The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on August 26 2024

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Preliminary results of large-scale missile attack on  targets in Ukraine

This morning, our Armed Forces carried out a massive attack on key facilities in Ukraine. Strikes were carried out on flight infrastructure, military-industrial facilities and energy systems.

Explosions were recorded in almost all regions of the terrorist country. The aim of the attacks was to disrupt the operation of strategically important facilities and reduce Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

At the moment, there are reports of damage in several regions, but information about the consequences and results of the strikes continues to arrive.

In the Kiev region, the Kiev hydroelectric power station , a key element in the region’s energy system, was seriously damaged. The turbine hall was destroyed by two missiles, which led to the shutdown of electricity generation at the facility.

The extent of the damage is not fully known, but based on the photographs received, restoration of the object will require significant efforts.

In addition, SS (substation) 750 “Kievskaya”, located in Nalivayki, was damaged.

In Odessa region, strikes were carried out on SS 330 “Usatove”. Three cruise missiles caused damage to equipment, including switches, which caused a fire.

It is important to note that during the attack by the Kh-31P missile in the Primorskoye area, an enemy radar station was also destroyed.

In the Poltava region, strikes were carried out on Ukrgazdobycha facilities in the village of Bazylovshchyna. As a result of the attack, a pumping station and 12 railway tanks with flammable substances caught fire; the fire has not yet been extinguished.

Additional strikes hit SS 330 “Kremenchugskaya” , where a fire was recorded in the “AT-3″ autotransformer.

In the Dnepropetrovsk region, the Dnepropetrovsk International Airport was hit by cruise missiles.

There was a high level of ambulance and fire activity. No further details are available at this time.

In the Vinnytsa region, two strikes were carried out on SS 750 “Vinnytsa”, located in the village of Gumennoye.

Lvov region was subjected to serious attacks. SS 750 “Zakhidnoukrainskaya” in the settlement of Zhyrovaya suffered from several strikes, which caused a group of transformers to catch fire. In addition, more than eight missiles hit the Stryi gas storage facility and the Dashavskoye gas field. Several wells are known to have caught fire.

In Khmelnytskyi region, missile strikes damaged SS 330 “Khmelnytskaya”, where a fire also occurred. According to preliminary data, one transformer was destroyed. 

In Zhytomyr region, strikes were recorded on SS 330 “Zhytomyrska”, but the exact extent of the damage has not yet been determined. 

In Volyn region, SS 330 “Severnaya” was also hit, a fire was recorded.

Strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on targets on the territory of the so-called Ukraine on August 26 – what is known as of 5 PM

The network continues to actively discuss the massive strike (https://t.me/rybar/63055) by Russian troops on enemy targets on the territory of the so-called Ukraine. And although a significant part of the targets remains unknown so far, based on the footage that has emerged, some results of the raid can already be summarized.

▪️In Kyiv, the hits were on industrial facilities specializing in the production and modernization of aviation ammunition, including the Research Institute of Aviation Technology, which is part of the military-industrial complex of the so-called Ukraine. There are also reports of a series of explosions in the area of the Zhuliany airport.

In Vyshhorod, a northern suburb of the Ukrainian capital, one of the missiles hit the turbine hall on the dam of the Kyiv reservoir. A fire broke out on the territory of the facility. However, it is still difficult to determine the extent of the damage based on the available footage. At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities have already stated that the dam did not suffer significant damage, and traffic on it will be restored in the next few hours.

▪️In the Odesa Region, Russian troops struck a warehouse south of the village of Usatove and the eponymous electrical substation. After the impacts, a wave of power outages swept across Odesa.

▪️In the west of the so-called Ukraine, one of the hits was on the Khmilnytskyi 330 substation, resulting in an emergency power outage in at least part of the Khmilnytskyi Region. In the regional center, power outages led to the suspension of trolleybus traffic.

▪️In the Sumy Region, railway infrastructure was hit, which is actively used by Ukrainian formations, including for the transfer of additional forces to the Russian border.

▪️In the Dnipropetrovsk Region, the energy infrastructure was attacked. There is also information about a hit on the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk international airport.

