On the 178th day of Russia’s large-scale military invasion of Ukraine on Saturday, August 20, Russian troops continue their attempts to capture the neighboring country’s settlements. Ukraine’s Armed Forces and their territorial defense units are resisting the aggression. It is impossible to verify the statements of representatives of both sides of the conflict from independent sources.

The course of hostilities

Russian troops again attacked Kharkiv – on critical infrastructure facilities in Nemyshlyansky district and in the suburbs, said Mayor Igor Terekhov.

A drone hit the roof of the Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters, said Mikhail Razvozhaev, the “governor” of annexed Sevastopol. According to him, there are no victims. Approaches and entrances to fleet headquarters are blocked by police.

On the night of August 20, loud explosions were heard in Melitopol, occupied by Russian troops, said Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov. According to preliminary data, one of the Russian army military bases near the airfield was hit.

At night, on the territory of annexed Crimea – in Sevastopol and near the village of Olenevka – air defense systems worked again, said the “governor” of Sevastopol Razvozhaev and adviser to the “chief” of Crimea Oleg Kryuchkov.

Russian troops are trying to improve the tactical situation in the direction of Nikolaev, according to the evening summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Ukrainian command aims for bombardment by tanks and artillery of various sizes near Nikolaev, Ukrainka, Aleksandrovka and 15 other settlements, an air attack in the Olginoe area, as well as an offensive battle in the direction of Vasilka – Blagodatnoe. At the same time, the offensive actions of the Russian army in the Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Bakhmut, Avdeevsky and Novopavlovsk directions were repelled by the Ukrainian military, notes the General Staff.

As a result of a missile attack carried out by Russian forces on a five-story residential building in Voznesensk, Mykolaiv region, 12 people were injured, including three children. Two children are in critical condition. This information was provided by the Regional Attorney’s Office. At the same time, it is noted that there are no military installations in this territory. An investigation was opened into the shooting.

Pro-Russian “authorities” in the occupied Zaporozhye region claim that the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant using “Western long-range weapons”. Critical facilities at the station, which are under the control of Russian forces, were not damaged, the occupation “administration” of the occupied region said. The Ukrainian side has yet to comment on these allegations.

American experts on the degree of security of Russia’s rear

Recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian military and transport infrastructure in Crimea and the Kherson region have shaken Russia’s confidence in the security of areas behind the front lines, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) points out in a daily report. The growing concern of the Russian authorities and the civilian population about the threat of attacks in the rear areas is evidenced by the fact that the Russian authorities are significantly increasing security measures in the annexed Crimea. According to the ISW, reports of explosions in Belgorod and Sevastopol on August 18 may be exaggerated, but Russian media massively replicated them, which indicates a panic that has erupted in the Russian Federation, the organization’s report says.

Two more ships with grain left Chernomorsk

Two more grain-laden ships left the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, the Turkish Defense Ministry said. According to the coordination center in Istanbul, these are the ships Zumrut Ana and MV Ocean S, which transport 6,300 tonnes of sunflower oil and 25,000 tonnes of wheat, respectively. Thus, already 27 dry cargo ships with food have left Ukraine’s ports as part of a grain export agreement concluded through UN mediation.

Since the beginning of work on the “grain corridor”, 27 ships left Ukrainian ports in 20 days, carrying a total of 670,000 tons of agricultural products on board, noted the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.. 18 ships entered the loading process, and around 40 stopover requests are also under analysis.

Mass events banned in Kyiv

In Kyiv, mass events were banned from 22 to 25 August. The head of the military administration of the city of Kyiv, Mykola Zhirnov, gave the corresponding instruction to the mayor of the capital, Vitali Klitschko. The reason for the ban is possible attacks from Russia. City officials are also instructed these days to attract “the necessary minimum number of officials, civil servants and workers to ensure Kyiv’s daily life”.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation accused Kyiv of poisoning the Russian military

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has accused Ukraine of using chemical agents against the Russian military. According to the agency, on July 31, soldiers who were in the area of ​​Vasilyevka village, Zaporozhye region, were hospitalized with signs of severe poisoning.

“As a result of the research, a poisonous substance, botulinum toxin type B, was found in the bodies of military personnel,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. The ministry called it “chemical terrorism” on the part of Kyiv. saying that he would soon prepare supporting documents and send them to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

TV hacking attack in Crimea

Hackers broke into television in annexed Crimea, according to the Department of Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram. Instead of broadcasting Russian channel One, a video was shown with a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as footage of Crimea before the occupation. It is unclear from the Stratcom report when exactly the hacking took place and which address the Ukrainian president is referring to.

Exhibition of Russian military equipment destroyed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine

In Kyiv, on the capital’s main street – Khreshchatyk – there is an exhibition of Russian military equipment destroyed by Ukrainian troops. “In February, the Russians planned a parade in central Kyiv. Six months after the start of a full-scale war, the disgraceful display of Russian rusted metal is a reminder to all dictators of how their plans can be destroyed by a free and brave people,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Twitter.