Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:20 The Russian army is advancing near Pokrovsk and has occupied Vesyoloye, which is east of Grodovka and west of the already occupied Progress, reports the Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState.
20:18 The General Staff announced that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have begun implementing the program of actions "Preserving the Lives of Servicemen". In particular, a working meeting was held today on problematic issues that need to be resolved to improve medical care for servicemen at all stages. The key issues discussed during the meeting were: improving the provision of medical care to the wounded directly on the battlefield, timely and maximally safe evacuation, in particular, using ground robotic platforms, providing units with specialized equipment for the safe evacuation of the wounded, and training combat medics.
19:40 On Friday, August 2, negotiations will begin with another European country regarding a security agreement, Zelensky said in an evening video address. "We are also preparing visits of leaders to Ukraine and, accordingly, the content of our negotiations and the long-term philosophy of our agreements," the president added.
Zelensky also said that "personnel decisions are being prepared at the government level, as well as additional decisions, so that this fall more Ukrainian children will be able to study in schools not online, but normally - so that there will be normal school life as much as is possible now, during the war."
19:17 The General Staff reported that it had worked out proposals for changes to the Procedure for the conscription of citizens for military service during mobilization, for a special period, which allow commanders of military units to conscript military personnel who have expressed a desire to serve in the military without the participation of territorial recruitment and social support centers in these events. According to the General Staff, the implementation of the relevant changes will allow:
- simplify the mechanism for recruiting citizens for military service through mobilization;
- commanders of military units to select and call up for military service personnel motivated to defend their homeland;
- Persons liable for military service may choose vacant positions in military units, including those in related civilian specialties or skills;
- to mitigate the risks for citizens of being called up through the TCC and SP to other military units (not by their own choice).
18:25 During the week of the state project I Want to Join My Own, one collaborator was exchanged for a Ukrainian, the GUR reported. Intelligence clarified that this happened during the exchange on July 17, when the project was still operating in test mode.
Also during this time, one collaborator stopped collaborating with the enemy thanks to the project, seven potential collaborators are being checked. Another seven Russians expressed a desire to leave for the Russian Federation. "If for one reason or another you are still collaborating with the enemy, you have a chance to stop this activity under certain conditions. To do this, you need to fill out a special form on the I Want to Join My Own website and strictly follow the instructions received," the GUR emphasized.
17:52 Peskov stated that "legal nuances regarding the legitimacy of the Ukrainian authorities" cannot be an obstacle to the start of serious negotiations. At the same time, he added that "no summit with Russia's participation is being prepared yet."
17:25 Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said the US is concerned about the progress of Russian troops in Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that he is "inspired" by Ukraine's ability to attract more people to replenish the troops.
16:46 America and its allies produce fewer weapons than Russia, China, Iran and North Korea combined, said Eric Eidelman, deputy chairman of the US National Defense Strategy Commission: "Our defense industrial base is in very bad shape. The European defense industrial base is in even worse shape. We need our industrial base, their base, and the industrial base of our allies in the Pacific region. Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan - they all need to step up their efforts. Because what Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are doing is beyond what we can do ourselves."
16:30 Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Bocka sent a message to EU countries assuring that Orban has completed his "peacekeeping mission" on the Ukrainian issue, El PaÃs reports. However, according to the publication, some diplomats doubt the veracity of this statement and believe that the Hungarian Prime Minister may begin this "mission" again when it suits him.
16:27 Russian oppositionist Ilya Ponomarev claims that his house near Kiev was deliberately hit by a "shahed" on the night of August 1, and not by downed debris. According to him, the air defense did not even work on the drone, because the UAV was flying when there was no air raid alarm. And the day before, three more drones were shot down nearby, Ponomarev added.
16:24 Ukraine has appealed to UNESCO regarding the protection of Tauric Chersonesos in Crimea, the Ministry of Culture reported.
16:10 Russia attacked Ukraine with 426 Shahed drones in July. Over the same period, Ukraine retaliated with more than 520 drones, Forbes writes. The publication notes that Russia appears to be less effective in shooting down UAVs, as Ukrainian strikes cause significant economic damage to oil refineries and other targets.
15:59 Military radio technology specialist and technical blogger Sergei Beskrestnov (Flash) showed a photo of the wreckage of the new Russian Gerber drone, discovered after the attack on the night of July 31. "Plywood, foam, regular GPS, flight controller. Everything is as simple and cheap as possible. From components to assembly," he said. According to the expert, the drone does not have explosives, and some of them fell on their own after running out of fuel. The purpose of such a UAV is to deplete the resources of the Ukrainian air defense.
