UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
MLRS – Multiple Launch Rocket Systems
Summary of the Events
RF have intensified their attacks on Siversk and may have entered the outskirts. But UAF have retaken Spirne.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk)
Target Siversk – Russian claims that RF has entered the outskirts of Siversk, and the city is now in contention. But there is no other corroboration to support this claim. If this is true and Russia captures Siversk, a concerted assault on Bakhmut will be the next objective on the drive to take Slovyansk and then Kramatorsk securing the Donbass under Russian control.
UAF forces were able to retake Spirne to the southeast of Siversk after RF overextended themselves in unsuccessfully attempting to take Ivano-Darivka.
Target Bakhmut – RF attacked Kodema and Vershyna without success and were forced to retreat. The defense of these two cities is crucial for Ukraine. If both settlement fall, then UAF forces defending the Vuhlehirsk powerplant will be encircled. The powerplant was also attacked but UAF successfully defended it.
Target Kramatorsk/Slovyansk – A RF reconnaissance unit had entered Kurulka earlier in the week north of Slovyansk. They were expelled on Friday. RF continue to attempt to take control over all Bohorodychne, but UAF control the high ground and continue to hold them back. Bohorodychne is still being contested. UAF also repelled attacks against Nahirne and Bilohorivka.
Expansion from Donetsk – RF main small gains by capturing Solodke to the southwest of Donetsk. But advances on Pavlika were repulsed. Small gains were also made by RF towards reaching Kamianka.
Battle for Kharkiv
RF continued their bombing of communities north of Kharkiv to stop UAF from reaching the Russian border. Eight communities were shelled on Friday. Two schools were targeted in the attacks.
Battle for Kherson
More details are becoming known on the amazing UAF airstrike that destroyed a RF command center in Nova Kakhovka on Thursday. A Russian SU-35 fighter jet used air-to-air missiles to shoot down the Ukrainian jet fighters who attacked the command center but was unsuccessful and was forced to retreat. Two Russian helicopters were dispatched to attack UAF forces in the northern regions of Kherson in retaliation, but they were also unsuccessful. But UAF were able to pull off another four strikes on a concentration of RF and equipment around Pravdyne, Lozove, and Blahodatne. Russia is very upset about this attack and is threatening to destroy bridges all throughout Ukraine in retaliation.
Other Regions
Chernihiv – RF continue their daily attacks on border communities. The purpose of these attacks is to force Ukraine to defend the border rather than send more reinforcements to the Donbas.
Dnipropetrovsk – RF launched a rocket against a school in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Information on casualties has not been released. RF also fired artillery at a park in Zelenodolsk. WAR CRIMES. Attacks were also launched against Nikopol, but no information has been released yet. RF fired rockets against Dnipro killing at least three people and injuring 15.
Kyiv – A missile was intercepted over the Kyiv region. There was no casualties or damage.
Mykolaiv – Russia fired at least ten missiles at the two universities in Mykolaiv injuring two people.
Odesa – RF fired three missiles at the Odesa region, one of which was shot down. There were no casualties and no details have been given on damage.
Poltava – Explosions were reported in Kremenchuk, but no details have been given.
Sumy – RF fired 40 times on 8 communities along the border in the Sumy region on Thursday. There were no casualties.
Vinnytsia – The death toll from the missile attack on a shopping mall in Vinnytsia has risen to 23, including three children. The number is expected to rise as dozens are still missing and many are hospitalized in critical condition.
International Support
The Ukrainian World Congress, a non-profit organization made of Ukrainian diaspora in 33 countries, has filed a lawsuit to prevent the Canadian government from returning gas turbines to Russia that had been sent to Canada prior to the recent invasion for repairs. Canada had folded under German pressure to return the turbines as Russia claimed they had to shut down the Nord Stream 1 pipeline supplying gas to Germany because it needed those turbines. Both Germany and Canada admit that returning the turbines is a violation of international sanctions against Russia, but Germany feels that Russia is only using it as an excuse to withhold gas from Germany and feels returning the turbines will prove that to be true. But even if Russia were lying, then returning them only shows Russia that they can get around the sanctions by spitting out lies and withholding gas from Europe.
Judicial officials from across Europe gathering in the Hague to discuss war crimes committed by Russia since the start of the invasion on February 24.
Western finance ministers of the G20 nations gathered on the island of Bali have condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine accusing them of numerous war crimes.
The US House of Representatives have passed the 2023 annual budget increasing military aid to Ukraine from $300 million to $1 billion. The bill must still pass the Senate and be signed by President Biden, but that is nearly assured.
60-year-old former Moscow City Council member Alexei Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in prison for simply voicing his opposition to Putin’s war against Ukraine. Another city council member who expressed sympathy for Gorinov has fled the country after it was announced he would be arrested as well.
Russia announced that an agreement will be signed soon with Ukraine to allow grain exports from Ukrainian ports.
The US announced they will resume flight to the International Space Station with Russia despite its disagreements with Russia over Ukraine.