the raid on the holy site.
Dozens of Palestinians were wounded in the clashes.
According to Palestinian media, three Palestinians
injured by the Israeli live fire, are in a
critical condition.
Earlier this week, a young Palestinian was shot dead
during an Israeli Army raid in occupied Al-Quds.
Mohammad Ibrahim Shaham, in his twenties, was
killed by a bullet to the head, early after Israeli
forces violently broke into his family home in
Kafr 'Aqab neighbourhood of East Al-Quds.
Tensions have been running high in the occupied
territories after the Israeli regime carried out a
new massacre in the Gaza Strip on August 5th,
killing nearly 50 Palestinians, including Taysir
Al-Jabari, a senior commander of the
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
resistance movement.
The Israeli airstrikes prompted the Al-Quds Brigades,
the Islamic Jihad’s military wing, to respond by firing
hundreds of rockets toward the occupied territories,
pushing the regime forces onto the back foot.
The strong retaliation, as was pledged by the
resistance group, forced Tel Aviv to accept
an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire, which
took effect late on August the 7th.
_________________________________
..