🇺🇦 Overnight and into Wednesday morning, Ukraine repeatedly struck the Antonivsky bridge. This is confirmed by both Ukrainian and Russian officials.
🇺🇦 The bridge links Kherson with other Russian-held areas in southern Ukraine across the Dnipro river and is used by Moscow to resupply the city and forces stationed there.
🇺🇦 Video shared on Russian Telegram channels showed severe damage to both sides of the bridge, rendering it impassable for vehicle traffic.
🇺🇦 The installed pro-Russian government is trying to reassure the population that everything is okay and not to panic
🇺🇦 The bridge is one of two crossings over the river that Russia uses to transport personnel and equipment to territories it occupies.
🇺🇦 "Retreat or be annihilated” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said via Twitter. “The choice is theirs."
🇺🇦 The bridge was purposefully not destroyed; just damaged enough to make it unusable.
🇺🇦 Pictures: Antonivsky bridge before and after
🇺🇦 Note: this bridge had been targeted for the past 7 or so days. Reporting said this was HIMARS but evidence suggests this wasn’t HIMARS.
🇺🇦 Zelensky stated "Whatever their plans are, we will ruin them," then stated the bridge will be reconstructed once the territories are liberated
🇺🇸 This week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a "substantial proposal" regarding the release of two U.S. citizens illegally detained by Russia, Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner.
🇺🇦 For fans of the Russian Orthodox Church subplot: Lithuania banned entry to Patriarch Kirill, who was added to the undesirable list because he deliberately denies the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. He will not be able to visit Lithuania until June 23, 2027. This is via the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Lithuania
🇺🇦 For fans of the resistance subplot: A car with 2 Russia's collaborators blew up in occupied Kherson. According to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Intelligence Directorate, as a result of the attack on a car with alleged collaborators, one person was killed and one was hospitalized in Russian-occupied Kherson. The explosion was prepared by the local resistance movement.
🇺🇦 For fans of Russia shooting down their own aircraft subplot: Russia shot down their own Ka-52 helicopter
🇺🇦 Italy expects to become independent of Russian gas in 2024.
🇺🇦 Ukraine stole a Russian fuel truck. They gave the fuel at a hospital, which allowed the hospital to run for a full week.
🇺🇦 Russia threatened a harsh response if the west increases weapon supplies
🇺🇦 Ukrainian electricity will allow EU to replace 5-6 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia
🇺🇦 The United States plans to deliver more HIMARS systems to Ukraine “as quickly as possible,” the U.S. Department of Defense said in a press release on July 26.
🇺🇦 Germany will sell 100 howitzers to Ukraine. I can’t keep up with Germany’s position in assisting Ukraine.
🇺🇦 One of the “most effective Ukrainian pilots” and Hero of Ukraine awardee, Oleksandr Kukurba, was killed in action during his 100th mission, President Zelensky said in his July 27 update. “He is a true Ukrainian hero, who we will remember forever,” Zelensky wrote. Ukraine already said there wasn’t a Ghost of Kyiv, but if there was one, this was the guy
🇺🇦 The U.S. Air Force is sending six F-22 Raptor jets to Poland. The latest jet supply will aid “the mission to deter Russian aggression on the alliance’s eastern flank.” Strengthening defenses in Europe was one of the topics of the recent NATO summit in Madrid. (Via Stars and Stripes)
🇺🇦 23 Kharkiv Oblast settlements liberated since May.
🇺🇦 Russia is trying to use negotiations to disrupt Ukraine’s counter offensive in the south. Russia’s messaging is aimed at creating an impression that it is Ukraine that is not willing to negotiate. Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko says that Russia is trying to buy more time to annex Ukrainian land.
📢 Countries apply to be in NATO. NATO is a defense alliance that has never, and does not, consider offensive operations. Saying NATO is encroaching on Russia is Kremlin messaging. Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the first.
📢 Yes, Ukraine has a nazi problem, but it’s a very small percentage of the country, and not representative of the whole. Using a small group to smear the entire group is called “guilt by association.” Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the second.
📢 If you ever hear anyone say “What about this thing America did…” in an effort to redirect attention away from Ukraine and onto the west, that is called “Competitive victimhood” and the associated meme is *always* created by Russian-backed media. Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the third.
⚠️ Sorry about the typos or awkward sentences!!!! This is the inevitable result of putting out a finalized research product once every 24 hours, with no staff. If anyone feels like giving me staff, we can polish this b right up!
⚠️ I got lazy with my citations and I apologize. My top sources are: Current and former military planners, singularly-focused pundits, and all manner of vetted open-source intelligence. Top cited open source pundits and sources include: CP Scott, Institute for the Study of War, Kyiv Independent, and mainstream news with high levels of journalistic integrity and track records. Sadly I can’t source private individuals, of course.
⚠️ Speaking of sources, thanks to all of you who have forwarded me tips or given me data from the front line. You’re the private individuals I wish I could source publicly
⚠️ Though my awesome employer taught me everything I know about OSINT, these posts are not affiliated with my employer, nor done during my employer’s time. Every item I report is from my own research, my own opinion, and written during my own time.
⚠️ Note: War happens fast and even high fidelity news needs a ton of corrections after the dust settles.
🇺🇦 Sorry to my Substack readers who get this weird “ua” symbol instead of a flag emoji!