Summary of the Events of the Day
Taking advantage of their capture of Stary Saltiv on Thursday, Ukrainian forces rolled up Russian forces all along the T2104 highway liberating six communities. Everywhere else, Ukrainian forces held their ground. Russian forces have nearly been pushed out of artillery range of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city.
Battle for the Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
Siversky Donetsk Contact Line: Russian forces from Izyum again tried to take Nova Dmytrivka on their drive to Barvinkove but had no success. Dovhenke and Kramatorsk were also shelled resulting in the deaths of 25 civilians. Russian forces attempted to take Shandryholove on their drive to Lyman but were unsuccessful. They did shell residential communities in Lyman.
Luhansk Contact Line: Russian forces moved into Vojevodivka where street fighting has begun. If Russia can take control of Vojevodivka, they will increase their circle to the north around Severodonetsk, the easternmost city that is under Ukrainian control. Severodonetsk still has a population of 15,000 of around 100,000 before the escalation in the war on February 24. Russian forces also unsuccessfully attacked Nyzhnye as they try to encircle Severodonetsk and Lysychansk from the south. Street fighting continues over control of Rubizhne and Popasna. Overall, Russian forces inched forward under 40 feet at the most along the Donbas Control Line in the Luhansk Region.
Donetsk Contact Line: Russian forces moved against Avdiivka but were repelled. Russian forces shelled Marinka, Vuhledar, and Velyka Novosilka.
Another 50 civilians were able to evacuate from the besieged Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol bringing the total now to almost 500. But even though Russia had promised a ceasefire during the evacuations, they violated that promise and began attacking while citizens were emerging from below resulting in only 50 being able to leave.
Battle for Southern Ukraine (Mykolaiv, Kherson, Kryvyi Rih, and Zaporizhia)
Ukraine continues to take back settlements from Russia in the Mykolaiv and Kherson region. Russian made no attempts against Ukrainian forces in the region but did shell Mykolaiv, Orikhiv and Hulyaipole. Five civilians died in the attacks.
Battle for Kharkiv
In one of the most brilliant operations in this escalation of war, Ukraine has taken back more territory around Kharkiv. On Wednesday they made a surprise move in taking the village of Molodava placing Stary Saltiv in striking distance which controls much of the resupply route of Russian forces along the T2104 Highway that stretches to Kharkiv. On Thursday, Stary Saltiv was back under Ukrainian control cutting off Russian troops attacking Kharkiv. Yesterday, Ukraine liberated all the communities along T2104 Highway – Kutuzivka, Oleksandrivka, Shestakove, and Fedorivka. And from Shestakove, they moved up Volchans’ka Road and took the villages of Peremoha and Ukrainka. Ukrainian troops also pushed north and began fighting for Cherkas’ki Tyshky, the last position that Russia has in range of artillery attacks against the northern suburbs of Kharkiv. Ukraine was even able to fire off some rockets against Russian troops within Russia.
Other Regions
Three missiles were fired on villages in the Dnepropetrovsk region. One fell in a field and did not explode. The other two caused no casualties.
A missile heading for Odesa was shot down even before it entered Ukrainian airspace. Later in the evening two more missiles did land on Odesa, but there were no casualties.
Other News
NATO announced that they would defend Sweden during its application process after Russia has threatened the country with consequences if it applies to join NATO.
Russia, still denying that it was Ukraine that sunk their flagship Moskva, has informed the families of those Russian soldiers that died that there would be no war compensation falsely claiming that the ship sunk by accident.
International Support
At the request of the U.S., Fiji seized the $300 million yacht belonging to Russian oligarch Suleiman Karimov for violating sanctions.
The United Nations voted on a resolution calling for the end to Russia’s war with Ukraine. Even China voted for the resolution but making it clear that they only support a diplomatic solution in ending the war.
Finland cut its oil imports from Russia by 70%.