Ukraine – 7/19/2023 Sitrep
By: Bohdan Chomiak & Robert Homans
July 19, 2023
What is Meant by “Swiss Neutrality?”
Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. – Helsinki Commission, made up of Members of the House and Senate from both parties, held a hearing on the subject of Swiss neutrality and their alleged complicity in the laundering of Russian assets. The hearing was entitled “Russia’s Alpine Assets – Money Laundering & Sanctions Evasion in Switzerland.” The 3 witnesses were Bill Browder, Drew Sullivan of the Organized Crime & Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Olena Tregub, Independent Defense Anti-Corruption Committee (NAKO) of Ukraine. The Swiss Embassy was invited to send a representative, but they declined.
The opening statements of the 3 witnesses took approximately 35 minutes, and is worth watching. Browder named several Swiss officials whom he claimed were complicit in allowing Russia to launder assets in Switzerland, and he stated that there’s language in the Magnitsky Act that allows the United States to impose asset freezes and travel restrictions on these individuals. Sullivan’s testimony focused on complicity by the Swiss banks, especially Credit Suisse (recently acquired by UBS). Tregub focused on Swiss complicity in Russia’s ability to acquire components for weapons that they use against Ukraine. Taken together, the 3 witnesses clearly described what is meant by “Swiss neutrality.”
News From the Battlefield
Kerch Bridge – Yesterday’s “Reporting From Ukraine” postulated that one of the 2 seaborne drones that were used to damage the Kerch Bridge was launched from the Sea of Azov. Today, the Sea of Azov is entirely surrounded by Russia and temporarily occupied Ukraine. “Reporting From Ukraine stated that Russia believes that the others were launched from Snake Island, and they had to travel around the entirety of the Crimean Peninsula before reaching the bridge. The drones themselves appear to be modified water scooters.
In the “Latest Denys,” at about 6:50 into his video, describes the alternate route Russians must take to get back Russia through temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, where they impede the delivery of Russian war materiel coming in the opposite direction. Finally, and most deliciously, Anton Gerashchenko posted a Tweet describing the problems Russians vacationing in Crimea are having trying to return home, including limited cell phone reception, and having to pay up to 500 Rubbles to use gas station restrooms. For “children, pregnant women, disabled people and participants of the SMO (Special Military Operation) the price is 400 Rubbles.” Gerashchenko didn’t mention if the prices included toilet paper.
Assessment of Gen. Mick Ryan (Ret.) – Gen. Mick Ryan’s latest Substack blog is entitled “The Ukrainian Campaign So Far.” Below are the last 2 paragraphs of Gen. Ryan’s blog –
· “In conclusion, we should remember that the Ukrainians have achieved significant victories at the gates of Kyiv, in Kharkiv and Kherson. They have done so with a paucity of resources but a surplus of innovation and courage. Any judgements about progress in their current offensives are early and remain tentative.”
· The Ukrainians have demonstrated the ability to hand the Russians defeat multiple times. My sense is that they are capable to generating a breakthrough of the Russian lines, but this will be costly to achieve and difficult to exploit. But, as Ted Lasso might say, when it comes to General Zaluzhny and his soldiers - Believe!
Much of the U.S. media and elements of the Biden Administration should take Gen. Ryan’s advice (last line, above).
Security Guarantees for Ukraine
In his latest Substack blog, Lawrence Freedman discusses the history and efficacy of security guarantees, of the type under consideration for Ukraine as a temporary substitute for membership in NATO. Freedman concludes –
· There will always be doubts about the credibility of any guarantees, in whatever form they take, but that does not mean they are worthless. As the record of NATO’s Article V testifies they can have a powerful deterrent effect. Those issuing the guarantees must maintain the capabilities to back them up. They also require regular reconfirmation. Questions have been raised for example as whether a future US President, whether Trump or someone with similar views, would feel bound by any promises made to Kyiv. This has led to suggestions that it might make sense for Congress to pass legislation comparable to that passed in 1979 with regard to Taiwan, called the Taiwan Relations Act, which requires the president to make available “such defence articles and defence services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defence capability”.
· No country will wish to be wholly dependent on external guarantees for its security. This is why for Ukraine the important outcome of Vilnius was the commitment of extra resources and weapons from the countries present to sustain it in its war to liberate its territory from Russian occupation as much as the uncertain pathway to full membership of NATO.
