Ukraine has used a brand new class of domestically-produced drone to assault Russia for the primary time, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday.
The Ukrainian president described the Palianytsia drone-missile as a “utterly new class of weapon” that can pound targets inside Russia till Vladimir Putin withdraws his troops from Ukraine.
Palianytsia, which implies a loaf of bread in Ukrainian and is tough for Russians to pronounce correctly, is described as a extremely manoeuvrable, quick drone that has been fitted with a jet engine and a strong warhead.
The phrase Palianytsia has been used as a password at Ukrainian checkpoints, given Russian troopers’ struggles to enunciate the time period.
Kyiv, which has been investing closely in home drone manufacturing, hopes the weapon will now equally befuddle Russian defences.
“That is our new methodology of retaliation in opposition to the aggressor,” Mr Zelensky stated, as he thanked the builders behind the mission in a speech to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day. “The enemy shall be defeated.”
In a single day, witnesses of a Ukrainian drone strike on an ammunition depot within the Voronezh border area of Russia recorded listening to the rumble of a jet engine moderately than the same old whirr of a propeller.
Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine’s minister of strategic industries, confirmed that this was the Palianytsia drone missile making its debut.
“We eagerly awaited the second once we may exhibit its effectiveness to the enemy. Lastly, this second has arrived,” he stated.
Whereas little is but identified concerning the actual specs of the drone, Ukrainian engineers have been growing the Palianytsia all yr because the next-generation weapon of their drone programme.
Ukrainian drones have been credited with helping to turn the momentum of the war by pounding Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea, sending again battlefield photographs of the Donbas entrance line and putting targets throughout Russia from the Arctic to Siberia.
In his speech on Saturday, Mr Zelensky as soon as once more stated Ukraine would solely conform to peace with Russia if it regained all its misplaced territory.
Stories had speculated that Kyiv would possibly conform to cede a number of the 4 areas at the moment occupied by Moscow in change for peace.
However Mr Zelensky was defiant, as his military continued to carry a large swathe of Russian land in the Kursk region.
“Let’s say, our companions lose coronary heart and don’t stand firmly and steadfastly in opposition to Putin’s aggression and in opposition to him as a thief, we’ll do every little thing we will to make sure that our armed forces are able to rightfully push Putin out of our nation,” he stated.
Mr Zelensky additionally hailed a prisoner swap take care of Russia on Saturday, the primary since his forces’ invasion of Kursk Russian and Ukrainian officers swapped 115 prisoners every in a deal negotiated by the United Arab Emirates.
“We’re looking and doing our greatest to get everybody again,” he stated.
On Saturday, social media movies confirmed Ukrainian troopers elevating their flag in one other village within the Kursk area, backing up Ukrainian estimates that they’ve now captured round 500 sq. miles of Russian territory and 93 settlements since Aug 6, when it launched the primary invasion of Russia for the reason that Second World Battle.
However whereas Ukrainian forces are taking floor within the Kursk area, reviews from the entrance line within the japanese Donbas area confirmed Russian forces on the offensive.
Russian navy bloggers stated that Putin’s armies have been closing in in town of Pokrovsk which is taken into account a key logistics hub for the Ukrainian military because it lies on railway and highway intersections.
The Two Majors, a well-connected Russian navy running a blog Telegram channel, stated that they have been near capturing a village near Pokrovsk.
“The Ukrainian armed forces are dropping positions in Karlovka. The Russian military is transferring in direction of Mirnograd and Pokrovsk,” it stated.
There have additionally been reviews for the primary time in a number of months that frontline Ukrainian forces are operating low on ammunition and have reintroduced rationing.
Mr Zelensky used his nightly Telegram message to Ukrainians on Friday to admonish allies for being sluggish to ship navy support as a result of his armies want shells and ammunition now, not “tomorrow or quickly”.
Ukrainian officers additionally stated {that a} Russian missile assault in town of Kostiantynivka, close to Bakmut, killed 5 civilians on Saturday.
04:59 PM BST
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Thanks for following at this time’s reside protection of the battle in Ukraine.
We’ll be again quickly with extra updates and evaluation from the battle.
04:47 PM BST
Ukraine and Russia change first prisoners since Kursk invasion
Russia and Ukraine introduced Saturday they’d exchanged 115 prisoners of battle every, simply over two weeks after Kyiv launched a shock incursion into Russia’s Kursk area.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky stated “one other 115 of our defenders have returned residence at this time”, whereas Moscow’s defence ministry stated: “Because of a negotiation course of, 115 Russian servicemen taken prisoner within the Kursk area have been returned from territories managed by the Kyiv regime.”
