Summary of the Events of the Day
Ukrainian forces were able to push back Russian forces another seven miles from Kharkiv to the north liberating three villages in the process. A Russian command center was destroyed in the Kherson region killing one Russian general and seriously injuring another. Ukrainian forces held the Donbas Contact Line inflicting heavy damage on Russian attacking forces. The port city of Odesa was struck with five missiles in the first attack on this historic city.
Battle for the Skies
Another good day for Ukraine in the Battle for the Skies. Three Russian planes were shot down (SU-35, SU-34, and SU-25), five cruise missiles, and nine unmanned drones.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
Russia conducted eight concerted attacks along the Donbas Contact Line on Friday, but all were repulsed by Ukrainian forces. Russia had heavy losses including four unmanned drones, nine tanks, three artillery systems, nineteen armored vehicles, thirteen trucks, and one fuel tanker. Popasna was the worst hit having endured twelve attacks alone. A 66-year-old man was killed, and his wife injured in the attacks on residential buildings. Russia destroyed a transformer substation cutting off water to the communities of Lysychansk, Novodruzhesk, and Pryvillya.
It is reported that on Saturday Russia conducted twelve concerted attacks on the Donbas Contact Line resulting in heavy damages to Russian forces. The most tragic strike was against residential homes in Zolote resulting in two deaths and two injuries. Ukraine reported that a Russian SU-25 plane was shot down, as well as one cruise missile and three drones. Russia also lost four tanks, five artillery systems, sixteen armored vehicles, and four trucks.
Battle for Southern Ukraine (Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa)
Russia continues its defensive campaign in the Kherson region holding onto communities it has already occupied, while shelling Ukrainian forces from the skies. Ukraine inflicted much damage on Friday to Russian forces destroying destroyed three tanks near Oleksandrivka, and three systems of rocket-propelled grenades near Molodetsky. Two drones were also shot down over Kherson region.
On Saturday, Ukraine struck the command post of the Russian forces in Kherson which was foolishly set up near the front lines. One Russian general was killed, and another seriously injured and taken off the field.
Russia is looking to avenge the sinking of their flagship cruiser Moskva (Moscow) which had been the key to bombing Ukrainian cities from the sea. Four Russian submarines packed with Kalibr missiles have left port and submerged in the Black Sea to begin a new reign of terror on Ukraine.
Russia fired seven missiles at residential areas of Odesa for the first time. Two of the missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian defenses, but two hit apartment buildings in the city, two hit military installations, and one hit an infrastructure building. One of the missiles that struck an apartment building failed to explode and is being disarmed. At least eight Ukrainians were killed and another 18 injured from the one missile that exploded in a multi-story apartment building. One man was burned alive in his car which had caught on fire. A three-month old baby was among those killed.
Battle for Kharkiv
Russian rocket and missile attacks on Kharkiv increased again killing five civilians as Ukraine retook three more communities to the north of the city – Bezruky, Slatyne, and Prudyanka – pushing Russian forces farther back another 7 miles towards the Russian border.
Other Regions
Russia fired ten grenades against the Ukrainian border guards in Senkivka. There were no casualties. This is the fourth time these border guards have been fired upon since Russian forces retreated from the Chernihiv region.
International Support
Canada has sent four M-777 howitzers to Ukraine.