Summary of the Events of the Day
Russia continues its intense attacks on civilians around Ukraine as its forces regroup and move towards the Donbas. The world is shocked at the Russian atrocities discovered after they retreated from several suburbs around Kyiv.
Battle for Kyiv (including Chernihiv)
As Ukrainian forces moved into regions around Kyiv that had been occupied by Russian soldiers, the horrors of what the Ukrainian inhabitants endured is beyond imagination. In Bucha alone, three hundred bodies lie on the streets or in mass graves – all shot execution style. In the photo below, twenty bodies alone lie strewn on the street. Some are tangled up in their bicycles shot as they were trying to flee. Others lay dead in front of their cars they attempted to reach. One half-naked man has his hands tied behind his back with obvious signs of intense torture. Their women and daughters had been raped daily and stare into the distance now with their humanity taken away having been reduced to animals. One of the pastors of this community stays in my home. He plows forward serving IDP families and refugees here in Uzhhorod, but his expressions make it clear he is in anguish over his people back home. His church was hit by a missile and his home has been fully looted by Russian soldiers. Another man staying with me showed me a video of his home that is heavily damaged with an unexploded missile still lodged in his roof.
The southern Kyiv suburb of Vasylkiv was struck by a missile destroying several homes.
Three villages on the highway south of Chernihiv towards Kyiv were liberated today – Kolychivka, Yahidne, and Ivanivka – as Chernihiv continues to break the blockade of the city.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Sumy)
Russia suffered another costly day of fighting in the Donbas without taking any territory. Six attacks were repelled by Ukrainian forces resulting in the loss of four Russian tanks, two planes, one helicopter, one drone, four cruise missiles, six armored vehicles, and seven trucks.
Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, and Lysychansk suffered the most intense attacks as Ukrainian defenders hold that pocket being attacked by Russian forces on all sides. The central high-rise apartment building in the center of Severodonetsk (picture below) was hit for the third time this week. All in all, six high-rise apartment buildings and a store in Severodonetsk, five apartment buildings in Rubizhne, and two homes in Lysychansk, were on fire.
Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian churches, especially those of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which recently separated from the Russian Orthodox Church. The Ilyinsky Convent in Varvarivka was shelled completely burning down the living quarters of the monks. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
Kharkiv was spared attacks from the air, but still came under heavy fire from the ground with 21 concerted attacks by artillery, tanks, and mortars on residential neighborhoods. Twenty civilians were killed. A convoy of civilians evacuating the city towards Balakilia came under attack. There were casualties but the number are yet unknown.
Izyum continues to be under intense attack. Lozova was struck damaging homes and injuring civilians. And the hospital in Balaklia came under fire from tanks.
Battle for the Black Sea (Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa)
Russian naval forces maintain their blockade of Ukraine in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov preventing Ukraine from resupply by sea. Russia has placed sea mines throughout the Black Sea which is having an impact on other nations who also ply those waters.
Russia fired several missiles on industrial areas in the port city of Odesa in the early morning. All but three were shot down by Ukrainian forces. There were no casualties.
The UK has pledged to supply Ukraine anti-ship missiles to defend the city of Odesa.
Mykolaiv also was hit by several missiles with the death toll rising to 39 from the attack on the Regional Administration Building last week. Residents of the city held a peaceful protest in the city against Russian occupation. A similar rally in Kakhovka ended with Russian forces shooting into the crowd.
Other News
At least 20,000 Ukrainians have been killed by Russian forces since Russia began its genocide against the Ukrainian people on February 24, 5000 alone in the besieged city of Mariupol where 160,000 are still trapped and starving.
Peace Negotiations
Ukraine reported that Russian peace negotiators had verbally accepted Ukraine’s proposals except the status of Crimea. This includes the neutral status of Ukraine and the return of the Donbas territories.
International Support
The Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia became the first European countries to have stopped all imports of Russian gas.