Ukraine – 7/6/2023 Sitrep
By: Bohdan Chomiak & Robert Homans
July 6, 2023
Wimbledon
Today, 3 Ukrainian women won at Wimbledon, Anhelina Kalinina, Lesia Tsurenko and Elena Svitolina. Good for all of them, especially Kalinina who was born in Nova Kakhovka, the site of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam. Svitolina, an unseeded qualifier after recently coming back from a year’s absence during which she became a mother, defeated a seeded player, Elise Mertens.
News From the Battlefield
“Reporting From Ukraine” continues to cover the effects of Ukraine’s continued destruction of Russian logistics, this time in the east, in Donetsk Oblast. Ukraine destroyed a large ammunition dump and a fuel depot near Makiivka, very close to Donetsk City. “Reporting From Ukraine” also stated that Ukraine is destroying Russian supplies in transit. There were other attacks on Russian logistics all around Bakhmut, starving Russia of ammunition and supplies, and likely contributing to a possible Ukrainian breakthrough on Bakhmut’s southern flank. This report suggests the following:
· Ukraine seems to have responded to Russia’s recent success in jamming HIMARS rockets. Electronic warfare is a “tit for tat” exercise.
· Ukraine seems to have an extensive informant network responsible for feeding targeting information to Ukrainian Military Intelligence, both among local civilians and inside Russia’s Armed Forces.
As an example of the latter, Maxim Tucker, Foreign Desk Editor of the London Times, explains how Ukraine may be leveraging Russia’s need for new recruits into placing informants inside the Russian Army. He describes “Operation Dmitriy,” a harrowing tale of one informant for Ukraine who called a HIMARS strike in on himself, resulting in the liquidation of hundreds of dead Russian soldiers, including senior officers up to the rank of colonel, and he lived to tell about it. According to Tucker’s account this informant lived somewhere in temporarily occupied Donbas, and he had no previous history on social media, that might’ve tipped him off to the Russians.
We have been talking about the importance of partisans in this war since we started sending these emails. Partisan groups have been organizing in Southern Ukraine since early 2014, when there was a lot of talk about Russia trying to secure a land bridge to Crimea. Melitopol has been a cauldron of partisan activity since the start of Russia’s latest invasion. As Ukrainian forces expand their counteroffensive toward Melitopol, look for partisans to increase their activities, including destroying rail lines, bridges, and other critical infrastructure, and assassinating Russian officials and Ukrainian collaborators.
We may be seeing 2 Ukrainian counteroffensives materializing, one around Bakhmut and other in the south. The southern counteroffensives may take several different forms, and go in several directions, depending on the opportunities. It should be remembered that last year Ukraine conducted 2 simultaneous counteroffensives, one that resulted in the liberation of Kherson, and the other in the Kharkiv Region. There’s no reason why Ukraine cannot do the same in 2023.
7/6/2023 Siitrep
NOTE: Today’s sitrep, toward the end, includes extensive coverage on last night’s missile attack on Lv’iv, the most extensive attack on Lv’iv since the start of the war.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon July 5 to 12:00 noon July 6, 2023
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Thursday July 6
12:10 am Telegraph: US President Joe Biden has blocked the candidacy of British Defense Minister Ben Wallace for the post of NATO Secretary General, allegedly because London has started promoting the idea of training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 without Washington's consent.
● Great Britain also formed a coalition with other partners regarding the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine, but did not receive the prior consent of the United States.
12:24 am: The IAEA requested the Russians additional access to the roofs of power units 3 and 4 of the ZANP, as well as the turbine halls and parts of the plant's cooling system, to check whether there are explosives there.
● IAEA Director General Grossi also stated that during the last inspections at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, no mining was detected, but they continue to monitor the situation "extremely carefully".
8:05 am: The United States could announce the delivery of disputed cluster munitions to Ukraine this week, CBS News.
8:07 am: US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in a conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, called on Ankara to support Sweden's NATO membership ahead of the alliance's summit next week - State Department website.
