[ZH] From Airandee's comment
In a massive overnight night development, Russia has released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan in a prisoner swap, Bloomberg and others confirm.
Some sources are saying that as many as 20 and 30 political prisoners and journalists might be part of a multi-country exchange reportedly in progress, but what's certain is that Gershkovich and Whelan are currently on their way to freedom.
"The men, jailed in Russia on espionage charges they and the US deny, are en route to destinations outside of Russia," reports Bloomberg. "The US and its allies will return prisoners to Russia that they hold under the deal, the people said, asking for anonymity to discuss matters that aren’t yet public."
And The Moscow Times speculated overnight as rumors swirled of an impending major deal with Moscow, "Russia may be preparing to free between 20 and 30 political prisoners and journalists in an imminent exchange with the United States and Germany, a source familiar with the planning said, in what, if confirmed, would be the largest swap since the end of the Cold War." However, these latter details have yet to be confirmed. It is also as yet unclear who on the Russian side is being freed.
Only very recently, on July 19, a Yekaterinburg handed down a very significant 16-year prison sentence in Gershkovich's espionage case, after he had been behind bars since is March 2023 arrest.
Russian authorities claim he was spying for the CIA while investigating a major Russian defense company in Yekaterinburg, a city which lies east of the Ural Mountains.
It is widely believed that Russia was using the case as a bargaining chip all along, in order to free high level Russian detainees in the West, just like the prisoner swap involving Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout played out.
As for Marine veteran Paul Whelan, who was issued a 16-year sentence in 2020 on charges of espionage - which the US government condemned as false and unfair - his family had long complained that his case didn't get the attention from Washington that it deserved. But his fate appears to have suddenly and drastically changed for the better.
Could it be that Tucker Carlson's big interview with President Vladimir Putin had a part to play, or got the ball rolling in the prisoner deal?
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] The next in number of attacks by the invaders is Toretsky.
by Iryna Lysohor
During the past 24 hours, 144 combat clashes took place in Ukraine. Russia launched one missile strike (one missile) and 85 airstrikes (141 KAB), carried out more than 4,350 attacks, including 90 from rocket salvo systems.
In the Kharkiv direction, the Russians continued their assault. The defenders repelled six attacks in the area of the Tykh and Vovchansk settlements, the spokesman of the General Staff, Dmytro Hutsuliak, said on the air of the telethon.
In the Kupyan direction, the enemy carried out seven attacks in the area of Pischany and Stelmakhivka, Kharkiv region.
"Ukrainian soldiers repelled 18 attacks by Russians in the Lyman direction in the Makiivka, Nevsky, Luhansk region, and Serebryan forest districts," he said.
In Siversk, defenders repelled four attacks in the area of Verkhnokamianske, Pereizne and Viimka settlements.
In Kramatorsk, Ukrainian soldiers stopped 12 attempts by Russians to break through the defenses in the area of Chasovoy Yar.
On Toretsk, the enemy tried 23 times to penetrate the defenses in the area of Severnye, Toretsk, New York and Zalizne settlements.
In the Pokrovsky direction, the defenders repelled 48 attacks by the occupiers in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Vesele, Serhiivka, Zhelanne, Yasnobrodivka, Vozdvizhenka, Ivanivka, Timofiivka and Kalynovka settlements.
In Kurakhivsk, the Defense Forces repelled 16 enemy attacks in the area of Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Paraskoviivka settlements.
At Vremivsk , the Russians made five unsuccessful attempts to break through the defenses in the direction of Stepova Novosilka.
"On the Orihiv direction, there were five combat clashes in the area of Mala Tokmachka, Robotyny, and Novoandriivka," he said.
According to Deep State analysts , as of the evening of July 30, the enemy advanced in Krasnohorivka and near Urozhany.
The number of military clashes yesterday is almost the same as the day before.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:58 Zelenskyy, in an interview with Le Monde, again stated that Russia should be present at the second Peace Summit: "I believe - like most countries - that Russian representatives should be present at the second peace summit in November, otherwise we will not achieve viable results. I do not want them to interfere with us preparing a joint plan. If everyone wants them to sit at the table, then we cannot be against it. A fair peace for Ukraine should allow us to restore our territorial integrity, but this does not mean that we should do this exclusively with the help of weapons. It is desirable that the whole world stop Putin, so that borders are a precondition. Today, we are on the front line as long as Russia wants to wage war. And then we can resolve these issues diplomatically, if Russia so wishes."
Zelensky also stated that "any issue concerning the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be resolved by one president, one person or all presidents in the world without the Ukrainian people - this contradicts the Constitution of Ukraine."
"Ukraine will never give up its territories. The authorities do not have the official right to give up their territories. For this to happen, the Ukrainian people must want it. I will say frankly that this is not the best option, because we are dealing with Putin, and for him, obviously, it will be a victory if he gets part of our territory. But even later, if the conflict is frozen, he can come back and do it. That is why this issue is very, very difficult," Zelensky explained.
The president is also convinced that China can force Russia to stop this war if it wants. "That's why I don't want Beijing to be a mediator, I want it to put pressure on the Russian Federation," Zelensky added.
22:30 Ukraine has already used F-16s, so far as air defense, The Telegraph writes, citing sources.
21:59 Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg called calls for Ukraine to cede territory for the sake of peace unacceptable: "Let's imagine that we were attacked: Southern Styria or Burgenland was occupied by a foreign state, there was an attempt to destroy the federal government of Austria or expel it from the country. And then they would tell us: dear Austrians, why don't you cede part of your territory for the sake of peace?.. I consider such calls from outside unacceptable."
20:18 Zelensky said in his evening address that Kyiv is preparing new bilateral security agreements and new agreements at the multilateral level. "August is the time for preparation. Autumn is the time for results," the president added. He also said that he had heard Syrsky's report: "The frontline situation. First of all, the Pokrovsk direction. Our positions, our defensive actions and our possible reinforcement."
19:16 Ukraine will not restore the transit of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, Shmyhal said following talks with Fico: "The sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine do not pose a threat to the energy security of Slovakia and Europe as a whole, which is why their cancellation is not a subject of discussion." According to the prime minister, Kyiv has "full understanding from Brussels on this issue."
18:34 The first F-16 aircraft have arrived in Ukraine, Bloomberg writes. According to the publication's sources, there are not many fighters, but the allies fulfilled their obligations within the deadline and transferred some before the beginning of August.
17:59 GUR special forces have struck a Russian base in Syria, Kyiv Post reports, citing sources in the intelligence service. According to them, the Khimik group carried out another comprehensive strike on the positions of the Russian occupation forces in Syria at the end of July 2024. This time, the target of the attack was Russian military equipment at the occupied Kuweires airfield east of Aleppo. First, a Russian mobile electronic warfare system was destroyed, and then drones attacked Russian military facilities at the airfield itself.
17:37 GUR representative Andrey Yusov spoke about the peculiarity of the night drone attack on Ukraine: "It can be noted that this time there was a significant number of so-called distracting UAVs, that is, without an explosive part, the purpose of which is to exhaust and study air defense systems. And this is also not a new tactic. The defense forces practice and effectively counter such challenges."
16:46 The Ukrainian side has not been officially notified of the death of Mariupol defender Oleksandr Ishchenko, Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets reported. "I have sent an urgent letter to the Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation so that she can look into the tragic death of a prisoner of war held by the Russian side and inform me of the circumstances and cause of death," the Human Rights Commissioner said.
16:12 Russians shelled the village of Pivnichny in the Bakhmut district of Donetsk Oblast with artillery, wounding two people, the prosecutor's office reported. In addition, one person died as a result of Russian shelling of the Novogrodivska community. In the village of Annovka in the Pokrovsky district, Russian troops dropped an aerial bomb - three people were wounded, including two children aged three and 15.
15:35 Ukrainian drones hit a Russian Mi-8 helicopter at takeoff, z-publics write. According to them, this happened far from the front line. Ukrainian publics report that this happened in the Donetsk region. Donetsk Telegram channels published footage of large-scale smoke today, but did not name the reasons for it.
15:04 A 55-year-old Ukrainian prisoner of war, Alexander Ishchenko, who served as a driver in the Azov Regiment, has died in a pretrial detention center in Rostov-on-Don, Russian media reports.
14:28 China will tighten export controls on drones and related products starting in September, the Ministry of Commerce announced. The decision was made to protect "national security and interests." Unless special permission is granted, it will be impossible to export UAV engines with a power of more than 16 kW, laser targeting systems, and infrared imaging equipment. The restrictions will also apply to UAV suppression equipment with a range of more than 5 km.