Legislation covering continuing support for Ukraine, similar to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act would make assistance to Ukraine more difficult for a future U.S. President to curtail. In the interim, as Freedman says, it’s all about weapons combined with the resourcefulness and the courage of the Ukrainian people.
7/19/2023 Sitrep (my comments in bold face)
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon July 18 to 12:00 noon July 19, 2023
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Wednesday July 19
8:10 am: Ukraine must end the war on its own terms. This was stated by the representative of Australia during the debate in the UN General Assembly.
8:11 am: Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative will have very negative consequences for food security in the world, - Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly.
8:12 am: After unilaterally refusing to participate in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia continues to export food and receive record profits for it, - the spokesman US State Department Matthew Miller.
10:55 am: The European Union may create a fund to support the armed forces for the next four years for 20 billion euros, Politico reports citing sources.
● From this fund, EU member states will be compensated for the costs of transferring weapons to Ukraine and military training will be financed.
● The issue will be discussed by EU foreign ministers on Thursday.
11:26 am: The administration of the US president is preparing economic measures against Kyrgyzstan in order to stop the supply of sanctioned goods to Russia, — WP with reference to sources.
● According to open documents, the volume of exports from Kyrgyzstan to Russia increased in 2022 by 250% compared to the previous year. Kyrgyz companies are supplying banned goods such as electronics and semiconductors, presumably for the Russian defense industry, the source said.
● It is expected that a decision on sanctions may be made in the near future.
● Another possible candidate for sanctions is Armenia, for the same reason that the United States is considering sanctions on Kyrgyzstan.
11:41 am: Turkey will not be able to become a member of the EU next year, - the official representative of the EU foreign policy service, Peter Stano.
● According to him, in order to enter the EU, "years are needed, not hours". The EU is not yet ready to grant Turkey even a visa-free regime.
Tuesday July 18
1:11 pm: The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova Niku Popescu stated that Moldova strongly condemns the unilateral withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
● "Yesterday's bombing of Odesa region, including the port, reveals Russian tactics of using food as a weapon, depriving those who need it most," Popescu said.
2:12 pm: The European Court of Human Rights refused Russia to satisfy the claims against Ukraine. This was the only interstate complaint against Kyiv, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.
● This is a lawsuit filed by the Russian Federation in July 2021. It contained 10 accusations, including responsibility for the downing of the MH17 plane — they say, Ukraine "did not close the airspace."
2:26 pm: British Foreign Minister James Cleverley said that the world cannot allow the war in Ukraine to continue for another 500 days.
● He also called on Putin to immediately withdraw troops from Ukraine and unblock the Black Sea for shipping.
● "President Zelensky's ten-point plan showed the way forward. Ukraine wants peace. We want peace. The whole world wants peace," Cleverly said.
3:16 pm: The 14th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in the Rammstein format has begun.
● The head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, made an opening speech.
3:37 pm: Russian tanks destroyed in Ukraine are being examined by military experts — Sky News, citing senior British military official Tony Radakin.
● According to him, scientists are taking apart the equipment and studying how the equipment works. Based on this, conclusions will be made on how to defeat the enemy, disrupt his communications and improve the armor of his own equipment.
6:15 pm: The US will soon provide Ukraine with a new $1.3 billion military aid package, - Reuters.
● According to one of the US officials, the weapons package will include:
o air defense systems VAMPIRE;
o Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade kamikaze drones;
o Australian anti-drone systems DroneShield;
o radars, sensors and analytical systems;
o ammunition.
6:35 pm: The European Union will introduce new sanctions against Belarus next week, Radio Liberty correspondent Rikard Jozwiak said.
● According to him, the European Union "made a breakthrough" regarding sanctions against Belarus, which could not be adopted since January.
● The journalist also added that there are no concessions or exceptions in the matter of lifting sanctions against potash fertilizers produced in Belarus.
6:55 pm: Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are planning to transfer M113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine in the near future to strengthen the counteroffensive, - the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.
● It is reported that the armored personnel carriers will be purchased from industry and repaired, their number is currently undisclosed.
9:40 pm: The Ukrainian passport took 30th place in terms of the number of countries where citizens can travel without visas, in the international ranking of Henley & Partners.
