Zelenskyy's ambiguous decision on military recruitment chiefs, advances in Zaporizhzhia region: weekly military summary

Russian propaganda is looking for ways to reduce the impact of strikes on Moscow

Moscow continues to be hit by unmanned aerial vehicles. This fits into the general concept - the enemy must feel that the war is being moved to its territory. The population of the aggressor country must know that there is and will be a response. Now, by scaling up strikes on Russian targets and decision-making centers, we are having a significant impact on the mood of the aggressor and its army. I think this practice will continue. On the other hand, we can once again state that the ability of Russian air defense to protect the capital is not that strong. The systematic use of drones does not lead to the strengthening of air defense.This is another problem of the Russian army. The Russian population sees and feels it. This practice is superimposed on the scaling up of the production of drones for various purposes. We will wait for it to continue. Because of these explosions and strikes, the Russian media space has begun to shrink and block some of the things that everyone sees. Apparently, they are looking for options to reduce the impact on Russian society. I hope it will soon begin to respond to the reality that surrounds it.

Suspension of all regional military recruitment chief is an ambiguous decision

If we are talking about replacing all military commissars, we assume that all of them are dishonest. This casts doubts on the functioning of the entire network related to the staffing of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. This is a controversial decision from the point of view that everyone was doing this task incorrectly. We are crossing a line that raises questions. This means that it was necessary to take the work of military enlistment offices more seriously in the past to avoid problems of this magnitude. On the one hand, we should welcome qualitative changes in the leadership of military enlistment offices, but on the other hand, the general approach that everyone is to blame does not reflect the real situation. There may be a question of one official being replaced by another, but the system itself remains rather inert - when we talk about medical commissions, treatment of the military after injuries. There is a whole range of systemic problems that are not being solved. We need to dig much deeper and make decisions that will change the system for the better - on a larger scale than replacing one military commissar with another. The assignment to Zaluzhnyi is a demonstrative political decision, and I think a direct order could have been avoided. Perhaps there are other nuances behind these statements that influence the statements of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Crimea and Kherson region: Ukrainian Armed Forces destroy logistics and raid the left bank of the Dnipro River

A number of strikes on the Crimean logistics were carried out by Storm Shadow missiles - both on the crossing near Arabat Spit and near Chongar. The occupiers say that it may take a month or more to repair the Chongar bridge. De facto, the system of operation of the Storm Shadow missile provides such precision and power in critical areas of the bridge structure that the repair will take so long. This will really affect the logistics of the enemy grouping - after a while we will see it on the front line. And when they do some repair work or build a pontoon crossing, I think the Ukrainian Armed Forces will strike, making it impossible to use this structure in the future.

The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces conducted effective raids on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson region. They caused Russia's losses and captured prisoners. This is not to say that they are creating a bridgehead for the transfer of forces or the accumulation of equipment. In these circumstances, the approach to crossing the Dnipro and creating a bridgehead is an extremely difficult logistical issue. I don't think we should link the actions of the Special Operations Forces with the creation of a bridgehead. This distracts the enemy's forces, making them move troops to the area. This is an important element of undermining the Russian defense. When it comes to using this area as a bridgehead, it will happen after a qualitative change in the situation on the Zaporizhzhia front.

An important area in the south, no activity in Bakhmut 

We have two sections in the southern direction - the direction to Robotyne-Verbove. There are videos and photos of the Ukrainian military near Robotyne. This is an extremely important area - it is connected with the advance and consolidation of the first line of defense. We know that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are fighting between Robotyne and Verbove - the Russian army is trying to counterattack. The General Staff does not report on the line of change around Robotyne. The dynamics of the Ukrainian brigades' actions is such that the Russian enemy will be pushed out of both Robotyne and Verbove. Everything is going to that point.

There is now a significant grouping of Ukrainian troops in the area of Bakhmut. Over the past two or three days, the Russian forces have also begun to move reserves to strengthen their positions in the south and north. For the Russians, this is a political issue. They cannot leave Bakhmut, so the Ukrainian Armed Forces are using this to destroy the grouping that they are deploying. Ukraine's military says that the Russian army comes well prepared and well equipped. They are now using tanks for assault operations. On August 10, four tanks were destroyed by drones.

The Russian troops are trying to hold the line, but Ukrainian defenders are actively destroying them. There are no advances or changes on the front lines in the south and in the north. This suggests that the intensity of the fighting is extremely high, but the strength of both sides does not allow anyone to change the situation in their favor. I think the dynamics will change over time. The accumulation of forces on Ukraine's side or the active use of artillery will lead to the fact that fire control over Bakhmut will be ensured, as it is now. The Russian enemy will continue to feel trapped in the city.

The front line remains unchanged in the Kupyansk direction

Kupyansk direction. The issue of evacuation of citizens from 40 settlements emerged lately. Not everyone wants to leave. This does not mean that the Russian army will come there. However, there are three enemy artillery brigades in the area, which will be used, in particular, to attack settlements. Resettling Ukrainian citizens and children is an extremely important decision. I think people will understand this, despite some not really wanting to leave.

The Russian army has now intensified hostilities along the contact entire line from Kupyansk to Svatove and Kreminna. There are no changes on the front line. Why do the Russians want to capture Kupyansk? There are two roads - Kupyansk - Svatove - Kreminna. Part of it is used to supply Ukrainian units. The other is a rocky road from Kupyansk along the Oskil River. It is also used for supply. A week ago, the Russian troops tried to act with the main forces along the line from Svatove to Borova.There were tank attacks. Russia's foothold around Karmazynivka is shrinking. Now Russia has shifted its center of gravity to attacks around Kupyansk. I think that the Russians' efforts will continue, but the Ukrainian army has also moved a certain amount of forces and equipment there, including artillery brigades. I think that the enemy's advance is extremely difficult in this area, although they will try to influence this front line.

TAURUS missiles are important, but not a miracle weapon

The situation with the German TAURUS missiles remains weird and complicated. In recent days, publications in the foreign press have been controversial. Some say they are giving them, or they are not giving them, or they need to be reprogrammed so that they do not hit Russian territory. Or it will be given when the Americans give ATACMS. This story continues. I hope that the Germans will continue to postpone for a long time and then eventually make a decision to supply these missiles. This is an important weapon, but not a miracle one. The main thing is that the Ukrainian army should have more of these long-range systems. These are quantitative indicators that increase the potential of the Armed Forces to destroy Russia's targets in the deep rear.