Ukraine/Russland/NATO – der Sammler am 4. Mai 2022

Der russische Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine geht in seinen 70. Tag. Die russischen Streitkräfte greifen – erneut – gezielt Infrastruktur in der ganzen Ukraine an, auch weit im Westen des Landes. An der eigentlichen Front im Osten bemühen sich die russischen Streitkräfte um die Kontrolle strategisch bedeutsamer Orte.  Der Sammler am 4. Mai 2022:

• Das britische Intel Update:

Russia has deployed 22 battalion tactical groups near Izium in its attempt to advance along the northern axis of the Donbas.
Despite struggling to break through Ukrainian defences and build momentum, Russia highly likely intends to proceed beyond Izium to capture the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk.
Capturing these locations would consolidate Russian military control of the north-eastern Donbas and provide a staging point for their efforts to cut-off Ukrainian forces in the region.

• Das Morgenbriefing des ukrainischen Generalstabs:

The seventieth day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to a russian military invasion continues.
russian enemy does not stop conducting offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone in order to establish full control over the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and maintain the land corridor with the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea.
In order to destroy Ukraine’s transport infrastructure, russian enemy fired missiles at facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Zakarpattia, Odesa and Donetsk oblasts.
In the Volyn and Polissya directions, russian enemy did not take active action, no signs of the formation of offensive groups were found.
Certain units of the Armed Forces of the republic of belarus continue to carry out tasks to cover the section of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border in Brest and Gomel regions.
In order to check the readiness to perform the assigned tasks, one missile division of the 465th Missile Brigade of the Armed Forces of the republic of belarus is moving from the point of permanent deployment to the destination area.
In the Siversky direction, no signs of formation of an offensive group by russian enemy were found. As part of strengthening the protection of the russian-Ukrainian border, units of the Armed Forces of the russian federation from the Central Military District have been deployed in the areas of the „Novi Yurkovichi“, „Pohar“ and „Lomakovka“ checkpoints in the Bryansk region.
In the Slobozhansky direction, russian enemy fired artillery and mortar shells at the city of Kharkiv and the village of Protopopivka. Conducted air reconnaissance in the area of ​​Kutuzivka and Oleksandrivka settlements of Barvinkovsky district of Kharkiv oblast. russian enemy tried to conduct offensive operations in the direction of the settlement of Dovgenke, but was unsuccessful.
In the Donetsk and Tavriya directions, in order to restrain action, the occupiers are shelling units of Ukrainian troops.
In the Lyman direction, russian enemy is advancing in the direction of the village of Shandrygolove, fighting continues. russian enemy strengthened the group of troops and intensified air reconnaissance.
russian occupiers carried out assaults in the area of ​​Popasna, fighting continues.
In Mariupol, the russian occupiers continue to launch air strikes and fire at our positions in the Azovstal area.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the enemy carried out assault operations in the direction of the settlement of Orikhiv, without success.
In Horlivka, more than 100 bodies of mobilized servicemen of the 1st Army Corps who died in the Zaporizhzhia oblast were taken to the central morgue.
In the direction of the South Buh, in order to destroy the fortification equipment of our positions, russian enemy used artillery, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and armament of tanks along the entire line of contact. It intensified hostilities in the area of ​​the settlement of Tomyna Balka.
The situation in the Bessarabian direction remains tense and under the control.
During the previous day, the air defense units of the Air Force and the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit seven UAVs and 8 enemy cruise missiles, the data are being clarified.
Twelve enemy attacks have been repulsed in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts over the past 24 hours, six tanks, five artillery systems (three of them – multiple rocket launchers), fifteen units of armored combat vehicles and nine units of enemy vehicles have been destroyed. The enemy has losses in other areas.

• Das Morgenbriefing des russischen Verteidigungsministeriums:

High-precision long-range air- and sea-based weapons destroyed 6 traction power substations near Podbortsi, Lvov, Volonets, Timkovo and Pyatikhatka railway stations, through which the Ukrainian group of troops in Donbass was supplied with arms and ammunition manufactured in the USA and European countries.
High-precision air-based missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed: 1 Tochka-U tactical missile launcher near Novaya Dmitrovka, 3 S-300 anti-aircraft missile system locators near Sandjeika, Krysino and Volnyansk, as well as 1 ammunition depot and 9 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration near Novoalexandrovka.
Operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces have hit 40 military assets of Ukraine.
Among them: 1 pontoon crossing near Protopopovka, 4 ammunition and missile-artillery weapons depots, as well as 34 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration.
Missile troops have hit 2 command posts of AFU units, 1 battery of BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 1 battery of 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, 1 battery of D-30 howitzers, and 4 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration.
Artillery units have hit 16 command posts, 2 fuel depots, as well as 476 strongholds of nationalist units, areas of manpower and military equipment concentration.
The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 310 nationalists and up to 53 Ukrainian armoured vehicles.
Russian air defence means have shot down 9 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Izyum, Topolnoe, Malaya Kamyshevakha, Russkie Tishki, Brazhkovka in Kharkov Region, Zelenyi Gai in Nikolaev Region and Novokrasnyanka in Lugansk People’s Republic, including 1 Bayraktar-TB2 near Aleksandrovka in Kharkov Region.
In addition, 4 Smerch multiple-launch rockets have been shot down in the air near Velikaya Kamyshevakha.
In total, 146 aircraft and 112 helicopters, 706 unmanned aerial vehicles, 287 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,807 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 321 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,279 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,609 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation.

• Am Nachmittag gab es eine Videokonferenz des russischen Verteidigungsministers Sergej Schoigu mit der Militärführung. Darin erneuerte er die Drohung, Transporte mit westlichen Waffenlieferungen anzugreifen, wie das russische Verteidigungsministerium meldete:

National Centre for State Defence Control of the Russian Federation, under the leadership of the head of the military Department, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, held a teleconference with the leadership of the Armed Forces.
Opening the meeting, the Minister of Defence briefed the participants on the progress of the special military operation.
Units of the Russian army together with the people’s militias of the Lugansk and the Donetsk people’s republics are expanding their control over the territories of the LPR and DPR.
„Our troops are taking comprehensive measures to protect civilians. Humanitarian corridors are being opened daily for the safe evacuation of civilians from the war zones, and ceasefire are being declared,“ General of the Army Sergei Shoigu said.
In addition, the Defence Minister added that the Russian Armed Forces were actively providing humanitarian aid to the citizens of the liberated towns. A total of 967 humanitarian actions were carried out, during which 17,567 tonnes of supplies were delivered to 279 settlements.
Peaceful life is being established in the LPR and DPR territories and Ukraine, which have been liberated from nationalists. This includes Mariupol, the largest industrial and transport hub on the Sea of Azov. It is under the control of the Russian army.
„In accordance with instructions from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the remnants of the militants located in the Azovstal plant industrial zone are securely blocked along the entire perimeter of this territory. Repeated appeals to the nationalists to release the civilians and lay down arms with a guarantee of life and dignified treatment in accordance with international law have been ignored. We are continuing these attempts,“ stressed the head of the Russian military department.
Shoigu also recalled that the USA and its NATO allies keep pumping weapons into Ukraine.
„Any North Atlantic Alliance transport arriving in the country with weapons or materiel for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is considered a legitimate target for us to hit.“ – said the Minister of Defence.
In the course of the special operation, our servicemen are showing courage and bravery, honourably fulfilling their military duty and ensuring the safety of the Donbass population.
„The Russian Armed Forces will continue to carry out all the tasks set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief,“ the Defence Minister concluded.

• Notizen aus dem Briefing des Pentagon, von Jack Detsch von Foreign Policy:

Ukraine has participated in over a dozen large exercises with U.S. troops in Germany since 2015: Brig. Gen. Joseph Hilbert, 7th Army training command in Germany
U.S. trained 23,000 Ukrainian soldiers inside the country until January 2022, mostly with American National Guard troops: U.S. general
Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Hilbert 7th Army training command in Germany said the U.S. invested $126 million in this effort over nearly seven years.
U.S. focused on building Ukrainian military base in Yavoriv to handle training of brigade level units: Florida National Guard official
Russia attacked Yavoriv with 30 missiles on March 13, killing up to 40 Ukrainian troops and injuring more than 130.
U.S. was planning for Ukrainian troops to lead a division-level exercise across the country before more than 160 Florida National Guard troops pulled out just days before Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24: Pentagon
Ukrainian troops took American military training „to heart,“ building an effective NCO corps and simulations for large-scale combat: U.S. general
„The worst thing the Russians did was give us eight years to prepare,“ said Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Hilbert of 7th Army training command
U.S. is training 50-60 Ukrainian troops on M777 howitzer artillery in Grafenwöhr, Germany with 7th Army Training Command: U.S. general
U.S. has now sent 80 percent of howitzers offered to Ukraine, over 70 artillery batteries.
Russia’s progress in northeast Donbas remains „uneven“: senior U.S. defense official
Russia is fixated on taking the city of Lyman south of Izyum
Ukraine’s resistance against Russian troops in the northern area of the Donbas has „stalled“ the advance: senior U.S. defense official
Russia’s 12 battalion tactical groups near Mariupol, the majority of which have left the city, are paused mostly to refit as they move toward Donbas: senior U.S. defense official
Russia’s strike against Ukraine’s Western city of Lviv last night was aimed at slowing down railroads in an effort in interrupt efforts to resupply the military: senior U.S. defense official
Ukraine now has control of more than 90 percent of the 90 U.S.-provided howitzers pledged by President Biden: senior U.S. defense official
Nearly 90,000 of 144,000 rounds of artillery are now in Ukrainian hands, too.
Russian strikes against Ukraine’s Western city of Lviv HAVE NOT struck or impeded U.S. or European weapons deliveries: senior U.S. defense official
U.S. estimates that roughly TWO Russian battalion tactical tactical groups are still in the besieged city of Mariupol.
The number includes cobbled together forces, including Chechen units, the official said.
Ukrainian troops have been able to push Russian troops 20-30 miles out of Kharkiv: senior U.S. defense official
U.S. still believes that Russia wants to control Ukraine’s second-largest city.
Russia’s paramilitary Wagner Group is operating in Ukraine’s Donbas and recruiting foreign fighters from Syria and Libya: senior U.S. defense official
Russia is averaging about 40-50 missile strikes per day against Ukraine mostly focused on 🇺🇦 troops in the Donbas and north of Mariupol: senior U.S. defense official
U.S. has sent 5 of 17 Soviet-era Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine pledged by President Biden after initially being promised to the Afghan military: senior U.S. defense official
Ukraine is already using U.S.-provided howitzers in the fight against Russia: senior U.S. defense official
Echoes comments that Defense Secretary Austin made to Congress yesterday. Ukraine has nearly 90 percent of the 90 howitzers pledged by POTUS.
U.S. believes that Russia’s top military general Valery Gerasimov visited Ukraine on a fact-finding and oversight mission over the weekend: senior U.S. defense official
Russia is advancing on FOUR lines of axis out of Ukraine’s contested city of Izyum: senior US defense official
1) Lyman
2) Sloviansk
3) Kramatorsk
4) South to cut off 🇺🇦 troops
🇷🇺 is hoping to join troops advancing south out of Izyum with northern advance to cut off 🇺🇦 troops
Russia launched about 250 sorties into Ukraine over the past 24 hours: senior U.S. defense official
Russian strikes (between 200-300 per day) are largely launched from outside Ukrainian airspace into Mariupol and against 🇺🇦 troops in Donbas.
Russia has about 2,000 troops left in Ukraine’s besieged city of Mariupol: senior U.S. defense official.
Most of the 10 Russian battalion tactical groups previously in Mariupol have moved north of the city, but are stalled to refit for Donbas fight.

• Das Abendbriefing des ukrainischen Generalstabs:

The seventieth day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to a russian military invasion continues.
russian enemy continues to conduct offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone.
The command of the russian troops is trying to increase the pace of the offensive in east of Ukraine in order to reach the administrative borders of Luhansk and Donetsk oblast, as well as to develop an offensive in the Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih areas.
In order to achieve certain goals, russian enemy is trying to inflict losses on units of the Defense Forces, regroup and strengthen its troops, increase the system of fire damage and logistics.
russian enemy has intensified the task of missile and bomb strikes in order to destroy Ukraine’s transport infrastructure.
In the Slobozhansky direction there is russian enemy group consisting of separate units of the 6th Combined Arms Army of the Western Military District, the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District, the coastal troops of the Baltic and Northern Fleets. Air strikes and shelling continue in the city of Kharkiv. russian occupiers in the Valuysky district of the Belgorod region deployed an auxiliary command post of the 36th Combined Arms Army y of the Eastern Military District.
As part of the strengthening of the grouping of troops in this direction, russian enemy is moving personnel from the territory of the Belgorod region.
In the Izyum direction, russian enemy is trying to seize the initiative and conduct offensive operations in the Izyum-Barvinkove direction. To this end, russian enemy is carrying out artillery shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops in the areas of the settlements of Hrushuvakha, Nova Dmytrivka and Kurulka.
In addition, russian enemy concentrated up to 40 attack and transport helicopters Mi-24 and Mi-8 on the territory of the Belgorod region in the immediate vicinity of the state border of Ukraine.
In the Donetsk direction, the main efforts of russian enemy are focused on conducting an offensive on the settlements of Lyman, Orikhove, Popasna, Velyka Novosilka, Huliaipole, Komyshuvakha and Orikhiv.
During the day, in the Lyman direction, russian enemy made unsuccessful attempts to gain a foothold in the village of Oleksandrivka.
In the Severodonetsk direction, russian occupiers launched an offensive in the direction of the settlement of Voevodivka, but were unsuccessful.
In the Popasna direction, russian enemy tried to expand control over the settlement of Orikhove, but without success.
In order to restrain the actions of units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, russain enemy fires at the positions of Ukrainian troops almost along the entire line of contact. russian enemy inflicts air strikes in the areas of Avdiivka, Mariupol, Severodonetsk, Kramatorsk and Huliaipole.
Blockades and attempts to destroy our units in the Azovstal area in Mariupol continue. In some areas, with the support of aircraft, russian enemy resumed the offensive in order to take control of the plant. It is not successful.
In the Novopavlovsk direction, russian occupiers attempted to storm the settlement of Novosilka. russian enemy suffered losses and retreated.
In order to strengthen the grouping of troops, russian enemy transfers equipment and personnel by rail.
In the South Buh and Tavriya directions, russian occupiers, forces of separate units of the 8th and 49th Combined Arms Armies, the 22nd Army Corps, the Black Sea Fleet Coast Guard, and the Airborne Forces are fighting to hold temporarily occupied territories and create conditions for active actions in the directions Kherson-Mykolaiv and Kherson-Kryvyi Rih.
In the Volyn, Polissya and Siversky directions, certain units of the Armed Forces of the republic of belarus continue to carry out tasks to strengthen the section of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border in the Brest and Gomel regions. There is an increase in the air defense system in the Gomel region, training of electronic warfare units. In the future, demonstration and provocative actions in areas close to the state border of Ukraine are not excluded.
In order to maintain tensions at the border and prevent the transfer of reserves of Ukrainian troops to threatening areas, russian enemy keeps units of the 90th Tank Division of the Central Military District near the Ukrainian-russian border near the village of Kozino, Kursk region. Intensification of shelling from the specified area across the territory of the Sumy region is not excluded.
In the Black and Azov Seas, russian Black Sea Fleet continues to carry out tasks to isolate the area of ​​hostilities, reconnaissance and fire support in the coastal direction. The possibility of involving the specified ship composition in the task of missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine is not excluded.
Three carriers of naval cruise missiles „3M-54 Kalibr“ (SS-N-27 «Sizzler») are in the Black Sea in readiness for the use of missile weapons.

• Das Abendbriefing des russischen Verteidigungsministeriums:

High-precision air-based missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces during the day destroyed: 4 artillery batteries at firing positions, 3 ammunition depots near Mirnaya Dolina, Bakhmutskaya and Tashkovka, 20 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration, and 1 US-made counter-battery radar station near Popasnaya.
Operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Force have hit 77 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment.
The attacks have resulted in the elimination of up to 310 nationalists, as well as 36 units of weapons and military equipment.
Missile troops and artillery have hit 1 Ukrainian battery of BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers at firing positions, as well as 83 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration.
Russian air defence means have shot down 6 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles during the day near Avdeevka, Severodonetsk and Veselaya Gora in the Lugansk People’s Republic, as well as over Zmeinyi Island.
In addition, 2 Smerch multiple-launch rockets have been shot down in the air near Shpakovka, Kharkov Region.
In total, 146 aircraft and 112 helicopters, 712 unmanned aerial vehicles, 287 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,817 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 323 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,292 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,624 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation.

• Die Abendausgabe des britischen Intel Update:

Despite Russian ground operations focusing on eastern Ukraine, missile strikes continue across the country as Russia attempts to hamper Ukrainian resupply efforts.
As Russian operations have faltered, non-military targets including schools, hospitals, residential properties and transport hubs have continued to be hit, indicating Russia’s willingness to target civilian infrastructure in an attempt to weaken Ukrainian resolve.
The continued targeting of key cities such as Odessa, Kherson and Mariupol highlights their desire to fully control access to the Black Sea, which would enable them to control Ukraine’s sea lines of communication, negatively impacting their economy.