Ukraine Daily Summary - Thursday, August 29

UK privately backs Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow inside Russia but avoids spat with US -- Ukrainian drones hit Russian oil depot in Rostov Oblast -- Ukrainian drones reportedly attack Russia's Kirov Oblast for first time,1,500km inside Russia -- UAE banks block Russian payments for Chinese electronics -- and more

Thursday, August 29

Russia’s war against Ukraine

a statue of a man in front of a damaged building

The aftermath of a Russian attack on the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast on Aug. 28, 2024. (Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Ofiice)

Kyiv dam not in danger of breaching after Russian attack, company says. The Kyiv dam is not under threat of breaching following a recent Russian attack on Kyiv Oblast, Ihor Syrota, the director of the state-owned Ukrhydroenergo hydroelectric energy company, said on Aug. 28.

38,000 people remain in Pokrovsk as Russia closes in on the Donetsk Oblast town, governor says. Thirty-eight thousands people and 1,900 children remain in Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast as of Aug. 28, as Russian troops are closing in the town, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on the national television.

Bondholders approve Ukraine’s $20 billion debt restructuring. Ukraine has received the necessary votes from private creditors to restructure its more than $20 billion in international bonds, providing the country with the necessary debt relief to continue financing its fight against Russia’s invasion.

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Russia’s Kazan airport suspends flights due to drone threat, media reports. Kazan is located in the Russian republic of Tatarstan which has previously been the target of Ukrainian drone strikes.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian oil depot in Rostov Oblast, source confirms. Ukrainian drones operated by military intelligence (HUR) and the Special Operation Forces hit an oil depot in Russia’s Rostov Oblast on Aug. 28, setting it on fire.

Ukrainian drones reportedly attack Russia’s Kirov Oblast for first time. Kotelnich in Kirov Oblast is located some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from Ukraine’s border.

Human cost of war

Russian guided bomb attack on Kupiansk injures at least 14. The Russian attack damaged the Kupiansk city administration building, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih injures at least 9. Russian forces launched a missile attack against the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast city of Kryvyi Rih on Aug. 28, local authorities reported.

Russian airstrike on Donetsk Oblast kills family of 4. The parents, aged 45 and 53, their 24-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son, died under the rubble of the destroyed house.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 7, injure 36 over past day. Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least seven civilians and injured at least 36 over the past day, regional authorities reported early on Aug. 28.

General Staff: Russia has lost 611,190 troops since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,090 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

International response

UAE banks block Russian payments for Chinese electronics, media reports. Banks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been rejecting transactions from Russian companies for electronic components and consumer electronics from China since early August.

UK privately backs Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow inside Russia but avoids spat with US, Telegraph reports. The U.K. backs the use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine for strikes deep inside Russia but will not pursue the call publicly, fearing disagreement with the U.S., The Telegraph reported on Aug. 28, citing undisclosed sources.

Russian oil flow to Hungary, Slovakia stable in July despite Lukoil ban, Bloomberg reports. Russian crude exports to Hungary and Slovakia remained within norms in July as the sanctioned Lukoil oil was offset by supplies from another Russian company, Tatneft, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 27, citing an undisclosed source.

NATO reaffirms commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s defenses following recent Russian attacks. Participants in the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting on Aug. 28 condemned Russia’s recent attacks across Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities, according to NATO statement.

Military aid package from Lithuania arrives in Ukraine. On August 28, Lithuania delivered loaders, anti-drone systems, and folding beds to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package.

In other news

Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust donates to support Kyiv Independent’s front line reporting. The Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust has made the biggest donation in its history to support the Kyiv Independent’s front-line reporting.

France issued arrest warrant also for Telegram co-founder, Durov’s brother Nikolai, Politico reports. France issued arrest warrants for Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov, founders of the Telegram messaging service, already in March, Politico reported on Aug. 28, citing a document obtained from an undisclosed source involved in the case.

Telegram founder Durov released from custody, transferred to French court, AFP reports. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been released from French custody after being held for four days and transferred to court on Aug. 28, news agency AFP reported, citing its undisclosed source.

Russia permanently bans 92 individuals, including journalists from prominent US-based newspapers. Russia has banned 92 individuals from entering the country, including journalists from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

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