UA-69458566-1

Friday, August 26, 2022

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 26

 Karolina Hird, Grace Mappes, Angela Howard, George Barros, and Mason Clark

August 26, 6:45pm ET

Click here to see ISW's interactive map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This map is updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report.

Russian forces did not make any claimed or assessed territorial gains in Ukraine on August 26, 2022, for the first time since August 18, 2022.[1] However, Russian forces still conducted limited and unsuccessful ground attacks on the Eastern Axis on August 26.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that unspecified actors (but almost certainly Russian forces) reconnected part of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to the Ukrainian power grid on August 26.[2] Ukrainian nuclear operating enterprise Energoatom stated that unspecified actors reconnected one of the power units to the ZNPP and are working to add capacity to the ZNPP’s operations.[3] Russian forces remain in full control of the plant, though it is unclear why they would have reconnected the power unit.

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. Spokesperson for Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Vadym Skibitsky stated on August 26 that Russian authorities have completed administrative preparations for referenda and created election headquarters, drawn up voter lists, and created election commissions, which Skibitsky stated indicates that the preparatory process for referenda is “almost complete.”[4] Russian-backed occupation authorities in Zaporizhia Oblast announced that they have already audited polling stations, analyzed voter lists, and selected candidates for work in voter precincts and territorial election commissions.[5]

However, Russian occupation authorities are unlikely to be able to carry out referenda as they intend (with cooperation from local collaborators) by the purported September 11 deadline due to continued frictions within occupation administrations and ongoing partisan attacks. The Ukrainian advisor to the head of Kherson Oblast, Serhiy Khlan, stated on August 26 that the Kherson occupation administration is struggling to find people to head administrative units in charge of referendum preparations, likely due to a lack of willing locals and low levels of trust in Ukrainian collaborators.[6] Khlan notably stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have ordered occupation administrators to avoid importing Russian administrators to fill these roles in order to make the referendum process appear like a grassroots initiative with local support.[7] Ukrainian sources have previously reported that Ukrainian resistance and increasing partisan attacks are inhibiting preparations for the referendum.[8] While Russian authorities could hypothetically forcibly annex Ukrainian territories on an arbitrary date, they are unlikely to do so without holding staged referenda. All observed indicators suggest that Russian authorities seek to create a veneer of local support and participation before conducting the referenda to frame them as widely supported initiatives but face ongoing setbacks that will delay any annexation effort.

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.

We do not report in detail on Russian war crimes because those activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting. We will continue to evaluate and report on the effects of these criminal activities on the Ukrainian military and population and specifically on combat in Ukrainian urban areas. We utterly condemn these Russian violations of the laws of armed conflict, Geneva Conventions, and humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports.

  • Main Effort—Eastern Ukraine (comprised of one subordinate and two supporting efforts);
  • Subordinate Main Effort—Encirclement of Ukrainian Troops in the Cauldron between Izyum and Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts
  • Supporting Effort 1—Kharkiv City
  • Supporting Effort 2—Southern Axis
  • Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts
  • Activities in Russian-occupied Areas

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 to 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]

Russian forces continued to redeploy military equipment from Crimea to Russia, likely in response to ongoing Ukrainian strikes against Russian rear areas in Crimea. Business Insider reported on August 26 that Russian forces transferred six Su-35S fighter jets and four MiG-31BM interceptors from Crimea to mainland Russia, most likely due to the threat of Ukrainian strikes.[34] A Russian milblogger agreed with the Business Insider report and claimed that Russian forces are strengthening air defenses in Crimea to counter Ukrainian strikes as current Russian air defenses are ineffective against small Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).[35]

Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts (Russian objective: Expand combat power without conducting general mobilization)

Russian federal subjects (regions) are launching additional recruitment drives for volunteer battalions, which continue to deploy to Ukraine. Local Primorye outlet Primorskaya Gazeta reported on August 26 that Prymorskyi Krai’s 240-man-strong “Tigr” volunteer battalion (which is part of the Russian 155th Separate Naval infantry Brigade) participated in its first combat operation in an unspecified location in Ukraine.[36] ISW first reported on the ”Tigr” Battalion on July 16.[37] Russian media also reported that Bashkortostan’s “Shaimuratov” and “Dostavalov” volunteer battalions are completing their training and will deploy to Ukraine at an unspecified date in the near future.[38] Local Russian media also reported that a few dozen Russian volunteers of Tyumen Oblast’s “Tobol” and “Tayga” battalions deployed to training grounds for combat training ahead of deploying to Ukraine.[39] Russian sources also confirmed the first combat losses among Russian prisoners who recently joined the Wagner Group.[40] 

