UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-07-23
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 22 stated that day 880 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 133 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 71 air strikes, 455 drone strikes and more than 3,000 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 23, 2024, the enemy attacked with a Kh-69 guided air missile from the airspace of the Kursk region - Russian Federation. and 8 strike UAVs of the "Shahed" type, also from the Kursk direction. Sumy region was attacked.
Units of mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine and electronic warfare units of the Air Force were involved in repelling the air attack.
Anti-aircraft defense shot down 7 enemy attack UAVs "Shahed - 131/136". As a result of active countermeasures, the Kh-69 guided air missile of the enemy did not reach its target.
Also during the past day, July 22, 2024, seven reconnaissance UAVs were shot down by air defense in the eastern and southern directions.
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 8 times against Ukrainian positions near Hlushkivka and Berestove,. The situation is under control.
Lyman axis: Russian troops attacked Ukrainian defenders 10 times in the areas of Novoserhiivka, Makiivka Terny and Torske
Siversk axis: Russian forces carried out 7 assaults in the vicinity of Verkhnokamianske, Spine, Vyimka, Pereizne and Orikhovo-Vaslivka
Kramatorsk axis: In this sector Russian forces attacked 28 times in the area of Vasyukivka, Minkivka, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Kalina, Klischiivka and Andriivka
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, Pivinchne, 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 38 attacks against Ukrainian defences in this area over the last day in the vicinity of Panteleimonivka, Vozdvizhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Lozuvatske, Ivanivka, Prohes, Vovche, Novoselivka Persha, Umanske and Yasnobrodivka.
Ukrainian forces destroy another Russian SU-25
Ukrainian forces have shot down another Russian Su-25 fighter jet on the Pokrovsk axis in the Donetsk region. The press service of the Khortytsia Group of Forces announced this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.
"Today, in the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian military shot down a Russian Su-25 combat aircraft, which, together with another Su-25, tried to fire at the positions of units of the Defense Forces," the post reads.
On July 19, anti-aircraft soldiers from the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after General-Corporal Marko Bezruchko destroyed a Su-25 attack aircraft in the Donetsk region.
Kurakhove axis: The enemy 13 times unsuccessfully attacked our positions near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka and Paraskovievka.
Vremivka axis: The situation has not experienced significant changes.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy carried out 1 unsuccessful attack in the vicinity of Robotyne.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: In this sector, all efforts of the Russians to force Ukrainian units from their positions on the left bank of the Dnieper were also unsuccessful.
Another Ferry hit by Ukrainian Strike on Kerch Strait crossing
On the night of July 23, Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted a long-range strike on a ferry crossing over the Kerch Strait. Reports from local residents indicate the attack was targeting Port Kavkaz on the russian side of the strait, this strategically important bottleneck of russian military logistics in Crimea. Defense Express reports.
The Governor of Krasnodar Krai, Veniamin Kondratiev, confirmed the attack, noting that explosive drones struck a ferry vessel, causing a fire. He reported one fatality and five injuries among the crew and port employees. The name of this ship is not specified.
With this statement, the russian official risks being punished for "discrediting the russian armed forces" because the Ministry of Defense of the russian federation, which claimed that their forces thwarted the Ukrainian attack, destroying all 21 drones approaching from Crimea and the Black Sea.
Moreover, the incident took place near the Kerch Bridge, which supposedly is protected by "impenetrable" air defenses for which the Kremlin had allocated a huge amount of money and anti-aircraft equipment.
This attack marks the second time Ukrainian long-range strikes have targeted a ferry at the Kerch Strait. In May and June 2024, two train ferries were successfully struck, as confirmed by the report of Ukraine's General Staff, photos of local residents and satellite imagery of the site.
The vessels in question are the Conroe Trader and the Avangard, the only two roll-on/roll-off train ferries operating on the Kerch Strait crossing. The Conroe Trader sustained damage to the side of its hull, while the Avangard suffered minor damage to its deck. However, a photo showed the ship rolled, indicating its partial sinking.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Ukraine reaches preliminary deal with bondholder group on $20-billion debt restructure
Ukraine said on Monday it had reached an agreement in principle with a group of creditors to restructure $20 billion of international bonds, bringing the war-torn country closer to an unprecedented debt rework. Reuters reports
Ukraine's announcement comes just over a week before a two-year debt suspension agreement struck in 2022 is due to run out and marks the first time a country has embarked on a debt restructuring during a full-scale war.
