Ukraine Invasion: Part 43

[MagicFox]

With thanks as usual to everyone!

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https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-8-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Ukrainian forces appear to have conducted a limited raid across the Dnipro River and landed on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast, although it remains unclear whether Ukrainian troops have established an enduring presence on the east bank.
• ISW will continue to offer a conservative assessment of the situation on the east bank of Kherson Oblast until or unless ISW observes visual confirmation of an enduring Ukrainian presence near Kozachi Lopan or other east bank settlements.
• Talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Communist Party Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi following China’s participation in the peace talks in Saudi Arabia suggest that China is increasingly diverging with Russia on proposed settlements to end the war.
• Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin is using the recent coup in Niger and Wagner’s continued presence in Africa to maintain relevance in the Russian information space.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka–Donetsk City line, in the eastern Donetsk-western Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Donetsk Oblast on August 8 and made advances in certain areas.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least two sectors of the front on August 8 and made advances near Svatove.
• Russia continues to draw from its stock of Soviet-era equipment to compensate for equipment losses in Ukraine.
• Russian occupation authorities are preparing for regional elections in occupied areas.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

Howard, Jensen: How Russia’s military bloggers shape the course of Putin’s war
https://kyivindependent.com/howard-jensen-how-russias-military-bloggers-shape-the-course-of-putins-war/
“A new kind of social media commentator – the ‘military blogger’ (milblogger) – has more gradually, securely, and subversively – if unintentionally – challenged the Kremlin’s management of the war in Ukraine, the performance of the Russian military, and, thus, the competence of the state,” write Dr. Donald N. Jensen, a senior advisor at the Center for Russia and Europe, and Angela Howard, a former Russia and Ukraine Consultant for the Institute for the Study of War, in their recent op-ed.

⚡️Reuters: Russia faces challenges https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-russia-faces-challenges-in-exporting-its-grain/ in exporting its grain.
Moscow is facing challenges in exporting its grain products, namely the lack of ships, rising insurance costs, and the unwillingness of Western companies to deal with Russia, Reuters reported on Aug. 8.

⚡️National Resistance Center: New Wagner camp under construction https://kyivindependent.com/center-for-national-resistance/ near Ukraine's border. Zyabrovka is located near Gomel in southeastern Belarus, about 40 kilometers from the border with Chernihiv Oblast in Ukraine.

⚡️ US official: US to announce new military https://kyivindependent.com/us-official-us-soon-to-announce-new-military-aid-package-for-ukraine/ aid for Ukraine.

⚡️Pentagon announces Biden has cleared F-16 training (https://kyivindependent.com/pentagon-announces-biden-has-given-the-green-light-on-f-16-training-for-ukrainian-pilots/) for Ukrainian pilots.

⚡️Dutch PM vows to look into ways to strengthen Ukraine's air defense https://kyivindependent.com/pentagon-announces-biden-has-given-the-green-light-on-f-16-training-for-ukrainian-pilots/ in a phone call with Zelensk

⚡️UK unveils sanctions targeting Russia's access to foreign military supplies https://kyivindependent.com/uk-unveils-sanctions-targetting-russias-access-to-foreign-military-supplies/

⚡️WSJ: Cluster munitions provide 'fresh impetus' https://kyivindependent.com/wsj-cluster-munitions-provide/ to Ukraine's counteroffensive. [thanks for posting the info, @MissConductUS ]

⚡️Media: Rheinmetall purchases 50 Leopard 1 tanks https://kyivindependent.com/media-rheinmetall-purchases/ will supply 30 to Ukraine.
The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall was identified as the previously unknown buyer who recently purchased 50 Leopard 1 tanks from the Belgian company OIP Land Systems, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Aug. 8.

⚡️Ukraine thwarts https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-thwarts/ Russian hack on military information system. "SBU cyber specialists found that to spread viruses in the system, the enemy was mainly betting on the capture of Ukrainian tablets on the battlefield," the SBU said on Telegram.

