Bob Homans July 8
20220708
Ukraine – 7/8 Sitrep
Compiled by: Robert Homans
Twitter: @rhomansjr
July 8, 2022
Economist Webinar
Earlier today, the Economist had one of their bi-weekly webinars on Ukraine. Here is some of what was covered:
· Taking Kramatorsk & Sloviansk will be problematic for Russia – After taking Lysychansk, the cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Bakhmut are next on Russia’s “list.” Over the past 8 years, Ukraine has built up substantial defense lines in front of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. The Economist’s military expert doesn’t think Russia has sufficient strength to capture any of the 3. It is important to remember that Ukraine has built up similar defense lines around the portions of Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts that Russia occupied in 2014. So far, Russia has been unable to penetrate those defense lines, so it stands to reason that they’d have trouble penetrating similar defense lines around Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Kramatorsk and Sloviansk have psychological significance for both Russia and Ukraine. Kramatorsk was the Ukrainian Army HQ during the fighting between 2014 and 2022, along the Line of Contact. In the Spring of 2014, Sloviansk was the first Ukrainian city captured by Russians and the occupiers, and a few months later was the first city recaptured by Ukraine.
· Use of HIMARS and the 155mm howitzers – Ukraine uses these weapons against very precise targets, as opposed to using them as area weapons. According to the Economist’s expert, if they were used as area weapons Ukraine would quickly run out of ammunition. Consequently, they believe that Ukraine’s counter offensive, when it comes, will be based on using these weapons to degrade Russia’s supply and logistics with precise hits, rather than a grinding assault like what Russia has been using during the past couple of months.
· Belarus – They said that they don’t expect a Belarus attack on Ukraine. They believe that Belarus officers and enlisted men, unlike the security service that attacked protestors in Minsk in 2020, reflect the opposition of the Belarus public to Lukashenka. If ordered to invade Ukraine it is likely that the Belarus Army would turn on Lukashenka, and Lukashenka knows it.
· The Departure of Boris Johnson – They don’t predict any change in Great Britain’s support of Ukraine. As they pointed out, support for Ukraine goes very deep into the security services (MI-6), the Army and the British Public.
Before the war started, many experts predicted that it would take 500,000 Russian troops to defeat and subjugate Ukraine, where as Russia launched their war with something like 200,000 troops. Perhaps we’re beginning to see this dearth of Russian troops start to play out.
National Hockey League (NHL) – Russian Players
The NHL has announced that they’re cutting ties with Russia. For me, it’s about time. Personally, I would like to see the NHL ban any Russian or Belarusian player who has used the NHL as a platform to express support for Putin, starting with Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
I don’t believe this violates Ovechkin’s rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Ovechkin can continue to say anything he wants; he just won’t be able to use the NHL as a platform.
Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, a Putin apologist, has been banned from every symphony and opera company in the U.S. and Europe. Same with Russian soprano Anna Netrebko. As far as I’m aware, neither Gergiev nor Netrebko are being prevented from traveling in the U.S. or Europe; they just cannot use Western cultural institutions as platforms.
I am against banning Russians and Belarusians from cultural and sporting events because of their nationalities, as Wimbledon is doing. I am only in favor of banning those Russians and Belarusians who express support for Putin and the war he is conducting in Ukraine.
As we’re learning more about atrocities committed in Ukraine by the Russian Army, who are in Ukraine under orders from Putin, it becomes increasingly indefensible for Western cultural and athletic institutions to make themselves available as a platform, to be used by Putin apologists.
Putin values Russian artists and athletes as propaganda tools. We should take away their ability to spread Putin’s message using Western institutions as a platform.
7/8 Sitrep (my comments in Bold Face)
INTERNATIONAL
Friday, July 08
A well-known Italian presenter on the air revealed the lie of the Russian "TV presenter" Vladimir Solovyov. According to him, the Russian attack on the Donbass was just an excuse for Vladimir Putin to seize even more territory of Ukraine.
Der Spiegel: Lavrov leaves G20 summit due to boycott. The foreign ministers of the G20 countries at the Indonesian summit decided to ignore Sergey Lavrov. First, the diplomats refused to take a photo with him, and then the ministers of the G7 countries missed the official dinner. Perhaps this is a foretaste of the reception Putin will get, if he attends the G-20 Summit in person this Fall.
