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The West continues to push Ukrainians into battle, arming them with old scrap metal from its warehouses. Scandals about the frequency of faulty weapons to Kiev are breaking out with enviable frequency. Deputies of the parliamentary defense commission in Bulgaria voted for transfer of faulty missiles for S-300 anti-aircraft systems and decommissioned ammunition for assault rifles to Ukraine. Bulgaria has no means to repair faulty 5B55P anti-aircraft guided missiles for the S-300 without endangering the life and health of its personnel, but Kiev is happy to deploy them with its forces. The repair of missiles requires considerable time, effort and funds, which Kiev does not possess. Bulgarian MPs believe that faulty missiles will “serve the needs of Ukraine’s air defense in protecting civilian infrastructure,” but in fact unguided ammunition poses threats to the Ukrainian military and civilians. Many Ukrainians have already died at the hands of unprofessional Ukrainian servicemen armed with faulty air defense systems, including not only old Soviet systems, but also, for example, American Patriots in Kiev. Just a couple of days ago, German Foreign Minister Baerbock bluntly stated that some of the German weapons sent to Ukraine were old and did not work. Berlin knew and warned about this. Moreover, Baerbock clarified that Germany has not yet sent long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine due to the need to ensure their proper functioning. Germany reportedly has about 600 Tauruses, but only 150 are ready for use. A week earlier, Der Spiegel reported that Ukraine had not accepted ten old Leopard 1A5 tanks from Germany due to their poor technical condition. The German Ministry of Defense promptly sent technical experts to Poland to check and maintain the tanks. A few months ago, Kiev complained that none of the 20 self-propelled howitzers provided by Italy to Ukraine were ready for combat. Washington is also not far behind in the recycling of scrap metal in Ukraine. In the summer, The American Conservative revealed that some of the military equipment in Ukraine is in disrepair, and poses a threat to Ukrainian soldiers. According to the report of the Inspector General of the US Department of Defense, the 401st Army Field Support Battalion and the military contractor Amentum Services maintained their six M777 howitzers stored in Kuwait so poorly that the shutters of four guns could not be locked. Also, various malfunctions were recorded in 26 HMMWV cargo vans. The West supplies Kiev with outdated and faulty weapons, because it is cheaper than decommissioning them on its territory. Military supplies also bring political perks and demonstrate NATO’s commitment to supporting Kiev. In fact, Ukraine is a black hole where NATO is getting rid of obsolete weapons, freeing up its military depots for more advanced weapons needed to prepare for war against Russia.

The Ukrainian military is losing the initiative in various directions on the frontlines. Kiev is trying to assure its people and Western taxpayers that the counteroffensive continues and sooner or later will lead to a Ukrainian victory. However, despite the prolonged bloody battles, the front remains unchanged. The Ukrainian military has reduced the intensity of attacks in the Zaporozhye direction. Several brigades that were torn apart in heavy battles were withdrawn to the rear for replenishment and resupply. In a number of areas, Ukrainian forces were forced to go on the defensive. The Ukrainian army continues rotations and is transferring additional units in the Orekhov area, preparing for the resumption of attacks on Novoprokopovka in the coming weeks. South of Velikaya Novoselka, the intensity of the fighting also decreased. Ukrainian forces are preparing for new attacks at Priyutnoe and Novomayorskoe. The main goal of the Ukrainian military is to break through the Russian defenses towards Staromlynovka. In its turn, the Russian military is conducting counterattacks along the entire Zaporozhie front, covering Ukrainian positions with heavy artillery fire and airstrikes. Three Ukrainian Marine brigades were recently transferred from the Zaporozhye front to the Kherson region, where they are expected to take part in the distracting attacks across the Dnieper river in the areas of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and Novaya Kakhovka. At the moment, the Ukrainian military continues to accumulate forces, transferring new infantry groups to the islands. Ukrainian forces are trying to create a solid foothold for further attacks on Russian positions on the eastern bank of the river and further breakthrough towards the Crimean Peninsula. Heavy fighting continues in the area of Artemovsk. The Russian army is holding the military positions along the railway line near Kleshcheyevka and Andreevka. In their turn, Ukrainian forces do not stop their bloody attacks, but they have not managed to ensure full control over Andreevka and Kleshcheyevka so far. Meanwhile, Russian forces have gained a foothold in Orekhovo-Vasilyevka to the northwest of Artemovsk. The western part of the village is still in a gray zone but there are almost no Ukrainian military left in the settlement. The Ukrainian army is accumulating forces in the area of Chasov Yar and Rai-Alexandrovka in order to launch counterattacks on the outskirts of Artemovsk. Also, Ukrainian reinforcements are being transferred to the north of the city, Ukrainian attempts to attack in the area of Kremennaya, as well as in the Soledar direction are expected. Massive strikes by Russian drones and missiles on Ukrainian infrastructure continues. Last night, more Ukrainian military facilities in the Krivoy Rog, Kherson, Mykolaiv regions and on Zmeiny island were destroyed. In addition, a military warehouse in the Kupyansk direction was blown up.

The last few days marked several heavy political blows for the Kiev regime. All Zelensky’s begging for money went in vain. Ukraine’s European partners made another gesture of goodwill and held a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kiev, the first outside the European Union. However, it was nothing but a show-off stunt. Josep Borrel said that regardless of the situation in the United States, the EU will continue to increase support for Ukraine. However, he also clarified that their meeting in Kiev is only a high–level debate that it had no goal to result in any political decisions. In other words, Kiev should not wait for money and weapons, only discussions. As a result, the European Foreign Ministers have not yet agreed on the allocation of 5 billion more euros for assistance to Ukraine in 2024. According to EU and US officials, Politico reported that the European countries can no longer supply Ukraine with weapons from their own arsenals, as this threatens their own security. After 18 months of intense fighting, European weapon stocks are reportedly “drying up on an industrial scale.” Poland recently announced plans to suspend arms supplies to Ukraine in order to strengthen its own capabilities. The French Armed Forces urged to review the share paid by Paris to help with the production of weapons. The Chief of Staff of the French Air Force said that France cannot endlessly pay for Kiev while its own systems are out of order for Ukraine. There is also no more money for Kiev in Washington. On October 1, Joe Biden approved the draft US budget for 45 days, which did not include assistance to Ukraine. On the same day, a Pentagon spokesman said that the agency had exhausted “all available means” to help Ukraine. Washington has suspended the financing of assistance programs to Ukraine due to the failure of Congress to allocate funds for this. The State Department spokesman explained that there are still some funds under the Presidential Drawdown Authority program, i.e. military assistance from the Pentagon’s reserves; but funding under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and Foreign Military Financing programs has been suspended. These programs were supposed to provide long-term support to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kiev continues to search for cannon fodder. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine registered a bill, which should raise the age limit for soldiers from 60 to 65 years, and up to 70 years for the top military leadership. In his turn, the former head of the British Defense Ministry issued a new instruction to Kiev. In his interview, he called on the Ukrainian authorities to take more young people to the front. The average age of soldiers at the front exceeds 40 years so Zelensky’s wishes to save young people for the future are not destined to come true.

