Moscow sets May 9 deadline to reach Dnipropetrovsk region border, but Ukrainian forces fight back
Photo: Ukrainian forces show how they are destroying the enemy near the Dnipropetrovsk border (Getty Images)
Russian forces have been ordered to advance to the administrative border of the Dnipropetrovsk region by May 9. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are stopping the enemy's assaults, according to the Vuhledar tactical group.
Ukrainian soldiers note that two Russian POWs testified about a strict order to reach the administrative border between Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions by May 9. For Moscow, the "liberation of the DPR (Donetsk People's Republic -ed.)" was meant to serve as a historical parallel to 1945.
Since the beginning of April, the enemy has carried out two massive offensive operations in the area of responsibility of the Vuhledar tactical group. These operations involved a large number of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored vehicles, and personnel.
After their columns were defeated, the Russians turned to motorcycles, buggies, and ATVs. Using these highly mobile vehicles, the enemy is searching for gaps in the Ukrainian defense, trying to break through to settlements and launch attacks. From the Russian perspective, this makes it harder to detect and destroy these groups with artillery, FPV drones, and bombers.
Ukrainian forces eliminate most of the Russian forces while they are still approaching the positions. From April 1 to April 18, units of the Vuhledar tactical group repelled 448 attacks.
The enemy's losses are as follows:
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2,812 personnel (wounded and killed);
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19 tanks;
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52 armored vehicles;
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218 units of vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, and buggies;
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32 communication and EW antennas.
Frontline situation
According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 162 combat engagements were recorded on the front line over the past 24 hours. The most active directions remain Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, and Novopavlivka.
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that the Russians have effectively launched a new offensive toward the Kharkiv and Sumy regions. The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine does not rule out that Russia may involve North Korean troops in the fighting.
Recently, Ukrainian forces repelled a large-scale Russian assault in the Zaporizhzhia region. The enemy deployed at least 320 soldiers, 40 armored vehicles, three tanks, and around a dozen buggies. The battle lasted for 2.5 hours.
