Ukraine Invasion: Part 48

[MagicFox]

That last one went quickly! Welcome to thread 48. Thanks as usual to all for the information, guidance and solidarity.

**
Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan claims in her channel that Ramzan Kadyrov's health is excellent
Meanwhile, Kadyrov himself was unable to remove his coat at the entrance to Putin's inauguration. https://t.me/liveukraine_media/20724

❗️The Security Service of Ukraine exposed Russian FSB agents who were preparing for the assassination of Volodymyr Zelensky by detaining two colonels of the State Protection Department
The plan was to first observe the movements of the protected person and pass information to the enemy. They planned to launch a missile attack on the house where the official was supposed to be, then attack the people who remained at the site with a drone and then hit it with another missile.
The weapons were provided by a colonel of the State Protection Department, who brought FPV drones, RPG-7 charges, and MON-90 anti-personnel mines to Kyiv from another region of Ukraine.

In the Kyiv oblast, 13 private buildings were destroyed and damaged as a result of night shelling. Debris fell in four districts of the oblast

In the Lviv oblast, the occupants attacked a gas storage facility in Stryi district and a thermal power plant in Chervonohrad district.

An 8-year-old child was injured in Kirovohrad oblast. A critical infrastructure facility was damaged in the region, and 13 houses were destroyed.

❗️Three children were injured during the Russian shelling of Kharkiv. The shell hit the school grounds.
The victims are boys aged 12, 13 and 15. .... Journalists report that at the time of the explosion, the children were playing football on the playground next to the school. They were diagnosed with damaged lungs, head injuries, and one of the boys faces a traumatic foot amputation.

🤡Steven Segal at Vladimir Putin's inauguration

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-8-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces conducted large-scale missile and drone strikes targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure on the night of May 7 to 8, continuing to exploit Ukraine's degraded air defense umbrella ahead of the arrival of US and Western security assistance at scale.
• Recent satellite imagery of depleted Russian military vehicle and weapons storage facilities further indicates that Russia is currently sustaining its war effort largely by pulling from storage rather than by manufacturing new vehicles and certain weapons at scale.
• Russia is relying on vast Soviet-era stores of vehicles and other equipment to sustain operations and losses in Ukraine at a level far higher than the current Russian DIB could support, nor will Russia be able to mobilize its DIB to replenish these stores for many years.
• The Georgian State Security Service (SUS) is employing standard Kremlin information operations against Georgians protesting Georgia's Russian-style "foreign agents" bill following the lead of Georgian Dream party founder and former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
• Armenia's efforts to distance itself from Russia are increasingly forcing the Kremlin to acknowledge issues in the bilateral relationship.
• Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė stated that the Lithuanian government has granted permission for Lithuania to send troops to Ukraine for training missions in the future.
• Reports indicate that there is an available open-source tool that allows people to search by specific coordinates for Telegram users who have enabled a certain location-sharing setting. [Wonder what are the implications and who is using this]
• Russian forces recently advanced near Svatove, Kreminna, and Avdiivka and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.
• Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu continues to highlight Russian formations involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Russia is forming a grouping of forces north of the city of Kharkiv, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on national television on May 8 https://kyivindependent.com/governor-russia-forming-grouping-of-troops-north-of-kharkiv/

⚡️Russia holds https://kyivindependent.com/victory-day-russia-foreign/ Victory Day Parade in Moscow.

⚡️ UK to expel Russian defense attache https://kyivindependent.com/uk-to-expel-russian-defense-attache-for-being-undeclared-military-intel-officer/ for being 'undeclared military intelligence officer.'
Speaking to parliament, Cleverly said the move was in response to an increase in malign activity from the Kremlin, both in the U.K. and across Europe.

⚡️ EU ambassadors agree on using Russian assets https://kyivindependent.com/eu-ambassadors-agree-on-using-russian-assets-revenue-to-fund-ukraine/ revenue to fund Ukraine.

⚡️ Austin: Too early to see effects of US aid on Ukraine's front lines.
It is still "very early on" to see improvements on Ukraine's front lines after the new batch of U.S. weapons started flowing to Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told senators on May 8.

⚡️US State Department: US preparing more aid packages for Ukraine. https://kyivindependent.com/us-state-department-us-preparing-more-aid-packages-for-ukraine/

⚡️ Parliament passes bill allowing military service https://kyivindependent.com/parliament-passes-bill-allowing-military-service-of-citizens-convicted-of-minor-offenses/ of citizens convicted of minor offenses. This does not include those convicted under serious and violent charges, such as murder, sexual violence, or crimes against national security.

