Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1642: Ukraine sinks three Kalibr shooters, but at least four remain

Exclusives

Russia’s thermobaric launchers used to just drive up and fire. Now they move one at a time, in steel boxes built to stop Ukrainian drones. Ukraine has knocked out at least 36 of them. Twenty-seven burned outright.

Ukrainians rally across dozens of countries to demand Europe use Russia’s frozen billions. The EU backed a €90 billion Ukraine loan with its budget while €210 billion in Russian central bank assets remain immobilized.

Ukraine finally hit three Russian Kalibr ships on 12 August. On the 19th, an untouched one hit Kyiv. Prior to 12 August, the Russian Black Sea Fleet had eight warships capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles. It still has at least four.

Military

Ukraine’s drones hit two Russian fighters and a spy drone—and blinded radars from occupied Crimea to Rostov. The aircraft sat at Vityazevo, a Black Sea airfield the jets had fled to after strikes made occupied Crimea too dangerous to park in.

One Russian warehouse smolders near Kazakhstan while a bigger fire rages near St. Petersburg. The parcel depot near Kazakhstan can hold tens of millions of orders and had to be cleared out.

Ukraine says it hit an Iskander launcher near the border—part of a dedicated hunt for Russia’s ballistic launch sites. The tactic gives Kyiv another way to reduce the missile threat when its stocks of anti-ballistic interceptors are low, Zelenskyy says.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine’s ousted defense minister confirms M&M’s operation planning and discloses real story behind its name. The planned operation involved using autonomous, AI-powered drones to target Moscow’s airports and disrupt air traffic.

Reports credit North Korea’s newest missile of terror with 2.5-ton warhead and 900-km range. Expert explains why those numbers can’t both be true. Russia may receive up to 150 North Korean missiles, including the KN-30.

International

Six Nordic-Baltic leaders came to Kyiv. Norway put a $9 billion figure on 2027 support. The visitors joined Ukraine's State Flag Day events ahead of Independence Day, alongside bilateral and multilateral talks with the Ukrainian president.

Humanitarian and social impact

Every Russian attack on Kyiv costs the city about $12 million. They now come almost twice in week. Over 4,000 buildings were damaged in the Ukrainian capital.

Russia holds up to 20,000 Ukrainian civilians in captivity. One of newest is teacher who stayed in her occupied village to care for her 83-year-old mother. Russia is replacing detained Ukrainian teachers with its own educators in occupied territories, where they are used to impose propaganda narratives.

New developments

Zelenskyy awarded Vikings star, ballistic missile CEO took stage, and strike drone got signed with messages to Russians: Ukraine’s major UNITED24 platform turns four. Ukraine's UNITED24 platform has raised nearly $4 billion in four years of war.

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