Russian federal subjects continue to increase offered salaries for volunteer fighters. Nenets Autonomous Okrug Governor Yuri Bezdudny announced on August 26 that the Nenets Autonomous Okrug tripled its one-time enlistment payment from 100,000 ($1,642) rubles to 300,000 rubles ($4,928) for personnel who signed service contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense.[41] Chuvash Republic Governor Oleg Nikolayev announced on August 26 that the Chuvash Republic will increase one-time payments to volunteer fighters of the “Atal” Battalion from 200,000 rubles ($3,285) to 300,000 rubles ($4,928).[42]  

Activity in Russian-occupied Areas (Russian objective: consolidate administrative control of occupied areas; set conditions for potential annexation into the Russian Federation or some other future political arrangement of Moscow’s choosing)

Ukrainian partisans continued to target occupation authorities and disrupt Russian preparations for annexation referenda. Russian and Ukrainian sources stated on August 26 that unidentified Ukrainian partisans conducted an improvised explosive device (IED) attack against Alexander Kolesnikov, the Deputy Police Chief of occupied Berdyansk, Zaporizhia Oblast.[43] Ukrainian Mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov also stated that Ukrainian partisans in Melitopol, Zaporizhia Oblast, damaged a referendum headquarters in Melitopol.[44] The targeting of collaborators by partisan groups is likely impeding Russian efforts to establish stable governing systems and pursue formal referendums in occupied territories.

Internal discord is likely also contributing to the instability of occupation regimes. The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported that Russian-appointed Mayor of Mariupol Konstantin Ivashchenko left Mariupol on August 26 following an assassination attempt on August 25.[45] Ukrainian Advisor to the Mayor of Mariupol Petro Andryushchenko stated that Russian Duma Deputy Dmytro Sablin and Russian-backed former Mariupol City Council Member Petro Ivanov ordered Ivashchenko’s assassination. Andryushchenko further reported that Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) Head Denis Pushilin appointed DNR authorities to investigate the assassination attempt rather than turning the case over to Russian authorities, as per previous cases in Russian-occupied territories.[46] ISW cannot independently confirm Andryushchenko’s statements at this time. However, if proven true, a rift between Russian and DNR authorities would suggest Russia will face increasing difficulty coordinating governance and responses to Ukrainian threats in occupied territories.

Russian and proxy authorities continue efforts to facilitate the social integration of occupied areas using inconsistent applications of incentives and threats. Education systems remain a prime target. Parents who refuse to send their children to Russian schools in occupied territories face fines ranging from 40,000 to 150,000 rubles ($663-$2,487), the revocation of their parental rights, the confiscation of their property, and police interference, depending on their location.[47] Parents who choose to send their children to Russian schools in occupied territories may receive a one-time 10,000-ruble ($165) payment, as ISW has previously reported.[48]

The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab published a report locating at least 21 confirmed filtration facilities functioning in Donetsk Oblast alone on August 25.[49] The filtration facilities reportedly each serve one of four purposes: registration, holding, secondary interrogation, or detention of Ukrainian civilians. The Humanitarian Research Lab asserted that facility conditions include overcrowding, poor sanitation, insufficient food and water provision, denial of medical care, occasional use of electric shocks, and isolation tactics that “can constitute cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment under international humanitarian and human rights law.”[50]

Note:  ISW does not receive any classified material from any source, uses only publicly available information, and draws extensively on Russian, Ukrainian, and Western reporting and social media as well as commercially available satellite imagery and other geospatial data as the basis for these reports.  References to all sources used are provided in the endnotes of each update. 


[1] https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-18

[2] https://t.me/spravdi/15999; https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-94-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine   

[3] https://t.me/energoatom_ua/9208; https://t.me/spravdi/16028; https://twitter.com/RubrykaEng/status/1562879041140432897; https://t.me/spravdi/15999; https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-94-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine

[4] https://www.rbc dot ua/ukr/news/smogut-okkupanty-provesti-referendum-otvet-1661515303.html

[5] https://t.me/vrogov/4410; https://t.me/stranaua/60073

[6] https://youtu.be/9u_NBCnrJ-M; https://t.me/stranaua/56136

[7] https://youtu.be/9u_NBCnrJ-M

[8] https://sprotyv dot mod.gov.ua/2022/08/22/okupanty-ne-mozhut-normalno-pidgotuvatysya-do-psevdoreferendumu-na-hersonshhyni/; https://armyinform dot com.ua/2022/08/22/hersonshhyna-bojkotuye-psevdoreferendum/; https://t.me/ivan_fedorov_melitopol/396; https://t.me/ivan_fedorov_melitopol/394   

