As the Russo-Ukrainian war enters its 179th day, let’s take a look at the main developments.
Here are the key events from Sunday, August 21.
Fight
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned Russia might “try to do something particularly ugly” ahead of Wednesday’s celebrations marking 31 years Independence from Soviet rule.
- A Russian missile strike in Voznesensk, a town about 30 kilometers (20 mi) from the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear plant in Mykolaiv province, injured 14 people, including 12 children, and raised concerns fear of a nuclear disaster caused by the fighting.
- Russian forces have continued to strike strategic towns and cities in eastern and southern Ukraine, but have made no gains since Saturday, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. , DC.
- According to governor Mikhail Razvozhayev, a drone hit a building in a “failed” attack near the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, annexed by Russia. Ukraine did not claim responsibility for the incident, which after a chain of explosions at key strategic locations on the peninsula.
- According to the UK Ministry of Defense, Russian forces have reached the suburb of Bakhmut in the eastern Donbas, but have been unable to break through Ukrainian defenses there.
- The Russian Defense Ministry has accused Ukraine of poisoning its soldiers in a Russian-controlled area in the southeastern region of Zaporizhia in late July. An adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said Russian forces may have eaten expired canned meat.
Sport
- Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk has defeated Anthony Joshua of Great Britain in a split decision to keep his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He dedicated his victory to Ukraine.
Economy
- Russian authorities say the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia region is exporting up to 7,000 tonnes of grain a day, although they did not say where the grain was imported. Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing grain from the occupied territories.
- Wally Adeyemo, the US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, has warned that Russian entities and individuals are trying to take advantage of Turkey to bypass Western sanctions, during a call with Turkey’s deputy finance minister. Turkey Yunus Elitas.
Diplomatic
- Two Russians and a Ukrainian were arrested trying to enter a military factory in central Albania on suspicion of espionage, Albanian authorities said. The Russian Defense Ministry said one of the Russians was trying to take a photo.
- The United Nations is working with the United States and the European Union to overcome Antonio Guterres, head of the United Nations, said Russian food and fertilizers will reach the world market. While Western sanctions do not apply to food and fertilizers, they have had an overall effect on exports.
- Negotiations on arranging a visit to the UN nuclear agency’s Zaporizhzhia plant have dragged on for more than a week. Ukrainian authorities have urged the United Nations and other global bodies to force Russian forces out of the plant.
