The Russians have decided to continue to play stupid games in the hope of winning a non-stupid prize at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This is the imagery that the British Ministry of Defence published this morning:
Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent analysis of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant:
ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR PLANT //UPDATE// RU occupiers have disconnected the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the electrical grid. The plant now depends solely on backup emergency generators to provide electrical power to critical cooling systems. pic.twitter.com/fQ7cI6Ssgv
— Chuck Pfarrer (@ChuckPfarrer) August 25, 2022
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. As I’m sure you anticipated, he addressed the situation at the nuclear power plant. Video below, English transcript after the jump (emphasis mine):
Ukrainians!
All Europeans!
Today, for the first time in history, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant stopped. The emergency protection of the power units worked – after the last working line of the plant’s power return to the Ukrainian power system was damaged by Russian shelling.
Diesel generators were immediately activated to provide energy to the plant itself, to support it after the shutdown. The world must understand what a threat this is: if the diesel generators hadn’t turned on, if the automation and our staff of the plant had not reacted after the blackout, then we would already be forced to overcome the consequences of the radiation accident. Russia has put Ukraine and all Europeans in a situation one step away from a radiation disaster.
The south of Ukraine – the occupied areas – is already in a state of humanitarian disaster. In addition to all the evil that the occupiers brought there, electricity, water and sewage were cut off. Russia has brought degradation to our land, which has never been seen here. All this was simply impossible before the occupation. But this is the essence and pride of the modern Russian state: it is capable of only one thing – making the worst possible.
I want to assure all Ukrainians: we are doing everything to prevent an emergency scenario. But it depends not only on our state. The key thing is that such international pressure is needed that will force the occupiers to immediately withdraw from the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The IAEA and other international organizations must act much faster than they’re acting now. Because every minute the Russian troops stay at the nuclear power plant is a risk of a global radiation disaster.
Of course, we are doing everything so that the world knows every detail of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. And, in particular, today I talked about it in detail with President of the United States of America Biden. I am grateful to him for understanding and fully supporting the need to return the plant under the Ukrainian control and provide for the IAEA access immediately. This can be done in a matter of days, before the occupiers bring the situation to an irreversible point. And it’s easier to do it now than later, if the wind starts blowing radiation pollution across Europe.
In general, our conversation with President Biden today was very constructive, positive, quite long and productive. We managed to discuss all issues that are of vital importance for the protection of Ukraine and freedom. I thanked Mr. President and all the people of the United States for the defense assistance and for the tangible leadership in the macro-financial support of our state.
Just yesterday, President Biden approved a $6 billion package: three for defense assistance, three for financial assistance through the World Bank system.
I expressed particular gratitude for the inclusion of air defense in this package. We can really achieve a situation when the Russian missile terror will be overcome after Ukraine receives NASAMS air defense systems.
Today, I also had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy who was on a visit to Ukraine. I thanked the Italian people, the President of Italy and personally Prime Minister of Italy Draghi for his principles in the defense of a united Europe. Mr. Draghi became one of those European leaders whose determination and personal morality made it possible at a critical moment to strengthen Europe and protect normal life on our continent.
We discussed today the expansion of cooperation between our states and Italy’s experience in strengthening security, in particular energy security.
By the way, due to Russian gas blackmail, gas prices in Europe today have already exceeded the level of $3,300 per thousand cubic meters. And this Russian anti-European policy is truly destructive, but in a strategic perspective – for Russia itself. There will no longer be such a player on the European energy market as Russia.
Of course, now the situation is very dangerous, very acute. But most European countries have approached energy issues very responsibly and are doing everything to adapt, to protect themselves. If someone in Russia thinks that they will bring Europe as a whole or Ukraine or other individual countries to their knees this winter, then this is a miscalculation. I believe that Europe is strong enough to correct the mistakes of the past, to become independent from the Russian energy system, from Russian energy carriers and not to give in to the blackmail of energy terrorists from Gazprom.
