Bob Homans July 18
20220718
Ukraine – 7/18 Sitrep
Compiled by: Robert Homans
Twitter: @rhomansjr
July 18, 2022
High – Level Removals
Yesterday, President Zelenskyy removed from office his Prosecutor General, Iryna Venediktova, and Head of the State Security Service (SBU), Ivan Bakanov. In both cases, but without accusing either Venediktova or Bakanov, the reasons cited were the high level of treasonous activity in both agencies. According to Zelensky, there has been 651 indictments for treason since the beginning of the latest Russian invasion.
Perhaps Rep. Victoria Spartz was onto something, when she described similar concerns to those made by Zelenskyy yesterday, in her letter to Pres. Biden. It is also true, as described in this article dated Dec. 30, 2014 by Christopher Miller, one of the most well-respected and well-informed journalists covering Ukraine, that infiltration of the SBU by Russia’s state security service, the FSB, goes back until at least 2010, the start of Yanukovich’s Presidency.
Venediktova was preceded as General Prosecutor by Ruslan Riaboshapka, considered by many to be a true reformer. Riaboshapka lasted in office for approximately 6 months. It was rumored at the time that he lost his job over his refusal to indict former President Petro Poroshenko for Treason. As it turned out Venediktova likely didn’t want the stigma of indicting Poroshenko either, as she went on vacation only to have her Deputy indict Poroshenko in her absence.
Bakanov’s hiring as Head of the SBU was seen at the time as a means for Zelenskyy to put control of the SBU in his hands. Bakanov had no intelligence background. He came from Zelenskyy’s production company, Kvartal 95.
There are many questions concerning the first several days of Russia’s most recent invasion of Ukraine that Bakanov’s successor will hopefully investigate, including:
· How did Russia capture Kherson so quickly soon after the start of the war, using a bridge to cross the Dnieper River into Kherson City, a bridge that likely would’ve been blown by Ukrainian forces?
· How did Russia advance out of Crimea so quickly, using two routes, one toward Kherson and the other toward Mariupol, that could have been easily blocked by Ukrainian forces, allowing Ukraine time to establish defense lines?
· On the 2nd day of the war, how did a tank and armored personnel carrier end up in front of the Kyiv Opera House, and an armored column enter Obolon an inner suburb of Kyiv?
· At about the same time, how did Russian troops enter Makariv, approximately 40km. west of Kyiv?
· Why was a Russian tank column seen in northern Zhytomyr Oblast, near Korasten, on the 2nd day of the war?
Rep. Spartz would like answers to these questions and so, no doubt, would the Ukrainian people, especially those who now live and suffer in temporarily occupied territories like Kherson and Melitopol, formerly occupied territories like Bucha and Irpin, and those who have lost loved ones or forced from their homes. I don’t know what motivated Spartz to become concerned about Ukraine, having expressed little concern since her election to Congress in November 2020. Spartz says she wants to increase support to Ukraine, but she also wants to know how far up in the Ukrainian Government the treason goes, treason that the Ukrainian government itself admits has taken place.
In her interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Spartz made very unfortunate and untrue statements about the lack of support from the Ukrainian people, toward both the war effort in general, and the Army in particular, but these statements shouldn’t detract from the fact that the questions she asked in her letter to Pres. Biden deserve answers.
Chris Miller’s article about Russia’s compromising the SBU is well-worth reading. Here are some excerpts:
· “The previous night, (probably Feb. 19 or 20, 2014), Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, had ordered his operatives to steal a trove of state secrets from Ukraine's Security Service, known as the SBU, before fleeing Kyiv on Feb. 22. During their raid on the spy agency, the thieves also stole data on more than 22,000 officers and informants as well as anything documenting decades of cooperation between the SBU and its Russian counterpart, the Federal Security Service, or FSB. What the burglars weren't able to carry, they burned or destroyed.”
· “Just days after the break-in, the director of the intelligence service, Oleksandr Yakymenko, surfaced in Russia, having defected with four other top spies and a dozen or so subordinates loyal to Moscow.”
As Miller described, the burglary left the new Government without a functioning state security service at a time when Russia was undertaking the invasion and eventual annexation of Crimea. Because of the loss of personnel records, they had no idea who was loyal to Ukraine or working for the FSB. The United States and NATO refused to provide Ukraine with tactical intelligence, believing that doing so would compromise sources and methods. Either at the same time, or separately, draft records were destroyed leaving Ukraine without the ability to replenish its Army via conscription.
