Ukrainian Forces Strike Tu-95MS Bomber at Russia's Engels Airbase
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber at the Engels airbase on 28 August, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukrainian Strike on Russian Bomber
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber-missile carrier at the Engels airbase on 28 August. [1] Zelenskyy stated that the strike was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine's Alpha unit on aircraft used to launch strikes against Ukraine. [1] The Tu-95MS is a Soviet strategic bomber and missile carrier currently operated by Russia. [1] According to Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, Russian forces use aircraft of this type to launch Kh-101, Kh-555 and Kh-55 cruise missiles at Ukraine. [1] The strike targeted one of the aircraft involved in carrying out strikes against Ukraine. [1]
Zelenskyy Links Strikes to Russian Attacks
Zelenskyy described the attacks as a response to Russian strikes on Ukraine. [1] In the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces also struck an oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl Oblast, 1,000 km from the front line. [1] Ukrainian forces struck Russian targets in the Black Sea as well. [1] Zelenskyy said Russians must feel what their war is like. [1] The president framed the series of Ukrainian actions as direct replies to ongoing Russian operations. [1]
Russian Strike Destroys Zaporizhzhia Vodka Factory
A Russian strike on 27 August destroyed the Khortytsia liquor and vodka factory in Zaporizhzhia, leaving the facility unable to be restored. [2] The factory sustained four direct hits, and the fire lasted at least three hours. [2] Part of the production was destroyed by fire, while the remainder melted and must be disposed of. [2] Global Spirits lost three to four million bottles of products on which excise duty had already been paid. [2] The company estimates the average unit cost at UAH 100. [2] More than 500 people worked at the facility, and the bottling line capacity reached 16 bottles per second. [2] In addition to Khortytsia, the factory produced vodka under the Morosha, Pervak, Medova, Pshenychna Slioza and Gold Ukraine brands. [2]
Drone Attack Hits Kyiv Book Warehouse
A Russian drone struck a warehouse in Kyiv on 27 August, where books belonging to the Readeat and Book.ua bookshops and a number of Ukrainian publishing houses were stored. [4] Some of the print runs were destroyed in the fire. [4] Due to the damage to the warehouse, orders will not be dispatched from there on 28 August. [4] The Ouroboros publishing house said that its books stored in warehouses operated by Readeat and Book.ua partners were likely destroyed. [4] Osnovy also reported losses. [4] Yuliia Orlova, CEO of Vivat, reported that the Kyiv warehouse where the publisher's books were stored was destroyed by fire as a result of the attack. [4] Vivat's participation in the Book Country festival is now in question. [4] Two publishers – KSD and KnyhoLand – cancelled their participation in this autumn's Book Country festival, which will take place from 17 to 20 September. [4] KSD said that, in addition to its book stalls, it would not hold the planned events with authors and readers. [4]
Disruption to Ukrainian Rail Services
Passengers on several Ukrzaliznytsia trains will be transferred to other routes travelling to their destinations, while some trains from Przemyśl, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Lviv will depart with significant delays. [5] No long-distance trains have been cancelled, and delays are gradually being reduced. [5] The consequences of prolonged air-raid warnings and Russian attacks will continue to affect services for at least another day. [5] Until the morning of 29 August, passengers may use paid waiting lounges at railway stations free of charge. [5] The Kharkiv-Chełm train was running 11 hours and 30 minutes late in the morning, while the Sumy-Kyiv train was 17 hours and 15 minutes late. [5] On trains delayed by more than five hours due to Russian attacks, meals are being organised for passengers and railway workers at intermediate stations together with World Central Kitchen. [5]
Context on Russian Aircraft and Prior Strikes
The Tu-95MS is used by Russia to launch Kh-101, Kh-555 and Kh-55 cruise missiles at Ukraine. [1] Earlier, OSINT analysts reported that a Su-34 bomber was damaged on the night of 19-20 August during a strike on the Akhtubinsk airbase in Russia's northern Astrakhan Oblast. [1] Russian strikes on 27 August destroyed the Khortytsia vodka factory in Zaporizhzhia, a Nova Poshta depot, and a Kyiv warehouse storing books from multiple Ukrainian publishers. [2] [4]
What to watch next: Delays on Ukrzaliznytsia services are expected to continue affecting routes for at least another day, with transfers to other trains and free use of waiting lounges available until the morning of 29 August.
