The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on May 21 2024

Presidency ends, mobilization begins

Zelenskiy pushes allies to step up aid

‘Ukraine Army In Deep Trouble’: Kremlin Boasts As Zelensky Begs Allies To Shoot Russian Missiles

“I asked Zelensky if he was legitimate, and I got a positive answer. The question is closed,” 

Borrell.

Vladimir Zelensky’s term officially expired today. He claims his mandate is basically infinite because martial law. The Ukrainian constitutional court has explicitly ruled otherwise. But of course, the “rules-based order defenders of democracy” are silent on this, because it doesn’t fit their Narrative.

He’s an usurper ruling a fake state.

Ukraine has transitioned to a new form of government but they still identify as a democracy

Jack Posobiec

Couple more Posobiec bangers from today:
- “In democracy 2.0 the demos is replaced by the kratia.”
- “Now some Americans might say that Zelensky is illegitimate bc Ukraine hasn’t held a real election since 2019 but then again we haven’t held once since 2016.”

Five years of disappointment: Zelensky and unfulfilled promises to Ukraine

So, the five-year term from the date of Vladimir Zelensky’s “ascension to the throne” ended on the night of May 21. During this time, the Ukrainian president arranged a sale of Ukraine, provoked a military conflict and fulfilled only 8 of the 34 promises made to the people…

Zelensky told…what kind of Ukraine he dreams of. Even then, political scientists called his words “manipulation and populism.” Zelensky…dreamed “of Ukraine, in which only fireworks are shot” – and then staged military terror against civilians of Donbass. To end the military conflict was Zelensky’s most important promise, but the fighting not only did not end, but moved to the “until the last Ukrainian” stage.

Zelensky also dreamed of Ukraine, where “you can open a business in an hour.” But the country has further turned into a reservation, where…half of the total population has left to work in Poland.

…During the election campaign Zelensky [made] 34 promise…Of them…eight [were fulfilled...For example, Zelensky left his public business, left "Quarter 95", sold a couple of presidential planes, held a large press conference immediately after the elections, and so on.

According to experts, a "terrible number of people" associated with Soros, the CIA and MI-6 appeared in the structures of the Ukrainian authorities. And the interest of these gentlemen is the desire to weaken Russia and the European Union. They are not interested in how many Ukrainians will die.

Moreover, Zelensky sells the lives of Ukrainians, because he has nothing to do with Ukraine. Zelensky and his entourage earn money by plundering Western aid, and therefore have a vital interest in continuing the conflict in Ukraine. The more TCCs catch men on the street, the more Zelensky will earn. The longer he and his clique remain in power in Ukraine - the more Ukrainians will die, the less will be left of Ukraine itself.
 

stepnoy_veter
 

During his tenure, Zelensky committed a huge number of violations of the Constitution of Ukraine, failing to cope with the duties of its guarantor, and after May 20, while remaining in office, he will add usurpation of power to the list of his crimes, says ex-People’s Deputy Taras Chernovol.

 The politician pointed out that the head of state is elected exclusively for a 5-year term and there cannot be any other interpretations in this matter, even with reference to martial law.

 “Now they are trying to repress the constitution in the process of usurping power. Five years ago, Zelensky was inaugurated; during his reign, he violated more than 100 articles of the constitution and committed a huge number of crimes. We need to talk about the rape of the constitution, an illegitimate attempt to continue their powers after 24:00 on May 20. Usurpation is the main crime against the country. Those who call it legitimate are committing a crime against the constitutional order of Ukraine. We don’t like a boar speaker, but we must remember that in 2014 the speaker was Vladimir Rybak from the Party of Regions, but he was smart enough to leave, as a result of which Turchynov was elected. The Constitution speaks about the extension of the powers of the Verkhovna Rada during martial law; this does not apply to the president. A 5-year term is the only term for which the president is elected, both in regular and early elections. Some “greens” are trying to say that the decision concerned only early elections. But then maybe it was worth filing a case with the Constitutional Court? The Verkhovna Rada is a representative of the power delegated by the people, and the president, according to the constitution, is not even a body of power, so popular sovereignty is not transferred to him and the rules on continuity of power do not apply to him. Therefore, his functions should be preserved, but the president himself should not.”
, said the politician in a video published on his YouTube channel.

