Air defence is working in the city.

Another MLRS in the direction of Kursk. It is currently flying over the frontline.

The Tu-95s reached Penza Oblast. Next is Saratov where the launch lines are.

There is high activity of Russian reconnaissance UAVs in the north and south of Ukraine.

Launch maneuvers were conducted. It remains to be seen whether they are real or simulated launches.

The Kh-101 missiles should enter the airspace of Ukraine within an hour if the launches were real.

Powerful explosions were reported in Kherson city.

2 Tu-95s landed at Engels airfield. 4 are still in the air.

The remaining 4 Tu-95s fly in the direction of the Caspian Sea.

All Tu-95s have landed. It might have just been relocation but also to sew fear among Ukraine at the same time.

Nevermind, 4 Tu-95s are still airborne and are now over the Caspian sea.

The launches were simulated.

Russian forces have constructed a second pontoon bridge across the Seym River in the Kursk region, east of the village of Zvannoye. This can be seen in a satellite image from August 17. Previously, a similar bridge was reported east of the village of Glushkovo. The Russian army began building these crossings after Ukrainian strikes on bridges in the area, likely to provide escape routes for Russian troops.

There are initial reports that the first constructed pontoon bridge is already destroyed by Ukraine.

Not sure if it is an escape route or a GLOC.

Geolocated footage indicates that Russian forces continue to advance inside Makiivka and have established a toehold on the western bank of the Zherebets river.

Following weeks of consolidation and reported counterattacks by Ukraine, Russian forces restarted offensive operations inside Makiivka and made progress in the central part of the village. Here, Russian forces cleared most of the northern residential area and captured the local school.

Then, building off their momentum, Russian forces likely established a pontoon bridge over the Zherebets river and successfully crossed it, establishing a toehold in the first few houses of the residential area in western Makiivka.

Overall, this advance is another step in the direction of the complete capture and occupation of Luhansk Oblast. Makiivka is one of the last Ukrainian strongholds in the region, and now that the Russians have collapsed the defences here, it will spell the end for this village.

Geolocated footage indicates that Russian forces are continuing to exploit their localised breakthrough in the Zhelanne area and have advanced by a further 3.7km in a southerly direction.

Within 48 hours, Russian forces managed to advance across the open fields southwest of Zhelanne, enter the village of Novozhelanne, cross the tributary of the Vovcha river, capture the rest of Novozhelanne and all of Zavitne, raising their flag on the southern outskirts of the settlement.

This advance puts Ukrainian formations in the fortifications in and around Komyshivka and Ptyche at a significant risk of encirclement against the Vovcha river.

Geolocated footage indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced from the R200 highway to the settlement of Mykhailovka.

Ukrainian forces were able to advance for ~3.06km, taking up positions inside the settlement and gaining a foothold on the southernmost part of the first ridgeline of the tactical heights.

There are also reports that Ukrainian forces captured the settlements of Mirnyi, Bondarevka and Kolmakov further south, although this has not been confirmed. If true, it would create a buffer zone around the Ukrainian-held Sudzha, allowing for Ukrainian forces to accumulate troops inside the town more easily.

There are also reports by Ukrainian sources that Ukrainian forces re-captured Martynovka, although this is unlikely in my opinion as no other sources have reported on this. Ukrainian forces have been expending a lot of armoured vehicles on this village, trying to take it back after Chechen Akhmat forces seized control over it, pushing the AFU to the heights behind the settlement.

Update from Vovchansk:

Not much has happened in Vovchansk over the past couple of weeks, however geolocated footage shows that Russian forces made a small gain, advancing by ~90 metres in an easterly direction, capturing a supermarket, and encircling the Ukrainian groupings in the high-rise residential building on three sides. Ukrainian forces responded by firing FPV drones at their new positions.

Meanwhile, A Russian source reported that Ukrainian forces are attempting to build up troops in the high-rise residential block known as "The Citadel." This likely took place in the southwestern buildings. Russian forces reportedly responded by launching airstrikes at the Ukrainian positions. It is claimed that 10 Ukrainian soldiers were killed as a result.

Russian sources claimed that Russian forces captured the Vyimka railway station in the Siversk direction. If true, this would put them just 1.7km from the settlement of Vyimka.

However, this area is in the low-lying ground, meaning that Russian forces will need to capture the heights to the west to consolidate control over these positions and use them as a staging ground for future attacks up the railway line. This might be why they appear to have been struggling with their assaults here - they are advancing in a gulley.

Russian forces have reportedly advanced in the Pokrovsk direction and entered the village of Komyshivka. Unless Ukraine withdraws from the fortifications in the blue circles soon, they will be encircled.

I also expect assault operations will be underway for Ptyche in the next few days, unless of course the Russians choose to consolidate control over Novozhelanne and Zavitne.

Two of my three most reliable sources reported that Niu-york has fallen. The Phenol plant was reportedly the last location of resistance in the town. Ukrainian forces were likely encircled there. This opens up the way for assault operations on Toretsk from the south, once Nelipivka falls. It also risks the creation of a pocket of Ukrainian groupings west of Nelipivka.