UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
MLRS – Multiple Launch Rocket Systems
Summary of the Events
RF were not able to take any new settlements over the last two days, but some ground was taken in the Donetsk area. RF took a pounding over the last two days from UAF resistance.
Battle for the Donbas
Target Bakhmut – RF continued their focus on taking Bakhmut attacking on several fronts but were not able to capture any ground. RF forces tried to reach Bakhmut in a two-pronged attack from Pokrovs’ke and Klynove but were repelled. RF from Horlivka unsuccessfully moved against Zaliznyi and Shumy as well. And from Semyhiria, RF were repulsed from their assaults on Zaitseve and Kodema. Street fighting continues over Soledar and Bakhmutske.
Target Siversk – All RF attempts to gain ground towards Siversk were also thwarted by UAF defenders. RF attempted to improve their position at Spirne as well as attempted to break through the UAF line towards Vyimka but were repelled. RF also launched an assault towards Bilohorivka which was repelled as well.
Target Slovyansk – RF tried to seize new positions in the direction of Mazanivka and Nova Dmytrivka but were forced to retreat.
Avdiivka/Novopavlivka/Zaporizhia Line – RF forces made several assaults in the Donetsk area with limited success. It is confirmed that RF have taken Pisky, but this is only a symbolic victory as it does not give RF any advantage in holding the city. RF were also able to move closer to Opytne and Novomykhailivka. A major two-pronged offensive to break through UAF lines in Kamianka to reach the prize of Avdiivka is continuing. All other RF assaults – Pervomaiskyi, Vodiane, and Shevchenko – were repulsed.
Battle for Kherson (includes Mykolaiv)
RF attempted an assault on Bilohirka but were repelled by UAF.
RF fired two missiles at the Petro Mohyla Black Sea University and Mohylyanka University in Mykolaiv on Wednesday. Fortunately, only one guard was present as the universities are closed and conducting classes online. The guard was not injured. Another missile attack on Mykolaiv occurred Thursday afternoon killing one civilian and injuring two others.
UAF fired MLRS at five RF positions on Tuesday in occupied-Kherson region. Fifteen Russian soldiers were killed, and an anti-tank missile system was destroyed, as well as six armored vehicles. On Wednesday, UAF destroyed the Russian military base in occupied Nova Kakhovka. At least twelve Russian soldiers died in that attack. Later on Wednesday a Russian weapon depot near Bilohirka resulting in the death of 29 Russian soldiers and the destruction of a self-propelled gun, five armored vehicles, and ammunition. UAF also destroyed a satellite communication system and another anti-tank missile system in the Kherson region Wednesday night.
Battle for Kharkiv
RF attempted to break through the UAF defense lines at Bazaliivka and Lebiazhe to move against the strategic city of Chuhuiv. The attempt was thwarted by UAF.
RF fired a missile destroying a three-story dormitory in Kharkiv on Wednesday. Eleven people have been found dead under the rubble, including an 11-year-old boy, and 19 were injured. People with hearing disabilities were housed in the dormitory and thus did not hear the air-raid siren. Then on Thursday eight more rockets were fired on Kharkiv killing another three people including a child and injuring 18. The missiles hit a four-story apartment building and the roof of a tram depot was damaged nearby. Two people were killed and two injured in another missile attack on Krasnohrad.
Other Regions
Crimea – Russia has shut down the Crimean Peninsula after attacks were made against two of their airbases in Dzhankoi and Simferopol. 3000 civilians were evacuated from Dzhankoi as tens of thousands of cars can be seen trying to escape Crimea over the Kerch Bridge. Russia has removed all aircraft from Crimea back to the territory of Russia.
UAF attacked another Russian airfield in occupied Sevastopol with a drone. Russia claims the drone was shot down and that no damage was done to the air base.
Dnipropetrovsk – RF shelled Nikopol on Wednesday night injuring two women. Nine houses and a grain warehouse were damaged as well as a gas pipeline.
Luhansk – UAF fired MLRS at a Russian headquarters in Lysychansk killing 100 soldiers.
Odesa – RF conducted missile strikes against Odesa on Wednesday morning. Four civilians were injured, but none seriously.
Sumy – RF fired 130 rockets on five border towns on Tuesday, but there were no casualties. Then on Wednesday another 176 rockets were fired on eight border communities. Destroyed were a school, community center, and several private homes. No other details have been released.
Zaporizhia – Energoatom, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, was hit on Tuesday with a cyberattack from Russia, even though Russia is in control of the plant. No operations of the power plant were disrupted though. Russia continues to drop bombs near the nuclear power plant blaming the attacks on Ukraine. With weather patterns showing winds heading west, Russia would not receive any heavy radiation levels except around Kerch. But all of Ukraine, including dangerous levels over our city of Uzhhorod, would result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Also impacted would be Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, and half of Hungary and Romania. A prescient friend has recently brought us a Geiger counter which now may prove to be useful. Here is the simulated impact – https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5413922718653613.
Ukrainian partisans attacked the commandant’s office in Melitopol with bombs on Wednesday. No details have been released on casualties by RF.
The outskirts of Zaporizhia were attacked by MLRS killing a woman and injuring three other people.
Russia
A weapon depot inside of Russian territory near Belgorod was on fire Thursday. Whether it was the result of UAF missiles or Russian sympathizers is not known. An explosion near Kerch, Russia was also reported, but no details yet.
Other News
The United Nations continues to be powerless to stop Russia’s aggression against Ukraine because Russia holds veto power on the UN Security Council. UN Chief Antonio Guterres visited Ukraine on Thursday and met with President Zelensky in the city of Lviv. They discussed the need for a political solution to the conflict.
Ukrainian partisans fighting in Russian-occupied regions have begun distributing leaflets at Russian bases announcing they will be targeted yet. It is meant to be psychological warfare backed by the increasing number of bases that Ukraine has been hitting.
Even though Israel has been hesitant to come out against Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, 12.5% of Russian Jews have left Russia in opposition to the attack on Ukraine in fear that Jewish persecution might erupt again.
International Support
Turkey had remained neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine until Thursday when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan flew to Lviv to meet with President Zelensky and announced Turkey’s support of Ukraine. Russia’s dangerous bombing around the largest nuclear power plant in Europe was the turning point as it would have an impact on Turkey as well.
Canada announced a $350 million grant for Ukraine to purchase gas during the winter.
Estonia announced another €250 million military aid package to Ukraine to include javelin missiles, anti-tank grenade launchers, howitzers, anti-tank mines and various amount of ammunition and communication equipment.