Ukraine War Update NEWS
Table of Contents 📖
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"It has been really throughout the war, an artillery war. It has been a war that Ukraine has had to fight without air advantage, let alone air superiority, let alone air supremacy."
Hello Team!
Jonathan provides the latest update on the Ukraine war for July 17, 2023. He notes this may be split into one or two videos depending on time.
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Russian Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff figures for Russian losses show:
- 620 liquidated personnel (slight uptick)
- 8 tanks, 8 APVs (slight uptick but thereabouts)
- 23 artillery systems, 4 MLRS (fairly high numbers)
- 3 anti-aircraft warfare systems (good number, less than 1/day average)
- 8 drones, 15 vehicles/fuel tanks, 11 special equipment (highest or equal highest)
Jonathan notes these losses, especially artillery and special equipment, show Ukraine is continually attriting Russian forces in preparation for an offensive.
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Russian POWs
There are many videos circulating of captured Russian soldiers. Many are young with low morale and are out of ammunition before surrendering.
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HIMARS Strikes
HIMARS were used to destroy two Russian 2A65 Msta-B towed howitzer positions. Previously used for targets deep behind enemy lines, HIMARS are now being used on normal artillery targets since the introduction of Storm Shadow missiles which can hit further back.
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Artillery Focus
President Zelenskyy paid special commendation to a Ukrainian artillery unit on the Zaporizhzhia front, highlighting the main focus is degrading Russian artillery up and down the front lines. This is super important.
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UK Defence Intelligence Update
- Recently sacked Russian General Popov complained about lack of counter-battery capabilities
- Russian survivability relies on detecting and striking Ukrainian artillery
- Russia suffering worsening shortage of counter-battery radars, especially modern Zoopark-1M
- Only a handful of originally deployed Zoopark fleet likely remain operational
- Footage showed another Zoopark destroyed near Popov's 58th Combined Arms Army area in early July
- The priority Popov gave this problem highlights continued centrality of artillery in the war
Equipment Losses
- Russian forces destroyed 2 UK-supplied Mastiff and 1 Turkish BMC Kirpi mine-resistant ambush protection vehicles on Zaporizhzhia front
- Over the war, Russia has lost 11,208 pieces of equipment, Ukraine 3,303 according to Oryx
- Ratio of losses still favors Ukraine but has reduced from 3-4 times to just under 3 times
- Latest 2-day figures: Ukraine lost 13 (very low), Russia lost 66 (12 tanks, 13 artillery pieces, 1 rare Tornado-G MLRS)
Russian Command Losses
In the past week, Russia has lost several high-ranking officers:
- Commander of Akhmat Special Forces
- Chief of Staff of 35th Combined Arms Army
- Commander of Krasnodar submarine (assassinated)
- Lt. General Oleg Tsokov (killed in Henichesk hotel strike)
- Colonel Maxim Kolomov
Additionally, Generals Popov and Seliverstov were dismissed. A significant loss for the Russian military administration.
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Russia on Fire
An unfinished military hospital in Bryansk, Russia caught fire. Not many recent examples of "Russia on Fire".
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Kerch Bridge Strike
The Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea to Russia was hit overnight, disabling movement on the road bridge in both directions at the height of summer tourism season.
- Scorch marks indicate the attack came from below, likely naval drones, not missiles as initially claimed
- Both road bridge spans damaged, one completely fallen, railway bridge still operational
- Ferries also shut down, forcing long detours through Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk
- Ukraine's Security Service says details will be revealed after victory, notes the bridge could not withstand the "military load"
- Large explosions and secondary detonations seen in footage of the strike
Kharkiv and Kramatorsk Attacks
- Kharkiv hit by 2 Russian S-300 missiles hours after earlier fatal attacks, killing 1 civilian and injuring 3
- 2 more explosions rocked Kramatorsk, site of recent deadly pizzeria strike
Ukrainian Strikes
- Suspected JDAM explosion hit a Russian HQ in Zaporizhzhia region causing significant damage
- Storm Shadow missile struck a base of the 57th Russian Brigade destroying the building and several pieces of equipment
Elon Musk's Comments
Elon Musk made some questionable claims about the state of the war, saying Russia has 4 times the artillery and 10 times the ammunition of Ukraine. Jonathan disputes this, noting Ukraine is firing 2.5 times more ammunition than Russia on the southern front. He suggests Musk should refrain from commenting on the war.
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Wrap Up
Jonathan appreciates viewers watching part 1 of the news update. Part 2 will follow but may be shorter as there is less happening geopolitically. He signs off until next time.
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