Ukraine Invasion: Part 43

[MagicFox]

With thanks as usual to everyone!

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If ever there was a use for AI and drones to work together, de-mining war torn lands like this would be it.

Seems at the moment any noise about an excursion into Poland is just bluster.

https://www.ukrinform.net/amp/rubric-ato/3739571-wagner-group-in-belarus-poses-no-threat-to-ukraine-or-poland-isw.html

I wonder if Lukashenko is simply creating noise in order to make people pay attention. Wagner can't even have properly settled in and they've got post-rebellion reorganising to do. Can't see them trying to take on a NATO country atm.

Sounds like rotten potato farts to me.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-23-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed his continuing concern over the potential threats that the Wagner Group and Yevgeny Prigozhin may pose to him through symbolism and posturing during a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Lukashenko told Putin that the Wagner Group in Belarus will remain in central Belarus likely subtly reminding Putin of the threat the Wagner military organization still poses to him and underlining Lukashenko’s control over that power.
• Putin and Lukashenko also amplified information operations targeting the West.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN on July 23 that Ukrainian forces have liberated approximately 50 percent of the territory that Russian forces captured since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front line and advanced on July 23.
• Russian forces conducted another series of missile strikes against port infrastructure and the city center in Odesa City overnight on July 22 to 23, severely damaging civilian areas.
• Further speculation about former Russian officer and ardent nationalist Igor Girkin’s arrest and the public posturing of Girkin’s affiliates suggests that a limited section of the pro-war community may have been contemplating political action in opposition to the Kremlin.
• Angry Patriots members likely view Girkin’s arrest as an existential threat to the segment of the ultranationalist community he represents and will likely intensify their campaign to cast Girkin as an opposition figure.
• The Kremlin may be attempting to censor an isolated segment of the Russian ultranationalist community that is consistently vocally hostile to the Kremlin.
• The head of one of the largest suppliers of surveillance equipment to Russian special services died on July 22.
• Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Svatove-Kreminna line and reportedly made tactically significant gains.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations along the Svatove-Kreminna line and in the Bakhmut area, and reportedly made gains near Bakhmut.
• Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka-Donetsk City areas but did not advance.
• Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the western Donetsk-eastern Zaporizhia oblasts border area and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced.
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks in the western Donetsk-eastern Zaporizhia oblasts border area.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) continues to recruit prisoners to fight in Ukraine.
• Russian occupation authorities are bringing foreign citizens to occupied Ukraine to artificially alter demographics.

and

The head of one of the largest suppliers of surveillance equipment to Russian special services died on July 22. Russian law enforcement found “IKS Holding” Head Anton Cherepennikov dead in his office on July 22 and later claimed that Cherepennikov suffocated during a xenon gas therapy session.[32] IKS Holding owns the developer of the YADRO data storage system, which Russian authorities reportedly use in efforts to monitor Russian internet users, and the Citadel Group, which produces operational-search measures that Russian special services use to listen to phone calls and monitor internet activities

"Russian law enforcement found “IKS Holding” Head Anton Cherepennikov dead in his office on July 22 and later claimed that Cherepennikov suffocated during a xenon gas therapy session."

Poisoned? Never heard of xenon gas therapy. As far as I recall from high school, xenon is inert gas, you definitely don't need it but it wouldn't harm you in small amounts as long as you still had oxygen?

I just went down a little rabbit hole on Xenon gas. It has been used therapeutically, basically replacing the 70% of Nitrogen in normal air to make a 70-30 Xenon / Oxygen mixture. All it would take is a simple mistake setting up the mix, or fitting the tank, or a bad tank, and it would be really dangerous/deadly.
It smells well fishy to me, KGB style.

It does, doesn't it!

Kyiv Independent Telegram

Explosions reported in Moscow https://kyivindependent.com/moscow-attacked-with/ mayor claims drone attack.

A NATO-Ukraine Council meeting will discuss security in the Black Sea on July 26 following Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu told Reuters on July 22. https://kyivindependent.com/nato-ukraine-council-to-discuss-black-sea-security-as-russia-terminates-grain-deal/

⚡️ Explosions reported https://kyivindependent.com/explosions-reported-in-occupied-crimea-russian-proxy-claims-drone-strike-on-ammunition-depot/**in occupied Crimea, Russian proxy claims drone strike on ammunition depot.

