Ukraine war latest: Russian drone strikes residential building in central Chernihiv, injuring at least 20, including 3 children

Key developments on Aug. 24:

• Russian drone strikes residential building in central Chernihiv, injuring at least 20, including 3 children, on Ukraine's Independence Day
• Ukraine hits Ozon logistics centers, rocket fuel plant, MiG-29 fighter jet in Russia, military says
• Russia reacts to UK sharing Storm Shadow blueprints with Ukraine
• 10 Ukrainian soldiers believed missing return home from Russian captivity in 'special exchange'
• EU greenlights $7 billion in defense loans on Ukraine Independence Day

A Russian drone struck an apartment building in central Chernihiv on Aug. 24, injuring at least 20 people, including three children, and sparking a fire, local authorities said.

The Chernihiv City Council said Russian forces launched three waves of attacks on the city, with a drone striking a residential building during the final wave around noon local time.

Police bomb disposal officers said the attack may have involved a jet-powered Geran-5 drone, according to Chernihiv Oblast Governor Viacheslav Chaus.

"Cynical strike by Russian terrorists on a residential building in Chernihiv. Right in the middle of the day — on Independence Day," Chaus said.

A fire broke out on the ground floor of a nine-story residential building, Ukraine's Emergency Service said.

Ukraine hits Ozon logistics centers, rocket fuel plant, MiG-29 fighter jet in Russia, military says

Ukraine launched a large-scale overnight attack on Russia on Aug. 24, striking Ozon logistics centers, the Kombinat Kamenskiy defense-industrial facility, and a MiG-29 fighter jet, among other targets, the Ukrainian military said.

Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, confirmed that the Ukrainian overnight attack hit Ozon facilities, but did not specify their location or how many were struck.

Three Ozon warehouses were hit in Dagestan, Stavropol Krai and Adygea, Russian independent media outlet Astra reported. Ozon shares fell 12% following the Ukrainian strikes, according to the report.

Murat Kumpilov, head of Russia's Adygea republic, confirmed that the Ozon warehouse caught fire following the attack and that its employees were evacuated. No one was injured, Kumpilov said.

Acting head of Dagestan Fyodor Shchukin said debris from downed drones sparked a fire at a warehouse. He did not specify which company operates the facility. Two warehouse employees were injured in the attack, Shchukin added.

Stavropol Krai Governor Vladimir Vladimirov also confirmed that Ukrainian drones attacked the city of Nevinnomyssk's industrial area, without saying what sites were targeted.

Russia reacts to UK sharing Storm Shadow blueprints with Ukraine

The Kremlin condemned Britain's decision to share classified technical information on Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles with Ukraine, calling the move "fuel on the fire," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Aug. 24.

London has agreed to let European defense company MBDA share classified technical information on British-made components in SCALP cruise missiles with Ukraine, a move that could help Kyiv expand domestic production of the weapons.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to formally announce the decision during his first visit to Kyiv since taking office.

Peskov said Moscow views the decision "extremely negatively," accusing London of doing everything possible "to prevent any progress in the peace process."

Peskov also claimed Russian forces were already gathering information on potential production sites for the missiles and other military equipment in order to target them.

The recent move builds on the U.K.'s 2023 decision to become the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range strike weapons for defensive purposes. It will pave the way for French-Ukrainian assembly of the missiles in Ukraine, while access to the blueprints could bring Kyiv and Paris closer to establishing local production lines, the U.K. government said on Aug. 24.

10 Ukrainian soldiers believed missing return home from Russian captivity in 'special exchange'

Ukraine brought home 10 service members previously considered missing in action from Russian captivity in a "special exchange" via Belarus on Aug. 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, as Ukraine marked its Independence Day.

The service members served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and National Guard and fought on the Donetsk sector of the front line, Zelensky said.

Two had been considered missing since 2024, while the other eight had been missing since 2025, Ukraine's Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said. The group included sergeants, soldiers and sailors, Lubinets added.

"It is very important that we managed to bring them back," Zelensky said.

"We remember every man and woman who remains in captivity. We are searching for every name. And we will do everything to free them and bring them home," he added.

EU greenlights $7 billion in defense loans on Ukraine Independence Day

Ukraine will receive 6.1 billion euros ($7.1 billion) in defense loans to be spent on air defenses, missiles, ammunition, and radars, according to an Aug. 24 press release from the European Commission.

All the money being disbursed comes from the 90 billion euro ($105 billion) Ukraine Support Loan, which the bloc finalized in April to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's defense and budgetary needs until the end of 2027.

"On Ukraine's Independence Day, Europe shows our support is unfaltering and concrete," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in the press release.

"As Russia intensifies its attacks, we are stepping up to help Ukraine protect its people and defend its skies. Europe stands with Ukraine, and we will deliver what it needs, when it needs it."

The European bloc has emerged as Kyiv's leading military supplier and partner as the Trump administration ended nearly all U.S. defense aid to the war-torn country.