Bob Homans August 5
20220806
Ukraine – 8/5 Sitrep
By: Robert Homans
Twitter: @rhomansjr
August 5, 2022
Both my Kyiv collaborator and I have “day jobs.” This morning, mine just got a whole lot busier – one reason why this is going out relatively late in the day. We’ll keep these coming as best we can.
2 Most Recent Denys’
Denys’ latest, from today, covers the following:
· Ukrainian advances in Donbas, toward the town if Izyum which is a major crossroads southeast of Kharkiv. While everyone is talking about Kherson, Ukraine makes advances in Donetsk Oblast. Some Russian soldiers are being moved toward Kherson; others toward Kharkiv.
· Russia is trying to advance toward Bakhmut, another crossroads town but under Ukrainian control. Apparently, the Russian troops in this area are mostly from the Wagner Group, the mercenaries controlled by Putin consigliere Yevgeny Prigozhin. Wagner mercenaries are likely the only Russian troops interested in fighting. It is unclear if the Wagner Group has enough troops to sustain a major advance northwest, toward Kramatorsk.
· Denys comments about the report from Amnesty International, about Ukrainians sheltering behind residential areas, and using school buildings, both of which invite Russian retaliation against civilians. These accusations are absurd on their face. Take Sievierodonetsk as an example. At the time of the fighting in Sievierodonetsk, Russia had a 10/1 artillery advantage. Ukraine had almost no ability to fire back. Schools have been closed since the start of the war, so the Ukrainian Army using schools doesn’t put children in danger. Since 2014, there has been an estimated 200,000 children living along the contact line in Donbas who have likely been traumatized by continual shelling, almost all of which came from Russians and their proxies.
Denys’ previous video, sent yesterday August 4th, was among his best. He covers the following:
· Denys expects a major Russian attack emanating from the Kherson Region, in the direction of Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Zelenskyy. He believes that the Russian offensive will be heavy, designed to “shock and awe” and thereby get European partners to pressure Ukraine into negotiations. If this is what Russia is planning, I see a few problems, including:
o Russia has an estimated 25,000 troops in the part of Kherson Oblast along the right bank of the Dnieper River. To me 25,000 troops is an insufficient number for Russia to start an invasion.
o If successful, what does Russia do if they get to Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih? 25,000 troops are likely insufficient to hold 2 major Ukrainian cities. In Mariupol, Russia was successful because the city was a distance from the nearest Ukrainian position. That won’t be the case, for either Mykolaiv or Kryvyi Rih.
o Russia almost certainly will have to conduct a combined arms advance, consisting of infantry, air, and armor. So far, Russia has been consistently unable to conduct such an advance.
o Early in the war, Russia tried to bypass Mykolaiv, and attempted to attack Odesa. They were stopped in a town that straddles the Southern Bug River. It is likely that this bridge either no longer exists or, if it does exist, it is mined.
· Denys describes a vulnerability in the Nova Khahovka Bridge, potentially allowing Ukraine to destroy the bridge without destroying the dam. Russia was defeated around Kyiv, largely because of their inability to coordinate air, ground, and armor.
· Denys thinks that the reason why Ukraine hasn’t cut off the Nova Khahovka Bridge until now, is that Ukraine wants to invite more Russian troops to move to the right bank, and then destroy the bridge and thus cutting off what amounts to 2 Divisions of the Russian Army.
· The part of the bridge that Denys focuses on seems to be over a ship channel. Before the war, there was an increasing volume of river traffic along the Dnieper, mostly grain and oilseeds. If you look closely at the picture of the bridge in Denys’ video, there seems to be a lock complex just to the right of the railroad tracks.
Times Radio
Interview with Alexander Goldfarb, a Russian physicist who was a friend of Alexander Litvenenko who was poisoned by in 2006, by 2 agents of the Russian GRU. It happened in London, and the agents used Polonium-210 put into a cup of tea.
Goldfarb also takes issue with the Amnesty International report. He also believes that Russia won’t give up on Ukraine until unless there is a clear Russian defeat and until Putin leaves the scene.
8/5 Sitrep
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon August 4 to 12:00 noon August 5, 2022
INTERNATIONAL
August 5
10:21 Former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt: In July, the Russian occupation forces were able to take control of another 0.02 per cent of Ukraine’s territory
● «After ending their ”operational pause” the Russian invasion forces in July have managed to acquire control of an additional 0,02% of Ukraine territory. That’s unacceptable, certainly, but it can hardly be described as impressive,” he writes.
