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August 30, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Jessie Yeung, Sophie Tanno, Caolan Magee, Mike, Hayes, and Hannah Strange, CNN

Updated 12:01 a.m. ET, August 31, 2023

What we covered here

Russia saw the largest drone assault on its territory Wednesday since it launched its war on Ukraine. Multiple regions inside Russia were targeted by drones, and the assault caused airport closures and flight delays across the country. Russian authorities have not reported any casualties and said most attacks were thwarted.
Ukrainian officials meanwhile said Russia hit the capital of Kyiv with a “massive” bombardment overnight, killing at least two people. Russian rocket attacks were also reported in the southern city of Odesa.
Moscow on Wednesday claimed it destroyed four Ukrainian military boats with special forces on board in the Black Sea. Kyiv has not commented on the claim.
Russia is considering the possibility of “deliberate” action in its investigation of the plane crash that killed Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin — but Moscow won't allow international authorities to intervene, the Kremlin said.

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9:38 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

"There is nothing to feel, it was just fear": Kyiv residents tell of their panic as capital hit with largest attack since spring

From CNN's Victoria Butenko in Kyiv

An explosion is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 30. Vladyslav Sodel/Reuters

Residents of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv have told CNN of their panic as the city was shaken by a powerful assault overnight on Tuesday.

Russia conducted a "massive" attack on Kyiv using drones and missiles, killing at least two men aged 26 and 36, and injuring three others, Ukrainian officials said.

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city military administration, wrote on Telegram that "Kyiv had not experienced such a powerful attack since spring."

Lyudmyla Savchuk, a 57 year old school worker, says she doesn’t talk to relatives in Russia anymore. “My cousin says we deserve all this. They don’t believe what is happening here,” she says. Gul Tuysuz/CNN

Lyudmyla Savchuk, 57, school worker

“There was one siren, then another one. We knew something was coming but then I fell asleep. Then something, probably some intuition, woke me up."
"I heard the air defense working. I heard something then saw red strikes light up the sky. Then an explosion."
"The glass in my grandson's room shattered. It got on him so he’s got cuts on him. Paramedics came and cleaned him up."
"It is only by the grace of God that no one was killed and that it is only windows and material damage."
"I have relatives in Moscow and a cousin in Chita (Russia). My cousin says we deserve all this. They don’t believe what is happening here. That we are making this up. We don’t talk to them anymore because of the war."
"What I want to say to Russians is that they need to be human and know that we, Ukrainians, are humans. They keep saying we are Nazis and yet they are the ones who are destroying people's lives."

Yelena Yemelyanova, 69 year old retired medical worker, points up at her balcony. The explosion on August 30 blew out her windows and blast wave threw her against a wall. Gul Tuysuz/CNN

Yelena Yemelyanova, 69, retired medical worker

“The trees were on fire. There was lot of smoke. Emergency services came very quickly. Shrapnel went through the thick cabinet on my balcony."
“I usually get in line for the older women at the volunteer food station around 4:30 in the morning."
“There were 3 of us, we had coffee. Air sirens were still on so we went back inside."
“So I went into my room. My husband is paralyzed. The balcony was open and I saw the air defenses working. I said to my husband ‘I don’t like that the air defense is coming closer and closer.’ The moment I said it there was an explosion."
“The wave of the blast swung me to the corridor wall. Everything fell from the kitchen cabinets. The front door of the apartment was blown out."
“I think Putin will continue this war. He doesn’t know Ukraine. He thinks if he pushes and pushes he’ll get what he wants. But he doesn’t understand civilized people want to be with civilized people."
“Not this year and not next year but this war will end. There are some minutes you lose hope but it’s just a few minutes then you have a coffee or a tea and think there is no other way but for Ukraine to win.”

Victor Savchuk, 58 year old retiree shows bits of debris that hit his family homes balcony a residential neighborhood of Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 30. Gul Tuysuz/CNN

Victor Savchuk, 58, pensioner

"The wave was so strong, it knocked open the door. It broke all the windows."
"We first heard the initial explosion, the sirens are not that loud here. Then the debris started falling. "
"We went between the walls in the corridor."
“My grandson was covered in blood because of the debris that fell on him. The paramedics cleaned him up. He is 15 years old."
“I didn’t feel anything. There is nothing to feel, it was just fear."
“My opinion doesn’t change. It’s the same as everyone else's. They are trying to enslave us. Why are they targeting civilians?"
“Of course I am hopeful for the future. We all think about how the war should end. The war needs to end, the sooner the better."
“The sirens go off every day one, two, three times a day. We don’t know what to expect. At night we don’t know what to expect. How could we know the missile would be taken down and the debris would hit here?"

8:00 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

Russia to investigate “deliberate” action in Prigozhin’s plane crash, says Kremlin

From CNN's Anna Chernova

Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russian private mercenary group Wagner, gives an address in this still image taken from video and published August 21. PMC Wagner/Telegram/Reuters

Russia is considering the possibility of “deliberate” action in its investigation of the plane crash that killed Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, but Moscow will not allow international authorities to intervene, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

The possibility of a "deliberate atrocity" is one of many scenarios under consideration, Peskov said.