Wednesday July 5
2:12 pm Financial Times: Xi Jinping personally warned Putin against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
● According to the publication, this issue was discussed during Xi's visit to Moscow in March of this year.
9:40 pm: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the students of Argentina.
● "The peoples and states of Latin America can do so much to protect freedom and the right of every people to freedom!
● And for this, it is not even necessary to directly intervene in the ongoing war. It is enough to protect freedom," the president said.
9:56 pm: The first meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council will be held on July 12, according to the Alliance summit program.
● A public opening speech by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is also planned.
10:48 pm: The ruling party of Georgia refused to transfer the imprisoned ex-president Mykhailo Saakashvili to Ukraine for treatment.
● "In light of the step that has already been taken, the next steps are no longer interesting. This is a sad reality.
● No consultations regarding Saakashvili can be started," said Irakliya Kobakhidze, head of the Georgian Dream party.
NATIONAL
Thursday July 6
1:05 am: South - missile danger. Probable launches of Kalibr cruise missiles. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2:07 am: West - missile danger. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2:08 am: Zhytomyr region - stay in shelters!
● The course of missiles can change. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2:21 am: Several rockets in the direction of the western regions!
● Stay in shelters. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
7:39 am: Over the past 24 hours, 38 combat clashes took place on the fronts in Ukraine, - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
● the Russians are concentrating their main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiiv, and Marin directions. Russian assaults were repulsed.
● Over the past day, the Air Force of the Defense Forces has carried out 13 strikes on areas where Russian personnel are concentrated and destroyed 1 anti-aircraft missile complex - the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
● During the past 24 hours, units of missile forces and artillery hit 1 area of concentration of manpower, weapons and military equipment, 4 control points, 1 ammunition depot, 8 artillery means in firing positions, 2 anti-aircraft defense means, 1 radar station and 4 electronic warfare stations.
8:45 am: At night, 7 cruise missiles were destroyed by air defense forces, - Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
● Around the 1st of the night, several groups of missiles were detected from the Black Sea area, which first headed in a northern direction, using the topography of the area and the channel of the Dnieper, and then abruptly changed their course to the West.
9:13 am: In an interview with CNN, Volodymyr Zelensky talked about the changes in mood in Russian society and the apparent weakening of the current Russian leader:
● "18 or 19 regions of Russia specifically supported Prigozhin's actions, approximately the same number - Putin, and this is a clear indication that his so-called "vertical of power" has crumbled. Almost all of Putin's army is on the territory of Ukraine; in his state, he no longer controls the situation in the regions, the security situation... Right now, the world must put pressure on Putin's regime and on himself, when he is so weak."
9:27 am: The threat of a terrorist attack on the Zaporizhzhia NPP is decreasing, - Budanov in an interview with the British newspaper The Times
● "We are taking certain actions in this area - both public and non-public, and I think that now the danger of an artificial man-made disaster is gradually decreasing," said the head of the GUR.
● Kyrylo Budanov gave a forecast for the next NATO meeting:
o "The expectations of our society will not be met. I'm sure some words will be spoken, but nothing else. I am quite sure what will be discussed next, I have seen the drafts of the speeches."
10:54 am: Activity of Russian tactical aviation in the eastern and southeastern directions! The threat of using aviation weapons. Do not ignore the air alarm signal, - Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
11:09 am Institute for the Study of War: The Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted a series of missile strikes on Russian rear lines.
● "The Ukrainian strikes indicate that the Defense Forces have launched a coordinated series of strikes aimed at degrading Russian logistics and land lines of communication along the entire perimeter of hostilities," the analysts explained.
● The ISW also noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted successful counteroffensive operations on five areas of the front.
Wednesday July 5
1:11 pm: Russian losses exceed Ukrainians by 8-10. The counteroffensive is going according to plan - the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi in an interview with ABC.
● He also stated that:
o Ukraine has not yet used its main forces.
o Bakhmut will definitely be released.
o Currently, the main goal is to exhaust the enemy's forces to create a breakthrough at the front.
o the Russians are targeting Western technology. They try to destroy as much equipment as possible. This is a priority for them.
