The ghost of Chernobyl hovers over Zaporizhzhia . While rockets and grenades rain all around, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the Russians of atomic blackmail, of continuing to barricade themselves and shoot from the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, shielding themselves from it.

"Every day the Russian contingent stays on the territory of the nuclear plant in Zaporizhzhia and nearby areas - said Zelensky during the night in the usual video message on Telegram - the threat to Europe increases , as has never happened even at the peak of the clash of the Cold War".

The risks of a nuclear disaster , according to the mayor of Energodar, Dmytro Orlov, "are growing by the day", and the "most worrying thing is that there is no sign of a de-escalation".

Zelensky also addressed Russian citizens directly: "When evil reaches such a level, people's silence approaches complicity . Therefore, if you have Russian citizenship and remain silent, it means that you support the war in Moscow. And not. no matter where you are, whether it is in Russia or abroad, your voice should sound in support of Ukraine, "he said.

Meanwhile, the London secret services believe it likely that Moscow is organizing a referendum in the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk (DPR) with the aim of annexing it to Russia.

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"Wagner battalion headquarters in Donbass hit"

Ukrainian artillery would have centered the headquarters of the Russian mercenary group of the Wagner battalion in Popasna, in the self-proclaimed republic of Lugansk in the Donbass controlled by Russian forces. This was revealed by official local sources and also pro-Russian sources cited by the BBC, who, however, for now do not pronounce themselves on the victims of the attack or provide further details.

Considered linked to the Kremlin - which however denies it -, the paramilitary group Wagner also operates Syria, in Libya, in the Central African Republic and now in Mali, and is accused of war crimes and violations of human rights.

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"30 thousand applications for Russian passports in Zaporizhzhia"

More than 30,000 people have applied for a Russian passport and citizenship in the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, occupied by Moscow troops, according to the head of the Russian military and civil administration of the region, Evgeny Balitsky, quoted by the Russian agency Tass.

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Pope: "Let's pray for the Ukrainian people"

We continue to invoke the intercession of Our Lady so that God may give the world peace. And we pray in particular for the Ukrainian people. "Pope Francis said this at the end of the Angelus of the Assumption." On this day dedicated to Our Lady - said the Pontiff - I urge those who have the opportunity to visit a Marian shrine to venerate the our heavenly Mother "." Many Romans and pilgrims go to Santa Maria Maggiore to pray in front of the Salus Populi Romani - he added -. There is also the statue of the Virgin Queen of Peace. placed by Pope Benedict XV ".

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Russian bombs on Donetsk

Russian troops killed three civilians and wounded 13 others in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine during the attacks launched yesterday: the head of the regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said on Telegram, according to what Ukrinform reports.

"On August 14, the Russians killed three civilians in the Donetsk region: in Bakhmut, Soledar and Marinka. Another thirteen people were injured," Kyrylenko wrote.

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Kiev: "43,750 Russian soldiers killed"

About 43,750 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began, according to the Kiev army. In its update on the losses suffered by Moscow so far, the Ukrainian army indicates that 233 fighters, 195 helicopters and 787 drones have also been shot down. Ukrinform reports it.

In addition, the Kiev forces claim to have destroyed 1,876 Russian tanks, 985 artillery systems, 4,141 armored troop vehicles and 15 ships and 187 cruise missiles.

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Kiev: "22 thousand attacks on civilian targets since February 24"

Russian forces have carried out over 22,000 attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine and about 300 on military targets since the invasion began on February 24, Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin said, according to the Kyiv Independent. . Yenin specified that "anything can become a target" to attack: from infrastructures to shopping centers, from schools to the country's cultural heritage sites.

(Unioneonline / L)

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