Ukraine – 5/29/23 Sitrep
By: Robert Homans & Bohdan Chomiak
May 29, 2023
Memorial Day
On the day that we in the United States of America pause and remember those who gave their lives for our Country and our values, we reach out to Ukrainians, those who gave their lives for their country and for the same values, and their families.
News From the Battlefield
Russian Missile Attacks – If it wasn’t so previously, today the battlefield is not just Bakhmut, Kreminna, or Kherson, but with the nearly non-stop Russian missile attacks, mostly directed at civilians, if it hasn’t been the case previously the battlefield is now the entire territory of Ukraine.
Because Ukraine is shooting down nearly all of the missiles launched by Russia, the immediate danger is falling debris from destroyed Russian missiles and Ukrainian interceptors. Falling debris have caused fires in several cities, including Kyiv, and a few deaths.
Falling debris make flats located on top floors of residential high rises potentially a dangerous place to be. My wife owns a flat on the top floor (16th Floor) of a residential high-rise on the edge of Kyiv. Her niece is currently living there, along with her young son.
The neighborhood where my wife’s flat is located would’ve been part of Russia’s invasion route into Kyiv, if they hadn’t been stopped from crossing the Irpin River by Ukrainian defenders. During the fighting along the Irpin River a friend of mine, who lives in a flat nearby, told me that she evacuated for a few weeks.
My wife’s nephew, a first responder, lives in another city with his disabled brother. Unlike in the United States, where first responders belong to municipal agencies, including police and fire departments, in Ukraine first responders are under the Ministry of Interior and they serve in a manner similar to the Army. Here is an article about the first responders, and the critical role they play in Ukraine’s war effort, from a recent edition of the “Village Voice.”
In an attack early last week, falling debris caused a fire near a Metro station in a neighborhood called Minskaya. We used to live not far from that station.
This leads me to conclude that residents of Kyiv, and other Ukrainian cities that are being subjected to almost nightly attacks launched by the Russian Federation, are being forced into playing a game that I’ll call “Rashist Roulette,” where you lose if either you or your residence are located in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
“Reporting From Ukraine” – He covers significant progress Ukraine has made south of Bakhmut. In his report, he mentions 2 Ukrainian units, the 3rd Assault Brigade and the 28th Mechanized Brigade. The 3rd has been fighting in Bakhmut from almost the beginning. 2 friends of mine, husband and wife, who have been supplying medical supplies to a field hospital serving the 3rd, recently received a citation from their commanding officer, just one example of the close relationship between the military and civil society.
The 28th Mechanized Brigade is the subject of a long article that appeared in the latest edition of the “New Yorker” Magazine. The article states that after liberating Kherson last November, the 28th was ordered approximately 250 miles to the northeast, to Bakhmut, without any rest & recuperation. The writer said that they were leaving just prior to an assault that the 28th was preparing to undertake. This assault must be the one described in “Reporting From Ukraine.”
The New Yorker article is a very vivid description of what trench warfare around Bakhmut has been like for the soldiers involved. Units like the 3rd and the 28th are engaged in sustained combat, without relief, likely because of the units Ukraine is holding back, as part of Ukraine’s anticipated offensive.
If the 3rd and the 28th continue to make progress to the south of Bakhmut, they may end up playing a major role in Ukraine’s offensive despite themselves. I still believe that the Offensive will consist largely of Ukraine taking advantage of targets of opportunity all along the “Zero Line,” rather than one big movement. Bakhmut may be one such opportunity.
In a previous edition of “Reporting From Ukraine,” he said that Ukraine has been accumulating reserves west of Bakhmut, including artillery. So far, I don’t believe that those reserves have been deployed in active combat. However, the presence of Ukrainian tanks south of Bakhmut may be an indication that this is beginning to change.
5/29/23 Sitrep
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon May 28 to 12:00 noon May 29, 2023
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Monday May 29
8:11 am: Biden and McCarthy are trying to convince Congress to support raising the national debt limit, CNN.
8:12 am: Israeli warplanes fired at several military facilities near the Syrian capital Damascus, - Xinhua.
