On Tuesday, the Russian military announced that its forces had taken control of the strategically important logistics hub of Niu-York in eastern Ukraine. This development is part of Moscow’s ongoing efforts to capture the entire Donetsk region. The capture of Niu-York is a significant advancement in Russia’s offensive in eastern Ukraine, even as Ukrainian troops have launched a surprise cross-border attack in Russia’s Kursk region on August 6.
Russia refers to Niu-York by its Soviet-era name, Novgorodskoye, while Ukraine reverted to the original name, Niu-York, in 2021. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that the “Centre Grouping” of Russian troops had successfully crushed a large Ukrainian force and liberated the strategically important logistics hub of Novgorodskoye.
Heavy Fighting in Toretsk Sector
Niu-York, with a pre-war population of just under 10,000, is strategically located on the railway line to Sloviansk, a city in eastern Ukraine that Moscow has long sought to control. On Tuesday, the Ukrainian military confirmed that heavy fighting was ongoing in the Toretsk sector, including in Niu-York. Reports from Russian military bloggers indicated that Moscow’s forces were engaged in mopping-up operations in the area.
The Ukrainian Khortytsia group of forces reported on Telegram that Russian troops had attempted to advance 24 times in various areas, including Niu-York. On Monday, a Russian-backed official, Vladimir Rogov, posted a video showing a Russian soldier hoisting the Russian flag atop what appeared to be an administrative building in Niu-York, while a charred Ukrainian flag lay on the pavement outside.
Russian Missile and Drone Attacks on Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure
In a separate development, Russia launched missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure overnight, causing significant damage and disruptions. The attacks targeted nine regions across Ukraine, leading to blackouts in the northeastern Sumy region and a large fire in the western region of Ternopil.
Ukrainian forces successfully shot down three ballistic missiles and 25 of the 26 drones launched in the attacks. Despite these efforts, an energy facility in Sumy was hit, resulting in blackouts affecting 72 settlements and over 18,500 consumers. Emergency repair efforts are underway, according to the regional administration.
Chlorine Levels Rise in Ternopil After Industrial Facility Hit
In Ternopil, an industrial facility was struck during the bombardment, and a fuel reservoir was hit, leading to large columns of black smoke and a rise in chlorine levels in the air. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors as more than 90 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. Viktor Ustenko, a deputy head of the Ternopil regional administration, assured the public that the situation was under control.
Ongoing Power Struggles Amid War
Ukraine’s energy facilities have been under nearly constant bombardment over the past six months, leading to ongoing power cuts during peak evening consumption hours. Despite purchasing electricity from neighboring EU countries, Ukraine has not been able to fully compensate for the deficits caused by the attacks.
An attack on Kyiv was also repelled without major damage or casualties, according to city officials. Moscow has not commented on the latest attacks, although both sides continue to claim they target military facilities, not civilian infrastructure. However, numerous civilians have been killed throughout the ongoing conflict.
