Ukraine Invasion: Part 50

[MagicFox]

Welcome, with love and thanks to all contributors and lurkers. Unbelievably, we’re on thread 50. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

China Bans Export of All Civilian Drones That Can Be Used in War
According to the Associated Press, China has announced a ban on the export of all civilian drones that could be used in warfare. Additionally, some functions of other drones will be limited. These changes are set to take effect on September 1.

🙅🏼‍♂️ Prime Minister Shmyhal Reaffirms Sanctions Against Lukoil, Addresses Slovakia's Energy Security Concerns

The United States is suspending more than $95 million in aid to Georgia due to the anti-democratic actions and false statements of the Georgian government, which are incompatible with the norms of EU and NATO membership, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced.

Ukraine Surpasses Russia in Long-Range UAV Strikes in July, — Forbes
In July, Ukraine outpaced Russia in both the number and effectiveness of long-range UAV strikes, according to Forbes. Russia launched 426 Shahed attack drones against Ukraine, while Ukraine conducted over 520 long-range drone strikes. The publication notes that Russia's air defense system appears to be less effective than Ukraine's, as evidenced by damage to oil depots, substations, and military facilities. The article raises questions about Ukraine's capacity to maintain this level of production and whether July represents the peak of its drone capabilities.

Moldova Expels Russian Embassy Employee Following Parliament Searches
Moldova has expelled an employee of the Russian embassy, citing activities incompatible with diplomatic status. This decision came after the arrest of two individuals on charges of high treason following searches in the parliament.

🇦🇹 Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg Rejects Calls for Ukraine to Cede Territory for Peace

New Russian Drone Wreckage Discovered in Romania
In recent days, joint teams from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense and other national security structures have continued searching for fragments of drones that fell on the Romanian bank of the Danube after Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian objects and port infrastructure. "All areas where drone fragments were recorded have been inspected, and fragments were found near Plauru and Periprava in Tulcea county. On Wednesday, July 31, drone elements were also confirmed in the Čatalkioi district (Tulcha)@" (Romanian MoD)

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Due to the deteriorating security situation, forced evacuation of children was introduced in five more settlements in Donetsk oblast.

In Kharkiv region, a rescuer went to his own home to eliminate the consequences of enemy shelling.
As a result of the attack on the village of Velykyi Burluk, his 37-year-old wife was killed and his 10-year-old son was hospitalized with burn injuries. https://t.me/liveukraine_media/23075

❗️In the video, a heavily intoxicated Russian woman named Elya admits she's been touching (meaning beating) a Ukrainian girl that she adopted from Mariupol ‘for as long as the war has been going on’. https://t.me/liveukraine_media/23082
The video with her confession was published on July 28 on the TG channel ‘K-Inform Surgut’ with the following comment:
“A certain lady, sitting on social networks with signs of intoxication, tells everyone that she adopted a girl from Mariupol and regularly beats her. Judging by her story, she openly hates her and starts fights with her. I ask the guardianship service to respond and take action. Thank you in advance."
In the video, Elya gives the person she's talking to her address. It’s 5 Lenin Street in Surgut.

The SBU detained a priest of the UOC-MP who was preparing a strike on the echelons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region.
The rector of a Kharkiv church was recruited before the invasion. He was supposed to collect information about the schedules and routes of the Armed Forces echelons in the Kharkiv region.

On the night of July 31, nearly 11,500 people took refuge in Kyiv subway stations during an air raid that lasted more than seven hours.

The temporarily occupied territory managed to return two little girls with their mother
It took almost 10 days to prepare the route and 5 days to travel. The children and their mother have now successfully reached the government-controlled territory of Ukraine.

Researchers from the Ukrainian Antarctic station Akademik Vernadsky captured a rare phenomenon - the starry sky. Usually, it is always cloudy in their region of the Antarctic.

Absolutely wonderful news of the releases of prisoners from Russia. But very bitter sweet thinking that if Alexei Navalny had still been alive he'd surely have been among those freed...

yes ....

