Approximate paths of today's Russian Shahed drones. Based on preliminary reports, Russia launched 53 Shahed drones at Ukraine over the past 24 hours. The following information is based on reports by Ukrainian monitor and radar telegram channels, as well as Local telegram channels.

The Shahed drones flew over Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Poltava, Cherkasy and Kirovohrad Oblasts. It is impossible to give an exact number of hits with an attack this big, but based on explosion reports, at least 8 hit their targets (likely more). Most of the impacts likely occurred around Konotop and Shostka (Both in Sumy Oblast).

This is the largest Russian drone strike in months and likely the largest single drone strike (without being accompanied by missiles) since the beginning of the war.

Russian Iskanders struck a train depot busy with AFU personnel and equipment in the Donetsk region.

An Iskander ballistic missile was launched from Crimea in the direction Odesa Oblast.

Correction: It is flying in the direction of Bilhorod-Dnistroyskyi.

Explosion in Odesa Oblast.

Clarification: The explosion occurred in Bilhorod-Dnistroyskyi district.

I missed a Russian missile strike on Sumy Oblast while I was eating dinner, so here are the details:

Firstly, a Russian Reconnaissance drone was launched from Kursk Oblast and flew over/near Sumy city. Explosions were reported from air defence. However, air defence failed to shoot down the drone and it turned northwest and flew over Konotop.

Once reaching its destination, it likely circled before two Russian cruise missiles were launched from strategic aircraft in Kursk Oblast. Explosions were reported in Konotop as at least one missile but likely both hit their targets.

Explosions in the suburbs of Kharkiv.

Kharkiv city is under large-scale KAB attacks. Continuous explosions in the city.

The 2014 Ukrainian army's defenses on the Toresk front crumble: I must admit my mistake in overestimating the defensive capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces on this front, which was considered a secondary axis used by the Russians to divert Ukrainian forces while developing the logistical cut between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka from east and west.
The situation is now quite different, the axis has become one of the main ones of this Russian summer offensive, which will seek the capture of the entire urban agglomeration of Toresk and the surrounding towns, which may have the following evolution:

1. After the last advances it is clear that the Russian forces look for the capture of the two terrikones adjacent to Zalizne and Pivnichne, which will precipitate the fall of these two populations. Simultaneously the troops will move towards Niu-York joining the troops fighting there and will force the complete fall of the 2014 line in this sector.
2. Subsequently the assault towards Toresk will begin. The proximity of this city will allow the Russian assault to continue from the south through the forests and the central avenue, seeking the heights of the Toretskugol and Dzerzhynskuhol mines. In addition, a parallel advance will be made on Scherbynivka.
With the fall of Toresk, the Russian army will have a “free road” to Kostiantynivka from the south. However, the Chasov Yar and Ocheretyno axes will continue to play a leading role in the seizure of the territory below the H-32 highway.

“If it wasn't clear, the cruise missile, X-59/69/R-500, went around the Sumy and Chernihiv regions in order to return almost to the place of launch.”

Umm what?

This will be fun to cover later

Over 2 thirds of you guys wanted me to continue reporting on conflicts other than Ukraine, so that's what I'll do. Ukraine will remain my main focus, however.

Update from Somalia - Lower Juba front:

This map by @AAGA_CAWLAN101 on twitter shows a new Al-Shabab offensive in the southern Juba province of Somalia.

Al Shabab militants have been attacking in four main directions. From the southwest, the northeast, the northwest and the south.

The Somali National Army claimed that it's forces "thwarted an attempted attack at a military base in the lower Juba region". The government reported in a statement on the state-owned Somalia National News Agency (SONNA): "We thank the federal and Jubbaland forces who killed over 80 al Shabaab fighters and took their weapons,"

A statement by Al-shabaab on an affiliated radio station said that it had stormed the bases and killed dozens of soldiers.

Videos posted by Jubbaland officials shows at least 35 bodies (likely Al-Shabaab bodies) near the village of Buula-xaaji, which was one of the main assault vectors.

This area used to be the heartland of Al-shabaab but was retaken by government forces three months ago. It is likely that one of the goals here for Al-shabaab is to recapture this region by applying pressure to the 43rd Division stationed there.

I'll say it again: we might see another massive missile strike on Ukraine in the near future.

"The enemy is trying to surround part of the grouping of the Defense Forces near Progress: there is no order to withdraw

We were approached by fighters of the 1st and 3rd battalions of the 31st OMBr, who have been defending the encirclement for the last few days. To the south of Lozuvatskyi, the enemy formed a gorge , through which it is necessary to hold a number of positions to the west of the height of 236.9. Now the Katsapas use the tactic of "wandering gifts" , whose task is to get as close as possible to Ivanovka.

For reference. The operational and tactical situation became critical over the weekend due to the chaotic departure of one of the infantry brigades. 47 OMBr, which came to the rescue, could not restrain the enemy, who was outnumbered. Previously, there was already a crowd of two mouths in the village. The old wolves from the 47th asked to convey a "fervent greeting" to the National Center in the Rivne region.

Soldiers of the 31st OMBr report the risks and possible consequences to the battalion leadership. The latter support them, but the brigade leadership wants the fighters to continue to sit in the circle - to the last soldier. The management of the companies is practically absent , because their commanders are wounded or killed.

We all remember how this sitting at Zenit ended .

We hope that the right decision will be made , which will save human lives for further struggle, and not landing for a couple of hours in tactics.

The enemy is now infiltrating Vovche, in order to resume the assault on the village tomorrow. These actions create a number of additional problems in further defense."

- Deepstate

Syrskyi moment...

Why is he so addicted to getting Ukraine stuck in pockets?