14:13 There is a high probability that Ukraine was attacked tonight not by "shahids", but by new cheap Russian Gerber drones, reports military radio technology specialist and technical blogger Sergei Beskrestnov (Flash). Or, according to him, the attack was combined - there are many facts to prove this. "That is why there were so many of them, and the destruction result was 100%. The goal was to wear out our air defense," Beskrestnov noted.
13:29 The Main Intelligence Directorate carried out one of the largest cyberattacks on the financial sector and government resources of the Russian Federation, Ukrainian media write, citing intelligence sources. According to them, the attack continued continuously for a week and affected the online services of all major Russian banks, including the Central Bank, as well as providers, national payment systems, etc. In particular, the victims of the attack were VTB Bank, Alfa Bank, Sberbank, Raiffeisen Bank, RSHB Bank, Ak Bars Bank, Rosbank, Gazprombank, T-Bank, Bank, Dom.RF bank and the Bank of Russia. On the last day of the cyberattack, Russian resources of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Tax Service were also affected. As of the evening of July 30, the Russians have not managed to resume the work of the attacked resources.
12:22 Russians struck the urban settlement of Velykyi Burluk in the Kupyansky district of the Kharkiv region with KABs - one person was killed, a ten-year-old child was injured, reported the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov.
12:05 Putin has issued a decree increasing payments for joining the army for six months. From August 1 until the end of the year, an additional 400 thousand rubles (about 4,600 dollars) will be paid for signing a contract. This is a federal payment in addition to the regional ones. They vary in different regions, in Moscow they already reach almost 2 million rubles (about 23.1 thousand dollars).
11:48 The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia will view the contract for Japan to supply the US with Patriot missiles as a "hostile step" and "reserves the right to respond." The $20 million contract was signed two days ago. Previously, Japan could only export parts manufactured under an American license to the US, but now it can export finished products. Moscow fears that Japanese missiles could end up in Ukraine.
10:56 The Russian Ministry of Energy reported that a “fundamental decision” has been made to extend the ban on gasoline exports from Russia until September-October.
10:19 The Defense Forces struck a weapons and military equipment storage facility near Kursk at night, the General Staff reported. Detailed information on the results of the strike is being clarified.
10:07 In four districts of the Kyiv region, 13 private houses were damaged during a night drone attack. The fall of most UAV debris is recorded outside populated areas, said the head of the OVA Ruslan Kravchenko.
09:48 Air defense destroyed all 89 Shahed-type attack UAVs , which Russia used to attack mainly Kiev and the region, the Air Force reported. A guided Kh-59 air missile, which the enemy used to attack the Nikolaev region, was also shot down. The Air Force emphasized that this is one of the most massive attacks by Shahed attack drones. The enemy used the same number of "shaheds" on New Year's Eve, January 1, 2024.
09:10 The Russian Defense Ministry announced the start of the third stage of the exercise of non-strategic nuclear forces, during which missile formations of the Southern and Central Military Districts will practice preparation for the combat use of Iskander-M systems.
09:03 In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed as a result of Russian shelling on July 30 - in Toretsk. Four more people in the region were injured in the past 24 hours, reported OVA head Vadim Filashkin.
08:44 One person was killed and one was wounded as a result of a Russian drone strike on Kherson at night, OVA head Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Three more people were injured as a result of enemy shelling of Oleksandrivka. Over the previous day, one person was killed and five were wounded in the region, including one child. Critical infrastructure facilities and an agricultural enterprise, two multi-story and 46 private houses, and gas pipelines were damaged.
08:29 In the Kiev region, a residential building caught fire at night as a result of falling drone debris, the State Emergency Service reported. The building was partially destroyed, no one was hurt.
08:18 In the morning, Russia attacked Kiev with drones again, said the head of the Kyiv State Air Defense Forces Sergey Popko. According to him, not a single drone reached its target. In total, more than 40 UAVs were shot down in the airspace of Kiev and on the approaches to the capital during two waves of attacks.
08:12 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of July 31:
personnel - about 578,120 (+1060) people,
tanks - 8390 (+9),
combat armored vehicles - 16,161 (+20),
artillery systems - 16,086 (+30),
MLRS - 1131 (+1),
air defense systems - 907 (+1),
aircraft - 363 (+0),
helicopters - 326 (+0),
Operational-tactical level UAVs - 12,853 (+21),
cruise missiles - 2407 (+1),
ships/boats - 28 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 21,739 (+52),
special equipment - 2697 (+1).