Ukraine is closely coordinating actions with its partners in these issues as well – in energy issues. The Government of Ukraine, our state-owned companies are doing everything to ensure that we are ready to go through this winter season, which will indeed be the most difficult in our history.
And we are now in such circumstances, when it is already clear that the enemy will not achieve its goals, but it still takes time, efforts are still needed for the Russian calculation to fail, so that they lose in this direction as well. We have to endure this time and make all the necessary efforts together with our partners. And so it will be.
We will put pressure on terrorists on all fronts – on the frontline, on the political front, in economic matters, in the information sphere.
For every shelling, there will be a response to the occupiers. It will be for Orikhiv. It will be for Chaplyne. It will be for Shepetivka, for Myrhorod, for Kharkiv, for Mariupol and the cities of Donbas, for all others who are targeted by the Russian military.
Russia has prepared many problems, crises and catastrophes for our country, for Europe and for the world. But the greatest disaster will still be experienced by it itself, the terrorist state itself. This “Titanic” came to its iceberg on February 24, and no matter how hard they try to stay afloat, they won’t.
Eternal glory to all who fight for freedom!
Eternal glory to all our warriors!
Glory to Ukraine!
Here is the Ukrainian MOD’s operational assessment for today:
The operational update regarding the russian invasion on 18.00, on August 25, 2022
Glory to Ukraine! The one hundred eighty-third (183) day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to a russian military invasion continues.
The situation has not undergone significant changes in the Volyn and Polissya directions. The threat of the enemy launching missile and air strikes from the territory of the republic of belarus remains.
In the Siversky region, the enemy continues to hold separate units of the armed forces of the russian federation in the border areas of the Bryansk and Kursk regions in order to demonstrate the presence and constrain the actions of units of the Defense Forces.
The enemy shelled civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Hai, Zalizniy Mist and Hirsk in the Chernihiv oblast and Bachivsk, Vilna Sloboda and Stukalivka in the Sumy oblast. Conducted aerial reconnaissance of the border regions of the UAVs.
In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy shelled the areas of Odnorobivka, Tsupivka, Prudyanka, Bazaliivka, Tsyrkuny, Petrivka, Velyki Prokhody, Pytomnyk, Ivanivka, Korobochkyne, Slobozhanske and Chepil settlements from tanks, barrel and rocket artillery. The districts of Pytomnyk, Pryshyb and Zalyman were hit by enemy aircraft.
The enemy made an unsuccessful offensive attempt near Petrivka, suffered losses and retreated. Supports the high intensity of UAV reconnaissance.
In the Slovyansk direction, the enemy used tanks, barrel artillery and MLRS for shelling in the vicinity of Velyka Komyshuvakha, Krasnopilla, Nova Dmytrivka, Dolyna and Dibrivne.
Defense forces of Ukraine repelled an attempted attack by enemy units near Dolyna and Dmytrivka.In the Kramatorsk direction, the areas of Spirne, Zvanivka, Siversk and Pryshyb were attacked by the enemy. The enemy made an attempt to improve the tactical position near Stariy Karavan, but was unsuccessful and retreated.
In the direction of Bakhmut, the enemy continued shelling the territories near Bakhmut, Veselaya Dolyna, Zaytseve, and Kodema. Areas of the settlements of Soledar, Zaitseve, Kodema and Yakovlivka were hit by enemy aircraft.
The occupiers tried to advance near Kodema and Bakhmutsky by offensive and assault actions, suffered losses and retreated.
In the Avdiyivka direction, the enemy, with airstrikes, tank fire, barrel artillery, and rocket salvo fire systems, tried to push back units of our troops, to hit important objects of military and civilian infrastructure in the areas of Avdiyivka, Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, Nevelske, Pervomaiske, Vodyane, Zalizne and Alexandropol.
The enemy tried to break through the defenses of our troops in the area of Pervomaiske settlement, received a strong repulse and retreated.
