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War in Ukraine today: latest news, 18 August, 2024 (photo)

It has been the 907th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression.

What happened in Ukraine today:

Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 6 pm:

On 18 August, russian invaders continued to storm the positions of the Ukrainian defenders.

There were 81 combat engagements on the front line.

Shalyhyne, Slavgorod, Porozok, Bilopillia, Tymofiivka, Velyka Pysarivka, Pokrovka, Kamin, Liskivshchyna were affected by enemy artillery and mortar fire. Additionally, the russians carried out three airstrikes, dropping five KABs on Holyshivske, Basivka, and Yunakivka in Sumy oblast.

Towards Kharkiv, two clashes occurred near Vovchansk and Lyptsi, where one battle is still ongoing.

Towards Kupiansk, the enemy carried out nine offensive actions in the vicinity of Hlushkivka, Stelmakhivka, and Synkivka. Currently, five attacks are still ongoing.

Towards Lyman, 11 combat clashes took place. The enemy stormed Ukrainian defenders’ positions near Hrekivka, Makiivka, Nevske, Terny, Novosadove, and Torske. Ten battles were over, and one is still ongoing.

Towards Siversk, Ukrainian defenders stopped an enemy assault near Verkhnokamianske.

Towards Kramatorsk, the invaders’ army advanced in the vicinity of Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, and Predtechyne. A total of eight clashes occurred, three of which are still ongoing.

Towards Toretsk, the occupiers attacked 15 times near Zalizne, Toretsk, Dyliivka, and Nelipivka. Fourteen assaults were repelled, with one still ongoing.

The invaders also carried out two airstrikes on Dachne and Druzhba.

Towards Pokrovsk, the russians conducted 24 assaults in the vicinities of Vozdvyzhenka, Kalynove, Zelene Pole, Myroliubivka, Hrodivka, Mykolaivka, Ptyche, Novohrodivka, Zavytne, and Mykhailivka. The Ukrainian Defense Forces held back the russian military pressure and repelled 19 attacks, with five clashes still ongoing. Enemy losses in this direction are being clarified.

The enemy also carried out five airstrikes, dropping two KABs on Kalynove and launching NARs near Oleksandropil.

Towards Kurakhove, the invaders attacked six times near Krasnohorivka, Kostiantynivka, and Paraskoviivka without success.

Towards Vremivka, the enemy stormed Ukrainian positions four times near Rozdolne and Vodiane, where one clash is still ongoing.

Towards Huliai Pole and Orikhiv, using aviation, the occupiers carried out two airstrikes on the vicinities of Dolynka and Kamianske.

Towards Kherson, the russians were defeated.

In other sectors of the front, there were no significant changes.

Vitalii Kindrativ, Deputy Minister of Economy, reported that over UAH 16m was allocated to combat russian propaganda in the border regions. The allocated funds will be used to create a special broadcasting system that will block anti-Ukrainian broadcasts in 4 border oblasts of Ukraine.

Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the President’s Office, reported that Ukraine will ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This will enable Ukraine to join the key global judicial body and prioritize its interests.

Recent war events in the east of Ukraine

Kharkiv oblast

The press service of Kharkiv operational and tactical group reported that near Lyptsi, the number of wounded russian soldiers who are not being evacuated is increasing.

The day before, at 6:48pm, Kozacha Lopan, Kharkiv region was shelled. The house was on fire as a result of the shelling.

At 6:36pm, in the city of Balakliia, Izium region, a car was on fire as a result of detonation of an explosive device.

At 2:45pm, Kivsharivka village, of Kupiansk region was fired upon. As a result of shelling from the MLRS, a fire broke out in the forest floor.

At 12:00, there was a drone attack in the city of Kupiansk. As a result of the impact, three private houses were damaged.

At 10:22am, Kozacha Lopan, Kharkiv region was hit. As a result of the shelling, commercial buildings and a residential building burned.

At 09:58, there was shelling in Sobolivka, Kupiansky region. As a result of the shelling, the grass was on fire.

At 09:00am, Kozacha Lopan, Kharkiv region was hit. As a result of the shelling, an economic building and three residential buildings were on fire.

At 08:20am, Borova village, Izyum region was fired upon. As a result of the shelling, the forest floor burned on an area of about 1 ha.

Towards Kharkiv, six combat clashes took place in the areas of Vovchansk and Lyptsi settlements.

Ten enemy attacks took place towards Kupiansk. The defense forces repelled enemy assaults near Berestove and Stelmakhivka.

