UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-07-22
Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. Since June 2023 I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 60 sources daily, much of which forms the basis of the script. While the Podcast is on hiatus I will make this Draft available here both on my own Substack and The People’s Media for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 22:00 on july 21 stated that day 879 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 77 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 52 air strikes, 713 drone strikes and more than 3,200 artillery strikes across the positions of Ukrainian forces.
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 and continue to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deep into the territory of Ukraine.
Weekly Report From The Front
More than 900 combat engagements were recorded on the front lines in the past week, as Ukrainian forces repelled 237 enemy attacks in the Pokrovsk sector. Ukrinform reports.
Dmytro Hutsuliak, a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced this on Ukrainian television, Ukrinform reports.
"More than 900 combat clashes took place last week. Russian terrorists launched 19 missile strikes on the positions of our troops and civilian infrastructure objects, 549 airstrikes using 749 guided aerial bombs, and carried out more than 32,000 shelling attacks, including about 850 using multiple launch rocket systems," he said.
Hutsuliak said that last week in the Kharkiv sector, Russian occupiers carried out 79 attacks near Sotnytskyi Kozachok, Hlyboke, Starytsia, Lyptsi and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. According to him, Ukrainian forces stopped the enemy's offensive.
At the same time, in the Kupiansk sector, the Russians carried out offensive actions outside Stepova Novoselivka, Berestova, Synkivka, Pishchane and Petropavlivka in the Kharkiv region, as well as near Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk region. Ukrainian soldiers repelled 62 attacks.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 77 enemy attacks near Hrekivka, Nevske and Makiivka in the Luhansk region, Terny and Torske in the Donetsk region, and in the Serebrianske forestry.
In the Siversk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 66 attacks by Russian invaders outside Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, Verkhniokamianske, Vyimka, Spirne, Ivano-Darivka, and Klishchiivka, Donetsk region.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 60 attacks outside Hryhorivka, Chasiv Yar, Kalynivka, Novyi, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka in the Donetsk region, where the Russians tried to improve their tactical position.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian invaders made 123 attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses near Zalizne, Niu-York, Pivdenne, Pivnichne and Toretsk, Donetsk region.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 237 attacks outside Kalynove, Yevhenivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Sokil, Umanske, Novoselivka Persha, Makarivka, Panteleimonivka, Yasnobrodivka, Netailove, Karlivka, Lozuvatske, and Yurivka, Donetsk region.
In the Kurakhove sector, Ukrainian defenders continued to hold back Russian invaders near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Nevelske, Paraskoviivka, and Kostiantynivka, where the enemy tried to break through Ukrainian defenses more than 100 times.
On the Vremivka axis, Ukrainian defenders repelled 25 attacks near Vodiane, Kostiantynivka, Makarivka, and Urozhaine in the Donetsk region.
In the Orikhiv axis, the Russians attacked Ukrainian defenders' positions 34 times outside Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.
In the Dnipro River sector, the Russians did not give up their intention to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions. In the past week, the occupiers launched 31 unsuccessful attacks on the positions of Ukrainian units.
Air Force Daily Report
During the past day, July 21, 2024, 16 enemy drones of various types were destroyed by air defense in the south and east of Ukraine.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: There were 9 Russian attacks near Hlyboke and Vovchansk 7 were repelled, 2 are ongoing
Kupyansk axis: The enemy tried to advance 11 times against Ukrainian positions near Synkivka, Hlushkivka, Berestove, and Stelmakhivka. The situation is under control.
Lyman axis: Russian troops attacked Ukrainian defenders 7 times in the areas of Makiivka and Terny
Siversk axis: Russian forces carried out 7 assaults in the vicinity of Verkhnokamianske and Vyimka
Kramatorsk axis: In the Chasiv Yar sector Russian forces attacked 5 times in the area of Chasiv Yar and Andriivka. 2 attacks are continuing.
