Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:21 In the Khar'kov region, the Russian army changed the tactics of massive offensives, as it was at the beginning of a full-scale invasion, to advancing in small groups. Russians move through forest belts, plantings, and bushes, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OBA. He also said that up to 200 people remained in Volchansk and called for evacuation.
As for fortifications, Sinegubov today instructed the relevant deputy to gather all participants in the process of constructing fortifications. Each contractor must report on the work performed, added the head of the OVA.
22:17 The United States will announce a new package of military assistance to Ukraine in the coming days, said White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
22:02 The draft bilateral security agreement between the EU and Ukraine sets out the forms of security and defense assistance that the bloc will continue to provide to Kiev, as well as a consultation mechanism in the event of impending aggression, writes Reuters. The document, which is currently being discussed between the EU and Ukraine, stipulates that in the event of “future aggression” Kyiv and Brussels will hold consultations within 24 hours and “quickly determine” further steps in accordance with the obligations.
The draft agreement also lists nine forms of security assistance the EU will continue to provide to Ukraine, including arms supplies, military training, defense industry cooperation and mine clearance assistance.
21:44 F-16 fighters from Denmark will be in Ukraine within a month, said Prime Minister Matte Frederiksen.
21:29 In Germany, weapons will be produced to the caliber of the Kalashnikov assault rifle for Ukraine, writes Die Welt with reference to a representative of the defense concern Heckler & Koch.
20:45 National Security Advisor to the President of Estonia Madis Roll said that the country is discussing the possibility of sending troops to western Ukraine, which would take over the indirect combat and logistical functions of the Ukrainian military in order to free them up to fight at the front. According to him, the executive branch is currently analyzing such a possible step. And although “Estonia would prefer to act in this way within the framework of the full NATO mission,” he did not rule out the possibility that Tallinn would act as part of a smaller coalition. "Discussions are ongoing. We must consider all possibilities. We must not limit ourselves in what we can do," Roll stressed.
20:27 Shoigu will be the curator of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, but not its immediate leader, Peskov said.
20:01 Counterstrike actions of the Defense Forces continue in the Khar'kov region, the direction has been strengthened, in particular Volchansk and border areas, Zelensky said in an evening video message. According to him, Brigadier General Mikhail Drapaty is responsible for this area right on the spot.
“Now our results are becoming more and more visible - we are destroying the occupier’s infantry and equipment. At the same time, we understand how the enemy operates, and we see a plan to draw back our forces. Of course, we do not leave the Donetsk directions without the necessary support and support, namely Kramatorsk direction, Pokrovskoye. Constant attention to the Kupyansk direction. We are also recording enemy activity against the Sumy and Chernihiv regions - sabotage groups, shelling. Our task is absolutely clear - to disrupt the Russian attempt to expand the war," the president noted.
19:38 Another IRIS-T air defense system from Germany will arrive in Ukraine in May, said German Ambassador Martin Jäger. “In addition, we promised Ukraine that we will supply more such systems this year, next and in 2026. That is, we are consistently working on expanding air defense,” he added.
19:24 Governor of the Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov announced a direct hit on an energy facility. According to him, an air defense system was activated over Belgorod and the Belgorod region, several air targets were shot down, and seven people were initially injured.
19:12 Zelensky said that he had a telephone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - they discussed the Peace Summit, the current situation on the battlefield and continued defense support for Ukraine.
18:53 The new Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation will be Andrei Belousov, who has nothing to do with the army and previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister. Sergei Shoigu, who held this post for 12 years, will move to the post of Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. This post has been held by Nikolai Patrushev since 2008 - his new position in the Kremlin was promised to be announced in the next few days. About what such large-scale changes in the military bloc of the aggressor mean, see the article Replacement of Shoigu.
18:29 Units of the Defense Forces have pushed back the Russian army and are conducting a clean-up operation on the northern outskirts of Volchansk, Kharkov region, the General Staff reported. As of 17:00, fighting continues in the Kharkov direction, the number of military clashes has increased to 12. A military clash also began in the area of the village of Staritsa.
In the Limansky direction the number of military clashes increased to seven, in the Seversky direction - to 14, in Kramatorsk - to 31, in Pokrovsky - to 31. In Toretsky, Kupyansky, Kurakhovsky, Vremevsky, Gulyaipolsky, Orekhovsky, Pridneprovsky the situation is unchanged, controlled by Ukrainian units. In the Donetsk region, units of the Defense Forces shot down an enemy Su-25.
17:35 Russian military attacked a farm in Korotichi, Khar'kov region - one person was killed, three were wounded, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA. Another person was injured as a result of an enemy attack on Liptsy.
Sinegubov also said that today a decision was made on the forced evacuation of orphans and children deprived of parental care. We are talking about 113 children from the border communities of Bogodukhovsky, Kupyansky and Izyumsky districts. Only nine children with their guardians from the Volchansk community left of their own free will.
17:14 Due to constant shelling, Volchansk is turning into Bakhmut or Maryinka, said Vladimir Timoshko, chief of police of the Kharkov region. According to him, the Russians use a large number of guided bombs to attack the city: “This is a bomb weighing 250, or even 500 kg, which can demolish a multi-story building. In a sense, Volchansk is turning into Bakhmut or Marinka.”
17:03 The Russians fired at the village of Kizomys, Belozersk community, Kherson region - as a result of a hit on a residential building, two people were killed, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin.
16:26 In the Khar'kov direction, as of 14:00, the enemy carried out 11 attacks, two military clashes continue, the General Staff reported. The Russian Army is trying to oust units of the Defense Forces from their positions, and had partial success in the area of the village of Lukyantsy. The enemy's advance has been stopped and the Defense Forces are counterattacking. To strengthen the troops, pre-created reserves have been moved to the Khar'kov direction; depending on the development of the situation, the build-up of the group will continue. The troops are provided with the necessary weapons, the General Staff assured.
In the Kupyansk direction, 19 military clashes took place in the areas of Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Berestovo, Stelmakhovka, Novoigorevka, Makeevka. One military clash took place in the Liman direction; on Seversky - 12 military clashes in the areas of Belogorovka, Verkhnekamensky, Sporny, Vyemka, Razdolovka; in Kramatorsk - 27 military clashes in the areas of Grigoryevka, Novy, Ivanovsky, Kleshcheevka, Andreevka.
The enemy did not conduct offensive operations in the Toretsk direction. There were 24 military clashes in the Pokrovsky direction; on Kurakhovsky - five military clashes in the areas of Krasnogorovka and Novomikhailovka. In the Vremevsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled attacks in the Vodyanoy, Urozhaynoy, Staromayorsky districts of the Donetsk region. The enemy did not conduct offensive operations in the Gulyai-Polye direction. In the Orekhovsky direction, eight military clashes took place in the Staromayorsky area, one clash continues in the Rabotino area. In the Dnieper direction, two military clashes took place in the area of the village of Krynki, one continues.
