Wednesday results in the occupied territories of Donbas. The highlights

In the area of the Joint Forces Operation on August 18, no violations of the ceasefire by the Russian occupation forces were recorded, - the JFO headquarters reported. "Ukrainian soldiers are in control of the situation and observe the ceasefire", - the headquarters stressed.

The anti-tank mines were detected by a drone of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission near Verkhnoshyrokivske in certain areas of the Donetsk oblast (CADO). The observers reported this in the mission report released on 18 August. It noted that at a distance of about 1.5 km west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr; non-government-controlled, 85 km south of Donetsk), a short-range unmanned aerial vehicle recorded three, presumably, anti-tank mines (which were not previously reported and which are not visible in the images dated August 6, 2021), attached to a wooden plank that laid across the road. "These mines are assessed as belonging to the armed formations", - the monitors said in the report.

As a result of shelling by the so-called "LNR" militants, a resident of Zolote-4, born in 1973, received a mine-blast trauma, multiple shrapnel wounds to her left forearm, shoulder and knee joints and left foot. She was admitted to a hospital in Lysychansk.

The court in Moscow extended the term of detention of the so-called "ex-Minister of Revenues and Duties of the DNR" Alexander Timofeev, who is accused of attempt at fraud, - Kommersant newspaper reported. According to investigators, Timofeev and former adviser to ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov, now businessman Ihor Sosnovsky, promised former head of Railtransholding Sergey Shpak, who is accused of embezzling about $24.4 million from VEB-Leasing (part of VEB) about, to achieve the termination of his criminal prosecution for $5 million. When choosing a measure of restraint for Timofeev, the investigation asked the court to take into account that walking free, he could oppose the investigation of the criminal case, put pressure on the victim, as well as on Sosnovsky, or destroy evidence of his criminal activity that had not yet been discovered. In addition, the investigation indicated that after the initiation of the criminal case, Timofeev tried to hide, changed his place of residence and phone numbers. The court took all this into account and sent Timofeev to a pre-trial detention center. The term of his arrest was extended until October.

The "DNR occupiers counted 341 cases of coronavirus disease in certain areas of the Donetsk oblast (CADO) over the day. This was reported by the so-called "Ministry of Health of the DNR". In addition, 31 patients died over the past day. In total, 52 810 cases of COVID-19 infection were registered in CADO on August 18. 3 873 people died. 5 452 patients are currently undergoing treatment (inpatient and outpatient). The occupiers also identified 188 cases of "usual" pneumonia over the day. Of these, 116 patients were hospitalized. In total, 2159 patients with pneumonia are being treated, of which 869 are on oxygen support (+ 71 over the day).

Doctors registered 7915 cases of coronavirus infection in the occupied territory of the Luhansk oblast since the beginning of the pandemic, separatist media wrote. Another 99 cases of the disease and 11 deaths were also reported over the past day.

Leader of the so-called "LNR" Leonid Pasechnik acknowledged the increase in the spread of COVID-19 in the occupied territory of Luhansk oblast. He said this in an interview with Russian media. "In connection with a significant increase in the number of infected people over the past month and a half, the Emergency Sanitary and Anti-Epidemic Commission was forced to step up some measures. Since August 11 of this year, careful control over observance of face-mask requirements has again been introduced in the republic; inspections of business entities, work of cinemas, water parks and dance halls have been suspended. These restrictions will remain in effect until further notice", - the leader of the "LNR" militants said.

Propagandists of the so-called "LNR" stated that regular humanitarian aid from the Office of the UN High Commissioner and the International Committee of the Red Cross was being carried out thanks to the Russian Federation. The relevant comments were given by the officials of the fake "Ministry of Foreign Affairs". "19 trucks of the international humanitarian convoy of the UNHCR and the ICRC entered the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic through the as yet unopened Lugansk-Shchastye checkpoint. The cargo, the total weight of which was 126.5 tons, includes medicines, devices and equipment, school kits and building materials", - the "ministry" reported. "Humanitarian aid from international organizations is available to the residents of Donbas largely thanks to the contributions made by the Russian Federation", - occupation authorities of the "LNR" did not miss the opportunity to attribute fake merits to Russia and present it as the main benefactor of CADLO.

It was stated in the occupied territory of Donetsk oblast that the new academic year in schools would begin on September 1 and would end on May 27, 2022. Separatist media wrote this. Despite the difficult epidemiological situation with COVID-19, CADO is going to hold the First Bell ceremonies - "outdoors, taking into account the fulfillment of the sanitary and epidemiological requirements of social distancing". The terms and duration of vacations have also been established: autumn - from October 30 to November 7; winter - from December 29 to January 9, 2022; spring - from March 26 to April 3. Additional vacations are also planned for first graders - from February 14 to February 20, 2022.

A man died in occupied Luhansk as a result of a hand grenade explosion. This was said in the message of the so-called "Ministry of Emergency Situations of the LNR". "As a result of the explosion, presumably of hand grenade RGD-5, a man, born in 1972, received mine-explosive injuries incompatible with life", - the message said. It was clarified that the incident occurred at a plot of land attached to a house in the area of the Young Communist International Street on August 7.