July 16, 2022
1. Russian Defence Minister inspected Russian troops
Russian Defence Minister, Army General Sergei Shoigu visited Russian troops’ main Command and Control Center where he was informed by the Commander of Southern group of troops Army General Sergei Surovikin, the Commander of Central group of troops Colonel General Aleksandr Lapin and other commanders about the current situation, the action of the enemy and the progress of combat missions implemented by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The chief of Russian MoD gave necessary instructions for intensifying the activity of Russian troops at all fronts in order to prevent massive missile and artillery attacks launched by the Kiev regime at civilian infrastructure facilities, population of Donbass and other regions.
2. Sneaky AFU can fight with civilians and peaceful cities only
AFU continue to display themselves as a barbaric “army” not recognizing internationally accepted rules of military operations. Kiev still uses regular AFU against civil population and is waging a large-scale war against peaceful cities. Three civilians were killed and 16 wounded on July 15, and 7civilians killed and 19 injured on July 16 in the DPR when AFU renamed in in Russian media as “Barbaric Forces of Ukraine” once again used heavy weapons against populated areas, including the US-made HIMARS MLRS.
As of 16 July, totally 256 civilians were killed and 1,205 civilians, including 93 children, were wounded to varying degrees of wounds in the territory within the pre-SMO borders, according to official Joint Coordination Center data from the DPR. In the territory liberated during the SMO, 1,494 civilians, including 83 children, were wounded.
Damage was caused to 5545 residential buildings, 1233 civil infrastructure facilities, 241 educational institutions, 453 social facilities, 32 critical infrastructure facilities, 434 electricity, water and gas supply facilities, 672 vehicles.
Kievskyi, Petrovskyi, Kirovskyi and Kuybyshevskyi districts of Donetsk, Yasynuvata and Horlivka are under daily shelling by the AFU.
Over the 150 days of escalation, the JCCC has recorded 5,983 instances of firing, including 5,654 involving the use of heavy weapons. In total, the enemy fired 4,986 munitions of various calibres, including 31 Tochka-U missiles, 14 BM-30 Smerch MLRS missiles, 151 BM-27 Uragan MLRS missiles and 8,759 BM-21 Grad MLRS missiles.
3. Talks in Istanbul to unblock Ukrainian ports
On July 13, quadripartite consultations on the issue of unblocking Ukrainian ports intentionally blocked by Kiev for the export of agricultural products were held by UN representatives, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine in Istanbul.
Russia has proposed measures to ensure the transportation of food to foreign countries, including Russian partners, and to prevent the use of these logistic chains for supplying the Kiev regime with weapons and military equipment, and to prevent provocations.
The proposals of the Russian Federation were generally supported by the participants of the consultations. In the near future, the work on the Black Sea Initiative final document will be completed.
Meanwhile, 70 foreign vessels from 16 countries remain blocked by Kiev in six Ukrainian ports, namely Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhniy. The threat of shelling and high mine danger posed by official Kiev prevents vessels from entering the high seas unhindered.
From April 1st the Russian Armed Forces have created conditions for the operation of two maritime “blue-water” humanitarian corridors, which are safe lanes for ships. They are still operational:
a) in the Black Sea - to leave Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhnyi ports in a south-westerly direction from Ukraine's territorial sea, 139 miles long and 3 miles wide;
b) in the Sea of Azov, to leave Mariupol port 115 miles long and 2 miles wide towards the Black Sea.
Despite the meeting in Istanbul on July 13h, the Russian MoD reported on July 14: “At the same time, the Kiev authorities continue to avoid engaging with representatives of states and ship-owning companies to resolve the issue of ensuring the safe passage of foreign vessels to the assembly area.”
4. Humanitarian situation
Russian troops continue to record numerous facts of criminal actions by Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes by Ukrainian armed formations:
a) in Nikolaev, the building of the vocational engineering lyceum (Kosmonavtov Street) AFU units are located. There is a large amount of military equipment on the adjoining territory, artillery positions have been equipped, roadblocks have been set up around the perimeter of the school, and the approaches to the institution have been mined, but the local population has not been informed about this;
b) in Bylbasovka, Kramatorsk district, Donetsk People's Republic, Ukrainian nationalist units, self-propelled artillery and ammunition storage facilities are deployed in the private households, and there has been no deliberate evacuation of civilians from the area;
c) in Kharkov, militants of Kraken nationalist battalion have equipped strongholds and ammunition depots on the lower and upper floors of multi-storey residential buildings (Vladyslav Zubenko Street), with rocket launchers and armoured vehicles placed in courtyards, local residents prohibited from leaving their flats, and all attempts to evacuate to safe areas have been harshly suppressed;
d) in Kramatorsk, Donetsk People's Republic, neo-Nazis fire artillery at positions of the Russian Armed Forces and formations of Donetsk People's Republic from School No. 3 (Nadiya Kurchenko Street) at night, provoking them to return fire, while holding residents of nearby houses in the basement of the building under the pretext of alleged security, effectively using them as human shield;
e) in Dnepropetrovsk region east of Troitskoye, Ukrainian neo-Nazis have mined a bridge over the Volchya River, which they plan to blow up and, following a well-established scenario with extensive coverage in the Ukrainian and Western media, accuse units of the Russian Armed Forces and Donetsk People's Republic of allegedly indiscriminate strikes against transport infrastructure facilities.
