Tag Archives: chasiv yar

National, Russia-Ukraine War

Cruise Missile Attack on Vinnytsia Kills 22, Wounds 90 – July 14, 2022 Ukraine Update

[KYIV, Ukraine] – MTN It has been 20 weeks since the Russian-Ukrainian War began and 3,059 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014.

BREAKING NEWS: At least 22 people are dead and 90 wounded, 50 critically, after four Russian cruise missiles struck the western Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia on Thursday morning, destroying an office building complex and at least one building of a hospital.

The missile crashed into the city center at 11:00 AM while it was full of office workers and shoppers. Three missiles struck a complex of office buildings and a fourth hit a medical center. Debris set cars in a parking lot on fire, spreading to over 50 vehicles. Vinnytsia is 120 kilometers north of Moldova in western Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi addressed his nation, calling the strike a terrorist attack.

“Vinnytsia – a missile attack on the city center,” Zelenskyy started. “There are wounded and dead, among them a small child. Every day, Russia destroys the civilian population, kills Ukrainian children, and directs rockets at civilian [infrastructure]. Where there is nothing military. What is this, How is it not an open act of terrorism? Inhumans. A murderous country. A terrorist country.”

Vinnytsia Region Administrative and Military Governor Serhii Borzov reported that eight missiles were fired in the direction of the city. Air defenses were able to shoot down four.

https://malcontentment.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/293726709_420058033510548_283581556363458589_n.mp4
July 14, 2022 – rescuers search for survivors after a Russian cruise missile attack in the center of Vinnytsia, Ukraine

The Office of the Prosecutor General announced that a criminal investigation had been opened for “violation of the laws and customs of war.”

July 14, 2022 – a hospital building in Vinnytsia, Ukraine lies in ruins after taking a direct hit from a Russian cruise missile – the attack on the city killed at least 22 and wounded 90

Luhansk – To the best of our capabilities to assess the situation, we believe that Ukraine maintains a presence in Bilohorivka [Luhansk], and Hryhorivka is contested.

Video from Ukrainian forces showed Russian positions east of Bilhorivka [Luhansk] being attacked by 220mm rockets fired by an Urgan Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS). There was a significant secondary explosion. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian positions in Hryhorivka were shelled by Russian artillery.

Northeast Donetsk – The Assistant Minister of the Interior of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), Vitaly Kiselev, claimed that Russia-backed LNR separatists had captured Siversk.

FSB Colonel and war criminal Igor Girkin denied Kiselev’s claim, writing, that there aren’t any ongoing offensives, which aligned with reports from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“Nothing new at the frontline. The operational pause continues,” Girkin wrote. “Which does not exclude the artillery and missile strike exchanges.”

Russian forces interdicted the Bakhmut-Siversk Highway Ground Line of Communication (GLOC – aka supply line), firing artillery and rockets at Mykolaivka and Siversk.

Fighting continued in Verkhnyokamyanske and Ivano-Daryivka, with no changes in territorial control. Late on July 13, Haidai indicated the situation had “deteriorated,” and heavy fighting erupted in Verkhnyokamyanske.

Russian forces shelled Kryvya Luka, Railhorodok, Berestove, Bilohorivka [Donetsk], and Yakovlivka, west of Popasana.

Bakhmut – Russia Imperial Legion terrorists attached to the Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Group pushed into Pokrovske. The reconnaissance in force group was unsuccessful and suffered heavy losses.

A small group of Russian forces attempted to advance on Yakolivka and were unsuccessful. Another group of up to two platoons tried to advance on Vesela Dolyna and Vershyna, but both failed.

Russian forces continued the systematic artillery attacks in the Bakhmut area, likely setting conditions for a future offensive. Pidhorodne, Opytne, Zaitseve, Kodema, and the Vuldehar Power Plant were shelled.

The death toll from the Russian Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) strike on Chasiv Yar has climbed to 48. Nine people have been found alive in the rubble. Search and rescue operations continue.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia – Russian positions in Horlivka were hit by artillery or rockets in a massive barrage on the city.

Otherwise, fighting was limited to artillery exchanges and airstrikes from Horlivka to Donetsk city to Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk oblast and Hulyaipole to Orikhiv in the Zaporizhia oblast.

