Monthly Archives: August 2022

Russia-Ukraine War

Saky Airbase in Crimea Obliterated – August 10, 2022 Ukraine update

[UKRAINE] – MTN It has been 24 weeks since the start of the Russia-Ukraine War and 3,085 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014. Here is our latest update. You can visit our Russia-Ukraine War Center to find more news about Ukraine. You can also listen to our in-depth podcast, Malcontent News Russia Ukraine War Update, hosted by Linnea Hubbard.

Northeast Donetsk

Russian forces launched an assault on the settlement of Spirne, west of the T-1302 Highway, which was unsuccessful.

Bakhmut

Russian forces made reconnaissance attempts on Ukrainian positions near Pidhorodne and retreated after coming under fire.

Russian proxy forces, led by Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Group and supported by terrorist elements of the Imperial Legion of Russia and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) separatists, continued fighting on the eastern edge of Soledar. On August 9, a video from Russian state media showed that the Wagner Group was 2 kilometers east of the gypsum factory.

PMC Wagner also attempted to advance toward Yakolivka and Bakhmut but could not improve their positions.

Additionally, PMC Wagner, with support from LNR separatists with the 2nd Army Corps, established positions within Vershyna. Fighting for control of the settlement continued.

The situation in the Svitlodarsk bulge is unchanged, with Russian proxy forces and Ukrainian troops fighting in Kodema and for control of Zaitseve.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia

The 1st Army Corps of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) renewed offensives on Avdiivka and Pisky. Separatists attempted to advance on Avdiivka from Mineralne and Spartak and were unsuccessful. Videos released today by Russian state media showed the situation in Pisky remains unchanged, with the DNR controlling the southern third, Ukraine the northern third, and the center contested.

Separatist forces with the DNR also attempted to advance on Marinka and were unsuccessful.

Leaders of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic reported that Ukrainian forces in Donetsk shelled a brewery. The compound was a total loss due to a fire, and a mandatory evacuation area was established due to an ammonia leak at the plant.

The Ukrainian air force attacked the Russian command post for the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment in Maksyma Horkoho, 100 kilometers into Russian-occupied territory.

Two explosions rocked the coastal town of Kyrylivka, 55 kilometers south of Melitopol on the shores of the Azov Sea. Local officials reported a large concentration of Russian troops, equipment, and ammunition outside the settlement.

Kharkiv

Russian forces attempted to advance on the settlement of Udy, northwest of Kharkiv on the international border. They were unsuccessful.

Kherson

Ukraine used precision munitions to strike the Kakhovsky Bridge in Nova Kakhovka that crosses the Dnipro River. Video from Russian state media showed moderate damage. The bridge crosses the spillway of the Kakhovka Dam and hydroelectric plant and has been reduced to one lane.

Satellite pictures showed that the bridge in Darivka has reopened but is reduced to a single lane.

Operational Command South of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed responsibility for the attack that destroyed the Russian ammunition depot in Novooleksiivka on August 8. The depot was 35 kilometers northeast of Russian-occupied Crimea and 150 kilometers from Ukrainian-held territory.

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Izyum

Northwest of Izyum, Russian forces launched a renewed offensive on Husarivka. Fighting was ongoing. The settlements of Chepil and Zalyman were shelled.

A reconnaissance in force group of light infantry moving in the direction of Brazhhkivka was forced to retreat after suffering losses.

Dnipropetrovsk

The village of Marivka on the Dnipro River was struck by over 80 Grad rockets fired by MLRS, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure overnight. Thirteen people were killed and another 11 injured – seven critically.

Sumy

Dmytro Zhivytsky, Sumy Regional Administrative and Military Governor, reported Seredyna-Buda, Esman, Bilopillia, Khotin, and Nova Sloboda were shelled and hit by mortars. There was another border skirmish in Seredyna-Buda, with Russian and Ukrainian border forces exchanging machine gun fire.

Chernihiv

In Chernihiv, the settlement of Senkivka was shelled by Russian forces over the international border.

Odesa-Black Sea

Satellite images from Planet Labs show that the Saky naval airbase in Russia-controlled Novofedorivka, Crimea, was severely damaged. The remains of at least 11 Su-30MS2 and Su-24 aircraft were visible in the pictures. The main ammunition bunker was completely destroyed. The taxiway and flight line were cratered in places, with evidence that fires scorched large areas of the base. Ukraine continues to deny it had any involvement, declaring the explosion happened due to “mismanagement” by the Russian Federation.

Social media videos showed empty beaches on the Black Sea and traffic jams that extended for dozens of kilometers as Russian vacationers rushed to leave the region. A state of emergency and a terrorism alert was declared in parts of Crimea through August 24.

There are unconfirmed reports that the Ukrainian air force hit Russian targets in Chongar, 160 kilometers into Russian-controlled airspace and a gateway to the Crimea Peninsula. Five hours after the first pictures emerged of smoke rising from Chongar, Leonid Slutsky, a deputy in the Russian State Duma, said, “The special military operation will continue; the point of no return has been passed.” The Kremlin had previously stated that attacks on Russia or the bridges that connect Crimea to the mainland were red lines in the conflict.