The mothers of Russian soldiers killed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine blamed Izvestia correspondent Valentin Trushnin for the death. “After the release of a report by the military correspondent of Izvestia, Valentin Trushnin, on June 30, 2022, the positions of military personnel were fired upon by heavy artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This happened due to the video footage,” the mothers wrote in a collective statement to the Astrakhan branch of Soldiers’ Mothers.
White House Press Secretary: Democratic changes in the British government will not affect the support of Ukraine from the Western allies against the backdrop of Russian aggression.
● “Our alliance with the UK remains strong, our special relationship with the people of this country will continue, nothing changes,”
● She also recalled that President Biden confirmed at the NATO summit in Madrid a week ago that NATO countries will continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend democracy in the face of a brutal war. According to the speaker, this process remains unchanged.
Kazakhstan withdraws from the 1995 Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) agreement on the Interstate Monetary Committee.
● “To approve the protocol on the termination of the agreement on the establishment of the Interstate Monetary Committee dated May 26, 1995, carried out in Minsk on October 25, 2013,” the decree of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, says.
The Guardian: Britain's Defense Minister says there is no risk of a dramatic change in his country's policy. Wallace noted that although Johnson is "incredibly sad" to leave the premiership, "the entire political system supports what we are doing in Ukraine.
NHK: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated during his speech in the city of Nara. The attacker was arrested. A police spokesman said that Mr. Abe had a cardiac arrest during his transfer to the hospital. Mr. Abe died in hospital. Nara is the ancient capital of Japan.
Thursday, July 07, 2022
Reuters: Tajikistan will reduce dependence on Russia with the help of hydropower. The European Union will become the largest investor in the Rogun hydroelectric power plant in Tajikistan. Once completed, it will help reduce Central Asia's dependence on energy from Russia.
As is the case in Ukraine, Russia wants to maintain influence over the former Soviet Republics, either by benign influence or, as we’re seeing now in Ukraine, direct action. Russia only decided to invade Ukraine, once they realized that they had lost almost all of its ability to influence Ukraine politically. Russia has several levers with which to influence the Central Asian ‘Stans, several of them thanks to borders and agreements drawn up in the 1920s, and they are using them.
Tajikistan has been supplying water to Uzbekistan, under Stalin-era supply contracts, where Uzbekistan pays almost nothing for Tajik water. At the same time, the Tajiks have realized little benefit from their water surplus, coming from the Pamir Range much of which is in Tajik Territory, either for irrigation or production of electricity.
I have been to southern Tajikistan, within 25 miles of the Afghan border. It is a major cotton-producing area, but the local cotton gin suffers from power outages, as do the irrigation pumps, and the local roads, other than the road between Dushanbe and the Afghan border, built with American financing, are almost impassable. Away from the larger towns, the poverty seems as deep as many places I’ve visited in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Uzbekistan is much larger cotton producer than Tajikistan. Cotton is a very thirsty commodity. Uzbekistan has used up most of its groundwater; the Aral Sea is almost completely dry. The Uzbeks are concerned that with the new dams, one of which is being financed by China, that Tajikistan will require that Uzbekistan start paying more for water that they get from Tajikistan, and withhold the water if the Uzbeks refuse to pay. Uzbekistan has the largest army among the Central Asian ‘Stans. This is a space to watch.
When the borders were drawn up after the Soviet Union was established, Stalin did so with an eye toward ensuring Russian domination. Among other things, he did this by dividing the Furgana Valley among 4 bordering countries, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. There are Uzbek enclaves lying wholly within the territory of Kyrgyzstan. To get to Tashkent, the Capital of Uzbekistan, from Dushanbe, Capital of Tajikistan, one must travel by air from Dushanbe to a city in northern Tajikistan, near the border with Uzbekistan, and then drive to Tashkent.
Chatham House: 95% of Belarusians believe that their army should not go to war against Ukraine. “The attitude of Belarusians towards the Russian war in Ukraine remains negative. The number of people who believe that it is necessary to support the actions of Russia is decreasing (from 28% in March to 23% in June 2022). And there are not many people who believe that Belarus should take part in hostilities on the side of Russia - 5%,” says Chatham House, director of the Belarusian Initiative. The survey was conducted by Chatham House on June 6-17, 2022.
EX-Polish Labor Minister⚡️If the sanctions are lifted, it is only a matter of time before Russia restores its military capabilities and comes to Ukraine. And this means that there will be no revival of Ukraine - investors' money will not come. Sanctions should be tied to Russia's surrender of nuclear weapons.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: Not a single citizen of Russia has applied for a visa after the introduction of a visa regime by Ukraine. T
The Daily Mail: The euro fell to a twenty-year low against the dollar amid the threat of a recession and another rise in natural gas prices.
Bloomberg: The European Commission is blocking a loan of 1.5 billion euros for Ukraine, reports. The publication, citing sources, writes that Ukraine was faced with the fact that the proposed loan was blocked by the budgetary division of the European Commission due to concerns about its financial reliability. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, added that “Ukraine should take ownership of its reconstruction.” A great statement of the obvious if there ever was one.
Belarusian Gayun: Military exercises in Belarus have been extended until at least July 16. It is reported that this is evidenced by the schedule of the exercises at the Belarusian training grounds. July 10 will be a public holiday for all polygons, and July 9 will also be a public holiday for some polygons.
● The threat of missile attacks on Ukraine from the side of Belarus will remain for another three months - the ban on civil aviation flights has been extended until October. According to the group, at least 689 warheads have been fired from the territory of Belarus into Ukrainian cities since the beginning of the full-scale war
● Russian troops will set up their military base at the "Ziabrivka" airfield near the Homel district of Belarus. The "Iskander-M" division and the S-400 division are already located there, Oleksii Hromov, deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Minister of Transport of Romania: ⚡️Romania has launched construction of a wide guage railroad to the Danube port of Galati, which will help deliver Ukrainian cargo faster - the work is expected to be completed in a month.
Head of the State Duma: 11,160 sanctions have been applied against Russia. No country has ever faced such a number
Putin at a meeting with the leaders of the State Duma: We do not refuse peace talks, but those who refuse should know that the further, the more difficult it will be to negotiate
● “We hear that we started a war in Ukraine. No". “Everyone should know that by and large we haven’t really started anything yet.”
● Igor Strelkov-Girkin, a former FSB officer and Minister of Defense of the "so-called" DPR, criticized Putin's statements that "Russia has not yet started anything in earnest in Ukraine."
Agora: The former publisher of the opposition edition 'Meduza', Ilya Krasilshchik, has been put on the wanted list of the Russian Federation. The journalist is accused in the case of disseminating false information about the war (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). He is not in Russia.
Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Hungary refused to "fairly" share gas with EU member states and compared such measures to communism. "Hungarian gas storage facilities will remain the property of Hungary. Gas purchased with the money of Hungarian taxpayers and stored in Hungarian gas storage facilities will be used in Hungary," commenting on the proposal of Manfred Weber, chairman of the European People's Party faction in the EP, to establish a fair distribution of gas among EU members.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoshimasa Hayashi, refused to participate in the official dinner of the heads of foreign affairs of the G20 within the framework of their meeting at the Balls, the Kyodo agency reported. It is noted that the head of the Japanese foreign ministry "considered it inappropriate" to participate in the dinner, since there was a possibility that Sergey Lavrov would be present.
Because of the war, Ukraine will not be able to accept Jewish pilgrims to celebrate Rosh Hashan - the Jewish New Year. Ukraine's ambassador to Israel Yevgenyi Korniichuk said that Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of pilgrims and called on Orthodox Jews to pray that the war would end before Rosh Hashanah.
Forbes: Since the start of the war, Russia has fired more than 2 thousand missiles at Ukraine and, as we’ve recently seen, a few have been fired at themselves.
The European Commission believes that the participation of the Russian Federation at a high level in the G20 forum can undermine trust in this organization and its effectiveness, - said the representative of the EU foreign policy service, Nabila Massraly, at a briefing in Brussels.
Ukrainians will be able to use national driver's licenses in the EU, the European Parliament adopted this decision. At the same time, in case of loss or deprivation of rights, EU countries will be able to issue new European rights after checking with the Ukrainian authorities that the corresponding person has a valid Ukrainian driver's license.
Ministry of Finance of Ukraine: The European Parliament supported the provision of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 1 billion euros. Further, this order must be approved by the Council of the EU, after which the decision will enter into force.
Berliner Zeitung: German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck asked Canada to return a compressor used in the Nord Stream 1 turbine, which fell under sanctions against the Russian Federation. "I will be the first to fight for a further strong package of EU sanctions, but strong sanctions mean they must hurt and hurt Russia and Putin more than our economy," -he said.