It is quite possible, in the 8+ years between the end of the Revolution of Dignity and today, that the SBU still hasn’t purged its ranks of Russian agents.
Latest Denys
The most significant news is Denys’ report that Russia is moving the Black Sea Fleet away from Sevastopol, transferring the ships to Novorossysk on the eastern side of the Black Sea. According to Denys, this is likely in response to Ukraine taking delivery of longer range HIMERS missiles, capable of hitting Sevastopol and the Kerch Bridge.
7/18 Sitrep
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon July 17 to 12:00 noon July 18, 2022
I have chosen to exclude Russia from the International section of this almost daily and place it after International and National briefs as Russia has chosen to exclude itself from the current international order while it seeks to build its own medieval empire.
INTERNATIONAL
July 18
Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Yi said that China “will not sit idly by” in relation to the situation in Ukraine. Minister noted that China “is not going to add fuel to the fire” and will contribute to peace negotiations.
The new EU sanctions will affect legal persons, Russian politicians and those who support Russian actions in Ukraine - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg.
H&M announced that it is leaving Russia. It is planned to open shops to sell the remaining goods.
The war between Russia and Ukraine may last another 4-6 months and become a "frozen conflict", predicted former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis.
The Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov proposed to take «pre-emptive tactical measures» and to deploy an air defence base in the Shalinsky district of the republic. ”In modern conditions, Russia needs new strategic military solutions. <...> First of all, I believe that air defence systems are in demand as never before in the mountains of the Chechen Republic.»
Reuters: A German public foundation established to help Russia’s Gazprom complete the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline wants to pay 12 million euros ($12.10 million) to settle its liabilities to the company’s subsidiary.
July 17
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland said after the meeting of the G20 finance ministers that she considers it difficult, but correct, Canada's decision to return the turbine for the Russian Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline after maintenance, despite the sanctions.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz - If the war in Ukraine ends and peace is established on Russia's terms, Western sanctions will not be lifted. He urged the Germans to prepare for the "difficult road" needed to stop Putin's "neo-colonial" course.
Anadolu: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Iran on July 18-19, where he will meet with Volodymyr Putin on the sidelines of a trilateral summit.
Embassy of Ukraine in Israel: Russian aggression against Ukraine extends to Israel. Recently, along with a notable propaganda attack on social networks, we have witnessed anti-Ukrainian demonstrations funded by the Russian government. Demonstrations took place in Haifa, Netanya and in front of the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel.
Ministry of Culture of Ukraine: Members of the UN Security Council recognize Russian actions as directed against Ukrainian identity.
Politico: The EU has excluded jewelry from the ban on the import of Russian gold. Meanwhile, the ban on gold in the form of sand and bullion remains on the list of sanctions.
Politico: ⚡️Canadian parliamentarians are asking the government to explain the transfer of the turbine for 'Nord Stream'. They note that they are concerned about the precedent of backing off sanctions in a situation where Russia uses gas as a weapon, and call it a "slap in the face for Ukrainians" during difficult tests.
nra lv: Latvian Defense Minister - Ukraine has greatly weakened Russia, so the Kremlin will not dare to start a new conflict in the next two years. Commenting on the introduction of a general conscription due to threats from Russia. According to him, the war in Ukraine is hurting Russia, which gives Latvia time to prepare for resistance.
Georgian media: The Tbilisi City Hall announced that from the end of July they will change the format of support for Ukrainians who moved to Georgia because of the war and stop the housing program. According to him, the housing program will be suspended after July 31. From July 15, Ukrainians will be offered monthly support in the amount of 300 Georgian lari (about $102) per family and 45 lari (about $15) per person additionally.
Customs control of Latvia: The Russians continue to try to transit sanctioned goods through Latvia. According to her, Russian carriers most often try to smuggle such sanctioned goods as: timber, paints, varnishes, furniture, alcohol, as well as various luxury goods.
RND: Training of Ukrainian military to operate 'Gepard' self-propelled anti-aircraft guns has begun at German training grounds. It is reported that training began at the training grounds of the German armed forces in Schleswig-Holstein. At the moment, at least 100 servicemen of the Ukrainian army are in training.
