It is necessary to assemble the IAEA and the UN Security Council, experts say
The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to inflict massive strikes on the military infrastructure of Ukraine. On July 20, high-precision missiles hit the deployment point of the 35th Marine Brigade in the Odessa region. As a result, more than 200 militants and more than 10 units of foreign military equipment were destroyed. On the same day, the head of the Russian military department, Sergei Shoigu, visited the Zapad group and met with its command. Experts believe that the visit of the Minister of Defense and powerful missile strikes indicate the preparation of the next phase of the special operation. Armed formations of Ukraine (VFU) on Wednesday struck with kamikaze drones at the Zaporozhye NPP. The area where the reactors are located was not affected, but experts warn that such an attack could lead to serious man-made consequences.
Ministerial Inspection
The armed formations of Ukraine are suffering heavy losses, the Russian military department says. On July 20, they told about three such episodes.
— High-precision long-range sea-based weapons struck the temporary deployment point of the 35th Marine Brigade in the village of Dachnoye, Odessa region, where reservists were trained for the Armed Forces. More than 200 personnel were destroyed, as well as more than 10 units of foreign—made military equipment," the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, said on July 20.
The aerospace forces of the Russian Federation in the village of Usatovo, Odessa region, destroyed the launcher of the US-made Harpoon missile system with precision missiles.
Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspects the Russian group of troops "West", participating in a special operation in Ukraine
Image Source: Photo: TASS/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The VKS also attacked the depot of rocket and artillery weapons of the 14th mechanized brigade of the VFU in Soledar (DPR), where they destroyed 19 armored vehicles and up to 40 nationalists.
On this day, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspected the group of troops "West" participating in a special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine. At the command post, he heard a report by the commander of the group, Lieutenant General Andrei Sychev, on the current situation and combat missions carried out in the area of responsibility.
After the report, Sergei Shoigu gave instructions: to destroy drones more quickly over the areas bordering with Russia, to harshly stop the shelling of liberated settlements, using new means of counter-battery warfare for this.
The mortar crew of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation is working in the zone of a special military operation in Ukraine
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Earlier, the Defense Minister inspected the Russian groups "South", "Center" and "East".
There is a slight lull in the special operation zone. It is explained by the fact that the troops are being replenished with personnel and equipment, military expert Vladislav Shurygin believes.
— Now preparations are underway for a new active phase of ITS, — he told Izvestia. — Sergei Shoigu's visit to the headquarters is a desire to make sure on the spot how the operation really goes. Huge resources are allocated for it, and it is necessary to understand how they are disposed of. It was a serious inspection. The minister was not traveling alone — there was a whole group with him who thoroughly checks everything. I think this visit precedes a change in what is called "activity" in military parlance. It is possible that a new phase of the special operation is ahead of us.
Two planes
Strikes on Ukrainian formations on July 20 were carried out along the entire line of contact. During the counter-battery struggle, five platoons of Grad multiple launch rocket systems of the 48th and 58th motorized infantry brigades, six artillery platoons of D-20 howitzers and nine artillery platoons of D-30 guns were destroyed during the day.
Operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery hit seven control points, including units of the 63rd mechanized and 61st infantry, 128th mountain Assault, 92nd mechanized brigades, eight warehouses with rocket and artillery weapons and ammunition and two fuel depots of the 54th mechanized the VFU brigades, the military department said.
MLRS "Hurricane" of VFU units
Image Source: Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
Russian fighters destroyed MiG-29 and Su-25 of the Ukrainian Air Force in aerial combat.
The Russian air defense system shot down four unmanned aerial vehicles and nine shells of the multiple launch rocket system "Hurricane" during the day.
— In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 259 aircraft, 143 helicopters, 1572 unmanned vehicles, 356 anti—aircraft missile systems, 4135 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 760 multiple rocket launchers, 3166 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 4410 units of automotive equipment have been destroyed, - Lieutenant General Igor listed Konashenkov.
Attacks on the Zaporozhye NPP
Ukrainian drones attacked the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) four times on July 20, the press service of the Energodar administration said.
— The last attack was recorded at 16:01, — the city authorities specified.
Earlier that day, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Main Council of the Military-civil Administration (CAA) of Zaporozhye, wrote in his Telegram channel that three kamikaze drones attacked the NPP.
— According to preliminary information, the UAVs were equipped with warheads with an explosive mass calculated in kilograms in TNT equivalent, — he specified.
