Ukrainian forces 'reach centre of key village' amid fierce fighting

Fierce fighting is reportedly taking place in a key village on the war’s southern front after Ukrainian troops forced their way into the centre of Robotyne.

Military Informant, a pro-Russian blogger, said Kyiv’s forces had reached the “central part of the settlement” but were being held back by the 810th brigade and artillery.

Another Telegram channel with more than 900,000 subscribers said: “Robotyne - the enemy has entered the central part, there are fierce battles.”

Geolocated footage last week showed Ukraine had breached Russia’s northern line of defences around Robotyne. Reports indicate they did so under the cover of cluster munitions.

The settlement is strategically significant because it allows Ukraine to launch assaults on the city of Tokmak, as it pushes south towards Melitopol in a bid to cut Russia’s so-called “land bridge” to Crimea.

03:44 PM BST

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03:42 PM BST

Ukraine's elite armoured brigade targeted by air strikes

An elite Ukrainian unit equipped with British Challenger 2 tanks is being hit with “five airstrikes a day” since being deployed on the southern front.

The 82nd air assault brigade, which also boasts German Marder vehicles and American Stryker armoured personnel carriers, has been relentlessly targeted since images emerged of it in action last week.

Hanna Maliar, a deputy Ukrainian defence minister, said: “The price of the headlines about where the 82nd brigade was moved in the south is five airstrikes on the brigade per day.”

Commentators believe the Nato-equipped force was meant to exploit holes in Russian lines, entering the battlefield for the first time amid reports that Ukraine had reached the village of Robotyne.

However, Ms Maliar’s statement suggests it is struggling to make headway in Zaporizhzhia against a constant barrage from Moscow’s forces.

03:25 PM BST

Fifth drone brought down in Russia 'crashed into airfield'

Russian media is reporting that a fifth Ukrainian drone was shot down in Kaluga, following a statement by the regional governor.

Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said: “A kamikaze drone fell on the territory of the airfield on the morning of August 21.

“According to preliminary information, an unused aircraft located at the airfield was damaged as a result of the fall. However, this information has not been confirmed.”

03:06 PM BST

Fourth drone shot down in alleged Ukrainian attack

Russia’s defence ministry claims to have shot down a fourth drone on its territory amid a number of alleged Ukrainian attacks.

It said in a statement: “Around 16:00 Moscow time [14:00 BST], the Kyiv regime made another attempt to conduct a terrorist attack using a fixed-wing UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle].

“Russian air defence systems detected and detroyed the UAV over the territory of the Belgorod region. There were no casualties or damage.”

02:51 PM BST

Russia brings down drone in Belgorod

Russia claims to have destroyed another drone sent by Ukraine over its territory this afternoon.

Air defences apparently brought down the vehicle over the Belgorod region around 2:30pm (12:30pm BST). Authorities did not clarify whether there were any casualties or damage.

02:45 PM BST

Casualties from Chernihiv attack reach 174

The number of people injured after Russian forces targeted Chernihiv has climbed to 174 people, Ukrainian media reports.

At least seven people, including a six-year-old child, were killed when a missile hit a theatre hosting an event for drone designers this weekend.

02:36 PM BST

Cluster bombs mean Russians 'are scared to launch assaults'

Cluster munitions are deterring Russian advances and have relieved pressure around Kupiansk and Lyman, it has been reported.

A Ukrainian military official known only as Stanislav told The Washington Post: “The main benefit is that the enemy is now very scared to go on assault.

“When we start firing the cluster munitions, the Russians disappear under hard cover. They won’t even poke their noses out.”

02:17 PM BST

Pictured: Ukraine turns to grain lorries after shipping deal collapses

02:08 PM BST

'Fierce battles' in Robotyne amid reports of advance

Ukrainian forces have entered the centre of Robotyne as they push south towards Melitopol, according to a pro-Russian blogger.

Archangel of Special Forces Z, a Telegram channel with more than 900,000 subscribers, said: “Robotyne - the enemy has entered the central part, there are fierce battles.”

Ukraine’s defence ministry said today that its troops were “successful in the direction of southeastern Robotyne”. Neither report has been confirmed by The Telegraph.