8:13 am: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Kosovo to reduce the level of tension in relations with Serbia, which has increased sharply in recent days due to the confrontation caused by mayoral elections in the territories where ethnic Serbs live, - Reuters.
Sunday May 28
1:16 pm: Since the beginning of the war, the EU has delivered 90 thousand tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, - DW
· "This is by far the most complex, largest and longest operation within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in the entire history of its existence," DW quotes the statement of European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarchych.
6:09 pm: Voting in the second round of the presidential election has ended in Turkey — the counting of votes has begun.
· After processing 21.5% of the ballots: 60.7% of the votes are for Erdogan and 39.3% for Kilicdaroglu, reports Yeni Safak.
6:38 pm: After processing 61.4% of the ballot boxes, the incumbent President of Turkey Erdoğan won 55.3%, the oppositionist Kemal Kilicdaroglu — 44.7%.
· The corresponding data were published by Yeni Şafak.
7:46 pm: CEC of Turkey provided the first official data:
· After processing 54% of the ballots, Erdoğan has 54.47%, Kilicdaroğlu has 45.53%.
8:36 pm: According to preliminary data, incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins the 2nd round of the elections, — TRT.
· Erdogan addressed supporters in Istanbul and said that the people had handed over the responsibility of running the country to him and his administration for the next five years.
9:48 pm: In Ankara, crowds of Erdogan supporters await his address.
· According to Anadolu, after processing 99.37% of the ballot boxes, he received 52.09% of the votes, while Kılıçdaroğlu scored 47.91%.
10:44 pm: Recep Erdogan became the President of Turkey, — CEC.
· He and his administration will manage the country for the next five years.
· Volodymyr Zelenskyi has already congratulated Erdogan on his victory.
11:25 pm: The EU promises to hold the Russian leadership accountable for the attacks on Kyiv and Dnipro.
· This was announced by the press secretary of the EU foreign policy service, Nabila Massrali, on Twitter.
NATIONAL
Monday May 29
7:05 am: Tonight, the Russian military launched another missile and air strike with "shahedas" on Ukraine. Information regarding the consequences of this terrorist attack is currently being clarified, - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· In total, during the past day, the Russians carried out 97 airstrikes 59 Iranian attack UAVs "Shahed" were used. 58 "martyrs" were destroyed by our defenders. They also carried out 39 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.
· Russians continue to focus their main efforts on attempts to fully occupy Luhansk and Donetsk regions. During the past day, units of the defense forces repelled 19 attacks, - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· For a day, the aviation of the defense forces struck 15 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the Russian Federation, as well as 6 - on their anti-aircraft missile complexes, - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· During the past day, a reconnaissance UAV was destroyed.
· Missile troops and artillery units were hit, 3 areas of concentration of weapons and military equipment, the S-300 anti-aircraft missile complex and the Tor anti-aircraft missile complex, 6 control points, an electronic warfare station, an artillery unit in a firing position and a Russian ammunition depot.
7:56 am: During the nighttime massive missile-drone attack, the Russians directed "Shahed-131/136" kamikaze drones to the south of Ukraine. One was destroyed in Odesa — OK "Pivden"
· As a result of hitting the port infrastructure of Odesa, a fire broke out. It was quickly eliminated. Information about the scale of destruction is being clarified.
8:49 am: The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 37 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, 29 "Shahed-136/131" attack UAVs and 1 operational-tactical reconnaissance UAV.
· In total, during that night, the Russians launched up to 40 cruise missiles and about 35 attack drones.
10:28 am: The missile threat level is extremely high, OK "South"
· Russian forces continue to increase the presence of missile carriers in the Black Sea. As of 10:00 a.m., there are 3 missile carriers in the Black Sea - 2 surface, 1 underwater. Total salvo - up to 20 "Calibers".
Sunday May 28
12:31 pm: The Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, published a video of how the 109th separate mountain assault battalion of the 10th OGSHBr "Edelweiss" works.
2:16 pm: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky proposed to introduce sanctions against Iran for 50 years. He submitted the draft resolution to the Verkhovna Rada.
3:45 pm: This night, during the mass attack of the Russians "Shakhed" on the capital, aviation was involved in the downing of the UAV, Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said.