Kherson – Ukrainian forces struck the Russian-controlled city of Nova Kakhovka for a third time, destroying a large ammunition depot at the Sokol factory.

In the rest of Kherson, Russian and Ukrainian forces exchange artillery, rockets, and air strikes from Oleksandrivka [Mykoaliv] to Osokorivka. There weren’t any documented changes in territorial control.

Kharkiv – Northeast of Kharkiv, fighting was limited to Dementiivka, north of Kharkiv city. There was no change in territorial control.

Izyum – Russian forces were able to advance onto Kurulka from Dibrovne after more than a month of attempts to move forward. There was a report in the morning that the reconnaissance in force group had been pushed back north out of the settlement.

Odesa – Black Sea – The Russian Air Force attempted to bomb Snake Island with two Su-27 aircraft. The bombs landed in the ocean and did not strike the unoccupied island. The air strike comes just as Ukrainian grain started to move again through the Danube-Black Sea Canal, and more than 90 civilian bulk carriers await at anchor, some as close as 20 kilometers from the island.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed they left Snake Island on June 30, as a gesture of “goodwill” to permit Ukrainian grain to start moving from western ports.

Daily Assessment

  1. There is significant confusion on the status of Siversk and if a Russian offensive is ongoing to capture the transit and supply hub.
  2. Russian artillery continues to methodically targets potential routes to advance on Bakhmut and Slovyansk but still lacks the combat power to launch significant operations.
  3. Overall the front remains frozen after President Putin announced the operational pause.

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National, Russia-Ukraine War

Russian Forces Make Small Gains – July 13, 2022 Ukraine Update

[KYIV, Ukraine] – MTN It has been 3,057 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014.

Luhansk – Pro-Russian social media accounts shared a video of a TOS-1 thermobaric rocket attack against Ukrainian positions in Zolotarivka, which is in Luhansk. Based on the current combat video by Russian sources, the settlement of Zolotarivka is contested.

Ukraine hit a large ammunition depot in Luhansk city using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). There was a major fire and multiple secondary explosions, including rockets. Pro-Russian unaffiliated journalist Starshe Eddy wrote, “Judging by the distant peals of explosions, something did fly to Lugansk. At first, the work of the air defense was…audible. Now the [booms] of detonation,” indicating that Russian air defense failed to intercept the rockets.

Northeast Donetsk – The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces captured the settlement of Hryhorivka. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not mention the town in their report. Neither did Serhiy Haidai, Luhansk Regional State Administrative and Military Governor. The advance on Hryhorivka would indicate that Bilohorivka [Luhansk] was captured.

Additionally, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported air strikes against Ukrainian positions in Serebryanka, west of Hryhorivka.

Russian forces attempted to advance on Sprine and Ivano-Daryivka with air support from the Russian air force. The advance was unsuccessful, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the retreat was “chaotic.”

Bakhmut – Russian forces launched a massive Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) and artillery attack on Bakhmut, beginning to systematically destroy the infrastructure in the city. There were unconfirmed reports of fighting near Soledar in the settlements of Nova Kamyanka and Stryapivka.

The death toll from the Russian Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) strike on Chasiv Yar has climbed to 45. Nine people have been found alive in the rubble.

In the Svitlodarsk bulge, Russian forces shelled Ukrainian positions in Vershyna and Novoluhanske, but there wasn’t ground fighting.

Slovyansk – Kramatrosk – Russian forces shelled Pryshyb, Mayaky, Kryva Luka, and Raihorodok, and are likely setting conditions for a future offensive on the cities turned fortresses.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia – An ammunition depot in Petrovskyi District of Donetsk at the Donetsk Transport Equipment Plant was hit by artillery. There were multiple secondary explosions as black smoke rose across the city.

RIA-Melitopol reported explosions and gunfire at a new Russian base in Myrne, Zaporizhia, north of the city of Melitopol. Ukrainian partisans reported that Russian forces moved the surviving equipment to the region after the airbase at Melitopol was destroyed by HIMARS rockets last week.

Otherwise, fighting was limited to artillery exchanges and airstrikes from Horlivka to Donetsk city to Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk oblast and Hulyaipole to Orikhiv in the Zaporizhia oblast.