"After months of engagement and hard work with our private bondholders, the IMF and our bilateral partners, we have reached an agreement in principle with the Ad Hoc Creditor Committee on the comprehensive restructuring of our public external debt," Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said in a statement.
This was an important step to ensure Ukraine maintained the budget stability and cash resources needed to continue financing its defence, he added.
The proposal would see a 37% nominal haircut on Ukraine's outstanding international bonds, saving Kyiv $11.4 billion in payments over the next three years - the duration of the country's programme with the International Monetary Fund set to expire in 2027, according to government statements.
The government said the IMF had confirmed that the deal was compatible with the parameters of its $122 billion support package, and that the country's official lenders, the Group of Creditors of Ukraine (GCU), had also signed off on it.
Emergency Services evacuate civilians under fire in Toretsk
Rescuers of the "Phoenix" evacuation group of State Emergency Services evacuated 8 residents from Toretsk on Monday while under fire, some of the civilians had mobility issues. State Emergency Services reported on Telegram.
The situation in the region is critical. Russian occupiers are continuously shelling cities, destroying houses and killing civilians.
Citizen from the area are urged to evacuate the area if they can or contact State Emergency Services if they require assistance.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Moscow to pay residents over $21,000 signing bonus for joining army
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin signed a decree on July 23 establishing a one-time signing bonus of 1.9 million rubles ($21,200) for city residents who join the military. The Kyiv Independent reports.
As Russia has sought to replenish its military, decimated by high losses in Ukraine, authorities have implemented financial perks to incentivize enlistment.
While other regional authorities have also instituted signing bonuses, such as 1 million rubles ($11,200) in Krasnodar Krai and 500,000 rubles ($5,600) in Dagestan, the Moscow signing bonus appears to be the highest reported so far.
With the addition of the signing bonus, a Moscow resident who enlists in the army will make over 5.2 million rubles ($58,600) over the course of their first year in service, Sobyanin's office said.
Servicemen can also receive between 500,000 to 1 million rubles ($5,600-11,200) for being injured, and the family of a soldier killed in action is reportedly set to be paid 3 million rubles ($34,000). A variety of other perks are also offered to family members, the mayor's office said.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Biden to concentrate on Ukraine and Middle East in the final months of his presidency
US President Joe Biden, who recently announced his withdrawal from the election race, will focus on geopolitical issues - Ukraine and the Middle East - until the end of his term. The Financial Times reports.
Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 US presidential race has kicked off a six-month race to solidify his administration’s foreign policy achievements, particularly in the two areas most likely to shift dramatically under a Donald Trump presidency: the Middle East and Ukraine.
Biden’s much-anticipated move over the weekend will see his power ebb away over the remainder of his term, transforming him into a so-called lame duck president. But while this could decrease his leverage with foreign interlocutors, it could also free him from political constraints and allow him to act with more freedom on the world stage.
The first test of Biden’s new normal will come this week when he meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. The meeting, Netanyahu’s first at the White House since he returned to power in late 2022, presents Biden with a chance to advance what could be his most significant legacy: an end to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Ukraine's top diplomat in Beijing
Ukraine's foreign minister is in China Tuesday for talks on how officials there might help end the war with Russia, whose ties with Beijing have only grown stronger since the conflict began. France24 reports.
China presents itself as a neutral party in the war and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.
However, its deepening "no limits" partnership with Russia has led NATO members to brand it a "decisive enabler" of Moscow's war, which Beijing has never condemned.
Kyiv said Kuleba's visit would focus on "ways to stop Russian aggression" as well as "China's possible role in achieving a sustainable and just peace".
MILITARY & TECH
The UK Is Training Ukrainian Soldiers to Use Starstreak SAM System
The Armed Forces of Great Britain are training Ukrainian recruits to work with a man-portable Starstreak HVM system Defese Express reports.
This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on July 22 with reference to the UK Ministry of Defence and the the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ).
Photos were also published that illustrate how the Ukrainians master the British MANPADS.
"The training will help Ukrainian Recruits defend their sovereign skies from Russia’s illegal aerial advances!" Ukraine’s Armd Forces General Staff cites the UK PJHQ’s message.
The Starstreak is a British short-range, portable, air-defense system optimised to provide defense against air threats.
In particular, the Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) is designed to counter threats from very high performance, low-flying aircraft and fast ‘pop up’ strikes by helicopter attacks. The missile, which travels at more than three times the speed of sound, uses a system of three dart-like projectiles, allowing multiple hits on the target. HVM can be fired from the shoulder, from a lightweight multiple launcher or from the Stormer armoured vehicle. It is made by Thales in Belfast.
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