Summary of the Events of the Day
One general was killed, and the lead general of Russia’s forces was injured in an artillery attack by Ukraine on their command center in Izyum. This brings the total number of Russian generals killed to ten. Russia is preparing for a large assault on the industrial center of Kryvyi Rih as they soften the Ukrainian defense line between the Zelenodilske and Kakhovka Reservoirs. Ukraine destroyed the anti-aircraft command center that Russia had installed on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island in the Black Sea. British intelligence has uncovered evidence that Russia is planning on attacking Moldova from the Russian-occupied region of Transnistria.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
Ukrainian special forces behind enemy lines around Izyum discovered a command post and passed the coordinates to the military whose artillery fired on the position destroying 30 Russian armored vehicles, including tanks. But most importantly Russian Major General Andrei Simonov, head of the Russian Army’s radio-electric warfare division, was killed in the attack along with a hundred Russian soldiers. It is the tenth Russian general to be killed since fighting starting on February 24. Also injured in that attack was the top general of the Russian army Valery Gerasimov with a shrapnel wound.
Russia has moved into Izyum two anti-aircraft missile divisions armed with Buk-M2 SAM and the Tor-M SAM. They are preparing for a large attack south on the backside of the Donbas Contact Line. Russian forces continue to fire artillery and air strikes to weaken Ukrainian positions along the Donbas Contact Line. Schools, government council buildings, and residential apartments were hit resulting in two deaths and nine people injured. Power was cut off from Marinka and gas was cut off to Lysychansk.
Russian forces were repulsed when they tried to attack towards Lyman from Izyum suffering heavy losses.
Russian forces stormed Orikhove and Zolote. They were repulsed at Zolote, but street fighting over control of Orikhove has begun. 70% of Zolote has been destroyed.
Russia finally allowed the first set of civilians trapped in the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol to evacuate. Around 100 civilians were allowed to leave the city for Zaporizhia.
Battle for Southern Ukraine (Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia, Kryvyi Rih, and Odesa)
Ukraine forces shot down two reconnaissance Orlan-10 drones in the Kherson region.
For the most part, Russian forces are playing defense while they bring it more and more equipment in preparation for a large attack on Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih.
During the early hours of Sunday, Zelenodolsk came under heavy first along the Zelenodilske-Kakhovka Reservoirs Defense Line. Russian forces are trying to break through to take the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih but all attacks along the line were repulsed.
Ukraine destroyed the Repellent-1 electronic warfare system that Russia had installed on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island they had famously took in the first days of the war. Destroyed in the attack was three anti-aircraft guns, an anti-aircraft missile system, and a communication vehicle. A reconnaissance drone over Odesa was also destroyed.
Russia introduced the ruble as the only form of legal tender in Kherson, the only major city they have been able to capture.
Battle for Kharkiv
After successfully pushing back Russian forces from Kharkiv, the city had its first relatively peaceful night. Later in the day Russia resumed the shelling of residential apartments killing three civilians and injuring eight.
Other Regions
Two Russian missiles hit agricultural targets in the Dnepropetrovsk region destroying two grain depots. One was empty and the other was full. The reconnaissance drone was shot down by Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine Counterattacks on Russia
Ukraine sent two missile strikes against Russia. One attack blew up a weapons depot near Belgorod, and the other attack partially destroyed a railway bridge near Kursk.
Other News
The Moldovan Russian-controlled region of Transnistria has requested that Russian forces be sent to their region to defend against a possible attack by Ukraine. British intelligence reported that they have evidence that Russia is planning an invasion of Moldova soon.
International Support
After Russia threatened the U.S. with a “lightning fast” response if the U.S. continues to send weapons to Ukraine, President Biden announced another $33 billion in heavy weapons and publicly stated that the U.S. will train Ukrainian forces on how to use these modern weapons. The U.S. government considers Russia a spent power and waves off any threat of a nuclear war.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi became the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit Kyiv since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war began. Pelosi conveyed the support of the American people for Ukraine.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin met with President Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss peace negotiations talks that Turkish President Erdogan is trying to set up in Ankara between Presidents Zelensky and Putin.