Don's Weekly, 22 July 2024: Part 2

by Donald Hill

(…continued from Part 1…)

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Western Luhansk

Following heavy air strikes, Russia advanced at several locations - even though it was only two where it gained something like 1000 metres. The Russians used very few vehicles in these attacks. Ukraine’s supply lines along the Oskil river continued to be attacked as they had been for months.

The Azov brigade clears a Russian trench near Kreminna that had been occupied for a long time. There is also this 30 second video containing subtitles and dramatic highlights, and ends on a cliffhanger.

Every Ukrainian brigade has a drone unit used to support the entire brigade. Not every brigade also has a drone unit attached to each battalion. This is important because that battalion will have dedicated drone support for all their operations in addition to the brigade support. If there was just a brigade drone unit, they might be helping one battalion and be unable to help another. The 63rd Brigade has a drone unit in each battalion and the quick response saves the lives of their infantry that had become cornered in a trench by Russians who outnumbered them. When the drones arrived, they killed some Russians and drove others into cover. The Ukrainians emerged and finished them off. While the video is not particularly graphic there are images of Russian bodies.

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Siversk

Siversk has been bombarded almost every day and a Russian flag turned up three kilometers behind the front line, but at the end of the week, the front lines are in the same place where they ended up the week before.

A Russian flag was spotted in Ivano-Darivka, 3 km from Spirna. The video didn’t show the flag actually being placed there. The next day, Russia hit it with 8 airstrikes and an MLRS barrage. Either a very small number of Russians made it to this location or a drone placed the flag on the remnants of the building, but this location is in Ukrainian hands.

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Bakhmut

After months of grinding, Russia occupied all of Kalynivka. So far, none of its troops was able to cross the Siversky Donets - Donbas Canal - and survive. Arguably, all the crossing attempts were undertaken across the underground section, though. The bombardment of Chasiv Yar continues - and there is no end in sight, because Ukraine has no surface-to-air missiles capable to reach VKS bombers from the range from which they are releasing their glide bombs.

A short video about the experiences of a German sniper fighting for Ukraine.

To make things even more worrisome: Russian jets are flying over Chasiv Yar again. This means that the local Ukrainian troops are, once again, out of MANPADs. Must not be a ‘permanent’ situation: could be a temporary one, but still, any such occassion is enabling the Russian pilots to fly direct strikes, which are far more effective than ‘spraying and praying’ with unguided rockets from afar.

Russians cross the canal (pipeline) and are hunted down.

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Toretsk

Russia consolidated its hold on Zalizne and Ukraine stabilized the front along Druzhba and Pivnichne. Russia’s thrust to Niu York left it exposed in the valley and they have only been able to expand about 500 meters to the sides. Russian forces in Niu York are isolated in two neighborhoods.

A Ukrainian drone unit shares its experiences. Out of a platoon of 22, seven are left. 12 were wounded and three were killed. Because of Russian drones they do not drive their vehicles during the day unless they are escorting reporters. They say the Russians are court martialed if they retreat and they saw a Russian drone kill a Russian trying to surrender. The Russians that are attacking now are newly mobilized and often get lost. Three walked straight into a Ukrainian trench and were taken prisoner. Another walked through the front lines and ended up in a village 20 km later. He had been trying to surrender and threw away his weapon earlier. When the drone unit is asked what they need, they say everything: Medical equipment, mainly tourniquets, power stations, tactical equipment, and both reconnaissance and FPV drones.

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Avdiivka-Pokrovsk

These days, the only sectors where Russia is attacking with help of vehicles are the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk and Marinka. Russia expanded out of Novooleksandrivka by about a kilometer on all sides, they moved 1700 meters to take Prohres, and then took the northern half of Novoselivka Persha.

A Ukrainian report said that the 37C/95F heat coupled with Russia’s reduced use of vehicles means Russians have to walk 2-5 kilometers to assault Ukrainian positions and this has reduced the number of assaults. Fitness levels might also be a factor - which is quite likely considering reports like this one, indicating lots of aged Russians are volunteering to fight in Ukraine and that for no better reason but, ‘to die at a higher cost’ or ‘because their wives sent them’, so ‘they will at least be of some use’…

On the Ukrainian side, drones are constantly bringing water, food and batteries for radios to front line positions.

Both sides have been using shotguns as a defense against drones. Here is a video of Russians defending themselves against a drone.

A Bradley shells the village of Yevhenivka.

Yet another (5th in something like four weeks) Russian Su-25 was reported shot down by the 110th Mech. Here is a video of their claim.

Two D30’s and a truck were destroyed by an M109 gun.

Jamming equipment on a Bradley that will - hopefully - disrupt Russian drones.

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Mariinka

Russia didn’t gain any more ground, but they did lose at least 34 armored vehicles. Ukraine lost a BM-21 and a Self Propelled Gun was damaged.

A column of three tanks, two APCs and motorcycles are taken apart by the 79th Brigade. Dismounted infantry is then hunted by drones dropping bombs.

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(…to be continued…)