2022/08/18 – 15:24 • DAILY REVIEW
Article by: Zarina Zabrisky

Russians attacked two dorms of boarding institutions in Kharkiv, at least 18 dead, dozens wounded. Russia falsely claims that recent attacks in Crimea are terrorist attacks to deflect calls to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Russian troops continue to intensify their offensive in Donbas and attempted several unsuccessful assaults near the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border. Russian occupation authorities are struggling to increase control measures in occupied territories amidst increased partisan activity. The UN Secretary-General Guterres and Turkish President Erdogan meet Zelenskyy in Lviv. The discussion will include the security of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.

Regional Updates 

In the Donetsk Oblast, a powerful explosion reported in the occupied Horlivka.

In the Kharkiv Oblast, 12 killed, 38 injured, including 4 children in the city of Kharkiv after two massive overnight shellings of Saltovka district and  overnight strike on the Sloboda district. The number of casualties is being updated.

The Sumy Oblast, 130 hits in one day reported. Explosions in the region are recorded on a daily basis.

In the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Orekhovo shelled, a young woman riding a bicycle killed.

In the Mykolaiv Oblast, Russians fired at another university in the city of Mykolaiv overnight. Buildings across the street damaged. No casualties reported. The Mayor of the city had previously published a video showing no military base at the university.

In the Odesa Oblast, in the resort town of Zatoka 7 buildings of a recreation center destroyed; 15 cottages damaged as a result of the nighttime missile strike. Kh-22 missiles fired from a Tu-22M3 strategic aircraft. 4 injured.

According to British Defence Intelligence, (last 48 hours): 

• The heavy attrition of Russian Main Battle Tanks in Ukraine is highly likely partially due to Russia’s failure to fit and properly employ adequate Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA). Used correctly, ERA degrades the effectiveness of incoming projectiles before they hit the tank. This suggests that Russian forces have not rectified a culture of poor ERA use, which dates back to the First Chechen War in 1994.
• It is highly likely that many Russian tank crews lack the training to maintain ERA, leading to either poor fitting of the explosive elements, or it being left off entirely. These deficiencies probably contribute to the widespread incidents of turret ejection, which are well documented in eye-witness videos from Ukraine.
• The war has seen numerous failures by Russian commanders to enforce low-level battle discipline – such as the use of ERA. The cumulative effect of these failures is likely a significant factor behind the poor performance of Russia’s forces.

Losses of the Russian army 

As of 18 August, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the war to the present day:

Humanitarian 

️️Environmental 

The situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is developing. NATO chief urged Russia to allow IAEA to visit the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

IAEA Director General Grossi to lead a mission to the plant, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The UN Secretary-General will discuss the crisis with Zelenskyy in Lviv on August 18.

Several ministers visited Zaporizhzhia, observed the first response training, and gave a press conference. They focused on the need to demilitarize the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, and the visit by IAEA experts.

The mass death of fish and waterfowl reported in the Donetsk Botanical Garden. 

Legal 

Support 

More help from the United States will come soon, said the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Oleksiy Reznikov. He spoke with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to discuss the current security situation, new needs on the battlefield, and ways to strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian army.
Ukraine will receive $350 million from Canada to purchase fuel before winter as one more gesture of solidarity, Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal wrote on Twitter.

New Developments 

War in Ukraine revealed the truth about Russia to Europe, according to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Everyone who previously did not notice the imperialist tendencies in Russia should now face the truth. “Europe found itself in the current situation not because it was not sufficiently integrated, but because it did not want to listen to the voice of truth. This voice has been heard from Poland for many years.”

• Russian military leadership is falsely claiming that recent attacks on Russian military objects in Crimea are terrorist attacks to deflect calls to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
• Russian forces attempted several unsuccessful assaults near the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border in tactically challenging forest areas.
• Russian forces continued to unsuccessfully attack settlements southeast of Siversk.
• Russian forces launched several assaults northeast and south of Bakhmut, and are likely attempting to improve tactical positions near Horlivka.
• Russian forces made limited gains northwest of Donetsk City and near the Zaporizhzhia-Donetsk Oblast administrative border.
• Russian forces are likely preparing to defend their ground lines of communication (GLOCs) in the Melitopol-Tokmak-Berdyansk triangle by mining settlements on the eastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast frontline.
• Russian federal subjects are continuing to form new volunteer units and advertise contract service while facing recruitment challenges.
• Russian occupation authorities are struggling to increase control measures in occupied territories amidst increased partisan activity.

Kind Regards,
Euromaidan Press

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