Daily Assessment

  1. Influential Russian milbloggers confirmed our assessment that the offensive west of Donetsk is struggling to maintain intensity due to elements of the 1st Army Corps becoming combat ineffective.
  2. Ukrainian military leaders claim they were able to destroy two Russian military targets over 100 kilometers behind the line of conflict in airstrikes, indicating that Russian air defenses have been compromised.
  3. Video of Russian tactics south of Izyum show light infantry troops have been poorly trained and have low morale.

To read the rest of our report, become a Patreon! For as little as $5 a month, you get access to the daily Russia-Ukraine War Situation Report. The report provides analysis, maps, detailed information about all the axes in Ukraine, international developments, information about war crimes and human rights, and economic news. As an added benefit, you get access to flash reports, breaking news, and our Discord server.

Become a Patreon today!

Five Facts, Health and Lifestyle, Local

Nick Rolovich, Former WSU Coach, Files Wrongful Termination Suit

Five Fast Facts

  • Rolocich applied for a religious exemption, but it was denied; WSU said at the time that they could not make appropriate accommodations for the head coach because the job required in-person interaction with hundreds of people a week
  • The former coach appealed his firing, first to the athletic director and then to the University President; both appeals failed to convince the school to reverse the firing.
  • For all state employees, even if a religious exemption was approved, the final decision rests with the supervisor and revolves around the ability to make appropriate accommodations for the employee’s unvaccinated status—accomodations that would require limited in-person interactions with other people
  • Rolovich has not publicly shared what his exact religious opposition to vaccination is and has publicly announced that he is not against vaccination in general or the choices others make to receive the vaccine

PULLMAN, WA—The former Washington State University (WSU) head football coach has followed up on his plans to sue the state of Washington by filing a tort suit against the state.

Rolovich was fired from WSU in October 2021 after he said he would not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Rolovich applied for a religious exemption from Gov. Jay Inslee’s mandate requiring all state employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19. His religious exemption was denied by WSU. They said that they could not make appropriate accommodations for Rolovich if he was unvaccinated.

For further reading, visit King 5.

Breaking News, Russia-Ukraine War

Explosions rock airfield in Russia-controlled Crimea – August 9, 2022 Ukraine update

[UKRAINE] – MTN It has been 3,084 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014. Here is our latest update. You can visit our Russia-Ukraine War Center to find more news about Ukraine. You can also listen to our in-depth podcast, Malcontent News Russia Ukraine War Update, hosted by Linnea Hubbard.

Northeast Donetsk

Reconnaissance groups of the Russian Federation probed Ivano-Daryivka and Vesele. Both groups were located by Ukrainian forces, suffered losses, and retreated across the administrative border of the Luhansk oblast.

Bakhmut

Russian proxy forces, led by Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Group and supported by terrorist elements of the Imperial Legion of Russia, continued fighting on the eastern edge of Soledar without success.

Wagner Group also attempted to advance on Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, and Vershyna. There was no change to the line of conflict.

In the Svitlodarsk bulge, Russian proxy forces and Ukrainian troops continue to fight in Kodema and for control of Zaitseve.

The Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka, 20 kilometers southwest of Bakhmut, was hit by Russian missiles.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia

Fighting west of Donetsk was significantly reduced with only positional battles in Krasnohorivka,  Avdiivka, Pisky, and Marinka. There was no change in territorial control, and artillery fire along the line of contact was reduced.

Near the Donetsk and Zaporizhia administrative border, Russian forces attempted to advance on Shevchenko from Petrivka and were unsuccessful.

Ukraine launched another rocket attack on Melitopol using the NATO-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), destroying a large ammunition depot.

Russian and Ukrainian forces fired artillery, mortars, and rockets from multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) from Marinka to Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk and Hulyaipole to Orikhiv to Kamyanske in Zaporizhia.

Russian forces attempted to advance on Shevchenko from Petrivka and were unsuccessful.

Kharkiv

There wasn’t any significant ground fighting northwest, north, or northeast of Kharkiv city. Both belligerents have settled into a defensive posture and have reinforced their defensive lines.

Kharkiv city was hit by S-300 antiaircraft missiles deployed in a ground-to-ground capacity. The missiles damaged the city trolley system, knocked out power, and caused moderate damage to a steam generation plant that provides heat and hot water to a third of the city’s residents.

Kherson

Russian state media showed a video of the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson after it was hit by artillery on Sunday night. Areas where repair work was ongoing were redamaged.

A Russian ammunition depot in Novooleksiivka was on fire with secondary explosions. The settlement is just northeast of the Crimea Peninsula and is the first major railroad junction in southern Ukraine.

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The Malcontent News Russia-Ukraine War Map is updated as events occur. Map not appearing in your RSS Feed or Google News App? You can review the most up-to-date information by visiting our custom Google Map.