[9] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl

[10] https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-21

[11] https://t.me/stranaua/60002; https://t.me/stranaua/60080; https://t.me/stranaua/59980; https://t.me/pavlokyrylenko_donoda/4639; https://t.me/spravdi/16016; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l

[12] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l; https://twitter.com/200_zoka/status/1562873740068761600?s=20&t=eRwoIXK8iIhdPZOSQPDOLQ; https://twitter.com/neonhandrail/status/1562876928146968576?s=20&t=eRwoIXK8iIhdPZOSQPDOLQ; https://t.me/pavlokyrylenko_donoda/4639; https://t.me/pavlokyrylenko_donoda/4638; https://t.me/spravdi/16016

[13] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l

[14] https://t.me/rybar/37743; https://t.me/rybar/37743; https://t.me/milchronicles/1050; https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1562940004883902466  

[15] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l

[16] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl

[17] https://t.me/milchronicles/1052; https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1562900670788710405; https://t.me/izvestia/101447; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l; https://t.me/pavlokyrylenko_donoda/4639

[18] https://t.me/rybar/37743

[19] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l

[20] https://t.me/synegubov/3989; https://t.me/rybar/37755; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l; https://t.me/spravdi/16016; https://t.me/sso_azov_kharkiv/98; https://twitter.com/doppelot/status/1563132651443462147?s=20&t=eRwoIXK8iIhdPZOSQPDOLQ; https://t.me/der_rada/2418; https://t.me/rybar/37743

[21] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l

[22] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l

[23] https://t.me/mod_russia/19135; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/61424; https://t.me/stranaua/60093; https://t.me/readovkanews/40796; https://t.me/readovkanews/40812

[24] https://t.me/Yevtushenko_E/639; https://t.me/Yevtushenko_E/641 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5396571913760235; https://t.me/Yevtushenko_E/641 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5396571913760235; https://t.me/rybar/37755; https://t.me/vilkul/1811

[25] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://t.me/mod_russia/19135

[26] https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5396571913760235

[27] https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5396571913760235; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0wP6qpKdYy7NU6tpacEBtyCsVMVcp5tW5jnKWGkxCDA76e7N69PSHkrrpCnXWiMkyl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid08zvqC1FASXcjGM6sQ8PRCPTf4kHrPfWCwXwgYw1K2jjxtQYjGZNjL7WDxvnjRBj2l; https://t.me/spravdi/16016; https://t.me/khersonskaODA/880

[28] https://twitter.com/Shtirlitz53/status/1563122861283606530; https://twitter.com/Shtirlitz53/status/1563125782331138048; https://twitter.com/Shtirlitz53/status/1563129022946586625; https://t.me/a_shtirlitz/20568; https://t.me/a_shtirlitz/20569; https://t.me/a_shtirlitz/20566; https://twitter.com/JimmySecUK/status/1563119556880584705; https://t.me/zalpalyanytsya/1428; https://twitter.com/Militarylandnet/status/1563124912314732544 ; https://twitter.com/g_ievgen/status/1563129101602668548; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1563137311541342209; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1563138183809757186;  https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1563138849739395078; https://vk dot com/wall607458618_2399; https://t.me/novaya_kahovka_news/839; https://t.me/m0sc0wcalling/10469; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/39634 ; https://www.facebook.com/100003342535443/posts/pfbid0nQH7DoJMa8oA61sXQPTugrRtjtNeJ74JaMz64mwasjYTsnHcAKVJLBybF1UwsUWjl/?d=n&mibextid=pwzuuw; https://t.me/stranaua/60061; https://t.me/stranaua/60049; https://t.me/stranaua/60045

[29] https://t.me/smotri_media/21406; https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1562940965853151232; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1563039883777949697; https://t.me/stranaua/60034

[30] https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins/status/1563118623031705601

[31] https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5396571913760235

[32] https://www.facebook.com/okPivden/videos/3350376825208377/; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5396571913760235; https://t.me/Bratchuk_Sergey/17650 ; https://www.facebook.com/100003342535443/posts/pfbid0nQH7DoJMa8oA61sXQPTugrRtjtNeJ74JaMz64mwasjYTsnHcAKVJLBybF1UwsUWjl/?d=n&mibextid=pwzuuw

[33] https://www.facebook.com/okPivden/videos/3350376825208377/

[34] https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-pulling-fighter-jets-from-crimea-secret-nato-report-2022-8; https://www.businessinsider dot de/politik/welt/explosionen-auf-der-krim-russland-zieht-laut-nato-geheimbericht-kampfflieger-aus-der-ukraine-ab/?_ga=2.141767218.1611788878.1661545380-1138732448.1661545380