· "The aviation that we involve in shooting down, in particular, UAVs, is not as effective as we would like it to be. If we had an F-16, of course this aircraft with its powerful radar and weapons could 100% implement its the task is in heaven," he added.
5:39 pm: "Shakhtar" prematurely became the champion of Ukraine in football.
· In the penultimate round, "Shakhtar" defeated the nearest pursuer in the table, "Dnipro-1" with a score of 3:0.
· This is the 14th title in the history of the Donetsk club - two less than the record holders from "Dynamo".
7:07 pm: Evening address of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi:
· "Today, our state went through one of the largest Russian attacks by Shaheds - 54 drones at the same time.
· Almost all of them are shot down. Unfortunately, there are hits in Zhytomyr Oblast.
· But still, most of the destruction was averted, most of the lives that could have been taken by these "Shahedis" were saved."
7:24 pm Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on May 28:
· "According to the updated information, this day, at night, the Russian Federation launched another massive attack on the territory of Ukraine, using Iranian attack UAVs "Shahed", 58 out of 59 were destroyed by our defenders.
· In general, during this day, the enemy carried out 91 airstrikes and carried out about 25 attacks from rocket salvo systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas.
· "The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on attempts to completely capture the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
· During the day, units of the defense forces repelled 18 enemy attacks."
· "In Lysychansk, Luhansk Region, about 80 people from the "Storm-Z" unit of the Russian occupation forces deserted. They voluntarily left their combat positions.
· Also, in the Bakhmut area, about 30 people from the "Wagner" PMC deserted, who also voluntarily left their combat positions, stealing military equipment."
8:11 pm: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: "Forcible passporting of Ukrainian citizens in the Nizhnyosyrogozhsky district of the temporarily seized territory of the Kherson region continues.
· In particular, the Russian occupiers constantly put pressure on the locals, threaten deportation and confiscation of property.
· Local citizens with a Ukrainian passport, driver's license and technical passport for a vehicle are threatened with confiscation if they refuse to receive Russian-style documents."
· "For a day, the aviation of the defense forces carried out 13 strikes on areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the enemy, as well as 2 - on anti-aircraft missile systems.
· Units of missile troops and artillery hit 3 areas of concentration of weapons and military equipment, the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, 3 control points and the enemy's ammunition depot.
9:35 pm: Storm Shadow long-range missiles delivered by Britain hit 100% of the targets identified by the General Staff.
· This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov.
· We will remind that these were the first long-range cruise missiles in Ukraine's arsenal.
MORDOR - Russia
Monday May 29
10:55 am: There were explosions in Shchebekino, Belgorod region, - local mass media.
· After the shelling, a black column of smoke rises.
11:14 am: Russians brought S-400 air defense system to Belarus, — "Belarusian Gayun"
· The echelon with anti-aircraft missile systems arrived at the territory of the 25th missile and artillery arsenal near Stovtsy in the Minsk region.
SUNDAY May 28
12:51 pm British intelligence: In Russia, as in the USSR, forced labor for the needs of the war is increasingly promoted.
· Russian state media and business groups asked the Ministry of Economy to authorize a six-day work week for workers given the economic demands of the war, apparently without additional pay.
4:17 pm Institute for the Study of War: Russia transfers "DNR" fighters to Bakhmut to replace the "Wagnerians" and strengthens the flanks
· Wagner PMC mercenaries continue to withdraw from Bakhmut to recuperate and regroup behind the rear as Russian offensive operations in and around the city diminish. At the same time, the Russian Federation transfers the forces of the "DPR" to this area and reinforces the flanks with regular formations of its army.
10:33 pm: New interception of GUR Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
· A Russian serviceman talks about the loss of personnel and appeals to the President of the Russian Federation.
DONETSK
Sunday May 28
12:13 pm Donetsk RMA: The night before, the Russians launched a missile attack on Kramatorsk — they hit the industrial zone, without casualties.
· Kurakhove, Ostrivske, Kostyantynivka, Chasovoyarsk community, Siversk, Torske and Zarichne were also under fire.
· In just one day, the Russians killed 1 resident of Donetsk region and wounded 3 more.
8:01 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Mariupol, local residents report.
9:02 pm: Smoke rises after explosions in the temporarily occupied Urzuf of the Mariupol district. Footage from local social networks.
