Tuesday, August 15

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Rescuers put out a fire at one of Odesa’s biggest hypermarkets. Russia launched multiple strikes against Odesa the night of Aug. 14, causing fires throughout the city and damage to hundreds of buildings. (Photo by Nina Liashonok / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Russia hits Dnipro, Lviv, Lutsk during night attack. Russia’s missile attack on western Ukraine’s city of Lutsk left two people injured, according to the local governor. A missile hit an industrial plant in the city, Volyn Oblast Governor Yurii Pohuliaiko reported on his official Telegram channel in the morning of Aug. 15.

City Council: Russian overnight attack against Odesa damages over 200 buildings. As of 11 a.m. local time, damages to 203 buildings were recorded in Odesa as a result of Russia’s overnight air attack, the Odesa City Council reported on Aug. 14.

Media: Ruble drops to lowest point since start of Russia’s all-out war. The Russian currency is now worth less than 1 cent, falling past 100 rubles to the dollar, a 40% decrease in its value this year.

Defense Ministry: Ukraine liberates 3 square kilometers near Bakhmut in last week. Ukrainian forces have liberated three square kilometers of land near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast over the last week, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Aug. 14.

Ukrainian forces destroy Russian military equipment, kill 99 combatants at southern front. Ukrainian troops destroyed 34 units of Russian military equipment and killed nearly 100 soldiers in combat operations on Aug. 14, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi reported via Telegram.

Military intelligence: Ukraine ready to face any Russian offensive in foreseeable future. Ukraine is ready for any large-scale offensives that Russia can launch in the near future, military intelligence (HUR) General Vadym Skibitskyi said on Aug. 14, commenting on the rumors in the Western press about a possible upcoming Russian campaign.

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US detects Russian military aircraft in Alaskan air defense zone. The U.S. military has detected and tracked four Russian warplanes flying in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) late Aug. 13 and on the morning of Aug. 14, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported.

Russian military training aircraft crashes in Krasnodar Krai. A Russian L-39 military training aircraft crashed near an airfield in Krasnodar Krai, killing one of its crew members, the Russian state news agency TASS reported on Aug. 14, citing the country’s defense ministry.

Zelensky visits troops in Donetsk Oblast. President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the headquarters of brigades conducting offensive operations in the Bakhmut area in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 14.

Rheinmetall confirms Luna drone system for Ukraine in 2023. The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall confirmed on Aug. 14 that it will deliver a Luna New Generation reconnaissance drone system to Ukraine in the course of 2023.

Ukrainian schoolchildren to take mine safety courses. Ukraine’s Education Ministry is developing a course in cooperation with UNICEF on mine safety for Ukrainian schoolchildren, one that will become a mandatory part of the curriculum, the ministry announced on Aug. 14.

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Ukraine war latest: Military reports 3 square kilometers’ advance near Bakhmut over last week

Ukrainian forces have liberated three square kilometers of land near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast over the last week, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Aug. 14.

Photo: Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian attacks kill 9, injure 24 over one day. Russian attacks against 10 Ukrainian oblasts killed nine civilians and wounded 24 over the past day, according to regional authorities.

Authorities: 1 killed, 7 injured in Russian attacks on two oblasts. Russian attacks against Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts killed one civilian and wounded seven more on Aug. 14, according to regional authorities.

3 killed following Russia’s attack on Lutsk. Volyn Oblast Governor Yurii Pohuliaiko said three people were killed in Russia’s attack on the western Ukrainian city of Lutsk. Pohuliaiko reported earlier that at least two people were injured when a missile hit an industrial plant in the city in the morning of Aug. 15.

General Staff: Russia has lost 254,920 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Aug. 15 that Russia had also lost 4,313 tanks, 8,370 armored fighting vehicles, 7,584 vehicles and fuel tanks, 5,128 artillery systems, 714 multiple launch rocket systems, 482 air defense systems, 315 airplanes, 314 helicopters, 4,242 drones, and 18 boats.

International response

US announces $200 million military aid package for Ukraine. The U.S. has announced a $200 million military aid package for Ukraine, including munitions for Patriot air defense systems and HIMARS, as well as other support, the Pentagon said on Aug. 14.

Ukraine to receive Norwegian anti-drone systems worth $71 million. The International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), an initiative from the U.K. Ministry of Defense, has signed a contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace group to provide several C-UAS air defense systems, the Norwegian company announced on Aug. 14.

Minister: Germany plans $5.5 billion in annual military aid for Ukraine until 2027. Germany plans to provide Ukraine with 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in annual military aid until 2027, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Aug. 14, Forbes Ukraine reported.

Romania plans to double transit capacity of Ukrainian grain. Romania plans to increase the transit capacity of Ukrainian grain from 2 million metric tons to 4 million every month, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Sorin Grindeanu said on Aug. 11, the Romanian news agency Agerpres reported.

Chinese defense minister to visit Russia, Belarus. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia and Belarus as part of an official six-day trip, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Aug. 14.

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