01:46 PM BST

Zelensky thanks Danish royals for 'humanitarian efforts'

01:29 PM BST

Drone crashes near Russian propaganda chief's home

The head of Russia’s top propaganda network says a Ukrainian drone crashed just a few hundred metres away from her home.

Russia’s defence ministry said it had thwarted “a terrorist attempt by the Kyiv regime” by shooting down a drone in Istra, an upmarket suburb of Moscow.

Margarita Simonyan, chief of the RT television network and a vocal supporter of the war in Ukraine, said: “That drone that was shot down in the Ista district fell in the street next to ours.”

Russian authorities said later that the foiled strike injured a man and a woman and shattered the windows on three houses.

01:13 PM BST

Moscow 'having little success around Kupiansk'

A Russian military blogger has cast doubt upon claims that Moscow has recaptured the village of Synkivka in Kharkiv.

Grey Zone, a Telegram channel with more than half a million subscribers, said footage of the “supposedly liberated” settlement had actually been shot in Luhansk.

It continued: “Our troops of information confrontation... lose the already minimal trust in official sources of information, especially when we really have little success in the Kupiansk direction.

“Our propaganda works for the domestic consumer, that is, us - Russians, and not for the enemy.”

01:00 PM BST

Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft smashes into Moon as historic mission ends in disaster

The Kremlin’s first mission to the Moon for nearly 50 years has crashed into the surface, destroying Vladimir Putin’s ambitions of winning a new space race, James Kilner writes.

Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, said that it lost contact with the uncrewed Luna-25 as it was orbiting the Moon ahead of a planned landing.

The failure of Luna-25 is a major blow to the prestige of the Russian space programme and also to the Kremlin, which had wanted to use it to promote Russia as a global technological superpower.

Read the full story here.

12:33 PM BST

Denmark: F-16s can only be used in Ukraine

Denmark has said Ukraine can only use donated F-16s on its own territory amid claims that the fighter jets risk escalating the war.

Defence Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said: “We donate weapons under the condition that they are used to drive the enemy out of the territory of Ukraine. And no further than that.

“Those are the conditions, whether it’s tanks, fighter planes or something else.”

12:17 PM BST

Pictured: Drone crash-lands near Russian propagandist's suburban home

12:02 PM BST

Ukraine 'closing in on Robotyne' despite counterattack

Ukraine has apparently seen “success” on the southern front near Robotyne and is planning further attacks on the Russian-held village itself.

Hanna Maliar, a Ukrainian defence minister, said: “Our units were successful in the direction of southeastern Robotyne and south of Mala Tokmachka.

“The enemy tried to regain lost positions east of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region. But unsuccessfully.

“Planned combat work is currently underway in Robotyne.”

11:47 AM BST

'Degraded' Russian morale could give Ukraine breakthrough

Ukraine could achieve a breakthrough on the southern front after “demonstrably degrading” Russian morale, a think tank has claimed.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said panic could set in across the front line if one unit cracked under pressure, but added it was unclear “if, when, or where” this could happen.

It comes amid criticisms of Moscow’s campaign after Ukraine regained the village of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region, in its bid to sever the Crimean land bridge - a vital Russian supply line.

The commander of a Chechen battalion fighting in the area complained that Russia had not rotated in reserves or provided sufficient artillery. A Russian blogger claimed one brigade was undisciplined and drunk.

11:32 AM BST

Odesa at risk as Russia 'increases Black Sea missile carriers'

Officials in Odesa are warning of a “very high” threat level after Russia increased its number of missile carriers on the Black Sea.

The southern region’s defence forces said: “In addition to the submarine, a small missile ship came out. Accordingly, the number of Kalibrs [missiles] has been increased to 12.

“The tension of the situation is predictable. The missile threat level has very high.”

Nineteen missiles struck Odesa in July, killing one person and badly damaging the 18th-century Transfiguration Cathedral.

11:21 AM BST

Russia claims to have seized Kharkiv village

Russia claims to have seized a village north of Bakhmut as it pushes north of the besieged city towards Kupiansk.

Ukrainian forces have abandoned Synkivka in Kharkiv while “active hostilities” are taking place nearby, state news agency RIA Novosti reports.

The claims have not been independently verified by The Telegraph.

11:05 AM BST

Two dead in Kherson as 'residential quarters' targeted

Two people were killed in Kherson after Russian forces fired dozens of shells at the southern city, the regional governor has said.

