Summary of the day: Russian forces reportedly regained lost positions in Kursk Oblast amid ongoing Ukrainian attacks, while also making advances near Toretsk and southwest of Donetsk City. The Russian military appears to be redeploying troops from lower priority areas to reinforce the Kursk frontline. Meanwhile, the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France has sparked concern among Russian ultranationalist milbloggers about their ability to report on the war, highlighting the reliance of Russian soldiers on ad-hoc communication methods like Telegram for organizing operations in Ukraine.
Picture of the day:
A Russian missile strike hit the Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv city. The attack injured seven people and damaged or destroyed at least 25 private homes. (Ivan Samoilov/Gwara Media/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
What Can I Do To Help Ukraine? This is a question I receive all the time. We at Transform Ukraine are building longer-term housing for internally displaced Ukrainians. Visit Rebuild Ukraine for how you can assist in housing a Ukrainian family displaced by the war.
Path To Peace
President Zelensky announced ongoing talks with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Switzerland to organize a second peace summit for Ukraine, expressing support for India potentially hosting the event. He emphasized that any host country must join the peace summit communiqué. Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to peace without surrendering territory and plans to finalize a peace action plan by November.
Situation On The Land, Sea, and Air in Ukraine
Kursk Front – Initiative Ukraine
Ukrainian forces have advanced 1-3 kilometers in Kursk Oblast, capturing two more settlements. Russian forces reportedly regained positions in Kursk Oblast, including Komarovka, Olgovka, and Kremyanoye, while fighting continues in Malaya Loknya. Ukrainian attacks persist near Russkoye Porechnoye, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, and Martynovka, with Russia claiming to have repelled attacks near Borki and Spalnoye. The Russian military is redeploying troops from various parts of Ukraine to reinforce the Kursk frontline, while maintaining its offensive near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. Russia has declared a “counter-terrorist operation” in border regions and begun evacuations.
Kharkiv Front – Initiative None
Fighting continues north and northeast of Kharkiv City near Hlyboke, Lyptsi, and Vovchansk. Ukrainian forces claim to have isolated Russian troops at the Vovchansk Aggregate Plant. No significant changes to the frontline have been confirmed.
Luhansk Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, attacking multiple settlements including Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, and Dibrova. No confirmed advances were reported.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia
Siversk
Russian forces attacked settlements near Siversk, including Bilohorivka, Verkhnokamyanske, Vyimka, and Spirne. The offensive operations continued in the area around Siversk.
Chasiv Yar
Russian forces continued attacks near Chasiv Yar, targeting nearby settlements including Kalynivka, Hryhorivka, Stupochky, and Andriivka. No confirmed advances were made. Russian sources claimed progress in eastern Chasiv Yar and northwest of Klishchiivka, but these claims are unverified.
Toretsk
Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, making progress in the town’s eastern outskirts, west of the Siverskyi-Donets Donbas Canal northeast of the town, and within Niu York to the south. Attacks continued around Toretsk and nearby settlements including Dyliivka, Druzhba, Pivnichne, and Nelipivka. Ukrainian defenses and terrain are reportedly slowing Russian advances in eastern Toretsk.
Pokrovsk
Russian forces reportedly advanced southeast of Pokrovsk, claiming progress in Novohrodivka and near Marynivka and Kalynove. However, these claims are unconfirmed. Attacks continued around several settlements east and southeast of Pokrovsk, including Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole, Hrodivka, and Karlivka. No confirmed changes to the frontline near Pokrovsk have been reported.
West of Donetsk City
Russian forces attacked Krasnohorivka and Heorhiivka west of Donetsk City. No confirmed advances were reported in this area.
Southwest of Donetsk City
Russian forces advanced southwest of Donetsk City. They planted a flag in southern Kostyantynivka and reached a section of the Kostyantynivka-Vuhledar highway near Vodyane. Attacks also occurred near Katerynivka and Vuhledar.
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative None
Zaporizhia-Donetsk Border Area
No ground attacks were reported by either Russian or Ukrainian sources in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.
Zaporizhia Line
Fighting continued in western Zaporizhia Oblast near Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, and Mala Tokmachka. No confirmed frontline changes were reported. Russian sources claimed a Ukrainian airstrike on Vasylivka. Russian anti-tank units are reportedly operating in the area.
Kherson (Dnipro River) Front – Initiative None
No fighting was reported in east bank Kherson Oblast. Russian airborne and army units are reportedly operating in the Kherson area.
