Russia 1 – Kupyansk/Svatove Line
Russian forces have advanced south of Vilshana (8.5 miles NE of Kupyansk).
Russia 2 – Svatove/Kreminna Line
Russian forces have advanced southeast of Novoyehorivka (10 miles SW of Svatove).
Russia 3 – Avdiivka/Marinka/Vuhledar Line
Russian forces made no confirmed advances in the sector. They claim to have advanced in Marinka with only 0.25 miles left to capture, but there is no confirmation of this claim.
Ukrainian forces moved closer to Pavlivka (18.5 miles SW of Donetsk) and Shevchenko (22 miles SW of Donetsk). This is really an extension farther west of Ukraine 2 sector in an attempt to widen the sector to Vuhledar.
Ukraine 1 – Liberate Bakhmut
Ukrainian forces pushed out from Klishchiivka both north and south capturing territory and moving closer to Bakhmut. Ukrainian forces also advanced south of Andriivka (6 miles SW of Bakhmut).
Ukraine 2 – Drive to Berdyansk
Ukrainian forces made some progress towards Volodyne forcing Russian troops to evacuate several heights in the area under threat of being encircled.
Ukraine 3 – Drive to Melitopol
It was confirmed that Ukrainian forces had moved 3 miles beyond Robotyne to the southeast covering 75% of the distance towards Novopokropivka last Tuesday. Russian forces are redeploying laterally from other frontline positions in a frantic to stop Ukrainian forces from advancing further.
On Wednesday a geolocated video was released showing Ukrainian forces attacking the northwestern outskirts of Verbove. But this was most likely a reconnaissance group as it is unlikely that the main Ukrainian forces have reached the city already.
Russia is making the mine-clearing of their first line of defense even more difficult for Ukrainian troops as they are dropping inflammable liquids from the air over portions being cleared of mines and then igniting them with drone-launched grenades.
“Vostok” Battalion commander Alexander Khodakovsky is providing much intel to Ukrainian forces by his constant complaints. He reported that Russian forces are stretched thin and are finding it difficult to transfer reserves and are lacking resources. He suggested that if Ukraine continues attacking positions in the rear, it will make it even more difficult for Russian forces to survive defending the line. He also admitted that many of his troops have been wounded by artillery fire and that Russian electronic warfare systems are failing to down Ukrainian aircraft and drones. He reported that Russian defenders are under extreme physical and psychological stress and warned it will negatively impact their defensive abilities. It is very helpful to Ukraine to have such eyes on the ground providing intel.
Ukraine 4 – Liberate Eastern Kherson
Ukrainian reconnaissance forces landed on the eastern bank last Tuesday near the destroyed Antonivsky Bridge and raised the Ukrainian flag and then returned to their side of the river. It was a symbolic black eye to the Russian forces. This was followed on Wednesday by several more crossings landing near Pidstepne and on an island in the Dnipro River. By Saturday, Ukraine had established a limited presence on the eastern bank between Kozachi Laheri and Pidstepne.
Russian forces are using children as human shields by deploying their troops next to elementary and high schools.
Ukrainian partisans in occupied Nova Kakhovka on the eastern shore of the Dnipro River successfully detonated an explosive at the campaign headquarters of Putin’s political party as they were preparing for elections in the occupied territories later this month. Three Russian personnel were killed in the explosion.
Russian milbloggers have been very vocal in criticism over the poor conditions of the 205th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade which is defending the eastern shore of the Dnipro River. The milbloggers are writing about the lack of supplies and artillery support (again, thanks for the intel). The Russian Ministry of Defense attempted to silence the critics by posting a video of purported soldiers of the 205th Brigade asking the milbloggers to stop providing such intel to Ukraine. But it was later discovered that the soldiers in the video, who are well-dressed and clean in uniform, was staged and are not part of the 205th Brigade. The motive of these milbloggers is to elevate that status of Russian Airborne Forces Commander Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky by criticizing the current commanders. Teplinsky had been sidelined because of his friendship with former Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin but has already been reinstated by President Putin. The milbloggers would like to see Teplinsky as commander of this sector.
