Ukraine/Russland/NATO – der Sammler am 20. Juli 2022

Im andauernden russischen Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine richtet sich der Blick, trotz anhaltender Kämpfe im Osten des Landes, zunehmend auf den Süden: Russische Ankündigungen deuten darauf hin, dass Russland der Ukraine unverändert den Zugang zum Schwarzen Meer abschneiden will. Der Sammler am 20. Juli 2022:

• Vom russischen Außenminister Sergej Lawrow kommt am (heutigen) Mittwoch ein (erneuter) Hinweis, dass die russischen Annexions- bzw. Gebietsansprüche nicht auf den Osten der Ukraine begrenzt sind; hier vom Moskauer Bürochef der Financial Times übersetzt:

Dazu passen Aussagen von John Kirby, bis vor kurzem Pentagon-Sprecher und jetzt National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications im Weißen Haus am (gestrigen) Dienstagabend. Das Transkript liegt noch nicht vor, deshalb siehe unten,  aus der Meldung der New York Times:

Russia is taking steps toward annexing parts of Ukraine it controls “in direct violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” a top U.S. national security official warned on Tuesday, including installing proxy officials expected to call “sham” votes on joining Russia and forcing residents to apply for Russian citizenship.
“Russia is beginning to roll out a version of what you could call an annexation playbook,” the official, John Kirby, said at a White House press briefing, drawing parallels to Russia’s seizure of Crimea eight years ago.

Nachgetragen: Das Transkript des Briefings hier.

• Im so genannten Ramstein-Format gibt es ein weiteres – virtuelles – Treffen der Staaten, die die Ukraine militärisch unterstützen; eine Pressekonferenz von US-Verteidigungsminister Lloyd Austin dazu ist für den Abend angekündigt (wird nach Möglichkeit nachgetragen)

• Das britische Intel Update:

Russia continues to make minimal gains in its Donbas offensive, with Ukrainian forces holding the line.
On 19 July 2022, the authorities in Russian-occupied Kherson reported that the Antonovskiy Bridge over the Dnieper River had been struck by Ukrainian forces. Social media posts showed apparent battle damage to the bridge’s roadway.
It is highly likely that the bridge remains usable – but it is a key vulnerability for Russian Forces.
It is one of only two road crossing points over the Dnieper by which Russia can supply or withdraw its forces in the territory it has occupied west of the river.
This area includes the city of Kherson, which is politically and symbolically important for Russia. The lower reaches of the Dnieper present a natural barrier, with the waterway typically around 1000m wide.
Control of Dnieper crossings is likely to become a key factor in the outcome of fighting in the region.

• Das Morgenbriefing des ukrainischen Generalstabs:

Operational update regarding the #russian_invasion as of 06:00, on July 20, 2022
The one hundred and forty-seventh (147) day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to a russian military invasion continues.
There are no significant changes in the enemy’s activity in the Volyn, Polissya, and Siversky directions. The enemy shelled the areas of Mykolaivka, Chernihiv oblast, and Volfyne, Yastrubyne, and Pavlivka, Sumy oblast, with barrel and jet artillery.
In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy carried out fire damage in the areas of Mospanove, Petrivka, Ruski Tyshki, Bazaliyivka, Pechenigy, Tsyrkuny, Pytomnyk, Dementiyivka, Korobochkyne and Prudyanka settlements.
In the Slovyansk direction, shelling from tanks and artillery was recorded near Dolyna, Krasnopill, Kostyantynivka, Chepil, Husarivka, and Adamivka.
In the Donetsk direction, the aggressor shelled the areas of Kramatorsk, Siversk, Serebryanka, Hryhorivka, Verkhnokamianske, Spirne, Ivano-Daryivka settlements with barrel and rocket artillery. Conducted an airstrike near Verkhnokamyanske. Conducts assault operations in the direction of Ivano-Daryivka, hostilities continue.
In the Bakhmut direction, the occupiers are conducting combat operations with the aim of creating conditions for an offensive on the city of Bakhmut and taking over the territory of the Vuhlehirska TPP. Shelling was carried out from barrel and rocket artillery and tanks in the areas of the settlements of Berestove, Bilohorivka, Yakovlivka, Pokrovske, Soledar, Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Vesela Dolyna, Kodema. The enemy carried out airstrikes on Berestove, Yakovlivka, Bakhmut, Vershyna, New York and Pokrovsky.
Fighting continues in the direction of the settlements of Berestove, Vershyna and Novoluhanske.
On the Avdiyika, Novopavlivka, and Zaporizhzhia directions, shelling was noted in the areas of the settlements of Novobakhmutivka, Vuhledar, Novopil, Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Kamianske, and a number of others. The enemy launched an airstrike near Avdiyivka.
Conducted combat reconnaissance in the area of Novoselivka Druga and advanced in the direction of Mykilske, had no success, withdrew.
The enemy maintains a high intensity of reconnaissance with unmanned aerial vehicles in the South Buh direction. In the waters of the Black Sea, there are three Kalibr cruise missile carriers outside the base points. Reciprocal shelling from barrel, rocket artillery and tanks continues along the entire contact line. The enemy launched missile and air strikes in the area of Murakhivka. There is a shortage of ammunition, food and water in the enemy units.
According to the available information, the command of the Northern Fleet of the russian federation is taking preventive measures in connection with the very low level of military discipline in the units involved and planned to be involved in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. Drunkenness and disobedience to commanders‘ orders flourish.
Ukrainian aviation and missile artillery units continue to successfully fire missions at enemy command posts and logistic support bases.

