UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-08-03
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 Aug 02 stated that day 891 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 102 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 1 missile strike, 54 air strikes, 544 drone strikes and more than 3,300 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.
Russian casualties in Ukraine still exceed 1,000 per day
The UK Ministry of Defence in their Aug 04 Intelligence Update on Ukraine stated the average number of Russian soldiers killed and wounded per day has fallen slightly from an all time high in May to 1,140 in July 2024.
The average daily Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine has fallen over the past two months from a conflict high of over 1262 per day in May to 1140 in July 2024. Despite this reduction, the last three months have been the costliest for Russian forces since February 2022, according to Ukrainian General Staff reporting.
The reduction in daily average is likely indicative of Russian forces consolidating positions on the Kharkiv axis. Although this new approach has increased the pressure on the frontline, an effective Ukrainian defence and a lack of Russian training reduces Russia’s ability to exploit any tactical successes into wider operational gains.
Russia’s casualty rate will likely continue to average above 1,000 a day throughout August 2024 as Russia continues offensive operations on a wide front from Kharkiv in the north to Robotyne in the south of Ukraine.
Air Force Daily Report
On the night of August 3, 2024 the enemy struck two C-300 anti-aircraft missiles from the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region, two anti-radiolocation missiles X-31P from the airspace over the Black Sea, and 29 Shahed-type strikes from the directions: Cape Chauda (TOT Crimea), Primorsky-Akhtarsk, Kursk (Russia).
The air attack was repelled by the mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, anti-air missile troops and the REB units of the Air Forces.
As a result of an anti-air combat, 24 strike UAVs "Shahed-131/136" were shot down within the boundaries of Kherson, Odessa, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kiev, Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr regions.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: There were 6 Russian attacks, supported by aviation over the last day near Hlyboke, Vovchansk and Tykhe. 4 were repulsed and 2 are ongoing.
Kupyansk axis: The enemy carried out 2 unsuccessful attacks near Stelmakhivka.
Lyman axis: Russia attacked 10 times in the direction of settlements of Makiivka, Nevske and Torske. One battle remains ongoing.
Siversk axis: Russian forces carried out 9 assaults in the vicinity of Verkhnokamianske, Spirne, Vyimka, Ivano-Darivka and Pereizne. 7 were repulsed and 2 are ongoing.
Kramatorsk axis: Russian forces carried out 9 unsuccessful offensive actions near Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske and Klishchiivka.
Toretsk axis: There have been 15 Russian attacks over that last day with air support, 3 battles 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 conducted30 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity of Kalynove, Vozdvizhenka, Novooleksandrivka,Ivanivka, Zhelanne and Novoselivka Persha 27 were repelled 3 more are ongoing.
Kurakhove axis: Russian forces tried to advance 3 times unsuccessfully in the areas of settlements Krasnohorivka and Kostiantinivka.
Vremivka axis: The Russians conducted 5 unsuccessful offensive actions near Velika Novosilka and Vodiane
Orikhiv axis: The situation in this sector has not changed significantly. 1 enemy attack is ongoing in the vicinity of Novoandriivka.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: In this sector, over the last day Russian forces made 6 unsuccessful attempts to force Ukrainian units from their positions on the left bank of the Dnieper, all were unsuccessful.
Ukrainian forces sink Russian Black Sea Fleet submarine in Sevastopol
Ukraine's defence forces have struck the Rostov-on-Don submarine belonging to the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the port of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea, resulting in the vessel sinking. The GSAFU reported on Facebook.
"Ukrainian defence forces struck an enemy submarine and an S-400 anti-aircraft missile system in temporarily occupied Crimea.
Based on the confirmed information, Missile Forces, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Navy, severely damaged four [S-400] Triumph air defence missile launchers yesterday [2 August].
In addition, the Rostov-on-Don submarine belonging to the Russian Black Sea Fleet was successfully hit in the port of Sevastopol. It sank on the spot after being hit."
The B-237 Rostov-on-Don, a Kilo-class submarine as per NATO classification, is one of four Russian Kilo-class submarines capable of launching Kalibr missiles. It was commissioned on 26 December 2014.
