05.26.22 | Military
Daily Chronicle of Russian Invasion
Ukraine has now entered a fierce stage of war against Russian invasion. Russians are advancing on every front, while building three defence lines on the occupied territories in the South.
Although the global support of Ukraine is obvious, it’s military needs are only 31% satisfied. Ukraine still desperately neads heavy weaponry, especially MLRSs.#ArmUkraineNOW #StandWithUkraine #UkraineWillWin
Total losses of Russian forces (02.24 - 05.26)
206 Aircraft
170 Helicopters
1,315 tanks
3,235 APVs
617 artillery systems
201 MLRS units
93 anti-aircraft defense systems
2,225 vehicles and fuel tanks
502 UAVs
47 units of special equipment
13 sea vessels
114 cruise missiles
human casualties:
~119,400 total
~29,600 killed
~88,800 wounded
~1,000 prisoners of war
Source: General Staff
Hostilities are at their peak
During her briefing in Media Center Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Defence announced that the situation is difficult along the whole confrontation line, having signs of further aggravation.
“As of today, the aggressor conducts intensive fire impact along the whole frontline and in the depth of defense of our troops inthe Donetsk operational district. Tactical missile systems, aviation, and artillery are highly involved.”
According to her, Russians applied all available means and forces to capture Ukrainian territories and encircle AFU.
“Hostilities have reached their peak today. The enemy is storming our positions simultaneously at several directions. An extremely difficult and long lasting stage of fighting is ahead. It’s necessary to understand that this is war, and, unfortunately, losses from our side are inevitable,” she emphasized.
Source: Deputy Minister of Defence; ArmyInform, official MoD news service
Russians bring reinforcement and continue to advance along whole the confrontation line
As reported by the General Staff of the AFU, the enemy does not cease any offensive actions in the Eastern Operational Zone and continues shelling and missile strikes across the territory of Ukraine.
In the Chernihiv direction, Russians are reinforcing the border defence with air assault units.
In the Belgorod and Voronezh regions, Russians continue to prepare reserve forces and replenish ammunition in order to resume the offensive.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy continues shelling and missile strikes, conducts recon operations, reinforces air support, and regroups combat units. Russian positions are reinforced due to the reserve forces’ relocation.
In the Bakhmut direction, Russian army is advancing near the Pokrovske settlement and Klynove village. Midna Ruda village has been captured. The enemy is also regrouping its forces.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, a tank battalion equipped with Soviet T-62s tanks additionally reinforced Russian grouping.
In the Kherson direction, the Kahkovka reservoir coastline mining was reported.
In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the occupational “authorities” continue the measures for establishing the administrative police regime. Collaborators are preventing civilians from returning to the Ukrainian-controlled territories.
Source: General Staff; Institute for the Study of War
Belarus will set up an operational command on the border with Ukraine
Lukashenko has ordered to create an operational command of the Belarusian armed forces in the southern direction. He explained the reasons for this decision by the alleged threat from Ukraine.
"The Minister of Defense suggested opening a new operational command in the southern direction. That was last year… But now we need to immediately create this operational direction, along with the western, north-western and there will be a southern wing" Lukashenko said.
Belarus has officially denied its involvement in the war against Ukraine, but Alexander Lukashenko has acknowledged that it has allowed Russia to use its military infrastructure to strike at Ukraine. Also recently, the Prime Minister of Belarus said that the country is actively cooperating with the Russian Federation in the defence industry and is actively selling weapons to it.
Source: Mil.in.ua
Russia builds its third defence line on the occupied territories in the South
The regrouping of Russian troops in the Kherson region and the occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia region is a sign of Russia’s intention to hold onto these territories. This was announced by the representative of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, Vadym Skibitskyi.
“In the Kherson region, as well as on the captured territories of the Zaporizhzhia region, we are recording a reinforcement that is happening due to the relocation of Russian troops from Crimea, where they are coming from the territories of the Russian Federation. And accordingly, we can see how powerful of a group of troops Russia is trying to build in the occupied territories in the South of Ukraine.”
This grouping includes ground forces, as well as naval and aircraft units.
“We can tell that since the beginning of May, Russia’s occupation forces started to reinforce their defences. Respective engineering structures are being prepared. Not one, nor two, but three defence lines are being established. This is the evidence that Russian Federation intends to stay here for a long time. It’s exactly these military aspects, military indicators that point to Russia’s plans to capture and hold onto these territories.”
