…And Czechia makes 20.
Kyiv Independent reports:
“Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X that the country will sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine during the European Political Community summit in London on July 18.
Fiala said on June 28 that he had reached on agreement with President Volodymyr Zelensky the previous day to “conclude negotiations on the text of the Czech-Ukrainian security agreement before the (9-11 July) NATO summit in Washington.”…
…Czechia joins 19 other countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, that have signed similar bilateral treaties to help Kyiv repel Russia’s aggression. The agreements are based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) last July.
Under this plan, individual countries would provide bilateral support to help Kyiv repel the ongoing Russian invasion and deter any future aggression.
The security guarantees would entail explicit and long-lasting obligations, as well as bolster Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian aggression. The guarantees would also cover sanctions, financial aid, and post-war reconstruction…
…The newly-elected U.K. Prime Minister will host 50 leaders from across Europe during the European Political Community summit (18 July) which will primarily focus on supporting Ukraine against ongoing Russian aggression.”
Russian’s New Combat Icebreaker Starts Sea Trials
Armed with a [75mm] gun and the capacity to carry [Kalibr] cruise missiles, the Ivan Papanin is designed to break ice and launch kinetic attacks.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/russians-new-combat-icebreaker-starts-sea-trials
Medium breaker - ice at speed: 5.5 feet maximum
Meanwhile, the post office’s, er the coast guard’s, um homeland security’s 3 bi-polar, committee-designed future breakers are held up until at least 2028 due to compromises, red tape, and ever growing design changes.
Still more meanwhile, Russia continues to churn out 7 nuclear powered monster heavy ice breakers (Project 22220) that can do 2 knots through 9 feet of ice. With crew perks like a sauna, squash court, etc.
Crew perks on the only US heavy breaker the Polar Star include lots of duct tape and bailing wire for everyday use.
Ukraine May Have Lost An M270 MLRS For The First Time
The M270s have been a bane to Russian war efforts and were reportedly involved in a recent deadly ballistic missile strike on Crimea.
https://www.twz.com/land/ukraine-may-have-lost-an-m270-mlrs-for-the-first-time
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Russian Forces seem to have successfully hit a Ukrainian M270/MARS II FARP(Forward Arming and Refuelling Point).
The fires indicate possible fuel and missile reserves being stored there, as for once, we saw the MLRS drive into the facility.
However the aftermath is again bad.
https://x.com/WarVehicle/status/1806625459972522189
Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos
Reporting From Ukraine Uncensored Combat Footage (from this and past Reports) is found on Telegram:
https://t.me/RFUEnglish or @RFUEnglish
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The complete transcript.
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[ Ukraine’s Master Plan: Encircling Russian Forces in Vovchansk! ]
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26 Jun 2024:
Today, there is a lot of news from the Kharkiv direction.
In the northern area of Vovchansk, Russian forces have launched massive shelling on the “Citadel,” aiming to reduce it to rubble and deprive the Ukrainians of this key stronghold.
This intense bombardment threatens to compromise Ukrainian advances in this sector or even force a retreat from certain positions. Consequently, Ukrainian efforts have increasingly focused on the eastern part of Vovchansk, where they continue to make significant progress.
Efforts are ongoing to link the Ukrainian advance from the east of the city with the Tikhe area, aiming to dislodge Russian forces from the hills. Footage from various Russian sources has shown intense aerial bombardments on Tikhe, confirming that the village and its surroundings are under Ukrainian control.
The small town of Tikhe has emerged as a critical point for the Ukrainian command, particularly the road connecting it to Vovchansk. This road could be decisive in capturing the city, due to the destruction of many bridges along the Vovcha River, which complicates the movement of armored vehicles to the northern part of the river.
If Ukrainian forces can secure this road, they will be able to transport armored vehicles more easily to the city, potentially leading to the collapse of Russian defenses in the area.
Aware of this strategic importance, Russian forces continue efforts to destroy bridges and pontoon crossings, established by the Ukrainians east of Tikhe, attempting to hinder their advance and supply lines.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces have continued their offensive west of Vovchansk. Recent geolocated images reveal the assault and recapture of several areas in the center and south of Starytsia, approximately 10 km southwest of Vovchansk.
The footage shows an intense assault conducted by members of the 101st Guard Brigade, advancing house by house and employing a variety of weapons, including RPGs. This resulted in the complete destruction of many buildings, with some even being set ablaze.
Additionally, various Russian sources have recently updated their maps to acknowledge Ukrainian control over an extensive forest area west of Starytsia, extending to the international border. Geolocated images depict a recent Russian aerial bombardment aimed at undermining Ukrainian positions in this forested region.
Starytsia is situated at the intersection of several significant forested areas and is in close proximity to the Siverski Donets River, limiting potential lines of advance in this sector. If Ukrainian forces can establish a defensive zone in Starytsia, any large-scale Russian advance in the area would become virtually impossible.
Combining the Ukrainian advances from Tikhe in the east, and Starytsia in the west, it appears that the Ukrainian command is preparing a major offensive to encircle and isolate Vovchansk. Recent reports of massing Ukrainian forces in this direction support this possibility.
Additionally, a recent military analyst group report highlighted Russian efforts to establish new defensive trench lines about 2.5 km inside Ukrainian territory, north of Vovchansk, and to construct new fortified trenches in the Russian-controlled area just west of Vovchansk.
Ukrainian forces are well aware of these Russian efforts and have already destroyed at least fifteen pieces of engineering equipment using FPV drones. These Russian fortification efforts indicate their intention to maintain their marginal advances from the international borders, anticipating an imminent Ukrainian offensive.
Overall, the Ukrainian command is allocating significant resources to expedite advances in the Vovchansk direction, aiming for a decisive victory. Given the challenges of advancing and deploying armored vehicles through Vovchansk’s northern urban area, Ukrainian forces appear to be planning an encirclement operation from Tikhe in the east and the Starytsia area in the west.
Under such conditions, the Russian decision to hold their positions in Vovchansk seems driven purely by political considerations. With their offensive in Vovchansk effectively contained and their attempt to connect the Lyptsi and Vovchansk lines of advance having failed, the concept of a buffer zone has become untenable.
Trying to maintain these two unconnected zones at a disproportionate cost in personnel and equipment lacks any strategic justification.
Also see:
Ukraine Situation Report: Besieged Russian Troops Holding Out In Bombed-Out Factory
Russia’s offensive has left a factory town where street battles continue rage in ruins and dozens of its troops surrounded.
https://www.twz.com/land/ukraine-situation-report-besieged-russian-troops-holding-out-in-bombed-out-factory