August 4
23:51 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban: There will never be peace in Ukraine without negotiations between Russia and the United States.
23:18: The Japanese government has decided to provide military assistance to Ukraine. This is stated on the official website of the Ministry of Defense of Japan.
● "According to the law "On the Self-Defense Forces," we began deliveries of non-lethal weapons. We transported helmets, protective masks, protective clothing, small drones, etc. to the neighboring countries of Ukraine by aircraft of the Self-Defense Forces, etc. In response to the request of the Ukrainian government, we will provide a new civilian vehicle (van) to the Ukrainian government. We are also offering an additional small drone", – the government says in a statement.
23:12 Delphi: The Latvian government is starting to prepare measures to save energy resources during the next heating season, taking into account possible problems with their availability.
● Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins ordered the ministries to submit action plans for their institutions and companies to the Ministry of Economy and how much they expect to save thanks to this.
22:01: Information appeared in the media that Russia was not included in the top 10 trading partners of China.
● Serhii Tsyplakov, a former trade representative of Russia in China, is sure that now the Russian Federation will have to compete more effectively in order to regain its former place in the ranking.
● Now, Russia has dropped from 9th to 15th place among China's top trading partners.
21:55: The Berlin authorities did not allow an exhibition of destroyed Russian equipment to be held in the city.
Previously, such exhibitions were held in Kyiv, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Poznan, and Prague.
21:53 Foreign Ministry: Religious radicals seized the Azerbaijani embassy in London. After the intervention of the local police, the violators were taken out of the building and detained. Embassy staff were not injured in the incident.
21:48: The European Union has imposed sanctions against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych for undermining territorial integrity. Also on the sanctions list was his son Oleksandr, – the website of the EU Council.
21:47 Finnish Foreign Minister: The Finnish government intends to introduce new restrictions on the issuance of tourist visas for Russian citizens. Several relevant options are currently being considered.
20:56 ERR edition: Estonia wants to remove all Soviet monuments “as soon as possible”.
● In total there are from 200 to 400 Soviet monuments in Estonia.
● “The main thing has been decided - Soviet monuments must be removed from public space, and we will do it as quickly as possible. The specific time and order depend on the readiness and logistical plan of the local authorities”, – Prime Minister Kaja Kallas says.
20:54 Reuters: Canada intends to send up to 225 military instructors to the UK to train Ukrainian troops.
20:00: The US is violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by transferring nuclear warheads to third countries, – China's representative says at the NPT review conference.
19:46 Yle: The Finnish city of Lappeenranta, located on the border with the Russian Federation, starting from August 5, will play the anthem of Ukraine – daily.
● In addition, the Ukrainian flag is now raised in the city on the flagpole in front of the city hall and in the port.
19:45 Latvian Foreign Ministry: Latvia has suspended an agreement with the Russian Federation on economic cooperation.
18:28 Forbes: New car sales fell by 75% in July in Russia compared to the same month last year.
18:06 Reuters: The European Union, despite the difficulties, intends to provide Ukraine with the second tranche of macro-financial assistance in the amount of 8 billion euros by September.
15:28 Reuters - US Secretary of State: The United States opposes any attempt to change the status quo in Taiwan.
15:03: The Georgian bar Dedaena has introduced entry visas for Russians, issued based on the results of the proposed completed questionnaire.
● To obtain a visa, you need to fill out a registration form. Agree that Crimea is Ukraine, and Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali regions are Georgia. In the institution itself, it is forbidden to speak Russian with the staff and engage in political discussions.
14:16: American philosopher, political economist Francis Fukuyama, in a column for American Purpose, believes that the Ukrainian command continues to make strategically wise decisions.
● In his opinion, the momentum in the war between Russia and Ukraine has shifted rather sharply in favor of the Ukrainian side. And big changes are expected on the battlefield in the coming weeks.
● Fukuyama considers the right decision of the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to focus on the liberation of Kherson and the regions in the south, which will allow resuming access to the Black Sea, and not on attempts to push Russia back in Luhansk.
13:48 NATO Secretary: Europe is currently in the most dangerous situation since the Second World War.
● According to him, the Alliance seeks to prevent the situation in Ukraine from turning into a "great war".
● "The war in Ukraine is the most dangerous moment for Europe since World War II, and Russia cannot be allowed to win," -Stoltenberg said.
