Day 929 of the war began with a new massive drone attack by the Russians on Kyiv, the fifth this month. The aerial raid on the capital lasted over an hour, but the air defense managed to destroy all drones that approached the capital.
During the night, Russia attacked Ukraine with three missiles and eight drones. The air defense shot down two missiles and six drones. The other targets disappeared from radar screens due to Ukrainian jamming.
A teenage girl was killed as a result of Russian artillery bombardments on the city of Nikopol. And the city of Kharkiv was the target of a guided bomb attack launched by the Russians during the night. Several houses and a garage were damaged, but no casualties were reported.
On the front lines, Russian troop attacks continue, especially in Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Toretsk. According to a military analysis channel, the Russians reportedly occupied a village in the Donetsk region last night.
Aware of the lack of favorable prospects on the front and facing the risk of reduced military aid from key allies, Volodymyr Zelensky is working on a unilateral roadmap that aims to end the war this autumn. He is banking on international pressure on Russia to achieve peace on terms acceptable to Kyiv, as stated in an EFE analysis.
Until peace is achieved, Ukraine is building underground ammunition depots to supply the army with weapons in case of delays in military deliveries from Western countries.
Tens of thousands of Russians who arrived in Serbia as early as 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, have founded a mini-Russia in this country. They have opened clubs, kindergartens, or medical offices in their adoptive country, buy Russian food from Russian stores, Russian bands, soloists, and comedians offer them shows, and Russian artists exhibit their works in galleries owned by compatriots.
And Moscow is making more money from oil and gas, so the Russian Ministry of Economy has improved its forecasts for 2024 and 2025 regarding these exports, due to a more positive price outlook.
Frontline Situation
- Massive Drone Attack on Kyiv - Kyiv was targeted last night by a fifth massive Russian drone attack since the beginning of September, but the air defense destroyed all UAVs posing a threat to the Ukrainian capital, reports Ukrainska Pravda. "The fifth aerial attack on Kyiv since the beginning of September! Last night, the Russian army once again used attack UAVs, Shahed type, launched from the Kursk region," announced Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration. "Drones hit Kyiv after midnight in several waves," the official specified. He added that the aerial raid on the capital lasted over an hour. According to him, all Russian attack drones threatening Kyiv were destroyed on the outskirts of the capital by the air defense forces and means. Preliminary data indicate that there were no damages or casualties in the city.
- Drones and Missiles Destroyed - Russia attacked Ukraine last night with three Kh-59/69 missiles launched from Kursk and Donetsk and eight Shahed drones. The air defense shot down two missiles and six drones. Two drones and one of the missiles disappeared from radar screens on Ukrainian territory due to jamming, announced the Ukrainian Air Force. The air defense operated in the regions of Kyiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk.
- Girl Killed in Nikopol - A 16-year-old girl was killed as a result of Russian artillery bombardments on the city of Nikopol, announced Serhii Lisak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, as reported by Ukrinform. He stated that the girl was rescued from the rubble by rescue teams but suffered injuries that proved fatal. Three other people, a 79-year-old man and two women aged 74 and 66, were injured in the attack. The attack mainly targeted residential areas, causing significant damage to people's homes. According to reports, the Russian army fired nearly ten shells.
- Guided Bomb Attack in Kharkiv - The city of Kharkiv was targeted during the night by a guided bomb attack launched by the Russians. Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced on Telegram that a bomb fell in the Kyivskyi district, damaging several houses, and a garage caught fire, but no casualties were reported, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
- Russians Seize a Village - Russian troops have occupied the village of Vodiane in the Donetsk region, reported DeepState. According to the latest information obtained by this military analysis group on Telegram, the Russians are advancing towards the town of Hrodivka.
- Attacks in Pokrovsk - In the last 24 hours, Russian forces have launched 164 attacks on Ukrainian positions, with the majority reported in the frontline sectors of Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Toretsk, announced on Monday by the Ukrainian General Staff. According to the source, the Russians initiated 73 airstrikes on Ukrainian positions and populated areas, launching 94 air-guided bombs and using multiple rocket launcher systems (MLRS) 190 times.
