Aug 18, 2026, 07:00 PM UTC

Russian aerial bombardments across multiple Ukrainian regions have killed at least eight people and wounded more than 60 others, according to regional rescue services.

Moscow deployed roughly 180 unmanned aircraft against targets in the Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Dnipropetrovsk sustained heavy damage, facing nearly 60 individual strikes across five administrative districts over a 24-hour period. Local emergency teams reported five deaths and 16 injuries in Dnipropetrovsk, with fatal casualties recorded in the Kamianske and Pavlohrad districts, alongside additional injuries in Nikopol.

Near Kryvyi Rih, a separate drone strike hit a petrol station, igniting a blaze that killed three individuals, including an eight-year-old child. Emergency personnel mobilized throughout the targeted areas to contain fires and assist victims.

Sources: Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă

Intense cross-border operations between Russia and Ukraine have resulted in casualties, power disruptions, and widespread devastation across several regions.

Russian authorities stated that Ukraine launched a massive overnight drone barrage involving over 600 unmanned aircraft, with air defenses shooting down more than 200 drones in the Moscow area, leaving three people injured.

Simultaneously, Russian aerial bombs and artillery struck eastern Ukrainian territories. Local officials confirmed at least three fatalities and nine injuries in Dnipropetrovsk and neighboring areas. In the northern Chernihiv region, power grid failures cut electricity to roughly 99,000 customers. Further east in Donetsk Oblast, heavy shelling continues to batter the frontline settlement of Druzhkivka, where sustained attacks have reduced the civilian population from nearly 56,000 before the war to under 4,000.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

Diplomatic efforts mediated by Qatar to secure an agreement between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz remain active, even as conflicting positions persist. US officials have indicated that a resolution to reopen the vital maritime passageway could emerge within days. However, Iranian authorities maintain that they are not holding direct negotiations with the United States.

At the regional level, technical discussions have advanced. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï confirmed that Tehran and Oman have finalized the geographic coordinates for a designated shipping lane and are drafting a joint declaration, provided external parties do not disrupt the initiative.

Meanwhile, broader prospects for a comprehensive diplomatic settlement face hurdles following statements from US President Donald Trump, who declared intentions to seek financial compensation from Tehran for historical attacks and domestic crackdowns.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.

Colombian emergency personnel and military units are continuing recovery operations under a national state of emergency following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country's western region.

Reported casualty counts have escalated as assessments progress, with media tallies indicating between 132 and 164 fatalities alongside more than 500 injuries. Centred near San José del Palmar at a depth of roughly 107 kilometres, the tremor brought down numerous structures and was felt across the border in neighbouring Ecuador.

First responders are working through collapsed buildings to locate survivors believed to remain trapped under rubble. Authorities have warned that the confirmed death toll is likely to rise further as emergency teams establish access to cut-off communities.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.