Ukraine’s Interior Ministry says the villages of Horodyshche and Milove in Luhansk Oblast were captured by Russian forces.

"Many wounded are in serious condition — right now, doctors are fighting for their lives," regional governor Ivan Fedorov said.

According to CNN, European officials privately voiced concern about his absence in Alaska, calling him the American figure with the deepest understanding of what terms Ukraine might consider in a deal.

Russia, one of the world's largest energy producers, relies heavily on oil exports to fund its full-scale war against Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russian energy facilities that both supply fuel to its military and generate revenue for the Kremlin.

Lieutenant General Essedoulla Abatchev has held senior posts in Chechnya and Dagestan and was named Hero of Russia by President Vladimir Putin in 2022.

Since November 2022, Russian forces have only captured 5,842 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, accounting for about 0.97% of the country's landmass, according to DeepState.

"Russians are using the symbols of the U.S. in their own terrorist, aggressive war involving the killing of civilians," Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, said.

"The goal is to break through our defenses and advance deep into (our) territory. Their goal, of course, is (occupying) the entire region," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

"The army aviation has proven itself very well: helicopters equipped with machine guns are highly effective," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

"I demand a clear assurance that Russia will refrain from any act that could be classified as interfering in Hungary's internal political processes, including disinformation campaigns, cyber operations, or intimidation of political figures and citizens," Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar said.

Russia launched a wave of missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities late on Aug. 17, mere hours before President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet for peace talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

The strikes come as Moscow continues rejecting calls for an unconditional ceasefire, instead intensifying its use of drones and missiles against Ukraine.

The number includes 940 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Donald Trump has stepped up pressure on Zelensky ahead of Aug. 18 peace talks in Washington with European leaders, saying on Truth Social that the Ukrainian president could end the war "almost immediately."