ISW

Key Takeaways

• Russian-backed occupation authorities in Zaporizhia Oblast have obliquely declared the independence of the occupied areas of the oblast by falsely identifying Ukrainian citizens entering from unoccupied Ukraine as temporary asylum seekers.
• Russian forces conducted localized spoiling attacks southwest and southeast of Izyum.
• Russian forces continued ground attacks southeast of Siversk and northeast and south of Bakhmut.
• Russian forces continued attempts to advance from the northern and western outskirts of Donetsk City and conducted limited ground attacks southwest of Donetsk City.
• Russian forces made marginal gains along the Mykolaiv-Kherson line.
• Ukrainian intelligence stated that the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) will start “general mobilization” processes on September 1.
• Prymorsky Krai announced the formation of a new repair and service volunteer battalion.
• Ukrainian partisans continued to conduct attacks against Russian forces in occupied Melitopol.

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 conducted limited ground attacks southwest and southeast of Izyum near the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border on August 22. Ukrainian sources reported that Russian troops attempted to advance on Dibrovne and Nova Dmytrivka—both within 25 km southwest of Izyum.[4] As ISW has previously assessed, Russian attacks southwest of Izyum are likely limited and localized spoiling attacks and not coherent attempts to advance in a specific direction.[5] The Ukrainian General Staff also stated that Russian forces conducted offensive operations in Krasnopillya, which lies between Izyum and Slovyansk along the E40 highway.[6] Russian forces continued to shell along the Izyum-Slovyansk line and struck economic infrastructure in Kramatorsk.[7]

Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks southeast of Siversk on August 22. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces attempted to launch an advance southwest of Spirne (13 km southeast of Siversk) towards Vesele (15 km southeast of Siversk).[8] This attempt to advance south of the Spirne area may be intended to advance on Soledar from the north and support attacks toward Bakhmut from the Soledar area. Russian forces additionally continued artillery strikes on and around Siversk.[9]

Russian forces continued ground attacks northeast and south of Bakhmut on August 22. Russian troops continued efforts to advance through Soledar, about 10 km northeast of Bakhmut.[10] Combat footage posted by Russian outlet Zvezda shows Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) soldiers reportedly moving through residential areas of Soledar under the cover of artillery fire.[11] The Ukrainian General Staff noted that Russian troops also attempted to advance on Bakhmut from Pokrovske (10 km east), a report that is supported by statements that Russian troops control a section of Patrice Lumumba Street, which runs from Pokrovske into Bakhmut.[12] Russian forces also continued attempts to advance north of positions in the Horlivka area and fought around Hladsove (18 km south of Bakhmut), Kodema (15 km southeast of Bakhmut), Vershyna (12 km southeast of Bakhmut), and Zaitseve (8 km southeast of Bakhmut).[13] Russian forces continued air and artillery strikes near Bakhmut and surrounding settlements.[14]

Russian forces continued ground attacks near the northern and western outskirts of Donetsk City on August 22. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops attempted to advance on Avdiivka from Novoselivka Druha and Krasnohorivka—both less than 10 km north of Avdiivka.[15] Russian troops also attempted to push westward of positions in Pisky (on the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City) toward Nevelske and Pervomaiske, where fighting is reportedly ongoing.[16] Russian Telegram channels continued to report on Russian attempts to advance through Ukrainian fortifications in Marinka, on the southwestern outskirts of Donetsk City.[17] Social media users in Donetsk City additionally reported a large explosion at a Russian ammunition depot in the east of Donetsk City.[18] Several Russian sources claimed that the explosion was the result of a Ukrainian strike.[19]

Russian forces conducted several ground attacks southwest of Donetsk City near the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border on August 22. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian troops fought near Novomykhailivka (25 km southwest of Donetsk City) and around Makarivka, Vremivka, and Velyka Novosilka, all in western Donetsk Oblast within 10 km of the Zaporizhia Oblast border.[20] Russian forces also continued efforts to cut Ukrainian lines of communication around Vuhledar and shelled Vuhledar and surrounding areas in order to gain access to the Vuhledar-Marinka road.[21]

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

Russian forces conducted multiple assaults on the Mykolaiv-Kherson line and likely captured the frontline village of Blahodatne, Mykolaiv Oblast, approximately 35 km from Mykolaiv City, on August 22. Russian sources reported that Russian forces captured Blahodatne on August 22, and the Ukrainian General Staff seemingly confirmed these Russian claims, stating that Russian forces had unspecified “partial success” near Blahodatne.[26]

