Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

The lights are all blinking red.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

“Alexa, change the president.”

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

This really is a full service blog.

Let me file that under fuck it.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Anne Laurie is a fucking hero in so many ways. ~ Betty Cracker

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 886: Air Raid Alerts Are Going Up & Kharkiv Is, Once Again, Under Attack

War for Ukraine Day 886: Air Raid Alerts Are Going Up & Kharkiv Is, Once Again, Under Attack

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Painting by NEIVANMADE. It has a white background an in the center are Soldiers in green doing air defense by firing at incoming Russian missiles in the upper right. The missiles are red and yellow. In the upper left, written in green, is the text: "SAVE THE BRAVEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!" Below the Soldiers, also written in green, is "SUPPORT FOR KHARKIV"

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

Quick housekeeping note: Rosie is still doing great. Her next treatment is a week from tomorrow. So she’s got all of this week off. Thank you again for the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers, and donations.

As of 6:25 PM EDT/1:25 AM local time in Ukraine, Kharkiv is once again under Russian attack:

Right now, at 6:45 PM EDT/1:45 AM local time in Ukraine, all of eastern and southeastern Ukraine is under air raid alert. Poltava Oblast’s just went up.

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

Ukraine Has the Strength to Achieve Its Goals – President’s Address

28 July 2024 – 21:51

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today, first and foremost, I would like to commend two of our combat brigades – the 25th Sicheslav separate airborne brigade fighting in the Pokrovsk direction, and the 95th separate air assault brigade fighting in the Toretsk direction. Both brigades have shown extraordinary strength and effectiveness this week and throughout many weeks of this war. Warriors, I thank you for your resilience and your ability to eliminate the occupier in a way that is necessary for the preservation of Ukraine. I thank every soldier, sergeant, and officer of the 25th and 95th brigades, as well as all our other combat units – every warrior – who, in various sectors of the front, are fully carrying out their combat missions, defending positions, and assisting brothers-in-arms in nearby positions. It is extremely challenging in the Donetsk directions, and it is in the Pokrovsk direction that there have been the biggest number of Russian assaults these weeks – the most intense enemy attacks are precisely there. Everyone who stops these Russian strikes and destroys this Russian offensive potential is performing one of the most important missions in this war.

I also want to acknowledge today our warriors who ensure Ukrainian long-range capabilities. Specifically, the 9th Department of the Defense Intelligence – accuracy at a distance of nearly eighteen hundred kilometers from our border. Truly significant! Thank you for this. I am also grateful to the warriors of the Security Service.

I spoke with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi about our actions now and in the near future. Ukraine has the strength to achieve its goals. I am grateful to everyone who ensures this with their strength.

One more thing. Today in Ukraine, we remember our people who were killed by Russian savages in Olenivka. This is one of the most horrific Russian crimes of this war. Russia must be held accountable for this. And it will be. There is no scenario in which the murderers will remain unpunished.

Eternal memory to all our people who were killed by the occupier.

Glory to all who fight and work for the sake of our state. We will definitely defend our Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

The cost:

Yesterday, my Brother Vasyl Zelenevich with a complex high amputation of two hands, sent a video, for the first time after the amputation he eats on his own with a bionic hand, look how tasty the fried potatoes look, everyone have a quiet Sunday and a delicious dinner. Thanks to the team of professionals
@endoprotezcentr

Paris:

I have no idea if the blackouts are part of Russia’s sabotage and subversion program in the EU, but clearly someone is working very hard to create havoc in France during the Olympics. The fact that no groups – French or international – have taken any credit for anything is, I think, an important indicator. But we have to wait for the French investigators to finish up. Just as we have to wait to see what the next bit of French infrastructure to be attacked is.

Azawad, Mali, the western Sahel:

A Wagner Company, working the military line of effort of Russia’s subversion campaign across the Sahel, decided that attacking the Tuareg would be an easy win. That was a major mistake. The Tuareg do not play games. They also don’t keep any survivors alive as prisoners. This is the first major defeat that I know of for Wagner in Africa.