[35] https://t.me/m0sc0wcalling/10472

[36] http://primgazeta dot ru/news/primorskij-otryad-tigr-prinyal-pervyj-boj-26-08-2022-06-11-55

[37] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-volunteer-units-and-battalions

[38] https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1563037932474142720; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGWU5ytix_Q; https://prufy dot ru/news/society/126880-khabirov_pribyl_na_otpravku_vtorogo_dobrovolcheskogo_batalona_iz_bashkirii_imeni_dostavalova/

[39] http://tyumen-news dot net/society/2022/08/26/262028.html

[40] https://zona.media/news/2022/08/26/eremenko; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1563129572123586560; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1562835808528113666; https://vk dot com/wall-48725093_121962

[41] https://nao24 dot ru/obshestvo/33896-v-nao-do-300-tysjach-rublej-uvelichen-razmer-edinovremennoj-denezhnoj-vyplaty-dlja-voennosluzhaschih-zakljuchivshih-kontrakt-s-ministerstvom-oborony-rf.html

[42] https://cap dot ru/news/2022/08/26/v-chuvashii-edinovremennaya-denezhnaya-viplata-dob

[43] https://t.e/Bratchuk_Sergey/17655; https://t.me/m0sc0wcalling/10471; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/39638; https://t.me/stranaua/60086; https://t.me/rybar/37761; https://t.me/readovkanews/40805

[44] https://t.me/ivan_fedorov_melitopol/463

[45] https://sprotyv.mod.gov dot ua/2022/08/26/rosijski-gaulyajtery-na-pivdni-zalyshayut-region/; https://tsn dot ua/ato/u-mariupoli-vchinili-zamah-na-okupaciynogo-mera-mariupolya-ivaschenka-2139160.html; https://www.stopcor dot org/section-uanews/news-u-mariupoli-masshtabna-pozhezha-rosmns-ne-reague-gaulyajter-ivaschenko-perehovuetsya-v-likarni-25-08-2022.html

[46] https://t.me/andriyshTime/2513

[47] https://sprotyv.mod.gov dot ua/2022/08/26/u-mariupoli-okupanty-pogrozhuyut-shtrafamy-za-vidmovu-batkiv-vid-navchannya-ditej-v-rosijskyh-shkolah/; https://t.me/mariupolrada/10733; https://t.me/ivan_fedorov_melitopol/463

[48] https://t.me/luhanskaVTSA/5317; https://t.me/ivan_fedorov_melitopol/463; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-25

[49] https://hub.conflictobservatory.org/portal/apps/sites/#/home/pages/filtration-1

[50] https://hub.conflictobservatory.org/portal/apps/sites/#/home/pages/filtration-1

 

 

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 25

 Karolina Hird, Layne Philipson, George Barros, and Frederick W. Kagan

August 25, 6:30 pm ET

Click here to see ISW's interactive map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This map is updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s August 25 decree to increase the size of the Russian military starting in January 2023 is unlikely to generate significant combat power in the near future and indicates that Putin is unlikely to order a mass mobilization soon. The decree increases the nominal end strength of the Russian Armed Forces by 137,000 military personnel, from 1,013,628 to 1,150,628, starting on January 1, 2023.[1] The Russian military likely seeks to recover losses from its invasion of Ukraine and generate forces to sustain its operation in Ukraine. The announcement of a relatively modest (yet likely still unattainable) increased end strength target strongly suggests that Putin remains determined to avoid full mobilization. The Kremlin is unlikely to generate sufficient forces to reach an end strength of over 1,150,000 soldiers as the decree stipulates. The Russian military has not historically met its end-strength targets. It had only about 850,000 active-duty military personnel in 2022 before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, for example, well shy of its nominal end strength target of over one million.[2]

Russia would likely face serious obstacles to adding large numbers of new soldiers quickly. Apart from the challenges Russian recruiters face, Russia’s net training capacity has likely decreased since February 24, since the Kremlin deployed training elements to participate in combat in Ukraine and these training elements reportedly took causalities.[3] Russia may use the fall conscription cycle in October 2022, which should bring in about 130,000 men, to replenish Russian losses, which reportedly number in the tens of thousands killed and seriously wounded. The Kremlin may alternatively use the additional end strength to formally subsume into the Russian military the forces of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics and/or the new Russian volunteer units that are not formally part of the Russian military. The net addition to Russia’s combat power in any such case would be very small.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) disconnected from the power grid for the first time in its operational history on August 25. Ukrainian nuclear operating enterprise Energoatom reported that Russian shelling caused the disconnection by starting fires at ash pits near the Zaporizhia Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP), approximately 5km from the ZNPP.[4] Energoatom stated that the ZTPP is currently supplying the ZNPP with power and that work is ongoing to reconnect one of the ZNPP power units back to the Ukrainian power grid.[5]

