UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-07-28
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 27 stated that day 885 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 96 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 1 missile strike, 63 air strikes, more than 500 drone strikes and more than 3,500 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 28, 2024, the enemy attacked with an Kh-59 guided air missile from the airspace over the Black Sea and 8 Shahed UAVs from Cape Chauda - Crimea.
The forces and means of mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces and electronic warfare units of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down the KAR Kh-59 and seven "Shahed-131/136" UAVs. Almost all air targets were destroyed in Odesa.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: There were 6 Russian attacks near Hlyboke, Vovchansk and Tykhe. 1 battle continues near Vovchansk.
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Kupyansk axis: The enemy tried to advance against Ukrainian positions near Synkivka
Lyman axis: Russia attacked 14 times in the direction of settlements of Novoserhiyivka, Makiivka, Nevske and Terny, all attacks were unsuccessful.
Siversk axis: Russian forces carried out 6 unsuccessful assaults in the vicinity of Verkhnokamianske and Spirne , the situation is under control.
Kramatorsk axis: Two combat clashes took place in this sector. Russian forces attacked unsuccessfully in the area of Ivanivske and Andriivka
Toretsk axis: There have been 15 Russian attacks over that last day, 2 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 conducted 27 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity of Kalynove, Novooleksandrivka, Vesele, Serhiivka and Yasnobrodivka.
Kurakhove axis: The invaders tried to advance 14 times in the areas of settlements Krasnogorivka and Heorhiivka, 4 clashes are ongoing.
Vremivka axis: The Russians conducted 9 offensive actions near Kostiantynivka
Orikhiv axis: The enemy made 5 unsuccessful attacks in this sector over the last day. The situation has not changed significantly.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: In this sector, 2 attempts of the Russians to force Ukrainian units from their positions on the left bank of the Dnieper were also unsuccessful.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 11, injure 41 over past day
Russian attacks against four Ukrainian regions killed 11 people and wounded another 41 in the past day, regional authorities reported early on July 28. The Kyiv Independent reports.
In southern Kherson Oblast, Russian forces struck the village of Komyshany on the morning of July 28, wounding six people, including two children aged 10 and 15, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported.
The village of Pryozerne was also hit, with a 56-year-old woman suffering a leg injury, the regional authorities added.
In earlier attacks, Russia hit the southern city of Kherson and 16 other settlements in the region, killing four people and injuring another four, according to Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
The strikes against Kherson Oblast overnight and on May 27 reportedly damaged three apartment buildings, 18 houses, an educational facility, and civilian infrastructure.
Russian attacks on eastern Donetsk Oblast on July 27 killed five residents and wounded another 15, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Facebook.
The biggest number of fatalities was reported in the village of Ivanivka, around 20 kilometers east of the city of Pokrovsk. Intense fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.
In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian strikes against the Chuhuiv and Kupiansk districts killed an elderly woman and injured a 54-year-old man, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
The attacks destroyed or damaged five houses, an agricultural facility, and an industrial facility, according to Syniehubov.
Russian troops also attacked the town of Hlukhiv in Sumy Oblast on July 27, killing a child and injuring 14 other people, the local authorities reported.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russian oil depot in Kursk region on fire after Ukraine drone attack
Three tanks at an oil storage depot in Russia's Kursk region caught fire as a result of a Ukraine-launched drone attack, acting regional Governor Alexei Smirnov said on Sunday. Reuters reports.
A fire at one of the tanks was quickly extinguished, but 82 firefighters were involved in trying to put out fires at the other two tanks, using 32 pieces of equipment, Smirnov said on the Telegram.
The drones also damaged a couple of residential buildings in the region, injuring one person, Smirnov said. Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war Russia launched against its smaller neighbour in February 2022.
Kyiv's General Staff said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Polevaya oil depot in the Kursk region, resulting in "powerful explosions" and a fire and were still assessing the full impact of the attack.
Russia's defence ministry said on Telegram that its air defence systems destroyed two drones over the Kursk region.
Reuters could not independently verify the various reports. Kyiv has said its strikes on Russia's energy, military and transport infrastructure are in response to Moscow's continued attacks on Ukraine's territory.
Ukraine sabotage damages three helicopters in Russian territory
Ukrainian intel reveals successful sabotage operations against three Russian helicopters far from frontlines. On 21 July, saboteurs hit two helicopters at a manufacturing center near Moscow, damaging an Mi-28 attack chopper and a Ka-226 multi-purpose aircraft. The strike sparked a fire visible across the region. Euromaidan Press reports.
Days later, on 24 July, another operation destroyed an Mi-8 helicopter at a military airfield in Samara.
On the night of 27 July, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck a Russian Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber at the Olenya airbase, located 1,800 km from the Ukrainian border. Additionally, HUR drones attacked two more airbases that night — Engels in Saratov Oblast and Dyagilevo in Ryazan Oblast.