Ukrainian forces struck both road bridges across the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast on August 21-22, likely rendering both unusable for heavy transport. Ukrainian Advisor to the Kherson Oblast Military Administration Head, Serhiy Khlan, claimed that Ukrainian forces again struck the Antonivsky road bridge as a Russian convoy was transporting ammunition across the bridge.[27] Russian sources claimed that the Ukrainian HIMARS strike damaged the roadbed and injured 15 construction workers who were repairing the bridge.[28] Images and footage of large fires on the Antonivsky road bridge are consistent with claims that Ukrainian strikes targeted explosives on the bridge.[29] Images from previous Ukrainian strikes across the Antonivsky bridge did not feature a fireball and smoke as this one did. Footage from before the strikes on August 21-22 shows Russian forces again using pontoon bridges and barges near Kherson City to transport supplies across the Dnipro River.[30] ISW has previously forecasted that Ukrainian forces would likely target such infrastructure with further HIMARS strikes.[31] ISW cannot currently verify reports that the Antonivsky road bridge collapsed after the Ukrainian strikes.[32] Footage posted on August 21-22 shows smoke rising from the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) after Ukrainian forces reportedly stuck the bridge on the evening of August 21.[33] Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian strikes damaged both the roadbed and HPP infrastructure.[34]

Russian and Ukrainian sources reported shelling at a thermal plant in Enerhodar, approximately 5 km from the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Geolocated footage posted on August 22 showed damaged water lines and a stalled car with a deceased driver after Russian forces reportedly shelled the thermal plant.[35] Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov denied Russian accusations that Ukrainian forces shelled the thermal plant from their positions in Nikopol, located across the Dnipro River from Russian-occupied positions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[36]

Russian forces continued focusing their efforts on maintaining occupied positions, preventing Ukrainian forces from advancing, and replenishing losses along the Southern Axis on August 22.[37] The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command reported that Russian forces continued conducting reconnaissance and are using aviation and missile weapons to launch remote strikes on Ukrainian positions along the frontline.[38] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces carried out at least eight airstrikes, including near Bila Krynytsia and Andriivka, likely targeting the Ukrainian bridgehead and staging grounds near the Inhulets River.[39] Russian forces also continued using tank, tube, and rocket artillery to shell settlements along the frontline on the Southern Axis.[40]

Russian forces continued to target settlements in Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Mykolaiv Oblasts with artillery and missile strikes on August 22. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces struck Zelendolsk with Uragan MLRS and shelled Nikopol and other settlements throughout Dnipropetrovsk.[41] Ukrainian officials also claimed that Russian forces launched two Kh-59 missiles from Su-35 aircraft toward an unspecified infrastructure facility in Odesa Oblast.[42] Russian sources claimed that Russian forces struck a bridge in the coastal settlement of Zatoka, south of the Dniester Estuary.[43] The Ukrainian Southern Operational reported that Russian forces launched four S-300 missiles on Mykolaiv City at night on August 21-22 and continued shelling other settlements throughout Mykolaiv Oblast.[44]

Military Land

Day summary:

We have reached the 180th of the Russian three-day invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces haven’t achieved any gains yet during the ongoing offensive operation north of Slovyansk. The enemy is very slowly advancing in the vicinity of Pisky and Marinka. On the Kherson Front, Russian troops attacked Blahodatne and entered the southern outskirts. On August 24, Ukraine celebrates its Independence Day and Russia forces plan to hold a so-called tribunal with Azovstal defenders in occupied Mariupol.

Bakhmut front

• House to house fighting continues in Bakhmutske and Soledar.
• Ongoing battle is also reported from the area east of Bakhmut.
• Ukrainian troops repulsed Russian attack towards Zaitseve from the area of Semyhirya.
• Russian forces led an assault towards Kodema from three sides – Vershyna, Travneve and Hladosove. They did not succeed.
• The enemy tried to advance towards Kurdyumivka from the direction of Hladosove, without success. The status of Dacha settlement is unknown at this point.

Slovyansk direction

• Russian reconnaissance element attacked Ukrainian positions near Bohorodychne from the direction of Pasika. The defenders forced Russians to retreat.
• The offensive north of Slovyansk remains without significant advances by Russian troops. The enemy led an attack towards Nova Dmytrivka from the direction of Brazhivka and Sulyhivka, towards Dolyna from the area of Dovhenke and towards Dibrivne from the direction of Sulyhivka.
• The enemy assaulted Ukrainian positions in the area of Ivano-Darivka, but didn’t succeed and retreated.
• Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian attack towards Vesele from the direction of Spirne.

Siverskyi Donetsk

• The enemy led an attack towards Karnaukhivka and Dmytrivka from the direction of Petropillia. The attack was repelled.

