Ukraine Daily Summary - Monday, August 12 2024

Ukrainian soldiers cross into Belovsky, Russia district overnight -- Russian forces start fire at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant -- Germany must be ready for war with Russia in 5 years, commander says -- Russia recycles old videos in attempt to show success against Ukraine's incursion -- and more

Monday, August 12

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A fire at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Aug. 11, 2024. (Screenshot/President Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)

Ukrainian soldiers cross into Belovsky district overnight, Russian official claims. Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups entered the territory of the Belovsky district in Russia’s Kursk region overnight on Aug. 11, head of the district, Nikolai Volobuev, claimed. According to Volobuev, the group’s appearance created “a lot of panic.”

Authorities to open underground schools in Zaporizhzhia Oblast by late October. Kharkiv was the first Ukrainian city where the concept of underground schools was introduced to ensure offline education despite regular Russian attacks. The first school was established in Kharkiv’s metro.

Russian forces dig trenches near Kursk nuclear plant as Ukrainian troops advance, BBC reports. Photos appear to show Russian forces digging trenches near the KNPP as Ukrainian troops reportedly advance within 50 kilometers of the nuclear facility, the BBC said on Aug. 11.

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Delays in US aid contributed to Ukraine’s $43.5 billion budget deficit, minister says. Marchenko said that the disbursement of U.S. military aid has been “slow,” more than three months after Congress approved $27 billion worth of direct military aid for Ukraine. This included $13.8 billion for Ukraine to buy advanced weapons and another $13.8 billion to purchase U.S. defense systems.

Zelensky promises ‘fair response’ to Russian regions that attack Ukraine. “We are recording all the places from which the Russian army strikes, including Belgorod Oblast, Kursk Oblast, and other areas. … And each of these strikes deserves a fair response.”

Russian forces start fire at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Ukraine says. Russian forces set fire to “a large number of automobile tires in cooling towers,” Yevhen Yevtushenko, the head of the military administration in Nikopol, said on Aug. 11, citing sources across the river in occupied Enerhodar.

Human cost of war

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 8, injure 30 over past day. Missile fragments fell on residential buildings in Kyiv Oblast’s Brovary district, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said. The bodies of a 35-year-old man and his 4-year-old son were found under the rubble during search and rescue operations.

3 children among killed in Russian Aug. 9 missile attack on Kostiantynivka, prosecutors say. Russian Aug. 9 missile strike on the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast killed 14 people, including three children, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said on Aug. 11.

General Staff: Russia has lost 590,920 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,220 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Ukraine at Olympics

Ukraine wins 3 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze medals in Paris Olympics. China took first place at the Olympics, winning 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals – followed by the U.S. and Japan.

In other news

Germany must be ready for war with Russia in 5 years, commander says. Captain Michael Giss, commander of the Hamburg State Command of the German Armed Forces, said Germany must prepare to withstand “a conventional attack by Russia within five years.”

Russia recycles old videos in attempt to show success against Ukraine’s incursion, media reports. The Russian Defense Ministry published videos claiming to show successful strikes against Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast. One video was filmed in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, while another was first published three weeks before the Kursk incursion, the Insider reports.

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