● According to the company, during the year citizens of Ukraine were able to visit Djibouti, Israel and Suriname under the visa-free regime.
● Thus, the total number of countries with which Ukraine has established a visa-free regime has increased to 146.
11:00 pm: Another meeting was held today in the "Ramstein" format, at which the next points of aid to Ukraine were announced, as well as the assessment of the Ukrainian counteroffensive:
● The partners discussed the further supply of weapons and equipment to Ukraine, including air defense and ammunition, and plans to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. This was announced by Pentagon chief Austin.
● Also, Estonia and Luxembourg presented specific steps for the development of the IT coalition, and Lithuania announced the formation of a coalition for demining Ukraine, said the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov
11:25 pm: North Korea launches two ballistic missiles towards Japan - Kyodo citing Japan Coast Guard
NATIONAL
Wednesday July 19
12:10 am Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Missile danger in the northern and central regions.
● The threat of possible launches of cruise missiles from Tu-22m3 aircraft.
12:14 am Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Air alert in the eastern regions due to the threat of possible launches of cruise missiles from Tu-22m3 aircraft.
12:20 am: Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy regions - threat of enemy use of attack UAVs.
12:28 am: Kharkiv, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia regions - threat of enemy use of attack UAVs.
● This was reported in the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
12:58 am: Launches of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea were recorded.
● Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson regions - missile danger.
1:11 am: The departure of 4 Tu-22m3s from the Mozdok airfield (North Caucasus) and 4 Tu-22m3s along the eastern border was recorded.
● Do not ignore the air alert.
1:51 am: Repeated launches of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea were recorded.
1:58 am: Probable launches of cruise missiles from Tu-22m3 aircraft from the south were recorded.
2:04 am: Repeated launches of Kh-22 cruise missiles from the south were recorded.
2:19 am: Repeated launches of Kh-22 cruise missiles from the south.
5:14 am: Khmelnytska, Rivne region - threat application the enemy percussion BpLA. Percussive BpLA type “Shahed” are heading V direction western regions, - Air Forces Armed Forces.
6:54 am: Likely is launches winged missiles "Caliber" with Black seas, - Air Forces Armed Forces.
7:09 am General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: During the past day, Russian troops also launched a missile and air strike on the territory of Ukraine - using 6 Kalibr cruise missiles and 35 Iranian Shahed-136 attack UAVs.
● The forces and means of the Air Force destroyed 6 Kalibr cruise missiles and 31 attack UAVs of the enemy.
● The enemy is concentrating its main efforts on the Kupyansk, Lymansk, Bakhmutsk, Avdiivsk and Marinsky directions - over 20 combat clashes took place during the past day.
● the Russian occupiers continue to rob the civilian population, appropriating the grain harvest of peaceful citizens of Ukraine.
● Thus, in the temporarily captured Skadovsk of the Kherson region, the Russians have intensified the use of the port since July 10 to export this year's grain to their ports.
● Over the past day, the aviation of the defense forces has struck 12 strikes on areas where personnel, weapons and military equipment are concentrated, and 3 strikes on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems.
● During the past day, units of missile forces and artillery hit 1 enemy control post, 1 anti-aircraft missile complex, 16 artillery pieces in firing positions, 3 ammunition depots and 3 enemy electronic warfare stations.
7:19 am: Repulse by regions. Zaporizhzhia region - activity of enemy tactical aviation, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.
9:18 am: At night, Russia released over Ukraine:
● 16 Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles.
● 8 Kh-22 cruise missiles from Tu-22M3 long-range aircraft from the Black Sea;
● 6 cruise missiles "Onyx" from the coastal missile complex "Bastion" (Crimea);
● 1 Kh-59 guided air missile from the Su-35 fighter from the Black Sea;
● 23 attack UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type from the Chauda training ground (Crimea) and Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Krasnodar Territory).
Air defense forces destroyed 37 targets.
Tuesday July 18
12:51 pm: There are 8 enemy ships on combat duty in the Black Sea, including 2 Kalibr cruise missile carriers, a total salvo of 6 missiles, the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
1:41 pm: It is now "virtually impossible" to achieve quick results during the offensive, said the commander of the Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi in an interview with the BBC.
● He explains this by densely mined territories and a large number of Russian strongholds.