British intelligence reports wave of purges in Russian defence industry
The UK Ministry of Defence in their July 28 Intelligence Update on Ukraine stated that a purge was underway in the Russian defence industry.
According to Russian media the head of the Russian Defence Ministry’s Military Construction Company, Andrei Belkov, has been arrested on charges of corruption related to procurement activity. The Military Construction Company was set up in 2019 specifically to achieve efficiencies with then Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu praising the ‘special internal and external audit regime’ that the company would bring to Defence. In reality it is likely the company has been used to extract rents by corrupt officials.
Separately on July 23 the former director of the Zvezda-Strela tactical missile plant was sentenced to prison for embezzlement and price inflation by a court in Rostov-on-Don.
Corruption is endemic in the Russian defence industry. In 2007 an audit commissioned by then Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov revealed that 70% of Ministry of Defence budgetary resources were used for purposes other than those officially designated.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Russian fear of alleged Secret Ukrainian military operation prompts Pentagon Call
Russia’s Defense Minister Belousov allegedly was so alarmed by rumours of a secret Ukrainian military operation that he called the Pentagon the New York Times reports.
Belousov, during a rare 12 July call with his US counterpart Austin allegedly warned of a secret Ukrainian plan.
This rare communication, only the fifth since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, was initially reported two weeks ago. At the time, the Pentagon merely stated it was initiated by Russia “in an effort to keep the lines of communication open,” without revealing the call’s content.
Now, citing three anonymous officials, the NYT reports that Belousov alerted Austin to a “secret operation” purportedly being planned by Ukraine against Russia. Belousov allegedly inquired whether the Pentagon was aware of this operation and its potential to escalate US-Russia tensions.
While the specifics of Ukraine’s alleged plan remain obscure, the NYT claims the Pentagon had no prior knowledge of such an operation.
Rebels in Mali wipe out entire column of Wagner mercenaries
Mali’s army and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group lost dozens in killed and wounded in a battle with rebels in the country’s north, a spokesman for the rebels claimed on July 27. The Kyiv Independent reports.
Russia maintains a strong presence in African countries through Wagner and other entities, propping up authoritarian governments, fueling destabilization, and extracting resources to fund its war against Ukraine.
The West African nation of Mali has been the subject of a significant Russian influence campaign since the Malian army overthrew the government in a coup in 2021. The Wagner mercenary group, founded by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been particularly active in Mali and has been accused of perpetrating war crimes and widespread looting.
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesman for the pro-independence CSP-DPA coalition, said in a statement published on Facebook that a two-day battle on the outskirts of Tinzawaten village earlier this week resulted in the rebels destroying “the entire column of the Malian army and Russian mercenaries.”
Ramadane added that “the enemy suffered huge losses in terms of lives and equipment, including dozens of dead and wounded.”
An unnamed local politician told AFP that the Malian army had retreated from Tinzawaten as a result of the battle.
The Malian government forces reported on July 28, as cited by Associated Press, that two of their soldiers had been killed and 10 injured in a rebel attack.
Russian pro-war Telegram channels, including those linked to the Wagner Group, published photos and videos allegedly showing the bodies of killed mercenaries and destroyed equipment.
Grumpy here - unconfirmed rumours claim Ukraine’s HUR (Military Intelligence) provided intel to the rebels to make the attack possible.
MILITARY & TECH
Hensoldt Has an order for TRML-4D radars for Ukraine
The Hensoldt defense corporation has recently issued a press release saying that it had received orders worth "well over one billion dollars" in the first half of 2024. Defense Express reports.
"We continued to fill our order book in the first half of the year and are thus continuing our growth trajectory," HENSOLDT CFO Christian Ladurner stated
Hensoldt supplies Ukraine with its well-known TRML-4D radars. The first of them was received by the Defense Forces of Ukraine in October 2012. According to the list of defense aid donated by the German government, Ukraine has received 11 such radars. It is known 3 more are on order.
The TRML (German: Telefunken Radar Mobil Luftraumüberwachung, or "Telefunken mobile airspace surveilance radar") is a family of air defense radars first developed by Telefunken and currently produced by Hensoldt. It is a development of the earlier TRMS (German: Telefunken Radar Mobil Such or "Telefunken mobile search radar").
The radar unit includes a completely redesigned AESA antenna with solid-state GaN elements, mounted on a non-retractable continuously rotating base. The system does not include an integrated operator shelter anymore, so a separate module is needed. TRML-4D combines digital beamforming with pulse-Doppler radar to detect difficult-to-locate airborne targets such as hovering helicopters or low-flying cruise missiles.
The system has increased performance compared to its predecessors and is able to track 1500 targets at a range of up to 250 km. It supports Mode 5 and Mode S identification. The radar unit includes an onboard power generator and can be carried by any truck that has standard 20 ft (6.1 m) ISO container fittings. Instrumented range is 250 km, can track fighter type targets more than 120 km away.
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