Victory Chronicles-DAY 884

The Pentagon has found errors in its accounting calculations, resulting in the discovery of an extra $2 billion worth of arms that can be sent to Ukraine. The Department of Defense revealed that it had used “replacement cost” instead of “depreciated cost” to calculate the value of equipment sent in 2023, leading to a $6.2 billion miscalculation. This miscalculation was later used to allocate additional aid. 

The Pentagon has now identified another $2 billion in overestimated costs. As a result, $2 billion worth of weapons may be sent to Ukraine. The U.S. Government Accountability Office attributes these discrepancies to the unclear definition of cost in the Foreign Assistance Act and the lack of specific guidance on cost estimates for the presidential administration.

The ceasefire means that 25% of Ukrainian territory remains under Russian control, and Russia is strengthening its capabilities, said Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey. He also added that this ceasefire will allow Russia to strengthen its capabilities and resume attacks on Ukraine. Bodnar argues that any ceasefire proposals should not be considered, as the only solution to the Russian occupation is to protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity in accordance with international law. He emphasizes the importance of withdrawing Russian troops and protecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity as the first steps towards peace. This single vision of ending the war in Ukraine is uncompromising and remains unchanged.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) reported the neutralization of a PTM-4 anti-tank mine destroyed by sappers in Donetsk Oblast. “Specialists of the State Emergency Service found an explosive object during the inspection of the Holy Mountains Nature Park forests in Kramatorsk district. It was destroyed by controlled detonation,” the press service of the State Emergency Service reported. The rescuers also urged Ukrainians not to try to defuse explosive devices on their own.

The paratroopers of the 90th separate airmobile battalion named after the Hero of Ukraine, Senior Lieutenant Ivan Zubkov, of the 81st separate airmobile Slobozhanskaya brigade of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are tirelessly destroying enemy manpower and armored vehicles near the village of Bilohorivka. The video shows the destruction of enemy tanks, which were first hit by the firepower of Slobozhansky paratroopers and then destroyed by kamikaze drones.

Ukrainian forces blunted one of the largest Russian mechanized assaults in Ukraine since October 2023 in western Donetsk Oblast on July 24. Geolocated footage published on July 24 shows that Ukrainian forces stopped a reinforced battalion size Russian mechanized assault near Kostyantynivka (southwest of Donetsk City) after Russian forces advanced up to the southeastern outskirts of the settlement.

A Ukrainian brigade operating in the Kurakhove direction reported that Russian forces attacked simultaneously with 11 tanks, 45 armored combat vehicles, a rare “Terminator” armored fighting vehicle (of which Russia has reportedly manufactured only 23 as of December 2023), 12 motorcycles, and roughly 200 personnel from several tactical directions at dawn on July 24.

The brigade reported that Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance identified the mechanized columns from a distance and that Ukrainian forces used artillery, drones, and minefields to blunt the Russian assault. The brigade reported that Ukrainian forces damaged or destroyed six Russian tanks, seven armored combat vehicles, and all 12 motorcycles and that Russian forces retreated after Ukrainian forces destroyed the first wave of vehicles. ISW last observed Russian forces conduct a battalion-sized mechanized attack in Donetsk Oblast in March 2024. Russian forces have not conducted larger mechanized assaults in Ukraine since the first days of Russia’s four-month long operation to seize Avdiivka in October 2023.

Russian forces likely intended to advance further into Kostyantynivka as part of their efforts to seize the settlement and cut the Vuhledar-Kostyantynivka T-0524 highway. Russian sources have long identified interdicting the T-0524 highway and disrupting Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) into Vuhledar as a primary tactical objective in this direction. Russian milblogger recently suggested that Russian forces would intensify operations south of Kostyantynivka in support of this objective and force Ukrainian forces to retreat from positions in and around Vuhledar. 

Russian forces likely will not make operationally significant advances in this area of the frontline in the near term even if they achieve tactically significant advances and prompt Ukrainian forces to retreat from nearby positions, as the surrounding area has no operationally significant objectives and is largely comprised of fields and isolated, small settlements and no significant nearby tactical heights.

Senior Sergeant Pavlo Yepifantsev, with the call sign Efiop, died on February 14, 2024. He sustained a mine-blast injury incompatible with life while performing a combat mission near the village of Heorhiivka, Donetsk Oblast. The fighter died two weeks short of his 25th birthday. 

Pavlo was born into a large family in Zhytomyr Oblast. After completing his secondary education, he graduated from the Zhytomyr Technological College of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture with a degree in computer engineering. In civilian life, he worked at a factory and was interested in cars.

In 2019, he began his military career and signed a contract with the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Cossacks. During the full-scale war, he was assigned to the 95th separate airborne assault brigade. He participated in the liberation of Kyiv Oblast from Russian invaders. Later, Pavlo was transferred to the 46th separate airmobile brigade, where he held the position of company sergeant major. He was awarded the Order “For Courage” III degree.

“He is an extremely kind man, a loving father, son, husband and brother. For his mother, he was the first most desired child, who became an adult very early because he had to be an example for his younger brothers and sisters, as well as a support for his parents. He never lacked love and care, and he was always sincere in return. The man is a sunshine! Although he looks so brave and brutal, he is the kindest person inside, who will always help in a difficult moment. I love him with all my heart,” said the bride Sofia.

The fighter was buried at the Smolyanske military cemetery in Zhytomyr. He is survived by his bride Sofia, mother Olena, father Oleh, brothers Tymofiy and Petro, sisters Polina and Eva, children Yelyzaveta and Maksym and his unborn third child. 

*Pavlo’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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