Ukraine Latest: Weekly Digest for July 29 – August 4
Initial shipment of F-16 fighters has arrived in Ukraine. Ukraine’s military have sunk a Russian submarine in Sevastopol and struck Morozovsk Air Base in Rostov Oblast
VIDEO
July 29/ Kudrytsky: Will the Ukrainians have light and heat in the winter?
July 29/Karandeev: Our heritage is being purposefully destroyed
July 30/ Filipets: Economic reservation from conscription - pros and cons
July 30/ Dolintse: F-16: deadly wings for the invaders
July 30/ Bratchuk: The invaders have gone all-or-nothing
July 31/ Zahorodnii: Orban launches Kremlin’s agents into Europe
July 31/ Dolgov: US presidential elections: Trump or Harris?
August 1/ Dolintse: F-16s already on guard of Ukrainian skies
August 1/: How Ukrainian Army aviation is working
02.08/ Bila on exiting Ukraine and coming back
PHOTO
July 29/ Protest against the persecution of Georgian volunteers was held outside the Embassy of Georgia in Kyiv
July 30/ A Kyiv bookstore initiated a Russian-language book-collection-for-recycling campaign
July 31/ Kievans hiding in subway during air raid alert
July 31/ Street display mounted outside the Russian-Ukrainian War Museum in Dnipro City
August 1/ Art performance at the veterans’ rehabilitation center Nezlamni, Lviv
August 1/ Kharkiv’s volunteers received a shipment of vehicles from Great Britain
August 1/ A picture from the frontline town of Hulyaipole
August 2/ A training session at the National Resistance training center for Kharkiv region residents
August 2/ Special Operations Forces launched their first recruiting center in Dnipro City
August 3/ A meeting with recruits of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Dnipro City
August 3/ Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Svyatoslav visited Ukrainian soldier patients at a hospital ward in Ivano-Frankivsk
HOSTILITIES
The General Staff has reported 967 combat engagements over the week from July 29 through August 4.
The initial shipment of F-16 fighter jets have arrived in Ukraine.
August 3: Ukraine’s defense forces attacked Russian Black Sea Fleet’s Rostov-on-Don submarine located in the port of Sevastopol, causing it to sink immediately.
August 2: The General Staff confirmed that units of the missile forces, supported by the Navy, damaged four launchers of the Triumph air defense system deployed in the Moscow-occupied Crimea peninsula. The air defense system was deployed to safeguard the Kerch Strait Bridge, an important logistics and transport hub supplying Russian forces.
August 3: Ukrainian forces struck the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region after launching a massive drone barrage on Russia, targeting warehouses where guided aerial bombs were stored among other munitions, as well as air defense and aircraft equipment at the site. NASA satellite images showed heavy fire damage at the Morozovsk airfield in the aftermath of the attack. The operation was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) at the Defense Ministry, the General Staff said in a press statement.
July 27: Two Tu-22M3 strategic missile bomber aircraft were damaged in the aftermath of a massive drone attack on Olenya Air Base, located in Russia’s Murmansk Oblast at 1,800 kilometers away from Ukraine’s border.
Units of the National Guard of Ukraine had destroyed 16 hostile tanks, 22 armored combat vehicles, 16 EW systems, and 105 dugouts with soldiers inside over the week under review.
July 25: HUR’s special operations forces carried out a devastating drone attack on Kuweires air base near Aleppo, Syria, targeting Russian assets. They hit a mobile Tigr-M jammer before hitting the air base itself. The attack occurred a day after a meeting between Putin and Assad. Kuweires air base was used for training Russian mercenaries for war in Ukraine.
July 31: Ukrainian defense forces struck a warehouse storing weapons and military equipment, located in Russia outside of Kursk City.
The battlefield situation by days of the week
July 29
Kharkiv axis: The invading forces concentrated their efforts on the areas of Lyptsi, Hlyboke, Morokhovets, Krasne, and Vovchansk.
Hulyaipole axis: Fighting resumed after a long pause, with two attempted assaults by Russian invaders reported for that day.
Russian invading forces launched four assaults targeting Ukrainian entrenchments defending the approaches to Hlyboke and Vovchansk, but suffered losses and retreated.
Kupyansk axis: the adversary launched three aggressive attacks on Ukrainian strongholds located outside of Stelmakhivka and Pishchane neighborhoods, pounded Kupyansk City and Petropavlivka neighborhood. Ukrainian solders are firmly holding their defenses.
Lyman axis: the invading forces carried out eight attacks targeting the approaches to the neighborhoods of Nevske, Makiivka, and Terny. Six attacks ended with no success for the enemy.
July 30
Kharkiv axis saw four combat clashes over the day. Defense forces thwarted three Russian attacks targeting Vovchansk town. Over the past few days, the adversary had lessened the number of offensive attacks while simultaneously increasing the number and intensity of bombing attacks on Ukrainian defensive lines.
Kupyansk axis: the adversary tried three times to win tactical gains in the areas of Novoosynove and Pishchane.
Lyman axis: the invading forces were attacking towards the neighborhoods of Makiivka, Nevske, Verkhnyokamyanske, Pereizne, Vyimka, as well as Serebryansky Forest area.
Kramatorsk axis: the invading forces were attempting to advance closer towards Ukrainian defenses outside of Chasiv Yar.
Pokrovsk axis: The situation remains tense out there. Fierce fighting is taking place in areas outside of Zelene Pole, Kalinove, Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Vesele, Serhiivka, Lysychne, Tymofiivka, and Yasnobrodivka.
July 31
Kharkiv axis: the adversary carried out seven offensive attacks targeting Tykhe and Vovchansk.
Kupyansk axis: the invading forces three times assaulted towards Ukrainian entrenchments defending the approaches to Stepova Novoselivka, Kolesnykivka, and Berestove neighborhoods.
Lyman axis: the adversary launched seven assaults aimed to advance further towards Makiivka, Novoserhiivka, and Nevske neighborhoods.
Kramatorsk axis: the Russian invaders carried out six assaults targeting the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, and Andriivka.
Toretsk axis: the number of adversary assaults grew to 16, targeting the approaches to Zalizne, New York, Toretsk, and Pivnichne.
Pokrovsk axis: the adversary was assaulting towards Vozdvyzhenka, Zhelanne, Serhiivka, Panteleimonivka, Novooleksandrivka, Ivanivka, Lysychne, Tymofiivka, Karlivka, and Kalynove villages.
August 1
In northern Kharkiv Oblast, the battlefield situation tends to worsen. In Vovchansk town, the adversary was conducting personnel rotations within its assault squads and training personnel of its 4th Volunteer Assault Brigade for offensive actions. Street fighting continues in town. The enemy is trying to attack head-on towards downtown while at the same time advancing from the outskirts.
Bakhmut axis: soldiers with the Pomsta (“Revenge”) Brigade attacked and destroyed a Russian Air Force command and control post.
Kupyansk axis: the adversary attempted to advance, albeit without success, towards Ukrainian entrenchments defending the approaches to Andriivka neighborhood.
Lyman axis: The number of adversary attacks increased to three over that day, with heavy fighting ongoing in locations outside of Makiivka and Torske.
Siversk axis: the enemy twice attempted to breach though Ukrainian defenses on the outskirts of Vyimka neighborhood.
Toretsk axis: the adversary launched 12 offensive attacks targeting Ukrainian defenses nearby Pivnichne and New York villages, was defeated while attacking towards Zalizne and Toretsk communities.
Pokrovsk axis: Enemy efforts remain focused on offensive operations in the area, with 36 firefights of varying intensity reported for that day.
August 2
Kharkiv axis: Five combat encounters took place over the day. Ukrainian soldiers defending the approaches to Hlyboke, Tykhe, and Vovchansk fended off four enemy attacks.
Kupyansk axis: the invading troops twice attempted to attack Ukrainian defenses in Stelmakhivka area, but were defeated and had to retreat.
Lyman axis: the enemy was attacking towards Makiivka, Nevske, and Torske, with seven firefights reported for that day.
Toretsk axis: the invading forces, using air fire support, carried out ten attacks on Ukrainian defensive lines, pounded Toretsk with 12 anti-tank missiles.
Pokrovsk axis: Fierce fighting was taking place on the outskirts of Kalynove, Vozdvyzhenka, Ivanivka, Novooleksandrivka, Zhelanne, Serhiivka, Novoselivka Persha, and Yasnobrodivka villages.
August 3
Kharkiv axis: the enemy was focusing its main efforts towards taking over Hlyboke and Vovchansk, with most fierce fighting ongoing in Vovchansk town.
Kupyansk axis: the Russian troops launched 11 offensive attacks towards Synkivka, Kolesnykivka, Novoosynove, Hlushkivka, Andriivka, Berestove, and Stelmakhivka villages.
Siversk axis: the enemy was attempting to advance towards Spirne, Verkhnyokamyanske, Vyimka, and Ivano-Daryivka villages, but was defeated and had to retreat.
Toretsk axis: the adversary increased the number of attacks to 14 over the day, was advancing towards Zalizne, New York, Toretsk, and Pivnichne, launched five airstrikes on Toretsk.
August 4
Zaporizhzhia axis: Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) soldiers hit and destroyed a fully loaded Russian TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flame thrower MLRS.
Kharkiv axis: seven combat engagements took place out there; Ukrainian forces fended off three assaults on their defensive lines located on the outskirts of Lyptsi neighborhood, and as many assaults on Vovchansk, Hlyboke, and Tykhe.
Lyman axis: the invaders launched four assaults towards Makiivka, Nevske, and Terny villages. All were successfully repelled by Ukrainian defenders.
Kramatorsk axis: the Russians launched ten attacks on Ukrainian entrenchments defending the approaches to Chasiv Yar, Andriivka, Stupochky, Spirne, and Ivanivske.
Pokrovsk axis remained to be the hottest stretch of the front line, with fierce fighting ongoing in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Vesele, Svyrydonivka, Zhelanne, Novoselivka Persha, and Karlivka.
Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrsky:
visited the brigades deployed on Kharkiv and Toretsk axes; met with unit leaders to discuss measures deemed necessary to make frontline defenses more effective and resilient;
presented a state award to the leader of the 100th Independent Mechanized Brigade within the Ground Forces, which is fighting at the Eastern Front;
As of July 31, the town of Toretsk, the Donetsk region, remains under Ukrainian control, despite intense fighting and enemy attempts to break through into the town.
Ukraine’s Navy has announced a crew recruitment campaign for the Corvette Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky, which was ceremonially launched in Turkey on August 1. Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky is set to make its maiden voyage in 2026, with delivery to the Customer scheduled for the end of QI 2027.
WAR: LOSSES AND AFTERMATH
ENEMY LOSSES
Russia’s combat losses in the war in Ukraine over the time period from July 29 through August 4 had totaled:
8,220 personnel;
63 tanks;
160 combat armored vehicles;
340 artillery gun systems;
11 MLRS;
5 pieces of air defense equipment;
332 tactical-operational UAVs;
7 cruise missiles
434 automobiles and fuel tanks;
63 pieces of special-purpose equipment.
In the span of July, Russian army losses from the war in Ukraine had totaled 35,680 personnel and 6,320 pieces of weaponry and military equipment.
Cyber experts with Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence launched a massive cyber attack targeting Russia’s financial sector and government web resources, having obtained an access to a large amount of classified data.
August 3: Ukrainian drones attacked and hit Gubkinskaya oil depot located in the Belgorod region, causing a massive fire at the site of the hit.
August 3: An oil and fuel warehouse at the Atlas plant near the town of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky in Russia’s Rostov Oblast was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack. This warehouse supplies fuel to military units and subdivisions of the Russian army deployed in the currently Russian occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The facility was attacked using 15 Obsidian drones, according to sources.
In the early hours of July 29, HUR’s cyber forces launched an attack targeting Central Bank of the Russian Federation, resulting in serious interruptions in the Bank’s operations or making them completely unavailable to users. The financial institution itself acknowledged the cyber attack news was true and added that such attacks have been increasing in frequency and intensity.
July 30: the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the oil depot Logistics Center No. 43 located in the village of Vozy, Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
July 30: Ukrainian hacker group BO Team launched a cyber attack targeting the Harvester Factory Rostselmsh located in Russia’s Rostov-on-Don; more than 110 servers and about 2,500 corporate computers were disabled in the aftermath of the attack.
UKRAINE: LOSSES AND AFTERMATH
The UN reported more than 32,100 dead and injured civilian casualties in Ukraine over the time of the full-scale war.
As of August 1, 2024, a total of 1,489 children sustained injuries in the aftermath of Russia’s war of aggression, 1,937 children were declared missing, and 30,604 missing children were found.
Russian bombing attacks on the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv had left 11 people dead and 97 others injured over the week under review
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July 31 massive attack with Shakhed strike drones
Air defense forces shot down a Kh-59 missile and all of the 89 strike UAVs Russia launched at Ukraine over the day.
The attack left 13 private households in four districts of the Kyiv region damaged, and an apartment building ablaze. No civilian casualties have been reported.
Nearly 11,500 people were hiding in subway stations in Kyiv for more than seven hours, waiting for air raid alarm to end.
August 1 attack with Shakhed drones
Ukrainian air defense forces took out all of the seven strike drones launched by Russia against Ukraine.
Two private households were damaged and two people injured by falling debris from a downed drone in the Kyiv region.
Shakhed drone attacks, August 3
Anti-drone squads of the Defense Forces, air defense missile forces, and EW units within the Air Force shot down 24 out of 29 suicide drones Russia launched at Ukraine over the day.
A Russian drone targeted and hit an infrastructure facility in the Vinnytsia region, causing a heavy fire, which required the involvement of two railway fire engines to extinguish.
Five people sustained injuries in the aftermath of a Russian drone attack on Antonivka neighborhood, Kherson Oblast, in the early hours that day.
August 4: Railway infrastructure assets located in Poltava Oblast sustained damage in the aftermath of an overnight drone attack; this resulted in traffic delays that affected several trains bound for Kharkiv.
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Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said he has appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations to investigate a photo that allegedly shows the body of a Ukrainian prisoner of war tortured and executed by Russian forces. He has also asked Ukrainian authorities to verify the identity of the deceased. The photo, circulating on social media, shows the body of a person without a head or limbs.
"This is not just a violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, this is the behavior of monsters," Lubinets said in a statement on Telegram.
July 31: Ukrainian serviceman Oleksandr Ishchenko, who served as a driver for the "Azov" Regiment and was captured while defending Mariupol, died in Russian captivity in Rostov-on-Don pre-trial detention center. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets immediately contacted his Russian counterpart, Tatyana Moskalkova, requesting an investigation into Oleksandr Ishchenko’s death.
The bodies of 250 fallen Ukrainian soldiers have been brought back to Ukraine as a result of repatriation measures in line with Geneva Convention rules.
Bondo Gagnidze, a Georgian national who volunteered to fight for Ukraine, was lethally wounded while on a battlefield on Luhansk axis.
Dmytro Sirman, a renowned Chernivtsi City resident and municipal council member fell at the frontline.
WAR: POLITICAL DECISIONS, TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS, ARMAMENTS, ALLIED AID
Ukrainian home front
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky:
August 4: ordered launching of preparations for a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting regarding the involvement of neighboring countries in shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine;
July 29: visited Special Operations Forces’ units deployed on Kharkiv axis to congratulate them on their professional day and present them with state awards;
August 4: announced the arrival of F-16 fighters in Ukraine; saying this heralds the beginning of a new era in the development history of Ukraine’s Air Force;
said that Ukrainian pilots have flown 22,000 missions over the time of the full-scale war;
July 29: as part of a working tour of the Kharkiv region, visited the town of Derhachi, inspected restored apartment buildings, held a meeting with local officials regarding the security and energy situations;
July 30: made a working tour of Volyn Oblast, where he inspected fortifications construction sites and chaired a coordinating meeting regarding the security situation and measures to bolster the State border protection;
Met with businesses involved in "Made in Ukraine" initiative, said that the power supply situation would not be easy, but the government is doing its utmost to get it improved;
July 30: while on a working tour of Rivne Oblast, visited soldier patients at a hospital ward;
July 31: endorsed a legislation that empowers the government to suspend foreign debt payments until October 1, 2024;
August 4: in a ceremony celebrating Air Force Day, thanked the defenders of the Ukrainian sky for every downed Russian target, for efficiency and accuracy.
Granted an interview to several French media outlets. Here are the key highlights:
Most countries are of the opinion that the Russian Federation should attend the second edition of the Ukraine Peace Summit;
In order to bring Russian advance to a halt, Western countries must permit Ukrainian airstrikes on airfields and missile launch sites inside Russia, using the weapons they’ve donated;
If China wants to, it can force Russia to end this war;
The very fact alone of Ukrainian athletes competing in Paris 2024 Olympics is a win for Ukraine;
Speaking about the factors facilitating the Russian army’s advance, he mentioned the lack of weapons available to 14 newly organized brigades, the Russian army’s disregard for casualties among its own troops, and the lack of permission for Ukraine to strike military targets across the border into Russia using Western-supplied weapons;
After Russia's Kharkiv Oblast offensive had failed, Moscow began concentrating its efforts toward the east, "throwing everything they have" on Pokrovsk axis. "Today, they (Russian forces) are concentrating the largest number of personnel, the largest number of weapons and glide bombs, everything they have, on Pokrovsk axis”.
The Russian army has been losing a thousand soldiers dead and wounded every day in the past three to four weeks;
Potential territorial concessions to Russia in exchange for security guarantees cannot be there unless and until endorsed by the Ukrainian people, because this runs counter to the Ukrainian Constitution, and would amount to a win for Putin.
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Visits to Ukraine
July 29: The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Science of Japan, Moriyama Masahito toured Irpin and Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, paid a visit to the Nemyshaivo Vocational College;
July 29: the US special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery, Penny Pritzker visited Kyiv, accompanied by CEOs of the American companies Amentum, Clayco Inc and WestingHouse Nuclear. Mrs Pritzker met with First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko to discuss investment solicitation, training Ukrainians soldiers and the use of immobilized Russian central bank assets.
***
Cabinet of Ministers:
dismissed Ruslan Slobodian as the head of the State Energy Supervision Inspection;
August 2: Simplified procedures for the supply of defense-related goods and products across the customs border of Ukraine by allowing them to be transported through all open checkpoints. The decision is aimed to avoid complications and optimize supply logistics;
Earned UAH 3.3 billion worth of net profit, which will be directed to the Emergency Fund;
adopted a decision that will allow Ukraine to solicit EUR 50 million from the EU to pay for the repair and development of port infrastructure;
earmarked UAH 146.93 million from the Emergency Fund to pay for the construction of fortifications in the Zaporizhzhia region.
July 29: On the second anniversary of the execution of Ukrainian war prisoners who were in detention in Olenivka prison camp in the currently Russian-controlled part of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets urged the United Nations to resume investigation into deliberate murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russia.
The power supply situation in Ukraine has stabilized due to the early completion of repairs at two nuclear power plants and a drop in air temperatures.
Ukraine’s Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and Regional Director of the World Bank Bob Saum signed a new financial agreement on the first USD 3.9 billion tranche from the United States in 2024.
