“Private homes were destroyed. There are no reports of casualties. The invaders are destroying everything in their path – a terrorist tactic,” he wrote in a translation provided by the platform. CNBC was unable to independently verify the details. Kramatorsk was the site of a brutal Russian rocket attack in early April on a train station packed with civilians trying to escape the conflict. It has suffered months of Russian bombing and by April its population had dropped from 200,000 to about 40,000, according to local officials. — Natasha Toorak
Zelensky criticizes officials for leaking Ukrainian military tactics to press
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called out officials in his country for leaking information about military activities to the press, after reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post cited unnamed Ukrainian officials as saying Ukraine was behind this week’s attack on a Russian airliner. base in Crimea that destroyed several warplanes. “War is definitely not the time for vanity and loud statements. The less details you reveal about our defense plans, the better it will be for the implementation of these defense plans,” Zelensky said in his nightly speech. “If you want to create strong headlines, that’s one thing – it’s frankly irresponsible. If you want victory for Ukraine, that’s another thing, and you should know your responsibility for every word you say about our state’s plans for defense or counterattacks.” Smoke rises after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military base near Novofedorivka, Crimea, on August 9, 2022. Stringer | Reuters The blasts that hit the Saky air base in Crimea would represent a major incursion deep behind enemy lines for Ukrainian forces. Kyiv has not publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, while Russia denies it was attacked. — Natasha Toorak
British intelligence provides details of explosions at Crimean air base
While the cause of the explosions that rocked Russia’s Saki airbase in Crimea earlier this week is still unclear, Britain’s Ministry of Defense believes they “almost certainly came from the explosion of up to four uncovered munitions storage areas,” according to the daily update information published. on Twitter. The ministry named the aircraft it believes was hit by the explosions, for which Ukrainian officials have not publicly claimed responsibility. Russia denies it was attacked and that any of its planes were destroyed, despite satellite images released Thursday showing eight planes destroyed or damaged. A satellite image provided by Planet Labs shows damaged Russian aircraft at the Saky Air Base in Crimea after an explosion on August 9, 2022. Courtesy: Planet Labs “At least five Su-24 FENCER fighter-bombers and three Su-30 FLANKER H multi-role aircraft were almost certainly destroyed or severely damaged by the explosions,” the British ministry said in its post. “Saky’s central dispersal area has been severely damaged, but the airport is likely still operational.” Eight fighter jets are a small fraction of Russia’s full fleet, the ministry said, but Saki is an important base for Russia’s Black Sea naval fleet. “The naval aviation capability of the fleet is now significantly degraded,” the post added. “The incident will likely prompt the Russian military to revise its threat perception. Crimea has probably been seen as a safe rear area.” — Natasha Toorak
President Milley and Sullivan discuss additional arms packages with their Ukrainian counterparts
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 National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Miley spoke with their Ukrainian counterparts, according to a Pentagon statement on the call. “They discussed the unprovoked and continued Russian aggression in Ukraine and international support for the Ukrainian armed forces. Sullivan and Miley reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” a readout of the call read. Zelensky’s Andrei Yermak. office and Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Valery Zaluzhny. The leaders also discussed additional weapons packages. — Amanda Macias
UN chief urges demilitarized zone around Zaporizhia amid Russian attacks
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres holds a press briefing on the launch of the 3rd briefing by the GCRG (Global Crisis Group) on Food, Energy and Finance at UN Headquarters. Lev Radin | Lightrocket | Getty Images UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an end to all military activity around the Zaporizhia nuclear complex. “Unfortunately, instead of de-escalation, in recent days there have been reports of further deeply disturbing incidents that could, if they continue, lead to disaster,” Guterres said in a statement. “We must be clear that any potential damage to Zaporizhia or any other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, or anywhere else, could lead to catastrophic consequences not only for the immediate vicinity, but for the region and beyond. This it is completely unacceptable,” he added. . Guterres also urged Moscow and Kyiv to agree on a path that would allow the IAEA, a nuclear watchdog, access to the site. — Amanda Macias