Russian sources accused Ukrainian forces of firing at the ZNPP, but Russia has not provided clear evidence of Ukrainian troops striking the plant.[6] As ISW has previously reported, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) stated that Russian troops deliberately conducted mortar strikes against the ash pits at the ZTPP.[7] The GUR also has not provided clear evidence to support its claims. The Russians’ failure to provide unequivocal evidence of the extensive shelling they accuse Ukraine of conducting is more noteworthy, however, because Russia controls the ground and could provide more conclusive evidence far more easily than Ukraine could. The GUR also reported on August 20 that Russian officials had indefinitely extended the order for Ukrainian employees of the ZNPP to stay home, and there have been no reports of any rescission of that order, which means that a portion of the ZNPP’s workforce is apparently still absent on Russian orders despite the ongoing emergency.[8] Russian forces have also heavily militarized the ZNPP since its capture, despite the fact that the facility is far from the front line and at no risk of imminent Ukrainian ground attack.  This pattern of activity continues to make it far more likely that Russian forces have been responsible for kinetic attacks on and around the ZNPP than that Ukrainian forces have been.

Key Takeaways

  • Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northwest and northeast of Slovyansk, northeast and south of Bakhmut, and northwest of Donetsk City.
  • Russian forces conducted a limited ground attack in northwestern Kharkiv Oblast.
  • Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks in northwestern Kherson Oblast.
  • Ukrainian forces continued to target Russian military assets and ground lines of communication (GLOCs) in Kherson Oblast.
  • Russian federal subjects (regions) are continuing recruitment efforts for volunteer battalions, which are continuing to deploy to training grounds in Russia and to Ukraine.
  • Russian occupation administrators are continuing to take measures to mitigate challenges to their authority and facilitate the economic and educational integration of occupied territories into the Russian system.

We do not report in detail on Russian war crimes because those activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting. We will continue to evaluate and report on the effects of these criminal activities on the Ukrainian military and population and specifically on combat in Ukrainian urban areas. We utterly condemn these Russian violations of the laws of armed conflict, Geneva Conventions, and humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports.

  • Main Effort—Eastern Ukraine (comprised of one subordinate and two supporting efforts);
  • Subordinate Main Effort—Encirclement of Ukrainian Troops in the Cauldron between Izyum and Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts
  • Supporting Effort 1—Kharkiv City
  • Supporting Effort 2—Southern Axis
  • Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts
  • Activities in Russian-occupied Areas

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 northwest and northeast of Slovyansk on August 25. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops attempted to advance from occupied positions in Pasika (25km northwest of Slovyansk) to Dolyna, 18km northwest of Slovyansk along the E40 Izyum-Slovyansk highway.[9] The Ukrainian General Staff also stated that Russian troops attempted to improve their tactical positions around Staryi Karavan, which is in Russian-occupied territory about 13km northeast of Slovyansk along the T0514 highway that runs through Raihorodok into Slovyansk.[10] Russian forces shelled civilian infrastructure in Slovyansk.[11]

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground attacks towards Siversk on August 25 and shelled Siversk and surrounding settlements.[12]

Russian forces continued ground attacks northeast and south of Bakhmut on August 25. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian troops attempted to advance on Bakhmut from Bakhmutske, 8km northeast of Bakhmut.[13] Russian troops, likely including Wagner Group mercenaries and elements of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) 6th Cossack Regiment are continuing to conduct ground attacks with artillery support around Bakhmut and in Soledar.[14] The Ukrainian General Staff also reported that Russian troops attempted to advance northward from the Horlivka area and conducted a ground attack from Travneve (19km southeast of Bakhmut) to Kodema (14km southeast of Bakhmut) and are fighting around Kodema.[15]

Russian forces conducted a limited ground attack on the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City on August 25. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian troops attempted to push from Pisky to Pervomaiske and break Ukrainian defensive lines in the Pervomaiske area.[16] Geolocated footage posted on August 24 shows Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) troops hanging a Soviet flag near the center of Pisky and seemingly unconcerned with Ukrainian artillery fire, which confirms that DNR troops gained full control of Pisky and are likely launching westward attacks from positions in Pisky.[17] Russian forces continued to strike Ukrainian positions along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City frontline.[18]

