Ukraine has struck a nuclear facility in western Russia; on the very day Kyiv marked its Independence Day. Russian officials say air defenses in the Kursk region shot down a Ukrainian drone that later detonated, sparking a fire and damaging a transformer at a nuclear power plant. Authorities confirmed there were no casualties and radiation levels remain normal. The International Atomic Energy Agency once again urged both Russia and Ukraine to exercise maximum restraint around nuclear facilities.
Sunday marked Ukraine’s Independence Day, commemorating its 1991 break from the Soviet Union. In solidarity, the UK government raised Ukrainian flags above Downing Street. Defense Secretary John Healey also announced that Britain is stepping up support, extending its military training mission, known as Operation Interflex, until at least 2026. The program has already helped thousands of Ukrainian recruits prepare to fight Russian forces.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed over the weekend that its troops seized two villages in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Despite these gains, analysts note Moscow’s advances remain slow and costly. Russian forces now control roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory since launching the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Diplomacy also made headlines this month, with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting in Alaska on August 15th. While both leaders described the summit as productive, little progress has been made toward peace. President Trump has since voiced frustration and hinted at either imposing sweeping new sanctions and tariffs on Moscow—or walking away from negotiations altogether.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to call for an unconditional ceasefire, backed by European allies. He has accused Russia of deliberately stalling talks, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insists a summit cannot happen until what he calls “a real agenda” is agreed upon.
For now, the fighting grinds on, with Ukraine pressing for more international support, and Russia holding firm on the battlefield.
That’s the latest on the war in Ukraine. Stay with us—more international news is ahead, right here on SNEWS TV.
Reporting by Lisa Lomami.