Ukraine News
Russian forces launched a massive missile and drone attack across Ukraine, targeting multiple regions including Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kyiv, Odesa, and Lutsk. The assault involved bomber aircraft, MiG-31s launching Kinzhal missiles, and kamikaze drones. While Ukrainian forces reportedly intercepted most attacks, at least three people were killed, and several international journalists were injured when a missile hit Kramatorsk. Nationwide air raid sirens sounded, and emergency power shutdowns were implemented. Kyiv experienced power outages and water supply issues. Local officials reported casualties and damage to residential areas in several regions.
Pope Francis criticized Ukraine’s potential ban on Russian-affiliated religious organizations on Aug. 25, stating “churches are not to be touched.” President Zelensky signed the bill on Aug. 24, which was passed by parliament earlier. The law targets the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), suspected of links to Russia during the war. Over 100 UOC-MP clergy are under criminal investigation, with 50 charged and 26 sentenced. The law gives UOC-MP communities nine months to break ties with the Russian church.
Ukrainian MP Artem Dmytruk fled the country after being charged with assaulting a soldier and a law enforcement officer in separate incidents. Dmytruk, known for pro-Russian stances, claims the charges are politically motivated. He allegedly fled through Moldova to Rome. Dmytruk faces charges of assault, attempted weapon theft, and public order violation.
Boxer Oleksandr Usyk stated in an Aug. 24 interview that he has no interest in entering politics. He plans to stay in boxing but expressed willingness to potentially become Youth and Sports Minister, viewing it as a managerial role rather than political. Usyk, who became undisputed heavyweight world champion after defeating Tyson Fury in May, is scheduled for a rematch in December.
Innocent Victims Of War
The casualty count of civilians in the past 24 hours: (Russian War Crimes)
DEATHS: 4 INJURIES: 11
- Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk, Ukraine, kills Reuters journalist Ryan Evans and injures five others, including two Reuters colleagues. The attack occurred on Aug. 24 at Hotel Sapphire. Evans, 38, was a former British soldier who had worked with Reuters since 2022. Ukraine’s National Police confirmed the casualties, which included two residents.
- Russian forces attacked Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, 229 times. Three people were killed and six injured. In Svesy village, a guided bomb hit a residential building, killing two on a motorcycle and injuring two others. Similar attacks on Bezdryk village and Sumy city resulted in one death and four injuries.
A Russian strike hit a hotel in Kramatorsk killing at least one person and injuring six others. Emergency rescue workers responded to the damaged site. (Ukraine’s National Police/web)
Russia News
Russian authorities reported drone strikes in Saratov Oblast injuring four civilians. One woman is in serious condition. The attacks targeted Saratov and Engels, with the latter hosting a Russian air force base. Russia claims to have destroyed nine drones over Saratov and several others in nearby regions. The attacks occurred about 900 km from the Ukrainian border. The information about drones downed in other regions couldn’t be immediately verified.
Pavel Durov, Telegram founder, was detained at Le Bourget airport on Aug. 24. French authorities extended his detention for up to 96 hours on Aug. 25. Durov faces allegations of fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, promoting terrorism, and cyberbullying. Telegram stated they follow EU laws and called the situation absurd. The app is widely used in Ukraine, including by President Zelensky, for war updates.
Russia’s Allies
Belarus is concentrating military forces, including Special Operation Forces and various weapons, near Ukraine’s northern border, particularly around Gomel. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry warns this buildup, supposedly for exercises, includes former Wagner PMC troops. Belarus claims it’s a misunderstanding. Ukraine cautions Belarus against violating its border, stating any incursion would make Belarusian military targets legitimate for Ukrainian forces. Belarus, Russia’s ally, hosts Russian troops but isn’t directly involved in the Ukraine invasion. Ukraine suggests this could be a psychological operation to create panic.
Controlling the Narrative and Russian Propaganda
French authorities arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov on August 24 at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, sparking concern among Russian milbloggers about their ability to report on the Ukraine war and raising issues about Russian soldiers’ reliance on the platform for unofficial communication. While Durov’s arrest may not immediately affect Telegram operations, it highlights ongoing tension over content moderation and censorship. Russian authorities are trying to control war reporting on Telegram, where milbloggers have been able to criticize the government freely. Some milbloggers are promoting alternative platforms like VK, but a move to this Kremlin-controlled platform could lead to increased censorship. Russian milbloggers are calling for an official military communication system, as the potential loss of Telegram could disrupt frontline operations, highlighting ongoing issues with Russian military communication and coordination.
A pro-Kremlin Russian military blogger reportedly met with former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. The blogger advocated for increased Russian cooperation with Iraq and other developing countries.
Source Material
Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org
The Kyiv Independent – kyivindependent.com
Kyiv Post – kyivpost.com