Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the world averted a nuclear disaster after power at the Zaporizhia power plant was cut for hours due to Russian shelling in the area. Russian bombing on Thursday sparked fires in the ashes of a nearby coal-fired power plant that disconnected the reactor complex from the power grid, Mr. Zelensky said in an afternoon speech. Back-up diesel generators ensured power supply vital to cooling and safety systems at the plant, he said. The president added: “If our station staff had not reacted after the blackout, then we would have already had to overcome the consequences of a radioactive accident. “Russia has brought Ukraine and all Europeans to a situation one step away from a nuclear disaster.” Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin signed a decree to expand Russia’s military by 137,000 troops amid reports from Ukraine and its allies that Kremlin forces have suffered heavy losses in the past six months. It is currently unclear whether the additional soldiers, who will join the Russian army from January, will be conscripts or volunteers.
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The US report identifies 21 Russian-run “filtering” sites
Russia and its proxy forces in Ukraine operate 21 sites used to capture, interrogate and process prisoners of war and civilians, according to a new report. The report by Yale University researchers supported by the US State Department cites commercial satellite imagery and open-source information to identify with “high confidence” the distinct sites, which include former schools, markets and regular prisons, Reuters reported. It also locates possible graves in a prison complex. Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the humanitarian research lab, said the findings showed Russia and its proxies had set up a “filtering system” to sort people into Russian-held areas, which represented an “emergency for human rights”. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 August 2022 06:45 1661491381
Putin commands another 137,000 Russian troops
Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to increase by 137,000 troops from next year as Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine passes the six-month mark. The Russian president’s decree, signed on Thursday, did not explain whether the army will increase its ranks by conscripting more conscripts, taking on more volunteer soldiers or using a combination of the two. The Kremlin said only volunteer contract soldiers were taking part in what it called a “special military operation” in Ukraine, rejecting claims it was considering a broad mobilization. The order comes amid reports that Russian forces have suffered heavy casualties, although Moscow has yet to release an official casualty figure. Maryam Zakir-Hussain reports.
Putin orders 137,000 more Russian troops amid reports of heavy casualties
Western and Kiev officials predict thousands of Russian casualties Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 August 2022 06:23 1661489780
Seven Russian munitions launches were destroyed last week, Ukraine claims
Ukrainian troops destroyed seven Russian military ammunition launchers last week, a spokesman for Ukraine’s southern military command said. “Ammunition depots are one of the priority targets of our artillery, in particular, and airstrikes, as these are stocks that the enemy would plan to use against our units,” Nataliya Humenyuk was quoted as saying by Radio Free Europe. “Despite the fact that they are trying to disperse these reserves, as they have already felt that our interventions are quite timely and absolutely targeted, we are still finding points of new dislocation and destroying them again.” Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 August 2022 05:56 1661488754
The iconic obelisk of the Soviet-era monument has been demolished in Latvia
An obelisk topped with Soviet stars that was the centerpiece of a monument to the Red Army’s victory over Nazi Germany was demolished on Thursday in the Latvian capital Riga. Heavy machinery was spotted behind a green fence with a privacy screen at the foot of the almost 80m obelisk shortly before it was removed. The pillar, which stood like a high-rise in the landscape of downtown Riga, fell into a nearby lake in Victory Park. A leading Latvian media outlet broadcast the event live, showing spectators cheering and clapping as the obelisk fell. It was not immediately clear what would happen to it.
The iconic obelisk of the Soviet-era monument is coming down in Latvia
A concrete obelisk with Soviet stars on top, which was the centerpiece of a monument to the Red Army’s victory over Nazi Germany, has been demolished in the Latvian capital Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 August 2022 05:39 1661486035
Ukraine narrowly escaped nuclear disaster, says Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the world narrowly avoided a radioactive disaster as power to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was cut for hours due to Russian shelling of the area. Moscow, however, denied the accusations. He said Thursday’s Russian shelling had sparked fires in the ashes of a nearby coal-fired power plant that disconnected the reactor complex from the power grid. “If the staff of our station had not reacted after the blackout, then we would have already had to overcome the consequences of a radioactive accident,” Zelensky said in his afternoon speech. “Russia has brought Ukraine and all Europeans to a situation one step away from a nuclear disaster.” Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 August 2022 04:53 1661457046
Thanks for watching our live coverage, we’re pausing updates for the evening. Katy Clifton25 August 2022 20:50 1661456064
ICYMI: Sir Keir Starmer offers ‘unwavering support’ for country’s independence day
Ukraine: Sir Keir Starmer offers ‘unwavering support’ for country’s independence day Aisha Rimi25 August 2022 20:34 1661454204
About 500 bodies of defenders of Mariupol have been returned
The bodies have been retrieved from occupied Mariupol and its suburbs as part of an ongoing exchange process since June, according to Olena Tolkachova, head of the Azov regiment’s protection service, the Kyiv Independent reported. Aisha Rimi25 August 2022 20:03 1661452524
UN official urges respect for international law after Chaplin attack
The top UN official in Ukraine said she was shocked by military raids that killed children and other civilians in Chaplyne in central Ukraine on Wednesday and called on all parties to abide by international law. Russia’s defense ministry said its forces hit a military train at Chaplyne railway station. Kyiv says 25 civilians were killed in the Russian attack. “I am truly shocked by the strikes that killed and injured civilians yesterday near the train station in Chaplyne, central Ukraine,” said Denise Brown, UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine. “Children were killed in this attack and died in places where they expected to be safe, in their homes or traveling with their families.” Ms Brown said the human toll of the attack was “yet another example of the level of suffering this war is causing the people of Ukraine”. He added: “All actors, without exception, must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and take care at all times to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure so that they are protected, their homes are preserved and essential services remain.” . Aisha Rimi25 August 2022 19:35 1661450544
The Hague is seeking an exemption from EU sanctions against Russia
The Dutch city of The Hague is seeking a temporary exemption from EU sanctions against Russia as it struggles to find a timely replacement for its contract with Russian gas company Gazprom. EU sanctions against Russia order governments and other public bodies to end existing contracts with Russian companies by October 10. The city said it held an EU-wide tender in June and July but failed to attract bids from potential suppliers. Individual talks with the suppliers were certain to lead to an agreement, Councilor Saskia Bruines wrote in a letter to the council, but not before the October deadline. “We will request an exception to our current agreement until January 1, 2023 to guarantee security of supply and facilitate negotiations,” he said. Ms Bruines said she was confident the delay would be granted as The Hague had met the condition of tendering on time without success. But he added that any new contract that takes effect on January 1 would be significantly more expensive than the city’s current deal with Gazprom. Aisha Rimi25 August 2022 19:02