“Since there are no conclusions [of the investigation] yet, I cannot accurately formulate it for you [the reasons for the jet crash]. But it is obvious that there are different versions, including the version of, let's say, a deliberate atrocity,” Peskov said.

His comments came after Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee reportedly rejected an offer by Brazilian authorities and the aircraft manufacturer, Brazilian company Embraer, to participate in the investigation.

The committee said that because the crash took place on Russian soil, an international investigation is unnecessary, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing the Brazilian agency.

"This is our Russian investigation, so in this case there can be no talk of any international aspect,” Peskov said.

8:31 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

It's 3pm in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

From CNN staff

Russia on Wednesday saw the most significant drone assault on its territory since the start of the war, causing airport closures and flight delays across the country.

Meanwhile, Russia fired 28 cruise missiles at Ukraine overnight, all of which were intercepted, according to Kyiv's top general.

Below are the latest developments...

Russian territory: Russia has seen the biggest drone assault inside its borders since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Multiple regions inside Russia were targeted by drones, although Russian authorities have not reported any casualties and claim they thwarted almost all of the attacks. An earlier drone attack late on Tuesday night damaged four Russian military planes at an airport in Pskov.
Kyiv strikes: Russia launched a "massive" attack on Ukraine's capital overnight using drone missiles, according to Kyiv city officials. Two men aged 26 and 36 were killed, while three others sustained injuries of varying severity.
Cruise missile attacks: The attack on Kyiv came amid a larger overnight assault on areas in Ukraine. In total, Russia fired 28 cruise missiles at Ukraine, all of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, Kyiv's top general said Wednesday.
Military boats destroyed: Four Ukrainian military boats sailing in the Black Sea with special forces on board have been destroyed by Russian aircraft, according to Russia's defense ministry. CNN has reached out to Ukrainian military officials for comment.
Prigozhin plane crash: Russia is considering the possibility of “deliberate” action in its investigation of the plane crash that killed Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, but Moscow won't allow international authorities to intervene, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

7:32 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

Russia sees biggest drone attack on its territory since the start of the war

From CNN's Anna Chernova

Smoke billowing over the city and a large blaze in Pskov, Russia, on August 29 after a reported drone strike. Ostorozhno Novosti/AP

Russia has seen the most significant drone assault on its territory since the beginning of the war in February 2022, causing airport closures and flight delays across the country.

Multiple regions, including Moscow, Oryol, Ryazan, Bryansk, Kaluga, and Pskov, were targeted by drones Wednesday, although Russian authorities have not reported any casualties and claim they thwarted almost all of the attacks.

Russian air defense forces claimed to have intercepted a drone heading towards Moscow in the Ruza district of the Moscow region, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said Wednesday morning.

In response to the security situation, all four Moscow airports temporarily suspended flight operations. According to Sobyanin, there were no casualties or reported damage at the time.

Russia's defense ministry said its forces intercepted three Ukrainian aircraft-type drones over the Bryansk region which damaged an administrative building, while another unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Oryol region was also obstructed.

The ministry also said a UAV was brought down over the Kaluga region, while two other attacks were thwarted in the Ryazan region. Local authorities confirmed the attacks saying there were no immediate reports of casualties.

In Pskov, some 600 km (370 miles) north of Ukraine, drones also attacked an airport late Tuesday night, causing damage to four IL-76 military aircrafts and leading to the cancellation of all flights. A fire broke out at the airport as a result of the attack.

Pskov region Governor Mikhail Vedernikov said that all flights remain cancelled until Thursday, “to clarify the nature of the possible damage to the runway.”

2:50 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

Ukraine's top general says Russia launched more than 40 aerial attacks overnight

From CNN's Olga Voitovych

Emergency vehicles are seen at a site of a shopping mall damaged during a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine on August 30. Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Russia fired 28 cruise missiles at Ukraine overnight, all of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, Kyiv's top general said Wednesday.

Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander in Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, said Ukraine additionally destroyed 15 of 16 drones launched by Russia.

"Overnight, the enemy attacked the territory of Ukraine with cruise missiles and attack UAVs. A total of 44 enemy air targets were recorded," he said.

Earlier, Ukrainian officials said Russia had conducted a "massive" drone and missile attack on Kyiv that killed at least two people.

2:20 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

Russia thwarts Ukrainian drone attack on Bryansk TV tower, governor says

From CNN's Aruzhan Zeinulla and Olga Voitovych

Russian air defenses thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on a television tower in the southwestern Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, a local official said Wednesday.

Bryansk Gov. Aleksandr Bogomaz said a fire had been extinguished and emergency services were working at the site of the alleged attack.

"Two drones have tried to attack a TV tower. There are no casualties or damage," Bogomaz said.