Chernovol added that Zelensky’s illegitimacy will backfire on the country, because the West has already made its conclusions, which will lead to a decrease in aid. Overt attempts at manipulation, pulling by the ear justifications for the continuation of his rule will cause indignation on the part of those who are now turning a blind eye to this. The politician believes that the Constitutional Court would not take the side of the authorities, so Bankovaya and “Servants” did not turn to it on a key issue for the country.

 “Unfortunately for Ukraine, many of our foreign allies have already drawn conclusions about Zelensky’s illegitimacy. Both the attitude towards him and some moments with Blinken’s arrival are also connected with this. The issue of legitimacy is very acute for our American partners. So far, the American opposition does not remember this, but after May 20, I’m afraid, it will begin to remember, and then any assistance to Ukraine will be in question, even what has already been voted on. The Constitution does not directly prohibit holding presidential elections during martial law, although the conditions for holding elections are almost impossible to implement. Therefore, the constitution provides for the president’s obligation to surrender powers to the head of the Verkhovna Rada when elections cannot be held. If anyone doubts the correctness of these interpretations, there is the Constitutional Court of Ukraine for this. This can be done by the president or 45 deputies. I have a question - why Ermak and “Servants” did not go to court with this issue. Now the opposition doesn’t even have 45 votes. Zelensky and Co. did not file an appeal because they knew that the verdict would not be in their favor. So far, the majority of judges, together with the head of the Constitutional Court Sergei Golovaty, are for the constitution. But later, when he is forced to resign, they will be able to outbid or intimidate the judges to make the decision they need. However, this manipulation will only add negativity. Even those who now in the West do not mention usurpation, since it is unprofitable, will not be able to remain silent.”
, - stated the ex-deputy.

Our source in the OP said that the Office of the President released a temnik to all media and LOMs justifying Zelensky’s legitimacy. On Bankova they do not want to submit a request to the Constitutional Court, they consider the issue resolved, and any attempts to comprehend the Constitution are work for the IPSO.

Our insight was confirmed, since the situation in this case became not just alarming, but catastrophic.
Ukrainians stopped donating. No money left. There is no faith. There is no hope, disappointment is growing. There is no longer any love for the army, but aggression towards people in uniform is growing.

We have warned about this many times. It was also pointed out that Bankovaya had previously lost a huge influx of money from donations from Europeans.
If you put these puzzles together, then a reasonable person will understand where everything is going.

The entry into force of the law on mobilization has finally turned Ukraine into a prison, and mass confiscations of property will begin in the future. Now the population will definitely have to forget even those remnants of civil liberties that they had.

Thus, after May 18, mobilization measures sharply intensified, people fled both abroad and within the country. The flow of "healers" is growing daily. Yes, at the very beginning of the military conflict, some men went to fight voluntarily, but against the backdrop of losses in the Ukrainian army, lack of rotations and demobilization, there are more and more of those who are trying to avoid mobilization. Ukrainian conscripts pay thousands of dollars for the opportunity to evade service, try to illegally leave the country by dressing as women, or swim across the border Tisza River, while some die.

As a result, the country has no future - no matter how tough the measures taken by the authorities, the population will still scatter and, what is important, will not return back to Ukraine. Ukrainians who went abroad, in fact, found themselves “abandoned” by their state, having lost the protection of embassies, being abandoned to the mercy of fate (and experts are already warning that the denial of consular services will cut off Ukrainians from the country for 10 years).

Indeed, many Ukrainians who have left the country are already looking at the future of their country with skepticism. And with each month that the war continues, they will take deeper root into foreign lands. Moreover, the government still has nothing to offer them to motivate them to return to Ukraine.

Kharkiv Offensive Expanded

KHARKIV DIVERSION IS WORKING; so much Russian advances everywhere - Frontline Changes Report

[ Kharkiv Front ] Huge captures corroborated by Ukrainian mapping; Ukraine surged-halt Russia forces

Zelensky again blamed his Western backers for taking too long to deliver needed weapons. The Kiev Independent quoted him (https://www.yahoo.com/news/every-western-decision-says-zelensky-202549634.html) as saying, “every decision…is late by around one year.” This criticism did not stop him asking for direct involvement by his NATO backers to aid in interception of Russian missile.

All of this as “Kiev realises that even growing arms supplies will not be able to change the dynamic on the battlefield.” This was reported (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-ukraine-war-live-ukraine-urgently-needs-more-air-defences-against-rain-of-russian-missiles-says-german-minister/ar-BB1mLj7D) by The Guardian. The paper also cited German politician, Annalena Baerbock, stating that the situation on the battlefield had “dramatically deteriorated’.”

