Ukraine – 5/31/23 Sitrep
By: Bohdan Chomiak & Robert Homans
May 31, 2023
Elina Svitolina
Elina Svitolina is Ukraine’s most successful tennis player, with career earnings of over $21 million. She has ranked as high as No. 3 in the World, and she is a former WTA Champion.
Svitolina is coming back from a layoff of approximately 1 year, during which time she had a child. This is the interview she recently did for the Tennis Channel, after winning her 1st Round match at the French Open. She has since won her 2nd Round match. Svitolina is unseeded at the French Open. Had she not taken the time off, she would likely have been seeded in the top 10.
Prior to the start of the French Open Svitolina won the 1st tournament she entered since returning from her absence, at Strasbourg. She defeated a Russian, Anna Blinkova. During the Tennis Channel interview, Svitolina announced that she’s giving her prize money from winning at Strasbourg to organizations supporting Ukrainian children. Note that Svitolina did not shake hands with Blinkova at the end of their match.
Servant of the People MP Relaxes Abroad During the War, and Drives a New US $190,000 Car/Ukrainska Pravda.
“Servant of the People” is the name of Pres. Zelenskyy’s political party. The lucky MP is Bohdan Torokhtii. What is different now is that activities of Torokhtii and his colleagues are being publicized.
News From the Battlefield
“What will it take for Ukraine to maintain and operate the M1 Abrams?”/By Ilia Ponomarenko, Kyiv Independent
Ponomarenko is probably the best war correspondant covering Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine. It is a very detailed analysis of the issues Ukraine will have to address if they are to operate the Abrams tank successfully, and includes an interview with Gen. Mark Hertling, and others. In previous emails I have argued that, as was the case last year in the Kherson and Kharkiv offensives, the Bradleys, Strykers and the European armored personnel carriers will be more effective than the main battle tanks Ukraine has received from several of its partners.
“Fighting smarter: Ukraine’s transformation into a military innovator”/By Agatha Gorski, Kyiv Independent
Keep in mind, that in February 2014, at the time of Russia’s invasion of Crimea, Ukraine had approximately 6,000 combat ready soldiers. One of Russia’s stated objectives for its latest invasion of Ukraine was to de-militarize Ukraine. How has that worked out?
I have 4 takeaways from this article:”
· Ukraine’s defense industry is being transformed, from a top-down State-owned enterprise, Ukrboronprom, to a series of nimble, privately-owned enterprises that are developing devices not only for the Ukrainian Armed Forces but, eventually, for export.
· Involvement of Western venture capital. Western venture firms are no strangers in Ukraine, with Grammarly being one example, but they are becoming a significant source of funding for the defense firms that are playing major roles in the war, at a time when most commentators seem to focus on government-to-government assistance Ukraine is getting.
· Continuing ability of Ukrainians to think out of the box. An example from the article is “EFarm,” an autonomous demining vehicle. The article quotes PM Denys Shmyhal, who said that 250,000 hectares (over 611,000 acres), or over 40% of Ukraine’s territory, has been mined (the 40% of Ukraine’s territory seems very high – there are single farms in Ukraine that are 250,000 hectares). Ukraine’s inability to ship farm products by sea as a barrier to food security in many countries, the inability to sow large amounts of Ukraine’s productive farmland is likely an even greater problem. African countries suffering from food shortages to Russian FM Lavrov, the next time he tries an African charm offensive.
· Continuing importance of volunteers. Drone Lab got its start with the help of volunteers assembling attack drones. I hope they all get shares in the company.
“Reporting From Ukraine” Yesterday’s drone strike near Moscow was more extensive than Russia has tried to let on. According to “Reporting from Ukraine,” over 30 drones were used, and they were being directed at a military installation located near Moscow. Some of the drones were diverted by electronic warfare, and they ended up striking buildings in Rublyovka, the fanciest address in Greater Moscow. Apparently, this development was cheered by many ordinary Russias, who are getting tired of the “elite” engaging in business as usual while they endure increased dislocations. Somewhere, the Russian descendant of Madame Defarge is busily doing her knitting.
5/31 Sitrep
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon May 30 to 12:00 noon May 31, 2023
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Wednesday May 31
12:50 am: A Ukrainian athlete refused to shake hands with an Iranian at the World Championship in classical bench press lying down in South Africa
· During the medal ceremony, Vinnytsia powerlifter Ivan Chuprinko did not shake the hand of Amir Reze Mesforush from Iran
8:30 am: U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, after a meeting with British national security advisor Tim Burrow, said that he expects a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive. Graham wrote about this on his Twitter page.
9:34 am: Poland orders AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles from the United States to arm its helicopters.
· This was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Poland Mariusz Blaszczak.
· Hellfire missiles will be used to arm multipurpose AW 149 helicopters and AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters.
