Morning Brief: Russia Accuses Ukraine of Drone Strike on Kursk Nuclear Plant, Kim Jong Un Oversees New Anti-Air Missile Test

· Guy D. McCardle

A fire reportedly breaks out at Russia’s Kursk nuclear power plant. (Image grab via X)

Sunday, August 24, 2025—famine grips Gaza’s hospitals, Nigeria pounds militant camps, Russia blames Ukraine for a nuclear plant strike, and Kim Jong Un showcases new missile systems as Asia braces for rising tensions.

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Famine Confirmed in Gaza as Doctors Report Widespread Starvation and Medical Collapse

Famine has taken hold in parts of Gaza, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), as local hospitals and international volunteers report a devastating surge in malnutrition, especially among children and the wounded.

The IPC warns the crisis is spreading and calls for a ceasefire and major humanitarian intervention.

Dr. Mohammed Adeel Khaleel, a Texas-based surgeon volunteering at Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Hospital, described patients arriving with gunshot wounds and visible signs of starvation, including emaciated limbs and exposed ribs.

“The level of hunger is beyond imagination,” he said in an AP interview after treating victims who were injured while trying to collect food.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported eight more malnutrition-related deaths in the 24 hours following the IPC’s declaration, raising the total to 281. According to the US nonprofit MedGlobal, one in six children under five now suffers from acute malnutrition.

Despite easing a full blockade in May, Israel denies famine exists and accuses Hamas of diverting aid. The United Nations and aid groups reject this, pointing instead to Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of order as key barriers to delivering food.

Doctors at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City described patients too weak to recover from injuries due to prolonged hunger and a shortage of critical medical supplies. Food remains scarce and unaffordable for most families. Protein sources, dairy, and fruit are largely unavailable.

With Israeli airstrikes continuing and famine spreading, frontline medical workers warn that the most vulnerable — the young, the wounded, and the sick — are paying the highest price.

The IPC says famine will expand across Gaza without immediate, large-scale aid and a halt in fighting.

 

Nigerian Airstrikes Kill 35 Militants in Borno

Nigeria’s military launched precision airstrikes early Saturday in Kumshe, Borno state, killing at least 35 suspected jihadis, according to Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame.

The strikes targeted four locations near the Cameroon border, where militants had gathered following attacks on ground forces.

The operation comes as Nigeria continues to battle a persistent insurgency led by Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Both groups remain active in the country’s northeast, with ISWAP frequently targeting military installations.

The decade-long conflict has killed approximately 35,000 civilians and displaced over 2 million people across Nigeria and neighboring countries, according to the UN.

Ground troops confirmed the area was stabilized following the air operation.

Despite efforts by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to suppress militant violence, jihadist activity continues in the northeast. Nigeria also faces ongoing challenges from armed criminal gangs in the north-central and northwest regions.

 

Russia Accuses Ukraine of Drone Strike on Kursk Nuclear Plant During Independence Day

Russia accused Ukraine of launching overnight drone attacks Sunday that caused a fire at a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region.

Officials said a transformer was damaged, but radiation levels remained normal, and no injuries were reported. The fire was quickly extinguished.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acknowledged the incident but has not independently confirmed the details.

Ukraine did not comment on the alleged strike, which occurred as the country marked 34 years of independence from the Soviet Union.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking from Kyiv’s Independence Square, reaffirmed the country’s sovereignty and commitment to a “just peace,” emphasizing Ukraine’s right to shape its own future.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones across its territory overnight, while Ukrainian forces reported downing or jamming 48 of 72 drones and one cruise missile launched by Russia.

In a separate incident, falling drone debris sparked a fire at a fuel terminal in Ust-Luga, in Russia’s Leningrad region.

On the diplomatic front, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Kyiv, underscoring Canada’s continued support. Norway pledged $695 million in air defense aid, including co-funding two Patriot systems with Germany.

Meanwhile, fighting on the front lines intensified. Russia claimed to have captured two villages in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region on Saturday.

 

Kim Jong Un Oversees New Anti-Air Missile Test

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test launch of two new anti-air missile systems on Saturday, according to state media reports released Sunday.

The test, aimed at countering aerial threats like drones and cruise missiles, comes as US and South Korean forces conduct joint military drills and regional leaders deepen trilateral security coordination.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the launch proved the effectiveness of the weapons and that Kim assigned new tasks to defense scientists ahead of a major political conference next year. The report gave no details on the missile types, test location, or any direct comments about Washington or Seoul.

The test coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s summit in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The two leaders pledged stronger defense cooperation with the US to confront shared threats, including North Korea’s advancing nuclear program. Lee is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington next.

Analysts suspect Russia is supporting North Korea’s aging antiaircraft and radar systems in return

 

Sources: News Agencies