Key facts
- Ukraine has liberated 745 square kilometers of territory since January.
- Ukraine has retaken 26 villages since January.
- Nearly 10,000 Russian soldiers were killed during the Oleksandrivka sector operation.
- Ukrainian forces struck Russia's Black Sea naval base in Novorossiysk.
- The Novorossiysk strike involved a large-scale drone and missile attack.
- Port infrastructure was damaged at the Novorossiysk naval base.
- Four Russian warships were damaged in the Novorossiysk attack.
- President Zelensky described the Novorossiysk operation as "unique."
- Russia claimed to have downed hundreds of drones during the Novorossiysk attack.
- Ukraine and its international partners have a joint strategy to compel Putin to end the war.
- Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia remain stalled.
- President Putin threatened 'piracy' responses to the seizure of Russian merchant ships.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on August 12 that Ukraine has liberated 745 square kilometers of territory since January, retaking 26 villages in the Oleksandrivka sector. He also claimed that nearly 10,000 Russian soldiers were killed during this operation.
In a separate development, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Russia's Black Sea naval base in Novorossiysk. The operation damaged port infrastructure and four Russian warships. President Zelensky called this strike a "unique" operation. Russia, however, claimed to have downed hundreds of drones during the incident.
President Zelensky also teased that Ukraine and its international partners have developed a joint strategy to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war. This comes as peace talks remain stalled and Russia continues its attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened a "piracy" response to the potential seizure of Russian merchant ships. Putin warned that Moscow's response could extend beyond seized waters, in retaliation for EU actions against Russia's shadow oil fleet.