Category: World

Social media experiences have indicated that drones attacked an oil refinery within the Russian metropolis of Syzran in Samara Oblast on the night time of 14-15 August.

Supply: Telegram channels; BBC Information Russian; Samara Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev; Russian Defence Ministry

Particulars: Telegram channels revealed movies in a single day allegedly exhibiting a drone assault on the refinery in Syzran.

They reported, citing native residents, explosions and fires close to the refinery.

Fedorishchev said within the morning that the oblast had been attacked by 13 drones, however didn’t point out the refinery.

Up to date: Later, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that air defence had intercepted and destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones in a single day.

13 drones had been allegedly destroyed over Kursk Oblast, 11 over Rostov Oblast, seven over Samara Oblast, six over Belgorod Oblast, 5 over Oryol Oblast, 4 every over Bryansk and Voronezh oblasts and one over Saratov Oblast in addition to one every over briefly occupied Crimea and the Sea of Azov.

The Russian Defence Ministry, as traditional, didn’t report both the full variety of drones that entered Russian territory or the implications of the assault.

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US President Donald Trump predicts that his assembly with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has a 25% probability of failure.

Supply: CNN, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Trump referred to as the upcoming summit with Putin an try to put the groundwork for a second assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to succeed in an settlement to finish the conflict.

When requested by a journalist whether or not there was any state of affairs by which the assembly can be thought-about a failure, Trump replied: "Yeah, 25%."

"This assembly units up the second assembly. The second assembly goes to be very, essential, as a result of that’s going to be a gathering the place they make a deal," Trump stated.

He advised that throughout the second assembly there can be "give and take" on borders and territories. In keeping with Trump, Friday's assembly is "like a chess sport".

"This assembly units up the second assembly, however there’s a 25% probability that this assembly won’t be a profitable assembly," he reiterated.

Trump additionally expressed his readiness to impose further sanctions on Russia.

"I’d, yeah. … If it’s not solved," he stated, referring to the conflict in Ukraine.

Trump additionally stated that, in his opinion, the Kremlin chief is coming to the Alaska summit with the intention of "making a deal" to finish the conflict in Ukraine.

Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the day earlier than that Trump would name him after assembly with the Kremlin chief.

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Civilian Bohdan Kovalchuk has been introduced again to Ukraine because of one other prisoner trade with Russia. He had been held in captivity since 2016, when Russian forces detained him on the age of 17.

Supply: Hromadske, a Ukrainian public broadcaster

Particulars: Bohdan's grandmother, Tetiana Hots, mentioned she had already spoken to him on the cellphone and was now travelling to see him for the primary time since his imprisonment. "Grandma, I’m coming residence," Bohdan advised her.

Bohdan was amongst a number of youngsters detained in August 2016 within the territory of the so-called Donetsk Folks’s Republic (DPR), in accordance with the Media Initiative for Human Rights. On the time, he lived within the metropolis of Yasynuvata along with his mom, grandmother and great-grandfather and was planning to maneuver to Toretsk to review as an auto mechanic.

His grandmother mentioned Bohdan was in Yasynuvata to gather paperwork for enrolment in a university when he and different youths have been detained whereas leaving the occupied city. They have been accused of being recruited by Ukraine’s Safety Service (SSU) to explode a railway junction in Yasynuvata. He was labelled the "chief of a gang" and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

A few of the youngsters have been later pardoned, reportedly on the situation that they refuse prisoner trade and stay within the DPR. Bohdan declined the pardon and served his sentence in Toretsk Penal Colony No. 28.

Tetiana Hots mentioned her grandson by no means complained, telling her: "I can endure every thing; don’t fear".

In January 2022, the Workplace of the Human Rights Commissioner reported that Bohdan had severe lung issues and wanted common medical supervision, which was unavailable within the colony.

Background: On 14 August, Ukraine secured the discharge of 84 civilians and troopers from Russian captivity, together with individuals held since 2014 and defenders of Mariupol.

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Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha has held a telephone name with Canadian International Minister Anita Anand, specializing in ongoing diplomatic efforts to finish the Russo-Ukrainian warfare.

Supply: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Sybiha stated that in his dialog with Anand, they mentioned ongoing diplomatic efforts to safe a simply peace for Ukraine.