Ukraine's General Staff noted that the vessel sustained significant damage in a Ukrainian missile attack on 13 September 2023. It was subsequently repaired and tested in the waters of Sevastopol Harbour. The cost of the submarine is estimated at US$300 million.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Eight Ukrainian children return home from Russian-occupied parts of Kherson Oblast
Eight Ukrainian children returned home from Russian-occupied parts of Kherson Oblast, regional governor Oleksandr Prokrudin said on Aug. 3. The Kyiv Independent reports.
“The children were met in their native land and all the horrors for them are behind them,” Prokrudin said in a Telegram post.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Moscow has abducted Ukrainian children from occupied territories and forcibly transfer them within the occupied territories or to Russia itself. According to the Ukrainian government’s database, Russia has illegally abducted at least 19,500 children since February 2022, and less than 400 have returned home thus far.
Taking hostage people who take no active part in hostilities breaches the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime.
In a statement released on Aug. 3, Prokrudin said the eight children who returned home include five girls and three boys, aged between 6 and 17. The governor thanked the Ukrainian humanitarian NGO Save Ukraine for making the return of the children possible.
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 5, injure 11 over past day
Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least five and injured 11 people over the past day, regional authorities reported early on Aug. 3. The Kyiv Independent reports
A total of 14 Ukrainian oblasts came under Russian attacks over the past day – Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Luhansk, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk. Casualties were reported in five regions.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched 29 Shahed-type drones from various locations overnight, including Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea, the Russian city of Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia's Krasnodar Krai. Ukrainian forces downed 24 drones over Kherson, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr oblasts.
The same night, Russian forces also struck Ukraine with two S-300 anti-aircraft missiles launched from occupied Donetsk Oblast and two Kh-31 missiles launched from the Black Sea, according to the Air Force.
In Donetsk Oblast, two people were killed in the village of Katerynivka. One person was killed, and another one suffered injuries in the town of Novohrodivka, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.
Four people were injured in the city of Myrnohrad, while three wounded people were confirmed in the settlements of Toretsk, Romanivka, and Novoekonomichne.
In Kharkiv Oblast's Kupiansk district, Russian forces hit a yard of a five-story residential building in the city of Kupiansk, killing a 55-year-old woman and injuring a 66-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
Seven more people were injured in the Derhachiv community as a tractor caught fire and a bus was damaged, according to Syniehubov. He didn't clarify what caused the fire and the injuries.
In Kherson Oblast, the Russian army targeted 15 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. One person was killed, and two others suffered injuries.
Russian troops fired 460 times at Zaporizhzhia Oblast over the past day, targeting 11 settlements and injuring a 59-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman, the local military administration reported.
In Sumy Oblast, the Russian military attacked the Nova Sloboda community with drones, injuring two people, according to the local military administration.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukraine strikes Russian air base on Rostov
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine [GSAFU] posted on Facebook that Ukraine had coordinated an effective combat strike on Morozovsk Aerodrome (Rostov Region, Russia)
Several warehouses containing bombs and ammunition were struck. Information on the result of the strike on Russian aircraft and air defences on site is still being verified. The strike was a coordinated effort of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine [HUR] with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine attacked a number of oil bases and storage facilities of fuel and oil materials of Russian occupiers in the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions. Available information suggests at least two tanks of oil products were hit and ignited.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Ukrainian women’s sabre fencing team sweeps past semi-finals, to face Korea in finals tonight
Ukraine's women’s sabre fencing team secured a path to the semi-finals earlier today at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning over Italy with a score of 45-37. The Kyiv Independent reports.
After the 38-minute match, Ukraine’s 15-time world championship medalist Olga Kharlan, as well as fencers Olena Kravatska and Alina Komashchuk, will compete against Japan in the semi-finals at 3:20 p.m. Paris time on Aug. 3.
The Ukraine's women's sabre fencing team then defeated Japan with a score of 45-32 in the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 3, making it into tonight's finals against Korea.
Ukraine's five-time Olympic medalist Olga Kharlan, along with fencers Olena Kravatska, Alina Komashchuk, and Yuliia Bakastova, swiped past the semi-finals a few hours after winning over Italy in another 38-minute match.
Korea defeated France with a score of 45-36, securing a seat in the finals.
