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As tensions remain high in the Black Sea, skirmishes have taken place between maritime and air forces around strategically important gas and oil platforms between Crimea and Odesa. Last week, a Russian combat jet shot at a Ukrainian military small boat operating near a platform in the north-west of the sea.

The platforms are operated by the Chernomorneftegaz company, which was seized by the pro-Russian occupation authorities in Crimea during the 2014 annexation. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has struck several Russian-controlled platforms. Both Russia and Ukraine have also periodically occupied them with troops.

The platforms command valuable hydrocarbon resources. However, like Snake Island to the west, they can also be used as forward deployment bases, helicopter landing sites, and to position long-range missile systems.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 27.08.23 were approximately:

• personnel - about 260820 (+550) persons,
• tanks - 4396 (+6) units,
• armored personnel carriers - 8554 (+15) units
• artillery systems - 5403 (+24) units,
• MLRS - 728 (+2) units,
• air defense systems / Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 498 (+1) units
• aircraft - 315 (+0) units
• helicopters - 316 (+0) units,
• UAV operational-tactical level - 4378 (+11),
• cruise missiles - 1411 (+0),
• ships / boats / warships / boats - 18 (+0) units,
• vehicles and fuel tanks - 7854 (+31) units,
• special equipment - 808 (+4).

Data are being updated.

The Ukrainian counter-offensive has put Russian forces under pressure in Bakhmut and southern Ukraine. Despite this, Russia’s Western Group of Forces has continued small-scale attacks in the north-east, in the Kupiansk-Lyman sector, and has made some limited local advances.

As Ukraine continues to gradually gain ground in the south, Russia’s doctrine suggests that it will attempt to regain the initiative by pivoting back to an operational level offensive. Kupiansk-Lyman is one potential area for this.

There is a realistic possibility Russia will increase the intensity of its offensive efforts on the Kupiansk-Lyman axis in the next two months, probably with the objective of advancing west to the Oskil River and creating a buffer zone around Luhansk Oblast.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 26.08.23 were approximately:

• personnel - about 260270 (+640) persons,
• tanks - 4390 (+12) units,
• armored personnel carriers - 8539 (+18) units
• artillery systems - 5379 (+18) units,
• MLRS - 726 (+2) units,
• air defense systems / Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 497 (+2) units
• aircraft - 315 (+0) units
• helicopters - 316 (+0) units,
• UAV operational-tactical level - 4367 (+11),
• cruise missiles - 1411 (+2),
• ships / boats / warships / boats - 18 (+0) units,
• vehicles and fuel tanks - 7823 (+33) units,
• special equipment - 804 (+2).

Data are being updated.

On 19 August 2023, President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to Southern Military District HQ at Rostov-on-Don, approximately 160km from the front line.

The HQ hosts the staff running the war in Ukraine.

Putin held a meeting with senior officers, including Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov who continues to command the operation in Ukraine.

Wagner Group briefly seized the HQ in June 2023. Putin highly likely wishes to project his authority and to portray the senior military command as functioning as usual.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 24.08.23 were approximately:

• personnel - about 259160 (+340) people / persons,
• tanks - 4375 (+2) units,
• armored personnel carriers - 8511 (+23) units
• artillery systems - 5333 (+15) units,
• MLRS - 723 (+1) units,
• air defense systems / Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 494 (+3) units
• aircraft - 315 (+0) units
• helicopters - 316 (+0) units,
• UAV operational-tactical level - 4344 (+20),
• cruise missiles - 1406 (+0),
• ships / boats / warships / boats - 18 (+0) units,
• vehicles and fuel tanks - 7773 (+28) units,
• special equipment - 801 (+1).

Data are being updated.

Over the last week, most of the front line has remained static. However, in the south, Ukrainian forces have continued their advance along the course of the Mokri Yaly river, securing the village of Urozhaine in the face of stiff Russian resistance.

In the north, Russian forces have continued probing attacks in the Kupiansk area but achieved no significant advances.

Across the front, both sides confront a similar challenge: attempting to defeat well-entrenched forces while having limited uncommitted forces to open new assaults.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 19.08.23 were approximately:

• personnel - about 257010 (+500) people were liquidated,
• tanks - 4340 (+8) units
• APVs - 8424 (+14) units
• artillery systems - 5212 (+19) units,
• MLRS - 714 (+0) units,
• air defense systems / Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 486 (+0) units
• aircraft - 315 (+0) units
• helicopters - 316 (+0) units,
• UAV operational-tactical level - 4282 (+6),
• cruise missiles - 1406 (+0),
• ships / boats / warships / boats - 18 (+0) units,
• vehicles and fuel tanks - 7665 (+7) units
• special equipment - 785 (+2).

Data are being updated.

On 15 August 2023, First Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko travelled to Donetsk in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine to visit schools and check their integration into the Russian education system.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the occupation administration received instructions from Russia regarding the introduction of new standards for the accreditation of educational institutions. Journalists from Russia are also being employed in media outlets in the occupied regions.

A new textbook on the history of Russia will be issued to schools in the occupied regions of Ukraine and throughout the Russian Federation from 1 September 2023. The book praises the so-called special military operation and describes Ukraine as an ultra-terrorist state.

Russia’s aim is to create a pro-Kremlin information space in the occupied regions in order to erode Ukrainian national identity.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 18.08.23 were approximately:

• personnel - about 256510 (+460) people were liquidated,
• tanks - 4332 (+3) units
• APVs - 8410 (+12) units
• artillery systems - 5193 (+24) units,
• MLRS - 714 (+0) units,
• air defense systems / Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 486 (+0) units
• aircraft - 315 (+0) units
• helicopters - 316 (+2) units,
• UAV operational-tactical level - 4276 (+4),
• cruise missiles - 1406 (+0),
• ships / boats / warships / boats - 18 (+0) units,
• vehicles and fuel tanks - 7658 (+17) units,
• special equipment - 783 (+10).

Data are being updated.

Despite the consistent pressures of war, Ukrainian efforts to build up fuel stockpiles will likely be successful in ensuring that it will have sufficient fuel reserves during the approaching winter period.

Ukraine has been effective in mobilising its mining sector to maintain output, ensuring a continuous supply of coal is available for thermal power and heating plants in the winter, with substantial gas stocks providing a further reserve.

Despite Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure likely continuing this winter, Ukraine demonstrated last winter that it has the skilled workforce and expertise needed to operate and maintain the power network, even in wartime conditions.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 17.08.23 were approximately:

• personnel - about 256050 (+480) people were liquidated,
• tanks - 4329 (+5) units
• armored personnel carriers - 8398 (+18) units
• artillery systems - 5169 (+17) units,
• MLRS - 714 (+0) units,
• air defense systems / Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 486 (+1) units
• aircraft - 315 (+0) units
• helicopters - 314 (+0) units,
• UAV operational-tactical level - 4272 (+24),
• cruise missiles - 1406 (+2),
• ships / boats / warships / boats - 18 (+0) units,
• vehicles and fuel tanks - 7641 (+27) units,
• special equipment - 773 (+0).

Data are being updated.