Victorious news on 537th day of war: Ukrainian army hits Russian camp near Mariupol, downs K-52 helicopter near Bakhmut

Ukraine will receive reconnaissance drones from Rheinmetall

The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall will provide Ukraine with the Luna unmanned aerial system. It includes drones with a reconnaissance capability of several hundred kilometres. This is reported on the website of the German company.

"The LUNA NG system has already clocked up several thousand flight hours and has already proven itself in use by foreign customers," Rheinmetall said.

LUNA NG consists of a ground control station with several drones. The system also includes a launching catapult, additional safety net equipment for landing and rapid repair equipment. The drones have a flight time of over 12 hours and a range of several hundred kilometres.

The order was made on behalf of the German Federal Government.

Norway to provide anti-drone systems for Ukraine

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has signed a contract to supply Ukraine with a new anti-drone system worth NOK 740 million. This was announced by the Norwegian government.

"We see the result of good cooperation between the Norwegian Armed Forces and industry, which demonstrates the ability to think in new and innovative ways. This will help save Ukrainian lives and is important for Ukraine's resistance to Russia's brutal war of aggression. Western support is absolutely crucial for Ukraine to be able to repel Russia's brutal invasion. Norway has provided extensive support to Ukraine since the invasion, and the government will continue to support as long as it is needed," said Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.

The Cortex Typhon C-UAS anti-drone system is funded by the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which is led by the UK and to which Norway is a donor.

Ukrainian Armed Forces shoot down Russian helicopter near Bakhmut

On August 14, at dawn, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down a Russian helicopter in the Bakhmut sector. According to Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, the helicopter was shot down by an anti-aircraft guided missile near Bakhmut in Donetsk region.

The commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, specified the type of helicopter that was shot down - a Ka-52 attack helicopter. This is one of the most advanced helicopters in the Russian arsenal. It is also called an "alligator".

Ukrainian Armed Forces strike at Russian camp near Mariupol

On August 14, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck at the Russian camp in the Khvylya boarding house near Mariupol. First, the hit was reported by the advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, Petro Andriushchenko.

"Today, at about 11:00 a.m., the Ukrainian Defence Forces struck the command post of Russian troops located in the Khvylya sanatorium in the village of Yurivka near the temporarily occupied Mariupol," the statement said.

Sofia Andrukhovych's novel to be published by one of the world's largest publishing houses

The bestselling novel Amadoka by Ukrainian writer Sofia Andrukhovych will be published in English by one of the world's largest publishing houses, Simon & Schuster (USA).

English is the thirteenth language in which the book will be published. Since its publication by Old Lion Publishing House in 2020, the rights to the book have been sold to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Denmark, and now the United States.

 "It is a great honour for me to become one of the authors whose work will be represented in the English-speaking world by such a respected publishing house as Simon & Schuster. I am glad that the novel Amadoka appealed to the representatives of the publishing house, touched them and intrigued them, that they found it important and worthy of the attention of many new readers," Sophia Andrukhovych said. 

“That is why it is so important that it and its history are told in all possible ways that speak to the senses and to the mind. It is extremely important that we have an audience that is ready to finally listen to stories about people from our part of the world, to empathise with the enchantments and dramas, to suffer tragedies, to cry and laugh at the humanity of the people - to learn new things about a country that until recently was so little known, but also to recognise themselves in these stories. I am very grateful to Simon & Schuster for their good faith in Amadoka,” the author added.