Pokrovsk:

Sumy Oblast:

Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast:

Claimed ATACMS strike on Russian training grounds somewhere in the Luhansk region:

«On July 27, 2024, a strike was carried out on a rear military training ground where servicemen of the 228th motorized rifle regiment of the 90th tank division of the Russian Armed Forces (military unit 22316, Yekaterinburg) were stationed.

The servicemen were forming up before being sent to reinforce the forward positions of the 228th motorized rifle regiment in the area of ​​the settlement of Ocheretyne.

The strike was carried out using ATACMS ballistic missiles. The distance to the frontline is 110 km.

As of 20:00 on July 27: 19 – killed; 71 – injured»
https://t.me/dosye_shpiona/567

Russian Occupied Crimea:

Regarding the strike on the Saky/Novofedorivka military airfield, from the Dosye Shpiona, whose information is quite regularly confirmed after some time:

«On the night of 25-26 July 2024, a strike was carried out on the Saky airfield, the location of the 43rd Independent Naval Assault Aviation Regiment (military unit 59882, Novofedorivka).

The strike was carried out using 8 ATACMS ballistic missiles, two of which were shot down, and another fell in a field north of the airfield.

As a result of the strike:
• two fighter jets were destroyed;
• the Nebo radar stations was destroyed;
• among personnel 2 – killed, 4 – injured»

https://t.me/dosye_shpiona/566

/4. Russian Su-30 fighter jet was presumably destroyed during recent strike on Novofedorivka military airfield, as claimed by CyberBoroshno. But IMHO, the quality of the satellite images published by far is not sufficient to confirm the loss with certainty.
https://t.me/kiber_boroshno/9207

Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast:

Two years ago, a terrible war crime was committed. And it was ghoulish even by the standards of Putinist Russia.

Olenivka, a small town in Donetsk Oblast. Before the 2014 invasion, it was mostly known for its penal colony, which was located about 30 kilometers away from my hometown. It used to be a maximum security prison, including sections for lifers.

In 2022, Russian occupational authorities established a “filtration camp” for the local population at the old jail facilities.

And then, it was turned into a concentration camp for Ukrainian POWs notoriously known for widespread acts of torture and beatings.

(and yes, keeping POWs as convicts in prisons is a war crime itself)

And the sadly remembered Olenivka prison was the place where around 200 members of the Azovstal garrison, the last standing Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol, were transported to after they surrendered on orders in May 2022.

Overnight into July 29, one of the colony’s barracks to which Russians moved Ukrainian service members of the Azov Regiment exploded up and burst into flames.

Scorched dead bodies, a terrible fire, trickles of blood on the ground next to the barracks, no medical aid from the concentration camp’s Russian personnel for hours.

At least 53 Azovstal defenders were killed and at least 75 were injured.

Russians, as always, were very quick to accuse Ukraine of mass-murdering its own POWs with a HIMARS strike to *punish* them for surrendering to Russia and to *intimidate* others.

Yes, in the world of Russian war propaganda, Ukraine first gave an order to the embattled and surrounded Azovstal garrison to surrender and save their lives in a hopeless situation — and then decided to kill them (specifically, the Azov fighters who gained legendary heroic status in Ukraine amid the tragic Battle of Mariupol).

Moreover, for some reason, up to this day, the same Ukraine who *killed the Azovstal fighters for surrendering* keeps bringing them back home as heroes as part of multiple prisoner swaps with Russia.

Of course, Russia refused to cooperate with the Red Cross and the UN and never admitted their monitors to the Olenivka jail despite continuous international efforts to launch an investigation.

And as always, the Russian disinformation buzz over the incident does not withstand even the basic scrutiny by weapons experts looking at satellite images and usual photos from the scene.

Have a look at this extensive investigation by CNN, released just over a month after the massacre: https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2022/08/europe/olenivka-donetsk-prison-attack/index.html.

