Russian forces take losses in southern Ukraine. Attacks and counterattacks continue. Discussions about prisoner swaps also continues between Russia and the US in contrast to some atrocities with military prisoners.
Supporting Effort #1—Kharkiv City (Russian objective: Defend ground lines of communication (GLOCs) to Izyum and prevent Ukrainian forces from reaching the Russian border)
Ground fighting continued north of Kharkiv City with no major control of terrain changes on July 29.[24] Geolocated footage shows that Russian forces made marginal gains east of the E40 highway southwest of Borshchova on an unspecified date.[25] Kharkiv Oblast Head Oleg Synegubov stated that Russian forces struck Kharkiv City with S-300 missiles and targeted food production infrastructure in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv Oblast, 60km northwest of Kharkiv City.[26] Russian forces continued shelling settlements to the north, northeast, and east of Kharkiv City.[27]
www.understandingwar.org/...
Main Effort—Eastern Ukraine
Subordinate Main Effort—Southern Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk Oblasts (Russian objective: Encircle Ukrainian forces in Eastern Ukraine and capture the entirety of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas)
Russian forces conducted a limited reconnaissance operation northwest of the Izyum-Slovyansk line and otherwise continued to shell settlements to the northwest of Slovyansk on July 29. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian troops discovered and neutralized a Russian reconnaissance group in Shchurivka, 35km northwest of Izyum.[10] Shchurivka lies on the western bank of the Siverskyi Donets River, which suggests that Russian forces either attempted to cross or successfully crossed into Ukrainian-held territory in this area. Russian forces had conducted a reconnaissance operation in the Chepil area, just southwest of Shchurivka, on July 27.[11] Taken together, these two data points may indicate that Russian forces are setting conditions to advance further into Kharkiv Oblast northwest of the current Izyum-Slovyansk line, although the likelihood of Russian forces successfully taking additional ground in Kharkiv Oblast remains limited.[12]
Russian forces also continued to shell settlements near the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border and struck Dolyna, Bohorodychne, Kurulka, Virnopillya, and Mazanivka.[13] Russian forces additionally shelled Slovyansk and conducted a rocket strike on Kramatorsk on the night of July 28 to 29.[14]
Russian forces conducted a limited ground attack east of Siversk on July 29. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Ukrainian troops prevented a Russian reconnaissance group from advancing near Verkhnokamyanske, 5km due east of Siversk.[15] Russian forces also continued to conduct air and artillery strikes on Siversk and its surroundings.[16]
Russian forces continued ground attacks to the northeast and southeast of Bakhmut on July 29. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted unsuccessful ground assaults in Vershyna (10km southeast of Bakhmut) and Semyhirya (15km southeast of Bakhmut) and continued attempts to advance from the Novoluhanske area.[17] Russian forces additionally attempted to advance around Soledar, about 10km northeast of Bakhmut.[18] Russian and Ukrainian sources also stated that Russian forces conducted air and artillery strikes directly on Bakhmut and its surrounding settlements.[19]
Russian forces escalated ground attacks on the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City on July 29. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted ground assaults near Avdiivka, Kamyanka, Krasnohorivka, Vodyane, and Pisky, all north and northwest of Donetsk City.[20] The Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) militia claimed that Russian and DNR forces in the Avdiivka area have made unspecified but significant advances north and east of the settlement.[21] Russian forces additionally maintained constant artillery pressure along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line of contact.[22] Russian forces are likely re-engaging in offensive operations around Avdiivka to expand the defensive pocket around the northwestern sector of Donetsk City, as ISW assessed on July 28.[23]
www.understandingwar.org/...
Supporting Effort #2—Southern Axis (Russian objective: Defend Kherson and Zaporizhia Oblasts against Ukrainian counterattacks)
Russian forces attempted a limited ground assault in Kherson Oblast on July 29 and continued conducting hostilities along the line of contact.[28] The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command reported that Ukrainian forces repelled an attempted Russian advance in the Bilohirka direction by launching two strikes on Russian positions in the Bruskinsky district in western Kherson Oblast.[29] The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command also reported that two Russian Ka-52 helicopters attacked Bila Krynytsya (near Bilohirka) and noted that Ukrainian forces repelled attempted Russian Ka-52 strikes in Andriivka in the same general area.[30] Russian forces continued heavy artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure in Mykolaiv City and Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on July 28-29. Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command reported that Russian forces used 12 S-300 missiles to strike Mykolaiv City from the Hola Prystan direction (just southwest of Kherson City).[31] Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Head Valentyn Reznichenko reported that Russian forces launched 40 Grad rockets on civilian infrastructure in Nikopol.[32] Russian forces continued shelling along the Southern Axis.[33]
Ukrainian forces continued striking Russian military infrastructure on the Southern Axis on July 29.[34] Kherson Oblast Head Dmytro Butrii stated that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian ammunition warehouse in Brylivka, approximately 64km southeast of Kherson City.[35] Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed two Russian ammunition depots in Khersonskiy district.[36] Russian forces continued transporting military equipment to Kherson Oblast from Zaporizhia Oblast on July 29, likely in preparations for Ukrainian counteroffensives. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov reported that Russian forces have been moving 3-4 military columns per day through Melitopol towards Kherson and Crimea between July 25 and 29.[37]
www.understandingwar.org/...
2/
Later images showed that no pontoon bridge was connected on 28 July, but that it was likely hiding downstream slightly. 3/
https://twitter.com/ArtisanalAPT/status/1552680142102822912
Very high resolution imagery now shows a more complete picture of what was going on. Here's an overview showing the pontoon, damage, and significant Russian forces dug in on the eastern bank. 4/
First we can see the ~7 impacts in detain, spread out in about 20m intervals, with one cluster of 3 impacts together. 5/
We can clearly see the pontoon barge parked just a few hundred meters downstream, including the trees and bushes used as ridiculous camouflage. 6/
Especially interesting, thanks to the very high resolution Pleiades Neo imagery, we can identify at least 45 Russian military vehicles, many entrenched, in defensive positions to secure the east side of the River. 7/
The area just north of the intersection seems to be a base of operations. 8/
Finally, the quality of imagery from @AirbusSpace Pleiades Neo is really impressive. At 0.3m resolution, we can sometimes even read an individual "Z" marking on a truck.
These are yet other acts of terrorism committed by Russia. They are meant to intimidate, provoke strong emotions - hate, rage - and force Ukrainians to abandon what they have so generously demonstrated so far: humanity. To treat Russian POWs the way they treated Ukrainian ones.
It is also a threat to all Ukrainians who are or will be in the military: do not get captured. You won't survive as a POW, you will be humiliated, abused, tortured and executed. I already see people saying that suicide is better than being taken as POW by Russians.
In case with Azovstal defenders, Russia again showed its ugly face: all agreements with it are worthless. The retreat from Azovstal was mediated by ICRC, yet Russia never let it access to POWs. In violation of Geneva conventions, they were tortured, forced to record 'confessions'
These executions of POWs provoke just more rage and defiance in Ukrainians, but Russia's calculus is to intimidate those in the West who already feel 'Ukraine fatigue' and want a settlement at all costs. The goal is to undermine support and pressure Ukraine into concessions
Russia behaves like this because of decades of impunity. Crimes it committed in Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine were never punished. The closest we got to accountability was MH17 trial. There can be no peace in Europe without justice and Russia being punished for all its crimes.
END
Russian 'diplomats' advocating for war crimes against a regular Ukrainian military unit. I hope to see the day when this becomes evidence in an international tribunal on Russia.
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