I’m not sure he would have been. He was in the nemesis of Putin as his regime, I’m not convinced he would ever have been swapped.

I stand corrected, looks as though he was to be on the list. How utterly awful for Yulia.

@Igotjelly he was apparently to have been on the list. But Putin could have reneged on that and the swap still gone ahead, I feel. There are no guarantees. But yes, his poor wife today, she must be in pieces.

Easy to put him on the list when he's no longer here.look at their actions, Yulia has an arrest warrant out for her I think.

Yes she does.

This photo makes me so happy. Imagine how they must feel knowing they’re going to see their loved ones soon and will probably sleep in their own beds ❤️💙 praying for the same for the many Ukrainian prisoners still languishing in Russia’s penal system.

Sorry for the spam but there is so little good news out there. I remember this woman’s story at the time and so pleased that she’s been included.

https://x.com/k_sonin/status/1819082106221293571

This is great news, I remember her well ❤️

My heart goes out to all who have been released, waiting to be released and who will never come home, and their families and loved ones.

I hate this war

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-31-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Israel conducted an airstrike killing Hamas Political Bureau Chairperson Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran to derail attempts to establish peace in the Middle East.
• The Russian State Duma revised some aspects of a recent bill criminalizing Russian soldiers' use of personal devices on the battlefield following outcry in the Russian ultranationalist community.
• Russian officials may be taking steps to address domestic security issues following the March 2024 Crocus City Hall terrorist attack and June 2024 shootings in the Republic of Dagestan.
• Ukrainian forces struck a weapons and equipment warehouse in Kursk City on the night of July 30 to 31.
• Russian border guards withdrew from Armenia’s main international airport.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk, Svatove, Chasiv Yar, Torestsk, and Donetsk City and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on July 31 increasing financial incentives for signing a Russian military service contract, likely to support ongoing crypto-mobilization efforts.

* *

Good grief @blueshoes what did you post? :D something with a link?

Only my usual ISW link. I find that MN hides my ISW post if I do it later at night, in order to check it over. Good safeguards. My post has been reinstated 😁

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-1-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces continue to make slow, steady advances in the Pokrovsk direction (west of Avdiivka), largely enabled by Ukrainian manpower shortages and the terrain in the area immediately northwest of Avdiivka. Russian advances will likely slow further as Russian forces advance into a line of larger and more urban settlements.
• Russia's current rate of tactical advance towards Pokrovsk will likely not continue indefinitely, however, as Russian forces are approaching a line of larger and more urban settlements.
• Russia's Central Grouping of Forces appears to be more rapidly redeploying and committing forces between different sectors of its recently expanded area of responsibility (AOR) in Donetsk Oblast than has been the norm in most of the theater recently.
• The Central Grouping of Forces may have established a more flexible command and control (C2) structure and may be responding more quickly to potential Ukrainian tactical vulnerabilities than other Russian groupings of forces in Ukraine.
• A limited number of F-16 fighter jets have reportedly arrived in Ukraine, but it will likely be several months before Ukraine will be able to field the jets at scale.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine will not compromise its sovereignty and territorial integrity in exchange for a diplomatic resolution to Russia's invasion.
• Russia, Belarus, the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey, and Norway conducted a high-profile prisoner exchange involving 26 prisoners from multiple countries on August 1.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Svatove, Chasiv Yar, and Donetsk City.
• Russian opposition outlet Vazhnye Istorii reported on August 1 that the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) may have significantly overstated the number of contract soldiers it claims to have recruited between Fall 2022 and April 2024.

https://x.com/Andrew_Roth/status/1819238661025657035

Evan speaking after landing in the US. He looks quite physically unwell and like a man that’s going to be haunted by his experience for a long time. Even standing with his hands behind his back in that way looks like a hangover from being made to act in a certain way during his captivity. I really hope they all get the help with their mental health that they’ll so badly need.

