Source: Aljazeera
Russian President Vladimir Putin tells counterparts at the BRICS summit of emerging economies that Moscow wants to end the war in Ukraine that was “unleashed by the West and its satellites”.
The governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod says a Ukrainian drone strike has killed three people in the area.
Russian defences downed Ukrainian drones in Moscow and the region around the capital, according to the Ministry of Defence and the city’s mayor.
At least two killed, and three were wounded in an attack on a school in the city of Romny in northeastern Ukraine, said Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
IRC evacuates Ukrainians from Kupyansk
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) have been evacuating people from the city of Kupyansk, which has been under repeated shelling from Russian forces.
One person who was rescued and brought to Kharkiv told the IRC, “The frontline is approaching. It is generally dangerous to be there, so we moved here to a more or less safe place.
“What did I feel? You know, when you live under constant shelling, you don’t feel anything anymore. Anything. Constant sirens, explosions, nights spent in basements. We were so fed up. We had to leave,” Inna added.
In Kharkiv, the IRC provides medical aid, legal aid and protection activities for children who have arrived after fleeing frontline areas.
Izmail port capacity reduced by 15 percent due to strikes: Ukraine
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov says a Russian drone strike on the Danube River port of Izmail in southern Ukraine destroyed 13,000 tonnes of grain.
On Telegram, Kubrakov said the port’s export capacity had been reduced by 15 percent by the overnight strike, and added: “Russia is systematically hitting grain silos and warehouses to stop agricultural exports.”
Ukrainian shelling reported in Donetsk: Mayor
The Russian mayor of the Donetsk region has reported shelling by Ukraine in the Voroshilovsky and Kyiv areas.
On Telegram, Alexei Kulemzin said, “The centre of Donetsk is under massive shelling. The border between Voroshilovsky and Kyivsky districts is in the risk zone. Eyewitnesses report fragments near the Emerald store.”
In a later update, Kulemzin said “Ukrainian non-humans” were targeting peaceful areas and that there was a “direct hit in a multi-storey building on the street”.
War ‘unleashed by the West and its satellites’: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a summit of the five-nation BRICS group that Moscow wants to end a war that has been “unleashed by the West and its satellites” in Ukraine.
Putin spoke by video link to the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa meeting in Johannesburg about a war that Russia started when it invaded its neighbour in February last year.
Russia’s fellow BRICS nations have refrained from condemning Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, and Putin told them at their summit that the war was a forced response to actions by Kyiv and the West.
At least two people killed in attack on school: Ukraine
At least two people have been killed and three others wounded in an attack on a school in the city of Romny in northeastern Ukraine, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko says.
Klymenko said two other school workers were still under the rubble in Romny, which is part of the Sumy region.
The regional military administration said a drone fired by Russia had hit the school at 10:05am (07:05 GMT).
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on Telegram, “The school building was destroyed, and this is just before the school year, which unfortunately will never start for some.”
Poland is playing card of ‘external threat’, says Russia
Russia’s top politician says Poland’s leadership is playing the “card of an external threat” to “save its rating” as the October elections are imminent.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the head of the Russian State Duma, said on Telegram that Poland’s policy towards Ukraine does not contribute to the popularity of the party.
He claimed voters do not understand why Poland supports Ukraine, “which promotes the ideology of [Stepan] Bandera”, a Ukrainian far-right leader.
“To save its rating, the leadership of Poland is playing the card of an external threat. Despite the fact that such a threat does not exist, about 10,000 Polish soldiers were pulled to the borders of Belarus,” Volodin further said.
Tensions between Belarus, a Russian ally, and Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have also risen in recent weeks due to the presence of the Wagner mercenary group in Minsk.
Russian forces thwart Ukrainian sabotage group near Bryansk: TASS
Russia’s TASS news agency reports that a Ukrainian sabotage group trying to infiltrate the western region of Bryansk has been targeted with an artillery strike.
A statement by the Federal Security Service (FSB) said: “On August 22, 2023, in the Klimovsky district of the Bryansk region, Russian border guards timely identified and prevented an attempt to penetrate the territory of Russia by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group.”
“Together with the attached forces of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the Russian Guard, a massive artillery strike was carried out on the enemy’s armed formation,” the FSB said.
