Pressure on Military Personnel and Results of Operation Molochka
Allegations of pressure on service members who joined peaceful protests have emerged alongside the destruction of a Tu-95MS strategic bomber at Engels airbase and the outcomes of Operation Molochka, which hit 159 vessels over 12 days. As the full-scale war reaches its 1,605th day, fresh accusations claim that troops face intimidation for expressing their views. Alina Mykhailova, head of the medical service for the 'Wolves of Da Vinci' battalion's Ulf unit, stated she received a call from the Command of Unmanned Systems Forces inquiring about the posting of veteran Dmytro Kozyatynskyi. Kozyatynskyi had publicly urged defenders to protest and was discharged from the Armed Forces of Ukraine a year ago. The Command of Unmanned Systems Forces has denied allegations of repression, with its commander Robert 'Magyar' Brovdi emphasizing that such practices are not tolerated within their structure.
Serhiy Sternenko, a former adviser to the Minister of Defense, also spoke out about pressure on military personnel participating in rallies supporting Fedorov. He remarked:
'Repression in the army in 2026 means getting a call from the Unmanned Systems Forces command, urgently wanting to know which unit a guy is serving in—someone who writes online about protest actions and calls on people to join.' Serhiy Sternenko
Meanwhile, long-range drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine struck the Engels airbase, destroying a strategic Tu-95MS bomber. The target was located 800 kilometers inside Russian territory. Residents of Engels reported explosions and a drone raid on the morning of July 16.
Operation Molochka and EU Sanctions
The ongoing Operation Molochka has yielded significant results. In a single day, the enemy lost 12 ships in the Black Sea, bringing the operation's total to 159 vessels struck in 12 days. On July 16 and overnight into July 17, Ukraine's defense forces hit several key military and military-economic targets of Russian occupiers. Among the affected objects were a gas carrier tanker and a tugboat in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas.
Additionally, the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia in response to strikes against Kyiv. These developments unfold against a backdrop of ongoing attempts by military personnel to voice their opinions and support protest actions, despite potential repercussions.
These latest events highlight the complex situation in Ukraine, where service members strive to express their views and back civic actions amid threats of repression. At the same time, Operation Molochka continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of Ukrainian forces in countering the aggressor, inflicting substantial losses on the enemy. The importance of support from international partners, particularly through sanctions, becomes increasingly evident in a conflict now spanning over five years.
The recent destruction of the Tu-95MS strategic bomber at Engels airbase is part of a broader context involving increased military engagements. This escalation is highlighted by reports of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which documented 221 combat engagements in a single day. Such developments underscore the intensifying conflict and the strategic shifts occurring within the region.