UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights
❗️Unfortunately, ballistic missiles are the most difficult threat for us right now. While about 90% of cruise missiles are intercepted, the situation with ballistic missiles is much worse. We need missiles for Patriot systems — and this is something only our partners can provide, — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
❗️ For the first time in several months, a critical infrastructure facility was targeted, Mayor Klitschko says.
Residents of Kyiv’s Desnianskyi district and parts of the Dniprovskyi district are experiencing hot water shortages.
Russia’s gold stash is running low: Central Bank reserves fall to their lowest level since early 2020, according to Bloomberg
As of August 1, the Bank of Russia’s gold reserves had fallen to 73.2 million ounces. Since the beginning of the year, they have decreased by 1.6 million ounces, while the value of the gold reserves has fallen by $33.7 billion.
Gold is being sold off amid a growing budget deficit: the Ministry of Finance is using assets from the National Wealth Fund to cover the shortfall, while the Central Bank is “mirroring” these operations by selling gold on the domestic market.
From January to July, Russia’s budget deficit reached 6.46 trillion rubles, compared with the planned 3.79 trillion rubles for the entire year of 2026. One of the main reasons remains the enormous cost of the war.
Russian UN envoy says mobilization is "not expected"
At a briefing, he responded to a Ukrainian journalist who reminded him of thousands of men fleeing to Georgia over fears of mobilization. In just 24 hours, 20,000 people crossed the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint.
"Don't worry about mobilization in Russia. I think this has been officially stated many times: we don't need a mass mobilization now, and it is not planned or expected, as far as I know," said Russian UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya. [Just like they never planned to invade Ukraine]
The construction of a solid-fuel plant in Denmark by Ukrainian missile manufacturer Fire Point has been postponed until the end of 2027 — Euractiv.
Denmark has removed more than 20 legislative obstacles to allow Fire Point to establish a production site for its Flamingo solid-fuel missiles.
However, the company is now forced to build a new facility because the building it originally purchased is unsuitable for solid rocket fuel production.
The publication also notes that construction costs have more than tripled.
The delay demonstrates how difficult it is to relocate Ukrainian weapons production to the EU, even when governments are ready to simplify bureaucratic procedures to speed up the implementation of defense projects, the publication notes.
Russian strikes on Odesa’s ports could cost Ukraine nearly 2% of GDP this year, according to Bloomberg.
Due to the attacks, grain exports through the ports of Odesa and the surrounding region, which account for approximately 90% of Ukraine’s grain exports, have virtually ceased. Since the beginning of August, Ukraine has exported only about 500,000 tons of grain, roughly a fifth of its potential volume.
Analysts at Oxford Economics estimate Ukraine’s potential losses at 1.8% of GDP in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027. If the blockade continues for an extended period, these losses could reach 5.3% next year.
Meanwhile, farmers are forced either to store their harvest, risking exhausting available storage capacity, or to sell their grain on the domestic market at significant losses.
The European Union has refused to provide an additional €220 million in non-repayable aid to Ukrainian farmers affected by Russian attacks on Black Sea ports, instead promising support through existing programs — European Pravda.
"We can confirm that we have responded to the recent letter from the Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine.
In our response, we have identified areas of possible support for Ukraine's agricultural sector using existing mechanisms.
Ukraine already receives interest-rate subsidies on loans for farmers through the Ukraine Facility, so Ukrainian farmers already receive support under the Plan. [...]"
President Zelenskyy confirmed damage to the Perm oil refinery, more than 1,600 km from the border, and the Marinovka military airfield in the Volgograd region.
He also reported that a Russian Su-34 aircraft was damaged at the Akhtubinsk airfield, about 600 km from the front line.
In addition, a facility in Primorsko-Akhtarsk, nearly 180 km from the front line, was hit. It was used to store, prepare, and launch attack drones that Russian forces use to strike Ukraine, the president added.
❗️Damage estimated at $2.24 million: Russia struck a Fora supermarket warehouse in the Kyiv region, Forbes reports.
The warehouse stored fresh produce, including vegetables, fruits, dairy products, fish, prepared foods, and other goods
❗️ Russia attacked an international checkpoint on the border with Moldova for the second time in a week.
On the night of August 21, a Russian Shahed drone attacked the international Tabaki checkpoint in the Odesa region. The strike damaged buildings and structures at the checkpoint and caused fires.
[yesterday]
❗️ Russia dropped nine air bombs on Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, injuring eight people — regional prosecutor’s office.
Preliminary reports indicate that Russian forces used FAB-250 bombs equipped with universal planning and correction modules against civilians. Footage released by the prosecutor’s office shows that one of the strikes hit the Chudo (Eng. — Miracle) children’s store.
Eight civilians aged 41 to 84 were injured in the attack. Four men and four women were diagnosed with mine-explosion and closed traumatic brain injuries, concussions, contusions, and cuts, the report said.
🇺🇦🙏 Actor Liev Schreiber visited the site of the missile strike in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district and called for stronger air defense
The X-Men star and UNITED24 ambassador visited the Solomianskyi district, which Russia attacked on August 20.
He emphasized that civilian infrastructure was hit, including a children’s hospital, a school, a parking lot, and residential buildings.
Art installation “The Future Remembers” illuminates the Motherland Monument for Independence Day
Every evening through September 1, from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Kyiv residents and visitors will be able to see an installation by lighting designer Mykola Kabluka. It combines 3D graphics, light, music, and sound to explore the connection between the future, the memory of the past, and one’s roots. https://t.me/United24media/45353