Over the first half of 2024, the Ministry of Defense authorized five armored vehicle brands for operational use by the country’s armed forces.
Ukraine at Paris 2024 Olympics:
Olha Kharlan won the bronze medal in the women’s fencing individual sabre;
Serhii Kulish won the silver medal in men’s three-position rifle shooting. This medal is the second for Ukraine in the Paris 2024 Olympics;
Ukraine’s women’s sabre fencing team won the country’s first gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Olha Kharlan led the team to win with a strong performance, defeating Soutrh Korea 45-32 in the final round.
August 3: President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the ministries for defense and foreign affairs to arrange for the evacuation 30 Ukrainian citizens (21 women and nine children) from Lebanon due to concerns over security situation in that country.
UAH 120.3 billion worth of extra revenues was directed to base part of the National Budget in July.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs-run lyceum specializing in security education will admit its first ever batch of 475 students for 2024/25 academic year.
JSC Ukrgazvydobuvannya of the Naftogaz Group commissioned a new high-performance well with a daily production rate of 274,000 cubic meters of gas.
A total of 884 health care establishments have been restored in Ukraine (523 fully restored plus 361 partially restored).
The Ministry of Economy has announced the launch of beta version of the Pulse platform for collecting business feedback. The purpose of the platform is to create a single digital tool for transparent relations between the Government and businesses to improve the quality of public services.
Since the beginning of the 2024/2025 marketing year, Ukraine has exported 3,440,000 tons of grain and leguminous crops, 1,280,000 tons up year-on-year.
The Ukrainian National Intellectual Property and Innovation Office has registered 'Kherson Watermelon', a new geographical indication for melons grown in the Tavria region's sandy soils, covering the Skadovsk, Kherson, and Kakhovka districts in the Kherson region. Renowned for its high sugar content and dense pulp, the watermelon is now officially recognized for its uniqueness and is a symbol of Ukrainian farmer resilience, even in war conditions.
July 30: A total of UAH 9.545 billion in revenues from an auction for placement of domestic government bonds was directed to the national budget by the Ministry of Finance.
A building materials factory owned by the brothers of former pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmakers, Viktor Medvedchuk and former MP Taras Kozak, was officially transferred to the Ukrainian state, the State Security Service (SBU) announced in a statement.
The factory, owned by Serhii Medvedchuk and Bohdan Kozak, was seized by Ukraine's Agency for Investigation and Management of Assets (ARMA) along with four SUVs and "several pieces of specialized equipment."
Both men have been accused of treason and collaboration with Russia and stripped of Ukrainian citizenship. Taras Kozak fled Ukraine in 2021, while Viktor Medvedchuk was detained and exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war in 2022. Both were charged in absentia with defrauding the state of Hr 75 million ($1.8 million) in taxes.
Allies and partners
July 29: The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package valued at up to USD 200 million to provide Ukraine with key capabilities, including: air defense interceptors; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons.
In addition, DoD announced a significant package of support using approximately USD 1.5 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds. This package includes capabilities to augment Ukraine's air defenses, fires, and anti-tank weapons, as well as funding to sustain equipment previously committed by the United States.
The United States has agreed to equip the F-16 fighter jets being sent to Ukraine with advanced American-made missiles and other modern weaponry.
The EU has rejected Hungary and Slovakia’s request for discussions on Ukraine’s Lukoil transit ban, stating the sanctions do not impact oil transit security via the Druzhba pipeline as long as Lukoil is not the oil’s formal owner.
Minister of National Defense of Turkey Yaşar Güler met with his visiting Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umyerov in Ankara to discuss bilateral defense cooperation. The talks ended up with specific deals reached.
August 4: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is starting his fourth African tour, during which he will visit Malawi, Zambia and Mauritius.
The European Commission has created a special group to prepare for the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House. The group is developing a strategy in case of a possible drastic change in Washington’s policy on free trade and support for Ukraine.