Throughout our name with Canadian International Minister @AnitaAnandMP, we mentioned ongoing worldwide diplomatic efforts to realize a simply peace.
Grateful for reaffirming that Canada stands with Ukraine and Ukrainian folks.
We agreed on the significance to extend political and…

— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) August 14, 2025

Quote: "We agreed on the significance of accelerating political and sanctions strain on Russia through the use of all out there leverage to make Russia settle for a ceasefire and begin a real peace course of. Russia’s frozen property have to be totally used to make sure the aggressor pays the value for its warfare."

Extra particulars: Sybiha additionally harassed the significance of Canada’s participation within the coalition of the keen and expressed gratitude for all of the assist.

Background:

• On 13 August, a collection of video talks had been held involving some EU and UK leaders, the presidents of the US and Ukraine and the NATO secretary normal. The talks concluded inside the framework of the coalition of the keen.
• The talks had been organised in reference to the anticipated assembly between the Russian and US leaders in Alaska, scheduled for late on 15 August Kyiv time. European leaders, along with Ukraine, conveyed their key positions to US President Donald Trump.
• Media experiences point out Trump instructed the Europeans that on the assembly with Putin, he would insist on an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, whereas the problem of Ukrainian territories wouldn’t be raised. The US president stated that if the assembly with Putin goes nicely, he’ll maintain one other one by which Zelenskyy may take part.

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Ukrainian authorities have launched a compulsory evacuation of households with youngsters from town of Druzhkivka and 4 villages in Donetsk Oblast as a result of escalating Russian assaults.

Supply: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Army Administration

Particulars: The evacuation impacts Druzhkivka and the villages of Andriivka, Varvarivka, Novoandriivka and Rohanske, that are a part of the Andriivka hromada [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.].

"We’re beginning a compulsory evacuation of households with youngsters from Druzhkivka and the villages of Andriivka, Varvarivka, Novoandriivka and Rohanske in a pressured method. This determination was adopted at present at a gathering of the regional fee on technogenic and environmental security and emergencies of Donetsk Oblast," Filashkin mentioned.

He added that there are at present round 1,879 youngsters in these settlements.

Filashkin reiterated that this can be very harmful to stay within the space, as Russian forces assault Donetsk Oblast as much as 3,000 occasions every day.

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A 70-year-old lady has been injured in a Russian artillery assault on the town of Kherson on 14 August.

Supply: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Navy Administration

Particulars: Russian forces fired on the Korabelnyi district of Kherson at roughly 14:30.

Quote: "At round 14:30, Russian troops fired artillery on the Korabelnyi district of Kherson. A 70-year-old lady sustained deadly accidents within the assault."

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Russian troops have doubtless misplaced a Su-30SM fighter jet that was finishing up a mission southeast of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island.

Supply: Ukrainian Navy

Quote: "Ukrainian Navy intelligence intercepted radio communications concerning the lack of contact with a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet that was finishing up a mission southeast of Zmiinyi Island. The plane doubtless crashed for unknown causes."

Particulars: The Navy reported Russian forces are conducting a search and rescue operation. Out there info signifies that wreckage from the plane has been discovered on the ocean floor. The pilots haven’t but been positioned.

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Oleksandr Boichuk, a senior midshipman and former commander of Ukraine’s solely minesweeper Henichesk – destroyed by Russian forces – has returned from Russian captivity as a part of a brand new prisoner alternate.

Supply: journalist Bohdan Kutiepov on social media

Particulars: Kutiepov reported that Boichuk is a defender of Mariupol who went lacking at first of the full-scale invasion. For the primary yr, he was not even listed among the many residing, however his spouse continued to consider and anticipate him. She and their sons additionally joined the armed forces.

Quote from Kutiepov: "Oleksandr Boichuk – the legendary commander of Ukraine’s solely minesweeper (now destroyed), who sailed the ship away in the course of the annexation of Crimea in 2014 – is coming house! That is unimaginable pleasure! Imagine, all of you who’ve misplaced hope! Miracles occur."

Extra particulars: Boichuk appeared in Kutiepov’s 2017 documentary Henichesk, for which the filmmaker spent two days at sea with the ship’s crew. The movie tells the story of "the adventures of a 'Banderite commander' and the crew of a small however proud minesweeper Henichesk".

