Russia said on Thursday that its forces made advances on the frontlines, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported carrying out attacks on multiple fronts.
In a daily battlefield report, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces struck transportation infrastructure of Ukraine's defense industry enterprises and assembly sites of remote UAVs over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Russian air defense system intercepted one HIMARS rocket and shot down 142 drones.
It was also reported that Russian President Putin said the Russian military has advanced along almost all the contact lines.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported a total of 158 combat engagements. It claimed to have repelled Russian attacks in multiple directions, and launched strikes in the directions of Kupiansk and Toretsk in eastern Ukraine and Novopavlivka in southeastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian air force, missile units and artillery forces hit targets in Russian troop concentrations and command posts as well, it said.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 185 prisoners of war (POWs) each under an agreement reached on July 23 in Istanbul, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
Additionally, 20 civilians from each side were also exchanged.
The repatriated Russian servicemen and civilians are now in Belarus, receiving medical and psychological support, before being transported to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation, the ministry noted.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on his social media that the released Ukrainian servicemen and civilians have returned to their country safe and sound.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration of the U.S. has agreed to allow the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to provide intelligence to Ukraine, in order to support Ukraine in launching long-range missile attacks on energy facilities within Russia.
The report also said that apart from Tomahawk cruise missiles, the U.S. has been also considering supplying other missiles with a range close to 1,000 kilometers.
In response to the media report, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the United States and its NATO allies have always been providing intelligence to Ukraine, which is nothing new.
As for the longer range of missiles supplied by the Western countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said they won't make difference to the current situation.
Russia claims achieving advance on frontline, Ukraine reports launching multiple attacks