Developments in Russia
- Moscow Adjusts its Calculations - The Russian Ministry of Economy has improved its forecasts for 2024 regarding oil and gas exports, key sources of budget revenues, by $17.4 billion compared to the previous estimate, reaching $239.7 billion, due to a more positive price outlook. According to a document seen by Reuters, Russian oil exports are expected to increase to 239.9 million tons (4.8 million barrels per day) this year, up from 238.3 million tons in 2023. The Ministry also expects the average price of Russian oil sold for export to rise this year to $70 per barrel, a $5 upward revision from an estimate made in April. Natural gas prices have also been revised upwards, both for sales to Europe and China. The forecast has also been raised for 2025, to $236.5 billion, from $226.2 billion in the previous forecast.
- Crashed Plane - A light aircraft Alex-251 crashed during a test flight in the Moscow region. Both pilots died, reported Nexta.
Other Relevant Information
- Zelensky Aims to End the War This Autumn - Volodymyr Zelensky is working on a unilateral roadmap that aims to end the war this autumn. He is banking on international pressure on Russia to achieve peace on terms acceptable to Kyiv, as stated in an EFE analysis. Zelensky has detailed an agenda in which the most solid element for now is the so-called "victory plan," an agenda he has started to share with his key partner, the USA. As explained by the Kiev leader, the idea is to deliver the document to the three - Biden, Harris, and Trump - in September. "The main point of this plan is to force Russia to end the war," he said. One of the main assets to achieve this, he said, will be the success of the Ukrainian operation in the Russian Kursk region. In parallel with presenting this plan to his partners, Kyiv is preparing to host a second Peace Summit by the end of the year - unlike what happened in the first edition of this event held in June in Switzerland without Russian representation - considering inviting Russia.
- Underground Ammunition Depots in Ukraine - Ukraine is building underground ammunition depots to supply the army with weapons in case of delays in military deliveries from Western countries, said Volodymyr Zelensky at the International Economic Forum. "We are building underground depots for the production of weapons so that Ukrainian soldiers can defend themselves even when deliveries from our partners are delayed," said Zelensky. Building underground depots will keep the weapons away from Russian attacks, he added.
- Mini-Russia in Serbia - Tens of thousands of Russians have arrived in Serbia as early as 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, and their presence is strongly felt in Belgrade, a city with less than two million inhabitants, Reuters reported on Monday. The Russians have opened clubs, kindergartens, or medical offices in their adoptive country, buy Russian food from Russian stores, Russian bands, soloists, and comedians offer them shows, and Russian artists exhibit their works in galleries owned by compatriots. From February 2022 to mid-2023, over 30,000 Russians declared temporary residence in Serbia, according to the most recent data released by the Ministry of the Interior in Belgrade. Serbian officials did not provide data for the previous similar period, but stated that the number has increased significantly. Meanwhile, according to the Serbian trade register, Russians have opened over 11,000 companies in the country, with business activities ranging from online services to tourist accommodation and sports schools.
- NATO's Reaction to Russian Drones Entering Romania - NATO condemns Russia's violation of Romanian airspace following the incident with drones on Saturday night to Sunday, but states that there is no information indicating an intentional attack by Moscow, reports The Guardian. "NATO condemns Russia's violation of Romania's airspace. Although we do not have information indicating Russia's intentional attack against allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous," wrote on X Mircea Geoană, NATO's resigning Deputy Secretary-General.
- Germany Accuses Russian Military Espionage - Germany's domestic intelligence agency has warned that a group of hackers from Unit 29155 of Russia's military intelligence service (GRU) has launched cyberattacks against NATO and EU countries. Details HERE.
- Revelations about the "Victory Plan" - Volodymyr Zelensky stated that during a meeting with a delegation from the US Congress he had in Italy, he discussed "certain details" of his victory plan for Ukraine, which will be fully presented this month to US President Joe Biden, as well as presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. "And we will present all the stages to the American President Biden and both presidential candidates - Trump and Harris - in full," Zelensky told his compatriots in Sunday night's video speech. The Ukrainian President is expected to visit the United States this month on the occasion of the UN General Assembly. He also thanked Romania again, which decided to donate a Patriot system to Ukraine.