Ukraine's staunch ally Poland will hold its biggest military parade in decades on Tuesday
From CNN's Ivana Kottasová
A Polish soldier walks near tanks during preparations before National Army Day Parade at Wesola military base, in Warsaw, Poland, on August 10. Kacper Pempel/Reuters
Poland is set to hold its largest military parade in decades on Tuesday, in a flex of defensive muscle that comes as tensions rise on the border between the NATO nation and key Russian ally Belarus.
Poland’s Defense Ministry said the celebration of Polish Army Day on Tuesday would be marked by a showcase that includes 200 units of Polish and foreign military equipment, 92 aircraft and 2,000 service members.
The parade will include some of the latest technology Poland has in its arsenal, including US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks, South Korean K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS rocket launchers, Krab self-propelled howitzers, as well as US-made Patriot missile batteries systems, which are part of the Polish “WISŁA” air defense system.
Poland has emerged as one of Europe’s leading military powers in recent years after pouring billions into new equipment following Russia’s decision to annex the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014. Warsaw’s diplomatic clout has also grown in the wake of the instrumental role it has played in supporting Ukraine since Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Last week, Poland announced the deployment of thousands of additional troops to its eastern border as concern mounts over the presence of Russian Wagner mercenary forces in Belarus.
Poland shares borders not just with Ukraine and Belarus, but also with Russia’s semi-exclave of Kaliningrad. By staging a massive showcase of power on Tuesday, Warsaw is sending a message Russia and Belarus are bound to understand, experts said.
“It’s sort of a Soviet thing to do. Russia does theirs on May 8, Belarusians have them, as does North Korea, Iran. It’s kind of reflecting back their language. The adversary states see these [parades] as a show of force, so Poland is going to meet it with a show of force,” Edward Arnold, a research fellow at the British security think tank RUSI, told CNN.
It's early morning in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
Kyiv is pushing back on criticism that its troops are not advancing fast enough on the front lines, saying it is focused on destroying Russia's capabilities and disrupting its logistics.
"Long-range missiles for Ukraine now mean a sharp reduction in Russia's combat capabilities," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"This is the destruction of rear logistics — warehouses, transportation, fuel. It is the acceleration of Ukrainian offensive operations. It is about saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, minimizing losses... And most importantly, it is about de-escalation."
Here are the top headlines from Russia's war in Ukraine:
Battlefield reports: Russia is continuing its offensive in the east and intensifying its activity near Kupiansk and Lyman, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said, adding that its fighters are preventing Russia's advances. Heavy fighting also continues near Bakhmut, where Ukraine has liberated 3 more square kilometers, Maliar said. Meantime, two people were injured by Russian shelling in Kharkiv, according to police. In the port city of Odesa, three supermarket workers were injured after Ukrainian air defenses repelled a series of Russian airstrikes Monday, the Ukrainian air defense forces said.
Ukraine's offensive: In the south, Ukrainian forces are conducting offensive operations in the areas of Melitopol and Berdiansk, Maliar said. At least six people were injured as a result of Ukrainian shelling in Russian-occupied areas of the Donetsk region, a Russia-appointed official said.
Attacks in Russia: The Russian defense ministry said its air defenses destroyed multiple drones over the Belgorod region, which sits near the Russia-Ukraine border. In recent months, drone attacks on Belgorod have become an almost daily occurrence.
US aid: The United States' newest $200 million package of security assistance for Ukraine will include air defense munitions, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and additional mine-clearing equipment, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Looking ahead, the White House is optimistic that Congress will pass supplemental aid for Ukraine on a bipartisan basis, even as Republicans in the House have voiced opposition to additional money for Ukraine.
Black Sea tensions: Ukraine's foreign ministry condemned Moscow after a Russian vessel fired warning shots and boarded a Turkish-owned cargo vessel in the Black Sea. Russia said it stopped the Sukru Okan on Sunday to ensure it was not carrying "prohibited goods" to Ukraine, as tensions flare over the sea's shipping lane. The general dry cargo ship was empty at the time of the incident and was on the way to pick up grain from Danube ports, according to the shipping company.
2 hr 28 min ago
Russian shelling wounds 2 in Kharkiv region
From CNN's Svitlana Vlasova
At least two people were injured Monday following Russian shelling in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian police.
A 62-year-old woman and a 14-year-old were wounded in the village of Buhaivk, police said.
Russia has recently intensified shelling in the region, where an evacuation order is in place for the city of Kupiansk.
3 hr 45 min ago
6 wounded in Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk, Russia-appointed official says
From CNN's Josh Pennington
At least six people, including a 6-year-old-boy, were injured following Ukrainian shelling in Russian-occupied areas of the Donetsk region, the head of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said Monday.
Moscow-backed DPR chief Denis Pushilin said the boy was injured in a village in the south of the region, while the other casualties were reported in eastern parts of Donetsk city.
Infrastructure was damaged during the attacks, he added.
1 hr 9 min ago
US announces new $200 million in security assistance for Ukraine
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler and Victoria Butenko
Antony Blinken speaks during a meeting in New York on August 3. Mary Altaffer/AP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine, including air defense munitions, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and additional mine-clearing equipment.