Mr Zelensky beforehand stated the Russian troopers captured within the Kursk area are thought-about an “change fund”, and that he hopes they are often swapped for a number of the roughly 6,5000 Ukrainian troopers that Moscow says it holds.
Nearly all of these taken are additionally understood to be younger Russian conscripts. Conscription is a politically delicate situation in Russia – notably as Vladimir Putin beforehand promised conscripts wouldn’t participate in lively fight – and it seems that Ukraine is now leveraging the thorny situation to its benefit.
04:43 PM BST
Hungary’s international minister accuses EU of disrupting oil provides from Russia
Hungary’s international minister has stated that the European Fee’s choice to not mediate in a dispute over blocked oil provides from Russia through Ukraine advised that Brussels was behind the stoppage.
Hungary and its neighbour Slovakia have been protesting since Ukraine put Russian oil producer Lukoil on a sanctions checklist in June, stopping that firm’s oil from passing by means of Ukrainian territory to Slovak and Hungarian refineries.
The assertion from Hungary’s Peter Szijjarto, which he made with out offering proof, got here a day after the European Fee declined a request from Hungary and Slovakia for it to mediate between them and Ukraine over the sanctions.
“The truth that the European Fee declared that it was unwilling to assist to safe the power provide of Hungary and Slovakia means that the order was despatched from Brussels to Kyiv to trigger challenges and issues within the power provide of Hungary and Slovakia,” Mr Szijjarto stated.
04:34 PM BST
Scholz reaffirms Germany’s ‘unwavering solidarity’ to Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reaffirmed Berlin’s “continued and unwavering solidarity” with Ukraine regardless of a price range discount for navy support to Kyiv subsequent yr, his workplace stated.
In a phone name with Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Scholz “reaffirmed the continued and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine within the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression”, in keeping with a readout of the cellphone name launched by his workplace.
04:21 PM BST
Battle can solely finish with restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, says Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia’s invasion can solely finish with the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the prevention of future Russian aggression.
Talking on the nation’s thirty-third Independence Day, Mr Zelensky stated: “The battle can solely finish with the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the prevention of additional aggression from Putin and Russia.”
He continued: “We are going to do every little thing in our energy to compel Putin to finish this battle diplomatically to be able to minimise our losses, firstly by way of folks and time. But when we’re unable to take action… we’ll do every little thing we will to make sure that our Armed Forces are able to rightfully push Putin out of our nation.”
His assertion comes after some latest reviews had advised that the Ukrainian president was starting to think about negotiations with Moscow.
04:13 PM BST
Pictured: Ukraine’s Independence Day
03:48 PM BST
Zelensky briefs Germany’s Scholz on battlefield scenario
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he briefed Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday on the battlefield scenario after Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk area and that they mentioned the necessity for air defence and armored autos.
03:11 PM BST
Polish president says Ukraine will quickly win battle in opposition to Russia
In his speech on Ukraine’s Independence Day in Kyiv, Polish president Andrzej Duda expressed confidence that Ukraine would be capable of defend its freedom and that “the battle will quickly finish in [Ukraine’s] victory.”
“I’ve by no means had, and don’t have, the slightest doubt that, by means of their united efforts and wrestle, the brave Ukrainian folks will uphold their independence. Though Ukraine is at the moment battling the Russian aggressor, fiercely combating for its independence, I’m assured that the battle will quickly conclude with the triumph of freedom over tyranny. Out of the darkness of battle and the devastation of scorched territories, a brand new world will emerge,” Mr Duda stated.
02:45 PM BST
Watch: Ukraine and Russia change first prisoners since Kursk invasion
02:32 PM BST
50 troopers captured from Azovstal steelworks amongst freed Ukrainian POWs
Ukraine stated the 115 servicemen who have been freed have been conscripts, lots of whom have been taken prisoner within the first months of Russia’s invasion.
Amongst them are almost 50 troopers captured by Russian forces from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.
One other 115 of our defenders have returned residence at this time. These are warriors of the Nationwide Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service.
We keep in mind everybody. We’re trying to find them and making each effort to convey all of them again.
I’m grateful to every… pic.twitter.com/XiMAeANsOd
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024
02:17 PM BST
Zelensky says Kyiv seeks to drive Putin to finish the battle by means of diplomacy
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Saturday that Ukraine would do every little thing to drive Russian president Vladimir Putin to finish the battle by means of diplomacy.
Requested how he sees the top of the battle with Russia which is nearing its thirtieth month, Mr Zelensky reiterated his place that Ukraine’s territorial integrity needs to be restored.
01:41 PM BST
Kyiv says struck ammunition depot in Russia’s Voronezh area
Ukraine stated Saturday it had carried out an assault on a Russian ammunition depot within the southern Russian area of Voronezh.