Russia lied.

There was no way that the explosion had been caused by a Ukrainian HIMARS strike. Simple evidence on the ground was disproving the Russian “version”.

And Russia plainly refused to let the UN and the ICRC see the crime scene.

And yes, a year ago, the UN officially confirmed that the massacre “was not caused by HIMARS rockets,” based on the OHCR expertise and analysis.

I don’t think we’ll ever get to know how exactly Russia did it and why.

Some say it’s because Russians wanted to conceal the facts of extrajudicial murders and torture at the Olenivka concentration camp.

Some say it could be an attempt to hide the facts of the prison personnel’s embezzlement of funds before the arrival of Russian defense ministry inspectors on August 1.

If you want my opinion, it was a bomb planted inside the barrack, with combustible liquids also brought in to cause a terrible fire.

And the mass murder was planned and executed by a relatively small group of criminals inside and outside the Olenivka camp personnel, likely among yesterday’s Donbas militants who are very often much more hateful and brutal than “mainland Russians”.

Because it was Azov. And because it was the Mariupol garrison.

They bled the Russian military dry for over 86 days of fierce fighting in the city, to the point where the Russian collaborators and Russians resorted to such an outrageous act as the mass killing of the defenders of Azovstal — when they had a chance to have their “revenge.”

Nothing but my own opinion on things.

Please give your thoughts to dozens of Mariupol defenders murdered in Olenivka on this sad anniversary.

Those guys survived 86 days of hell on earth in Mariupol and fought bravely and selflessly — only to burn alive in a dirty prison barrack held captive by a vile enemy that has no honor.

Remember Olenivka.

From Commander, Azov Brigade/Azov 6:

None of those who gave guarantees to the soldiers of the Mariupol garrison when they left Azovstal’s territory have fulfilled their promises.

Preserving the life of every serviceman in the garrison, not using torture and making exchanges as soon as possible are the primary agreements that the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Russian side and the military and political leadership of Ukraine guaranteed us in May 2022.

However, the Russians, with their typical perfidy, disregarded all these points. Their violation of the laws and customs of warfare culminated in the execution of 53 unarmed Azov POWs in Olenivka. 2 years ago, in their sleep, they were burned to death in a terrorist attack organized by Russians in a barrack of the colony. More than a hundred of our brothers-in-arms were injured. Modern history knows no similar examples of such inhuman cruelty against prisoners of war.

On the day when the whole country bows its heads to the Azov fighters who were killed in Olenivka, I have only one question: have other parties who guaranteed the safety of the lives of the Mariupol garrison personnel made every effort, worked out all possible options and used the necessary levers of influence on the Russians to ensure that the exchanges promised in 3-4 months after exiting of Azovstal took place?

Azov’s job is to destroy the enemy and replenish the exchange fund. Our unit has been successfully fulfilling this task in the Kreminna sector for a year. Often against all odds. Do those who voluntarily took on these duties and those who are legally obliged to do so do their job?

It’s hard to put into words what one day in Russian captivity is like. There is no time. Constant torture, starvation, the demonstrative execution in Olenivka, illegal trials and life imprisonment.

Soon there will be no one to exchange.

Fabian Hoffman has a very accurate assessment of western nat-sec leaders strategic mistakes in regard to Russia:

Kursk, Russia:

That’s enough for tonight.

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Open thread!

Reader Interactions

21Comments

  2. 2.

    John Cole

    Of the most recent aid package that was set forward for them, what % has been delivered. Are we seeing any use of the Leopards and Abrams?

  3. 3.

