Weekly newsletter
Photo of the week
Flags near the stele at the entrance to the front-line former Orichivsky district (now Zaporizhzhia), which Ukrainian fighters turned into a photo zone "Pantheon of defenders of Zaporizhzhia".
Interviews
Whether Russia will be at the second Peace Summit will be very much determined by Ukraine, - EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová
The Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, sat down for an interview with Ukrinform literally a day after the most massive strike Russia launched on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion. Separately emphasizing the need to provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems, the ambassador also shared her opinion on allowing Ukraine to hit military targets inside Russia using Western weapons. The conversation naturally touched on Ukraine's progress on the path to joining the EU, the specifics of the negotiation process launched on June 25, and the fight against corruption. She also focused on diplomatic efforts to achieve a just peace and Ukraine's use of frozen Russian assets.
Taras Vysotsky, interim Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food
Agricultural and processing support is a key element of the Made in Ukraine policy announced half a year ago. The policy provides for both new aid mechanisms for farm producers and further support for the instruments that have proven to be most valid in other government-funded programs, most particularly the "Affordable loans 5-7-9%".
This year alone, the government budgeted UAH 1 billion in funding for partial compensation for the cost of domestically manufactured agricultural machinery and equipment. The government compensates agricultural producers for 25 percent of the cost of the Ukrainian made equipment they purchase. The range of agricultural produce and machinery products eligible for compensation under this program is continuously expanded, Taras Vysotsky, interim Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food, said in a blitz interview for Ukrinform.
Fact Check
Napoleon, Hitler, and the Ardennes: Russian propaganda manipulating history to discredit Ukrainian operation in Kursk region
Russia spreads propaganda to both domestic and international audiences by using pro-Russian Western "experts" and distorting theses of reputable world media outlets
For example, Russian media, z-Telegram channels, and bots on social media platform X began spreading an excerpt from an interview with American leftist economist and communist Richard Wolff with Brazilian YouTube blogger Nima Rostami Alkhorshid. In the video, Wolff claims that Ukraine is bound to lose after the start of its operation in the Kursk region because “Napoleon and Hitler's armies failed before, even though they were stronger and less corrupt than Ukraine.” This is exactly the thesis of the American economist that Russian propaganda is spreading.
This is a fake and manipulation. Firstly, this is Richard Wolff's personal opinion that is not based on real facts or analysis of the military situation in the Russian war against Ukraine.
Video
On the night of August 26-27, the Aurora hotel in Kryvyi Rih was partially destroyed by a rocket
During the day, rescuers were clearing the debris. At first, rescuers found the bodies of three people under the rubble. On the morning of August 28, rescuers discovered the body of another person who died as a result of a rocket attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih. He is a 54-year-old man. Thus, the number of dead increased to four people.
Today in Kryvyi Rih has been declared a day of mourning for the dead...
The search and rescue operation at the scene of the tragedy has been completed.
Ukrainian military in the Netherlands took part in the "Run for Ukraine" race
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Warsaw to celebrate the Independence Day of Ukraine
News:
War
Austrian colonel on Kursk operation: Ukraine wants to get out of war of attrition imposed by Russia
"The Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region is very likely only the beginning of a series of military measures by Ukraine aimed at breaking the momentum of the Russian summer offensive. In general, this can be interpreted as a 'Befreiungsschlag' ('a counterstrike for liberation'; a strike aimed at de-escalating a dangerous or uncomfortable situation - ed.). Ukraine wants to regain the initiative. The alternative would be to continue to be dictated by the Russian war of attrition in the Donbas. Ukraine strives to do anything to break this closed circle," said Colonel of the Austrian Armed Forces Markus Reisner
Russian strike on Kramatorsk: Wounded Polish journalist remains in Ukraine
Polish journalist and volunteer Monika Andruszewska, who was injured in a Russian missile attack on Kramatorsk on the night of August 25, is not going to return to Poland for treatment, she will stay in Ukraine.