15:27 In the Volchansk community of the Khar'kov region, the Russian military has been forcibly holding local residents in the basement since May 11. As the prosecutor's office reported, citing eyewitnesses, on May 13, some of them managed to escape and get to the volunteers; now the people are safe. The victims said that while they were in the basement, they heard Russian servicemen talking about how the civilian population should be shot. People were also forced to provide medical assistance to Russians.
15:18 Spain is preparing a new package of military assistance to Ukraine, including Leopard 2, writes El País. According to the newspaper, preparation of the package can be completed before June 30. It will include, in particular, the first ten battle tanks from a batch of 19 restored Leopard 2 A4; large caliber artillery ammunition; light and heavy machine guns; anti-tank weapons and field artillery shells; armored infantry vehicles, etc.
15:14 As a result of the Ukrainian strike on the occupied Sorokino, Lugansk region, a strong fire started, said the leader of the “LPR” Leonid Pasechnik. According to him, the strike was allegedly carried out on an “industrial zone”; three people were killed and four injured.
15:09 Early in the morning of May 13, Ukraine attacked a Russian military air defense base on Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea, reports the opposition Russian publication Astra. According to the publication's sources in the emergency services of the annexed region, military unit 85683 was attacked by several missiles (presumably Storm Shadow). On Mount Ai-Petri there is a “secret” military air defense base of the 3rd radio technical regiment of the Russian Armed Forces. As a result of the strike, the territory of the military unit was damaged, the commander of military unit 85683, Alexander Kulakov, and another serviceman were killed. There are also wounded, their number is being determined.
15:03 Zelensky said that he had telephone conversations with the Prime Ministers of Sweden and Luxembourg Ulf Kristersson and Luke Frieden - they discussed defense assistance for Ukraine, the urgent needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, especially in air defense systems.
14:50 The house in Belgorod, where 15 people died, was most likely hit by Russian ammunition, not Ukrainian, according to Conflict Intelligence Team analysts. They note that the attack on the house came from the northeast, so it could have been an anti-aircraft guided missile from a Russian air defense system or an emergency convergence of the FAB. “The version that a missile from the Ukrainian Tochka-U could change its trajectory under the influence of an air defense missile in such a way as to strike from this side of the building seems unlikely to us,” noted investigator Ruslan Leviev.
14:36 The Russians launched a massive strike with cluster munitions on the Snovskaya community of the Chernihiv region - according to preliminary information, three people were wounded. Houses, cars, and civil infrastructure were damaged, said the head of the OVA, Vyacheslav Chaus.
14:15 Russian troops in the Khar'kov region are trying to stretch the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov: “Recently, about 15 enemy attacks have been repelled. The situation is quite difficult, but absolutely all enemy attacks are repulsed. There is an increase in the gray zone, an increase in the front line, because that the enemy is trying to deliberately stretch them, attacking in small groups in new directions.”
13:33 The SBU reported that it prevented four terrorist attacks in Kiev, which were supposed to take place on May 9. Agents of the Russian GRU, who installed explosive devices in construction hypermarkets of a well-known chain and near one of the cafes, were caught red-handed. According to the Russian intelligence service, the explosives were supposed to detonate during peak traffic hours. In this way, the GRU wanted to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, and also send a signal on the symbolic day for them, May 9, about the alleged presence of a Russian underground in Kyiv, the SBU reported. The security service established the entire chain of this network, including intelligence and combat groups, smugglers who delivered explosives from the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as the direct perpetrators of the terrorist attack. Those detained face life imprisonment.
13:18 In March, April and May alone, the Russian Aerospace Forces dropped at least 32 FABs on Russian and occupied Ukrainian regions, the opposition Russian publication Astra calculated. Thus, on May 10, the Russian Aerospace Forces dropped four FABs on the Belgorod region.
12:41 Mikhail Drapaty was appointed commander of the operational-tactical group of troops in Khar'kov instead of Yuri Galushkin, RBC-Ukraine was informed in the operational-strategic group of troops Khortytsia. At the same time, Drapaty also remains in the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
12:19 Soldiers of the 47th separate mechanized brigade reported that they shot down a Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopter.
12:16 Lavrov once again stated that Moscow is “ready for negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, but taking into account the current reality.” At the same time, Switzerland, according to him, “is no longer suitable” as a venue for negotiations. At the same time, Lavrov added that “if the West wants to fight on the battlefield in the situation around Ukraine, then Moscow is ready for this.”
11:48 The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked a Russian military ammunition warehouse in the occupied Sorokino, Luhansk region. Local public pages write about a powerful detonation.
11:37 At night, SBU drones attacked the Oskolneftesnab oil depot near the village of Stary Oskol in the Belgorod region and the Eletskaya substation with a capacity of 500 kV in the Lipetsk region, Ukrainian media write, citing sources. The Eletskaya substation supplies traction substations of Russian Railways, the Stanovaya oil pumping station and provides transit between the Lipetsk, Oryol and Bryansk energy systems.
11:09 The Russians fired artillery at the civilian infrastructure of the Krasnopolsky community of the Sumy region - one person was killed, two were wounded, the prosecutor's office reported.
11:04 Against the backdrop of the offensive of Russian troops in the Khar'kov region, representatives of local authorities are accused of not building enough fortifications. The deputy head of the Khar'kov Regional Military District, Roman Semenukha, in response called for not spreading “disinformation” - according to him, the Defense Forces are now occupying fortifications built by the regional administration. And the head of the city military administration of Volchansk, Tamaz Gambarashvili, claims that there were fortifications around the city, but “perhaps not so dense,” since Volchansk, after de-occupation, has been under constant shelling for a year and a half.
The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council, Andrei Kovalenko, said that the construction of defensive lines on the border of the Khar'kov region is impossible: “It would be impossible to build defensive lines directly on the border strip with the enemy. Because all the equipment and all the engineers would simply be destroyed by the enemy - his drones, his artillery." At the same time, he assured that there are defense lines in the Khar'kov region. “And they will tell you more about them very soon. And these are several lines of defense, very reliable. Therefore, friends, let’s not confuse the border region and Khar'kov. The defense operation continues,” Kovalenko added.
10:46 The Wall Street Journal estimates that Ukraine has become much less likely to shoot down Russian missiles. Thus, the kill rate over the past six months has fallen to 46% compared to 73% in the previous six months. And in April this figure dropped to 30%. At the same time, the figure for drones remained almost unchanged and remained at 80%. Analysts attribute this to the fact that the Russian Federation has stepped up attacks with drones and missiles, especially ballistic ones, while Kyiv is running out of ammunition for Patriot systems. Over the past six months, the Russian Federation has fired approximately 45% more suicide bombs and missiles than in the previous six months.
10:38 Astrakhan deputy Denis Kharitonov reported that his car was blown up in the occupied territory of Ukraine, “in the Northwestern Military District zone.” He was in the car at the time of the explosion, but was not injured.
10:34 Zelensky will visit Madrid in the coming days, where he will sign a bilateral security agreement with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, writes El País.
09:58 In the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, two people were killed as a result of Russian shelling - in Dubrovo and Ivanovka. Two more people in the region were injured over the past 24 hours, said the head of the OVA, Vadim Filashkin.
09:25 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that the Russian offensive on Volchansk is largely a consequence of the West's tacit policy that Ukrainian forces cannot use Western-provided systems to strike legitimate military targets on Russian territory. According to analysts, permission from Great Britain to use their weapons to strike the Russian Federation is not enough.
ISW also suggests that the nomination of Andrei Belousov as a candidate for the position of the new Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation is associated with a high level of corruption in the Russian Defense Ministry and indicates preparation for a protracted war with Ukraine. Experts recalled that Belousov served as Minister of Economy for about ten years, and during this time he participated in the management of various innovative projects in the field of the defense industrial complex and drones. Belousov has a reputation as an efficient technocrat, and insider sources say he has a good relationship with Putin.
09:16 The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that during the night, air defense systems allegedly destroyed 12 Vilkha MLRS rockets and 12 UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod region, eight UAVs over the territory of the Kursk region, four Storm Shadow missiles and seven UAVs over the territory of Crimea, four more UAVs were intercepted over the territory of the Lipetsk region. Meanwhile, the governor of the Lipetsk region, Igor Artamonov, reported a fire at an electrical substation as a result of a UAV attack. According to him, the drones were allegedly suppressed in the territory of the Stanovlyansky district, there were no casualties.
08:53 On May 12, as a result of a series of massive shelling of the city of Volchansk, Khar'kov region, seven people were injured from various types of weapons, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov. One more person was wounded in the town of Dvurechnaya and in the town of Izyum.
08:37 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of May 13:
personnel - about 484,030 (+1740) people,
tanks - 7485 (+31),
armored combat vehicles - 14,417 (+42),
artillery systems - 12,487 (+15),
MLRS - 1070 (+4),
air defense systems - 797 (+0),
aircraft - 350 (+0),
helicopters - 325 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 9936 (+26),
cruise missiles - 2197 (+3),
ships/boats - 26 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 16,878 (+59),
special equipment - 2048 (+6).
08:19 In Belogorod, a search and rescue operation at the site of a house collapse has been completed, 15 people are known to have died, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that in total yesterday, 19 people were killed and 27 were injured as a result of alleged shelling.
02:21 In the Khar'kov direction, the operational situation remains complex and is changing dynamically, combat operations are underway in the Dusty - Lukyantsy, Dusty - Glubokoe, Dusty - Oleynikovo, Murom - Bugrovatka directions, the General Staff reported. In addition, the enemy is carrying out assault operations in the directions Streleche - Glubokoe, Oleynikovo - Glubokoe, Oleynikovo - Lukyantsy, Murom - Staritsa, Pletenevka - Tikhoe. During the day, the enemy carried out 22 assault operations in these directions, 14 of which are still ongoing.
There are also battles for the border town of Volchansk - the enemy has deployed significant forces to attack the city, consisting of up to five battalions. The enemy is currently enjoying tactical success. The Ukrainian side continues to deploy reserves to stabilize the situation. When determining tasks for troops, one of the main priorities is preserving the lives of military personnel, the General Staff emphasized.
01:30 In the Khar'kov region, the Russian army occupied the settlements of Morokhovets, Oleynikovo and Zelenoe and continues to move towards the village of Liptsy, reports the analytical project DeepState. There are active battles for Lukyantsy, which the enemy has almost completely occupied. The Russians are also trying to gain a foothold in Glubokoye. The enemy continues to approach Volchansk, gaining a foothold in the surrounding area for further entry into the city. The city is under heavy fire and the evacuation of the population continues. Information about the enemy's occupation of the settlement of Gatishche requires clarification.
In addition, the enemy advanced near Verbovoye, Zaporozhye region, in Krasnogorovka, in Netaylovo, west of Semenovka, east of Novopokrovsky, Donetsk region.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] The Ukrainian Armed Forces are fighting stubbornly in the Khar'kov region.
Our troops are conducting clean-up operations in the Volchansk region and have tactical successes in certain areas. A Russian Su-25 was shot down in the Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian military inflicted a fiery defeat on the Russian invaders in the Khar'kov direction and pushed them back. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this in a report as of 17:00 on Monday, May 13.
It is indicated that the situation along the entire front line is controlled by the defense forces. Our troops are restoring positions and are having tactical successes in some areas.
“As of 17:00, fighting continues in the Khar'kov direction. The number of military clashes has increased to 12. Our units inflicted a fiery defeat on the enemy, pushed him back and are carrying out clean-up activities on the northern outskirts of the village of Volchansk,” the message says.
A military clash also began in the area of the village of Staritsa.
The total losses of Russians are 106 people, 25 units of weapons and military equipment.
Meanwhile, in the Limansky direction the number of military clashes increased to 7, in the Seversky direction - to 14, in the Kramatorsk direction - to 31, in the Pokrovsky direction - to 31.
In the Toretsky, Kupyansky, Kurakhovsky, Vremivsky, Gulyai-Polye, Orekhovsky, and Pridneprovsky directions, the situation is controlled by Ukrainian units without changes.
The military also reported that an enemy Su-25 was shot down in the Donetsk region.
“All attempts by the Russian occupiers to advance are met with fierce resistance from the Ukrainian defenders,” the General Staff assured.
Let us remind you that on May 10, the Russians launched an offensive in the north of the Khar'kov region. They captured several villages in the "gray zone". Now there are battles for the border town of Volchansk.
Direct Translation via Googlew Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] In the Kharkov direction, the Ukrainian defense forces inflicted a fiery defeat on the Russians, pushed them back and are clearing them on the northern outskirts of the village of Volchansk.
Russian troops are advancing in the Kharkov region on two directions and have captured several villages near the border. The priority goal is an attack on Volchansk and an attempt to surround the city. The General Staff reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces inflicted a fiery defeat on the Russians, pushed them back and are carrying out a clean-up operation on the northern outskirts of Volchansk. At the same time, Ukrainian society is actively discussing the construction of fortifications in the Kharkov region and whether the authorities were ready for a new attack, which the military and intelligence warned about. STRETCH THE DEFENSE
Russian occupiers in the Kharkov region are attacking in small groups in new directions, trying to stretch the defense of the Ukrainian military, says Oleg Sinegubov, chairman of the Kharkov OVA. According to information from the General Staff, battles are underway for Volchansk. The Russians attracted significant forces to attack the city - up to 5 battalions - and do not take into account their own losses. The Russian invaders lost more than 100 soldiers per day in this direction alone.
There are also battles to the north of Kharkov - in the directions Pylnaya - Lukyantsy, Pylnaya - Glubokoe, Pylnaya - Oleynikovo, Murom - Bugrovatka. In addition, the Russians are carrying out assault operations in the directions Strelechya - Glubokoe, Oleynikovo - Glubokoe, Oleynikovo - Lukyantsy, Murom - Staritsa, Pletenevka - Tikhoe.