Oleksandr Produkin wrote on Telegram: “The Russian military aimed at the residential quarters of the populated areas of the region; object[s] of critical infrastructure and the territory of the plant in Kherson.

“As a result of Russian aggression, two people died, three more were injured.”

10:44 AM BST

Reports: Third drone 'repelled' in Russia

A third drone appears to have been destroyed over Russian territory after authorities said an attack on Kaluga had been thwarted.

Vladislav Shapsha, the regional governor, said: “This morning, despite difficult meterological conditions, a UAV attack was repelled on the territory of the Kirovsky district.

“There were no injuries or damage to infrastructure.”

Two drones were destroyed over the Moscow region this morning, with two people reportedly wounded by falling debris.

10:36 AM BST

'Thank you for trusting us', Zelensky tells Danish MPs

Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Denmark for “trusting us” after it agreed to donate 19 F-16 fighter jets to the war-torn country.

In an address to Danish MPs, the Ukrainian president said: “People value strength. Strength helps. But strength is not always primary. Strength is a consequence.

“Consequence of who you are. And who is with you. Whom you respect. And who respects you. Whom you want to see in your home. And who wants to see you. Whom you trust. And who trust you.

“Dear people of Denmark! Ukraine believed in you when this evil Russian invasion began. And I thank you for trusting us.”

10:21 AM BST

Donating F-16s will mean 'escalation' of war, claims Russia

Moscow has claimed Denmark’s decision to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine will mean an “escalation” of the ongoing war.

“The fact that Denmark has now decided to donate 19 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine leads to an escalation of the conflict,” Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin said.

“By hiding behind a premise that Ukraine itself must determine the conditions for peace, Denmark seeks with its actions and words to leave Ukraine with no other choice but to continue the military confrontation with Russia.”

Denmark will deliver 19 F-16s in total. The Netherlands has also agreed to provide the fighter jets, but has yet to decide how many.

10:15 AM BST

Ukraine advances east of Robotyne

Ukraine has advanced near a key village on the southern front, according to geolocated footage confirmed by a think tank.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Kyiv had moved forward east of Robotyne, from which it hopes to take the city of Tokmak.

Ukraine’s general staff said it had conducted counteroffensives towards Melitopol and Berdyansk.

10:01 AM BST

Watch: Russian tanks blown up in artillery strike near Bakhmut

09:43 AM BST

Moscow attempting to retake Urozhaine

Russia is attempting to blunt the thrust of Ukraine’s counteroffensive and retake key villages in Donetsk it has lost since June.

Deputy Ukrainian defence minister Hanna Maliar said: “The Russians are trying to regain their lost positions in Staromaiorske and Urozhaine, which were liberated by the Ukrianian armed forces.

“In the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, the Ukrainian armed forced continue their offensive, facing very serious obstacles from the Russians.

“The Russians mine in three layers and all the ways to advance, and... reinforce the key dominant heights with concrete, so the advance is extremely difficult.”

09:26 AM BST

Russia eases pressure near Bakhmut after logistics strikes

Russia’s attacks north of Bakhmut have apparently subsided after Ukrainian strikes on its weapons and equipment.

Hanna Maliar, a Ukrainian defence minister, said: “The number of attacks in the east, both in Kupiansk and in the Lyman axis, has slightly decreased, but this does not mean that Russia has abandoned its plans.

“Over the past two weeks, the Ukrainian armed forces have been heavily destroying military equipment and personnel of the Russian army.

“So now they are forced to regroup and build up new forces on these offensive directions. As soon as they do so, they will begin to implement their plans for an active offensive in these areas again.”

09:16 AM BST

Kyiv 'continues advance' after taking Urozhaine

Ukraine is attempting to make inroads in Donetsk after seizing the key village of Urozhaine, according to reports.

Rybar, a pro-Russia Telegram channel, said: “[Kyiv] continues attempts to establish positions in forest belts to the east of Urozhaine.”

The Vostok Battalion, a Chechen unit, said: “To the left of the Urozhaine section... the enemy continues to try to advance, but ours do not focus only on defence - they periodically counterattack.”

Ukraine is expected to try and recapture the nearby village of Staromlynivka, Donetsk on its push towards the Sea of Azov.