Donetsk Oblast

• Russian forces launched an attack towards Niu York from two sides – Horlivka and Novoselivka. The defenders were ready to meet them.
• The enemy failed to seize a new position during its attack towards Krasnohorivka.
• Clashes continue in the vicinity of Opytne.
• The enemy attempted to break through towards Pervomaiske and Neveselske from multiple directions. Russian troops managed to advance by a few meters.
• Heavy fighting continues in Marinka, the enemy is attacking from two sides.
• Russian forces attempted to bypass Marinka and launched an attack towards Pobieda from the area of Luhanske. They didn’t succeed.
• Russian recon tried to advance near Vremivka, but without success and retreated.

Kherson front

• The enemy conducted an offensive towards Blahodatne. Russian troops managed to capture the southern part of the settlement.
• Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian attack towards Tavriyske from the direction of Oleksandrivka.

CNN

The United Nations has a fact-finding team ready to investigate the Ukraine prison attack in Olenivka — but it’s going nowhere for now. Despite Russia and Ukraine requesting an independent probe, the UN believes the situation around the prison is not safe for access without proper assurances. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced other members of the team Monday. Joining a veteran retired police lieutenant general from Brazil is a diplomat from Iceland and a police official from Niger. 

Al Jazeera

• In the eastern Bakhmut region, Russian forces inflicted damage from artillery and multiple rocket launcher systems in the areas of Soledar, Zaytseve and Bilogorivka settlements, Ukraine’s General Staff said in its daily update.
• Russia said its Kalibr missiles destroyed an ammunition depot containing missiles for the US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in Ukraine’s southeastern Odesa region, while Kyiv said a granary had been hit.

The Guardian

• The sole bridge across the strategic Dnieper River in the Russian-occupied city of Kherson was reportedly hit by US-supplied high-precision Himars rockets injuring 15 people, a source told Russia’s Interfax news agency. The bridge is a key crossing for Russian military transport in the region.

• Three villages in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region were battered by Russian artillery and multiple rocket launchers on Monday. Soledar, Zaytseve and Bilohorivka near the city of Bakhmut were struck, killing at least two civilians, Ukrainian authorities said.
• Nearly 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed in the war with Russia, the head of Ukraine’s armed forces, general Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, said on Monday. The office of the UN high commissioner for human rights said on Monday 5,587 civilians had been killed and 7,890 wounded between 24 February and 21 August, mainly from artillery, rocket and missile attacks.
• The US has rejected Ukraine’s call for a blanket ban on visas for Russians, saying Washington would not want to close off pathways to refuge for Russia’s dissidents and others who are vulnerable to human rights abuses. The EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, also said he opposes a complete ban on visas for Russians.

Surse rusești și separatiste*

*am preluat de la milblogeri ruși și separatiști, care la rândul lor citează surse militare și administrative din Rusia și republicile separatiste

▪️ Russian troops hit concentrations of enemy personnel in border villages in Chernihiv region and Sumy region.
▪️ The Russian Armed Forces launched several missile strikes on AFU facilities in Kharkiv. One of the incoming strikes hit an ammunition depot in the northeast of the city.
▪️The sides are engaged in artillery duels on the line of contact near Slatyne, Svitlychne, Pytomnyk and Petrivka.
▪️ După ce au ocupat cea mai mare parte a satului Zaitsevo de lângă Gorlovka, forțele aliate avansează în zona stației Mayorskaya.
▪️ the LPR People’s Militia dislodged the AFU from the territory of the gypsum quarry of the Knauf-Gips factory in Soledar.
▪️ Fighting continues in the area around Zalevskoho Street and the refractory materials plant. South-west, clashes for the centre of Bakhmutsk’e village are underway on the outskirts of Soledar.
▪️Having occupied most of the Zaitseve locality near Horlivka, Allied Forces advance near the Maiors’ka station. ukrainian units shelled towns in the Donetsk agglomeration again: several civilians were killed in Horlivka and a fire broke out in Donetsk in the east of the city.
▪️The DPR People’s Militia forces advance from Staromykhailivka towards Nevel’s’ke.
▪️After prolonged artillery training, the DPR People’s Militia 100th brigade begins to occupy the AFU’s strongholds on the Donetsk Ring Road.
▪️The AFU shelled storage facilities near Kakhovka in Kherson region. Ukrainian units shelled the Antonivs’kyy bridge in Kherson and the Kakhovka HPP dam with HIMARS MLRS. The facilities suffered repairable damage.
▪️In the morning, the Russian Armed Forces launched a missile strike on an AFU location near the Zatoka bridge in Odessa Region.
▪️Over Sevastopol, air defence operated several times during the day and engaged aerial targets near Cape Fiolent. A Ukrainian UAV was shot down.