In response to Kiev’s attacks on Russian territory, the Russian military took revenge, escalating strikes on the Ukrainian military, port and energy infrastructure that provides for the Ukrainian army. Last week, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported 12 group strikes with missiles and drones throughout Ukraine. In recent days, the intensity of Russian strikes has increased. On the night of September 25, the city of Odessa was subjected to one of the most powerful attacks in recent times. The sea port in the city center was almost completely destroyed. A large fire broke out in the building of a local hotel, which reportedly housed military personnel and was used as headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result of the massive attack, the headquarters of The Operational Command South, the Ukrainian Navy base, port terminals and workshops for the production of surface drones were destroyed in the region. In their turn, Ukrainian sources reported the destruction of a granary and warehouses belonging to local enterprises. Russian missiles also struck the military airport of Dolgintsevo, located on the outskirts of Krivoy Rog. Ukrainian warplanes armed with Storm Shadow missiles are based there. As a result of the attack, flight support facilities were damaged, among other things. The exchange of strikes between Kiev and Moscow resemble a ping-pong game, where Russia responds with tenfold force, but rarely escalates attacks first. On September 24, Ukrainian forces launched massive strikes on the city of Tokmak in the Zaporozhye region. Several missiles were shot down by Russian air defense forces, but others struck the city streets, at least one was killed, at least 11 others were wounded. Ukrainian shelling also killed civilians in Novaya Kakhovka, 5 others were wounded in Donetsk. Ukraine launched massive drone strikes on the Russian city of Kursk, where the celebration of the City Day was to take place. According to reports, one of the drones hit a refinery near the airfield, the railway station and an administration building were also damaged. A Ukrainian drone was shot down over the Halino military airfield located on the outskirts of the city. When Russian servicemen attempted to inspect a downed UAV its warhead detonated. Multiple casualties were reported. On the night of September 25 alone, the Russian military reported the interception of 3 Ukrainian UAVs over the Belgorod region, 2 others were shot down over the Kursk region and 4 more near Crimea. The Crimean peninsula remains one of the main targets of Ukrainian attacks. After the strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters building, the Ukrainian military continued attempts to damage the port infrastructure in Sevastopol. On September 23, Ukrainian forces launched missile strikes, reportedly damaging a couple of berths where decommissioned ships were based. Meanwhile, another sabotage and reconnaissance group was repelled near the Cape Tarkhankut. Also on September 24, a Ukrainian marine drone was destroyed off the western coast of the peninsula.

The frontlines in Ukraine are still inflamed by heavy battles but none of the warring sides can boast of any significant victories. Since Kiev’s counteroffensive has so far resulted only in minor advances and the exhaustion of Ukrainian units, the Russian military has gained the military initiative on several fronts. Over the past week, Ukrainian forces resumed operations on the islands in the delta of the Dnieper River. They have recently gained some small strongholds in the area that is mainly in the grey zone. They continue unsuccessful attempts to expand their zone of control under the dense fire of Russian artillery and strikes by Russian avation. Several Ukrainian groups were recently destroyed on the Kazatsky and Aleshkinsky islands. In order to prevent the Ukrainian military from transferring reserves to the Kherson region, Russian bombs are also pounding the western bank of the Dnieper. Since the main Ukrainian forces armed with advanced NATO weapons failed to break through Russian defenses in the Zaporozhie region, the Ukrainian military may attempt a ground operation in the Kherson region in order to break towards the Crimean Peninsula. Such a breakthrough across the shallow river and further advance in the steppes may become the last hope for the Kiev regime. It would inevitably lead to horrific losses in manpower; but the ongoing hostilities have already proved that the lives of hundreds of servicemen are not a high price to pay for Kiev and NATO. Meanwhile, exhausted Ukrainian units took another pause on the Zaporozhie front. Since early September, Ukrainian forces have been struggling to advance east of Velikaya Novoselka, near Novomayorskoe but failed to achieve any gains and were forced to go onto the defense. After that, the grouping south of Orekhov, which had gained some time to regroup, resumed major attacks along the Rabotino-Verbovoe line. After several days, their fervor dried up. Having achieved no gains, they began another rotation of their units. Launching no large attacks, the Ukrainian military conducts some combat reconnaissance missions and small assaults amid the ongoing artillery duels. In their turn, Russian forces are increasing artillery shelling and airstrikes restraining any Ukrainian maneuvers along the entire southern front. In the Donetsk direction, the Russian Army launched a successful offensive near the town of Opytnoe and took control of several more Ukrainian strongholds. The recent Ukrainian attempts to enter the settlement were repelled and Russians are already launching counterattacks, expanding their zone of their control in the area. While Ukrainian forces are still fighting for control of Klescheevka and Andreevka south of Artemovsk, Russian paratroopers launched an attack on the town of Orekhovo-Vasilievka. After breaking the assault, they took control of the settlement and are currently mopping up the area. The Ukrainian command is forced to transfer additional forces from other directions in order to attempt further counterattacks.

While the frontlines in Ukraine are inflamed by positional battles, the warring sides are increasing exchanges of missile and drone strikes, in which Russia has an indisputable advantage. The night of September 21 marked one of the most massive attacks by Russian drones and missiles across Ukraine in recent months. As a result of the heavy damage to the Ukrainian military-industrial and energy facilities, electricity supplies were interrupted in 5 regions. Various sources confirmed destruction of NATO cargo, military bases, maintenance and repair workshops and air defense batteries. At least two strikes were recorded in Rivne, where part of the region was left without electricity. In Cherkasy, one of the strikes damaged the building of the Central Hotel, used to house foreign mercenaries and Ukrainian servicemen. An unnamed industrial facility in Drohobych was hit in the Lviv region. Explosions were also reported at various warehouses throughout the region. Explosions thundered loudly in the capital of Ukraine. As a result of the attack, the industrial zone of the local radio factory was hit. Power outages in the region and damage to warehouses with military equipment were reported. At least two missiles struck the Kharkiv region, where production facilities used by the Ukrainian military were destroyed. This time, the target was the Malyshev plant used for manufacture and repair of Ukrainian armored vehicles and tanks. These are just some of the targets whose damage Kiev failed to hide. Numerous explosions also thundered in the Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk regions as well areas close to the frontlines. On the night of September 22, the Russian military continued the destruction of Ukrainian port infrastructure. Several explosions again thundered in the Odessa region. In its turn, the Ukrainian military continues to attempt massive strikes on Russian rear areas. Although some missiles and drones are reaching their targets, the effect of Ukrainian attacks is not comparable to the damage that Ukraine is suffering from the massive Russian strikes. Crimea is being targeted on a daily basis. Ukrainian forces are trying to strike the peninsula with drones, then British missiles, then launch combined attacks. On September 21, Russian forces repulsed one of the most massive drone attacks on Crimea. According to official data, at least 19 of the drones were shot down. On the night of September 22, about a dozen Storm Shadow missiles targeted Sevastopol and the central region. One missile struck the Headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet. Massive Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure have already prevented Kiev from the ability to provide electricity and heat not only to military enterprises but also to a significant part of the population. The resumption of massive strikes could lead to the collapse of the entire power supply system. Meanwhile, winter is approaching.

