ISW Key Takeaways
Ukrainian officials directly stated that the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive is a methodical operation to intentionally degrade Russian forces and logistics in the south, rather than one aimed at immediately recapturing large swathes of territory.
The Kremlin may be intensifying efforts to foster self-censorship among Russian milbloggers and war correspondents who are covering the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian military officials reported that Ukrainian forces continued positional battles along the Kherson-Mykolaiv frontline and that Ukrainian troops are focusing on striking Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs), equipment and manpower concentrations, and logistics nodes along the Southern Axis.
Social media footage shows evidence of effective Ukrainian strikes in western and central Kherson Oblast.
Russian mibloggers continue to claim that Ukrainian forces are fighting in western Kherson Oblast, along the Inhulets River, and in northern Kherson south of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border.
Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast and south of Bakhmut and north and southwest of Donetsk City.
Ukrainian forces may be conducting localized attacks along the line of contact in Western Zaporizhia Oblast to disrupt ongoing Russian troop deployments.
Russian authorities continue to generate combat power from recruitment through state-owned enterprises and prisons to circumvent general mobilization.
Russian occupation authorities are increasingly struggling to provide basic services in occupied areas of Ukraine.
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🔹The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, arrived for the farewell ceremony for Mikhail Gorbachev.
🛢 Bloomberg: India has sharply slashed its purchases of russian oil after the visit of US officials
During the last week of August, oil shipments from the russian Federation to Asian customers fell to a minimum since the first month of the war. Russian oil deliveries to India dropped by 40%.
(admittedly I'd be quite strongly wondering if there are other reasons for the drop in purchase rather than US pressure, as implied)
❗️ Russian troops do not allow humanitarian cargo to enter the occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia region, mayor of Energodar
❗️ IAEA: Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant again lost connection to the last main external power line
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant once again lost connection to the last remaining main external power line.
At the same time, the plant continues to supply electricity to the Zaporizhzhia thermal power plant through a reserve line. This reserve line can also provide backup power to the ZNPP if needed.
⚡️ General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: The Armed Forces
of Ukraine fought off enemy attacks near seven populated areas in the east
📣 Modelling the enemy vehicle movement, blocked Kerch bridge and controlling occupation logistics
Nataliia Humeniuk, head of the press center of OC "South", spoke about the situation in the south of Ukraine:
• The occupying troops of the russian Federation model the collection of equipment in the Kherson region in order to boost the morale of their demoralized soldiers.
• The invaders blocked the Kerch bridge as they used it to take away families and looted goods, as well as their reserves.
• The defense forces constantly hit ammunition and equipment transported by the occupiers to the front line. Our soldiers see and control the logistics component of the enemy.
• The Armed Forces are now conducting positional battles, and the front line itself is "mobile"
🔺 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: russian railways must find up to 10,000 volunteers for a short-term contract for the war in Ukraine.
⚡️ Media: Germany pledges $199 million in aid for Ukrainian Internally Displaced Persons.
(Ru losses for yesterday not yet released)