Summary of the Events
Ukraine took a pounding over the last two days. The last of the defenders of Mariupol surrendered. Russian forces have broken through another point in the Donbas Contact Line, inched closer to Severodonetsk, and have broken out through their hole at Popasna. Ukraine may have to retreat fully from Severodonetsk or risk losing all their forces in the Luhansk region. Ukraine did push back Russian forces farther from Kharkiv to the north.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
President Zelensky described the renewed Russian offensive in the Donbas as creating a “hell” in the region. Ukraine will have to decide quickly whether to pull back or dig in while the option to retreat is still open. If Ukrainian forces retreat, they will preserve our troops to fight in the future, but if they stay, they will soon be encircled like in Mariupol and may lose it all.
Luhansk – Severodonetsk, the number one target now for Russia, is under constant bombardment even though the city is already completely destroyed. There are only three doctors left in the city. The fall of Severodonetsk will give Russia complete control over the Luhansk region. Russian forces have now reached Ustynivka just south of Lysychansk, the neighboring city to Severodonetsk.
Russia is moving fast through the hole they punched into the Donbas Contact Line at Popasna threatening to block out any retreat of Ukrainian forces from Severodonetsk. Russian forces have move four miles north of Popasna and have captured Oleksandropillia. They have also moved 8 miles northwest crossing into the Donetsk Region capturing Druzhba and Trypillya. Trypillya was once one of the largest cities in the world in the fourth millennium BC. Russian forces are now fighting at the borders of Vasylivka, Lypove, Volodymyrivka, and Vyskryva.
Siversky Donets – Russian forces also made big advancements from the north as they move on Lyman. Oleksandrivka and Shandryholove creating a new hole in the Donbas Contact Line. Russian forces took advantage and move another seven miles towards Lyman taking Novoselivka and Drobysheve. They have also begun building a pontoon bridge near Yaremivka which, if successful, will allow them to take the whole pocket north of the Siversky Donetsk River.
Donetsk – Russian forces have not had success in breaking through the Ukrainian line along the southeast Donbas Contact Line. Attempts were made against Vremivka, Novomykhailivka, Marinka, and Avdiivka.
Mariupol – The last of the Azov National Guard holed up in the Azovstal steelworks have surrendered. Only a few remain to carry out partisan attacks. The Battle for Mariupol is over with Russia the victor. Russian forces can now move north to join the attack on the Donbas Contact Line.
Battle for Kherson
Russia does not seem to have any intentions to advance forward in the Kherson Region while they are fighting fiercely in the Donbas. And despite Ukraine having a larger force in this region, for some reason they are also remaining on the defense. No change on the ground in this region. Russia did shell the village of Bilozerka, which they already occupy, killing a teacher and two teenagers. Three others were injured.
Battle for Kharkiv
Ukrainian forces liberated Dementivka (misspelled on the map below) pushing back Russian forces north of Kharkiv another five miles. Although Ukraine has pushed Russian forces back out of artillery range of Kharkiv, the residents of Ukraine’s second largest city are remaining underground as Russia can still bomb from the air with missiles. One missile hit a market in Kharkiv on Friday, and another fell on a community center in Lozova injuring seven people including an 11-year-old child. On Saturday, Kharkiv was again shelled injuring five civilians. The cities of Chuhuiv, Lozova, and Kupyansk were also shelled injuring one person in each city.
Other Ukraine Regions
Chernihiv – Russia four times fired mortars against the border village of Hrem’yach on Friday and nine times on Saturday. There were no injuries.
Lviv – A Russian missile was shot down over Lviv region.
Odesa – A $6.5 million missile was fired against Odesa destroying a beach toilet. There were no injuries. Then later Friday, a Russian missile hit and destroyed a fertilizer factory. WAR CRIME
Poltava – A Russian missile hit an infrastructure target in Lubenska. There were no casualties.
Rivne – A Russian missile hit a military installation in the Rivne region injuring six people.
Sumy – Russia attacked the border village of Seredyna-Buda four times with mortars on Friday. Then on Saturday they conducted twelve strikes against the border town of Kucherivka. There were no injuries in either attack.
Zaporizhia – Russian forces continue to shell Ukrainian forces all along the Zaporizhian Defense Line but no attempts to gain territory were made.
Zhytomyr – Two missiles fell on the city of Malyn damaging an infrastructure target and 100 homes. Fortunately, there were no casualties but three people were wounded.
Vinnytsia – A Russian missile was shot down over Vinnytsia Region.
Other News
President Zelensky addressed the nation to inform them that Ukraine cannot win this war against Russia militarily. They will fight until the end, but alone they will eventually lose. The only way out of the war is diplomatically. It seems he is preparing his people for a diplomatic solution they might not like.
Vadim Shyshymarin, the first Russian soldier on trial for war crimes, plead guilty and begged the widow of the man he shot for forgiveness. The judge ruled that it was not a premediated murder and that Shyshymarin thus faces a life sentence.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz quashed all hopes of Ukraine joining the EU soon. He has joined with France in not supporting a fast-track mode for EU accession by Ukraine stating it is not fair to the Balkan countries who have been waiting for over a decade to join the EU.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was “determined” to block Sweden and Finland from joining NATO because of their harboring of Kurds within their countries.
The demining of the Kyiv Region has been completed after Russian forces had withdrawn 45 days ago. Electricity has now been restored to the whole region.
International Support
The U.S. Congress approved $40 billion in military aid to Ukraine, and it was signed by President Joe Biden. Although I support the investment as the war in Ukraine is just the opening match of what could lead to the final conflict as recorded in Revelation (Gog and Magog traditionally seen as Russia and China since the 9th century), a reasonable bill offered by Senator Rand Paul would have been wise. All Rand Paul suggested was that an Inspector General be appointed to ensure that the funds were being used correctly as we did in Afghanistan. That is a lot of money to throw at a government that is one of the most corrupt in the world (I guarantee much of those funds will enrich some Ukrainian oligarchs).
British Prime Minister held a phone call with President Zelensky to get an update on Ukraine’s needs in fighting this war and to discuss how to get the silos full of grain in Ukraine to the international market where many are beginning to starve as the three world’s largest exporters of grain have been shut down. #1 Ukraine cannot get its grain to market, #2 India has shut down all exports as temperatures have soared and they are concerned that they will not even have enough to feed their people this year, and #3 Russia is under sanctions. The UN is predicting that hundreds of millions will begin starving (another sign of the end times?).