Belarus Gayun: Over the past week, at least 15 military transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have arrived to Belarus. At least some of these aircraft brought something to Belarus, but what exactly is unknown. The An-124 alone had up to 20 personnel on board.
YLE: Finland this winter may begin a daily shutdown of household consumers from electricity for up to two hours, according to the broadcasting corporation. This is due to the rejection of Russian oil and gas, which is problematic to replace, journalists report.
Bloomberg: Chinese officials discuss the possibility of lifting the ban on the supply of coal from Australia amid tightening sanctions against Russia.
BBC: British Admiral Anthony Radakin - Russia has lost about 50,000 soldiers dead and wounded.
● According to the British military, the Russian Federation has lost more than 30% of the offensive potential of ground forces, which gives the Armed Forces of Ukraine absolute confidence that they will win the war.
● The Russian Federation will remain a threat to the world for potentially several more decades
● The next British prime minister must understand that Russia is the biggest threat to the kingdom.
Die Welt: The Bundestag requires German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to tell in detail about assistance to Ukraine.
● Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who chairs the defense committee in the Bundestag, urged Scholz to convene a "National Conference on Ukraine" as soon as possible.
● "The goal (of the meetings - ed.) should be to get an orderly overview (of German aid to Ukraine - ed.) to initiate the next steps in a targeted, mutually agreed manner,"- her letter to the Chancellor says.
NATIONAL
July 18
BBC News Ukraine: Soon, for the first time in the history of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a unified female military uniform will appear. Men's sizes and styles of clothing do not correspond to women's. Women have to alter the uniform or adapt it with pins and a tactical belt.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducts round-the-clock identification of storage sites for ammunition, military equipment, areas of accumulation of weapons and supply routes for advanced occupation units.
Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the Security Service of Ukraine has been investigating more than 500 enterprises on the facts of collaboration activities.
Operational report of the General Staff of the AFU 7:42 AM:
● In the Donetsk direction, the Russians are trying to carry out assault operations near Hryhorivka, and the fighting continues. The Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully repelled the Russian assault actions in Verkhnokamianske, Spirne, and Serebrianka.
● In the Bakhmut direction, the Russians carried out storming operations in the areas of Novoluhanske, Semyhiria, and Vuhlehirska Power Station. They had no success, so withdrew.
● The Ukrainian military repelled the Russian assault actions in the Avdiivka, Kurakhove, Novopavlivsk, and Zaporizhzhia directions, in the areas of the settlements of Kamianka, Novomykhailivha, and Vuhledar. Russians withdrew.
The Institute for the Study of War 7:28 AM:
● Russia has no new territorial gains and is prolonging the war in Ukraine. .
● Russian occupation authorities are likely using the threat of partisan activities to justify harsher societal controls in occupied areas.
The Ukrainian Sacred Art Preservation Foundation and the International Council of Landmarks and Landmarks (ICOMOS), in partnership with the World Monuments Fund, donated 440 water mist fire extinguishers to protect wooden churches during the war, the press service of ICOMOS reports.
July 17
Ministry of Health of Ukraine: Ukrainians who were seriously injured as a result of a rocket attack on Vinnytsia are evacuated to Poland for medical assistance.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi fired Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova and Security Service of Ukraine head Ivan Bakanov, the decrees were published on the website of the President's Office.
● "I have decided to remove the Prosecutor General from office and to remove the head of the Security Service of Ukraine.
● As of today, 651 criminal proceedings have been registered on high treason and collaboration activities of employees of the prosecutor's office, pre-trial investigation bodies, and other law enforcement agencies.''
Secretary of the Zaporizhia City Council: About 60% of Zaporizhia enterprises have already resumed their activities. In particular, the production of steel, pig iron, blast-furnace coke continues in the city. The sale of rolled metal also continues.
● At the same time, the production of electricity and its sale at the Dnipro hydroelectric power station have doubled since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Operational Command Pivden (South): Russia keeps 2 missile ships and 1 large landing ship in the Black Sea. This grouping is the smallest in recent times. These ships are serving in missile-safe areas in the cover zone of their coastal air defense systems.