Yes he looks very shocked and disorientated. Good to see smiles break through at the end.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️'Signs of escalation' on battlefield in Kharkiv sector, Ukraine's military says. https://kyivindependent.com/signs-of-escalation-on-battlefield-in-kharkiv-sector-ukraines-military-says/

⚡️Syrskyi: Russia suffers big losses but has 'minor gains' on eastern front. https://kyivindependent.com/russia-suffers-big-losses-on-eastern-front-but-has-minor-gains-syrskyi-says/

⚡️Zelensky: Cabinet reshuffle https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-government-reshuffle-prepared-zelensky-says/ being prepared.
In early July, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources in the presidential team, that Zelensky was considering dismissing Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who has been in office since 2020.

⚡️Next global peace summit will likely be held https://kyivindependent.com/next-global-peace-summit-will-likely-be-held-in-the-middle-east-yermak-says/ in Middle East, Yermak says.

⚡️ Kremlin skeptical about participation in Ukraine's second peace summit https://kyivindependent.com/peskov-peace-talks/
No peace summit with Russia's participation is being prepared at the moment, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda radio on Aug. 1.

⚡️Breaking: Freed U.S. prisoners arrive https://kyivindependent.com/freed-u-s-prisoners-arrive-in-dc-greeted-by-biden-harris/ in Maryland, greeted by Biden, Harris.

⚡️White House: US wanted Navalny https://kyivindependent.com/navalny-2/ to be part of prisoner exchange.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny could have been included in a prisoner swap between Moscow and the West if he had not died in prison on Feb. 16, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at a briefing on Aug. 1.

⚡️The negotiations between the U.S. and Russia about prisoner swaps and any potential talks over Moscow's full-scale war against Ukraine are not related, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at a briefing on Aug. 1. https://kyivindependent.com/no-link-between-us-russia-prisoner-swap-talks-and-war-in-ukraine-sullivan-says/

⚡️ Talks on historic prisoner swap between West, Russia took over 2 years, Reuters reports https://kyivindependent.com/negotiations-on-prisoner-swap/

Killers, spies and smugglers – the Russians released in historic prisoner swap https://kyivindependent.com/killers-spies-and-smugglers-the-russians-released-in-historic-prisoner-swap/

⚡️Murderer freed in prisoner swap is FSB agent, Kremlin confirms https://kyivindependent.com/krasnikov-fsb-agent/
Convicted murderer Vadim Krasikov, who was freed from German prison in a historic prisoner exchange on Aug. 1, is a Federal Security Service (FSB) agent, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Aug. 2.

⚡️ Ukraine estimates 700,000 people https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-estimates-700-000-people-will-leave-country-in-2024-2025/ will leave country in 2024-2025.

⚡️Turkey ratifies https://kyivindependent.com/turkey-ratifies-free-trade-agreement-ukraine/ free trade zone agreement with Ukraine.

⚡️Ukraine's second Ada-class corvette https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-new-corvette/ launched in Turkey.
A new Ada-class multi-purpose corvette built in Turkey for Ukraine was launched in Istanbul on Aug. 1, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

⚡️Russia exaggerating numbers of contract soldiers, investigation claims. https://kyivindependent.com/russia-exaggerating-numbers-of-contract-soldiers-investigation-claims/
The Russian Defense Ministry announced in December that there were 640,000 soldiers serving under contract. But citing data from Russian federal budget expenditures, Important Stories and CIT said only 426,000 Russians had received a one-time payment for signing a contract during the period from autumn 2022 to April 2024.

⚡️ Ukraine brings back bodies of another 250 fallen soldiers. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-brings-back-bodies-of-250-fallen-soldiers/

Ukrainians consider the customs, Ukraine's parliament, and the Cabinet of Ministers to be the most corrupt institutions, according to a survey by the National Democratic Institute and the Kyiv International Institute for Sociology (KIIS) released on Aug. 1. https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainians-believe-customs-parliament-cabinet-of-ministers-are-most-corrupt-survey-shows/

⚡️ 48% of Ukrainians view Zelensky's party negatively https://kyivindependent.com/48-of-ukrainians-view-zelenskys-party-negatively-survey-says/ survey says.