    Adam L Silverman

    @John Cole: I do not know how much has been delivered. They only ever got about 30 or so Abrams. I’ve only ever seen footage of them in use once or twice. Leopards are used regularly, but because of the 155mm shell famine, they’ve been using them less as armor in a combined arms type of attack and more as a type of mobile artillery. What they really seem to like are the Bradleys. I’ve seen conflicting accounts of them needing more, such as what I included last night from the 47th Mechanized Brigade in Pokrovsk, and that they have plenty, they’re just not putting them where they’re needed. I don’t really know how to parse the contrasting statements as the former is being made by actual Ukrainian officers and the latter is coming from non-Ukrainians who think they’ve accurately counted what has been delivered, is being used, is being repaired, and has been destroyed.

    Imagine what they could do with Strykers.

  5. 5.

    Jay

    ✙ Albina Fella ✙ 🇺🇦🇬🇧🇫🇷🇩🇪🇵🇱🇺🇸🇨🇦🇦🇺
    @albafella1
    16h
    Malian rebels offer to hand over captured Wagner mercenaries to Ukraine. Translation:
    “Dear Ukrainian brothers, we, the CSP-DPA Armed Forces, want to express our solidarity with your fight against russian criminals. We have captured a large number of Wagner mercenaries and want to hand over these prisoners to you as a sign of support and solidarity. This gesture is aimed at helping you in your fight for justice and freedom. We hope that this will contribute to strengthening our ties and our common victory. With all our support, CSP-DPA Armed Forces.”
    Source: @abdalaag2022

    https://nitter.poast.org/albafella1/status/1817466069809807436#m

    Apparently, they have 15 prisoners.

    WarTranslated (Dmitri)
    @wartranslated
    12h
    According to Anastasia Kashevarova, Wagner’s commander Lotus neither died nor participated in the battle in Mali. She also speaks very disparagingly about him, claiming he was promoted to command Wagner after Putin orchestrated the murders of Prigozhin and Utkin. Lotus embodies the typical Russian commander who believes a mission isn’t truly complete without sustaining losses, which explains the outcome of the ambush.

    https://nitter.poast.org/wartranslated/status/1817539420964167901#m

    and:

    Polish Foreign Ministry suggests Hungary leave EU and NATO after Orbán’s claims
    Oleh Pavliuk, KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — Sunday, 28 July 2024, 18:10

    Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski expressed doubt about Hungary’s membership in the EU and NATO after controversial remarks by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s about Poland, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on July 28.

    Giving a speech at the Tuscanos Summer University on July 27, Orban had criticized Poland’s “hypocrisy,” as well as what he called the misguided policies of the EU and the West.

    Orban also accused Poland of changing the balance of power in Europe by weakening the Berlin-Paris axis in favor of a new configuration: London, Warsaw, Kyiv, the Baltic States, and Scandinavia.

    “We do not do business with Russia, unlike Prime Minister Orban, who is on the margins of international society, in the EU and NATO,” Bartoszewski said, adding that the U.S. ambassador to Budapest commented very negatively on Orban’s speech.

    https://kyivindependent.com/polish-foreign-ministry-suggests-hungary-leave-eu-nato-after-orbans-controversial-statements/#:~:text=Polish%20Deputy%20Foreign%20Minist

  6. 6.

    Gin & Tonic

    A modest proposal.

    Seeing these threads with a lot less engagement these days, and anticipating that the upcoming election and all the commenting energy that the jackals will expend on that will lead to even less, perhaps it’s time, Adam, to consider reducing the frequency? Maybe 2-3 a week rather than 7 will allow people time to reflect, digest, and perhaps engage a bit more, while giving you (maybe) a little more time for life outside of B-J? I say this with respect – you know how much I care about this issue, and you know I know how much you care. I’m aware you made a commitment to yourself and to Cole, and I fully understand and respect where that commitment comes from. But is it fair to you to require this level of effort for another year, or two, or more? This war, much as I hate to say it, ain’t ending soon. Anne Laurie did outstanding work here on COVID, but over time circumstances changed, and now it’s once a week – still providing valuable information, just on a different schedule.

  8. 8.

    Frank Wilhoit

    @Jay: ​
      It still amuses me that the Wagner Group are named after Richard Wagner, who thought Slavs were only half a hair better than Jews if you squinted, and about whose music they evidently know nothing except a bit of grade-school hearsay.