Izyum

Southeast of Izyum, Russian forces fought a positional battle near Bohorodychne supported by artillery and were unsuccessful.

Dnipropetrovsk

The city of Nikopol was hit by over 120 60 Grad rockets fired by MLRS from a Russian firebase within the Zaporizhzhia NPP compound. Valentyn Reznichenko, Administrative and Military Governor of the Dnipropetrovsk, reported there were no injuries, but over 50 homes were destroyed.

Sumy

Dmytro Zhivytsky, Sumy Regional Administrative and Military Governor reported that Seredyna-Buda, Esman, Khotin, Myropillya, Krasnopillya, Velyka Pysarivka, and Hlukhiv were shelled.

Chernihiv

In Chernihiv, the settlements of Senkivka and Hremyach were shelled by Russian forces over the international border.

Odesa-Black Sea

Up to twelve massive explosions rocked the Saky air force base in Russia-occupied Novofedorivka, Crimea. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported there was an accident that caused ammunition to explode, setting off a chain reaction and additional fires. The MOD claims that no aircraft were damaged in the incident. The 43rd Independent Naval Attack Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea fleet is stationed at Saky, operating Su-30 and Su-24 fighter planes.

Daily Assessment

  1. Russian offenses in Bakhmut and Donetsk have stalled due to a lack of adequately trained and equipped light infantry troops and the inability to utilize overwhelming artillery fire.
  2. Ukrainian interdiction effort of Russian supplies that started in early July is impacting Russian offensive operations theaterwide.
  3. Reports on Ukrainian and Russian military losses since February 24 estimated the war caused almost 200,000 military casualties since February 24.

To read the rest of our report, become a Patreon! For as little as $5 a month, you get access to the daily Russia-Ukraine War Situation Report. The report provides analysis, maps, detailed information about all the axes in Ukraine, international developments, information about war crimes and human rights, and economic news. As an added benefit, you get access to flash reports, breaking news, and our Discord server.

Become a Patreon today!

Russia-Ukraine War

Fears rise over nuclear accident risk at Europe’s largest plant – August 8, 2022 Ukraine update

[UKRAINE] – MTN It has been 3,083 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014. Here is our latest update. You can visit our Russia-Ukraine War Center to find more news about Ukraine. You can also listen to our in-depth podcast, Malcontent News Russia Ukraine War Update, hosted by Linnea Hubbard.

Northeast Donetsk

Russian forces made two advances on Ukrainian positions on the administrative border of Luhansk and Donetsk without success. They launched two attacks on Verkhnokamyanske and probed Ukrainian positions near Bilohorivka [Donetsk]. None of the actions were successful.

Bakhmut

Near Bakhmut, Russian forces attempted to advance on Yakolivka, Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, and Vershyna and were repelled. The Russian Ministry of Defense has drawn down the last motor infantry battalion tactical group leaving the offensive under the command of the Private Military Company Wagner Group, supported by terrorists of the Imperial Legion of Russia and Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republic separatists.

In the Svitlodarsk bulge, fighting continued for control of Kodema, and Russian forces continued to try to advance on Zaitseve.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia

Near Donetsk, Russian forces attempted to improve their positions east of Krasnohorivka but were unsuccessful. Elements of the 1st Army Corps of the DNR and the 2nd Army Corps of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) continue to attempt to capture Pisky, Avdiivka, and Marinka with no change in the line of conflict since Saturday. Russian forces attempted to flank Ukrainian positions in Pisky by advancing toward Nevelske across open cropland. They suffered heavy losses and retreated.

Ukrainian forces continue to hold the Shevchenko Mine waste heap in the southeastern part of Marinka, maintaining fire control over the city and advancing Russia-separatists attempting to advance into the city.

Ukrainian forces shelled a complex of warehouses in the Kyivskyi District of Donetsk city, less than 5 kilometers from the line of conflict.

Ukraine launched rockets from High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) on Melitopol, striking Russian troop and equipment staging areas.

In Russian-occupied Mariupol, insurgents set fire to the Satellite Factory in the eastern district. Russian officials couldn’t control the fire and chose to let it burn itself out.

Kharkiv

There wasn’t any significant ground fighting northwest, north, or northeast of Kharkiv city. Both belligerents have settled into a defensive posture and have reinforced their defensive lines.

Russia continues to launch Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles and S-300 antiaircraft missiles used to strike ground targets in Kharkiv city.

Kherson

Ukrainian forces hit the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson for a third time, in the exact location as the two previous strikes. The bridge was on fire after the attack. Video from this morning showed renewed damage and partial repairs from last week in progress.

Russian forces shelled and then launched an attack on Blahodatne, supported by a company of Russian VDV troops, about 50 kilometers east of Mykolaiv. There were reports of heavy fighting, but the advance was unsuccessful.

On the Inhulets River bridgehead, Ukrainian forces widened their area of control and destroyed a Russian ammunition depot in Ishchenka. The Russian air force attacked Ukrainian positions east of the river.