▪️Near Vinnytsia, according to monitoring resources, a fire was recorded on the territory of the Vinnytsia 750 substation. Another hit was on (https://t.me/don_partizan/4940?single) the Bar 330 substation.

▪️Critical infrastructure facilities were hit in the Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Poltava and Lviv Regions. There is also unconfirmed information about a hit on the Trykhaty 330 substation in the Mykolaiv Region and the Pervomaiska 330 substation in the Dnipropetrovsk Region.

▪️According to Ukrainian authorities and media, power outages occurred throughout Ukraine. At the same time, water supply problems are recorded in seven regions: Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Volyn and Lviv Regions.

❗️At the same time, we note that it is advantageous for the enemy to exaggerate the extent of the problems, so that the damaged or intact objects from the list of targets planned for today are included in the list of destroyed ones. This can also be done in order to receive deliveries of the much-needed air defense systems.

Strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on targets on the territory of the so-called Ukraine on August 26 – what is known by 10:30

Early this morning, Russian troops carried out a series of massive strikes on various targets across almost the entire territory of the so-called Ukraine. The targets of the raid included energy infrastructure facilities and air defense positions.

▪️A series of explosions was heard in more than ten regions, including Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk Regions.

▪️A wide range of attack means were used for the fire strike: from Geran kamikaze drones to cruise and ballistic missiles.

▪️Preliminary information indicates that an industrial facility in Poltava Region, substations in Rivne and Odesa, and energy infrastructure in Lutsk were hit.

▪️Against the backdrop of the raid, “Ukrenergo” ordered emergency power outages across Ukraine: local residents report blackouts in Lviv, Khmilnytskyi, Zhytomyr, Odesa and many other cities.

▪️There have also been problems with water supply, including in four districts of the Ukrainian capital: Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi and Holosiivskyi. It is also reported that the territory of Kyiv’s Zhuliany airport and an unidentified energy system object were hit.

▪️Power outages also occurred on the railway infrastructure, with backup diesel locomotives being used.

🔻Nevertheless, the emergency power outages introduced by the Ukrainian authorities are primarily precautionary measures. The enemy may try to confuse the Russian troops about the alleged large-scale consequences of the raid in order to convince them that all targets have been hit. Therefore, at the moment, the damage inflicted still remains to be confirmed.

Moreover, such massive strikes should be systematic: the long-term disabling of energy infrastructure will significantly complicate the enemy’s logistics, as well as the repair of equipment and the operation of industry.

rybar

Details of the results of the massive strike on targets in Ukraine :

The targets of the strike were electrical substations in the Kiev, Vinnytsa, Zhitomir, Khmelnytskyi, Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Nikolaev, Kirovograd and Odessa regions.

Gas compressor stations in Lvov, Ivano-Frankovsk and Kharkov regions were affected. They ensure the operation of the gas transportation system of Ukraine.

The strikes were carried out on storage sites for aviation weapons transferred to Kiev by the West, at airfields in the Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk regions.

As a result, there are interruptions in the power supply, and the railway transportation of weapons and ammunition to the line of combat contact has been disrupted.

💥Mirgorod/district – explosions

💥Kharkov/district – explosions

💥Krivoy Rog/district – explosions

💥Kremenchuk/district – explosions

💥Vinnytsa/district/region – explosions

💥Kropyvnytskyi/district – explosions

💥Khmelnitsky/district – explosions

💥Zaporozhye/district – explosions

💥Dnepropetrovsk/district – explosions

💥Brovary/district – explosions

💥Chernigov/district – explosions

💥Kiev/district – explosions

💥Nikolaev/district – explosions

💥Lutsk/district – explosions

💥Odessa/district – explosions

💥Ivano-Frankovsk – explosions

💥Poltava/district – explosions

💥Zhytomyr/district – explosions

💥Lvov/district/region – explosions

💥Rovno/district – explosions

💥Ternopol/district/region – explosions

💥Volyn/district – explosions

💥Stryi/district – explosions

💥Bukovel/district – explosions

💥Drohobych/district – explosions

It was expected after the Ukrainian Armed Forces intensified the infrastructure war against Russia. We wrote about it.

