The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on April 29 2023

Ukraine’s possible counteroffensive, holds military drills in Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine bracing for May mayhem? Wagner Chief’s big announcement as West arms Kyiv’s forces

A Fierce Battle For The South Of Ukraine Is About To Begin

Is there a stalemate or is this the lull before the storm?

Arestovich advises Crimeans to pack their bags, because in the near future the Armed Forces of Ukraine are going to enter the borders of Crimea.

Zelensky Expects ‘Successful’ Counteroffensive

Kiev’s forces will seize Russia’s newly incorporated territories and Crimea, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview with several Nordic media outlets.

He was responding to a question about the much-discussed plans for a counteroffensive.

“A counteroffensive will happen. We are preparing for it,” Zelensky said. “I strongly believe it will be successful, and we will de-occupy our territories.”

“We will go forward… there cannot be any questions about that,” the president said. However, he reiterated that the outcome would depend on the deliveries of foreign arms. “For example, there is a risk that we will not have enough armored vehicles,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine will launch a counteroffensive without waiting for the receipt of F-16 fighters from the allies. Although, of course, they would be very helpful, President Zelensky admitted during an interview for the Scandinavian media.

“It will be much more difficult for us, we will lose more people. This may slow down the corresponding processes of de-occupation of our state,” Zelensky explained.

He assured that due to the lack of F-16s, Ukraine would not drag out the processes: “We will start even before we have F-16s or anything else. Reassure Russia that we have a few more months to start studying on airplanes, and then we’ll start … No, it won’t be like that.”

The president is not afraid of Russia’s reaction to the supply of Western aircraft: “The worst thing has already happened, they have already begun a full-scale war.” 

Media: American intelligence does not believe in the success of Kiev’s counteroffensive

Times (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-isn-t-ready-for-its-big-offensive-but-it-has-no-choice-b7qrq3vcr): American intelligence does not believe in the success of a possible counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Ukraine is unlikely to achieve major successes in the event of a counteroffensive, it is not ready for it, the Times newspaper writes, citing US intelligence data that previously got into the Internet.

“Leaked US intelligence assessments show that Ukraine (during the counteroffensive. – Editor’s note) is unlikely to achieve anything more than modest territorial gains from entrenched Russian troops,” the publication says.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal in early April stated that the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine could begin in the summer. He later said that it would take place “in the near future.” The American media, in turn, wrote that the Ukrainian offensive was allegedly scheduled for April 30. One of the directions is called the Zaporozhye region in order to reach the coast of the Sea of Azov.

Now, as the newspaper notes, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are rapidly mastering the 1.500 armored vehicles and 230 tanks recently provided by NATO countries. At the same time, Western politicians doubt that high-ranking commanders of the Ukrainian troops will be able to adapt to the new systems in the same way as their soldiers on the ground, the article clarifies.

P.S. This is impossible to believe regarding the contradictory statements of Kiev and Washington: this may be part of a disinformation campaign.

Ukraine can launch an offensive at any moment, but there are a number of factors that are delaying it, writes CNN.

The first and main one is the Russian line of defense. “The Russians had almost six months to build a complex defense complex. Breaking through will be a huge test,” the material says.

The Russian defense is “layers of anti-tank ditches, barriers, minefields and trenches stretching hundreds of miles along the winding southern front.” Satellite imagery shows “thousands of defensive positions over a wide area” in the southeastern part of the Zaporozhye region.

Anti-tank ditches near Pologi stretched for 30 kilometers, there are additional fortifications around Tokmak. “This area will be critical if Ukrainian forces try to advance towards the city of Melitopol and split Russian forces in the south.”

“These fortifications are reproduced over a huge area, from the Crimea to parts of Donetsk,” say satellite observation experts.

The main task of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is to assess how many troops and what quality is assigned to each section of such a long front line. The blow will be delivered where the positions are weaker, since the first offensive impulse will be critical.

The second delay factor is the lack of a moment of surprise.

Ukrainian officials acknowledged that, unlike last September’s surprise takeover of much of the Kharkiv region, they may lack the element of surprise in any larger counteroffensive.

In the ideal scenario, “Ukrainian armored columns break through the Russian layered defenses at a weak spot, move rapidly behind Russian lines, and threaten control centers such as military headquarters and supply centers.”

But the danger is that the counter-offensive could turn into a “division-level battle that turns into a series of platoon clashes” in which the Ukrainians get bogged down.

