“Now is the time for decisive action”: Selenskyj makes phone calls after “one of the biggest attacks”
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyhas again appealed to Western partners to increase their assistance after Russia launched what it described as “one of the largest attacks – a combined strike with over a hundred missiles of various types and around a hundred ‘Shaheds'”.
“Throughout Ukraine, we could do much more to protect human lives if the air forces of our European neighbors operated in harmony with our F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems. If such a unit has proven effective in the Middle East, it must also work in Europe,” the Ukrainian president stressed.
“Ukraine cannot be constrained in its long-range capabilities if terrorists are not constrained,” he said, adding: “America, Britain, France and our other partners have the power to help us stop this terror. Now is the time for decisive action.”
Efforts are currently underway across the country to eliminate the consequences of the Russian attack. This was one of the largest attacks – a combined attack involving over a hundred missiles of various types and about a hundred “Shaheds”. Like most Russian attacks before… pic.twitter.com/0qNTGR98rR
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володиmir Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) 26 August 2024
Important events
The Polish army said a military object entered Polish airspace today during a Russian attack on Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing PAP. The Polish army said the object was not a missile.
“Now is the time for decisive action”: Selenskyj makes phone calls after “one of the biggest attacks”
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyhas again appealed to Western partners to increase their assistance after Russia launched what it described as “one of the largest attacks – a combined strike with over a hundred missiles of various types and around a hundred ‘Shaheds'”.
“Throughout Ukraine, we could do much more to protect human lives if the air forces of our European neighbors operated in harmony with our F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems. If such a unit has proven effective in the Middle East, it must also work in Europe,” the Ukrainian president stressed.
“Ukraine cannot be constrained in its long-range capabilities if terrorists are not constrained,” he said, adding: “America, Britain, France and our other partners have the power to help us stop this terror. Now is the time for decisive action.”
Efforts are currently underway across the country to eliminate the consequences of the Russian attack. This was one of the largest attacks – a combined attack involving over a hundred missiles of various types and about a hundred “Shaheds”. Like most Russian attacks before… pic.twitter.com/0qNTGR98rR
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володиmir Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) 26 August 2024
Commenting on Ukraine’s invasion of the Kursk region, the Kremlin said today that such hostile actions should not go unanswered, Reuters reported.
“Act now, not later”: Kuleba calls on partners to allow long-range strikes and agree to launch missiles
Dmytro KulebaThe Ukrainian Foreign Minister called on Kyiv’s friends to agree to “use the partners’ air defense capabilities to shoot down missiles and drones near their airspace.”
Our partners can help us put an end to Russian terror more quickly by making two concrete decisions. First, they must affirm Ukraine’s long-range strikes on all legitimate military targets on Russian territory. Second, they must agree to use our partners’ air defense capabilities to shoot down missiles and drones near their airspace.
None of these decisions are escalatory in nature. On the contrary, they will deter Russia and help reduce the level of terror and the number of Russian attacks and the casualties associated with them. Act now, not later. Help us save lives.
This morning, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on 15 Ukrainian regions, primarily targeting critical civilian infrastructure and our energy system.
There were civilian deaths and injuries and damage to energy facilities. Russia continues to wage a war…
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) 26 August 2024
Mykhailo Podoliakan adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, called for “more missile defense equipment for Ukraine” and the adoption of “restrictive sanctions to prevent Russia from replicating ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles and cruise missiles.”
Another massive missile and drone attack by Russia. Targeting 15 regions #Ukraine all at once. In terms of energy, civilian objects. With unconditional genocidal intentions…
If anyone else is willing to talk to the collective”#Putin“, it means that such attacks are acceptable…
— Mikhail Podolyak (@Podolyak_M) 26 August 2024
The Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenkodescribed the current situation as difficult, Ukrinform reported.
The state-owned energy company Ukrenergo has ordered an emergency power outage.
“The enemy is once again carrying out missile terror against the whole of Ukraine. The energy sector is under attack. The enemy does not give up its plans to leave Ukrainians without electricity,” Galushchenko wrote in a social media post.
15 Ukrainian regions hit by Russian attacks, says Prime Minister
The Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhalsaid this morning that “15 regions were affected” by Russian missile and drone attacks.
There are injuries and deaths, he said, pointing out that the energy infrastructure is affected and Ukrenergo is shutting down the power supply as an emergency measure to stabilize the system.
He also reiterated Kiev’s demand for long-range weapons and permission from partners to attack Russian targets.
Residents of Kyiv sought shelter in the subway this morning.
A Ukrainian drone attempted to attack an oil refinery in the Russian city of Yaroslavl, the regional governor said Mikhail Yevrayev he said today, Reuters reported.
Three dead after massive Russian air strike
Good morning. It is 10:20 a.m. in Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian military, Russia has launched a missile and drone attack. Witnesses reported explosions near Kyiv that were attributed to air defenses responding to the attack.
At least three people were killed, regional authorities said. Casualties were reported from western Lutsk, eastern Dnipro and southern Zaporizhia regions.
Electricity and water supplies were cut off in parts of Kyiv, the mayor of the city of VItalian Klitschko said in the messaging app Telegram.
Ukraine’s largest private energy producer, DTEK, announced an emergency power outage following the attacks.
We will keep you updated on developments. In the meantime, here are the latest news from other areas of the Ukraine-Russia war:
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Ukraine on Sunday called on Belarus to withdraw a significant portion of Belarusian forces and equipment stationed on the common border.The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry warned Belarus against making “tragic mistakes” under pressure from Moscow. The ministry said the troops on the border included Belarusian special forces and former Wagner mercenaries.
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A British man working for the Reuters news agency was killed in an attack on a hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, the news agency said.. Danielle Evanswho worked as a security consultant for the agency, was killed when a missile hit the Sapphire Hotel where he was staying as part of a six-man team on Saturday.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the hotel was hit by a Russian Iskander missile, a ballistic missile that can strike up to 500 kilometers away.“An ordinary city hotel was destroyed by the Russian Iskander,” he said in his evening address on Sunday, adding that the attack was “absolutely targeted and well thought out … My condolences to family and friends.” Russia has been bombing hotels in frontline areas for over a year.
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Ukrainian forces advanced up to three kilometers into the Russian Kursk region and took control of two more settlements there.Zelensky also said in his evening speech.
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Russia launched attacks on northern, eastern and southern Ukraine on Sunday, killing at least four people and wounding 37, the Ukrainian military and local authorities said.The overnight attacks targeted the Ukrainian frontline regions of Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk, the Ukrainian Air Force said via the messaging app Telegram. “Most of the missiles did not reach their targets,” the Air Force said.
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Former US President Donald Trump signalled his support for Ukraine in a conversation with Selenskyj and said he wanted to end the war with Russiathe Ukrainian president told Indian reporters in an interview published on his social media channel on Sunday.
