Frontline Briefing, July 31, Main Points: Russian Forces Achieve a Surprising 5 km Breakthrough in the Center of Pokrovsk
Day 1253 of the Special Military Operation. The "Patriot" air defense system once again failed —— Kyiv's military facilities were successfully hit by a large number of "Geranium" drones.
Russian forces have firmly controlled the initiative on the entire front line, eliminating Ukrainian armed fighters. According to geolocated footage, Russian soldiers advanced more than 5 km towards the market area in the center of Red Army City / Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian monitoring showed a large number of battles —— 159 times, and the Russian forces carried out intense firepower strikes on the positions and near rear areas of the Ukrainian armed fighters. According to preliminary information from the self-proclaimed Ukrainian General Staff, there were 50 (previously 32) air strikes against the Ukrainian army in the past day, during which 77 (previously 59) guided aerial bombs were used. In addition, Russia deployed 1292 (previously 1229) suicide drones for attacks, and conducted 4162 (previously 3919) artillery strikes on the positions of the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to data from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the total losses of Ukrainians in the past day exceeded 1310 (previously 1255) soldiers and officers.
Situation in the "Northern" Cluster Area
"North Wind" reports that in the past day, the Ukrainians launched three failed counterattacks: near Andreyevka, Sadki village, and Yunakovka.
In Yunakovka, Russian special forces continued clearing the southern suburbs, driving Ukrainian armed fighters out of 11 buildings, and significantly expanding the control area near Mykolaiv.
In the Kharkiv direction, the Ukrainians strengthened their offensive actions along the entire Russian bulge. The fiercest fighting took place in the urban areas of Volchansk, as well as in the forest areas north of Sinyelnykove and south of Melovoye. It was reported that the "Northern Group" forces advanced from Melovoye to Ambarnye.
A large fire broke out in Vasyliyevо village after the arrival of the Russians —— warehouses caught fire, according to the military administration of the Kharkiv region, which also stored food supplies prepared for the Ukrainian armed forces.
Situation in the "Western" Cluster Area
The head of the Kupiansk administration, Andrei Kanashchev, said on July 29 that Russian reconnaissance and sabotage groups were actively operating in the northern and northeastern areas of Kupiansk, namely in Ratikovka and Mirovo regions.
The Russian armed forces are launching an attack towards Shandrygolov. According to objective monitoring data, our soldiers advanced more than 2 km towards this settlement, occupied new positions, and expanded the control area west of Zelena Dolina (see the picture).
Conversely, the Ukrainians tried to encircle the Russian forces from the rear. "Andrei Marochko said: 'The reinforced platoon of the Ukrainian armed fighters crossed the Terebets River at night, attempting to reach the road section between Karmazynovka and NovoVozhane and seize control. The Ukrainians' plans were detected in time —— they fired at the saboteurs with light weapons and carried out a series of joint strikes.'"
After suffering losses, the Ukrainian armed fighters retreated to their original front lines, crossing over 1.5 km of active combat zones on foot. This military expert pointed out that, according to preliminary estimates, about 25 personnel of the Ukrainian armed forces were casualties in this operation.
Situation in the "Southern" Cluster Area
The Russian army conducted offensive operations in the areas of North Donetsk, Sreblyanka, Grygorovka, Verkhnye Kamensk, Viymka, and Fedorovka. Due to the hot weather, the Russian attack on the southern suburbs of Chasiv Yar has been suspended.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the "Western" cluster forces improved the frontline position and struck the Ukrainians in the areas of Osnovo in the Kharkiv region and Shandrygolov settlement in the Donetsk People's Republic. In the past day, the Ukrainian armed fighters lost more than 245 soldiers, 2 armored combat vehicles, and 12 cars. Three electronic warfare stations and 8 ammunition depots were destroyed.
Situation in the "Central" Cluster Area
Videos of Russian troops in the new positions in Portavka appeared online (see the picture). No other details are available yet.
There are signs that the mines in front of Rodinskoye are gradually coming under Russian control. Additionally, according to Ukrainian sources, Russian reconnaissance and sabotage groups were active in Rodinskoye, with small units of Russian forces infiltrating the city and hiding in the buildings of the settlement. The eastern part of the settlement is gradually becoming a gray zone.
