Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an emotional speech on Sophia Square in the center of Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day, Aug. 24, 2023 – the second time the national holiday has been held under conditions of full-scale war in the country.
● ‘Land of the proud, heroic and brave’ – Zaluzhnyi hails Ukrainians on Independence Day
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, congratulated Ukrainians on the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine's independence in a video posted on Telegram on Aug. 24.
● Prigozhin’s alleged death ‘deliberate terrorist act,’ Ukrainian intelligence believes
The plane crash in Russia, in which Wagner mercenary company leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was allegedly killed, was a deliberate terrorist act, Andriy Yusov, spokesman of the Main Intelligence Directorate or HUR of the Ministry of Defense, said on Aug. 24.
● Ukrainian intelligence reveals bold operation to raise flag in Crimea onIndependence Day
Ukrainian special forces raised the state flag in Crimea, a Ukrainian territory that has been under Russian military occupation since early 2014, during a bold raid on the Russian forces there.
● Hungarian president sidesteps Orban to reset relations with Ukraine — report
Hungarian President Katalin Novak has taken steps to reboot Hungary's diplomatic relations with Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 24.
● Zaluzhnyi convinced Ukrainian forces on verge of breakthrough — report
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi has told U.S. officials that Ukrainian forces are on the verge of a breakthrough in their southern counteroffensive, The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 24, citing an unnamed U.S. official.
● Ukraine develops economic recovery plan for Crimea, says PM Shmyhal
Ukraine’s government has outlined an economic model for the development of Crimea within the Strategy for the peninsula’s recovery after its liberation from Russia, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Aug. 23.
● SBU chief Malyuk on how Crimean Bridge was attacked — twice
Wrapped explosives on a pallet, unusual drones, and confused FSB — NV reconstructed two top-secret special operations by Ukraine’s SBU security service, aimed at Putin's crown jewel, the Crimean Bridge.
● US imposes additional sanctions over deportation of Ukrainian children
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has expanded sanctions against individuals and entities involved in Russia’s illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, OFAC said in a message on its website on Aug. 24.
● Norway confirms plans to equip Ukraine with F-16s
Norway will transfer a number of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the Norwegian government said in a press release on Aug. 24, citing PM Jonas Gahr Støre.