ISW Key Takeaways
Russian government sources confirmed that Russian authorities are bringing Ukrainian children to Russia and having Russian families adopt them. The forcible transfer of children from one group to another “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group” is a violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Russian authorities are deploying security forces to Luhansk Oblast likely in response to waning support for the war and growing unwillingness to fight among Luhansk residents. This deployment diverts these forces from operations elsewhere in Ukraine, likely contributing to the broader Russian failure to translate limited tactical gains into operational successes.
Russian officials may have conducted a false flag event in Donetsk City to justify attacks against Ukrainian government buildings on Ukrainian Independence Day.
Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast and south of Bakhmut, on the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City, and southwest of Donetsk City.
Russian forces made limited gains east of Mykolaiv City and in northwestern Kherson Oblast.
Ukrainian forces continued to strike Russian military assets and ground lines of communication (GLOCs) in Kherson Oblast.
Russian federal subjects (regions) are continuing to increase one-time enlistment bonuses for recruits, and are likely recruiting personnel with no prior military experience for specialist positions.
Ukrainian partisan activity continues to disrupt Russian occupation activities.
Unverifiable sources reported that axis commanders in Ukraine are reporting directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, bypassing both the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov in the chain of command. (there was a report before the Putin is running the war directly).
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⚡️Reuters: US to announce $3 billion in military aid for Ukraine as war hits 6 months.
⚡️Reuters: Scholz promises to send arms worth 500 million euros to Ukraine.
The new promises by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were reported by Reuters, which cited an anonymous source familiar with the matter.
The arms supplies are expected to include three Iris-T air defense systems, a dozen armored recovery vehicles, 20 rocket launchers, precision ammunition, and anti-drone systems, according to the report.
Germany has promised to supply Iris-T systems for months but so far they have not arrived.
⚡️Bloomberg: Russia resumes diamond exports to Europe, India despite sanctions.
⚡️Zelensky: Ukraine not ready to sign ceasefire deal with Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine did not want to repeat the negative experience of the 2014 Minsk-1 deal and the 2015 Minsk-2 deal.
⚡️CNN: Reznikov says Ukraine has passed ‘worst scenario’ of war.
In an interview with CNN on Aug. 23, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that the “worst scenario” of the war has already happened and Ukraine is now moving on to the “next stage” of the war as it launches counteroffensive in new directions. However, Reznikov says that the international community’s “fatigue syndrome” can be the main threat to Ukraine in the coming months.
⚡️Canada imposes new sanctions on Russia, announces additional funding for Ukraine. $3.85 million CAD ($2.97 million) of funding for Ukraine’s security sector
⚡️Ukraine’s military destroys Russian ammunition depot in southern Ukraine.
⚡️Ukraine’s Armed Forces destroy Russian ammunition depot in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. [not sure if it's the same, I think they were different ones]
⚡️Erdogan says Crimea should be returned to Ukraine.
⚡️Minister unveils plans to develop Crimea post-liberation.
Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said that the government, together with the Kyiv School of Economics, has developed a strategy for the reconstruction and reintegration of the peninsula.
🔗 Canada imposes sanctions on 62 individuals and one defense sector entity — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
📣 Air defense systems, missile systems and tons of ammunition will be provided to Ukraine by Canada and Germany — Сhancellor of Germany during his speech at the Crimean Platform
📌The UN Security Council meeting, which was urgently convened at Russia's request, is taking place in New York. For the second time, the Russian Federation is addressing the UN with accusations of the Ukrainian side of shelling the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
🇪🇺 Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal: We plan to be fully ready to join the European Union by the end of 2024
"We have not stopped working on European integration for a single day. By the end of 2024, we plan to be fully ready to join the European Union. This is the path of our values and civilization," the Prime Minister of Ukraine said.
🇸🇰Slovakia to transfer 30 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, tanks dispatch is not considered — Minister of Defence of Slovakia Jaroslav Naď
Slovakia will transfer 30 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine and, in return, will receive 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks from Germany. [this gift of arms to Ukraine seems to have had a fair bit of changing information in the last couple weeks]
🖇 Türkiye has transferred 50 armored vehicles with enhanced anti-mine protection to Ukraine — Defense News According to a government official, the supply of Kirpi vehicles was the result of a government agreement
❕ Ukrainians have destroyed the feeling of Russia's invincibility that prevails among many — President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili [Yes, I don't think the world will see the Russian military the same way for a very long time]
💡 French Foreign Ministry: Lavrov confirmed the Russian Federation’s consent to the IAEA mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant [of course, it's Lavrov speaking]
📌 Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine: Russian troops are targeting and deliberately firing the ash dumps of the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Station to raise clouds of radioactive dust
Now the wind is blowing the clouds around the occupied city of Enerhodar.
Quoting the rest of this:
According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence, this is a new method to create the desired "picture" to manipulate public opinion. The Zaporizhzhia TPS is located next to the Nuclear Power Plant.
Ash dumps are places where the ash, generated during the operation of the thermal power station is stored. This waste has a high concentration of toxic substances and a radiation level that is at least 2.5 times higher than the natural background. When drying, they form dust, which can travel considerable distances.
📸 The photo shows a flag at the Ukrainian military cemetery in Chernihiv, which was targeted and destroyed by the Russians