• The Kremlin admits: “The situation in Ukraine is difficult.”
• Are Zelenskyy’s words about the counter-offensive a distraction?
• Great Britain supplies long-range missiles to Kiev.
• Vatican sources: Possible meeting between Pope and Zelenskyy in Rome.
09:25 – Chinese envoy visits Kyiv on Monday
The Chinese special envoy will be in Kiev next Monday. This was announced by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.
09:16 – Kiev: “The Russians are lying, we advanced two kilometers”
The Armed Forces of Ukraine advanced 2 km to the Bakhmut area. To justify their failures, the Russians fabricate victories and spread false information about the Ukrainian military leadership. This is what Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar says. UNIAN brings it back. “During the week, Bakhmut and related events remained the main topic in Russian telegraph channels and mass media,” Malyar added. “Analysis of the reports shows that this city is extremely important to the enemy. It’s almost sacred.”
9:14 am – ISW: “Russia has abandoned its goal of encircling Bakhmut”
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the deployment of inferior Russian forces around Bakhmut indicates that Russia has abandoned its goal of encircling large numbers of Ukrainian forces there. According to the ISW, Russia began scaling back its efforts around the city in January when it stopped recruiting prisoners for the Wagner group. This decision may have prompted Wagner boss Evgeny Prigozhin to step up his efforts on Soledar and Bakhmut and publicly express his disappointment at the lack of support. Even though Russia allocated more resources to Bakhmut’s front in March and April, sending T-90 tanks and Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) to the area, the inability of irregular and degraded units to hold the city’s flanks suggests that Russia reduced its efforts. The ISW then indicated that the threat of Russian encirclement of significant Ukrainian forces at Bakhmut may have passed.
09:02 – The governor of Kherson: “One casualty and four injured after Russian attacks”
One person died and four others were injured in yesterday’s Russian attacks in the Kherson region. This was stated by the governor of the Kherson region Oleksandr Prokudin. “The Russian army has attacked the residential areas of settlements in the region: school buildings, hospitals and the premises of two critical infrastructure companies in the city of Kherson,” Prokudin wrote in Telegram.
08:40 – Russia accused: “Ukraine threatens the staff of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant”
Zaporizhia Regional Administration official Vladimir Rogov denounced that the Kyiv authorities continue to send threatening messages to employees of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant on social media. Rogov said these actions were an attempt by the Kiev regime to undermine the nuclear power plant’s recovery processes and paralyze its work. Despite this, the facility continues to run normally and, contrary to the claims of the Ukrainian side, there was no evacuation. People were intimidated by posting their personal details on social media and threatened with reprisals and murder, both publicly and through personal messages in various chat rooms.
08:33 – The Kremlin denies the Ukrainian advance on Bakhmut, but Prigozhin denies it: “They are regaining ground, Shoigu should come and assess.” Pro-Russia blogger: “Moscow troops are losing several bases”
FROM OUR REPORTER
KRAMATORSK — The Kremlin denies advancing on Bakhmut, but it is the same pro-Russian bloggers and Yevgeny Prigozin himself who claim that Ukrainian forces are regaining ground. Again there is a conflict between the powerful Moscow Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the boss Wagner: “Individual statements on Telegram about a ‘breakthrough’ at several points on the front line do not correspond to reality,” the Kremlin said. Words to which Prigozhin replied by inviting Shoigu to Bakhmut: “In view of the difficult operational situation, as well as your many years of experience in combat operations, I ask you to come to the territory of the Bakhmut settlement, which is under the control of the paramilitary units of the Russian Snore and assess the situation yourself,” writes Prigozhin.
