Saturday, August 24

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Zhenya Dove, an activist and volunteer from Kherson who is based in Edinburgh, explores the sunflower fields in East Lothian, Scotland, on Aug. 23, 2024. The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine and a symbol of peace. August 24th is Ukraine’s Independence Day. (Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images)

India, Ukraine approve four cooperation agreements, Zelensky says. Modi arrived in Kyiv on the morning of Aug. 23, the first time an Indian prime minister set foot in Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established over 30 years ago.

Ukraine confirms sinking of Russian ferry in Kerch Strait. The Kavkaz port, located on the Chushka Spit in the Kerch Strait, is one of Russia’s largest passenger ports. Its main task is to serve the Kerch ferry crossing in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Satellite image shows destroyed ferry at Russia’s Kavkaz port following attack. The satellite image, recorded by the Earth imaging company Planet Labs on Aug. 23, showed the destroyed ferry and several small vessels nearby “that may have been damaged,” Schemes reported.

Ukrainian forces storm penal colony in Kursk Oblast where Ukrainian prisoners were held, human rights activists say. The seizure of the penal colony will be an important step in documenting war crimes committed by Russia against prisoners of war, Media Initiative for Human Rights reported on Aug. 23.

Drones hit ammunition depot in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast, media, officials say. Drones caused a fire and explosion at a facility on Aug. 24, Governor Gusev said. The Russian Telegram channel Astra reported that the explosion occurred at an ammunition depot in Ostrogozhsk, Voronezh Oblast.

Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.

Germany, US warn of increased Russian threat ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day. “Around Ukrainian Independence Day on Aug. 24, 2024, there may be increased rocket and aerial attacks on the urban centers, especially the capital Kyiv,” Germany’s Foreign Office said in a statement Aug. 23.

Ukraine pushing Russian forces out of Kharkiv Oblast step by step, Zelensky says. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement comes after Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade launched a counterattack in Kharkiv Oblast and advanced almost two square kilometers deep into the front-line area a day prior.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on ‘verge of blackout’ after Russian attack, Energoatom says. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Throughout its occupation, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

Ukraine withdraws from positions near Pokrovsk to avoid Russian encirclement, ISW says. Pokrovsk is an important logistical hub for the Ukrainian forces that supports their operations in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukraine to resume energy exports this week, state grid operator says. “Exports will take place only during periods of surplus, when solar power plants are actively operating. Electricity will not be exported from Ukraine during periods of maximum consumption, when there is not enough capacity in the power system,” the state grid operator Ukrenergo said.

KI Insights, a newly launched analytical unit powered by the Kyiv Independent, is organizing monthly briefings on a hot political topic of the month. 

We will reflect on the key events in the history of oligarchy in Ukraine, take a deep dive into the power players in 2019 (beginning of Zelensky’s presidency) and where they are now, shed light on the new faces and what place oligarchs hold in today’s wartime Ukraine.  

Format: Online. The event will include a presentation by our director, Jakub Parusinski, and a Q&A session. Seize the opportunity, as the next briefing is planned offline only in Kyiv. 

When: Tuesday, August 27, 16:00 Kyiv time (15:00 in Brussels, 14:00 in London, 10:00 in Washington, DC). Expected duration – 1 hour.You can add the event to your calendar by clicking here .

Where: A Zoom link will be sent to confirmed participants by e-mail. 

In case of any issues or questions, please contact us at insights@kyivindependent.com 
Feel free to reach out to suggest topics of interest for future briefings.  

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: US provides military aid, Norway to finance production of shells in Ukraine

The Norwegian government will provide Kyiv with its defense technology and finance the production of 155-millimeter artillery shells developed by the Nammo (Nordic Ammunition Company) in Ukraine, according to its Aug. 23 statement.

Photo: Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine

Harris closes convention in support of Ukraine after nearly sidelining foreign policy

The vice president’s remarks late on Aug. 22, light on policy but consistent in support of Ukraine’s pushback against Russia’s full-scale invasion, came after her sprint of a campaign has received criticism for minimally addressing foreign policy concerns.

Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Stranded Russian troops in Kursk Oblast could top-up Ukraine’s POW fund, experts say

A number of Russian troops are now cut off by Ukraine’s target attacks on key bridges in Kursk Oblast. They are at risk of becoming prisoners of war (POWs) if they cannot be evacuated soon, experts have told the Kyiv Independent.

Image: Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent

Kursk ‘counteroffensive’ shakes main pillar of Putin’s power grip, retired US general says

Ben Hodges says Ukraine’s surprise counter-invasion into Russian territory and Russia’s failure to respond mark a catastrophe for the Kremlin. “All of us in the West – and Russia – have underestimated Ukraine.”

Photo: Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent

Human cost of war

General Staff: Russia has lost 605,330 troops since Feb 24, 2022. This number includes 1,1190 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

International response

Biden announces new $125 million aid package for Kyiv ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day. The package will include air defense missiles, counter-drone equipment and anti-armor missiles, ammunition for front-line soldiers, and mobile rocket systems.

US targets around 400 individuals, entities in Russia, third countries in new sanctions package. The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on around a dozen distinct networks, designating more than 100 targets across 16 jurisdictions, including China, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. They help Russia to evade sanctions, the Treasury said.

Latvia prepares largest batch of drones yet for Ukraine. In a post on X, Defense Minister Andris Spruds said the latest shipment consists of 1,400 drones, and it marked the conclusion of a program between the country’s defense ministry and Latvian manufacturers that had procured 2,700 drones in total.

Norway to finance production of NATO-standard artillery shells in Ukraine. The Norwegian government will provide Kyiv with its defense technology and finance the production of 155-millimeter artillery shells developed by the Nammo (Nordic Ammunition Company) in Ukraine, according to its Aug. 23 statement.

European Commission sees ‘no reason to be concerned’ about ban on Lukoil’s oil supplies to Hungary, Slovakia. In June, Kyiv imposed sanctions blocking Lukoil, one of the largest oil companies in Russia, from transiting crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline running through Ukrainian territory.

South Africa blocks artillery shell delivery to Poland due to fear of them being transferred to Ukraine, media says. Warsaw ordered 50,000 155-millimeter shells from the South African company Denel Munition, a subsidiary of the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, in which it holds a 51% stake.

Belarus, China pledge to strengthen security ties. According to a joint statement, Beijing and Minsk pledged not only to strengthen security ties but also to improve cooperation in the finance and energy sectors.

Face-to-face with Russians in Ukrainian-occupied Kursk Oblast

In other news

Media: Convicts take hostages in Russian prison, kill one. Andrey Bocharov, governor of Volgograd Oblast, said that four employees were hospitalized with injuries.

Wagner Group greatly reduced 1 year after Prigozhin’s death, UK Defense Ministry reports. “In comparison to its peak personnel count of around 50,000 in 2023, Wagner now likely maintains around 5,000 total personnel across its residual deployments in Belarus and Africa,” the ministry said.

Want to get the news faster? Follow our website: kyivindependent.com.

Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Chris York, Oleg Sukhov, Kateryna Denisova, Kateryna Hodunova, Oleksiy Sorokin, and Abbey Fenbert.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today.