1:55 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
● "The number one issue at today's Stavka is the sea export of grain and the security of ports. Deputy Prime Minister Kubrakov, Commander of the Navy Neizhpapa reported on logistics of supply and protection of the coastal region," said the President of Ukraine.
● According to him, there were also reports by Minister Klymenko and the head of the State Special Service Shchygol about the fight against enemy UAVs. GUR, SZR, SBU - about the enemy's plans.
2:42 pm: American cluster munitions have already arrived in Ukraine and will soon be ready for use.
● This was announced by the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi in an interview with the BBC.
● According to the mass media, they are planned to be used in Bakhmut.
2:57 pm: Speaker of the Eastern Group Serhiy Cherevaty commented on the information about the gathering of 100,000 Russian army in the Kupyan direction.
● According to him, this group, although large, is not well-prepared and motivated, and most of the 900 tanks are old Soviet equipment.
● "For many months in a row, the defense forces have not given them any progress and have been hitting them hard," Cherevaty emphasized.
4:51 pm: The SBU has identified the identities of another 30 collaborators who are carrying out repressions in the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine
● Among them are 24 supporters of racism who joined the "Novokakhov city police department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kherson region" created by the Russian invaders.
● Three more collaborators were identified in Luhansk region. In addition, the heads of the three local branches of the "municipal services provision center" created by the aggressor were informed of the suspicion.
5:10 pm: In August, Ukrainian pilots will begin training on F-16 aircraft in Denmark, - the vice president for international relations of "Lockheed Martin".
● They will go to Romania no earlier than the end of 2024.
5:57 pm: Ukraine will rebuild the Kakhovskaya HPP, which was blown up by Russian troops. The government approved the experimental project.
● "The project is designed for two years. At the first stage, we will design all the engineering structures, we will prepare the necessary base for restoration," said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
● The second stage will begin after the de-occupation of the territories where the HPP is located. It provides actual construction work.
7:18 pm General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: According to detailed information, during the day, Russian troops launched a missile and air strike on the territory of Ukraine, using 6 Kalibr cruise missiles and 35 Iranian Shahed-136 attack UAVs.
● The forces and means of the Air Force destroyed 6 Kalibr cruise missiles and 31 enemy UAVs of the Shahed-136 type.
● In addition, the enemy carried out 70 airstrikes and fired 53 rocket salvo fire systems at the positions of our troops and populated areas.
● The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on the Kupyansk, Lymansk, Bakhmutsk, Avdiivsk and Marinsky directions, heavy battles continue. During the day, 18 combat clashes took place.
● At the same time, the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions, are entrenched at the reached boundaries, inflict fire damage from artillery, and carry out counter-battery countermeasures.
● Russian troops continue to convert civilian infrastructure objects to their own needs. In particular, in the city of Lysychansk, Luhansk region, the enemy equipped the territory of the former city polyclinic to accommodate the personnel and command of the Akhmat unit.
● In the settlements of Yalta, Yuryivka, and Urzuf of the Donetsk region, the territory of the Chervona Gvozdika, Kosmos, and Pribiy recreation bases has been completely converted into military bases with fortification structures (dungeons) for the accommodation of Russian troops.
● During the day, the aviation of the defense forces made 11 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and 3 - on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile complexes.
● Ukrainian defenders also destroyed 2 operational-tactical reconnaissance UAVs.
● During the day, units of rocket troops and artillery hit 1 enemy control post, 8 artillery pieces in firing positions, 2 ammunition depots and 3 enemy electronic warfare stations.
8:01 pm: The enemy's offensive in the Kupyansk direction is currently unsuccessful, - Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar.
● The battles continue, but the initiative is already on our side.
● On the southern phalanx around Bakhmut today, like all previous days, there was an advance of Ukrainian troops.
8:27 pm: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law on assigning officer ranks to military personnel without higher education, People's Deputy Dmytro Razumkov reported.
● The law will be promulgated and will enter into force in the near future.
8:40 pm: Volodymyr Zelensky met with the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Akihiko Tanaka.
● "We discussed the priority areas of the JICA agency's activity in Ukraine. We are particularly interested in involving Japan in setting up the production of demining equipment, building a network of rehabilitation centers for veterans and military personnel, as well as in the production of energy equipment," Zelenskyy wrote.