CNN: Johnson confirms he is stepping down as prime minister: "It is now clear that the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party is that there should be a new leader of this party and, consequently, a new prime minister"
● Johnson addressed the Ukrainians and assured that the UK will continue to support Ukraine, despite the personnel changes in the government.
● Johnson: "The reason I fought so hard the last few days to stay in office was not only a personal desire, but also because I felt that this was my job, my duty, my duty to you".
● Zelenskyi, commenting on Johnson's resignation expressed confidence that Great Britain's policy towards Ukraine will not change in the near future.
The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska appeared on the cover of Time. "Her Personal War" reads the headline. The material is devoted to post-traumatic syndrome.
China is the biggest economic and security threat to the US and Britain, FBI and MI5 chiefs Christopher Wray and Ken McCallum said at a joint briefing. The main accusations leveled against Beijing by Western counterintelligence officials were assurances of its involvement in cyberattacks and "providing covert pressure on states around the world".
Spiegel: German Defense Minister Christina Lambrecht rejected the delivery of Fuchs armored personnel carriers to Ukraine." "We support Ukraine with everything possible and responsibly. But we must ensure Germany's ability to defend itself," -the minister said.
Reuters: The Finnish parliament voted for a law that would allow the installation of barriers on the border with Russia, writes, Thus Finland will be able to close the 1,300-kilometer border from refugees.
Russian media: President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to export oil bypassing the Russian Federation. The priority direction is the Trans-Caspian route. Kazakhstan intends to diversify its oil export routes after Russia stopped the operation of terminals in Novorossiisk on the Black Sea, through which tens of millions of tons of raw materials produced in Kazakhstan went to foreign markets.
TASS: The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation officially announced a pause in the fighting, and measures are being taken in the units "to replenish combat capabilities." "The servicemen are given the opportunity to rest, receive letters and parcels from home". According to him, units of the Russian troops are now carrying out "measures to fill their combat capabilities."
NATIONAL
Friday, July 08
The SSU: According to the court decisions, 8 militants of the terrorist organization "DPR" were found guilty under two articles of the Criminal Code. They were sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of all their property.
Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council: About 20 hectares of wheat were destroyed: in the Zaporizhia region, because of Russian shelling, fields caught fire. “It is not Ukrainian wheat that is burning, the food security of the world is burning. Russia will bear responsibility for all crimes!” - reacted to the fire in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
British Intelligence 10:29 AM:
● Russia is likely concentrating equipment on the front line in the direction of Siversk, approximately 8km west of the current Russian front line. Its forces are likely pausing to replenish before undertaking new offensive operations in Donetsk Oblast.
● Ukrainian forces continue a gradual offensive in the southwestern Kherson direction.
● There is a realistic possibility that Russia's immediate tactical objective will be Siversk, as its forces attempt to advance towards its most likely operational goal of the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk urban area.
Reuters: Two US senators Lindsey Grammy and Richard Blumenthal expressed open support for the decision to provide Ukraine with longer-range missiles for HIMARS systems, as well as other long-range weapons.
Digi24: Prime Minister - Romania will be able to provide gas supplies to Ukraine This was made possible thanks to a pipeline from Greece to Bulgaria
Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 7:44 AM :
● In the Slovyansk direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of Bogorodichny inflicted losses on the Russians during their next offensive attempt and pushed the Russian troops back.
● In the Bakhmut direction, the Russians are advancing in the direction of the Vesela Dolyna and in the area of the settlement of Spirne, hostilities continue.
● In the Avdііvka, Novopavlіvsk and Zaporіzhіа directions, skirmishes continue along the original Line of Contact, from mortars, tanks, cannon and rocket artillery.
● In the Pivdenobuzke nobuzh direction, the Russians are concentrating their efforts on preventing the offensive of the Ukrainian defense forces.
The American Institute for the Study of War 7:21 AM:
● Russians are probably preparing for a simultaneous assault on Slоvyansk and Kramatorsk in different directions.
● Russian troops carried out a limited and unsuccessful attack north of Kharkіv
● Ukrainian guerrillas likely continue to attack Russian-controlled railways around Melitopol
Thursday, July 07, 2022
The Ministry of Reintegration receives complaints that some institutions began to evict IDPs. For displaced persons who are forcibly evicted from the premises provided to them, the Deputy Prime Minister suggests calling the hotline of the Ministry of Reintegration - 1548.