⚡️President’s Office: Russian missile https://kyivindependent.com/presidents-office-russian-missile-attacks-damage-25-historical-buildings-in-odesa/ attack damages 25 historical buildings in Odesa.

How controversial cluster munitions give Ukraine needed punch during counteroffensive https://kyivindependent.com/controversial-cluster-munitions-to-help-advance-ukraines-slow-counteroffensive/

⚡️Washington Post: US sticking to decision not to give ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.
https://kyivindependent.com/us-reportedly-reluctant-to-provide-atacms-long-range-missiles-to-ukraine/

⚡️General Staff: Ukrainian troops fight in 27 clashes https://kyivindependent.com/general-staff-ukrainian-troops-fight-in-almost-30-combat-clashes-with-russian-army/ with Russian army.

Zelensky said in a video address on July 23 that Ukraine and its partners are preparing new Western military aid packages, including air defense equipment, artillery and long-range weapons. https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-ukraine-prepares-new-military-packages-amid-upcoming-nato-ukraine-meeting/

Russian intelligence services are assessing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to identify targets that overall impact the energy system, Defense Intelligence Deputy Chief Vadym Skibitskyi said on July 23.
Skibitskyi added that Russia is using different methods of reconnaissance, including satellites. https://kyivindependent.com/intelligence-russia-assesses-ukraines-energy-infrastructure/

⚡️Georgian president condemns https://kyivindependent.com/georgian-president-condemns-russias-night-attack-on-odesa-calls-it-another-war-crime/Russia’s deadly attack on Odesa, calls it ‘another war crime'. [the President of Georgia is against the war. The Prime Minister on the other hand crawled up the Kremlin's back passage quite some time ago]

⚡️Explosion reported https://kyivindependent.com/explosion-reported-at-russian-proxys-house-in-occupied-kherson-oblast-2/ at Russian proxy’s house in occupied Kherson Oblast. It’s unclear whether Zhuravko was at the site, according to the report.

Christo Grozev
AT christogrozev
·
5h

Russian media report that a drone attacked buildings near Komsomolsky prospect 17 in Moscow; traffic down this avenue has been closed. What is interesting is that this address is just across from the headquarters of GRU's cyber offense (incl. FancyBear), among other mil. units

UNITED24 Media Telegram

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Ukraine has already regained about 50% of the territory that Russia seized during the full-scale war. According to him, the US believes that Ukraine's counteroffensive will continue for at least a few more months.

The recent attacks on Odesa showed that some types of Russian missiles are almost impossible to shoot down with Ukrainian air defense, — CNN
Ukraine was unable to intercept any of the Onyx cruise missiles and three Kh-22 missiles, journalists report.

Before the attack on Odesa, Russia upgraded the Kh-22 and Onyx missiles to the level of the Kh-32, said Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
The Russians claim that compared to the "basic" Kh-22, the Kh-32 type missile has a reduced warhead weight, so the flight range has increased to 1,000 km. A liquid rocket engine was also installed on the modernized missile. The Kh-32 uses a radar-homing head. In theory, this should solve the problem with the extremely low accuracy of hitting, which the old Kh-22 demonstrates, which does not suit the Russians themselves, writes Defense Express.

❗️Zelenskyy reported that the Russian strikes hit the Greek consulate in Odesa

New anti-aircraft ammunition for "Gepard" anti-aircraft guns, which are important for shooting down UAVs, will be handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the near future

💥 Drones targeted an ammunition warehouse in the Dzhankoy district of temporarily occupied Crimea, said the occupation "head" Aksyonov
He announced that after the explosions at the ammunition warehouse in the Dzhankoy district, the population would be evacuated.

Putin and Lukashenko intensified information operations against the West, saying that PMC "Wagner" allegedly poses a threat to Poland, – ISW

While implementing the pilot project to restore the Kakhovka HPP, a support structure will be built in the lower part of the Dnipro HPP in Zaporizhzhia.

