Summary of the Events of the Day
Overall, a good day for Ukraine. Russia intensified their attacks on Ukrainian forces, but Ukraine repulsed all attacks inflicting heavy damage on Russian forces. Ukraine also successfully attacked an oil terminal within Russia and pushed Russian troops another seven miles back from the eastern side of Kharkiv liberating another three communities.
Battle for the Skies
Ukraine shot down another SU-25 attack aircraft and nine Orlan-10 drones from their air defense around Odesa. Another air defense system has been installed in Odesa. Two SU-25 planes and four Orlan-10 drones were shot down during the day in the Battle for the Donbas. Ukraine successfully flew a plane into Russian airspace and destroyed an oil terminal near Bryansk.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
Russia had hoped to have conquered the Donbas in time for their May 9 military holiday, but Ukrainian forces have forced them to go slow so as not to get ahead of supply lines like they had done in the Battle for Kyiv which they had lost. Russia troops are fairly demoralized from their loss in Kyiv and that is also making it difficult for Russian victories. But Russia has had some minor success in the Battle for the Donbas.
Russia is building up forces in Izyum, the point of the hole they had punctured in the Ukrainian defense line. Russia again unsuccessfully attempted to widen that hole attacking in the direction of Sulyhivka and Dovhen’ke. Ukrainian special forces infiltrated the region around Izyum helping artillery adjust their fire destroying 30 units of Russian equipment.
During the early hours of Saturday, 16 concerted attacks were repulsed along the Donbas Contact Line. Two schools and 20 homes were destroyed in the attacks, but there was only one casualty as most homes are now abandoned in the region. A car carrying three humanitarian volunteers was also hit, but all occupants survived. A police van carrying medicine to the hospital in Severodonetsk was also hit but with no victims.
In the morning twelve communities came under fire from aircraft, multiple rocket launchers, tanks, and heavy artillery. 36 civilian buildings were destroyed in the attacks including residential buildings, hospitals, and schools. Four civilians, including a child, were killed in the attacks. Another eight including children were injured.
During the evening another nine concerted attacks were repulsed along the Donbas Contact Line. Overall, during the day, Ukraine destroyed 2 SU-25 planes, 4 Orlan-10 drones, eight tanks, an artillery system, 24 armored vehicles, six trucks, and two fuel tankers.
Battle for Southern Ukraine (Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia, Kryvyi Rih, and Odesa)
A Russian missile destroyed the runway at the Odesa airport but there are no casualties, and runways can be rebuilt in a few days.
Russian forces continue to shell the defense line between the Zelenodilske and Kakhovka Reservoirs. The town of Velyka Kostromka was heavily shelled.
Russian forces also shelled Hulyaipole heavily in a failed attempt to break though the Zaporizhia defense line.
Battle for Kharkiv
Kharkiv continues to be shelled constantly. Another civilian was killed and five were injured. The residents of Ruska Lozova which was liberated on Friday finally emerged from their basements after two months of occupation and hundreds were evacuated to Kharkiv.
In the evening a nine-story apartment building in Kharkiv was shelled resulting in one injury. Another missile struck a hospital but there were no injuries.
Ukraine liberated three more settlements to the east of Kharkiv – Prelesne, Slobids’ke, and Verkhnya Rohanka – pushing Russian forces another seven miles away from Kharkiv.
Other Regions
Ukrainian troops defending the Sumy border on the Kursk-Kyiv highway were shelled in Bilokopytove and Svarkove.
Ukrainian troops defending Dnipro were shelled in Kindrativka and Katerynivka.
Russian forces fired 40 mortars at the border guards at Sen’kivka defending the border near Chernihiv.
Other News
A prisoner swap resulted in seven Ukrainian soldiers and seven civilians being freed, including one pregnant soldier.
Another three civilian bodies were discovered in a pit in Bucha. All three men had their hands tied and were shot in the head execution style.
5.4 million Ukrainians have now fled the country bringing the exodus to 12% of the population.
Gas supplies have been restored to 117 communities around Kyiv which had been occupied by Russian forces.
Germany announced that they will refuse to pay for Russian oil in rubles. It is reminded that Russia announced that all fuel purchases must be made in rubles to help shore up their currencies which is suffering under international sanctions.
International Support
French President Emmanuel Macron, fresh from his reelection, has vowed to increase their military and humanitarian support of Ukraine.
Estonia is sending five demining experts to Ukraine to assist with removing mines left behind by Russian forces in communities liberated by Ukraine.
Denmark announced they will provide Ukraine with 75 armored personnel carriers, including 25 of their newest Piranha III. They will also provide mortars with thousands of shells.