Visit our Russia-Ukraine War Map

The Malcontent News Russia-Ukraine War Map is updated as events occur. Map not appearing in your RSS Feed or Google News App? You can review the most up-to-date information by visiting our custom Google Map.

Izyum

Russian forces made three small attacks southwest and south of Izyum. Elements of the 1st Guard Tanks Army attempted to advance on Virnopillya from a forested area north of Brazhivka and retreated after advancing less than 500 meters.

Russian forces also attempted to reconnoiter Ukrainian positions in Dolyna and Bohorodychne. The platoon-size units were engaged and retreated.

Zaporizhia

Russian and Ukrainian leaders traded accusations of shelling the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Energoatom reported that rockets fired by MLRS on August 6 landed adjacent to the dry storage of spent fuel rods. Three radiation sensors were destroyed in the attack. The United Nations demanded inspectors be granted immediate access to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.

Russia has staffed a garrison of 500 soldiers at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and is using the facility as a firebase for tubed artillery. Satellite images released today showed that Russia is using the buildings that house nuclear reactors to store armored vehicles. Ukrainian nuclear power company Energoatom accused Russian officials of mining critical infrastructure of the plant with explosives.

The use of a nuclear facility as a military base in a war zone is unprecedented in human history.

Dnipropetrovsk

Nikopol was hit by up to 60 Grad rockets fired by MLRS. Two people were injured, and 50 private homes were damaged or destroyed. The Russian Air Force fired two Kh-59 “Ovod” from Su-24 aircraft on Chervonohryhorivka.

Sumy

Dmytro Zhivytsky, Sumy Regional Administrative and Military Governor, reported that Seredyna-Buda, Esman, Billopillya, Buryn, Pavlivka, and Nova Sloboda were shelled. The border city of Seredyna-Buda was under heavy attack from artillery, mortars, rockets from MLRS, and airstrikes. At least one aircraft was shot down, although the video did have enough detail to show from which nation.

Chernihiv

Russian forces shelled the settlements of Hai and Hremyach over the international border. Officials did not release information on damage or casualties.

Odesa

Another four ships sailed from ports in the Odesa area carrying 161,000 tonnes of corn, meal, and sunflower oil.

Western Ukraine

Three cruise missiles hit the Ukrainian airbase east of Vinnytsia. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported “victims” but did not specify how many or their condition. Russia used Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in the strike, which Ukrainian air defense systems could not detect. Additionally, an unspecific number of Kinzhal missiles hit the Ukrainian air base east of Kropyvnytskyi in the Kirovohrad oblast.

Beyond Russia

Amnesty International apologized for any “pain caused” by its report on Ukrainian war tactics last week and sought to clarify its position in a statement on Sunday. The organization, which had its website blocked in Russia on March 11 and its NGO status canceled by Moscow on April 8, said it stood by its report but added, “We must be very clear: Nothing we documented Ukrainian forces doing in any way justifies Russian violations. Russia alone is responsible for the violations it has committed against Ukrainian civilians.”

CBS News was walking back a documentary that claimed only 30% of military equipment provided to Ukraine by NATO and its allies was reaching the front. The figure came from Jonas Ohman, founder of the non-profit Blue-Yellow. On Monday, CBS tweeted they had removed the quote and were updating the documentary after additional research. The network has also pulled promotional ads for the documentary.

Daily Assessment

  1. Ukrainian military leaders have forced the Russian military to respond to the possibility of a counteroffensive in Kherson and Zaporizhia, likely impacting previously planned strategies to capture Siversk, Slovyansk, and Kramatorsk.
  2. Ukrainian interdiction effort of Russian supplies and troop movements is impacting ongoing offensives near Bakhmut.
  3. Russian forces continue to focus significant military resources to grind down Ukrainian defenses west of Donetsk, suffering heavy losses for almost no gains since the beginning of August.

To read the rest of our report, become a Patreon! For as little as $5 a month, you get access to the daily Russia-Ukraine War Situation Report. The report provides analysis, maps, detailed information about all the axes in Ukraine, international developments, information about war crimes and human rights, and economic news. As an added benefit, you get access to flash reports, breaking news, and our Discord server.

Become a Patreon today!

Breaking News, Local

Breaking: Truck drives off after striking the Kirkland Ave bridge

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – MTN The infamous truck-eating bridge didn’t quite claim another victim but may be a victim itself after a significant bridge strike where the driver left the scene.

Around 4:30 PM on Saturday, a truck heading “eastbound” toward 85th Avenue struck the bridge, causing moderate damage to the concrete, exposing the supporting rebar, and sending at least one section of conduit into the road. The roadway is littered with concrete pieces. The truck drove off after the strike with unknown but likely significant damage.

This is a breaking news story and we will provide an update as more information becomes available.

French Toast Emergency, Health and Lifestyle, Local, Weather

Heat Advisory issued for Sunday and Monday with a side order of smoke

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory from noon Sunday to 9 PM Monday for Western Washington, with temperatures expected to flirt with the 90-degree mark. Smoke is expected to roll into the region and linger through Tuesday.

Saturday Night

Saturday evening will be pleasant with a northwest breeze from 5 to 10 MPH. Temperatures will be perfect for sleeping – 56 to 60 degrees.

Sunday

Sunny skies with light winds will heat things up with highs reaching 88 to 92 degrees. Temperatures will be cooler by the water and hotter in urban canyons and our area hot spots like Totem Lake and Kingsgate. An onshore flow will develop, pulling smoke over the Cascades. The AQI will be moderately unhealthy, 51 to 100 PM2.5. Very sensitive groups should limit their time outdoors and avoid strenuous activity. Photographers will want to have their cameras ready for a brilliant sunset.

Sunday Night

Temperatures will drop to 57 to 61 degrees, and smoke will remain moderately unhealthy, with the AQI between 51 and 100. Smoke tends to be worse at night as cooler air sinks and pulls it closer to the ground.

Monday

Monday’s forecast is complex, which makes it tricky. If the smoke becomes denser than current models, it will moderate high temperatures. Cloud cover is expected to move in from a weak disturbance, and that will also impact the high temperature and how much smoke settles in the area. High temperatures will reach 89 to 92 degrees in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area, with an AQI of 51 to 100. Clouds aren’t expected to roll in until very late on Tuesday, but if that accelerates, it will moderate temperatures and convert our smoke into smog.

Monday Night

Low temperatures will be 59 to 65 degrees depending on when the clouds arrive and how much smoke is in the area. Expect cooler temperatures if the current weather models hold and warmer temperatures if the area gets blanketed. AQI will remain 51 to 100. By sunrise, winds will shift to an offshore flow, moderating our temperatures and blowing any smoke left out of our region.

Tuesday Outlook

Tuesday will be mostly cloudy, with smoke blowing out of the region. Expect the AQI to move back to normal by the afternoon. High temperatures will be 80 to 85 degrees with a southwest wind increasing to 7 to 10 MPH. On Tuesday night, there is a small chance of some rain showers moving through the area, cleaning the air out and moderating temperatures back into the 70s for Wednesday.

Russia-Ukraine War

Russia continues its push west of Donetsk – August 6, 2022 Ukraine update

[UKRAINE] – MTN It has been 3,081 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014. Here is our latest update. You can visit our Russia-Ukraine War Center to find more news about Ukraine.

Northeast Donetsk

The only military action in this region was limited to artillery exchanges with both Ukrainian and Russian forces targeting ground lines of communication (GLOC – supply lines) and working on holding troops in defensive positions.

Bakhmut

Terrorist forces of the Imperial Legion fighting for Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Group supported by elements of the 1st and 2nd Army Corps of the Donetsk (DNR) and Luhansk (LNR) People’s Republics attempted to advance on Bakhmutske, Soledar, and Yakovlivka. They were unsuccessful at moving the line of conflict.

In the Bakhmut area, PMC Wagner attempted to advance on Bakhmut and Vershyna from Pokrovske. They were unsuccessful. Ukrainian forces destroyed at least one bridge that leads into Bakhmut, taking up defensive positions.

In the Svitlodarsk bulge, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Travneve to Kodema to prevent encirclement and reinforce Ukrainian positions further north. PMC Wagner, supported by Chechen forces and LNR and DNR separatists, has collapsed the bulge.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia

Russian forces continue to focus their resources and the largest attacks in Ukraine on Avdiivka and Pisky. Elements of the 1st Army Corps of the DNR and the 2nd Army Corps of the LNR attempted to advance into both settlements with no success.

Russian forces attempted advances on Niu York and Krasnohorivka north of Avdiivka. Additionally, they attempted to advance on Avdiivka from Spartak and Donetsk – both advances were unsuccessful.

In Pisky, Russian and Ukrainian forces are trading control of the middle-third of the settlement, with Rusian forces advancing from Lozove and the recently captured Butivka Mine ventilation shaft compound.

Russian separatists attempted to advance on Krasnohorivka and Marinka from Oleksandrivka, but neither advance was successful.

South of Donetsk, Russian forces attempted to advance on Pavlivka from Kyrylivka – implying that Ukrainian forces have improved defensive lines near Yehorivka. Russian forces launched an assault on Prechystivka from Novomaiorske. Ukraine liberated Novomaiorske in late June, and the recent report indicates that Russian forces recaptured the village.

Ukrainian forces destroyed a large ammunition depot in Makiivka. Multiple videos on social media recorded secondary explosions and showed the facility had still burning at sunrise. Civilian homes were less than 500 meters from the site, with cooked-off ammunition launching in all directions.

Kharkiv

North of Kharkiv, Ukrainian and Russian forces fought positional battles near Vesele, Borshchova, and Pytomnsk. The front is frozen northwest, north, and northeast of the city, with both belligerents slowly drawing down offensive capabilities.

Kherson

Ukraine hit an ammunition depot in Tokmak, causing a large fire with secondary explosions. Operational Command South reported that ammunition depots in Berislav and Kherson were destroyed.

Ukraine also targeted the command posts of the 76th Airborne Assault Division and 49th Combined Arms Army.

Russian VDV forces supported by tanks attacked Ukrainian positions on the Inhulets River bridgehead at Lozove from Sukhyi Stavok but were unsuccessful.

Visit our Russia-Ukraine War Map

The Malcontent News Russia-Ukraine War Map is updated as events occur. Map not appearing in your RSS Feed or Google News App? You can review the most up-to-date information by visiting our custom Google Map.

Izyum

Russian forces attempted to advance toward Bohorodychne with an ad hoc offensive from the woods east of the Siverskyi Donets River and were unsuccessful. Russain forces between Kopanky and Andriivka are in a salient and at moderate risk of encirclement.

Mykolaiv

A weekend curfew was announced in Mykolaiv city to support operations to arrest collaborators. Residents can still venture outside for activities such as dog walking but must carry their identification with them.

Zaporizhia

Energoatom claims that Russian forces launched a false flag attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, firing rockets from MLRS that landed near one of the reactor houses. It was reported that a nitrogen-oxygen station and the combined auxiliary building were badly damaged, but there were no casualties or release of radiation. Before the shelling, Russian Rosatom representatives hurriedly left the station.

Sumy

Dmytro Zhivytsky, Sumy Region Administrative and Military Governor, reported that Seredyna-Buda, Esman, and Hlukhiv were shelled. There was one casualty.

Chernihiv

In Chernihiv, the settlements of Zaliznyi Mist and Hremyach were shelled by Russian forces over the international border. There wasn’t additional information on damage or casualties.

Daily Assessment

  1. Russian forces continue to focus military resources to grind Ukrainian defenses west of Donetsk down using a scorched earth policy.
  2. The reduction in operational tempo is not an indication that Russian forces have exhausted their resources and is likely a 36 to 72-hour pause to reconstitute before increasing attacks west of Donetsk and near Bakhmut.
  3. The activation of the newly created 17th Tank Brigade by Ukraine is an indicator that offensive operations in Kherson will increase in the near future.

To read the rest of our report, become a Patreon! For as little as $5 a month, you get access to the daily Russia-Ukraine War Situation Report. The report provides analysis, maps, detailed information about all the axes in Ukraine, international developments, information about war crimes and human rights, and economic news. As an added benefit, you get access to flash reports, breaking news, and our Discord server.

Become a Patreon today!

Russia-Ukraine War

Ukraine hangs on in Donetsk, advances in Izyum – August 5, 2022 Ukraine update

[UKRAINE] – MTN It has been 3,080 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014. Here is our latest update. You can visit our Russia-Ukraine War Center to find more news about Ukraine.

Northeast Donetsk

Russian forces attempted to advance on Berestove and were unsuccessful. The Russian Ministry of Defense has drawn down troops out of Luhansk for redeployment to Kherson and Zaporizhia to prop up sagging defensive lines. Because of this, most ground combat operations have ended.

In Bilovodsk, Luhansk, an assassination attempt was made on Vitaly Kovalenko, the so-called “head” of the occupied Bilovodsk district, and his deputy, Valentina Hladkova. Hladkova was shot in the hip and has been hospitalized.

Bakhmut

Russian forces attempted to advance on Yakovlivka from Volodymyrivka and were unsuccessful. Russian forces also attempted to advance on Soledar from Stryapivka but did not make new territorial gains.

East of Bakhmut, terrorist forces of the Imperial Legion fighting for Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Group reached the outer edges of Bakhmut from the center of Pokrovske but were pushed back.

Russian forces attempted to advance on Vershyna from Roty and were unsuccessful.

On August 3 in the Svitlodarsk bulge, terrorist forces of the Imperial Legion fighting for PMC Wagner Group captured Seimyhirya, and on August 4, they advanced on Kodema from Dolomitne and Seimyhirya.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia

Russian forces continue to focus their resources and ground assaults on Avdiivka and Pisky. Russian forces furiously attacked Pisky from Lozove and Vesele and made marginal gains.

On August 3, Russian forces carpeted Marinka during the day and evening with artillery, rockets, and thermobaric weapons. Russian forces advanced into the settlement after the bombardment and were pushed back. On August 4, Russian forces attempted another direct assault on the settlement and were unsuccessful.

In Toretsk, Russian artillery struck a bus stop, killing eight, including three children.

In Russia-controlled Donetsk, the Donetsk People’s Republic accused Ukraine of shelling the funeral ceremony of Colonel Olga Kachura, who was considered one of the founders of the self-declared Republic and of the 1st Army Corps. On August 3, Kachura, who went by the call sign Korsa, was killed by artillery fire in Horlivka. Officials claim eight people were killed.