⚡️The Times writes that Ukrainian women use profiles of online dating services to get information from Russian soldiers. Then they transfer this data to the Ukrainian special services. Usually, such profiles use fake images created with the help of neural networks. According to one of the activists, the girls even managed to take a picture of a military ID card and a video of servicemen driving — this made it possible to determine the location of the Russian invaders.

❗️Unilever will let Russia employees be conscripted, — BBC
The consumer goods giant, which has about 3,000 employees in Russia, has policies that cover the well-being and safety of its workers.

Italy will help Ukraine restore the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa and other cultural monuments destroyed by the Russians.
"Italy, which has unique restoration competence on a global scale, is ready to reconstruct the cathedral and other Ukrainian cultural values," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

Although the training lasts 12 hours a day, they still want to learn more, and gain experience, — Western instructors about the training of the Ukrainian military.

Ukrainian Viktoria Onoprienko won two medals at the stage of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Italy.

Komsomolsky prospect 17 in Moscow

This is Greece. Due to strong forest fires, 19,000 people were evacuated, — Kathimerini.

Live: Ukraine Telegram

❗️❗️Russian media and Telegram channels report a drone attack on Moscow: a building near the Russian Defense Ministry was damaged, and another drone hit the Leroy Merlin business center in Moscow.
It is reported that there is currently no information about the dead or injured.

❗️Russians attacked the Danube ports in Odesa region with Shahed drones.
Three drones were shot down by air defense, but one of the ports was hit. An agricultural hangar where grain was stored was destroyed. Several other tanks for different types of cargo and other property were damaged.
Three port workers have been reported injured.

Putin said that Russia withdrew from the grain deal because it allegedly failed to fulfill its humanitarian purpose of reducing the risk of famine in the poorest countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
According to the Russian dictator, the grain deal "was shamelessly used exclusively to enrich large American and European businesses that imported and resold grain from Ukraine."

Greek consulate building and 50 houses damaged in Odesa strike - Zelensky
"Last night alone, almost 50 buildings in Odesa were damaged, 25 of them are architectural monuments. The historic center, a world heritage site, which was taken under the protection of UNESCO. The building of the Greek consulate was also damaged. ..." the President said.

The Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa now.

Building in Russia damaged in drone attack.

Russians think in approximately the following categories:

@Naem

Seeing the protests and the worrying developments in Israel.

Thinking of you.

Yes, it is awful. So worried about the whole thing.

It is actually a period of mourning at the moment for the destruction of the temples- three week mourning period that gets more and more intensive leading up to a big fast Wednesday night Thursday. It is always a depressing time of year, when things are almost expected to go wrong, but this year it feels so much worse. Between the Russian horrors being inflicted on Ukraine and the idiots in Jerusalem (ironically the idiots in Jerusalem ought to know that this has historically been a time of evil and destruction - they can't even read their own history) I am really struggling to even look at the news at the moment for my own mental health.

I just keep hoping that once this mourning period is over, on Friday, the news will get better - how about a major Ukrainian break through, that would do nicely - probably more likely than a change of heart in Jerusalem. But just at the moment I am feeling too low to do almost anything.

So sorry @Naem - hang in there.

@Naem 💐 thinking of you

@naem its terribly sad to see Israel struggling with itself and a dictatorial leader like this. I hope that the protests can achieve something.

IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency

AT iaeaorg
·
11h
During a walkdown on 23 July, IAEA experts have observed directional anti-personnel mines on the periphery of the site of #Ukraine’s #Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, Director General @rafaelmgrossi said today. https://bit.ly/3O7Oj8n

It does say periphery; but the last I heard there are areas within the plants and rooves that Russia is still preventing the IAEA visiting.

? weird. What it said was:

The IAEA has found mines at the perimeter of the ZNPP.

They have still not, as far as anyone has announced, been allowed to check all the buildings and the rooves.

Ok the post has just this moment been reinstated. How bizarre.

Think it must be some weird MN glitch - your post disappeared for me about 9 am then re-appeared 10 minutes later!

