Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Russian strikes set ablaze Ukraine's Izmail port infrastructure
Reporters write news to tell people what is happening in the world.
Russia attacked the area around a big port in Ukraine called Izmail, damaging it and starting a fire.
This happened one day after Ukraine attacked a Russian port called Novorossiysk.
Romania, a country next to Ukraine, sent two fighter planes into the sky to make sure nothing dangerous stayed in its airspace.
In the United States, Karoline Leavitt, the person who answers questions for the President, is leaving her job at the end of the month to spend more time with her young children.
In the Middle East, Iran and the United States disagree about the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway where ships carry oil.
Iran says the waterway is blocked and will only reopen if the United States agrees to its conditions.
Iran also wants the ocean near Qeshm Island to be protected after oil pollution was found there.
In the West Bank, the United States says it is helping to end a siege on Palestinian homes in a village called Qusra.
World news has many big stories, but they are all about real people, places, and choices.
Russian strikes hit the area around Ukraine's largest Danube port of Izmail overnight, damaging infrastructure and triggering a fire, regional authorities said.
The strike came a day after Ukraine attacked Russia's port of Novorossiysk; Romania scrambled two fighter jets after an aerial target spent about 10 minutes in its airspace.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, will step down by the end of the month and become a top outside advisor to President Donald Trump.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Washington is very involved in efforts to end a settler siege on Palestinian homes in Qusra in the West Bank.
Iran dismissed Trump's claim of US total control over the Strait of Hormuz and called for environmental safeguards after oil pollution was documented on Qeshm Island's shores.
- Who
- Russian forces, Ukrainian regional authorities, US President Donald Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, and the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
- What
- Russia damaged Ukraine's Izmail port infrastructure in an overnight strike; Karoline Leavitt is leaving her White House post; Iran rejected US claims of control over the Strait of Hormuz and sought environmental safeguards after oil pollution.
- When
- Around August 13, 2026; Trump announced Leavitt's departure on Wednesday, and the Izmail strike took place overnight.
- Where
- Izmail in Ukraine's Odesa region near Romania; Novorossiysk in Russia; Qeshm Island and the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf; Qusra in the West Bank.
- Why
- Russia's strike followed Ukraine's attack on Novorossiysk; Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family and will advise Trump on the midterm elections; Iran says the strait will not reopen until Washington accepts its conditions.
Iran and Ukraine
United States and Russia
Control of the Strait of Hormuz
Iran and Ukraine
The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until Iran's conditions are accepted; claims by American officials about lifting the blockade do not change reality, per the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
United States and Russia
President Donald Trump claims the United States has total control over the Strait of Hormuz, and American officials have asserted that the blockade is being lifted.
Port strikes in the Black Sea region
Iran and Ukraine
Ukraine attacked Russia's port of Novorossiysk, and a day later Russia struck the area around Ukraine's Izmail port, damaging infrastructure and triggering a fire.
United States and Russia
Russia's strikes damaged a key grain and commodities port at Izmail, with regional authorities reporting the damage; Romania, a NATO member, scrambled fighter jets after an aerial target entered its airspace.
- Lead story
- Russian strikes damage Ukraine's Izmail port infrastructure and trigger a fire
- Port struck
- Izmail, Ukraine's largest Danube port, in the Odesa region
- Preceding event
- Ukraine attacked Russia's Novorossiysk a day earlier
- Regional response
- Romania scrambled two fighter jets; an aerial target spent about 10 minutes in its airspace
- Date
- August 13, 2026
- White House change
- Karoline Leavitt, 28, to step down as press secretary by end of month
- Strait of Hormuz
- Iran says the strait remains blocked until Washington accepts its conditions
- Oil pollution
- Contamination documented at three coastal sites and parts of the sea surface near Qeshm Island; source suspected to be a foreign bulk carrier