⚡️Ukrainian military intelligence chief led delegation to Bulgaria. https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-military-intellgence-chief-visited-bulgaria/

⚡️Italy suspends 'golden visas' https://kyivindependent.com/italy-suspends-golden-visas-for-russians-belarusians/ for Russians, Belarusians.

⚡️Military official denies https://kyivindependent.com/military-official-denies-russian-claim-of-ukrainian-command-post-hit-in-pokrovsk/ Russian claim of Ukrainian command post hit in Pokrovsk. In a comment for Ukrainska Pravda, the group's spokesperson Serhii Cherevatyi denied the statement, saying that it's already the "third or fourth time" Moscow claims to have destroyed this command post.

⚡️Over 110 investigations into military enlistment offices https://kyivindependent.com/sbi-over-100-investigations-into-military-enlistment-offices/ opened by Investigation Bureau since February 2022.
The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) has announced that 112 cases regarding abuses by military enlistment offices have been brought to investigation since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

⚡️Update: Russian attack on Pokrovsk kills 7, injures 88. https://kyivindependent.com/update-russian-attack-on-pokrovsk-kills-7-injures-88/

⚡️Official: 78 Ukrainian first responders killed https://kyivindependent.com/official-78-ukrainian-first-responders-killed-by-russias-full-scale-war/ by Russia's full-scale war.

⚡️SBU detains https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-detains-kherson-collaborator-who-helped-russian-forces-to-torture-locals/ Kherson collaborator who helped Russian forces to torture locals.

⚡️ SBU detains https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-detains-suspected-spy-in-zhytomyr-oblast/ woman suspected of spying in Zhytomyr Oblast. The woman is believed to have cooperated with Russian military intelligence by giving them information that was used to launch missile strikes.

Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russia hits Ukraine with missiles that once belonged to Ukraine
https://kyivindependent.com/investigative-stories-from-ukraine-russia-hits-ukraine-with-missiles-that-once-belonged-to-ukraine/
Russia attacked Ukraine with Kh-55 missiles Kyiv gave to Moscow back in 1999 to pay off its gas debt; A controversial firm that makes materials used in the production of passports and driver licenses has resurfaced and regained a monopoly it once had, and Ukraine amended legislation to make it possible; and more.

⚡️ PEN Ukraine: 25,000 English-language books https://kyivindependent.com/pen-ukraine-25-000-english-language-books-to-be-donated-to-ukrainian-libraries/ to be donated to Ukrainian libraries.

Sorry if people are sick of the recommendations (tell me to shut up if you are!) but just finished another excellent podcast that some might enjoy. Looks at Russian hybrid warfare more broadly, it’s implications for Ukraine and more broadly including their use of espionage and also looks at the question of who blew up Nordstream.

Your links (and everyone elses’)have been very interesting igotjelly - really informative and never boring. I’m learning so much. Thank you for sharing.

Sorry, posted too soon - link doesn’t work.

Sorry that one wasn’t a link, it wouldn’t let me so I just screenshot red my Spotify. If you search for Cold Front it should come up. Not sure if it’s on iTunes too though I would imagine so.

No idea where red came from 🙄 honestly if I could type I’d be dangerous 😂

Got it! Thanks.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

💥 Around 10:00, Ukrainian defenders attacked a Russian army command post in occupied Nova Kakhovka on the left bank of the Kherson region.

🇵🇱 Poland will send 2,000 troops to its border with Belarus to stop attempts to cross the border illegally — twice as many as the Border Guard requested.

⚡️ Russian ruble has entered the top three most devalued currencies against the dollar.
Over the past seven months, the ruble lost 57% against the dollar and 73% against the euro.

Ukraine is set to acquire approximately one hundred Swedish satellite communication terminals.
While Satcubes offer slightly lower speeds compared to Starlink — 70 Mbps as opposed to 100 Mbps — their advantage lies in the increased difficulty of disrupting communication with geostationary satellites.

Ukraine converts roads into runways to increase the number of air bases, — Bild.
For several weeks, the Russian Armed Forces have been attacking airfields in western Ukraine, where Su-24s maybe be located. For example, under Starokonstantinov.
According to journalists, this is due to the fact that the Ukrainian Armed Forces move Su-24s equipped with Western missiles from base to base every 24 hours. To this end, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have restored all airfields from the times of the USSR, and in some places they have even converted roads into runways. The most valuable Western air defense systems – Patriot and Iris-T are used to protect these air bases.

