In southern Nikopol, Ukraine reports Russian attacks on houses and power lines. According to the separatists, there is increased shelling by Ukraine in occupied Donetsk. However, Russia claims to have fended off a broad advance by Ukrainian troops. The 235th day of the war at a glance.
Russia shells civilian targets in Nikopol
Ukraine blames the Russian army for a heavy attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Nikopol. More than 30 projectiles fell there, according to the deputy chief of the presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko. Six people were injured, more than 20 houses and several power lines were damaged, it said.
Separatists report shelling of Donetsk
Ukraine is apparently continuing to attack in the east of the country. The Moscow-backed separatists speak of 40 attacks by the Ukrainian army on targets in the “Donetsk People’s Republic” recognized by Russia within 24 hours. The separatist mayor of the city of Donetsk, Alexey Kulemzin, reported that an administrative building had been shelled. At least two people were injured.
Russia: Repelled Ukrainian advance
Meanwhile, Russia claims to have fended off a Ukrainian advance in the Cherson, Donetsk and Mykolaiv regions. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced that the Ukrainian side had suffered significant losses. Among other things, three US M777 howitzers were hit in the Kharkiv area, it said. All information from the combat zones cannot be checked independently.
More attacks reported on Belgorod
The Russian authorities are currently reporting Ukrainian attacks from the border region of Belgorod on an almost daily basis. According to the information, at least four people have been injured in bombings in the region. Local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov told the Telegram online service that three members of a family were injured in bombing raids in the regional capital of Belgorod. In addition, an elderly man was injured in shelling near Belgorod. Gladkow states that more than 20 houses in the region were damaged. He published photos of destruction and craters after attacks.
Ukraine puts a bounty on Girkin’s head
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR is offering a $100,000 bounty for the capture of former Russian intelligence officer Igor Girkin, who led the 2014 separatist uprising in Donbass. “The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine guarantees payment of $100,000 for the transfer of Igor Girkin (Strelkov) to Ukrainian captivity,” the military intelligence service said. Girkin, known by his code name “Strelkov”, is held responsible for, among other things, shooting down a passenger plane over the Donbass. After the declaration of partial mobilization, Girkin apparently joined a volunteer battalion to fight in Ukraine.
Peskow calls NATO war party
Despite Western support for Ukraine, Russia is sticking to its war aims in the neighboring country. NATO is “de facto” already involved in the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to the Interfax agency. However, this does not affect Russia’s goals. Referring to the invasion that started almost eight months ago, Peskov said the “operation” would be continued and brought to an end. The help of Western countries for Ukraine makes this more difficult. But Russia has enough potential to continue the mission.
US general expects Crimea to be liberated by summer
Former US General Ben Hodges believes that the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula can be liberated by next summer. “When I look at the situation, I see that the situation of the Russians is getting worse every week. They say war is a test of will and logistics – and on both counts Ukraine is far superior,” said the former Commander-in-Chief of the US Army in Europe of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.
British: Russia is running out of ammunition
According to British information, Russia can no longer keep up with the production of ammunition. “The Russian defense industry is unlikely to be able to produce advanced munitions at the rate at which they are being consumed,” the UK MoD said in its intelligence update. The more than 80 rocket attacks on several Ukrainian cities earlier in the week meant a further deterioration in Russia’s long-range missile inventory, the British said. This is likely to limit Russia’s ability to hit that number of targets again in the future.
Iran is increasingly arming Russia
In the search for weapons, Russia is apparently getting help in the form of supplies from Iran. The Washington Post reports, citing US security officials. Iran has secretly agreed to send not only attack drones, but also the first Iranian-made surface-to-surface missiles intended for use against Ukrainian cities and troop positions. The Iranian defense industry has therefore prepared a first delivery of Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles. These short-range ballistic missiles are capable of hitting targets at a range of 300 and 700 kilometers, respectively.
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