● The Russians have redeployed a significant number of ships from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Ukraine has been accepted into the multilateral interoperability program (MIP), which implements technological cooperation between the armies of NATO member states. Now, as an associate member of MIP, Ukraine has received the right to jointly develop and amend key NATO standards regarding the interaction of command and control systems and related standards.
● Also, the flag of Ukraine will be included in the design template for all MIP documents.
Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 6:31 PM:
● In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian Federation is trying to keep the occupied lines. Shelling was recorded in the areas of the settlements of Petrivka, Protopopivka, Prudianka, Ruski Tyshky, Pytomnyk, Staryi Saltiv, Chuhuiv, Mospanove, Udy, Vesele and others.
● In the Donetsk direction, the Russians continue to concentrate their main efforts on attempts to establish control over the city of Siversk and move towards the city of Bakhmut.
● The troops of the Russian Federation tried to improve the tactical situation in the areas of the settlements of Mykhailivka, Pavlivka and Novomykhailivka. They were rebuffed and ingloriously fled.
● Aerial reconnaissance by unmanned aerial vehicles continues. The threat of subsequent missile strikes on the critical infrastructure of the regions is high.
● Ukrainian units continue to carry out missile and artillery fire missions in certain areas and beat the Russians in close combat.
BBC: British citizen John Harding, who in recent years was a paramedic in the ranks of the 'Azov' Regiment, was captured by the Russians– the reports based on a Russian video interview with him.
● As follows from the video, Harding, who is over 50 years old, was captured by militants of the so-called "DPR". In the "interview" he asks the British Prime Minister for help and says that he faces the death penalty.
National Police: 1346 bodies of civilians killed by the Russian military in the Kyiv region have already been discovered. The figure is not final; most were killed with firearms.
State Border Guard Service: The Russians again fired at the border areas of the Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Yesterday, the Russian troops carried out missile strikes from an aircraft and carried out shelling using cannon artillery, MLRS, mortars and small arms. For reconnaissance, a reconnaissance aircraft and a UAV were used.
Ministry of Economy: More than 4,400 Ukrainian employers have taken advantage of the compensation program for labor costs for employed internally displaced persons. According to the agency, about 7,400 IDPs have thus received jobs, and employers have been paid a total of UAH 37.3 million (about $1.26 million) in compensation.
A delegation of the Estonian Defense Forces, headed by Commander Lieutenant General Martin Gerem, visited Ukraine. They visited the cities destroyed by the Russian army in the Kyiv region and met with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Regional Military Administration: The House of Officers in the center of Vinnytsia, destroyed by a Russian missile strike, will not be demolished.
"It's not about the demolition of the entire facility, but about the dismantling of emergency structures, where it's dangerous."
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has updated the list of temporarily occupied territories for the payment of assistance to IDPs. In total, the list now includes 313 communities from 9 regions. All internally displaced persons who have moved from these communities will receive financial assistance from the state.
The State Bureau of Investigation and the SSU reported details on the case of Oleg Kulinich, the former head of the SSU of Crimea, who was detained yesterday.
● Thus, the facts of cooperation between Kulinich and the special services of the Russian Federation have been established. He passed on intelligence information against Ukraine, including state secrets.
● The participation of the defendant in the activities of an organization that was engaged in intelligence and subversive activities against Ukraine was also revealed.
Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine intercepted conversation:
● A Russian soldier tells his sister how he killed a woman because she was a gunner in the village, as well as a man who begged for mercy on his knees.He also said that he now serves in the artillery, since his battalion was completely destroyed, out of 300 people, 15 remained. He also said that 50 Russian tanks were burned overnight.
● A Russian soldier complains to his father about the indifference of the command.
○ "There are less than 200 of us left here. And according to the lists, there are more than 20 thousand. They only tell us - change diapers. What are you afraid of? And "there ", according to the news, the guys read, they supply new weapons. And we don't have anything. We don't even have a single tank. We had one tank - 72. It was burned. Our ammunition depots were all destroyed. They have now begun to fuck the rear,"- says the Russian.
President’s Office: Saudi Arabia's decision to increase oil production will reduce world prices and Russian revenues.
Russia (MORDOR)
July 18
Russian Duma deputy: Proposed to equate the change of nationality with treason. “Over the past ten years, 93 Russian athletes have changed their sport nationality. President signed a law according to which defection to the side of the enemy in the conditions of military operations will be considered treason.»