⚡️ Ukrainian Defense Industry: Ukraine has caught up with Russia in the production of domestically-made kamikaze drones similar to Iranian-designed Shahed-131/136, Herman Smetanin, the head of the state-owned Ukrainian Defense Industry company, said in an interview with ArmyInform published on May 8. https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-defense-industry-says-kyiv-catches-up-with-russia-in-shahed-drone-analog-production/

⚡️ Armenia refuses to finance Russian-led CSTO https://kyivindependent.com/armenia-refuses-to-finance-russian-led-csto/ security alliance.
Armenia will not partake in the financing of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Yerevan announced on May 8.
This comes as the latest in a series of steps the country has taken to distance itself from the Russian-led security alliance.

⚡️ Military: Russian assault groups break into Krasnohorivka https://kyivindependent.com/military-russian-assault-groups-break-into-krasnohorivka-blocked-at-plant/ blocked at local plant.

⚡️Slovak citizens raise funds https://kyivindependent.com/slovak-citizens-raise-funds-to-buy-over-2-500-shells-for-ukraine/ to buy over 2,500 shells for Ukraine.

⚡️ Shmyhal: Russian attacks have damaged over 800 heating facilities in Ukraine.

⚡️Governor: Fire at oil depot in Russian-occupied Luhansk causes serious damage https://kyivindependent.com/governor-oil-depot-burns-down-in-russian-occupied-luhansk/

⚡️ India arrests 4 suspected of luring men to fight for Russia in Ukraine. https://kyivindependent.com/india-arrests-4-over-luring-men-to-fight-for-russia-in-ukraine/

⚡️ FM: Kosovo supports Ukraine https://kyivindependent.com/kosovo-supports-ukraine-despite-kyiv-not-recognizing-its-independence-says-fm/ despite Kyiv not recognizing its independence.

⚡️Ukrainian-born Congresswoman Spartz wins https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-born-congresswoman-spartz-wins-republican-primary/ Republican primary.

⚡️Zelensky dismisses https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-dismisses-zaluzhnyi-from-military-service/ Zaluzhnyi from military service.
Zaluzhnyi will reportedly start his new role as Ukraine's ambassador to the U.K. in the coming weeks.

⚡️ Hungary's FM opposes NATO's long-term Ukraine aid plan https://kyivindependent.com/hungary-fm-opposes-natos-long-term-plan-to-aid-ukraine-calling-it-crazy-mission/ calls it 'crazy mission.'
Budapest will not participate in NATO's long-term plan to support Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on May 8, calling it a "crazy mission," according to Reuters.

️Media: Investigation shows Russian forces may use https://kyivindependent.com/media-investigation-shows-russian-forces-may-use-satellite-systems-made-in-ukraine/ satellite systems made in Ukraine.
About 22,000 Gilat SkyEdge internet communications systems, valued at $5 million, were imported to Russia in 2023. The systems were manufactured at a facility in Uzhhorod, Ukraine.

Ukraine is facing a cement crisis: Could a deal between two cement giants worsen the situation? https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-is-facing-a-cement-crisis-could-a-deal-between-two-cement-giants-worsen-the-situation/

⚡️ Parliament restores limited access for journalists during plenary sessions.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine's parliament, signed an order on May 8 to restore limited access for journalists to cover the legislature's work.
Only up to 30 journalists will be allowed to work in the parliament's building at once due to security measures and the limited number of places in the bomb shelter.https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-parliament-restores-limited-access-for-journalists-during-plenary-sessions/

⚡️ Zelensky appoints new Special Operations Forces (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-appoints-new-head-of-special-operations-forces-2/) head.

Zelensky has replaced Colonel Serhii Lupanchuk as the commander of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces, the Presidential Office announced on May 9.
Brigadier General Oleksandr Trepak is Lupanchuk's replacement. https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-appoints-new-head-of-special-operations-forces-2/

The High Anti-Corruption Court on May 8 arrested in absentia Dmytro Sennychenko, the former head of the State Property Fund, Ukraine's Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) reported. https://kyivindependent.com/court-arrests-state-property-funds-ex-head-in-absentia/

⚡️Prosecutor's Office: Ukrainian oligarch Kolomoisky suspected of ord00ering murder of lawyer in 2003. https://kyivindependent.com/prosecutors-office-ukrainian-oligarch-kolomoisky-suspected-of-contract-killing/

⚡️Governor: 11 children brought back from Russian-occupied territory.

⚡️Update: Russian attack on Kharkiv injures 7 including children.

⚡️ Governor: Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia Oblast village injure woman. (https://kyivindependent.com/governor-russian-attack-on-zaporizhzhia-oblast-village/)
⚡️ Journalist-turned-soldier Oleksandr Mashlay killed in action near Avdiivka.
⚡️Russia attacks 9 communities in Sumy Oblast. The attacks caused 183 explosions in the area.
⚡️Russian attack on Nikopol kills 2, injures 2.

