Summary of the Events of the Day
The Russian invasion of Ukraine was largely stalled with no major advances. Ukraine forces were able to counterattack in places.
Battle for the Skies
Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) claimed their best day since the beginning of the war bringing down eleven Russian aircraft including five combat jets, one helicopter, four drones, and one ballistic missile. Partial confirmation of these claims was provided by photo evidence.
Battle for Kyiv (including Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Zhitomir)
Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy remain encircled by Russian forces and continue to be bombed from the skies, but the three major cities remain under Ukrainian control.
Kyiv is surrounded on three sides but there is still access from the south. Ukrainian forces in Kyiv have also gone on the offensive retaking Makariv 30 miles to the west of the capital. Ukrainian forces have almost retaken Irpin just to the west of Kyiv.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk & Luhansk regions)
Another 7000 civilians trapped within Mariupol were able to evacuate to safety. Of the 400,000 who lived there before the invasion began, all but 100,000 have either evacuated, sent to Russian detention camps, or have died. The Russians continue to pummel the city, whose streets are lined with corpses, with artillery and missiles fired from ships offshore in the Sea of Azov.
Other News
Russia threatened that they would use nuclear force if the tides were to turn and Ukraine would become a threat to Russia.
Although military and political leaders within Belarus continue to provide full support to Russian troops within Ukraine, the citizens are sabotaging the supply lines, and the Belarusian soldiers continue to refuse to fight against Ukraine.
Russian soldiers demolished and looted the radioactive materials analysis laboratory at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant destroying $6.6 million worth of equipment. Fortunately, it does not endanger the safe operation of the plant, but the radioactive materials they stole are highly dangerous.
International Support
UN Chief Antonio Guterres described the Russian war against Ukraine as unwinnable and called on Russia to end its aggression which can only kill more civilians.
President Zelensky continues his addresses to the parliaments around the world in gaining support. Today he addressed the Japanese and French parliaments thanking them for their support and giving specific challenges to assist even more.