10:17 pm: The situation in the Ukrainian energy system is extremely difficult, - member of the parliamentary committee on energy and housing and communal services Nagornyak.
● According to him, there is a lack of specialists and equipment.
● The consequences of missile strikes and damage to the energy system are estimated by the World Bank at 10 billion hryvnias.
10:34 pm: Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia regions - the threat of using ballistic weapons.
● This was reported in the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
10:43 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi: Held a meeting of the Stavka. The main issues are the protection of our ports and the continuation of food exports by sea.
11:02 pm: The launch of "Shahed" type attack UAVs from the south was recorded.
● The estimated time of the announcement of the air alert in the southern regions is around midnight. This was reported in the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
MORDOR - RUZZIA
Wednesday July 19
2:32 am Social Networks: Explosions were heard in temporarily occupied Sevastopol.
5:23 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Sevastopol.
5:50 am: local the public are reported, what on Old Crimean polygons near villages Secretly is "arrival" by according to ammunition Russian.
● Currently, detonation continues there. We are waiting for official information.
7:35 am: The head of the Russian authorities in the annexed Crimea, Serhiy Aksyonov, confirmed the information about the fire at the ammunition warehouse in the east of Crimea.
● Aksyonov announced the closure of the Tavrida highway "due to a fire at the training ground in the Kirovsk district."
● As suggested by the secondary explosions, the “fire in the Kirovski District” was a Russian ammunition dump. I have been to Kirovski, in December 2008. It is west of Kerch and north of Feodosia. It is a city that seemed to be stuck in a 1950s/1960s Soviet time warp. I was there for a meeting with city officials.
● Aksyonov used to be known as “the Goblin” and, before entering politics he had a reputed organized crime career. In 2010 Aksyonov was elected to the Crimean Parliament from the “Russian Unity” Party. His Party got 4% of the vote. 4 years later Russia, via a referendum, claimed almost universal acceptance of Crimea’s annexation by Russia. Aksyoniv was elected Prime Minister of Crimea, in a vote by the Crimean Parliament held under the supervision of the “Little Green Men.”
7:50 am: In Crimea, the temporary evacuation of residents of four settlements is planned from the zone adjacent to the training ground in the Kirovsk district - that's more than two thousand people, according to the occupation authorities.
Tuesday July 18
12:44 pm Social Networks: In the temporarily occupied Crimea, explosions were heard in the Yalta area.
1:26 p.m.: The SBU reported a new suspicion of former Russia Today director Anton Kuznetsov-Krasovsky, who called for the genocide of Ukrainians.
● In one of the recent broadcasts of his author's program, he publicly called for the drowning and burning of Ukrainian children.
● This story appeared on Russia Today TV shows, as well as on the Russian propagandist's own YouTube and Telegram channels, which have several hundred thousand subscribers.
4:16 pm: Monitoring group "Belarusian Gayun" reports that the fourth column of "Wagner" PMK has arrived in Belarus.
● It has at least 80 different cars. The equipment has "L/DNR" numbers.
4:57 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Feodosia, Crimea.
9:01 pm: The European Parliament called on the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
● "Lukashenka's regime is involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children, as well as repression, torture and systematic violations of human rights in Belarus," the report says.
9:59 pm: The Russians have had months to set up elaborate defensive lines, including extensive minefields - Pentagon.
● Ukraine has a significant number of combat forces that have not yet been deployed. They "slowly and purposefully" make their way through the Russian defense.
● 11:44 pm: A Russian serviceman talks about the non-payment of soldiers of the Russian army and the lack of ammunition.
REGIONS
KYIV
Wednesday July 19
2:22 am: Kyiv region (without the city of Kyiv) - threat of enemy use of attack UAVs.
4:48 am: Threat application the enemy percussion BpLA for the capital. Go to the shelters - Serhiy Popko, head of the KMVA.
5:04 am: U Kyiv and region do not speak sounds explosions. Working air defense, - measures Kyiv Vitaly Klitschko.
5:58 am Kyiv City Military Administration: "I will on tricks to the capital air defense discovered and destroyed everyone hostile drones. Previously, without victims and Ruinbut the data is still being refined."
8:00 am Kyiv RMA: No hits were recorded in the Kyiv region, there are no casualties.