Specialists of the Polish arms concern PGZ help the Armed Forces restore damaged equipment in the immediate vicinity of the battlefield

"Ukraine aims to establish itself as a global frontrunner in drone production," asserts Fedorov.

An explosion in Sergiev Posad, Russia, occurred on the territory of the optical and mechanical plant. According to preliminary data, the explosion at the optomechanical plant in Sergiev Posad happened in a warehouse with pyrotechnics. 5 people were injured.
Among its offerings, ZOMP is responsible for creating optical sights, thermal imagers (utilizing imported matrices), missile homing systems, binoculars, and night vision devices.
Debris of ammunition has been discovered in the vicinity of the plant explosion site near Moscow, as reported by local residents. This discovery assists in shedding light on potential activities at the plant.

Today, the President of Hungary, Katalin Novák, signed an agrément on the new ambassador of Ukraine, Fedir Sandor (the same "professor in the trenches")
Signing the agrément means that Sandor's candidacy has been accepted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, he can go to Budapest and start work. Fedir Sandor is a Doctor of Philosophy professor at the Uzhgorod National University. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he joined the Armed Forces and was at the front.

Already 20,000 Ukrainian recruits have undergone basic training as part of the multinational training operation "Interflex" in Great Britain, — the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

🤮 The Russian occupiers plan to transport garbage waste from the territory of Russia to temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, — National Resistance Center of Ukraine.
As per a recent decree, Moscow intends to allocate 1.3 billion rubles to create landfills located in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. According to the report from the National Resistance Center of Ukraine, the true intention behind this move is to transform these Ukrainian territories into dumping sites for Russian waste, effectively using them as garbage disposal areas for waste from Russia.

Bacardi remains engaged in its business operations within the Russian Federation and is actively recruiting new employees, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Live Ukraine Telegram

"Prigozhin's rebellion is a special operation agreed with Putin to check the Generals", - Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Danilov
He added that there is already an understanding of the number of generals who are suspended from performing their duties, some of them are behind bars. [huh? Surovikin was a much-too-clever general, why remove him]

🇱🇻 Latvia has joined the "security guarantees" for Ukraine presented at the NATO summit.

Officials in Ukraine's partner countries are increasingly realizing that their initial expectations of a Ukrainian counteroffensive were unrealistic, no longer expect much progress on the front by the fall, and fear a "blame game" on Ukraine's part - CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/08/politics/ukraine-counteroffensive-us-briefings/index.html
These officials are now contributing to the pressure on Ukraine to start peace talks, including considering territorial concessions

Zelensky considers the Ukrainian counteroffensive "difficult," but an important positive is that the initiative belongs to Ukraine.
"It is very difficult to fight for so long. It's very difficult when you have a shortage of this or that weapon. All this is very difficult because it is a war. I just know that it is difficult for us, but I know for sure that it is more difficult for the Russians. We have fatigue in our eyes, and they have fear in their eyes," the president said.

African countries are ready to send 25,000 troops to Niger to restore President Mohamed Bazoum's rule. Nigeria is ready to provide half of the announced contingent, while Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Benin are ready to provide the rest.
The junta, which seized power in the country on July 26, has already turned to Russia's Wagner PMC for help. The U.S. State Department says that the Wagnerians are directly interested in the coup and are seeking to increase their influence in the region.

🇺🇸🇨🇳 A U.S. Navy sailor has passed (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/08/us-navy-sailor-accused-china-information) on to China detailed information about the USS Essex aircraft carrier's weapons and aircraft, as well as information about other warships. He has been working for Chinese intelligence since February 2022. He was encouraged to do so by his mother, who said it would help him get a position in the Chinese Communist Party.
Sailor Jinchao Wei, an ethnic Chinese, earned only $15,000 from espionage. If found guilty, the sailor could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The SIG tanker was not included in the list because it is not part of the Russian Navy

A powerful photo from this morning's explosion at the Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant, Moscow region.