15:28 The European Union has rejected requests from Hungary and Slovakia for urgent consultations in connection with Ukraine's decision to ban the transit of oil from Russia's Lukoil, Bloomberg writes.
14:53 Syrsky reported that he had been working on the Eastern Front for three days, in the brigades that are holding the defense in the Kharkov and Toretsk directions. According to him, the enemy continues to concentrate its efforts in the Pokrovsk direction, trying to break through the Ukrainian defense in the direction of Zhelannoye, Novogrodovka, Pokrovsk. In the Toretsk direction, the forces of the National Police, the SBU and the Military Law Enforcement Service are conducting counter-sabotage operations, detecting and neutralizing enemy sabotage groups in urban areas.
In the Kupyansk direction, in the area of ​​Peschanoye, Stelmakhovka, Makeyevka, there are fierce battles, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding their positions. The situation in the Seversky direction is difficult - the enemy is actively using artillery, conducting assaults, but is not successful. There are also fierce battles in the area of ​​the canal on the approaches to Chasov Yar, without changing the positions of the parties. The Russian army continues to storm the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of New York, Pivdennoye, Zaliznoye.
In the Kharkov direction, in the area of ​​Glubokoe, Volchansk, there are also battles, but the enemy is not successful, suffering significant losses. In general, in all directions of the enemy's offensive, there are military actions of varying intensity. In some places, at the cost of great losses, the enemy has minor success. Syrsky emphasized that during active military operations, the tactical positions of troops can change several times during the day, as of today, there have been no significant changes.
14:19 Zelensky said in an interview with French media that the Ukrainian military is tired and needs rotation - this is why the military leadership has been preparing 14 rotation brigades. But, according to the president, only three of these brigades have been equipped with weapons.
14:02 Russians have opened a railway station in Mariupol, which was completely destroyed at the beginning of the invasion. The launch of the railway will allow the occupiers to shorten the logistics route by almost 300 km, said the mayor's adviser Petro Andryushchenko. At the same time, a single diesel train with two carriages has been announced for civilians on the Mariupol-Volnovakha route, meaning that the railway will be used primarily for military purposes.
13:57 The state has announced a tender for the purchase of Ukrainian FPV drones through Prozorro for the first time, said the head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov. He called on manufacturers to submit their drones for bidding and strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine with their developments. "Thanks to competition, the state will be able to buy them at the most favorable price, and for Ukrainian manufacturers this is an opportunity to increase their profits and scale up," the minister added.
13:30 Zelensky said that Russia will no longer be able to take Kharkov, and it has changed its target. According to him, Russian troops are concentrating on the Pokrovsk direction. "The entire East is difficult. The main goal today, after they failed to take Kharkov, and we understand that this will no longer be possible. The main goal has changed. Their main direction is not the East as a whole, although Slavyansk is no exception, but Pokrovsk, I would say, is a priority for them today," the president noted.
13:08 Forbes writes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces probably managed to shoot down a Russian helicopter in mid-air for the first time on July 31 using a drone. The publication notes that this was preceded by at least ten months of attempts. According to preliminary data, a one-kilogram drone hit a helicopter on the eastern outskirts of Donetsk, approximately 16 km from the front line.
To fly such a distance, an FPV drone may need the help of a second UAV following behind and transmitting a signal. "This is a complex operation that requires careful coordination. Considering how many FPV drones the Ukrainians launch every month, the threat to Russian helicopters could increase significantly," the publication writes.
12:16 Russians fired artillery at Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region - two people were killed, one was wounded, reported the head of the OVA, Serhiy Lysak.
11:55 The SBU reported that it had detained a priest of the UOC MP who was preparing to strike at Ukrainian Armed Forces trains in the Kharkiv region. The rector of one of the Kharkiv churches was recruited before the full-scale invasion. He was supposed to collect information about the schedules and routes of Ukrainian Armed Forces trains. The priest was assisted by an acquaintance who worked at the local branch of Ukrzaliznytsia. Both have already been detained, they have been declared suspects and face up to 12 years in prison.
11:37 The Russians are rapidly building a base for the Black Sea Fleet in occupied Abkhazia, Bellingcat reports, citing satellite images from July 22. They show several new buildings, sites for new construction, and a new perimeter. The size of the base is likely to be larger than previously planned. To the east of the port, where the railway lines approach the military base, a large concrete foundation measuring approximately 100x40 meters has been under construction for several weeks.
