ISW

Key Takeaways

• Reporting of a likely falsified Russian statement distracts from the real risks of a Russian-caused nuclear disaster at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Russian forces continue to conduct attacks from and store military equipment near the plant’s nuclear reactors, likely to play upon Western fears of a nuclear disaster and degrade Western will to provide additional military support to Ukraine.
• Russian forces conducted ground attacks northwest of Slovyansk and northeast and southeast of Bakhmut.
• Russian forces continued ground attacks northwest and southwest of Donetsk City.
• Russian officials postponed reopening the Antonivskyi Bridge after a Ukrainian strike damaged the bridge and nearby construction equipment.
• Russian forces are deploying less-professional occupation forces and increasing pressure on Ukrainian populations in occupied areas.

Main Effort—Eastern Ukraine

Subordinate Main Effort—Southern Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk Oblasts (Russian objective: Encircle Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine and capture the entirety of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas)

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed advances northwest of Izyum on August 8. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted an airstrike on Zalyman, approximately 30 km northwest of Izyum, and shelled settlements north of Izyum, including Husarivka and Asiivka.[10]

Russian forces conducted a limited ground attack northwest of Slovyansk on August 8. The Ukrainian General staff reported that Russian forces conducted a failed offensive to improve their positions near Bohorodychne.[11] Russian forces continued to shell settlements between Izyum and Slovyansk along the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border and additionally conducted an artillery strike directly on Slovyansk.[12] Russian journalist and milblogger Evgeniy Poddubniy claimed on August 7 that Ukrainian forces are continually forming new brigades in Kharkiv Oblast despite continuous Russian strikes and projected that this force generation shows that Ukrainian forces can simultaneously conduct advances in the Kherson direction and in Kharkiv Oblast.[13]

Russian forces conducted ground assaults to the east of Siversk on August 8. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces attempted failed offensives in the direction of Verkhnokamyanskye (5 km east of Siversk) and four other unnamed settlements but retreated with losses.[14] Luhansk Oblast Head Serhiy Haidai also reported that Ukrainian forces neutralized Russian reconnaissance groups near unspecified settlements.[15] Russian forces continued to shell Siversk and nearby settlements with tank, tube, and rocket artillery and targeted neighboring villages, Hryhorivka and Ivano-Darivka, with airstrikes.[16]

Russian forces continued ground attacks to the east and south of Bakhmut on August 8. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces defeated Russian reconnaissance groups of unspecified echelons near Bakhmutske, and Yakovlivka—villages approximately 15 km northeast of Bakhmut—and that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian ground assaults near Zaitseve and Vershyna—villages approximately 10 km southeast of Bakhmut.[17] Russian forces likely seek to establish control over Soledar to Bakhmut’s north and Zaitseve to Bakhmut’s south to set conditions to disrupt Ukrainian control over the T0513 trunk road that supports Ukrainian frontline positions in northeast Donetsk Oblast.

Russian forces continued ground attacks to the northwest and southwest of Donetsk City on August 8. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops attempted to advance toward Avdiivka (5 km north of Donetsk City) Pisky (5 km northwest of Donetsk City), and Nevelske (12 km northwest of Donetsk City).[18] Social media footage posted on August 7 previously showed Russian forces advancing within Pisky itself and, taken in tandem with the vague language of the Ukrainian General Staff report, Russian forces are likely focusing on advancing northwest through Pisky from positions in the center of the settlement.[19] Russian troops additionally conducted localized ground attacks southwest of Donetsk City near Maryinka and Shevchenko.[20]

Supporting Effort #1—Kharkiv City (Russian objective: Defend ground lines of communication (GLOCs) to Izyum and prevent Ukrainian forces from reaching the Russian border)

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground attacks northeast of Kharkiv City and focused on maintaining their current lines on August 8.[21] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted airstrikes and UAV reconnaissance northeast of Kharkiv City.[22] Russian forces also struck residential areas near central Kharkiv City with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and continued to strike Kharkiv City and surrounding settlements with S-300 missiles, mortars, tanks, and tank, tube, and rocket artillery.[23]

Supporting Effort #2—Southern Axis (Russian objective: Defend Kherson and Zaporizhia Oblasts against Ukrainian counterattacks)

Russian forces continued focusing efforts on maintaining their current positions and preventing Ukrainian advances along the Southern Axis on August 8.[24] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces continued shelling civilian and military infrastructure using tank, tube, and rocket artillery and intensified aerial reconnaissance using UAVs along the entire line of contact.[25] Russian forces also conducted airstrikes on Lozove and Andriivka, both on the eastern bank of the Inhulets River, and Olhyne, located along the northern part of the T2207 highway.[26] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces also conducted airstrikes in Prechistivka, Volodymyrivka, Novomykhailivka, and Poltavka.[27]

Russian forces continued to target settlements in Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts with artillery and missiles. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces launched two Kh-59 cruise missiles at Kamianske and continued shelling Nikopol, Zelendolsk, Marhanets, and Velika Kostromka, Dniprotrovsk Oblast.[28] Russian forces also continued shelling settlements on the outskirts of Mykolaiv City but did not launch any strikes directly on Mykolaiv City.[29] Odesa officials reported that Ukrainian air defense forces shot down four Russian Kalibr missiles fired from the Black Sea.[30]