• Das Briefing des russischen Verteidigungsministeriums:

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
High-precision weapons strikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces against missile and artillery weapons depot of 14th Mechanized Brigade of AFU in Soledar in Donetsk People’s Republic have destroyed 19 units of armoured equipment and up to 40 nationalists.
High-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed US-made Harpoon missile launcher near Usatovo, Odessa Region.
High-precision, long-range sea-based weapons have hit temporary deployment point of 35th Marine Brigade in Dachnoye, Odessa Region, where reservists for the Ukrainian Armed Forces were being trained. More than 60 personnel have been destroyed, as well as more than 10 foreign-made military vehicles.
As part of counter-battery warfare, 5 platoons of Grad multiple-launch rocket systems of 48th and 58th motorized infantry brigades, 6 artillery platoons of D-20 howitzers and 9 artillery platoons of D-30 mounts in Kurakhovo, Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka and Georgievka in Donetsk People’s Republic have been neutralized.
Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have hit 7 command posts, including units of 63rd Mechanized and 61st Infantry Brigades near Yavkino, Bereznevatoe, Visunsk and Kaluga in Nikolayev Region, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade in Verkhnekamenskoye district in Donetsk People’s Republic, and 92nd Mechanized Brigade in Dolzhik district of Kharkov Region.
8 depots with missile and artillery weapons and ammunition have been destroyed near Paraskoviyivka, Kostyantinovka, Artemovsk, Novovorontsovka in Kherson Region and Ternovatoye in Zaporozhye Region, as well as 2 fuel depots of 54th AFU Mechanized Brigade near Kurakhovo in Donetsk People’s Republic.
Russian Aerospace Forces‘ fighter aviation have shot down 2 Ukrainian air force aircraft in an aerial battle: 1 MiG-29 near Snigirevka, Nikolaev Region, and 1 Su-25 near Dobropol’e, Donetsk People’s Republic.
Russian air defence means have shot down 4 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Blagodatovka, Yavorskoye, Kharkov Region, and Zugres, Donetsk People’s Republic.
In addition, 9 projectiles of Uragan multiple-launch rocket system have been intercepted near Vasilenkovo in Kharkov Region, as well as Novoraisk, Krasnosel’skoye, Stepnoye, and Taras Shevchenko in Kherson Region.
In total, 259 Ukrainian airplanes and 143 helicopters, 1,572 unmanned aerial vehicles, 356 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4,135 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 760 multiple launch rocket systems, 3,166 field artillery and mortars, as well as 4,410 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

• Die USA kündigten weitere Waffenlieferungen an die Ukraine an, unter anderem weitere vier HIMARS-Mehrfachraketenwerfen. Nach dem Statement von US-Verteidigungsminister Lloyd Austin beim virtuellen Treffen der Ukraine-Kontaktgruppe sind die drei von Großbritannien zugesagten Mehrfachraketenwerfer bereits in der Ukraine eingetroffen, die von Deutschland zugesagten noch nicht:

From our meeting in Brussels until now, the United States has committed more than $2.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Our assistance includes a total of 12 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to further strengthen Ukraine’s long-range fires capability. And I want to underscore the impact that they’ve made.
We have also committed two NASAMS air-defense systems to help Ukraine protect its forces and its civilians against Russian missile attacks.
The United States has also committed to sending more HIMARS munitions, precision-guided artillery ammunition, tactical vehicles, and other urgently needed support.
We’ll continue to provide historic levels of security assistance to help Ukraine defend itself. And later this week, we’ll roll out our next presidential drawdown package of weapons, ammunition, and equipment for Ukraine.
It will be our sixteenth drawdown of equipment from DOD inventories since August 2021. It will include four more HIMARS advanced rocket systems, which the Ukrainians have been using so effectively and which have made such a difference on the battlefield. And it will include more rounds of MLRS and artillery ammunition.
And other countries have continued to step up their support as well, including in the important area of long-range fires. The U.K.’s M270 MLRS systems are now in the fight, and Germany’s systems will soon be on the battlefield as well.
Poland has also recently transferred three battalions of 155-millimeter self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, which are already making a difference on the front lines.