13:41 Prime Minister: The Estonian government has decided to remove all Soviet monuments from public space
● "It is estimated that there are between 200 and 400 of them in Estonia. The main thing has been decided - the red monuments must be removed from public space, and we will do it as soon as possible," -Kallas said.
● Kaya Kallas paid special attention to the monument to the T-34 tank in the city of Narva, bordering Russia, where more than 90% of the population are Russian-speaking residents, many of whom oppose the removal of the tank.
● "Currently, this tank belongs to the city of Narva. But since it is clear that Narva itself will not remove it, that tensions arise in connection with this, it is clear that the government must take responsibility and move this and other monuments of symbolic significance,"- the Prime Minister of Estonia believes.
13:29 Assistant Secretary General: NATO calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia
● "We deeply regret the loss of life and call on both sides to reduce tension and return to the negotiating table. NATO supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan".
13:05 Sputnik Armenia: Armenia stated that after the aggravation of the situation in the conflict zone with Azerbaijan, Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh moved to the line of contact and settled down at some posts along with Armenian military personnel. The measures were taken as to de-escalate the situation.
12:59: Chinese media have shown how the Chinese army will be located in the exercises off the coast of Taiwan.
● Meanwhile, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry called on the international community to jointly condemn China's military threat to Taiwan.
NATIONAL
August 5
11:33 Minister of Foreign Affairs: Responded to Amnesty International’s statement about the «bot attack».
● “Apparently, Amnesty International calls me a ‘mob’ and a ‘troll’, but this won’t stop me from saying that its report distorts reality, draws a false moral equivalence between the aggressor and the victim, and boosts Russia’s disinformation efforts. This is fake “neutrality”, not truthfulness”.
10:53 Kyiv Regional Military Administration:
● More than 100 historical objects have been damaged in the Kyiv region
○ These include 84 cultural heritage sites, 24 places of worship and 16 memorials. It includes leisure centres, libraries, cultural and club-type houses, cinemas, and art schools.
10:39 British Intelligence:
● Following five months of occupation, Russia’s intentions regarding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remain unclear. However, the actions they have undertaken at the facility have likely undermined the security and safety of the plant’s normal operations.
● Russian forces are probably operating in the regions adjacent to the power station and have used artillery units based in these areas to target Ukrainian territory on the western bank of the Dnipro River.
Russian forces have probably used the wider facility area, in particular the adjacent city of Enerhodar, to rest their forces, utilising the protected status of the nuclear power plant to reduce the risk to their equipment and personnel from overnight Ukrainian attacks.
09:58: This morning, three more cargo ships with grain left the ports of Ukraine. The ship Navistar moved from the port of Odesa, and Rojen and Polarnet left the neighboring Chornomorsk.
08:55 The Institute for the Study of War:
● Ukraine is likely seizing the strategic initiative and forcing Russia to reallocate forces and reprioritize efforts in response to Ukrainian counter offensive operations
● Russian forces are increasingly transferring personnel and equipment to Kherson and western Zaporizhzhia regions at the expense of their efforts to seize Sloviansk and Siversk, which they appear to have abandoned. Russian forces are also redeploying military equipment – artillery and aviation in particular – to Crimea from elsewhere in Ukraine.
● Ukrainian forces conducted a series of localized counterattacks between Izium and Sloviansk and regained positions in several settlements.
● Russian forces attempted to advance northwest of Izium and continued ground attacks northeast and south of Bakhmut. They reached the E40 highway. Russian troops continued attempts to advance on Pisky and conducted a limited ground attack southwest of Donetsk City.
08:49 Operational Command “Pivden” (South):
● Russia lost: 39 soldiers, 4 S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, radar station 9С19 «Imbir», automatic mortar of 82 calibres 2B9 Vasilek (Cornflower), 9 units of armoured and automotive vehicles
● The missile and artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Russian air defence system and logistics points, including those with ammunition in the Kherson district.
● Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked Russian armament and equipment in Kherson and Kakhovka districts and destroyed the Russian stronghold in the occupied Mykolaiv region.
08:02 Canada has contributed $6 million to improve nuclear safety in Ukraine. This is stated on the Twitter page of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN.
07:57 Operational report of the General Staff of the AFU:
● In the Volyn and Polissya directions, units of the Armed Forces of Belarus are carrying out the task of strengthening the protection of the Belarusian-Ukrainian border in the Brest and Gomel regions. Units of the Special Operations Forces of that country have been observed to carry out combat readiness checks.