Prime Minister: The government has completed payments of 6,500 hryvnias within the framework of the 'Epidtrimka' program. According to him, almost 31 billion hryvnias were paid in total, almost 5 million people received the money.
Chief of Staff of the Army (Ground Forces) of the United States: Training of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by American instructors is carried out outside of Ukraine.
Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 7:23 PM:
● The command of the Russian army is withdrawing part of the troops and is trying to replace them with unmotivated units. The reason for this rotation was the loss of personnel, weapons, and equipment.
● In the Sloviansk direction, the Russians again unsuccessfully stormed Bohorodychne, trying to completely capture it. The Ukrainian soldiers repulsed the assault harshly.
● In the east of Ukraine, the Russian Federation is still trying to establish full control over the territory of the Luhansk region.
● In the Slobozhansk direction, the Russian Federation continues to focus its efforts on holding positions and preventing the advance of units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine deep into the temporarily occupied territory.
● The statements of the Russian Defense Ministry, about the alleged death of Ukrainian soldiers who carried out the cleansing and set up the Flags of Ukraine on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, do not correspond to reality.
The State Emergency Service will conduct short-term training and briefings for members of voluntary formations free of charge.
State Customs Service of Ukraine: Ukraine was invited to the Convention on the Common Transit Procedure and the Convention on Facilitation of Formalities in Trade in Goods.
The head of the British Armed Forces Tony Radakin met with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
The Cabinet of Ministers canceled the list of goods of critical import - for the import of services restrictions continue to operate in part.
Operational Directorate of the General Staff: More than 70% of the unguided projectiles and guided air missiles launched by Russia in Ukraine do not reach their target. This indicates the high efficiency of the existing air defense system.
President Zelenskyi met in Kyiv with US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal. "We count on the support of the Congress in the issue of supplying modern air defense systems. We must ensure such a level of safety in the sky so that people are not afraid to live in Ukraine," - Zelenskyi noted.
Deputy Minister of Defense: Ukrainian intelligence does not exclude that Russia will try to advance towards Zaporizhzhya.
JULY 7 DEEP STATE MAP SHOWING SATELLITE RECORDED EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES OVER A 24 HOUR PERIOD - 6:00 AM JULY 6 TO 6:00 AM JULY 7
This is the same map that was used in today’s just-ended Economist webinar, discussed previously. It is also the same map used by Denys in his videos. The map is beginning to show the effects of the recently arrived 155mm howitzers and the HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems, especially the dots deep inside temporarily occupied Russian territory, that Ukraine wouldn’t otherwise be able to hit using their Soviet equipment.
Apparently, using the new weapons, Ukraine has so far destroyed 21 Russian ammunition dumps and an additional number of Russian command-and-control facilities. There was a report in today’s Kyiv “Independent” that states, “Zaporizhzhia Oblast Administration: Russians leave military facilities in occupied areas in fear of HIMARS. The administration claimed, citing Ukrainian intelligence, that after Ukraine hit Russia's military facilities in the occupied territories with HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), provided to Ukraine by the U.S., Russian troops started to panic and leave their equipment warehouses en masse.” Ukraine only has 4 or 5 HIMARS launchers. However, the vehicles can travel up to nearly 100km/hour on the highway, so Ukraine can “fire & forget,” and at the same time move them over longer distances. Targeting information can be entered during the period when the vehicles are on the move, allowing them to stop, fire, and move again before the Russians can develop a firing solution.
State Security: In the Lv’iv region, the SSU exposed a criminal group that imported 40,000 cars, earning millions on preferential customs clearance. Among the criminals are Lv’iv customs officials, three brokers and an EU citizen. They imported cars along the "green corridor" and forged documents to register cars without removing them from foreign registration.
Türkiye released the Russian ship "Zhybek Joli",- the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. At the request of Ukraine, it was detained. The Foreign Ministry claims that stolen grain was transported from occupied Berdyansk to the Turkish port of Karas on it. The ship was not unloaded, but on the evening of July 6 it was released from the port. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Turkish ambassador to Kyiv and asks for an investigation.
The Wall Street Journal: The United States and Western countries have already transferred 9 HIMARS missile systems and similar systems to Ukraine. At the same time, with such a relatively small number of appropriate missile systems, Ukraine can only wage a defensive war for the time being, much more is needed for an offensive.
