Pray for brothers and sisters in Ukraine

[Justin Adams]

If the authorities of Ukraine decide to attack the Crimean Bridge, it will turn into a devastating retaliatory blow, said the member of the Russian State Duma Mikhail Sheremet. This was reported by Info24 on Sunday, July 17.

Sheremet said that Ukraine will not be able to recover from the Russian response to the attack on the Crimean Bridge. The MP emphasized that the responsibility for a possible attack will also be borne by the United States, since, according to him, the United States supplies the Ukrainian state with weapons.

"An attempt to attack the Crimean Bridge will turn out to be a devastating blow to decision-making centers in Kyiv, military infrastructure and logistics channels for the supply of weapons. For its provocation, the Kyiv regime will receive such a response that it will no longer be able to recover," the publication quoted the MP as saying.

At the same time, the Russian politician said that the bridge and the infrastructure of Crimea in general are well protected.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on July 16, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, Vadym Skibitskyi, said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine can use American multiple-launch fire systems (M142 HIMARS) and other long-range MLRS against the facilities of the Russian Federation in Crimea.

On July 8, the former commander in chief of NATO's joint forces in Europe, General Philip Breedlove, stated that the Crimean Bridge is a legitimate target of an attack by Ukraine.

On April 21, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksii Danilov, announced that as soon as Kyiv has a chance to strike the Kerch or Crimea Bridges, it will be done.

[Justin Adams]

The Russian invaders are preparing to mass "deport" the population from the occupied South of Ukraine mainland to Russia, through the occupied Crimea and Mariupol. Such "deportation" is an international war crime of deportation and a direct violation of the IV Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute. This is stated in the statement of the Association for the Reintegration of Crimea on Sunday, July 17.

[Justin Adams]

LONDON, July 18 (Reuters) - British military intelligence said on Monday that Russia has used the private military contractor Wagner to reinforce its frontline forces in the Ukraine conflict.

Wagner is lowering its recruitment standards and hiring convicts and formerly blacklisted individuals, potentially impacting Russian military effectiveness, the Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update.

[Justin Adams]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that 1,028 settlements have been liberated from the Russian occupiers, and other 2,621 are temporarily under the control of the invaders.

The President said this in a traditional evening video address, reports Ukrainian News Agency.

Zelenskyy noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were able to inflict significant logistical losses on the occupiers, and it is increasingly difficult for the Russian army to hold positions on the captured territory.

The Ukrainian army is moving forward step by step, disrupting supplies for the occupiers.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine will return all captured territories, it is only a matter of time.

[Justin Adams]

July 19 (Reuters) - British military intelligence said on Tuesday Russia has struggled to sustain effective offensive combat power since the start of its invasion of Ukraine and the problem is likely becoming increasingly acute.

"As well as dealing with severe under-manning, Russian planners face a dilemma between deploying reserves to the Donbas or defending against Ukrainian counterattacks in the southwestern Kherson sector," the Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update.

[Justin Adams]

On Tuesday, July 19, fighters of the 58^th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi completely eliminated a group of mercenaries from Wagner's private military company (Liga).

This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"The bloody "business" of these enemy mercenaries has exploded today. We remind the enemy once again that only death awaits uninvited guests in Ukraine," the message reads.

The brigade itself added that the Wagner troopers were defeated while holding positions on one of the frontiers of the front line.

As reported by Ukrainian News Agency, British intelligence claims that the Russian Federation used the private military company Wagner to strengthen the advanced forces and reduce personnel shortages and losses.

Earlier, Ukrainian defenders destroyed a large unit of Wagner fighters in Donbas. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) notes that after the liquidation of such an elite unit of the Armed Forces, the "ordinary" Russian occupiers are now generally afraid to fight.

Meanwhile, in order to mask the heavy losses of Russian troops in the war in Ukraine, the corpses of Russians are transported in small batches and only at night.

[Justin Adams]

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - The United States will send four more high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) to Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday, in the latest military package to bolster Kyiv as it confronts heavy pounding by Russian forces.

Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Andrew Cawthorne

 

[Justin Adams]

[Justin Adams]

News on Friday, July 22.

A U.S. defense official estimated that Russia not only deployed its missile forces, air force and special operations forces, but also removed troops from other areas near its borders and stationed across the globe.

'They can't keep it up forever. They have expended a lot of smarter munitions. Their capabilities are getting dumber," the publication writes.

Additionally, Moscow faces not only military goals hit by Ukraine’s defense forces, but also a significant number of casualties every day. A senior defense official said "thousands" of lieutenants and captains, "hundreds" of colonels and "many" generals have been killed in the fighting since the war began.

"The chain of command is still struggling. They are still not effective at combined arms," the official added

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on July 22, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has lost about 39,000 military, 1,704 tanks and 3,920 armored fighting vehicles.

On July 20, Forbes reported that the Russian Federation spends about USD 400 million daily on the war with Ukraine, the bulk of which is spent on missiles and shells.

On July 17, the Chief of the British Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, said that Russia had already lost more than 30% of its combat capability on land, as well as that Russian President Vladimir Putin lost the war in Ukraine.

[Justin Adams]