Provision of F-16 fighters to Ukraine, shelling of populated areas: highlights
Denmark and the Netherlands will provide Ukraine with F—16 fighter jets. Russian shelling of Ukrainian settlements has left dead and wounded. We have collected the main news for August 20.
Provision of fighter jets to Ukraine
Ukraine will receive 42 F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands after training our pilots and engineers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a visit to the country.
During a joint press conference with Zelenskyy, Mark Rutte explained that the Netherlands currently has 42 F-16s, some of which will be used to train Ukrainian pilots in Denmark and Romania. At the same time, he noted that Ukraine will receive other fighters, so he could not say the exact number of F-16s that will eventually be transferred from the Netherlands.
Subsequently, the Danish Ministry of Defense said that it agreed with the Netherlands to transfer the fighter jets under certain conditions. In particular, they include successfully selected, vetted, and trained Ukrainian personnel for the F-16, as well as the necessary permits, infrastructure, and logistics.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that her country would provide Ukraine with 19 F-16 fighters, with the first group of these aircraft to be delivered in 2023.
Russian attacks on populated areas
On August 20, at about 3:30 p.m., Russians dropped two explosive devices from a drone on a man walking down the street in Novoberyslav, Kherson Oblast. The civilian was killed. Russian troops also targeted a residential building in the village of Kozatske, Kherson Oblast, with a tank. The attack resulted in one death.
The village of Zolota Balka, Beryslav district, Kherson Oblast, also came under Russian fire. A 69-year-old man sustained light injuries and was hospitalized.
The occupiers shelled the premises of a medical facility and the detached housing neighborhood in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast. One person was killed, and fires broke out in the city. In addition, the Russians shelled the center of Kupyansk with artillery, injuring 11 civilians.
Russian Luna-25 station collided with the Moon
The Russian Luna 25 station went into a non-calculating orbit and collided with the Moon. The mission ceased to exist, according to ROSKOSMOS.
Luna 25 was launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Amur Oblast on August 11. It was supposed to be the first ever station to land at the South Pole of the Moon.
Other news
- Russian strategic aircraft damaged in explosion at Solntsy air base - ISW.
- Attack on Chernihiv: the number of victims has increased, 41 people are in hospital.
- China helps Russia with weapons, including drones and helicopters - The Telegraph.
- An explosion occurred at a train station in the Russian city of Kursk. Local authorities accuse Ukraine of the attack.
- Shelling of Chernihiv: military administration says the city was hosting a private event, not a drone exhibition.