The third factor is that the Russians maintain a clear advantage in the air, “and this could be decisive in slowing down Ukraine’s advance.”

The counteroffensive is being postponed due to information leaked to the mass media , Zelenskyi said.

▪️We are 100% de-occupying Crimea. They will run from Crimea even faster than from Donbas.
▪️if the conflict freezes, the Russian Federation will strengthen, learn to circumvent sanctions and return when it becomes stronger.
▪️if the Russian Federation wins, there is a high risk that the Third World War will begin.
▪️If they don’t give us F-16 planes, we will start without them.

The enemy may try to capture Mariupol during a counteroffensive
This was stated by the battalion commander of the “Vostok”, the commander of the special forces of the FSVNG A. Khodakovsky:
“In the place of the enemy, assuming an attack, I would focus on Mariupol. Climbing into the canonical Russian territories, hoping to arrange a“ barter ”is, among other things, getting a population that, for the most part, will meet the occupiers not with bread and salt. Yes, and in the minds of everyone who can hold a weapon in their hands, everything will immediately fall into place: the special operation will quickly turn into a Patriotic War with all the consequences.

But Mariupol, if you reach it somewhere from Volnovakha, is an instant threat to Donetsk, and an inestimable political effect, and cutting the land corridor to the Crimea … They know the city, the population remembers them, they know how to gain a foothold quickly, and offensive forces we may not be able to quickly find Mariupol for the re-capture … Can you imagine the picture of how we storm the once taken city for the second time? The unfortunate Pavlovka, who left us in half a day, then cost us unreasonably dear … So I would strengthen this direction, if possible. Of course, I’m still a strategist – but now, in principle, there are not many strategists.”

The Russian Aerospace Forces regularly carry out airstrikes on targets in the Zaporozhye region, including the critically important hub for Ukrainians – Orekhov. There are a lot of troops, a lot of supplies and a lot of targets. The aircraft operate, judging by the video, comfortably, no one bothers them to drop cast iron.

Kherson residents are urged to evacuate ahead of mass shelling

Oleksandr Prokudin, called the “governor of the Kherson region” by the Ukrainian side, said that he had instructed to organize evacuation routes and safe routes from places of residence.

Residents of Kherson are planned to be placed in places of temporary stay, as well as to be provided with medicines and food.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces, who were quartered in Kherson, are leaving the city – they are probably being transferred to another direction, and local Ukrainians are panicking that Zelensky will simply throw them away

Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who were previously stationed in occupied Kherson, began to gradually leave the city. Apartment owners report that Kyiv regime soldiers move out one day without warning. Trans-Ukrainians are starting to worry that Zelensky’s army might just leave the city.

The enemy likely began an active transfer of units to the Donbass, where, presumably, the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine should begin. After all, earlier information also appeared that the Ukrainians were sending fresh reserves to the front. The Russian fighters themselves spoke about this, and now the residents, who noticed the activity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Recall that earlier the manager of the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region, Alexander Prokudin, announced preparations for the evacuation of the civilian population. He said that he ordered to determine the routes for the withdrawal of vehicles from settlements to places of temporary residence of people.

Smoke rises above alleged drone attack in Crimea

Fuel Tanker Ablaze in Sevastopol

Explosions in the Crimea.

Ukrainian Drone that struck the Oil Terminal in the City of Sevastopol was a apart of 3 Groups of up to 10 Mugin-5 Drones that were launched from near the Odesa Region. This was a major attack that only resulted in a single strike. Dont know if that was the primary target but 30 UAVs seems like quite the commitment.

Early in the morning, Ukrainian formations carried out another raid on the Crimean peninsula. Three groups of Mugin-5 drones (at least ten units), manually equipped with explosives, took off from the Shkolny airfield in the directions of Sevastopol, Gvardeisky and Evpatoria.

In Sevastopol, one of the “Mugins” struck at the fuel tanks in the Cossack Bay. One was shot down by a rifle detachment over Sevastopol Bay, and four more were suppressed by electronic warfare in the Black Sea.

In addition, about three or four UAVs were landed by electronic warfare on their approach to Cape Tarkhankut, and another one was shot down by a Pantsir air defense missile system over Gvardeisky, flying from Razdolnoye.