Very strange

I asked and it turns out that there are automated filters that remove posts with links in that haven't been set as 'okay'. (necessary really) So it was removed, then a real person looked at it and put it back :)

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-24-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Likely Ukrainian forces conducted a drone strike near the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) building in Moscow on July 24.
• Likely Ukrainian forces targeted Russian military assets in occupied Crimea, temporarily disrupting Russian logistics through Crimea on July 24.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an article published on July 24 likely intended to mitigate damage to Russia’s position in Africa and his own reputation resulting from Russia’s withdrawal from the Ukraine-Russia grain deal, Russian attacks on Ukrainian grain and port facilities, and Putin’s inability to attend the upcoming BRICS summit due to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for him.
• Russia conducted another drone strike on Ukrainian port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast overnight on July 23-24.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations along at least three sectors of the front on July 24 and have reportedly advanced in certain areas.
• The Kremlin continues to codify domestic repression into Russian law, generating minimal opposition from select Russian lawmakers.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, in the Bakhmut area, and along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line and made marginal gains south of Kreminna.
• Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, and in the Bakhmut area and reportedly advanced in the Bakhmut area.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations in western Donetsk Oblast and did not make any confirmed or claimed gains.
• Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations in western Donetsk Oblast and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and reportedly advanced in the Orikhiv area.
• Russian officials continue to highlight the claimed successes of the Russian defense industrial base (DIB).
• Ukrainian officials continue to reveal the involvement of Belarusian entities in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️Russian occupiers at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant force https://kyivindependent.com/russian-occupiers-at-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-force-reactor-into-hot-shutdown/ reactor into 'hot shutdown.'
Occupying Russian forces at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant ordered reactor 4 into a "hot shutown" state in violation of safety protocols, the Ukrainian nuclear agency Energoatom announced via Telegram on July 24.

⚡️IAEA observes https://kyivindependent.com/iaea-mines-found/ mines, power line failure at Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated that "during a walkdown on July 23, the International Atomic Energy Agency team saw some mines located in a buffer zone between the site’s internal and external perimeter barriers," in a restricted area that plant workers cannot access.

Ukrainian forces advanced from 350 to 1,400 meters in the Berdiansk direction, the Tavria operational-strategic group's press center reported on July 24. https://kyivindependent.com/military-ukraine-on/

⚡️Defense minister: Attacks on Russian military targets in Crimea to continue https://kyivindependent.com/defense-minister-attacks-on-russian-military-targets-in-crimea-to-continue/

⚡️General Staff: Russia retreats (https://kyivindependent.com/military-ukraine-on/) from Andriivka as Ukraine makes gains near Bakhmut.

⚡️ Reznikov: Ukraine to share https://kyivindependent.com/reznikov-ukraine-to-share-report-on-cluster-munition-use-with-us/ report on cluster munition use with US.
He stated that he expects the munitions will have been so far effective against artillery systems, armored personnel carriers, and against Russian infantry in particular
How controversial cluster munitions give Ukraine needed punch during counteroffensive https://kyivindependent.com/controversial-cluster-munitions-to-help-advance-ukraines-slow-counteroffensive/

⚡️AP: US to send https://kyivindependent.com/ap-us-to-send-up-to-400-million-in-additional-military-aid/ Ukraine up to $400 million in additional military aid.
The package will include ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), Stinger surface-to-air missiles, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, the AP reported, citing U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

⚡️Germany says it reached agreement https://kyivindependent.com/germany-says-it-reached-agreement-with-poland-on-leopard-2-repair/ with Poland on Leopard 2 repair center.

⚡️Spain says 4 Leopard 2 tanks https://kyivindependent.com/spain-says-4-leopard-2-tanks/10 armored carriers en route to Ukraine.

⚡️Lithuanian Defense Council approves 3-year https://kyivindependent.com/lithuania-approves-3-year-military-support-plan-for-ukraine/ military support plan for Ukraine worth $220 million.

⚡️Media: Greece, Bulgaria https://kyivindependent.com/greece-bulgaria-discuss-transit-of-ukrainian-grain-by-rail/ discuss transit of Ukrainian grain by rail.

⚡️AFP: Lithuania asks EU to use Baltic ports for Ukrainian grain https://kyivindependent.com/lithuania-asks-eu-to-use-baltic-ports-for-ukrainian-grain-exports/ exports.