Kharkiv

Ukrainian forces attacked Russian positions in Vesele from Male Vesele. Ukrainian forces were unsuccessful.

Russian forces launched four missiles from Belgorod, Russia, on Kharkiv, which hit near the city center. There were reports of three injuries.

Chuhuiv was hit with artillery and rockets fired by MLRS on August 3 – 4. Shelling on the night of August 4 was the most intense the city has experienced since the start of the war.

Kherson

Ukraine hit an ammunition depot in Nova Mayachka, causing a large fire with secondary explosions.

Russian forces attempted to advance on Ukrainian positions on the Inhulets River bridgehead at Bilohirka and Lozove from Sukhyi Stavok and were unsuccessful.

Ukrainian forces attacked Russian positions in Starosillya, destroying armored vehicles concealed in a barn. The stronghold has been a logistics center for advances on the Inhulets River bridgehead.

Ukrainian forces recaptured Lyubymivka on August 3, and Russian forces shelled the settlement on August 4.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is claiming the Russian 22nd Army Corps command post in Chornobaivka was destroyed in the August 2 HIMARS strike near the Kherson International Airport.

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Izyum

Russian forces continue to lose ground south of Izyum. Ukrainian forces liberated Dmytrivka and Dibrovne, including the ridges overlooking Sulyivka. Ukrainian forces took full control of Maznivka and are advancing on Dovhenke.

With both attempts failing, Russian forces attempted to advance on Dolyna and Bohorodychne with ad hoc offensives. On August 3, Russian forces attempted an offensive on Husarivka, which also failed.

Mykolaiv

On August 3, Oleksandr Sienkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv, reported a missile attack destroyed a grocery store and struck an equestrian training facility. There were no injuries, and no animals were hurt, but there was significant damage. There were reports of an additional attack late on August 4.

Zaporizhia

Zaporizhzhia was hit by four missiles late on August 4. Additional information was not available at the time the report was created.

On August 3 – 4, Russian forces continued to fire rockets using Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) at Nikopol. In less than a month, the city has been hit with more than 1,200 Smerch and Grad rockets launched by Russian forces from the grounds of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Dnipropetrovsk

Myrivske, northwest of Kryvyi Rih, was struck by an Xh-59 cruise missile. Houses were destroyed, but there were no injuries or deaths.

Sumy

Dmytro Zhivytsky, Sumy Regional Administrative and Military Governor reported that Krasnopillya, Shalyhyne, and a rural area near Novoslobidski were shelled and hit with mortars. Additionally, there was a cross-border skirmish with machine gun fire. There were no injuries reported.

Chernihiv

The settlements of Zaliznyi Mist, Hay, Hremyach, and Mykhalchyna Sloboda were shelled by Russian forces over the international border.

Odesa

Three more grain ships sailed from Ukrainian ports late on Thursday Los Angeles time, bound for inspection in Turkey before heading to their final destination. Two left from the port of Chornomorsk and the third from Odesa. The Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Navistar will sail to Ireland with 33,000 tonnes of corn. The other two vessels are heading to Great Britain and Turkey carrying 13,000 and 12,000 tonnes of corn.

Beyond Ukraine

On August 3, Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian ammunition convoy in civilian vehicles moving north of Ternova, across the Russian border. Several vehicles were destroyed.

Daily Assessment

  1. Russian forces are focusing military resources to grind Ukrainian defenses west of Donetsk down using a scorched earth policy. Ukrainian forces are struggling to hold the defenses but continue to resist the onslaught
  2. We won’t label the territorial gains south of Izyum a counteroffensive; however, territorial gains are accelerating, and the front is getting broader.
  3. Our assessment on August 2 that Increased artillery fire south of Izyum was not a prelude to a renewed offensive was accurate.

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BIPOC, Breaking News, Local, National

Lynnwood man indicted for hate crime and interstate threats

[SEATTLE, Wash.] – A 37-year-old Lynnwood, Washington man was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury for a hate crime and four counts of interstate threats, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joey David George will be arraigned on the indictment on August 11, 2022, in Seattle Federal Court. George remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington.

“By law, the decision to charge a hate crime is appropriately deliberate – with consultation and approval from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division in Washington DC,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, the hate-filled threats to kill, based on race, are fittingly being prosecuted as a hate crime.”

The probable cause court filing on July 21 outlined the alleged incidents. According to records filed in the case, on July 19 and 20, George allegedly telephoned a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and threatened to shoot Black people in the store.

“On July 19, 2022, an individual called a Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York. The caller, who identified himself as “Peter,” spoke with an employee at the store. The caller asked how many Black people were in the store. He said he would make the news if he shot and killed all of the Black people, including all of the women, children, and babies. He asked if the employee had cleared out the building. He said there was a chance he was already in the store or somewhere nearby. He said that if he did not see anyone at the store, he would travel to the Jefferson Tops store,” the court filing said.

