UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
Summary of the Events
The world has come to Ukraine’s defense providing air defense systems after Russia rained terror on Ukrainian cities last Monday and Tuesday. UAF held their ground on all fronts and continued to push closer towards Svatove.
Sloboda Front (UAF)
UAF liberated Krokhmalne and reached the towns of Kovalivka, Nadiya, and Novodyane as they continue to move closer to Svatove. RF attacked UAF in the vicinity of Novosadove but were repelled.
Siversky Donets Front (UAF)
RF attempted an assault on Spirne and Terny without success.
Bakhmut Front (RF)
Fighting continues in Soledar and Bakhmutske. RF continue their push on Bakhmut but were unable to make any ground. RF unsuccessfully attacked in the direction of Ivanhrad, Ozerianivka, Mayorsk, Opytne, and Odradivka.
Donetsk Front (RF)
RF have greatly reduced the number of attacks on this front on Wednesday and Thursday with unsuccessful attacks only towards Krasnohorivka, Pervomaiskyi, and Marinka. Then over the weekend they again made several attacks – Vesele, Nevelske, Pervomaiskyi, Marinka, and Novomykhailivka – all repelled by UAF.
Zaporizhia Front
No change on the ground on this front. RF are reinforcing their line in anticipation of UAF opening a fourth combat zone.
Kherson Front (UAF)
No change on the ground on this front. RF attempted to regain positions over the weekend near Novo Kamianka and Suchy Stavok without success. RF are building up Mylove as their new defense hub.
Other News
A prisoner swap was conducted on Tuesday resulting in the release of 32 Ukrainian servicemen and the return of the body of Israeli mercenary Dmytry Fialka. Fialka had been living in Ukraine for two years married to a Ukrainian girl and coaching a children’s football club. He joined in the defense of Ukraine the day of the Russian invasion. Another prisoner exchange on Friday saw the return of 20 UAF personnel.
Zelensky also made a formal request to UNESCO on Tuesday to add Odesa to its World Heritage List in a bid to protect the important historical port city from Russian air strikes.
An underground torture facility has been discovered in the liberated town of Izyum where hundreds of Ukrainians were detained.
So far, the joint Belarusian-Russian force has not made an attack on Ukraine. But Belarusian troops are being used to repair Russian equipment. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered a covert mobilization on Friday. Ukrainian officials report that they see no indications of a Belarusian invasion of Ukraine.
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel have arrived in Ukraine to train RF in the use of their military drones.
International Support
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed an emergency session of the G7 club of rich nations on Tuesday and urged them to provide Ukraine with an air shield after Russia had resumed dropping missiles on Ukraine cities on Monday and Tuesday. The G7 meeting ended with all nations pledging to continue supporting Ukraine in this struggle.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a press conference on Tuesday just before a meeting of the NATO Defense Ministers was about to begin declaring that it was important for Ukraine to win this war against Russia. A loss would make Europe a more dangerous place and susceptible to further Russian aggression. He called on all NATO countries to restock Ukraine’s weapons. The NATO meeting ended with a priority of building Ukraine’s air defense system.
The US delivered four more HIMARS missile systems to Ukraine on Tuesday which have been inflicting much damage to RF. The US also made a plea to European allies to increase their military support of Ukraine.
Germany delivered an IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine and announced that other air defense systems were on the way. The result was a record day for Ukraine in shooting down Russian helicopters and drones downing six helicopter and 19 drones on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the EU reached an agreement to train 15,000 UAF in several countries.
Also on Wednesday, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia’s annexation of parts of Ukraine. 143 nations voted for the resolution with only five against. 35 nations abstained including China, India, South Africa, and Pakistan.
The UK announced it will supply drones and rockets capable of shooting down cruise missiles. These will be used by the NASAMS air defense system that the US has pledged to provide Ukraine. The French have also promised air defense systems.
The Netherlands has also pledge to provide Ukraine with €15 million worth of air defense missiles. Then on Friday, the Netherlands allocated €70 million to help Ukraine rebuild their heating capacity to prepare for the winter.
Despite President Biden’s refusal to declare Russia a terrorist state, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe did just that on Thursday. EU Foreign Minister Josep Barrell warned Moscow that their forces would be “annihilated” if they use nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
Spain delivered four Hawk Air Defense systems to Ukraine on Friday.
5000 Russians have joined the Freedom of Russia Legion, a newly formed unit to join the UAF. It is comprised mainly of Russian prisoners of war and Russian defectors.
The US announced another $725 million in military assistance to Ukraine on Friday. It will contain more HIMARS missile systems, anti-tank weapons, anti-radiation missiles, vehicles, and medical supplies. They also announced they will extend the mobilization of a heavy tank battalion in Lithuania.
Saudi Arabia announced it will give $400 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
Eight countries have joined the EU’s eighth expansion of sanctions against Russia. They are Ukraine, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.