11:35 am: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Putin will visit Turkey, - Turkish Hürriyet publication.
· "Putin will make a separate special visit to Turkey after the inauguration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After Putin, President of Ukraine Zelenskyi will come to Turkey," Hürriyet correspondent Hande Firat said with reference to sources.
· According to her, the progress of the war and the grain agreement will be discussed during these visits. According to Hürriyet, Erdogan's inauguration is scheduled for June 3-4.
Tuesday May 30
2:36 pm: The largest aviation exercises in the history of NATO will take place in Germany, — Der Spiegel.
· The Air Defender 2023 exercise will be held under the leadership of Germany from June 12 to 23. Almost all maneuvers - 90% - are planned over the territory of Germany and over the coastal zones of the North and Baltic seas.
· About 250 planes and helicopters will take part in the exercises, of which about a hundred are from the US Air Force.
3:07 pm: Ukraine needs 120 fighters, most of them should be F-16, but German and Swedish planes are also needed, — Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov in an interview with Ouest newspaper France.
· The head of the military department suggested that Germany could provide Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and called for the addition of these planes to the "aviation coalition".
5:20 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi had a telephone conversation with the Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz.
· "We discussed the implementation of the agreements reached during my recent visit to Germany, and the further strengthening of Ukraine's defense capabilities, in particular our air defense," said the President of Ukraine.
7:50 pm: Ukraine has successfully passed the first review of the four-year IMF program and will receive $900 million in the second tranche, the head of the IMF mission Gavin Gray said.
· He noted that Ukraine has achieved a strong result in fulfilling the requirements of the program and has fulfilled all structural milestones foreseen by the end of May 2023.
8:45 pm: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to hold talks with US President Joe Biden next week, - Reuters.
· It is reported that they will discuss further supplies of military aid to Ukraine.
9:10 pm: The US will introduce new anti-Russian sanctions tomorrow, May 31, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a briefing.
· "Tomorrow we will announce new measures based on the control of the export of technologies that were found in Iranian drones used to attack Ukrainian citizens and civil infrastructure. The restrictions will be introduced to fight Russian disinformation, to protect human rights defenders," Blinken said. .
10:52 pm: In Poland, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lukasz Yasina was sent on indefinite leave because of his statement about the Volyn tragedy and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
· This is reported by the Polish radio RMF FM.
· "The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lukash Yasin has been suspended from his duties, he is on indefinite leave from which he will probably not return to his post," RMF FM reported.
NATIONAL
Wednesday May 31
12:11 am Operational Command South: Russia is preparing a powerful attack with the help of missiles from the sea and drones.
· "The enemy is preparing an insidious attack with the help of mixed types of munitions – mixing drone and missile attack. We must be ready for any development of events," Humenyuk said.
7:07 am General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: during the past day, the enemy launched 64 air and 1 missile strikes, carried out 88 attacks from rocket salvo systems.
· Russia continues to focus its main efforts on attempts to fully occupy the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. During the past day, units of the defense forces repelled 22 enemy attacks.
· In the temporarily occupied Yalta Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Russian authorities are illegally taking real estate from Ukrainian citizens who did not accept Russian citizenship during the occupation of the peninsula. Servicemen of the Russian troops move into such settlements.
· In Stanytsia Luhansk, employees of one of the budget institutions were warned that only those who have re-registered at a Russian bank will be able to receive their salaries in June.
· Aviation of the Defense Forces over the past day carried out 11 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the Russian Federation, as well as a strike on its air defense system.
· During the past day, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 32 attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type.
· Units of missile troops and artillery hit 3 control points, the area of concentration of enemy manpower, 4 artillery units in a firing position, an anti-aircraft missile complex, 3 warehouses of fuel and lubricants, and a radio electronic warfare station.
9:15 am: Volodymyr Zelenskyi at the opening of the Center for the Protection of Children's Rights, which will combat Russian crimes against Ukrainian children, familiarized himself with the Bring Kids Back UA action plan.
· "The first step has been taken: 371 children are at home in Ukraine. We want to bring them all back, and probably the main meaning is in the name of the program: Bring Kids Back UA," Zelenskyi said.
10:06 am Operational Command South: The threat level of missile and drone attacks remains extremely high.’
· There are three missile carriers on combat duty in the Black Sea, two of which are submarines. Total salvo - 16 "Calibers", ready for use.
Tuesday May 30
12:02 pm: Ukraine returned the bodies of 79 fallen defenders, - Ministry of Reintegration
· The transfer of bodies from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine took place with the assistance of the Office of the Commissioner for Missing Persons under the Ministry of Reintegration in cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
12:18 pm: Misha Collins, the actor of the series "Supernatural" has arrived in Kyiv.
2:15 pm: The Verkhovna Rada in the first reading supported draft laws on increasing the leave of Ukrainian servicemen to 40 days.