The area of Artemovsk (formerly known as Bakhmut) remains one of the hottest battlefields and one of the main directions of the Ukrainian offensive. In addition to the large strategic dream to cut off the Russian grouping in the Donbass, Kiev is largely pursuing its political goals there. The loss of Artemovsk in the bloody battles against the Wagner PMC was one of the heaviest blows for the military and political leadership of Ukraine. In an attempt to achieve at least some gains in the vicinity of the city, the Ukrainian military command has been throwing servicemen into meat grinder assaults for four months. Attacks by large forces on small villages are the only opportunity for the Ukrainian General Staff to compensate for the loss of Artemovsk. On September 14, Deputy Defense Minister Malyar announced the capture of the village of Andreevka located on the southern flank of Artemovsk. However, she was criticized by the Ukrainian military itself. In response, the 3rd brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine refuted her statements, claiming that the severe battles continue. They added that “such premature statements are harmful, pose a threat to the lives of personnel and harm the performance of combat missions.” As a result, Madame Malyar had to make excuses and explained the error as a “communication failure between several of her sources of information.” Apparently, communication failures are the secret of Ukrainian successes in the recently occupied settlements, which remained in the gray zone long after. In their turn, Russian military sources and officials confirm that the situation remains difficult in the Artemovsk and neither of the sides fully controls Andreevka and Kleshcheyevka. In the Andreevka area, Russian main positions were transferred behind the railway on the eastern outskirts. However, the Russian military continues the battle, preventing the Ukrainian forces from gaining a foothold on two streets of the village. The uphill battle for control of Klescheevka is also ongoing. According to some Ukrainian sources, Russian forces were forced to retreat and move their positions behind the railway; while Russian military sources from the front claim that they retain control of positions in the northeastern part of the village. Moreover, Russian troops recently launched a series of successful counterattacks. Heavy artillery duels continue in the villages. It is quite difficult for each side to gain a foothold in the ruins of destroyed settlements and they mostly remain in the gray zone. As on the Zaporozhye front, the Ukrainian command does not change the tactics of the assaults in the hope of breaking through the Russian defense. As a result, a significant part of the Ukrainian military personnel are being left on the battlefield, and more wounded Ukrainian men are surrendering.

Kiev is still assuring the Ukrainian population and Western taxpayers that its counteroffensive is going according to plan and the Ukrainian army will continue attacks despite the approaching rains. However, bad weather, which will undoubtedly complicate any military operations, is not the only problem of the Ukrainian military. Huge losses, the lack of victories on the battlefield despite the deployment of strategic reserves and expensive Western heavy equipment, the low morale of mobilized Ukrainian soldiers, who have no necessary experience and training, have already put Kiev’s plans at risk. As a result, Kiev’s counteroffensive turned into bloody positional battles. Ukrainian frontlines are inflamed by fighting with the initiative passing from one side to the other. As a result, losses in manpower and equipment are growing on both sides without any significant results. In the south, Ukrainian units continue attempts to gain a foothold on the outskirts of Novomayorskoe and Novodonetskoe. In their turn, Russian forces counterattacked and recently regained control of some positions. Russian stormtroopers also counterattacked on the western flank near the village of Priyutnoye. They reportedly pushed Ukrainian units out from the Grushevaya beam. Fighting continues a few kilometers north of the village, which complicates the Ukrainian offensive in the region of Velikaya Novoselka. The Ukrainian advance has also stalled south of Orekhov. As a result of another counterattack, Russian units regained control of some positions near Verbove. Meanwhile, the village of Rabotino remains partially in the gray zone. Ukrainian units are trying to gain a foothold on the southern outskirts under heavy fire from Russian artillery and aircraft. In their turn, Ukrainian sources claim heavy losses on the Russian side in the area. In an attempt to break through the Russian defense, Ukrainian forces are bypassing the village from the east, but without any results so far. On the morning of September 11, 3 American Bradleys were defeated in the area. Another attack ended with wounded Ukrainian men left to die on the battlefield. Some were more lucky as several Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly taken as prisoners. In the second main direction of Kiev’s counteroffensive, the Ukrainian military has managed to slightly advance in recent days. To the south of Bakhmut, heavy fighting for every house continues on the streets of Kleshcheevka. Amid heavy losses in the army, the Ukrainian command threw police officers into the bloody battles there. More and more officially published obituaries confirm heavy losses in this untrained police brigade. Ukrainian forces have also resumed active offensive operations near Andreevka. Russian troops were recently forced to leave some of their positions near the railway but they still continue their counterattacks. The Armed Forces of Ukraine launched their offensive in the Bakhmut region four months ago but they are yet to achieve any strategically important victories.