In the direction of Novopavlivka, shelling was recorded near Pavlivka, Elizavetivka and Novomykhailivka. The occupiers also carried out airstrikes near Volodymyrivka, Vuhledar and Pavlivka.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the enemy shelled the positions of our troops near Hulyaipilske, Orihiv, Zaliznychne, Shevchenko and Olhivske. Areas of the settlements of Orihiv, Hulyaipilske, Shcherbaky and Mali Shcherbaky were hit by air strikes.
In the South Buh direction, the enemy concentrated its efforts on holding the occupied positions and hitting our units with fire. Continued shelling from barrel, rocket artillery and tanks along the contact line. It carried out an airstrike near Bila Krynytsia.
Tried to carry out combat reconnaissance in the area of the settlement of Blahodatne, suffered losses and withdrew. The enemy’s attempted offensive in the Tavriysky district was choked under the fire of our soldiers and the invaders retreated.
We believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Together we will win!
Glory to Ukraine!
Here is today’s assessment from the British MOD:
And here is their updated map for today:
Here is Chuck Pfarrer’s – same one as above – updated map and assessment regarding developments in Kherson:
KHERSON AXIS / 1630 UTC 25 AUG / UKR Partisans identified a RU troop concentration attempting a thrust at Tavriis’ke. UKR conventional forces were vectored to meet and defeat this force. UKR partisans and SOF active; electrical blackouts reported in Kherson and Nova Kakhovka. pic.twitter.com/ZOTgZE8hfK
— Chuck Pfarrer (@ChuckPfarrer) August 25, 2022
Chaplyno:
On #Ukraine️’s Independence Day #Russia has shelled 58 towns and villages of 🇺🇦. The most horrific shelling was at railway station Chaplyno, where rocket hit passenger train. 25 people died, incl.3 kids, and 31 were wounded. #RussiaIsATerroristState pic.twitter.com/SU9mK9X1k8
— Maria Zolkina (@Mariia_Zolkina) August 25, 2022
A 6yo girl burnt in the car. An 11yo boy was crushed by the rubble. Death toll of yesterday's russian missile strike on the train station in the Dnipropetrovsk region rose to 25. Now could be a good moment for everybody protesting against visa bans to protest against ru terrorism
— Olena Halushka (@OlenaHalushka) August 25, 2022
Zaporizhzzhia:
Video source: journalist Andriy Tsaplienko https://t.co/xKsbFoFHBW
— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) August 25, 2022
Orikhiv:
Russian troops shelled residential areas of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
They killed a 17-year-old boy and injured a woman, Oblast head Oleksandr Starukh informed https://t.co/j9LWRABFlA pic.twitter.com/uURISMK8ei
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 25, 2022
Last night in comments, Jesse asked:
Adam, my understanding is that some (most?) of the supplies the US has been giving Ukraine come out of existing US stocks. I also understand that some of the aid is about equipment not in current stocks, and needs to be built & shipped overseas. In the latest defense budget, is there any provision, then, for renewing those depleted stocks? (In other words, is it a good time to be be a gun & ammunition manufacturer, because you can look forward to some giant orders?)
My understanding is that a lot of the most recent announcements are for material that has to produced. Basically the Defense of Ukraine Act established a funding mechanism that allows the US to send material from existing stock and establishes a fund that can be drawn down to pay for production of new stocks of material for Ukraine. I expect the National Defense Authorization Act will have funding to replenish US stocks. However, it is important to remember that some of what is being touted as the highest tech materials we’re supplying has been in use by the US for a long time and was scheduled to be phased out as newer weapons systems come on line. So I also expect this will just accelerate the transition to some of the newer systems that are in the procurement pipeline.
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
189 alarms sounded in UA yesterday. Another terrible terrorist attack was committed. Mykhailo and I are looking at the territory that we need to demine. And we understand that the fewer weapons we have, the more their missiles are. Please,support, arm Ukraine #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/r2zeP3z6NO
— Patron (@PatronDsns) August 25, 2022
And a new video from Patron’s official TikTok:
@patron__dsns Трішки закулісся😅 #песпатрон #патрондснс #славаукраїні
The caption translates as:
A little behind the scenes😅#pespatron#patrondsns#Glory to Ukraine
Open thread!