Russia-Ukraine war and related tensions Megathread

[Woody]

Commander-in-chief of AFU Oleksandr Syrskyi: Northern Kharkiv front "significantly worsened"

The Ukrainian army’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi warned that the situation in the country’s eastern Kharkiv region had “significantly worsened” for Ukrainian forces on Sunday as Russia claimed it had captured four new villages in its continued offensive on the area.

Syrskyi said that Ukrainian forces were engaged in “fierce defensive battles” in the Kharkiv region and that while conditions had “significantly worsened” in recent days, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had managed to hold their defensive line and prevent Russian troops from advancing further into the region.

On Saturday, Russia said it had captured the villages of Borisivka, Ogirtseve, Pletenivka, Pylna and Strilecha, also along the border in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian war monitoring project DeepState confirmed the Russian claim on Sunday.

Source: https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/05/12/ukrainian-military-chief-describes-worsened-situation-in-kharkiv-region-amid-russian-advances-en-news

[Woody]

Deepstate has updated their map again, Russians have penetrated Kharkiv Oblast by some 8 kilometers now. Vovchansk's outskirts are now in the gray-zone, which matches with the reports of ongoing fighting in the town:

[Lykaon]

I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it again. The poster above is a scumass PoS and I sincerely hope he gets what he and every other vatnik and russian mobik/fanboy deserves. People like him are no better than axis cheerleaders from the 40s

Meanwhile, Shoigu is demoted and Patrushev is on the way out

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Commander-in-chief of AFU Oleksandr Syrskyi: Northern Kharkiv front "significantly worsened"

The Ukrainian army’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi warned that the situation in the country’s eastern Kharkiv region had “significantly worsened” for Ukrainian forces on Sunday as Russia claimed it had captured four new villages in its continued offensive on the area.

Syrskyi said that Ukrainian forces were engaged in “fierce defensive battles” in the Kharkiv region and that while conditions had “significantly worsened” in recent days, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had managed to hold their defensive line and prevent Russian troops from advancing further into the region.

On Saturday, Russia said it had captured the villages of Borisivka, Ogirtseve, Pletenivka, Pylna and Strilecha, also along the border in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian war monitoring project DeepState confirmed the Russian claim on Sunday.

Source: https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/05/12/ukrainian-military-chief-describes-worsened-situation-in-kharkiv-region-amid-russian-advances-en-news

Russia is pretty likely to gain long-term, the question is how much and will their material losses be enough to make it worth it.

[Hindsight was 2020]

I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it again. The poster above is a scumass PoS and I sincerely hope he gets what he and every other vatnik and russian mobik/fanboy deserves. People like him are no better than axis cheerleaders from the 40s

Meanwhile, Shoigu is demoted and Patrushev is on the way out

Actually he technically got promoted but in a way where he has less control over the army but will have more direct sway on Putin
https://twitter.com/NicoleGrajewski/status/1789726687602553309

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Patrushev losing Putin's favor feels like it came out of nowhere.

[Hindsight was 2020]

Patrushev losing Putin's favor feels like it came out of nowhere.

Especially as his son is still the head of agriculture

[Hindsight was 2020]

Per Yuriy Butusov (a solid on the ground Ukrainian reporter station in the Kharkiv area)

🔴 The Situation regarding the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region at 5:00 a.m. on May 13

During the day, the enemy started fighting in the border villages of Hlyboke and Staritsa in the Kharkiv direction. But it was not possible to completely occupy the villages, infantry contact battles are being fought for them.

The enemy is trying to advance to the village of Liptsi, but was unable to reach the village.

In the direction of Vovchansk, the enemy entered the outskirts of Vovchansk, the outer streets and the Vovchansk meat processing plant. But the city remains almost completely under our control, the enemy was not allowed to advance deep. Near Vovchansk, our artillery and drones work effectively against the infantry, and the enemy's losses are significant. I am here, so I see the situation with my own eyes. Defenses are being strengthened in the city. The enemy is active, groups of infantry are trying to break through our battle formations in various areas.

On May 12, the Russians attacked for the first time near Vovchansk with several tanks with minesweepers, but the attack was repulsed.

On May 12, the Russians tried to advance in almost all directions, but everywhere they met the resistance of the Ukrainian troops, and now the enemy is forced to conduct assaults.

Faced with the consolidation of our battle formations and the need to attack strongpoints that hinder further offensives, the enemy lost the ability to maneuver. And now the losses of the Russians began to increase sharply.

On the first day of the offensive, due to certain problems, the command of OTU "Kharkiv" was changed. The new commander is a person with experience and competence. Control and awareness are improving, but not as quickly as we would like. Management and organization at the highest level is our primary and key concern.

In terms of ammunition: our troops are equipped with artillery shells.

By people: there are problems with the low complexity of the parts, but the enemy does not have a multiple advantage.

Regarding the fortifications: they were built in the Kharkiv direction, but the enemy did not reach these lines.

For some reason, the defensive lines are not tied to tactically advantageous heights, the main battles continue where the positions are not equipped, and it is necessary to dig in now. That is why there is a misunderstanding in the troops that there are no fortifications exactly where they are needed, and why it is necessary to bury ourselves in the landings again.

In the direction of Vovchansk - the city is not prepared for defense. There are no details yet, but it is not a secret for the enemy, since local residents are not displaced, and enemy drones often make overflights.

Regarding the actions of our troops: there are experienced commanders and units, the organization of defense, the definition of the front edge, interaction is emerging and improving. The chaos on the broad front is not completely overcome, but the situation is improving.