Warriors Ukrainian Telegram [reliability unknown]

+ 2 Patriot from 🇩🇪

The Russians created a fist for a breakthrough in the Kupyansk direction — the commander of the Ground Forces
"The enemy's goal is to break through the defenses of our troops and go directly to Kupyansk. The fighting is extremely intense now. Individual positions have changed hands several times over the past few days."

🔥 Officially. At about 10:00 am, the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit the command post of the Russian army in the temporarily occupied Nova Kakhovka.

Ukraine has become the largest recipient of US aid since World War II The Washington Post
Washington has donated $66.2 billion in aid to Kyiv since February last year.
Of the total:
$43.1 billion - military assistance, including spending on new weapons and equipment, training, consulting, logistics and other items;
$20.5 billion - economic support;
$2.6 billion - humanitarian aid.
It is important to note that the total EU support for Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian aggression is about €53 billion. Together with the resources allocated to help Member States hosting Ukrainian refugees, the total support for Ukraine and Ukrainians is about €70 billion.

Almost 50% of Ukrainian refugees in Germany are overqualified for the work they do
This is stated in a study by the Nuremberg Institute for Employment Research.
In particular, about 68% of Ukrainians of working age in Germany have higher education, another 16% have vocational and technical education.

In basements of residential buildings in Nova Kakhovka, Rushists are equipping ammunition depots 🤬
The terrorists are using the local population as a human shield, trying to protect the ammunition depots from shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Kaboom in the bay of Sevastopol

That’s quite the cloud! Must have unnerved the locals…..

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-9-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Speculations about the Wagner Group’s withdrawal from Belarus suggest that aspects of the deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin following Wagner’s armed rebellion on June 24 have collapsed.
• Putin is likely still concerned about the threat that Prigozhin poses to his long-term goals and continues to focus on definitively separating Prigozhin from Wagner.
• Alternatively, Putin may intend for Wagner's forces to return to Russia in order to facilitate the destruction or restructuring of Wagner.
• The likely collapse of aspects of the Wagner-Putin-Lukashenko deal indicates that Putin has failed to decisively resolve issues posed by Prigozhin and Wagner following Wagner’s June 24 rebellion.
• Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attempted to justify the recreation of the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts by reamplifying boilerplate rhetoric posturing NATO as an existential threat to Russia.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front and advanced in some areas on August 9.
• The Russian veteran community may be attempting to rehabilitate the nominal Russian deputy theater commander in Ukraine, Army General Sergei Surovikin, following scrutiny over his affiliation with the Wagner Group.
• Marchenkov’s interview may suggest that Surovikin and the anti-Gerasimov faction believe there is a chance for Surovikin to return to the frontlines.
• Russian sources claimed that poor safety regulations led to an explosion near the Zagorsk Optical Mechanical Plant in Moscow on August 9, and notably most Russian sources did not suggest that Ukrainian actors may have been responsible for the incident.
• Russian forces continued offensive operations on the Svatove-Kreminna line, in the Bakhmut area, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, along the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced on the Svatove-Kreminna line, north of Bakhmut, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front and advanced in some areas on August 9.
• Footage published on August 9 further supports ISW’s assessments that the Ukrainian incursion near Kozachi Laheri in the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast on August 8 was likely a limited raid.
• Russian forces may be moving military equipment through Kazakhstan to Russia, but ISW has observed no geolocated footage confirming these reports.
• Russian officials appear to be setting conditions to justify the possible need to cancel or postpone regional elections in the occupied territories in case of Ukrainian counteroffensive successes.

Extra:
[An] insider source and a Wagner-affiliated source speculated that Wagner forces may be leaving Belarus because Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko refused to finance Wagner when he discovered that Russia would not be paying for Wagner as he had evidently expected. ...
..The insider source claimed on August 6 ..... that Wagner's command called on their fighters to keep in touch because new orders could come at any time.[5] Wagner-affiliated sources claimed that the main Wagner forces will “activate” at the end of August but did not elaborate on the statement.[6]

Claims that Wagner forces are moving out of Belarus — a relatively safe haven for Wagner and Prigozhin — back to Russia, Wagner command’s mentions of new orders, and claims of the future “activation” of Wagner forces at the end of August likely suggest that aspects of the deal that allowed Wagner to move to Belarus and continue operations there and in Africa have collapsed.

