Victory Chronicles
-DAY 440

KEY TAKEAWAYS TODAY

Above: The General Staff greets the world on Ukraine’s first May 9 Europe Day celebration. A long and eloquent post makes a clear statement of Ukrainian values and aspirations. 

The single Russian tank at today's May 9 Victory Day parade isn't even Russian, it turns out

The tank, a museum-piece T-34, named "Prіde", drove by the dignitaries at the parade alone .

But "Pride" was actually built not in Russia,but in Kharkiv,Ukrainehttps://t.co/S95ZiWHXi6 pic.twitter.com/bOVzgbIHTe

— The New Voice of Ukraine (@NewVoiceUkraine) May 9, 2023

Above: A team of Ukrainian journalists working for the Associated Press earned Pulitzer Prizes for their work covering the Russian destruction of Mariupol last year. “Together they helped expose the extent of the suffering Ukrainians endured, served as a counterweight to Russian disinformation and contributed to the opening of a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol. They also had to elude capture by Kremlin forces that were hunting for the team.”(Associated Press)

Above: UK Ministry of Defence

Above: Steadfast supporter EC President von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday, 9 May, to celebrate Europe Day with Ukraine for the first time.

• Within the Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative, the US will announce on Tuesday, May 9, a $1.2 billion military security package for long-term defense against Russian aggression. The package is expected to include more air defense, ammunition and intelligence gathering systems to build Ukraine’s capacity to defend from its terrible neighbor long after the war is won.
• As the European Union works on the 11th sanctions package, one area of concern is a “sharp increase in deceptive practices” trying to circumvent price caps on Russia oil by playing shipping shell games. EU companies are barred from providing services for crude oil transportation unless the cargo on board is purchased at or below the G-7 price cap of $60 a barrel. Bloomberg looked at the Kremlin’s use of a fleet of 20-year-old vessels – normally scrapped by now – to set up fake shadow intermediaries. Environmentalists call the use of dangerously old and under-maintained ships “an environmental catastrophe waiting to happen.”
• Russian military recruiters are targeting Central Asian migrant workers for contract service by visiting mosques and immigration centers. The UK Ministry of Defense assessed on May 8 that this recruitment campaign is likely part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to “voluntarily” recruit 400,000 military personnel and avoid another round of mobilization. Russia likely sends these migrant recruits to the front lines, underscoring Russian disregard for ethnic minorities disproportionately forced to bear the burden of combat losses in Ukraine.
• A new recruitment scheme advertised in Moscow offers payment to contract recruits of about $241 for each child, $6,435 for minor injuries, and $12,870 for severe injuries on top of regular monthly salaries of $643.

General Staff’s Daily Video Digest with English subtitles

GENERAL STAFF DAILY ENEMY LOSSES

Above: Oryx

General Staff on Facebook

Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces estimated enemy losses since February 24, 2022 (with daily additions)

• Liquidated personnel, 195,620 (+650)
• Tanks, 3,734 (+4)
• Armored personnel vehicles, 7,257 (+4)
• Artillery systems/MLRS, 3,031/554 (+13/0)
• Anti-aircraft systems, 307 (+1)
• Aircraft/helicopters, 308/294 (0)
• Unmanned aerial vehicles, 2,618 (+4)
• Cruise missiles, 955 (+8)
• Warships/boats 18 (0)
• Vehicles and fuel tanks, 5,969 (+11)
• Special equipment, 388 (+4)

GENERAL STAFF STRIKES ON CIVILIANS

Above: Chasiv Yar (NYT)

In Bakhmut, the Holy Annunciation Church was destroyed by Russian artillery fire.#Ukraine#UkraineWillWin
🎥@NOELreports pic.twitter.com/4w8mVqI3UW

— NewsUkrainian24 (@NewsUkrainian24) May 9, 2023

• On the night of 8-9 May, Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 23 cruise missiles out of 25 launched by the aggressor. “The occupiers attacked the territory of Ukraine with sea- and air-launched cruise missiles on the night of the ‘sacred’ day of 9 May. Russian forces launched eight Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea at around 22:00 on 8 May, aimed at eastern oblasts. All eight were destroyed by air defense units under Air Command Skhid. Close to 04:00 on 9 May, the invaders launched 17 Kh-101/Kh-555 air-based cruise missiles from four Tu-95 strategic aircraft in the Caspian Sea. Air defense forces from Air Command Tsentr destroyed 14 cruise missiles; one more was destroyed by Air Command Pivden.

Glory to Ukraine!
The 440th day of the Russian large-scale invasion has begun.