⚡️Ukrhydroenergo: Water at Dnipro hydroelectric plant https://kyivindependent.com/ukrhydroenergo-water-at-dnipro-hydroelectric-plant-reaches-critical-level/ drops to critical level.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on July 25 that the EU had paid out 1.5 billion euros ($1.65 billion) in macro-financial aid to Ukraine.
This is the sixth payment of 1.6 billion euros under the Macro-Financial Assistance package for Ukraine, which in total amounts to 18 billion euros ($19.9 billion) and is disbursed in monthly tranches. https://kyivindependent.com/von-der-leyen-eu-pays-out-eu1-5-billion-in-financial-assistance-to-ukraine/

⚡️Washington Post: Putin 'paralyzed and unable to act decisively (https://kyivindependent.com/wp-putin-paralyzed-and-unable-to-act-decisively-during-prigozhin-rebell/)' during Prigozhin rebellion.

⚡️UNESCO mission https://kyivindependent.com/unesco-mission-to-visit-odesa-assess-damage-from-russian-attacks/ to visit Odesa, assess damage from Russian attacks.

AFP journalist wounded kyivindependent.com/wp-putin-paralyzed-and-unable-to-act-decisively-during-prigozhin-rebell/ near Bakhmut.

⚡️Media: Russia installed multiple 'spy antennas' https://kyivindependent.com/media-russia-installed-multiple-spy-antennas-on-its-embassy-in-moldova/**on its embassy in Moldova.
It has 28 "spy antennas" installed on its rooftop, which can be used for signals intelligence purposes, the Moldovan Jurnal outlet reported on July 24.

⚡️Minister: Meta launches WhatsApp Channels https://kyivindependent.com/meta-launches/ in Ukraine.

Stolen generation. https://kyivindependent.com/stolen-generation-russia-systematically-abducts-children-from-ukraine-gives-them-to-russian-families/ Russia systematically abducts children from Ukraine, gives them to Russian families
Once in Russia, Ukrainian children are held incommunicado, brainwashed with pro-Russian propaganda, and adopted by Russian families – even though they have living relatives in Ukraine who are their legal guardians.
Nobody knows for sure how large this "stolen generation" of Ukrainian children is.

⚡️Kyiv authorities report https://kyivindependent.com/kyiv-authorities-report-shooting-down-all-russian-drones-in-overnight-attack/ shooting down all Russian drones in latest overnight attack.

⚡️Russian cluster munitions kill child https://kyivindependent.com/russian-strike-against-kostiantynivka-in-donetsk-oblast-kills/ injure 6 civilians in Donetsk Oblast.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

Russia may be preparing an operation under a foreign flag in the Black Sea after recent attacks on Odesa and Danube infrastructure. This was announced by the spokesman of the US State Department, Matthew Miller.
In addition, according to him, last week the Russian military conducted training on assaulting ships.

The Ukrainian counteroffensive is behind schedule, but is proceeding according to plan, Defense Minister Reznikov told CNN

In Ukraine, the Sirko UAV, developed by Kharkiv engineers, was put into mass production.
The drone is able to find an enemy position at a distance of 65 km, and 25 km from the operator will transmit streaming video.
The capacities allow to produce 800 – 1000 complexes per month.

In Odesa, 61 buildings, 146 apartments and 28 monuments were damaged as a result of yesterday's shelling by the Russians

🇷🇴 President of Romania Klaus Iohannis strongly condemned the latest attack by Russia, during which it struck with drones the port infrastructure of the city of Reni near the Romanian border.

The Armed Forces of the Ukraine liquidated the commander of the 129th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Armed Forces of Russia, Colonel Yevgeny Vashunin.

Wheat prices jumped by almost 10% after the occupiers shelled the sea ports in Odesa and the port on the Danube in the Odesa region

Belgium-based John Cockerill upgrades M113 armored personnel carriers for John Cockerill, which designs, manufactures, integrates and upgrades weapon systems for the entire range of calibers from 25 to 120 mm.
The company received a contract for the performance of works from the Belgian government as part of defense assistance to Ukraine.
It is likely that new combat modules and systems from this company will also be installed on future M113s.

🤔 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned by the Russian authorities, said that the arrest of former FSB officer and leader of the DPR terrorists Igor Strelkov was illegal and that Strelkov was a political prisoner.

Farewell to Twitter?
Twitter owner Elon Musk has said that the X.com domain is already redirecting to the Twitter site, and the chief executive officer has published an updated logo.