Massive influx of missiles and UAVs into Ukrainian infrastructure.

Odessa substation is out of order – about 4 precise arrivals.

Kyiv about 8 arrivals in different parts of the region. Hitting the remains of the thermal power plant and substations.

Western Ukraine arrivals via substations.

Nikolaev arrival at the electrical distribution substation.

We already had inside information on August 9 that the Kremlin has a plan 2.0 to destroy the remnants of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

The question is, where is all the air defense? Is it left in the Kursk adventure?

By the way, when Zelensky disrupted negotiations and raised the stakes, he knew that the Kremlin would respond. He only hoped that it would be even worse, a nuclear strike, so that he could use the people’s grief for his own political and PR purposes.

Today in the morning, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a group strike by long-range air- and sea-based precision weaponry, as well as Operational-Tactical Aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, attack unmanned aerial vehicles at the critical power infrastructure of Ukrainian defence industry.

Strikes were delivered at power substations in Kiev, Vinnitsa, Zhitomir, Khmelnitsky, Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Nikolayev, Kirovograd, and Odessa regions. 

Compressor stations supporting operations of the Ukrainian gas transportation system were hit in Lvov, Ivano-Frankovsk, and Kharkov regions. 

Moreover, strikes were delivered at the depots of aircraft armament supplied to Kiev regime by Western countries at airfield in Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk regions.

All the assigned targets have been destroyed resulting in power outages and disruption of railway transportation of arms and ammunition to the line of contact.

Russian Defence Ministry

Today, I started the day with a separate long conversation with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi – discussing in detail the repulsion of this missile attack, our response to Russia – we are preparing it, the use of F-16s, and the ongoing operation in the Kursk region. We continue our actions in the designated areas as needed for Ukraine. Over the past day, we’ve gained more control and once again added to our “exchange fund.” 

The Commander-in-Chief also reported on the situation on the Donetsk front, both separately and at the Staff meeting, focusing on the Pokrovsk direction, which remains the most difficult with the heaviest Russian assaults, as well as the Vremivka, Toretsk, and Kurakhove directions. Decisions were made to strengthen our positions. I thank every soldier and commander, every unit that is doing everything to destroy as much enemy force as possible. 

At the Staff meeting today, all the necessary reports were provided on the energy sector – the current state of the system and its restoration capabilities. Work will continue around the clock. We also thoroughly reviewed the situation regarding protective structures at energy facilities, and several important decisions were made on this matter as well. Thank you to everyone who promptly fulfills these tasks for the sake of our state and our people!

Our source reports that it will take more than 40-60 days to restore Ukraine’s energy system to August levels. This is assuming there is no further damage.

The source also points out that Zelensky wants to use the case of the shelling of Ukraine’s energy system to “knock out” new air defense installations and ammunition for them from the West, since there is currently a shortage due to the fact that many installations and ammunition were “lost” in the Kursk adventure.

They started to take out the remains of the hydroelectric power station in Ukraine, as well as all the substations, etc.

This is today’s attack on the Kyiv hydroelectric power station.

We think it’s not the last one.

Be careful!

Zelensky, with the Kursk adventure, disrupted the negotiations. He wanted to seize the Kursk NPP, and in response, Ukraine may now lose another 10% of its energy capacity and the remains of the distribution infrastructure.

It turns out that the Kremlin has decided to completely disconnect Ukraine from the switch. The black winter is getting closer.

Ukrainian Air Force reveals location of fighter jets in F-16 video

The Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Nikolai Oleshchuk, published a video on his Telegram channel dedicated to American F-16 fighters, and from this footage, war correspondents were able to determine the location of the combat vehicles.

“ As expected, the fighters are stationed at the Kolomyia military airfield in the Ivano-Frankovsk region ,” writes “Military Chronicle,” publishing still frames from the video, which indicate the signs by which geolocation can be established.

However, it is not a fact that these shots were included in the video by accident, the channel admits. There is a version that the video appeared to provide a legend about the use of F-16 only from the territory of Ukraine.

“ In reality, they could very well fly from airfields in neighboring NATO countries ,” the war correspondents conclude.

Ukrainian UAV Strikes on Russian Regions

Last night, as Russian forces prepared (https://t.me/rybar/63055?single) to deliver massive strikes on enemy targets, Ukrainian formations carried out another drone launch against the rear regions of Russia. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a total of 22 drones were intercepted over eight regions.

▪️This time, the main strike hit Saratov Region, where the residential complex Volga Sky on Predmostnaya Square in Saratov and a multi-story building in the center of Engels were attacked. Four civilians were injured, and one woman is hospitalized in serious condition.

The most likely target of the enemy was the airbase of strategic aviation in Engels – it has already been subjected (https://t.me/rybar/42415) to attacks by Ukrainian drones, which flew at a low enough altitude to minimize the possibility of detection.

▪️Another enemy drone was intercepted approaching Yaroslavl. According to some reports, Ukrainian formations tried to strike the local oil refinery. There was no destruction or casualties at the crash site.

▪️In Belgorod Region, on the section of the Krasnaya Yaruga – Vyazovoe highway, two FPV drones of the AFU attacked a passenger car: two civilians were injured and hospitalized.

▪️Air defense systems also worked in Kursk, Bryansk, Tula, Oryol and Ryazan Regions. There, according to preliminary information, there was no damage or casualties.

🔻Recently, Ukrainian formations have consistently chosen either fuel and energy facilities (https://t.me/rybar/62873) or military airfields (https://t.me/rybar/62766) as the main targets of drone attacks.

At the same time, the raids are carried out almost one after another, which once again testifies to the high volume of drone production by the enemy and his intention to tirelessly launch UAVs.

Kursk Direction: Fighting in Korenevo and Sudzha Districts, New Attempts of AFU Offensive

Battles continue in the Kursk Region, with Ukrainian formations not stopping their attacks and simultaneously deploying reinforcements to the region.

🔻In Glushkovo District, the situation remains tense, with Ukrainian formations continuing to strike military and civilian vehicles with UAVs. At the same time, no attempts to violate the state border have been recorded so far.

🔻In Korenevo District, fighting continues in the area of Komarovka, and according to the statements of the Russian Ministry of Defense, strikes were delivered on the positions of the AFU in the area of the neighboring settlements of Vishnevka, Snagost and Apanasovka.

▪️Given the reports of new attempts by Ukrainian formations to attack Komarovka and Krasnooctyabr’skoye, the settlements to the east are under the firm control of the AFU. A similar situation is developing in the area of Viktorovka. In addition, there is information about the presence of the enemy in Byakhovo and Vnezapnoye, but so far there is no confirmation of this.

▪️In the area of Korenevo itself and in the neighboring area of Ol’govka-Kremyanoye, there are battles, the enemy is trying to advance in small groups. According to incoming information, Ukrainian formations recently established control over Matveyevka. At the same time, the situation in the area of Zhuravli and to the north remains unclear, previously at least enemy reconnaissance groups were spotted there, and there were no reports of clearing.

🔻In Sudzha District, Ukrainian formations also tried to attack in the area of Malaya Loknya and Pogrebki, but without much success. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Defense, strikes were delivered on the positions of the AFU in the area of Novaya Sorochina and Kruglenoye.

▪️Another attack was thwarted in the area of Nechayevo in Bolshesoldatskoye District, where the enemy maintains a presence southwest of the settlement and has entrenched itself in the nearby forest. In addition, the media reported the liberation of the settlement of Nizhnyaya Parovaya, but no one had previously reported the capture of the village by the enemy.

In addition, based on objective control footage, another enemy armored group was subjected to several strikes east of Malaya Loknya.

▪️Also, some clarity has emerged about Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, in the area of which several attacks have been repelled earlier. Based on the footage that appeared on the network, the settlement is currently under the control of the enemy. At the same time, strikes by UAVs and artillery are being delivered on the AFU infantry.

▪️In Borki and Spal’noye, battles are also ongoing. Despite the continuing attempts of attacks by the AFU, no advances have been recorded here, but there are also no reports of the liberation of settlements.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to repel the AFU attempt to invade the territory of the Russian Federation.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces supported by Army Aviation and artillery repelled attacks launched by the enemy’s assault detachments in the direction of Kremyanoye, Malaya Loknya, and Nechayev, as well as thwarted attempts to launch attacks in the direction of Komarovka, Spalnoye, Korenevo, Pogrebki, and Olgovka.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 troops killed and wounded. One tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, and one motor vehicle were neutralised.

Russian troops continue reconnaissance and search operations to detect and neutralise hostile sabotage and reconnaissance groups in forest belts attempting to get into the Russian territory.

Aviation, artillery, and troops destroyed manpower and materiel clusters of the 22nd and 115th mechanised brigades, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 1004th Security and Service Brigade near Apanasovka, Borki, Vishnyovka, Victorovka, Desyaty Oktyabr, Kruglyenkoye, Loknya, Mikhaylovka, Novoya Sorochina, Plekhovo, Snagost, and Yuzhny.

Operational-tactical aviation delivered strikes at manpower and materiel clusters of the 22nd, 41st, 54th mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 80th, 82nd, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade of the AFU reserves, 1st National Guard Brigade, 103rd, 106th, 129th territorial defence brigades near Belopolye, Bunyakino, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Baranovka, Druzhba, Zapselye, Katyerinovka, Malushino, Pervomayskoye, Orlovka, Pustogorod, Svessa, Sumy, Khotyen, Chervonoye, and Yastryebinoye. 

For the last 24 hours, AFU losses amounted to over 400 troops, 27 units of armour including one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured personnel carriers, 21 armoured fighting vehicles, five artillery guns, two mortars, 11 motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar. 

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the enemy lost up to 6,200 Ukrainian troops, 73 tanks, 33 infantry fighting vehicles, 61 armoured personnel carriers, 404 armoured fighting vehicles, 188 motor vehicles, 42 artillery guns, five surface-to-air missile launchers, 11 MLRS launchers, including three of  HIMARS and one of MLRS, nine EW stations, two counter-battery warfare radars, one AD radar, five engineering vehicles such as two counterobstacle vehicles and one UR-77 mine clearance system.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

Russian Defence Ministry

Our source in the OP said that all NATO advisers in Ukraine are under a legend and have the status of journalists/consultants or representatives of the diplomatic mission. The Patriot and HIMARS air defense service personnel have the status of volunteers; such legends allow the West to publicly declare that their military is not taking part in the war in Ukraine.

“Collapse of Defense” and the Fate of Syrsky.

The Western press continues to discuss the situation in the Pokrovsk direction. And wonders why Ukraine is simultaneously advancing in the Kursk region if such problems are brewing in the Donbass.

The British Sunday Times writes that the Russian advance toward Pokrovsk is gaining momentum, the city is being evacuated.

Ukrainian military commanders told the newspaper about the “obvious collapse” of the Ukrainian defense in this direction. They explain the retreat by the lack of shells, new Russian tactics, KABs, and also the numerical superiority of the Russians.

The 47th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claims that the Russian troops have a 5-7 times advantage in personnel: “it is impossible to hold the line when there are only two or three of you, and ten to twenty people are coming at you.”

Ukrainian military say that the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region has not affected the situation near Pokrovsk.

Another British publication, The Telegraph, writes that the fate of Commander-in-Chief Syrsky is connected with the Kursk and Pokrovsk directions. The outcome of these battles will determine whether he is a “brutal butcher or a brilliant general.”

The newspaper writes that “success in Kursk is not free. Ukraine is losing some of its best people in battle. In Donbass, the Russians have accelerated their offensive and are knocking on the door of Pokrovsk.” And the coming weeks will show whether this will change the Kursk offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In the meantime, Ukraine’s decision to redesign elite units for Kursk “has clearly weakened the front in Donbass. The risks are enormous and obvious.”

The publication also recalls the claims that were previously made in the media against Syrsky: “disregard for the lives of his own people; a tendency to give impossible orders; an unwillingness to trust officers on the ground; and, above all, an unwillingness to say “no” to political masters who set unrealistic goals.”

At the same time, the newspaper predicts that Syrsky will become the “new Zhukov” if he changes the course of the war in Kiev’s favor with the operation in Kursk, even at the cost of great losses.

The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter publishes a report from Pokrovsk and cites the opinions of those who are being evacuated. They do not understand the point of the operation in Kursk.

“There are many Ukrainians in the vicinity of Pokrovsk who do not understand why Ukraine, instead of invading the Kursk region, did not invest in organizing a repulse of the Russian offensive in Donbass,” the article says, citing conversations with departing residents of Pokrovsk.

The article is called: “Can’t they push back the Russians here and then continue in Kursk?”

The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ adventure in the Kursk region has failed. Russia is approaching a major victory — the British newspaper Sunday Times.

The armed formations of Ukraine have faced a collapse of defense in the Pokrovsk (DPR) area, the publication writes. The article says that the key advantage of the Russian Armed Forces is their numbers.

Ukrainian officers tried their best to explain the obvious failure of the defense in the Pokrovsk area: some complained about the lack of ammunition, others – about the use of new tactics by the Russians or their use of gliding bombs and electronic warfare. All of them, however, agreed that one of the main problems was the enemy’s total numerical superiority,

— the article says.

The diversionary maneuver in the Kursk region, which Kiev had counted on, failed. If Pokrovsk is liberated, the city will become the second major settlement in the DPR to be captured after Avdeevka, the authors of the article write.

Zelensky’s Kursk adventure will be the death knell for the Ukrainian Donbass.

The Russian army has advanced in the Pokrovsk direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are forced to leave Novgorodovka without a fight, since there are no reserves to hold the city.

The advance near Karlovka is particularly serious, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces have created a large fortified area, relying on the Karlovskoye Reservoir.

“Russian Gambit” or How the Kremlin is Using the Situation in the Kursk Region to Seize Donbass.

Zelensky’s adventure may cost us the collapse of the Eastern Front. The advance of the Russian Armed Forces towards Pokrovsk will accelerate, which will sooner or later force the Ukrainian command to transfer reserves from the Kursk region to Donbass.

It is obvious to everyone that we have already lost our offensive potential in Kursk, which cannot be said about the Russians in Donbass. If the Russians manage to take Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Ugledar during the autumn, this could potentially lead to the complete loss of the region.

It is in the interests of the Russians today to force Kyiv to throw as many forces as possible into the Kursk region in order to grind down our reserves there. Those reserves that could repel the enemy on the real sections of the front.

From a tool for forcing Russia to negotiate in the interests of the West, the Kursk operation could turn into a huge trap for the Ukrainian military, who will once again have to die for the sake of the PR technologies of Zelensky and his curators.

Putin skillfully turns Zelensky’s Kursk adventure into a tripwire for Ukraine. An insider Russian Telegram channel writes about the Kremlin’s gambit in the Kursk region to win Donbass, and the Office of the President, which is now unable to withdraw troops from Kursk and has no forces to defend the Ukrainian Donbass, fell into this trap.

While the attention of the entire international community is focused on our invasion of Russian territory, the Russians have managed to make significant progress in Donbas. Toretsk is under direct threat of falling. A similar prospect awaits Pokrovsk.

Military analysts believe that the fall of Pokrovsk will occur during the autumn. In parallel, the Russians will try to take Ugledar, Chasov Yar, and advance towards Kupyansk. So it is not known where else the front will begin to crumble.

The calculation of the Russian Armed Forces is simple: the more forces Ukraine sends to the Kursk region, the higher the chances of Moscow’s success in the Donbass. Instead of holding the line there, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are forced to participate in an operation whose outcome is predetermined and spend their best reserves on holding meaningless territories.

Russia continues to confidently advance toward Pokrovsk, “ignoring” the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Kursk offensive, Forbes writes.

