War in Ukraine today: latest news, 19 August 2026 (photo)

Ukraine has brought home 103 prisoners of war in a latest exchange with Russia, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The exchange involved Ukraine handing back 103 Russian service members. Those released from Russian captivity include service members from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, State Border Guard Service, and National Guard.

In a separate incident, a Russian drone strike on a police headquarters in Zhytomyr killed 2 and injured at least 20. Another drone strike hit a minibus in Kherson, as part of a broader attack that killed 17 and injured 54 across Ukraine over the past day, according to the Kyiv Independent.

The General Staff reported 189 combat engagements and 70 air strikes by the enemy since the beginning of the day, as of 10 pm, according to the Ukrainian Women's Guard. Ukraine also reportedly targeted an oil refinery in Russia's Ufa, and attacked Tula and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts with drones. Additionally, Ukraine hit a rocket and space center, and an aircraft plant in Russia's Samara Oblast.

Brief written by urgent.news from Ukrainian Women's Guard (UAVarta), Kyiv Independent — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.