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground attacks southwest of Donetsk City towards the Zaporizhia Oblast border on August 25. Russian sources claimed that Russian and DNR troops are continuing offensive operations in the Vuhledar area, 35km southwest of Donetsk City. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces continued air and artillery strikes near Vuhledar and toward the Zaporizhia 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 conducted a limited ground assault northwest of Kharkiv City on August 25. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces retreated after attempting an unsuccessful offensive near Petrivka, approximately 15km northeast of Kharkiv City.[20] Russian forces conducted an airstrike near Pytomnyk, approximately 15km north of Kharkiv City, and continued using tube, tank, and rocket artillery to shell settlements along the Kharkiv City Axis.[21]

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

Russian forces conducted limited ground assaults in northwest Kherson Oblast but did not make any territorial gains on August 25. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled an attempted Russian offensive near Tavriiske, approximately 38km northwest of Kherson City.[22] The Ukrainian General Staff also reported that Russian forces retreated after attempting a reconnaissance-in-force operation near an unspecified village called Blahodatne.[23] It is unclear whether the report referred to the Ukrainian-held Blahodatne northwest of Russian-occupied Kyselivka or the Blahodatne in southern Mykolaiv Oblast that Russian forces captured around August 21.[24]

Russian forces continued focusing on maintaining occupied lines and striking Ukrainian positions along the Southern Axis. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces launched airstrikes on four settlements southeast of Zaporizhia, as well as near Bila Krynytsia, likely targeting Ukrainian positions near the Ukrainian bridgehead over the Inhulets River.[25] Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces used Smerch rockets and S-300 missiles to strike port and residential infrastructure in Mykolaiv City.[26] Ukrainian and Russian sources stated that Russian forces shelled the Chaplin railway station in central Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on August 24.[27] Russian forces continued using tank, tube, and rocket artillery to shell civilian and military infrastructure along the entire frontline of the Southern Axis.[28]

Ukrainian forces continued to target Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) and positions in Kherson Oblast on August 24-25. Ukrainian Southern Operational Command Spokesperson Vladislav Nazarov reported that Ukrainian forces again struck the Antonivsky bridge in a continued effort to prevent Russian construction units from restoring the bridge.[29] Geolocated video footage posted on August 24 showed damage near the Kakhovka bridge after Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the area with unspecified weapons on August 24.[30] Ukrainian officials also reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed four Russian warehouses, a concentration of manpower, and two command posts, including a command post of a battalion tactical group of the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment in unspecified areas in the Southern Axis.[31]

Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts (Russian objective: Expand combat power without conducting general mobilization)

Russian federal subjects (regions) are continuing additional recruitment drives for volunteer battalions, which continue to deploy to training grounds ahead of deployment to Ukraine. Russian outlet VladNews reported that Primorsky Krai’s military commissioner announced that 140 people (half of the 280 target) have signed up for Primorsky Krai’s “Arsenyevskyi” volunteer repair battalion.[32] Local Chelyabinsk outlet BezFormata reported that Chelyabinsk’s military commissar is conducting additional recruitment drives for the “Yuzhnouralets” and “Yuzhnyi Ural” volunteer battalions—one of which ISW previously reported has already deployed to a training ground and the other of which is still forming.[33] Local Oryol outlet NewsOrel stated that the “Orlovskyi” volunteer battalion has deployed to a base in Russia prior to deploying to Ukraine on August 25.[34] Russian media also reported that Bashkortostan’s “Shaimuratov” and “Dostavalov” volunteer battalions are completing their training and will deploy to Ukraine at an unspecified date in the near future.[35]

Internal friction between elements of different Russian conventional forces, special forces, private military company (PMC) workers, and national guard elements may be increasing. An unconfirmed Twitter post, which cited sources within the 22nd Spetznaz Brigade, claimed that relations between Russian Spetznaz units are breaking down, as are relationships between Spetznaz units and PMC elements.[36] The post claims that a conflict between groups from two Spetznaz brigades and a PMC unit turned into an armed fight when one Spetznaz unit sided with the PMC unit instead of the other Spetznaz unit.[37] The Russian military leadership is leveraging PMC elements such as the Wagner Group and Spetznaz as key maneuver elements, and internal firefights between these factions could erode the mutual confidence necessary for troops to cooperate effectively in combat.

