Summary of the Events of the Day
The most severe ground fighting in Ukraine has shifted east with the most intense combats around Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Mariupol. Ukraine retakes several strategic towns around the country.
Battle for Kyiv (Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv)
The important road intersection town of Izium is a focal point of the fighting, but Ukrainian forces seem to be making ground by taking Topolske to the southwest and Kamianka and Sukha Kamianka to the southeast.
Irpin is once again under control of Ukrainian forces pushing back Russian forces from the west of Kyiv.
Battle for Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
Fighting is heavy around Severodonetsk and Rubezhnoe, with five mass attacks having been repulsed by Ukrainian forces. Many Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers were destroyed.
President Zelensky gave permission to the Ukrainian forces defending Mariupol to surrender or attempt to escape the encirclement, but the troops decided to stay and defend Mariupol to the end. They managed to eliminate 150 Russian soldiers, two tanks, and eight armored personnel carriers.
The self-declared Luhansk Peoples’ Republic announced they will hold a referendum to become a part of Russia.
Other Regions
Ten missile attacks, and some reports even say forty, were made against Ukraine outside of the main fighting zones. Four cities hit the worse were Lutsk, Rivne, Zhitomir, and Kharkiv. Some of these attacks were launched from Belarus meaning Russia has moved its missiles onto Belarusian territory.
Peace Negotiations
President Zelensky made it clear that he would not accept any peace deal with Russia that involves giving up Ukrainian territory or preventing Ukraine from defending itself militarily. He would consider becoming a neutral country like Sweden and vow not to join NATO. He would agree to protecting the “Russian” language within Ukraine. And he would agree to a pledge to keep Ukraine free of nuclear weapons.
Other News
The number of Ukrainians that have left Ukraine has risen to 3.8 million or a little more than 8.5% of the population.
International Support
Spain announced a $6.7 billion aid package for Ukrainians to rebuild their homes and businesses after the war ends.