A Russian military blogger, Sasha Simonov, said that units of the Russian Army’s 4th Brigade had withdrawn from an area west of the city: “And this is consistent with Ukrainian reports on this week’s progress in Bakhmut,” reports CNN. “Ukrainian fighters also tried to break through near Bohdanivka, northwest of Bakhmut,” Simonov said. Another blogger, Rybar, reports on the Ukrainian advance on Bakhmut’s flanks. Rybar claims that the Ukrainians advanced near Klishchiivka and Bohdanivka and that Russian forces lost “several bases”. Obviously Kiev is very level-headed, but as the hours go by we start to lose our balance. “An active offensive phase of the Ukrainian armed forces is underway in Bakhmut. The enemy is mostly on the defensive. And in a position of shock,” one of the Ukrainian front-line officers, Major Maksym Zhorin, wrote in Telegram. “The Russians must maintain a strong defense and their advance is out of the question for now. Dynamic events are currently taking place on the southern and northern flanks of Bakhmut, but we will not talk about the result yet,” Zhorin said. “As for the ‘ammunition shortage’ of Wagner or other Russian units…I can assure you they are not lacking in weapons,” he added. Whether or not this is the much-touted counter-offensive remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure. For the first time in 11 months, Bakhmut’s “meat grinder” begins to wobble. And Putin’s much-touted victory didn’t materialize.
08:21 – A Ukrainian officer: “In Bakhmut we are in an active offensive phase”
According to one of the Ukrainian officials stationed in the region, Ukraine is currently in an “active offensive phase” around Bakhmut after months of mainly defensive activity. Major Maksym Zhorin said on Telegram, quoted by CNN, that there are dynamic events on both the southern and northern flanks of Bakhmut, but it is not yet possible to talk about the outcome.
08:20 – Prigozhin invites Shoigu (Russian Defense Minister) to Bakhmut
The head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin invited the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shouigu to Bakhmut. This can be read in a letter to Shoigu that Prigozhin published on Telegram. “Taking into account the difficult operational situation, as well as your many years of experience in combat operations, I ask you to come to the territory of the Bakhmut settlement, which is under the control of paramilitary units of the Russian Federation, and assess the situation yourself,” writes Prigozhin.
08:15 – Moscow denies: “Kiev did not break through Bakhmut’s front line”
The Moscow Defense Ministry denied that the Ukrainian army broke through the front line at various points, as claimed by multiple sources on Telegram, arguing that the situation on the ground is under control. The allusion comes from what many Russian military bloggers have written, according to which Kiev’s troops have advanced north and south of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, which has been under siege for months. According to some, this would have started the long-awaited spring counter-offensive, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy only spoke about yesterday and stressed that “more time” was needed. The Russian Defense Ministry wrote in a post that “the statements made by individual Telegram channels about ‘defense breakthroughs’ in various areas along the military line of contact do not correspond to reality”. And again: “The general situation in the area of the military special operation is under control.”
07:54 – Powerful explosion in Melitopol, Zaporizhia region
A powerful explosion was felt in Melitopol, a city in southeastern Ukraine in Zaporizhia Oblast, the city’s mayor Ivan Fyodorov said, without giving further details.
According to Ria-Melitopol, the explosion was well heard by residents of the central part of the city, in the park and in the Pishanaya area. According to Russian forces in the city, the blast was a bomb planted in a garbage can by the Ukrainian military.
07:43 – “Prigozhin (Wagner) seriously disturbs the Kremlin leadership”
According to the latest report on the current conflict in Ukraine, released by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Kremlin sources – who preferred to remain anonymous – said recent video messages from the leader and founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, seriously harass the top Russian leadership. Indeed, Prigozhin attacked Moscow head-on, questioning its ability to protect Russia.
07:40 – Pope Francis and Saturday’s agenda left blank: This opens the door to a meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican
(by Gian Guido Vecchi) There are no official confirmations, the moment is delicate and the less said the better: “Every word, even if spoken with the best of intentions, risks becoming more of an obstacle than an aid to to become peace”, but in short: they are pointing out to the upper echelons of the Holy See that the Pope’s official agenda on Saturday is empty, which is a very rare occurrence. The room for a meeting is open.
Finally, yesterday afternoon, rumors of an audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome multiplied, and across the Tiber the “possible” has become the “likely”, accompanied by the certainty that Francis can’t wait for anything else and is ready to accept it: Because “peace always comes from opening channels,” he stated on his return from Hungary at the end of April and announced a confidential “mission” to “open a path of peace” between Moscow and Kiev. (…)
– The first meeting between Pope Francis and Zelenskyy in 2020
06:40 – The Abrams tanks sent from Washington have arrived in Germany
US Abrams tanks needed to train Ukraine’s armed forces have arrived in Germany and are on their way to the Grafenwoehr military base, where training will begin in the coming weeks. The Kyiv Independent writes it, citing the Associated Press. The tanks have been modified to military specifications and are expected to arrive in Ukraine in early fall, a US official told the AP on condition of anonymity. At the end of January, US President Joe Biden announced the delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The aim was to put pressure on Germany to authorize the delivery of its Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Compared to Soviet tanks, which both Ukraine and Russia are currently using on the battlefield, the mobility and firepower of Western equipment could help Ukraine launch more effective counteroffensives, writes The Kyiv Independent.