Donetsk oblast

Myrnoрrad again came under fire twice: 1 person killed and 1 wounded. This morning the russians shelled the town with artillery – a private house hit. A woman born in 1941 was killed, a 56-year-old woman wounded. 3 houses were damaged. The town again came under enemy artillery shelling during the day. The shell hit next to the car, resulting in the death of a 44-year-old man. 6 private houses were damaged. Also 1 killed and 1 wounded were in Rozlyv, Velyka Novosilka community. The enemy shelled the village at lunchtime – a 25-year-old man was killed. 7 private houses, a power line and a car were damaged. In addition, in Velyka Novosilka 6 houses were shelled. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties.

Operational situation in the region as of the morning of August 18:

Pokrovsk region. In Kurakhove community, Kurakhove, Trudove and Hannivka were shelled. In Myrnohrad, 1 person was killed and 4 injured, 6 high-rise buildings, a pharmacy, a cinema and 2 shops were damaged. A person was injured in Sukhyi Yar of Pokrovsk community. 5 houses were destroyed in Hrodivka community.

Kramatorsk region. 1 house was destroyed and 1 damaged in Zarichne of Lyman community; a house was destroyed in Yampol; a shop was damaged in Nove. In Kostiantynivka, 2 private houses, an administrative building and 2 infrastructure objects were damaged; 2 more houses were damaged in Markove.

Bakhmut region. A person was killed in Toretsk, a house was damaged; 1 person was injured in Shcherbynivka. In the Chasiv Yar community, 1 person was injured, 2 high-rise buildings, 2 private houses and 2 commercial buildings were damaged. A house was damaged in Siversk.

In just one day, russians shelled Donetsk oblast 18 times. 1,565 people, including 182 children, were evacuated from the front line.

Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk RMA, says that the russian army killed 2 residents in Myrnohrad and Toretsk. Another 8 people were wounded in the region during the day.

Luhansk oblast

In the frontline Nevske, russians destroyed another house, shelling the village with rocket systems of volley fire and artillery. There are no houses left, which have not suffered varying degrees of damage. Some of them, where the destruction is minor, people rebuild and continue to live in, despite the daily risk.

Yesterday, the occupiers used artillery and drones in the direction of liberated settlements – struck 100 times. Fighting took place near Stelmahivka, Makiyivka, Nevske, Hrekivka, Novoiehorivka.

In a month will be two years’ promises of the invaders to cancel checks on the border between the so-called “lpr” and the russian federation. In May, it was decided to establish a five-kilometer special zone on the border of Rostov oblast with “lpr”. At the checkpoint Dovzhanske, the border guards of the russian federation do not pay attention to the presence of the appropriate passport – queues there are long.

The miners of the company Skhidvuhilla have been paid since April. They are not issued for objects transferred to private investors, and at the same time are not released from the state-owned ones and salaries are not paid.

What is happening now in the north of Ukraine

Kyiv oblast

Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the RMA, reported that in the morning russian troops attacked Kyiv oblast using missiles. Air defence forces were on alert. No hits or casualties by direct hits were reported. As a result of the fall of debris in one of the communities, 2 houses were destroyed in three garden associations, 16 were damaged. Four cars, fences and power lines were also damaged.

KCMA reported that russia used ballistic missiles to launch missile strikes on Kyiv at around 05:00am. A second attack with cruise missiles took place at around 7:00am, with the missiles being intercepted on the way to the capital. In addition, almost simultaneously with the ballistic missiles, several enemy attack UAVs were headed towards Kyiv, but were destroyed by air defence forces far outside the city. KCMA noted that this was the third ballistic missile attack on the capital in August with a clear interval of 6 days between each attack. According to preliminary information, this is the third time in a row that russia has used North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles.

Consequences of the russian attack on Kyiv oblast, 18 August 2024. Photo: SES

Kyiv Regional Military Administration announced that the construction of shelters in Vasylkiv is underway at Gymnasium No. 4 and Lyceums No. 2 and No. 7 at the expense of the regional budget. The modern dual-purpose anti-radiation shelters will be used to organise clubs or sports sections. Construction of the shelters was inspected by Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration.

The Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories informed about the opening of humanitarian centres ‘Selydove.UA’ for internally displaced persons from Donetsk oblast in Kyiv and Dnipro oblasts. The aim of the centres is to provide Donetsk residents with information, humanitarian and primary healthcare.