Kherson – Russian and Ukrainian forces exchange artillery, rockets, and air strikes from Oleksandrivka [Mykoaliv] to Osokorivka. There weren’t any documented changes in territorial control or reports of significant fighting.

South Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported an artillery strike destroyed a Russian ammunition depot in Charivne. The settlement is on the Nova Kakhovka-Davydiv Brid T-2207 Highway GLOC.

Mykolaiv – Russian forces used S-300 antiaircraft missiles in the July 11 missile strike on Mykolaiv. Over 20 missiles struck the city, wounding 12. The use of antiaircraft missiles in a ground-to-ground role indicates that Russian Ground Lines of Communication (GLOC – supply lines) into Kherson could be compromised. Alternatively, Russia may be unable to get the electronic parts required to build new S-300 missiles capable of providing antiaircraft capabilities.

Kharkiv – Northeast of Kharkiv, fighting was limited to Dementiivka, north of Kharkiv city. There was no change in territorial control.

Russian forces hit the Industrial District of Kharkiv city with rockets fired from MLRS, injuring four people.

Missiles hit the industrial cities of Khrestyshche and Kostyantynivka. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims they destroyed a warehouse full of recently delivered M777A2 155mm howitzers.

Izyum – Russian forces did not attempt offensive operations and relied on artillery, MLRS, and tank fire. The settlements of Dibrovne, Mazanivka, Barvinkove, Nikopol, Husarivka, Adamivka, Velyka Komyshuvakha, and Nova Dmytrivka were struck.

For the second day in a row, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian positions in Sulihivka were attacked. The settlement is believed to be under Russian control but is located on the line of conflict, which is very porous in this region. A video from July 9 shows Russian artillery and troops destroying four tanks and ground fighting east of Sulihivka.

Odesa – Black Sea – Ukraine reopened the Danube-Black Sea Canal and did an emergency restoration to an unused Soviet-era river port to restart grain exports. The first 16 cargo ships have made their way into the canal, with up to 90 additional bulk carriers waiting their turn in the Black Sea. The port at Sulin can only accommodate four ships a day, with officials working to double the capacity.

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Yuriy Vaskov said that by mid-August, the port would be capable of exporting 500,000 tons of grain a month.

Beyond Ukraine – Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko fired Major General Alexander Shkirenko. He was the Head of the Main Organizational and Mobilization Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. No reason was given for his termination, nor was a replacement officer announced.

Daily Assessment

  1. The operational pause continues and likely will for weeks. Russia continues to suffer a serious disadvantage in the number of trained light infantry troops available.
  2. Russian artillery methodically targets potential routes to advance on Bakhmut and Slovyansk but still lacks the combat power to launch significant operations.
  3. We maintain that Siversk is the most likely location for major fighting in northeastern Donetsk.
  4. We maintain that the risk of Belarus entering the war is extremely low.

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National, Russia-Ukraine War

Ammunition Depot Destroyed in Nova Kakhovka – July 12, 2022 Ukraine Update

[KYIV, Ukraine] – MTN It has been 3,056 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014.

There were minimal ground combat operations through Ukraine today as the Russian operational pause continues. There weren’t any new territorial gains or losses that weren’t previously noted.

Luhansk – Russian Federation Armed Forces shelled Bilohorivka and Hryhorivka, indicating the claim from self-proclaimed Assistant Minister of the Interior for the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), Vitaly Kiselev, that both settlements were under Russian control was false. Serhiy Haidai, Luhansk Regional State Administrative and Military Head, reported that fighting continued in Bilohorkiva.

Northeast Donetsk – Neither belligerent reported significant fighting along the T-1302 Highway east of Siversk or in the Bakhmut region. Russian forces shelled the settlements of Bilohorivka, Hryhorivka, Verkhnokamianske, Serebryanka, Siversk, Sprine, Ivan-Daryivka, Vyimka, and Zvanivka.

Bakhmut – There wasn’t significant fighting near Bakhmut or in the Svitlodarsk bulge.

The search for victims of the Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) attack on Chasiv Yar continued. Ukrainian officials have confirmed that 33 people have died in the Russian attack on two five-story apartment buildings on July 9. The attack on Chasiv Yar is the worst loss of civilian life since the April 8 missile attack at a Kramatorsk railroad station that left 59 dead.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia – Elements of the 1st Army Corps of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) attempted to advance on Marinka and were unsuccessful.

Otherwise, there were artillery exchanges and airstrikes from Horlivka to Donetsk city to Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk oblast and Hulyaipole to Orikhiv in the Zaporizhia oblast. The recently liberated settlement of Mali Shcerbaky in Zaporizhia has been shattered by three months of fighting.

Kherson – Multiple reports indicate that on July 9, Ukrainian forces destroyed a key command post in Russian-controlled Nova Kakhovka using NATO-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) munitions. There are unsubstantiated claims of up to 12 military officers killed between the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel to Major General.

Ukrainian forces destroyed a major ammunition depot in Nova Kakhovka on July 11. There were multiple secondary explosions near the hydroelectric plant and dam on the Dnipro River. The rebuke from Russian bloggers and unaffiliated RIA-approved journalists was swift.

Blogger Dimitriyen posted on their Telegram channel, “I often hear people surprised by the inability of the Russian command to adapt to new challenges – high-precision weapons or long-range artillery systems. It is necessary, for example, to disperse the equipment over different forests, move headquarters deep into the territory, and place ammunition in different locations. But that doesn’t happen. Why?”

Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged artillery, rockets, and airstrikes from Oleksandrivka [Mykolaiv] to Osokorivka.

Mykolaiv – At least 20 missiles hit Mykolaiv in the heaviest barrage against the city since the start of the war. There was no immediate information on targets or casualties.

Dnipropetrovsk – Russian forces struck the city of Radushne with three cruise missiles. Pro-Russian accounts claim that an ammunition depot was destroyed, but videos from the area did not show any secondary explosions.

Kharkiv – Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian artillery battery and ammunition depot adjacent to the school in Hoptivka, near the Russian border.

Russian SRBMs and MLRS rockets hit Kharkiv and its northern suburbs through the night, leaving five dead and 31 wounded.

Izyum – Russian forces made another piecemeal assault on Krasnopillya, which was unsuccessful. Artillery and rocket fire was limited compared to yesterday, targeting Zakitne, Dolyna, Dibrovne, Mazanivka, Adamivka, and Kurulka.

Daily Assessment

  1. Frustration over the success of NATO-provided 155mm towed and self-propelled artillery, M270 Guided MLRS, and M-142 HIMARS is boiling over in Russian-controlled areas, dividing the online community over how robust Russian military capabilities are.
  2. The Russian Ministry of Defense is responding to the ongoing losses by targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
  3. We maintain that Siversk is the most likely location for major fighting in northeastern Donetsk.

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National, Russia-Ukraine War

Death Toll Climbs to 26 in Chasiv Yar – July 11, 2022 Ukraine Update

[KYIV, Ukraine] – MTN It has been 3,055 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014.

There were minimal ground combat operations through Ukraine today as the Russian operational pause continues.

Lysychansk – Severodonetsk – There are claims that Russian forces captured the settlement of Hryhorivka on the Luhansk-Donetsk border and had advanced to the edge of Serebrianka. The only source for this claim is the self-proclaimed Assistant Minister of the Interior for the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), Vitaly Kiselev, in a Russian state media report on TASS.

“Our units took the settlement of Hryhorivka. There was a very large fortified area, but our units took it,” Kiselev said.

Luhansk Regional State Administrative and Military Head Serhiy Haidai reported that “battles continue in Bilohorivka,” later reporting that Russian forces “ran several times” from Bilohorivka but did not report the settlement was captured.

Haidai also reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) separatist militia started forced conscription in Severodoentsk, with recently “liberated” Pro-Russian residents already being sent to the front lines.

Northeast Donetsk – Fighting continued on the eastern edge of Verhhnokamyanske. On July 9, Pro-Russian accounts claimed their forces had occupied Spirne, approximately 10 kilometers from the Ukrainian stronghold of Siversk. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not mention Sprine in their July 10 report indicating the settlement is likely under Russian control.

Bakhmut – The death toll in Chasiv Yar climbed to 26 after three Russian Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM) struck two five-story apartment buildings at dusk on July 9. A video showed the third missile arriving several minutes after the first volley, as rescuers were arriving and dazed residents were leaving the buildings. Launching a second strike shortly after the first is called a “double-tap” and is meant to maximize casualties.