Source: Head of the Main Directorate of Ukrainian Defence Intelligence for Radio Liberty Crimea; Defence Intelligence; Critical Threats
13 settlements in Donetsk region were shelled on May 25
27 civilian objects suffered damages: residential buildings, a school, a healthcare facility, and railway infrastructure. There are dead and wounded civilians.
Russians fired at the following settlements: Avdiivka, Pokrovsk, Bakhmut, Sloviansk, Mariinka, Mykolaivka, Sviatohirsk, Lyman, Pivdenne, Velyka Novosilka, Raihorodok, Sydorove, Vremivka.
Russian troops used Iskander ballistic missile systems, Hrad and Tornado MLRSs, heavy artillery and tanks.
Source: Donetsk Region Police Department
Russians attempted to advance towards Mykolaiv but were repulsed
As reported by the Operational Command “South”:
”Trying to find the tiniest opportunity to advance towards Mykolaiv, a Russian platoon reinforced with tanks and IFVs tried to bypass our positions. However, after suffering fire damage, supported by Mi-8 helicopters and losing 7 soldiers plus a BMP-2 vehicle, the occupiers retreated to their defensive positions.”
It is also mentioned that Russians continue artillery and mortar strikes, severely damaging settlements and firing at peaceful civilians.
Source: Operational Command “South”; Ukrinform, government-owned media
UK Defence Intelligence explained why notorious Russian airborne troops miserably failed in Ukraine
At night on May 25, Russians shelled the border territories of the Chernihiv and Sumy regions from the territory of Russia. This was reported by the Ministry of The airborne forces are probably one of the most notorious military types in the Russian army. They are usually assigned with the most difficult tasks. However, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, these forces have faced several devastating failures, namely:
Failed attempt to capture Hostomel airport in March, which had to become a crucial step in the plan of capturing Kyiv;
Troubles with the advance in Izium direction since April;
Catastrophic failure during attempts to cross the Siversky Donets river.
According to UK Defence Intelligence, these failures of the “elite” airborne units, consisting predominantly of the contract servicemen, are another evidence of Russian command’s issues with the strategic management of their own forces.
“The VDV (Russian Airborne Forces — ed.) has been employed on missions better suited to heavier armored infantry and has sustained casualties during the campaign…The misemployment of the VDV in Ukraine highlights how Putin’s significant investment in the armed forces over the last 15 years has resulted in an unbalanced overall force”
Source: UK Defence Intelligence
Ukrainian military surgeons conducted a one of a kind operation
As reported by the Ground Forces of the AFU: “Last week, in a mobile military hospital in one of the frontline cities, medics conducted a modern laparoscopic surgery, namely removal of a kidney, wounded by a shot.”
As of today, two such surgeries have already been conducted in the military hospital. Thanks to the modern technologies and competence of Ukrainian doctors, the wounded are already able to walk. Similar operations have never been conducted with a combat injury before.
Source: AFU Ground Forces
Switchblade 300 in action on the Eastern front
As reported by the National Guard of Ukraine, on May 23 another Russian Su-25 Hrach combat attack aircraft was shot down in the Zaporizhzhia region. Notably, it is the second aircraft eliminated by the same National Guard of Ukraine serviceman during the current month.
Source: National Guard
The Air Assault Forces of the AFU destroyed several Russian armored vehicles
The reconnaissance capabilities of the Defense Forces have a fairly wide range of drones, which are not only used for recon purposes but can also drop small munitions to destroy both enemy manpower and heavy equipment.
For some time now, kamikaze drones have been a separate type of air threat for the occupiers, widely mentioned in Ukrainian media. Here’s another video of a successfully executed air attack on ruscists.
Source: ArmyInform, official MoD news service; Ukrinform, government-owned media
M777 is not the only howitzer: AFU are now demolishing Russians with FH70
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have now received Italian FH70 howitzers, according to the Operational Command “West”. FH70 is a 155mm caliber self-propelled howitzer, developed by the joint effort of British and German engineers, that was introduced in the 1970s.
The effective range of this howitzer is around 24km and it is able to fire with all the 155mm NATO standard ammo.
“The FH70 has its own 1,700 cc Volkswagen engine, which feeds the hydraulics of the gun when it is put into combat condition or rolled up. In addition, this engine allows the FH70 to move independently, without a tractor, for a range of up to 20 km at low speed. That is, the FH70 is a trailed, but still self-moving howitzer,” the Operational Command “West” wrote on Facebook.