The Ukrainian counteroffensive has drowned in its own blood. According to official data of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian Army lost at least 66 thousand servicemen during the summer campaign alone. The heavy losses, as well as the unwillingness of men to go to the front and the corruption of Ukrainian society, which allows them to illegally escape the mobilization, led Kiev to a crisis of miltary resources. A number of recent decisions of the Kiev regime confirm that the Ukrainian military are frantically searching for new “cannon fodder”. Ukrainian deputies have already proposed to reduce the minimum draft age to 17-year olds. Kiev also wants to ban all teenagers from 16 to 18 years old from leaving the country. The law is supposedly necessary to protect the youth traveling to EU countries, as EU social services often take children from Ukrainian refugees for various reasons. In reality, the law aims to prevent the leakage of potential soldiers to foreign countries. Kiev also reduced the criteria that would allow students to evade mobilization. More and more young Ukrainians will go to the front instead of to university. The Verkhovna Rada introduced a law on the abolition of deferral from mobilization for Ukrainians over 30 years old receiving a second or higher educational degree. Not only the youth, but also disabled people are no longer safe. Kiev is reducing the criteria that allow disabled people to evade mobilization. Even those suffering from HIV, schizophrenia and tuberculosis reportedly may be sent to the frontlines. However, Ukrainian military commissars have already been hunting people with disabilities for a long time. Another scandal recently broke out in the Sumy region, where a man without a hand and an eye was called to the front, as he was “suitable for light physical labor.” The mobilization of women is also beginning. From October 1, all female civilian doctors are obliged to pass military registration. The same order applies to medical students. At the same time, a large-scale campaign called “I am not just a woman, but a defender” was launched in the media, preparing the population for the upcoming sending of women to the front. Kiev also appeals to the EU and NATO countries with a demand to extradite potential refugee soldiers. Ukraine is hunting for the owners of fake documents who escaped from the country. According to Zelensky’s instructions, all medical documents that confirm disability issued by military medical commissions since February 24, 2022, lose their force until they are rechecked. The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office can prosecute its citizens abroad, and Western countries will assist Kiev. Ukrainians who do not want to fight have no other way to flee but to Russia.

On September 6, the terrible tragedy took place in the town of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, which is under the control of the Kiev regime. A missile struck the local market. As a result, 16 civilians were killed, 33 others were wounded. Ukraine and its western partners immediately accused Moscow of bloody attack on civilians. However, the lack of professionalism of Zelensky’s team instantly confirmed that the town was intentionally struck by the Ukrainian military. Kiev hastened to declare that the market was struck by ‘some shells’ but the video officially published by Zelensky’s office clearly showed that it was hit by a missile. The missile launch is clearly audible, thus it was most likely launched from an airplane. In the video, people who also heard the launch looked up a moment before the impact. This allowed to conclude that the missile was launched from the north-western direction, that is, from the territory controlled by the Ukrainian military. The missile is also seen on the video, reflecting on the roof of one of the cars. It was supposed to be the US-made AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile. It could be launched by the Ukrainian MiG-29 that took off from the airfield in Mirgorod, Poltava region. Eyewitnesses from several settlements nearby wrote on the social networks that there was an aircraft in the sky at the time of the attack. It could not be Russian due to the remoteness from the front. Videos from the scene of the tragedy distributed by the Ukrainian media in an attempt to show the inhumanity of the Russians have become important evidence confirming Kiev’s guilt. At the site of the impact, the buildings were damaged by multiple identical holes from shrapnel. Anti-aircraft and anti-radar missiles have similar warheads with many striking elements. For example, the AGM-88 HARM carries a warhead with 12,800 tungsten striking elements or 25,000 steel elements in its old version. Its warhead explodes in the air to cause maximum damage. Footage from the spot confirmed that there is no funnel at the explosion site. Comparison of the explosion in Konstantinovka with the explosion of HARM missile on an old American training video proved that they are identical. On September 12, Kiev de facto confirmed its guilt. Zelensky’s adviser Podolyak declared that there would be no investigation of the tragedy because for Kiev “everything is obvious … the missile was Russian.” While the Russian military had no reason to waste expensive missile to destroy the local market, Kiev tried its best to play victim exactly on the day of the arrival of the US State Secretary Blinken. Moreover, this is not the first Ukrainian bloody provocation that killed citizens of the Donbass. Kiev Nazis have never considered lives of the population of the pro-Russian regions valuable.

With the arrival of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Kiev, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have intensified their operations at the front in an attempt to demonstrate at least some successes from their counteroffensive. To the south of Orekhov, positional battles and artillery duels continue near Rabotino. In the area of Verbovoye, several Ukrainian groups tried to probe the Russian defense with small attacks, but retreated under heavy fire. After a long pause, Ukrainian forces attempted to attack Russian positions near Kamenskoye in the area of Pyatikhatki, but failed. Meanwhile, Russian aviation continues pounding Ukrainian rear areas in the Zaporozhye region. Under the strikes of Russian heavy bombs, Ukrainian forces attempt to gain footholds in the recently captured areas to continue their advance. The main direction of the Ukrainian offensive operations in recent days has been the Novodonetskoe-Novomayorskoye front line located to the southeast of Velikaya Novoselka. So far, Ukrainian attempts to break through the Russian defenses and move forward to force the Shaitanka River failed. The Russian Marines deployed in the area pushed the enemy back to their original positions. The settlements remain under full Russian control. The situation remains tense in the Kherson direction, where a group of about 30 Ukrainian servicemen landed on Pereyaslavsky Island in an attempt to gain a bridgehead and further attack Novaya Kakhovka. Russian forces quickly spotted the enemy’s maneuver. As a result, the Ukrainian group was reportedly destroyed, those who survived were evacuated to the western bank of the Dnieper. Meanwhile, a Russian advance was reported in the town of Maryinka in the Donetsk urban agglomeration. The front line in this area has remained almost unchanged for many months; but in recent weeks, the fighters of the Russian 150th division managed to move deeper into the Ukrainian defense in the western part of the town. Footage from the front confirmed the fighting is ongoing about 300 meters from the western border of Maryinka. Also, Russian assault groups managed to advance in the area of Krasnogorovka, where the Ukrainian military was reportedly knocked out of a heavily fortified stronghold, which they had held for more than 9 years. The strikes of Russian missiles and drones on military and industrial facilities throughout Ukraine do not stop. On the morning of September 8, large explosions thundered in the city of Krivoy Rog in the Dnipropetrovsk region. At night, Russian kamikaze drones again struck targets in the Odessa region. The day before, Ukrainian officials reported the most powerful raid on the Odessa region since the beginning of the Russian special operation. The intense strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure leave no hope for the Kiev regime to restore the grain deal and also denies the use the Black Sea coast for attacks on Russian territory.

After three months of Kiev’s counteroffensive, Zelensky has no chance to hide the defeat. In an attempt to give some hope to upcoming changes to his population, he decided to punish the culprits. The fall guy was the Defense Minister Reznikov, whose service was marked by numerous public scandals. He is slated be replaced by the head of the State Property Fund, Mr Umerov, who is yet to become the Defense Minister but is already engaged in disgusting scandals. Thanks to his obscene videos leaked online, he found fame as a pervert unworthy of representing the country. Moreover, a new case was recently initiated against the management of the State Property Fund on behalf of Prime Minister. The behind-the-scenes struggle for power and money continues in Kiev, while the hope of any victories on the frontlines is fading fast. After months of heavy battles, Ukrainian forces finally managed to approach the Russian strongholds in the villages of Novodonetskoe and Novomayorskoe located to the south-east of Velikaya Novoselka. On the morning of September 5, Russian military sources confirmed that Ukrainian forces resumed full-scale offensive operations in the area, having deployed a large amount of heavy military equipment into the battles. Ukrainian artillery has been heavily shelling the area for several days, which prevented Russian miners from transferring supplies to maintain the minefields and as a result, the minefields “have lost their effectiveness” in the area. Ukrainian units pulled in additional reserves and under the cover of artillery fire managed to overcome the minefields and land troops on the outskirts of the villages. Battles broke out in the area. The Ukrainian military attempted to take control of Novodonetskoe at the very beginning of the counteroffensive but failed suffering heavy losses in manpower and military equipment. Russian control of the village prevents Ukrainian forces from advancing southwards from Urozhainoe and Staromayorskoe to reach the main Russian line of defense near Staromlinovka. The ongoing attacks on Novodonetskoe are necessary to straighten the front. Meanwhile, to the south of Velikaya Novoselka, Ukrainian forces stopped large offensive operations after the Russian military withdrew from the village of Urozhainoe. Having suffered heavy losses in the battles, the Ukrainian grouping deployed in the area took a pause to ‘heal their wounds’ and transfer in reinforcements. The battles for Rabotino located to the south of Orekhov also subsided. The Ukrainian grouping is restrained by heavy artillery shelling, airstrikes and fire from Russian heavy thermobaric rocket launcher systems. Regardless of losses in manpower and NATO equipment, Ukrainian units continue attempts to attack south of Rabotino and in the steppes near Verbovoye. Neither the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen, nor NATO armament and training, nor the thousands of foreign mercenaries could help the Ukrainian military achieve any strategic victories. Changing the defense minister is also unlikely to help.

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Since the grain deal was suspended by Moscow, Zelensky tried his best to assure his partners that Ukraine secured another temporary corridor for navigation in to the Black Sea. It lays along Bulgaria’s coast line towards the Bosporus. The first cargo ship left the port of Odessa in mid-August under the request of the Hong Kong authorities. On September 1, Ukrainian authorities declared that two more ships left the Yuzhni port in the Odessa region which they could not leave since 2022. Zelensky declared another great victory over Russia. However, they were carrying cast iron and iron-ore concentrate but no grain. They were leaving Ukraine, thus, they could not be used for transfer of weapons to the Ukrainian military. One of the reasons why Moscow suspended the grain deal was its use by Kiev in military operations. What a coincidence, on the night of September 2, three Ukrainian unmanned boats were destroyed to the south of the Kerch Strait. Two of them targeted the Crimean Bridge. Another drone reportedly turned towards the port in the Krasnodar Kray. Hiding among the vessels, it attempted to attack the patrol boat Pytlivy but was destroyed by the crew in a timely fashion. The drones were sent to the shores of Crimea from the Odessa region under the cover of the exit of civilian ships from the port of Yuzhny. At the same time, numerous NATO spy aircraft were coordinating the operation over the Black Sea. In an attempt to launch another terrorist attack on the bridge used by civilians, Kiev undermined its credibility again. No companies will likely dare to secure the navigation of ships in Ukraine which is necessary to resume the export of grain. Another failed terrorist attack costed Kiev and its European patrons, who were the main beneficiaries of the grain deal, the creation of the alternative route. Kiev’s attacks were not left unanswered. On September 3, Russian Geranium UAVs struck the Ukrainian port of Reni located on the banks of the Danube River. A fuel storage facility was hit in Reni, where oil loading equipment was damaged. The Russian military confirmed that the targets of the strikes were destroyed. On the next day, the UAV strikes continued in the Odessa region. Last night, several warehouses and production facilities were destroyed in the ports of Ismail and Reni. In their turn, Ukrainian forces attempted another operation on the western coast of Crimea but it failed. The Russian military reported that at night four US-made high-speed military Willard Sea Force boats with Ukrainian amphibious groups on board were destroyed by Russian aircraft on their way towards Cape Tarkhankut in Crimea.

The last few days have been rich in revelations confirming the terrorist and Nazi nature of the Kiev regime. The confessions made by high-ranking Ukrainian officials in large Western media and ‘independent’ organizations that are in fact under the control of the US are very bad signals for Zelensky. The former head of the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed in his interview with The Economist that in 2015 a special fifth directorate of the SBU counterintelligence department was created. Its tasks included the extrajudicial assassination of pro-Russian figures. The fifth directorate reportedly plays a central role in conducting operations against Russia, since the budget of the SBU is five times higher than the budget of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. In his turn, Zelensky reportedly authorizes the most high-profile operations. The article recognizes that the fifth directorate is behind the murders of the leaders of the Donbass militias, including the commander of the battalion “Somalia”, known by the call sign Givi, the commander of the DPR militia known as Motorola and the head of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko. However, the reports do not mention the numerous assassinations of civilians as well as the massacre in Odessa in 2014. Then, Kiev brought numerous armed groups of Ukrainian Nazis to the city. They set fire to the House of Trade Unions, where the opponents of the Maidan tried to hide. People running out of the fire were beaten to death. The SBU is also responsible for the explosion on the Crimean Bridge in the fall of 2022, which killed more innocent civilians. There have been thousands of targeted assassinations coordinated by Kiev and they continue to this day. On September 5, there was an attempt to assassinate the former head of the Customs Committee of the LPR. The explosive device was hidden in a phone that was given to him by a friend from Ukraine. The phone exploded during the call; but the murder failed, as the victim did not bring the device close enough to his head and as a result he survived but was wounded. Western organizations and media increasingly recognize the truth about the Kiev regime. For example, Human Rights Watch finally confirmed that civilians in the town of Izyum were killed as a result of Ukrainian strikes with cluster munitions in 2022. It allegedly took a year to collect evidence that the Russian military did not fire at their own positions in the area of the settlement. Since Human Rights Watch is a puppet coordinated by Washington, its reports should be assessed as important signals to Zelensky, who is yet to pay for the failed counteroffensive. All the fake media campaigns created by Kiev under Western control may be used against the puppet regime itself.

