Photo : REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker
Photo : REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker
By Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 30 July, Ukraine’s electricity operator Ukrenergo stated the improved energy grid situation in Ukraine. According to the company, it was the first time they experienced “no power cuts. Yuriy Boyko, adviser to Ukrenergo’s supervisory board stated that if the shelling stops, they would be able to manage through “minimal restrictions” and no outages for coming three months. Ukraine which has been importing electricity from the EU to satisfy its energy needs. On the same, Deny Shmygal, Ukraine’s Prime Minister called for continued preparedness of electricity generation for the autumn and winter period.
On 30 July, Ukraine’s military claimed on successful targeting of a Russian oil depot in the Vozy settlement area in the Kursk district. According to the report, the oil depot was attacked in a joint effort of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and other forces. The same was confirmed by Kursk’s governor. Earlier, Ukraine’s military had hit three tanks in Polevaya oil deport in the Kursk.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 30 July, in its regular update on the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Defence Ministry reported on targeting the manpower and hardware of the Ukrainian armed forces'. During this brigades located on Staritsa, Liptsy, Volchansk, and Tikhoye in the Kharkiv oblast were damaged. It also claimed on making advances in the Donetsk oblast near the brigades in Verkhnekamenskoye, Belaya Gora, Chasov Yar, Aleksandro-Shultino, Seversk, and Katerinovka.
On 30 July, the Russian Defence Ministry reported on capturing Leninskoye using Tsentr Group of Forces in the Donetsk oblast and claimed an improved tactical situation in the region. In total, it claimed on destroying 631 planes, 28,692 unmanned aerial vehicles and 16,725 tanks, 24,201 special military equipment units since the war began.
On 30 July, the Russian Defence Ministry reported on conducting scheduled fire drills in the Kaliningrad region. According to the report, the exercise focused on protection and defence of Russian ports and sea routes where the Baltic Fleet forces carried out artillery firing and simulation on attacking combat ships and air attacks. In the report: “The main goal of the drills is to inspect actions of the command of the Russian Navy on all levels as well as combat readiness of the ships' crews...”
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the Europe and the US
On 30 July, Anadolu Agency reported on the US government's confirmation to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine along with advanced weapons. According to the report in the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon will supply the F-16s with “air-to-ground munitions, precision-guidance kits for bombs and advanced air-to-air missiles.” This will be delivered in sufficient quantities to counter Russia says an official from the US. The Pentagon’s recent announcement of a security assistance package includes munitions for rocket systems and anti-tank weapons and USD 200 million worth of equipment from the Pentagon’s inventory. The package would be the 62nd of the military equipment given by the Pentagon and totals USD 55.4 billion of US security aid. According to defence experts from RAND, the package is viewed as a delay since the time Russia was seen to have helped it to boost its defences, especially in the frontline. The given F-16s are predicted to face “stiff resistance” from Russia both on land and air.
References
“Ukraine war briefing: F-16 fighter jets to carry advanced US weapons – report,” The Guardian, 31 July 2024
“Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation,” Russian Defence Ministry, 30 July 2024
“Baltic Fleet ships undergo scheduled live-fire drills,” Russian Defence Ministry, 30 July 2024
“US to arm Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets with advanced weapons: Report,” Anadolu Agency, 30 July 2024
Marc Santora and Eric Schmitt, “As F-16s Arrive, Ukraine Still Faces Steep Challenges in the Skies,” The New York Times, 28 July 2024