Operational Command Pivden "South". Special Forces units have cleared Zmiinyi (Snake) Island. The destruction of about 30 units of Russian equipment was confirmed, abandoned ammunition and solid ruins were found. Also, the Ukrainian military installed and secured the flag of Ukraine, which was delivered to the island earlier.
SUMY
Thursday, July 07, 2022
According to official data, more than 2,215 buildings have been destroyed in the Sumy region. This list is updated daily due to constant arrivals. Canada is the curator of the restoration of the Sumy region.
KHARKIV
Friday, July 08
Regional Military Administration: This night, for the first time in several weeks, there was no night shelling of Kharkiv. “But we have no right to lose vigilance. After all, only last night the enemy massively shelled the Nemyshlyanskyi district of the city. As a result of the shelling, 3 civilians were killed and 5 wounded
● In the region, Russian troops continued to shell the civilian population and civilian infrastructure of the Kharkiv, Chuguyevskyi, Izyumsky and Bogodukhovskyi districts.
● In total, 4 people were killed in the Kharkiv region in a day, 9 were injured.
● In the Kharkiv region on July 7, 16 fires broke out from Russian shelling.
● The largest number of fires - in the Nemyshlyansky district of Kharkiv
Thursday, July 07, 2022
Actress Cate Blanchett showed the world the war through the eyes of Kharkiv citizens. The documentary tells the story of firefighters and doctors who continued to work in the war zone, as well as ordinary citizens fleeing the Russian invasion.
President’s Office: There was no threat of an attack on Kharkiv. He also recalled that Kharkiv has strong air defense, but the task of air defense is to shoot down missiles, not MLRS and artillery shells.
Regional Military Administration : 3 people died and 5 were injured as a result of today's shelling of Kharkiv. The Russians attacked one of the districts of Kharkiv. Preliminarily, with multiple launch missile systems.
● The Russians arrested the mayor of Kupiansk, Hennadii Matsehora, who had earlier defected to their side.
LUHANSK
Friday, July 08
Regional Military Administration:
● the entire region is not occupied by Russians, but they are again in a hurry to report on the complete capture of the region;
● in two settlements of the Luhansk region, battles are still being fought
● there is no operational pause on the part of the Russians, the shelling does not subside
● additional tank units of the Russian Federation went into battle;
● it is difficult to leave the Lugansk region, but it is possible - through the territory of Russia to other countries of the world.
● Russians demand money for passing through checkpoints - they don't have clear tariffs
● Ukrainian mobile communication in the region is disabled;
● Critical infrastructure in cities and villages where there were hostilities was destroyed by almost 100%.
● Occupied Severodonetsk is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe - there are no centralized supplies of water, gas and electricity, there is a big problem with sewerage.
● In addition, Russians are robbing citizens' property. People returning to collect their belongings find an empty apartment, albeit intact.
Regional Military Administration : In order to reach the administrative border of the Luhansk region, the Russians destroy the surrounding villages with artillery.
● They use all types of heavy weapons, but they do not stop the attacking only Belogorovka and Zolotarivka. They hit houses, every building that seems to them a possible fortification.
● The situation is similar in the settlements of the Donetsk region, which are located near the border with the Luhansk region.
Thursday, July 07, 2022
Regional Military Administration : Luhansk region is holding on. There is no complete occupation
● People in Kremennaya are being shot right on the street; this is helped by local collaborators who hand over to the Russians the population with a pro-Ukrainian position and their exact addresses of residence.
● The Russians blamed the local population for the "explosions" in the warehouses of the Russian Federation. They are looking for those who could provide the coordinates of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or simply photograph the location of targets. In Kremennaya, people are forbidden to use mobile phones, in addition, people are shot if it seems to the orcs that a person talks too much on the phone - this is a signal for them to be involved in espionage."
DONETSK
Friday, July 08
Advisor to the Mayor of Mariupol. There is no water in the city and there will not be. "The occupying authorities finally admitted that the restoration of water supply in the Left Bank district of Mariupol is impossible due to damage to the water pipeline by Russian bombs. The same applies to a significant part of the Central and Primorsky districts. The crater from the FAB-1000 in the city center clearly demonstrates why. Most of the communications are simply impossible to resume, and the construction will take several years, which the occupiers do not have," - Petro Andryushchenko.