Russian MoD emphasizes once again that in carrying out the tasks of the special military operation, the Russian armed forces do not strike at civilian infrastructure, treat the civilian population with the utmost humanity and provide the civilians with comprehensive assistance and support.
In addition, according to the testimony of captive AFU servicemen, a large number of mobilized Ukrainian citizens have health limitations, but they are forced to sign a refusal to undergo a special medical check up at the military registration and enlistment centers. Thus, practically the entire male population of Ukraine, irrespective of their state of health, is recognised as fit for military service. This lawlessness is led by corrupt officials in the Ukrainian military enlistment offices who, without regret, send people to their imminent deaths, just as the Nazis did in the last months of the Great Patriotic War, when, realising the hopelessness of their situation, they threw sick, elderly and teenagers to defend the cities. Such actions, once again, demonstrate the inhumane attitude of the Ukrainian authorities to their own citizens and their complete indifference to their fate.
5. German journalist Alina Lipp exposed AFU atrocities
Independent Donetsk-based journalist Alina Lipp of Germany details her prosecution by the German state for violating new speech codes through her reporting in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
As the only German reporter on the ground in Donetsk, Lipp has exposed Ukrainian forces shelling civilians, attacking a maternity ward, mining harbors, and bombing a granary filled with corn for export. She faces three years in prison if she returns to her home country.
6. Developments in the SMO in Ukraine
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine.
High-precision strikes near Bereznegovatoye, Nikolaev Region, Konstantinovka and Kramatorsk, Donetsk People's Republic or DPR, hit temporary deployment points of units of 35th Marine Brigade, 54th Mechanized Brigade, 81st Airmobile Brigade and 109th Territorial Defence Brigade. As a result of these strikes, the total losses of these formations amounted to up to 1,000 personnel and more than 100 pieces of military equipment.
High-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit temporary deployment point of 14th Mechanized Brigade battalion manned by nationalists and foreign mercenaries near Chasov Yar, DPR. The attacks have resulted in the destruction of 43 militants and about 170 injured.
Russian army aviation hit temporary deployment point of 97th Battalion of 60th Mechanized Brigade of AFU near Malaya Tokmachka, Zaporozhye Region, with high-precision missiles. The attacks have resulted in the destruction of 30 militants and about 37 injured.
Conflicts and clashes with the use of weapons have increased among AFU and nationalist formations.
On July 13, more than 200 fighters of the 226th Kraken nationalist formation refused to follow the command's order to move to the Kramatorsk area and claimed a "transfer" to the Kharkov city' territorial defence. During the ensuing fight with the commanders and the ensuing gunfight, six militants were killed.
High-precision sea-based Kalibr missiles destroyed multiple rocket launcher vehicles of 45th Artillery Brigade of AFU hidden in hangars at the high voltage equipment plant in Zaporozhye city.
In addition, high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 4 command posts, including those of 61st Infantry Jaeger Brigade of AFU near Bereznegovatoye in Nikolaev Region and 80th Airborne Assault Brigade near Kramatorsk, 3 ammunition depots near Soledar, Tat'yanovka in DPR and Nikolaev, 1 fuel storage facility for military equipment near Kharkov, and 21 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration.
As part of the counter-battery fighting, 1 battery of multiple rocket launchers near Slavyansk, 1 platoon of MLRS near Nikolaevka in DPR, and 1 artillery platoon of US-made M-777 howitzers at firing positions in Pervomaiskyi in Kharkov Region were destroyed.
Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery hit 19 command posts, 78 areas of artillery units in firing positions and 232 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration. Russian Aerospace Forces fighters have shot down 2 aircraft of Ukrainian air force in the air: 1 Su-24 near Slavyansk and 1 MiG-29 near Troitskoye, Donetsk People's Republic.
Russian air defence means destroyed 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Balakleya, Izyum, Lozovaya, Shchurovka in Kharkov Region, Snegirevka, Novaya Kakhovka in Nikolaev Region, Belogorovka, Karmazinovka, Slavyanoserbsk, Mikhailovka in Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and Derilovo in DPR.
In addition, 2 Tochka-U ballistic missiles and 6 rockets of Uragan multiple-launch rocket system were intercepted near Novaya Kakhovka in Nikolaev Region. High-precision attacks launched at provisional bases of 40th Artillery Brigade and Kraken nationalist group deployed in Kharkov have resulted in the elimination of up to 200 nationalists, including about 50 foreign mercenaries and 19 units of armament and military equipment.
Pinpoint attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces launched at the bases of Right Sector nationalist group deployed in Artyomovsk (DPR) have resulted in the elimination of about 300 nationalists and up to 30 armoured and special motor vehicles.
