Russian forces conducted a series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of July 17 of 18.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 16 Shahed-136/131 drones from Kursk Oblast and two Kh-59/69 cruise missiles and one Kh-35 anti-ship missile from occupied southern Ukraine.[67] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces shot down all 16 of the Shahed drones and two Kh-59/69 missiles over Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Zaporizhia, Kyiv, and Kharkiv oblasts. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Head Serhii Lysak stated that Russian forces struck Synelnykivskyi Raion, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.[68] Russian sources claimed that a Russian Kh-35 missile struck a Ukrainian P-18 radar near Tarasivka, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.[69]
Ukraine's Eastern Air Command reported on July 18 that Ukrainian forces have destroyed over 2,100 Russian air targets, including 500 missiles, 51 combat aircraft, 14 helicopters, and more than 1,500 strike and reconnaissance drones, over the area of responsibility of the Eastern Air Command since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.[70]
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It was quite a busy night for air defence in #Ukraine and this morning too, with a reconnaissance drone shot down in #Dnipro in the last hour. Before that, 16 attack drones were launched by #Russia and all were shot down. 2 out of 3 Kh-59 type missiles were also intercepted. Tim White @TWMCLtd
- Ukrainian forces reportedly struck a Russian coast guard base in occupied Crimea on the night of July 17 to 18.
- European countries continue to display their commitment to Ukraine and unity in the face of Russian aggression.
- Rosgvardia made an unprecedented proposal on July 17 to grant Russian Central Bank leadership the right to carry automatic weapons and handguns.
- Kremlin officials continue to expand the geographic scope of Russia's proposed alternative "Eurasian security architecture."
- The US continues efforts to build out a partnership with Armenia, sparking critical reactions from Kremlin officials.
- Russian forces recently marginally advanced along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line and near Kharkiv City, Toretsk, Avdiivka, and Hulyaipole.
- Russian officials continue efforts to expand the Russian Armed Forces' training capacity and address force generation issues.
Russian forces reportedly conducted a limited and unsuccessful cross-border raid into Sumy Oblast on July 16. A Ukrainian soldier reported that a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group tried to break through to Chuikivka, Rozhkovychi, and Sytne (all in northeastern Sumy Oblast within five kilometers of the international border with Russia).[24] The Ukrainian soldier stated that the Russian group launched the attack after intensive artillery and mortar shelling but noted that Ukrainian forces later repelled the attempt.
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Russian forces recently marginally advanced southeast of Kupyansk, southwest of Svatove, and west of Kreminna. Geolocated footage published on July 17 and 18 indicates that Russian forces advanced south of Stepova Novoselivka (southeast of Kupyansk), northeast of Makiivka (southwest of Svatove), and east of Terny (west of Kreminna).[30]
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Russian forces recently marginally advanced northwest of Avdiivka amid continued offensive operations in the Avdiivka direction on July 18. Geolocated footage published on July 18 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced into central Yevhenivka (northwest of Avdiivka).[45] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces are advancing northwest of Avdiivka near Yevhenivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Lozuvatske, Prohres, and Novoselivka Persha and southwest of Avdiivka near the Karlivske Reservoir.[46]
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A Ukrainian platoon commander of an amphibious assault company that fought in Krynky for two months described Russian attacks on Ukrainian positions in the settlement as “meat assaults” and noted that Russian forces conducted seven to eight attacks per day.[66] The platoon commander added that during the platoon’s deployment to Krynky, the number of Russian personnel in assault groups decreased from six to seven people per group to three to four people, and that many Russian servicemembers refused to fight. The platoon commander added that Russian assault groups are composed of highly qualified and trained military personnel such as paratroopers and elements of Russian Spetsnaz. The platoon commander observed that Russian forces also operated in a coordinated matter in the Krynky area.
Thanks to all those who hung in there in my absence. And thanks to those who expressed their concern. Damn this war.