Ukraine faces pressure on the front line

Kyiv [Ukraine], August 2: Observers say the small advances of the Russian army are creating the basis for Moscow to carry out a "fatal" blow to strategic cities of Ukraine.
Massive casualties in Kyiv
Ukrainian officials yesterday (August 1) updated the serious casualties in the capital Kyiv after being hit by Russian airstrikes. AFP reported that the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said at least 28 people were killed and more than 160 injured, after Moscow forces launched a series of drones and missiles targeting Kyiv since July 31.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian army announced this morning that there had been 160 frontline clashes in 24 hours, with 47 clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk city (Donetsk province, eastern Ukraine). Kyiv also accused Russia of continuing its attacks in the early morning of August 1, targeting the provinces of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv. Ukraine claimed to have intercepted 44 of the 72 Shahed UAVs used by Russia this morning.
On the Russian side, the country's Defense Ministry announced yesterday that it had intercepted 60 Ukrainian UAVs targeting the Russian provinces of Belgorod, Rostov, Krasnodar and Voronezh, adding that the UAVs had caused some property damage, according to TASS. Notably, Moscow on July 31 affirmed that it had taken control of the strategic city of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk after nearly 16 months of fighting, a claim Kyiv later denied. Russia and Ukraine do not usually respond to updates on the situation of their opponents' war. Both sides also denied attacking civilians and civilian targets.Military observers say Ukrainian forces on the eastern frontline are under intense pressure from Russia's localized operations, which have long been considered "slow and steady." Moscow is taking advantage of a series of small advances and focusing on a major offensive that could change the situation of control of the front line. CNN quoted a Ukrainian commander stationed near Pokrovsk as describing the situation in the area as "very bad" and that Russia could soon organize a siege. The commander fears that Pokrovsk will suffer the same scenario as the two strategic Ukrainian cities of Avdiivka and Vuhledar last year, "where we (Ukraine) held out until the last minute and ended up losing both the city and people."
America's move
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday that Russia used more than 3,800 UAVs and nearly 260 missiles to attack Ukraine in July. However, AFP analysis published yesterday showed that Moscow's forces used nearly 6,300 UAVs last month.
Russia's offensive comes as US President Donald Trump has announced a shortened deadline for Russia, demanding that Moscow reach a peace agreement and end the conflict with Ukraine by August 8, or Washington will begin imposing sanctions on Russia. On July 31, Mr. Trump also strongly condemned Russia's attacks on Ukraine.
Kyiv has welcomed Mr Trump's moves to pressure Russia, saying they could create a greater sense of urgency among Western partners to support Ukraine. But they are unlikely to change the calculations of Moscow, which has the advantage in numbers and a large arms production line. Mr Trump also acknowledged on July 31 that it was unlikely that US sanctions would bother Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Since May, Russia and Ukraine have held three rounds of direct talks in Türkiye. However, the results of the negotiations have mainly stopped at the exchange of prisoners and bodies of soldiers. So far, neither side has shown any signs of compromising on the ceasefire conditions. Reuters on August 1 quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying he hoped peace talks between Russia and Ukraine would continue. The Kremlin leader said that if anyone was disappointed with the results of the negotiations so far, it was because they had set their expectations too high.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper