Russians launched large-scale missile attack on Ukraine

Ukraine's Air Force has reported that Russian forces have launched a missile attack on several Ukrainian cities. Six Tu-22M3 strategic bombers were observed taking off from Russia, heightening the threat level.

As of 10:09 a.m. local time, at least three people were killed in Ukraine, and strikes were reported in Odesa, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, and Kryvyi Rih, as well as in Lviv, Rivne, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts.

In Kharkiv, explosions were heard, prompting Mayor Ihor Terekhov to urge residents to seek shelter immediately. Similar reports of explosions have come from the cities of Kryvyi Rih and Vinnytsia.

Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, announced that the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam would be temporarily closed to traffic due to the ongoing security concerns. The situation remains tense as Ukraine braces for further attacks.

Russians hit industrial facility in Poltava Oblast, 5 people injured

On the morning of 26 August, Russian forces launched an attack on an industrial facility in Poltava Oblast, resulting in injuries to five people. Filip Pronin, the Head of Poltava Oblast Military Administration, confirmed the attack and the casualties. The targeted facility sustained damage, and emergency services responded swiftly to assist the injured.

Russians attacked Lutsk, damaged infrastructure facility and killed a civilian

A Russian attack on Lutsk on the morning of 26 August resulted in the death of one person. Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk confirmed that an infrastructure facility in the city was damaged during the strike. Polishchuk also noted that an apartment building had been affected by the attack, highlighting the ongoing impact on civilian areas.

Reuters safety adviser killed, 6 others injured in Kramatorsk strike (update)

Ryan Evans, a Reuters journalist, was tragically killed in a Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk late on August 24. Two other Reuters journalists were injured in the attack and are currently receiving treatment, with one of them in serious condition. The missile strike, which targeted the Hotel Sapphire where the Reuters team was staying, also injured two local women and caused significant damage to a nearby high-rise residential building.

The attack took place at around 10:35 p.m., according to Ukraine's General Prosecutor's Office, and was carried out using an Iskander-M ballistic missile. The strike is part of the ongoing conflict that has frequently put journalists at risk, especially in Kramatorsk, a city often used as a base for those covering the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Ryan Evans, a former British soldier, had been with Reuters since 2022, providing safety advice to journalists in conflict zones, including Ukraine. He was 38 years old. Reuters is working closely with local authorities in Kramatorsk to gather more information about the attack and is supporting the families of the affected journalists.

Kramatorsk has been a repeated target of Russian strikes. In June 2023, a missile strike on a popular restaurant in the city center killed 13 people, including the renowned Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, who later died from her injuries. The ongoing attacks have highlighted the dangers faced by civilians and journalists alike in the conflict zone.