“On August 24, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) servicemen efficiently struck a area ammunition depot situated close to Ostrogozk, Voronezh area of Russia,” Ukraine’s navy intelligence company stated.
01:36 PM BST
Kursk operation was to forestall Russian assaults on Sumy, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Saturday that Ukraine’s operation within the Kursk area was a preventive strike to cease Russian assaults within the north and in direction of the regional metropolis of Sumy.
Mr Zelensky instructed a information convention the operation in Kursk was tough however he seen its progress positively.
01:36 PM BST
Watch: Russians pay respect to mercenary chief Prigozhin one yr after his demise in aircrash
01:23 PM BST
Ukraine will quickly be capable of assault ‘any half’ of Russia, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine will quickly be capable of assault “any level” of the Russian federation that could be a “supply of hazard” to his nation and other people.
Talking in a 13-minute Ukrainian Independence Day video deal with – that was stated to be recorded within the border space from the place Kyiv launched its shock incursion into Russia – Mr Zelensky stated that Russia wished to “destroy” Ukraine however battle has “returned to its residence”.
“Our enemy will know what the Ukrainian means of retaliation is…. They may know that, in the end, a Ukrainian response will attain any level within the Russian federation that could be a supply of hazard to the lifetime of our state or our folks,” he stated.
Mr Zelensky continued: “And the one who wished to show our land right into a buffer zone ought to take into consideration stopping his nation from turning into a buffer federation.”
12:40 PM BST
Pictured: Zelensky on Independence Day
12:34 PM BST
Extra on prisoner change
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky stated “one other 115 of our defenders have returned residence at this time”, whereas Moscow’s defence ministry stated: “Because of a negotiation course of, 115 Russian servicemen taken prisoner within the Kursk area have been returned from territories managed by the Kyiv regime.”
12:01 PM BST
Russia and Ukraine change 115 prisoners every
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 115 prisoners of battle from both sides after the United Arab Emirates acted as an middleman, the Russian state-run information company has reported.
The exchanged Russian servicemen, captured by Ukraine throughout its incursion into the Kursk area, at the moment are on the territory of Belarus, the Russian Defence ministry stated.
It’s the seventh such change the UAE has mediated since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Abu Dhabi, an in depth safety associate of the US, has maintained heat relations with Moscow all through the battle, irritating some Western officers. It has additionally strengthened ties with Kyiv.
Posting on social media, the UAE international ministry stated: “230 captives launched following the seventh UAE mediation effort between Russia and Ukraine.”
Ukraine has not but commented.
11:48 AM BST
Russian assault kills 5 folks in japanese Ukraine city, governor says
A Russian assault killed at the least 5 civilians and wounded 5 others on Saturday within the japanese Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, a regional governor stated.
Vadym Filashkin, governor of the Donetsk area, stated rescuers and police have been working on the scene of the assault, which happened early on Saturday.
“I urge you all once more: care for yourselves, evacuate,” Mr Filashkin wrote on the Telegram messaging app, with out giving additional particulars concerning the assault.
Kostiantynivka is situated near the lively fight zone in Donetsk, the place Russian forces have been inching ahead for months.
The Russian advance quickened in latest weeks as Moscow’s troops are mounting relentless assaults within the path of the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk.
11:41 AM BST
Ukraine makes use of new domestic-made drone missile for first time
The Ukrainian military has attacked the Russian military with a brand new weapon, the Palianytsia drone missile, for the primary time.
Talking concerning the weapon on Ukrainian Independence Day, Volodymyr Zelensky stated: “That is our new methodology of retaliation in opposition to the aggressor. The enemy has been defeated. I thank everybody who made it attainable. All builders, producers and our troopers. I’m pleased with you.”
11:23 AM BST
Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen practice with FPV drones
11:10 AM BST
Russia destroys museum of Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary
Russia has destroyed the memorial museum of Nestor Makhno, a Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary and the commander of the Revolutionary Rebel Military of Ukraine through the Ukrainian Battle of Independence, in keeping with the nation’s Ministry of Inside.
The constructing caught hearth and burned to the bottom because of a missile strike, in Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
10:52 AM BST
Russia and Ukraine set to swap 115 prisoners
Russia and Ukraine are set to change 115 prisoners at this time following mediation from the United Arab Emirates, an Emirati official instructed Reuters.
It might be the primary such prisoner swap between the international locations for the reason that Ukrainian navy launched its offensive inside Russia on August 6.
10:39 AM BST
Pictured: Hearth at ammunition depot in Russian metropolis
10:28 AM BST
Pentagon reveals particulars of recent US navy support package deal to Ukraine
The US Division of Protection has introduced particulars of a brand new $125 million package deal of US support for Ukraine, which incorporates air defence gear, ammunition for missile methods and artillery, and anti-tank weapons.
