Victory Chronicles-DAY 916

During a press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine successfully developed its first ballistic missile. While he did not provide specific details about the missile, he expressed his pride in Ukraine’s defense industry and the hard work of those involved in its development. 

Zelenskyy stated that he decided to share this information with the public to showcase the dedication and commitment of the people working around the clock at defense enterprises. This development marks a significant achievement for Ukraine’s military-industrial complex as it continues to strengthen its capabilities. 

During a forum in Kyiv, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced that as of now, 594 Russian servicemen have been captured in the Kursk sector. He also mentioned that Ukraine’s exchange fund has been significantly replenished due to the successful actions of Ukrainian troops. 

During a Russian attack on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, two people were killed, five were wounded, and the fate of two individuals is currently unknown. The attack took place at night and resulted in the deaths of a man and a woman. Among the injured, a 43-year-old woman was critically wounded and has been hospitalized, while a 37-year-old man is in moderate condition. Three others are expected to recover at home. However, there are concerns that two more individuals may be trapped under the rubble. Serhiy Lysak, the head of the Dnipro regional military administration, shared the information.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine released a video showing how operators of the Pomsta brigade’s attack UAVs destroyed a Russian armored personnel carrier and a cannon. A machine gunner’s firing point and 2 more Russian guns were also damaged in the Kramatorsk sector.

Ukraine warned Belarus amid the recent buildup of Belarusian forces at the Ukrainian border in Belarus’ Gomel Oblast. Ukrainian intelligence services reported on August 25 that Belarus amassed forces in Gomel Oblast (which shares a border with northern Ukraine) and has deployed a significant number of personnel, including special operations forces (likely in reference to Spetsnaz units), weapons, military equipment, and fighters from the former Wagner Group.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reported on August 25 that the Belarusian forces deployed under the pretext of a military exercise near the border with Ukraine and are particularly close to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which raises security concerns for Ukraine. A Belarusian milblogger claimed on August 25 that the Ukrainian reports were correct and confirmed that Belarusian forces are amassing at the border.

The Ukrainian MFA urged Belarus to withdraw its troops from the border and warned that any violation of the Ukrainian state border would prompt Ukraine to take necessary defensive measures in accordance with international law.

The Ukrainian MFA also cautioned Belarus against succumbing to Russian pressure and supporting Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine. Ukraine’s State Border Service Spokesperson Andriy Demchenko announced on August 26 that Ukrainian forces are fortifying the border area with Belarus in response.

Lieutenant Vitalii Oleshchuk, with the call sign Kosmos, died on February 17, 2024, while performing a combat mission near the village of Terny, Donetsk Oblast. The defender was 22 years old.

Vitaliy was born in Sarny, Rivne Oblast. He graduated from Sarny Higher Vocational School after school. From 2019 to 2023, he studied at the National Army Academy, named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi in Lviv.

During the full-scale Russian invasion, the young officer defended his homeland as part of the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a deputy company commander.

“Vitalii was kind, decent, always honest and responsible,” said his sister Anastasiia Oleshchuk. The officer was buried in the Alley of Heroes at the cemetery in his hometown. Vitalii is survived by his mother, his military father, brother, sister and girlfriend.

*Vitalii’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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