WESTERN PERSPECTIVE
Ukraine attacks Russian navy base near Novorossiysk
Ukrainian sea drones attacked a Russian navy base near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, a major hub for Russian exports, early on Friday and were destroyed by Russian warships, Russia's defence ministry said.
The attack prompted the Novorossiysk port to temporarily halt all ship movement, according to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium which operates an oil terminal there.
Russian social media users reported hearing explosions and gunfire near Novorossiysk on Friday morning. If confirmed it would be the first Ukrainian attack on one of Russia's main commercial ports.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium which loads oil onto tankers in Novorossiysk said the port has temporarily barred all ship movement. It said its facilities had not been damaged and oil loadings continued onto tankers which were already moored
Videos posted on a local online community and circulated by Russian online news outlet Astra showed the movement of ships just off the coast with the sound of gunfire coming from the direction of the sea.
The emergency services of Novorossiysk have confirmed reports of blasts and security services have been informed, Russia's RIA news agency reported. The port is one of the biggest in the Black Sea.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is the main exporter of Kazakh crude.
Clashes in the Black Sea and adjacent ports have escalated since Russia refused last month to extend a deal allowing for the safe exports of grain from Ukrainian ports; Russian drones and missiles have struck several Ukrainian port facilities and grain silos on or near the Black Sea.
Russia has also reported an attack by Ukrainian sea drones on its warships which were escorting a civilian vessel.
Russian air defences downed 10 Ukrainian drones over Crimea on Friday morning and suppressed three more with electronic countermeasures, TASS cited the Russian defence ministry as saying.
** Zelenskiy decries 'revolting' practices at recruitment centres
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday decried "revolting" practices exposed during an audit of Ukraine's military recruitment centres and pledged to fix the system by placing in charge people who understood the meaning of war.
Zelenskiy has expressed indignation at corruption uncovered during the audit last month after a high-profile incident of wrongdoing came to light in the Black Sea port of Odesa.
"We had a detailed conversation," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address after meeting Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and the head of the SBU security service, Vasyl Maliuk.
"The investigation is revealing numerous abuses," Zelenskiy said. "And they are frankly revolting."
The probe of recruitment offices is part of a long-running campaign to root out corruption, a critical issue as Ukraine presses a campaign to join NATO and the European Union.
Zelenskiy said all the findings of the investigation would be made public and subject to criminal proceedings.
"The conclusion is clear: the recruitment system needs people who understand the value of protecting Ukraine," he said.
"Recruitment centres must be staffed with people who have seen the war, experienced it," he added. "And those who, sadly, may have lost limbs but not their dignity and not Ukraine. Let me thank them."
The head of a military recruitment centre in Odesa accused of corruption and embezzlement was ordered held in pre-trial detention last month.
The official stood accused of acquiring without explanation funds equivalent to a little more than $5 million. Ukrainian media reports said his family had acquired property in Spain.
** Zelenskiy says Ukrainian strength dominates, top officers report progress
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Ukraine's military faced difficulties on front lines in the east and south of the country, but were dominant in their campaign.
Senior military officials reported Ukrainian gains in the east -- long the focal point of the 17-month-old conflict - around the shattered Russian-held city of Bakhmut.
Ukraine in June launched a counter-offensive in the east and in the south, where it hopes to advance to the Sea of Azov and sever a Russian land bridge between occupied parts of the east and the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Russian accounts said Moscow's forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks near Bakhmut, farther north where fierce fighting has also flared and on the southern front.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces faced fierce Russian resistance in all frontline sectors.
"There is heavy fighting. They are trying to stop our boys with all their strength. Very fierce attacks," Zelenskiy said, referring to Bakhmut and other centres in the east.
"In the south, everything is difficult. But whatever the enemy does, it is Ukrainian strength that dominates."
Zelenskiy said Russian drone attacks this week, including an assault on shipping infrastructure in the Danube port of Izmail, underscored the need for improved anti-aircraft defences.
"In all, the terrorists have deployed against Ukraine at least 1,961 (Iranian-made) shahed drones and we managed to down a significant number of them," he said.
"Unfortunately, not all of them. We are working on downing more of them -- downing a maximum. We are working so that there will be more anti-aircraft systems."
General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukrainian land forces, said he was meeting officers in the east to speed up Ukraine's advances -- which Zelenskiy and other officials ackowledge have been slower than they wished.
"In the Bakhmut sector, my work is devoted to current problems of accelerating the pace of the advance, the prospects for greater activity and resolution of issues that interfere with the implementation of tasks," Syrskyi wrote on Telegram.
Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for the eastern group of Ukrainian forces, said Kyiv's troops were advancing "consistently and relentlessly" on the fringes of Bakhmut, captured by Russian troops in May after months of battles.
"Every day we are talking about hundreds of metres and over the week about kilometres," Cherevatyi said in comments reported by Ukrainian media.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had thwarted eight Ukrainian attempts to advance near Bakhmut and nearby areas. Two Ukrainian attacks were countered near Lyman and Svatove farther north and attempted advances in the south were also stopped.
RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE
‘Weeds’ hindering Ukrainian counteroffensive – UK military
Growing vegetation on the battlefield is hampering Ukrainian attempts to breach Russian defenses, the UK Defense Ministry claimed on Thursday.
In its regular intelligence update, the ministry described “undergrowth regrowing” in the southern part of the front as a likely factor “contributing to the generally slow progress of combat in the area.”
UK officials explained that arable land, which is abundant in the region, has been “left fallow for 18 months, with the return of weeds and shrubs accelerating under the warm, damp summer conditions.”
According to the ministry, this provides extra camouflage cover for Russian troops and complicates Kiev’s mine-sweeping efforts. “Although undergrowth can also provide cover for small stealthy infantry assaults, the net effect has been to make it harder for either side to make advances,” it added.
Ukraine launched a major counteroffensive against Russia along several sections of the front in early summer, but failed to gain any ground and has lost tens of thousands of troops in botched attacks, according to Moscow. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that, in July alone, Kiev’s forces lost nearly 21,000 service members and 2,227 units of military equipment.
Both Ukrainian and Western officials acknowledge that the offensive has developed more slowly than expected, with Kiev blaming stiff resistance from Moscow’s forces, a lack of air support, and delays in arms shipments for the difficulties.
Well-prepared Russian fortifications have also reportedly helped to blunt the Ukrainian attacks. CNN ha described the defenses as consisting of multiple layers, including minefields, tank traps, and other such obstacles. Faced with these hurdles, Ukrainian troops “have resorted to using small groups of military engineers working through forested areas to cut a path through or evade these minefields,” the report said.
On Tuesday, Politico reported that the Ukrainian offensive has “sorely disappointed” Kiev’s supporters in the West. It noted that despite Ukraine committing 150,000 troops to a three-pronged attack, its gains have been measured in the hundreds of meters, with the second and third defensive lines still lying ahead.
The report also said that even when Ukrainian troops manage to clear mines and advance, Russia uses artillery and helicopters to drop more mines in the rear in order to trap the Ukrainian spearheads.
** Air defenses triggered in several Crimean regions, no casualties — authorities
Air defense systems repelled attacks on several regions of Crimea early on Friday, shooting down all targets, an adviser to the region’s head wrote on Telegram.
"Air defense systems were triggered in several districts of Crimea. All targets were shot down," Oleg Kryuchkov said. "No damage or casualties have been reported."
Reuters/RT/Tass