● In the Donetsk direction, the Russians are conducting an offensive operation in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions. They are trying to create favourable conditions to seize Soledar and Bakhmut and to expand the controlled territory on the western outskirts of Donetsk.
● There were shooting battles in the Kramatorsk direction.
● In the Bakhmut direction, the Russians conducted offensive and assault operations to improve the tactical situation but had no success.
● The Russians carried out offensive actions in the Avdiivka direction. The fighting continues.
00:59 Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories: Three more children, who were taken out by the Russians, were returned to Ukraine.
● “The Bobro family arrived home: a mother and three children trapped under the guise of “evacuation” in the Russian Federation. Thus, to date, 50 Ukrainian children have been returned from Russia”.
00:22 Finance Minister: Albanian government provides Ukraine with €1 million grant. The funds will be used to finance priority expenditures of the state budget.
00:01: The Ukrainian office of 'Amnesty International' was not involved in the preparation of a report on the deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in residential areas, – its head Oksana Pokalchuk says. According to her, the Ukrainian team tried to prevent the publication of the report, but their arguments were not considered.
August 4
23:27 : The head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration Oleksii Kuleba says that at the moment there are damages to 84 cultural heritage sites, 24 places of worship and 16 memorials in the region. Among them are leisure centers, libraries, houses of culture and clubs, cinemas and institutions of art education.
23:00: Tomorrow, from 5 to 8 am (GMT+3), two ships are expected to leave the port of Chornomorsk, as well as one from the port of Odesa. After that, a caravan will be formed, which will go to the ports of destination.
● On board the three bulk carriers NAVI STAR, ROJEN and POLARNET, there will be more than 50,000 tons of Ukrainian corn in total. This was announced by the Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov.
22:48: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reports that the Russian Armed Forces fired artillery at the Saltivskyi and Industrialnyi districts of the city, and the Pavlove Pole district (located in the Shevchenkivskyi area) was under heavy shelling.
22:30: The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration says that the Russians had attacked the Shevchenkivskyi and Industrialnyi districts of Kharkiv.
● Emergency medical teams were dispatched to the scene. There is preliminary information about 3 victims.
21:48 State Emergency Service: 5,000 hectares of fields with grain have already burned in Ukraine.
● “The largest number of fires occurred in the Donetsk region - 101 fires, the Mykolaiv region - 33 fires, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporizhya regions”
● He also adds that farmers are advised to check the fields for mines before harvesting. This can be done by submitting an application for the SSES chatbot, filling out the appropriate form at the SSES department or by calling 101.
21:47: The head of the Ukrainian government Denys Shmyhal had a conversation with the Director of the European Department of the IMF, Alfred Kammer.
● "While the Armed Forces of Ukraine are resisting the aggression of the Russian Federation and protecting the entire civilized world, we are working to strengthen the economic stability of Ukraine. The support of partners is important. I announced this during a conversation with Alfred Kammer", – Shmyhal writes.
20:56 Defense Express: Before striking the Crimean bridge, the Armed Forces of Ukraine should disable other strategic facilities to facilitate the implementation of the main task
● He proposes to strike at airfields and railway junctions leading to the bridge, as well as at energy facilities on the peninsula.
"If suddenly a blackout occurs on the Crimean Peninsula, caused, among other things, by ATACMS launches at power generating facilities, then, you know, the entire air defense of the Russians risks going down. Perhaps then the task of destroying the Crimean bridge as the next stage of the operation may turn out to be much easier than it seems now.”
20:00 MKD: North Macedonia handed over 4 Su-25 attack aircraft to Ukraine
● The publication says that the country purchased these aircraft in Ukraine during the conflict on the territory of the state in 2001 for 4 million euros, and their current preparation for transfer took place in secret.
19:47: A draft law on the abolition of the tax on real estate destroyed during the war has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian Parliament - ed.).
19:46 President: Statements by the Russian Federation about alleged readiness for dialogue are a lie. Russia is a terrorist calling for negotiations after a series of atrocities committed by them.
19:46: Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna says that Ukraine and the EU are working on a project within which Ukrainian children in Europe will be able to receive Ukrainian education.
● "We agreed that the International Ukrainian School project, which will be supported abroad, and we will try to ensure the presence of Ukrainian teachers and Ukrainian teaching in schools in the countries of the European Union. We will pay special attention to this", – the minister says.