The package is worth $200 million, and comes from “previously authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority” — money that remained after a Defense Department accounting error.
“Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes,” Blinken said in a statement Monday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US and President Joe Biden on Monday for the latest package of security assistance.
"Air defense missiles, artillery ammo, mine clearing systems, and anti-tank weapons will add strength to our Defense Forces. Another step toward our joint victory," Zelensky tweeted.
3 hr 51 min ago
Ukraine says it's preventing Russia's advance in the east
From CNN's Svitlana Vlasova and Lauren Kent
Russia is continuing its offensive in the east and intensifying its activity near the cities of Kupiansk and Lyman, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Monday.
"Currently, there is a certain decrease in the number of attacks and ammunition used by the enemy in the east, but this does not mean that the enemy has retreated from its plans," Maliar said in a Telegram post. "The enemy is currently regrouping and trying to restore the lost capabilities. The fighting continues," she said. "Our defenders managed to prevent the enemy's advance and significantly reduced its offensive potential."
Heavy fighting also continues near Bakhmut, Maliar said, adding that Russian forces are attempting to regain lost ground in the areas west of Klishchiivka, west of Andriivka and Kurdyumivka. Ukraine has managed to liberate 3 more square kilometers in the Bakhmut area, bringing the total area recaptured to 40 square kilometers, she said.
In the south, Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting offensive operations in the areas of Melitopol and Berdiansk, according to Maliar.
"In the direction of Urozhaine, south and southeast of Staromayorsk in Donetsk region, they [Ukrainian forces] have succeeded and are consolidating the achieved positions," Maliar added. "In the course of the offensive, the Ukrainian defense forces in the Tavria sector continue to liberate Urozhaine."
Kyiv has pushed back on criticism that its troops are not advancing fast enough, saying that it is focused on destroying Russia's capabilities and disrupting its logistics.
3 hr 55 min ago
Russia says it thwarted 2 more Ukrainian drone attacks in the Belgorod region
From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova
Russian air defenses destroyed multiple drones over the southwestern Belgorod region, Moscow's defense ministry said Monday.
There were no casualties or damage, it said.
“On August 14, at about 12:15 Moscow time and 12:45 Moscow time, attempts by the Kyiv regime to carry out terrorist attacks by aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles against objects on the territory of the Russian Federation were thwarted,” the ministry said in a statement.
Belgorod sits near the Russia-Ukraine border, just 80 kilometers from Kharkiv, Ukraine. In recent months, drone attacks on the region have become an almost daily occurrence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed "completely fair retaliation" after deadly Russian shelling in Kherson. His remarks come as officials in Moscow report multiple Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks on Russian territory.
Kyiv pushed back on criticism that its counteroffensive is not advancing fast enough, saying it is focused on destroying Russia's capabilities and disrupting its logistics.
Russian missiles struck Odesa, wounding at least three people, a Ukrainian official said early Monday. The southern port city has been relentlessly targeted by Moscow's forces.
Ukraine's staunch ally Poland is set to hold its largest military parade in decades, as tensions rise on the border between the NATO nation and key Russian ally Belarus.
A Polish soldier walks near tanks during preparations before National Army Day Parade at Wesola military base, in Warsaw, Poland, on August 10. Kacper Pempel/Reuters
Poland is set to hold its largest military parade in decades on Tuesday, in a flex of defensive muscle that comes as tensions rise on the border between the NATO nation and key Russian ally Belarus.
Poland’s Defense Ministry said the celebration of Polish Army Day on Tuesday would be marked by a showcase that includes 200 units of Polish and foreign military equipment, 92 aircraft and 2,000 service members.
The parade will include some of the latest technology Poland has in its arsenal, including US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks, South Korean K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS rocket launchers, Krab self-propelled howitzers, as well as US-made Patriot missile batteries systems, which are part of the Polish “WISŁA” air defense system.
Poland has emerged as one of Europe’s leading military powers in recent years after pouring billions into new equipment following Russia’s decision to annex the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014. Warsaw’s diplomatic clout has also grown in the wake of the instrumental role it has played in supporting Ukraine since Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Last week, Poland announced the deployment of thousands of additional troops to its eastern border as concern mounts over the presence of Russian Wagner mercenary forces in Belarus.
Poland shares borders not just with Ukraine and Belarus, but also with Russia’s semi-exclave of Kaliningrad. By staging a massive showcase of power on Tuesday, Warsaw is sending a message Russia and Belarus are bound to understand, experts said.
“It’s sort of a Soviet thing to do. Russia does theirs on May 8, Belarusians have them, as does North Korea, Iran. It’s kind of reflecting back their language. The adversary states see these [parades] as a show of force, so Poland is going to meet it with a show of force,” Edward Arnold, a research fellow at the British security think tank RUSI, told CNN.
Kyiv is pushing back on criticism that its troops are not advancing fast enough on the front lines, saying it is focused on destroying Russia's capabilities and disrupting its logistics.