UK Int Update about the attempts of the Russian state to stop all independent information being available.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️ Germany hands over 2 Patriot launchers https://kyivindependent.com/germany-hands-over-2-patriot-launchers-to-ukraine/ to Ukraine in latest aid package.

Two attack drones were intercepted en route to Moscow at 4 a.m. local time on Aug. 10, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed via Telegram. https://kyivindependent.com/mayor-more-drowns-shot-down-over-moscow/

⚡️ Parliament passes bill on financing political parties https://kyivindependent.com/parliament-passes-bill-on-financing-political-parties-in-first-reading/ in first reading.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament, passed in the first reading on Aug. 9. a bill restoring the obligation of political parties to report on their funding.

⚡️Main power line fails (https://kyivindependent.com/main-power-line-fails-at-russian-occupied-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant/) at Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
The Ukrainian nuclear agency Energoatom reported on Aug. 10 that the ZNPP lost power from the main 750 kilovolt (kV) power line overnight. https://kyivindependent.com/main-power-line-fails-at-russian-occupied-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant/

TASS claimed the source of the [huge] explosion at the Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant was caused by "human error" and originated in a pyrotechnics warehouse rented by a third company on the site of the plant.

⚡️https://kyivindependent.com/russian-official-fire-errupted-in-military-facility-in-russias-stavropol-region/ Head of Georgiyevsk district in Russia's Stavropol Krai Andrey Zaytsev claimed on Aug. 9 that a fire had erupted in a military facility in the city of Georgiyevsk.

⚡️Polish Defense Minister: 10,000 troops https://kyivindependent.com/polish-defense-minister-10-000-troops-to-be-stationed-at-border-with-belarus/ to be stationed at border with Belarus.

⚡️ Ukraine will need at least $42 billion in foreign financial aid in 2024 due to high defense and security expenditures, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in an interview on Aug. 9. https://kyivindependent.com/minister-ukraine-will/

⚡️ US slaps new sanctions against Belarus https://kyivindependent.com/us-slaps-new-sanctions-against-belarus-on-third-anniversary-of-2020-election/ on three-year anniversary of 2020 election.

⚡️ Canada slaps new sanctions against Belarus on three-year (https://kyivindependent.com/canada-slaps-new-sanctions-against-belarus-on-three-year-anniversary-of-2020-election/) anniversary of 2020 elections.

⚡️Biden signs https://kyivindependent.com/biden-signs-order-limiting-us-investments-in-chinese-technology/ order limiting US investments in Chinese technology.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order restricting investments in certain national security technologies in "countries of concern," including China, the White House announced on Aug. 9.

⚡️11 drones intercepted over Sevastopol, Russia claims.

⚡️Massive Russian drone attack destroys Ukrainian https://kyivindependent.com/massive-russian-drone-strike-destroys-oil-depot-in-rivne/ oil depot in Rivne Oblast.

German authorities arrested an officer of the military procurement agency on suspicion that he was passing sensitive information to Russia, the Bild newspaper reported on Aug. 9, citing the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office https://kyivindependent.com/germany-arrests-military-agency-official-suspected-of-spying-for-russia/

⚡️MP investigated https://kyivindependent.com/mp-investigated-for-vacation-during-wartime-declared-a-suspect-of-document-forgery/for vacation during wartime declared suspect of document forgery.

⚡️Russian high-school textbooks promote war in Ukraine. https://kyivindependent.com/russian-high-school-textbooks-promote-war-in-ukraine/
Russia's Education Ministry introduced updated history textbooks that include segments about the war in Ukraine that Russia calls a “special military operation,” the annexation of Crimea, and Western sanctions, CNN reported on Aug. 9.