· An annual leave of 30 days and another 10 days for family reasons is allowed. Each of the mentioned vacations is granted without taking into account the time required to travel within Ukraine to the place of the vacation and back, but no more than two days one way.
2:46 pm: There was a power outage across Ukraine due to a frequency reduction in the unified energy system of Ukraine, — DTEK.
· Ukrenergo specialists are investigating the reasons for the frequency reduction. As of 14:32, "Ukrenergo" was granted permission to restore electricity supply.
3:28 pm: Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat denied Shoigu's words about the alleged "Patriot damage in Kyiv" in recent days.
· Yuriy Ignat clarified that the system is intact: "Yesterday, the complex worked: all Iskander-type targets that flew along the ballistic trajectory were destroyed."
3:54 pm press service of the SBU: According to the SBU materials, a traitor who "leaked" data on the defense of the northern borders of Ukraine to the Russian Federation received 15 years in prison.
· According to the investigation, the enemy was interested in the locations of the bases of units of the SBU, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, the police and the State Emergency Service.
· Also, the enemy agent planned to hand over to his Russian "curator" the location of one of the district hospitals and the local military-civilian administration.
4:37 pm: Ukrenergo reported that around 1:00 p.m. several main high-voltage lines in the power system were accidentally disconnected, as a result of which emergency automation partially cut off power to consumers in a number of regions.
· "Currently, recovery is underway — electricity supply to all consumers will be restored in the coming hours. An investigation into the causes of the incident has been launched," the message reads.
4:55 pm: The Verkhovna Rada canceled the transition to the Ukrainian language until September 1, 2024 for schools that teach in the language of one of the EU countries.
5:39 pm: Volodymyr Zelensky met with representatives of the British defense company BAE Systems: Executive Director Charles Woodburn, Managing Director Gaby Costigan and Director of Cooperation with Ukraine Christian Sear.
· "We discussed the localization of production in Ukraine. We agreed to start work with the opening of the BAE Systems office in Ukraine, and later - the repair and production facilities of the company's products," Zelenskyy wrote.
6:25 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi held the first telephone conversation in the history of diplomatic relations with the President of Cape Verde Jose Maria Nevesh.
· "He talked about the Ukrainian formula for peace and offered Cape Verde to participate in its implementation. We discussed the topic of global food security, in particular the Ukrainian humanitarian initiative "Grain from Ukraine", - said President Zelensky.
6:45 pm: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: during the day, the enemy launched 44 air strikes and 1 missile strike, carried out about 20 rounds of anti-aircraft fire at the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.
· Russia continues to focus its main efforts on attempts to fully occupy the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. During the day, units of the defense forces repelled 11 enemy attacks.
· Aviation of the Defense Forces per day carried out 8 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the Russian Federation.
· During the day, units of missile troops and artillery hit 3 control points, an area where the enemy's manpower was concentrated, 4 artillery units in firing positions, an anti-aircraft missile complex, 3 warehouses of fuel and lubricants, and a radio-electronic warfare station.
7:14 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyi held a meeting with the delegation of the leading American non-governmental think tank "Atlantic Council" led by the president of the organization Frederic Kempe.
8:20 pm: The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has increased the electricity tariff for the population to 2.64 UAH/kWh. It will be effective from June 1.
· This was announced by Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko at a briefing after the government meeting.
· Currently, the tariff for the population is UAH 1.42/kWh with a consumption of 250 kWh per month and UAH 1.68/kWh if the consumption exceeds this figure.
10:33 pm: Ambassadors of the UNITED24 fundraising platform, football stars Andriy Shevchenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko want to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Mykhailo-Kotsyubinsky Lyceum in Chernihiv region, which was destroyed by the Russians in March 2022.
· For this reason, a charity match in support of Game4Ukraine will be held in London on August 5.
MORDOR - Russia
Wednesday May 31
12:29 am: The Russian Freedom Legion is recruiting thousands of Russians to attack Moscow, - The Times
· The commander of the Caesar Legion said that there are already "thousands" of applicants waiting to join their ranks, and they will continue raiding the border until their forces are large enough to storm Moscow.
· Last week's raid on Russian territory was the first armed "invasion" of Russia since border clashes between Soviet and Chinese forces in 1969.
6:25 am: Russian media reports a powerful explosion that thundered at the Afip Oil Refinery in the Krasnodar Territory.
· According to local governor Veniamin Kondratiev, the reason is a drone attack. The official added that no one was injured, and the fire has already been extinguished. Video from local social networks.
7:39 am: Governor of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation Gladkov reported on the alleged shelling of Shebekino.
· According to preliminary information, one person was injured. Residential buildings were damaged, cars were on fire.
8:00 am: Drones attacked the Afip refinery in the Krasnodar region of the Russian Federation.
