Situation as of 8:00 a.m. on August 14, 2023
- The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue offensive operations, achieving local successes in the southern direction. They managed to push back Russian troops in several districts of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions, as well as intensify operations on the left bank of the Dnipro river in Kherson region.
- The Ukrainian military is carrying out intensive strikes against the bases and infrastructure of Russian troops in the temporarily occupied territories. In particular, on August 12, a missile strike was launched on the Kerch bridge. In addition, Russian sources report numerous drone attacks on objects in the territory of the Russian Federation.
- Russian troops have intensified attacks against Ukrainian territory using ballistic missiles. During the week, strikes on Zaporizhzhia and Pokrovsk resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Also, aeroballistic missiles X-47 “Kinzhal” were used to strike the Ivano-Frankivsk region, where their target was the location of Ukrainian pilots.
OPERATIONAL SITUATION
The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue their offensive in the southern direction, achieving tactical successes in the area of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia region) and Urozhayne (Donetsk region). Also, the Ukrainian military is carrying out limited operations on the left bank of the Dnipro river in Kherson region. At the same time, the Russian military continues attacks in the Kupiansk direction in the Kharkiv region.
Russian sources report shelling of the territory of the Bryansk region; downing of a UAV near Belgorod, as well as at least one explosion within the city; repeated attempts to attack Moscow with drones. On August 9, there was a large-scale explosion in Sergiyev Posad, at an optomechanical plant involved in the production of military equipment. On the night of August 10, explosions were recorded near the city of Domodedovo, Moscow region.
In addition, strikes continue on the positions of the Russian military in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Explosions were recorded in Berdyansk and Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia region), as well as drone attacks against Sevastopol. In the afternoon of August 12, a missile attack was carried out on the Kerch bridge.
Russia has intensified strikes against the frontline regions of Ukraine, using ballistic missiles. During the week, the targets of such attacks were Zaporizhzhia (where one of the missile strikes damaged the building of the Reikartz hotel) and Pokrovsk (Donetsk region). On the night of August 10, there was a massive attack by kamikaze drones against objects in the Rivne region, as a result of which an oil depot was destroyed. In the afternoon of August 11, Russian troops attacked the territory of Ukraine using 4 Kh-47 Kinzhal missiles. One missile was shot down in the Kyiv region, the rest fell near the airfield in Ivano-Frankivsk region. The attack killed at least 1 person. Probably, Russian troops tried to hit the base near Kolomyia, where Ukrainian pilots, who are preparing to undergo training for the use of Western-made aircraft, were located. On August 12, missile strikes were launched on Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk region) and Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhia region).
As a result of Russian attacks, civilian losses in the frontline regions of Ukraine for the week amounted to at least: in Donetsk region – 12 people killed and 64 people wounded (most of them as a result of a double missile strike on a residential buildings in Pokrovsk on August 7); in Kherson region – 9 people killed and 52 people wounded; in Kharkiv region – 3 people killed and 19 people wounded. At least 6 people were killed and 38 people were wounded in Zaporizhzhia region (the vast majority were victims of missile strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia). 2 people were killed and 4 people were wounded on the territory of Dnipropetrovsk region.
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
Ukrainian authorities have initiated a mandatory evacuation from 37 settlements in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region due to increased Russian shelling. Approximately 11,000 people, including 600 children, are subject to evacuation.
According to the National Resistance Center’s data, Russia is relocating Ukrainian teenagers from temporarily occupied territories to its military camps for “military education.” In these camps, teenagers undergo military training and propagandistic excursions.
On August 11, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine held a special session to review the results of military commissariats (recruitment centers) inspections. As a result, it was decided to dismiss all regional military commissars. In recent months, several criminal cases have been opened regarding the unlawful enrichment of military commissars. From now on, military personnel with combat experience will be appointed as heads of regional territorial recruitment centers.
On August 10, 2023, Ukraine announced new temporary routes for merchant vessels heading to Black Sea ports, but there remains a military threat and mine danger along all routes from the Russian Federation. This decision was made to revive Ukrainian exports and will allow shipowners to retrieve their merchant vessels.
As of August 1, 2023, Ukraine’s international reserves amounted to approximately $42 billion, a record high in the country’s history. Assistance and credits from international partners exceeded currency sales by the National Bank and debt repayments. Consequently, Ukrainian Eurobonds increased in value by 50% over the past two months. The largest holders of Ukraine’s Eurobonds are BlackRock, Pimco, and Fidelity. In the spring of 2023, the Ministry of Finance announced negotiations with private creditors for debt restructuring.
FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
Germany has provided Ukraine with another package of military assistance, which includes, among other, two Patriot missile launchers, tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206, military 8×8 HX81 transporters, and other military equipment. The United States has officially approved the supply of the first batch of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, along with all the necessary equipment: ammunition, spare parts, fuel equipment, and repair tools. Estonia has also decided to send a shipment of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.
Greece and Latvia have joined the declaration of support for Ukraine, which was first published by the Group of Seven (G7) countries in Vilnius in July 2023. This fact entails mentioned countries joining in providing security guarantees to Ukraine and open the possibility of signing relevant bilateral agreements. Thus, the number of states joining the joint declaration of the so-called “Big Seven” has increased to 14+7. Additionally, negotiations have begun between Ukraine and the United Kingdom regarding a bilateral agreement for security guarantees.
In turn, on August 12, representatives of the Ukrainian government and the Office of the President and Parliament met with representatives of foreign diplomatic missions from 58 countries to discuss the implementation of the Peace Formula, with a focus on points such as “Energy Security” and “Preventing escalation and repetition of aggression.”
Ukraine, along with its international partners, is working on finding new ways to transport grain crops after Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its shelling of port infrastructure in southern Ukraine. On August 11, a meeting took place involving Ukraine, the United States, the European Commission, Romania, and Moldova, discussing possibilities for increasing Ukrainian exports via the Danube and reducing risks for global food security.
The United States of America expanded its sanctions list of Russian individuals, including Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven, Russian businessmen German Khan and Alexey Kuzmichov. The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs also fell under restrictions.
This week, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Metropolitan of Chalcedon Emmanuel, who visited Kyiv.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone conversation with President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, discussing their participation in the implementation of the Peace Formula, food security, as well as the current defense needs of the Ukrainian military and cooperation regarding security guarantees.
The information in the newsletter is collected from official sources—reports of state authorities of Ukraine, Ukrainian and international news agencies. The accuracy of the data is carefully checked by the project team and corrected in case of fake news.