WHAT ABOUT THE FORTIFICATIONS?
Fortifications were built in Volchansk, but constant Russian shelling made it difficult to build them, Tamaz Gambarashvili, head of the Volchanskaya GVA, told Radio Liberty.
Answering a question about how they prepared for the offensive of the Russian occupiers, the head of the GVA assured that “everything was built, but perhaps not so tightly.” “After de-occupation, Volchansk has been under constant fire for a year and a half. And mortars and artillery. Therefore, I repeat once again: from Volchansk to the border is four km. It was extremely difficult to build fortifications,” he emphasized.
The head of the administration of the State Special Transport Service of the Ministry of Defense, Alexander Yakovets, said that the most equipped fortifications, which include reinforced concrete structures and premises for shelter and accommodation of military personnel, are located at a distance of 17-35 km from the front line.
Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the battalion of attack unmanned aerial systems ACHILLES of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Koshevoy Ataman Ivan Sirko, was the first to draw attention to the unsatisfactory condition of fortifications in the Kharkov region.
“If we analyze how the enemy strengthened its combat positions and occupied territories, we saw these satellite images where just hectares and kilometers were dug up - defense lines, fortifications, dragons’ teeth; anti-tank, anti-personnel mining; first line of defense, second, third. Was the preparation of the combat positions of the Defense Forces completely mirrored? In my opinion, no. But it cannot be said that no work was carried out and everyone did not feel that this threat could exist. The defensive lines were prepared. The near future will show how efficiently and effectively this was done,” Fedorenko said.
According to him, the Russians are now trying to test the Ukrainian line of defense, understand where there are weak areas, “to increase their presence as much as possible so that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are forced to maintain a serious group of forces and equipment here.”
GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS
The opening of a new front in the north of the country is depleting Ukraine's already limited resources. Due to delays in the delivery of American military aid, Ukrainian troops are running short of ammunition.
On average, for every 10 shells fired by the Russians, Ukraine could respond with one. Thanks to renewed US support, this problem is gradually being resolved.
But the offensive near Kharkov also reveals problems that Ukraine itself has been too slow to resolve: mobilizing enough military personnel and building adequate lines of defense. Reinforcements sent to Kharkov have to be redeployed from other sectors of the front and from limited reserves.
Ukrainian officials still insist that Kharkov itself is not threatened by a ground invasion. But the further Russian troops advance, the more likely it is that the city will be within range of Russian artillery.
More from korrespondent.net Russian offensive in the Kharkov region: number of Russians declines In the Kharkov region, fighting continues in border areas
At first there were about 50,000 Russian military personnel on the border. Currently, more than 30,000 of them are involved in the offensive.
More than 30,000 Russian troops are advancing in the north of the Kharkov region. This was announced by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexander Litvinenko, reports Le Figaro.
According to him, initially about 50,000 Russian military personnel were concentrated on the northeastern border.
A significant part of them are already advancing on Ukrainian territories. Litvinenko noted that we are talking about more than 30 thousand occupiers.
According to all reports, Ukrainian soldiers are ready to repel attacks; heavy fighting continues now, the NSDC secretary added.
Let us recall that on May 10, the Russians launched an offensive in the north of the Kharkov region. They captured several villages in the "gray zone". Now there are battles for the border town of Volchansk.
President Vladimir Zelensky announced the strengthening of the Defense Forces in the Volchansk region of the Kharkov region and other border areas.
According to the General Staff, as of 17:00 on May 13, the situation along the entire front line is controlled by the Defense Forces. Ukrainian soldiers inflict losses on the enemy, restore positions and have tactical successes in some areas.
This is stated in the operational summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Fighting continues in the Kharkiv direction as of 5 p.m. The number of combat clashes increased to 12. Our units inflicted fire damage on the enemy, pushed him back and are carrying out clearing operations on the northern outskirts of the settlement of Vovchansk.
A combat clash has begun in the area of the village of Staritsa.
The total losses of the enemy are 106 people, 25 units of weapons and military equipment.
In the Lymansky direction, the number of combat clashes increased to seven, in the Siversky direction - to 14, in the Kramatorsk direction - to 31, in the Pokrovsky direction - to 31.
In Toretsk, Kupyansk, Kurakhivsk, Vremivsk, Gulyaipilsk, Orihivsk, Prydniprovsk the situation has not changed, it is controlled by Ukrainian units.
In Donetsk region, units of the Defense Forces shot down an enemy Su-25.
All attempts by the Russian occupiers to advance are met with fierce resistance by the Ukrainian defenders.
Earlier, the General Staff reported that the enemy had partial success in the area of Lukyantsi in the Kharkiv direction. The defense forces have stopped the advance of the enemy and are carrying out counterattack actions.
Article Linked To Is Available Only Via VPN
[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
The Sever Group of Forces has improved the tactical situation and delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of the 125th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Volchansk, Neskuchnoye, Liptsy, and Veseloye (Kharkov region). In addition, five counter-attacks of AFU assault groups were repelled close to Glubokoye and Tikhoye (Kharkov region).
The enemy's losses amounted to up to 250 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, and 17 motor vehicles.
In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one 152mm Msta-B howitzer, one 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one 122mm D-30 howitzer, Buk-M1 and Strela-10 anti-aircraft systems, as well as four MLRS launchers, to include Uragan, Czech-made Vampire, and Croatian-made RAK-SA-12.
The Zapad Group of Forces has taken more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on the 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and 117th Territorial Defence Brigade near Kirovsk and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Thirteen counter-attacks of the 4th Tank, 3rd, 21st, 63rd, 116th Mechanised, 77th Airmobile brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and 4th National Guard Brigade were repelled by the Russian Armed Forces near Kislovka (Kharkov region), Nevskoye, Novoyegorovka, Makeyevka, and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 80 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three pick-up trucks, two 152mm Msta-B howitzers, and one 152mm Giatsint-S gun.
The Yug Group of Forces has improved the situation along the front line and delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of the 79th Air Assault Brigade and the 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kleshcheyevka, Antonovka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Over the past 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have repelled three counter-attacks of assault groups of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade and the 41st Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Spornoye and Razdolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 540 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, including the German-made Leopard-2A1, two armoured fighting vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155mm M777 howitzer, one 152mm D-20 howitzer, one 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 105mm M119 gun, and one 105mm Melara Mod 56 self-propelled artillery system.
The Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation as a result of successful actions and inflicted fire damage on units of the 24th, 47th, and 100th Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Novosyolovka Pervaya, Katerinovka, and Novopokrovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation repelled seven counter-attacks launched by the 92nd Assault, 142nd Infantry, 68th, 71st Jaeger, 24th, 110th Mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Shumy, Ocheretino, and Netaylovo (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 395 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one 152mm Msta-B howitzer, and one Croatian-made 122mm RAK-SA-12 MLRS launcher.
The Vostok Group of Forces has taken more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 21st National Guard Brigade near Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 135 Ukrainian troops, one tank, five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155mm M777 howitzer, one UK-made 155mm AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, one 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one 100mm Rapira anti-tank gun.
The Dnepr Group of Forces has engaged the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade, the 35th Marine Brigade, the 121st Territorial Defence Brigade close to Orekhov (Zaporozhye region), Ivanovka, Tyaginka, and Zolotaya Balka (Kherson region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 152mm Msta-B howitzer, and one 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 129 areas during the day.
One Su-27 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was downed by Russia's air defence forces. In addition, 33 unmanned aerial vehicles, six Tochka-U tactical missiles, 39 projectiles of Ol'kha, Czech-made Vampire, and U.S.-made HIMARS, five French-made Hammer guided bombs, five U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, and four UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles have been shot down over the past 24 hours.
In total, 596 airplanes and 274 helicopters, 24,020 unmanned aerial vehicles, 518 air defence missile systems, 16,008 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,295 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,545 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,678 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:59 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 05/13/2024 to 00:00 05/14/2024
A total of 31 cases of armed attacks by the UFU were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC over the past 24 hours.
Information was received about the death of three civilians, and one civilian was also injured. Four employees of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations were injured.
DAMAGED:
Three cars,
Nine residential buildings, fire tanker.
Seven artillery attacks in the Donetsk direction.
A total of 23 attacks in the Gorlovka direction.
One artillery attack in the Volnovakha direction.
A total of 105 units of various ammunition were fired.
22:41 Khar'kov direction: Volchansk.
The enemy confirms for the evening that the situation is getting worse for him hourly. The enemy reports that our army brought in some reserves in this direction, which promised our soldiers success in their advance.
The enemy admits in the evening that he no longer controls the entire city, but only part of Volchansk. The situation for the enemy is becoming critical!
21:35 Hit cluster munitions against Ukrainian kamikaze UAVs and vehicles with operators preparing to launch in the area of ??the village of Mylovoe in the Kherson direction.
20:24 Around 19.30 suppressed a number of attempts by the Kyiv regime to carry out terrorist attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation using anti-radar missiles, guided bombs and an aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicle.
On duty air defense systems destroyed two anti-radar missiles, six guided aerial bombs and one UAV over the territory of the Belgorod region.
19:51 Zones of advance and control of front sectors –map.
The situation northwest of Donetsk: our units have established complete control over the center of Netailovo, knocking out the enemy from the outskirts of the village.
From Khar'kov, Russian fighters established full control over the village of Glubokoe and increased pressure on Lukyantsy from the north-west.
Russian troops took control of the northern outskirts of Volchansk, continuing to gain a foothold and expand the line of control.
18:45 Khar'kovskoe direction.
The situation is becoming more and more tense due to the enemy’s reserves being brought up in significant quantities. This gives us a trump card in other operational directions, since the entire defense line of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is now subject to massive local attacks. This includes the Donetsk direction, the Zaporozhye direction, the Bakhmut direction, and a number of others.
In Volchansk, assault operations continue. The main attacks on the enemy are delivered from the north, but they also seriously constrain the enemy from the flanks. A huge number of Ukrainian Armed Forces l/s who left their positions and pulled into the city + enemy reserves = a whole platoon holding a one-story house.
Therefore, we are not moving as fast as we would like. And we roll back to our previous positions after the streets were taken and the enemy’s sharp counter-actions using large forces.
In Liptsy, assault operations were carried out on the outskirts and in forest plantations near the settlement. The same as in Volchansk. It is difficult with a huge number of mortars and artillery, which works in one square of the main deployments for the subsequent actions of our troops.
We are fighting not only in these populated areas, but also in forest plantations into which the enemy has retreated and managed to strengthen. It is in an open field that everything is not so fast due to the mining that was carried out earlier. There are roads, and they are used beyond the norm.
18:27 Telegram channel “Fisherman":
Slobozhansk direction: the Russian Armed Forces occupied a third of Volchansk.
The Russian Armed Forces are developing an offensive in the north of the Khar'kov region: the first confirmation of a successful advance in Volchansk has appeared.
The territory of Volchansk north of the Volchya River dividing the city and east of Sobornaya Street almost completely came under the control of Russian forces. Yes, a focal enemy presence may remain, but the defenses in the northern part of the city have been broken.
Already in the middle of the day, fighting took place in the area of ??Korolenko and Gogol streets, and the territory of the Central Park and the multi-story residential area east of the lyceum were blocked and partially came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.
On the western outskirts of Volchansk, the presence of the enemy remains (including the Russians from the RDK).
But after the destruction of the bridge across the Volchya River on Privokzalnaya and Gagarin streets, the enemy has only two bridges left - a pedestrian bridge in the area of the Volchanskaya Central Regional Hospital on Shevchenko Street and a car bridge on Sobornaya Street (Route T-21-08).
Another road bridge (Gurkanovsky), located to the east near the Volchansky Aggregate Plant, if it has not completely come under the control of the Russian army by this hour, is at least under the fire control of the RF Armed Forces.
Nothing is yet known about attempts to storm the Volchansky Aggregate Plant, but it is possible that the enemy may try to rely on the plant in order to maintain a bridgehead in the northern part of the city. Two more defense centers are the Volchansky Lyceum No. 1 and the hospital complex, where, according to preliminary data, the heaviest fighting is taking place.
In other areas of the offensive in the north of the Khar'kov region, the advance is not as large-scale.
Footage has emerged from Glubokoye, which was liberated two days ago: on the eastern outskirts of the village the flag of the Russian Federation is flying. The fighting in the Lira-1 gardening community on the eastern bank of the Travensky reservoir continues, after the capture of SNT it will be possible to talk about the beginning of the assault on Liptsy.
To the south of Morokhovets and Oleynikov, as well as to the north of Lukyantsy, the activity of drones of Ukrainian formations and the movements of small groups of Russian infantry are recorded. Apparently, the enemy retains control over Lukyantsy, and reinforcements continue to be transferred to Liptsy from both the “hodgepodge” of territorial defense and the Main Intelligence Directorate units.
Near Staritsa and Bugrovatka, the Russian Armed Forces are clearing villages; it is too early to talk about taking settlements.
In the near future, we can expect the completion of the cleansing of northern Volchansk: the tactics of the Russian troops to cut off all communications, well-functioning reconnaissance and fire damage as part of the reconnaissance and strike contour are bearing fruit. Against the backdrop of the ongoing scandal in the so-called Ukraine and attempts to shift responsibility onto each other for the collapse of the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, we see how the Russian army is taking the line that the Russian Armed Forces should have at least somehow delayed.
But you shouldn’t be filled with jingoism: the Russian Armed Forces are doing hard work, trying to overcome the enemy’s fortified areas. The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to actively use FPV drones and copters with drops, which cause significant damage to advancing units.