⚡️National Resistance Center: Wounded Russian soldiers overwhelm https://kyivindependent.com/national-resistance-center-russian-soldiers/ health clinics in occupied territories.
Medical clinics in Russian-occupied regions of southern Ukraine are overwhelmed with wounded military personnel, the National Resistance Center reported on Aug. 9.
"These hospitals provide virtually no services to the civilian population," the Center said.

What was Kyivan Rus, the early Slavic state that comprised parts of modern-day Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia?
Explore our 'Explaining Ukraine' article to learn about one of medieval Europe's most advanced states and how Russia has attempted to distort its history.
https://kyivindependent.com/kyivan-rus-then-and-now/

From Moscow to Novorossiysk: The list of attacks on Russian soil
kyivindependent.com/novorossiysk-another-case-of-war-returning-to-russian-territory/

The Kyiv Independent is a digital publication; however, with the invaluable efforts of our supporter Malcolm, engaging in guerrilla marketing across London, we are also in print. https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=tg-malcolm&utm_medium=telegram&utm_campaign=raid10&utm_content=malcolm

Destroyed Ukrainian oil depot.

Ragnar:
HIGHLIGHTS FOR AUG 10:
■strikes up, engagements down between days
■ Troop losses down, equipment stays above 7-day average
■ Double-digit vehicle, tank, artillery & APV losses
■ Most tank losses since Jun 11
■ 2nd helicopter loss of August ■ KIU: +39 officers

UNITED24 Media Telegram

The first loss of the newest Russian drone "Eleron T-16" has been confirmed.

Following Ukrainian attacks on Russian vessels in the Black Sea, ...the expense associated with transporting Russian wheat has already begun to climb. Insurance cost for ships en route to Russia's Black Sea ports – crucial conduits for 70% of the nation's grain exports – has risen.
Furthrmore, the heightened risks present in the Black Sea region are driving up freight costs for Moscow. This situation is compelling Russia to consider partnering with shipping operators that may not be as dependable.

❗️ 2 people killed and 7 injured in Zaporizhzhia
Today, Russia carried out yet another missile attack on the peaceful city of Zaporizhzhia.
A temple and several trading points in a residential area were destroyed using so-called "high-precision" weapons.

For those expressing concerns about the rising financial costs, we urge them to also consider the price—not solely in financial terms, but potentially in human lives, even American lives. This sentiment was emphasized by John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator of the US National Security Council, during a briefing that discussed the outcomes of a recent CNN poll. The poll revealed that 55% of Americans do not endorse the provision of further funding for Ukraine, as reported by Voice of America.

The US is imposing visa restrictions on 101 officials affiliated with the Lukashenko regime and their associates, according to a statement released by the State Department.

👩‍💻 Ukraine's top job search platform, WORKua, has taken a decisive step by cutting off collaboration with companies operating in the Russian market. The move aims to distance Ukraine's economy from those supporting Russia's war.

The World Summer Universiade in Chengdu, China, concluded with Ukraine securing a total of 11 medals.

🦾 From Robots to Recycled Vapes, Ukraine’s War Effort Gets Inventive — Bloomberg.
An incubator named "Brave 1" was established to consolidate military innovations, resulting in around 400 projects, with 186 selected for potential use. These include robotics, artificial intelligence, and drones.
Here are some of them:
📻 Himera Tech created affordable radios with interference protection for soldiers. Himera Tech plans to produce 2-3k devices per month, potentially increasing to 10k.
🔋 Power Kit repurposes discarded e-cigarettes into power banks for soldiers.
🕹️ Skylab UA developed the remote-controlled Sirko-S carrier with thermal cameras.
🚚 Cityus-C converts trucks into armored vehicles for demining.
🤖 An AI institute designs underwater robots.
🩺 Anima developed software using image-based tests to detect and prevent PTSD in soldiers and refugees.

Live: Ukraine Telegram

5000 Russian artillery systems have been destroyed by Ukraine's count.

After the Ukrainian armed forces struck the bridges across the Chongar Strait, the Russians built a pontoon bridge there. The satellite image, taken on August 9, was published https://twitter.com/DefMon3/status/1689572962272198656 by OSINT analyst Def Mon. It shows that the crossing was built between the damaged railroad and road bridges.