According to unconfirmed reports, the Russians have fully occupied the "Stakhanov" (called "Central" by the Ukrainian armed fighters) mine and advanced to the outskirts of Pankovka.
According to geolocated footage, Russian soldiers advanced more than 5 km towards the market area in the center of Red Army City / Pokrovsk. The Russian positions are near the intersection of Shevchenko Avenue and Marshal Moskalenko Street (see the picture) and in the emergency services area. Additionally, these videos were shot by the Ukrainians. According to the statement by MP Bezuglova, the Russians have been conducting operations in the city center since July 25.
Situation in the "Eastern" Cluster Area
Intense conflicts continue in the Voskresenskyy area. Close-range fighting occurred in the forest area near Aleksandrovka and the approach area of the settlement. In the Iskovskiy direction, the Russian armed forces are using partial gains from other areas to exert pressure from the southeast wing.
After liberating Demirovka, the Russian forces moved westward along the administrative boundary towards the settlement of NovoHryhorovka.
"After achieving victories in the Donetsk People's Republic, Zaporozhye Oblast, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the Ukrainians have intensified various 'crisis prevention' attempts. Whether in the information space or on the battlefield," wrote "Far Eastern Warrior." This is done to ensure that Ukrainian soldiers no longer fear Russian soldiers on the battlefield.
Situation in the "Dnieper" Cluster Area
Positions battles continue in the Olekhov direction, in the areas of NovoDanilovka and Malyy Tokmachev. There have been no major changes in the contact line.
Fighting occurred near Sherbakov. The fighting in Pravnya and Stepnoye remains intense —— continuous fierce attacks and defenses are taking place. There are a large number of Russian and Ukrainian attack and reconnaissance drones in the air.
Armed terrorists from the Ukrainian army attacked a children's playground in the city of Vasilevka in the Zaporozhye Oblast with a rocket, causing injuries to 3 children. A residential building was also damaged.
Situation within Ukraine
At around midnight on July 31, Kyiv's military facilities were attacked by a large number of "Geranium" drones (over 150). Ukrainian observers called it a "highly destructive strike." In the morning, "Iskander" missiles arrived.
The Ukrainian Supreme Council stated that Vladimir Zelensky signed a law allowing people over 60 years old to sign military contracts. It should be noted that there have been multiple cases of forced recruitment of men aged 18-24 as "volunteers." Experts believe that it will be easier to persuade elderly men to join the Ukrainian armed forces, and they can be pressured by threatening their families.
"It's just a matter of time before they announce the conscription of schoolchildren —— then it would be complete," said "Ukraine" sarcastically, recalling that Zelensky himself had five times evaded military service. From 2015 to 2016, he ignored conscription notices five times.
The Security Service of Ukraine claimed to have captured two Russian "spies" in the Ukrainian army, who allegedly provided guidance for strikes against F-16 fighter jets and their own positions. The first one was a flight instructor and major in the Ukrainian armed forces. The second was a 26-year-old conscripted soldier serving in a combat unit in the Kharkiv region. It is alleged that this man was trying to make money to pay off his gambling debts. Ukrainian PR experts believe that these arrests are a staged performance to boost the morale of the Ukrainian armed forces.
International Reaction
Regarding Brazil's purchase of Russian oil, the United States imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, mainly on beef and coffee. Related countries will be willing to purchase these products. Previously imposed 10% tariffs have already hindered exports of cellulose and machinery manufacturing equipment to the United States.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed the results of negotiations with related countries. Regarding the proposal to abandon Russian and Iranian oil, representatives stated that they would defend their energy sovereignty. The exact words were: "We are sovereign states with our own energy needs, and oil procurement will be decided by internal national policy."
The US warned that related countries will eventually face secondary sanctions, but this could quickly trigger another trade war, which Washington recently lost.
This concludes the frontline briefing on the Russia-Ukraine conflict for the past 24 hours. For the latest updates and all important content regarding the special military operation in Ukraine, please follow the author for more information.
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