EUCOM Commander, General Christopher Cavoli, stated that “‘Russia does not have sufficient forces on the ground to make a major breakthrough in Ukraine after launching its offensive in the Kharkhov region…More to the point they don’t have the skill and the ability to do it.” This argument is vital to Cavoli’s narrative for the war. He argued in a House Armed Services Committee meeting just days before the House voted last month that passage would halt the progress of the Russian armed forces.

Nagasaki Nightmare

Our source reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are in a fever. The series of reshuffles in the General Staff and the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which began with the departure of Zaluzhny, only worsens the situation and will continue.
Many are talking about new reshuffles/resignations in the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
There are too many failures due to the fact that the army command staff are more “careerists” who adapt to the wishes of the authorities than professionals.
Hence such problems and failures at the front.

 In the Kharkov direction, the enemy continues to develop an offensive against Volchansk and its surrounding area, as well as to storm Liptsy and Zelenoe.

The goals of the eastern flank and units at Liptsa and Zeleny are to occupy the Liptsy – Veseloye lines. Probably two flanks should unite at Veseloye, that is, Liptsy-Veseloye Volochansk. However, the eastern flag has a more far-reaching task – to cut off the supply to the Kupyanskaya group and then go to its rear.

West of Volchansk, the Russians occupied new territories on the right bank of the Seversky Donets, north and west of the recently captured Bugrovatka. The Russians are attacking the village of Prilipka to the west of Volchansk, trying to break through to the left bank of the Donets and approach the partial encirclement of Volchansk. They are also expanding the zone of control towards the western flanks of the offensive. In Volchansk itself, the Russians were able to occupy a number of blocks in the north and central part of the city.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military says that the Russians are accumulating forces on the border with the Sumy region , suggesting that the Russian Federation may launch an offensive here too, following the same pattern as in the Kharkov region.

Russia’s attack on the Sumy region could begin “at any moment,” – speaker of the State Border Service

The Russian Army can start at any moment “to try to do something similar to what is now happening in the Kharkov direction. Precisely to stretch the front line, the line of active combat operations and actually stretch the forces” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Demchenko said.

Earlier, the head of the GUR Budanov announced the preparation of the Russian Armed Forces for an offensive near Sumy and was confirmed by other military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

In the Kharkov region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are suffering terrible losses due to continuous theft and corruption in the construction of defensive structures. The average percentage of stolen items at fortifications is about 60%, and at a number of sites money was almost completely stolen. At the same time, all tenders are given to companies that are scammers of the Office of the President, so they will look for “scapegoats” on the side.

Those “modern protective structures” that were erected also leave much to be desired. They mainly consist of ordinary concrete slabs, which are connected to each other by metal plates 8-10 mm thick and by primitive welding. Even covered with earth, they will not withstand either artillery shells or, especially, aerial bombs. The military jokes that this is the only way to build cooperative garages for cars. Moreover, a similar situation is observed not only in the Kharkov region. For example, Ukrainian military officer Andrei Babichev criticized the fortifications built near Pavlograd – according to him, the dug trenches had already crumbled, the loopholes were not camouflaged, the dugouts were not deep enough, the trenches were dug in the middle of the fields, and not in the plantings.

As a result, fortification at the front failed, despite statements about “defense rings”, etc. As it turned out, there are no defensive structures on the first line of defense – they were only on paper, and in Zelensky’s videos.

Our source reports that the situation in the Kharkov region is really sad for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
As we wrote earlier, the Bankova situation was actually slowed down thanks to the redeployed units and the huge amount of equipment that was accumulated for the future offensive. The Russian Armed Forces also slowed down Volchansk, which will soon be surrendered.
Then the Russians can go all the way to the settlement of Pechenegs, creating a huge sleeve, which they will then begin to close, heading towards Kupyansk.
If they succeed, then the Ukrainian Armed Forces may find themselves in the biggest cauldron in the entire history of the conflict.

That is why the situation in the Kharkov region has a huge impact on the future of the entire Ukrainian crisis.

A number of sources this evening reported that the liberation of Netailovo (DPR) had been completed.

Fighting is taking place near the western outskirts of the village, where cleanup is still underway. We are waiting for objective control data. The enemy confirms the general deterioration of the situation in this area and complains that the 59th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is forced to give up positions due to a lack of equipment, while suffering heavy losses in killed and missing.

