UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-07-10
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 9 stated that day 867 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 128 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 56 air strikes, 419 drone strikes and 2,932 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.
Air Force Daily Report
On the night of July 10, 2024, the enemy attacked with one Iskander-M ballistic missile and four Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air missiles from the occupied Crimea, as well as 20 Shahed-131/136 type strike UAVs from Kursk region - Russian Federation
As a result of combat work, 14 "shaheeds" were shot down in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia and Rivne regions.
Fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, calculations of mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine and electronic warfare units were involved.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: The enemy conducted 6 assault actions supported by aviation, in the areas of Lyptsi, Starytsia and Vovchansk.
Kupyansk axis: The enemy tried to advance 10 times against Ukrainian positions near Synkivka, Pishchane and Berestove. The situation is under control.
Lyman axis: Russian troops attacked Ukrainian defenders16 times in the areas of Hrekivka, Makiivka, Nevske and Terny. Three attacks are ongoing in the area of Makiivka. The situation is under control.
Siversk axis: Russian forces carried out 5 assaults in the vicinity of Bilhorivka, Verkhnokamianske, Vyimka and Rozdolivka.
Kramatorsk axis: The enemy attacked 5 times near the settlements of Hyrhorivka, Chasiv Yar and Andriivka all attacks were suppressed.
Toretsk axis: The situation is tense in this direction. The invaders attacked 14 times unsuccessfully near Pivichne, Pivdenne and Nui-York.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: The highest intensity of combat remains in this sector. The enemy conducted 40 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity of Vozdvizhenka, Novooleksandrívka, Yevhenívka, Novoselivka Persha and Yasnobrodivka.
Kurakhove axis: The enemy 11 times unsuccessfully attacked our positions near Netailove, Krasnohorivka, Heorgievka, Paraskovievka and Konstantinivka. Two battles are ongoing near Netailove.
Vremika axis: The Russians conducted 9 offensive actions near Urozhaine and Vodiane. Five assault actions of the enemy are still ongoing. Defence forces are under control.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy made 7 attacks in the vicinity of Novoandriivka, Mala Tokmachka and Hulyaipole.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: The situation in this sector has not changed significantly.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Final death toll from Russian missile attack on Kyiv released
Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration stated that after additional examinations, it was established that 33 people were killed in Kyiv as a result of a rocket attack on July 8, not 34, as previously reported. Interfax Ukraine reports
"Updating the data. After additional examinations, the number of deaths from the July 8 missile strike was clarified. Thirty-three people were killed in Kyiv, not 34 as noted in previous operational reports," he wrote on the Telegram channel.
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RUSSIAN WORLD
Russia lacks munitions, troops for big Ukraine offensive, says NATO official
Russia lacks the munitions and troops to start a major offensive in Ukraine and would need to secure significant ammunition supplies from other countries beyond what it already has in order to do so, a senior NATO official said on Tuesday. Reuters reports.
Briefing reporters ahead of the opening of NATO's annual summit, the official also said that recent arson attacks, assassination plots and sabotage in Europe are part of a covert campaign by Russian President Vladimir Putin to undermine public support for Ukraine.
On the battlefield, the official said Russia has been suffering "very high" losses as it struggles to exploit small territorial gains and lacks the troops and ammunition to mount a large-scale offensive.
"What they are having to do is order undermanned, inexperienced units to move into areas to achieve unrealistic objectives. To sustain real offensive operations, we think that Russia would have to secure significant ammunition supplies from countries beyond what it is already getting from Iran and from North Korea. And Vladimir Putin would have to order a new large-scale mobilisation." said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
ISW - Ukraine strikes multiple strategic targets inside Russia
The Institute for the Study of War, a US based think tank, stated in its July 9th Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment that Ukrainian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Russian energy and military infrastructure in Belgorod, Kursk, Rostov, Astrakhan, and Volgograd oblasts overnight on July 8 to 9.
Sources in Ukrainian intelligence told Ukrainian media that Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and Main Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR) conducted drone strikes against the Akhtubinsk military airfield in Astrakhan Oblast, an electrical substation in Rostov Oblast, and an oil depot in Kalach-on-Don in Volgograd Oblast overnight.
Geolocated footage published on July 9 shows fires at an electrical substation in Yudino, Rostov Oblast and the Kalach-on-Don oil depot
Russian and Ukrainian sources reported that Ukrainian drones also struck electrical substations at an oil refinery, butter factory, and gas stations in Kursk Oblast, as well as the Energomash electrical equipment plant in Belgorod City. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces launched over 40 drones at areas in Russia overnight, including "several dozen" drones against Rostov Oblast, and that Russian air defences intercepted most but not all of the drones.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
New UK PM Starmer Says Ukraine Can Use Missiles to Strike Inside Russia
Keir Starmer signalled Ukraine can use Britain’s Storm Shadow missiles to strike military targets inside Russia, confirming he would continue the previous UK government’s policy on the use of its long-range weapons in the Russia-Ukraine war. Bloomberg reports.
