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A British security advisor to a team of journalists covering the war in Ukraine has died in a suspected Russian missile strike.
Ryan Evans was killed and two Reuters news agency journalists injured in the strike on Hotel Sapphire in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Saturday night.
The 38-year-old was a former British soldier who had worked for Reuters since 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the hotel was destroyed in a Russian missile strike, calling the act “deliberate”.
In a post on X, he said: “Today in Kramatorsk, the entire day was spent clearing the rubble after a Russian missile strike. Among the injured were journalists – a Reuters film crew, citizens of Ukraine, America, and Britain. A regular city hotel was destroyed by a Russian “Iskander” missile.
“Deliberately. Calculated. Seven people were injured, and one person lost their life. My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine has urged Belarus to withdraw its military forces and equipment from the shared border, cautioning Belarus against making “tragic mistakes” while under Russian influence.
Ukraine has captured over 240 Russian soldiers during its Kursk incursion — report
Ukraine has reportedly captured at least 247 Russian soldiers since launching an incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast on 6 August, according to a Washington Post analysis of visual evidence, including over 130 photos and videos.
Some of the captured troops identified themselves as conscripts, raising political issues for Russian President Vladimir Putin, as these men are often young, poorly trained, and have not been promised combat roles, the outlet reported.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a video of Russian soldiers surrendering en masse like that,” Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace was quoted as saying.
“Having conscripts in combat undermines the social contract between Russian families and the government that has held under Putin’s leadership since 1999,” Massicot added.
The footage spans locations over 22 kilometres inside Russia and shows groups of captured soldiers, with some videos depicting at least 40 soldiers captured near the Sudzha border crossing.
Both the Ukrainian and Russian governments have not revealed the number of Russian soldiers captured during the Kursk offensive.
Maroosha Muzaffar26 August 2024 06:30
Flights restricted as Ukraine drone attack on Russia’s Saratov damages homes, governor says
A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Saratov region on Monday caused damage to homes and led to flight restrictions, according to Russian officials and news agencies.
The regional governor, Roman Basurgin, reported on Telegram that falling debris from drones, intercepted by Russia’s air defence systems, damaged a residential complex in the city of Saratov, and a woman was also injured in the incident.
Russia’s defence ministry stated that its air defence systems shot down nine drones over the Saratov region, which is located about 900 kilometres (560 miles) from Ukraine’s border, according to Reuters.
According to Russia’s RIA news agency, flights were limited at the Saratov regional airport, as reported by the airport’s press service.
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Russia launches drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s military says
Ukraine’s military reported that Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv early Monday, but there were no injuries or damage, according to preliminary information.
“Up to 10 drones were destroyed on their approach to the city,” Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration said, on Telegram.
He noted that a full assessment of the attack’s scale would be available later.
Air raid alerts were active across most of central and eastern Ukraine during the incident.
Maroosha Muzaffar26 August 2024 05:51
Falling drone debris damages houses in Russia’s Saratov region, regional governor says
Falling debris from drones that Ukraine launched at Russia’s Saratov region damaged several houses in the cities of Saratov and Engels, according to the region’s governor on Monday.
Roman Busargin said on Telegram that all emergency services were dispatched to the affected areas.
Engels, one of the cities hit, is home to a strategic Russian military bomber base.
Maroosha Muzaffar26 August 2024 05:33
American citizen among those injured in Russian strike on hotel, US state department confirms
The US State Department confirmed that an American citizen was among those injured in the Russian strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, which also killed British safety adviser Ryan Evans and injured two Reuters journalists.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned the presence of American citizens at the hotel, stating: “My condolences go out to the family and friends. This is a daily Russian terror that continues, because Russia has the ability to continue.”
The identities of the injured American and other affected individuals have not been disclosed.
Maroosha Muzaffar26 August 2024 05:22
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Kyiv asks Belarus to pull back from border
Ukraine has urged Belarus to withdraw its military forces and equipment from the shared border, cautioning Belarus against making “tragic mistakes” while under Russian influence.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry highlighted the presence of Belarusian special forces and former Wagner mercenaries, along with tanks, artillery, and air defence systems near the border.
The statement from the ministry said Ukraine “has never taken and is not going to take any unfriendly actions against the Belarusian people”. Ukraine emphasised that it has no hostile intentions towards Belarus.
Meanwhile, Belarus said on Monday that it sent aircraft, air defence forces and armour to its border with Ukraine. Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko claimed that Ukraine has stationed over 120,000 troops along the border.
Maroosha Muzaffar26 August 2024 04:49
Zelensky sends condolences to Ryan Evans’s family
President Volodymyr Zelensky has condoled the death of an ex-British soldier who was killed in a suspected Russian missile strike on a hotel in Ukraine.
Ryan Evans, a safety adviser for the Reuters news agency, was in the Hotel Sapphire in the eastern city of Kramatorsk when it was hit on Saturday night.
In a statement, the agency said it was “devastated” to learn of his death and that two of its journalists were also injured, one seriously.
Mr Evans was part of a six-person team staying at the hotel while covering the war in Ukraine. Mr Zelensky said the hotel was hit by a Russian Iskander missile in a “deliberate” attack.
In his evening address on Sunday, he said: “A regular city hotel was destroyed by a Russian Iskander missile. Deliberately. Calculated. Seven people were injured, and one person lost their life. My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones.”
Maroosha Muzaffar26 August 2024 04:37
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