Also, a number of areas in the international waters of the Black Sea are declared temporarily dangerous for navigation
From July 20, vessels heading to Ukrainian ports in the waters of the Black Sea will be considered by the Russian side as potential carriers of military cargo. The countries under whose flag they will follow will begin to be considered involved in the conflict on the side of the Kiev regime. And a number of areas in international waters are declared temporarily dangerous for navigation, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. Also on the night of July 19, the Russian armed forces attacked military industry facilities, fuel infrastructure and warehouses in the Odessa area. Experts note that the grain deal has ended, and the Russian Federation has put an end to this issue with a missile strike and the announcement of a blockade of ports. According to them, now all vessels going to Ukrainian ports will be inspected.
Forbidden ports
Due to the termination of the Black Sea initiative and the curtailment of the maritime humanitarian corridor, from 00:00 Moscow time on July 20, 2023, all vessels traveling in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be considered as potential carriers of military cargo, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
Accordingly, the countries under whose flags the violating vessels will be seen will be considered involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kiev regime, the military department noted. Also, a number of marine areas in the north-western and south-eastern parts of the international waters of the Black Sea have been declared temporarily dangerous for navigation.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Press Service of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy
Image source: iz.ru
The military department reported that the relevant information warnings about the withdrawal of safety guarantees to seafarers were issued in accordance with the established procedure.
— I think they will stop and check, if, of course, there are those who want to visit Ukrainian ports, — military expert, captain of the first rank Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia. – This is a normal practice: there is a war zone there, there have been missile strikes there for the last two days. Let's see how it will work and whether those who want to send ships there will, because this is all very serious.
Such a statement may cool the hotheads, but it is easier to destroy the port infrastructure, believes ex-Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ordzhonikidze.
— The wording "to be considered as involved in the conflict" does not in itself speak of possible consequences. On the opposite side, they may think that it is unknown whether our military will do something or not, that there is nothing special about it. Perhaps, of course, the statement made will cool someone down," he told Izvestia.
The scale was appreciated
Also on the night of July 19, the Russian Armed Forces struck military industry facilities, fuel infrastructure and ammunition depots in the Odessa region, as well as the Kanatovo airbase of the Ukrainian Air Forces in the Kirovograd region. High-precision sea- and air-based weapons were used during the attack, the Russian military department reported.
— All assigned objects are hit. The aim of the strike has been achieved," said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
The strikes on the port of Odessa mean that Russia has put an end to the grain deal, military expert Alexei Leonkov told Izvestia.
Multi-purpose fighter Su-30SM of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Valentin Kapustin
— This port has always been avoided, and they did not strike at it, — the expert explained. — The VFU, in turn, declared it a grain deal zone, and at that time they themselves stored their military equipment there, located combat boats. Now a blow has been struck — and that's it, the grain deal is closed. This was marked by powerful strikes not only on the port, but also on other military infrastructure facilities in Odessa.
The expert also noted that the ports in Ochakov and Nikolaev also have military infrastructure, so they can be hit.
— They also took something from Nikolaev, as far as I remember, - Leonkov is sure.
Also on July 19, the patrol ship "Sergey Kotov" of the Black Sea Fleet found a drifting Ukrainian mine 180 km northeast of the Bosphorus Strait. A Ka-27 helicopter was lifted into the air, the crew of which destroyed the mine with machine-gun fire, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
They took possession of the Molchanovo station
In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Western Group of Troops continued successful offensive operations in their area of responsibility, the Ministry of Defense reported on July 19.
— During the day, the advance of Russian units amounted to more than 1 km in depth and up to 2 km along the front. The advancing units captured the Molchanovo railway station in the Kharkiv region," Igor Konashenkov said.
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Air strikes and artillery fire hit the units of the VFU in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Kislovka, Berestovoye of the Kharkiv region and Novoselovskoye of the Luhansk People's Republic.
An ammunition depot of the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade was destroyed near the village of Peschanoye, Kharkiv region.
The enemy lost up to 70 servicemen, two armored fighting vehicles, three cars, Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery units (self-propelled guns) and a "Carnation" during the day. The US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar (radar) was also destroyed.
