Wagner case
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has denied as fake the media reports about its alleged involvement in a special operation seeking to lure mercenaries of the Wagner private military company. It added that the allegations originated from Russia and were detrimental to Ukraine.
The former chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Vasyl Burba, has said that media allegations about the Wagner case are seeking to damage the special services of Ukraine.
Cyber threat
The National Security and Defence Council has said that its experts have spotted signs of preparations for a large-scale cyber attack against Ukrainian state authorities and critical infrastructure ahead of Independence Day. The attack appears to be plotted by the Gamaredon hacking group associated with the Russian special services.
Roads
President Volodymyr Zeenskyy has said while on a visit to Zaporizhzhya that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police will be involved in checking the weight of lorries on Ukrainian roads to prevent their damage.
Coronavirus
By the morning of 19 August, Ukraine has registered in 1,967 new coronavirus cases, thus setting a new record. The total count has thus reached 96,403 cases, including 2,144 fatalities and 49,737 recoveries.
Donbas
The Joint Forces Operation HQ has registered one ceasefire violation by Russia-backed militants near Luhanske. The Ukrainian army did not return fire.
Local elections
Exclusive: TV presenter and actor Serhiy Prytula, who is planning to run for Kyiv mayor in October, is quitting show business, he has said in an interview with LB.ua.
Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyy has announced that he will seek re-election this autumn.
Parliament
Speaker Dmytro Razumkov has scheduled an extraordinary parliamentary session for 25 August. MPs plan to discuss the national budget bill and a number of agreements between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank.
Cabinet of Ministers
Ukraine will withdraw from seven CIS agreements on civil aviation in response to Russia violating the airspace of Ukraine's Crimea, the Cabinet of Ministers has said.
Obituary
The president of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Borys Paton, died at 101. He has headed the Academy since 1962.