Frontline and border reports before 31 August 2023

What was the picture across Ukraine's regions as 31 August 2023 arrived? The reports from the preceding days, as reported at the time, pointed to activity in the south, in western Russia and in Zhytomyr.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast

On 28 August 2023, Ukraine claimed it had retaken the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast from Russian forces, as part of its counteroffensive. Russia said it had repelled attacks in the area.

The same day, the International Atomic Energy Agency warned that Ukraine's offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast had increased the risk of damage to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Across the border

On 29 August 2023, at least four Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft were damaged in a drone attack on Pskov. Russian authorities said they had shot down eight drones over the Bryansk, Oryol, Ryazan, Kaluga and Moscow oblasts.

A few days earlier, on 26 August 2023, the governor of Belgorod Oblast said Ukrainian shelling, including the use of cluster munitions, had injured six civilians in Urazovo.

A loss in Zhytomyr

On 25 August 2023, three Ukrainian Air Force pilots were killed when two L-39 trainer aircraft collided in midair in Zhytomyr. Andrii Pilshchykov was among the dead.

Taken together, the reports from those days covered the southern front, strikes and shelling in Russian regions, and a fatal training accident inside Ukraine.