Zelensky warns of ‘nasty’ Russian attack ahead of Ukraine independence day - Newstrends
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Zelensky warns of ‘nasty’ Russian attack ahead of Ukraine independence day

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky has advised Ukrainians to be aware of potential “nasty” and “cruel” attacks by Russia’s forces, in the run-up to Ukraine’s independence day next week.

The Ukrainian president urged citizens to be vigilant ahead of the celebrations on Wednesday 24 August which will mark 31 years of independence from Soviet rule.

Mr Zelensky said Ukrainians must not allow Moscow to “spread despondency and fear” ahead of the national holiday that is to take place exactly six months after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine.

But, he warned on Saturday in his nightly address to Ukrainians: “We should be aware that this week Russia may try to do something particularly nasty, something particularly cruel. Such is our enemy.

“But in any other week during these six months, Russia did the same thing all the time – disgusting and cruel.

“One of the key tasks of the enemy is to humiliate us, Ukrainians, to devalue our capabilities, our heroes, to spread despair, fear, to spread conflicts… Therefore, it is important never, for a single moment, to give in to this enemy pressure, not to wind oneself up, not to show weakness.”

Residents of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city which has regularly been hit by Russian missiles, will be under curfew for the whole of Wednesday, regional governor Oleh Synehub said.

“Remain at home and take heed of warnings!” he wrote to residents on the Telegram messaging app.

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In his speech, Mr Zelensky also indirectly referred to a series of explosions earlier on Saturday in Crimea, the Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia in 2014.

He said: “You can literally feel Crimea in the air this year, that the occupation there is only temporary and that Ukraine is coming back.”

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-appointed governor of Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, said a Ukrainian drone had struck a building near the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet on Saturday morning.

“A drone flew onto the roof. It was flying low,” he said on Telegram. “It was downed right over the fleet headquarters. It fell on the roof and burned up. The attack failed.”

It was the second drone incident at the headquarters in three weeks. This month has also seen a number of explosions at a Russian airfield and ammunition depot on the peninsula.

Moscow’s forces there are on “high alert” and have found themselves “much more vulnerable than they thought they were”, a senior US defence official said, as reported by the Washington Post.

This weekend, fighting has intensified in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine while “powerful explosions” rocked Melitopol in the south of the country, according to local mayor Ivan Ferodov.

Also in southern Ukraine, a missile wounded 14 civilians – including four children – in Voznesensk, a town 20 miles (30km) away from the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear power plant, also known as the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant.

Vitaliy Kim, governor of the Mykolaiv region, said on Telegram that the children were among the wounded – with one losing an eye – when homes including a five-storey apartment block were hit.

The attack on Voznesensk was “another act of Russian nuclear terrorism”, said state-run Energoatom, which manages Ukraine’s four nuclear energy generators.

“It is possible that this missile was aimed specifically at the Pivdennoukrainsk plant, which the Russian military tried to seize back at the beginning of March,” it said in a statement.

Russia did not immediately respond to the accusation. Reuters news agency said that it could not verify the situation in Voznesensk, and that there were no reports of damage to the South Ukraine plant.

Earlier this week, missiles hit the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in an attack that Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-appointed official in the nearby town of Enerhodar, said Ukrainian forces had launched at least four strikes on the plant.

Across the Dnipro river, directly opposite the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, the city of Nikopol was repeatedly shelled by Russian forces on Wednesday night, according to local mayor Yevhen Yetushenko.

Ukrainian officials said the missile attacks on the two power plants – the two biggest in Europe, and the Zaporizhzhia site the biggest in Europe – have revived fears of a nuclear disaster.

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Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges

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Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges

A 26-year-old United States citizen of Nigerian origin, Olaolukitan Adon Abel, has been arrested in connection with a series of shootings that claimed the lives of two women and left a man critically injured in the state of Georgia.

The incidents occurred across multiple locations, including DeKalb County and Brookhaven, sparking widespread concern among residents. Authorities have described the attacks as seemingly random, with no confirmed motive at this stage.

According to law enforcement officials, the shootings took place at a Checkers outlet on Wesley Chapel Road, a Kroger store at Cherokee Plaza in Brookhaven, and along Battle Forest Drive in DeKalb County.

Investigators were able to trace Abel through rental vehicle records, leading to his eventual arrest in Troup County. He is currently facing two counts of murder, along with charges of aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.

