Victory Chronicles
-DAY 148

Above:  Russian Sberbank on Karl Marx street in Moscow. Sberbank is Russia’s third largest bank, majority state-owned with close relations to the Kremlin. Photo via CNBC

• The Council of the European Union approved the seventh package of sanctions against Russia, as announced by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday. The package includes a ban on Russian gold imports including jewelry and freezing Sberbank’s assets. Another 50 individuals were sanctioned including politicians, military, oligarchs and Kremlin propaganda mouthpieces.

Above:  Nord Stream has proven that it is unreliable and subject to Kremlin whims. Photo via NewsTextArea

• The Nord Stream-1 pipeline is undergoing procedures to resume gas flow to Germany.  Data showed an increase in flow from zero to almost 30 million kWh/hour on Thursday.  The Kremlin reduced gas flows at the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, worrying European consumers about their ability to store gas for the coming winter months.

• WhenRussia turned off Nord Stream-1 for “maintenance” July 10, European consumers moved towards gas rationing and scrambled to find alternative gas sources.

• The European Commission rolled out the “Save Gas for a Safe Winter” initiative, stating, ”The European Union faces the risk of further gas supply cuts from Russia, due to the Kremlin’s weaponisation of gas exports, with almost half of our Member States already affected by reduced deliveries.  Taking action now can reduce both the risk and the costs for Europe in case of further or full disruption, strengthening European energy resilience,” with a goal to reduce EU gas consumption by 15% through next spring.

Above:  Ukrainian Armed Forces use of a few HIMARS to change the game impresses military experts.  Photo via RFERL

• Speaking at the fourth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that the US will provide four additional HIMARS to Ukraine as part of the next military assistance package.

• Joint Chiefs Chair General Mark Milley  told reporters that the US has already transferred 12 HIMARS to Ukraine and has trained 200 Ukrainians on using the system.  Due to Ukraine’s highly effective deployment of the longer-range rocket systems, the West is more forthcoming about supplying more.

• Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov called on the west to send 100 HIMARS and ammo to change the course of war. Mr Reznikov stated that the partners emphasized that war fatigue is not setting in, that supporters understand that this is a battle for democracy in Europe and that they will support Ukraine through victory.

• At the afternoon press conference, Austin joined Milley and said the international community is intensifying efforts to send military equipment to Ukraine, as Russian forces continue relentlessly shelling cities across the country.