● In case of returning to Ukraine for a long time, Ukrainians must be de-registered in the countries of the European Union.
● Citizens of Ukraine can return to Ukraine and back to the territory of the European Union. But in the case of a long-term return, citizens must de-register in the EU and re-register in case of return.
● She also stressed that the current system of temporary protection of Ukrainians in the EU will work until the spring of 2024.
18:46 Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
● In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian troops are trying to break through the defense of the Ukrainian troops on Husarivka, the fighting continues.
● In the Bakhmut direction, the Russians tried to improve the tactical situation in the areas of Bakhmut, Soledar, Yakovlivka and Vershyna by assault actions, but were unsuccessful and retreated. Near Maiske and Kodema, fighting continues.
● In the Pivdennyi Buh direction, the Russian army is concentrating its efforts on preventing the advance of units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine deep into the territory temporarily occupied by it.
● The offensive actions of the Russians in the areas of Bilohirka and Lozove were stopped and repulsed by Ukrainian soldiers.
18:29: The SBU (Ukrainian Intelligence - ed.) has identified traitors who helped the Russian Federation steal more than 650,000 tons of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied Kherson and Zaporizhya regions. The cost of the stolen grain was estimated at $200 million, – the press service of the SBU
● The Ukrainian intelligence service has established the entire chain of those involved: from the traitors who signed permits for the export of grain, and ending with all the crew members of 10 Russian ships that transport the loot.
18:06 Political expert Oleksii Golobutskyi: Kyiv, under the leadership of Klytchko, even in war conditions, is coping with servicing the city's debts. This means that the capital can count on financial support from international structures. Kyiv's retention of the "CCC+" definition in the S&P Global Ratings will contribute to the post-war reconstruction of Ukrainian cities ''.
16:55: The statement of the Amnesty International organization is justifying the Russian killers, says Artur Palatnyi, head of the Ukrainian Team volunteer headquarters.
● “According to Amnesty International, the lives of peaceful Ukrainians are endangered not by the Russians, who have been indiscriminately shelling our territory with prohibited weapons for 5 months, but by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to their logic, it is not the aggressor who is responsible, but the victim. Like, the Ukrainians themselves are to blame for being on the defensive. If they had surrendered right away, no one would have been killed," Palatnyi said.
● We are talking about the report "Amnesty International", from which it follows that Ukrainian troops violate the laws of war by placing military equipment and weapons in schools, hospitals and residential areas.
16:24 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: The Ukrainian military liberated two more villages in eastern Ukraine within a week: Mazanovka and Dmytrivka in the Donetsk region.
16:09 Ministry of Digital Development: Funds raised through the United24 platform, a humanitarian aid fund, were used to purchase a rescue helicopter MI-2AM-1.
● The helicopter costs 23.4 million UAH. It is designed to evacuate the seriously wounded from the battlefield: it picks up speed up to 200 km/h and covers distances up to 600 km.
15:44 State Border Guard: The departure of men temporarily unfit for service outside Ukraine is allowed if there are supporting documents.
14:41: Ozzy Osbourne's new album "Patient Number 9" will have a limited edition with records in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, the musician said on Twitter.
● The album's Spotify page states that the proceeds from the sale will go to help evacuate orphans with special needs from Ukraine. The album is expected to be released on September 9th
14:31: The Lychakivskyi court of Lviv extended the arrest of Viktor Medvedchuk until September 19, according to the website of the court. (Medvedchuk headed the largest Russian fifth column in Ukraine and he is related to Putin – Putin is Godfather to Medvedchuk’s daughter)
14:26 Censor: Ukraine’s Minister of Defense dismissed the heads of Ukraine’s largest state-owned arms trade enterprises.
● Vadym Nozdrya was removed from the post of the general director of Ukrspetsexport
● Yevhen Larin was removed from the post of director of Spetstechnoexport.
● It should be noted that in March 2022, by a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers, both enterprises were removed from the Ukroboronprom arms consortium and transferred to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
13:29 National Police: People are being evacuated from the railway station and the central department store in Ternopil.
● Practically every major city in Ukraine received anonymous calls with bomb threats on Thursday - Ternopil, Rivno, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Lviv, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kropovnytski and Poltava.
● Evacuation and checks are being carried out at bus stations, markets and railway stations and streets.
