Zelenskyy Praises Strikes on Russian Military Sites
Facts
- In his evening address on Friday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged what he described as 'very intense battles and pressure from the Russian army' but went on to praise Ukrainian strikes on Russian military sites.[1]
- Earlier in the day, it was reported that Ukraine hit two Russian military sites in Crimea with US-supplied ATACMS missiles. In the latest successful strikes on the peninsula, military bloggers reported that Ukraine's Armed Forces struck the Novofedorivka military airfield, destroying a radar station and a weapons depot.[2]
- A second strike with ATACMS missiles reportedly hit a Russian air defense site near the village of Shovkovychne. A pro-Russia military blogger reported that a UK surveillance aircraft had operated near Crimea on July 24 and provided Ukraine with targeting information.[2]
- In praising the attacks on Friday, Zelenskyy said: 'I want to especially acknowledge our warriors who strike at Russian bases and logistics in the occupied territory.'[1]
- However, the attacks came amid a further deteriorating situation on the frontlines of the war. According to the latest mapping from DeepState, a pro-Ukraine military blogger, Russia captured the town of Vovche in Donetsk and advanced in four other sectors of the eastern region.[3]
- According to the latest analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US military think tank that tracks battlefield progress in the war, Russia made a number of territorial advances and has maintained pressure across the frontlines to 'prevent Ukraine from contesting the battlefield initiative.'[4]
Sources: [1]President of Ukraine, [2]Kyiv Post, [3]Ukrainska Pravda and [4]Understandingwar.
Narratives
- Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by Ukrainska Pravda. While Ukraine is facing intense battles on the frontlines, special gratitude has to be shown to the Ukrainian warriors who strike Russian bases and logistics on the occupied territory. Russian invaders must feel that this is Ukrainian land.
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Given the Western-backed attacks on Crimea, which chose to be part of Russia in a transparent referendum more than a decade ago, Russia is under no illusions as to how the Western countries will approach the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine.