Russians target Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast again

Russian troops launched a second artillery strike on the city of Myrnohrad on 18 August, resulting in the death of a 44-year-old man. The attack targeted a residential area, with a shell landing near a car and causing the fatality. Additionally, six houses in the vicinity were damaged during the strike.

Lukashenko announces deployment of third of Belarusian army to Ukraine's border

Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, claimed that his country has deployed about a third of its army to the Ukrainian border in response to the presence of over 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the area. He explained that Belarus stationed its forces strategically along the border to defend against a potential conflict, citing Ukraine's "aggressive policy." Lukashenko asserted that Ukrainian forces are near the Belarusian border because they anticipate another Russian advance from Belarusian territory. He emphasized that withdrawing Belarusian troops from the border would be akin to "death," given the ongoing situation.

No damage or casualties reported in the morning missile and drone attack on Kyiv

On the morning of 18 August, Russian forces launched a coordinated attack on Kyiv using North Korean-made ballistic missiles and attack drones. The ballistic missiles were intercepted and destroyed by Ukrainian air defense systems before they could reach the capital. Simultaneously, several Russian attack drones were also heading towards Kyiv, but they were neutralized by Ukrainian forces, preventing any damage or casualties. As a result, residents of Kyiv did not even hear the sounds of the defense efforts, and no harm was reported in the city.

Russians occupy Mykolaivka in Donetsk Oblast 

On 17 August, Russian forces occupied the village of Mykolaivka in the Kramatorsk district of Donetsk Oblast, according to analysts from DeepState. Additionally, Russian troops made advances near the settlements of Vodiane, Novozhelanne, and Zhelanne. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces managed to push Russian troops back near the village of Otruba in Russia's Kursk Oblast.