Victory Chronicles-DAY 1254

Russian troops shelled the central part of Kramatorsk in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region overnight on July 31, according to Oleksandr Honcharenko, the head of the city’s military administration.

One civilian was killed and 11 were injured, according to Vadym Fliashkin, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration. Earlier this morning, Russian artillery and drones targeted the nearby city of Kostiantynivka. Local authorities said no one was injured in that attack. Kramatorsk, once home to over 150,000 people, remains a frequent target due to its proximity to the front line and role as a logistics hub for Ukraine’s defense.

22,500 civilians, including 115 children, remain in Donetsk combat zone. As of July 31, around 22,500 civilians, including 115 children,remain in areas of Donetsk region classified as kinetic combat zones, regional official Dmytro Petlin said during an online briefing. Most of the children are in the Lyman community, with five in Toretsk. Eighteen communities remain under constant threat from Russian attacks, including Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, and Pokrovsk. Since the start of mandatory evacuations in August 2022, more than 1.24 million people have been evacuated from government-controlled areas, including nearly 194,000 children and more than 46,800 people who live with disabilities.

Wildfires rage across Donetsk region’s forests after Russian shelling. Ukrainian firefighters are battling large wildfires in Donetsk’s Kramatorsk district, sparked by ongoing Russian shelling, emergency officials said on July 31.

The State Emergency Service reported that eight separate fire zones remain active as of July 31. More than 1,100 hectares (about 2,700 acres) of forest and dry grass have burned, and at least 79 homes have been damaged.

Fire crews, along with forestry workers and bomb disposal teams, are working to contain the flames and clear unexploded ordnance. Officials said they continue to monitor the area and reposition forces as needed to stop the fires from spreading.

Rescuers use helicopters to extinguish fires after Russian strikes on Kyiv. Ukrainian emergency services deployed helicopters to help extinguish fires caused by Russian missile attacks on Kyiv this week, officials said on July 31.

Two helicopters made 20 water drops totaling about 40 metric tons (nearly 44 U.S. tons), according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. Fires broke out at multiple sites across the capital after the strikes.

Search and recovery efforts are still ongoing. Emergency crews, including firefighters, canine teams, and psychologists, remain at several locations helping survivors and are assessing damage.

Key Takeaways:

• US President Donald Trump specified a deadline of no later than August 8 for Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin to engage in meaningful negotiations for an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
• Kremlin officials continued to posture economic strength in response to US President Donald Trump’s proposed economic measures targeting Russia and rejected Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
• The Russian Presidential Administration reportedly issued guidance to Russian state and pro-Kremlin media outlets and commentators to promote narratives aimed at weakening the United States–European Union (EU) alliance.
• Russian officials are already amplifying the Russian Presidential Administration’s talking points about the US–EU trade deal and likely intend to hinder US–European cooperation in support of Ukraine and collective European defense.
• The Kremlin continues to promote an informal state ideology centered on Russian nationalism that Russia may intend to use in justification of a protracted war in Ukraine and a future conflict against NATO.
• Russian forces continue to systematically violate the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to which it is a signatory.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk and Velykomykhailivka. Russian forces recently advanced near Lyman.

• Tell Medvedev to watch his words: Trump criticizes former Russian president’s rhetoric
• Daughter of Trump’s envoy Kellogg after Russian attack on Kyiv: This is Putin’s response to deadline
• British Foreign Secretary condemns Russian shelling of Ukraine
• US senator responds to Kremlin’s claim of ‘immunity’ to sanctions: Trump is changing the game
• Russia ‘lying again’ about capture of Chasiv Yar, Ukraine says