Ukraine
The UN Security Council will convene a meeting on Ukraine on August 29. The meeting will begin at 10:00 PM Kyiv time.
Veteran Yuriy Hrytsai, after being wounded, underwent rehabilitation under the "MHP Poruch" program. He returned to cooking, became a program specialist and host of the project "Old World Cuisine of Ukraine", recreating more than 50 dishes.
A symbolic siren sounded at all railway stations in Ukraine. The event is dedicated to honoring the memory of the defenders who died for independence.
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official hryvnia exchange rate at UAH 41. 2602/USD, which strengthened the hryvnia by 6 kopecks. The euro exchange rate is UAH 48.13/EUR, and the zloty is UAH 11.29/PLN.
The European Commission is developing a mechanism to transfer nearly 200 billion euros of immobilized Russian assets for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. This option involves moving the assets into riskier investments to generate higher returns, as well as creating a special purpose fund.
During the night, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine with 68 attack UAVs and decoy drones. Defense forces neutralized 46 enemy targets, but 22 UAVs hit 9 locations in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Oil prices fell on Friday due to expectations of lower demand in the US. However, weekly gains persist amid uncertainty regarding Russian supplies.
August 29 marks the 11th anniversary of the Ilovaisk tragedy, when Ukrainian military personnel were encircled. Despite agreements on a "green corridor," Russian troops treacherously opened fire on Ukrainian convoys.
Over the past day, August 29, the Russian occupation army lost 850 servicemen and 4 tanks. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 29.08.25 amount to over 1 million personnel and 11,143 tanks.
August 29 marks the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, established by the UN in 2009. In Ukraine, the Day of Remembrance for Defenders is also honored, established in 2019 in memory of those who died in the struggle for independence.
Warm weather is expected in Ukraine on the last day of summer. Air temperature in many regions will reach +30°C.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an online meeting with newly elected Polish President Karol Nawrocki. The parties coordinated common diplomatic positions ahead of major diplomatic events.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that there have been noticeable changes in Russia's position regarding the war in Ukraine. Russia no longer insists on controlling the entire territory of four Ukrainian regions, but seeks to hold the front line in Zaporizhzhia and consolidate 25-30% of Donetsk region.
SBU counterintelligence detained a 68-year-old FSB agent who was setting up caches with explosives in Zaporizhzhia. He received explosives via drones and passed the coordinates of the caches to his handler, as well as tracking the movement of the Defense Forces.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Hungary is violating the rights of the Hungarian minority by banning Robert "Madyar" Brovdi from entering the country. The reason for the ban was Ukrainian drone strikes on the Russian Druzhba oil pipeline.
The US Embassy condemned the night shelling of Kyiv, during which residential buildings and the premises of the EU Delegation and the British Council were damaged, calling the strikes on civilian objects unacceptable. Diplomats also recalled Donald Trump's call to stop the killings and reach an agreed solution to end the war.
Steve Witkoff, special representative of the US President, after his visit to Moscow, misinformed Americans and Ukrainians regarding Putin's proposals. This caused confusion due to Witkoff's lack of diplomatic experience.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine condemned the presence of the Russian flag at the Venice Film Festival. This is due to Russia's war crimes and attacks on Ukrainian cities, which led to the death of 21 people, including 4 children.
On August 28, 137 combat engagements were recorded at the front, 68 of them in the Lyman and Pokrovsk directions. The enemy launched 50 air strikes, using 33 missiles and 74 guided aerial bombs.
Ukraine and Switzerland are starting the implementation of 12 infrastructure, social, and humanitarian projects. Funding totaling over 93 million Swiss francs is provided within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement.
The US Department of State has approved the sale of $825 million in military aid to Ukraine. The package includes 3,350 ERAM missiles and integrated GPS/INS navigation systems.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with President of Poland Karol Nawrocki. As well as a number of other European leaders who supported Ukraine after Russia's massive attack.
The death toll from the night missile and drone attack on Kyiv on August 28 has risen to 22 people. The rescue operation continues, numerous destructions have been recorded in seven districts of the capital.
The SBGS reports that the permission for men aged 18-22 to travel abroad did not affect the increase in passenger traffic at the border. Overall passenger traffic remains high on weekends.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi discussed the frontline situation with his Norwegian counterpart Eirik Kristoffersen, focusing on the Lyman, Dobropillia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka directions. Syrskyi emphasized the need to strengthen air defense and artillery to protect cities.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated that Donald Trump is a Soviet or Russian agent. He claims that Trump's foreign policy is strategically beneficial to the Russian Federation.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani believes that the war in Ukraine is unlikely to end by the end of the year. Italy has also appointed a new ambassador to Moscow.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin is impossible after the massive shelling of Kyiv. He condemned the Russian strikes on civilians, pointing to the growing brutality of the regime.
Donald Trump was displeased but not surprised by the Russian strikes on Kyiv. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt explained that this is a consequence of the protracted war and Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries.
President Zelenskyy stated that Russia's night attack on Kyiv is an attack on everyone who seeks peace, including Ukraine, the US, and Europe. He emphasized the need to strengthen sanctions, tariffs, and support for Ukraine to counter the aggression.