Ukrainian President Voldoymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack in a national address.

“After such strikes, they will not be able to say they did not know something or did not understand something.”

“Punishment is inevitable for every Russian murderer. Absolutely everyone. Just as for the Nazis.”

“And they should not expect that their state will protect them. Russia will be the first to abandon them when political circumstances change.”

East, and southeast of Bakhmut, Russian troops did not attempt any advances. The settlements of Kurdyumivka and Vershyna were shelled. Fighting continued east of Vesela Dolyna.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia – Pro-Russian bloggers, unaffiliated journalists, and former military leaders vocally complained about the now constant shelling and High Mobility Rocket Artillery System (HIMARS) attacks across the Donbas.

The former commander of the 1st Army Corps of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Russian FSB Colonel Igor “Strelikov” Girkin wrote on Telegram, “In the past 5-7 days over ten large artillery and other munitions stockpiles were hit, several oil depots, around ten command points and roughly as many personnel locations in our near and far rears. In addition to several air defense and artillery positions. This resulted in large [emphasis, Girkin’s]losses in personnel and equipment.”

He ended with, “When will the Russian Federation Armed Forces start fighting with full force?”

Girkin’s assessment was echoed by other influencers and leaders across social media networks, adding tension to an already deteriorating relationship between the Kremlin and frontline war reporters.

Elements of the 1st Army Corps of the DNR attempted to advance from Novoselivaka Druha and improve tactical positions north of Avdiivka. They were unsuccessful.

Otherwise, there were scattered artillery exchanges from Horlivka to Donetsk city to Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk oblast and Hulyaipole to Orikhiv in the Zaporizhia oblast.

Kherson – President Zelenskyy ordered the Ukrainian military to re-establish control over “coastal regions” in southern Ukraine. Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, told The Times of London, “We understand that, politically, it’s very necessary for our country. The president has given the order to the supreme military chief to draw up plans. After that, the general staff are doing their homework and say to achieve this goal, we need XYZ.”

Yurii Sobolevskyi, First Deputy Chairman of the Kherson Oblast Council, told civilians in the occupied regions to evacuate or prepare for coming hostilities. “Our people need to leave,” he warned.

“Those who can’t do it…should prepare for the fact that shelter [from artillery, bombs, etc.] will be needed again. It is necessary to prepare a supply of water and…food in order to survive the offensive of our troops. We understand that our guys will work as carefully and surgically as possible to save every life, but war is war.”

Russian occupying forces are not making it easy. A bus ticket to Zaporizhia is 6,000 hryvnia/roubles. If a person wants to drive their car, there are a lot of challenges. An evacuee and their family need to have original passports, all required documents, no tattoos that could be connected to any pro-Ukrainian ideals or prior military service, phones that are wiped clean, and nothing that causes suspicion at any checkpoint. Additionally, they need proof of ownership for the car or power of attorney to prove they are allowed to take it out of Kherson. Ukrainian forces struck Russian barracks in the critical transit and logistics hub of Nova Kahkovka. It is common to have to bribe checkpoint guards 5,000 to 10,000 hryvnia/roubles to pass.

Ukrainian forces struck Russian barracks in the critical transit and logistics hub of Nova Kahkovka. There were unconfirmed reports of Russian casualties.

Kharkiv – There was no change in the line of conflict northwest and north of Kharkiv, and neither belligerent engaged in fighting. A Russian Iskander-M missile hit a six-story apartment building in the Osnovianskyi District of Kharkiv, causing significant damage. Two other missiles hit the city, destroying a school and a warehouse.

Izyum – Russian forces fired artillery and used MLRS to attack Ukrainian positions across a broad area west and south of Izyum, but did not attempt to make any advances.

Daily Assessment

  1. Ukrainian capabilities to strike targets accurately well beyond the line of conflict are creating unrest among the Pro-Russian community and lowering morale.
  2. We maintain that Siversk is the most likely location for major fighting in northeastern Donetsk.
  3. The Russian Ministry of Defense continues to target civilians using precision weapons increasingly in short supply.
  4. It is unclear if Ukraine will take the initiative in the immediate future – statements from Ukrainian officials indicate that the effort to retake southern Ukraine is in the planning stages.

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