July 17
Locals from the Kursk region of the Russian Federation report shooting and explosions on the border of the region with Ukraine. The governor of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, said that it was "the Russian military" that began to carry out combat missions as part of a special military operation on the border of the Glushkovsky district with the Sumy region".
The Wall Street Journal: Russian businessman Roman Abramovych seeks payment of more than $1 million from the EU authorities through the court. Abramovych is challenging the imposition of sanctions against him and is demanding that the European Council transfer the payment to a charitable foundation created by the businessman after the sale of the 'Chelsea' football club.
Crimean authorities say that tourist vacations on the peninsula are absolutely safe.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation says that they destroyed an American HIMARS and the loading vehicle for this MLRS. The MLRS HIMARS does not use a loading machine, since the rocket block of shells is loaded by the HIMARS itself.
Deputy head of the Security Council of the Russian Federation:
● Regarding Ukraine's threats of an attack on Crimea: If something like this happens, "doomsday" will come for them all.
● NATO's refusal to recognize Crimea is a systemic threat to the Russian Federation, and a conflict "up to a direct attack" is possible.
Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: In Russia, the scale of military training for children is expanding. In particular, 500 cadet classes and about 1,000 Yunarmiya classes have been opened in Bilgorod and the Bilgorod region.
● Also in Bilgorod, basic military training courses were opened for those who wish to serve in the army, but do not have the relevant experience. It is noted that course graduates are being persuaded to sign a contract with the RF Armed Forces.
State Duma Deputy: The possible shelling of the Crimean bridge by Ukraine will lead to a retaliatory "crushing blow". "An attempt to attack the Crimean bridge will result in a devastating blow to the decision-making centers in Kyiv, military infrastructure and arms supply logistics channels."
The Russian government will start lending to itself. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation will be allowed to buy up the Russian public debt with the money of the National Welfare Fund.
Meduza: Aide to the Russian President - Russia is working to abandon and disconnect from the international financial messaging system SWIFT.
SUMY
July 18
Regional Military Administration: At 4:30 a.m. the Russians began to launch rockets from their territory on the Ukrainian territorial communities:
● 10 attacks from a mortar on the Hlukhiv territorial community.
● attacks from a mortar on the Shalyhynska territorial community.
● 8 attacks from mortar and artillery on the Khotyn territorial community;
● 10 attacks from multiple rocket launchers on the Mykolaiv village area.
● later, 30 attacks from heavy machine gun fire on the Khotyn territorial community.
July 17
Regional Military Administration: This afternoon, Russian troops hit the Yunakovska community four times.
● After 6 p.m, shelling from cannon artillery began, 26 parishes in the Shalygin community were targeted.
● At about 20:30 mortar shelling of the Belopolskaya community began, 25 parishes. The buildings of one of the institutions of the community, a water tower and outbuildings of a local enterprise were damaged.
● There were no casualties as a result of these attacks.
KHARKIV
July 18
Regional Military Administration:
● Two residents were killed in the Kharkiv region because of the fighting — a 67-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man. Two people were also hospitalized.
● The Russians shelled the Kyiv district, Kharkiv with artillery- several floors of the five-storey building were destroyed, and apartments on 8-9 floors were damaged in another building. No one got hurt.
● Residents of a five-storey house were evacuated from Chuhuiv; 250 hectares of wheat fields burned in the Izium district.
LUHANSK
July 18
Regional Military Administration:
● Russians are trying to advance from Lysychansk towards Bakhmut. Men, mobilized from the recently occupied cities, went into the battle.
● There was 10-15% of the population in the major cities of the Luhansk region, which the Russians had captured in the summer. Unfortunately, they did not take the mobilization of men seriously - they did not see a threat to themselves.
● They were sure that the Russian world/peace" is a decent life. And now they turn into villains, going to kill residents of neighboring settlements. Some of them go voluntarily.
July 17
Regional Military Administration:
● The Armed Forces of Ukraine dealt a serious blow to the deep rear of the Russians in the Luhansk region.
