2024-08-05 07:44:40
For the first time since the start of the war, Ukraine has the upper hand over Russia in long-range drone strikes, according to Forbes calculations. The publication reported, citing the announcements of the authorities of the two belligerents, that in July the Russians used 426 drones of the Shahed type, and the Ukrainians – 524 long-range drones of various types. Ukraine is significantly increasing the production of its developments of this type of drones, and according to publicly available data alone, it has more than 22 models.
In the past month, Ukrainian drones have damaged air bases, oil depots and refineries, as well as energy facilities, according to videos, photos and social media posts, which are also confirmed by satellite images. In one of the attacks, the military base “Olenya”, located 1,800 km from the border with Ukraine, was hit, and it was described as one of the most impressive since the beginning of the war.
Strikes in Russia’s rear – on air bases, logistics, the places from which missiles and drones are launched, can help Ukraine end the war on its terms, commented in his evening address on the occasion of the 892nd day since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He again called on the West to allow the use of their missiles for these operations to make them more effective.
The Ukrainian Air Force destroyed most of the drones launched in July – 90%, Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko also points out. He also notes that in July, the Russians used 426 drones, of which 382 were shot down. The most successful day for the Air Force of Ukraine was July 31, when all air targets were destroyed in one of the most massive drone attacks of 2024 – 89 drones and 1 X-59 missile.
The Shehed drones used by Russia are around the average for the month – 350 ± 10%, Kovalenko also points out and adds that there is an increase in the number towards the end of the month. Regarding the missiles used by Russia in July, the figures show that just over half (58%) were shot down. According to the Air Force of Ukraine, 112 missiles were launched, below the average for the month, of which 65 were destroyed. At least two of the missiles fell for no reason and without exploding.
The most massive attack was on July 8, when Kiev was targeted and an X-101 missile hit the city’s children’s hospital.
In July, Russia launched the supersonic “Zircon” over the territory of Ukraine, which the Air Force did not manage to shoot down, but they have one shot down “Kinzhal” missile in July.
Kovalenko sets a record for the use of kamikaze drones on the battlefield – at least 11,000. Most of them are Chinese-made. Beijing plans to ban the export of drones that can be used for combat and terrorist attacks from September 1, and if this happens, a reduction in the number of drones in use can be expected.
The Russian submarine “Rostov on Don” was sunk in the attack on Sevastopol
The Russian submarine “Rostov-on-Don” was sunk during the attack on Crimea on the night of August 2, the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced. From there they also confirmed that four S-400 installations located on the peninsula were destroyed in the strike.
This is the second hit on “Rostov-on-Don” in the last 11 months – she was damaged in a missile attack on the shipyard in the port of Sevastopol in September 2023.
British Storm Shadow missiles are believed to have been used then. According to reports by Moscow-appointed authorities in Crimea, ATACMS missiles were used in the attack on the night of August 2. Satellite images confirm damage to parts of the harbor where the submarine was currently located, but there is no independent confirmation whether it is actually already completely destroyed.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces also confirmed the attack on the airport in Morozovsk (Rostov Region) in the early hours of August 3. Satellite images also show the complete destruction of warehouses in which, according to the Ukrainian military, munitions, including aerial bombs, were stored. Analysts note that based on the photos, it is not possible to give an assessment of damage to the planes, which by that time had already been moved.
In the massive drone attack on Saturday, an oil base in the Belgorod region was also hit, and there are reports of damage to bases in the Voronezh and Kursk regions.
According to the Ukrainian military, the Russian military is transferring reserves from the Luhansk region to the Kharkiv region – near Hliboke, Vovchansk, Staritsa and Tyche. Over the past 24 hours, six direct combat clashes have been registered in the region, according to the report of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the 892nd day since the beginning of the full-scale war.
The most intense for another day are the battles in the Pokrovsk direction, but also without serious progress of the Russians in the last 24 hours. 45 combat clashes were registered – mainly around Zhelane. Fighting is also active near Novoselivka Persha, Kalinove, Ivanivka and Yasnobrodivka. Ukrainian military reports that the Russian military leadership is directing all free forces – from Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, especially around Berdyansk and Mariupol, into the region.
It continues and pushes towards Chasov Yar, where the efforts of the Russians are concentrated in the Kramatorsk direction. 20 attacks were registered in the Toretsk area, but without a serious change in the front line. The attacks are mainly aimed at Toretsk, New York and Zalizne.
Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces registered 140 direct combat clashes and 49 airstrikes, in which 62 aerial bombs were used. Airstrikes and aerial bombs used are below the daily average. Last week until Saturday, more than 600 such bombs were dropped over Ukraine – on positions of the Ukrainian military on the front line and on populated areas near the hostilities.
As of 6:00 a.m. on August 4, there is one ship on combat duty in the Black Sea, which is also the carrier of “Caliber” missiles with the potential power of a salvo of four missiles. There are no warships on duty in the Sea of Azov, and there are two in the Mediterranean, one of which is a missile carrier capable of firing 16 Caliber missiles.
Crimea under fire
Russia was forced to withdraw its Black Sea Fleet from its main base in Sevastopol after the continuous attacks by naval drones and anti-ship missiles, as well as the Western Storm Shadow missiles, which Kiev received last summer. It seems that the continued attacks on the peninsula may force the Russians to redeploy the combat aviation that is located in Crimea.
According to the spokesman of the military command “South” Dmytro Pletenchuk in the unified news program of the Ukrainian televisions, there are five air bases on the peninsula, 2 of which no longer have planes. It was entirely possible they were temporarily on a mission elsewhere, he allowed, however. In Ukraine, they also note the relocation of part of the air defense systems to Kerch and the Crimean bridge, which is an indication of what the Russian military expects in the coming months.