UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-07-20
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 19 stated that day 877 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 107 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 4 missile strikes, 65 air strikes, 447 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 deeper into the territory of Ukraine.
Air Force Daily Report
On the night of July 20, 2024, the enemy struck with 3 "Iskander-M" land-based ballistic missiles (Voronezh region - Russian Federation), one "Iskander-K" cruise missile, 16 "Shahed" type UAVs ( Kursk region - Russian Federation) and used one unspecified type of UAV.
Kharkiv Oblast, Poltava Oblast, Sumy Oblast, Chernihiv Oblast and Kyiv Oblast were attacked.
As a result of the anti-aircraft battle, units of mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, anti-aircraft missile forces and radio-electronic warfare of the Air Force shot down 13 air targets:
- 12 "Shahed - 131/136" attack UAVs;
- 1 UAV of unknown type.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: 5 Russian attacks were repelled near Hlyboke and Vovchansk
Kupyansk axis: The enemy tried to advance 9 times against Ukrainian positions near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Novoselivke, and Stelmakhivka . The situation is under control.
Lyman axis: Russian troops attacked Ukrainian defenders 13 times in the areas of Hrekivka, Nevske and the Serebryanskyy Forest
Siversk axis: Russian forces carried out 6 assaults in the vicinity of Bilhorivka, Verkhnokamianske, Sprine, and Pereizne.The situation is under control.
Kramatorsk axis: The enemy attacked 3 times near the settlements of Hryhorivka and Chasiv Yar
Toretsk axis: There have been 13 Russian attacks over that last day, 2 fights are still ongoing. All the efforts of the enemy were directed to the areas of Pivinchne Toretsk, Zalizne and Nui-York.
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 28 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity of Kalynove, Vozdvizhenka, Novooleksandrívka, Prohes and Novoselivka Persha and Yasnobrodivka
Russia's main efforts are focused on Avdiivka-Pokrovsk front
The UK Ministry of Defence in their July 20 Intelligence Update stated that Russia continues to conduct offensive operations in several parts of the main offensive efforts along the war zone in Ukraine are focused on the Avdiivka front.
“It is likely that the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast remains the Russian main effort and consequently has seen the highest operational tempo by Russian forces over the last month," the review says.
Russians continued to advance north and west of the settlement of Ocheretyne towards the town of Pokrovsk. On the same front, they made minor advances into the village of New-York, a well-fortified area, the last point of the war zone that existed before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
There were no major advances near the town of Chasiv Yar. There have been reports that large-scale assaults by Russian infantry have ceased over the past few days and that Russian forces are operating primarily in scattered small infantry units.
"Russian forces in this area are likely taking a tactical pause while conducting probing attacks and reconnaissance activity," the review notes.
Kurakhove axis: The enemy 9 times unsuccessfully attacked our positions near Karlivka, Krasnohorivka, and Kostiantynivka.
Vremivka axis: The Russians conducted 1 unsuccessful offensive action near Vodiane.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy made 6 attacks in the vicinity of Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, Mala Tokmachka
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: Ukrainian forces repelled several attacks of the enemy on the left bank of the Dnipro.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Four dead, twenty four injured as Russia strikes playground in Mykolaiv
a Russian missile strike on a playground near a multi-story residential building in Mykolaiv on the evening of Friday, July 19, killed 4 people, including a child and injured 24 others.
President Zelenskyy reported this on Telegram along with pictures of the damage.
Russian missile attack on Mykolaiv. Hitting a playground near an ordinary house. As of this time, it is known about five injured people. Three people were killed by this blow, including a child. My condolences to family and friends.
Russia proves every day with its terror that the pressure on it is not enough. This destruction of life must be stopped. New solutions are needed to support our defence. Russia must feel the power of the world. Zelenskyy stated.
Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych later reported that another man died in hospital. "As of now, four people, including a child, have been killed by the Russian airstrike".
Investigation underway: Ukrainian university professor and ex-MP, Iryna Farion killed in Lviv
On 20 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he received reports regarding the murder of Iryna Farion. He specified that all versions are being investigated, including the one leading to Russia. Euromaidan Press reports.
On the evening of 19 July, former Ukrainian deputy, professor, and linguist Iryna Farion was shot. The incident took place in Lviv on Masaryk Street, near her residence.
Witnesses reported that the killer fired one shot and quickly fled the scene. As a result of the assassination attempt, Farion sustained a gunshot wound to the head. She was quickly hospitalised in a local hospital, where doctors tried to save her life for several hours, but their attempts were unsuccessful.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi and Head of the Lviv Regional State Administration Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed that Iryna Farion passed away at 11:20 PM.
Sixty-year-old Iryna Farion was born, raised, and spent almost her entire life in Lviv. For nearly 30 years, she gave lectures at the Lviv Polytechnic National University.
Various motives are being investigated into the murder Farion portrayed controversial opinions and was very outspoken on several matters that upset many people. Investigators from the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine from Kyiv were also sent to the city.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukrainian drones target Rostov region military airfield, triggering fire and explosions
Ukrainian drones attacked multiple targets in the Rostov region, including the Miliorovo military airfield where a fire broke out. UAWire reports.
There were also reports of likely night-time strikes near the settlement of Dolotinka, with explosions heard in the vicinity of an oil depot.