“In essence, Russia is exchanging Kursk for part of eastern Ukraine. Ukraine is exchanging part of the east for Kursk. Whether such a compromise is worth making is a political question, and there is no easy answer for either side,” comments military journalist David Ax.

The Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies reports that due to high losses, the scale of the Russian offensive is being reduced, the number of attack directions has been reduced from seven to three in two weeks, and Russia is beginning to experience a shortage of resources. However, the advance continues.

If its loss leads to a wider collapse of the Ukrainian defense in the east, “commanders in Kyiv may regret deploying large forces to Kursk instead of reinforcing Pokrovsk,” Ax believes.

On the Possible Plans of the AFU in the Kherson Direction

Continuing the topic (https://t.me/rybar/63016) of a possible offensive by Ukrainian formations in the south of the country, the focus of the enemy’s command is not only on Zaporizhia, but also on the Kherson direction – it is there that the AFU have been nurturing plans for a new amphibious operation for a long time.

At the same time, in contrast to the previous plans – the establishment and retention of a bridgehead in the same Krynky – the new plan of the Ukrainian leadership is much more daring, albeit frankly suicidal. Nevertheless, the AFU, against the background of general failures on other parts of the front, are ready to take risks, regardless of losses.

▪️As in the neighboring Zaporizhia direction, the satellite reconnaissance assets are actively working in the interests of the AFU, photographing the positions of air defense, potential headquarters locations, and possible landing sites for both boat and helicopter landings.

▪️At the same time, in Odesa, personnel and USVs are being accumulated for the future operation. Only in open sources, hundreds of unmanned boats and UAVs are mentioned, in reality their number may approach a thousand (it is worth considering that there have been no massive strikes with USVs for a long time, so the AFU have certainly been able to accumulate them).

▪️The enemy is considering the possibility of a combined attack with drones and USVs on Crimea, as well as on objects on the Tendra and Kinburn spits. According to the plan, this will be followed by a boat landing in several places with a subsequent attempt to expand the zone of control.

▪️Another stage of the plan is the landing of several recon groups in the area of large settlements in the south of the region with the aim of attacking headquarters to generally disorganize control. One of such areas may be the line Zhelezny Port – Lazurne – Skadovsk (if you assess the security of the coastline as a whole, then this option certainly cannot be ruled out).

▪️As for the island zone of the Dnieper, the repetition of the AFU operations similar to Krynky and Kozachi Lahery is unlikely – according to the incoming information, the Russian military confidently hold a significant part of the islands, while the Ukrainian command is preparing for an offensive on the spits.

🔻At the same time, the probable losses do not particularly worry the leadership of the so-called Ukraine. Moreover, even a few hundred members of Ukrainian formations will be enough to “make a mess” until the blockade.

And given the problems (https://t.me/rybar/55741) of the local grouping of the Russian Armed Forces and in case the operation is combined with the start of an offensive in the Zaporizhia region, the situation may become even more threatening. This is exactly what the Ukrainian command is betting on.

At the same time, the fact that the enemy’s plans are being discussed almost in every smoking room in southern Russia, a deliberate disinformation about the preparation for the offensive is quite possible. Everyone is on high alert, a heightened danger mode for a certain number of days, and in the end, nothing will happen. But when everyone relaxes, the plan can be put into practice.

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (26 August 2024)

Part I

▫️In Volchansk and Liptsy directions, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade, 13th and 17th national guard brigades near Glubokoye, Liptsy, Volchanskiye Khutora (Kharkov region) and Pokrovka (Sumy region).

The enemy lost up to 90 servicemen, two motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 gun, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and two counter-battery warfare stations.

▫️The units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation, inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 30th, 44th, 67th, 115th, and 116th mechanised brigades, 4th Tank Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 110th and 241st territorial defence brigades near Sinkovka, Petropalovka, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), Stelmakhovka, Makeyevka, Nevskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic), Torskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.  The Zapad Group of Forces also repelled four counter-attacks of 1st, 4th national guard brigades and 12th Azov Special Operations Brigade.