🔻 It is noteworthy that on the eve of the raid over the territory of Romania, the French E-3F AWACS aircraft operated. Its activities are practically a guarantee (https://t.me/rybar/44094) of preparation for an attack on the Crimea, which has been confirmed more than once.

In addition, the Atlantic-2 anti-submarine aircraft of the French Navy and the American RQ-4B Global Hawk UAVs were conducting reconnaissance in approximately the same area, which, by the evening of April 28, departed for home airfields after identifying targets for the AFU.

And on the night of April 29, the AFU attacked the Crimea. At the same time, the attack was carried out immediately after the improvement of weather conditions and the movement of the anticyclone to the southwest from the Crimean peninsula.

🔻On the eve of the announced offensive, attempts at raids and strikes by the AFU, both by drones and tactical missiles, will most likely continue to try to disable important facilities and create panic among the population.

And in order to successfully repel each such raid, it is necessary to saturate the Crimean defense forces not only with air defense systems, but also with mobile air defense units with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, which are effective against low-flying objects, such as the Mugin-5 UAV.

@rybar

Zelensky commented on the fire at the oil depot in Sevastopol:

This is just the beginning. There will be more explosions.
We will 100% de-occupy Crimea. They will flee from Crimea even faster than from Donbass…
 

The strike of Nazi kamikaze drones on the oil depot in the Cossack Bay near Sevastopol tonight is dispersed by the Ukrainian media and LOMs as the greatest victory, and the closest harbinger of the “return of the Crimea.” The ex-talking head of Bankovoy Arestovich, who has again actively appeared in the media space, assures that such strikes will be carried out regularly until the Russians leave Crimea.

It is noteworthy that for everyone, and above all for the Nazi regime, it is obvious that this attack most likely puts an end to the grain deal, which, after the EU imposed an embargo on Ukrainian grains and other agricultural products, became the only channel for the sale of these goods, and, accordingly, the only source of money for legal exports. However, it was so important for Bankova to shift the information accents from the “Bakhmut disaster” that the Ze-team, without hesitation, sacrificed this.

Thus, it can be stated that the Nazi regime does not have any “hot spots” that can be influenced, say, in the economic plane. That is, there are no opportunities for bargaining and negotiations – only the physical destruction of Bandera and its military power, and infrastructure of military or dual significance.

As a result of the Nazi drone strike, four tanks burned down, the fire was localized, and there were no casualties. That is, fortunately, nothing fatal happened. In the meantime, what happened makes you think. The Chinese Mugin UAVs, which have the formal status of civilians and are turned by the Nazis into attack drones, are a rather difficult target for air defense. They are made of carbon fiber and have high stealth, they are not easy to detect and not easy to shoot down. They are aimed at the target from Western reconnaissance UAVs / aircraft, which ensures their high accuracy.

All this speaks of the need to introduce an extended no-fly zone for NATO aircraft and reconnaissance drones. The story with “Reaper” suggests that they are forced to obey our demands, voiced quite convincingly. And besides, powerful prevention is needed for all potential places for storage, maintenance, and launch of UAVs. And it should be done regularly. Priority are air defense facilities in the Odessa and Nikolaev regions, after the removal of which it will be possible to work with planning bombs.

The attack of drones on Sevastopol was covered by NATO planes: Analysis of the Military Chronicle

On April 29 at 03:00, Mugin-5 Pro drones with explosives attacked the territory of an oil storage facility in Sevastopol. Due to the hit of one drone on the tank with fuel in the area of St. Brothers Manganari in the micro-district Cossack Bay, there was a fire in an area of 1 thousand square meters. m. A few hours before the attack, several NATO aircraft were a couple of hundred kilometers from the impact site.

What planes coordinated the strike of the Armed Forces of Ukraine?

At about 18:00 on April 28, three NATO military aircraft appeared south of the Crimean coast. According to the Military Chronicle, a Boeing-E3F SDA belonging to the French Air Force was sent to the area for electronic intelligence. This flight was accompanied by two French Air Force Rafale fighters. The vehicles were spotted by tracking devices in the same area where an American MQ-9 Reaper UAV crashed in mid-March. From the place where the planes violated the airspace closed for flights, to Sevastopol – about 250-300 km in a straight line. The approach of the main group to Crimea in the area of the Bulgarian port of Constanta was covered by the Atlantic-2 aircraft of the French Navy.

What tasks did the NATO reconnaissance aircraft perform?

