Summary of the Events of the Day
It appears that Russia’s announcement that they were going to radically reduce their attacks on Kyiv and Chernihiv, and move their forces back, because of the positive results of the latest peace negotiations, was a lie. Attacks on the two cities remain at the same level and it appears the moving back of troops was just a ruse to rotate troops.
Battle for Kyiv (Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv)
Even though Russia stated that they would reduce their fighting around Kyiv and Chernihiv and even retreat, there was no sign yesterday of that actually occurring. Russian forces remain entrenched and firing artillery and missiles at both cities. Five acres of warehousing was hit by artillery just outside of Brovary setting the facility on fire. Residential homes in the suburb of Irpin also came under artillery fire. It is now believed that the statement of troops retreating was just a lie to cover the rotation of troops.
Chernihiv was shelled all night long despite Russia’s promise to deescalate the attacks on that northern city. The town of Nizhyn also came under attack all night.
Battle for Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
Russia refuses to allow any humanitarian aid to enter Mariupol to its starving civilians until all Ukrainian troops defending the city surrender. Russian troops forcibly removed 70 staff and patients from a maternity hospital in Mariupol.
Russian and Ukrainian forces fought at close range all day in Mariupol. The Azov Regiment destroyed three Russian tanks, one with a Molotov cocktail. One other Russian vehicle was also destroyed.
Russian forces fired artillery on a Red Cross facility clearly marked with the symbol of the agency in the besieged city of Mariupol. No casualties have yet been reported.
Russian forces conducted four attacks on residential neighborhoods and businesses in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The worst hit was Lysychansk devasted by artillery fire badly damaging multi-story apartment buildings. It is not known how many civilians are trapped in the rubble. WAR CRIME. Ukrainian forces held their grounds during the day destroying seven tanks and seven other fighting vehicles as well as several Russian supply trucks.
Battle for the Black Sea (Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa)
Fourteen people died and 34 were injured in the attack on the regional administration building yesterday in Mykolaiv.
The Russian navy is planting sea mines into the Black Sea and they have been found floating in the waters of Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. This is a violation of sea navigation laws and will be a threat to commerce for years to come.
Other News
Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the Czech Republic expelled dozens of Russian diplomats on charges of spying.
For the second time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine fired a ballistic missile at a military target within Russian territory destroying a weapons depot near the village of Krasniy Oktiabr (Red October). The first missile strike was on the first day of the invasion when Ukraine damaged an airfield and destroyed aircraft near the town of Millerovo.
China has announced that they are strengthening their relationship with Russia and refuse to condemn Russia for its many war crimes.
President Zelensky continues his campaign of addressing parliaments around the world with an address to the Norwegian parliament requesting more military arms.