Ukraine reports to the Pentagon on the use of American cluster munitions on the battlefield - CNN.
According to an unnamed Ukrainian official, the data provided by the US Defense Ministry includes both the number of shells fired and the number of Russian targets destroyed, although he declined to give the figures

🇧🇾 A fire broke out at the Belarusian Mozyr Oil Refinery, a gasoline production unit was on fire. The fire was extinguished, the Ministry of Emergencies of Belarus reported. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
In early August, the SBU warned that Russians were preparing a provocation at the refinery to draw Belarus into a war against Ukraine. According to the service, the sabotage is being prepared by special forces who were sent to the country under the guise of Wagner PMC fighters. The Russian sabotage group is supposed to pose as "Ukrainian saboteurs" after completing the task.

The Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant was involved in the development of a new generation stealth bomber, according to the Russian news outlet Agentstvo. 8 people are missing after an explosion at a military plant in the Moscow region, while Russian channels reported that 10 people were found dead under the rubble.

Kim Jong-un has ordered his military to prepare for an offensive war. He called it a deterrence mission. The KCNA state news agency showed photos of Kim looking at a map of South Korea with generals, pointing at Seoul and the South Korean General Staff.
This is not the first time that the DPRK leader has declared preparations for war, but recently his country has been actively building up its military power.

President Zelensky has awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to pilot Rostyslav Lazarenko, who has flown more than 300 combat missions.

🔥 On the night of August 10, explosions occurred in the Russian city of Domodedovo, Moscow Region, followed by a massive fire.
The propagandist RIA Novosti writes, citing the regional Emergency Situations Ministry, that a car service center on an area of 1,000 square meters was on fire in Domodedovo.

❗️Compulsory evacuation has been announced in Kupiansk district of Kharkiv region, the city military administration reports.
The decision was made due to constant shelling and the growing level of danger in the region.

The poll revealed that 55% of Americans do not endorse the provision of further funding for Ukraine, as reported by Voice of America.

I haven't reviewed the CNN poll in-depth, but I'm not too fussed about it. This Reuters poll from the end of June showed strong support for Ukraine, and nothing has happened to move public opinion much since. Poll results are heavily influenced by exactly how the questions are asked.

https://www.reuters.com/world/most-americans-support-us-arming-ukraine-reutersipsos-2023-06-28/

Totally agree @MissConductUS

is the Voice of America right wing by any chance?

I've listened to V of A quite a bit over many years and I've never had that impression, they are a sort of BBC world service equivalent.

Don't forget it's CNN who did the actual poll, Voice of America are commenting on the result, and are possibly as surprised as you are

I have to say I don't think CNN are by nature right wing either so be interesting to see what questions the poll actually asked

CNN report here:

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/04/politics/cnn-poll-ukraine/index.html

Looks like the actual questions asked by the pollsters, SSRS, and the results, are in this spreadsheet here:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23897329-cnn-ukraine-poll

Thanks for digging that out.

CNN is slightly left leaning, but not as much as many others (NYT, MSNBC, NPR, etc.). At the end it mentioned that the poll was conducted by telephone and live interviews, without breaking out how many were in each cohort.

Telephone polling has massive problems. Only landline numbers are published, and they tend to skew much older than the population at large. I doubt my kids will ever have a landline phone. I guess the live interviews are an attempt to compensate for that, but how are those people selected?

It's still early days, but I think next year it's Biden's election to lose. Trump will likely be the Republican nominee, but I think he's very unlikely to win in the general election. In addition to his massive legal problems, too many independents and swing voters are put off by Republican overreaching on issues like abortion.

Great sleuthing! They mailed letters to selected addresses inviting participation. I wonder how many responded and how many just tossed the letter in the recycling bin. One problem with this approach is that people who are highly engaged politically are more likely to respond to it than to bin it.

The questions were asked in a fairly neutral manner. I dunno. One poll is not a trend. I'm sure we'll see more data on this as time passes. There are other political issues in the US that are much more publically debated currently than aid to Ukraine.