The situation remains difficult, the Russian troops have the initiative due to their overall numerical superiority, pre-planned actions on a wide front, but there are currently no prerequisites for a breakthrough on our front.

Prediction of the enemy's actions for the day: the Russians will try to advance further into the area of ​​residential development in Vovchansk, advance in the direction of Staritsa, and cling to the buildings of Lyptsiv and Ternovoi.

The battle continues, the enemy continues to act actively, so the situation is very tense.
All units in the direction are in dire need of drones.

https://twitter.com/gettylegion/status/1789875465739706723?s=12

[Woody]

Russian flag raised over administrative building in Hlyboke, Kharkiv Oblast. Russians are now on the outskirts of Lyptsi:

[Hindsight was 2020]

https://twitter.com/phillipspobrien/status/1790040688534401027?s=12
Hopefully we get a a confirmation of this soon 🤞

[Lykaon]

https://twitter.com/banderafella/status/1790083477150245221

Suck it woody.

Looks like a victory for the good guys in Vovchansk today with over 100 Zetniks turned to splattered matter

[kaoras]

If you are going to complain about pro-Russian spam then don't post stuff from f**ing nazis, jeez.

There are dozens of pro-Ukrainian sources you can post that don't actively try to prove Russian propaganda as true.

[quesaisje]

Yet again, I find myself torn between hatred for the Twitter embed feature and its long record of exposing the trash that many posters here are reading.

[Woody]

Deepstate:

The enemy advanced near Vovchansk, in Hlyboke, near Yahidne, south of Pervomaiske, in Krasnohorivka and near Verbove. The enemy occupied Lukianivka, the situation in Zelene was updated.

Deepstate increases the gray-zone in Vovchansk.

https://deepstatemap.live/en#11/50.2378/36.6270

[Woody]

wait I was told by some twitter post that the town was not experiencing fighting

[Hindsight was 2020]

Yet again, I find myself torn between hatred for the Twitter embed feature and its long record of exposing the trash that many posters here are reading.

Tbf I’m normally using twitter as a short hand citation for stuff I’m finding from telegram and the Ukrainian discord I follow

[Woody]

https://twitter.com/Teoyaomiquu/status/1790132722142150741

Once again, I want to note that while the lack of aid to Ukraine greatly contributed to what we are seeing right now in #Kharkiv, the key problem was still the command that failed to prepare for a well-known Russian offensive.

The units were simply not prepared to fight. It's not only a fortifications issue; it's a lack of cohesiveness, poor communication, bad positioning, and poor training of the stationed units.

The good news is that the person responsible for this in Kharkiv was swiftly removed, however I am concerned that this may just be scapegoating.

The bad news is that our highest military and political leadership doesn't like negative reports, and units/commands that report problems are frowned upon. This leads to commanders unwilling to ask for help and report the real state of affairs, instead trying to blur away problems and hoping that they will never bubble up. This is a problem that stems from the highest leadership, not from the bottom.

Here is an exclusive video showing how Russian troops are moving uncontested in large groups, clustered up west of #Vovchansk.

Please understand that while everyone is looking for positive news, we have real stakes here, and blind trust doesn't work. Also, while our leadership makes mistakes, it should not stop us from supporting Ukrainian people and Ukrainian soldiers.

Geolocation details:
📍50.265359, 36.794540

[Hindsight was 2020]

https://twitter.com/teoyaomiquu/status/1790248363394252992?s=46&t=-BhZyskanR...
Sweet 🫡

[CumbrianLefty]

Hmmm, "not prepared to fight" you say?

[Woody]

Ukrainian General Staff on Vovchansk: "In order to save the lives of our servicemen and avoid losses, the units carried out a maneuver and moved to more advantageous positions" - In essence we're retreating from parts of the town

In separate areas, in the Lukyantsi and Vovchansk districts, due to the impact of fire and assault actions of the enemy, in order to save the lives of our servicemen and avoid losses, the units carried out a maneuver and moved to more advantageous positions. The fighting continues.

https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/

[Woody]

Vovchansk is falling faster than I expected. The next strategic goal after this would be Liptsy

https://twitter.com/MarQs__/status/1790618417243783259
https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1790658401715786102

[Woody]

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1790438797630439846

[emailking]

Zelensky postpones all international trips, as Russian forces advance through Kharkiv region

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will halt all international events scheduled for the coming days, his office announced on Wednesday, as Russian troops push into the northeastern Kharkiv region.

"Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed that all international events involving him scheduled for the coming days be postponed and new dates coordinated," Zelensky's office said in a statement. "We are grateful to our partners for their understanding."

It came days after Ukraine’s top military general warned fighting had "significantly worsened" in Kharkiv, as Russia claimed to have captured four further villages as it expanded its surprise cross-border offensive.

https://www.cnn.com/webview/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-15-24/

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Ukrainian General Staff on Vovchansk: "In order to save the lives of our servicemen and avoid losses, the units carried out a maneuver and moved to more advantageous positions" - In essence we're retreating from parts of the town

In separate areas, in the Lukyantsi and Vovchansk districts, due to the impact of fire and assault actions of the enemy, in order to save the lives of our servicemen and avoid losses, the units carried out a maneuver and moved to more advantageous positions. The fighting continues.

https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/

There's nothing tactically bad about this. Ukraine needs to preserve its manpower.

[Hindsight was 2020]

https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1790715859117174785?s=46&t=cNX2uO...
Ukraine hit Crimea last night with Atacms 😗