29 attacks were repelled
The VFU continued to attack in the Donetsk, Krasnolimansky and Yuzhnodonetsky strategic directions, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
— In the Donetsk direction, as a result of the coordinated actions of units of the Southern Group of Troops, air strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems, 25 enemy attacks were successfully repelled in the areas of the settlements of Belogorovka, Pervomaiske, Nevelskoye, Maryinka, Severnoye and northwest of Kleshcheyevka of the DPR, - said Igor Konashenkov.
In addition, the manpower and equipment of the VFU were affected in the areas of Seversk, Chasova Yar, Toretsk and Krasnogorovka in the DPR. In the area of Avdiivka, an ammunition depot of the 110th mechanized brigade of the VFU was destroyed.
VFU equipment
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Aleksander Ratushniak
In the Krasnolimansky direction, units of the Center group of troops repulsed four enemy attacks in the area of Karmazinovka, Shipilovka, Kremennaya and Belogorovka in the LPR.
They also inflicted fire damage to the units of the VFU in the areas of the settlements of Novosadove, Yampolovka and Serebryanka in the DPR.
In the South Donets direction, the Vostok group of troops repelled an enemy attack in the area of the settlement of Workino, Zaporozhye region.
In the Zaporozhye direction, fire damage was inflicted on accumulations of manpower and equipment of the VFU in the areas of the settlements of Novopokrovka and Malaya Tokmachka of the Zaporozhye region.
During the day, the enemy lost more than 610 servicemen and 45 pieces of equipment, including four tanks, a Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled gun manufactured by Germany and two Polish-made Krabs in the battles on the Donetsk, Krasnolimansk, Yuzhnodonetsky and Zaporizhia directions.
Rogue Gunner
The fortified area of the VFU was destroyed by our gunners in the Maryinsky direction with the help of D-30 howitzers. The work of our calculations was observed by the military correspondent of Izvestia, Semyon Eremin.
Several 122-millimeter D-30 guns were working in the fortified area.
— D-30 is a small howitzer, but evil. Now the working distance is close to the maximum, so such recoil and sound," said a correspondent from the scene.
A runaway fire is being fired at a fortified point of Ukrainian militants, which is being stormed by infantry. The shells are flying one after another. The division commander has direct radio communication with the assault group and the spotter.
According to the correspondent, in 10 minutes the gunners fired seven shells.
Operation of the D-30 howitzer of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
— The target is the enemy's fortified area. That's what we're firing at right now. This is a planned job. Fortified points, in most cases these are machine—gun calculations," the serviceman said.
The D-30 howitzers are relatively light — it is not difficult to transfer them even by helicopters to the most unexpected places.
As soon as the crew has fired 12 shells, he goes into hiding. VFU at this moment begin to look for a gun. From firing positions, the commander recalls our remaining servicemen. Ukrainian drones fly low over the forest, often a dog barking signals the approach of a UAV.
— It's A Scam. Believe it or not, the dog hears drones in the sky. If they fly close, they start barking, running," the fighters said.
The animal was found a year ago in the Popasnaya in the basement, it was injured.
— Here she has a scar from a splinter left. We went out with her, she rides with us now. The dog is smart," said a serviceman with the call sign Sarmat.
According to the correspondent, after 10 minutes our gunners resume firing. As soon as the VFU machine gunner releases a burst, land mines fly in his direction.
Ukrainian Mi-8 shot down
During the day, the losses of the VFU in the special operation zone amounted to at least 660 people and 50 pieces of military equipment, including tanks, howitzers, self-propelled guns and armored vehicles, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
In the area of the city of Zaporozhye, the base of fuel and lubricants of the VFU was destroyed. There is an ammunition depot of the 100th Theroborona brigade in the DPR.
Soldiers of the VFU
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
In the Zaporozhye region and the DPR, the actions of three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were suppressed.
The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force in an air battle near the village of Razdolnoye in the DPR.
In addition, Russian air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter near the village of Kutkovka, Kharkiv region. Five HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and 18 Ukrainian UAVs were also intercepted.
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