Victorious news of 538th day of war: Russia’s "fan special forces" targeted near Bakhmut, gains in Tokmak area, and more gas for Ukrainians

Two powerful gas wells were launched in Ukraine

A member of Naftogaz Group has launched two high-rate wells that produce more than 430,000 cubic metres of natural gas per day. This was reported by the press service of Naftogaz.  

"We have commissioned another well with high performance, continuing our course to increase gas production in the country. The use of the latest geological approaches, late-stage field development design, increased drilling efficiency and complex stimulation operations are the components that help us give a "second life" to old assets," said Oleksiy Chernyshov, CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Armed Forces target enemy's "fan special forces" near Bakhmut

The Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to repel an enemy counterattack in the Bakhmut sector and destroyed three enemy tanks of the latest modification. This was reported by Oleksandr Borodin, a spokesman for the 3rd Detached Mechanised Brigade, on the air of the United News marathon.

"We targeted three T-90M tanks of the latest modification (which is not so common, as they mostly try to attack with infantry)," said Borodin. It was such a rare phenomenon - the so-called "fan special forces". As far as I understand, these are CSKA fans. That is, it is a volunteer force.  They decided that they could also make a volunteer battalion, but they had no motivation."  

A boat with Russian soldiers, a tank and an infantry fighting vehicle were destroyed by drones

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are effectively using FPV drones to destroy enemy equipment. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released a video of a drone chasing a boat with the occupying Russian troops and striking it.

"Aerial reconnaissance of the 73rd Naval Centre of the Special Operations named after Otaman Antin Holovaty hit a boat with Russian occupiers with an FPV drone," the General Staff said.

Meanwhile, volunteer Serhiy Sternenko posted two videos on 15 August. One shows drones attacking a Russian infantry fighting vehicle, the other a tank.  

Ukrainian forces make progress near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhya sector

Askad Ashurbekov, a deputy of the Zaporizhzhia regional council, told Espreso TV channel that the Ukrainian forces continue to advance and liberate the temporarily occupied territory in the Zaporizhzhia sector.

"The most important thing is that our military continues to advance in the Zaporizhzhia sector. We have some tactical successes in the area of Robotyne. Also, as the General Staff has already reported, the Defense Forces are making progress near Urozhayne, which is located on the border of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. Therefore, we can state that our military is moving day by day and liberating our territory. Meter by meter, the Ukrainian army is approaching Melitopol, Tokmak and Berdyansk," Ashurbekov said.

The deputy of Zaporizhzhia regional council added that the Ukrainian army continues to strike at Russian occupiers' positions in Berdyansk.

The General Staff also confirmed the successes in Zaporizhzhia direction

"The Ukrainian army continues to conduct offensive operations in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions, consolidate their positions, and carry out counter-battery measures," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

Sweden to provide Ukraine with ammunition and spare parts for weapons systems

This was announced on August 15 by Defence Minister Paul Johnson, Reuters reports.

The package will cost 3.4 billion crowns ($313.5 million).

"We have to prepare ourselves for the fact this could be a long-lasting war and we also have a long-term perspective so that we can support those platforms that we are sending to Ukraine in a lasting manner," the minister said.

The new military aid package will be the 13th aid package that Sweden has provided to Ukraine since the beginning of the war.