On Sunday, Russia accused Ukraine of executing drone attacks that resulted in a fire at a nuclear power plant located in the western Kursk region. This incident coincided with Ukraine's celebration of its 34th independence anniversary. Russian officials reported that various power and energy facilities were targeted during the overnight strikes, leading to a fire at the nuclear facility. Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished, and no injuries were reported. The plant's press service stated that while the drone attack damaged a transformer, radiation levels remained normal.
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog indicated it was aware of media reports regarding the fire at the nuclear facility caused by military activities, although it hadn't yet obtained independent confirmation. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director-general, emphasized that "every nuclear facility must be protected at all times."
Ukraine, as of the time of reporting, had not issued a comment regarding the alleged attack. In addition to the incident in Kursk, firefighters responded to a fire at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad region, which houses a significant fuel export terminal. The regional governor claimed that approximately ten Ukrainian drones were shot down, with debris from the drones igniting the fire.
According to Russia's Defense Ministry, its air defenses intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over its territory from Saturday night into Sunday. In retaliation, Russia reportedly launched 72 drones and decoys, as well as a cruise missile, targeting Ukraine during the same time frame, out of which 48 drones were reportedly shot down or jammed by Ukrainian defenses.
These developments unfolded as Ukraine marked its independence day, commemorating the 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the nation in a video message from Kyiv's Independence Square, reaffirming Ukraine's strength and determination. He stated, "We are building a Ukraine that will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace," while calling for a "just peace." Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s future is solely in its hands, referencing the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska earlier in August, which raised concerns about the potential sidelining of Ukrainian and European interests.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy remarked that "the world knows this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal."
On the same day, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv for discussions with Zelenskyy. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, highlighted the importance of international support on Ukraine's independence day, acknowledging Canada's consistent solidarity with Ukraine. Additionally, Norway announced a substantial new military aid package, pledging approximately 7 billion kroner (around $695 million) for air defense systems. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store mentioned that Norway and Germany are jointly funding two Patriot systems, which include missiles, and that Norway is also assisting in procuring air defense radar.
Amid these developments, fighting continued on the front lines in eastern Ukraine, where Russia claimed to have captured two villages in the Donetsk region. These ongoing hostilities reflect the persistent conflict and volatility in the region as both sides engage in military actions.
