“For 9 years, Russia occupied Crimea and subjected its inhabitants to cruel repressions. Crimea is Ukraine. Russia's aggression must be stopped," US Secretary of State Blinken said in an address to the participants of the Third International Crimean Platform Summit.

Zelenskyi’s speech on Independence Day.

—

Today we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of our independence - the independence of Ukraine. The holiday of free people. The holiday of strong people. Feast of the worthy. A holiday of equals. Ukrainian men and women. Everyone in our country. This is a value for each of us, and we fight for it. And everyone is important in this struggle, because this struggle is for what is important to everyone. This is independent Ukraine.

Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

What is Russian morale doing? Well, it is crumbling:

“Remember I talked about dates? About the fact that they have Independence Day on the 24th, about what will happen, something bad. And so it happened... And the front is crumbling, I just don’t tell you about it, I don’t want to believe in this damnation myself, I’m still looking for some justification for this. Do not be discouraged, the main thing is that now you are not afraid to die.”

🙈🤷‍♂️

Yesterday not only the Russian S-400 "Triumph" anti-aircraft missile complex was destroyed in Crimea. Three more Russian S-300 launchers were destroyed or damaged in the Kherson, spokeswoman of the Southern Defense Forces Nataliya Humenyuk said.

Turkish President Erdogan spoke during the third summit of the Crimean platform and stated that Türkiye doesn’t recognize the annexation of Crimea and will continue to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. “Crimea is part of Ukraine,” he added

"We have the ability to hit any part of temporarily occupied Crimea as of now. We can reach the enemy at absolutely any point. Those who have done stupid things, it is better for them to leave," head of the GUR Kyrylo Budanov said in a statement.

“Ukrainian military have landed and conducted operations in Crimea,” the GUR reports.

“On the morning of August 24, a battle took place in the temporarily annexed Crimea with the participation of watercraft and aviation. The Ukrainian military made a landing as part of a special operation. There are losses among enemy personnel and other means,” spokesman Yusov said.

Around 5AM this morning, locals reported explosions near cape Tarkhankut. The same area where a S-400 complex was destroyed yesterday.

Opposition party Social Democrats (biggest party Parliament) in Sweden wants to send JAS-39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine after Sweden is allowed into NATO. Sweden is awaiting ratification from Hungary and Türkiye later this year. https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/s-skicka-jas-gripen-till-ukraina

A video of the operation in Crimea shared by the GUR.

😙

In addition to the Netherlands and Denmark, Norway will also transfer its F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine. TV2 reports with a reference to its own sources. It is unknown which amount Norway is ready to supply although it is rumored Norway could supply up to 12. https://www.tv2.no/direkte/jpybz/siste-nytt/64e72557f264f7ba6fa46da1/tv-2-erfarer-norge-donerer-f16-til-ukraina

A fighter of PMC Wagner could not hold back his tears near a spontaneous memorial in Novosibirsk.
ㅤ
So sad 🫠

Not.

Hmm, different layout so I missed the update as I was so used to the old one. Russian losses per 24/08/23 reported by the Ukrainian general staff.

+340 men
+2 tanks
+23 APVs
+15 artillery systems
+1 MLRS
+3 AD systems
+20 UAVs

Kakhovka is waiting

The Turkish company Baykar congratulated the GUR on Independence Day of Ukraine and gave them a Bayraktar TB2 for free.

"The best gift for this special day is a new weapon that will help destroy the enemy and defend our freedom and independence," the GUR replied.

Good evening Tokmak.

Germany updated their aid supplied to Ukraine:

➡️Patriot Missiles
➡️10 drone detection systems
➡️40 RQ-35 HEIDRUN recon drones
➡️16 Mercedes Zetros
➡️510,000 small arms ammo

https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/schwerpunkte/krieg-in-der-ukraine/lieferungen-ukraine-2054514

Tokmak from another angle 🔥

Enjoy.

The 30th Prince Konstanty Ostrogski Mechanized brigade show their power in the Bakhmut direction. Russians had no chance.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that in the case of the crash of Prigozhin's plane, one should focus on facts, and not on statements by Western media.

🤷‍♂️🙈

Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Today.