Russia said on Saturday it shot down a Ukrainian fighter jet and hundreds of drones over the past day, while Ukraine claimed to have launched drone attack on a Russian logistics hub.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces launched strikes on Ukrainian production workshops, remote drone control points, and temporary deployments in 142 areas. Russian air defenses shot down one Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet and 457 fixed-wing drones, Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
Russian troops also took control of a settlement in the Donetsk region, said the ministry.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said on the same day that it launched a long-range drone strike targeting a logistics hub in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan. The Ukrainian side claimed the hub was located approximately 1,300 kilometers from Ukraine, storing Russian attack drones and their components. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense emphasized that it would continue to strike Russian military targets deep within Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media platform on Saturday that he talked with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and French President Emmanuel Macron, respectively, to coordinate positions on the recent multi-party diplomatic activities regarding the ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelensky said that Ukraine has not seen a shift in Russia's stance, calling on its partner countries to commit to common security and oppose "trading Ukrainian territory for peace".
He stressed that all measures should be aimed at promoting a genuine ceasefire rather than resuming hostilities, and that joint decisions with partner countries must be committed to common security.
The Russian news agency TASS reported on Saturday that Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet in Alaska on Aug 15. In response, Zelensky said that Ukraine is willing to accept a real peaceful solution but will not make concessions on the territorial issue.
Macron said on social media on the same day that France will strengthen coordination with its European partners and continue to support Ukraine. He said that Europe must be involved in the "solution" to the Ukrainian crisis with its own security at stake.
Russia shots down Ukrainian fighter, drones; Ukraine hits Russian logistics hub
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
