68th day of hostilities: Russian missiles attack Ukrainian artillery units

“Russian missile forces hit 9 positions of concentration of forces of Ukraine in the past day, as well as a BM-21 Grad rocket artillery battery and an artillery unit at the battlefield”, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense Russia Igor Konashenkov said on May 2, but did not specify the location of the attack.

68th day of hostilities: Russian missiles attack Ukrainian artillery units

Video released by the Russian military shows a Ukrainian military position violently exploding, along with an image of a cruise missile of the Iskander-K system leaving the launch pad. General Konashenkov added that a Ukrainian MiG-29 was also destroyed in the air battle near the eastern city Slavyansk.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has not commented on this information.

Maksym Marchenko, southern port city official Odessa, said a missile raid had occurred, leaving many people dead and injured. There are no further details about the incident.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the province Belgorod In western Russia, it was reported that two explosions heard in the area on the night of May 1 were a combat operation by the Russian Air Force, asserting that it was not related to the Ukrainian military. “I want to dismiss people’s concerns about the possibility of someone or something flying in from Ukrainian territory. This is not true. There is nothing that threatens the safety of the people in the province,” he said.

Fierce fighting broke out in the city Izyum, Lyman and Rubizhne in the east, in the context of the Russian army preparing to attack Severodonetsk, the farthest city to the east is still under Ukrainian military control. “The situation in Lugansk province can be described in a few words as ‘intense fighting continues’,” said the General Staff of the Ukrainian army.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the anniversary of Victory Day on May 9 had no impact on military activity in Ukraine, amid speculation in the West about this milestone. He added that Russia will celebrate Victory Day solemnly, but the duration and speed of the operation in Ukraine will depend on the need to reduce risks to Russian civilians and soldiers.

Russian forces are advancing slowly but surely under artillery support, while the Ukrainian army has also regained some territory in recent days. Kiev acknowledged that Russian troops had captured a series of villages in the eastern Donbass region, and called on Western countries to send more heavy weapons.

The Ukrainian military announced the destruction of two Russian Raptor-class patrol boats near Zmiinyi island early on May 2. “Bayraktar is fighting effectively,” said Ukraine’s Chief of General Staff Valeriy Zaluzhniy, referring to the Bayraktar TB2 drone purchased by the country from Turkey.

The Russian side has not yet responded to the information.

Many Western countries are reopening their embassies in the Ukrainian capital, while US Charge d’Affaires Kristina Kvien says the country hopes to bring back diplomats. Kiev at the end of May.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Ukraine announced the closure of 4 ports bordering the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov that are in Russian hands, including: Mariupol, Berdyansk, Skadovsk and Kherson until “re-control” these areas. “The measure taken by us is not able to serve ships and passengers, it is difficult to transport goods and carry out other economic activities, as well as ensure safe movement in the region,” the statement said. paragraph.

All Ukraine’s seaports have been suspended since Russia launched a military campaign in the country at the end of February. Russian forces have captured some ports and surrounded and isolated others.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says 3,153 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict, warning that the actual figure could be much higher. Most of the victims were killed by high-explosive weapons with great destructive power, but OHCHR did not mention who was responsible.

Vu Anh (According to Zvezda, AFP)