UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
MLRS – Multiple Launch Rocket Systems
Summary of the Events
Ukraine has opened two more regions to counterassault – Kharkiv and Slovyansk – liberating several communities. RF finally capture Pisky and made some gains towards Bakhmut.
Battle for the Donbas
RF continue their terror by hitting residential buildings, schools, and hospitals over the last two days in the region.
Target Bakhmut – Fighting continues in Soledar, Bakhmutske, and to the east of Bakhmut, but the intensity of the RF attacks is noticeably less. RF launched several assaults against Vesela Dolyna, Zaitseve, Kodema, and Mayorsk but all were repelled. RF had a little more success in an assault towards Mykolaivka Druha. Although UAF ultimately repulsed the attack, RF did not make some territorial gain.
Target Slovyansk – With UAF surprising RF to the north against Balaklia threatening their hub of Izyum, RF were forced to send reinforcements north allowing UAF to make some gains in the Slovyansk area. UAF crossed the Siversky Donets River near Raihorodok and liberated Stariy Karavan and Brusivka. UAF also managed to push RF forces back father away from Ivano-Darivka and Verkhnokamyanske. RF attempted an assault on Hryhorivka but were not successful.
Target Donetsk Defense Line – RF were finally able to capture all of Pisky, but attempts to move on Avdiivka, Opytne, and Novobakhmutivka were all repelled.
Battle for Kherson (includes Mykolaiv)
UAF shot down two missiles heading to Mykolaiv on Monday evening. They also shot down a 2 Russian KA-52 helicopter and 2 SU-25 fighter jets over the last two days. Released video shows UAF have liberated Novovoznesens’ke along the northern Kherson defense line pushing RF farther south.
Battle for Kharkiv
UAF pulled a surprise offensive against the strategic city of Balaklia which is key to the RF defense of Izyum where the RF is staging their attacks on Slovyansk to the south. If the UAF takes Balaklia, then RF must stop their attacks on Slovyansk and move to defend Izyum. It all started when RF began to shift to defend against the counteroffensive in Kherson. UAF sent a reconnaissance mission to test RF defenses and saw they were weak. They launched against and took Verbivka and Yarkovenkove and then marched on Balaklia which controls major strategic crossroads. RF had to reinforce their position in Balaklia and moved all their forces to the north side of the Siversky Donets River allowing UAF to liberate Nova Husarivka and Bayrak south of Balaklia which is now surrounded on three sides. Then UAF moved north and took Kalynivka and Taranushyne and pushed past the M03 highway to liberate Volokhiv Yar. This give UAF control over a portion of the M03 which leads directly to Izyum. UAF are continuing their push towards Semenivka and Bryhadyrivka. UAF have entered Balaklia from the west and the Battle for Balaklia has commenced.
Two high rise apartment buildings were hit by RF missiles on Tuesday in Kharkiv. So far, there are no known casualties. Three uninjured people were rescued from the rubble. On Wednesday, RF fired two missiles on Wednesday. One hit a café and car wash and the other hit the ground near a medical establishment. There were no casualties.
Other Regions
Dnipropetrovsk – RF fired a missile at an oil depot in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih on Tuesday. Then overnight they launched MLRS against twenty apartment buildings and eleven private homes. Three schools, an art center, and a sports club were also hit in the attacks overnight on Monday. Two civilians were injured and taken to the hospital.
Sumy – RF continue to shell UAF troops along the border to pin them down so that they cannot join in the liberation of Kherson. There were no casualties over the last two days.
Other News
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, the EU is still the #1 purchaser of Russian oil and gas spending a record €85 billion, which is 54% of the oil and gas Russia has sold overall. In contrast, the EU has provided €10 billion in military aid to Ukraine, a little more than 10% of what they have provided Russia. Even with the €5 billion of military aid they just reported they would give, the EU is still supporting Russia nearly six times more than Ukraine.
The EU has warned that they are running out of weapons to supply Ukraine, whereas Russia is purchasing large amounts of rockets and artillery from North Korea.
Ukrainian partisans in occupied Berdyansk blew up a car seriously injuring the Russian-appointed city mayor Artem Bardin. He has lost both of his legs and is fighting for his life in the hospital.
Ukraine released 150 intercepted phone calls from Russian soldiers calling home to their families. The soldiers complain of weak supplies threatening to quit and return home. They describe ways they avoid combat faking sickness and malingering. Some soldiers even shared about plans to mutiny and desertion.
Russia is moving their barracks and equipment into schools and churches to use women and children as human shields.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released their initial report accusing Russia of using the grounds of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) as protective cover of equipment they are using to fire on Ukrainian-held cities. The IAEA calls for the immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces from the territory of ZNPP. The IAEA is also concerned that the Ukrainian staff operating the plant do not have access to key areas of the plant such as the colling ponds, roofs of the building, and structures around the water intake which are critical for the safe operation of the plant. RF have also taken over the alternative emergency area and have designated another area for that purpose for Ukrainian staff, but the designated area does not have backup power or internet access making it unusable as the alternative emergency area. The report also noted that the Russian Rosatom employees are under great stress as they are not trained to work in such technology and having two independent teams in the plant only makes the situation more dangerous.
The IAEA will maintain two observers at the plant indefinitely. Ukraine has asked that a UN Peacekeeping Force be sent to the territory of the ZNPP to insure no Russian military presence is kept on the territory.
Even though the US Congress passed a bipartisan non-binding bill calling on the US Government to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, US President Joe Biden has announced that he will not take that step against Russia.
Russia has threatened to withdraw from the deal allowing Ukraine to export grain. Russia claims they agreed so that grain could get to third world countries but claims most of it is being delivered to Europe. Ukraine denies that is true.
International Support
British Prime Minister made her first international call to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to assure her continued support of Ukraine’s struggle against Russia. She then called US President Joe Biden to discuss economic issues caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.