Victory Chronicles
-DAY 449

KEY TAKEAWAYS TODAY

Above: Edelweiss Brigade on Vyshyvanka Day, 2022. Today, Edelweiss is fighting in the east.  May the power of the vyshyvanka protect all our defenders today and everyday. (Rubryka)

Above:  These 6-7th century early Slavic guardians from Cherkashyna wear vyshyvanka embroidered shirts for protection of their homeland.  They were unearthed in Martynivka village, Cherkasy, in 1909. Rubryka has more fun facts about vyshyvanka Ukrainian shirts.  

⚡️A convoy of 🇺🇸American armored vehicles Oshkosh M-ATV armed with the Armed Forces of 🇺🇦Ukraine somewhere on the territory of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/YFi6cCGcND

— 🇺🇦Ukrainian Front (@front_ukrainian) May 17, 2023

Above: UK Ministry of Defence

• CNN reported that two components of a US-made Patriot battery received minor damage during a Russian attack Tuesday, but the system remains operational. The Russian barrage damaged the Patriot battery’s generator and part of the system’s electronics according to US inspectors who examined the system on Tuesday.
• At the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik on Wednesday, forty-three countries agreed to the creation of a central database of Russian war crimes and damage to property in Ukraine, which could later serve as the basis for victim compensation and crime prosecution. Six predictable countries refused the agreement: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia and Türkiye.
• BBC’s Russia service reported on May 17 that the Russian General Prosecutor’s office and other oversight authorities conducted an unscheduled inspection at the European University in St. Petersburg. They inspected dissertation topics and personal files of students as well as publications and classes of faculty in at least four departments: anthropology, history, sociology, and political science. The investigation affected several dozen faculty members and hundreds of students. Russian authorities have been conducting similar inspections at three other Moscow universities since 2021.
• Russian forces have started using assault companies called “Storm Z” consisting of criminals recruited while awaiting trials. Stories are emerging of Wagner criminal-soldiers returning to their motherland after surviving Ukraine and committing heinous crimes on the belief that they can again sign Wagner contracts to escape criminal punishment.
• Foreign Policy looked at Russia’s well-developed and brutal criminal subculture –  Воровской Мир or Thieves’ World – from which Wagner’s leader comes.  “The normalization of prison culture may be contributing to the brutalization of the Russian army and its war crimes in Ukraine—but it’s also affecting the home front…Already, the crimes of these returning Wagner soldiers are piling up, and analysts…are warning against the return of the violence of the 1990s, when crime soared.”
• During the day of May 17, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 20 air strikes on the concentrations of troops and military equipment of the adversary, 8 of them targeted anti-aircraft missile systems. Also, 2 Orlan-10 reconnaissance UAVs of the enemy were intercepted. The Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 1 command post, 6 concentrations of troops, 2 ammunition depots, 2 fuel and lubricants depots, 1 artillery unit at its firing positions, 2 air defense assets and 2 other important targets of the adversary.

GENERAL STAFF DAILY ENEMY LOSSES

Above: Operational Command East

General Staff on Facebook

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

• Liquidated personnel, 201,100 (+510)
• Tanks, 3,773 (+2)
• Armored personnel vehicles, 7,373 (+8)
• Artillery systems/MLRS, 3,198/563 (+32/1)
• Anti-aircraft systems, 318 (0)
• Aircraft/helicopters, 308/294 (0)
• Unmanned aerial vehicles, 2,759 (+11)
• Cruise missiles, 990 (+8)
• Warships/boats, 18 (0)
• Vehicles and fuel tanks, 6,073 (+6)
• Special equipment, 418 (+1)

GENERAL STAFF STRIKES ON CIVILIANS

Above: Strikes on civilians in Donetsk Oblast last night.  (Suspilne)

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, from 21:00 to 05:30 May 17-18, the occupiers launched several waves of missile attacks from different directions. “A total of 30 sea, air and land-based cruise missiles were launched. Twenty-two Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles were fired from strategic aircraft: two Tu-160s and eight Tu-95s. From ships in the Black Sea — 6 Kalibr cruise missiles. And also two “Iskander-K” cruise missiles from ground-based operational-tactical missile systems.” Air defense forces destroyed 29 out of 30 cruise missiles. It was also possible to shoot down 4 drones.

Glory to Ukraine!
The 449th day of the Russian large-scale invasion has begun.