• Last night, russian terrorists launched yet another massive missile attack on Ukraine. Information on the aftermath of this terrorist attack is currently being updated.
• During the day of May 8, the adversary launched 30x missile, 61x air strikes, and 89x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. The attacks caused casualties, destroyed and damaged private housing and other civilian infrastructure.
• The likelihood of further missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high. Do not ignore the air raid signals.
• The adversary continues to focus its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar’inka axes. Heavy fighting for the cities of Bakhmut and Mar’inka continue. During the day of May 8, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 42x enemy attacks in these areas of the frontline.
• Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: During the day of May 8, the enemy fired mortars and artillery at the settlements of Berylivka, Moshchenka, Halahanivka, Leonivka, Oleksandrivka, Buda-Vorob’ivs’ka, Hrem’yach (Chernihiv oblast), Znob-Novhorods’ke, Stara Huta, Shalyhyne, Novoslobids’ke, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Hoptivka, Krasne, Zelene, Starytsya, Ohirtseve, Vovchans’ki Khutory, Karaichne, Mala Vovcha, Mykolaivka, and Nesterne (Kharkiv oblast).
• Kup’yans’k axis: The invaders launched air strikes at the vicinities of settlements of Zapadne and Masyutivka. The adversary fired artillery and mortars at Kam’yanka, Topoli, Petro-Ivanivka, Fyholivka, Novomlyns’k, Zapadne, Lyman Pershyi, Vil’shana, Buhaivka (Kharkiv oblast), Novoselivs’ke, and Stel’makhivka (Luhansk oblast).
• Lyman axis: The invaders launched air strikes at the vicinities of settlements of Nevs’ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn’okam’yans’ke, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast).  Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
• Bakhmut axis: The occupant forces launched air strikes on the vicinities of settlements of Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, and Predtechyne. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, Oleksandro-Shul’tyne, Dyliivka, Druzhba, Zalizne, and New York (Donetsk oblast) suffered from enemy shelling.
• Avdiivka axis: The invaders shelled the settlements of Novokalynove, Berdychi, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Vodyane, Pervomais’ke, and Netaylove (Donetsk oblast).
• Mar’inka axis: Heorhiivka and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast) came under enemy fire.
• Shakhtars’ke axis: The invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Velyka Novosilka, shelled the settlements of Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, and Vuhledar.
• Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: The occupant forces launched air strikes at the vicinities of settlements of Vremivka (Donetsk oblast), Hulyaipole, and Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In addition, the invaders shelled more than 30x settlements near the line of contact, including Vremivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil’ (Donetsk oblast), Ol’hivs’ke, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Huliaipilske, Bilohir’ya, Mala Tokmachka, Kam’yans’ke (Zaporizhzhya oblast), Zolota Balka, Kachkarivka, Zmiivka, Tyahynka, Antonivka, Dniprovs’ke, Kizomys, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.

Support the Armed Forces! United we will win! Glory to Ukraine!

KHARKIV-LUHANSK

Above: Russian rockets launched from the Belgorod region at dawn in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Monday. (The Guardian)

Map via ISW

• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Kupyansk- Svatove- Kreminna line on May 8. Russian ground attacks near Bilohorivka (10km south of Kreminna) and Spirne (26km south of Kreminna). Geolocated footage published  on May 7 shows enemy paratroopers conducting a drone strike against Ukrainian positions south of Torske (16km west of Kreminna).

DONETSK

Above: (NYT)

Above:  Russians particularly hate books and knowledge.  According to the Ukrainian MoD, the invaders have destroyed more than 300 dangerous libraries in the last year.  Pictured, members of the Civil-Military Cooperation Unit transferred 5 tons of books from ruined libraries in Donetsk region.  

Maps via ISW

• Russian forces made marginal advances within Bakhmut as of May 8 amid reports of intensified Wagner Group forces offensive operations. Geolocated footage published on May 7 indicates that Russian forces likely made gains in western Bakhmut. Russian forces conducted 29 assaults in the Bakhmut direction and increased artillery activity indicating that Russian forces in the area do not suffer from significant ammunition shortages. Russian forces continue to conduct attritional ground attacks as their main tactic in the Bakhmut area. Additional Wagner personnel arrived and are operating in the city, leading to an increased intensity of assaults. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Khromove (immediately west of Bakhmut), Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, and Stupochky (14km southwest of Bakhmut).
• Russian forces continued limited offensive operations along the Avdiivka-Donetsk front on May 8. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Avdiivka, Pervomaiske (11km southwest of Avdiivka), and Marinka (27km southwest of Avdiivka).

ZAPORIZHZHIA-KHERSON-CRIMEA

Above: Engineers of Ukrainian 808th Pontoon Bridge Regiment practicing to lay out a ferry and cross water obstacles as fast as possible. (Military Land)

Above:  Queue of trucks in Odesa lined up to cross the international border. Starting this week, Ukraine is offering online sign up (eCherha) to facilitate quick border crossings.  Truck drivers can register for 16 border crossing points with five of Ukraine’s seven neighbors: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova and Romania. (Odesa Life)

"Pack your bags, you're leaving!" – Russia announced forced evacuation of residents in temporarily occupied Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region. pic.twitter.com/PqF6WRY6Ki

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 8, 2023

• The national resistance center Sprotiv wrote that collaborators in occupied Zaporizhzhia and Kherson are fleeing like rats on a sinking ship.  Ukrainians who help the occupiers are turning in their resignations and trying to run to Russia. They fear being tried for treason by Ukraine and being force-drafted into the occupation army. So far, the occupation authorities are refusing the resignations.
• The Russian occupiers do not stop robbing Ukrainian citizens, businesses, and government agencies in the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia To transport the looted property from settlements near the contact line, the invaders involve drivers and truck owners from among local collaborators.  The loot is taken to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
• Russian occupation authorities are evacuating settlements in Kherson Oblast to areas deep in the rear of occupied Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian occupation authorities suspended the Skadovsk raion and Skadovsk City administrations and loaded documents, office equipment, and other state property for transport out of the area. Russian occupation authorities are conducting similar activities in other settlements in occupied Kherson Oblast and are evacuating the areas with their families. Russian occupation authorities plan to transport documents and looted property by sea to Berdyansk, Zaporizhia, in an effort to avoid multi-kilometer traffic jams on the Kerch Strait, which are a direct result of the partial evacuation order.
• On Monday, 8 May, Russia refused to register ships for entry and inspect them, thus once again blocking the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The Ukrainian Ministry of Regional Development posted on Facebook, “Once again, the Russian Federation has effectively stopped the Grain Initiative by refusing to register vessels for entry and conduct inspections. This approach completely contradicts the terms of the current Agreement.”