Victorious news of 519th day of war: US expects Ukraine’s new push, while Russian army panics

US Secretary of Defense is confident in Ukraine's readiness for new counteroffensive phase

This is reported by CNN.

“Ukraine is well prepared and well trained to be successful, and as you heard me say last week, they fought hard, they’ve been working their way to get through the minefields and other obstacles, but they still have a lot of combat power,” Austin said.

The US Secretary of Defense did not comment on the details of the fighting or the gains made in the counteroffensive, but assured that Ukraine has been “preserving manpower and equipment,” even as their forces deliberately work their way through minefields and other obstacles.

"They still have a number of options, and we can expect that Ukraine will continue to press," Austin added.

Orthodox Church of Ukraine officially approves transition to the New Julian calendar

On Thursday, July 27, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine officially approved the transition to the New Julian calendar.

This is reported by Ukrinform.

The decision to switch was made by the priests during the Local Council of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It was held in St. Sophia of Kyiv.

Chernivtsi bans the use of Russian-language cultural products in public places

On Thursday, July 27, the Chernivtsi City Council decided to ban the public use of Russian-language cultural products in the community.

The draft law "On a moratorium on the public use of Russian-language cultural products on the territory of the Chernivtsi city territorial community" was supported by 31 deputies. It was adopted with the commission's amendments to ban the public use of Belarusian, Iranian, and other languages of states that support hostile policies against Ukraine.

In addition, it provides Ukrainian language courses for national minorities.

Thus, the mayor's office must now inform municipal enterprises and institutions, as well as legal entities and individuals, about the moratorium within a month.

Cases of desertion and self-mutilation in the Russian army have become more frequent

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported an increase in the number of desertions, abandonment of units, evasion of orders and self-injury in the enemy army.

Maliar wrote about this on her Telegram.

"Panic continues to spread among the personnel of the Russian occupation forces. There are confirmed facts of increased desertion, unauthorized abandonment of military units, evasion of orders and self-mutilation in order to avoid being sent to the territory of Ukraine," the statement says.

Ukrainian Armed Forces repel several Russian attacks in the Kupiansk sector

This was announced on July 27 by Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar.

"The enemy is attacking in the Kupiansk sector, trying to drive us out of our dominant heights. Today, our defenders repelled several attacks without losing positions," the statement says.

According to the statement, to the south of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are gradually moving forward, fighting continues in the area of Klishchiivka, Kurdiumivka and Andriivka.

"The fighting is quite fierce. The enemy is firing intensively," added Maliar.

Ukrainian defenders are repelling enemy attacks north of Bakhmut. In the Lyman sector, several enemy attacks were repelled in the area of Serebrianskyi forest.

Ukrainian aviation launches 6 strikes against the Russian forces

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff reported this. 

Over the last day, Ukrainian' aviation launched 6 strikes on the invading Russian troops' military positions, a strike on anti-aircraft missile systems and one more on the enemy control center. 

Over the day, missile and artillery units destroyed a control center and targeted a personnel concentration area, 5 artillery pieces in firing positions, a fuel and lubricant depot, as well as one enemy electronic warfare station.