Photo : Reuters
Photo : Reuters
By Advik S Mohan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 27 August, Politico reported on Ukraine's successful testing of its first ballistic missile. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine confirmed the test, stating that it was “positive.” The successful missile test comes after Ukraine successfully launched Palyanytsia, its first missile-drone. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine largely lacks funds for large-scale domestic military production, making it dependent on the Western nations. However, in April, it had launched its “ZBROYARI” initiative, aiming to garner Western funding for domestic defence production.
On 27 August, Politico reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had captured 594 Russian prisoners of war (POWs) during their ongoing incursion into the Kursk region of Russia. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, disclosed the number; claiming that the surprise incursion into Kursk managed to distract a “significant number of Russian soldiers.” Syrskyi stated that Ukrainian forces had succeeded in capturing over 1,294 square kilometres of territory and 100 settlements in Kursk, alongside the 594 POWs. He also added that the Kursk operation was a pre-emptive one to protect Ukraine and that 30,000 additional Russian soldiers had entered Kursk.
On 27 August, an article in swissinfo.ch reported on the death of six residents in an missile and drone attack on Ukraine by Russian forces. Regional officials in the city of Kryvyi Rih stated that three individuals had been killed by a missile strike that “wiped out” a hotel. Serhiy Lysak, Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast which includes Kryvyi Rih informed via Telegram that five residents were injured, and one was still missing. Separately, drone strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine left three residents dead. Local authorities informed that three citizens were injured in the Zaporizhzhia region, alongside four individuals injured by a missile strike in Kharkiv Oblast. Zelenskyy promised to retaliate against Russia and requested Ukraine’s allies to provide long-range capabilities and consider joint defence operations following a massive drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure by Russia. The Ukrainian Air Force stated it had shot down five out of ten incoming drones, and 60 out of 81 drones.
On 26 August, a Reuters article reported that Russia had launched over 200 drones across Ukraine. According to officials from the Government of Ukraine, the attacks targeted critical infrastructure across Ukraine such as power facilities. Civilian facilities, hydropower plants, and railway infrastructure facilities were among the infrastructure targeted during the attack, which resulted in power cuts and water supply shortages in many parts of Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation informed that it had used high-precision weapons to strike important energy infrastructure in Ukraine such as power substations and aircraft weapon storage sites, that supported the military-industrial complex. Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force stated that the attack was the “most massive” of the entire war, and informed that the air force had shot down 102 out of 127 incoming missiles, and 99 out of 109 drones. Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian government was preparing to the attack. At the same time, the Government of Poland informed that an “object” had entered its airspace and landed on Polish territory.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 27 August, an article in Anadolu Ajansi informed that Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had visited Russia, for an inspection of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The visit was organized to the Russian town of Kurchatov, in response to security threats to the plant over the ongoing incursion by Ukraine into the Kursk region. Grossi plans to meet the plant management, and assess the situation and severity of the threat; with the Director-General having warned previously about the dangers of military activity close to nuclear facilities. Ukraine had attempted a kamikaze drone attack earlier on the plant, which provides power to 19 regions in the Central Federal District of Russia.
On 27 August, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Governor of Belgorod Oblast stated in a Telegram post that “the situation on the border remains difficult but under control.” One of the pro-Russian Telegram channels, Shot claimed that around 60 Ukrainian soldiers along with eight armoured vehicles launched the operation near Nehoteevka village. However, the Mash channel claimed that 200 Ukrainian troops were involved in the same area, with 300 Ukrainian soldiers engaged in fighting near a checkpoint in Belgorod.
WEST VIEW
On 26 August, the United States Embassy in Ukraine published a statement by The White House where Joe Biden, President of the US strongly condemned the Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Biden stated that the US would continue to lead a coalition of over 50 nations providing Ukraine with support, through military equipment like air defence systems and interceptors as well as energy equipment. The President also informed that Ukraine had been provided the equipment for five additional air defence systems.
References
Pavel Polityuk, Tom Balmforth and Yuliia Dysa, “Russia strikes Ukraine’s power grid in ‘most massive’ attack of war,” Reuters, 26 August 2024
“Ukrainian Forces Reportedly Attempt Breakthrough in Russia’s Belgorod Region,” Kyiv Post, 27 August 2024
Elena Giordano and Veronika Melkozerova, “ Ukraine says it’s seized nearly 600 Russian POWs in Kursk attack,” Politico, 27 August 2024
Veronika Melkozerova, “Ukraine successfully tests its first ballistic missile,” Politico, 27 August 2024
Elena Teslova, “ IAEA’s head arrives in Russia to inspect Kursk nuclear power plant safety,’ Anadolu Ajansi, 27 August 2024
Valentyn Ogirenko and Gleb Garanich, “Russian attacks on Ukraine kill six in second day of major strikes, Kyiv says,” swissinfo.ch, 27 August 2024
“Statement from President Biden on Russia’s Aerial Assault on Ukraine’s Energy Grid,” U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, 26 August 2024