Ukraine War Update NEWS
Table of Contents 📖
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"If Russia continues to dominate the Black Sea and blockade it by firing missiles, Ukraine will do the same, which is a fair defense of our capabilities. If they keep firing, we don't have that many weapons. But if they keep firing firing they could be without ships by the end of the war and that's what we want to show them."
Hello Team!
Jonathan welcomes viewers to another Ukraine War news update video for August 8, 2023. He jokingly wonders if the sun streaming through his hotel window is too bright for his webcam before realizing he doesn't have one on.
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Ukrainian General Staff Figures
The Ukrainian General Staff reports the following Russian losses for the previous day (with the usual caveats):
- 560 killed in action
- 10 tanks (on the higher side)
- 8 armored personnel vehicles (including IFVs, APCs, MRAPs)
- 19 artillery systems (a significant number causing replacement issues for Russia)
- 1 anti-aircraft warfare system
- 1 Ka-52 helicopter taken out by MANPADS (also causing crew replacement issues)
- 4 drones
- 9 vehicles and fuel tanks
- 2 pieces of special equipment
Unbiased Mapping of Losses
Andrew Perpetua, a pro-Ukrainian but unbiased mapper, notes that despite searching for an unbiased selection of events to map, he consistently finds more Russian vehicle losses than Ukrainian. Of 58 total events mapped, 27 were Russian losses and 31 were Ukrainian. The visually confirmed losses still show a clear advantage for Ukraine, with Russia losing double the number of tanks and IFVs, and 10-11 times more artillery pieces than Ukraine. This aligns with the General Staff figures, even if visual confirmations will always be lower.
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HIMARS Used on Front Lines
Footage shows a HIMARS strike destroying a Russian Msta-B artillery piece and its ammunition. Jonathan notes this illustrates how HIMARS are being used on the front lines as the modern iteration of artillery - quickly driving up, receiving drone coordinates, accurately hitting the target with one shot, and driving off. Though more expensive per shot, HIMARS are more survivable, efficient and effective than towed artillery trading barrages.
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Russian Losses to Own Minefields
A Russian tank is shown driving over and detonating one of their own mines, likely in Maryinka. Jonathan suggests this is a downside of the Russians densely mining areas - they are seeing a lot of losses to their own minefields since not every unit can know the location of every mine. This hinders Russian movement even in their own territory.
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Russian Strikes on Cultural Sites and Civilians
- Russia has damaged over 760 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine since the invasion began, with the most in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Kyiv and Odesa oblasts.
- At least 7 were killed and 67 injured in a Russian missile strike on central Pokrovsk in Donetsk, turning the area into a "hellscape of liberation". The dead included a deputy chief of the state emergency service in Donetsk.
Damage to Starokostyantyniv Air Base
Satellite image analysis of the Russian missile strikes on Starokostyantyniv air base, where Ukrainian Su-24s with Storm Shadow missiles are based, suggests the shelling was largely ineffective, supporting Ukrainian rather than Russian claims about the attack's success. Some damage occurred to nearby houses.
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Assassination Attempt on Zelensky Foiled
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claims to have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Zelensky. A woman was arrested for gathering intelligence on his planned visit to the southern Mykolaiv region ahead of an alleged planned Russian air assault. The SBU said they became aware of the plot ahead of time and implemented additional security measures. Jonathan notes Zelensky's survival despite the many past attempts is a major success attributable to the hard work of his security teams, given the inherent challenges.
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Zelensky Warns Russia May Lose Black Sea Fleet
In an interview with Latin American media, President Zelensky warned that Russia could be left without a fleet by the end of the war if they continue dominating and blockading the Black Sea by firing missiles. He said Ukraine would do the same in self-defense despite having fewer weapons. Jonathan notes Zelensky's tireless global outreach and suggests increased Ukrainian strikes on Russian naval assets in Sevastopol and Novorossiysk may be coming.
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Wrap Up
Jonathan thanks viewers for their support, including via YouTube and Buy Me a Coffee, which allows him to continue making these videos. He concludes part 1 and says he will return shortly with part 2.
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