Ukrainian forces continued targeting Russian military positions and ammunition depots in Zaporizhia and Kherson oblasts. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov reported that Ukrainian high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) strikes destroyed a “significant amount of” Russian military equipment and manpower concentrations in industrial districts throughout Melitopol at night on August 7-8.[31] Fedorov also noted that Russian forces transferred a significant part of their air defense systems from Melitopol to Kherson during the week of July 31-August 7.[32] Ukrainian officials confirmed that Ukrainian forces struck the Antonivsky and Kakhovka bridges at night on August 7-8.[33] Russian Deputy Head of the Russian Occupation Administration in Kherson Oblast Kirill Stremousov stated that Russian officials will postpone reopening the Antonivskyi bridge, scheduled for August 10, due to the damage to construction equipment near the bridge.[34] Ukrainian Southern Operational Command Spokesperson Vladislav Nazarov reported that Ukrainian airstrikes hit two Russian strongholds in the Kherson and Berislav districts and that Ukrainian indirect fire destroyed a Russian ammunition depot in Charivne, approximately 65 km northeast of Kherson City on August 7.[35]

Militaryland

Day summary:

Ukrainian forces successfully repelling Russian attacks across the frontline and are able to hit Russian warehouses behind the lines. The situation is far from perfect, but also it’s not a roll coaster for Ukraine. The most critical situation remains Bakhmut, where the enemy is approaching the outskirts. Apart from that, gone are the days when Russian tried to capture regional capitals. We are now witnessing fierce battles for small settlements at the 2015 contact line, with minor gains by Russian forces each day.

Kharkiv & Chuhuiv direction

• No changes on the ground in the vicinity of Kharkiv.

Bakhmut Front

• Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions at Yakovlivka, the attack was repelled.
• Fighting continues east of Bakhmut, where the enemy is trying to break through Ukrainian lines and reach the outskirts.
• Ukrainian favorable positions on the high ground near Vershyna don’t allow Russian troops to fully capture the settlement. Despite that, Russian command continues to send its troops there.
• Russian forces attempted to bypass the defenders stationed at Kodema and Vershyna and push through fields directly towards Zaitseve from the direction of Semihirya. Russians didn’t gain any new ground by this attempt.
• The enemy attacked Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of Kodema from two sides – Novoluhanske and Travneve. Russian troops were unable to advance and retreated to the original positions.

Slovyansk direction

• Russian recon element attacked Ukrainians near Virnopillya. After a minor skirmish, the enemy retreated.
• Russian troops tried to improve its positions in the area of Bohorodychne and Dolyna. Ukrainian forces denied the attempt.
• The enemy tried to advance in the vicinity of Verkhnokamyanske, but without success.
• Russian recon element attempted to seize Ukrainian forwarded positions near Bilohorivka. The attack was repulsed.

Donetsk Oblast

• Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka (north of Avdiivka).
• The enemy attempted to advance towards Avdiivka from the direction of Spartak. The enemy is unable to advance beyond the M-30 highway.
• Fierce fighting continues in Marinka and Pisky.
• Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian attack towards Shevchenko.

Kherson Front

Russian army tried to develop an offensive operation in the area of Blahodatne. Ukrainian forces discovered and foiled the attempt.

BBC

• In recent days, Ukraine and Russia have accused each of shelling the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the south of the country.
• According to some reports, the plant has been used by Russian forces for storing explosives and ammunition.
• The boss of Ukrainian state nuclear power company Enerhoatom says 500 Russian soldiers are at the site, and Russia has positioned rocket launchers there.
• Also in the south, Ukraine has been trying to take back territory in Kherson using new long-range artillery to target bridges across the Dnipro River.
• According to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), two recent attacks on the Antonivskiy Bridge have left Russian troops „virtually cut off”.
• To the west of Kherson city, a recent Russian attempt to advance east of Mykolaiv city was repulsed by Ukrainian forces.
• Russian officials have said their forces are fighting for the „complete liberation” of the Donbas, which broadly refers to Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian-backed separatists held significant territory before the invasion. Russian forces now control all of the Luhansk region and they are continuing to make small advances in the Donetsk region.
• Having captured the strategically important cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in recent weeks, Russian troops are now focussing the efforts in the region on the nearby cities of Siversk and Bakhmut.
• However, according to Ukrainian officials Russia’s offensive in the east has been hindered in recent weeks by movement of its troops to defend Kherson from an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive.

Al Jazeera

• Ukrainian forces again shelled the Antonivskyi bridge in the Russian-controlled city of Kherson, damaging construction equipment and delaying its reopening, the Interfax news agency reported.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said if Moscow proceeded with referendums in occupied areas of his country on joining Russia, there could be no talks with Ukraine or its international allies.
• The Ukrainian military said Russian forces tried to conduct assaults in six different areas in the eastern Donetsk region over the weekend, all of which failed to gain any territory and were held back by Ukrainian forces.

The Guardian

• Ukraine has arrested two people working for Russian intelligence services who planned to kill the Ukrainian defence minister and the head of the country’s military intelligence agency, Ukraine’s domestic Security Service said on Monday. The Security Service of Ukraine foiled the plot by the Russian GRU military intelligence agency to use a sabotage group to carry out three murders including that of a prominent Ukrainian activist, the agency said.