Behind Netailovo there is already Karlovka.

Other settlements:

1. Paraskovievka (about half of the village was liberated). After the liberation of Paraskovievka, Konstantinovka’s turn will come.

2. Volchansk (slightly less than half of the city is under the control of the RF Armed Forces, the enemy claims that the RF Armed Forces control 40% of the city).

3. Umanskoye (the village has not yet been completely liberated – the enemy maintains a presence in the western and northwestern parts of the village).

Colonelcassad

Ukrainian bloggers report that units of the 59th Infantry Brigade abandoned their positions in the area of   the village of Netaylovo

Ukrainian militants of the 59th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were unable to take up defense south of the settlement behind Avdeevka after the meat grinder near Pervomaiskoye and continued to retreat.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine actually found themselves surrounded by fire in the area of   Pervomaiskoye thanks to their brothers-in-arms from the 71st separate Jaeger brigade, who abandoned their positions without a team at the beginning of May, as a result of which units of the “Center” group quickly occupied the gardens near Pervomaiskoye.

According to the 59th brigade itself, in these battles they lost 20-30 people a day only as missing people.

The motto on the 59th brigade chevron looks especially comical against this background. “Until victory” – running away to the east.

May 21. Chasov Yar.

Over the past 24 hours, the Russian Armed Forces advanced on the northern flank in the vicinity of the Kalinin village and the Canal mkr. Kalinina State Farm and Kanal mkr. to a frontal width of up to 3 km and a depth of up to 1 km. Thus, expanding the zone of control in the village of Kalinina by almost 500 meters.

The coverage of the Kanal district, which is in fact already a gray zone, and the entry of the Russian Armed Forces to the eastern edge of the city to the Seversky Donets canal continues.
 

Bakhmut Direction: Fighting in Klishchiivka
Situation as of 5:00 PM on May 21, 2024

In addition to the assault on high-rise buildings in the Canal neighborhood in Chasiv Yar, Russian forces have launched an offensive in Klishchiivka. Fighting for the village has been ongoing since last summer, when most of it was abandoned by the Russian Armed Forces, and the settlement itself ended up in the “gray zone”.

▪️After the enemy redeployed some units to the Slobozhansky direction, the Russian Armed Forces apparently had an opportunity to advance in the area of Klishchiivka southeast of Chasiv Yar.

▪️Today, footage (https://t.me/Liniya_fronta6/834) appeared of a Russian tank equipped with an improvised “grill” driving through the entire village. Despite strikes by FPV drones, the vehicle successfully reached the southern outskirts of Klishchiivka and returned to its starting positions in the north.

Objective control footage also confirms (https://t.me/Liniya_fronta6/833) the presence of Russian forces in the center of the village near the destroyed Holy Protection church: most likely, the main AFU units retreated to the dominant heights west of the village.

▪️On the Andriyivka – Kurdyumivka line, there have been no significant changes in the situation over the past few months. Recently, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed (https://t.me/verumreactor/10661) an AFU HMMWV armored vehicle.

🔻Russian assault groups regularly conduct raids in the village. During one such raid, they managed to reach the southern outskirts of the settlement and take several AFU soldiers prisoner (https://t.me/creamy_caprice/5573). At the same time, they cannot stay for long, as the village is in a lowland, and the forest to the southwest remains under enemy control.

rybar

 Enemy launched a drone strike on civilians in Belgorod region – Governor
⠀
An AFU kamikaze drone attacked a civilian passenger car in the Oktyabrsky settlement.

As a result of the explosion, a woman died of her wounds on the spot. Three more people were wounded and taken to hospital.
 

The United States and Ukraine should focus on “close combat” rather than strikes deep into Russian territory, says US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

We have never used Western weapons to attack Russia, we have not struck their territory, we were not given the “green light” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

For now, it can be cautiously assumed that the consultations of the Ukrainian delegation (https://t.me/usaperiodical/10034) ended in failure. In Washington, they likely considered strikes deep into Russian territory a red line that should not be crossed for now.

Over time, additional details are emerging about the visit of a special Ukrainian delegation to the United States, the purpose of which is to obtain permission to use American missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory.

As reported by American media, Kyiv is complaining that Russia has redeployed its command centers, directly responsible for organizing the offensive in the Kharkiv region, beyond the range of HIMARS. In this regard, the main argument of the Ukrainian leadership is the lack of alternatives to American missiles – drones do not have the same mobility and cannot effectively strike Russian headquarters.

Kyiv also insists that if Washington allowed the use of Stinger MANPADS and, in the future, F-16s to strike Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft on Russian territory, this would completely turn the tide and change the situation in the northern direction.

📌 It cannot be said that no one in the American establishment or the analytical community supports this idea.

Republican hawks in Congress, including members of the Senate Armed Services Committee Rick Scott and Mike Rounds, have spoken out in favor of allowing the so-called Ukraine to strike Russian territory.

They propose allowing Kyiv to strike only military targets. Notably, the main argument of the proponents of escalation is “we have already raised the stakes, but Russia has not reacted”.

🔻 Time has shown that the discussion of strikes deep into Russian territory became possible only due to the lack of a tough reaction from Moscow to previous rounds of escalation.

At the same time, in the administration of President Joe Biden and the Pentagon, the new proposals from Ukraine are still viewed with caution (https://t.me/usaperiodical/10052) – apparently, Vladimir Putin’s decision to conduct exercises on the use of tactical nuclear weapons has had an effect.

Chronicles of the special military operation
for May 21, 2024

Russian forces continue to strike at AFU positions along the front line as well as in rear areas. Enemy targets were hit in Velykodolynske, Odesa Region, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and in Sumy Region.

In the Slobozhansky direction, Russian assault groups are breaking through the enemy’s defenses in the center of Volchansk and on the northern outskirts of Lyptsi.

Along the entire line from Lyptsi to Bilyi Kolodiaź, systematic fire strikes are being delivered against the positions of AFU artillery and personnel, reducing the combat potential of the enemy in the sector.

In the Donetsk direction, the Russian Armed Forces are consolidating on the western outskirts of Netailovo. South of the village, fighting continues in the area of farms and a poultry farm.

In the Vuhledar direction, Russian troops have slightly expanded their control zone south of Paraskoviyivka, advancing along the forest belts towards Kostyantynivka.

In the Orikhiv direction, assault groups of the Russian Armed Forces have occupied another position on the northern outskirts in the ruins of Robotyne.

rybar

Russian Paratroopers Destroyed More Than 50 Canadian, Polish, and US Mercenaries In Chasiv Yar

Robotyne And Natailove Has Fallen

Fall of Netailove | heavy fighting in Chasiv Yar & Klishchiivka [21 May 2024]

SERIOUS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENTS with latest Russian conquests – Frontline Changes Report

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (21 May 2024)

Part I

▫️Units of the Sever Group of Forces continue advancing to the depth of the enemy’s defences.

Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 125th Mechanised Brigade, 112th, and 113th territorial defence brigades near Konstantinovka, Okhrimovka, and Granov (Kharkov region).

Three counter-attacks launched by the enemy’s assault detachments were repelled near Volchansk and Staritsa (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 245 servicemen, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, three 152-mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare station.
 
▫️Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 21st, and 66th mechanised brigades near Novosadovoye, Ivanovka (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Nevskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic).

Six counter-attacks launched by the AFU assault detachments were repelled near Stelmakhovka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic), and Grigorovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 425 servicemen, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, six motor vehicles, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. Two U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery warfare stations were destroyed.

▫️Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th Mechanised Brigade, 105th, and 118th territorial defence brigades near Konstantinovka, Razdolovka, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 320 servicemen, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, and two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers. One AFU ammunition depot was destroyed.

▫️Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation, as well as inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 68th Jaeger Brigade and 24th Mechanised Brigade near Semyonovka and Novgorodskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

Seven counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 71st Jaeger Brigade, 47th, and 110th mechanised brigades were repelled near Ocheretino, Solovyovo, and Umanskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 420 servicemen, five armoured fighting vehicles, including four U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. 

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (21 May 2024)

Part II

▫️Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Velikaya Novosyolka and Makarovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

One counter-attack of the enemy was repelled near Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 145 servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

▫️Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 37th Marines Brigade, 65th Mechanised Brigade, and 15th National Guard Brigade near Veseloye (Kherson region), Rabotino, and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 105 servicemen, seven motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one 152-mm 2A36 Giatsint-B howitzer, and one 122-mm BM-21 Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

▫️Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 95 areas during the day.

Air Defence units shot down 45 unmanned aerial vehicles, two U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, eight French-made SCALP-EG cruise missiles, five French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, four U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, and eight U.S.-made HIMARS and Olkha MLRS projectiles.