Russia loses 470 soldiers, 3 cruise missiles and 12 drones in one day of war in Ukraine - General Staff

The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff shared their regular report, as below.

The total Russian combat losses from February 24, 2022, to August 25, 2023, amounted to:

• personnel - about 259,630 (+470 per day) 
• tanks - 4,378 (+3)
• armored fighting vehicles - 8,521 (+10)
• artillery systems - 5,361 (+28)
• MLRS - 724 (+1)
• air defense systems - 495 (+1)  
• aircraft - 315
• helicopters - 316
• vehicles and tank trucks - 7,790 (+17)
• ships/boats - 18
• UAV operational-tactical level - 4,356 (+12)
• special equipment - 802 (+1)
• cruise missiles - 1,409 (+3)

The final data is being clarified.

General Staff report: Russia is planning "elections" in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region in a mixed format, has deployed Chechens

Thus, in one of the temporarily occupied settlements of the Zaporizhzhia region, the Russian occupation authorities took into account the negative experience of organizing a pseudo-referendum. Therefore, they have planned to hold "elections" in a mixed format: demonstrative voting at polling stations and visiting apartments and houses. This was reported by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"It is planned to start visiting houses in advance. Starting from August 30 this year, representatives of the occupation authorities will start visiting apartments to collect votes," the statement said.

Furthermore, people are being transported from Russian territory and resettled in vacant homes belonging to local residents.

"This fact is related to the preparation of voting fraud and the creation of the right image for the Russian media," the military said.

Moreover, there is a growing push for the local population to acquire Russian passports. This includes the imposition of a new requirement where payment for essential services such as utilities, internet, and mobile phones is only permitted with Russian citizenship. To intensify the pressure on locals, an increase in the presence of Chechen servicemen has been observed in the region, who are very aggressive and tough on violations of curfew by the local population.

Russian troops launched 47 air strikes and 69 MLRS attacks on Ukraine

Over the past day, Russian troops launched 7 missile strikes and 47 air strikes, as well as 69 MLRS attacks at Ukrainian troops' positions and populated areas. Russian terrorist attacks have resulted in deaths and injuries among the civilian population. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have been destroyed.

The threat of missile and air strikes throughout Ukraine remains high.

Frontline update: 35 combat clashes take place on the frontline between Ukrainian and Russian troops

Over the last day, 35 combat clashes took place between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invading forces.

On the northern Ukrainian border with Belarus, the operational situation has not changed. 

Near the northeastern border, Russian forces carried out air strikes at 2 Ukrainian settlements. They also launched mortar and artillery attacks, targeting a total of over 25 settlements across Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions.

In the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops were attacking without success near the settlement of Novoyehorivka, Luhansk region. They also carried out air strikes near 3 settlements and shelled 5 more settlements across the Kharkiv region.

In the Lyman direction, Russian forces carried out air strikes near 2 settlements and shelled 4 more in the Donetsk region with artillery.

In the Bakhmut direction, Russian troops carried out air strikes near 3 settlements and shelled over 10 more settlements in the Donetsk region with artillery.

In the Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled attacks near Avdiivka. Russian troops shelled over 10 settlements with artillery. 

In the Marinka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces held back the Russian offensive near the towns of Marinka and Novomykhailivka. Russian troops launched an air strike on a settlement and shelled 6 others with artillery.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian troops launched an air strike on 2 settlements in the Donetsk region and shelled over 10 more settlements.

In the Zaporizhzhia direction, Russian troops carried out air strikes near 4 settlements across the Zaporizhzhia region. Over 20 settlements came under Russian artillery fire.

In the Kherson direction, Russian forces carried out air strikes near 2 settlements in the Kherson region. Over 20 settlements across the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions came under Russian artillery fire.

The Ukrainian army conducts offensives in the Melitopol direction, consolidating their positions and conducting counter-battery operations.

Ukrainian Armed Forces hit 2 Russian control points, an ammunition depot, and an electronic warfare station

Over the past day, the aviation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck 1 Russian control point, launched 13 strikes on Russian personnel concentrations, and 3 strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 2 Russian control points, 2 concentrations of personnel, weapons, and military equipment, 5 artillery pieces at firing positions, 1 air defense system, 1 ammunition depot, and 1 Russian electronic warfare station.

• Earlier, the Melitopol mayor reported that Russian forces bring "touring" Russians to the occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, but do not let residents leave the city. According to the mayor, this is how they are preparing for the so-called elections.

• Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence called on Ukrainians who remained in the occupied territories to report information about the pseudo-elections.