The Ukrainian OSINT project "CyberBoroshno" has also geolocated the UAV impact sites and shared photos of the fire at the airfield. No reports on damaged equipment have been provided yet.
The Governor of the Rostov region, Vasily Golubev, claims that "26 UAVs were intercepted and destroyed". There are no reported casualties from the attack. Emergency services have been dispatched to the sites of the UAV debris, he wrote.
The Miliorovo airfield, located 150 km from the frontline, is used by the occupying forces to base frontline bombers, attack aircraft, strike helicopters, and other aviation equipment.
Protest held in Russia's Krasnodar due to power outages, protesters being detained
Disgruntled residents of the Russian city of Krasnodar have blocked a street due to a power outage. Ukrainska Pravda reported citing a number of unaligned local news organisations.
Residents of several residential estates took to the streets to protest, stating that electricity had been cut off daily, and on Saturday, there was no power for 24 hours straight.
The Russians are complaining about the heat and seek to draw the attention of the authorities.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Group of pro-Russian hackers arrested in Spain for attacking Ukraine's allies
The Spanish Civil Guard reported the arrest of three individuals for their possible involvement in cyberattacks on government institutions and strategic sectors in Spain and NATO countries on Saturday, 20 July. Europa Press reports.
The alleged perpetrators were arrested in the Balearic Islands and the province of Andalusia. Searches were conducted at their homes, and computer and documentary materials were seized.
Spanish investigators believe that those arrested are part of the hacktivist group NoName057(16), which emerged following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and declared its goal to "respond to hostile and overtly anti-Russian actions by Western Russophobes."
The group's primary activity involves carrying out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on the websites of government and private organisations in countries that support Ukraine.
Most Georgians see Russia as enemy, survey shows
Most Georgian citizens consider Russia to be their country's main enemy, and this figure has increased compared to previous years, according to the Caucasus Barometer survey by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC). The Kyiv Independent reports.
The Caucasus Barometer is an annual survey of socio-economic issues and political views conducted by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) in Armenia and Georgia.
The poll was conducted from April 16 to May 13 in all regions of Georgia except for the occupied territories controlled by Russian proxies and local collaborators. Some 1,509 people participated in the survey.
According to the survey, 69% of respondents consider Russia to be Georgia's main enemy. In a similar study in 2021, the number was 66%; in 2019, 49%; in 2017, 40%; and in 2012, 35%.
The number of those who believe that Georgia has no enemies has remained unchanged over the past 12 years – 4%.
Four percent of survey participants perceive the U.S. as an enemy, while 2% of respondents identify Turkey as an enemy.
When asked which country is currently Georgia's main friend, most respondents chose the U.S. (24%), Azerbaijan (8%), and Ukraine (7%).
The survey was conducted when the ruling Georgian Dream party passed the foreign agents law, which requires organizations that receive foreign funding to be labeled as "foreign agents" and mirrors repressive Russian legislation used to crack down on Kremlin regime critics.
MILITARY & TECH
Estonia Sends Another Batch of Mistrals to Ukraine
The Estonian Ministry of Defense confirmed on July 6 a shipment of French-made Mistral short-range anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine. Kyiv post reports.
“Mistral short-range air defence systems and missiles provided by Estonia have been delivered to Ukraine. Let’s keep supporting freedom fighters,” the X/Twitter post reads.
Development of the Mistral short-range air defence system by the French defence company MDBA began in 1980. It underwent testing in the French army between 1986 and 1988 and was put into service in 1988.
In 2000, the system was upgraded and called Mistral 2. In 2018, MDBA began testing the most modern version of the system, Mistral 3. Over 16,000 such systems have been produced and are in service with the ground forces and navies of 25 countries, including Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Bulgaria, Indonesia, New Zealand, Oman, Singapore, UAE, and others. The main objective during development was the maximum unification of the complex with all types of weapons and minimal maintenance of missiles and launchers. As such, Mistral turned out to be the most versatile missile system. It can be installed on a wheeled mobile chassis, a helicopter, or a stationary ground position. These units are also actively used on military frigates, in particular, on Philippine warships of the Jose Rizal type, where they are included in the standard set of weapons.
The Mistral is capable of destroying targets at a distance of up to eight kilometres and at an altitude of up to six kilometres in the Mistral 3 version. The previous modification, the Mistral 2, boasts slightly lower figures: six kilometres in range and three kilometres in altitude. The system is highly effective for protecting troops in a specific area. The missile’s speed is 900–950 metres per second (around Mach 2.7), allowing it to effectively target helicopters, UAVs, attack aircraft, and cruise missiles. It can engage air targets from both head-on and trailing trajectories. The developer reports that the Mistral 3 has a 90 percent probability of destroying an air target. From target detection to launch, the Mistral takes approximately five seconds on average, and about three seconds if target data was received earlier. Reloading one launcher takes about 30 seconds.
With the first transfers of Mistral to Ukraine, special mobile groups have been formed to protect Ukrainian cities and troops from cruise missiles. In Ukraine, the Mistral systems are primarily installed on light pickup trucks that can quickly change deployment and destroy missiles in the marching part of their flight, long before they get close to the target. The French MANPADS can also be placed stationary in a certain position by being mounted on a special tripod.
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