Ukraine continues their counteroffensive, albeit at a slower pace than they had expected due to the formidable Russian defense. But the main thrust of the counteroffensive has not yet begun. In these preliminary days, the goal is to wear down Russian forces and take out their weaponry. The strategy is to move forward until Russia responds with artillery. Then those positions are hit by rockets and the ammunition depots that supply them. Ukraine forces are inching forward toward Rivnopil and Robotyne in the Donetsk region, and towards Kreminna in the Luhansk region.
Russia has erupted into chaos, maybe even civil war (too soon to say), with the Wagner Group forces capturing the Russian city of Rostov-On-Don. It all began on Wednesday when Wagner Group financier Yevgeniy Prigozhin published on the internet accusations that the Russian Ministry of Defense (R-MoD) is lying about its successes in slowing down the Ukrainian counteroffensive, and even implying that Ukraine has done much better than they have even reported. He claimed that Ukrainian forces were fighting within 30 kilometers of the very strategic city of Tokmak and that its capture would reverse all the gains Russia has made in Southern Ukraine since the invasion. Prigozhin also added that at the pace of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russia may soon wake up and read that Crimea is no longer under Russia’s control. Then on Friday he released a video accusing the R-MoD of launching a missile strike on his troops and threatening to put an end to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. By the evening, Wagner Group forces had taken control of Rostov-On-Don where Shoigu was based, but Shoigu had fled the city before it was taken.
Ukrainian long-range missiles damaged the key automobile bridge that connects Ukraine to the Crimea Peninsula which will greatly impact Russia’s ability to supply its troops in Southern Ukraine.
President Zelensky made a public statement sharing Ukrainian intelligence to its neighbors suggesting the Russia is planning a terrorist attack on the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant which would release the worst radioactive catastrophe the world has ever known. Russia has been planting mines around the plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that the threat of an explosion at the nuclear power plant has never been higher. If all six reactors would be detonated, territory as far away as Spain could be uninhabitable for the next 50 years.
Ireland has become the latest country to reevaluate their neutrality status considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is unlikely that they will join NATO as Sweden and Finland did but will probably beef up their own defense.
Russia launched 13 cruise missiles at a vital military airfield in the Khmelnitsky region on Friday night, but all missiles were intercepted.
The Council Of Europe wrote a letter to the International Olympic Committee demanding a total ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes during the 2024 Olympics.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Joe Biden in Washington. For the first time Italy, which is a close ally of Russia, came out backed Ukraine’s territorial integrity by condemning the Russian invasion. But India refused to impose sanctions on Russia.
The United Nations placed the Russian military forces on their “list of shame” over the killing and maiming of hundreds of Ukrainian children in its war against Ukraine. According to their report, 477 children had been killed so far in Ukraine. A further 909 children have been maimed.
Turkey has approved a plan by the Turkish company Baykar to begin producing their military drones in Ukraine. The first plant will be operational by 2025.