Aug. 26 – 6:23 p.m
Bomb attack on Bar near Kupyansk: two dead
Russian forces attacked a bar in Podoly, near the Ukrainian city of Kupyansk, killing two civilians and wounding a third, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Fierce fighting is raging in the region that the Ukrainians retook last September.
Aug. 26 – 4:21 p.m
Ukrainian jets collide in training: three dead
Two Ukrainian L-39 Albatros two-seat trainer aircraft collided in flight during an exercise and at least three pilots died, including a known pilot. The incident happened yesterday in north-western Zhytomyr Oblast, but it was only learned today through official Telegram channels, including those of the Kyiv Air Force. Among the dead is a pilot from the 46th Tactical Air Brigade, known by the nickname “Juicè”.
Aug 26 – 3:37 p.m
USA: “Moscow uses civilian spies for propaganda in the West”
Russian intelligence has a “systematic” program of spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda to “civilian targets” in the United States and the West. This is shown by recently released documents from US authorities. In particular, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) is attempting to influence Western politics and public opinion by sending seemingly independent Russian civilians to establish relationships with prominent figures in the US and elsewhere in order to spread a pro-Russian narrative in the media.
Aug 26 – 2:03 p.m
New Ukrainian missile type destroys Russian anti-aircraft battery
The deployment of a new and modern Ukrainian missile, possibly ship-launched. The Ukrainians even managed to film the destruction of the modern Russian battery capable of launching hyperrockets at speeds of 17,000 kilometers per hour. There are not many of these batteries, which are among the most advanced that Russia can deploy.
This was stated by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov on Ukrainian radio, quoted by UNIAN. According to him, the missile that destroyed the Triumph was “new and absolutely modern”: “Yes, this is our new product, which has proven to be absolutely flawless,” said Danilov. The NSDC secretary avoided other technical details. And he did not specify whether it is a completely new development or an updated version of a weapon already available in Ukraine. However, Danilov revealed that it is a development of Ukraine’s defense industry under a program launched in 2020.
Aug 26 – 2:01 p.m
Moscow: “Ukrainian missiles at civilian houses and a bar, 4 injured in Belgorod”
Russia blames Kyiv for injuring four people in Russia’s Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine. “The Ukrainian armed forces attacked the Urazovo region with Grad rocket launchers,” wrote the governor of the region Vyacheslav Gladkov on Telegram. Cluster munitions hit private homes and an agricultural warehouse. According to initial reports, three men and one woman were injured. According to the Tass agency, all of the victims were civilians who were injured by shrapnel
Aug. 26 – 12:17 p.m
NATO and Kiev: Secret Summit of Commanders
a meeting top secret What was privately described as a real “council of war” took place eleven days ago at an undisclosed location on the Polish-Ukrainian border between some senior NATO soldiers and Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief General Valerii Zaluzhny. The Guardian reports today. The British newspaper reports that it was not a normal discussion: Zaluzhny took his entire management team with him on the approximately 500-kilometer journey from Kiev. The strategic meeting was attended by NATO military chief General Christopher Cavoli and Britain’s chief of staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, at a time when London is being recognized in Washington and Kiev as an increasingly important partner in supporting Ukraine. The purpose of the five-hour meeting was to help redefine Ukraine’s military strategy: high on the agenda was slowing down Ukraine’s counter-offensive, as well as battle plans for the challenging winter ahead and the long-term strategy that the war inevitably heads towards in 2024 .
Aug. 26 – 12:16 p.m
Russian attack in Kupiansk: “Bar hit; 2 dead”
The death toll in a Russian attack on a cafeteria in Kupyansk district of Kharkiv region is at least two dead. The Ukrainian authorities report it. “According to the first reports from doctors, two people died in the bombing of Podoly and another was injured,” Kharkiv governor Oleh Syniehubov said in a telegram, accusing the Russians of attacking a bar. According to Ukrinform, the victims are civilians.
Aug. 26 – 12:14 p.m
The Pope addresses young Russians: “Be artisans of peace”
“I invite you to be a bridge builder. Build bridges between generations and recognize the dreams of those who have gone before you. The bond between the generations keeps the history and culture of a people alive. I wish you, young Russians, the vocation to be peacemakers in the midst of so much conflict, amidst so much polarization on all sides that is plaguing our world.” Pope Francis said yesterday in a video link with Russian youth gathering in St Petersburg on the occasion of the 10th National Meeting of Catholic Youth of Russia, which will be held from August 23rd to 27th. The theme chosen for this tenth meeting is the same as that of World Youth Day in Lisbon: “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39). “I invite you to be a sower, to sow seeds of reconciliation, small seeds that will not germinate for a moment in the frozen earth this winter of war, but which will bloom in a future spring,” he continued. As I said in Lisbon: have the courage to replace fears with dreams. Replace fears with dreams. Replace fears with dreams. Don’t be managers of fears, but entrepreneurs of dreams. Allow yourself the luxury of dreaming big!». During the connection, the Pope also listened to some testimonies and answered questions. “Dear young people, thank you for the time you have given me, for wanting to share with me some of your dreams and hopes, your fears and sufferings,” he added. “Be a sign of hope, a sign of peace and joy, like Mary, so that, with the same humility of her servant, you too can change the history in which you live,” he concluded. Commit yourself to the future, anchored in the roots of your grandparents. I greet you with affection. I’m glad I spoke to you. I give you my blessing I’m praying for you and please don’t forget to pray for me.
Aug. 26 – 11:47 a.m
Gb: “The Russian army is under pressure, but will continue to attack”
The Ukrainian counter-offensive has put Russian forces under pressure in Bakhmut and the south of the country, but the Kremlin’s western military group is continuing small-scale attacks on the north-eastern Kupyansk-Lyman front line. British Ministry of Defense intelligence puts it on X, pointing out that there is a concrete possibility that over the next two months Russia will increase the intensity of its offensive on the Kupyansk and Lyman lines, aiming west towards the river advance to Oskil and create a buffer zone around the Lugansk region.
Aug. 26 – 11:45 a.m
Russia: “Kiev drone shot down in Belgorod”
Russia says it shot down a Ukrainian drone in the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border. According to Moscow’s Defense Ministry, Tass agency reports that this morning “an attempt by the Kiev regime to attack locations with a drone” on Russian territory was foiled and “the drone was destroyed by anti-aircraft defenses while flying over the Zhebekino.” district, Belgorod region”.
Aug. 26 – 11:45 a.m
Russia blocks the passage of foreign ships
The Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet was deployed this month to naval exercises in the Barents Sea, which began August 10, with the aim of “preventing the unauthorized passage of foreign ships”. This was announced by the Russian agency Interfax this morning, without giving a date for the completion of the maneuvers. According to reports, the destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov “conducted an exercise simulating countering the actions of a ‘fake intruder'”. According to the agency, further exercises are planned.
August 26 – 11:09 am
Secret summit on Polish border between NATO and Ukrainian military leaders
A five-hour meeting between NATO officials and the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reportedly took place 11 days ago at an undisclosed location on the Polish-Ukrainian border. It is the Guardian writing about a kind of “council of war”. Zaluzhnyi was along with the entire chain of command, the newspaper points out, referring to a meeting that would have aimed to reshape Ukraine’s military strategy amid the counter-offensive that is slowly progressing and in anticipation of combat plans for the winter and a long-term strategy. According to the Guardian, the commander of allied forces in Europe, American General Christopher Cavoli, and the chief of the UK Defense Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, would have been present.
Aug. 26 – 10:33 am
Ukraine: “Optimists see the arrival of Taurus cruise missiles from Germany”
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov is confident that Taurus cruise missiles from Germany will arrive in Kiev. “I’m really optimistic and believe that in the future we will also have bulls from Germany,” said Reznikov in an interview published by Bild, Welt and Politico. Without specifying when the supplies might arrive, Reznikov said he “don’t think it will take a whole year”. Ukraine has long been asking about the bull in Berlin. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far been reluctant. “Regardless of what requests are made to Germany,” he told the newspapers, “I will continue to carefully consider every single decision and never do anything rash.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had spoken of “technical details” in the past few days clear up.
Aug 26 – 09:04
Kiev: “Massive Russian losses in the Dnipro Delta”
The spokeswoman for the South Ukrainian Military Press Center Nataliya Gumenyuk announced on public television that Kiev’s troops in the southern Kherson region are successfully operating in the Dnieper river delta, destroying the Russian river “sub-fleet” with which the enemy is trying to do inter-island maneuvers : “In particular, a lot of work is being done on the destruction of large-caliber weapons,” she said, quoted by Rbc-Ukraine. According to the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW), too, the Russian occupiers suffered significant losses due to insufficient support on the islands of the Dnipro Delta.
Reports of massive casualties of a Russian unit due to insufficient support on an island in the Dnipro Delta have sparked outrage against the Russian military command among influential military bloggers, according to the ISW. Milbloggers reinforced the complaint from personnel of Russia’s 205th Motor Rifle Brigade, claiming that some units are suffering significant casualties under Ukrainian artillery fire on an island towards Kherson and that the commanders are ignoring the military’s demands.
Aug 26 – 08:03
Zelenskyy: “New diplomatic agreements, meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is important”
“New defense packages, including the issue of aircraft: that’s exactly what our soldiers need and what they told me when I visited the front.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening speech after he held a meeting in Kiev on the results of negotiations with international partners had held. The President of Ukraine also announced new international events in the fall: “New steps in relations with partners intended to strengthen Ukraine.” “The fall will be rich from a diplomatic point of view,” added the head of state, who also summed up the meeting in Kiev with the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. “An important meeting – as he defined it – concerns both a security component and our joint diplomatic work and basic humanitarian things that we do together, especially the liberation of our people from Russian captivity.”
August 26 – 8:00 a.m
Moscow: “Ukrainian drone shot down in flight towards capital”
Russia says it “destroyed a Ukrainian attack drone” near Moscow. “On August 26 at around 3 a.m. local time, an attempt by the Kiev regime to use a drone to carry out a terrorist attack on facilities in Moscow and the region was foiled,” the Russian Defense Ministry told TASS Agency. The drone was “shot down by the air defense forces over the Istrian region,” according to Moscow. Even the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergei Sobyanin, reported via telegram about a “destroyed drone in the Istrian region while heading towards Moscow”, adding that “according to the first information, there are no casualties or damage”.
Aug 26 – 07:59
Moscow airports have reopened after Ukrainian drone strikes
Moscow’s Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports, which were closed in the last few hours, have reopened and resumed operations. This was reported by the Russian agency Tass, after the Russian authorities claimed that they “destroyed a Ukrainian attack drone” in the Moscow region.