During a court hearing on Tuesday, a DeKalb County magistrate judge transferred the case to a superior court after the suspect’s legal team waived a formal reading of the charges. Details regarding his next court appearance have not yet been disclosed.

Authorities also revealed that this is not Abel’s first encounter with the law. He was previously convicted of a felony in California in 2024. In a separate case last year, he was arrested in Savannah and later pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. He was subsequently sentenced to 48 months’ probation, banned from the city for four years, and ordered to undergo a psychosexual evaluation.

Court records from Chatham County confirm that Abel is a United States citizen.

Police officials have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat, emphasizing that the suspect is now in custody. Investigations remain ongoing as detectives continue to analyze evidence to determine the circumstances and motive behind the attacks.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time,” a police spokesperson said, adding that authorities remain committed to ensuring justice and public safety.

 

Two Women Killed in Georgia Shootings as Nigerian-Born Suspect Faces Murder Charges

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US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers

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US Senate

US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers

The United States Senate has voted against a resolution that sought to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to carry out further military strikes on Iran without prior approval from Congress, in a move that underscores deep divisions in Washington over war powers and executive authority.

In a closely watched vote, senators rejected the measure by 52 votes to 47, effectively allowing the president to continue ongoing military operations against Iran without needing immediate congressional authorization.

The proposed resolution, introduced under the framework of the War Powers Act, was aimed at reasserting Congress’s constitutional role in decisions involving armed conflict. Lawmakers backing the measure argued that the escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran required clear legislative approval to prevent a broader and potentially prolonged war.

However, the effort fell short, with most Republican senators voting against the proposal, aligning with the president’s position that the executive branch retains the authority to act swiftly in matters of national security. The vote largely followed party lines, although there were notable exceptions. Republican Senator Rand Paul broke ranks to support the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against it.

Supporters of the failed measure warned that allowing continued military engagement without congressional oversight risks setting a dangerous precedent and undermines the balance of powers enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. They maintained that Congress must play a decisive role in authorizing acts of war, particularly in a volatile region like the Middle East.

Opponents, however, contended that imposing restrictions on the president at this stage could weaken the United States’ strategic position and limit its ability to respond effectively to emerging threats. They argued that the commander-in-chief must retain flexibility to protect American interests and personnel.

This marks the latest in a series of unsuccessful attempts by lawmakers to curb presidential war-making powers in relation to Iran. Analysts note that the repeated failure of such measures reflects enduring political divisions and the challenges Congress faces in reclaiming authority over military engagements.

The vote comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with concerns growing internationally over the risk of further escalation. While the Senate’s decision preserves the president’s current latitude to act, it also signals that the debate over war powers is far from settled, with the possibility of renewed legislative efforts in the coming weeks.

As the situation continues to evolve, attention is expected to remain focused on both the White House and Capitol Hill, where questions over the scope of executive power and the role of Congress in matters of war and peace persist.

US Senate Rejects Measure to Limit Trump’s Iran Military Powers

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Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran

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US President Donald Trump

Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that China has agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.

In a statement shared via his verified account on X (formerly Twitter), Trump said he had secured an understanding with Chinese President Xi Jinping to prevent arms transfers to Tehran.

“They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting???” Trump wrote.

He added a warning note on U.S. military strength, stating that while diplomacy remains preferable, the United States is “very good at fighting, if we have to — far better than anyone else.”

The remarks come amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty surrounding Iran and ongoing military developments in the region, which Trump referred to as “Operation Epic Fury.” However, no official confirmation has been provided by the U.S. government or international bodies regarding the existence or scope of such an operation.

Chinese authorities have not publicly confirmed any agreement to halt weapons transfers to Iran as of the time of filing this report. Analysts note that Beijing has historically maintained strategic and economic ties with Tehran, making any sudden policy shift significant if verified. Foreign policy experts have also urged caution in interpreting Trump’s statement, stressing that it reflects his personal account rather than a confirmed diplomatic agreement.

If substantiated, such an arrangement could mark a major development in international efforts to contain military escalation in the Middle East. China remains a key global player with influence over Iran, and any restriction on arms supply could affect the balance of power in the region. However, in the absence of independent verification, observers say the claim should be treated as part of ongoing political messaging rather than established fact.

Trump has remained an influential voice in U.S. and global politics, frequently using his social media platforms to comment on international affairs and ongoing conflicts.

Trump Claims China Agrees to Halt Arms Supply to Iran

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