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Prisoner swap and drone strikes on Russia - Weekend brief

Prisoner swap and drone strikes on Russia - Weekend brief RBC-Ukraine collage

This weekend, another prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and Russia. On Sunday night, Russian territory was attacked by Ukrainian drones.

Read more about what happened over the weekend.

Attack on Russia

On Sunday night, August 24, the SBU and the SSO attacked the Russian Ust-Luga on the Independence Day of Ukraine.

Ukraine caused damage on the territory of Russia in several places, including fires in Ust-Luga and near the Kursk NPP. Ten drones were recorded over the port of Ust-Luga. A fire broke out due to the wreckage of the UAV.

Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg was temporarily closed. A plane with Russian tourists flying from Sharm el-Sheikh made an emergency landing in Tallinn.

Passengers were forced to wait on the plane for more than 6 hours for permission to complete the route.

Ukraine conducts new prisoner swap with Russia on Independence Day

Ukraine and Russia conducted another round of POW exchange. Defenders returned home on Ukraine's Independence Day.

The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that the new combined exchange returned both military personnel and civilians.

Under agreements reached in Istanbul, Ukrainian soldiers returned home today. In the framework of the 68th exchange, eight civilian Ukrainians were also released.

Among the freed soldiers were representatives from nearly all defense forces:

  • Air Assault Forces;
  • Air Force;
  • Navy;
  • Territorial Defense Forces;
  • National Guard;
  • State Border Guard Service.

Ukrainian drones hit Druzhba oil pipeline again

In the Russian city of Unecha (Bryansk region), drones launched from Ukraine once again attacked an oil pumping station that is part of the Druzhba pipeline system.

During the press conference, a journalist asked whether, after the strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline and appeals to US President Donald Trump, Ukraine had gained additional leverage over Hungary, in particular, regarding the lifting of its veto on opening EU accession negotiation clusters.

In response, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has always supported friendship between the two countries, but its further existence now depends on Hungary’s position.

Trump greenlights more than 3,000 ERAM air-to-air missiles for Ukraine - WSJ

The Trump administration approved the sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles to Ukraine this week. They are expected to arrive in about six weeks.

The outlet, citing information from two US officials, reports that the $850 million arms package is largely funded by European countries. Its transfer was delayed until after US President Donald Trump’s meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

However, the Pentagon has blocked Ukraine from using long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia for several months.

Zelenskyy confers higher ranks on Ukraine's top military leadership

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the military rank of lieutenant general to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov. New ranks were also received by officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the State Border Guard Service, and the Security Service of Ukraine.

Ukrainian army returns Donbas

Yesterday, the Ukrainian president announced that Ukrainian defenders in Donbas had achieved positive results. Zelenskyy clarified that "unpleasant surprises” await the Russian troops ahead.

Some time after his statement, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had liberated three villages in Donbas at once. Read more in the RBC-Ukraine report.

A few hours after that, the intelligence reported that the Ukrainian military had successfully regained control over Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region, knocking out the Russians and consolidating positions in the direction.

On August 23, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that they had regained control over the village of Zelenyi Hai in the Donetsk region.

Canada's new aid package: What Ukraine will get beyond drones and air defenses

Canada announced a new military aid package for Ukraine. It will include air defense systems, armored vehicles, ammunition, drones, and electronic warfare equipment.

Ukraine and Canada have also officially launched an action plan to implement their security cooperation agreement. The document outlines several immediate areas of collaboration.

During a meeting on August 24, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney signed the action plan to put the security cooperation agreement into effect.