The incursion launched by the Ukrainian army into the Russian border region of Kursk continues, Volodymyr Zelensky said in a message published on Telegram on Monday, August 19. “We are achieving our goals”the Ukrainian president said. This operation, he said on Sunday, aims to “create a buffer zone” between Russia and Ukraine. Follow our live coverage.
Kremlin says it “will not talk” to Ukraine after Kursk offensive. “At this stage, given this adventure, we will not discuss”Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian media outlet Shot. “At this point it would be completely inappropriate to start a negotiation process.”
kyiv orders evacuation of families with children from the city of Pokrovsk. Heavy fighting continues in Ukrainian Donbass, where Ukrainian forces are outnumbered. “We are starting the forced evacuation of families with children from the Pokrovsk community. (…) When our cities are within reach of virtually all enemy weapons, the decision to evacuate is necessary and inevitable”the governor of the Donetsk region explained on social networks.
Berlin says it remains “fully committed” to military support for Ukraine. “Support for Ukraine will continue as long as necessary and no one, especially not the Russian president, has any reason to expect us to ease up [l’effort]”also assured Wolfgang Büchner, government spokesman, at a press conference.
Nearly 2,000 attacks on health centres since the start of the war. “This is the highest number ever recorded by WHO in a global humanitarian emergency.”noted in a statement the European branch of the international organization. Since December 2023, attacks on health centers have been intensifying. “Last year, 24 deaths of health workers and patients were documented”continues the WHO, but since the beginning of 2024, “A total of 34 people have died following attacks on healthcare services” in Ukraine.