UAF – Ukrainian Forces
UAS – Ukrainian Sources
UGS – Ukrainian General Staff
RF – Russian Forces
RS – Russian Sources
R-MoD – Russian Ministry of Defense
Summary of the Events
Although the Ukrainian Spring Counteroffensive has not officially begun, UAF are on the initiative performing reconnaissance missions looking for weak points in the RF defenses and making positional gains in preparation.
Eastern Ukraine (Luhansk & Kharkiv Oblasts):
RF continue their heaviest fighting around Bilohorivka, but no confirmed advances were made. UAF are mostly conducting reconnaissance missions.
Eastern Ukraine (Donetsk Oblast):
Bakhmut
RF made no confirmed advances in the city of Bakhmut. UAF have begun making some limited tactical advances northwest or Kurdyumivka.
Avdiivka/Marinka
RF made some advances northeast of Avdiivka just west of Novobakhmutivka, but UAF made some tactical advances southwest of Avdiivka near Staromykhailivka.
Vuhledar (Western Donetsk)
No confirmed attacks were made by either side in the Western Donetsk.
Southern Ukraine (Kherson, Zaporizhia, and Crimea Oblasts)
UAF are conducting reconnaissance along the eastern bank of the Dnipro River looking for weaknesses to cross the river.
Russia is moving heavy arms into the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant out of fear that UAF will attempt to recapture the plant in the counteroffensive.
Russian Military Command, Mobilization, and Morale
Russian military factories are finding it hard to replenish arms due to a labor shortage caused by conscripting young men into the military and the large number of young men who have fled the country. International sanctions are also making it difficult for Russia to procure parts.
The number of Russian soldiers surrendering in April was a ten percent increase over the month before with 3200 surrendering. The official Ukrainian website where soldiers can request to surrender as seen 16,000 requests and 32 million visits by Russians. Of those who surrendered in April, forty percent did so voluntarily. 55 percent of the prisoners said they joined the Russian military for the money, and 36 percent said they were motivated by patriotism. Over half of those who surrendered said they were instructed never to surrender and to fight to their death. Only 17 percent said that they were fully equipped with proper ammunition.
Activity in Russian Occupied Areas
Russian occupation authorities in Kherson have brought in 36 Russian doctors to examine children and make recommendations to deport them to Russia for rehabilitation. They have also increased the number of checkpoints for added security in the region.
Other News
RF conducted their biggest attack of the year launching 24 drones throughout Ukraine. UAF shot down 18 of them. Half of those that did strike targets hit an educational institution in Odesa. Kyiv and Zaporizhia were two other cities that were struck. There were no casualties.
Ukraine has created two more mechanized brigades and an elite Air Assault Force on the eve of the counteroffensive.
The leaders of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Finland where they pledged to assist Ukraine in joining NATO.
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the International Criminal Court in The Hague to discuss the warrant for Putin’s arrest for war crimes. He will also meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
International Support
The U.S. announced another $300 million in military aid that features ammunition for howitzers, artillery, and mortars.
Major Source Materials
- Institute for the Study of War daily report on the Russian invasion
- Kyiv Post
- Militaryland milblogger site.