ZAPORIZHIA
Monday May 29
10:43 am: The SBU detained a former communist deputy of the Zaporozhye City Council, who was "pointing" Russian missiles at Ukraine
· Under his guidance, the Russians carried out a series of missile attacks on Zaporozhye in April and May of this year.
· Then, as a result of enemy shelling, 3 local residents died. Also, 30 private houses were destroyed and one of the industrial enterprises of the region was damaged.
Sunday May 28
7:57 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in temporarily occupied Berdyansk.
8:53 pm: The Berdyansk MBA confirmed the explosions in the temporarily occupied community.
· "At least 5 more hits from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on Russian positions in the Berdyansk community. Russian anti-aircraft defense has once again shown its inefficiency," the message says.
DNIPRO
Sunday May 28
11:07 pm Dnipro RMA: during the day Russians attacked Myrivska and Marganetska communities in Nikopol district.
· There were no deaths or injuries. The consequences of the shelling are being clarified.
KHERSON
Monday May 29
12:16 am Social Neworks: Explosions are heard again in Kherson,
7:01 am: Explosions are heard in Kherson,
Sunday May 28
12:41 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Kherson region.
8:04 pm Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Berislav district of Kherson region,
ODESA
Monday May 29
1:45 am Social Networks: An explosion was heard in Odesa.
Sunday May 28
11:44 pm: The streets of Odesa are flooded after heavy rains.
KYIV
Monday May 29
1:01 am: Air defense is operating in the Kyiv region on the approaches to the capital, Kyiv Municipal Military Administration reports.
3:15 am: An explosion was heard in the Kyiv region, subscribers report. Preliminarily - air defense work.
3:21 am: Vitali Klitschko: An explosion in the Holosiiv district of the capital.
3:30 am: Vitali Klitschko: Missile shot down near Kyiv. Air defense works.
3:46 am: Vitali Klitschko: An explosion in the Podilsky district of the capital. Emergency services went to the scene. According to preliminary information, a private house caught fire as a result of falling debris.
4:02 am: The information regarding the fall of debris in one of the yards of the Holosiiv district with the victims has not been confirmed, - Kyiv Municipal Military Administration.
4:02 am: Vitali Klitschko: At all places of calls, where the capital's medics went, no victims were found.
4:06 am: Debris falling was recorded in Svyatoshyn district. According to information at the moment, there are no casualties or serious damage. The data is being verified, - Kyiv Municipal Military Administration.
4:08 am: Vitali Klitschko: In the Podilsky district, the roof of a one-story private house was damaged due to falling debris. There was no fire or casualties.
4:12 am: The Kyiv Municipal Military Administration published a video with the consequences of falling debris in the Podilsky District of Kyiv.
4:16 am: Vitali Klitschko informs about the call of services to the Shevchenkivskyi district with a report of an explosion. It is known beforehand about the smoke.
4:19 am: In Sviatoshyn district, rescuers are putting out a fire at the place where the debris fell, - Mayor Vitaly Klitschko.
· The building where the debris fell has been evacuated. Preliminarily, there were no casualties or serious damage.
4:24 am: Vitali Klitschko: In the Shevchenko district of Kyiv, the smoke is not related to shelling and explosions. The reason is domestic.
· 5:07 am: Over 40 air targets over Kyiv were detected and destroyed by air defense forces, — Kyiv Municipal Military Administration.
5:12 am: Vitali Klitschko: As a result of the air attack by the Russians in Kyiv, there was no damage or destruction of infrastructure and other facilities, multi-apartment residential buildings. There are no victims or dead.
8:43 am: Chief of Police of the Kyiv Region Andriy Nebytov showed a photo of the consequences of the night attack in the region.
· According to him, residential buildings and infrastructure facilities were damaged in several districts. There are no dead or injured.
9:09 am: In Brovary, Kyiv region, several houses were damaged after the night shooting of "Shahids" - their windows were blown out, the mayor of the city, Ihor Sapozhko, said.
10:14 am: Footage of a fire in a summer cottage cooperative in the Kyiv region after a night air attack. Photo of the National Police.
11:16 am: Explosions are heard in Kyiv, subscribers report. Preliminarily - air defense work.
11:17 am: Air defense is working in Kyiv! - Kyiv Municipal Military Administration
11:22 am: Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko reports on explosions in the central areas of the capital.
11:27 am: In the President's Office, they urged not to film the work of air defense.
11:30 am: Emergency services went to a call near the center of the capital. The attack on Kyiv continues. Don't leave the shelters! - Mayor Vitaly Klitschko.
11:34 am: In the Obolonskyi district, reports of rocket fragments falling on the roadway. All services are on their way to the site, - Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.
Sunday May 28
9:18 pm: The price of travel in public transport will not increase in Kyiv until the end of the war.
· The mayor of the city, Vitaliy Klitschko, announced this.
CHERNIHIV
Monday May 29
11:35 am Operational Command North: In Chernihiv Oblast, air defense is working. "
SUMY
Sunday May 28
1:38 pm Sumy RMA: At night and in the morning, the enemy carried out 8 shellings - 23 explosions. Seredino-Budsk, Svesk, Shalyginsk, Yunakivsk, Bilopolsk, Krasnopilsk communities.
· 11 private households and a power line were damaged by an explosion as a result of the reset of the KAB in the Krasnopil community.
RIVNO
Sunday May 28
1:56 pm: Ukrainian defenders shot down two "Shakhed" over the Rivne region at night.
· This was announced by the head of the Rivne regional government Vitaliy Koval.
VINNYTSIA
Monday May 29
1:43 am: In the Vinnytsia region, the work of anti-aircraft defense can be heard, RMA reports.
KHMELNYTSKI
Monday May 29
3:04 am: Explosions are heard in Khmelnytskyi region. Preliminarily - air defense work.
3:31 am: Explosions are heard in Khmelnytskyi region, subscribers report. Preliminarily - air defense work. We are waiting for official information.
3:40 am: Explosions are heard again in Khmelnytskyi region, subscribers report. Preliminarily - air defense work. We are waiting for official information.
3:44 am: Sounds of explosions in the Khmelnytskyi region are the result of air defense, the regional military administration reports.
4:04 am: Explosions are heard again in Khmelnytskyi region. Preliminarily - air defense work.
9:40 am: At night, Russian troops hit objects in Khmelnytskyi. One of them is a military officer, OVA.
· At the moment, work on localization of fires in fuel and lubricant warehouses and storage of combat material assets is ongoing. 5 aircraft were disabled. Restoration work of the runway has begun.
· Data on the victims are being clarified.
POLTAVA
Monday May 29
1:49 am Social Networks: An explosion was heard in Kremenchuk, Poltava Region. Preliminarily - air defense work.
3:11 am Social Networks: An explosion was heard in Kremenchuk, Poltava region. Preliminarily - air defense work.
9:35 am Poltava RMA: Two missiles and a drone were shot down over the Poltava region.
· The sounds that local residents could hear at night are the work of air defense. As of this morning, there were no reports of destruction.
KIROVOHRAD
Monday May 29
ZHYTOMYR
Monday May 29
3:31 am: An explosion was heard in Zhytomyr region, subscribers reported. Preliminarily - air defense work. We are waiting for official information.
Sunday May 28
5:08 pm Zhytomyr City Council: During today's air raid in Zhytomyr, more than two dozen houses were damaged.
· "These are mostly common areas of multi-apartment buildings," the report says.
LVIV
Monday May 29
4:00 am Lviv RMA: In Lviv Oblast, air defense is working.,
9:23 am Lviv RMA: Air defense shot down one Russian missile over the Zolochiv district of Lviv region.
· Debris fell on a wooden farm building, it burned. A nearby tractor also burned down. People were not injured. A gap appeared at the place where the debris fell.
10:03 am: Pictures of the consequences of falling rocket fragments in the Lviv region
· The State Emergency Service reported that as a result of the incident, the wooden farm building was completely burned down, and the tractor was damaged.
Comparing Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to Russian invasion of Ukraine using Wikipedia and Ukraine Ministry of Defense Daily Bulletins. Soviet and Russian military losses not including captured equipment.
SOURCES
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://espreso.tv/
https://cutt.ly/Blyskavka