17:28 Air defense systems shot down 16 Vampire MLRS rounds over the Belgorod region,reportedto the Ministry of Defense.
16:37 Statements by representatives of the North, West, South, Center, East and Dnepr groups on the progress of the special military operation (as of May 13, 2024) -video.
16:11 Avdeevskoe direction.
Russian fighters launched an offensive west of Semenovka with the aim of taking control of the borders located between Novopokrovsky and Umansky.
15:44 The entire settlement of Glubokoe released by the Russian army. Our advanced groups have already moved towards the outskirts of Liptsa. The assault is underway.
14:57 Special military operation. Situation on May 13 –map.
14:25 Our assaults have gained a foothold in the area of the Volchansk meat processing plant. There are street battles going on.
12:55 Around 12.00 Moscow time suppressed an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using aircraft-type UAVs against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation.
On duty air defense systems destroyed a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the territory of the Belgorod region.
12:11 During last night suppressed further attempts by the Kyiv regime to carry out terrorist attacks using aircraft-type UAVs, Vilkha multiple launch rocket systems and Storm Shadow aircraft guided missiles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation.
On duty air defense systems destroyed twelve Ol'kha MLRS rockets and twelve UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod region, eight UAVs over the territory of the Kursk region, four Storm Shadow aircraft guided missiles and seven UAVs over the territory of the Republic of Crimea, another four UAVs were intercepted over the territory Lipetsk region.
11:31 Situation on the front line –map.
Russian fighters established full control over the village of Zelenoe and reached the outskirts of Glubokoye and Lukyantsy. From Chuguev, Russian troops continue to expand control over the hills overlooking the Volchya Valley and entered the first buildings of Volchansk, where they established a foothold in the meat-packing plant square. The enemy is intensively gathering reserves of infantry and equipment in an attempt to hold this settlement.
Situation southwest of Donetsk: Russian units have advanced north of Vladimirovka, taking control of several oporniks around a kaolin quarry.
10:44 Telegram channel "Fisherman":
Slobozhansk direction: battles in Volchansk and knocking out the reserves of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On the morning of the fourth day of the Russian army’s offensive in the north of the Khar'kov region, no large-scale breakthroughs of enemy defenses were recorded. Having cleared the “gray” border zone, Russian assault units focused on breaking into strongholds and defensive lines of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as knocking out reserves.
By the evening of May 12, the Russian army took a meat processing plant in the north of Volchansk and was clearing a shoe factory: these are two main buildings on the northern tip of the city, from where the Ukrainian Armed Forces controlled the approaches. Forest belts and fields from the north have been completely cleared and have come under the control of Russian troops
The zones east of the city are covered in the fog of war: an offensive is underway from the Quiet side, but the scale of the advance cannot yet be clarified.
But judging by the strikes of Ukrainian artillery stationed in Rubezhnoe and Pechenegy, Russian groups managed to advance to the city center. However, there is no surrender of Volchansk: units of the 57th Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces arrived on the southern outskirts of Volchansk and in Bely Kolodez, located 12 km to the southeast.
At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to solve the problem with logistics and establish supplies across the Seversky Donets River: in the vicinity of Stary Saltov, attempts are being made to build a pontoon crossing.
There have been no changes in the Glubokoye-Oleynikovo-northern outskirts of the village of Lukyantsy-Zelyonoe: Russian troops are still knocking out suitable reserves. The arrival of assault units from the Poltava region is noted in the Khar'kov region, which should strengthen the defensive capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this area.
Fighting on the Izbitskoye - Staritsa - Bugrovatka line continues, but we cannot yet confirm the capture of settlements.
A scandal is breaking out in the Ukrainian media field in connection with territorial losses: the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov, placed the blame on the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky. The public squabble is intended to divert attention from problems at the front and “entertain” the population, while the Ukrainian command is frantically trying to solve the problem of the northern front bursting at the seams.
10:18 Avdeevskoe direction. District settlement Umanskoe.
This night our tactical aviation applied a series of attacks on the northern sections of the village of Umanskoye, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces hid their equipment. There are targets hit, recorded by aerial reconnaissance.
Our aircraft used UFABs and air-to-ground missiles.
09:57 Criminal Kyiv regime continues to fire at the civilian infrastructure of settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired from cannon artillery:
-- n.p. Alyosha four rounds;
-- n.p. Kakhovka four rounds;
-- n.p. Skadovsk three missiles;
-- n.p. Novaya Kakhovka five rounds;
-- n.p. Peschanivka two rounds.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the village. Kazachi Lagery, n.p. Dnepryany, n.p. Kakhovka, n.p. Novaya Kakhovka, firing a total of 19 rounds from cannon artillery.
As a result of a missile attack on the village. Skadovsk car service station was destroyed, part of the city was left without electricity and water.
09:28 Telegram channel "WarGonzo":
Frontline report for the morning of 05/13/2024
- Zaporozhye Front. The Russian Armed Forces took offensive actions northwest of Verbovoy in the area of the road to Danilovka. There are advances in a western direction. In Rabotino itself, positional battles continue.
– Donetsk front. In Krasnogorovka, Russian troops continue assault operations within the city limits. In the area of Netailovo and Umansky LBS there are no significant changes. North of Ocheretino, the Russian Armed Forces expanded the zone of control in the direction of Novoaleksandrovka.
– In the Chasovoyarsky direction, Russian troops were able to advance west of Ivanovsky (Red). Fierce fighting continues in the eastern suburb of Chasov Yar.
- Khar'kov Front. Russian troops, with the support of aviation and artillery, are conducting offensive operations in the Liptsy area from the village. Deep. Fierce fighting continues in the Volchansk area, where Russian troops liberated the village the day before. Gatishche and advanced to the outskirts of the village. Bugruvatka. Long-range weapons of the Russian Armed Forces are actively operating at positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Volchansk itself.
08:47 Telegram channel “Fisherman":
Chronicle of a special military operation: events of week 6 - May 12, 2024
– Russian troops attacked energy facilities in territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. The missiles hit Dobrotvorskaya, Ladyzhinskaya and Burshtynskaya thermal power plants, as well as the turbine hall of DneproGES-1.
– Several more missiles hit a 330/110 kV autotransformer at the Poltava 330 substation. At the Kremenchug hydroelectric power station, the cover of hydraulic unit No. 4 was hit.
– Russian troops are working to identify and destroy Ukrainian aviation bases. In the Dnepropetrovsk region, near the village of Manvelovka, the Russian Armed Forces covered a field airfield, destroying two Mi-24 helicopters.
– Ukrainian formations, in turn, continue to attack fuel and energy infrastructure facilities in Russia. The enemy launched ATACMS attacks on oil depots in Rovenki and Lugansk: four people were killed and 16 more were wounded.