● According to preliminary information, there is no fall of debris either. Operational groups continue to work to identify possible damage.
SUMY
Wednesday July 19
3:07 am Social Networks: An explosion was heard in Sumy.
8:30 am RMA: 4 "Shahed" unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed tonight by the air defense forces of the Defense Forces in the Sumy region.
9:40 am: Sumy OVA: during the night and in the morning, the Russians fired 8 rounds at the border. 48 explosions were recorded. The communities of Bilopolska, Seredino-Budska, Krasnopilska, and Khotinska came under fire.
Tuesday July 18
12:05 pm Sumy RMA: At night and in the morning, the Russians shelled the communities of Khota and Shalygina. 19 mortar explosions were recorded.
● Previously - without human losses and destruction of civil infrastructure.
KHARKIV
Wednesday July 19
1:31 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kharkiv. Previously - air defense work.
9:59 am Kharkiv RMA: Last night and late in the evening, the enemy shelled the city of Kupyansk at least three times
● At least 5 private houses were damaged, 1 house was completely destroyed. Previously, there were no casualties.
Tuesday July 18
12:22 pm Kharkiv RMA: Last day, the enemy fired mortars, barrel and rocket artillery at the border and front-line settlements of Chuguyiv and Kupyan districts.
● As a result of the shelling of Kupyansk with anti-aircraft missiles, the premises of the enterprise and 2 private residential buildings were damaged. Two civilian men aged 49 and 60 were slightly injured.
4:36 pm Kharkiv RMA: the Russian army shelled Dvorichna in the Kupyan district. As a result of the impact, a 72-year-old man died, a 65-year-old woman was injured.
DONETSK
Wednesday July 18
8:55 am representative of the General Staff: the Ukrainian Armed Forces knocked out the Russians from their positions near Orikhovo-Vasylivka in the direction of Bakhmut.
● He clarified that the Russian forces retreated from their positions to the northeast of the village. At the same time, the enemy "offers strong resistance, uses reserves, suffers heavy losses."
Tuesday July 18
12:56 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Donetsk region.
ZAPORIZHIA
Wednesday July 18
2:07 am Social Networks: An explosion was heard in Zaporizhzhia.
8:44 am Zaporizhia RMA: Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops have carried out 92 shelling of 23 front-line settlements.
● 78 artillery strikes hit the territory of Gulyaipol, Orikhov, Zaliznychny, Gulyaipil, Kamiansky, Stepovoy, Plavny and other villages on the demarcation line.
● The enemy attacked Olhivske twice with the use of UAVs, hit the open area on the outskirts of the regional center three times with rockets, hit Novoivanivka, Olhivske, Temyrivka, Novodarivka with rocket launchers, attacked Orihiv, Novoandriivka, Novodarivka, Preobrazhenka and Pyatikhatka with aerial bombs.
Tuesday July 18
12:03 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the temporarily occupied Melitopol of the Zaporizhzhia region.
12:36 pm Zaporizhia RMA: A 72-year-old woman died as a result of an airstrike on a residential area of Orihova. Another 5 residents were injured - a 48-year-old man was treated on the spot, injured women aged 43, 73, 79 and a 75-year-old man were quickly hospitalized in a medical facility, - head of the Zaporizhzhya OVA Yury Malashko.
● Over the past day, 24 front-line settlements were under Russian fire. As a result, 26 damaged civilian objects were added.
DNIPRO
Wednesday July 18
12:47 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Dnipropetrovsk region.
7:45 am Dnipro RMA: An enemy drone was shot down in the sky over the Dnipropetrovsk region.
● The enemy UAV "landed" late yesterday evening.
KHERSON
Wednesday July 18
1:34 am Social Networks: An explosion was heard in Kherson.
8:36 am RMA: the Russian army attacked "Shakhed" Kherson at night.
● A hit was recorded in the Shumen district of the city. As a result of the blows, a fire broke out in the cultural center, and the two-story building was also damaged.
● Employees of the State Emergency Service managed to rescue an 89-year-old woman who was trapped under the rubble of her own home. Doctors on the spot treated the victim, her condition is satisfactory.