11:25 Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak confirmed that Russia is using new drones to strike Ukraine. According to him, "homemade assembly indicates that production technologies are becoming cheaper in this war, but also that it is difficult for the Russian military-industrial complex to mass-produce other models due to sanctions and restrictions." In addition, Yermak emphasized that war technologies are constantly evolving, and "the democratic world has no right to lose the technological race to autocracies." According to the head of the OP, it is important to work not only through restrictions, but also by developing our own weapons.
11:03 In the Kiev region, during a night attack, a drone hit the house of Russian oppositionist Ilya Ponomarev. The politician wrote that today is his "second birthday." "The fifth attempt at an attack was the most unconventional and the most successful, which was difficult to defend against," Ponomarev noted. According to media reports, the politician and his wife were injured, and the drone exploded five meters from the front door of the house. The media also writes that the day before, on July 31, three drones had already flown into Ponomarev's property, but they were shot down by air defense and fell 50-100 meters from the house.
10:54 At night, Russians launched a missile attack on one of the railway stations in the Kharkiv region, a conductor was injured. Two locomotives, freight and passenger cars, tracks and power supply facilities were damaged, Ukrzaliznytsia reported.
10:41 More than 10 thousand civilians from Mariupol were arrested during the filtration and purges, said Mariupol mayoral adviser Petro Andryushchenko: "Where these people are, who these people are - there is no such data. For two years, together with the special services, with the partisans, we have been trying to get this information by any means possible - it is not there. The Russians guard this information like a nuclear button."
10:08 At night, Russians shelled the Kherson community with artillery, OVA reported. One person was injured in the Dniprovsky district of Kherson, another in the village of Sadovoe. In addition, a resident of Berislav, who was attacked by a Russian drone several days ago, went to the hospital. Also in the morning, Russian artillery hit Mylovoe in the Berislav district, one person was injured.
09:32 On the night of August 1, the Russians launched strikes with Iskander-M ballistic missiles and Shahed-type attack UAVs. All seven drones were shot down in the Kyiv, Poltava, Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions, the Air Force reported.
08:45 At night, Russians struck Izyum in Kharkiv Oblast with an Iskander-M ballistic missile, one person was injured, reported OVA chief Oleg Sinegubov. In addition, one person was killed as a result of shelling in Novoosinovo, Kupyansk district. Another person was injured the day before as a result of shelling by the KAB in Shevchenkovo, Kupyansk district.
08:39 In the Kiev region, as a result of falling UAV debris during a night attack, two people were injured, reported the head of the OVA Ruslan Kravchenko. There is information about damage to two private houses.
08:11 In Donetsk Oblast, on July 31, one person was killed as a result of Russian shelling - in Marinovka. Another ten people in the region were injured in the past 24 hours, reported OVA head Vadim Filashkin.
08:05 In the Kherson region, over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, one person was killed and ten were injured, reported the head of the OVA, Oleksandr Prokudin.
07:59 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of August 1:
- personnel - about 579,490 (+1,370) people,
- tanks - 8399 (+9),
- combat armored vehicles - 16,203 (+42),
- artillery systems - 16,119 (+33),
- MLRS - 1132 (+1),
- air defense systems - 907 (+0),
- aircraft - 363 (+0),
- helicopters - 326 (+0),
- Operational-tactical level UAVs - 12,968 (+115),
- cruise missiles - 2407 (+0),
- ships/boats - 28 (+0),
- submarines - 1 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tank trucks - 21,816 (+77),
- special equipment - 2713 (+16).
07:08 In the Zaporizhia region, over the past day, one person was wounded as a result of Russian attacks on the Zaporizhia district, reported the head of the OVA Ivan Fedorov.
01:13 Russian troops have occupied Timofeevka in Donetsk Oblast, the Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState reported. The distance from the village to Pokrovsk, a strategically important city for Ukraine, is about 31 km. The enemy has also advanced near Krasnogorovka, Panteleimonovka, Ivanovka, Zhelannoye, Vesyoleye and New York in Donetsk Oblast.
00:26 Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis confirmed that the first F-16 fighters have arrived in Ukraine: "F-16s in Ukraine. Another impossible thing turned out to be quite possible." The Times writes that Ukraine has received six F-16 fighters from the Netherlands. According to the newspaper's sources, several more aircraft from Denmark will soon arrive in Ukraine.
00:09 Drone debris has been found in Romania after Russia's strikes on Ukraine on the night of July 31, the country's Defense Ministry reported. New UAV fragments were found in the Chatalchioi area of ​​Tulcea County, as well as near the settlements of Plaura and Periprava.