Live Updates: Shelling of Energodar by Ukrainian Troops Leave Nine Injured - Local Administration

The Russian forces have almost completely eliminated qualified flight personnel of the Ukrainian Air Force, and Kiev’s attempts to "plug the holes" are only delaying the imminent catastrophe, a military-diplomatic source told reporters.

"The entire qualified airlift crew of the former air forces of Ukraine - MiG-29, Su-27 and Su-25 aircraft - was actually eliminated by the effective actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces and air defense systems," the source said.

The source explained that Kiev had involved former cadets of the Kharkiv military institute, who did not have time to finish their education, in combat missions. According to the source, such recruits get shot down, if not on the first, then on the second sortie.

The source said that attempts by the West to recruit pilots of Soviet aircraft for Ukraine, under contract in Poland or other Eastern European countries, have failed and Kiev’s "hysterical attempts to ‘plug the holes’ will only delay for some time the military catastrophe of the Kiev regime and the political catastrophe of its patrons in Washington."

The estimated price of gas futures for delivery in September (TTF hub) amounted to $3,507 on August 26, marking a record value for the entire operation of gas hubs in Europe since 1996. The weekly figure increased by nearly $1,000, or 40%. At the same time, gas quotes on Friday reached $3,525, taking another step towards updating the all-time high of $3,892.

The M142 HIMARS MLRS was developed in the United States by BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin in 1996-2000, and has been produced since 2003. Created on the basis of the US Army FMTV three-axle wheeled chassis, it can carry six missiles or one ATACMS operational-tactical ballistic missile, while the target firing range for certain types of shells is up to 80 kilometers (50 miles).

Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military targeted the Stirol chemical plant in Gorlovka, causing a fire in the enterprise’s warehouse area.