Ukraine War: Zelenskyy Approves New Security Service Operations After 40-Day Push
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new Security Service of Ukraine operations after a 40-day effort aimed at pushing Russia toward ending the war, as Russian personnel losses reached 1,240 in the past day and U.S. officials assess that Vladimir Putin sees no exhaustion of his military options. The Ukraine war continues to feature these developments in leadership statements and battlefield reports.
Zelenskyy Approves New SSU Operations
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he approved new operations by the Security Service of Ukraine but has not clarified the results of the 40-day operation announced on 25 June, which was intended to push Russia towards ending the war. [1] Zelenskyy spoke of strong results from the SSU and said that Oleksandr Poklad, acting head of the SSU, had briefed him on its priorities for August. [1] However, Zelenskyy made no mention of the 40-day operation or whether its stated goal had been achieved. [1] According to the president, he also approved further steps to root out those within the Service who work for themselves rather than for Ukraine. [1] On 25 June, Zelenskyy said he had approved a 40-day operation by the SSU targeting Russia to push it towards ending the war. [1] Exactly 40 days had passed between that announcement and 4 August. [1] On 3 August, Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President's Office, commenting on the operation, urged people not to fixate on deadlines. [1] These steps occur amid the broader Ukraine war context where pressure on Russia remains a stated priority.
Budanov on Continued Pressure and Deadlines
Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has said that Ukraine will continue pressuring Russia to force it to end the war. [5] Budanov stated that Ukraine will continue applying pressure on Russia, emphasizing that results matter more than deadlines and that the war remains strategically deadlocked for Moscow. [5] He said Ukraine will continue pressure on Russia and urged people not to fixate on all these arguments such as 40 days, 100 days, or 115 days because the result is what matters. [5] Budanov added that it is not so important how Ukraine enters the negotiation process but what it comes out of it with. [5] To come out of it with the result needed, Ukraine must be strong and maintain unity. [5] Budanov also said that Russia still believes it can achieve its goals by military means, calling this a mistaken belief that all these years have proven wrong. [5] He noted that essentially the war is at a dead end for Russia, with some fighting but strategically stuck in a corner for a long time. [5]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approves new Security Service operations amid ongoing war with Russia. — Source: errnews
Daily Russian Personnel and Equipment Losses
Russia has lost 1,240 soldiers killed and wounded over the past day, bringing its total number of personnel losses to 1,451,750. [3] The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 4 August 2026 are estimated to include approximately 1,451,750 military personnel with the latest daily addition of 1,240. [3] Additional losses include 12,237 tanks with 5 added that day, 25,079 armoured combat vehicles with 4 added, 47,331 artillery systems with 55 added, 2,000 multiple-launch rocket systems with 4 added, 1,538 air defence systems with 5 added, 439 fixed-wing aircraft with none added, 354 helicopters with none added, 2,124 ground robotic systems with 12 added, 442,740 operational-tactical UAVs with 1,792 added, 5,007 cruise missiles with none added, 34 ships or boats with none added, 2 submarines with none added, 129,817 vehicles and fuel tankers with 379 added, and 4,492 special vehicles and other equipment with none added. [3] The information is being confirmed. [3]
U.S. Assessment of Putin's Position
Although Ukraine's success in conducting deep strikes has impressed U.S. President Donald Trump and given him hope of restarting the peace process, Russian President Vladimir Putin is certainly not interested in substantive negotiations at this time, Ambassador Jüri Luik said. [2] Recent meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have sent generally positive signals to Ukraine. [2] Trump emphasized U.S. support and understanding of what the Ukrainians are doing. [2] Trump said that yes, Ukraine's bombing of Russia could be seen as an escalation, but it is an escalation that could lead to peace. [2] The shift in Trump's position reflects his belief that the two sides in the war have reached a balance of strength, which could pave the way for a peace process. [2] Luik said he hopes U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Ukraine in the near future. [2] Luik said there is absolutely no interest on Russia's part in any kind of negotiations other than negotiations over Ukraine's surrender. [2] From Putin's perspective, he is far from having exhausted his military options and is prepared to go much further and pursue several more rounds of escalation before there is even the slightest chance that any negotiations will take place. [2] The Trump administration has been much bolder and more resolute than the Biden administration. [2]
Ukrainian forces report 1,240 Russian soldiers lost in the past day of fighting. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Challenges in Securing Patriot Missile Production
Ukraine's two-year effort to obtain U.S. licenses for domestic Patriot missile production has faced repeated rejections from both the Biden and Trump administrations. [4] The Ukrainian side has been trying to secure the licenses for almost two years. [4] Ukrainian officials say Kyiv had a chance to solve the problem years ago but Washington rejected the idea back then as well. [4] One of the proposals was to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles under license, either domestically or jointly with European partners. [4] Senior negotiators pitched the proposal directly to then-U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and then-National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. [4] Ukrainian officials received a simple no without any explanation. [4] Nearly two years later, Ukraine has returned to exactly the same request only now under far more difficult circumstances. [4] Russia has dramatically intensified missile attacks against Kyiv and other cities while Ukraine faces a critical shortage of Patriot interceptors. [4] During his July 28 meeting with Trump, Zelensky told the U.S. president that Ukraine would need at least 300 Patriot missiles before winter to prevent Russia from crippling the country's energy infrastructure. [4] Trump stopped short of committing to provide them. [4] Even if Ukraine were granted permission to manufacture the missiles now, it would not produce any practical benefits for another two or three years because manufacturing these missiles is extremely complex and highly specialized. [2] Additional missiles will still have to come from the existing stockpiles of allied countries. [2] Air defense systems and missiles supplied from allied stockpiles remain the only rapid way for Ukraine to defend itself against Russian air attacks. [2]
Broader Context on Sanctions and Western Unity
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned about the risk of escalation in his public remarks, yet the Trump administration has nevertheless been much bolder and more resolute than the Biden administration. [2] A new Russia sanctions bill introduced by former Sen. Lindsey Graham and now backed in the U.S. Senate holds political and symbolic significance because it would enable secondary sanctions on countries that continue to trade with Russia. [2] The bill is not yet on such firm footing that it is certain to pass Congress because there are many different groups that are skeptical of it for reasons unrelated to Ukraine. [2] Western countries have also remained remarkably united in their efforts to pressure Russia. [2] There is a shared understanding that support must go to the victim. [2] Ukraine has now become so much stronger, which is a very important factor because supporting Ukraine is no longer charity but firmly rooted in national interests. [2]
What to watch next includes whether U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Ukraine soon and how the Graham sanctions bill progresses through Congress amid ongoing Western unity on support for Ukraine.