The enemy losses are as follows: 480 servicemen, one tank, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, and ten motor vehicles.

In counter battery warfare, the Russian units engaged five 155-mm howitzers including one M198, two US-made M777, and two UK-made FH-70 howitzers, as well as one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. 

Moreover, Russian forces destroyed three field ammunition depots, three EW stations, and one counter-battery warfare station.

▫️The Yug Group of Forces seized favourable lines and inflicted losses on manpower and materiel of 23rd, 28th, 93rd mechanised brigades, 5th Tank Brigade, 56th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 143rd and 144th infantry brigades, 5th, 10th, 80th assault brigades of the AFU, and 109th, 117th territorial defence brigades near Verkhnekamenskoye, Pereyezdnoye, Grigorovka, Chasov Yar, Dyleyevka, Krasnogorovka, Konstantinovka, and Uspenovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). The Russian forces repelled one counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 8th Mountain Assault Brigade.

The enemy lost up to 570 servicemen, one armoured fighting vehicle, seven motor vehicles, four 155-mm howitzers including one U.S.-made M777 and three UK-made FH-70, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 gun, and three 122-mm D-30 guns.  

During past 24 hours, the enemy has lost two EW stations and four field ammunition depots.

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (26 August 2024)

Part II

▫️The Tsentr Group of Forces went on advancing to the depth of hostile defence. The Group inflicted losses on formations of 31st, 32nd, 47th,100th, 151st mechanised brigades, 1st Tank Brigade, 95th air-assault brigades of the AFU, 111th, 122nd territorial defence brigades, 14th and 15th national guard brigades near Dzerzhinsk, Tarasovka, Zhuravka, Vozdvizhenka, Novozhelannoye, and Yasnobrodovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).  The Russian troops repelled seven counter-attacks of the 53rd, 150th mechanised brigades, 68th Jaeger Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, and Lyut Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian National Police.

The enemy losses amounted to 585 servicemen, three tanks, one German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured personnel carrier, two 152-mm D-20 guns, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled systems, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun.

▫️ The Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation, inflicted losses on manpower and materiel of 61st Mechanised Brigade, 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 123rd and 128th territorial defence brigades near Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Prechistovka, and Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic). The Russian units repelled two counter-attacks launched by the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade.

The enemy lost up to 135 servicemen, five motor vehicles, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

▫️The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted damage on the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 37th Marine Brigade, 124th Territorial Defence Brigade near Malye Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), Sablukovka, Tokarevka (Kherson region), and Kherson.

The enemy losses are up to 70 servicemen, five motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 gun, and one EW station.

▫️Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have destroyed two AFU UAV workshops, as well as engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 143 areas.

▫️Russian air defence units have downed one French-made Hammer guided aerial bomb, four U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 58 UAVs.

Chronicles of the special military operation

for August 26, 2024

The Russian forces delivered a series of strikes on the energy infrastructure of the so-called Ukraine, with power outages recorded in the areas occupied by the enemy. In turn, Ukrainian formations launched several UAVs at Russian regions.

In the Kursk Region, heavy fighting continues, by the end of the day, the advance of the AFU is recorded in the area of Snagost and in the Sudzha District. The Russian forces strike the invading forces and targets in the border part of the Sumy Region.

In the Pokrovsk direction, the Russian forces continue to advance on several sectors. During the day, there was information about significant progress within the boundaries of Novohrodivka and nearby settlements.

In the South Donetsk direction, there were multiple reports of the start of the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces on Vuhledar, but by the end of the day, only a few air strikes on Vodyane are confirmed. At the same time, information about the successes of the Russian Armed Forces is also available, but remains highly contradictory.

rybar

Massive Russian Storm Hits Ukrainian Defense Lines And Forced Ukraiinians To Retreat

MASSIVE Missile Strike Spells Disaster For Ukraine | Novohrodivka Collapsing

Complete Ukrainian Disaster At The Pokrovsk And Kostyantynivka Front

Ukrainian invasion of Kursk Everyday [6 to 26 August 2024]

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_26.html