07:45 The Russian Defense Ministry announced that a Neptun-MD guided missile was destroyed over the Kursk Region at night. In addition, air defense systems allegedly intercepted and destroyed 11 UAVs over the Belgorod Region, four over the Bryansk Region, one each over the Kursk, Kaluga, Rostov Regions, and Crimea. Kursk Region Governor Alexey Smirnov announced a fire "at one of the facilities" that started after a drone attack. Publics write that the fire was accompanied by explosions.
06:28 At night, Russia carried out the most massive attack on Kiev in 2024 in terms of the number of attack drones, said the head of the Kyiv State Military Aviation Service, Serhiy Popko. According to him, more than 30 drones were destroyed in the capital's airspace and on the approaches. The air raid alarm lasted for more than seven hours. UAVs approached Kiev in waves and "from almost all possible directions," Popko added. At the moment, there are no casualties or damage in Kiev.
00:27 The United States cannot guarantee Ukraine's success in its confrontation with Russia alone, said Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien. In this regard, according to him, NATO is beginning to develop a new strategy towards the Russian Federation. "This will unite all allies in further interaction with Russia," O'Brien said. According to the diplomat, all members of the Alliance agree that "China is a decisive supporter" of Russia in the war in Ukraine.
Article Linked To Is Available Only Via VPN.
[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
The Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade, 82nd Assault, 92nd Air Assault, 57th Motorised Infantry brigades, and 36th Naval Infantry Brigade near Tikhoye, Staritsa, Liptsy, and Volchansk (Kharkov region).
Two counterattacks launched by enemy assault groups have been repelled in the past 24 hours.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered losses of up to 350 troops, one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicle, one 122mm D-30 howitzer, and one 100mm Rapira gun. One ammunition depot was wiped out.
The Zapad Group of Forces continue to take more advantageous lines and positions. The Group inflicted fire damage on the 30th and 67th Mechanised, 3rd Assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade, and 1st Territorial Defence Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Novosadovoye, Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic), Nevskoye, and Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic). Two counterattacks launched by AFU assault groups were repelled.
The enemy lost up to 470 troops, nine motor vehicles, one UK-made 155mm FH-70 howitzer, one UK-made 105mm L119 gun, one 152mm Msta-B howitzer, and two 122mm D-30 howitzers. In addition, three AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.
The Yug Group of Forces improved its tactical position, inflicted fire damage on manpower and military hardware of the 24th, 32nd, and 54th Mechanised, 79th Air Assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chasov yar, Verkhnekamenskoye, Seversk, and Katerinovka (Donetsk People's Republic). One enemy counter-attack was successfully repelled.
The AFU units lose up to 710 troops, one German-made Leopard tank, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, three U.S.-made 155mm M777 howitzers, two motor vehicles, one UK-made 155mm FH-70 howitzer, two UK-made 105mm L119 guns, one 152mm D-20 howitzer, two 122mm D-30 howitzers, and two Anklav-N EW stations.
Three ammunition depots of the enemy were eliminated.
The Tsentr Group of Forces continue advancing to the west. The Group has engaged the 31st, 32nd, 47th, and 53rd Mechanised, 151st Motorised Infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 111th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Dzerzhnisk, Zhelannoye, Novogorodskoye, Grodovka, and Vozdvizhenka (Donetsk People's Republic).
In addition, three counterattacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments have been repelled.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 350 troops, one tank, one armoured personnel carrier, one 152mm Msta-B howitzer, five 122mm D-30 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105mm M119 gun, and one 100mm Rapira gun.
The Vostok Group of Forces improved its positions on the front line and caused fire damage to manpower and military hardware of the 116th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 108th, 120th, and 129th Territorial Defence brigades close to Rovnopol, Velikaya Novosyolka, Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Zaliznichnoye (Zaporozhye region).
The enemy losses amounted to 150 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, two 155mm self-propelled artillery systems (Polish-made Krab and U.S.-made Paladin) as well as one 152mm D-20 howitzer.
The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 35th Naval Infantry Brigade, and 121st Territorial Defence Brigade close to Lugovoye, Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region), and Tyaginka (Kherson region).
The enemy lost up to 100 troops, seven motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 electronic warfare radar, and one 152mm D-20 howitzer.