The war in Ukraine continues on unchanged front lines with losses growing at a terrifying pace, while Western money is disappearing into the Ukrainian black hole. It turned out that President Zelensky found an excellent use for another aid package in the resorts of Egypt. The long awaited Kiev’s counteroffensive was stuck. Dozens of thousands of Ukrainian men died on several kilometers of the steppes in the Zaporozhie region captured during three months of bloody attacks. In the Orehiv region, battle for the village of Rabotino continues. Ukrainian forces failed to repel the Russian military from the southern outskirts and secure their stronghold in the settlement. The battle for Rabotino resembles to the fighting in Pyatikhatki, where the Ukrainian military suffered heavy losses but the village is still in the grey zone. Rabotino and the roads nearby remain under Russian fire control, as a result all Ukrainian movements in the area lead to growing losses. Having thrown the last combat ready units trained by NATO into bloody assaults, the Ukrainian military is already forced to rotate the exhausted detachments. As a result, the pace of Ukrainian offensive has recently decreased. South of Velikaya Novoselka, Russian forces are heavily shelling the Ukrainian grouping in Urozhainoe and Staromayorskoe, while the Ukrainian military attempts to regroup forces preparing for a new wave of offensive operations. Ukrainian assault groups continue daily attempts to land on the islands and on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River. Yesterday, the Russian authorities confirmed the destruction of three more Ukrainian boats with up to six servicemen near the villages of Burgunka and Sadovaya. In the Bakhmut region, Ukrainian offensive is now limited to rare attacks near Klesheevka. Meanwhile, Russian strikes continue in the Ukrainian rear areas. On August 27, Russian forces reportedly bombed the Special Forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine deployed on the island of Zmeiny. On the same day, Russian missiles also struck Ukrainian airfield near Pinchuki in the Kiev region. More targets were reached in the Cherkassy, Zaporozhie, Dnepropetrovks and Kirovograd regions. On August 28, Russian precision strikes continued. An industrial facility was damaged in the Poltava region and numerous explosions thundered in Kryvyi Rih. Menwhile, investigative journalist from Egypt Mohammed-Al-Alawi revealed important details on the Zelensky efforts to use the funds of NATO countries to make Ukrainian citizens happier, in particular, his mother-in-law. According to the investigator, Zelensky’s family has acquired a luxury villa in El Gouna, “the city of millionaires” in Egypt. Zelensky’s mother-in-law, Olga Kiyashko, reportedly bought a VIP property worth $5 million in May 2023. Numerous experts believe that the president’s relatives are involved in a corruption scheme and bought real estate with funds allocated to Ukraine by Western countries. Support SouthFront

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Russian military group in the country have escalated their strikes against al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire there. The strikes began late on August 21, when Russian warplanes attacked a command post of HTS near the village of Faylun in the southern Idlib countryside. The Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria revealed that 17 militants of HTS were killed in the airstrikes. Some of the dead were high-ranking commanders of the terrorist group who were responsible for several recent attacks that targeted the SAA in the northern Lattakia countryside and other nearby areas. On the same day, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced the downing of three drones, two of which were carrying explosives, over the southern Idlib countryside and the northwestern countryside of Hama. The attack attempt was likely orchestrated by HTS. The next day, August 22, a series of Russian airstrikes targeted a command post of HTS near the village of Batenta in the northwestern Idlib countryside. According to the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, 25 militants of the terrorist group were killed in the attack. More Russian airstrikes hit Greater Idlib overnight between August 22 and 23. Sputnik reported that the airstrikes targeted six command and control posts as well as depots where logistics and drones were stored. According to the Russian news agency, at least 26 militants of HTS were killed in the airstrikes. On August 23 morning, HTS escalated by firing rockets at the town of Qardaha in the southeastern Lattakia countryside, the hometown of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The official Syrian Arab News Agency said that at least five rockets landed near the town, wounding a civilian. Later on in the day, the Syrian MoD said that the Russian airstrikes and recent artillery strikes by the SAA were carried out in response to attacks by HTS and its allies that targeted government-held areas around Greater Idlib. The ministry also announced that Syrian air defenses had shot down five drones over Aleppo, Hama and Lattakia. A new wave of Russian airstrikes hit Greater Idlib on August 24. The airstrikes targeted the village of Shindrish in the western Idlib countryside, a stronghold of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Turkistan Islamic Party, a close ally of HTS. According to Sputnik, 25 militants of the Uyghur-led terrorist group, including senior commanders, were killed in the airstrikes. The SAA and the Russian military will likely launch more strikes on Greater Idlib if HTS and its allies continue to violate the ceasefire. However, a new ground operation in the region remains highly unlikely due the objection of Turkey who maintains a large force in the region.

One of the main problems of the Ukrainian Army are the horrific losses on the battlefields. The meat grinder assaults during the months-long counteroffensive did not bring any significant victories, and the combat-ready units of the Armed Forces were ground down on the battlefield. In order to continue any effective military operations, Kiev needs to increase mobilization throughout the country. At first, the German media reported that Ukraine needs to mobilize about 3 million people to win the war. Such reports were widely appreciated as a kind of instruction to Kiev from NATO. However, according to various estimates, a total of no more than 10 million people remain in the country, and combat-ready aged men are already either at the front, in graves or have fled abroad. Kiev is unlikely to find the necessary number of new fighters. At the same time, the West has to find additional funds to provide them with training, food, weapons and payroll. Nevertheless, Kiev is already preparing the public for total mobilization. In February 2022, the Ukrainian authorities announced a general mobilization in the country. At the end of August, Zelensky said that the General Staff was asking for “an opportunity to mobilize more servicemen.” The Head of the National Security Council made similar statements. In its turn, the Ministry of Defense claimed that the mobilization plan has not yet been implemented and there is no need to announce a new wave. Despite attempts to calm the population, mass mobilization continues throughout the country. Men are forcibly caught on the streets or in public places and enlisted in the military against their will. This often leads to clashes with civilians. Military commissars beat off women and children trying to save their loved ones. The public anger is growing. Ukrainian military commissars have become the targets. In the Transcarpathian region, a sergeant who caught men and sent them to a meat grinder on the frontlines was found with a broken skull in the forest. With or without any official public statement, Kiev is preparing for a new wave of mass mobilization in autumn. All employees of military enlistment offices and military medical commissions were taken under tight control and banned from issuing deferrals and permits to leave the country. Pro-Russian hackers have published documents confirming that the military authorities have already obliged local state and commercial enterprises to provide lists of all their employees who are fit for duty. What is the most important is that Kiev is mobilizing the population of the eastern and southern regions, which Kiev nationalists in power consider to be widely pro-Russian. According to the documents, preparations for large-scale mobilization are being carried out in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Zaporozhye and Mykolaiv regions. These are the regions that the Kiev regime is considering to be lost. First, their population will be ground down in the assaults, then, they can be destroyed by hostilities.

