Summary of the day: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed ending the war in Ukraine with former US President Donald Trump. Ukrainian drones struck a Russian airfield in Rostov Oblast overnight. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov continued efforts to rehabilitate the MoD’s image among pro-war ultranationalists through meetings with Kremlin-affiliated milbloggers. Amid attempts to coerce migrants into military service, Russian forces advanced near Vovchansk, Svatove, and Donetsk City. Additionally, Spanish authorities arrested three members of a pro-Russian hacking group targeting Ukraine and NATO states.
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Beyond Ukraine – March Towards World War
The Russian and Belarusian foreign ministries released a report accusing Italy of human rights violations, aiming to divert attention from their own actions in Ukraine. They claimed Italy mistreats migrants, is Russophobic, and neofascist. Similar accusations were recently made against Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and Spain.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova alleged that NATO’s actions in northern Norway are provocative, accusing NATO of creating a fortified outpost on the Russian border.
Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed ending the war in Ukraine with former US President Donald Trump. Zelensky emphasized the need for a fair and lasting peace. Trump expressed optimism about a potential deal between Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Zelensky stressed the importance of weakening Russia’s battlefield position for stronger negotiations and called for restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Western military support remains crucial for Ukraine to counter Russian advances.
Situation On The Land, Sea, and Air in Ukraine
Satellite imagery confirms that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Coast Guard base on Lake Donuzlav in occupied Crimea on the night of July 17-18. Ukrainian sources reported that the Security Service (SBU) used naval and aerial drones to damage the base’s headquarters, ammunition warehouse, electric substation, technical facilities, and firing positions.
Kharkiv Front – Initiative None
Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Kharkiv City, with geolocated footage showing their movement within western Starytsya. Russian sources claim further advances near Hlyboke and Vovchansk, though these are unconfirmed. Fighting continues, with Ukrainian forces counterattacking in several areas. Russian troops, including new assault groups, are preparing for renewed offensives in the region.
Luhansk Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces advanced northwest of Svatove along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line. Geolocated footage shows them raising a flag in central Pishchane, confirming its capture. Russian sources claim the 1st Guards Tank Army cleared Pishchane and seized Andriivka. They also report advances near Kyslivka, Nevske, and continued offensives in multiple areas near Kupyansk, Svatove, and Kreminna.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia
Siversk
Russian forces continued their offensive near Siversk but made no confirmed advances. They attacked areas northeast of Siversk near Bilohorivka, east near Verkhnokamyanske, southeast near Vyimka, and south near Pereizne.
Chasiv Yar
Russian forces continued ground attacks near Chasiv Yar without confirmed advances. They attacked within Chasiv Yar and nearby areas including Kalynivka, Hryhorivka, Klishchiivka, and Bila Hora. The UK Ministry of Defense believes Russian forces are likely conducting a tactical pause while probing and performing reconnaissance.
Toretsk
Russian forces continued attacks near Toretsk, Zalizne, and Niu York but did not make confirmed advances. Russian milbloggers claimed advances in fields south of Oleksandropil and within central Zalizne, though these claims are unconfirmed.
Avdiivka
Russian forces continued attacks northwest and west of Avdiivka but made no confirmed advances. Milbloggers reported advances in Novoselivka Persha and claimed Ukrainian forces might be withdrawing, though some said they are only rotating troops. Attacks also continued near Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, Kalynove, Arkhanhelske, Skuchne, Yasnobrodivka, and Karlivka.
Southwest of Donetsk City
Russian forces made slight advances west of Donetsk City. Geolocated footage shows progress in fields south of Heorhiivka and within central Krasnohorivka. Milbloggers claimed further advances in Krasnohorivka, but these are unconfirmed. Russian forces also attacked near Kostyantynivka, Paraskoviivka, and Vodyane. Russian forces continue operations in the Vuhledar direction.
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia
Zaporizhia-Donetsk Border Area
Russian forces continued limited attacks near Staromayorske, south of Velyka Novosilka, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia border area but made no confirmed advances.
Zaporizhia Line
Positional engagements continued in western Zaporizhia Oblast with no confirmed changes to the frontline. Fighting persisted near Robotyne and surrounding areas, including Verbove, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, and Shcherbaky.
Kherson (Dnipro River) Front – Initiative None
Fighting continued on the eastern bank of Kherson Oblast near Krynky, with no confirmed changes to the frontline. A Russian milblogger claimed Russian forces hold positions on islands in the Dnipro River Delta.
Ukraine News
Russian forces conducted missile and drone strikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported launches of Iskander missiles and Shahed drones from Voronezh and Kursk Oblasts. Ukrainian forces downed 13 Shahed drones and another unspecified drone. Targets included Kharkiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Kyiv oblasts, with energy facilities and critical infrastructure hit in Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv. Russian strikes also hit residential areas in Mykolaiv City.
Ukraine’s Allies
Spanish authorities arrested three individuals linked to the pro-Russian hacking group NoName057(16), known for cyberattacks on Ukraine and NATO states. The arrests took place in Manacor, Balearic Islands, and Andalusia. The group, active since March 2022, targets government and strategic sectors in countries supporting Ukraine. The investigation continues to identify more participants in these cyberattacks.
Russia News
Ukrainian drones struck the Millerovo airfield in Rostov Oblast, causing damage to infrastructure and a fuel tank. Russian sources reported 30 drones were launched, with 26 intercepted. Geolocated footage confirmed a fire at the airfield, which houses the Russian 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment and SU-30SM aircraft.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov is working to improve the Ministry of Defense’s image among pro-war ultranationalists by meeting with Kremlin-affiliated milbloggers. He addressed their concerns about the war and MoD bureaucracy during meetings on June 10 and July 19. Milbloggers noted Belousov’s efforts to tackle issues and his promise to build shelters at military airfields. The Kremlin aims to show Belousov as more responsive than his predecessor, Sergei Shoigu.
Russian Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
Russian authorities are tightening measures to coerce migrants facing deportation into military service. Proposed amendments would allow detaining foreigners and stateless persons for up to 48 hours before deportation, extendable to 90 days by a judge. Currently, detentions can last up to 90 days. These changes aim to pressure migrants into military contracts by threatening deportation.
On July 19, Kommersant reported that low-quality machine parts grounded five Russian Il-76MD-90A transport aircraft. The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against managers at Balashikha Foundry and Mechanical Plant for supplying faulty bearings with forged documents. This issue affects five out of Russia’s 18 Il-76MD-90A aircraft.
Bloomberg reported that despite Cuban government efforts to stop Russian recruitment, Cuban citizens continue to travel to Russia to fight in Ukraine, with numbers likely in the low hundreds.
Russian Narrative and Propaganda
Vitaly Kuznetsov, Ataman of the All-Russian Cossack Society, claimed that Cossacks in Ukraine are defending the Russian Orthodox Church and constructing religious sites. He framed the war as a spiritual battle against enemies of Orthodoxy. This narrative overlooks Russia’s persecution of religious groups in occupied Ukraine. Recently, Russia has integrated Cossack organizations into its military, with the Russian Orthodox Church supporting the war as a “holy war.”
Russian sources exploited the murder of former Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Deputy Iryna Farion to spread divisive narratives and claims of “Nazism” in Ukraine.
Source Material
Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org