Ukraine Daily

Friday, August 19

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Russia’s war against Ukraine

Workers place a coffin in a grave during the burial of unidentified people killed during the weeks-long Russian occupation of Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, on Aug. 11, 2022. Russian forces occupied Bucha in the early stage of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, before abandoning their plan to seize Kyiv. (Photo by Alexey Furman/Getty Images)

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Zelensky: Negotiations with Kremlin possible only if Russian troops leave Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky made the statement after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan said he and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin would discuss the results of the negotiations with Zelensky and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Ukrainian charity purchases satellite for the military. Serhiy Prytula, a Ukrainian comedian, politician, and volunteer, announced on Aug. 18 that his charity bought a satellite for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The charity used the $20 million Ukrainians had fundraised for purchasing four Bayraktar drones in June. Back then, the Turkish manufacturer refused to take the money, offering three drones for free instead. Prytula’s charity signed a deal with Finnish microsatellite manufacturer ICEYE, which will provide Ukraine with access to its constellation of SAR satellites, “allowing the Ukrainian Armed Forces to receive radar satellite imagery on critical locations with a high revisit frequency,” the charity said.

Crimea: Explosions heard in Kerch and at Belbek military airfield near Sevastopol. Mikhail Razvozzhayev, head of the Russian occupation government in Ukraine’s Sevastopol, attributed the sounds to the work of air defense while Oleg Kryuchkov, an advisor to the head of the Russian occupation government in Ukraine’s Crimea, claimed on Telegram that Russian air defense had shot down a target in Kerch. The city of Kerch is linked to Russia’s Krasnodar Krai via the strategic Crimean Bridge. On Aug. 17, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the President’s Office, said that the Crimean Bridge should be destroyed as a legitimate military target.

Governor: Ammunition depot on fire in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast. According to Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the cause of the fire is being established. No victims were reported.

Erdogan urges Ukraine, Russia to return to parameters of March talks in Istanbul. After a meeting in Lviv with President Volodymyr Zelensky and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Erdogan also said that he was concerned about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Russian-occupied Enerhodar. He said a repeat of the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster should be avoided and argued that he was on Ukraine’s side. Russia, which has been shelling Ukrainian positions from the plant’s territory, has been accused of using it as a shield and a tool of blackmail.

Foreign minister: Ukraine wasn’t forced to make concessions to Russia during Lviv talks. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba made the statement following talks between President Volodymyr Zelensky, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Lviv. He argued that Erdogan and Guterres sincerely sympathize with Ukraine and seek to help it.

CNN: US is aware of reports about abuse of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant staff. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said they are “aware of reports that Russian personnel have abused and coerced” staff at the nuclear plant, condemning “Russia’s reckless disregard for nuclear safety and security” on Aug. 18. He said the International Atomic Energy Agency must be allowed to enter the plant and ensure its safety and security.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Russia threatens to shut down Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson claimed Ukraine is “planning a provocation” at the plant – the language Moscow often uses in its threats – that could lead to “a man-made nuclear disaster,” therefore, Moscow is “taking measures to ensure safety.” The ministry added the plant might be shut down. Russia seized control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the town of Enerhodar in March and is using the site as a military base to launch attacks on Ukraine.

Zelensky, Guterres agree on terms of possible IAEA mission to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. President Volodymyr Zelensky met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Lviv. Guterres said that the UN has sufficient resources to support a mission by the International Atomic Energy Agency to the plant if Russia and Ukraine agree to it. Russia seized control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the town of Enerhodar in March and is using the site as a military base to launch attacks on Ukraine.

Ukrainian intelligence: Russians prepare provocation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. According to Ukraine’s military intelligence, Russian troops announced an unexpected day off at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Russian-occupied Enerhodar for Aug. 19, not allowing part of the staff to enter the premises. Meanwhile, representatives of Russia’s state nuclear monopoly Rosatom have left the plant, the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate said. Russia seized control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in March and is using the site as a military base to launch attacks on Ukraine.

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Even with a semblance of normalcy returning to liberated areas around Kyiv, burial ceremonies continue for unidentified victims killed under Russian occupation early in the full-scale war. Another 21 bodies of unidentified victims were buried in Bucha on Aug. 17. Instead of names, they were put to rest with number plates. Check our story here.

The human cost of Russia’s war

Update: Death toll in Russia’s Aug. 17 attack on Kharkiv rises to 12. The State Emergency Service reported that 12 civilians were killed and 20 more got injured in the Russian missile attack on a three-story residential building in Kharkiv’s Saltivskyi neighborhood on Aug. 17. Four people have been rescued from under the rubble, the State Emergency Service said. The rescue operation continues.

1 person killed in Russia’s recent attack on Mykolaiv. Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych reported explosions in the city at around 1 p.m. on Aug. 18. The attack injured two people and killed one, the official said. He did not provide details.

Governor: 3 civilians killed in Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast over past 24 hours. Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported that another six people were wounded as a result of attacks on the towns of Avdiika and Kurakhivka, and the village of Netailove.

General Staff: Russia has lost 44,300 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Aug. 18 that Russia had also lost 1,889 tanks, 4,179 armored fighting vehicles, 1,010 artillery systems, 265 multiple launch rocket systems, 136 air defense systems, 197 helicopters, 234 airplanes, 793 drones, and 15 boats.

International response

Turkey to assist Ukraine in post-war reconstruction of infrastructure. Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus signed a memorandum of understanding on post-war reconstruction on Aug. 18, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office. The memorandum was signed during Zelensky’s meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Lviv. The Turkish government and businesses are expected to fund reconstruction projects and provide consulting services, the President’s Office said.

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