• Das Abendbriefing des ukrainischen Generalstabs:

Operational update regarding the #russian_invasion as of 18:00, on July 20, 2022
The one hundred and forty-seventh (147) day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to a russian military invasion continues.
There are no significant changes in the enemy’s activity in the Volyn, Polissya, and Siversky directions. The enemy shelled the areas of Mykolaivka, Volfyne, Pavlivka and Ulanove settlements in the Sumy oblast with barrel and rocket artillery.
In the Kharkiv direction, shelling was recorded, in particular, near Stary Saltiv, Petrivka, Rusky Tyshki, Pechenihy, Tsyrkuny, Pytomnyk, Dementiyvka, and Korobochyne. The enemy launched airstrikes near Mospanovove and Rtyshchivka. It unsuccessfully tried to advance in the direction of the village of Pytomnyk.
In the Slovyansk direction, the enemy carried out fire damage from tanks, barrel and rocket artillery in the areas of Dolyna, Bohorodychne, Kostyantynivka, Husarivka, Velyka Komyshuvaha, Pokrovske and other settlements. Ukrainian soldiers again successfully repelled enemy assaults in the Bohorodychne district.
In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy shelled the Kramatorsk, Serebryanka, Verkhnokamyanske and Ivano-Daryivka districts with artillery. Delivered missile and air strikes near Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.
Assault actions in the districts of Hryhorivka and Spirne ended with losses and retreat for the enemy.
In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy is trying to create favorable conditions for establishing control over the city of Bakhmut and the territory of the Vuhlehirska TPP through combat operations. It carried out shelling in the areas of the settlements of Berestove, Vesele, Yakovlivka, Soledar, Bakhmutske, Vesela Dolyna, Kodema, Mayorsk, New York and others. It airstrikes on Pokrovske. Conducts assault operations in the Berestove area and on the approaches to the Vuhlegirskaya TPP, hostilities continue.
In the Avdiyivka, Novopavlivka, and Zaporizkzhia directions, the enemy continues systematic shelling of civilian and military infrastructure in the areas of settlements Novobakhmutivka, Avdiyivka, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Volodymyrivka, Pavlivka, Prechistivka, Velyka Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novoukrainka, Olhivske, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Preobrazhenka, Zaliznychne , Kamianske. Airstrikes were recorded near Avdiyivka, Kamianske and Novoandriivka.
The occupiers again failed another combat reconnaissance in the area of Novoselivka Druha, suffered losses and retreated. Enemy units advancing in the direction of Mykilske and Novomykhailivka had the same participation.
In the South Buh direction, the enemy is concentrating its main efforts on preventing the advance of our troops deep into the temporarily occupied territory. Conducts intensive reconnaissance of the UAV. Conducted systematic shelling of civilian and military infrastructure in the areas of Osokorivka, Olhyne, Ivanivka, Velyke Artakove, Lozove, Shyroke, Kvitneve, Lyubomyrivka, Berezneguvate, Kotlyareve, Stepova Dolyna, Nova Zorya, Lupareve and a number of others. Delivered missile and air strikes near Murakhivka and Novohruhorivlka.

Nachgetragen noch der Hinweis auf einen interessanten, wenn auch recht spekulativen Bericht der Washington Post: Angeblich würden von den USA und ihren Verbündeten Lieferungen von Kampfjets an die Ukraine erwogen – und genannt wird auch der Eurofighter (was angesichts der Produktionsketten eine deutsche Zustimmung bedeuten würde):

Senior U.S. officials acknowledged Wednesday that the United States and its allies are considering whether to provide Ukraine with new fighter jets and the training needed to operate them, a move that would dramatically expand Western involvement in the war with Russia.
Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, said that although he would not speculate what type of aircraft might be transferred, discussions are ongoing about how to reinforce Ukraine’s fleet, including with new planes. (…)
Brown said there are several possibilities, including American-made fighters or some made in Europe. Options include the Gripen fighter made in Sweden, the Rafale made in France, and the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is built by a consortium of companies in several countries.