The distribution of potassium iodide tablets to residents within a radius of 50 kilometers of the factory began today. Regional health authorities are telling residents to save the tablets in case there is a future radioactive leak. Volodymyr Marchuk, a spokesman for the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Command, told NBC News that the government will instruct people to take the tablets. Potassium iodide can be used as a medicine to treat radiation emergencies. — Amanda Macias
Two ships carrying more than 58,000 metric tons of agricultural products approved to leave Ukraine
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – AUGUST 09: An aerial view of the “Glory” licensed grain ship as representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations (UN) Joint Coordination Center (JCC) conduct a vessel inspection in Istanbul , Turkey on 09 August 2022. The UN, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement on 22 July to open three Ukrainian ports — Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny — for grain that has been stuck for months due to the ongoing war Russia-Ukraine, now in its sixth month. (Photo by Ali Atmaca/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images The agency that oversees Ukraine’s agricultural exports said it had authorized two ships carrying grain and other crops to leave Ukrainian ports. The ships are carrying a total of 58,750 metric tons of grain and food products under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. So far, the Joint Coordination Center, or JCC, has approved the departure of more than 30 ships from Ukrainian ports. — Amanda Macias
The State Department confirms the death of an American citizen in Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers train with commercial drones in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on August 13, 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images The State Department has confirmed that an American citizen has been killed in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s war. “We can confirm the death of an American citizen in Ukraine,” a State Department spokesman told NBC News when asked about the death first reported by Newsweek. “We are in contact with the family and are providing all possible consular assistance. “Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add,” the spokesman said, adding that the State Department offered its condolences “to the families of all whose lives were lost as a result of Russia’s unprovoked and unwarranted actions.” war against Ukraine”. — Amanda Macias
Zelenskyy says he spoke with NBC anchor Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon Theo Wargo | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with NBC late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon. “We discussed options for cooperation that would bring even more global attention to the events in Ukraine. This topic must be constantly raised to the top, and famous people can help us in this,” Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “Jimmy, thank you for your attention to Ukraine and our struggle for freedom. We will be glad to see you on Ukrainian soil,” Zelensky added. Andriy Yermak from Zelenskyy’s office shared a photo of the video call on Twitter. “The president invited Jimmy Fallon to Ukraine,” Yermak wrote. — Amanda Macias Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the parent company of NBC and CNBC.
Russian forces stole entire grain crop in Luhansk region, Ukraine says
Loading wheat in the field near the village of Zgurivka in the Kiev region as Russia continues its war against Ukraine. August 9, 2022. Maxim Marusenko Nurphoto | Getty Images A Ukrainian official in Luhansk told reporters that Russian forces had transported the region’s entire grain harvest to Russia. Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk RMA, said Russian forces took at least 200,000 tons of grain from the area. The Kremlin has previously denied that its troops in Ukraine have targeted agricultural products. — Amanda Macias
State Department Warns Russian Forces and Their Proxies ‘Single Out’ Americans in Ukraine
A picture shows a view of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv on May 18, 2022. There is a U.S. military officer in Ukraine as a member of the U.S. embassy’s defense attache, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said, but the position that U.S. troops are not will be the battle in the Ukrainian war has not changed. Sergey Supinsky | AFP | Getty Images The State Department reiterated that US citizens should not travel to Ukraine and cited new reports that Americans will be targeted by Russian troops. “Russian forces and their proxies are singling out US citizens in Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality,” the State Department wrote in an updated travel advisory. “American citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russian-held territory or to Russia or Belarus,” the advisory added. The State Department added that US citizens seeking emergency assistance should email [email protected] — Amanda Macias
Putin may have fired six generals over poor progress in Ukraine, British intelligence says
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the plenary session during the SPIEF 2022 St. Petersburg Economic Forum on June 17, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Getty Images The British Ministry of Defense said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu likely “fired at least six generals for not moving fast enough” to seize Ukrainian territory. Moscow’s claim that it has ordered the war in Ukraine to slow down is “deliberate disinformation”, the British ministry added. “Russia’s offensive has stalled due to poor Russian military performance and fierce Ukrainian resistance,” the British wrote in an intelligence update posted on Twitter. “Under Shoigu’s orders, forces operating in Ukraine have repeatedly missed planned operational schedules.” — Amanda Macias
US Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley and his British counterpart share information on Ukraine
U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, holds a press briefing on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, September 1, 2021. Saul Loeb AFP | Getty Images Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley spoke by phone with his British counterpart Chief of the Defense Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin about the war in Ukraine. “The military leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and shared assessments of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine,” according to a Pentagon statement on the call. “The United Kingdom and the United States share a long history of mutual support and cooperation, which are cornerstones of our strong alliance and special relationship,” the statement added. Milley met with his British counterpart last month in Sydney, Australia. — Amanda Macias
Ukraine says the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been reconnected to its grid
Ukraine’s state nuclear company Energoatom says a reactor at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been reconnected to the Ukrainian grid and is supplying the country with electricity again, Reuters reported. It comes a day after Europe’s largest nuclear power plant went offline for the first time in its history. — Sam Meredith
Lukashenko says Belarusian planes ready to carry nukes
Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Alexander Nemenov Afp | Getty Images Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said the eastern European country’s SU-24 warplanes have been refitted to carry nuclear weapons. Lukashenko said Belarus had agreed on the move with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Belarus is a close ally of Moscow and allowed its territory to be used for Russia to invade Ukraine. “If, god forbid, there is a serious provocation against Belarus, our targets are locked. The decision-making centers. We know,” Lukashenko told reporters, according to Belarus’ state news agency Belta. “If they start creating problems, Belarus may be worse, but the response will be instantaneous,” he added. — Sam Meredith
Ukraine says all reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are still offline
Ukraine’s state nuclear company Energoatom says all six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine are still disconnected from the country’s electricity grid, Reuters reported. The company added that there are currently no problems with the plant’s machinery or safety systems. — Sam Meredith
Zelensky says the world narrowly avoided a radioactive disaster
Zelensky says the world narrowly escaped a radioactive disaster on Thursday when Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was disconnected from Ukraine’s electricity grid. Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the world avoided a radioactive disaster on Thursday when Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was disconnected from Ukraine’s electricity grid. Zelensky said it was only thanks to the back-up electricity released that the power plant in Zaporizhia was able to operate safely. He said the power station had been shut down as a result of Russian shelling that sparked fires nearby, claims the Kremlin has denied. “Emergency protection of power units worked – after the last working line of the plant’s power return to the Ukrainian electricity system was damaged by Russian shelling,” Zelensky said in an afternoon speech. He called on the international community to help force the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from the power plant, warning that “every minute Russian troops remain at the nuclear plant is a risk of global radiological destruction.” — Sam Meredith Autumn, August 25…
