Monday, August 5

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Gold medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Team Ukraine celebrates winning gold during the Women’s High Jump Final on day nine of the Olympic Games at Stade de France on Aug. 4, 2024 in Paris, France. (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Zelensky confirms F-16s already being used by Ukrainian Air Force. “I am proud of all our guys who master these planes and have already started using them for our state,” Zelensky said.

Syrskyi: Recent arrival of F-16s will mean ‘more downed missiles and planes.’ The recent delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine means there will be “more downed missiles and planes used by Russian criminals to attack Ukrainian cities,” Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Aug. 4.

Donetsk Oblast announces mandatory evacuation for over 700 children. More than 700 children from four communities in Donetsk Oblast will be evacuated away from the front line, Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Aug. 4 as heavy battles continue in the direction of Pokrovsk.

Mali breaks diplomatic ties with Ukraine. The transitional government of Mali is severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine over its alleged support of rebel coalitions, government spokesperson Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga announced on Aug. 4.

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Air Force commander: Ukraine destroys over 8,000 Russian air targets. According to the Aug. 4 report, Russia has lost 363 airplanes, 326 helicopters, and 13,103 drones.

Military: Egyptians recruited by Russia fight in Kharkiv Oblast. Russia is known to have targeted men from countries including Cuba, Kazakhstan, Somalia, and Nepal to fight in its army.

NATO jets scrambled after Russian Su-30s detected near Latvian airspace. The German and Swedish air forces scrambled NATO jets on Aug. 3 after two Russian jets were detected heading toward Latvian airspace over the Baltic Sea.

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Ukraine war latest: F-16s are being used by Ukrainian Air Force

President Zelensky confirmed on Aug. 4 that the first batch of F-16s had arrived in Ukraine and that the jets are already being used by Ukrainian pilots.

Photo: President of Ukraine

High jump becomes Ukraine’s main Olympic sport

Ukrainians athletes were always good at reaching new heights, with the country’s two main sporting disciplines being the high jump and pole vault.

Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russia targets critical infrastructure across Ukraine, injures over a dozen civilians. According to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin, 15 people, including a child, were wounded in Kherson Oblast over the past day.

General Staff: Russia has lost 582,910 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. This number includes 1,150 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Ukraine at Olympics

Ukraine secures gold, bronze in women’s Olympic high jump. Ukrainian athletes Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Iryna Gerashchenko won gold and bronze at the women’s high jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ukraine wins bronze medal in men’s Olympic hammer throw. Ukraine’s Mykhailo Kokhan won a bronze medal during the men’s hammer throw competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a throw of 79.39 meters.

Ukraine’s boxer Khyzhniak reaches Olympic finals, securing at least silver. Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak defeated Cuban two-time Olympic champion Arlen Lopez in the 80kg weight class semifinals at the Olympic games in Paris on Aug. 4.

International response

German politicians call for EU response after Budapest simplifies entry for Russians. German politicians are demanding an EU-wide response after Hungary simplified entry requirements for Russian and Belarusian citizens in July, German news outlet Bild reported on Aug. 3.

To help Russian opposition, first save Ukraine, released prisoner Yashin says. “If you want to help the Russian opposition and Russian society and Russia as a whole, save Ukraine from Putin,” Ilya Yashin said in a livestream shortly after his release in a historic prisoner exchange.

Russia involved in spying in Ireland, Irish official says. “What we’re particularly concerned about is a handful of states who are engaged in spying activities on sovereign soil with malign intent,” said Michael McElgunn, assistant commissioner of Ireland’s national police force.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Oleksiy Sorokin, Daria Shulzhenko, Elsa Court, Francis Farrell, Andrea Januta, Olga Rudenko, and Abbey Fenbert.

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