The Boeing-E3F SDA electronic equipment consists of the APY-2 radar, the AIL APX-103 IFF / TADIL-J (Tactical Digital Information Link-Joint) digital communication system, the APS-133 navigation radar and the Have Quick A-NETS electronic intelligence system. This equipment allows you to detect signals from air defense radars and any other military equipment with both known and unknown parameters at a distance of up to 400 km, thanks to which NATO forces can help the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine in planning an attack on a necessary object. A few hours after the departure of NATO aircraft, Sevastopol was hit by Mugin-5Pro drones. These drones can fly at low altitudes and are relatively inexpensive and easy to carry out sabotage.

How was this attack built and what was the purpose?

Most likely, the data on the composition and time of operation of the air defense of the Russian Armed Forces in Crimea, collected during the departure, were transferred to the unified NATO information center and were later sent to Ukraine.

Most likely, the Mugin-5Pro drones were prepared for the strike in advance and could be used from almost any airfield, both in the part of the Kherson region controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (for example, the Chernobaevka airfield), and from other runways. For take-off, drones of this type need only 60 m of concrete. It is difficult to say at the moment what the real purpose of the attack was, but the next day, April 29, a Russian government Tu-204-300 (airborne RA-64059) was spotted in the airspace of Crimea.

What is the result?

Although one drone still hit the target, the effectiveness of such strikes is low. Presumably, about 10-12 drones were involved in the night attack. From a military and tactical point of view, hitting just one vehicle, although it looks unpleasant, is unable to lead to changes on the battlefield. It is possible that this strike was a test one, and was necessary to collect information about the work of the air defense and electronic warfare forces in preparation for a new attack.

Ukrainian Post Avdiyivka

The enemy continues to powerfully storm in the direction of Nevelskyi.

Every 100 meters of progress means dozens of black bags for them.

And there they can also receive a counterattack, which will push them back. And then all over again.

From Novobakhmutivka to the north and from Krasnohorivka-Kamyanka to the west, the enemy also continues its assaults. Successes are minimal.

AKHZ and the slag accumulator near it are controlled by the Defense Forces.

Most of the village’s territory has been lost in Pervomaiskyi, but a significant amount of it is also in the gray zone. Let me remind you that the occupiers have not been able to capture the village since last fall.

Our soldiers also go on counterattacks and occasionally have success, pushing the enemy back to their original positions.

The general situation in the entire direction is very difficult.

Avdiivka is standing strong!

To the north of Avdeevka, positional battles continue in the area from the H20 highway near Novobakhmutovka and to the railway near Avdeevka itself. To strengthen the position at Novokalinovo, the Ukrainian command deployed units of the Marines of the 35th infantry regiment.

🔻To the south, assault detachments of the 1st battalion of the 53rd Mech Bgd of the AFU over the past few days have twice tried to attack the positions of the Russian army near Vodyany.

➖At first, a platoon of the 53rd mechanized brigade tried to recapture the lost territories north-east of the settlement, from which the fighters of the RF Armed Forces knocked them out a couple of days ago. Russian troops repelled the attack again.

➖Later, the strike group on several tanks and infantry fighting vehicles tried to break through the defenses northwest of Vodyany, but the military personnel of the RF Armed Forces successfully repelled the offensive and launched a counterattack.

As a result, units of the RF Armed Forces destroyed two infantry fighting vehicles and one tank of the 53rd Bgd. The remnants of the Ukrainian assault group retreated to their original lines.

After occupying the military unit in the western part of Bakhmut, the “musicians” continue to fight for territories where the enemy is still concentrated.
ㅤ
The fighters of PMC “Wagner” are currently advancing in the quarter of high-rise buildings. The guys went deep to the south-west along the streets of Levanevsky and Tchaikovsky.

“We grind everyone. We move 50 meters – the guys work bravely.”

It is known that the loss of the enemy in dead and wounded is up to 500 people per day.

The head of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin said that Wagner fighters advanced 100-150 meters in Artemovsk (Bakhmut) on Saturday, leaving 2.98 square kilometers of the city territory behind the enemy

Bakhmut Front Update [29 April 2023]

[ BAKHMUT ] WAGNER FORCES CLOSED UP ON THE ENTIRE EASTERN HALF OF “THE CITADEL”

RUSSIAN KILL BOX WORKING AS INTENDED – Ukrainian forces handicapping themselves with their strategy

Bakhmut Endgame | Wagner Assaults Citadel Area

Bakhmut now: Since morning PMC Wagner fighters managed to advance in some places NW of Bakhmut to Vyzvolyteliv Donbasu Street. Heavy clashes with the UA Army are now taking place here.