Social Media: Morning in occupied Shakhterskе, Donetsk region. The city is covered in smoke from the very night. You can hear the detonation of ammunition.
Thursday, July 07, 2022
Social Media: An oil depot is on fire in the Kirovskyi district of the temporarily occupied Donetsk.
Regional Military Administration :A residential building caught fire today after shelling in Avdiivka, the Donetsk region. So far 1 dead and 2 injured, but the final figures have yet to be established, as well as the amount of destruction.
● Russians have shelled Avdiivka more than 10 times since yesterday evening. The blows hit the hospital, residential areas, a motor depot, as well as the Avdiivka Coke Plant.
Schemy: Reference to Planet Labs satellite images: Mass burial sites in the village of Staryi Krym near Mariupol have doubled compared to the beginning of May.
Mayor of Kramatorsk: Confirmed the missile attack on the city center. Preliminarily, as a result of today's shelling of Kramatorsk, 1 person was killed and 6 more injured. 6 buildings were damaged by the impact, including a hotel and a residential high-rise building.
● “After today's arrival, I think we will see an even larger column of people who will leave Kramatorsk. At the same time, despite the shelling, everything is working in the city so far - only there is no gas.”
Mayor: In Slovyansk, the Russians launched a strike from the MLRS on the Lisova and Slavkurort micro districts, As a result of the shelling, there are wounded.
Mariupol City Council: The Russians stole all the valuable exhibits from the Art and Local Lore Museums in the temporarily occupied Mariupol and destroyed the institutions themselves
ZAPORIZHYA
Friday, July 08
According to Ukrainian intelligence, some rocket artillery units of the Russian Federation do not fully support the conduct of the so-called "special operation" and subconsciously help the Armed Forces of Ukraine to demilitarize their own occupying forces.
Recently a Russian MLRS unit inflicted fire damage on its positions near the settlement of Neskuchnoye. As a result of "aimed" fire, one soldier was killed, two were injured.
Ammunition depot of the Russian Federation has been destroyed, the Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration reports.
Thursday, July 07, 2022
Deputy Defense Minister: The Russians may launch an offensive against Zaporozhye in the coming days. According to her, the RF Armed Forces in this direction are reinforced by at least five battalion tactical groups. Also, these forces can be used for a detour maneuver in the direction of Velyka Novoselka - Pokrovske, Malyar said.
DNIPRO
Regional Military Administration This morning Russian troops fired on the Kriviy Rih region again.
● In the Apostolovskyi community, the Russians hit the village of Novosemenivka. The blast wave shattered windows in the house. In Zelenodolsk, they hit a dacha and a park area. no casualties.
KHERSON
Friday, July 08
Operational Command Pivden "South".The Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked Russians in the area of Davydov Brod and Pravdino three times with pairs of helicopters.
Thursday, July 07, 2022
Military expert Oleh Zhdanov:Kherson can be liberated in 2 days. “In two days, the city can be besieged, and then either conduct a special operation or issue an ultimatum to surrender. But it’s too early to say that tomorrow we will get up and go on the offensive.”
The mayor of the occupied city of Oleshki in the Kherson region, Yevhen Ryshchuk, called on locals living near the facilities where Russian soldiers live, as well as near Russian military equipment and other military facilities "to go away from there". "The Armed Forces are coming,"
The Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed a cluster of Russian equipment 25 times in Chornobaivka, Kherson region. A fire and detonation of enemy ammunition have been going on at the scene for more than an hour.
MYKOLAIV
Thursday, July 07, 2022
The SSU neutralized an FSB agent who was preparing to correct missile strikes on Nikolaev. In the course of the special operation, a resident of Mykolaiv was detained, who, in addition to scouting the location and movement of units of the Armed Forces in the region, collected intelligence on critical infrastructure and defense facilities in the Black Sea regions.
ODESA
Thursday, July 07, 2022
Operational Command Pivden "South". Russian troops fired two Kh-31 missiles from a Su-30 fighter jet in the Odesa region. One rocket hit the tanker "Millennial Spirit" under the flag of Moldova, drifting in the territorial sea without a crew with the remains of diesel fuel on board. The second missile, according to OK, "self-destructed"
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
HIMARS seems to be helping reduce ammunition supplies. May reduce the damage being inflicted, uselessly.