Amid the ongoing fierce Ukrainian counteroffensive, the frontlines remain unchanged. In the Kherson region, the Russian military is in control of the eastern bank of the Dniepr River. They are destroying the Ukrainian bridgehead near the Antonovsky bridge, where the Ukrainian forces are fighting for their remaining strongholds but have no chance to advance deep into the Russian defences. In the Zaporozhie region, the frontlines are stable despite Ukrainian attempts to advance. South of Velikaya Novoselka, the Ukrainian military expectedly failed to gain a foothold in the village of Urozhainoe that was abandoned by Russian forces about two weeks ago. Ukrainian forces in the village are being destroyed by Russian artillery shelling and air strikes, they are in just another meat grinder like other village that they captured before. Meanwhile, the situation on the other main direction of the counteroffensive is not better for the Ukrainian military. Russian forces have recently taken back control of all the outskirts of Klescheevka as a result of successful counterattacks to the south of Artyomovsk. To the west of the city, positional battles continue in the area of the Berkhovka reservoir, where the Ukrainian forces have lost the military initiative. According to the reports from the front, the Ukrainian Army was forced to transfer some forces from Artyomovsk to reinforce their positions near Kupyansk. However, the military maneuvers are yet to bring any results. According to preliminary reports, the Russian military took control of the village of Sinkovka located on the north-eastern outskirts of the town. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president continues his tour in the West, begging for more and more scrap metal which he cannot even count. In the Netherlands, Zelensky said that Amsterdam would give Kyiv forty-two F-16 fighter jets. The confused Prime Minister of the Netherlands claimed that there is a total of 42 such aircraft in his country. In its turn, Denmark promised to transfer nineteen F-16s to Kyiv. The first six aircraft should be reportedly transferred by the end of this year. Eight more will be sent in 2024, and the other five in 2025.

Drone Rain In Russia Foreshadows Thunder Of Strikes In Ukraine While Ukrainian forces continue to march in place on the frontlines, in an attempt to justify Kiev’s large PR campaign called the ‘counteroffensive’, attempts to hit at least some targets in the Russian rear, whether military or civilian, continue with increased zeal. Retaliatory precise strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure do not stop as well. After failed attempts to attack Russian ships in the Black Sea and having lost numerous drones produced by NATO countries, the Ukrainian military decided to change tactics and attack civilian installations. However, this turned into another failure and NATO reconnaissance in the area did not help. On the night of August 22, the crew of a Russian Su-30 aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed a Ukrainian reconnaissance boat near Russian gas production facilities in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, attacks by Ukrainian UAVs on the territory of Russia continue. Last night, two drones were intercepted in the Moscow region. Two more UAVs were detected by air defenses and suppressed by electronic warfare means in the Bryansk region. Two more Ukrainian drones that targeted Crimea were suppressed and crashed in the Black Sea, northwest of the peninsula. On August 21, Kiev attempted similar attacks. Two drones were intercepted in the Moscow region. The Belgorod region was also subjected to a massive raid by Ukrainian UAVs. One of the drones dropped shells on a village, all other devices were destroyed by air defense forces. Meanwhile, saboteurs coordinated by Kiev are trying to attack Russian military airfields. On August 21, a civilian drone with explosives was shot down over the Shaikovka airbase in the Kaluga region. On August 19, the Russian Soltsy military airfield in the Novgorod region was also attacked by a civilian drone. It was shot down with small arms. However, according to unofficial reports, as a result of the attack, fire destroyed a Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber. While Ukrainian UAVs are mostly intercepted by Russian forces, Russian precision strikes are constantly destroying their targets throughout Ukraine. Last night, Ukrainian authorities confirmed damage to energy infrastructure facilities in the city of Krivyi Rih as a result of a Russian missile strike. At the same time, Russian UAVs struck targets in the Sinelnikov region in the Dnepropetrovsk oblast. Two Russian missile strikes and drone attacks were confirmed by Ukrainian officials in the city of Zaporizhia. It seems that the Kiev regime is preparing for a large attack on Russian territory dedicated to the Independence Day of Ukraine on August 24. Trained by its Western patrons to fight in the media but not on the battlefields, Kiev will not lose its chance to celebrate this holiday with a terrorist attack to declare at least some victories in th

Kiev is trying to flex its diplomatic muscles, while the Ukrainian Army is no longer able to achieve the goals of the counteroffensive. Recently, the village of Rabotino has become the main battlefield for Ukrainian attacks on the southern frontlines. After prolonged fighting on the outskirts, Ukrainian forces managed to enter the central part of this small settlement. For several days, the fighting has been ongoing on the streets with varying success. Despite the deployments of NATO armored vehicles into the battle, the Ukrainians are yet to dislodge the Russians from the village. South of Velikaya Novoselka, the Ukrainian military continues to regroup and attack Russian positions south of Urozhainoe. In their turn, the Russian troops are following the maneuvers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area, covering them with heavy artillery shelling. The situation remains tense on the banks of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region. The Ukrainian military does not abandon attempts to increase its grouping on the islands in the delta of the river. However, once again, Russian forces struck Ukrainian boats, preventing any assault operations. The Russians are maintaining the military initiative in the area of Kupyansk. They continue attacks on the Ukrainian defensive lines in Sinkovka and south of Olshany, approaching the city. While the military power of the Ukrainian Army is drying up, Ukrainian President Zelensky is in no hurry to return to the country, but continues to travel around Europe in search of at least some new political victories. The EU—Balkans summit was held in Athens on August 21-22. It was also attended by the Ukrainian leader. His voyage did not pass in vain. The summit participants traditionally claimed their support for the “integrity of Ukraine”. Greece even decided to train Ukrainian pilots to control F-16 fighters. Zelensky held a number of meetings with Western leaders. In particular, he asked the Balkan countries to assist in the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Alternative routes for the grain corridor, ship safety, and their insurance were discussed. Zagreb has reportedly confirmed its ability to provide its ports on the Danube and in the Adriatic Sea for the transportation of Ukrainian grain. Meanwhile, the Odessa region was celebrating Zelensky’s diplomatic victories with large firework from hours-long Russian strikes. Last night, Russian Geran drones continued to crumble strategic Ukrainian facilities. The ports of Reni and Izmail came under attack. Local authorities confirmed explosions at a granary, production and transshipment complex in the Danube region.