1:59 pm: "Probable launches of cruise missiles by a Tu-160 strategic bomber from the Caspian Sea. East, South - missile danger!" — Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
8:29 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi introduced new sanctions against 18 legal entities associated with the potential of the Russian Federation.
● The corresponding decree is published on the website of the President of Ukraine.
● "[...] the activity of all individuals and legal entities, which is based on the Russian regime's ability to terrorize Ukraine and the international order based on rules, should be blocked," Zelenskyy wrote.
8:46 pm Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on July 5:
● "Tonight, the Russian occupiers struck with 5 Iranian attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type.
● Two kamikaze drones were destroyed by our air defense.
● During the day, the enemy carried out 48 airstrikes and launched 54 attacks from rocket salvo systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas."
● "The enemy continues to concentrate its main efforts on the Lymansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdiyivskyi and Marinskyi directions - about 30 combat clashes took place during the day."
● "For a day, the aviation of the defense forces made 10 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel of the occupiers.
● During the day, units of missile troops and artillery struck 1 area of concentration of manpower, weapons and military equipment, 1 control post, 1 ammunition depot, 8 artillery pieces in firing positions, 2 anti-aircraft defense equipment, 1 radar station and 3 radio electronic warfare stations of the enemy.
10:25 pm: NABU and SAP, under the operational support of the Department of Internal Security of the National Police, exposed an assistant to a People's Deputy of Ukraine for accepting a bribe for entering data into the "Shlyah" system, which actually gives permission to cross the border.
● Currently, detectives are conducting an urgent search of the assistant, as well as the people's deputy in the Ternopil region. The possible involvement of the elected official in the commission of the crime is being checked.
MORDOR – Russia
Wednesday July 5
6:38 pm Center of National Resistance: Russians are planning to rob the museum-reserve "Khersones Tavriyskyi" in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
● "The occupying administration of the museum is preparing deeds of transfer for restoration for further display outside the museum for 300,000 exhibits from the reserve's funds," the message reads.
7:01 pm: The network reports about explosions near the local "administration" of temporarily occupied Volnovakha.
REGIONAL
KYIV
Thursday July 6
12:53 am: The National Guard has launched an official investigation into the actions of the personnel of the NSU guard who escorted the defendant Humenyuk, who set off the explosions there, to the Shevchenkiv district court, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.
9:53 am: KMVA reported the sounds of explosions on the left bank of Kyiv:
● "Our military is working. Therefore, it can be very loud! Keep calm!"
Wednesday July 5
6:03 pm: The mass media report about an explosion in the Shevchenko district court of Kyiv.
6:10 p.m.: The National Police of Ukraine confirmed the explosion in the premises of the Shevchenko Court in Kyiv.
● "At the moment, an investigative and operative group, special forces, explosives experts and dog experts are working at the site," the message says.
6:19 pm: According to preliminary information, the explosion in the Shevchenkivskyi court was arranged by the suspect in the case of detonating a grenade near the walls of the Verkhovna Rada in 2015, Ihor Humenyuk, — mass media.
● "The accused Humenyuk [...] made an attempt to escape from custody. He detonated three grenades in the convoy premises, grabbed a pistol and took a hostage," the report says.
● Meanwhile, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, said that the explosives were detonated by a man who was taken to a court hearing.
6:54 pm Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office: The Dnipro District Court of Kyiv announced a sentence to a blogger who shared a video of the work of the PPO on social networks - she was given a year's probation.
● "The accused fully admitted her guilt and entered into an agreement with the investigation," the message reads.
7:13 pm: Media reports about another explosion in Kyiv's Shevchenko court.
7:26 pm: Two people were carried out on a stretcher from the building of the Shevchenkiv District Court, media.
7:43 pm: There is information about two victims among law enforcement officers after the explosion in the Shevchenkiv District Court of Kyiv, the Prosecutor General's Office reports.
● "Preliminarily it was established that the accused, who was brought to the court to participate in the court session, tried to escape from custody while in the restroom.
● At the same time, he used an unidentified explosive device," the message reads.