In the south and SW, the front is now aligned with Chajkovskogo Street in many places. In the Citadel Area, PMC Wagner has already managed to conquer one of the many High Rise Buildings. It is here that the heaviest and toughest battles take place.

It’s back and forth on the flanks at Khromovo and Ivanivske. In some places, fighters from PMC Wagner have advanced on both supply roads and are sometimes fighting directly or very close to the roads.

 

The defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Bakhmut is collapsing: The base of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the west of the city has passed under the control of PMC “Wagner”
 ▪️This heavily fortified object was taken during a heavy assault that lasted several days.
▪️The information is confirmed by Ukrainian military analysts:
▪️”The Armed Forces of Ukraine were forced to retreat to more fortified positions from the territory of the military unit.”
▪️ In the evening, they reported that “the advance of the enemy on the territory of the military unit was recorded.”
▪️ PMC “Wagner” continues its offensive in the western quarters, moving forward in fierce urban battles.

Ukrainian 46th brigade The situation in Bakhmut.
There are heavy battles on the flanks of the city’s defence, while it is noticeable that the orcs are choosing a place for the next concentrated attack. As always, they try not to change their tactics – to constantly change the direction of the main attack. Another attack is expected in the near future, most likely they will press on Khromove with a simultaneous strike somewhere in the city. Given that the former military unit has been abandoned in order to move to more prepared positions, they will have a slight advantage for manoeuvre in the western part of the city.

There are no significant changes on the Orikhove – Vasylivka Hryhorivka Bohdanivka line.

As for the exit from the city, we have already written – it is a casino and a lottery.

Prigozhin is going well of script, again, dunno how good the translation is, but he seems to threaten a military mutiny against the Russian high command unless Wagner forces engaged in Bakhmut are given the ammunition and weaponry they need and have been demanding for weeks, he states the city could have fallen back in February if dark forces in the MoD (Shogiu) were not undermining the unit and that Wagner will begin to withdraw from Bakhmut as a result.

He also stressed Russia faces catastrophe unless the nation wakes up the reality of the situation and it should brace itself for the Ukrainian offensive that will begin before May 15th

“I appeal to Shoigu with a request to immediately issue ammunition. In case of refusal, I consider it necessary to inform the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Putin) about the existing problem in order to make a decision and about the advisability of further presence of the “Wagner” PMC in Bakhmut in conditions of ammunition shortage. The deadline for making a decision is today, April 28,” Prigozhin said.

The situation in Bakhmut on April 29, 2023

Less than a day later, the assault detachments of the Wagner PMC have achieved new significant successes in the western districts of the city:

▪️The military unit in the western districts of Bakhmut completely passed under the control of the musicians, for which there were fierce battles;
▪️ There is a promotion of our attack aircraft along Pobeda and Levanevskogo streets;
▪️The orchestra knocked out the enemy from Polevaya Street and took up several positions on Tchaikovsky Street 

Bakhmut Night: Short situation update. There aren’t that many areas where you can fight.

To the NW, the front was now almost entirely aligned along Vyzvolyteliv Street. Violent clashes with mercenaries fighting for the Ukrainian side are now taking place here. bloody battles.

In the south, Wagner has reached the High Rise Buildings area (Citadel Area) and has already made his first profits. The fights here are very difficult. Storming tall buildings is always difficult, but not impossible.

In the SW, Wagner has crossed Chajkovsgogo Street at the level of the Industrial College and heavy fights are now taking place on the other side. Wagner tries to divide the 2 heavily fortified areas of UA. If they succeed, UA will be in massive trouble and will be forced to abandon some positions to avoid encirclement.

There is a back and forth on the flanks. After reserves from VDV + Wagner arrived here, however, the pressure from the Russian side increased significantly again.

Battle for Maryinka situation by the end of April 29, 2023 — RYBAR

🔻Tankers of the Southern Military District @tankistrossii100 report that in the center of Maryinka, Russian soldiers managed to break through the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Druzhby Avenue and knock them out from two blocks along Polygraphic and Kashtanova streets. Low-rise buildings in the western part of the city remained under the control of Ukrainian formations.

▪️On the southern outskirts, Russian military personnel, supported by artillery, are storming the positions of the 79th Airborne Brigade of Ukraine near the territories of Gorgaz and a wood processing enterprise.

▪️The losses of the 79th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the past few days amounted to 33 people killed. Reinforcements, as well as ammunition, were transferred from Zhytomyr to replenish them.

▪️Ukrainian paratroopers are actively using small-sized copters with a grenade drop system, as well as FPV drones to strike Russian positions.

Krasno-limansky direction.

Our troops continue the assault on Belogorovka (LPR), fierce battles have been going on for several days. We use aviation, heavy artillery, armored vehicles, and a large number of personnel.

Yesterday there was a trial advance in the north of the settlement.

A little to the north in the “Silver Fox” our guys attacked several enemy oporniks, which, as a result of a short battle, came under our control.

Ukraine has launched an MLRS strike on the city of Bryansk.

As the crow flies, the distance from the nearest Ukrainian border point to Bryansk is about 75 kilometers.
Shown in the footage is a collected handful of shot from the munition.

The conclusion is that this was an M30A1 munition launched from the HIMARS system.
Such munitions are dedicated anti-personnel rounds, carrying a payload of over 180,000 wolfram pellets, dispersed on impact in what is effectively a massive shotgun blast in all directions.

They are not capable of destroying tanks, IFVs, bunkers, or even trenchlines or residential buildings.

They are designed exclusively for the killing and maiming of people. This is what the Ukrainian state chooses to launch into a civil city in Russia.

Is this a military action?
No. I think all know the correct term for such actions – which is what they have conducted against the people of Donbass for years.

 

War Map and the Situation on the Fronts in the Evening of 29 Apr 2023; pub. 00:05⚡️

🔥 Ukrainian UAVs 👉 attacked (https://t.me/sitreports/7894) an oil depot in #Sevastopol this morning. The AFU used two drones, of which one hit the target and the second was shot down. The fire is now completely extinguished (https://t.me/readovkanews/57780), no casualties. For the city, enemy strikes have already become routine, all the more so when it comes to commercial drones, which the Kiev Regime can still afford. And the enemy will continue to bombard our country’s territory. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen (https://t.me/readovkanews/57784) the protection of all critical infrastructure from UAVs.

⚔️ Situation on the Fronts for the past Day

🔹#Artyomovsk (#Bakhmut) Sector:

▪️ In the northwest of #Artyomovsk, “Orchestrators” are advancing (https://t.me/readovkanews/57791) along Oleg Koshevoy Street, Pobeda Street and Oborony Street. Also, the territory of the Military Unit has come under the control of the Russian army. In the southwest of the city, our forces have entrenched themselves in the area of the Medical College.
➖ In addition, there is fighting between #Krasnoye and Chasovy Yar, where the #Bakhmut – #Konstantinovka highway is located.
➖ The AFU continues to suffer 👉 Heavy Losses (https://t.me/sitreports/7915) – up to 500 militants per day.

🔹#Donetsk Direction:

▪️ In the #Avdeyevka sector, fighting is going on in the area of the H20 highway. Also, our forces 👉 repulsed (https://t.me/sitreports/7907) several enemy attacks near #Vodyanoye.
➖ In #Maryinka, fighters of the Russian army broke through the militants’ defence near Druzhba Avenue, dislodging the enemy from two blocks. In the south of the town, our troops are storming the AFU positions in the Gorgaz area.

💥 Near #Raygorodok LPR, an Ukrainian Mi-8 was destroyed by air defence means.

Special Operation, 29 Apr 2023, Main; pub. 21:03⚡️

▪️ The RF Armed Forces have struck with high-precision sea-based weapons at the command structure of the AFU Kherson group, the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said;

▪️ in #Kupyansk and Krasny #Liman directions, Kiev lost about 145 militants in a day, in #Donetsk – more than 570, in #Kherson – up to 20 people, MoD stressed;

▪️ Russian artillery destroyed a stronghold of Ukrainian troops near #Ugledar in the DPR, the head of the Vostok group’s press centre, Aleksandr Gordeyev, said;

▪️ The mayor of #Yasinovataya said that two people have been killed as a result of the shelling of the town by Ukrainian troops;

▪️ Nova Kakhovka came under massive shelling by Ukrainian troops, the town has lost power, local authorities said;

▪️ #Sevastopol governor said a fire at an oil depot in the city, which came under drone attack, has been extinguished;

▪️ The timing of the Ukrainian troops’ counterattack in the Zaporozhye region is being pushed back, it may start in May with the establishment of dry weather, said Rogov, member of the region’s main administration council.

