Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive in Kherson may prevent Russia annexing the region - ISW

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

As the experts of the Institute note, they cannot properly assess which of the parties is responsible for the destruction of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the occupied Olenivka, but they assume that the available evidence "confirms the claims of Ukraine more than the Russians".

"At this time, ISW cannot confidently assess the nature of the event or responsibility for it. We will update our assessment when additional information becomes available", the institute's experts said.

Key Takeaways: 

• Ukraine and Russia are blaming each other for the attack on Ovenivka, Donetsk region. Available visual evidence appears to support the Ukrainian claim more than the Russian, but ISW cannot independently assess the nature of the attack or the party responsible for it at this time.

• Ground fighting continued north of Kharkiv City with no significant change in control of terrain.

• Russian forces attempted a limited ground assault in Kherson Oblast and continued conducting combat operations without creating strike groups along occupied lines.

• Russian regional outlets reported the recruitment and establishment of an additional volunteer battalion in the Republic of Buryatia and the formation of a reserve battalion in Novosibirsk.

• Members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party traveled to occupied Ukrainian territories to promote an organization called “We Are Together with Russia,” likely to present the façade of a “grassroots” call for the Russian annexation of occupied Ukraine and to prepare for falsified annexation referenda.

The reference of the institute states that on July 29, a member of the United Russia party Oleg Melnychenko opened a "humanitarian office" "We are Together with Russia" in Tokmak, Zaporizhia region.

It is also noted that the possibility of a Ukrainian counteroffensive on occupied Kherson may hinder Russian attempts to prepare for referendums on annexation and force Kherson residents to register with Russian passports.