Ukrainian Air Assault Forces Liberate 26 Settlements in 3 Regions

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Wednesday, Aug. 12 that Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces (DSHV) liberated 26 settlements spanning across three regions.According to Zelensky’s statement, 745 square kilometers (roughly 288 square miles) have been liberated since January. The results stemmed from the offensive in the Oleksandrivka axis, with the campaign running from January 29 through August 12.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“Each stage of the operation was planned down to the smallest detail,” said Maj. Gen. Oleh Apostol, Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).“The coordinated work of headquarters, intelligence, joint fire support units, and assault groups allowed us to maintain the initiative, impose our own tempo of battle on the enemy, and successfully complete the combat tasks assigned,” he added.Villages named in the liberation reportDSHV confirmed regaining control of 26 settlements across the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions – 12 in Dnipropetrovsk, 10 in Donetsk, and four in Zaporizhzhia regions.Tolstoy, Novokhatske, Hrushivske, Zirka, Zelenyi Hai, Piddubne, Myrne, Tsehelne, Pryvillia, Zlahoda, Krasnohirske, Pryvilne, Novohryhorivka, Stepove, Kalynivske, Berezove, Novomykolaivka, Voskresenka, Oleksandrohrad, and Yalta were regained by DSHV, while separate units reportedly took control of Rybne, Maliivka, Sichneve, Ternove, Novoheorhivka, and Zaporizke.“Thank you for the result, soldiers,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine will continue “preparing new steps.” Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Finds Nvidia AI Chip in New Russian Missile, HUR Says Ukraine's military intelligence says it found an Nvidia Jetson Orin computer module in Russia's new S-71 Monochrome cruise missile, indicating possible AI technology use. Russian losses and command structureThe operation was conducted under the overall direction of Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapaty, alongside Chief of the General Staff Ihor Skybiuk and Maj. Gen. Apostol.According to DSHV, Russian losses from the campaign totaled at least 9,550 killed and more than 6,600 wounded.“Every destroyed command post, every burned ammunition depot, and every damaged piece of equipment weakens the enemy’s combat potential and opens the way for the further advance of Ukrainian forces,” the command said.Broader war contextOn Tuesday, The General Staff of the AFU reported 185 combat clashes over the course of the day, with Russian forces launching nearly 6,770 drones and 208 guided aerial bombs (KABs) nationwide.According to the most recent reports, July surpassed June as the deadliest month, averaging more than 20 civilian deaths a day.. The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) confirmed at least 634 civilian deaths resulting from Russian strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.The liberation of 26 Ukrainian settlements comes as Russia’s Supreme Court barred Yabloko, the only registered anti-war party, from September’s parliamentary election on Monday, Aug. 10, while simultaneously preparing for a new major mobilization this fall. 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.