Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 08-04-2024

Reddaway, who passed away on July 29, 2024, in the US at the age of 84, will be remembered as a significant political scientist, caring and inspirational tutor, and prominent human rights defender.

Peter Reddaway, who passed away on July 29, 2024, in the US at the age of 84, was a fine example of the best of Britain, both as a political scientist and a caring and inspirational tutor. He was a principled, dedicated, and eloquent defender of human rights in the former Soviet Union, and those dissidents who opposed Moscow’s totalitarianism were prepared to pay the harsh price for this.

He was a key figure in Britain in the 1970s and 80s championing the cause of dissidents and oppositionists in the Soviet Union, exposing the Soviet political abuse of psychiatry and defending its victims, and drawing attention to these issues in the media, public events and scholarly writing. 

He did not say how many jets had been delivered and declined to comment on their specific tasks.

Ukraine has received its first batch of US-made F-16 fighter jets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday, adding that more are needed to beat back Russian forces.

For more than two years, Ukraine has pleaded with its Western partners for the aircraft -- long considered the crown jewel in the sprawling list of military hardware Kyiv has sought.

Russian industrialist announced the production of a first-person view (FPV) drone to monitor levels of fallout following a nuclear attack as Kremlin’s nuclear rhetoric continues.

The Russian TASS news agency published a report on August 3 in which the CEO of the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (CUS), Dmitry Kuzyakin announced its “doomsday” drone intended to monitor radiation levels in the event of the use of nuclear weapons. CUS is managing a program called the Khrust project which is aimed at producing a range of radiation monitoring equipment.

The drone is a first-person view (FPV) type equipped with systems for checking background radiation after an attack in order to safeguard military and civilian personnel. In addition to monitoring equipment the drone uses a camera that transmits real time images to allow it to be remotely controlled using virtual reality glasses, mobile phone or Tablet.

Far-right anti-immigration groups and far-left clash throughout UK posing major challenge for new PM.

UK authorities faced growing pressure Sunday to put an end to England's worst rioting in 13 years after disturbances linked to child murders and involving far-riot agitators flared across the country.

Unrest related to misinformation about a mass stabbing that killed three young girls last week spread to multiple towns and cities on Saturday as anti-immigration demonstrators clashed with police.

The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.

Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, hired Iranian security agents to plant explosives in three separate rooms of a building where a Hamas leader was staying, The Telegraph has learned. The original plan was to assassinate Ismail Haniyeh, the political head of the Palestinian terror group, in May when he attended the funeral of Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s former president. The operation did not go ahead due to the large crowds inside the building and the high possibility of its failure, two Iranian officials told The Telegraph. Instead, the two agents placed explosive devices in three rooms of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) guesthouse in north Tehran where Haniyeh might stay. The agents were seen moving stealthily as they entered and exited multiple rooms within minutes, according to the officials who have CCTV footage of the building. The operatives are then said to have snuck out of the country but had a source still in Iran. At 2am on Wednesday, they detonated the explosives from abroad in the room where Haniyeh was staying. The explosion killed Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president. - Telegraph

Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets at the town of Beit Hillel in northern Israel at around 00:25 local time on Sunday (21:25 GMT Saturday). Footage posted on social media showed Israel's Iron Dome air defence system intercepting the rockets. There have been no reports of casualties. Israel’s air force responded by striking targets in southern Lebanon. The Pentagon said it was deploying additional warships and fighter jets to the region to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said the regional situation “could deteriorate rapidly”. - BBC

A light-hearted new film offers a chance to turn away from the war for a brief spell and focus on Ukraine’s hope as it never ceases to struggle for independence.

Lots of films have been made in the last two years about the terrible death and destruction that Putin’s Russia has brought on Ukraine.

These are stories that must be told. Some of these moving images may be used as evidence in future war crimes trials.

The adviser to the mayor of Mariupol noted that this new railway could significantly impact the front line by improving Russian logistics.

Russian forces have reportedly completed and launched a new railway from Rostov to the occupied city of Mariupol, according to Petro Andryushchenko, the adviser to the mayor of Mariupol.

"Silently and secretly, without announcements and red ribbons, the railway was launched," Andryushchenko reported on Telegram.

Video footage posted on social media shows Chinese reconnaissance troops deploying surveillance drones that look and fly like birds during a training exercise.

The Chinese state broadcaster, CCTV, published video footage in March of a new type of drone or, as they called it, the Little Falcon ornithopter. It flies by flapping its wings, which the media channel said was “the most agile and lifelike” bird-like drone anywhere in the world.

China’s Global Times said: “Such aircraft are suitable for reconnaissance, surveillance and even precision strike missions in special operations.”

Venezuela braced for fresh protests after President Nicolas Maduro's disputed election victory was ratified on the eve.

Venezuela's opposition leader emerged from hiding on Saturday, declaring "We have never been so strong," as President Nicolas Maduro slammed what he called attempts to "usurp the presidency" following last week's disputed election.

Thousands gathered peacefully across Venezuela, including in the capital Caracas where Maria Corina Machado thrilled supporters with a surprise appearance in a truck bearing a banner reading "Venezuela has won!" 

The Mayor's reception took place at the City Hall in the presence of around 30 Ukrainian athletes.

This week the Paris mayor awarded the city’s highest distinction to two Ukrainian athletes competing in this year’s Olympics and paid tribute to 489 other athletes killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On Thursday, Aug. 2, the mayor, Anne Hidalgo, presented a rower, Anastasiia Kozhenkova, and a diver, Oleksii Sereda, the Grand Vermeil medal of France’s capital. The reception took place at the City Hall in the presence of around 30 Ukrainian athletes.