12:58 'Strana': Journalist and TV presenter Savik Shuster was banned from entering Ukraine for three years, adding to "media blacklist".
● "A "beacon" of notification has been installed, according to which a border service officer will have to stop Shuster at the border and not let him into Ukraine, based on the martial law regime and Shuster's citizenship of another country". The State Border Service did not comment on confidential information.
12:52 Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry: The Russians have created a "concept for the development of Mariupol", which will allegedly last from 8 to 42 years.
● At the same time, the population of Mariupol, which before the Russian aggression was 500 thousand inhabitants, according to the plans of the Russians, should "grow" to 200 thousand by 2025.
12:46 President's Office: Ukraine was not involved in the shelling of Donetsk.
● "Only the Russians themselves or the "people's militia" corps of the unrecognized criminal "republics" are hitting Donetsk. It makes no sense for us to strike at Donetsk. We need to destroy three things: fuel depots, depots with artillery shells and operational-tactical headquarters".
12:32 Commander of the Joint Forces: The Russians will not be able to invade in the direction of Kyiv a second time, since the Armed Forces of Ukraine are much better prepared for a possible offensive.
12:27 Annahar: A court in Lebanon lifted the arrest of the Syrian ship Laodecia, which was carrying stolen Ukrainian grain. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is disappointed with the decision.
● The arrest was lifted in accordance with Lebanese legal principles based on sovereignty over our land and sea. Already in the morning, the ship left the port of Tripoli and headed for Syria.
12:26 Radio Liberty: A 64-year-old resident of Bucha knocked out a fuel truck of Russians on his own during their stay in the Kyiv region at the end of February.
● According to the pensioner, there were Kadyrovites (Chechens who support Putin), in the fuel truck: "As they came, so they left for the next world."
12:26 Conflict Intelligence Team: The destruction of the Crimean bridge will require a complex and multi-vector operation. The launch of one long-range ATACMS missile will not solve the issue. The Ukrainian army will have to use unmanned aerial vehicles, aviation, and possibly even sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
12:25 : Anti-aircraft gunner of the Air Force, lieutenant colonel Denys Smazhnyi spoke about the successful operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend the sky over Kyiv, after which the Russians no longer dared to fly over the capital.
● “There was a massive attack both on the ground and in the sky. In 11 minutes, 7 planes were shot down, almost the entire squadron! .. We destroyed a lot then, and after that the air attacks on Kyiv stopped”, – Smazhnyi recalls the events of the beginning of a full-scale war from the RF.
12:02 Minister of Digital Transformation: There will soon be Wi-Fi in the shelters of schools, kindergartens, colleges and universities.
● We have already received the first 2,500 routers and 1,000 modems from the telecom business, which will go to educational institutions. Thanks to the Internet in shelters, children and teachers will be able to continue their education even during air raid alerts.
● Soon we will open a public dashboard, where in real time it will be possible to track how many applications have been received and from where. There, everyone will be able to check the quality of the Internet in shelters thanks to speed tests.”
MORDOR (Russia)
AUGUST 4
17:31 Yle: Russian Gazprom has been burning gas near the Portova compressor station and the LNG terminal of the same name since May.
● The publication clarifies that a large flame has been raging in the territory where these objects are located for several weeks.
● It is visible even from Finland. Satellite images of the NASA fire monitoring system show that fires began to be recorded at the LNG terminal on May 22, when Gazprom reduced transit to Europe through the Ukrainian gas transmission system and stopped using the paid and booked capacities in full.
17:26 Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Russian troops plan to remove 12,000 tons of ammunition from the territory of Belarus by the end of August.
17:26: "Those who have been in the HIMARS hit area can no longer recall anything,"- said Igor Strilkov, former FSB RF officer and Minister of Defense of the so-called "DPR."
16:48 Gazprom: The current anti-Russian sanctions prevent the successful resolution of the situation with the transportation and repair of Siemens gas turbine engines for the" Portova" compressor station.
● At the same time, according to Siemens Energy, this equipment for Nord Stream is ready for operation, and the Germans can send it.
15:46: The army of Belarus is leaving for exercises in Russia - the country's Ministry of Defense reports.
● The Belarusian military will go to the Far East of the Russian Federation, where the strategic exercises "East-2022" will be held in late August-early September.
● The exercises will involve 250 servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus of one of the mechanized brigades of the Western Operational Command.