The Tops Friendly Market store in Buffalo had reopened on July 14, two months after a racially motivated mass shooting left ten dead and three injured. In the second call, George allegedly ranted about a “race war.”  Law enforcement traced the phone number and identified George as the person who made the call. The second Tops location in Buffalo on Jefferson Avenue, had a grand reopening on July 16 after an extensive renovation.

In addition to the calls to Buffalo, George is charged in connection with a May 2022 call to a Shari’s Restaurant and Pies in San Bruno, California. In that call, George, using the pseudonym “Tony Sumorrah,” talked to a San Bruno, California police officer. George told the officer that he called Shari’s restaurant because “he wanted to attack Black people and strike fear into the Bay Area’s Black community. He stated Black people are not human but rather “sub-humans.” He said he was proud of his actions because he instilled fear in the employees and customers of the restaurant.”

The San Bruno police department obtained location data for the origination point of the call. The call was made from Lynnwood, Washington, using a T-Mobile-provided cellphone number with Joey George as the subscriber. T-Mobile confirmed the May 12 call to Shari’s came for George’s number and phone. In the eyes of the law, a restaurant is a place of public accommodation, which added the hate crime charge: Interference with a Federally Protected Activity.

Additionally, George is charged with making interstate threats to a business in Maryland, saying he intended to shoot Black people at the store.  The fourth count of the indictment charges him with making interstate threats to bomb a restaurant in Connecticut. 

On January 16, 2022, George threatened marijuana dispensaries in Seattle and Skyway. An employee answered the call, and the male caller asked if there were any Black employees at the business. The male caller stated that he carried a gun and would go to the business to shoot any Black people who were there at the time of his arrival. According to the dispensary, a similar threat was made to their Skyway location. T-Mobile records show the call to the Seattle business came from George’s cellphone. George is not facing charges for the January 2022 incident, and it is unclear if the Seattle Police Department was contacted about the threat and if they were if they initiated a case and performed an investigation.

George is facing up to 30 years in prison based on the five charges.

Health and Lifestyle, Local, Safety, Terra Firma, Weather

Wildfire smoke might make an unwanted visit by the end of the weekend

Smoke season has become a new summertime feature in Puget Sound during the last decade, and after a cold, wet spring suppressed fire season, our area’s luck might be running out.

Wind could carry smoke from a wildfire burning near vantage over the Cascades late this weekend and into the start of next week during a period where high temperatures will tickle 90 degrees. This won’t be a repeat of 2020 or 2021 when thick blankets of smoke choked the area, but there is the potential to impact vulnerable populations and put the taste and smell of smoke into the air.

If you haven’t restocked your smoke season supplies and revisited your plan, now is the time to get prepared.

  • Get some N-95 masks, especially if you work or exercise outdoors. N-95 masks work when tightly fitted to the face. Surgical masks don’t block fine particulates, so they aren’t effective in the smoky air. The particles in smoke are accumulative in your lungs. Repeated exposure over the years can have health implications decades later.
  • Smoky days in Puget Sound typically go hand-in-hand with our hottest days due to the onshore flow carrying smoke into our region. In 2018 and 2020, we avoided 100+ degree heatwaves because the dense blanket of smoke kept daytime highs down by 3 to 6 degrees. Ideally, on the worst days, you should keep your windows closed. Now is the time to consider a portable air conditioner if you haven’t been convinced yet for at least one room to create a clean air space in your home.
  • If your choices are sitting in dangerous heat in an enclosed space or opening a window to regulate temperatures while allowing smoke to circulate, you should open your windows. If you have vulnerable family members or care for the elderly, consider finding relief in air-conditioned places.
  • Along with a room with AC, having a box fan with a furnace filter taped to the “intake” side (the side that pulls the air) has been shown to reduce particulate matter in the air dramatically. If you can’t afford an AC, a $35 box fan and a $15 filter can significantly improve air quality in a single room.
File photo – a homemade smoke filter using a box fan, duct tape, and a 20X25 standard furnace filter
  • Smoke typically is at its worst after sunset and during the overnight hours. As the air cools overnight, it sinks, which tends to pull the blanket of smoke to lower altitudes. After sunrise and the air starts to heat up, the rising warm air lifts the smokes up to higher elevations.
  • When you drive your car run your AC in the “max” or “recirculation” mode. This recycles the air within your cabin. If your car doesn’t have a working AC, consider wearing an N-95 mask when driving.
  • On the worst smoky days, don’t do outdoor activity if you can. If you work outdoors, your employer should provide N-95 masks. This is vital on days where there is ash fall.
  • Exercise should be done indoors in a climate-controlled setting. If you have medical issues, talk to your primary care physician about what is best for you.
  • Contact lens wearers should make sure their glasses prescription is up to snuff. Smoke can irritate the eyes, which can be made worse by contacts.
  • Ash is very alkaline and damaging to car paint. Additionally, ash can create spiderweb scratches in auto finishes. On days with bad ashfall, consider gently rinsing your car off with a hose or using a leaf blower. Don’t brush ash off your car or use an automated car wash before removing the particles.