Kevin Lamarque | Reuters The State Department criticized Moscow’s “so-called courts” in the Russian-controlled city of Mariupol. “The Kremlin is attempting to deflect responsibility for President Putin’s war of aggression and distract from the overwhelming evidence of atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine,” State Department spokesman Ned Price wrote in a statement. Price called the trials “a travesty of justice” and called on Moscow to comply with international law. “All members of the armed forces of Ukraine, including domestic and foreign volunteers who are integrated into the armed forces, are entitled to prisoner of war status if captured and must be accorded treatment and protection commensurate with such status, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions ». Price added. — Amanda Macias
Almost 770,000 metric tons of agricultural products have left Ukrainian ports
The Turkish-flagged ship “Polarnet” carrying grain from Ukraine arrives at the port of Derince, Kocaeli, Turkey, on August 8, 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images The agency that oversees Ukraine’s agricultural exports said a total of 769,986 metric tons of grain and other food have so far left through the humanitarian sea corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The Joint Coordination Center, or JCC, said more than 30 ships carrying grain and other crops have left Ukrainian ports. The JCC also said it authorized the movement of three merchant ships departing from Ukrainian ports. — Amanda Macias
25 people have been confirmed dead after a Russian attack on a train station in central Ukraine
Twenty-five people have now been confirmed dead following a Russian rocket attack on a railway station in central Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian newspaper Kyiv Independent. The strikes took place on August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, ahead of which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia could launch a “particularly tough” attack on the country. Rockets hit a train and residential areas of the town of Chaplyne in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, regional officials said, initially killing 15 and injuring at least 50. Four trains were set ablaze and two children were killed in the attack, according to the presidential office’s deputy chief, Kyrylo Tymoshenko. — Natasha Toorak
Russia may exploit any Ukrainian military activity around nuclear power station for ‘propaganda purposes’: UK
A soldier with a Russian flag on his uniform stands guard near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant outside the Russian-controlled town of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on August 4, 2022. Alexander Ermochenko Reuters Concerns remain over the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which has been under the control of Russian forces since March. Ukrainian and Western officials have warned of “false flag” actions by Russia, through which Russian forces might launch an attack and blame it on Ukrainian forces as a justification for the escalation. “Russia is likely ready to exploit any Ukrainian military activity near the ZNPP for propaganda purposes,” Britain’s Ministry of Defense wrote in its daily intelligence update on Twitter. “While Russia maintains military ownership of the ZNPP, the main risks to reactor operations are likely to remain disruption to the reactor cooling systems, damage to the backup power supply, or errors by stressed workers,” the post added. — Natasha Toorak
UK announces $64m package of drones and munitions for Ukraine
The United Kingdom has announced a new 54 million pound ($64 million) arms package for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which will include 2,000 drones and ammunition, according to a government statement. The package includes 850 hand-held Black Hornet micro-drones, “which are specially designed for use in cities and villages and are deployed to detect approaching enemy forces,” the statement said. Military personnel can learn to fly these drones, which are smaller than a mobile phone, in less than 20 minutes, according to the UK government. The UK is also to send minesweepers to Ukraine so it can detect Russian mines in its waters. In the coming weeks, Ukrainian soldiers training in the UK will be taught how to use them in British waters. The UK is also expanding its training program for Ukrainian troops. — Natasha Toorak
Five ships carrying a total of 85,110 metric tons of agricultural products are set to depart from Ukrainian ports
The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos, near Istanbul, Turkey, on August 3, 2022. Mehmet Caliskan Reuters The agency that oversees the export of agricultural products from Ukraine said five ships carrying grain and other crops were approved to depart from Ukrainian ports on Thursday. The ship Ascanios is carrying 58,510 metric tons of corn and is bound for Germany. The ship Mohamad is carrying 11,000 metric tons of wheat and is destined for Israel. The ship, named Bellis, will also travel to Israel and is carrying 6,000 metric tons of soybeans. The ship Oris Sofi is carrying 5,900 metric tons of sunflower oil to Turkey. Another ship, the Zelek Star, is also bound for Turkey and is carrying 3,700 metric tons of peas. In total, the five ships are transporting 85,110 metric tons of grain and food products under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. — Amanda Macias
Europe won’t be blackmailed into ‘offering Ukraine on a silver platter to Putin’, says former US ambassador
Europe will not be blackmailed into “offering Ukraine on a silver platter to Putin,” former US ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said when asked if Russia’s weaponization of energy flows through Nord Stream would break Europe’s resolve continue to provide support to Ukraine. “I think Europe as a whole will continue to support Ukraine and not be blackmailed by it,” said Herbst, who is now senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. “And I believe they will make it through the winter, albeit with some difficulty.” Herbst added that “the end will come sooner” for Russia’s war in Ukraine if the Biden administration sends more advanced weapons to Ukraine and in larger quantities. “The United States and the West must provide Ukraine with weapons while Moscow is waging a war of aggression in Ukraine, and that may take many years.” — Lee Ying Shan
Russia plans to hold ‘fake referendums’ to show Ukrainians want to join Russia, White House warns
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby addresses the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, July 27, 2022. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said US intelligence indicates Russia may try to hold “fake referendums” as early as this week. Kirby told reporters that the referendums are a way for Russia to try to show that the Ukrainian people want to become part of Russia. Kirby said the U.S. believes referendums may begin in Kharkiv, Kherson and Zaporizhia, Luhansk and Donetsk. Kirby added that the Biden administration will not consider the result of the referendum as legitimate. “Since they’re obviously having trouble making geographic gains inside Ukraine, they’re trying to win it through false political means,” Kirby told reporters. “We expect Russia to try to manipulate the results of these referendums, to falsely claim that the Ukrainian people want to join Russia,” he added. — Amanda Macias
15 reportedly killed in Independence Day attack in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands in Independence Square as he congratulates Ukrainians on Independence Day, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in this handout photo released on Aug. 24, 2022. Presidential Press Service of Ukraine | via Reuters Ukraine’s president says Russian forces launched a rocket attack on a train station in central Ukraine on the country’s Independence Day, killing at least 15 people and injuring about 50. The fatal blow came after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in recent days that the Russians might “try to do something particularly bad, something particularly cruel” this week. Wednesday is a national holiday in Ukraine, commemorating the country’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It also marks the six-month anniversary of the war against Russia. — Associated Press