“It was nothing to worry about. When the blood was washed off and the glass was removed from the skin, it turned out to be minor injuries,” she said.
According to her, because of this, she does not intend to return to Poland now, but will stay in Ukraine with a volunteer mission.
However, Andruszewska said that significant damage was caused to the car in which she was with another Ukrainian volunteer who also sustained minor injuries. Therefore, she is more worried about how to repair the car and bring the five dogs she took from the front line to Kyiv to find new owners.
The Polish volunteer noted that this was not the first time she had been under Russian missile fire, although it was the first time she had come under an Iskander missile attack.
Shooting down Russian targets over Ukraine does not need to be approved at NATO level – Polish expert
Janusz Onyszkiewicz, a Polish expert and former Minister of National Defense of Poland emphasized that yesterday's violation of Polish airspace by a Russian aerial vehicle “definitely brings to the fore the issue of the Polish air defense system shooting down Russian aerial targets over the territory of Ukraine.”
Onyszkiewicz stressed that such a decision does not need to be approved at the NATO level, but rather by one or several NATO countries. However, this need to be agreed with other member states, given “the need for a certain solidarity and unanimity of action within the Alliance.”
Shooting down the missiles may well be an individual decision of Poland, for example, in cooperation with other countries such as the United States or the United Kingdom. But this must be done with the consent of other countries. It must not come as a surprise that there is no resistance from any of the Allies,” the former Minister of National Defense of Poland emphasized.
Russia likely testing Poland's air defense – expert
Jaroslaw Kraszewski, a former commander of the missile forces and artillery of the Polish Land Forces, said that the Russian Shahed unlikely deviated from its rout on the territory of Ukraine. The Russians were likely testing Poland's air defense systems and checking NATO's algorithm of actions in the event of such a development.
In his opinion, this step may also be an attempt by Russia to intimidate Poland and NATO so that they do not actively help Ukraine.
Kraszewski is convinced that if such a target appears in Ukraine's airspace, it “must be shot down immediately.” Otherwise, Russia will likely continue these actions.
Defense
Ukraine produces more than 70% of agricultural machinery items – Vysotskyi
Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Acting Minister Taras Vysotskyi mentioned that Ukraine had manufactured one domestically produced sprayer model and one grain harvester. However, it is necessary to launch mass production and expand a model range to fully meet the needs of the country’s agricultural sector.
Politics
Ratification of Rome Statute: President’s Office explains why Ukraine had to compromise
“It is because of fakes circulating about the Rome Statute that we had to make a compromise decision - to ratify with a declaration under Article 124 of the Rome Statute, according to which the ICC will not have jurisdiction under Article 8 (war crimes) over Ukrainian citizens for seven years after ratification. That is, with the ratification of the Rome Statute, we remove the existing risk for our citizens. This is not a caution, but a declaration, the possibility of which is expressly provided for in the Statute, and which was used earlier by France and Colombia,” explained Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Iryna Mudra
Ukraine expects new arrest warrants for Russian politicians and military from ICC - Mudra
On March 2, 2022, the Office of the ICC Prosecutor launched an investigation into the situation in Ukraine. During this time, the ICC has already issued six arrest warrants for Russian criminals, including Putin, Lvova-Belova, Shoigu, Gerasimov and other generals, for the abduction of our children and shelling of infrastructure. Other investigations are ongoing and we expect new warrants for other crimes
Investigation
PGO opens case over possible organization of illegal border crossing by Dmytruk
Law enforcement officers have opened a criminal investigation into the alleged organization of an illegal border crossing by a Ukrainian MP.
Nadia Maksymets, spokesperson for the Prosecutor General's Office, said this in a comment to Ukrinform, answering a question about the reliability of media reports that non-factional MP Artem Dmytruk had illegally crossed the state border.
“Based on the information received about the possible organization of illegal border crossing by the MP, criminal proceedings were initiated under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” she said.
See you next Friday!