15:33: The so-called" "mayor" of Donetsk Oleksii Kulemzin confirmed that there was shelling of the penal colony. According to him, an employee of the institution was killed, and two prisoners were also injured.
● At the same time, the "Ministry of Justice of the DPR" stated that there were no Ukrainian prisoners of war in the shelled penal colony.
15:25 Russian State Television: Published footage of the aftermath of the shelling of Donetsk, which shows how the body of the "killed" is covered. At the same time the corpse moves its head, making itself comfortable.
14:41: Russian channels reported explosions on the territory of colony 124 in Donetsk, where Ukrainian prisoners of war are kept. The information is being verified.
14:25 Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: The Russian Federation is deploying units to the borders of Ukraine, which are likely to participate in maneuvers in the Sumy and Chernihiv directions.
● In particular, the arrival of echelons with tanks at the railway stations of the Bryansk and Kursk regions of the Russian Federation is recorded. It is noted that the number of these forces and means is not enough to open a second front.
● But they can demonstrate the threat of an offensive, holding down the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and reducing the counter-offensive potential.
12:02 Associated Press: Russia seeks to fabricate evidence of an artillery strike on Olenivka.
● US intelligence has found that Russia is going to plant false evidence to blame Ukrainian troops for the terrorist attack in Olenivka, where 53 people were killed and dozens were injured.
KHARKIV
August 5
12:00 Regional Military Administration:
● The Armed Forces of Ukraine took control of the village of Dmytrivka in the Izyumskyi district of the Kharkiv region.
● During the fighting, the Armed Forces of Ukraine "destroyed" "a lot" of equipment and infantry of the RF Armed Forces. At present, the Ukrainian military occupy advantageous positions and strengthen their positions.
● Also an unsuccessful attempt by Russian troops to break through the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Gusarivka. The Russians retreated with losses.
11:43 National Police: Investigated the wreckage of the MLRS "Tornado" on the playground in Kharkiv.
● The stabilizer block, the engine nozzle and the engine head from the "Tornado "MLRS were found by investigators on the street Klochkovska. Also on st. Lopanskyi, the body of the main cassette part was discovered.
● There were no casualties from these missiles.
09:35 Regional Military Administration:
● Last night, the Russians launched a massive bombardment on the Shevchenko, Industrial and Saltiv districts of Kharkiv
● Two people aged 26 and 38 and a 46-year-old woman were hospitalized, all of them were on the street. One of the men is in stable condition, he is in intensive care. Others are in moderate condition.
● Also last night, the Russians shelled the Chuhuiv town. There were no casualties.
● In general, the villages of Kharkiv, Izium, Bohodukhiv and Chuhuiv districts of the region were shelled during the day. According to the regional emergency medical centre, no calls were received from the affected areas.
August 4
23:27: Explosions are heard in the city of Chuhuiv, the Kharkiv region, – subscribers report. We are waiting for information from officials.
16:10 Bild: The work of HIMARS has significantly reduced the activity of Russian artillery in the Kharkiv region - mortarmen of the 93rd Motorized Brigade "Cold Yar" said.
LUHANSK
August 5
11:18 Regional Military Administration:
● Four more Russian attacks have been repelled
● Russian troops try to create favourable conditions for an offensive on Donetsk. They conducted offensive and assault operations to improve the tactical situation but had no success.
● It is becoming more difficult for collaborators in the Luhansk region because the partisan movement in the region is growing stronger. Due to the destruction of the railway, the Russians have complicated logistical communication. The hunt for leaders of the occupation administrations continues.
● The humanitarian situation in Lysychansk and Severodonetsk is terrible. It is necessary to rebuild all infrastructure from the ground up, as well as in other captured cities.
August 4
15:02 Regional Military Administration: In the temporarily occupied Bilovodsk, Luhansk region, a car with local occupational ‘authorities' was fired upon.
● The so-called "mayor" and his "deputy" were in the car. Both were wounded.
DONETSK
August 5
09:18 Regional Military Administration:
● On August 4, Russians killed 7 peaceful residents of Donbas in Toretsk. Another 9 people were injured
● Currently, it is impossible to determine the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha.
August 4
16:09 Mayor: Already 80% of residents have evacuated from Slovyansk, Donetsk region.
● "In a city where 100 thousand people lived, now there are about 20 thousand. But still they continue to leave every day in different directions,”- he said.
12:41 Regional Military Administration: As a result of today's shelling of Toretsk, 8 people were killed, 4 people were injured, including 3 children. A Russian missile “arrival” fell on a public bus stop, where people were at that time.