7:53 pm: The offender died at the scene. According to preliminary information, he blew himself up — the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
● "During the storming of the premises, two KORD fighters were wounded. Their lives were saved by the shields that the special forces were carrying," the message reads.
8:11 pm: The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, commented on the situation that occurred in the Shevchenko court in Kyiv.
10:35 pm: Lawyer Oleksandr Sviridovsky stated that Humenyuk could have taken such a step due to his depressed state, because on August 31 it would have been 8 years since he was in the pre-trial detention center without a court verdict.
● He blamed the prosecutor and the court for the incident, and also noted that during the full-scale war, Humenyuk repeatedly stated that he wanted to go to the front.
SUMY
Thursday July 6
1:49 a.m.: Sumy region - threat of use of attack UAVs. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Wednesday July 5
12:36 pm: Emergency work continues for the third day at the site of an enemy strike in Sumy, — State Emergency Service.
● Yesterday, during the day, with the involvement of special equipment, rescuers carried out work at height, disassembly and dismantling of emergency structures, evacuation of property and material values.
● Repeated ignition sources were eliminated, 85 cubic meters were loaded. m of construction debris and remnants of destroyed structures.
● 47 rescuers and 12 units of equipment from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine worked at the scene during the day.
1:26 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Sumy region.
9:02 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Bilopol district of the Sumy region.
KHARKIV
Thursday July 6
1:37 am: Kharkiv region - missile danger and threat of enemy use of attack UAVs. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
DONETSK
Wednesday July 5
12:45 pm Donetsk RMA: In the middle of the night, the Russians launched a rocket attack on Druzhkivka — a house was damaged.
● In the Donetsk direction, in the Kurakhiv community, 1 person died in Dalny, 3 houses were damaged.
● On the Horlivskyi direction, a house in Kostyantynivka and a transformer in the Northern Toretska community were damaged. 2 houses were damaged in the Chasovoyarsk community.
● On the Lysychanskyi direction, 4 houses were destroyed in Pereizny and 2 houses were damaged in Zvanivka.
1:19 pm Local Media: The explosion occurred in Yasynuvata in the Donetsk region, which is not controlled by Ukraine.
7:39 pm Social Networks: Explosions were heard in the Kramatorsk district of the Donetsk region.
9:30 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the temporarily occupied Makiivka, Donetsk region.
11:04 pm: An oil depot is on fire in the temporarily occupied Makiivka. This is reported in local social networks.
11:36 pm: Thanks to the SBU, an FSB informant from Druzhkivka, who "bleached" locations of the Defense Forces on the eastern front, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
● During the arrest, a mobile phone with evidence of correspondence with a representative of the special services of the Russian Federation was found in the possession of the perpetrator.
● "First of all, the perpetrator tried to identify and hand over to the aggressor the location and movement of military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Bakhmut," the SBU press service writes.
ZAPORIZHIA
Thursday July 6
12:43 am: Zaporizhzhia region - threat of enemy use of attack UAVs. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
11:44 am Zaporizhia RMA: Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops have carried out 76 shelling of 14 settlements in the Zaporizhia region.
● People were not injured. The destruction of 27 civilian objects was recorded: housing, farm buildings, cars and other property of the population.
11:59 am: New objects appeared on the roof of power unit 4 of the ZANP, - satellite images
● The footage was taken on the morning of July 5 and published by the Planet Labs service. They note that such objects were not seen on any other satellite image of the fourth power unit in the last year and a half.
Wednesday July 5
9:22 pm: Zaporizhzhia region - threat of enemy use of attack UAVs.
● This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
DNIPRO
Thursday July 6
12:47 am: Dnipropetrovsk region - threat of enemy use of attack UAVs. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
1:25 am: Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad regions - stay in shelters. The course may change. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
8:56 am Dnipro RMA: At night, the Russians struck Nikopolshchyna three times. Heavy artillery was fired at Nikopol itself and the Chervonogrigorivsk community.
● There were no casualties. A private house, 2 outbuildings, and a power line were damaged. A Russian drone was shot down over the region.