– For the first time since the beginning of the Special Military Operation, Ukrainian drones attacked targets in the Republic of Bashkortostan, covering about 1,300 km. Several drones damaged a viscosity breaking installation on the territory of the local oil refinery in Salavat.
– The Ukrainian Armed Forces also launched their second attack on the Tovarkovo oil refinery in the Kaluga region since March 15. As a result of the arrival, four tanks with fuel oil and diesel fuel caught fire.
“At the same time, Ukrainian formations attacked objects in Crimea with unmanned boats. One of the sea drones hit a boat at the pier in Uzkaya Bay in Chernomorsk.
– In the special operation zone, Russian troops continue to push back Ukrainian formations on several sectors of the front. In the North Ukrainian direction, the enemy continues to establish positions along the border with Russia.
08:02 Official summary Representative offices of the DPR in the JCCC.
36 facts of armed attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC.
Two civilians were reported injured.
Damaged:
Two residential buildings,
Three civil infrastructure facilities.
A total of 13 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk direction.
A total of 23 attacks from the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Gorlovka direction.
In total, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired 108 units of various ammunition.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Gregor Spitzen
[REGNUM] The resignation of Sergei Shoigu from the post of Russian Defense Minister and the unexpected appointment to this post of Andrei Belousov, who previously oversaw the economic bloc of the government, shocked not only most of the Russian political establishment, but also Western experts, who absolutely did not expect such a maneuver from the Russian president. Continued on Page 49
#2
With the new election Putin is to make changes as required. Shoigu a civilian engineer was not demoted or fired. He simply is doing what he has always done.
Belousov I understand is well suited for this post. Seems western media can only dwell upon the negatives. Disinformation abounds. As I recall he is younger and has performed very well and is respected by many in this administration. Putin seems to have a knack for picking high quality people. My hope is Trump dismisses holdovers as they always seem to undercut and leak information to the media.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] A resident of Vladivostok was detained on suspicion of working for Ukrainian military intelligence. A criminal case has been opened. The details were told to journalists in the regional department of the FSB of Russia.
According to security officials, the man is suspected of committing high treason in the form of espionage in the interests of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ukrainian nationalist organization controlled by him, recognized as terrorist in Russia.
It was established that the 48-year-old Primorsky resident, on instructions from the Ukrainian special services, collected and transmitted information about the military infrastructure of the region. At the same time, he was fully aware that this data could be used against the security of Russia, the FSB explained.
The detainee was taken into custody.
During the investigation, he repented, asked for forgiveness for espionage and expressed his readiness to cooperate.
This is the third case in recent times in Primorye when security forces suppress the activities of state traitors.
As Regnum reported, on April 30, a resident of the Primorsky Territory was detained who established contact on a confidential basis with a representative of a Ukrainian nationalist organization recognized as terrorist in Russia, controlled by the GUR.
On May 2, FSB officers detained a resident of Primorye suspected of espionage and transmitting information to Ukrainian military intelligence.
On April 23, the Eastern District Military Court in Kemerovo sentenced a 37-year-old local resident to nine years in prison for treason and participation in the activities of a terrorist organization. The man was also sentenced to a fine of 500 thousand rubles to serve the first two years in prison.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Ukrainian authorities announced the start of evacuation measures in the Belopol and Vorozhbyansk communities in the Sumy region due to the worsening situation at the front. The head of the regional military administration, Vladimir Artyukh, announced this on May 13.
“Residents of Belopolye and Vorozhba, especially families with children, who want to evacuate, should contact the village elders and community leaders,” he wrote on his page on the social network Facebook (owned by Meta, a banned and recognized extremist organization in Russia).
Artyukh added that in accordance with the signed order, the evacuated residents will be placed in places of compact residence in the Sumy region.
As Regnum reported, on May 12, the head of the Kiev-controlled Kharkov regional military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, reported that more than 4 thousand people were evacuated from the Chuguevsky, Kharkovsky and Bogodukhovsky districts. Prior to this, the population was evacuated in the Volchansk, Tsirkunovsk and Lipetsk communities of the Kharkov region.
This happened against the background of the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces in the Kharkov direction. On May 11, official representative of the Ministry of Defense Igor Konashenkov announced the liberation by the Russian military of Borisovka, Ogurtsovo, Pletenevka, Pylnaya and Strelechya in the Kharkov region. The next day, the Russian Armed Forces advanced deeper into the Ukrainian defense, liberating the settlements of Gatishche, Krasnoye, Morokhovets and Oleynikovo.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Chernovec] Everyone has already heard that Sergei Shoigu was removed from the Ministry of Defense. Andrei Belousov, first deputy prime minister of the government, was appointed Minister of Defense.
A few words on this matter.
The minister does not draw arrows on the map, he must make the army machine work like a clock. We must remember that the Defense Ministry is also the military-industrial complex and support for the warring army. But the leadership of combat operations is the job of the General Staff.
Further. Belousov is highlighted in a negative light in few places, or rather nowhere at all. But there are enough positive moments and aspects of his activities.
For those who did not know, it is Belousov who is the architect of the sanctions confrontation, therefore, thanks to his knowledge, optimizations will take place in the economic holes in the Russian troops. In essence, the president transferred a specialist on the economic front to another front. The Russian economy turned out to be surprisingly strong despite the package of sanctions and the freezing of part of its reserves.
What should you expect?
Belousov's future role is more of an auditor, a process regulator. And he is an experienced manager - after all, he is the second person in the government.
“Optimization” according to Serdyukovsky should definitely not be expected. This is definitely not about now.
I hope that the Ministry of Defense is waiting for a personnel shake-up of the ministry with the promotion of combat generals to the place of parquet generals. That is, in fact, what already has happened. Two of Shoigu's top ministers, Ruslan Tsalikov AND Aleksey Krivoruchko were dismissed. Whether that means a total restructuring of the leadership of the ministry of defense is anyone's guess. Worth noting is that so far, the Russian Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov is indicated as still the chief of staff.
I hope the practice of “positive reports to the top” will go away. Without real reports, it is impossible to admit shortcomings, which means it is impossible to correct them.
By the way, Belousov is notable for his bravura reports, but for his truth and substance.
I hope for Col. Gen. Sergey Surovikin’s return, even if not to the highest, but to a command position. Surovikin is a military general, he is needed at the front. No indication so far whether Surovikin is out of Putin's dog house.
I hope that Gerasimov will receive his well-deserved honorable retirement.
We will see how Andrei Removich learns from his work.
Consequently, this appointment involves organizing all the activities of the ministry based on the principle of its subordination to the country’s economy, and not vice versa, says Anatoly Gagarin, director of the Institute of Systemic Political Research and Humanitarian Projects.
The new head of the Ministry of Defense, according to the expert, in addition to the fact that he, like Sergei Shoigu, is a convinced statesman with a strong will, with extensive experience in public administration, is a strong economist with a good mathematical foundation.
