On the 166th day of the full-scale war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine on Monday, August 8, 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 readily verify information disclosed by representatives of both sides of the conflict from independent sources.

The course of hostilities

Russian troops will likely place anti-personnel mines along the defense line in the Donbass, the UK Ministry of Defense said, citing military intelligence. In Donetsk and Kramatorsk, Russian forces probably tried to use PFM-1 and PFM-1S anti-personnel mines, the so-called “butterfly mines”. They belong to the category of indiscriminate weapons, the British Ministry said. Such mines were used, in particular, during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Russian occupation authorities must accelerate preparations for holding pseudo-referendums with the aim of annexing Ukrainian territory, say experts from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said that if Moscow goes down that path, negotiations will be impossible.

Russian forces carried out limited ground attacks southwest and southeast of Izyum, east of Seversk and east and south of Bakhmut, the ISW said. According to analysts, it is likely that Russian forces have achieved success in settlements in the northwestern and southwestern outskirts of the Donetsk region and are also continuing to try to break through Ukrainian defenses at the Avdiivka-Donetsk line of contact. At the same time, on August 7, Russian troops unsuccessfully attempted to advance east of Nikolaev, the ISW noted.

As a result of a missile attack by Ukrainian troops on the Antonovsky bridge over the Dnieper near Kherson, construction equipment was damaged, said Kyrylo Stremousov, “deputy head of the interim administration” for the Kherson (HO) region. According to him, they started building a floating crossing across the Dnieper in the KhO as a replacement for the bridge.

The Russian Defense Ministry has acknowledged the death of another Moskva cruiser recruit, 23-year-old Ivan Frantin, his sister Svetlana Tishkina told the We Can Explain Telegram channel. “We will receive a certificate (of death. – Red.) a little later,” she said.

Kyiv asked the UN and IAEA to send a mission to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant

Ukraine has sent letters to the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urging them to send a security mission to the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The announcement was made by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmitry Lubinets. “I ask … to completely demilitarize the nuclear power plant’s territory and provide security guarantees to nuclear plant employees and residents of Energodar City to service the station,” Lubinets said.

Kyiv fears that Russia may try to completely de-energize southern Ukraine in turn, said Ukraine’s IAEA representative Yevgeny Tsymbalyuk. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the ZNPP bombing. “Any attack on a nuclear power plant is suicide,” Guterres said.

Command “South”: German installations Gepard arrived in Ukraine

The first three German Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns are already in Ukraine. “They are among the best in their class,” said the press service of the “South” Operational Command of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The complexes will be used to cover important infrastructure facilities against attacks by helicopters and aircraft at low and ultra-low altitudes.

Polarnet ship with grain from Ukraine arrived at its destination in Turkey

The Polarnet vessel, which was one of the first to exercise the right to export grain from Ukraine, successfully passed the inspection team in Istanbul and reached its final destination in Turkey, the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure said. “This first successful experience in implementing the ‘grain initiative’ allows us to be optimistic about the future prospects of transport,” said Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov.

Meanwhile, the dry cargo ship MV SACURA with 11,000 tons of soybeans left the port of Yuzhny for Italy, and the ship MV ARIZONA with 48,500 tons of corn left Chernomorsk for Turkey, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense said.

Ambassador: A factory for the production of Bayraktar drones will be built in Ukraine

A plant for the production of Bayraktar medium-altitude operational-tactical drones will be built in Ukraine. The announcement was made by Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey, Vasily Bodnar. According to him, the Turkish manufacturer Baykar has already created a company in Ukraine, acquired land and developed a project for the factory. “Just a week ago, the government approved a bilateral agreement and sent to parliament for ratification, an agreement on the construction of the plant itself”, explained the diplomat.

US announces another $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine

The US government announced the allocation of another tranche of military assistance to Ukraine for US$1 billion (981 million euros). The Ukrainian military will receive 75,000 artillery shells of 155 mm caliber, mortars and 20,000 shells for them. It also provides for the supply of missiles for the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system, 1,000 portable Javelin anti-tank missile systems and several hundred disposable AT4 anti-tank grenade launchers. The package also includes ammunition for HIMARS multi-launch rocket systems, but the exact number of rockets is not stated. In addition, 50 vehicles for military doctors, explosives, medicines and equipment are planned to be transferred to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon claims that between 70,000 and 80,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of the war. The corresponding assessment was expressed by US Deputy Defense Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Colin Kahl during a briefing. His words were quoted by CNN. Meanwhile, Russia informed the United States that it was temporarily withdrawing its facilities from inspection activities under the Strategic Offensive Weapons Reduction Treaty, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

World Bank: Ukraine will receive another $4.5 billion to support the budget

The United States will provide Ukraine with another $4.5 billion (€4.4 billion) in budget support. The announcement was made by the World Bank (WB) in Washington. The funds will be used to cover “social payments, health services and pensions”, will help meet budgetary obligations “at the national and regional levels”, the WB said.

Russian oil tanker in Chernihiv sentenced to 10 years in prison

A Chernigov court sentenced Russian oil tanker Mikhail Kulikov to 10 years in prison for bombing a multi-story building on the outskirts of the city. The verdict was handed down on Monday, August 8, by Judge Mykola Kuzyura.

Kulikov was found guilty of violating the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He was also ordered to cover court costs amounting to 26,600 hryvnia (706 euros).

“I apologize to the people of Ukraine for invading here, it was wrong on our part. And for my chance, I’m sorry I did that,” Mikhail Kulikov said during one of the meetings. He admitted his guilt.