Lilia Podolyak
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has announced plans to launch ammunition production at the Emari military town early next year. This decision is due to the need to respond quickly to the current security situation.
The Black Sea and Azov Sea Hydrometeorological Center warns of an extreme level of fire danger in Odesa region on August 18. The weather conditions will contribute to a high probability of fires in ecosystems.
An earthquake of magnitude 7. 0 occurred off the coast of Kamchatka, followed by an eruption of the Shiveluch volcano. The height of the ash column reached 8 km, and there is no threat of a tsunami.
The Israeli Defense Forces reported the elimination of two high-ranking Hamas militants in an air strike in the West Bank. The militants were involved in the August 11 terrorist attack that killed an Israeli.
A forest fire broke out in the village of Gaspra, Yalta district of the occupied Crimea, over an area of 2. 9 hectares. The fire has been localized, and is being extinguished due to difficult terrain. There were no casualties or injuries.
The Deputy Energy Minister warned of a possible return of heat-related blackout schedules. The power grid remains damaged after the attacks, which could lead to power shortages.
The IAEA Director General said that the nuclear safety situation at the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP has deteriorated after a drone strike on August 17. Grossi called on the parties to exercise maximum restraint and adhere to the principles of protection of the ZNPP.
The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada announced the completion of consultations on a bill to ban the UOC (MP). According to him, the document will allow “to scrape Russia away from any churches or religious organizations” in Ukraine.
Border guards found the body of a man in the Tisa River on the border with Romania. The deceased was not identified, no documents were found on him, and identification measures are being taken.
Russian troops occupied Mykolaivka in Donetsk region and advanced near Vodyane, Novozhelanne and Zhelanne. Ukrainian forces managed to push back the enemy near Otruba in the Kursk sector.
In Lebanon, electricity is cut off due to the shutdown of the Zahrani power plant. The reason is the exhaustion of fuel oil reserves. The power supply is expected to be restored within 24-48 hours.
There were 98 combat engagements over the day. Russia launched 3 missile strikes, 64 air strikes, and used 463 kamikaze drones. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are repelling attacks at the Kharkiv, Kupiansk, Lyman and other directions.
Polish Prime Minister Tusk has called on the initiators of Nord Stream to apologize and keep quiet. This is a reaction to the statement of the former head of German intelligence about Poland's involvement in sabotage of the gas pipelines.
The Russian military attacked 15 communities in Sumy region, 178 explosions were recorded. Air strikes, artillery, mortars and drones were used. Three civilians were injured, including an 8-year-old child.
In London, about 100 firefighters extinguished a roof fire at Somerset House Palace. The fire broke out in a “small part of the building”, staff and visitors are safe, and crews will remain on site overnight.
Elon Musk's company X closes its representative office in Brazil due to arrest threats from a Supreme Court judge. X accuses Alessandre de Moraes of censorship and actions incompatible with democracy.
During the opening of the new station in Kidlandia, a thermal flask broke. Three children were injured and taken to the hospital, where they were treated and released.
The president of the Bavarian Brewers Association said that retail beer prices in Germany have become too low. A case of beer can be purchased for between 5.99 and 9.99 euros in various stores.
Most of the countries “friendly” to the Russian Federation did not comment on Ukraine's military operation in the Kursk region. Only Syria publicly condemned the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, calling them a “terrorist attack.
The German Finance Ministry denied information about the termination of aid to Ukraine in 2025. Part of the bilateral aid will be transferred to international programs, including $50 billion in G7 loans.
The Croatian police have served three Ukrainian citizens with suspicions of setting fire to ships in the port of Medulin. The fire destroyed 22 vessels and partially damaged 12, causing losses of about 2 million euros.
The Brovary community handed over four mini-excavators, drones and an ambulance to the military units under their care. The equipment has already been delivered to the front line to strengthen their defense capabilities.
The ARMA lost the opportunity to sell Medvedchuk's yacht because of the delay in the process. Olena Duma, the head of ARMA, is trying to shift the responsibility to the Prosecutor General's Office and is asking for more time from the Croatian court.
MHP harvested 285 thsd tonnes of wheat and 125 thsd tonnes of rapeseed, achieving yields of 7. 2 t/ha and 3.6 t/ha, respectively. The company has started sowing winter crops for the 2025 harvest.
Yevhen Sokur, acting deputy head of the State Tax Service, allegedly entered false information in his 2023 declaration. He did not indicate his cohabitant, with whom he has been living since 2016, which may lead to liability.
The head of the Donetsk RMA spoke about the restoration of fortifications destroyed by the enemy and the construction of new ones. Since the beginning of the war, more than 600 platoon strongholds have been built in Donetsk Oblast, and about UAH 2.6 billion has been spent.
The SBI has not recognized Yulia Sosiedka as a victim in the case against Oleksandr Zyma of the NBU for 4 months, ignoring the court's decision. Sosedka is concerned about the delay in the investigation and the violation of her constitutional rights.
Taras Zahorodniy believes that NABU should first undergo an audit and show the results of its work. Creating its own expert institution for the NABU could lead to examinations of dubious quality.
ARMA employees cannot use cars with cover plates because they do not have operatives. The lawyer explained that such license plates can only be used by agencies with operational officers, such as the SBU, the MIA, and the NABU.
Transparency in the selection of the head of the Deposit Guarantee Fund is one of the keys to receiving IMF financial assistance.