On August 23, a business jet belonging to the head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, crashed in the Russian Tver region. Two aircraft linked to the company flew from Moscow to St. Petersburg. One of them crashed from a height of 9 kilometers. Its wreckage and 10 bodies were found at the crash site. The Federal Air Transport Agency has published a list of seven passengers and three crew members, who, according to the registration information, were supposed to be on board. In addition to Prigozhin, the list includes Dmitry Utkin, chief warlord of the PMC, and Valery Chekalov, who was reportedly responsible for the transport logistics of the businessmen, as well as for the supply of ammunition to the battlefields , etc. Various sources referring to contacts in the Wagner PMC confirmed the death of Prigozhin and Utkin. A businessman’s personal smartphone was reportedly found next to one of the bodies. However, the bodies of those killed in the crash are not officially considered identified. As of the morning of August 24, Prigozhin’s official press service has not yet confirmed on the businessman’s death. Shortly after the crash, sources close to the Wagner Group claimed that the jet was shot down by Russian air defense, as indicated by the alleged traces of a missile in the sky. A terrorist attack on board is also one of possible causes of the crash. Locals reported two explosions in the sky. It should not be excluded that the special services of Ukraine, which received such a gift on the eve of the Independence Day, and their partners in NATO could be involved in the incident. Prigozhin’s assassination would be easier after he lost his state guard as a result of the mutiny two months ago. Perhaps the incident was aimed to stage the death of Prigozhin, who had already allegedly died in another crash in 2019. There is a probability that the businessman and other leaders could have been on board the second aircraft, which safely landed at the Ostafevo business airport in Moscow. It is also suspicious that high-ranking figures flew together, since this contradicts basic security measures. The attempt to behead the Wagner PMC out of revenge or contradictions within the Russian elites with an air defense missile strike seems too superficial and direct. The magnitude of Prigozhin’s personality and Wagner’s role for Russia will certainly generate a lot of suspicions about the incident, even after the official explanation of its causes. Nevertheless, the crash is unlikely to have a decisive impact on the Wagner Group. As in any military campaign whose leaders are deployed in hot spots together with their fighters, there are various mechanisms to continue effective work in the event of their death.

Kiev’s counteroffensive turned into positional battles on all frontlines. In the Kupyansk region, the Russian military is pushing Ukrainian forces out from their positions. The battles have already reached the north-eastern outskirts of the village of Sinkovka. At the same time, clashes continue near Petropavlovka located nearby, threatening Kupyansk with a partial encirclement. The advancing Russian units are already only 7 kilometers from the city. On August 10, military facilities and the Kupyansk City Administration building, occupied by the Ukrainian military, were destroyed by Russian heavy aerial bombs. In their turn, the Ukrainian military has launched the evacuation of civilians from 37 settlements in the area and are reportedly partially retreating to the western bank of the Oskol river to strengthen new defenses there. However, a Russian assault on Kupyansk is unlikely to take place in the near future. The main goal of the Russian offensive operation is likely to distract Ukrainian forces from their counteroffensive on the Zaporozhie and Bakhmut frontlines. Advancing slowly but steadily, the Russian military destroys more Ukrainian reserves sent to the northern front. Meanwhile, in the Bakhmut region, heavy battles for the village of Klescheevka and the dominant heights nearby are ongoing. Russian forces have recently counterattacked on the eastern outskirts of the village, having repelled Ukrainian forces from their positions. Despite the huge losses and prolonged battles on the southern flank, Ukrainian forces are also storming Andreevka, but the Russians are holding their positions. The resistance of the Russian military prevents the Ukrainian army from gaining a foothold in the area and threaten the southern outskirts of Artyomovsk. To the south, heavy battles are ongoing in the areas of Avdeevka and Mariinka, where the Russians maintain the military initiative but have so far achieved only some tactical victories. On the southern frontlines, inflamed by the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the constant attacks on Russian positions continue. The Ukrainian military has recently achieved its greatest victory in this month of bloody battles. According to the reports from the front, they finally entered the northern outskirts of the village of Urozhainoe. After prolonged battles, they were repelled from the settlement several times but finally managed to gain a foothold in the outskirts of the town. They are yet to develop their success, while Russian artillery is likely to prevent them from taking control of the village, like it is in the case of Staromayorkoe which is still in the gray zone. In the area of Orekhov, the Ukrainian military changed the direction of attacks from Rabotino to Verbovoe. However, this brought no results. All the attacks were repelled. Ukrainian forces are changing the directions of their attacks to force the Russian units move their reserves along the line of defense.

The Ukrainian counteroffensive brings new victories, though for the Russian armed forces. While the Ukrainian military continues to burn NATO military equipment on the fronts of Zaporozhye and Donetsk People’s Republic, Russian forces are moving forward on the northern fronts of Donbass. The Russian army is gradually advancing towards Kupyansk. Battles are ongoing in the area of Sinkovka, Olshany and Liman Pervyi. After the village of Novoselovskoe came under the full Russian control, they paved their way for further attacks on Kupyansk not only from the northern and northeastern direction, but also from the east and southeast. Russian assault detachments continue their offensive on a broad front, achieving new tactical successes. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, over the past day, the Russian military captured five strongpoints, four observation posts and defeated up to a platoon of infantry in the area of Olshana. At least 6 Ukrainian counterattacks were repelled in the area. Amid the Russian offensive, Ukrainians are beginning to evacuate the local population, preparing for the battle for Kupyansk. The local authorities called on residents in the territories controlled by Ukraine to “make a decision on evacuation.” Preparations are underway for the mandatory removal of residents and the forced evacuation of children. In his turn, the commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Syrsky, was reportedly appointed to lead the defense of Kupyansk. Retreating at the front, the Ukrainian military is intensifying the terror of the civilian population of Russia. Massive shelling, including with cluster munitions, is intensifying in the Donetsk city agglomeration. Over the past day, the deaths of at least four civilians, including a four-year-old child, have been confirmed. On the morning of August 10, another man was killed after a Ukrainian shell hit his apartment. Ukrainian drones continue to raid deep into the Russian rear. On August 10, two drones flying towards Moscow were destroyed by air defense forces in the sky over the Maloyaroslavsky district of the Kaluga region and over the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region. Another 11 UAVs targeted the city of Sevastopol in Crimea. Two UAVs were shot down by Russian air defenses, nine more were suppressed by electronic warfare means. On August 9, 2 UAVS were shot down on the outskirts of Moscow. On the same day, a Ukrainian strike UAV, which was heading for the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, was intercepted in the area of Energodar. In response, Russian drones and missiles visited Ukraine. At night, an oil depot near Dubno was destroyed after a “massive drone attack” in the Rivne region. Ukrainian President Zelensky reported another missile strike in Zaporozhye. Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilians, including in the regions that Kiev lost, mark the desperation of the Ukrainian military. The growing losses and the defeated counteroffensive will one day turn into Russian large-scaled attacks in all directions. Kupyansk has already become the first one.

The Luna-25 station, equipped with soft landing technology, will take and analyze samples of the lunar soil to conduct long-term scientific research, including the study of the upper layer of the surface regolith near the moon's South Pole. The spacecraft is expected to land in areas of the moon previously inaccessible to humans, which will expand knowledge of the Earth's natural satellite. Luna-25 is part of the Russian Lunar Program, the first Russian lunar mission carried out at the Lavochkin NPO to explore and make practical use of the moon and near lunar space through automatic interplanetary stations. The mission will first launch a descent vehicle and then an orbiter.