⚡️Minister asks for 'additional checks' after company won tender to rebuild Kyiv children's hospital at inflated price. https://kyivindependent.com/health-ministry-asks-for-checks-after-company-with-inflated-prices-won-bid-to-rebuild-kyiv-childrens-hospital-hit-by-russia/

⚡️ Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 16 https://kyivindependent.com/attacks-72/ over past day.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson - AUG 2, 2024
■ Engagements below 7-day average, 1.1k casualties
■ 2 MLRS, making it 9 in the last 7 days
■ Relatively few 🇺🇦 strikes resulting in an unfavorable ratio

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Next Summit on Peace in Ukraine Aims to End the War, Says Yermak
The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, emphasized in an interview with Bloomberg that the next peace summit on Ukraine should help bring an end to the war. "The most important expectation from the second summit is that it will form the main prerequisites for ending hostilities (...) We need to end this war as soon as possible in order to achieve a just peace," Yermak stated.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry Secures ₴3.7 Billion in Agreements for Ground Kamikaze Drones and Anti-Aircraft Guns
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has finalized agreements with local manufacturers to supply ground kamikaze drones and anti-aircraft guns, amounting to over ₴3.7 billion. This significant investment aims to bolster Ukraine's defensive capabilities amidst ongoing conflict.

Estonia to Implement Full Customs Control at Russian Border Checkpoints Starting August 8

No Direct Interaction with Putin During Prisoner Exchange, Says US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan

Russia has expressed interest in new prisoner exchanges. Russian Ambassador to the USA Anatoly Antonov stated, "There are still dozens of Russians in American torture chambers, who look to the Motherland with hope and are waiting for their release. We will make every effort to extend the release and ease the fate of all compatriots who have fallen into the millstones of local justice."
Additionally, the French Foreign Ministry has called for a new exchange, aiming to secure the release of Laurent Vinatier, an employee of a Swiss non-governmental organization, who was detained in Moscow in June on charges of "gathering military information," according to Bild.

Stephen Fry's Visit to Ukraine: A Film about Resilience and Reflection
British comedy actor, writer, and presenter Stephen Fry has released a film documenting his visit to Ukraine in September 2023. Invited by Olena Zelenska, Fry hosted the third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv.

Live: Ukraine Telegram highlights

Russia will not participate in the second peace summit because the Kremlin has not heard an "agenda" that would suit Moscow, says Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

It's estimated that 133,000 war crimes have been committed by Russians since the invasion of Ukraine began.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office says these crimes cover the full range of offenses detailed in the Rome Statute.

The documentary We, Our Pets and the War by Ukrainian TV presenter and blogger Anton Ptushkin has been available on Netflix since July 31.
It shows the stories of people and their pets against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and how people rescued not only domestic cats and dogs, but also bears, lions, chameleons, and other exotic animals. t.me/liveukraine_media/23100

An elderly couple was evacuated from frontline Yelyzavetivka.
The village is located a few kilometers from the front. Mortar shells and air bombs destroy the town every day, where more than 100 residents remain.
On August 1, 515 people were evacuated with the help of the police, including 55 children. Since the beginning of the mandatory evacuation, 182354 people have been evacuated, including 21498 children and 7210 people with disabilities.

Ukraine appeals to UNESCO to protect Tauric Chersonese, which Russia continues to destroy in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
The complexity of the situation lies in the fact that the monument is located in the temporarily occupied territory, and monitoring missions have no access to it.
As of today, the occupiers' activities have led to the destruction of the city of Chersonesos on an area of 80,215 m².