Moreover, one AFU ammunition depot was wiped out.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 143 areas during the day.
Air defence units shot down two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, one Neptune long-range guided missile, and 42 unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, 631 airplanes and 278 helicopters, 28,734 unmanned aerial vehicles, 556 air defence missile systems, 16,732 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,393 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 12,597 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 24,225 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 21:04 Broken during an attempt to force the Volchya River, a Stryker armored personnel carrier of the Ukrainian army was destroyed along with the crossing. 21:01 Wreckage of HIMARS missiles in the Proletarsky district of Donetsk.
19:50 Tankers of the Southern Group of Forces provide fire support for motorized rifle and assault units, ensuring the advancement of Russian troops in the Donetsk direction of the special military operation.
Using coordinates obtained using drones, tank crews destroy artillery and combat armored vehicles, including foreign-made ones, observation posts, and ammunition depots of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
18:49 Soldiers from the Russian 18th Army in the Kherson direction destroy personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, positions of units, as well as military equipment of the enemy.
18:20 Calculation of the 122mm BM-21 MLRS "Grad" struck enemy manpower near the settlement of Pereyezdnoye, DPR. Destroyed up to a detachment of Ukrainian servicemen, the surviving militants fled their positions.
17:56 Signalmen provide uninterrupted exchange of information with forward units in the Avdeevka direction
Organizing wired and coded radio communications, repairing cable breaks, maintaining equipment in good working order - this is only a small part of the daily tasks performed by specialists of the communications troops of the Center group.
The fighters are the first to move into liberated areas to organize the operation of data transmission channels and unit control systems.
17:40 An explosion has occurred in the Nikolaev area. According to preliminary information, a missile strike is being carried out on a military airfield in the Voznesensk area.
16:50 UAV operators from the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade “work” on enemy manpower –video.
16:20 Explosions have thundered in the city of Dnepr in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian publication "Obshchestvennoye" reported.
15:50 A Ukrainian army Stryker armored personnel carrier destroyed during an attempt to cross the Volcha River –photo.
15:47 FPV drone operators of the Zapad group of forces destroy camouflaged strongholds, dugouts, firing points and manpower of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
15:29 Destruction of the Ukrainian Armed Forces observation post, which was located on the second floor of the building –video.
14:47 Another massive "raid" by drones - kamikazes of the "Valkyrie" group in the Zaporizhzhya direction on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the SNT "Severny" in the area of ??the settlement of Kamenskoye -video.
14:25 The Russian army advanced in Druzhba to Stepnaya Street.
14:04 Soldiers from the Storm Ossetia battalion are destroying enemy positions and manpower in the Zaporizhzhya direction –video.
13:44 Artillery crew of the 122mm 2S5 self-propelled gun "Msta-S" of the Group of Forces "Center" destroyed American M1 Abrams tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Avdeevka direction.
13:37 Destroyed Ukrainian armored vehicle HMMWV with a homemade roof in Donetsk region.
13:20 The main points from the new briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense:
Units of the Russian Armed Forces group "West" continued to occupy more advantageous positions, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 470 soldiers;
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of responsibility of the “Center” group in one day amounted to 350 soldiers;
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost a Leopard tank and up to 710 soldiers in one day in the Donetsk People's Republic as a result of the actions of the Russian group "South";
Units of the Central Group of the Russian Armed Forces repelled three counterattacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in one day;
Over the course of a day, Russian air defense systems shot down two HIMARS projectiles, a Neptune missile, and 42 UAVs;
The North group defeated 5 enemy brigades in the Khar'kov region, repelled two counterattacks, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 350 soldiers;
The "East" group of forces improved its position along the front line, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 150 soldiers;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ manpower and equipment in 143 districts.
12:56 Assault on another fortified area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Terny-Nevskoye area, from scouts of the Guards 144th Motorized Rifle Division –video.
12:40 Calculation of the anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) "Tor-M2" of the 1st Guards Tank Army of the "West" group of forces destroyed reconnaissance drones and combat UAVs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of foreign manufacture in the area of the SVO.
11:49 Su-25 attack aircraft struck with unguided aircraft missiles, destroying special equipment and enemy manpower in the area of responsibility of the East group of forces.