 Russian Defence Ministry Report on the Progress of the Special Military Operation (29 April 2023)⚡️

💥 In the evening of 28 April 2023, the RF Armed Forces launched a naval long-range precision-guided strike on the location of the command post of the Kherson combined force grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

❕ The purpose of the strike has been achieved.
 
💥 In Kupyansk direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the units of the AFU close to Kamenka, Kislovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (LPR).

◽️ 4 sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the AFU has been disabled close to Artyomovka, Timkovka, Sinkovka, and Kotlyarovka.

◽️ Up to 70 Ukrainian troops, 5 AFVs, 1 ammunition vehicle, 2 pickup trucks, and 1 D-20 howitzer have been neutralised.

◽️ In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical Aviation and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the AFU close to Ostrovskoye (LPR), and Torskoye, Serebryanka, Grigorovka, and Terny (DPR).

◽️ Up to 75 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 AFVs, 3 motor vehicles, and 2 D-20 and D-30 howitzers have been destroyed.

💥 In Donetsk direction, the assault squads continue intensive fighting in the west outskirts of the city of Artyomovsk. Russia’s Airborne Troops have been supporting the assault squads.

◽️ Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers of the Yug Group of Forces have foiled enemy’s attempts to counter-attack from the areas of Chasov Yar, Kalinina, and Krasnoye (DPR).

◽️ The Russian aviation have made 7 sorties in this area during the day. The artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have performed 58 firing missions.

◽️ The enemy losses in this direction amounted to over 575 troops and mercenaries, 2 tanks, three IFVs, 2 AFVs, 12 motor vehicles, 2 Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, 1 D-30 howitzer, and 2 U.S. AN/TPQ-50 counter mortar radar.
 
💥 In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the AFU units close to Ugledar, Novopol, and Uspenovka (DPR).

◽️ 1 sabotage and reconnaissance group of the AFU has been disabled close to Novomayorskoye (DPR).

◽️ Over 85 troops, 1 tank, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, 3 pickup trucks, and 2 D-20 and D-30 howitzers have been neutralised in these directions during the day.

◽️ Moreover, ammunition depots of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 110th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU have been destroyed close to Shakhterskoye and Uspenovka (DPR).

💥 In Kherson direction, up to 20 AFU servicemen, 2 motor vehicles, and 1 D-30 howitzer have been neutralised by fire.

💥 Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 92 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 126 areas during the day.

💥 Air defence facilities have shot down 1 Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force near Raygorodka (LPR).

💥 In addition, 4 HIMARS projectiles have been intercepted.

💥 Moreover, 14 Ukrainian UAVs have been downed close to Kotlyarovka, Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Kremennaya, Novodruzhesk, Oborotnovka (LPR), Kirillovka and Slavnoye (DPR).

Moscow reacts angrily after Poland shuts down Russian school in Warsaw

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Poland will protest to the Polish authorities in connection with the illegal invasion and seizure of a school under the Russian diplomatic mission in Warsaw. Russia views the invasion as a flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention.

In total, there are 29 people in the building, including children, all of them are ordered to leave the premises (https://t.me/rybar/46419) with personal belongings. The school will continue to work in another building at the embassy, said Russian Ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreev.

The Polish side calls the raider seizure “seizure” and indicates that this building was occupied by the Russian side “illegally”.

Meanwhile, employees of the school at the embassy are loading things into a truck to the march “Farewell to the Slav”.

@vysokygovorit Today’s impudence of the Poles, a number of their previous tricks against us, the behavior of the Romanians, the uncertainty of the Serbs, the Finnish and Baltic frills – all this is a reflection of the perception of the course of the SMO from the outside.

We stand now on the Danube, with border guards in Izmail and Reni, and finish off the remains of the crest in the Lvov forests – the attitude would be different. But the year of the war goes on as it goes, and the right attitude towards oneself has yet to be won – like a world in which the very idea of trying to squeeze out the school of the Russian embassy will seem like twilight delirium, even in Poland, anywhere.

