Ukraine Daily

Monday, August 15

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Russia’s war against Ukraine

A couple says goodbye to their grandchildren fleeing eastern Ukraine on an evacuation train on Aug. 6, 2022. (Alex Chain Tsz Yuk)

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Zelensky: Discussion on EU entry ban for Russian travelers expanding daily. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening address that more countries and politicians are joining this conversation on visa restrictions for Russian citizens, which Zelensky says should ultimately lead to “appropriate” decisions. “When evil reaches such a scale, people’s silence approaches the level of complicity. Therefore, if you have Russian citizenship and are silent, it means you support it. And no matter where you are, both in Russia and abroad, your voice should sound in support of Ukraine.”

Missing Azovstal defender’s wife says he was allegedly taken to Russia. Kateryna Prokopenko said she found out through Russian media that Moscow’s military took her husband, Azov Regiment Commander Denys Prokopenko, to Russia, but his whereabouts are still unclear. She added that the last time she heard from her husband was on May 23, shortly after an estimated 264 Ukrainian soldiers in the besieged Azovstal plant in occupied Mariupol were transferred to Russian custody. The fate of many of the soldiers is still unknown.

Ukraine says embattled Pisky in Donetsk Oblast still under Ukrainian control. Spokesperson of the Eastern Group of Forces Serhiy Cherevaty told Suspilne media that heavy fighting continues to prevent Russian forces from capturing the village of Pisky, near Russian-occupied Donetsk. Earlier, Russian Interfax quoted the Russian Defense Ministry saying that Moscow’s forces have full control over Pisky.

Russian media say Ukrainian military destroyed Wagner Group base in occupied Popasna. Yuriy Kotenok, a Russian propagandist, wrote on his Telegram that Ukrainian forces used HIMARS missiles to hit the base in Popasna, Luhansk oblast.

Ukraine again urges civilian evacuation from Russian-occupied parts of Kherson Oblast. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk called on Ukrainians remaining in occupied territories of Kherson Oblast to flee their homes, emphasizing that “a difficult winter is coming.” According to the regional administration, about 50% of Kherson Oblast residents have fled since Feb. 24. An evacuation of 20,000 more people is expected. As Ukraine began mandatory evacuation from embattled Donetsk Oblast in August, Vereshchuk said that a similar measure could be introduced in other regions where fierce fighting continues.

Mayor: Ukrainian partisans damage railway bridge near Melitopol. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov reported on Aug. 14 that Ukrainian partisans have damaged a railway bridge near occupied Melitopol, “which means no Russian echelons from Crimea.” According to Fedorov, the Russian forces were not able to repair the bridge for two days now. He also said that the Russian proxies have increased filtration measures since yesterday but were not able to find any members of the partisan forces.

FM Kuleba calls for tourist visa ban for Russians. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba referenced the suspension of Russia from the UN Word Tourism Organization because, in his words, “tourism is a pillar of peace and international friendship… Russia’s actions are indefensible and contrary to the very principles of UNWTO.” In his statement on Twitter on Aug. 14, he wrote that the reasoning sounds “fully applicable to an EU, G7 tourist visa ban for Russians.”

Ex-mayor charged with collaborating with Russia in Kharkiv Oblast. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Volodymyr Demchenko, an ex-mayor of the town of Kupyansk in the region, has become the head of the Russian occupation government in Kharkiv Oblast’s Petropavlivka community.

UK Intelligence: Russia’s priority likely to reinforce in southern Ukraine amid counteroffensive threats. The U.K. Defense Ministry said on Aug. 14 in its intelligence update that while Russia has likely focused on moving its troops to the south over the past week, Kremlin proxies have continued to attempt renewed offensive toward the north of occupied Donetsk city in the east of the country. The ministry noted particularly heavy fighting on the village of Pisky. Russian Interfax reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, that Moscow’s forces have taken full control of the embattled village. Ukraine’s military has not said anything yet.

Institute for the Study of War: Russian proxies continue consolidating administrative control of occupied areas, enforcing ruble payments. The U.S. think tank cited Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) on Aug. 14 by saying that Kherson city occupation authorities are pressuring local ambulance workers to sign forms consenting to work for the new occupation government and receive payments in rubles rather than hryvnias. GUR also stated that Russian occupation authorities are continuing to collect personal passport data from recipients of humanitarian aid, civilians who contact the occupation government, and customers of Russian mobile phone services. The experts identify that “occupation authorities can leverage financial incentives and personal information to coerce Ukrainian civilians into cooperating with the occupation government,” including coercion to vote in favor of the referenda.

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Heavy Russian bombardment continues to pummel eastern Donetsk Oblast nearly six months into the full-scale war. Russian forces have fired missiles and shells across the entire region, indiscriminately killing civilians en masse. Incessant strikes destroyed homes and flattened cities in Ukraine’s industrial heartland, known as Donbas. Check the photos we picked to show Russia’n destruction in eastern Ukraine.

The human cost of Russia’s war

General Staff: Russia has lost 43,550 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Aug. 14 that Russia had also lost 1,864 tanks, 4,126 armored fighting vehicles, 3,039 vehicles and fuel tanks, 980 artillery systems, 261 multiple launch rocket systems, 136 air defense systems, 194 helicopters, 233 airplanes, 784 drones, and 15 boats.

Governor: Russian forces kill 2 civilians, injure 10 in Donetsk Oblast over 24 hours. Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported that Russian troops fired on the community of Krasnohorivka on Aug. 13.

International response

Latvia prepares bill to limit use of Russian language. According to Latvian Justice Minister Janis Bordans, the bill seeks to restrict the use of Russian in the workplace and in public places, Latvia’s Delfi news site reported. He said that almost 75% of citizens voted against the use of Russian as the second state language in a 2012 referendum.

42 countries urge Russia to withdraw troops from Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. All EU members, Norway, Great Britain, USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Turkey joined the statement. The countries argued that Russia’s control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Russian-occupied Enerhodar poses a threat to nuclear safety. Russia, which has constantly been shelling Ukrainian positions from the plant’s territory, has been accused of using it as a shield and a tool of blackmail.

Slovakia denies transferring MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. According to Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad, the jets will remain in Slovakia until the end of August. Previously media reported that the jets had already been supplied.

Official: Poland to develop solution to deny visas to Russians. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk said that Poland supports restricting visas for Russian citizens on the European Union’s level, Polskie Radio reported. Poland stopped issuing tourist visas to most Russian citizens several months ago. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia also support banning tourist visas for Russians. However, Germany, France, and the Netherlands are against the proposal, Wawrzyk said.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Asami Terajima, Toma Istomina, Alisa Soboleva, Oleg Sukhov, Lili Bivings, Thaisa Semenova, Olena Goncharova, and Anastasiia Malenko.

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