Toretsk axis: There have been 5 unsuccessful Russian attacks over that last day, All the efforts of the enemy were directed to the areas of Toretsk and Zalizne.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: The greatest activity over the past day was in this sector. The enemy conducted 27 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity of Kalynove, Vozdvizhenka, Novooleksandrívka, Prohes and Novoselivka Persha and Umanske.
Kurakhove axis: The enemy 5 times unsuccessfully attacked our positions near Krasnohorivka and Paraskovievka.
Vremivka axis: The situation has not experienced significant changes.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy made 3 attacks in the vicinity of Novoandriivka and Mala Tokmachka.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: Ukrainian forces repelled 1 attack of the enemy on the left bank of the Dnipro.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Last Ukrainian church dismantled in occupied Crimea
Russian occupiers began dismantling the Holy Cross Exaltation Church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in temporarily occupied Yevpatoriia; Ukraine’s former Deputy Prosecutor General Gyunduz Mamedov said that it was the last Ukrainian church in Crimea.
The Voice of Crimea news portal reported that the demolition began on 21 July. The dome and the church’s upper level are already gone.
The publication reported that the parish of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been under pressure since 2019 to comply with the decision of the Russian-controlled court to demolish the temple. At the same time, the ruling stated that the temple's community was liable for demolishing the religious structure.
Despite constant threats and pressure to follow the court ruling, parishioners refused to cooperate. As a result, the Russian-controlled authorities in Yevpatoriia filed another court appeal, this time seeking that the temple be demolished on their own and that the parishioners cover the costs.
Gyunduz Mamedov, former Deputy Prosecutor General said that it was the last Ukrainian church in Crimea.
"Another instance of the Russian Federation's systemic discrimination against Ukrainians on a national scale during the occupation. Metropolitan Kliment stated that the final Ukrainian church in occupied Crimea is being demolished. The occupying authorities in Yevpatoriia began destroying the Holy Cross Exaltation Church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine," Mamedov wrote.
THE HOME FRONT
Transplant Coordination Center: Stocks of blood, its components running low in blood centers
In blood centers, supplies of blood and its components started to decrease. Interfax Ukraine reports.
As Interfax-Ukraine was told by the Ukrainian Transplant Coordination Center, the reduction in blood supplies is occurring against the backdrop of the traditional seasonal decline in donor activity, as well as due to the intensification of military operations at the front.
At the same time, the center noted the need to stabilize blood supplies through donations in the country, but for now there are no plans to ask for supplies from abroad.
"Donor blood is prepared in advance, at least a week and a half before it is used," the center said.
RUSSIAN WORLD
UK Intelligence - Russia employs Rosgvardia in occupied Ukraine
The UK Ministry of Defence in their July 22 Intelligence Update on Ukraine stated:
It is highly likely that over 30,000 Rosgvardiya (Russian National Guard) personnel are currently deployed to Ukraine. The majority of Rosgvardiya’s personnel are almost certainly conducting rear area security operations, with only a few units engaging in frontline fighting.
Rosgvardiya’s premiere combat unit, the 116th Special Purpose Brigade, highly likely consists of 3 regiments of troops, with access to tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery.
Since the start of 2024, Rosgvardiya has almost certainly attempted to increase its frontline forces through absorbing Russian irregular formations. Rosgvardiya successfully integrated the Donetsk People's Republic Vostok Battalion into its ranks during May 2024. It is highly likely that the anticipated agreement for Wagner forces to serve under Rosgvardiya’s 1st Volunteer Corps broke down in March 2024.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Microchip shipment to Russia slowing, but China, Hong Kong remain transshipment hubs
Semiconductors and other restricted goods shipped through China and Hong Kong to fuel Russia's war effort fell by a fifth this year previously undisclosed U.S. Commerce Department data shows, but Hong Kong remains a global sanctions evasion hotspot. Reuters reports.