  9. 9.

    Jay

    @Frank Wilhoit:

    It’s because the founder of The Wagner Group, Dimitri Utkin,  was a full on Nazi, and in ruZZian military slang, combat actions are called “The Orchestra” , combat soldiers are “The Musicians”, and the Moscow Philharmonic was already taken.

  11. 11.

    Fair Economist

    Thanks as always for your incredible summaries, Adam.  It’s like having a daily newspaper about the war delivered to my doorstep.

  12. 12.

    Carlo Graziani

    @Gin & Tonic: It’s worth considering, perhaps as a temporary measure, in my opinion.

    The reduced engagement here has nothing to do with Adam’s tireless efforts. Rather, it is the tempo of the war itself that dictates it. 2022 saw a war emergency, followed by a series of surprising underdog ripostes, culminating in the miracles at Kherson and Kharkiv. 2023 saw great expectations of a counteroffensive, ultimately disappointingly thwarted.

    2024 has seen grinding, gradual warfare, with minor movement, and raised only the question of whether Russia can sustain mass proportionate to its size advantage to the degree required to achieve its much-reduced strategic objectives before the strain of the effort undermines its national purpose domestically. While this is an engaging question, it is not one that fits well with daily updates driven by 24-hour news cycles and the Xitter echoes thereof.

    I read here almost every day, subject to work-related deadlines, but nowadays I generally only engage with the analytical material that Adam finds providing larger and novel perspectives on the war. These arrive, of necessity, less frequently than the daily haul in these updates. So the fact that I don’t comment as often as in the past few years isn’t really due to lack of “engagement,” so much as to the fact that the war has settled down to an extended grind, there aren’t really that many new developments to discuss, and we’re all waiting to see how this phase ends, and what follows.

    All of which is to say: Adam, you’ve have an unbelievable record of steadfast, loyal, untiring work in bringing this material here for us every day. I have benefited from that work more than I have troubled to acknowledge during the past 2 1/2 years, but I am still very grateful for it all. However, if you did choose to foll9w G&T’s suggestion to reduce the update rate, for the sake of improving “engagement” (really, “impact”) I would be very supportive and understanding of that choice. Particularly as I would be certain that if the pace of events picked up, you would undoubtedly pick up your output with it.

  13. 13.

    Jay

    I will just say, we have never had a lot of engagement here. Never been close to 1/10th of a Tbogg,

    but almost everybody in other threads mention that they read Adam’s summaries with out comment, and god knows how many lurkers.

    What Adam and John decide to do is up to them.

    I have 12  other trusted sources for information that I read every day, plus a bunch of their linked sources, but I come here every night because I trust what Adam says and how he frames things, where much of my sources are just raw information.

  15. 15.

    Sally

    I read everyday without commenting. I also listen to the daily (5/week) podcast Ukraine: The Latest, and follow various experts on the dead bird site. It is a lot for Dr. Silverman to do day in and day out, and understand a reduction might ease his burden. I think we are at war with Russia and am very invested in this information. I write regularly to my reps to urge for more assistance to, and fewer restrictions on, Ukraine.

  16. 16.

    bjacques

    I read every morning (in my time zone) but rarely have any reason to comment. Adam is my only reliable digest of news on Ukraine, so thanks as always.

  17. 17.

    sab

    Adam:

    Whatever schedule you decide to keep, nobody else seems to be following or reporting on this urgent issue. And it is still urgent. Just because few comment does not mean few are reading. Thank you for your work.

  19. 19.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @Jay: I read Adam’s posts everyday. I just don’t have anything useful to say that hasn’t already been said about the subject. I occasionally ask questions or thank Adam.

  20. 20.

    ema

    @sab:

    I fully agree. I read every day, I consider these posts essential information on a vital matter, and am very grateful and appreciate Dr. Silverman’s work, effort, and dedication.

Comments are closed.