Happy Independence Day of Ukraine!

Happy 35th Independence Day, Ukraine!

Today we celebrate 35 years of freedom, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of a nation that continues to fight for its future. On this special day, we remember the courage of all who defend Ukraine and honor everyone who believes in its independence.

Thank you to all our subscribers for staying with us, supporting the truth, and standing with Ukraine. Your attention and solidarity mean more than ever.

Glory to Ukraine!

Zelenskyy denied that Ukraine's Black Sea corridor is completely blocked

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is attempting to completely block Ukraine’s maritime corridor in the Black Sea by repeatedly attacking port infrastructure, but ships continue to enter and leave Odesa’s ports every day.

Speaking at a press conference during the Coalition of the Willing summit, Zelensky said there is currently no complete blockade. He noted that around three or four ships still enter or leave the Greater Odesa ports each day despite the Russian attacks.

Zelensky also said Russia was the first to resume attacks on Ukraine’s grain corridor, arguing that this makes Ukrainian strikes against Russian agricultural export infrastructure justified.

UK approved transfer of Storm Shadow production technology to Ukraine

The UK has approved the transfer of technology to Ukraine to produce Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles domestically, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on August 24 in Kyiv.

Burnham said Ukraine had requested access to British Storm Shadow technology to develop its own long-range strike capability. He approved the request, with British and French defense companies set to work with Ukrainian counterparts on the technology.

The Storm Shadow, known as SCALP in France, is a long-range air-launched cruise missile developed by European defense company MBDA. It is designed to strike heavily protected targets, including bunkers and critical infrastructure, and uses a combination of inertial navigation, GPS, terrain referencing and an infrared seeker for precision guidance.

Russia reacted to the UK sharing Storm Shadow blueprints with Ukraine

Russia has already demonstrated its reaction to the UK decision. The Kremlin has condemned the UK's step to share classified technology for Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles with Ukraine, calling it “fuel on the fire.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow views the move “extremely negatively,” accusing London of trying to undermine efforts toward a peace agreement.

Peskov also claimed that Russian forces were gathering information on potential sites in Ukraine where the missiles and other military equipment could be produced, suggesting those facilities could become targets.

Zelensky summed up the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Kyiv: aid packages and air defence listed as priorities

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will receive new military and energy aid packages following a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv on August 24.

Zelensky said air defense remains Ukraine’s top priority and that Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi had briefed international partners on the country’s financial needs. He also said French President Emmanuel Macron had proposed stepping up efforts to counter Russia’s shadow fleet and holding a separate meeting on the issue.

President stressed that Europe must have a seat at any negotiations on ending the war. He added that many leaders at the meeting remain skeptical that Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently willing to engage seriously in negotiations.

Ukraine brought back 10 defenders previously listed as missing in action

Ukraine brought back 10 Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity on Aug. 24 as part of a special stage of a prisoner exchange carried out through Belarus.

The soldiers served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and National Guard and fought on the Donetsk front. All 10 had previously been considered missing in action.

President Zelensky thanked everyone involved in the exchanges and said Ukraine would continue searching for every Ukrainian still in captivity and working to bring them home.

Russian drone hit an apartment building in Chernihiv, injuring 15

Russian forces struck an apartment building in central Chernihiv with a drone on August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, injuring at least 15 people, including two children.

The strike caused a fire in the residential building, with firefighters and emergency crews working at the scene while medics treated the injured. Local authorities initially reported eight casualties before the number rose to 14 and then 15.

Chernihiv Oblast Governor Viacheslav Chaus called the attack a “cynical strike” on a residential building carried out in the middle of the day on Independence Day. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage.