Timeline: day 161 of Ukraine’s defense against russia’s aggression

Today is August 3. russia's military attack on Ukraine has been going on for 161 days. We're reporting on the current news. The article will be updated.

What about today?

Key points

"Every Ukrainian should always be grateful to our soldiers, who defend Ukrainian positions despite the significant fire superiority of terrorists. But every day, our diplomats and all other representatives of our state do everything possible and impossible to get for Ukraine the weapons that will ultimately help stop this horde and to convince everyone who still has doubts about the supply," said President Zelensky in his daily address.

We are grateful not only to the military and diplomats and also to thousands of Ukrainian doctors and medical workers who, in the conditions of war, fight for the lives of Ukrainians every day: in bomb shelters, at the front, in hospitals, and in military hospitals. They save people, risking themselves.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine and WHO launched the national campaign "Thank You With Heart." It is dedicated to the brave Ukrainian medics who have been providing help to those who need it for more than five months under explosions and shelling. The project website has impressive stories of doctors and the patients they saved. These are stories about how medics operated for weeks without electricity and water, went out on calls under the whistling of bullets, delivered babies in basements, how they fought for the life of each patient.

In the morning briefing, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the enemy was fighting on the western outskirts of Berestove to the northeast of Bakhmut. There is an attack on Soledar from the side of Volodymyrivka (that is, from the east), and the fighting continues.

There is not much information summary about Avdiivka and Pisky, where, according to Zelenskyi, "real hell" is observed. It is only about the fact that the enemy tried to improve the tactical position but retreated with losses.

The enemy had a new attempt to advance along the Kochubiivka-Dementiivka line in the north of the Kharkiv region. The attempt was unsuccessful, the report says. To the south of Bakhmut, enemy attacks on Kodema and Semihiria were repulsed.

The russian forces decided to attack Avdiivka without waiting for the Ukrainian troops to withdraw from their prepared defensive positions, the American Institute for the Study of War writes. The Institute says that russian troops previously tried to break through the northeastern outskirts of Avdiivka but did not make significant progress for several months.

russia is creating a strike group in the Kryvyi Rih region, the South Operational Command reports. "The situation in the operational zone in the south is complex and tense. The enemy continues to conduct hostilities along the border of the defense. It is quite likely that the enemy is preparing a counteroffensive with further plans to enter the administrative border of the Kherson region," the message reads.

The South OC told about the successful strikes of the Ukrainian forces against enemy positions. Ukrainian troops struck the base of the occupying troops in Chornobaivka, as well as the strongholds, accumulation of weapons and equipment of the occupiers in the Mykolaiv region and Kherson region. Confirmed enemy losses:

• 20 occupants;
• two T-72 tanks;
• one Msta-B howitzer;
• Four motor and armored vehicles.

Another successful special operation of the Azov Special Operations Detachment in Kharkiv: Our soldiers destroyed seven trucks with ammunition and two security vehicles close to the russian border behind enemy lines. Even masking didn't help.

British intelligence suggests that the railway connection between the Kherson region and Crimea is not working after the attack by the Ukrainian troops on the echelon of the russian federation with ammunition. The russians may repair the railway line within days, but it will remain a vulnerable point for russian forces and their supply routes from Crimea.

Humanitarian missions

Two-thirds of the population of the Donetsk region have already left the area, but for the heating season to pass smoothly, the number of evacuees must increase. This was reported by the spokesman of the Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko. Kyrylenko once again emphasized that no one will forcibly resettle people and added that enemy shelling цфі currently taking place almost throughout the entire region.

The lists of dead Ukrainian defenders in the colony in Olenivka have been partially confirmed,  the former commander of the Azov regiment, Maksym Zhorin.

Ukraine's talks with russia

Ex-chancellor of Germany Schröder, who recently met with putin, said that the Kremlin was ready for negotiations regarding Ukraine. In an interview with Stern magazine, he said that russia wanted to find a diplomatic solution to Ukraine. The former chancellor says that the West's distancing from putin will not help the situation now. The agreement reached in Istanbul on grain supply "may continue the way forward."

Helping refugees

Refugees from Ukraine will be able to return to the EU at any time if they decide to go back to Ukraine. European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson stated this during her visit to Kyiv. She specified that when returning home from the EU, Ukrainians must renounce their temporary protection status. But they will be able to register at any time to restore its validity.

News from partners

American analysts at the Institute for the Study of War report that Iran may have sent UAVs to russia for field testing.

The Chinese army took Taiwan in a ring. Under the pretext of military exercises, they established a blockade of the island.

At the same time, the USA stated that they do not want a crisis in relations with China and have no intention of "rattling weapons." Washington will keep communication channels open, the White House said.

The Pentagon denied yesterday's statement by russian defense minister shoigu about the "destruction of six Himars units in Ukraine." "We are aware of these latest statements by Minister Shoigu, and they are again clearly false," said acting Pentagon spokesman Todd Breasseale.

Sanctions on the aggressor!

russia's Central Bank expects a sharp decline in the russian economy in the second half of 2022. The Central Bank assumes that the russian economy may collapse by 7.5-8% in the third quarter of 2022, and a collapse of 10-11% is expected in the fourth quarter.

Life considering hostilities

Ukraine's Ministry of Culture has published a list of names of historical and cultural figures, which it recommends be deleted from Ukrainian toponyms first. The list includes ten people who, as determined by the Expert Council of the Ministry of Culture, "have nothing to do with Ukraine" and are a legacy of "totalitarianism." Among the banned names are Gagarin, Pushkin, Mayakovsky, and other iconic figures of the "russian world."

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky responded to an electronic petition on the legalization of same-sex marriages, which received the required 25,000 votes. He emphasized that it was impossible to amend the Constitution under martial law. However, the President noted that the government had worked out a solution to legalize the civil partnership of same-sex couples registered in Ukraine.

Former Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova was appointed ambassador of Ukraine to Switzerland. The relevant submission is awaiting the President's signature.

Activists created caps for tomato juice in the form of Putin's shot head. The proceeds from their sale will go to the needs of Kyiv's Territorial Defense.

The Mariupol City Council calls on Mariupol residents to attend the online rally "Stop Referendum!" The meeting place will be on Instagram's digital street. For this purpose, the central street of Mariupol—Miru Avenue—was painted. Under any of its fragments, write "Stop the referendum!" spread it widely, and tag the page @mariupol.is.ua. The organizer of the online rally is the "Yellow Ribbon" public organization.