Wednesday July 5
9:47 pm: Dnipro region - threat of enemy use of attack UAVs.
● This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
9:57 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Dnipro region
KHERSON
Thursday July 6
10:44 am Kherson RMA: Over the past day, the Russians carried out 84 shellings of the Kherson region. 38 shells were fired in the city of Kherson.
● the Russian military took aim at the residential quarters of the populated areas of the region. 2 people died, 10 more (including 1 child) were injured.
Wednesday July 5
12:56 pm: The National Police showed the consequences of shelling in the Kherson region over the past day.
MYKOLAIV
Wednesday July 5
10:13 pm: Ukrainian soldiers destroyed 8 enemy drones in the Mykolaiv region today.
● The following were destroyed: 4 unmanned aerial vehicles "Lancet", 2 unmanned aerial vehicles "Merlin-VR", 1 unmanned aerial vehicle "Zala" and 1 unmanned aerial vehicle "Orlan-10".
CHERKASY
Thursday July 6
1:25 am: Cherkasy, Poltava regions - missile danger. The course may change. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
10:10 am Cherkasy RMA: Fragments of a cruise missile fell in the Cherkasy region.
● In the neighboring region, the air defense system practiced Russian targets. At the same time, the fall of fragments of a downed cruise missile was recorded in the Cherkasy region. The roofs of two buildings and the power grid were damaged. It has already been restored. No casualties.
LVIV
Thursday July 6
2:31 am: Lviv, Ternopil oblasts - air defense is working.
● Stay in shelters. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2:34 am Social Networks: An explosion rang out in Lviv.
2:37 am: There are new threats in Lviv Oblast — the head of the OVA
2:48 am Social Networks: Explosions were heard again in Lviv.
2:53 am: Repeated explosions in the Lviv region - the work of the Air Defense Forces. The missile danger has not passed. This is reported by the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
3:10 am: "Explosions are heard in Lviv! Everyone stay in shelters!" - writes Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy.
3:43 am Lviv RMA: In Lviv, a critical infrastructure object was damaged as a result of an enemy air attack
● According to him, there are already wounded.
4:00 am: It is known about 4 wounded as a result of the Russian attack on Lviv. One person in serious condition was taken away by an ambulance.
● The mayor of the city, Andriy Sadovy, noted that the number of victims is increasing.
5:05 am: The head of the Lviv RMA Maksym Kozytskyi added that a Russian missile hit an apartment building.
● "There was a fire, which was promptly extinguished. There are victims. Firefighters, medics, emergency services specialists are working on the spot. People are being given all the necessary help. Rescuers are sorting out the debris," Kozytskyi writes.
● The head of the RMA noted that the Russian Federation is "targeting residential buildings."
6:04 am: According to the mayor of the city Andrii Sadovoy, 3 dead people were pulled out from under the rubble of the residential building.
7:14 am: Tonight was the worst attack on Lviv's civilian infrastructure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Mayor Andriy Sadovy reported.
● "There are dead and injured people. More than 50 homes have been destroyed. Emergency workers continue to clear the rubble," he informs.
7:19 am: The number of dead in Lviv increased to 4, another 9 people were injured, - the Ministry of Internal Affairs
8:36 am: The number of injured because of the Russian attack on a high-rise building in Lviv has increased to 32, including one child. Rescue operations continue, the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
11:22 am: The number of victims in Lviv from a rocket attack has increased to 37, - Ministry of Internal Affairs.
● Four people are still considered dead. Seven people were rescued from the rubble.
11:31 am: The youngest girl, who was killed by a rocket in her apartment tonight in Lviv, was only 21. The oldest person who died was 95, - the head of OVA Maksym Kozytskyi.
● Rescuers continue to clear the debris. There may still be people under them.
● More than 30 buildings, more than 250 apartments, 10 dormitories, a children's home, two universities, and a sanatorium school were destroyed. One substation in Lviv was damaged.
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
"𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬. 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 “𝐭𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐭” 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞."
In this regard, it should be noted that Ukrainian IT people are considered among the best in the world.