Starmer agreed it was up to Ukraine how it used the Storm Shadow missiles donated by the UK, when asked by a Bloomberg reporter. He was speaking to journalists while travelling to the NATO summit in Washington late Tuesday.
The missiles must “obviously to be used in accordance with international humanitarian law as you would expect,” the premier added, stating his position that Storm Shadows were to be used “for defensive purposes.”
“But it is for Ukraine to decide how to deploy it for those defensive purposes,” he said. Storm Shadows are precision-guided cruise missiles with a firing range in excess of 250 kilometres (155 miles).
Ukraine has said it needs to strike military targets inside Russia to defend itself and repel Russian attacks, and it’s one of the main issues that will be discussed at the NATO summit.
Ukraine will stop Putin, Biden tells NATO in forceful speech
U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to forcefully defend Ukraine against Russia's invasion at the NATO summit in Washington on Tuesday, using the global stage to try to show allies at home and abroad that he can still lead. Reuters reported on July 9.
"(Vladimir) Putin wants nothing less, nothing less, than Ukraine's total subjugation ... and to wipe Ukraine off the map," Biden said in his welcome to NATO member states to the summit, referring to the Russian president. "Ukraine can and will stop Putin. Today NATO is stronger than it's ever been in its history"
The U.S. president has made restoring traditional alliances abroad the centrepiece of his foreign policy after Trump challenged allies as part of an "America First" approach. The election winner in November could have a substantial impact on the future of NATO, Europe and the rest of the world.
Biden and the leaders of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania issued a joint statement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announcing the delivery of five additional Patriot and other strategic air defence systems to protect Ukrainian cities, civilians and soldiers.
Zelenskyy, who arrived in Washington on Tuesday and is due to meet with Biden on Thursday, has said Ukraine needs a minimum of seven Patriot systems, a goal met by the fresh deliveries announced on Tuesday.
"We are fighting for additional security guarantees for Ukraine - and these are weapons and finances, political support," Zelenskyy said on social media.
NATO commits to arming Ukraine with dozens more air defence systems
The United States and an array of other NATO allies will send Ukraine dozens of air defence systems in the coming months, including at least four of the powerful Patriot systems that Kyiv has been desperately seeking to help fight off Russian advances in the war, according to a new joint agreement. CBC News reported on July 9.
According to the statement, the U.S., Germany and Romania will send Ukraine additional Patriot batteries, while the Netherlands and others will provide Patriot components to make up one more battery. Italy will provide a SAMP-T air defence system.
Other allies, including Canada, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, will provide a number of other systems that will help Ukraine expand its coverage. Those systems include NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepards. Other nations have agreed to provide munitions for those systems.
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New Ukrainian legion in Poland already has 'hundreds' of applicants
Hundreds of Ukrainians in Poland have expressed willingness to join a new legion of Ukraine's army that will be trained in Poland, just days after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans, Polish news outlet RMF reported on July 10.
"Hundreds of Ukrainians living in Poland have already expressed their willingness to join the Ukrainian legion, These people have applied, even though the recruitment for this formation has not yet been announced," RMF said, citing an unofficial source in one of Ukraine's diplomatic missions.
The legion was officially announced as part of the security agreement signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on July 8, which laid out further developments in political, economic, and military cooperation between Ukraine and Poland.
Unlike other specific legions in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, such as the Georgian Legion, the Freedom of Russia Legion, and the Belarusian Pahonia Regiment, the legion will be made up of Ukrainians.
"The Ukrainian legion will train in Poland and be equipped with the help of our partners. Every Ukrainian citizen who decides to join the legion will be able to sign a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Zelensky said, adding that "our teams are currently working out all the details." Zelensky said.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukrainian Marines Reveal APKWS Combined With HMMWV to Shell russian Positions
The 37th Marine Brigade has published some very rare photos of Vampire rocket systems mounted on High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) in action. For a reminder, Vampire is a launcher provided by the United States for Ukraine to utilise the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a special type of laser-guided rocket designed to be versatile in defence and offence. Defense Express reports.
The core of the weapon is a mass-produced Hydra 70 unguided rocket, where the number refers to the 70mm calibre. The name APKWS applies to an attachment kit comprising guidance systems and flight control surfaces, effectively turning the rocket into a high-precision missile.
The Ukrainian forces have been previously seen using these weapon systems to repel russian Shahed-136 drone attacks or to launch fast shoot-and-scoot strikes on positions of the russian troops, as featured in photos published on social media. However, these might be the first official photos of Vampire systems with APKWS rockets during a combat mission.
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