Victory Chronicles-DAY 1273

Russian forces carried out a massive aerial strike on the Poltava region overnight on Aug. 19, striking facilities in the Kremenchuk and Lubny districts, regional Gov. Volodymyr Kohut reported.

The attack damaged administrative buildings of local energy companies. While no casualties were reported, power outages affected 1,471 households and 119 businesses in the Lubny district. Emergency services and energy workers are working to restore electricity and is accessing the aftermath of the strike.

Ukraine recovers 1,000 bodies of fallen defenders, including 5 who were on Istanbul exchange list. Ukraine has repatriated the remains of 1,000 individuals whom Russia said are Ukrainian soldiers, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on Aug. 19.

Among them are five defenders who died in captivity. They had been listed as “seriously wounded and gravely ill” prisoners who were slated for a prisoner exchange under agreements reached in Turkey. 

The Coordination Headquarters stressed that Russia continues to stall and avoid fulfilling its obligations, while Ukraine insists on the immediate release of all gravely ill and seriously wounded captives.

Unexploded Russian cluster munitions found in Poltava regional city of Kremenchuk. Unexploded cluster munitions from Russian rockets have been discovered in Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast, local authorities reported on Aug. 19. Mayor Vitalii Maletskyi and the Kremenchuk Patrol Police warned residents that the bomblets are silver in color, resemble balls, and may detonate at any moment. Police added that fragments or suspicious objects can be found anywhere and remain dangerous long after an attack.

Key Takeaways:

• The Kremlin did not publicly commit to a bilateral or trilateral leader-level meeting, contrary to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement following the August 18 multilateral summit.
• Western leaders reaffirmed the importance of strong security guarantees for Ukraine to ensure a just and lasting peace at the Aug. 18 summit.
• Russian officials largely rejected Europe’s proposed security guarantees for Ukraine in a potential peace agreement.
• Western leaders expressed support for a ceasefire that may follow a possible future trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin.
• Russian forces conducted long-range strikes against Ukrainian rear areas that resulted in civilian casualties ahead of the Aug. 18 White House meetings.
• Russian budgetary constraints are forcing Russia to employ alternative mechanisms to fund enlistment bonus payments and recruit soldiers for its war in Ukraine.
• Russian forces are struggling to exploit the infiltration in the Dobropillya direction in the face of continued Ukrainian counterattacks.
• A Russian servicemember recently murdered a Ukrainian woman in the Pokrovsk direction in clear violation of international law.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Dobropillya. Russian forces recently advanced near Lyman, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk.

• Zelenskyy: We will leave issue of territories between me and Putin
• China says it supports all Ukraine peace efforts
• Russian foreign minister: Any negotiation format possible providing Russia’s security is respected
• European shares rise, oil falls as investors digest Ukraine peace efforts
• Macron thinks Zelenskyy and Putin should meet in Geneva
• Reuters: US is considering Hungary as venue for Zelenskyy-Putin summit
• Trump says he discussed worldwide problem of missing children with von der Leyen
• Macron compares Russia to an ogre that must keep eating to survive