Attack launched at a provisional base of 45th Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) deployed near Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye Region) has resulted in the elimination of barracks with over 70 servicemen. Artillery units have eliminated up to 70 nationalists and 11 armoured vehicles of 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the AFU near Lugovoye and Novoandreyevka in the same Region.
On July 13, Kalibr high-precision sea-based missiles were launched at the House of Officers of the garrison in Vinnitsa. The facility hosted a meeting of the Ukrainian Armed Force command with representatives of foreign armament suppliers aimed at discussing the issues on sending another batch of aircraft, destruction means, as well as on organizing the reparation of Ukrainian aircraft. The attack has resulted in the elimination of the participants in the meeting.
High-precision attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in the elimination of 5 command posts and signal nodes, including one of 10th Air Assault and 1st Tank Brigade of the AFU near Praskovievka and Prosianaya (Dnepropetrovsk Region), a launching ramp of Buk-M1 air defence missile system near Sol (DPR) as well as manpower and military equipment in 43 areas.
Within the counter-battery warfare, 2 platoons of Ukrainian MRLS, 2 Giatsint-B artillery platoons near Dzerzhinsk (DPR), as well as artillery units in 84 areas have been neutralised.
Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised: 18 command posts, as well as manpower and military equipment in 211 areas.
Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down 2 MiG-29 airplanes of Ukrainian Air Force near Slavyansk and Druzhkovka (DPR).
Russian air defence means have shot down 2 Su-25 airplanes of Ukrainian Air Force near Barmashovo (Nikolayev region), as well as 9 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Balakleya, Izyum, Peschanoye, Ternovaya (Kharkov Region), Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson Region) and Vesyolaya Tarasovka (LPR). In addition, 9 projectiles launched by Uragan MRLS have been intercepted near Khartsyzsk, Korovy Yar, Khanzhenkovo (DPR), Andreyevka (Kharkov Region) and Tomarino (Kherson Region).
High-precision attacks launched by Russian Armed Forces resulted in the elimination of 115th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) that had operated towards Seversk. Over the past 48 hours, this brigade has lost over 600 servicemen. Residents of Seversk, Nikolayevka and other nearby Ukraine-controlled settlements are being urgently mobilised for manning the destroyed AFU brigade.
High-precision attack launched by Russian Aerospace Forces at a provisional base of 123rd Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU deployed in Nikolayev has resulted in the elimination of up to 200 nationalists and foreign mercenaries, as well as 13 armoured and motor vehicles.
In terms of successful action of Russian Armed Forces and considerable losses of the AFU, Ukrainian nationalists refuse to be involved in operations in Donbass. Particularly, 45 nationalists of 204th Battalion from 241st Territorial Defence Brigade abandoned their positions near Artyomovsk and demanded to redeploy them to the eastern part of Ukraine.
Attacks launched by high-precision long-range air-based armament have resulted in the elimination of workshops for producing components and repairing Tochka-U ballistic missiles, as well as MRLS projectiles in Yuzhny Machinery Plant located in Dnepropetrovsk.
In addition, high-precision attacks launched by Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in the elimination of 4 command posts, including those of 80th Air Assault Brigade near Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic) and 3rd Tank Brigade of the AFU near Novopokrovka (Kharkov region), as well as a munitions depot near Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and 25 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment.
Within counter-battery warfare, 2 MLRS platoons, 15 Giatsing-B howitzer and D-30 artillery gun units deployed near Verkhnekamenskoye, Serebryanka, Seversk, Artyomovsk, Avdeyevka and Georgiyevka (DPR), as well as artillery units at their firing positions in 73 areas have been neutralised.
Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised 21 command posts, 5 munitions depots, as well as 189 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration areas.
Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed 3 airplanes of Ukrainian Air Forces during an air combat: 2 MiG-29 near Novopavlovka (Nikolayev region), Vladimirovka (Dnepropetrovsk region) and 1 Su-25 near Seversk.
In addition, 2 Ukrainian helicopters (Mi-8 near Velikaya Novosyolka and Mi-24 near Seversk, DPR, have been shot down in air.
Russian air defence means have eliminated 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Dolgenkoye, Izyum, Malaya Kamyshevakha (Kharkov region), Kamyshany (Kherson region), Reshetilovskoye (Zaporozhye Region), Alchevsk (LPR), Serebryanka, Grigorovka, Sparatak, Krasny Oktyabr and Krinichnaya (DPR).
One Tochka-U ballistic missile has been intercepted near Novozvanovka (DPR), two Uragan MRLS projectiles near Izyum (Kharkov Region).
In total by July 16th, 256 airplanes and 139 helicopters, 1,557 unmanned aerial vehicles, 355 air defence missile systems, 4,073 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 746 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 3,149 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 4,364 special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation
7. US bio-labs found in two more liberated LPR towns
Hidden US bio-laboratories have been found in the liberated towns of Rubizhne and Severodonetsk. What is inside the laboratories is not yet known – explosives technicians are currently working on the site, after which investigators and forensic specialists will go inside.
Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
