Russian Ops in Ukraine Update: US Sends Drones/Howitzers but Not Enough

Update on Russian special military operations in Ukraine for August 20, 2022:

1. Russian forces continue incremental advances in the Donbass;
2. Ukraine’s Kherson offensive remains stalled;
3. The US is supplying Ukraine with additional HIMARS ammunition but not additional launchers;
4. The US is also sending smaller caliber (105mm) and thus shorter-range howitzers in small numbers to join dwindling numbers of 155mm M777s sent by the US earlier;
5. The US is sending ScanEagle drones similar to Russia’s Orlan-10, but only 15 of them vs hundreds of Russian drones;
6. Despite several successful sabotage operations in Crimea, Ukraine is unable to hit critical Russian targets in the numbers or on the scale Russia is hitting corresponding targets in Ukraine;
7. The US is sending 40 MRAPs and 50 HMMMVs to replace Ukraine’s destroyed armored vehicles;

References:

US Department of Defense – Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing AUG. 19, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

NASA – Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS):
https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/…

Washington Post – Crimea attacks point to Ukraine’s newest strategy, official says:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…

Al Jazeera – Ukrainian attacks in Crimea weaken Russia’s military capacity:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8…

Alexander Mercouris – Putin, Shoigu Pitch Russia as Main Opponent of Globalisation:
https://youtu.be/DdOJmMOqDfQ