The finals will be played at 8 p.m. Paris time on Aug. 3. The bronze medal match will be played at 7 p.m. Paris time between Japan and France.
Kharlan won Ukraine’s first Olympic medal this year, claiming third in women’s individual sabre. The bronze makes her one of Ukraine's most decorated Olympians in history by number of medals, in a tie with swimmer Yana Klochkova who retired in 2008.
Ukraine has so far won two medals at the Paris Games. Shooter Serhiy Kulish won a silver medal in the 50m rifle three-position event.
MILITARY & TECH
Upgraded Strela-10 Systems Prove Effective Against russian Drones
Ukrainian forces, using the Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system upgraded by the Teсhnari group, successfully shot down two russian Zala reconnaissance drones. This achievement was reported by Gennadiy Suldin , a member of the Teсhnari group, on his Facebook page. Defense Express reports.
“Yesterday, the Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems upgraded by the Teсhnari group shot down 2 russian Zala reconnaissance drones at the front. The 16th and 17th Zala drones were perfectly destroyed by the Valli mission with a 100% success rate, one missile – one target. We are truly protected by the best! Once again, the Valli electro-optical sights, which have significantly enhanced the capabilities of the almost antique and blind Soviet-era Strela-10 systems, proved effective. It works and takes down targets!” Gennadiy Suldin wrote.
On May 28, 2024, the Ukrainian Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation announced on their Facebook account that nine 9K35 Strela-10M air defense systems (NATO name: SA-13 Gopher) had been upgraded by integrating Valli, an electro-optical sight for detection, tracking, and targeting of aerial targets. Designed for rapid modernization of these ground-to-air missile systems, Vali is particularly effective against reconnaissance and attack drones. This upgrade enhances the operational capabilities of the system without active radar emissions, allowing the operator to view images from two cameras simultaneously or separately on a monitor, significantly increasing its defensive functionality against these modern aerial targets. Global Defence News reported.
Electro-optical sights like Valli utilise high-definition cameras and laser systems to identify and track drones using visual data. This method is particularly advantageous in conditions where adversaries use electronic jamming to neutralise traditional guidance systems based on infrared or radio frequencies. Indeed, electro-optical systems are less likely to be affected by jamming, as they do not rely on radio frequency emissions that can be detected and disrupted.
By adding Valli to the Strela-10M, the system gains not only in precision through better visual identification of targets but also in detection range. The cameras and lasers can detect targets at greater distances and with increased accuracy compared to older sensors. Moreover, this enhanced ability to operate passively without emitting detectable signals makes the system much harder to locate and target by the enemy. During testing, the modernized Strela-10 system reportedly managed to shoot down 5 Russian drones of the Zala, Lancet, and Supercam types.
Romania and Ukraine to jointly develop Neptune missiles
Romania, like other European countries, plans to develop weapons in cooperation with Ukraine. The country will focus on the production of R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles, RBC Ukraine reports citing Army Recognition website.
Neptune is a subsonic cruise missile developed by the Ukrainian company Luch Design Bureau. It was first presented in 2015 at a defence exhibition in Kyiv. The Armed Forces of Ukraine adopted it in 2021. The Neptune missile, weighing 870 kg and 5.05 metres long, is designed to hit ships with a displacement of up to 9,000 tons.
According to the media, unlike the French SCALP-EG missiles launched from the air, Neptune missiles are launched from the ground. Theoretically, they can compete with the American ATACMS. These are the only similar missiles used by Ukraine.
Ukrainian missiles can hit targets both on land and at sea at a distance of up to 400 kilometres. The missiles have been used since the beginning of the full-scale war, in particular, to destroy the Russian cruiser Moskva in 2022.
At the end of May 2024, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces had attacked an oil terminal near the port of Kavkaz in the Krasnodar region of Russia. The defenders used the Neptune coastal missile system.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also stated that in June, the Ukrainian military attacked oil depots in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions with Neptune missiles.
Grumpy Here - It should be noted that Ukraine’s new Hetman class guided missile corvettes, that we reported on yesterday will be equipped with these Anti shipping missiles, which also have application against shore based targets.
There are also reports these missiles are being produced in Taiwan for both domestic use and export. Additionally The Japanese Navy has expressed interest in these missiles.
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