Vladimir Putin has begun a two-day visit to Azerbaijan. They are planning to discuss cooperation between the two countries, the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace process, and the possible signing of new agreements on gas transportation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry denied information about the disruption of secret talks with Ukraine on energy infrastructure. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman recalled Putin's demands for a ceasefire, including Ukraine's relinquishment of territories.
According to the CDC, 1,200 new cases of mpox were reported in the African Union this week. Since the beginning of the year, the total number of infections has reached 18,737, with 541 deaths.
For the first time in history, Ukrainian soldiers joined the Toronto Soldiers' Day parade on August 18. Consul General of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko called it an important project and thanked the organizers for the opportunity to participate.
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson has called for increased assistance to Ukraine to restore the energy system. She outlined 6 key areas of support to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the winter.
Kadri Simson has warned of a possible humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine due to attacks on the energy system. Due to the loss of 9 GW of power, some cities may become uninhabitable in winter due to lack of electricity and heating.
The Russian command has transferred 5,000 troops from the front in Ukraine to the Kursk region to counter the Ukrainian offensive. Western analysts estimate Ukraine's forces in the region at 6,000 soldiers, with an additional 4,000 in Sumy region.
NPC Ukrenergo has announced the application of power outage schedules in all regions of Ukraine on August 19. The blackouts will last from 17:00 to 21:00 due to the increase in electricity consumption caused by the heat wave.
The head of the OP said that Kyiv would rid the church of Moscow's influence. Yermak emphasized the inadmissibility of threats from the defenders of the UOC-MP and recalled the AUCCRO's support for the ban on religious organizations associated with the Russian Federation.
On the night of August 18, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine struck an oil depot in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation that supplied Russian occupation forces. The attack was carried out by Ukrainian-made kamikaze drones, causing explosions and a fire.
The DPRK accused Ukraine of attacking Russian territory, calling it an “unforgivable act of aggression. ” Pyongyang also accused the United States of supporting Ukraine and supplying it with weapons.
A spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service said that there has been no increase in equipment or personnel of Belarusian units near the Ukrainian border. This refutes Lukashenka's claims of troop deployment.
In the Russian town of Suzha, which is controlled by Ukrainian troops, the Lenin monument remains in place, although damaged. The BBC denied the information about its demolition, which had been spread earlier on social media.
The KCMA warns of a thunderstorm in Kyiv and the region in the coming hours, with a hold until the end of the day on August 18. The Meteorological Center predicts squally winds of 15-20 m/s during the evening.
On August 18, Russian forces shelled Kupiansk, injuring a 52-year-old woman. Private houses and a utility company in Kivsharivka were also damaged.
Russia is conducting an information campaign about Kursk for domestic and foreign audiences. The goal is to discredit Ukraine, spread fakes about “voluntary” surrender, and reduce reports of Ukrainian military success.
On August 19, Ukraine is expected to have cloudy weather without precipitation, except for the western regions. The temperature will be 29-34° in the daytime, up to 37° in the south and center, southeast wind of 5-10 m/s.
lkashenka said that belarus had been forced to move almost a third of its army to the border with Ukraine because of its allegedly aggressive policy. He also accused Ukraine of intrusion of drones into belarus' territory.
The militarization of education in the occupied territories of Ukraine is planned to increase through the involvement of "Cossacks". They will teach children military affairs and propaganda subjects.
The Deputy Energy Minister warned of the possibility of schedules of power outages next week due to the heat wave. The Energy Ministry calls for energy savings, especially during peak hours.
The Ukrainian operation in the kursk region showed the effectiveness of maneuver warfare against russian superiority. The Ukrainian armed forces advanced 800 square kilometers in 6 days, while the russian federation occupied 1,175 square kilometers in 7 months.
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops have lost approximately 599,350 personnel and 8,508 tanks.
Russian forces launched a third missile attack on Kyiv in August, allegedly using North Korean ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted all the missiles and drones, preventing damage to the capital.
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.
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.
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 Russian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry announce that Ukraine is allegedly preparing to attack the Kursk nuclear power plant. Russia calls on international organizations to condemn “provocative actions” and prevent a “large-scale man-made disaster.
Border guards found the body of a middle-aged man in the Tisa River on the border with Romania. The deceased was not identified, and no documents were found on him.