First Lady Olena Zelenska announced that the crime of deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children and Ukraine’s efforts to return them will be the topic of a separate discussion at the First Ladies and Gentlemen Summit to be held on 12 September in Kyiv.

During the war, Kyiv Zoo became a centre for rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals from all over Ukraine. More than 500 animals, including almost 100 different birds, have already received help. Recently, the staff personally built two aviaries there to create comfortable conditions for two families of rescued Ara parrots. These birds were brought to the zoo by volunteers during the war.

Zhytomyr oblast

Preparatory work for the installation of an autonomous solar power plant has begun on the territory of Raihorod Primary Healthcare Centre in the rural community of Berdychiv region. The purpose of the project is to provide electricity for the centre’s own needs in case of emergency power outages in winter. The healthcare centre received funds for the installation of an autonomous power plant from the World Bank by submitting an application.

In the regional centre of Zhytomyr oblast, a hospital is to be converted into a medical rehabilitation centre. Korosten Central Regional Hospital ordered the development of design and documentation calculation for the reconstruction.

Sumy oblast

Sumy military administration reported that on the afternoon of 18 August, the russian army dropped a guided aerial bomb on Bilopillia, Sumy oblast. According to preliminary information, one person was killed and one injured. There may still be people under the rubble of buildings. All necessary services are working at the scene. Medical aid is being provided and emergency rescue operations are underway.

At night and in the morning, the russians fired 19 times at the border areas and settlements of Sumy oblast. 46 explosions were recorded. Sad, Stepanivka, Mykolayivka, Khotin, Yunakivka, Krasnopillia, Seredyna-Buda communities were shelled.

During the day on 17 August, russians fired 85 times at the border areas and settlements of Sumy oblast. 178 explosions were recorded. Sumy, Khotin, Yunakivka, Miropillia, Bilopillia, Richky, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Hlukhiv, Esman, Shalyhyne, Druzhba, Seredyna-Buda, Znob-Novhorodske communities were shelled.

Yunakivka community: air strikes by UAVs (9 explosions) and a strike by a Lancet UAV (2 explosions).

Miropillia community: air strikes by UAVs (3 explosions) and a missile strike (1 explosion).

Seredyna-Buda community: artillery shelling (3 explosions) and FPV drones (6 explosions).

Znob-Novhorod community: russians dropped 4 mines on the community’s territory.

Esman community: the enemy attacked with mortars (8 explosions), artillery (2 explosions), and conducted an air strike with UAVs (3 explosions) and FPV drones (5 explosions).

Shalyhyne community: airstrikes by UAVs (11 explosions), FPV drone strikes (4 explosions), mortar shelling (2 explosions), and the dropping of explosives from UAVs (2 explosions).

Druzhbivka community: russians fired from artillery (6 explosions). An 8-year-old child was injured as a result of the shelling.

Velyka Pysarivka community: FPV drone strikes (6 explosions), mortar attacks (7 explosions), artillery shelling (1 explosion).

Hlukhiv community: FPV drone strikes (6 explosions).

Khotin community: an UAV airstrike (2 explosions), mortar shelling (3 explosions).

Richky community: an UAV air strike (1 explosion).

Bilopillia community: UAV air strikes (8 explosions). Two civilians were injured as a result of the air strike.

Nova Sloboda community: a FPV drone strike (1 explosion).

Krasnopillia community: a helicopter launch of unguided air rockets (32 explosions), artillery shelling (16 explosions), mortar shelling (9 explosions), FPV drone strikes (15 explosions).

Sumy community: a rocket attack (1 explosion).

Oleksii Drozdenko, Head of Sumy RMA, reported that a system of passes is being introduced in Sumy oblast for those who want to travel to border settlements where people are being evacuated. According to him, the flow of people evacuating from the border settlements is now decreasing. In the early days, there were a lot of people and a total of several thousand residents were evacuated.

Volodymyr Artiukh, Head of Sumy Regional Military Administration, announced that evacuations continue in Sumy oblast in settlements located 5 and 10 kilometres away from the contact line, and restrictions are being imposed on staying in the 20-kilometre zone. According to him, this is necessary primarily to protect Ukrainian defenders and to prevent the enemy from obtaining information about the location of the Defence Forces. The head of the RMA noted that the security situation in the border area remains tense.

The Ministry of Energy reported that 3,300 consumers in one village in Sumy oblast were left without electricity due to technical problems. In total, 9.500 customers remain without electricity supply, including 6.200 as a result of hostilities.