⚡️ Russia claims 8 injured in Ukrainian air strike on Belgorod Oblast.
⚡️ SBU hits 2 oil depots in Russia's Krasnodar Krai.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦

• MAY 9, 2024

■ 500k casualties projected by end of May ■ Most engagements & 2nd-highest casualties of 2024 ■ 7-day artillery at a record height ■ Massive 🇷🇺 missile strikes; a fair share intercepted ■ Oryx: >3k tank losses confirmed

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on May 8, which the Ukrainian leader described as "long and to the point".

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said that if French President Macron sends troops to Ukraine, they will be considered legitimate targets by the Russian military.

Today the capital, by the decision of the Kyiv City Council, expressed its honor and respect and awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of Kyiv" to two people who are real moral authorities for the people of Kyiv and all Ukrainians — Lina Kostenko and Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

To recover from the attacks, the UK will contribute an additional €23 million to the Energy Support Fund, — Ministry of Energy
The funds will be used to purchase equipment to repair damaged energy infrastructure, strengthen physical defenses, and provide emergency power, including generators and distributed generation.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, arrived in Kyiv.

German Development Minister Svenja Schulze arrived in Kyiv with an unannounced visit.
The minister's visit is in preparation for the reconstruction conference, which is expected to gather some 1,500 participants, including heads of state and government, in Berlin on June 11 and 12.

Two hydroelectric power plants have been decommissioned, — Ukrhydroenergo.
On May 8, during the morning shelling of critical infrastructure, hydroelectric power facilities were heavily damaged.
As of today, all hydroelectric power generation has suffered devastating damage. The destroyed equipment requires considerable efforts to repair and restore and significant financial resources.

🇺🇦🇮🇪Ukraine and Ireland to begin working on a bilateral security agreement.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇸🇰Slovak President-elect Pellegrini speaks of the need for “peace talks” between Ukraine and Russia, noting that he is ready to offer Bratislava as a platform for them

Zelensky invited the Hungarian prime minister to the Peace Summit in Switzerland next month. They also discussed Ukraine's integration into the EU.

Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine's national train carrier, reported that the track damaged by Russian shelling in Kherson today has been repaired

Another Russian refinery is attacked by drones. A fire broke out at a plant in Bashkiria due to a hit

An American soldier was arrested in Vladivostok, Russia, last week when he came to meet his girlfriend
Gordon Black is a senior sergeant in the US Army, serving in South Korea. It was there that he met 32-year-old Russian woman Alexandra Vashchuk.
The US Army confirms that the man has signed documents for redeployment. But on his way to Texas, he flew to Vladivostok "for personal reasons" without coordinating with his command.
In Russia, Vashchuk complained to the police that Black allegedly beat her and stole 200 thousand rubles. And for this he faces 5 years in prison.
The journalists found the woman's TikTok account, which shows that she has known the soldier since at least 2021.
Radio Liberty writes that after the full-scale invasion in Russia, detentions of US citizens have become more frequent, and this may be a way to "replenish the exchange fund."

In an attempt to once again prove the good state of his health, propagandists filmed Ramzan Kadyrov allegedly pulling a pickup truck https://t.me/liveukraine_media/20771

Duckling providing moral support for the Ukraine Telegram Roundup.

Latest Lawrence Freedman piece on where Russia is now: https://samf.substack.com/p/a-third-victory-parade-with-no-victory?publicationid=631422&utmmcampaign=email-post-title&r=3cvp0r&utmmedium=email

We have a new thread below which I'm posting now we're getting well into the 980s to prevent anybody getting lost, but let's fill up this one to avoid confusion and cross-posting :-)

Ukraine Invasion: Part 49 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/5071663-ukraine-invasion-part-49

Remember to let mnhq know if you haven't already.

Thanks @L1ttledrummergirl! Really appreciate the reminder

Behold the spectacular display of Russian combat power at the Victory Day parade - a single WWII vintage tank.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1788474921103835354

Hmmmm.... where are all the others?!

The rest are in the motor pool for minor repairs. 😁

A reminder we're on the new thread here:

Ukraine Invasion: Part 49 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/5071663-ukraine-invasion-part-49

I feel is called for.

Thank you for new thread, MagicFox.

for all our amazingly knowledgeable contributors.

<hands round plate of to go with >

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Stalwart stuff, Perking.

The thread wouldn't let me fill it up! It blocked my 10th with a message saying (approx) "You've posted a lot recently, perhaps you should take a break"!

Presumably this is an anti-troll measure?!!!

So I went off and made a real-life or two.

Final post.

Bedtime for thread.