Source: Operational Command “West”; Defense Express, a military consulting company
Long-distance tank battle: Russian tank destroyed from 7km away
The Armed Forces of Ukraine struck a Russian military tank from a long distance. This was reported by Ukrainian Military Center with reference to the Ostannii Blokpost volunteer center, which specializes in monitoring the course of events on the front line.
Reportedly, the enemy tank was hit from closed positions at a distance of more than 7 km. The video shows the destruction of the T-72B main battle tank, which Russians tried to disguise it in a forest strip.
Presumably, Ukrainian military used special devices to calculate the trajectory of the projectile for firing from closed positions.
Source: Mil.in.ua
Russian outpost in the Luhansk region destroyed by the AFU
On the Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway, the AFU destroyed a Russian outpost, along with the manpower station there.
This was reported by the Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration during the national telethon:
“There were around 50 people. They even managed to get a foothold for a while, they’ve established an outpost, but it was a situational success. The (enemy - ed.) recon-sabotage group will stay there forever, though. The outpost is demolished, Russian troops are repelled. The highway is under Ukrainian control. However, it’s under Russian shelling.”
According to Haidai, it is “incredibly difficult” to get from Bakhmut to Lysychansk at the moment. However, the AFU are coming up with other options to deliver humanitarian cargo.
Source: Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration
Ukrainian Air Force strikes Russian positions — up to 10 units of light-armored equipment destroyed
As reported by the General Staff of the AFU:
“For the past day, in the Donetsk and Luhansk directions, the AFU have repelled 10 enemy attacks, destroyed four tanks, two artillery systems, an APV, a vehicle and one unit of special equipment. Ukrainian air defence units have destroyed five Orlan-10 UAVs.
The assault aviation of the Air Force of the AFU struck enemy positions, destroying up to 10 units of light-armored equipment, along with the personnel. Our jet fighters intercepted and shot down two cruise missiles”
Source: ArmyInform, official MoD news service
Two Russian UAVs downed in the Kharkiv region
Near the Russian-Ukrainian border in the Kharkiv region, the AFU have downed two Orlan-10 UAVs, as reported by the Kharkiv Defence Headquarters. The UAVs were hit on May 26, at around 11:30 am. Local civilians have reported the sounds of explosions — these were the air defence systems at work.
Source: Head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration; Suspilne, public broadcasting company
Dozens of Russian soldiers, responsible for atrocities in the Kyiv regions have been identified
Journalists of the Slidstvo.Info project found additional evidence of the presence of sertain Russian units in the Kyiv region. Namely, the 64th Brigade from Khabarovsk, as well as the 37th and the 5th Brigades from Buryatia. Several dozens of soldiers were identified.
Journalists have received a list with several hundreds of Russian telephone numbers, as well as addresses of the cell phone towers, that were involved in calls Russian soldiers made. Predominantly in Bucha district and several villages in the north of the Kyiv region.
In March, soldiers of the 64th Brigade were located in the following settlements: Makariv, Nalyvaikivka, Chervona Sloboda, Kolonshchyna, Borodianka, Shpyt’ky and Lychanka.
Namely, the phone of 27-year-old Maksim Deev from the Tomsk region was active in the Makariv settlement in the Kyiv region.
Another serviceman of the same brigade — 31-year-old corporal Aleksei Korsuntsev — has probably made a call from the Kolonshchyna village of the Bucha district on March 15.
At least 14 soldiers of the 37th Motorized Infantry Brigade from the city of Kyakhta in Buryatia were located in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions.
On March 3, the phone of Sergey Usoltsev, the 39-year-old citizen of Buryatia, was detected in Severynivka, the Bucha district.
Another military from the 37th Brigade — 22-year-old Bulat Dirbeev. On March 8, his phone was detected by a base station in the Lychanka village, Bucha district.
The phone of a 30-year-old sergeant Vladimir Nechaev was detected in Chervona Sloboda on March 25.
Thanks to the phone lists, it was also possible to find out where the soldiers from the 5th Tank Brigade from the city of Ulan-Ude (Buryatia) were. Russian media have repeatedly reported on the soldiers of this unit killed in Ukraine.
Namely, the phone number of 28-year-old Mitap Badmaev was detected in Lychanka, Bucha district. In the same village, a 29-year-old sergeant Arsalan Khobrakov used his phone at the beginning of March.
Sources: Slidstvo.Info; Suspilne, public broadcasting company
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