Ukraine hits second bridge in Russia’s Kursk region
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A Russian investigator confirmed that Ukraine on Sunday had struck and damaged a third bridge over the River Seym in Russia’s Kursk region.
A video statement from a representative of Russia’s Investigative Committee was posted on Russian state TV anchor Vladimir Solovyov’s Telegram channel.
Ukraine’s commander said on Sunday that the Ukrainian air force had destroyed another strategic bridge over the Seym River in Russia’s Kursk region, limiting the supply capacity of a Russian group opposing the Ukrainian advance.
It comes as Russia launched its third ballistic missile on Kyiv this month in retaliation for Ukraine’s shock incursion, with preliminary data showing that all the air weapons were destroyed on their approach to the city.
Western military analysts say there were three bridges in the area of the Ukrainian army’s offensive through which Russia supplies its forces – and two of them have been either destroyed or seriously damaged.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air defence units repelled Russia’s overnight air attacks, including on Kyiv, destroying all 11 drones that Moscow launched targeting Ukraine’s territory. The drones were downed over the Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Sumy and Donetsk regions, the Ukraine’s air force said this morning.
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Putin visits Azerbaijan for talks on international and regional issues amid Ukraine conflict
Vladimir Putin has made his first visit to Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev.
The Russian president’s two-day visit, which began yesterday, will focus on “international and regional problems”, according to the Kremlin.
His trip comes at a time when Russian forces are facing a surprise Ukrainian attack in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has described the operation as an effort to create a “buffer zone” to protect Ukraine from further Russian aggression.
The meeting follows claims indicating that the European Union and Ukraine have approached Azerbaijan to facilitate discussions with Russia over a gas transit deal.
While the EU rediced its reliance on Russian gas, other countries including Austria continue to depende on gas delivered through a pipeline that crosses Ukraine.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, stand during their meeting at Zagulba state residence in Baku, Azerbaijan (AP)
Salma Ouaguira19 August 2024 11:00
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Watch: Ukrainian troops strike second bridge in Russia’s Kursk
Watch: Ukrainian troops strike second bridge in Russia’s Kursk
Ukraine appeared to strike a second bridge in Russia’s Kursk region in a week, in footage released on Sunday, 19 August. A video posted on social media by air force commander Mykola Oleschuk showed huge clouds of smoke rising over a bridge, which appeared to be over the Seym River near Zvannoe. It comes after thousands of Ukrainian troops smashed over the border from Ukraine’s Sumy region into the neighbouring Russian Kursk region on 6 August. Kyiv forces have since claimed to have taken more land in just over a week than Russia has in Ukraine during this entire calendar year.
Salma Ouaguira19 August 2024 10:45
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Another European country will reintroduce a two-month compulsory military service.
The service will be starting January 1 next year, the country’s Defense Minister Ivan Anusic announced late last week.
The move comes amid heightened tensions in Europe following the Russian aggression against Ukraine as well as an apparent arms race and military buildup in the Balkans which went through a bloody war in the 1990s.
Read the full story below:
Salma Ouaguira19 August 2024 10:30
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Elon Musk denies allegations of donating Tesla to Chechen warlord
Billionaire X boss Elon Musk has denied allegations that he gifted a Tesla Cybertruck to Russian general and Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov.
The claim surfaced after Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko shared footage on X, allegedly showing Kadyrov receiving the vehicle.
In the video, Kadyrov allegedly stated that he would send the Cybertruck, which appeared to have a machine gun mounted on it, to the Russian frontline.
According to Gerashchenko, Kadyrov thanked Musk for the vehicle and invited him to visit Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, where he would be welcomed “as the most dear guest”.
He also suggested that Musk’s new developments could aid the completion of Russia’s “special military operation”.
Musk responded on the social media platform X categorically denying the claim.
Salma Ouaguira19 August 2024 10:15
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Russia confirms third Kursk bridge hit by Kyiv over the River Seym
A Russian investigator confirmed that Ukraine on Sunday had struck and damaged a third bridge over the River Seym in Russia’s Kursk region.
A video statement from a representative of Russia’s Investigative Committee was posted on Russian state TV anchor Vladimir Solovyov’s Telegram channel.
Ukraine’s commander said on Sunday that the Ukrainian air force had destroyed another strategic bridge over the Seym River in Russia’s Kursk region, limiting the supply capacity of a Russian group opposing the Ukrainian advance.
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Images from UK military’s first satellite will be shared with allies
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Explosion at Russian fuel plant injures three
An explosion at the Sterlitamak petrochemical plant in Russia’s Bashkiria region has injured three people, according to local authorities.
The blast ignited a fire that tore through a fuel pipeline at the facility, located 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Moscow.
Emergency services have since brought the blaze under control, with images emerging of firefighters battling the flames.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear at this time.
Despite the incident, production at the plant, which manufactures rubber and high-octane additives for fuel and jet fuel, is reportedly continuing, according to the Interfax news agency.
Firefighters extinguish a fire after an explosion at a fuel pipeline at the Sterlitamak petrochemical plant, in Sterlitamak in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia (via REUTERS)
Salma Ouaguira19 August 2024 09:38
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Update: Ukraine’s incursion into Russia mapped
Tom Watling19 August 2024 09:29
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First Ukrainians to enter Russia’s Sudzha in Kursk speak out
Some of the first Ukrainians to enter the town of Sudzha in the Russian region of Kursk have spoken out.
You can see a brief interview with the soldiers from the 33rd Assault Battalion below.
Tom Watling19 August 2024 09:20
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Ukrainian soldiers work along the Donetsk front – picture
Servicemen of 24th mechanised brigade prepare to fire BRM1k infantry fighting vehicle towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk region, Ukraine (AP)
Tom Watling19 August 2024 09:13