Chernihiv oblast

Throughout the day, russian forces attacked five settlements in three border communities of Chernihiv oblast: Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka and Snovsk. The enemy used artillery, dropped explosive devices from UAVs, and struck with aircraft-type kamikaze drones

Novhorod-Siverskyi community:
5 explosions (likely from explosive devices dropped by UAVs) nearby Hremiach.

Semenivka community:
1 explosion (likely from aircraft-type kamikaze UAVs) near Semenivka;
1 explosion (likely from explosive devices dropped by UAVs) near Liskivshchina;
1 explosion (likely from explosive devices dropped by UAVs) near Karpovнchi.

13 hits from artillery in Karpovichi village.

Snovsk community:
1 explosion (likely from explosive devices dropped by UAVs) near Yeline.

No casualties or injuries from shelling among the local population have been reported.

On 18 August, a memorial service was held at St. Catherine’s Cathedral in Chernihiv for those who were killed on August 19, 2023. On that day, the russian army struck the city center with an Iskander missile. As a result, seven people were killed, and over two hundred injured.

Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration, reported that the occupiers shelled Marhanets of Nikopol region with artillery. They also attacked Nikopol with a kamikaze drone. An outbuilding in the district centre was damaged. In the morning, the enemy launched several drones at Nikopol and fired ammunition from them.

Throughout the day, the enemy attacked Nikopol almost fifteen times. They used artillery, kamikaze drones, and dropped ammunition from drones. The occupiers targeted Nikopol, Marhanets and Myrove. There were several fires, 11 private houses and 7 outbuildings were damaged, and another was completely destroyed. A warehouse building, an enterprise, a car, a motorcycle, 4 power lines and the same number of gas pipelines, and a solar panel were damaged.

Vinnytsia oblast

In the week from 12 to 18 August, it became known that 19 defenders from the Vinnytsia oblast had been killed.

Sergii Morhunov,Mayor of Vinnytsia, announced that another 34 young people from Vinnytsia went to the twin city of Karlsruhe for rehabilitation. These are the children of fallen or missing defenders.

Kirovohrad oblast

Andrii Raikovych, the Head of the RMA, reported that Air Defence Forces were working in Kirovohrad oblast at night.

Poltava oblast

The reminder action ‘Don’t be silent. Captivity Kills’ in support of prisoners of war was organised in Kremenchuk. Relatives and friends of the captured soldiers were among those who joined.

Action ‘Don’t be silent. Captivity kills’. Photo from social media

Cherkasy oblast

Ihor Taburets, Head of the RMA reported that Air Defence Forces destroyed one attack drone in Cherkasy oblast.

An action in support of prisoners of war was held in Cherkasy. Concerned citizens, military families, public figures and volunteers came out with flags and posters to remind everybody of the soldiers who are currently in captivity.

Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine

Zaporizhzhia oblast

Yesterday, the occupiers carried out 371 strikes on 10 settlements in Zaporizhzhia oblast. 5 airstrikes were conducted on Kamianske, Novoandriivka, Robotyne, and Levadne. A total of 255 drones attacked Malyshivka, Prymorske, Huliaipole, Novoandriivka, Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, Malynivka, and Levadne. Four MLRS strikes hit Robotyne. There were 107 artillery attacks on Prymorske, Huliaipole, Novoandriivka, Preobrazhenka, Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, Malynivka, and Levadne. Six reports were received about the destruction of residential buildings and infrastructure.

Representatives of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) informed IAEA experts, who are present at the nuclear facility, about a drone explosion near the plant’s territory. The IAEA team visited the area where the drone allegedly exploded and reported that the strike on the road surface between the two main gates of the ZNPP was likely caused by a drone equipped with an explosive payload. There were no injuries as a result of the incident, and the nuclear facility’s equipment was not damaged.

Mykolaiv oblast

In the morning of 17 August, the enemy attacked Kutsurub community three times with FPV drones. As a result of the attack, a fire broke out on the roof of a private house in the village of Dmytrivka. The firefighters extinguished the fire. Also, yesterday at 9:31pm, the enemy shelled the waters near the city of Ochakiv with artillery. There were no casualties.

Odesa oblast

As of 6:00am, there are no enemy ships in the Black and Azov Seas. There is one enemy ship In the Mediterranean Sea, but without any carriers of Kalibr cruise missiles.

Kherson oblast

Around 5am, the russian army attacked Stepanivka. A 67-year-old man was injured in the attack, suffering wounds to his face, abdomen, and leg.