Activity in Russian-occupied Areas (Russian objective: consolidate administrative control of occupied areas; set conditions for potential annexation into the Russian Federation or some other future political arrangement of Moscow’s choosing)

Russian occupation authorities are continuing to face challenges to their administrative abilities in occupied areas and are taking measures to crack down on perceived threats to their control. The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported on August 25 that unknown actors, likely Ukrainian partisans, conducted an explosive attack against the Russian headquarters for referendum preparations in Pryazovske, Zaporizhia Oblast.[38] Russian authorities are likely increasingly concerned with the security of their administrative and military assets due to partisan strikes, as noted by Advisor to Kherson Oblast Head Sergey Khlan who stated that Russian forces are seizing and photographing passports from anyone they find near military facilities.[39] Khlan noted that this will allow Russian forces to use personal data to blame and threaten individuals in the case of strikes on such facilities.[40]

Russian authorities are taking measures to increase the economic integration of occupied territories into the Russian system. Luhansk Oblast Head Serhiy Haidai stated that Russian occupiers exported all 200,000 tons of grain collected by the Ukrainian producer “Agroton” to Russia and that the two major agricultural producers/exporters in Luhansk Oblast have been purchased and taken over by an unnamed Russian “entrepreneur” from Krasnodar Krai.[41] Russian authorities are likely continuing efforts to exploit Ukrainian economic assets in order to foster Ukrainian economic dependency on Russia and facilitate integration measures.

Russian and proxy authorities are also continuing efforts to facilitate the integration of educational systems in occupied Ukraine into the Russian system. The Ukrainian Resistance Center additionally reported that Russian authorities are offering Ukrainian parents a one-time 10,000-ruble ($165) payment if they apply to send their children to Russian-run schools in occupied Ukraine.[42] LNR Head Leonid Pasechnik attended the August Pedagogical Conference in Luhansk Oblast and affirmed that his main goal is securing the integration of schools in Luhansk into the Russian educational space.[43] Russian and proxy authorities are likely escalating educational integration efforts ahead of the school year in an attempt to instill Russian educational values into Ukrainian children as part of a wider brainwashing and psychological manipulation campaign that would allow the strengthening of occupational control.  

Note:  ISW does not receive any classified material from any source, uses only publicly available information, and draws extensively on Russian, Ukrainian, and Western reporting and social media as well as commercially available satellite imagery and other geospatial data as the basis for these reports.  References to all sources used are provided in the endnotes of each update.


[1] http://publication.pravo.gov dot ru/Document/View/0001202208250004

[2] https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/russia/#military-and-security; https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Archives/2019/March/Russian-ncos/

[3] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/274980681481684; https://www.objectiv dot tv/objectively/2022/03/17/voennye-pokazali-video-likvidirovannoj-pod-harkovom-batalonno-takticheskoj-gruppy/; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlJDitMo83Q; https://gur dot gov.ua/content/voennosluzhashchye-54-tsentra-podhotovky-razvedyvatelnykh-podrazdelenyi.html 

[4] https://t.me/energoatom_ua/9181; https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0UYrfR521ruDWkBwqiTGJrDnLgDtbUyJQBQn3mPYwARs7BPTA5kTyxuqCqUBirHyxl&id=100064837892613; https://t.me/khersonskaODA/879; https://t.me/snriugovua/486

[5] https://t.me/energoatom_ua/9181; https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0UYrfR521ruDWkBwqiTGJrDnLgDtbUyJQBQn3mPYwARs7BPTA5kTyxuqCqUBirHyxl&id=100064837892613; https://t.me/khersonskaODA/879; https://t.me/snriugovua/486

[6] https://t.me/BalitskyVGA/216; https://t.me/BalitskyVGA/216; https://t.me/miroshnik_r/8413\; https://t.me/kommunist/8792; https://t.me/milchronicles/1049

[7] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-23; https://gur dot gov.ua/content/okupanty-obstriliuiut-zolovidvaly-zaporizkoi-tes-shchob-pidniaty-khmary-radioaktyvnoho-pylu.html; https://t.me/energoatom_ua/9127

[8] https://gur dot gov.ua/content/na-zaes-prodovzhyly-vykhidni-dlia-ukrainskoho-personalu.html

[9] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul

[10] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl

[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0exlGZgWFEs; https://t.me/kramatorsk_rada/5669; https://t.me/spravdi/15965; https://t.me/slv_vca/3551

[12] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul  

[13] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl

[14] https://t.me/mod_russia/19112; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/61342; https://t.me/evgeniy_lisitsyn/1092; https://t.me/RKadyrov_95/2743

[15] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul  

[16] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl;  https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul    

[17] https://t.me/PersonDistinct/129; https://twitter.com/cpimentel986/status/1562493138459303938

[18] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl;   https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul; https://t.co/5xGO8vNcjK; https://t.me/a_vyshinskiy/7586; https://t.co/v0xfbxlvvQ ; https://twitter.com/DefMon3/status/1562531112265457664; https://t.co/KqrjgJKvJl ; https://twitter.com/JoshuaKoontz__/status/1562564189503102976; https://t.co/G0Yds6v3MX; https://twitter.com/Dynadrive69/status/1562546385936715776; https://t.me/donezkiy/2083

