Zelensky fires two top officials as Russia targets HIMARS

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 18 Jul 2022 by Alex Teddy

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On July 18 Zelensky fired his security chief and prosecutor general. He said 650 people are suspected of treason and 60 officials in the Russian occupied zone are working for Russia. The firings are indicative of disarray in the Ukrainian government. How do they see their future in view of the war? It is doubtful that Ukraine can fully control its own territory or economy in the longer term. On July 18 the EU was debating stricter sanctions on Russia. Russia continues missile strikes on cities. Russian missiles are only accurate to within 500 m. When they hit civilian targets it might be due to inaccuracy, not malice. Russia has hit schools, hospitals and universities. Up until July 17 Russia had fired 3,000 cruise missiles at Ukraine, said Zelensky. But the rate of fire is declining. It seems Russia is running low on missiles. On July 17 the head of the British Military estimated that 50,000 Russians had been killed, wounded or captured. Ukraine estimates it is much higher. Russia has not released a death toll since mid March when it was 1,351.  Mykolaiv is a city that is being heavily bombarded.  Ukraine said that Russia has put in missile launchers at Europe's largest nuclear plant. Therefore, Ukraine will be loath to hit the launcher lest they miss and cause a nuclear cataclysm. On July 17 Russia said that destroying HIMARS is a priority. HIMARS have been effective in destroying Russian arms dumps and command posts. The Russian military is extremely centralized. If a commander is killed nothing happens until a new one is appointed.