08:49 AM BST

Hope for grain shipments along new Black Sea route

Ukraine could use its new Black Sea export corridor for grain shipments following the evacuation of a cargo ship last week.

A Hong Kong-flagged container ship stuck in Odesa travelled the “humanitarian corridor”, which hugs the sea’s western coastline near Romania and Bulgaria, without being fired on.

Denys Marchuk, deputy head of the Agrarian Council, said: “Only one commercial vessel has passed through so far, it has shown readiness to move by alternative routes.

“Further, there should be a movement of potentially 7-8 more ships... then perhaps in the future these alternative routes will become a corridor for the movement of ships that are travelling with cargoes of grain and oilseeds.”

08:31 AM BST

Pictures: Russian tanks bombarded south of Bakhmut

08:23 AM BST

Russia: Two people injured as drone brought down

Russian authorities have claimed that two people were injured when a drone was brought down over the Istra region of Moscow.

State media reports the downed drone crashed into a house, injuring two people and shattering a number of windows.

08:08 AM BST

Pictured: Zelensky tries out F-16 on Denmark trip

08:03 AM BST

47 flights redirected after Moscow drone scare

Dozens of flights were redirected over Moscow after two Ukrainian drones were apparently brought down over the region this morning.

The Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport said: “Forty-five passenger flights and two cargo flights have been redirected to alternative airports in Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and St. Petersburg.

“After the removal of restrictions on the use of airspace, at 8:30 a.m. Moscow time, passengers from the mentioned flights will be delivered to destination airports.”

It was previously reported that flights from two international airports, Vnukovo and Domodedovo, had been disrupted and diverted elsewhere.

07:57 AM BST

MoD: Russia transferring 'experienced units' to southern front

Russia’s is sending more experienced units in a bid to stop Ukraine’s counteroffensive gaining momentum in the south of the country, the Ministry of Defence has said.

It comes after Urozhaine in Donetsk was recaptured by Kyiv last week, and reports that fighting had intensified around the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia.

The MoD said: “18 CAA [a new formation] is likely to consist mostly of mobilised personnel and to focus on defensive security operations in the south.

“Russia likely aims to free up more experienced units to fight on key axes. There is a realistic possibility that this has led to the recent re-deployment of airborne forces from Kherson to the heavily contested Orikhiv sector.”

07:53 AM BST

Ukraine recaptures 3 square kms near Bakhmut

Ukraine claims to have seized three square kilometres (1.2 square miles) around Bakhmut in the last week as it advances on the besieged city.

Hanna Maliar, a Ukrainian defence minister, added that troops had retaken 43 square kilometres (16.6 square miles) around the eastern city in total.

07:48 AM BST

Reports: Russian warship based in Mariupol

A Russian warship has reportedly been moored in Mariupol amid claims the occupied port has been turned into a “military base”.

Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the city’s ousted mayor, said: “For the first time since the occupation, a Russian warship entered and moored in the waters of the Mariupol seaport.

“An hour before its mooring, four combat helicopters of different classes landed on port territory and were on the port territory until the evening.

“If this is a permanent basing then a lot of questions arise. Starting from what threat the ship is here to assess the threat in the near future regarding the new Battle for Mariupol.”

07:41 AM BST

Ukraine strikes Russian railway station in wave of drone attacks

Ukraine is said to have struck a railway station in a wave of drone attacks inside Russia on Sunday, writes George Styllis.

Russia’s defence ministry said Ukraine attempted four attacks, in Kursk, Rostov and Belgorod, which all border Ukraine, and Moscow.

In Kursk, five people were injured and a fire broke out when a drone hit the city’s railway station, according to the region’s governor.

Read the full story here.

07:39 AM BST

Russia: Two more Ukrainian drones shot down over Moscow

Russia claims to have thwarted two Ukrainian drone attacks in the Moscow region with no casualties reported.

An attempt by Kyiv to carry out an “attack with an aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicle was foiled” around 6:50 am (4:50am BST), the defence ministry said in a statement.

The drone was “suppressed by means of electronic warfare” and crashed in the Odintsovo district southwest of the capital, it said, adding there were no casualties.

Another “attack by the Kyiv regime” was apparently prevented in Istra, northwest of Moscow, around 8:16am (6:16am BST).

07:34 AM BST

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