Summary of the Events of the Day
During the night and into the morning, Russia intensified their attacks all around Ukraine to bolster their position at the peace talks which began in Istanbul in the afternoon. The ploy seemed to work as President Zelensky gave in to much of Russia’s demands in exchange for peace. Russia vowed to “radically reduce” their attacks in the north and around Kyiv while Russian President Putin studies the proposals by Ukraine.
Battle for the Skies
If Ukrainian claims are true, Ukraine had its best day shooting down eight Russian fighter jets, three helicopters, four military drones, and two cruise missiles. Both British intelligence and the Pentagon acknowledged that Ukraine has taken a significant toll on the Russian air force.
Battle for Kyiv (Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv)
Despite Russia’s claim in shifting the war to the east, the fighting around Kyiv intensified during the night and morning. Russian attacks have cut the power to 80,000 homes around Kyiv.
Ukrainian forces continued their counterattacks around Kharkiv pushing Russian forces out of Malaya Rohan’ on the eastern side of the city.
Battle for Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol)
The extent of war crimes against the city of Mariupol is becoming known as Ukraine reported the civilian death toll stands at 5500 dead and rising. Missiles and artillery continue to fall on the city.
Attacks on civilians in Severodonetsk were heavy during the night and early morning. Two apartment buildings, a cardiology hospital, and a public swimming pool were destroyed in the attacks. At least two civilians were killed with another 13 trapped below the debris.
Other cities attacked by missiles included Rubezhnoe and Popasna. Lysychansk was the hardest hit with apartment buildings and private homes targeted.
Overall, Ukrainian forces held the line against seven concerted attacks in the northern Donbas region giving up no territory. They were able to destroy twelve tanks and thirteen other vehicles of the Russian forces.
Battle for the Black Sea (Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa)
Russia fired missiles at the regional administration building in Mykolaiv. Nine people had been trapped under the debris, but all have been rescued. The attack was timed at 8:45 in the morning just after regional government officials had arrived for work.
Ukrainian forces held their ground and repelled an attack on Mykolaiv destroying an armored personnel carrier and capturing a tank and anti-aircraft vehicle.
Battle for Water Source for Crimea (Melitopol, Zaporizhia)
Missiles struck the city of Nikopol 50 miles southwest of Zaporizhia as Russian forces attempt a new approach in taking Zaporizhia from the west side.
Other Regions
Russian forces attacking Mykolaiv had turned north and began heading towards the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih a week ago. Ukrainian officials claimed that Russian forces were pushed back 25-40 miles, placing them out of artillery fire range and back to where Russian forces started a week ago near the town of Bashtanka.
Peace Negotiations
Russian hardliners sabotaged the peace negotiations on Monday by poisoning both the Russian and Ukrainian diplomatic team. The poisoning was not life threatening.
Ukrainian diplomats made a series of proposals during the peace negotiations in Istanbul today. The most significant was officially abandoning its ambition to join the NATO alliance stating that they no longer wished to join an alliance who watched its neighbor being slaughtered, but Ukraine will want security guarantees by the United States, China, France, Britain, Turkey, Germany, Poland, and Israel against any further invasions by Russia or any other nation. Ukraine will choose neutrality like Sweden which maintains a strong army defense. They will agree not to allow any foreign nation to base their troops on Ukrainian soil and will remain a non-nuclear weapon country. They also reserve the right to join the EU. As far as territory currently under Russian control, they will not give up their right to those territories but will sidestep the question for now. Russia responded by promising a radical reduction of their fighting in the north and around Kyiv while President Putin studies the proposal.
Other News
The economic damage to Ukraine inflicted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including the loss in trade, is estimated to be at $565 billion. 144 children have been killed with another 220 injured. 60 houses of worship have been destroyed – mostly Christian churches, but a few mosques as well.
The Czech and Polish defense ministers will shun a meeting of the Visegrad Group being held in Budapest because of Hungary’s refusal to stop purchasing Russian oil and gas. The Visegrad Group is an alliance of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
International Support
The US announced another $6.9 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.