[19] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul

[20] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl  

[21] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul; https://t.me/synegubov/3980  

[22] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul; https://t.me/synegubov/3980  

[23] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl

[24] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-21; https://t.me/kommunist/8672; https://t.me/kommunist/8677; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/39484; https:... https://t.me/strelkovii/3110; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-22; https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-23

[25] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl  

[26] https://t.me/mykolaivskaODA/2281; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1076492999678886; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5476806905728466  

[27] https://twitter.com/GirkinGirkin/status/1562513720215228417; https://t.me/milinfolive/89413; https://t.me/milinfolive/89407; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1076492999678886; https://t.me/mod_russia/19112; https://t.me/kt20220224/1662

[28] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02gTie8gw3TKSbMaxk6Tt5BYzEK3qWhefdmLqb7sZ3gvjSe49YDV4V8vrjTjCx69dul; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0ZvS6ZHH2VqLrEPw2HHfWDWQpSRALeLsz3sZ3TNcJaPAE4yVtSp8Q5bKj6L5vR5Xtl; https://t.me/zoda_gov_ua/12116; https://t.me/zoda_gov_ua/12099; https://t.me/mod_russia/19112

[29] https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5476806905728466  

[30] https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5476806905728466; https://twitter.com/hochu_dodomu/status/1562455730015260676 ; https://twitter.com/zcjbrooker/status/1562523589164683264; https://twitter.com/am_misfit/status/1562687908850847744; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1076492999678886; https://t.me/rybar/37728

[31] https://t.me/spravdi/15965; https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1076492999678886

[32] https://vladnews dot ru/2022-08-25/206461/bolee_dobrovolcev

[33] https://chelyabinsk.bezformata dot com/listnews/nabor-na-voennuyu-sluzhbu-po-kontraktu/108723338/

[34] https://newsorel dot ru/fn_1135781.html

[35] https://zvezda-gafuri dot ru/news/novosti/2022-08-24/boytsov-bashkirskih-batalonov-pered-otpravkoy-v-zonu-svo-naveschayut-glavy-administratsiy-munitsipalitetov-2921431

[36] https://twitter.com/VDV_Textbooks/status/1562703199718756352; https://twitter.com/VDV_Textbooks/status/1562764537731854336

[37] https://twitter.com/VDV_Textbooks/status/1562703199718756352  

[38] https://sprotyv.mod.gov dot ua/2022/08/25/pid-melitopolem-pidirvaly-shtab-pidgotovky-do-psevdoreferendumu/; https://www.pravda.com dot ua/rus/news/2022/08/25/7364740/; https://t.me/riamelitopol/66312; https://t.me/riamelitopol/66303; https://t.me/ivan_fedorov_melitopol/460

[39] https://www.facebook.com/sergey.khlan/posts/pfbid0rGvWDT9fPce39vv5g44PB5UMqEtfzQ26qQkoKaBru278Rez6WodNurMUTKe8PxCFl?__cft__[0]=AZVFn1FKdW1wGWw_-69KWU5WnxrMKaiUPnw2Q62ke6WmaDRYCRTCGaP6t_H0VdCZptQe295qdkXXMlks2JXGKBrLkbd2p33H7ljs5wOISnfVKwKKZe-i29MWR7H07vu0iehdtgxUtJ8h8e-XCsIs15ktzb4BUjlRXv42SY_INmamdQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

[40] https://www.facebook.com/sergey.khlan/posts/pfbid0rGvWDT9fPce39vv5g44PB5UMqEtfzQ26qQkoKaBru278Rez6WodNurMUTKe8PxCFl?__cft__[0]=AZVFn1FKdW1wGWw_-69KWU5WnxrMKaiUPnw2Q62ke6WmaDRYCRTCGaP6t_H0VdCZptQe295qdkXXMlks2JXGKBrLkbd2p33H7ljs5wOISnfVKwKKZe-i29MWR7H07vu0iehdtgxUtJ8h8e-XCsIs15ktzb4BUjlRXv42SY_INmamdQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

[41] https://t.me/luhanskaVTSA/5311; https://t.me/luhanskaVTSA/5310

[42] https://sprotyv.mod.gov dot ua/2022/08/25/okupanty-planuyut-platyty-batkam-aby-ti-viddavaly-ditej-v-rosijski-shkoly/; https://t.me/readovkanews/40742

[43] https://t.me/glava_lnr_info/262