The situation in Vovchansk along the border northeast of Kharkiv remains in flux.
Russia is attempting to reach its troops who are surrounded inside the aggregate plant in the town. Currently they can only be supplied by drones. Despite losing a massive amount of soldiers and equipment in this failed offensive, Russia has not withdrawn and continues its insane attempt to push forward.
In direct response to the Russian advances to the south, Ukrainian forces launched a bold counterattack from the opposite bank of the Vovcha River. They crossed the bridge leading to Haharina Street and advanced eastward, recapturing several buildings on Haharina and Shevchenka Streets. This maneuver aims to connect with ongoing Ukrainian efforts to achieve a pincer movement, encircling a significantly larger number of Russian forces than those they were initially trying to rescue from the aggregate plant.
If successful, this operation will not only eliminate the threat to Ukrainian forces stationed in the Citadel stronghold but will also render the presence of Russian forces in the northern residential area of Vovchansk untenable. Currently, Ukrainian forces are attempting to outflank the hospital, which remains under Russian control.
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This pincer movement poses an imminent risk of encirclement for Russian forces remaining south, including those entrenched at the aggregate plant. While the Russian forces still retain a narrow corridor through which they could theoretically attempt to break out and escape, it may already be too late. Ukrainian forces have recently established control over this corridor with several machine gun posts, potentially cutting off any escape route for the encircled Russian troops.
The Ukrainian Kharkiv Group of Forces has reported that Russian forces are attempting to regroup in the direction of Vovchansk, preparing various regiments and brigades for assaults within the city.
There are many unconfirmed reports today that there was a leak at the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant in southern Russia. These reports all originate with Russian bloggers, some of whom say there was a release of radioactive steam.
However, there is no scientific confirmation of this.
Apparently the rumors were started by one guy and took off from there.
There are currently rumors and panic in the Rostov, Russia, region related to a potential and officially unconfirmed radiation leak from the nuclear power plant there. Locals claim that all of the pharmacies have run out of potassium iodide tablets which are used to treat for radiation exposure.
It appears the rumors started from a post on July 18 on "X" by @SergVolin: "In the Rostov People's Republic, the emergency release of radioactive water at the Rostov nuclear power plant has not yet been localized; in addition, there is a constant leak of radiation. According to Rosatom, the radioactive background in Rostov is normal; in fact, it is already 75 times higher than normal. Health to the luminous."
What does seem to be true is that the plant is at least partially shut down and the region has experienced blackouts.
Another Russian Su-25 achieves negative altitude.
Nice bavovna.
No word yet on what might have been targeted.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years.
A couple years ago I was given a one-day timeout for sarcastically suggesting that online scammers should be sent to the guillotine as an example. I was told sarcasm was no excuse.
So let me just say that I do NOT endorse sending Putin to the guillotine, not even sarcastically. But if he should one day end up separated from his head, I will enjoy reading his obituary.
But, of course, I’m not advocating that. Nope. Not me.
War profiteering is pretty common around the world. Investigating such greed during World War II was how then-Sen. Harry Truman made a name for himself.
Don’t worry. You can always order a new one from the factory in Yekaterinburg. Oh, wait …
One of these days a drone is going to succeed in taking out a Russian helicopter.
Because there are hordes of tourists just dying to visit Belarus.
But the good news is that Belarus is now easier to visit.
Kyrgyzstan needs to be sanctioned as well.
Is Serbia finally coming to its senses?
Par for the course for Russia.
Russia has morphed from turtle tanks to porcupine tanks. It’d be a shame if a Javelin messed it all up.
Is that like a secret handshake?
Let’s jump on Dad.
This is heartwarming.
Sound on for a flash mob in Lithuania.
The little girl dancing in front almost steals the show.