01:38 – Russian Ministry of Defense: Our attack on Bakhmut continues
The attack of Russian troops on Bakhmut continues. This was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense on the grounds that the assault detachments “continue to liberate the western part of Bakhmut with the support of aviation and artillery”. Ria Novosti reports about it. The statements came after months of controversial news leaking from various fronts about major difficulties for Russian troops in the city.
1:35 am – US sells 60 military transport helicopters to Germany
The United States has approved the sale of 60 military transport helicopters and other equipment to NATO member Germany for $8.5 billion. According to a statement by the US Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the mission is intended to “improve the lifting capabilities” of the German armed forces and thus enable Germany to “improve internal security and ward off regional threats”. The helicopters involved are CH-47F Chinooks, military maneuver and attack helicopters. The deal “will support U.S. internal and external security policies by strengthening the security of a NATO ally whose strength is important to Europe’s political and economic stability,” the statement said. The US State Department has approved the potential sale and the DSCA notified Congress yesterday.
01:26 – THE MILITARY POINT – Zelenskyy brakes counteroffensive: Are we really heading for the “Korean scenario”?
by Andrea Marinelli and Guido Olimpio
Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the BBC: “It is premature to launch an offensive, it would cost too many lives.” A statement that contains some distraction but also reality. First. Ukraine plays a lot of waiting, they want an opponent to expect an attack on the ropes. We’ve been talking about it for months, detailed maps of the targets are being released, there’s no element of surprise, which is often the key in military operations. Small and big. So the president, along with his generals, is trying to cover up: if not everything, then at least something. The thesis was relaunched by Wagner boss Evgeny Prighosin, who in turn was accused by the Ukrainians of toying with false announcements.
01:24 – Vatican sources, meeting between Pope Francis and Zelenskyy is possible on Saturday
“It is possible that the Pope will meet the President of Ukraine on Saturday.” Vatican sources tell Ansa, responding to rumors that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could pay a lightning visit to Rome. At the moment it is only a hypothesis and therefore there are no official confirmations about the time and place of this possible meeting. The Pope received Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal a few weeks ago, while he received Zelenskyy before the war in February 2020. During his visit to Rome, Zelenskyi is also expected to meet with the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the Prime Minister, Giorgia Melonen
– Meeting of Pope Francis and Zelenskyy in the Vatican in February 2020
01:19 – Zelenskyy will not be able to speak at the Eurovision Song Contest
Due to a decision by the organizer of the singing competition, which is taking place in Liverpool these days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be able to speak via video message during the Eurovision final. “Mr Zelensky’s request to address the Eurovision Song Contest audience, while made with laudable intentions, cannot be grudgingly accepted as it would be against the rules of the event,” said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizing the competition. “One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political nature of the event. This policy prohibits political or similar statements during the competition,” the EBU explained. This year’s Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Liverpool in the north of England as the UK has offered to host the Eurovision Song Contest rather than last year’s winner Ukraine who were supposed to be hosting the event but due to the Russian invasion had to give up. The final, taking place on Saturday and attended by 26 countries, includes a special tribute to Ukraine with performances by 11 Ukrainian artists, including last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra. In the evening, video clips showing the different areas of the country will be shown. Liverpool also unveiled a memorial to Ukraine as a “symbol of hope”, an aluminum statue of a man holding a book with a dove bearing the Ukrainian flag waving from it. The statue will stand in Strawberry Field, the garden surrounding the Salvation Army orphanage that gave its name to the Beatles’ cult psychedelic song before it was sent to Ukraine after the war. As with the 2022 edition, Russia was excluded from the competition.
– A moment of his Ukrainian Tvorchi’s performance at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023