ISW

Key Takeaways

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that elements of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) reconnected to the Ukrainian power grid on August 26.
• Russian occupation authorities remain unlikely to successfully conduct sham referenda to annex Ukrainian territory into the Russian Federation by early September, despite reports of advancing preparations for referenda.
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks southwest of Izyum, northeast and south of Bakhmut, and on the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City.
• Ukrainian forces continued targeting Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCS) and military infrastructure in Kherson Oblast which support operations on the west bank of the Dnipro River.
• Russian federal subjects (regions) continued additional recruitment drives for volunteer battalions, which continue to deploy to Ukraine.
• Ukrainian partisans and internal division continue to pose threats to Russian control of occupied territories.

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 a limited ground attack southwest of Izyum on August 26. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops attacked toward Karnaukhivka, 25km southwest of Izyum.[9] ISW has previously reported that limited Russian ground attacks southwest of Izyum are likely spoiling attacks to disrupt Ukrainian forces, rather than attacks intended to take territory along an axis of advance.[10] Russian forces continued artillery strikes along the Izyum-Slovyansk line near the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border and additionally shelled a technical college in Slovyansk.[11]

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground attacks toward Siversk on August 26 and fired on Siversk and surrounding settlements.[12]

Russian forces continued ground attacks northeast and south of Bakhmut on August 26. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian troops attacked near Soledar and Bakhmutske, both within 10km northeast of Bakhmut.[13] Russian sources claimed that Russian and proxy troops, along with Wagner Group mercenaries, are fighting in Soledar and along the eastern approaches to Bakhmut.[14] The Ukrainian General Staff also reported that Russian troops attempted to advance from Kodema, about 13km southeast of Bakhmut.[15]

Russian forces conducted a limited ground attack on the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City on August 26. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian troops attempted to improve their tactical position and advance toward Nevelske, less than 10km from the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City and directly adjacent to Russian-occupied Pisky.[16] Russian forces also continued artillery strikes against Ukrainian positions along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City frontline.[17]  

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground attacks southwest of Donetsk City on August 26. Russian sources indicated that Russian and proxy troops are continuing to prioritize offensive operations in the Vuhledar area, about 35km southwest of Donetsk City.[18] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted air and artillery strikes southwest of Donetsk City toward the Zaporizhia-Donetsk Oblast border.[19]

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 in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast on August 26. Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Russian troops continued offensive operations to contest positions north of Kharkiv City and conducted air and artillery strikes along the line of contact.[20]

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

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground assaults in Zaporizhia Oblast on August 26. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted airstrikes against Hulyaipole and Olhivske, roughly 20km northeast of Hulyaipole.[21] Russian forces continued heavy shelling along the line of contact, including near Hulyaipole and Huliaipilske on the T0814 highway and Orikhiv and Mala Tokmachka on the T0815 highway.[22]

Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces continued to shell the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on August 26. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) accused Ukrainian forces of shelling the ZNPP’s oxygen-nitrogen station and an area of special building No. 1 on August 25-26.[23] Ukrainian sources separately reported that Russian forces struck Nikopol, Marhanets, and Chervonohryhorivka, all on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River from Enerhodar.[24]

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground assaults in Kherson or Mykolaiv Oblasts on August 26. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted airstrikes on unspecified infrastructure facilities near Oleksandrivka (west Kherson Oblast), Lozove (near the Ukrainian bridgehead over the Inhulets River), and Olhyne (south of Kryvyi Rih on the T2207 highway).[25] Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command Spokesperson Vladyslav Nazarov reported that Russian forces struck the Mykolaivskyi district with S-300 anti-air systems.[26] Russian forces continued shelling along the line of contact.[27]

Ukrainian forces continued to target Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCS) and military infrastructure in Kherson Oblast which support Russian operations on the right bank of the Dnipro River. Ukrainian forces again struck the Antonivsky road bridge near Kherson City on August 26, likely disrupting Russian efforts to repair the bridge.[28] Footage from August 25 shows Russian forces operating pontoon bridges adjacent to the road bridge. [29] Satellite imagery from August 23 and August 25 shows significant damage to the  Antonivsky road bridge from Ukrainian strikes.[30] Ukrainian forces also struck the Darivka road bridge over the Inhulets River, and Nazarov stated that the strikes rendered the bridge inoperable.[31] Nazarov also reported that Ukrainian forces targeted Russian force concentrations, ammunition depots, and equipment stores in Kherson Oblast, including command and control elements of the Russian 98th Airborne Division in Dudchany, Kherson Oblast.[32] Ukrainian forces conducted airstrikes against Russian air defense infrastructure in Novovoskresenske, northern Kherson Oblast, and Kherson City on August 25.[33]

Military Land

Day summary:

The combat activity of Russian forces ceased to a minimum during the last 48 hours. The enemy is unable to gather enough forces to make a meaningful push and break through Ukrainian defense lines.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces successfully targeted the last working bridge across Dnipro river. All Russian forces stationed on the western bank of Dnipro now relies on the pontoon bridge near Antonovsky bridge.

