Ukraine Summer Offensive Update for August 4: ‘Russia’s Faltering Effort’

Snapshot

The Ukrainian General Staff reported Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations on the southern front in the Zaporizhzhia-Donetsk regional border area and in the western Zaporizhzhia region, and that some gains were made on the eastern front in Bakhmut. At the same time, senior Ukrainian officials described their heavy defense of the northern front where Russia is aiming to stretch Ukraine’s defenses.

Analysis

An expert analyst yesterday wrote in Forbes:

“The Ukrainians have focused their offensive on key axes in the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions in southern Ukraine, as well as around the ruins of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. The Russians meanwhile have focused their own offensive on the forests west of occupied Kreminna in northeastern Ukraine.

“While it’s fair to say the Ukrainians are struggling in the south, slowly advancing but at a high cost, it’s equally fair to say the Russians also are struggling in the northeast: hurling more and more of their forces into a faltering effort.”

General Developments

According to the evening update of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Russian forces launched one missile attack, 47 air strikes and 23 MLRS rocket assaults on Ukrainian cities and the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukraine undertook eight air strikes.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has used at least 1,961 Shahed drones on the territory of Ukraine, President Zelensky said in his nightly address. That would be at a cost of around $40 million.

Other Topics of Interest

Zelensky Meets CIA Director William Burns in Ukraine

Zelensky said he had met Burns on multiple occasions throughout the war, but their meetings had been undisclosed.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius again ruled out supplying Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles, saying it was "not a top priority" right now.

Ukraine asked Germany in late May to provide it with Taurus air-to-surface cruise missiles which have a range more than 500 kilometers, but the government has so far rebuffed the request, AFP reported.

In the Moscow region, there was an explosion at a battery warehouse in the village of Achkasovo.

The Governors of the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod reported shelling of local villages.

Operational Aspects on the Northern Front

Pro-Russian milbloggers said Russian forces continued their “creeping offensive” in the vicinity of Kreminna.

Ukraine’s senior infantry commander, General Oleksandr Syrsky, posted: “On the Lyman and Kupyansk axes, [we] considered the issue of adequate response to the offensive actions of the enemy, increasing the effectiveness of fire damage to the enemy, and combating drones of various types.”

The General continued: “In terms of continued active offensive actions of the enemy in the Kupyansk and Lyman axes, our troops daily disrupt his plans to break through our defenses, cause significant losses in personnel and equipment, and reduce the offensive potential of enemy troops.”

A pro-Russian milblogger posted: “In the Kupyansk and Lyman [sectors], the enemy has concentrated people and equipment and is storming in order to pull our forces away from the eastern direction of the offensive. Our defenders repel all enemy assaults in grueling battles.”

Operational Aspects on the Eastern Front

General Syrsky posted: “In the Bakhmut sector, we continue to carry out offensive actions, step by step, in conditions of strong enemy resistance, our fighters are vacating the territory.”

“In all eastern axes, where hostilities are taking place, we have recorded an increase in [Ukrainian] shelling,” he said.

“Today, in the Bakhmut sector, our troops are dealing with dense artillery fire, mining and strong enemy resistance,” a pro-Russian milblogger posted.

Operational Aspects on the Southern Front

“Restlessness of the enemy in the deep rear is an established method of the counteroffensive of the AFU,” said the spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern forces, adding that Ukraine’s tactics “work extremely delicately, very remotely and in measured portions.”

A leading pro-Russian milblogger said that “the enemy once again tried to attack Urozhayne and Pryyutne” as well as attacks on Robotyne.

Another pro-Russian milblogger added: “The AFU has become more active near Urozhayne. Thus, opening a new axis of impact.”

Ukrainian Director of the Department of Planning of the Main Directorate of the National Guard Colonel Mykola Urshalovych stated that Ukrainian forces advanced up to 650 meters into Russian defenses along a 1.5-kilometer front in the Melitopol axis, ISW reported.

A pro-Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces advanced near Mykilske (27 kilometers southwest of Donetsk City) in the western Donetsk region, ISW reported.

Air defense systems went off in several regions of occupied Crimea, according to occupation officials.

Russian forces again shelled Kherson City, said Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. According to him, the latest round of shelling hit a shopping center and a medical facility. No casualties were reported at this time