8:01 am: Russian Shebekino in the Belgorod Region under a massive attack: several houses and cars were allegedly damaged.
8:34 am: From today, children will be evacuated from the Shebekinsky and Graivoron districts of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, the governor announced.
· According to Gladkov, the first 300 children will be sent to Voronezh today.
9:51 am: A video appeared on the network showing how an explosion rang out in the area of the Three Sisters checkpoint, located on the border of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
Tuesday May 30
4:16 pm: The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia announced that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny is on its wanted list.
KHARKIV
Tuesday May 30
5:15 pm: Sounds of explosions are heard in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region.
LUHANSK
Wednesday May 31
7:47 am: A series of explosions was heard in the temporarily occupied Alchevsk of the Luhansk region at night. This was reported in social networks.
11:13 am: Photos of the consequences of the attack on the village of Karpaty near Alchevsk in the uncontrolled territory of Luhansk region have appeared.
· It is reported that 5 people died there and 19 were injured. The boiler house was destroyed, the buildings and 13 units of transport of the Avis poultry farm were damaged, and the construction site and 69 units of transport of the enterprise "North Mineral Company" were also damaged.
DONETSK
Wednesday May 31
10:43 am: Explosions are heard in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region.
11:19 am: In the temporarily occupied Donetsk, explosions were heard, according to social networks.
Tuesday May 30
3:41 pm: Explosions are heard in Slovyansk, Donetsk region.
9:34 pm: The Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the base of the Russians in the village of Yuriivka near Mariupol, the adviser to the Mariupol mayor Petro Andryushchenko reports.
· "Yuriivka, Yalta health complex. Someone still has doubts about the 100 dead occupants," the message reads.
11:29 pm: All children were evacuated from Bakhmut, next is the Toretsk community, where there are 266 children.
· Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk OVA, announced this at a briefing.
· "This is the category of people who have no desire to evacuate. A coercive method will be applied to them through persuasion and explanations. But this does not always work. People move from their destroyed houses to others, instead of moving to a safer region. Therefore we will apply our methods provided by the legislation in order to save their lives and make them safe until the de-occupation of the region," said Pavlo Kirylenko.
ZAPORIZHIA
Wednesday May 31
10:20 am Zaporizhia rMA: the Russians struck 69 strikes on 17 settlements of the Vasylivskyi and Pologivskyi districts: Orihiv and Zaliznychne were hit by airstrikes, Gulyaipole and Mala Tokmachka by four shellings from MLRS.
Tuesday May 30
6:49 pm: In the temporarily occupied Melitopol, powerful explosions were heard by the whole city. We are clarifying the details, said the mayor of the city, Ivan Fedorov.
7:31 pm: "Residents notice black smoke at the western exit of Melitopol - in the area of the Avtocolorlit plant captured by the occupiers, which the enemy turned into a military base," Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov reported.
DNIPRO
Wednesday May 31
10:40 am: The SBU detained an FSB agent in Kryvyi Rih, who was collecting intelligence for the Russians about the locations of bases and routes of movement of the Defense Forces in the city.
· She also documented the consequences of Russian airstrikes on the city.
· The perpetrator is in custody. An investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime. She faces up to 12 years in prison.
8:54 am Dnipro RMA: In the morning, an explosion rang out in the Mezhirytskyi community of the Pavlograd district. the Russian Federation attacked the transport company, -
· An 8-year-old child was slightly injured. There is destruction. The information is being clarified.
· Late yesterday evening, the Russian army dropped shells from an unmanned aerial vehicle on the Marganets community. People are unharmed.
KHERSON
Tuesday May 30
9:54 pm: Explosions are heard in Kherson.
ODESA
Tuesday May 30
11:49 pm Odesa RMA: announced the criteria that Odesa beaches must meet in order to receive an occupancy permit:
· a barrier net at a certain distance under and above the water;
· observation points;
· visitor evacuation schemes;
· actions of the beach personnel in case of an air alarm.
· We are talking exclusively about the beaches in Odessa - from Langheron to the 16th station of the Great Fountain.
SUMY
Wednesday May 31
11:32 am: Explosions are heard in Sumy district,
Tuesday May 30
11:10 pm: In Shostkinsky district of Sumy region, rescuers extinguished a large-scale fire caused by an enemy strike
· It was established that the fire engulfed the farm buildings. There was a threat of further spread of the fire.
· Thanks to the operative actions of firefighters, it was possible to localize the sources of ignition, prevent the spread of flames to other residential buildings and structures, and extinguish the fires.
KIROVOHRAD
Tuesday May 30
5:59 pm: the FSB agent who prepared the aerial attack on the Kropyvnytskyi substation will spend 15 years behind bars - SBU.
· SBU employees detained the attacker at the end of January 2023 when he installed a "GPS gunner" on the city's electrical substation.
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