Summary of the Events of the Day
Russia cannot seem to figure out how to defeat the Ukrainian defenders, and every day Ukraine receives more arms. The only change on Friday is that Russian forces are now in Rubizhne, and street fighting has commenced. Everywhere else Russian forces were repelled.
Battle for the Skies
Ukraine reported that they had shot down 15 Russian aerial targets on Thursday – three planes, three helicopters, and nine drones.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
Russia slowed down its attacks in the Donbas after suffering much loss in this week of fighting. In the Luhansk sector, Popasna, Rubizhne, Zarechne, and Novotoshkivske were the main targets. The goal is to push Ukraine back from these four locations and then move on the regional center Severodonetsk. Ukrainian forces repelled all attacks except at Rubizhne which is now embroiled in street fighting. In the Donetsk sector the goal is to retake Marinka, but Russia suffered greatly there again as Ukraine held on to their new positions just 24 miles from the center of rebel-held Donetsk.
Twenty communities along the Donbas Contact Line were struck on Friday. Five civilians were killed in the shelling of their homes in Vuhledar. Slavyansk was also hit with illegal cluster bombs, but there were no casualties. A Hurricane missile was fired on the hospital in Lyman also destroying several neighboring homes. A high-voltage line was hit leaving Severodonetsk without electricity again.
The remaining Azov National Guardsmen holed up in the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol have been emboldened by the large cache of heavy weapons Ukraine is receiving from abroad and vow to fight on for control of Mariupol. The Battle for Mariupol is not over yet.
Battle for Kharkiv
Ukrainian forces discovered the position of three Russian multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) and one air defense system around Kharkiv and destroyed all of them. Russia launched 50 strikes against the city resulting in the deaths of two civilians.
Other News
Russia formally registered their intention is to take the Donbas and Southern Regions of Ukraine and incorporate them into Russia.
International Support
Germany, shamed by the world for its tepid support of Ukraine, has found a way to help without explicitly helping. Eastern Europe will supply Ukraine with older Soviet heavy weapons of which Ukrainian forces know how to use, and Germany will replenish their stocks with modern weapons.
The UK trained Ukrainian soldiers in the use of the heavy armored personnel carriers they are providing to Ukraine.
France is sending more heavy artillery to Ukraine, as well as anti-tank missiles and self-propelled howitzers.
The Organization of American States has stripped Russia of their observer status as they monitor peace in the Americas.
The UK announced the reopening of their embassy in Kyiv.
The US announced that they will be supplying Ukraine with multiple rocket launchers (MLRS).