Turkey has ratified the agreement on the free trade area (FTA) with Ukraine. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan endorsed the agreement with the annexes on August 1. The Free Trade Agreement was signed on February 3, 2022. The FTA is expected to boost the bilateral trade to reach USD 10 billion within a short term.
In Florence, Italy, fiscal authorities have seized a Tuscan castle and other assets worth USD 44 million from Russian tycoon Alexei Fedorichev following a request from Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.
The seizure is part of an investigation into crimes allegedly committed by Fedorichev in Ukraine, particularly related to corruption in agricultural product supplies worth over USD 60 million.
Bulgaria has extended the humanitarian aid program for Ukrainian refugees, which was first introduced by the government of Kiril Petkov in 2022. At a meeting on July 31, the interim government endorsed a decision to extend the program until December 31, 2025, without changes.
US Vice President Kamala Harris has officially become the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, setting in November's showdown against Republican Donald Trump. The nomination took place through a virtual vote.
The United States, Great Britain, France, and Germany have issued new travel advisories urging their citizens to return immediately or avoid traveling to Lebanon. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry urged Ukrainian citizens to avoid traveling to Israel and to leave Lebanon, due to deepening tensions in the region.
August 1: Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) coordinated a historic prisoner swap between Russia and the United States,
The swap involved 26 individuals from seven countries, including the U.S., Russia, Germany, Slovenia, Poland and Belarus, sources said, adding that 10 prisoners, including two minors, were transferred to Russia, 13 others were transferred to Germany and three were transferred to the U.S.
The historic exchange included significant figures, including The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and U.S. Marine Paul Whelan imprisoned by Russia over espionage claims, Russian dissident Ilya Yashin and FSB colonel Vadim Krasikov imprisoned in Germany, and German mercenary Rico Krieger imprisoned in Belarus.
PUBLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS
July 29/ Ben Mones, the call sign "d'Artagnan", combat medic at the 3rd Assault Brigade: My blood has been yellow-blue for a long time.
July 30/ "I found myself in the army": an ex-prisoner’s first combat experience.
July 30/ Rostyslav Karandeev, interim Minister of Culture and Information Policy: Imperialist Russia’s ideology is in possessing not only territory, but also spirituality.
July 30/ "Everything here is like in Hiroshima": The situation in Toretsk through soldier’s eyes.
July 30/ Yevhen Dykiy, military and policy analyst, ex-leader of a Company within Aidar Battalion: The enemy does not have the resources left to defeat our army.
July 30/ From the USA to Moldova. Ukrainians all over the world honored the memory of Ukrainian detainees murdered by Russia in Olenivka prison camp.
July 30/ Markus Reisner, Austrian Army Colonel: Hundreds of books will be written about Ukraine's defense success, but its win depends on allies.
July 30/ Pavlo Klimkin, diplomat, former Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs: Europe has lost the understanding of security as a value.
July 31/ Losing everything except humanity: a story of a volunteer from the Mykolaiv region.
July 31/ July-2024: "Fools Season" at the UN Security Council.
July 31/ Inna Yashchuk, State Secretary at the Ministry for Internal Affairs: The goal of the Internal Affairs Ministry-run security lyceums is helping Heroes’ families.
July 31/ Alexander Schallenberg, Austria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs: Calls to Ukraine to give up part of its territory in exchange for peace are unacceptable.
August 1/ Linguicide is a component of ruscism. But we are winning.
August 1/ Toretsk, evacuation: She ran away from her parents who did not allow her to escape from the Hell.
August 1/ Farion's assassination: what the enemy failed to comprehend again.
August 1/ 100 percent downed. The heaviest drone attack of the war has failed.
August 2/ Serhiy Prytula, Andriy Shuvalov: Failures and wins of Prytula Foundation: who owns it and why it is based in the USA.
August 3/ Training in the forests: who and how is being trained to counter the enemy.
August 4/ Volodymyr, officer at B. Khmelnytskyi ELINT/SIGINT Brigade: our team detects 700-900 aerial targets every day.
Compiled by Maryna Dmytriv, Kyiv