Ukraine update: Ukraine makes major breakthrough – with German tanks

Ukraine update: what happened today

Ukraine makes important breakthrough in the south – with German Marder tanks

The southern Ukrainian village of Robotyne has been hotly contested for weeks. It lies between the major city of Zaporizhia and the Russian-occupied cities of Mariupol and Berdyansk. The Ukrainian army absolutely wants to advance here, also to cut off important supply lines from the Russians.

For days there have been increasing reports that Ukraine is making progress. Now there is a breakthrough. As reported by the “Bild” newspaper, “Marder” armored personnel carriers supplied from Germany were also used. Parts of the village of Robotyne were conquered when the “martens” fought for the first time.

The paper quotes a Russian military blogger as confirming that a Marder 1A3 has been spotted near Robotyne. This is a “new formation in the battle to breach Russian defenses” and “explains recent partial successes” by Ukraine, according to the military blogger.

Other sources also wrote about breakthroughs by the Ukrainians in the past few days and hours. However, the Russians’ main line of defense isn’t here yet, but further south. There is still a long way, probably bloody, to actually advance to the Sea of ​​Azov and recapture important Russian-controlled territory. The battle for Robotyne shows how long and costly this fight is.

Ukrainian army moves reserves to front near Kupyansk

In view of the advance of Russian troops in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian army has moved reserves to the Kupyansk sector. “Positions were strengthened, certain methodological recommendations were made and reserves were moved,” spokesman for Army Group East Serhiy Cherevatyy said on Ukrainian news television on Tuesday. This prevents further advances by the enemy.

According to Ukrainian and Russian military observers, the Russian army has advanced to within about seven kilometers of the city of Kupyansk. The local authorities have also already ordered an evacuation of civilians around the city. Kupyansk was only liberated from Russian occupation last year as part of a successful Ukrainian counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region.

Russia’s central bank responds to ruble weakness by raising interest rates

The Russian central bank has reacted to the strong devaluation of the ruble with a significant increase in interest rates. The key interest rate will be raised from 8.5 to 12.0 percent, the central bank announced on Tuesday after an extraordinary interest rate meeting. It is the largest interest rate hike since March 2022, after the base rate was raised even more immediately after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The key interest rate is now higher than it has been since spring 2022, after it had been lowered again in the meantime.

“The decision aims to limit price stability risks,” says the central bank’s statement on the interest rate decision. In the event of rising inflation risks from now on, the currency watchdogs did not rule out further interest rate hikes, according to a later statement.

In the past few days, the ruble has come under pressure on the foreign exchange market. According to experts, a deteriorating foreign trade balance has contributed to the recent depreciation of the Russian currency.

After the rate hike, however, the ruble only recovered comparatively slightly after hitting its lowest level against the dollar since March 2022 the day before. In the morning, just under 98 rubles were paid for one dollar, after around 102 rubles the day before.

Also read: Moscow central bank crisis meeting: Can Putin still finance his war?

Selenskyj on a front visit in the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia

Shortly after his trip to the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also visited positions close to the front in the south-eastern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia. “Thank you for the service, thank you for defending Ukraine on this important southern stretch,” the head of state said at a field hospital, according to a statement Tuesday.

According to the information, up to 200 wounded people receive their first aid in the hospital every day. The president had visited the staffs of eight different brigades, it said. As on the previous day in Donetsk, he was accompanied this time by the head of his office, Andriy Yermak, and his deputy Roman Mashovets. Brigadier General Olexander Tarnavskyj, who is responsible for the entire front section, wrote on Telegram: “Together with the President and the fighters, we talked about our offensive”.

Ukraine has been repelling a Russian invasion for over 17 months with Western help. Around ten weeks ago, the Ukrainian army launched a counter-offensive, focusing on the Zaporizhia region. So far, however, this has fallen short of the high expectations. Russia continues to occupy more than 100,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed in 2014.

Russia and North Korea want to expand cooperation

Russia and North Korea want to expand their cooperation and cooperate more closely in the field of defense, among other things. “I am sure that we will continue to expand bilateral cooperation in all areas for the benefit of our peoples in the interests of strengthening stability and security on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the Northeast Asian region,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday a congratulatory message distributed by the Kremlin to North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un. The occasion was the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.

Kim also spoke out in favor of “further expanding the strategic and tactical cooperation between the two countries in the field of security and defense,” as North Korea’s Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam said, according to Russian news agencies, during a security forum near Moscow.

Russia is one of the few countries that maintain contact with North Korea. North Korea had supported the Russian offensive in Ukraine from the start. According to the US, Moscow is trying to get arms from its ally. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to North Korea in July to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.

A trilateral summit meeting between South Korea, Japan and the USA is planned for Friday in Washington. In view of North Korea’s threatening gestures, closer military cooperation between the countries is to be discussed.

Ukraine update: What happened in the night

Russian attack near Bakhmut goes awry – army loses three of their super tanks

The Russian army has probably failed with an attack on the city of Andriivka. As the Russian military blog “Lost War in UA” reported on Telegram, the Russians suffered heavy losses of material. Including three of the most modern Russian T-90M tanks, which Putin had described as the “best tanks in the world”. A total of five vehicles were damaged and abandoned.

The Telegram channel also shared pictures and videos of the allegedly severe loss. It shows several tanks standing motionless and visibly damaged in some kind of field.

Selenskyj visits the front near Bakhmut – Ukraine records small successes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited positions of several units of his army north of the Russian-occupied city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. “Thank you for protecting the lives of our people,” said Zelenskyy in a video released on Monday, which was recorded in a reception center for the wounded.

During his visit to the front, Zelenskyy presented awards to soldiers. He was accompanied by the head of his office, Andriy Yermak, his deputy Roman Mashovets and Brigadier General Artem Bohomolow. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar had previously announced that the Ukrainian units south of Bakhmut had recaptured three square kilometers of land last week.

It is important to talk to the soldiers personally, said Zelenskyy in his evening video address, which he apparently recorded on the train on the way back from the eastern region of Donetsk. In it he also stated that Ukraine must produce and import more drones in order to protect human lives on the front lines.

Night Russian air raid on western Ukraine

According to the authorities, western Ukraine was heavily fired at on Tuesday night with Russian cruise missiles. At least three people were killed in the city of Lutsk, according to the head of the administration of the Volyn region, Yuriy Pohulyaiko. Several injured were taken to hospitals. The city of Lviv and its environs were also hit, as Mayor Andriy Sadowy announced. In Lviv, the attic of an apartment building caught fire. The cruise missiles were reportedly fired by Russian fighter bombers over the Caspian Sea. The affected areas of western Ukraine border on Poland and thus on NATO and the EU.

New US military aid of $200 million

The US is providing Ukraine with another US$200 million (€183 million) in military aid. The new package includes ammunition for the Patriot air defense system, Himars multiple rocket launchers, Javelin anti-tank missiles and spare parts, the Ministry of Defense said. In addition, additional artillery ammunition and mine clearance equipment from US military stocks will be delivered.

The United States is considered Ukraine’s main ally in defending against the Russian invasion. According to the Pentagon, since the war began at the end of February 2022, the USA has provided or promised military aid totaling more than 43 billion US dollars (around 39 billion euros) for Kiev.

Lindner expresses sympathy for Taurus deliveries to Ukraine

During his visit to Kiev, Federal Finance Minister Lindner expressed his support for a possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to the Ukraine. The FDP leader said: “Ukraine must win this war. That’s why it’s also part of our responsibility that Ukraine’s staying power is always greater than the malice emanating from Putin’s war.” The German government therefore wants to continue to do everything in its power to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities. Much has already been done to this end.

With regard to the Taurus debate, Lindner said that the usual procedure applies. Germany will discuss with its allies what is needed and what is possible. “Since I know that many, like myself, have sympathy for such support, I hope that these questions will be clarified soon, very soon.”

What will be important on Tuesday

In the east and south of Ukraine, Kiev’s counter-offensive to liberate the areas occupied by Russia continues.

The Ukraine update on August 14th.