11:07 Situation in the South Donetsk direction:
In the Ugledar direction, Russian units are "pressing" from several areas at once in the direction of the Ugledar-Konstantinovka highway, access to which will allow disrupting the logistics of Ukrainian formations. Aviation of the "Vostok" group "worked" on the "Yuzhnodonbasskaya" mine, artillery - on concentrations of manpower of the 120th Troops Brigade in Vodyanoye.
In the Vremevsky direction, units from Buryatia are expanding the control zone in the Urozhayny area, completing the clearing of the salient to the east of the settlement. To the north, the enemy is actively mining the area and gradually bringing up reserves from the direction of Storozhyevoy and Makarovka.
10:57 Aerospace Forces Aviation struck enemy manpower concentrations on the approaches to the settlement of Glubokoe. One of the rounds hit the Ukrainian Armed Forces' ammunition depot, causing a powerful detonation and fire.
10:27 Ukrainian Telegram channels reported on the artillery attack of the Khar'kov region by KABs.
10:19 A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer reported that the Russian army has advanced towards Konstantinovka in the Kurakhovsky direction.
10:04 Destruction of the enemy by artillery units of the 98th Guards Airborne Division in the village of Chasov Yar –video.
09:52 Soldiers of the Pacific Fleet naval infantry Heavy Mobile Sniper Group attacked a rotation of Ukrainian troops in the area of the village of Novomayorske, said the commander of the mobile sniper group.
09:35 Defeat of 155mm self-propelled guns of the Western model by the Russian military on the line of combat contact.
09:15 Destruction of an enemy firing point in the Belogorovka area –video.
09:02 Footage from Krasnogorovka (DPR): this is how the Ukrainian Armed Forces fled from the settlement along the western road, trying to evacuate the wounded.
08:50 Russian drone operators successfully are fighting with the Ukrainian Armed Forces' surveillance systems, said military expert, retired LPR NM Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Marochko.
“Ukrainian militants regularly install high-resolution surveillance cameras supplied by the West on the LBS, which allow them to relatively safely monitor vast areas of the LBS,” Marochko wrote on his Telegram channel.
He noted that the most effective and justified method of destruction was attack drones, which are an order of magnitude cheaper than expensive equipment.
08:18 Operators from the Fagot ATGM “covered” a mortar crew of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, ours –video.
08:15 Statement of Head of the press center of the Dnepr group:
Units of the Dnepr group of forces inflicted losses on formations of the 141st Infantry Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade and 35th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Novodanilovka, Lobkovoe, Kamenskoye and Tyaginka.
The enemy's losses amounted to 90 servicemen, three vehicles, a 122mm D-30 howitzer, an Anklav-N electronic warfare station, and four field ammunition depots.
08:07 Russian military personnel have improved their tactical position in the Kupyansk direction, reported military expert, retired LPR People's Militia Lieutenant Colonel Marochko.
During active military operations in the area of the settlement of Novoosinovo, the advance detachments of the Russian Armed Forces managed to dislodge the Ukrainian militants from their positions and take more advantageous positions. They also managed to advance in the area of Peschanoye and Stelmakhovka
08:00 Scouts of the "West" group of troops using FPV drones struck identified dugouts, strongholds and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the special operation zone.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] At a plenary session on July 31, the State Duma adopted in the first reading and as a whole a bill requiring men who have been decided to be granted Russian citizenship to register for military service before taking the oath of allegiance to a Russian citizen and receiving a Russian passport.
In particular, internal affairs agencies, within the limits of their competence, are obliged to provide information about male persons in respect of whom a decision has been made to accept them into Russian citizenship and for whom it is planned to organize the taking of the oath of citizenship of the Russian Federation.
The document proposes amendments to the current law "On military duty and military service". Thus, the responsibilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be expanded.
In addition, on July 31, the State Duma adopted a law on the termination of acquired Russian citizenship for failure to fulfill the obligation to register for military service.
For the first time, new citizens of the Russian Federation lost their citizenship for evading military registration at the end of 2023. After that, the head of the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, Valery Fadeyev, proposed issuing Russian passports to new citizens of the country in the presence of a military commissar.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the first half of 2024, about a thousand naturalized citizens were deprived of their Russian passports for violating criminal law. In more than half of the cases, citizenship was revoked for committing crimes related to the illegal trafficking of narcotics.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously noted that the authorities should radically update their approaches to migration policy. The head of state noted that only those citizens who respect the country's traditions, history and the Russian language should come to live and work in Russia.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