This announcement is the Biden Administration’s sixty-fourth tranche of apparatus to be supplied from Division of Protection inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.
“As Ukraine prepares to have a good time its Independence Day on August 24 – greater than two and a half years for the reason that Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion – the US and the worldwide coalition of some 50 Allies and companions stay dedicated to supporting Ukraine’s courageous defenders that proceed to struggle in opposition to Russian aggression,” the Pentagon assertion stated.
10:15 AM BST
Ukrainian forces proceed to advance close to Sudzha
The Institute for the Research of Battle (ISW) has confirmed the advance of Ukrainian troops close to the city of Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
“Ukrainian forces continued to marginally advance close to Sudzha amid continued Ukrainian operations in Kursk Oblast on 23 August,” the ISW stated in an announcement.
10:00 AM BST
Watch: Zelensky’s Independence Day deal with
Ukraine. Our land. Given by God. Kissed by the solar. Rocked by the winds. Tempered by hearth. Defended by its little kids.
It can’t be mistaken for the rest.
It could actually by no means be given away to anybody.
Joyful Independence Day of Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/LwnRAjnZnc— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024
09:48 AM BST
Zelensky indicators legislation on Ukraine ratifying Rome Statute
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed a legislation on Ukraine ratifying the Rome Statute, permitting the nation to hitch the Worldwide Legal Court docket (ICC).
The legislation printed on the parliament’s web site was additionally a key to Ukraine’s efforts to maneuver nearer to the European Union.
09:41 AM BST
Zelensky indicators legislation banning Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday signed a legislation banning the Moscow-linked Orthodox Church in Ukraine with the choice printed on Ukraine’s parliament web site.
The invoice authorised by parliament earlier this month created the authorized instruments for the federal government to ban actions of a Russia-linked department of the Orthodox church and paved the best way for a historic rupture with an establishment that Kyiv has accused of complicity in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky authorised the invoice, slammed by Russia, on Kyiv’s independence day from the Soviet Union and two and a half years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian chief stated the transfer will strengthen his nation’s independence and in an deal with on Saturday declared: “Ukrainian Orthodox (church) at this time is taking a step in direction of liberation from Moscow’s devils.”
09:33 AM BST
Keir Starmer tells Ukrainians the UK will again them ‘at this time and at all times’
Sir Keir Starmer has instructed Ukrainians the UK will again them “at this time and at all times”, as Kyiv marks 33 years because it declared independence from the Soviet Union.
“My message to all Ukrainians, whether or not on the entrance line or right here in your second residence within the UK, is crystal clear: we’re with you at this time and at all times,” Sir Keir stated.
“That’s what I instructed President Zelensky when he sat at our Cupboard desk and the place, on behalf of the British folks, I outlined that it isn’t simply the British authorities that’s behind Ukraine – it’s all of us.
“We’re with you for so long as it takes.”
“Slava Ukraini,” he stated, a nationwide salute within the nation, which interprets to glory to Ukraine.
09:12 AM BST
EU overview doesn’t advocate sending navy trainers to Ukraine for now
The EU’s diplomatic service has known as on member states to higher adapt a navy coaching mission for Ukraine to Kyiv’s wants however stopped in need of recommending the bloc ship navy instructors to the war-torn nation, German weekly Welt am Sonntag reported on Saturday.
The EUMAM mission, launched in November 2022, has educated some 60,000 Ukrainian troops primarily in Poland and Germany and is about to be prolonged by one other two years as soon as the present mandate runs out in mid-November.
“It’s crucial to coach AFU (Ukraine) troopers on the identical gear that they are going to use later in fight,” the report cited a overview of the mission by the EU’s diplomatic service as saying.
Kyiv requested the EU in Could to conduct some coaching on Ukrainian soil however member states are divided with sceptics warning that the bloc could possibly be drawn into the battle and elevating doubts about Kyiv’s means to guard coaching websites in opposition to Russian assaults.
The EU overview stated Kyiv’s request could possibly be met by opening the chance to deploy some EUMAM instructors to Ukrainian coaching services, “in a discrete kind”, removed from the battlefield and presumably within the western a part of the nation, though it didn’t advocate that they be despatched.
09:09 AM BST
Russia declares emergency in a part of Voronezh area after drone assault
Russia has declared a state of emergency in a part of the Voronezh area bordering Ukraine after an in a single day drone assault, native governor Alexander Gusev stated in his Telegram channel.
Based on Mr Gusev, Russian forces intercepted 5 drones. Falling particles ignited a fireplace, resulting in the detonation of explosive supplies.
The incident broken no civilian buildings, however prompted authorities to impose emergency measures in three settlements within the Ostrogozhsky district and evacuate 200 folks, he stated.
