Russian troops in Ukraine
On May 3, 2022, the situation in Ukraine did not change significantly. However, there are noticeable successes in the advance of Russian and LDPR military forces in some areas.
Northern direction:
The Russian Armed Forces conducted retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian military facilities in the Sumy region. These actions were revenge for the sabotage attacks in late April and early May.
In the Kharkiv direction, an attempt by the Ukrainian military to push the front line further to the north and east of Kharkiv ended in failure: Russian forces repulsed attacks by the AFU, and carried out intense artillery and air strikes. The Russian Armed Forces also foiled attempts by the AFU to destroy crossings in the vicinity of Izyum. Thus, the counterattack promised by Zelensky’s adviser Alexey Arestovich ended in failure.
Furthermore, in Kharkiv Region, members of the Russian National Guard prevented an attack by Ukrainian militants on a convoy of Russian troops. They discovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition of a Ukrainian saboteur’s group in the Izyum region. Among other things, they found two Turkish, two Swedish and three American anti-tank grenade launchers. The cache also contained a large amount of combat gear and food supplies for several days.
Members of the Russian National Guard prevented a strike on a convoy of Russian troops.
Luhansk direction:
An offensive by the Russian Armed Forces and the LPR military forces to the south of Izyum continues. The main successes are reported in the area of Liman, Donetsk Region. Allied forces blocked the Ukrainian grouping in this area, forcing them to blow up the Seversky Donets River crossings. Thus, they actually sacrificed their lives and left themselves only one way to retreat along the road leading through Sviatogorsk, Donetsk Oblast, which is already practically under the control of Russian troops. With the defeat of the Liman garrison, the entire left bank of the Seversky Donets River will be cleared of the AFU. A large amount of military equipment was destroyed.
Ukrainian tank destroyed by the LPR’s People’s Militia
Ukrainian APC destroyed by the LPR’s People’s Militia
Killed Ukrainian soldier near Liman
Killed Ukrainian soldier near Liman
In the city of Popasna, allied forces continue to mop up the southeastern districts of the city. Once this operation is completed, the Russian and LPR Armed Forces will hae to secure the northwestern districts of the city. Then they will reach the boundaries of the Lisichansk-Severodonetsk agglomeration. The LPR People’s Militia released 20 hostages, civilians held in basements by Ukrainian radicals. The punishers used the people as human shields, and not only that, Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Marochko of the MN LNR told Donbass Resolves.
“Young people were used as slave labor: forced to build fortifications. Under the fear that close relatives would be shot, they were given weapons. Hostages were forcibly armed and forced to shoot. In this way the Ukrainian Nazis covered their escape.”
Donetsk direction:
Compared to the previous days of May, the fighting in the vicinity of Gorlovka has subsided. However, shelling of the city by the Ukrainian military continues. According to the Mayor of Horlivka, 39 shelling of the city’s territory has been recorded to date.
In the southern districts of Avdeevka, there is an intensive fire exchange. The DPR units (including “Somali” detachment deployed to that area) are effectively fighting against Ukrainian forces in fortified areas. However, in response to the intense attacks by the Donetsk units, Ukrainian forces are literally razing the outskirts of Yasinovataya, DPR.
Near Mariupol, a new UN and Red Cross convoy was formed under the protection of allied DPR and Russian forces. It includes 48 buses and several ambulances, as well as escort vehicles.
It is reported that the storming of Azovstal has begun. Russian Army and DPR forces began to destroy Azov’s firing positions after the militants came out of hiding, taking advantage of the silence regime.
Southern direction:
There is fierce fighting in the vicinity of Gulyaypole, Zaporizhzhia region, according to Ukrainian media. The Ukrainian Armed Forces in this direction have to repel attacks by the Crimean grouping of the Russian Armed Forces.
In the Odessa region, the bridge in Zatoka was hit for the 3rd time today. At this point, according to both the Russian and Ukrainian media, confirmed by military sources, the crossing has been permanently targeted and was destroyed. Reconstruction will be complicated. There have also been strikes against military (AFU and territorial defense) positions concentrated in and around Odessa.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, high-precision airborne missiles struck 38 military facilities in Ukraine overnight. Among them: four command posts, 30 strongholds, areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment, and three missile and artillery weapon depots in the areas of Pervomayskoye and Illichivka settlements (Donetsk region). They also destroyed an Osa AKM surface-to-air missile system and a battery of multiple rocket launchers near Arkhangelivka (Kharkiv region).
Russian air defenses destroyed three Bayraktar-TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles near Snake Island. Four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were also shot down in the areas of Chervony Oskol and Nevskoye (Kharkiv region), as well as Veseloye (Donetsk People’s Republic). In addition, five Smerch rockets were intercepted in the districts of Izyum, Topolskoye and Malaya Kamyshevakha.
Earlier, according to the command of the AFU, two Russian Raptor boats were destroyed by Bayraktar TB2 UAV strikes near Snake Island at dawn on May 2.
Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Danilov accused Hungary of attempting to annex Ukrainian territor
In a broadcast of the Ukrainian telethon, Danilov said that Hungary had been warned by Moscow about an attack on Ukraine and was planning to annex part of Ukrainian territory.
“Hungary was warned by Putin that there would be an attack on our country. You saw her position. She thought she could take some of the territory away. Well, we’ll see what the consequences will be for this country,” Danilov said.
According to the Pentagon, the U.S. has sent 14 planes with military aid to Ukraine in 24 hours, and another 23 flights were made by five other countries. Moreover, there were announced deliveries of another 5,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.
Thus, the allied forces continue a steady offensive in several directions. Moreover, as of today it is clearly visible that the AFU grouping in Donbass is gradually falling into encirclement. At the same time, Kyiv is sending more and more forces to the blockaded areas. Kyiv’s concept, imposed by Western countries, of conducting a war “to the last Ukrainian” continues to be enforced. The increase in arms deliveries is a consequence of this.