Transshipments through Hong Kong of Common High Priority Items (CHPL) — advanced components including microelectronics deemed by the U.S. and European Union as likely to be used for Russia's war in Ukraine — fell 28% between January and May, a U.S. Commerce Department official told Reuters.
For the same period, transshipments of those items through mainland China, excluding Hong Kong, fell 19%, the official said.
Both Hong Kong and China are seen by the U.S. government as key global nodes for Russia to source materials for its military, including semiconductors and drone parts.
"I think there's some cause for being at least optimistic that we have been able to slow down some of this trade," a US Commerce Dept. official said, but added: "China is still our number one concern."
The United States and its allies have accused China of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, in part by exporting parts and equipment needed by Moscow's weapons makers.
The U.S. State Department and Treasury imposed several rounds of sanctions on entities around the world with alleged commercial links to Russia's military, including shell companies in Hong Kong that had been diverting semiconductors.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the dip in illicit flows was the result of several factors, including aggressive enforcement by U.S. authorities, as well as engagement with companies whose products are being transshipped.
Nvidia said in a response to Reuters questions that it halted sales to Russia in March 2022 and requires its customers to comply with all applicable U.S. laws.
Texas Instruments told Reuters it "strongly opposes" the use of its chips in Russian military equipment and the illicit diversion of its products to Russia.
Intel said it operates in strict accordance with U.S. export regulations and sanctions and holds suppliers and distributors accountable to the same standards.
Poland considers suspending goods transport through Belarus
Poland is considering suspending the transportation of goods through Belarus if relations between the countries do not "normalize," Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna said on July 22 in an interview with Radio Zet The Kyiv Independent reports.
Warsaw has also long accused Belarus of deliberately pushing migrants into Poland to pressure the EU over sanctions since 2021. Poland's relations with Russian ally Belarus have deteriorated further after the outbreak of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"Poland has specific conditions for Belarus if it would like to normalize relations, such as the end of hybrid attacks, the release of the killer of a Polish soldier, the release of imprisoned Poles," Szejna said.
The deputy minister said that if these conditions are not met, Poland can stop transporting goods through Belarus, despite the fact that it will be "an unfavorable decision" for the Polish government.
Poland is seriously considering this decision, and Belarus is aware of it, he added.
EU approves its first-ever military support for Armenia
The Council of the European Union for the first time approved assistance under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the Armenian Armed Forces with 10 million euros ($10.8 million), according to the council's July 22 statement. The Kyiv Independent reports.
Armenia has long maintained close ties with Russia but is now seeking to distance itself from Moscow. Russian "peacekeepers" did nothing to prevent Azerbaijan's lightning offensive into Nagorno-Karabakh last September.
Disappointed with Russia and fearing renewed hostilities with Baku, Yerevan has been turning West for new partnerships.
EU ambassadors approved the launch of a visa-free dialogue with Armenia last week and, for the first time in history, agreed to allocate military aid from the EPF to the country.
The EU's financial support aims to strengthen the Armenian Armed Forces' logistical capacity and contribute to improving civilian protection during crises and emergencies, according to the council's statement.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukraine to receive 100,000 more rounds of ammunition over next two months from the Czech Initiative
Before the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has said that another 100,000 rounds of ammunition would be delivered to Ukraine in July and August as part of the Czech initiative. Ceske Noviny reports
According to him, 18 countries have so far joined the initiative, 15 of them have already fulfilled their promises and contributed. This means that there is enough money to supply 500,000 pieces of ammunition to Ukraine by the end of the year. Its total value is less than two billion euros (about 50.5 billion CZK), added Tomáš Kopečný, the government's agent for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
"During July and August, we will send a total of 100,000 more ammunition. We are now looking for money to buy more ammunition so that the initiative can continue in 2025, "Lipavský told reporters. "We could deliver up to 800,000 pieces this year if we had money," he added. According to him, the Czechs are in daily contact with Ukrainian partners, who value Czech initiatives very much. With Kiev, he solves exactly what their soldiers need.
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