🤔 The International Federation of Journalists called Russian militant propagandist Zhuravlev a journalist and called for an investigation into his death.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay also expressed regret over "murder of the journalist". She called on the "parties to the conflict" to comply with international humanitarian law.
The Media Movement of Ukraine reminded that Rostislav Zhuravlev personally participated in the aggression against Ukraine. Numerous photographs of Zhuravlev with weapons, Nazi symbols and his posts are proof of this.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres call on Russia to return to implementing the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Dead dolphins are thrown ashore in Kyrylivka, Zaporizhzhia region
Marine animals are dying from water and air pollution caused by the flooding of weapons and oil products.

The Sirko UAV.

Live: Ukraine Telegram

🇨🇳 China's new foreign minister is Wang Yi, who has held the post from 2013 to 2022.
The fate of his predecessor, Qin Gang, is unknown. He has not appeared in public for more than a month. Because of his mysterious disappearance, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly postponed his trip to China.
Bloomberg wrote that Gang disappeared from public space on June 25. On that day, he met with delegations from Russia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

🇺🇸 In a new aid package worth about $400 million, the United States will give Ukraine a batch of tiny Black Hornet nanodrones used for reconnaissance - AP

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly postpones trip to China amid mysterious disappearance of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has not been seen in public for a month - Bloomberg.
The publication reminds that Qin Gang disappeared from public space on June 25, the day he met with officials from Russia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Shoigu to visit North Korea with Russian delegation

🇨🇳 Despite calls for peace, China has been actively increasing its dual-use trade with Russia over the past year, helping Moscow, among other things, import sanctioned Western technology - Politico.
According to Russian, Chinese, and Ukrainian customs data, this year Russia has imported more than $100 million worth of drones from China, which is thirty times more than Ukraine.

Russia has significantly increased its trade with Iran. The number of ships near Russian and Iranian ports has increased significantly.

More reports of Russians using chemical agents on Ukrainians. [Video] Posted this morning by a soldier who was sprayed the night before and is still feeling the effects the next day.

🇷🇴 Romania has decided to join the G7 declaration in support of Ukraine, presented on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius - the country's Foreign Ministry

Ukrhydroenergo CEO Ihor Syrota admitted that the restoration of the Kakhovka HPP may not be feasible if alternative solutions are found to a number of issues, including:
▫️covering water shortages in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions;
▫️powering the irrigation system and water supply in Crimea after de-occupation;
▫️filling the coolers of Zaporizhzhia NPP;
▫️shipping on the Dnipro River.
"If we can resolve these issues without restoring the Kakhovka HPP, then we can discuss whether it is advisable to build a hydroelectric power plant. But for now, a hydroelectric power plant is the only solution to these problems," Syrota said.

Russian intelligence services had warned Putin about Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny at least two or three days in advance. At the beginning, the Russian leader "was paralyzed and unable to act decisively," The Washington Post writes (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/25/putin-prigozhin-rebellion-kremlin-disarray/), citing European and Ukrainian officials.

The New York Times journalist Christian Tribert has published fresh satellite images of the Wagner PMC camp in the Belarusian village of Tsel'. The images were taken on July 23 by the Maxar satellite. They show more than 30 trucks, hundreds of cars and pickups, and construction equipment.

Without Russia. Ukraine's largest trading partner is the EU. Still, Ukraine imports mainly from China and exports to Poland in the country breakdown.

What did Ukraine import in the first half of 2023?
The weapons that are being transferred to us are not included in this list, they are not considered imports.

Pro-Ukrainian war twitter is suggesting there has been a breakthrough in the Bakhmut area this afternoon. I am not sure what this entails or whether many details are available yet. But worth keeping an eye on.

It sounds like there was a significant breakthrough and gains south of the city yesterday (from Ukrainian sources with good track record) with Russian sources backing this information up. The suggestion seems to be that they have encircled the city or are close to.

The reports from yesterday seem to be solidifying this afternoon so I expect we will have official confirmation if this is the case in the next few days.

Apparently there are rumours of mutiny around Bakhmut and collapse of Russian forces.

That may well explain the noise about Poland over the last couple of days tbh.