A Russian bombardment in the city center of Cherniguiv (northern Ukraine) caused aAt least 5 dead and 37 injured, according to an initial report communicated by the Minister of the Interior, Igor Klymenko, on Telegram, Saturday, August 19. UA university and a theater were notably affected, announced for his part President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram. He also posted a video showing debris around a large Soviet-style apartment building, with cars parked around it and partially destroyed, smashed roofs and shattered windows. Follow our live.
Vladimir Putin in southern Russia. The Russian president traveled to the south of the country on the morning of Saturday August 19. He met the generals in charge of the Russian military operation in Ukraine during a meeting in Rostov-on-Don, the Kremlin announced. “Vladimir Putin held a meeting in the headquarters of the special military operation in Rostov-on-Don, writes the presidency in a press release. The Head of State listened to reports from the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, sector commanders and other officials.
Volodymyr Zelensky is in Sweden. The President of Ukraine announced on Twitter that he had arrived in Stockholm to hold “talks” with the Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, and the royal family, as well as representatives of political parties. On the menu : “partnership, defense cooperation, EU integration and common Euro-Atlantic security”.
Washington said yes to Denmark and the Netherlands. The United States said it had given the green light to the sending of planes to kyiv by these two countries American F-16 fighter jets. The devices should be delivered once the Ukrainian pilots are trained. “The F-16s will contribute to Ukraine’s defense and deterrence capabilities”said a spokesperson for the US State Department, Friday evening August 18. “Great news from our friends in the US!”immediately welcomed on Twitter Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov.
Ukraine claims to have destroyed 15 Russian drones overnight from Friday to Saturday. Russian forces “attacked from the north” with Shahed drones. “A total of 17 attack drones were launched from the Kursk region”wrote the Ukrainian army on Telegram. Ukrainian air defense was activated “in the northern and central regions, as well as the west” from the country.
Vladimir Putin likely absent from UN General Assembly in September. According to Ukrainian media Ukrainska Pravda, the Russian president signed a decree confirming his non-participation in person. According to the text, the Russian delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He was already the one who had made the trip in New York last April. As a reminder, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against the Russian president.