● In addition, there was a hit around the church, a priest was wounded, the surrounding high-rise buildings were damaged.
ZAPORIZHYA
August 5
08:00: The secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council Anatolii Kurtiev said that last night during an air alert, the Russians fired at one of the infrastructure facilities in the suburbs of Zaporizhzhia.
● Production equipment was damaged as a result of the Russian attack. There were no casualties.
00:24 Regional Military Administration: .
● “The enemy still haunts the Zaporizhzhya region. The arrival of several rockets near the regional centre has been recorded. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties. Details will come out later.»
August 4
19:45 Zaporizhya city council: The loud sounds that residents of some districts of the city heard today between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the evening are the sounds of Russian shelling from the MLRS of one of the villages of the Zaporizhya region.
16:50: Soldiers of the 128th Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade shot down a Russian missile fired by Russian troops from the S-300 complex in the Zaporizhya region.
DNIPRO
August 5
08:20 Regional Military Administration:
The Russian army covered with fire two districts - Nikopol and Kryvyi Rih. They fired from different weapons
● Russians twice hit Nikopol from «Grads». 40 rockets were launched at the town. Up to 10 private houses and outbuildings were damaged. There also was a fire at the local enterprise. No one got hurt.
● The Russians launched a X-59 rocket on the Myrove territorial community. There is destruction of housing. Preliminary, there are no casualties
● Russians hit the Kryvyi Rih district from "Uragan" and barrel artillery. Karpove and Zelenodolsk communities also were shelled. No one got hurt.
KHERSON
August 4
23:06: The head of the Russian-controlled "administration of the Kherson region" Volodymyr Saldo left his post.
● Acting as the "head of administration" will be the "head of the government" of the region Serhii Yelisieiev, who arrived from Russia.
MYKOLAIV
August 5
10:21 Mayor of Mykolaiv: The , Oleksandr Sienkevych, reported that the city was shelled three times this night: after midnight, around 3 am and at 6.40 am. The main target was the Korabelnyi district of the city.
● According to preliminary information from the Military Commandant’s Office of Defense of the city, Mykolaiv was shelled with cluster munitions from the MRL at night, and with long-range artillery «Pion» in the morning.
09:58: "Don’t be afraid of them, they are more scared": General Marchenko commented on the information about the possible attack of Russians on Mykolaiv.
● “I want to reassure everyone. Do not be afraid of them, they are more afraid than us. They are scared. We will beat them; we will drive them away. This is our land. We are not afraid of anyone and will not allow anyone to come here. They have the usual human fear. They are forced to come here. So, if you want to surrender (appeal to the Russians - ed.), surrender. That way you might survive,» says Dmytro Marchenko.
08:43 Regional Military Administration:
● The Russians once again have shelled Mykolaiv with cluster munition
● The Russians shelled the Korabelnyi district of Mykolaiv at night and in the morning
○ They hit a private house and damaged houses around it. In addition, there was a fire in an open area caused by the impact of munitions and their debris. Details of injury and destruction are being clarified.
07:30 : Mayor of Mykolaiv reports powerful explosions in one of the districts of the city.
August 4
17:26 Mayor: As of today, 49 educational facilities have been damaged in Mykolaiv. They will need to be demolished and new ones built. Despite the war, 43,000 children plan to study at Mykolaiv schools online.
● Last night, Mykolaiv was fired on four times, two districts of the city came under rocket attacks.
● Only in the center of Mykolaiv more than 10 private houses, three high-rise buildings and an office building were damaged. Their windows and doors were smashed, the roof was smashed and property was damaged.
ODESA
August 4
22:14: Today, the Odesa region was the first in Ukraine to complete the harvesting of early grain crops. In 2022, 2.5 million tons were harvested.
13:55 Operational command Pivden(South): Tonight, the Russians hit Odessa with an "Onyx "anti-ship missile from the Crimean side, but it exploded in the air on approach to the dry land.
Comparing Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to Russian invasion of Ukraine using Wikipedia and Ukraine Ministry of Defense Daily Bulletins. Soviet and Russian military losses not including captured equipment.
SOURCES
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://euromaidanpress.com/
https://invite.viber.com/?g2=AQBD3wxTrZ6XUU7IdXeHUfjVCydekezQCCGuwYnT6qPd1r7n1aVbFIewa6ng6Lis