“Belousov’s entire previous activity is the consistent implementation of state policy in the fields of economics and management. All his actions are subordinated to this principle, and there have never been any other interpretations or fluctuations on his part. And this is exactly what the president appreciates him for... And this appointment, in essence, is a grandmaster move by the president, involves building the activities of the Ministry of Defense as subordinate to the country’s economy, and not the country’s economy - the activities of the Ministry of Defense,” Gagarin commented.
According to the expert, the main line of the new Minister of Defense is not difficult to understand if you recall one of Belousov’s interviews as First Deputy Prime Minister, recorded in December 2022, in which he said that Russia does not need a mobilization economy, and there are enough resources to solve the problems challenges facing the country.
“In this sense, the synchronicity of Belousov’s actions and thoughts completely coincides with the way of thinking and goals that the president outlined. And if we look at the trajectory of his career, we will see that he is not only always next to the president, but he is a person to whom the president entrusts many complex and responsible positions, so that he can come and establish the most meaningful order. He is not a career military man, but he understands perfectly how the support system for our troops, which is necessary now, should be structured. Extremely transparent, understandable and very effective. Including cost-effective,” the expert shared his reasoning.
As Regnum reported, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to change the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. On May 12, the head of state proposed that the Federation Council appoint former First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, who has significant experience in government agencies, government and the scientific field, as head of the department.
As press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov noted, the Ministry of Defense must respond to advanced ideas, and Belousov has experience in successfully leading the Ministry of Economic Development and working as assistant to the president on economic issues.
The appointment of Andrei Belousov to the post of Minister of Defense of Russia is a tragic event for Ukraine, said Verkhovna Rada deputy from the Batkivshchyna faction Alexey Kucherenko. He thanked the Ukrainian economist Alexei Kushch for his in-depth analysis of this event, who called Belousov’s appointment “ bad news ” for Kiev, clarifying that “everything is leading to a sharp increase in the dynamics of the Russian military-industrial complex and an increase in military production in Russia.”
Related from regnum.ru Peskov: Shoigu will oversee the work, but not head the FSMTC
Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu will oversee the work of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), there is no talk of him being the direct head of this service, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on May 13.
“Shoigu will oversee the work of the FSMTC. There is no question that he will be the immediate head of this service,” the Kremlin representative explained.
According to the presidential decree on the structure of federal authorities, the FSMTC is directly subordinate to the head of state.
As Regnum reported, Peskov was informed on May 12 that by decree of President Vladimir Putin, Shoigu was relieved of his post as acting defense minister and appointed to the post of secretary of the Russian Security Council. It was proposed to appoint Belousov, who held the post of first deputy prime minister, to replace the head of the Ministry of Defense. Peskov clarified that Shoigu, in his position as Secretary of the Security Council, will simultaneously be deputy head of the presidential commission on the military-industrial complex.
Journalist Pavel Zarubin showed a conversation with acting Defense Minister Shoigu, recorded immediately after the resignation of the government on May 6. According to I. O. Head of the Ministry of Defense, President Vladimir Putin, in his speech, highly appreciated the work of the government, mentioning the achievement of results in the most difficult, difficult conditions against the backdrop of a pandemic and sanctions.
On May 7, the entire government resigned before President Putin, who took office. At its meeting on May 13, the State Duma approved the candidacies of deputy prime ministers of the Russian government.
“Lieutenant General Kuznetsov was detained as a suspect in a criminal offense. The investigation of the case is being carried out by the Main Military Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. The investigator has already applied to the court to select a preventive measure for the general in the form of detention,” the agency’s interlocutor said.
▪According to preliminary data, he is charged with previously committed crimes when he served as head of the State Secrets Protection Service of the Ministry of Defense. Information about his arrest is confirmed by other sources.
“We confirm the investigative measures against Yuri Kuznetsov, the former head of the 8th service (protection of state secrets), who now heads the main personnel department of the RF Ministry of Defense: Kuznetsov was no longer at his workplace today.
As far as we know, Kuznetsov’s activities came under the attention of the investigation precisely still in the post of head of the service for protecting state secrets, and not his personnel affairs,” reports Rybar.
It is reported that the detained head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Yuri Kuznetsov, was arrested on May 13 by a court decision and placed in a pre-trial detention center.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The United States expects to increase the pace of arms supplies to Ukraine, but will not be able to announce new military aid packages every week.National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan stated this during a briefing on May 13.
The White House announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine
“In the coming days we will be announcing a PDA (Presidential Drawdown Authority) package because we are really trying to increase the pace of delivery,” Sullivan said.
At the same time, the American administration cannot promise that Washington will announce new supplies every week, the White House representative added.
Sullivan also said that Ukraine, due to logistical difficulties, has still not received most of the weapons from the aid package of about one billion dollars, which was announced at the end of April.
According to him, a long pause in the supply of military assistance has driven Kyiv into a very difficult situation, when Ukrainian troops are forced to retreat in all directions in the zone of a special military operation under pressure from the Russian Armed Forces. At the same time, Sullivan previously admitted that the large aid package approved by Washington will not prevent the Russian military from achieving success on the battlefield in the foreseeable future.
As Regnum reported, on May 10, United States President Joe Biden ordered military aid to Ukraine in the amount of $400 million, which will include missiles for Patriot air defense systems and Javelin anti-tank systems, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and other weapons. Prior to this, Biden signed a law allocating about $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine. For several months until April 20, the House of Representatives of the US Congress did not approve the corresponding document; on April 23, the bill was approved by the Senate. Most of the funds will be directed to enterprises of the American military-industrial complex and the Pentagon.
The Russian side has repeatedly called on Western countries to refrain from supplying military aid to Ukraine. The head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, noted that any military cargo intended for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a legitimate target for the Russian military. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, in turn, stated that the supply of weapons to Kiev does not affect the course of the special military operation, but only prolongs the conflict.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, ridiculed the call of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to increase the supply of military aid to Ukraine due to the high threat of defeat for Kiev.
The diplomat posted on her Telegram channel an excerpt from the film “The Diamond Arm,” where Andrei Mironov’s character exclaims: “Chief, everything is lost! The plaster is removed, the client leaves.”
Earlier, Orpo said that the situation in Ukraine is critical, so the West needs to act immediately. He called for an urgent increase in the supply of military aid to the Kyiv regime, since the threat of its defeat of Kyiv is now extremely high.
As Regnum reported, on May 10, the United States announced a decision to send $400 million in military aid to Ukraine. The funds will be used for military products, training and education. The aid package includes Patriot missiles, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, MRAP explosive devices and Javelin anti-tank missiles.
Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov called Washington's allocation of a new package of military assistance to the Kiev regime a reaction to the successes of the Russian army.
Russia has repeatedly called on Western countries to refrain from providing military assistance to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any military cargo intended for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a legitimate target for the Russian Armed Forces.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, in turn, pointed out that arms supplies to Ukraine are not capable of changing the course of a special military operation, but will only prolong and increase the suffering of residents of the territory controlled by Kiev.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
.jpg)