Two people were injured due to a drone attack in Dniprovskyi district of Kherson. A 61-year-old woman sustained blast and cranial injuries, as well as a leg wound. A 40-year-old man suffered a blast injury and facial wounds.

Yesterday, russian forces attacked Kherson, Antonivka, Sadove, Prydniprovske, Veletenske, Poniativka, Komyshany, Novoraisk, Novokairy, Zmiivka, Dudchany, and Beryslav. Eight private houses, a store

building, and two vehicles were damaged. Police of Kherson oblast documented seven war crimes committed by the russian army. Two people were injured as a result of the shelling.

It is reported that russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions twice on Prydniprovskyi front. They faced a strong response, suffered losses, and retreated.

Yesterday, Ukrainian defenders eliminated 59 occupiers and destroyed 45 pieces of weaponry and military equipment, including 1 self-propelled artillery unit, 26 artillery systems, 13 units of automotive and armored equipment, 4 reconnaissance drones, and 1 boat. Additionally, 1 command and observation post, 3 field supply buildups, 2 observation posts, 1 firing position, 2 enemy personnel accommodation sites, and 1 generator were targeted.

Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine

Volyn oblast

Lutsk community sent a Mitsubishi L200 car to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is already the 19th donated car out of 30 purchased with the funds of the city budget.

Zakarpattia oblast

The Center for Veteran Development was opened at Uzhhorod National University. Its key goal is to support demobilised defenders, their family members and families of fallen heroes on the way to return to a peaceful life, as well as to ensure their professional reintegration.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

There are currently 12 sustainability centres operating in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast. They were opened as part of the Sustainability Program of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian mental health program, How Are You?.

Lviv oblast

Roman Bilyi, grenade launcher of the 1st Air Mobile Unit, from the village of Verbizh, Mykolaiv community, was awarded with the III degree Order of Courage (posthumously). During the full-scale war, he defended the Motherland in the ranks of the 46th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. He died in a military hospital on 19 December 2023, as a result of injuries received near the village of Krasnohorivka, Donetsk oblast.

Rivne oblast

The 12th evacuation train with 44 people, including 8 children, 1 person with a disability, from Donetsk oblast arrived in Rivne oblast. People were placed in 7 communities of Duben region. 609 people arrived in the previous 11 trains.

Ternopil oblast

During the ceremonial opening of the memorial sign on the Alley of Stars, RMA representatives presented awards to the military. Soldier Vitalii Ozimko received the Defender of the Fatherland medal (posthumously). Soldier Andrii Chornyi received the III degree For Courage Order (posthumously). Soldier Andrii Klykun received the III degree For Courage Order (posthumously).

Khmelnytskyi oblast

Khmelnytskyi City Council allocated UAH 16m for payments to the families of the killed, to those who suffered from terrorist attacks by the russian terrorist state, payments to the families of prisoners, missing persons, payments to military personnel in need of rehabilitation, pocket funds for all military personnel. This year, such payments amount to UAH 131m.

Khmelnytskyi community sent the purchased property (electronic electronic devices, electronic devices, copters, drones, etc.) to the Defense Forces worth UAH 70m thanks to the budget funds.

Chernivtsi oblast

The RMA reported that senior lieutenant Volodymyr Okhota, junior sergeant Mykola Nikolaichuk, senior soldier Oleh Semeniuk, soldiers Ihor Manoliy, Ihor Vasylenko and Heorgyi Shtefanyuk were posthumously awarded with the III degree For Courage Order.

International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)

Japan sent 22 mechanised demining machines to Ukraine, 6 of them have already arrived. In addition, specialists of the State Emergency Service are currently undergoing training in working with mechanised demining machines in Japan and Cambodia. The training takes place in 2 stages: at the base of the leading machine-building company NIKKEN, and then – at the Cambodian Mine Action Center.

UNESCO will help with archaeological research of the territories affected by the explosion of Kakhovsk HPP. The organizaion has access to satellite images, which will help monitor the situation at objects in occupied territories and can coordinate archaeological research.

Przemyslaw Rasewych-Kuchynskyi, Polish citizen, was killed in Ukraine. The man was born in the city of Gdynia and was engaged in volunteer and community activities. After the start of the full-scale invasion, he decided to defend Ukraine and joined the ranks of the International Legion. He was killed while performing the task. Przemyslaw ordered that he be buried in Lviv at the Lychakiv Cemetery.

Materials compiled by Tetiana Kliuchnyk-Horobets, Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Аnna Efremova, Albahachiieva Helena

Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Litrovnyk Alla, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova

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