"Long-range missiles for Ukraine now mean a sharp reduction in Russia's combat capabilities," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"This is the destruction of rear logistics — warehouses, transportation, fuel. It is the acceleration of Ukrainian offensive operations. It is about saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, minimizing losses... And most importantly, it is about de-escalation."
Here are the top headlines from Russia's war in Ukraine:
Battlefield reports: Russia is continuing its offensive in the east and intensifying its activity near Kupiansk and Lyman, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said, adding that its fighters are preventing Russia's advances. Heavy fighting also continues near Bakhmut, where Ukraine has liberated 3 more square kilometers, Maliar said. Meantime, two people were injured by Russian shelling in Kharkiv, according to police. In the port city of Odesa, three supermarket workers were injured after Ukrainian air defenses repelled a series of Russian airstrikes Monday, the Ukrainian air defense forces said.
Ukraine's offensive: In the south, Ukrainian forces are conducting offensive operations in the areas of Melitopol and Berdiansk, Maliar said. At least six people were injured as a result of Ukrainian shelling in Russian-occupied areas of the Donetsk region, a Russia-appointed official said.
Attacks in Russia: The Russian defense ministry said its air defenses destroyed multiple drones over the Belgorod region, which sits near the Russia-Ukraine border. In recent months, drone attacks on Belgorod have become an almost daily occurrence.
US aid: The United States' newest $200 million package of security assistance for Ukraine will include air defense munitions, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and additional mine-clearing equipment, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Looking ahead, the White House is optimistic that Congress will pass supplemental aid for Ukraine on a bipartisan basis, even as Republicans in the House have voiced opposition to additional money for Ukraine.
Black Sea tensions: Ukraine's foreign ministry condemned Moscow after a Russian vessel fired warning shots and boarded a Turkish-owned cargo vessel in the Black Sea. Russia said it stopped the Sukru Okan on Sunday to ensure it was not carrying "prohibited goods" to Ukraine, as tensions flare over the sea's shipping lane. The general dry cargo ship was empty at the time of the incident and was on the way to pick up grain from Danube ports, according to the shipping company.
At least two people were injured Monday following Russian shelling in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian police.
A 62-year-old woman and a 14-year-old were wounded in the village of Buhaivk, police said.
Russia has recently intensified shelling in the region, where an evacuation order is in place for the city of Kupiansk.
At least six people, including a 6-year-old-boy, were injured following Ukrainian shelling in Russian-occupied areas of the Donetsk region, the head of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said Monday.
Moscow-backed DPR chief Denis Pushilin said the boy was injured in a village in the south of the region, while the other casualties were reported in eastern parts of Donetsk city.
Infrastructure was damaged during the attacks, he added.
Antony Blinken speaks during a meeting in New York on August 3. Mary Altaffer/AP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine, including air defense munitions, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and additional mine-clearing equipment.
The package is worth $200 million, and comes from “previously authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority” — money that remained after a Defense Department accounting error.
“Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes,” Blinken said in a statement Monday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US and President Joe Biden on Monday for the latest package of security assistance.
"Air defense missiles, artillery ammo, mine clearing systems, and anti-tank weapons will add strength to our Defense Forces. Another step toward our joint victory," Zelensky tweeted.
Russia is continuing its offensive in the east and intensifying its activity near the cities of Kupiansk and Lyman, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Monday.
"Currently, there is a certain decrease in the number of attacks and ammunition used by the enemy in the east, but this does not mean that the enemy has retreated from its plans," Maliar said in a Telegram post. "The enemy is currently regrouping and trying to restore the lost capabilities. The fighting continues," she said. "Our defenders managed to prevent the enemy's advance and significantly reduced its offensive potential."
Heavy fighting also continues near Bakhmut, Maliar said, adding that Russian forces are attempting to regain lost ground in the areas west of Klishchiivka, west of Andriivka and Kurdyumivka. Ukraine has managed to liberate 3 more square kilometers in the Bakhmut area, bringing the total area recaptured to 40 square kilometers, she said.
In the south, Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting offensive operations in the areas of Melitopol and Berdiansk, according to Maliar.
"In the direction of Urozhaine, south and southeast of Staromayorsk in Donetsk region, they [Ukrainian forces] have succeeded and are consolidating the achieved positions," Maliar added. "In the course of the offensive, the Ukrainian defense forces in the Tavria sector continue to liberate Urozhaine."
Kyiv has pushed back on criticism that its troops are not advancing fast enough, saying that it is focused on destroying Russia's capabilities and disrupting its logistics.
Russian air defenses destroyed multiple drones over the southwestern Belgorod region, Moscow's defense ministry said Monday.
There were no casualties or damage, it said.
“On August 14, at about 12:15 Moscow time and 12:45 Moscow time, attempts by the Kyiv regime to carry out terrorist attacks by aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles against objects on the territory of the Russian Federation were thwarted,” the ministry said in a statement.
Belgorod sits near the Russia-Ukraine border, just 80 kilometers from Kharkiv, Ukraine. In recent months, drone attacks on the region have become an almost daily occurrence.
