Thursday, August 15

Russia’s war against Ukraine

The aftermath of a Russian drone strike on a vehicle in the village of Bilyi Kolodiaz, Kharkiv Oblast that killed two medics. Photo published on Aug. 14, 2024. (Serhii Bolvinov/Facebook)

Ukraine hits 4 Russian airbases in largest such attack, source says. An SBU source called it the largest attack on Russian airbases during the war.

Russia claims over 110 downed drones amid reported explosions near airbases. Russian Telegram channels claimed explosions in the village of Savasleyka in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast that hosts a Russian airfield and is located some 650 kilometers (403 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Explosions were also reported in the town of Borisoglebsk in Voronezh Oblast, where another Russian airfield is located.

Russia pulls some troops from Ukraine to reinforce Kursk Oblast, WSJ reports. According to the WSJ, officials are still uncertain about how many troops Russia is redirecting and how significant the step is.

Ukraine downs Russian Su-34 aircraft over Kursk Oblast, military says. Ukrainian forces reportedly shot down the military jet over the Russian border region overnight on Aug. 14.

Ukrainian TV reports from Kursk Oblast’s Sudzha for first time, video shows. Ukrainian TSN news program showed Ukrainian soldiers removing the Russian flag in the town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast on Aug. 14, reporting from embattled Russia’s region for the first time after Kyiv’s incursion.

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Authorities in Russia’s Kursk Oblast order evacuation of another town. Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, said the evacuation of Glushkovo will be assisted by the military and law enforcement, with the help of local volunteers.

Russia offers workers up to $4000 to dig trenches in Kursk Oblast. The job ads call for “general workers” who are able to dig fortifications in Kursk Oblast, with posted pay rates ranging between 150,000-371,000 rubles (approximately $1,600-4,000).

SBU says it busted Russian spy network, including ex-members of Yanukovych’s security. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Aug. 14 it had uncovered a Russian intelligence network that included two former bodyguards of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych and an active member of Ukraine’s National Guard.

Russian phishing campaign targets Kremlin’s enemies at home and abroad. The campaign targeted Russian opposition figures, NGOs, and Western diplomats, including former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Steven Pifer.

Crimean museum dedicated to Lesia Ukrainka repurposed by Russian authorities, mentions of writer erased. The Lesia Ukrainka Museum in Yalta, located in occupied Crimea, has been effectively erased. The museum has been repurposed under a new name, the Yalta Historical and Literary Museum, with exhibitions focusing on Yalta’s history, music, and literature, as well as architect Nikolai Krasnov.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Over 100 Russian troops captured in Kursk Oblast in less than a day, Syrskyi says

Ukrainian forces operating in Kursk Oblast have captured more than 100 Russian troops since midnight on Aug. 14, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a report to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Photo: Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images

Germany issues arrest warrant for Ukrainian over Nord Stream explosion, media claim

German authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national in connection to the explosions of the Nord Stream pipelines, according to a media investigation by several German news outlets published on Aug. 14.

Photo: Swedish Coast Guard via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 3, injure 13 over past day. Ukrainian air defenses downed 17 of the 23 “kamikaze” drones launched by Russia overnight from occupied Crimea, the Air Force reported. Russia also attacked Ukraine with two Kh-59/69 guided aerial missiles from Belgorod Oblast.

Russian drone strike in Kharkiv Oblast kills 2 medics, police report. Separately, the Hospitallers Medical Battalion wrote on Facebook that one of their volunteer medics, 34-year-old Oleksandra Mulkevych, was killed in the line of duty. Hospitallers did not specify the details of how Mulkevych was killed, and it is not clear if she was one of the medics killed in Kharkiv Oblast.

Decorated Ukrainian pilot killed in action. Oleksandr Myhulia, an experienced Ukrainian pilot and commander of an aviation unit of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade squadron, was killed in action on Aug. 12, the brigade said on Aug. 14.

General Staff: Russia has lost 594,400 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,240 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Opinions and insights

**Opinion: It’s time for a major overhaul of US policy on Ukrainian strikes in Russia  **

“For effective defense, the U.S. should completely lift restrictions on Ukraine repelling Kremlin aggression, especially by authorizing the use of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against legitimate military targets throughout Russia,” writes Serhii Kuzan, chair of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center.

Photo: Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images

International response

Ukraine’s operations in Kursk Oblast ‘are defensive,’ Polish PM says. “What the Russian troops and Russian aviation are doing to Ukraine’s territory bears the hallmarks of genocide and inhuman crimes. Ukraine has every right to wage war in such a way as to paralyze Russia in its aggressive intentions as effectively as possible,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

Finnish President voices support for Ukraine’s right to self-defense. Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed strong support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russian aggression, including strikes and advances on Russian territory.

Military expert on Ukraine’s Kursk offensive: ‘high risk, high return’

In other news

Training grenade explodes in popular Kyiv cafe, no injuries reported. Zigzag, the cafe where the explosion occurred, is located in Kyiv’s central Golden Gate neighborhood and is a popular establishment in the area with both locals and foreigners.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Nate Ostiller, Chris York, Liliane Bivings, Sonya Bandouil, Kateryna Denisova, Abbey Fenbert, and Martin Fornusek.

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