10:09 am Kherson RMA: Over the past day, the enemy launched 72 shellings, firing 449 shells from mortars, artillery, Grads, aircraft, tanks, ATGMs and UAVs. The enemy fired 31 shells at the city of Kherson.
● the Russian military took aim at the residential quarters of the populated areas of the region. Due to Russian aggression, 1 person was injured.
Tuesday July 18
3:55 pm: SBU detained a traitor who "leaked" information about Ukrainian drones in the Kherson region.
● The figure turned out to be a contractor of one of the military units of the Armed Forces, which is stationed in the region and performs combat tasks on the front line.
● At the behest of the Russian special service, the traitor gathered intelligence about the unmanned aerial vehicles of the Security and Defense Forces.
● The game agent also tried to gather as much information as possible about possible counteroffensive operations of Ukrainian troops.
5:36 pm Kherson RMA: the Russians shelled the village of Veletenske in the Bilozer community this afternoon.
● A 73-year-old woman was injured, medics diagnosed a mine-explosive injury and a leg injury. She was treated on the spot.
MYKOLAIV
Wednesday July 18
9:26 am Mykolaiv RMA: Tonight, as a result of an enemy attack on the settlement of Koblivska hromada, recreational infrastructure facilities in the coastal zone were destroyed and set on fire.
● detailed information is being clarified. Two people were injured, one of them was hospitalized.
ODESA
Wednesday July 18
1:05 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Odesa. Previously - air defense work.
1:16 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard again in Odesa. Previously - air defense work.
2:00 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard again in Odesa. Previously - air defense work.
3:28 am Odesa RMA: Airborne alarm sounded. About the consequences of the terrorist country's powerful attack on Odesa - later.
4:32 am Social Networks: An explosion was heard in Odesa. Currently, no air alert has been declared in the city. We are waiting for official information.
5:05 am: Explosions, which was do not speak V Odessa, is as a result detonation on composition with fireworks.
9:45 am: In Odesa, Onyx and X-22 missiles hit the port and critical infrastructure — the grain and oil terminals. Damaged tanks and loading equipment. There was a fire, there were no casualties, OK "Pivden".
● In Odesa district, an industrial facility was hit, where a civilian employee was injured. Two warehouses with tobacco and fireworks were also damaged.
● In Odesa, six people, including a 9-year-old boy, were injured by broken glass.
10:25 am: "One of the most terrible nights. We do not remember such a scale of attack since the beginning of a full-scale invasion," said the mayor of Odesa, Gennadiy Trukhanov.
● He said that in addition to residential buildings, the Slobid cemetery was also damaged. There are no casualties.
POLTAVA
Wednesday July 18
9:07 am Poltava RMA: "Tonight, the enemy attacked Poltava region with UAVs."
● No hits on critical infrastructure were recorded. No victims beforehand.
11:22 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in several districts of Sumy region.
CHERKASY
Wednesday July 18
1:57 a.m.: Cherkasy region - threat of use of attack UAVs.
3:51 am Cherkasy RMA: Cherkasy region - increased danger. The threat of using attack UAVs.
9:50 am Cherkasy RMA: At night in the sky over the region "shahedy" were recorded. Aviation worked. Fortunately, there were no emergencies.
KIROVOHRAD
Wednesday July 18
1:44 am: Kirovohrad region - threat of use of attack UAVs
7:02 am Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kropyvnytskyi, subscribers report. We are waiting for official information.
8:50 am Kirovograd RMA: The Kirovohrad region was hit by a massive rocket attack.
● the enemy was fighting near Kropyvnytskyi.
● According to preliminary data, there were no casualties or destruction of civilian buildings.
ZHYTOMYR
Wednesday July 18
4:54 am: Zhytomyr region - threat application the enemy percussion BpLA, - Air Forces Armed Forces.
5:30 am: Air anxiety V Zaporozhye and Donetsk regions connected with activity hostile tactical aviation, - Air Forces Armed Forces.
6:06 am Social Networks: Explosions were heard in Zhytomyr region.
8:20 am Zhytomyr RMA: the Russians attacked Zhytomyr region with kamikaze drones this morning.
● According to preliminary information, an infrastructural object was damaged as a result of the strike by "shaheds", and there is damage to private households.
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://espreso.tv/
https://cutt.ly/Blyskavka
https://t.me/uawarinfographics
https://t.me/svoboda_radio