What to remember from Monday, August 12

Fighting has intensified and thousands of people have been displaced since the start of the Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory. As a result, Vladimir Putin has promised to “expel” Kiev’s troops from the Kursk region.

After months of retreating in the face of Russian troops on its eastern front, Ukraine launched on Tuesday, August 6, the largest cross-border attack against Russia since the start of the Russian assault in February 2022. “We continue to conduct offensive operations in the Kursk region. At present, we control about 1,000 km2 of the territory of the Russian Federation.”said Ukrainian Army Commander Oleksandr Syrsky on Monday, August 12, during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Here’s what to remember from the day.

Vladimir Putin vows to “expel” kyiv troops from Russia’s Kursk region

Vladimir Putin has promised to do everything to “expel” Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk, which has been the scene of a major incursion by Kiev’s troops since August 6. During a meeting broadcast on Russian television alongside security forces officials, the Russian president accused Ukraine of“to execute the will” Westerners, but also “sow discord” within Russian society.

In total, some 121,000 people have been evacuated from the Kursk region. The acting governor of the region said that at least 12 civilians were killed and 121 people were injured. Twenty-eight localities in the Russian region have also come under Ukrainian control, according to Alexei Smirnov.

Washington warns Tehran of retaliation if it supplies arms to Moscow

Washington said it was in contact with its European allies about reports of Iran’s plans to “supply hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia”Vedant Patel, a spokesman for the US State Department, told reporters. In light of this information, the United States said it was “ready to provide a rapid and strong response if Iran were to engage in the transfer of ballistic missiles”The White House believes that such a transfer would constitute “a serious escalation of Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”he added.

In search of additional weapons for its operations in Ukraine, Moscow has turned to countries under sanctions, including North Korea. The United States has already imposed sanctions on Iranian drone manufacturers, whose products have been supplied to Russia.

Fire at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant extinguished

A fire broke out on Sunday evening in the cooling system of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant occupied by the Russian armed forces. kyiv and Moscow are accusing each other of responsibility. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has a team on site, “There is no impact on nuclear safety”The head of the Russian-run administration in the region, Vladimir Rogov, said early Monday that the fire had been “completely off”.

Russian military says it is stopping Ukrainian advance into Russia

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had prevented “attempts at breakthroughs” of “mobile armoured groups” enemies near the towns of Tolpino, Zhuravli and Obshchi Kolodez, located about thirty kilometers as the crow flies from Ukraine. In addition, on the night of Sunday to Monday, the Russian army said it had “destroyed” a total of 18 Ukrainian attack drones in three western Russian regions (Kursk, Belgorod and Voronezh), without mentioning any possible damage or injuries.

For its part, the Ukrainian army claims to continue “to conduct offensive operations in the Kursk region. At present, we control about 1,000 km2 of the territory of the Russian Federation”said Ukrainian army commander Oleksandr Syrsky during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.