Wednesday’s significant assault in the southern Zaporizhzhia province seems to indicate that Ukraine has begun a more aggressive phase of its so far slowly-evolving counteroffensive intended to retake territory from Russian occupation.
The major attack near the town of Orikhiv, led by three battalions, was reportedly repulsed, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Nevertheless, Vladimir Rogov, a Kremlin-appointed official in the strongly defended area, said on social media that “the second wave of the counteroffensive has begun,” pointing out that the Ukrainians were riding tanks given by the West.
According to Pentagon sources, a revived Ukrainian offensive is begun, supported by new reinforcements that include numerous soldiers who have received Western training, according to the New York Times. This comes after nearly two months of primarily searching for Russian weak areas. The officials disclosed information about the effort under the condition of anonymity.
When asked about the scant progress Ukraine has made, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby responded, “They are moving, it’s not a stalemate,” at a press briefing at the White House on Wednesday. They aren’t simply frozen. The Ukrainians are on the move.
Officials from Ukraine were vague about the most recent offensive. In his nightly video message, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “By the way, today our men at the front had extremely good results. Good work. Later, more information.
◾ According to the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation, a former head of a now-banned pro-Russian political organization has been charged with high treason. According to investigators, Vadym Rabinovych disseminated anti-Ukrainian propaganda both domestically and among EU political figures.
Kirby stated that efforts are being made by the US, Ukraine, and its allies to develop ways to export Ukrainian agricultural products through land, but that this method is not as effective. It doesn’t work. Land routes don’t allow for as much or as quick of movement.
◾ Russia’s embassy in Moldova was instructed to deport 45 of its more than 80 employees by August 15. According to the ministry, the choice was made as a result of “many hostile actions” and Russian attempts to destabilize the nation.
◾ Vasyl Malyuk, the chief of the Ukrainian Security Service, admitted on state television on Wednesday that his organization was behind the attack in October that severely damaged the Kerch Bridge connecting Russia and the Crimean peninsula held by the Kremlin. This was a rare acknowledgement of a covert operation by a Ukrainian official.
◾ Authorities in Ukraine are looking into allegations that Yury Aristov, a member of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party and vice-chairman of the national security committee of parliament, visited the Maldives in the middle of July despite a restriction on government officials visiting other countries for pleasure.
African leaders forego the summit; Russia attributes it to US pressure
Due to obvious concerns over Moscow’s audacious invasion of Ukraine, a scaled-down Russian summit of African leaders scheduled to take place Thursday in St. Petersburg is expected to draw only half as many heads of state as a comparable conference four years ago.
One of the key issues at the event will be Russia’s departure from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was a lifeline for grain supplies from the Ukraine to several African countries.
The National Security Council’s John Kirby told reporters at the White House, “I sure hope Mr. Putin is prepared to be honest with African leaders about the effect this is having or could have on” their nations.
Less than half of the 49 participating nations will be represented by heads of state this year, down from 43 at the first summit four years ago, said Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser. The West is to responsible for the low attendance, according to the Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said that the United States, France, and other countries applied “unprecedented pressure” on African leaders to boycott the meeting.
Reiterating his previous statement, Peskov said, “(we) will continue the discussion on the grain deal, which has stopped to operate, regarding the reasons for this.
Ukrainian pilots will train in Denmark and Romania for the F-16
Although many details are still under wraps, information regarding the intentions to train Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets is beginning to leak out.
Some of the training, according to Kirby, will take place in Denmark and Romania. According to Kirby, other places are also being examined. “The dates, locations, and length of the syllabus, that’s still being worked out.
After years of reluctance, the Biden administration said in May that it would allow its partners to give Ukraine the American-made jets, while emphasizing that they were intended for mid- and long-term security needs and would not be used in the present counteroffensive.
Some Ukrainian pilots are receiving English language instruction as part of their training, according to Kirby, “so they can actually operate the controls in an F-16.”
