It has been almost a week since Ukraine launched its offensive with the aim of recovering most of the Russian-occupied regions like Crimea and Kherson.

We have reported that there has been an aggressive movement from the side of Ukraine , the Russians suffering daily losses in men, artillery, ammunition and tanks. We also reported on the memoir of one of the Russian veterans who decided to share his perspective on the Russian offensive, giving us an in-depth look at what is really going on on the Russian side.

And today, the Russians are being bombarded again by the Ukrainians as the latter see a gap in military communications and poor leadership. According to the British intelligence report, Ukraine is profiting from Russia's "poor logistics, administration and leadership". 

They continue to fire on HIMARS decoys and disrupt lines of communication as Ukrainian ground forces focus on an ongoing campaign along the western Dnipro River, "focusing on three axes in Kherson Oblast occupied by Russia".

"The operation has limited immediate objectives, but the Ukrainian forces probably achieved a degree of tactical surprise; exploiting the poor logistics, administration and leadership of the Russian Armed Forces."

“The operation has limited immediate objectives, but the Ukrainian forces have probably achieved a degree of tactical surprise; exploiting the poor logistics, administration and leadership of the Russian Armed Forces.

Additionally, Ukrainian forces are moving to fight the Russians who fired missiles at Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, in Donestk Oblast. According to the region's governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, the Russian missiles hit light industry enterprises in Kramatorsk, injuring one person and two enterprises in Sloviansk.

Meanwhile, Sumy Oblast Governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyi said Russian forces shelled the community of Velykopysarivska in Sumy Oblast "with mortars five times" a few hours ago. No casualties were reported.

Ukrainian forces also shot down two Bayraktar drones and destroyed Russian equipment worth $25.6 million in 3 days. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, also said that their drones destroyed eight Russian T-72 tanks, an infantry vehicle and several howitzers.

A Ukrainian drone shot down another Russian helicopter in Donetsk. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian attack helicopter Ka-52 (alias "Alligator"), as well as an unmanned aerial vehicle "Forpost", were also destroyed in the morning.

As Moscow tries to find resources, especially people, to fill its gaps on the front line, Ukrainian intelligence reported that about 40% of the military equipment of the newly formed Russian 3rd Army Corps was considered "not combat-ready". 

Moreover, a representative of the Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense noted that the last Russian military equipment had run out in February and March, so the new units supposed to provide backup and support to the front lines in exhaustion route from Russia received outdated Soviet-style equipment. 

This matches the Russian veteran's memoir about the misallocation of their resources, even in elite units like paratroopers.

We can taste 'Freedom' and 'Victory'

As this campaign continues on a positive trajectory for Ukrainians, President Volodomyr Zelensky posted a one-word tweet that sums up what everyone is feeling: “Freedom.” Their official Twitter account also posted another one-word statement that read, "Victory."

This sentiment is also felt on the Russian side after UN inspectors were able to reach the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and two of their investigators were posted to monitor the area for any changes.

Ukrainian officials claimed that before the UN inspection, the Russians had moved military equipment housed at the nuclear power plant to outlying areas.

In a photo in the UK Telegraph , Russian officials attempt to ask Rafael Grossi, head of the UN's nuclear watchdog group, why a rocket embedded in the ground of nuclear power plants is at an angle that strongly suggests it comes from the Russian side of the lines.

An independent poll by the Levada organization indicated that while most of the Russian military support the war, public support is declining, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Levada said overall support for Russian forces in Ukraine did not change significantly over the summer, with 76 percent of survey respondents supporting Russian forces in Ukraine (46 % strongly in favor and 30 % generally in favour). 

Levada also noted that 48% of respondents believe it is necessary for Russian operations in Ukraine to continue. Polls showed that 44% of respondents were in favor of peace negotiations and that a majority of the younger segments of the Russian population (18-39 years old) were in favor of negotiations. 

In March 2022, Levada found that 53% of respondents strongly supported Russian military actions in Ukraine, but the percentage of respondents in this category had dropped to 46% by August. This is a minor deterioration that will not fundamentally affect the Kremlin's ability to wage war.

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, also claims their big win because they can be the exact source of information regarding the plant.

"Now when there is an allegation that something has happened at the factory, you can turn to us," he said, rather than weighing the contradictory claims of Russia and Ukraine. "That's the difference."

Here is the recent tally of Russian casualties:

• 2059 tanks
• 4440 armored fighting vehicles
• 1142 artillery
• 297 multiple launch rocket systems
• 153 air defense systems
• 236 military aircraft
• 205 helicopters
• 875 drones
• 208 cruise missiles
• 15 warships and boats
• 3289 vehicles and fuel tanks
• 105 special equipment
• 49,400 personnel eliminated
  • more than 900 elite soldiers
  • 151 servicemen with GRU special forces
  • 245 members of the National Guard (including those of special forces units)
  • 67 Russian military pilots