Tuesday, August 29
Russia sunk several barges around the Kerch Strait Bridge to make if difficult for Ukrainian to maneuver drone attacks against the bridge. But it was noted that the distance between the sunken barges is still 500 feet which is plenty of space to maneuver around them.
Two Ukrainian Mi-8 military transport helicopter crashed near Bakhmut killing six officers on board. It is not known what caused the crash, but it was not by an attack.
Former Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin and Wagner Group logistics and security head Valery Chekalov were buried in separate and secret locations in closed ceremonies to prevent supporters to visit their graves and turn them into martyrs. But it was a failed attempt as Wagner Group forces confirmed the locations on their official Telegram channels. Wagner Group continues their silence on the future of the private army and have not announced a successor yet. The Russian Ministry of Defense has banned Wagner Group forces form fighting in Ukraine.
The U.S. announced another military aid package to Ukraine of $250 million which will include air-to-air missiles, mine clearing equipment, HIMARS rockets, and anti-armor systems.
Wednesday, August 30
Ukraine conducted a massive drone attack on a Russian airfield in Pskov Oblast near the border with Estonia. Ukraine destroyed four Russian IL-76 freighter planes in the attack. Russian air defense missed this attack as Ukraine also launched a drone attack against Moscow as a diversion. All the drones heading for Moscow were intercepted. Each of the IL-76 aircraft are worth $51 million.
Ukraine conducted a drone attack on occupation authority officials who had gathered to plan the elections in occupied territories. Thirty Ukrainian traitors were killed in the attack.
Ukraine also launched a missile at a target in Crimea hitting a substation near Feodosia.
Russia retaliated by launching their own massive missile and drone attack targeting Kyiv, Odesa, Cherkasy, and Mykolaiv oblasts. 28 missiles and 16 drones were launched, and all but one drone was intercepted. But the debris from the intercepted projectiles still killed two people and injured two in Kyiv.
Thursday, August 31
Ukrainian partisans destroyed four Russian military vehicles in Mariupol.
Ukrainian Brigadier General Serhiy Baranov, chief of missile and artillery forces, reported that Ukraine has reached parity with Russia in artillery capabilities along the front lines. But NATO supplied artillery weapons gives Ukraine an advantage as they can fire farther.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine has developed a domestic long-range missile that can hit a target nearly 450 miles away. He claimed it was tested successfully against a Russian S-400 air defense system deep within Crimea.
Russian milblogger Andrei Kurshin who runs the Telegram channel “Moscow Calling” was arrested. He is one of President Putin’s biggest critics in the information space. The Ministry of Defense ordered the detention of three other milbloggers. The exact charges were not released, but it was definitely a warning to the milblogger community to self-censor themselves.
Igor Girkin, former leader of the Donetsk rebel government and currently under arrest for publicly criticizing President Putin, announced that he will run for President in the 2024 elections. Since he is legally not allowed to run for President, the move is simply symbolic to give his plight some attention.
Friday, September 1
Russian occupation officials announced that voting in the occupied regions has begun and will continue through September 10. Russian occupation officials began door-to-door visits to pick up ballots near the frontlines.
Russia deployed the newly formed 25th Combined Arms Army (CAA) to Russia 1 sector and laterally moved the veteran but heavily degraded 41st CAA to defend in the Ukraine 3 sector. The 25th CAA had just completed boot camp and was not scheduled to be ready for combat until December. The 25th CAA is understaffed and lack training and is being sent to their slaughter.
Ukrainian fired unspecified projectiles against Russian targets in the rear with explosions reported in Berdyansk and at a Russian military base in Kyrylivka.
Russian milblogger Andrei Kurshin pled guilty on charges of disseminating false information about the Russian military and faces a ten-year prison sentence.
British military equipment maker BAE Systems has opened a factory in Ukraine.
Saturday, September 2
Nothing significant to report.