Daily Briefing From Ukraine

·      Top 7 Headlines

·      President Zelensky’s Message of the Day

·      Ukraine Summer Offensive Summary

·      Infographic of the Day

Headlines

1.     Explosions from Russian aerial assaults and Ukrainian air defenses were heard early this morning throughout Ukraine, including in Kramatorsk, Lviv, Lutsk, Khmelnytsky, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro. These cities effectively represent the length of Ukraine from east to west. Casualties are beginning to be reported by local authorities.

2.     There were massive explosions and fires in the Russia Federation’s Dagestan and Khanty-Mansi autonomous regions (in western Siberia) including at an oil refinery. Some 14 people are believed dead, according to local officials.

3.     The US will provide Ukraine with its 44th military aid package with this one worth $200 million. It will include munitions for Patriot air defense systems, 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades, and munitions for HIMARS, according to the State Department.

4.     The White House is optimistic about bipartisan Congressional approval of additional aid to Ukraine, despite some House Republicans’ opposition, a spokesperson said. The Biden Administration has submitted a proposal to Congress to allocate more than $22 billion for Ukraine by the end of the year.

Other Topics of Interest

Diane Francis Interviews Mikhail Zygar, Yaroslav Trofimov on Prospects of Russia’s War on Ukraine

Video discussion with three leading expert journalists on the current situation in Russia’s war against Ukraine republished with the permission of the Peterson Literary Fund.

5.     The leader of the Moscow patriarchate of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, Pavel Lebed, was hospitalized in the cardiology department of a Kyiv hospital and operated on. On Aug. 7, Metropolitan Pavel, who is suspected of supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine, was bailed for Hr.33 million ($890,500) and released from pre-trial detention.

6.     Together with a coalition of 35 countries, Ukraine is ready to boycott the Paris Olympic Games if Russia and Belarus are admitted by the IOC, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Telegram. “Sports and military aggression are incompatible. States that have stained themselves with the blood of Ukrainians cannot participate in the Olympic Games,” he said. Shmyhal noted that, during the full-scale war, Russia killed 340 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, and destroyed or damaged 343 sports facilities.

7.     Lithuanian will allocate $7 million to develop the Ukrainian rehabilitation system, including a new rehab center. According to Ukraine’s Health Minister, Ukraine needs about 7,800 beds to meet the rehabilitation needs of the military and civilians.

President Zelensky’s Message

Ukraine Summer Offensive Summary

Snapshot

Various areas of the front have been “refined”, according to pro-Ukrainian milblogger Deep State. Russian forces continue to press on the Svatove area on the northern front. Ukrainian forces continue to conduct heavy counteroffensive actions in the south of the country.

General Developments

A prominent pro-Russian milblogger posted on his Telegram channel about this being a “crucial moment” in the war:

“Now is the most crucial moment of this part of the war. To withstand such colossal pressure is difficult, but necessary. The ice shelves are melting, but the guys are still standing. They need support, reinforcement, rotation, help. The world has not seen a more severe and bloody war since the end of the Second World War. Endure until the end of August, finish off the enemy on the defensive, and then forward. New fresh forces. It is easy to talk, hard to write, because my and your friends and relatives are on the front lines.”

Operational Aspects on the Southern Front

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported that Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations in the Melitopol (western Zaporizhzhia region) and Berdyansk (western Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhzhia regional border area) directions, ISW reported.

As reported by ISW, Maliar added that Ukrainian forces achieved some unspecified successes south and southeast of Staromaiorske (9 kilometers southeast of Velyka Novosilka), which is near Urozhaine. Maliar noted that Ukrainian forces are continuing to advance in Urozhaine.

Pro-Russian milbloggers said: “The enemy confidently controls the north of Urozhaine and is trying to gain a foothold in the village after the withdrawal of the RF Armed Forces from the southern outskirts. The village itself continues to be hit hard. In Staromaiorske, the enemy seeks to expand the zone of control.”

Some Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Robotyne (13 kilometers south of Orikhiv) in the western Zaporizhzhia region, ISW said.

Pro-Russian milbloggers said: “The enemy continues to attack to the east of Robotyne, trying to bypass the village from the east. Fierce fighting continues.”

Operational Aspects on the Northern Front

ISW reported that Russian forces undertook offensive operations near Kupyansk and advanced there.

Operational Aspects on the Eastern Front: Bakhmut

Maliar said that Ukrainian forces advanced by three square kilometers in the Bakhmut direction in the past week and liberated 40 square kilometers total since Ukrainian forces began their offensive operations in this direction, ISW reported.

Other Operational Aspects

Russian forces conducted a series of missile and drone strikes targeting Odesa Region on the night of August 13 to 14. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian air defenses destroyed all eight Russian-launched Kalibr cruise missiles and 15 Shahed-131/136 drones, ISW reported.

The Governor of Russia’s Belgorod region posted on Telegram about extensive military activity – including artillery shelling and drone attacks – in his region.

Infographic of the Day