Daily Briefing from Ukraine

·      Top 5 Headlines

·      Ukraine Summer Offensive Summary

·      President Zelensky’s Message of the Day

Top 5 Headlines

1.     At least four people were killed and more than 50 injured in downtown Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, on Tuesday evening at 7:32 p.m. when Russian forces targeted civilians with an S-300 missile attack. Among those who died was 15-year-old girl, while and an eight-month-old infant, a leading Ukrainian writer and war crimes researcher, and three foreigners were among those who were injured.

2.     The US announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine worth $500 million. It includes additional ammunition for Patriot air defense systems, HIMARS multiple-launch missile systems, Stinger anti-aircraft systems, Javelin anti-tank systems, and AT-4 anti-tank missiles. The US will also provide Ukraine with 30 Bradley armored vehicles and 25 Stryker armored personnel carriers. The package is via the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the President to transfer goods and services from US stockpiles without congressional approval. The total amount of US military assistance to Kyiv is now over $40 billion.

3.     Ukraine’s authorities have identified 57 regions of Russia where abducted Ukrainian children are current located, reported Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. “In 16 regions, at least 380 children became victims of forcible transfer to Russian families. Cases of abduction of children by the Russian military in the temporarily occupied territories for the purpose of intimidation, pressure on relatives, and intelligence data collection were recorded also," Lubinets said. 

Other Topics of Interest

NATO, Ukraine to Meet Tuesday Over Russian Missile Strike

Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Moscow had hit Ukraine using a new-generation intermediate-range missile -- which he hinted was capable of unleashing a nuclear payload.

4.     China’s ambassador to the European Union said he does not rule out Beijing's support for Ukraine’s desire to restore its territorial integrity by returning to the borders of 1991. When journalists asked the Chinese diplomat about supporting Ukraine’s goals such as return of Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, he replied: “I don’t see why not.” 

5.     Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko instructed high-ranking officials to develop a rationale for the use of nuclear weapons deployed by Russia. “No one has ever fought with a nuclear state,” Lukashenko said. “[These Ministers] have been assigned the task of determining the algorithm for using these weapons. 

Ukraine Summer Offensive Summary

Snapshot

Ukrainian forces hold their bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro River; Ukraine pushes Bakhmut flanks for the fourth  day; Russia increases artillery shelling of population settlements to over 150 in one day.

Zone A. TO518 / Mokri Yaly River Axis - boundary of the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions

President Zelensky visited the southern front and met with Ukrainian soldiers.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to recover lost positions in recently de-occupied Rivnopil.

A “series of six explosions” occurred in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, according to Vladimir Rogov, a collaborator with the illegal administration in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region.

Zone B. Western Zaporizhzhia

Pro-Russian sources said that “in the Zaporizhzhia direction, a regrouping of both Russian and Ukrainian troops is underway. The units are being pulled to the line of contact in the areas of Kamenka, Nesterianka and Robotyne. These areas are likely to be hot.”

At Novodarivka, Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted a counterattack, according to pro-Russian sources.

In Orikhiv, a 77-year-old man was killed, and six other elderly people were injured in Russian artillery strikes against Preobrazhenka, Zaporizhzhia regional governor Yuri Malashko said

Zone C. Bakhmut

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that Ukrainian forces continued offensive activities for the fourth straight day near Bakhmut. Their focus is on the northern and southern flanks of the city – at Berkhivka, Yahidne, Klishchivka, and Kurdiumivka. She said the actions had “factored for the infighting between Wagner and Russian authorities.”

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Russian forces had unsuccessfully counterattacked and attempted to recover recently lost positions near Ivanivka.

Other Zones & Activity, including Kherson, Avdiivka and Marinka.

According to pro-Russian sources, Ukrainian forces continue to hold their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson region near the Antonivsky Bridge. Russian forces unsuccessfully sought to dislodge them with airstrikes but were thwarted by Ukrainian S-300 air-to-surface missiles. There is allegedly the construction of pontoon crossings at the site.

In a uptick in activity, Russian forces shelled more than 150 population settlements, including 40 in Kharkiv region, 75 in Donetsk region, and 40 across the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. 

According to pro-Russian sources, Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to: a) counterattack at Novomykhailivka and Marinka, and; b) counter-attack at Vesele near Soledar.

Russian forces undertook 20 air raids across Ukraine, according to the General Staff, as well as 20 strikes using MLRS systems. It also reported 10 defensive firefights across the Lyman, Bakhmut and Marinka areas.

President Zelensky’s Message