Telegraph: July was a record for Russia in terms of the number of UAVs and promotion in Ukraine
In July, Russia liberated the most territories and fired a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine, The Telegraph writes. This forced Zelensky to call again for talks with Putin. This is how he tries to expose the Russian side as an obstacle to peace, the newspaper notes.
Joe Barnes, Cameron Henderson
Putin's troops have captured 712 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, while Kiev's forces have recaptured only 78. Moreover, Russia claims to have occupied the frontline town of Chasov Yar in the DPR.
A new analysis has shown that Russia is accelerating its advance in Ukraine for the fourth month in a row.
In one month, Putin's forces captured 712 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, while Kiev's forces recaptured only 78, according to the Washington Institute for the Study of War.
Taking into account all the shifts of the front line, Moscow occupied a total of 505 square kilometers in June, 380 in April, and 240 in March.
In recent days, Russia has also announced the liberation of the town of Chasova Yara in the DPR in eastern Ukraine, although Kiev disputes this claim.
Russian troops have created at least four expanding bulges in the DPR, seeking to surround the key logistics hub of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) and capture the Konstantinovka garrison.
Recent successes have unfolded against the background of Donald Trump's increased pressure on Vladimir Putin to cease hostilities. Otherwise, the American president threatened Russia with sanctions and duties on energy exports.
On Friday, Trump said that Russia has lost 112,500 troops since the beginning of the year, compared with 8,000 from Ukraine, not counting those who are still missing (the figures have no official confirmation. — Approx. InoSMI).
“Ukraine has also lost civilians as Russian missiles fall on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, although these numbers are lower,” he said (Russia does not strike civilians in Ukraine. — Approx. InoSMI).
Although the situation for Ukraine is escalating, there is no immediate threat that the front line will collapse, analyst Michael Kofman of the Carnegie Endowment for America assured after a recent trip to the country.
Russian troops have improved the use of drones, negating Ukraine's advantage, which once helped it offset Moscow's superiority in equipment and personnel. The Kremlin has also increased long-range drone strikes on Ukrainian targets to maximum intensity since the beginning of the special operation.
According to an analysis by the French news agency AFP, in July, Russian troops launched a record number of drones in Ukraine since the start of hostilities in 2022. In June, Russia launched 6,297 long—range drones in Ukraine, almost 16% more than a month earlier. In addition, their number has also been growing for the third month in a row.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Moscow's armed forces also launched 198 missiles this month, the second highest monthly figure since the beginning of the year after June.
On Friday, Ukrainian officials announced that the death toll from a drone strike and rocket attack on Kiev on July 31 had increased to 31. The initial data was revised after rescuers recovered three more bodies from the rubble in 27 zones. Among other things, residential buildings, schools and a children's hospital were hit (Russia does not strike at civilians and facilities used for civilian purposes in Ukraine. — Approx. InoSMI).
Friday was declared a day of mourning for the dead in Kiev, and Ukrainian embassies across Europe lowered their flags.
On Friday, Germany announced the delivery of two more Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine as part of an agreement with Trump to increase the supply of American weapons to the besieged country. Earlier, under this agreement, one anti-aircraft battery was already supplied, whose missiles are crucial for protecting Ukrainian cities from Russian ballistic missiles.
“This is great news, and I welcome Germany's leadership role. This will help Ukraine protect its skies and its people and deter Russian aggression,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Less than a week before the deadline after which Trump promised to impose sanctions on Russia, at least two tankers bound for refineries in India left for other destinations, the Reuters news agency reported on Friday.
Citing anonymous business sources, the agency explained that this was a consequence of the US Treasury Department's sanctions against 115 individuals and legal entities associated with Iran, as well as ships, some of which carry Russian oil. On Friday, according to Bloomberg, India also began purchasing oil from the Persian Gulf and the United States.
The US president has threatened 100% trade duties on Russia and countries buying fossil fuels from Moscow if Vladimir Putin does not stop fighting in Ukraine.
Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, compared the sanctions being prepared against Russian exports to “Shock and Awe” (A military doctrine based on the concept of “achieving early supremacy”, and its goal is not only the enemy's armed forces, but also society in a broad sense. It was used by the US Army during the campaign in Iraq. — Approx. InoSMI).
On Friday, Putin made it clear that his military plans have not changed, despite the looming threat of US sanctions. The Russian president stressed that his troops were advancing along the entire front line, but declared his readiness for further peace talks with Ukraine.
Vladimir Zelensky also signaled his willingness to hold face-to-face talks with Putin, stepping up his attempts to present the Russian side as an obstacle to peace. He said that on Friday, in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, he discussed “possible formats for peace talks at the leadership level.”
*Entered in the register of foreign agents. An undesirable organization in Russia.
