Russia Ukraine war latest: Kyiv blows up second bridge in Kursk as Ukrainian forces down 11 drones overnight

According to its most recent update, Ukraine claims to have seized more than 80 settlements across 444 square miles in Kursk since launching its surprise strike across the border on 6 August.

However, Kyiv’s troops are since thought to have shifted some of their positions since that update, and to be consolidating their positions further from the frontline.

Ukraine’s air defence units repelled Russia’s overnight air attack, including on Kyiv, destroying all 11 drones that Moscow launched, targeting Ukraine‘s territory, Ukraine’s air force said this morning.

The drones were destroyed over the Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Sumy and Donetsk regions, the air force said. Reuters’ witnesses heard blasts in what sounded like air defence units at work on Kyiv’s outskirts early this morning.

There were no immediate reports of any damage due to the attack or falling drone debris.

Russia used nearly 1,000 bombs, missiles and drones to attack Ukraine in just these past seven days, Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday.

“Russia always knows where it is striking with its missiles and bombs—this is deliberate and targeted Russian terror. Over the course of this week, the Russians have used more than 40 missiles of various types, 750 guided aerial bombs, and 200 strike UAVs of different types against our cities and villages,” he said.

The Ukrainian president added: “For such terror, the occupier must be held accountable before the courts and history. They are already facing the strength of our warriors – all those Ukrainians who are restoring justice, destroying the occupier, and defending our positions.”

The Russian glide bombs have had a devastating impact on wherever they are used in the war. Kyiv is battling them as best it can but needs Western allies to step up and provide more weapons, air defences and ammunition, explains Tom Watling.

Volodymyr Zelensky is asking his closest allies to help Ukraine with more logistics for promised ammunition as he presented a nightly update on the frontline actions.

“I received a briefing from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, covering the situation in the eastern part of Ukraine, operations in the Kursk region, the ‘exchange fund,’ and the equipping of our brigades, particularly the reserves, with ammunition and weapons. In every direction, our troops are doing an outstanding job,” Mr Zelensky said last night.

He added: “However, when it comes to supplies from our partners, we need things to speed up. There are no holidays in war. We need decisions—we need timely logistics for the promised aid packages. I’m specifically addressing the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.”

The Ukrainian leader hinted at his engagement at the upcoming diplomatic front, refering to Europe, America and the Global South.

“We’ve already expanded and will continue to expand the circle of those who support a just end to this war. It’s vital that Ukraine enters this autumn even stronger than before,” he said.

Air defence units were engaged early this morning on the outskirts of Kyiv trying to repel Russia’s air attack, Kyiv’s military administration said.

Blasts were heard in what sounded like air defence units at work, according to the witnesses.

The scale of Russia’s aerial raid and weapons used in attacking Ukraine overnight is not immediately clear.

Since then, Kyiv’s forces have claimed to have taken more land in just over a week than Russia has in Ukraine during this entire calendar year.

It is the largest foreign attack on sovereign Russian territory since the Second World War.

Ukraine’s surprise attack inside Russia is the only way to force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table as part of a “psychological” tactic to win the war, president Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief adviser told The Independent earlier this week.

Mykhailo Podolyak, the top aide to the Ukrainian president, said the incursion had shown Russians the harsh realities of Vladimir Putin’s war.

“We need to use absolutely clear tools to coerce Russia [into negotiation]. One of them is a military instrument of coercion.

“That is, we need to inflict significant tactical defeats on Russia, in addition to economic and diplomatic tools. In the Kursk region, we are seeing the optimisation of this military tool of coercion to force Russia into the negotiation process.”

Tom Watling has the full report:

The quake, which occurred at 7.10am local time (8.10pm on Saturday in the UK), struck at a depth of 18 miles and caused “severe shaking” to buildings in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

It happened near a major naval base but there were no early reports of damage or injuries. The quake prompted a tsunami warning that was later lifted.

Russian scientists have warned that tremors in the area may be a prelude to an even stronger earthquake. The Institute of Volcanology said a potential second quake could come “within 24 hours” with a magnitude approaching 9.0.

According to Western military analysts, there were three bridges in the area of the Ukrainian army’s offensive through which Russia supplies its forces – and two of them have been either destroyed or seriously damaged.

Phillips O’Brien, of the University of St Andrews, said: “If the Ukrainians can make it impossible for the Russians to supply troops south of the Seym [river] … they will at a minimum provide a secure flank to their offensive.

“The Russian military is ponderous and needs heavy logistical supply to undertake operations. Without bridges, it’s hard to see the Russians supplying the needed forces to keep that area effectively militarised.”