According to him, the area where the reactors at the Zaporozhye NPP are located was not affected.
Power unit No. 1 of the Zaporozhye NPP in Energodar
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Nuclear power plants are not only several large buildings—boxes with reactors, but a very complex structure, Oleg Zheltonozhko, an expert in the field of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, reminded Izvestia.
— Even the attack of small drones is dangerous for her, — the expert believes. — They would not have damaged the reactors, but they could have damaged the systems that ensure their operation. In the same Fukushima reactors remained intact, and a tidal wave destroyed the cooling system. But it was enough for a serious accident to happen at the nuclear power plant.
The expert also noted that nuclear security is an extremely complex area of international relations.
— There are some informal rules that such dangerous facilities as nuclear power plants or nuclear waste storage facilities should not be involved in hostilities, — he noted. — The very fact of the attack suggests that Ukraine has crossed another red line. In principle, it is necessary to gather the IAEA and the UN Security Council in order to impose appropriate sanctions and take the strictest measures. But in the case of Ukraine, this will not happen.
Kamikaze over nuclear power plant
The strikes of Ukrainian drones on the Zaporozhye NPP are not recorded for the first time, said on July 20, the head of the National Center for Defense Management (NCSO) of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev.
In particular, on July 18, the Zaporozhye NPP was attacked by two kamikaze drones. Then one of them was destroyed on approach. It was only by a lucky chance that this attack did not lead to damage to the station's equipment and the occurrence of a man-made disaster, the head of the NCSO said.
"Once again, we call on the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international organizations to influence official Kiev and take effective measures to prevent provocations at radiation—hazardous facilities in Ukraine," Mikhail Mizintsev said.
In addition, the VFU continues to use health facilities for military purposes, the head of the NTSU said. In Konstantinovka (DPR), the nationalists have equipped strong points in the city hospital No. 1, armored vehicles and artillery are stationed in the adjacent territory. The staff and patients of the hospital are kept in the premises of the medical institution under the pretext of ensuring security and are actually used as a human shield.
In Zalizny (DPR), in the polyclinic building on Pioneer Avenue, the militants of the nationalist battalion "Aidar" have equipped barracks and firing points, the approaches to the institution are mined, but the local population has not been notified about this.
In Toretsk and Druzhkovka (DPR), units of the VFU are stationed in the buildings of medical dispensaries, armament and ammunition depots are equipped, and armored vehicles, artillery and MLRS are located on the territory adjacent to medical facilities.
In Nikolaev, the VFU equipped a strong point in the polyclinic building on Pogranichnaya Street. A large amount of military equipment is located in the immediate vicinity of the institution. At the same time, the evacuation of residents of nearby houses was not carried out.
To help the landing party
On July 20, the Ministry of Defense told about the soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication during the special operation.
The battalion tactical group of Foreman Alexander Zhmakin was liberating the settlement from the armed formations of Ukrainian nationalists when the radicals opened massive fire on it from grenade launchers, mortars and small arms. Alexander took the car out from under fire and, choosing a favorable firing position, destroyed two units of automotive equipment and more than 10 nationalists, the Defense Ministry reported.
"Thanks to the high professionalism, bold and decisive actions of Foreman Alexander Zhmakin, Russian servicemen managed to destroy a group of militants and continue the liberation of the settlement," the military department stressed.
The tactical group of Junior Sergeant Alexander Zhapov performed tasks for the logistics support of airborne units.
The armored group of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation in the zone of a special military operation in Ukraine
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
During the artillery shelling by the enemy of the paratroopers' accommodation point, Alexander, without losing his head, personally took three units of automotive equipment, a gas station attendant and a car with ammunition from the area of the shelling to a safe place.
— Thanks to the courage, determination and professionalism of Junior Sergeant Alexander Zhapov, ammunition and materiel were preserved, which made it possible to prevent the loss of equipment, property and to ensure in full the tactical landing units performing tasks to defeat the nationalists, — the Defense Ministry said.
Battalion tactical group of Corporal Rodion Zaigraev liberated the settlement from Ukrainian nationalists. When the column came under artillery fire, the chassis of Rodion's car was damaged. Under mortar fire, Zaigraev promptly fixed the malfunction, joined the battle and personally destroyed the enemy's grenade launcher crew.
"Thanks to the courage and determination of Corporal Zaigraev, all the tasks assigned to the unit were completed," the military department noted.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
