UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-02-08
Slava Ukraini! Since June 2023 I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 40 sources daily much of which ends up in the script. I will make this Draft available here for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
INSIDE UKRAINE
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its situation update at 06:00 on Feb. 8 stated that it was day 715 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
During the past day, 92 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 51 missile strikes, 80 air strikes, and 89 MLRS attacks across the positions of our troops and settlements. As a result of the Russian attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Destruction and damage to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group is responsible for the Kup’yans’k, Lyman, and Bakhmut axes, in the northeastern part of Ukraine.
Kup’yans’k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 3 attacks of the enemy near the settlements Synkivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast)
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 9 attacks near Terny, and Tors’ke (Donetsk oblast) plus Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast)
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian forces repelled 8 attacks near Ivanivske and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast)
The Tavria operational-strategic group is responsible for the Avdiivka, Mar’inka, Shaktars’ke, and Zaporizhzhia axes, in the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the enemy who keeps trying to encircle Avdiivka. AFU soldiers are standing their ground and inflicting major losses on the invaders. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 27 enemy attacks near Novobakhmutivka, and Avdiivka, plus 13 near Pervomais’ke and Nevel’s’ke (Donetsk oblast).
Ukraine shoots down another of Russia’s most advanced helicopters
Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the "Tavria"operational-strategic group stated that Ukrainian soldiers destroyed the Russian attack helicopter Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopter. This is a fairly rare occurrence these days as Russia rarely risks these advanced, valuable aircraft near the front.
"On February 7, soldiers of one of the mechanized units destroyed a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter in the operational zone of the OSGT "Tavria". The enemy Alligator with its crew was hit by a MANPADS and fertilized the soil in the Avdiivka direction," Tarnavsky said
Mar’inka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the occupiers in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Troops repelled 22 attacks in that area.
Shakhtarske axis: The enemy did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks near Robotyne and west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
The Odesa operational-strategic group is responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.
Kherson axis: Ukrainian defenders continue to expand the bridgehead. Despite significant losses, the enemy does not abandon its attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Over the past day, the enemy carried 2 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sacked the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
BBC reports It follows speculation about a rift between the president and General Zaluzhnyi, who has led Ukraine's war effort since February 2022.
The dismissal will be made official in a presidential decree.
The country's defence minister Rustem Umerov said in a statement as the news emerged:
"General Valerii Zaluzhnyi had one of the most difficult tasks - to lead the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Great War with Russia. But war does not remain the same. War changes and demands change. Battles 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities. 2024 will bring new changes, for which we must be ready. New approaches, new strategies are needed.
"Today, a decision was made on the need to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.I am sincerely grateful to Valerii Fedorovych for all his achievements and victories."
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
Later during his evening address, President Zelenskyy Zelensky made the following announcement “Starting today, a new management team takes over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine” Zelenskyy then announced that he had appointed Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, who previously headed the Land Forces. As the new Commander-in Chief
THE RUSSIAN WORLD
Putin challenger Boris Nadezhdin barred from Russia's election
Russia's election commission has rejected anti-war challenger Boris Nadezhdin as a candidate in next month's presidential vote. BBC reports.
Mr Nadezhdin has been relatively critical of Vladimir Putin's full-scale war in Ukraine when few dissenting voices have been tolerated in Russia. Election authorities claimed more than 15% of the signatures he submitted with his candidate application were flawed.
The Central Election Commission said that of the 105,000 signatures submitted by Mr Nadezhdin, more than 9,000 were invalid, citing a variety of violations.
He had tried to challenge this, but the commission rejected his bid. Refusing to give up, Mr Nadezhdin, 60, said on social media that he would challenge the decision in Russia's Supreme Court.
As a result of a DIU cyber attack, Russia had a large-scale failure of their drone control program.
Cyber specialists of the DIU of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced it has carried out another successful operation against the Russian occupiers - as of February 8, 2024, the enemy is complaining of a massive failure of the drone control program.
The Russians installed this software to flash DJI brand drones for the needs of combat operations.
The software, among other things, allows enemy drone operators to:
configure control panels and create new ones;
capture video and transfer the picture to the command post;
control the drone from the computer (not through the remote control).
Through web servers, the specified Russian project of reflashing drones ensures the functioning of the "own-foreign" system.
According to preliminary data, as a result of the cyber attack of the Defence Intelligence, the servers stopped working, so all software is recognized as "foreign" and denies hackers access.
"Without access to the servers, and therefore to the system, controlling drones from remotes is probably impossible.
Now the enemy is trying to solve the problem in every possible way, in particular by switching to manual control mode," the DIU added.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Senate to vote on Stand alone aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
Following the failure of the Bipartisan Senate bill that would have included the aid packages with border reform CNN reports The U.S. Senate will hold a procedural vote on Feb. 8 on whether to advance a foreign aid package that includes funds for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan but no reforms to border policy.
“We will recess until tomorrow and give our Republican colleagues time to figure themselves out,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after voting closed on Feb. 7.
“We’ll be coming back tomorrow at noon, and hopefully that will give the Republicans the time they need. We will have this vote tomorrow.”
The package includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion in aid to Israel, $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance, and $4.8 billion to support regional partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
Schumer proposed separating the aid package from the border debate when it became clear the bipartisan bill had no chance of advancing, Bloomberg reported earlier on Feb. 7. After the bill failed, senators then discussed holding a separate vote on the funding package.
