Russian Forces Launch 172 Attacks Across Front Line on Friday

Russian forces launched 172 attacks across the front line on Friday, Aug. 21, with the most intense combat reported on the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka axes. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) detailed the strikes in its daily operational update, covering the 24-period ending at 10:00 p.m. local time.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to the report, Russia carried out 75 airstrikes using 219 guided aerial bombs (KABs), deployed 6,751 kamikaze drones and shelled Ukrainian military positions and populated areas 1,939 times. Russian forces launched 23 attacks on the Pokrovsk axis, including near Bilytske, Udachne, Muravka and Novopidhrodne, as well as toward Hannivka, Novyi Donbas, Svitłe, Shevchenko, Vasylivka and Serhiivka. Two combat engagements were still underway at the time of the report. Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka axes The General Staff said preliminary estimates showed 35 Russian troops were killed and 14 wounded on the Pokrovsk axis. The AFU reported destroying a tank, six vehicles, three artillery systems, a fuel depot, an ammunition depot and 27 Russian personnel shelters. On the same axis, 416 Russian drones were destroyed or suppressed. On the Kostiantynivka axis, 20 Russian assaults were repelled near Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Novoselivka, Novomykolaivka, Shakhove, Sofiivka and Vilne, as well as toward Dovha Balka. One combat engagement was reportedly ongoing at the time of the report. Sloviansk, Lyman, and other axes Russia reportedly launched 11 assaults on the South Slobozhshchyna axis toward Izbytske, Radkivka, Kovalivka, Okhrimivka and Mytrofanivka, with two attacks still underway at the time of the report. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Informs UN Secretary-General Guterres About Russian Strikes Zelensky said continued Russian attacks on ports and vessels are already contributing to rising food prices beyond Ukraine. According to the General Staff, the AFU repelled four Russian attempts to advance on the Lyman axis and eight on the Sloviansk axis, where fighting was ongoing. Three Russian attacks were reported on the Oleksandrivka axis, three toward Tsvitkove on the Huliaipole axis and two near Plavni and Mali Shcherbaky on the Orikhiv axis. One engagement on the Orikhiv axis, in the Zaporizhzhia region, was still ongoing at the time of the report. No offensive operations were reported on the Kupiansk and Prydniprovske axes, the General Staff said. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.