Bohdan Nahaylo discussed with TVP World President Zelensky's recent statements and a potential referendum in which Ukrainians could decide whether to give up some territory for peace.

Ukraine’s human rights commissioner urged the ICRC and the UN to investigate an image shared online that he said likely showed a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war killed and dismembered by Russian forces.

Ukraine’s human rights commissioner urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations to investigate an image widely shared online on Saturday (3 August) that he said likely showed a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war killed and dismembered by Russian forces.

Ukraine’s prosecutor general said separately that an urgent investigation had been launched into information being spread on social networks about the murder and dismemberment of a Ukrainian POW.

Election battle between Trump and Harris heating up with the former president being accused of playing obstructive 'games' to recapture momentum.

Kamala Harris's campaign branded Donald Trump "scared" Saturday after he proposed changing the debate schedule, as the Republican rallied in Georgia seeking to blunt the vice president's surging momentum in her bid to become America's first woman president.

Trump said he was willing to debate Harris on the conservative-leaning Fox News network on September 4, while declining to participate in a previously scheduled debate on ABC.

Anne Applebaum's new book paints a portrait of today's modern autocracies and the threat they pose to global order.

Renowned Pulitzer-winning journalist Anne Applebaum has just published an important book, “Autocracy Inc. The Dictators Who Want to Run the World.” It is well-researched and erudite, but still an easy read and only 176 pages of text.

Applebaum emphasizes that autocracies have evolved. They are no longer run by one single bad guy, but have become sophisticated networks that rely on “kleptocratic financial structures, a complex of security services…and technological exports who provide surveillance, propaganda, and disinformation.”

Kyiv has stepped up aerial attacks on Russian territory, saying it carries out the strikes in retaliation for the bombardments Ukraine has faced since Russia invaded more than two years ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday praised his forces for hitting military targets inside Russia, after his army reported several strikes including on an airfield and an oil depot.

"I would like to thank each of our soldiers and all those who work in our defence industry for striking Russian airfields, oil refineries and logistics," he said in his daily statement.

Meteorologists say that Ukraine’s weather this year is influenced by outside factors and despite the ongoing war Kyiv’s cultural life are experiencing and embracing external inspiration.

The hot summer in Kyiv continues, punctuated by thunderstorms and rain because of hot air coming from Africa, the meteorologists tell us.

Several times since the spring, we have been warned of strong winds bringing sand from the Sahara. It seems incredible that a wind can carry sand over four thousand kilometers – which perhaps puts the recent 1,800 kilometers attack by a Ukrainian drone on the Olenya airfield in Russia’s polar north into context.

The Hungarian government has issued a decree extending its "national card" immigration programme.

Suspend Hungary from Schengen

Estonia's Eesti Päevaleht writes:

U.S. officials anticipate that the attack could mirror the April 13 strike but may be more extensive. The Lebanese group Hezbollah might also participate in the attack.

US officials have warned of a potential Iranian strike on Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, expected on Monday, August 5. Three American and Israeli officials disclosed this information to Axios.

US officials anticipate that the attack could mirror the April 13 strike but may be more extensive. The Lebanese group Hezbollah might also participate in the attack.

Sidebar Stories – In the vein of “literature is news that stays news,” Kyiv Post presents some not necessarily factual narratives that offer added insight into Ukraine’s realities.

The opening stanza of the waltz echoed off the walls of the underground passage. Partners joined wrinkled and spotted hands and began their slow dances of small steps.

It was the start of spring in the capital and, as the enemy had retreated to the north, the elderly couples had returned to their regular Thursday evening dance session at the Teatralna station of the city’s Metro.

Will Putin be able to afford a mobilization from an economic point of view? It's not a question of money – he has that. Nevertheless, the economy is the Russian Federation’s most vulnerable point.

The Russian invasion seems to have stalled.

Ukrainian forces managed to stop Putin’s troops in Kharkiv oblast. The Russian army is also stuck in Donetsk oblast. If there are any advances, they are minimal.

The Ukraine team has high hopes of adding a second gold on Sunday when Yaroslava Mahuchikh goes in the women's high jump, weeks after she set a new world record of 2.10m.

Ukraine won their first gold medal of the Paris Olympics on Saturday when their fencers triumphed in the women's sabre team competition.

They beat South Korea 45-42 in the final at the Grand Palais.

Russia's invasion has killed thousands and left many more with life-changing injuries.

Double amputee Vitaliy Saiko, a veteran of the war in Ukraine, compares the artificial limbs made for him by a Berlin-based prosthetics specialist to a sports car.

"This is individual work. It's like making a Lamborghini, it's assembled according to the client's order," Saiko told AFP.

Russian oil and gas are still flowing across Ukraine to Europe through the Friendship Pipeline despite more than two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country.

The Soviet regime often affixed “friendship” or “brotherhood” to many of its projects to instill a sense of (albeit artificial) unity. That’s why Kyiv had a “Friendship of the Peoples Arch,” “Friendship of the Peoples Boulevard,” and a “Friendship of the Peoples Metro Station.”

But the pretense of friendship no longer exists between Russia and Ukraine. The Friendship of the Peoples Street, in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, is located in the district of Saltivka – now a region under almost daily Russian shelling.    

Kateryna Pavlenko says that the local authorities did not provide any assistance to secure proper housing for the family of the soldier who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Thirteen people, including five children, were killed in a five-story building on Salskoho Street in the Shevchenkivsky district of Kyiv during a Russian missile attack on July 8 – which local authorities said was the largest number of people killed in one of the capital’s residential building in Kyiv.

Two entrances to the building were destroyed, and the remainder of the apartments were either burned out or suffered structural damage.