Earlier Wednesday, Russia's defense ministry said Ukrainian drones were intercepted over the regions of Bryansk, Oryol and Kaluga.

Oryol Gov. Andrey Klychkov said two drones were shot down over the western region. In Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, a third drone was destroyed over Sukhinichsky district, according to its governor Vladislav Shapsha.

There were no reports of damage or injuries in the alleged attacks.

The reports come a day after four Russian aircraft were damaged in a drone attack at an airport in the western city of Pskov, officials said.

1:56 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

Russia launched a "massive" attack on Kyiv overnight, official says

From CNN's Aruzhan Zeinulla and Olga Voitovych

Rescuers work at a site of buildings damaged in the night by Russian drone and missiles strike in Kyiv region, Ukraine on August 30. State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters

Russia conducted a "massive" attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Tuesday night using drones and missiles, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city military administration, on Wednesday.

"Kyiv has not experienced such a powerful attack since spring," Popko wrote on Telegram.

Popko said several groups of drones traveled towards Kyiv "from different directions," and later missiles were launched toward the city from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

Air defense forces destroyed more than 20 "enemy targets," he added.

Two men ages 26 and 36 were killed, while three others sustained injuries of varying severity from falling debris, according to the Kyiv city military administration. Two of those injured were hospitalized.

Earlier Wednesday, Kyiv mayor's said fire and rescue services were working at wreckage sites in the Darnitsky and Shevchenkivskiy districts.

Odesa attacks: Meanwhile, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported explosions in the southern city of Odesa early Wednesday after the head of its regional military administration, Oleh Kiper, warned of Russian rocket attacks and asked residents to stay in shelter.

2:00 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

It's early in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

From CNN staff

Smoke rises in the sky over the city after a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine on August 30. Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Russian forces targeted Ukraine's Kyiv and Odesa regions early Wednesday, according to Ukrainian officials.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said at least two people were killed and two others injured in the capital as fire and rescue services work at wreckage sites in the Darnitsky and Shevchenkivskiy districts.

In Odesa, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported explosions after officials warned of Russian rocket attacks.

Here's the latest updates from Russia's war in Ukraine:

Russian claims: Russia on Wednesday said it destroyed four Ukrainian military boats with special forces on board in the Black Sea. Ukraine has not commented on the claim. Meanwhile, Russia also said it repelled Ukrainian drone attacks early Wednesday on several Russian regions and the occupied Crimean peninsula. It comes after four Russian aircraft were damaged in a drone attack at an airport, used by civilian and military planes, in the western city of Pskov, officials said.
Southern battles: Ukrainian and Russian accounts speak of heavy fighting along part of the southern front, as Kyiv's forces try to push further toward the strategic hub of Tokmak. Much of the combat is taking place south and east of the Zaporizhzhia region village of Robotyne, which the Ukrainians claimed to have secured last week. Evacuations are underway in areas close to the front lines in the region, according to Ukrainian officials.

US aid: The United States is providing an additional $250 million security assistance package to Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. The package includes air defense missiles, artillery ammunition, Javelin systems and rockets, and mine-clearing equipment, he said.
Papal controversy: Ukrainian officials have criticized Pope Francis’ recent address to Russian youth, calling his remarks “imperialist propaganda.” The pontiff made a video address to the 10th All-Russian Catholic Youth Assembly in St. Petersburg on Friday, during which he urged them to view themselves as descendants of the Russian empire.
Warlord's funeral: Yevgeny Prigozhin's funeral took place "in a closed format," a company owned by the Wagner founder said. It did not specify when the funeral took place. "Those wishing to say goodbye can visit the Porokhovskoe cemetery" in St. Petersburg, it added.
Prigozhin's legacy: A Russian network of internet trolls has begun to spread messages online blaming “enemies from the West” for the plane crash that killed the Wagner boss last week, according to two experts who monitor the activity of the trolls. Prigozhin had previously turbo-charged the use of trolls to push messages designed to disrupt and polarize Western societies.
Kyiv's take: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Prigozhin's fate proves the futility of possible peace negotiations with Russia. “Prigozhin was in conflict with Putin,” he said Tuesday. “They agreed on security guarantees, and then Putin killed him. There’s no reason to believe that in other negotiations Putin would behave differently.” The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the crash that killed Prigozhin.

2:03 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023

Russian missile strikes kill at least 2 in Kyiv, officials say

From CNN's Mariya Knight, Josh Pennington and Victoria Butenko

Rescuers work at a site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian drone and missile strikes attack in Kyiv region, Ukraine on August 30. Head of National Police of Kyiv region Andrii Nebytov/Telegram/Reuters

At least two people were killed and two others injured following Russian missile attacks on Kyiv early Wednesday, Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said.

“Fire and rescue services continue to work at the wreckage sites. In particular, in the Darnitsky district and in four areas in the Shevchenkivskiy district of the capital,” Klitschko said.

“Russian terrorists attack Odesa region with rockets,” he said, asking residents to stay in shelter.