 Kharkiv & Chuhuiv direction

• No activity on the ground during the last 48 hours in Kharkiv & Chuhuiv direction.

Baakhmut front

• The battle of Soledar and Bakhmutske continues, neither side reported any new gains or losses during the last 48 hours.
• Russian forces attempted to push closer to Bakhmut. Ukrainian defenders repelled the attack.
• The enemy tried to advance towards Kodema from the direction of Travneve. They didn’t succeed.

lovyansk direction

• Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian attack towards Dolyna from the direction of Pasika.
• The enemy tried to advance in the vicinity of Staryi Karavan. The attack was repelled by the defenders. This is especially interesting report, as we previously didn’t know about Ukrainian presence on the left bank of Siverskyi Donets river. I marked both Staryi Karavan and Brusivka as unknown control until we learn more.

Donetsk Oblast

• The enemy was unable to hold the north-western part of Pisky, likely due to Ukrainian reinforcements in the form of combined group of 503rd Marines Battalion and Border Guards detachment.
• Russian forces tried to create a breakthrough towards Pervomaiske, but they didn’t succeed.
• Fighting continues east of Nevelske, the enemy is unable to reach the settlement

Kherson front

• Ukrainian artillery targeted a bridge at Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant when an enemy convoy was moving to the other side. Based on the released footage, it’s safe to mark the bridge as destroyed.

Surse ruse și separatiste*

*aceste surse sunt mai ales canale de Telegram ale unor milbogeri ruși și separatiști, care preiau la rândul lor comunicate ale surselor militare și administrative ruse sau separatiste

💥 Peste 50 de naționaliști și 9 unități de vehicule și vehicule blindate au fost distruse de lovituri de foc concentrate asupra pozițiilor de luptă ale unităților Brigăzii 25 Aeropurtate a Forțelor Armate ale Ucrainei din regiunea Seversk și Brigăzii 101 de Apărare Teritorială din Yakovlevka regiunea Republicii Populare Donețk.
◽️ Din cauza pierderilor mari și a pierderii capacității de luptă, militarii unităților brigăzii 53 mecanizate a Forțelor Armate ale Ucrainei din Novomikhailovka a Republicii Populare Donețk și brigadei 93 mecanizate a Forțelor Armate ale Ucrainei din Dibrovnoye, regiunea Harkov, și-au părăsit pozițiile și au plecat din zonele de luptă.
⚠️ În ultimele 24 de ore, centrala nucleară Zaporojie a fost bombardată de două ori de trupele ucrainene cu tunuri de artilerie de calibru mare. În urma bombardamentelor, patru muniții au explodat în zona stației de oxigen-azot, și încă una în zona clădirii speciale nr.1. Poziția de artilerie a Forțelor Armate ale Ucrainei, din care s-a efectuat bombardarea teritoriului centralei nucleare, a fost dezvăluită la vest de satul Marganets, regiunea Dnepropetrovsk. Ca urmare a unei lovituri directe de muniții rusești de înaltă precizie, un obuzier M777 fabricat în SUA a fost distrus în această poziție de luptă.
◽️ de la începutul operațiunii militare speciale, au fost distruse: 273 avioane, 148 elicoptere, 1.813 vehicule aeriene fără pilot, 369 sisteme de rachete antiaeriene, 4.392 tancuri și alte vehicule blindate de luptă, 819 vehicule de luptă cu lansare multiplă. sisteme de rachete, 3.345 piese de artilerie de camp și mortare, precum și 5054 unități de vehicule militare speciale.

Rybar canal

▪️Russian Armed Forces struck the concentrations of enemy manpower and military equipment in Sumy and Chernihiv regions.
▪️In the northern Kharkiv Region, positional fighting takes place near Peremoha; and west of Udy and Vesele.
▪️Ukrainian Command transferred armored vehicles to Pytomnyk in an attempt to strengthen the defence in this area of the front.
▪️AFU launched a missile strike on Kadiivka and destroyed Donbass Hotel hosting a field hospital for servicemen and civilians in one of the floors.
▪️In Soledar, LPR People’s Militia forces continue fighting on the southern outskirts of the city near Belokamenskiy Refractory Plant.
▪️Wagner’s PMC assault units, supported by aviation and artillery, gained a foothold in the eastern part of Bakhmut (Artemivsk).
▪️AFU massively shelled towns in Donbass once again. As a result, several civilians were injured and killed in Donetsk, Horlivka, and Yasynuvata.
▪️ Ukrainian strikes on Kam’yanka (Kuybyshevo) destroyed several multi-story apartment buildings, with casualties including a child.
▪️Another terrorist attack took place in Berdyans’k. As a result of a blast, Deputy Chief of Berdyans’k’s Traffic Police was killed.
▪️Artillery strikes on Zaporizhzhia NPP continue. Several shells were fired at the radioactive isotope storage facility.
▪️Russian Armed Forces retaliate against identified Ukrainian artillery positions on the other bank of Dnipro River and hit M777 howitzer positions west of Marhanets’.
▪️AFU continue to attack civilian infrastructure in Kherson Region and struck Antonivs’kyy bridge again. Some of missiles were shot down by Russian Air Defence means.