Right here is the scenario on Monday, August 21, 2023.
Combating
- The United Nations condemned a Russian missile assault on Ukraine’s northern metropolis of Chernihiv on Saturday morning, which killed seven folks and injured dozens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised a “tangible response” from Ukrainian forces to what he known as a “heinous strike”.
- The Institute for the Examine of Battle mentioned Ukrainian forces performed offensive operations in western elements of the Zaporizhia area and made modest advances. Russian forces continued to launch offensive operations across the metropolis of Kupiansk within the Kharkiv area however didn’t make any confirmed advances, it mentioned.
- Kharkiv area’s Governor Oleh Syniehubov posted on his Telegram channel {that a} man in his 40s was severely injured this morning after Russian forces shelled Kupiansk.
- Russia says it thwarted Ukrainian drone assaults on the Moscow area on Sunday, the second such incident in two days. The Kursk, Rostov and Belgorod areas, all of which border Ukraine, additionally reported drone assaults. The regional governor mentioned 5 folks have been injured in Kursk. No accidents have been reported elsewhere.
- The UK’s Ministry of Defence mentioned Russia was seeking to strengthen its air defence techniques in its western areas in gentle of the latest drone assaults.
Diplomacy
- South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who’s internet hosting this week’s BRICS summit, mentioned the nation won’t facet with any world powers. The summit has turned a highlight on South Africa’s ties with the Kremlin, particularly because it has refused to sentence Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. BRICS, a grouping of main growing international locations, consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
- Ukraine’s International Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned he had spoken to his Senegalese and Guinean counterparts in latest days as a part of an effort to strengthen relationships in Africa and counter Russia’s affect on the continent.
- Hungary struck a take care of Serbia that might carry elevated shipments of Russian pure gasoline by way of the Balkan nation if Ukraine ends a gasoline transit settlement with Moscow. Hungary will get about 80 % of its gasoline from Russia and has fought vigorously in opposition to sanctions proposed by the European Union.
Weapons
- The Dutch and Danish governments will switch an unspecified variety of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as soon as Kyiv has met sure circumstances. The announcement got here after Zelenskyy held separate conferences with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
- Frederiksen mentioned she hoped the primary Danish F-16s could possibly be handed over to Ukraine across the New 12 months. Rutte didn’t present a timeframe, saying it is dependent upon how quickly Ukrainian crews and infrastructure are prepared.
- Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov mentioned coaching on the fighter jets had begun however that it will take not less than six months and probably longer.
- Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine had additionally begun discussing with Sweden the potential of receiving Gripen jets to spice up its air defences.