The Senate voted in favor of hearing the proposal, and are expected to hold a procedural vote on the matter at the 60-vote threshold as early as Feb. 8. It is not clear whether the proposal can win 60 votes in the Senate.
If it does advance, it will face an uphill battle in the House of Representatives, where Republican opposition to Ukraine aid is strong, particularly among those who support former President Donald Trump.
“Shame on you”: Polish PM lashes out at US Republicans amid Ukraine aid impasse
Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, has lambasted American Republicans after a Ukrainian aid package had been once again stalled in US Congress. Euromaidan reports.
US Congressional Republicans have been stalling approval of new aid funding for Ukraine and Israel for months. The lack of aid hits at Ukraine’s military capabilities as the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears its second year and Russia ramps up its economy into wartime mode.
Reagan, famously known for referring to the USSR as an “evil empire,” is known for a combination of military pressure, economic policies, and diplomatic engagement with Gorbachev facilitated that eventually led to the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991.
Reagan’s position is seen as increasingly in contrast with the modern Republicans, who believe the USA should do less to support Ukraine much more than their Democratic counterparts, and who have for months stalled the provision of critical military aid for Ukraine.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukraine Develops BMP Weapon Station and Unusual Armor for It
At the end of November 2023, a video of the Ukrainian military’s BMP-1 engagement with a new unknown weapon station was published on the web. It was developed by a Ukrainian company and entered service after the start of a full-scale Russian invasion. Militarnyi reports.
The new module received some interesting technological solutions and great adaptability in weapon configurations.
In the photo below, you can see only a few possible configurations of weapons for the combat module.
The module’s protection is constructed using the new technology of perforated armor designed for Ukrainian armored vehicles. It consists of a plate with a series of holes drilled perpendicular to the face surface, each having a diameter of less than half the diameter of the potential enemy projectile.
Perforated armor technology was widely used in Germany as an additional protection for tanks, starting with Leopard 1А1А1 (side screens, turret) and following modifications. It is also used on the Leopard 2 (side screens), the Jagdpanzer Jaguar self-propelled ATGM and other vehicles.
These developments were made by Blomm+Foss and Cloth Gummiwerke and were first tested in 1973. The technology remains relevant today and is employed in various solutions for the armored obstacles of Western combat vehicles.
The optimal effect is achieved when the obstacle has a spaced structure (perforated armor installed with an air gap between the main armor) and uses a damper.
The remote weapon station is armed with a stabilized 2А72 30mm automatic gun, a PKT 7.62mm machine gun, and a КBА-117 automatic grenade launcher. In addition, it should also be equipped with the Barrier anti-tank missile system with two missiles.
As the RWS is unmanned, the operator is situated outside the module.
The weapon stabilization system was enhanced, leading to improved accuracy of fire while in motion.
Ukraine, Sweden enter talks for CV90 combat vehicles
Representatives from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, and the Swedish Agency for Defense Materiel recently convened to discuss the timelines and conditions for the procurement of a batch of CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) manufactured in Sweden. Censor.net reports.
The negotiations, chaired by Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Dmytro Klimenkov, took place within the framework of the Memorandum of Intent between the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Sweden aimed at enhancing cooperation in utilizing the CV90 platform.
The CV90 Coalition was initiated by Sweden and includes Denmark, Estonia, Norway, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Finland, and the Czech Republic. Ukraine joined the coalition in September 2023.
According to the Ministry of Defense’s latest press release, during the meeting, representatives from Ukraine and Sweden discussed the financial terms and Ukraine’s commitments regarding participation in the project, as well as the timelines, conditions, and procurement mechanisms for the CV90 IFVs.
In January 2024, the Swedish Agency for Defense Materiel received approval from its government to conduct negotiations for the conclusion of an intergovernmental agreement on supplying CV90 IFVs to Ukraine.
“This agreement will not only enable a one-time delivery of armaments but also facilitate extensive cooperation in the defense industry, including the potential localization of production in Ukraine,” summarized Dmytro Klimenkov.
Russia uses Grom standoff weapon in attack on Kherson
Russian occupiers attacked the city of Kherson with the latest high-precision air missiles GROM-1 (Thunder-1) class air to ground missile. Militarnyi reports.
Grom is a Russian air-to-surface weapon with a pair of pop-out wings. Despite the destruction witnessed in the aftermath, the overall dimensions and remnants align with known details of a specific variant of this weapon, referred to as Grom-1. Remarkably, this weapon system was introduced into service in 2013 and this is the first know instance in combat.
The claimed technical specifications of this specific model is theGrom-E1, a specific variant, weighs 594 kg, measures 4.2 meters in length, has a diameter of 0.31 meters, and boasts a wing span of 1.9 meters. The missile incorporates a 315-kilogram fragmentation-explosive (OF) warhead combined with an impact detonator. Its powerplant, weighing 161 kg, consists of two solid-propellant engines, a booster, and a reducer. Furthermore, Grom-E1 offers modularity with other Russia’s Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) air-to-surface missile family, including the solid-propellant engine used in the Kh-38ME short-range air-to-surface missile.
The Grom weapon system is adaptable for deployment on aircraft such as the Su-34, Su-35, and the advanced Su-57. These missiles are known to have an effective range of 70 km, with some reports suggesting a range of up to 120 km.
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