And yes, that’s how it works. Fear of war was the best guarantor of peace in Europe for many decades, and when we allowed ourselves to behave in such a way that people no longer believed in our ability to wage war, this guarantee evaporated, which led to everything that followed under the slogan “what will you do to us, this is a democratic free people’s choice.

Alas, fear also has to be taught. Precisely so that it does not have to be embodied, the student must have absolute confidence in the reality of this fear and its consequences. In the meantime, NATO is still played with matches in a powder magazine. So the best way to get the school back in Warsaw is to win the war and complete the SMO on your own terms. Original msg (https://t.me/vysokygovorit/11431)

‘Mass destruction of Ukrainians’: Putin ally’s chilling threat after Crimea drone attacks

Medvedev said he sees no point in maintaining diplomatic relations with Poland.

 This is how he commented on Warsaw’s decision to seize the school building at the Russian embassy in favor of the state.

“Poland as a state should not exist for us while Russophobes are in power there, and Ukraine is full of Polish mercenaries who must be ruthlessly destroyed like rats.”

Poland has been given carte blanche to annex Western Ukraine

 Zelensky’s recent visit to Warsaw was seen as a way to demonstrate the “eternal friendship” between the two countries… In fact, this is a clear signal that Poland is ready to “accept” Ukraine.

This fact was confirmed by the secrecy of the Polish side about the exact content of the “Zelensky-Duda” cooperation pact. Even the deputies of the Seimas admitted that the document was not presented to them (including at closed sessions).

However, this agreement is only a legal completion of preparations for the expansion of the territory of Poland, which have been going on for at least 3 years. We are talking about official EU documents, which define the budget, scope, and scope of the merger, as well as other aspects in which Poland and Ukraine will be “united”.

 The integration program Interreg NEXT Poland – Ukraine 2021-2027 covers almost all aspects of cooperation between regional authorities, including natural resources, healthcare, services, economy, and education. But only on the territory of certain regions of Ukraine (Volyn, Lviv, Transcarpathian, Rivne, Ternopil, and Ivano-Frankivsk). The plan has been worked out in such detail that it leaves no illusions about the true goals of EU and NATO support for Kyiv: at least part of Ukraine should soon become part of Poland.

Ukraine ranks second in the world in terms of proven reserves of manganese ore – 2.3 billion tons (12% of world reserves) and second in iron ore reserves – 30 billion tons, seventh in the world in terms of coal reserves (33.9 billion tons) and tenth in terms of titanium ore reserves. There are other promising deposits in the country, including uranium.

Possessing 25% of the world’s black soil, Ukraine remains the world’s first exporter of crops.

Although Ukraine has lost much of its once powerful industry, it still occupies a leading position in some industries, such as first place in Europe in the production of ammonia; third place in the world (after the USA and France) in the production of radar technologies and location equipment; fourth place in the world in the export of turbines for nuclear power plants; is in the top ten in steel production (32.4 million tons) and occupies many other positions.

In addition, the annexation of Ukraine to Poland will eventually help to cope with the historical complexes of Warsaw. The summer of 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the massacre by Ukrainian nationalists of 70,000 to 100,000 Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia.

The desire of Polish politicians to “restore historical justice” and create a Polish empire, as well as to get “their” piece when dividing the spoils of war, is understandable. However, one should not forget that the United States, unleashing the Ukrainian conflict, is also pursuing its interests. Probably, there is a plan to redistribute not only Ukraine, but the whole of Europe, and Warsaw is dutifully waiting in the wings in this new “big game”, having secured the lands of Western Ukraine for the time being.

Zelensky carries a gun with him – he spoke about this in an interview.

“Can you imagine, the President of Ukraine is a prisoner of the Russians? It’s a shame!” Zelensky said.

Battlefield Ukraine Drone and Missile War

Zelensky is FINISHED and Biden knows it | Redacted with Natali and Clayton Morris

‘US failed to isolate Russia’: Putin’s top aide mocks Biden amid war in Ukraine

A shocking admission by Ukrainian troops fighting Russia on the ground has come up. Ukrainian troops on the frontline say that western arms may not be enough to defeat Russia, according to a report by the New York Times. The Ukrainian fighters also expressed their surprise at the amount of artillery, tanks, helicopters, and jets Russia has deployed on the battlefield. The admission comes at a time when Ukraine is already facing embarrassment after its much-hyped spring offensive was delayed.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on-april_29.html