Ukraine
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official hryvnia exchange rate at UAH 41. 38/USD, which devalued the hryvnia by 3 kopecks. The euro exchange rate is UAH 48.17/EUR.
On August 22, Ukraine will be covered by a Mediterranean cyclone, which will bring rains, thunderstorms, and squally winds. Mostly dry and moderately warm weather is expected on Independence Day.
Over the past day, 167 combat engagements took place at the front, more than half of them in the Pokrovsk and Lyman directions. The enemy launched 2 missile and 61 air strikes, carried out 5407 shellings, and used 5939 kamikaze drones.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the total combat losses of the enemy from 24. 02.22 to 21.08.25 amount to over 1 million personnel and thousands of units of military equipment. In particular, 11,120 tanks and 23,157 armored combat vehicles have been destroyed.
Brent crude futures rose to $67. 11 per barrel, and WTI to $63. The increase is driven by high demand in the US and uncertainty regarding the war in Ukraine.
One person died as a result of the night attack by the Russian Federation on Lviv. The number of injured increased to three, one of them is a 38-year-old woman in moderate condition.
On August 20, 2025, the DIU destroyed a Russian boat with an air-launched missile near Zaliznyi Port. All five crew members were eliminated, the strike was illuminated by a laser from a drone.
US Vice President J. D. Vance said that European countries would have to bear the main part of the costs for Ukraine's security guarantees. Donald Trump seeks a peace agreement and shifting more responsibility for costs to European allies.
Russia attacked Zakarpattia with cruise missiles, destroying warehouse premises in Mukachevo district. As a result of the strike, twelve people were injured, and a rescue operation is underway.
Poland scrambled fighter jets and activated air defense systems due to the activity of Russian long-range aviation attacking Ukraine. This ensures the safety of Poland's territory and its citizens.
Occupying administrations are planning forced parades on August 22 with the participation of schoolchildren, students, and public sector employees. Teenagers are forced to carry flags of a foreign state; in many cities, there is a water shortage, but resources are being spent on a festive picture.
The Kremlin is trying to impose its terms within the framework of a peaceful settlement, demanding a veto right on security guarantees for Ukraine. This could limit Ukraine's cooperation with partners and its ability to resist future threats.
The Times journalist Edward Lucas claims that threats of increased US sanctions against Russia have disappeared. Putin's meeting with Trump in Alaska signaled the failure of Western attempts to make Russia a diplomatic outcast; without a radical increase in external support, Ukraine will face difficulties.
As a result of the enemy strike on Mukachevo, 12 people were injured. 10 people were taken to the hospital by ambulance, and two more sought help independently. Residents are urged not to go outside unnecessarily.
On Thursday, August 21, Ukraine will experience variable cloudiness, with no precipitation in most of the territory. Short-term rains and thunderstorms are possible in the west and Zhytomyr region.
On the morning of August 21, explosions were heard in several cities of Ukraine. In Mukachevo, the enemy struck an enterprise, and a large-scale fire broke out.
The US plans to play a minimal role in Ukraine's security guarantees, said US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby. European allies, including Great Britain, France, Germany, and Finland, expressed surprise and confusion.
On the night of August 21, Ukraine was subjected to a combined attack. Explosions were heard in Kyiv, Lviv, Lutsk, Mukachevo, Rivne, and Khmelnytskyi region.
European countries are asking Donald Trump to deploy American F-35 fighter jets in Romania. This is intended to deter Russia and provide security guarantees to Ukraine, and there is also talk of Patriot and NASAMS missiles.
The Kremlin continues to evade a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, as proposed by Trump. Moscow stated its readiness for negotiations in the "Istanbul format," which "differs from a meeting of heads of state."
In Melitopol, the occupiers opened an exhibition "Witnesses of the Great Victory" in the park "Russia - My History". The project is curated by the Russian Ministry of Defense, trying to impose its version of history.
Germany calls on China to participate more actively in the peace process regarding the war in Ukraine, as negotiations with Russia may intensify. Berlin notes Beijing's significant influence on Russia, but China has not yet shown interest.
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak held talks with national security advisors from partner countries. Security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed to prevent a repeat of aggression.
Russia insists on a veto right regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, which, according to the Financial Times, will give Moscow effective influence over Kyiv's defense. Ukraine rejects such an idea, which would negate the efforts of the US and allies towards a peace agreement.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated the country's readiness to provide peacekeeping troops and military equipment for a possible mission in Ukraine. Lithuania's participation in peacekeeping operations will not differ in scale from the mission in Afghanistan.
Over the past day, 128 combat engagements took place, with the most active battles continuing in the Lyman and Pokrovsk directions. Russian troops launched two missile and 43 air strikes, using 1763 kamikaze drones.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored outstanding figures in culture, sports, and and science with the state award "National Legend of Ukraine". Among those awarded are Serge Lifar, Anatoliy Kryvolap, Vasyl Zinkevych, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, and others.
The Netherlands is sending two Patriot systems and 300 troops to Poland to guard a NATO logistics hub that supports Ukraine. This deployment of multi-layered air defense is intended to protect NATO and deter Russian aggression.
The prosecutor's office, together with the National Police and the SBU, notified 34 persons of suspicion. Among them are a lawyer, a former head of the Medical and Social Expert Commission (MSEC), and "clients" who evaded mobilization or illegally transported persons across the border.
In Ukraine, the rules for using the eQueue system for buses have been updated, making border crossing more predictable. Changes include booking for short routes and guaranteed slots for regular services.