● The Russians have lost several warehouses and a command center deep in the rear. More than a week ago, Shoigu reported on the complete capture of the Lugansk region, but in a small area of the region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are still inflicting losses on the Russians"
DONETSK
July 18
Regional Military Administration: On 17 July, two civilians were killed, and ten were wounded in Donbas due to the Russian aggression.
The Mariupol City Council posts a photograph of the young man holding the flag of Ukraine, who went to the square near the bombed Drama Theatre. "The real courage to do this, when even for the Ukrainian language, you can get into the basement. Tens of thousands of people still cannot leave the city. But they are waiting and dreaming that soon Mariupol will again be Ukrainian», - writes the city council.
Mayor of Kramatorsk: Russians launched four strikes on the industrial zone of Kramatorsk.
July 17
Adviser to the mayor of Mariupol: Residents of the temporarily occupied Mariupol continue to leave the city on their own. From 50 to 100 people leave it every day.
State Emergency Service: In the Kramatorsk district of the Donetsk region, the State Emergency Service rescued 55 hectares of wheat field from a fire that arose as a result of shelling by Russians.
Mayor: In Slovyansk, Donetsk region, 19 civilians have died since the start of a full-scale war, and 74 more have been injured.
ZAPORIZHIA
July 18
Regional Military Administration: The Russians shelled civilian infrastructure in Novooleksandrivka, Tavriiske, Yurkivka, Preobrazhenka, Temyrivka, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv, Hulaipole
July 17
Melitopol Mayor: Ukrainian farmers set fire to the fields in the temporarily occupied territories so as not to give the harvest to the Russian occupiers. War criminals steal not only grain, they take out fruits and all agricultural products."
Regional Military Administration: A series of explosions in the Zaporizhzhia region was confirmed. The Russians fired from the MLRS on some settlements on the front line. Initially, there were no injuries or deaths. The infrastructure was not destroyed. There was a fire in several fields.
National Guard: In the Zaporizhzhia direction, a 19-year-old conscript of the National Guard with the help of the Igla MANPADS destroyed another Russian Su-25 attack aircraft today. It is noted that the National Guardsman already has six Russian Su-25 aircraft and one cruise missile on his account.
DNIPRO
July 18
Regional Military Administration: Russian troops struck Nikopol several times with the MRL at night. They launched more than 60 shells at residential neighborhoods and city infrastructure. One person was wounded. Ten private houses have been destroyed. Water and gas pipelines on one street have been damaged. They hit the hospital, the industrial and power plants and the port.
July 17
Regional Military Administration: In Dnipro, a fire was extinguished at an enterprise where a Russian missile landed on the evening of July 15. The search for one person who went missing during the terrorist attack continues.
KHERSON
July 18
Regional Military Administration, confirms the explosions at the Russian ammunition depot in Nova Kakhovka.
Residents report the detonation of a Russian ammunition depot in temporarily occupied Nova Kakhovka.
July 17
Kherson Regional Council: In the Kherson region, the Russians began to choose places of deployment, where there is more of the local population, which is associated with the success of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the region. The main criterion of security for the Russians is the largest possible number of the local population. The Russian military leave occupied premises in a completely unusable condition - they are robbed, broken, ruined.
MYKOLAIV
July 18
Regional Military Administration: Around 03:00, on July 18, Mykolaiv was again subjected to massive rocket fire. According to preliminary information, it is known about hitting the car dealership and agricultural machinery sales. Other hits were in the vicinity of the city. No casualties.
● Yesterday, during the day, there was the shelling of the Lymany and Ukrainka villages. There were no casualties.
● The bombardment of villages along the boundary line in the Bereznehuvatskyi territorial community continues. Information about the victims and injuries is being clarified.
July 17
Operational Command Pivden (South): Russian troops are hitting Mykolaiv with converted anti-aircraft missiles. "They use S300 anti-aircraft missile systems, equipping them with an atypical explosive projectile that has an additional maximum destructive effect.".
ODESA
July 18
Operational Command “Pivden” (South): Over 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated 36 Russian troops, two Pantsir self-propelled anti-aircraft missile-gun complexes, three communication machines of strategic and operational control, radar station "Podlit", and 11 armored vehicles.
July 17
Regional Military Administration: The Russians yesterday hit a warehouse of a trading and manufacturing company in Odesa with a rocket. Today, the department reported that they destroyed "Harpoon missiles supplied by NATO.
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