Russian Separatists Boast of Steven Seagal Visit to Ukraine

"Hollywood actor Steven Seagal visited eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region on Tuesday to film
a documentary about the current war taking place there between Moscow and Kyiv, the Moscow Times reported, citing a Telegram statement issued by Denis Pushilin, the leader of the “Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR),” a Russian separatist group operating in Donbass. “Steven said that 98% of people who are talking about the conflict in media have never been here [in Donbass]. That’s why the world doesn’t know the truth. He wants to change the perception of this war,” Pushilin wrote.

Vladimir Solovyov said Seagal ‘personally examined the evidence — including the pieces of American rockets — that confirm Kyiv’s links to the mass murder of their own soldiers,' the online newspaper relayed, citing a Telegram post by Soloviev." Breitbart

Russia summons UN Security Council over nuclear emergency

"Russia has summoned an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss the
situation at Ukraine’s Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which has been the subject of regular shelling attacks. Moscow wants the chief of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to brief the council on the situation. Russia says Ukraine has been responsible for a series of drone attacks and artillery strikes at the nuclear site. " RT

Zelensky: This Russian war on Ukraine must end with liberation of Crimea

"President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has reiterated the fact that Crimea is part of
Ukraine, and that the country will never leave it behind." UkrinForm

US approves $89 million to help Ukraine clear landmines, unexploded ordnance

"The US State Department said Tuesday it has approved $89 million to help Ukraine equip and train teams to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance for one year." France24

Several Rounds of Ammunition Detonate at Crimea Airfield

"The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that a series of explosions happened near the
town of Novofedorovka in Crimea, noting that they were caused by a detonation of several rounds of air-launched ammunition at the Saki Airfield located not far from the town.

The ammo's detonation did not happen due to shelling or an airstrike on the airport, the ministry underscored. The cause of the incident is being investigated." Sputnik

North Korea offering 100,000 troops to help Russia win Ukrainian war

"North Korea has reportedly offered 100,000 "volunteer" troops to help bolster Russia’s
chances of invading of Ukraine.

 “There are reports that 100,000 North Korean volunteers are prepared to come and take part in the conflict,” Russian defence analyst Igor Korotchenko told Russian Channel One, reports New York Post." WION

France Tackles Worst Drought on Record

"France on Sunday braced for a fourth heatwave this summer as its worst drought on record
left parched villages without safe drinking water and farmers warned of a looming milk shortage in the winter.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne's office has set up a crisis team to tackle a drought that has forced scores of villages to rely on water deliveries by truck, prompted state-run utility EDF to curb nuclear power output and stressed crops." VOA

Russian ammo depot destroyed in northern part of Kharkiv region

"In the north of Kharkiv region, a Russian ammunition depot was destroyed as a result of a
successful aerial reconnaissance effort followed by a massive strike." UkraineToday

Russian allied troops took control of the Knauf plant in the town of Soledar

"Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov has reported that his troops took control of the Knauf
plant in the town of Soledar.

On Tuesday, he took to his Telegram channel to write that the Akhmat special operations group together with the LPR’s militia were successfully liberating territories. "The forces also took under control the premises of the Knauf plant," Chechnya’s head wrote." Tass

Ukraine halts Russian oil supply to EU

"Ukraine’s state oil pipeline operator Ukrtransnafta has stopped pumping Russian crude through the southern branch of the Druzhba system to the EU......transit supplies have been halted to Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia." RT

Russia Suspends US Inspections Of Its Nuclear Arsenal Under New START Treaty

"On August 8, 2022, the Russian Federation officially informed the United States via diplomatic channels that our country is temporarily exempting its facilities from inspection activities under the New START Treaty," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding it also covers "facilities that can be used for demonstrations under the treaty.” ZH

How Ukrainians Sell NATO-Supplied Weapons Abroad

"Moscow's warnings to western countries about the dangers of uncontrollably pumping
Ukraine with weapons appear to be starting to come true, with some US-supplied arms already surfacing on dark net markets.....Following a search across markets on the dark net – managed to find an online shop dubbed "Weapons Ukraine"....."Weapons Ukraine" claims to be based in Kiev, has its name in Russian, and boasts about having conducted 32 successful deals confirmed by a guarantor – a middleman provided by the dark website to assure that a client gets their wares and the seller their money. The shop's owner offers M4S assault rifles courtesy of US arms suppliers for $2,400, well above the Pentagon’s price tag of between $600 and $1,200....There, the trader confirmed that they were ready to deliver the weapons to Yemen by hiding them in oil barrels. Moreover, the dealer was ready to throw in some extra rifle ammo and frag grenades." Sputnik

Russia Strikes US-Backed Fighters In Syria Near American Base

"Russia announced on Friday that it conducted an airstrike against a group of US-backed
militants in Syria near al-Tanf, a US military base located in the south of the country.

"This terrorist group is based in the Al-Tanf zone, supplied and trained by instructors from the US Army Special Operations Forces," the Russian Defense Ministry said. "Operating from the desert, the Liwa Shuhada al-Qaryatayn militants carried out acts of sabotage against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in Syria." ZH

China Extends Taiwan Drills Past Sunday Deadline, Says Training Under "Real War Conditions"

"China's military drills in six zones surrounding Taiwan were scheduled to wind down and end
on Sunday, but on Monday Beijing announced it is extending the threatening military drills which Taipei officials have slammed as a "blockade" and simulation for future invasion. The drills were originally set for four days, but have now been extended into this new week." ZH

Switching Sides: The Elusive ‘Russian Legion’ Fighting With Ukraine

"The Freedom of Russia Legion claims it was formed in March, when over 100 Russian
soldiers gave themselves up to Kyiv’s forces......the legion is apparently also made up of Russians who traveled to Ukraine alongside other foreigners to fight with the Ukrainian army in the months after the invasion. It is one of many units — from Georgians to Belarusians — operating as part of the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine set up by Kyiv at the start of the war." MT