• During the day of May 17, the adversary launched 15x missile attacks, in particular on the cities of Bakhmut, Kherson, and Odesa. In addition, 42x air strikes and 101x MLRS attacks of the enemy have been reported. The attacks caused civilian casualties, damage and destruction of private housing and other civilian infrastructure.
• The likelihood of further missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high. Positively do not ignore the air raid alerts.
• The adversary continues to focus its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar’inka axes, with 36x combat engagements taking place. Bakhmut, and Mar’inka remain at the epicenter of the fighting.
• Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: The invaders fired mortars and artillery at the settlements of Khotiivka (Chernihiv oblast), Novovasylivka, Komarivka, Hirky, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Hur’iv Kozachok, Udy, Okip, Kozacha Lopan’, Hatyshche, Vovchans’k, Budarky, Zybyne, Ustynivka, and Zarubynka (Kharkiv oblast).
• Kup’yans’k axis: The invaders launched air strikes near Masyutivka, Kyslivka, and Pershotravneve. The adversary fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Krasne Pershe, Fyholivka, Novomlyns’k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Masyutivka, Tabaivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel’makhivka (Luhansk oblast).
• Lyman axis: The invaders carried out air strikes near Dibrova, Bilohorivka, Verkhn’okam’yans’ke, and Vesele. Makiivka, Nevs’ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors’ke, Dibrova, Verkhn’okam’yans’ke, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
• Bakhmut axis: The invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements Novomarkove, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Predtechyne, and Kurdyumivka. Vasyukivka, Zaliznyans’ke, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, Bila Hora, Pivnichne, and Shumy (Donetsk oblast) suffered from enemy shelling.
• Avdiivka axis: The invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Novoselivka Persha, and Pervomayske; shelled the settlements of Avdiivka, Pervomais’ke, Karlivka, and Nevel’s’ke (Donetsk oblast).
• Mar’inka axis: the enemy launched an air strike at Krasnohorivka, shelled Mar’inka, Paraskoviivka, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast).
• Shakhtars’ke axis: The invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Velyka Novosilka, shelled the settlements of Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Novoukrainka.
• Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: The occupant forces launched air strikes at Novopol’ (Donetsk oblast) and Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements were shelled, including Vremivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil’ (Donetsk oblast), Ol’hivs’ke, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaky, Stepove, Kam’yans’ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Zolota Balka, Kachkarivka, Zmiivka, Beryslav, Tyahynka, Antonivka, Dniprovs’ke, Kizomys, Shyroka Balka (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.

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

KHARKIV-LUHANSK

Above: Electrical grid specialists work alongside mine sappers to restore power transmission in liberated territories.  (Kharkiv ODA)

Map via ISW

• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line on May 17. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Masyutivka (13km northeast of Kupyansk), Novoselivske (14 km northwest of Svatove), Stelmakhivka (15km northwest of Svatove), Nevske (19km northwest of Kreminna), and Bilohorivka (10km south of Kreminna).
• Geolocated footage published on May 16 shows enemy artillery elements striking a bridge over the Zherebets River in Makiivka (22km northwest of Kreminna).

DONETSK

Above: The Donetsk Oblast Administration is pushing to evacuate more people from high danger zones, especially children.  DODA called for faster evacuation of the communities of Toretska, Kostyantynivska, Chasovoyarska, Avdiivska, Vuhledarska, Krasnohorivska and Ocheretynska due to an increase in rocket-artillery shelling. Since February 2022, more than 1.35 million civilians have been evacuated by officials and volunteers from Donetsk.  The administration estimates that about 500 thousand civilians remain in government-controlled Donetsk. (Donetsk ODA)

Above:  Her name is Anna Maria and she is now home in Ukraine.  She was taken to Russia when her parents were captured defending Mariupol.  When the mom was released in a prisoner exchange, she worked with the Ombudsman’s office to locate and bring back her daughter.  At the beginning of June 2022, President Zelensky reported that about 2,500 defenders of Mariupol were in Russian captivity of whom fewer than 500 have been exchanged. (Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights)

Maps via ISW

• Russian and Ukrainian officials acknowledged continued limited Ukrainian counterattacks near Bakhmut on May 17. Ukrainian forces are advancing on Bakhmut’s flanks.  Ukrainian forces advanced up to 500 meters in the Bakhmut direction in the past day.
• Russian forces continued to make incremental gains in Bakhmut on May 17. Geolocated footage posted on May 17 shows that Wagner made incremental advances in southwestern Bakhmut.
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Avdiivka–Donetsk City line on May 17. Ukrainian forces repelled multiple Russian ground attacks in Marinka (27km southwest of Avdiivka).
• Russian and Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted limited ground attacks in western Donetsk Oblast on May 17.  Russian forces conducted 16 ground attacks against Ukrainian positions on the western Donetsk–Zaporizhia Oblast frontline.

ZAPORIZHZHIA-KHERSON-CRIMEA

Above:  National Guard member Emma of the 19th Mykolaiv Public Order Regiment was honored for her devoted service to Ukraine.  Emma works checkpoints in Mykolaiv with the specialty of detecting explosives, weapons and ammunition. (Suspilne)

Map via ISW

• Ukrainian officials reported that terrain features constrain Ukrainian offensive operations across the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. due to the width of the Dnipro River. Ukrainian forces pushed Russian forces back from the islands close to Kherson City where the islands have poor terrain, no trenches, limited shelter, and the ground is always wet.
• Ukrainian forces reportedly continue to strike areas along critical logistics lines in southern Ukraine. Russian sources claimed on May 17 that Ukrainian forces shelled Tokmak, Vasylivka, and Polohy in Zaporizhia
• The Kremlin has allowed the Black Sea Grain initiative to operate for another sixty days. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff reports that occupiers in Feodosia, Crimea, are loading stolen grain onto a Syrian cargo ship.

День вишиванки відзначають навіть в Антарктиді

Полярники на станції «Академік Вернадський» завжди намагаються вшановувати всі ті важливі свята і дні, як і на рідній Батьківщині, адже це дозволяє відчути таке важливе для нас всіх єднання.

📸 Сергій Глотов pic.twitter.com/OcxzKNMqRg

— Ukrinform (@UKRINFORM) May 18, 2023