Playgrounds in Russian-occupied Mariupol are turning into a landfill.
In the central district of the city, a playground is turning into a landfill.
"Zelenbud used to clean and mow the grass here. Since 2022, no one cares about it," says Mariupol residents.
Children's areas in parks are also being destroyed in the occupied city. Children have nowhere to play.

That is a lovely photo to see

Kara-Murza's comments are disgusting - stop Western sanctions so the Russian people don't suffer.

Who the fuck does he think are in Ukraine mass destroying, raping, murdering, robbing? Russian elites?

There's a truly horrible photo of a Ukrainian soldier who has been literally dismembered by Russians.
The Russian Wagner members who saw a cellar full of Ukrainian civilians near Bakhmut and shot them all including the screaming five year old?

These soldiers are the ones he wants to make life easier for?

Why did the West bother with him?

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Kamala Harris https://kyivindependent.com/kamala-harris-secures-democratic-presidential-nomination-wp-reports/ secures Democratic presidential nomination.

⚡️Pokrovsk sector scene of 'most severe battles' Zelensky says. https://kyivindependent.com/pokrovsk-sector-scene-of-most-severe-battles-zelensky-says/

Poland and Ukraine to form a military unit from Ukrainians in Europe. Will it be effective? https://kyivindependent.com/poland-and-ukraine-to-form-a-military-unit-from-ukrainians-in-europe-will-it-be-effective/
Kyiv and Warsaw have agreed to form and jointly train a new army brigade on Polish soil, betting the initiative could help recruit some of the scores of Ukrainian men living in Poland and other EU countries.

⚡️Ukrainian special services train Mali rebels to operate drones https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-special-services-train-mali-rebels-to-operate-drones-commander-says/ media reports.

⚡️Azerbaijan starts https://kyivindependent.com/slovenia-to-receive-azerbaijan/ supplying gas to Slovenia.
Slovenia started to receive natural gas from Azerbaijan on Aug. 1, as European countries diversify away from Russian supplies of fossil fuels. In 2020, 81% of all natural gas imported into Slovenia came from Russia.

⚡️Ukraine hit Morozovsk airfield, oil depots https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-hit-morozovsk-airfield-oil-depots-in-russia-overnight-general-staff-confirms/ in Russia overnight, General Staff confirms.

⚡️Crimean Bridge could be destroyed in coming months, Budanov says.
The bridge was heavily damaged by Ukrainian strikes in October 2022 and July 2023, prompting Russia to take steps to further defend the structure. https://kyivindependent.com/crimean-bridge-could-be-destroyed-in-coming-months-budanov-says/

Opinion: Russian Kh-101 missile with US components continues killing Ukrainians en masse https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-russian-kh-101-missile-with-us-components-continues-killing-ukrainians-en-masse/
"Forensic experts identified Kh-101 missile fragments at the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, one of the sites of Russia’s mass attack on July 8, which killed 33 people in Kyiv, including five children. The Kh-101, a strategic air-to-ground cruise missile, is among the most destructive in Russia’s arsenal.

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko releases German hostage https://kyivindependent.com/belarus-weekly-minsk-takes-part-in-historic-prisoner-exchange-by-releasing-german-hostage/ as part of historic prisoner swap

⚡️Released in prisoner swap yesterday, Ilya Yashin vows to return https://kyivindependent.com/released-in-prisoner-swap-yesterday-ilya-yashin-vows-to-return-to-russia/ to Russia.
Speaking at a press conference in Bonn, Germany, Yashin said he had fought against being released, as exile would effectively end his political opposition work in Russia.

⚡️Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 5, injure 11 over past day. https://kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-across-ukraine-kill-5-injure-11-over-past-day/

The numbers of Russian hardware losses are consistently so high!

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦- AUG 3, 2024

■ Higher casualties, fewer engagements
■ Artillery, APV & drone losses above 7-day average & 3 missiles
■ Janovsky: 47 🇷🇺 13 🇺🇦 added; 30-day ratio 3.0x
■ Improved strike ratio; 🇺🇦 struck an ammo depot at Morozovsk airfield