Boichuk is initially from Volodymyr in Volyn Oblast. He was transferred to the navy in 2009.

Through the annexation of Crimea in March 2014, Russian forces blockaded Ukrainian ships at their bases. Regardless of refusing to give up or be part of Russia, many of the fleet – 51 ships – was seized. Solely a small fraction of Ukraine’s navy remained loyal.

Oleksandr Boichuk starred in Kutiepov's documentary Henichesk, which was launched in 2017. Picture: Bogdan Kutiepov Fb

Boichuk was additionally supplied to defect in alternate for social advantages, however he pretended to contemplate the provide, gaining time for a manoeuvre. The Ukrainian crew tried to flee with the minesweeper however had been intercepted and severely crushed.

Henichesk was one of many few vessels Russia returned to Ukraine, deeming it match just for scrap as a consequence of its expired service life. Nonetheless, Ukrainian sailors, utilizing their very own initiative, repaired the ship with out fashionable tools. Regardless of its age, Henichesk continued to serve and took half in joint workouts with NATO vessels.

The minesweeper was destroyed in August 2022, when Come Again Alive Basis director Taras Chmut reported that the vessel was sunk throughout a mission after being hit by cruise missiles launched from occupied Crimea.

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Ukraine has introduced again 84 folks, each navy and civilians, as a part of the 67th prisoner alternate.

Supply: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media; Coordination Headquarters for the Remedy of Prisoners of Struggle

Quote from Zelenskyy: "We’re bringing Ukrainians again to Ukraine. A brand new alternate; a complete of 84 folks. These are each navy and civilians. Virtually all of them want medical care and important rehabilitation.

Among the many civilians introduced again at present are those that had been in Russian captivity since 2014, 2016 and 2017. The navy personnel introduced again at present embody the defenders of Mariupol. I’m grateful to everybody who helps us proceed to deliver Ukrainian prisoners again."

67th prisoner alternate. Photograph: Coordination Headquarters for the Remedy of Prisoners of Struggle

Particulars: The Coordination Headquarters for the Remedy of Prisoners of Struggle specified that 33 navy and 51 civilian Ukrainians have been introduced again from Russian captivity.

The peculiarity of at present's alternate is that Ukraine managed to deliver again civilians and navy personnel who had been detained within the quickly occupied territories earlier than the full-scale invasion and illegally sentenced to lengthy jail phrases – from 10 to 18 years. One of many launched prisoners had been in captivity for 4,013 days; he was captured in Donetsk Oblast in 2014.

Ukrainians captured and convicted by the Russians from 2016 to 2021 are additionally being introduced again. Amongst these launched are three girls from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Certainly one of them is a major faculty trainer who was imprisoned in 2019.

67th prisoner alternate. Photograph: Coordination Headquarters for the Remedy of Prisoners of Struggle

Among the many civilian Ukrainians launched on 14 August is a 27-year-old man who was illegally imprisoned by the Russians in 2016. He was solely 18 years previous on the time.

Along with civilians, defenders from the Mariupol garrison, the Navy and the State Border Guard Service are additionally coming dwelling. Ten officers have been introduced again from Russian captivity.

Two pairs of brothers who had been held in captivity since March and April 2022 are coming back from Russian captivity. Many of the launched civilians and troopers have well being issues and disabilities.

The youngest launched individual is 26 years previous, whereas the oldest is 74 and had been in a Russian jail for the final seven years (since 2018).

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Estonian International Minister Margus Tsahkna is satisfied that solely sturdy stress can drive Russia to conform to a right away ceasefire.

Supply: Tsahkna on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Tsahkna famous that as an alternative of looking for peace, Russia launched a document variety of bombs, missiles and drones on Ukraine, hitting Ukrainian cities and inflicting document casualties among the many civilian inhabitants.

"Agency stress is the one method to make Russia settle for a right away and unconditional ceasefire & to start constructing a simply & lasting peace in Europe," he stated.

Background:

• US President Donald Trump promised very extreme penalties for Russia if Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to finish the battle in Ukraine throughout their assembly on 15 August.
• Trump additionally said that if his assembly with Putin in Alaska is profitable, he’ll prepare a second assembly that Zelenskyy can be invited to attend.

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