Summary of the Events of the Day
Russian forces gained some ground to the north and south of Severodonetsk surrounding the easternmost city under Ukrainian control on three sides. The goal is to take the city by Monday to celebrate Victory Day (May 9). Ukrainian forces pushed the Russian troops over the Siversky Donetsk River to the north of Kharkiv pushing them out of artillery fire range of Kharkiv.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
Having given up on the goal of taking Kramatorsk by Victory Day (May 9), Russia has intensified their attacks around Severodonetsk as the consolation prize. To the north, Russian troops have taken the residential areas of Rubizhne and the fight for control is now being fought in the industrial sector. Russian forces did take the neighboring village of Voevodivka. To the south, Ukrainian forces also withdrew from Popasna giving that strategic city to Russian forces. Severodonetsk is now surrounded on three sides.
Russian forces have not given up on their eventual taking of Kramatorsk. Lyman is one town in their way which has had heavy fighting since the beginning of this war escalation. It was heavily bombed and shelled, but Ukrainian forces continue to hold their ground. Russian forces also inched a little closer by taking Krymske. They also attacked Virnopillya heavily, but Ukrainian forces were able to repel them there. Bakhmut received the heaviest shelling of the day. The most tragic attack was against a school in Bilohorivka where 100 civilians, including children, were hiding from the shelling.
All civilians have been evacuated from the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol with three Ukrainian soldiers killed in the process.
Battle for Southern Ukraine (Mykolaiv, Kherson, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhia, and Odesa)
Ukrainian forces destroyed a weapons depot in the Mykolaiv village of Ivano-Kepyne near Snihurivka.
Eight missiles were shot against civilian structures in Odesa, but there were no casualties. Two missiles were shot in the morning and six in the evening. Four missiles hit a private furniture factory destroying nearby residential high-rise apartments. Two of the missiles did more damage to the Odesa airport runway.
Battle for Kharkiv
Russian forces have withdrawn from Tsirkuny, Ruska Tyshky, and Liptsy to the north of Kharkiv pushing their forces out of artillery range from even the outskirts of Kharkiv. But not before they let off one last volley of artillery fire and blew up all bridges to slow Ukraine’s further advances. Russian forces shelled the city of Zolochiv 25 miles to the north of Kharkiv.
Other Regions
A missile struck an infrastructure building in the town of Karlivka in the Poltava Region. Another missile hit Krasnohrad just over the border in the Kharkiv Region. Later in the day, another missile heading for the same region was shot down.
Russia twice launched missile and bomb attacks against the border station at Yunakivka 27 miles north of Sumy. Some of their attacks landed on Russian territory.
Other News
Russian missiles destroyed the National Literary and Memorial Museum of Hryhoriy Skovoroda. Skovoroda was an 18th century philosopher and poet, and his literary work was on display in the 18th century home which was his residence. Fortunately, the museum pieces are undamaged as they had been relocated earlier to a safe location. But the historic home was destroyed.
Italy has impounded a $700 million yacht which is believed to be owned by Russian Presdient Vladimir Putin.
International Support
The Biden Administration announced the release of another $150 million in military aid to Ukraine to include artillery munitions, radar, and other equipment.