This morning, Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol with suicide drones. Perhaps both aerial and maritime drones, but certainly the naval variety.
These maritime drones are more or less robot spy canoes filled with high explosives.
The exact extent of the damage inflicted is unknown, but credible reports claim:
The Admiral Makarov sustained multiple drone hits that damaged both superstructures, the radar, the fire control, and communication systems. It could take weeks or months to repair the ship.
A transport ship was damaged and flooded.
A boat of unknown type sank.
The minesweeper “Ivan Golubets” was damaged and caught fire for many hours.
A large landing ship was damaged.
The attack destroyed fuel storage and shore buildings.
Russia took a moment between mercilessly firing missiles into children’s hospitals to claim this attack on the Sevastopol naval base was a “terrorist attack.”
But, of course, they also blame the British.
There is significant fighting along the front between Kreminna and Svatove. Especially near Kuzemivka (1) and Chervonopopivka (3).
Today Russia decided to attack Myasezharivka (2), but Ukrainian defenders repelled the attack.
I updated my map near Chervonopopivka to show the advance of the Ukrainian forces. They have dug in around 2km west of the town and 4km west of the highway. The Russian defensive line is about halfway between the Ukrainians and the p66.
The fighting between Kuzemivka and Chervonopopivka is heavy, the force concentrations are relatively dense, and the casualty rates are high for both sides.
In the Siversk area, Russia again attacked Bilohorivka. They are heavily shelling this town and repeatedly assaulting it. Russia is very upset that Ukraine is this close to Lysychansk, and they desperately want to retake this town.
Almost all civilians evacuated Bilohorivka at this point, and the villages to the west, particularly Serebryanka, are relatively safe for civilians (although civilians shouldn’t be here at all).
The fighting in the Bakhmut area is brutal, with many casualties.
As usual, North of Bakhmut, Russia attacked Yakovlivka, Soledar, and Bakhmutske without notable changes.
South of Bakhmut, Russia attacked the southeast of Bakhmut, Ivanhrad and Opytne, Kurdyumivka, and Mayorsk.
The Ukrainian general staff claims they “destroyed” 300 men and wounded 60 more near Mayorsk (A), who were preparing to assault Ukrainian positions. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know.
In the Donetsk area, Russia attacked Kamyanka, Opytne, Vodyane, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, and Marinka.
I am unaware of progress since yesterday in Opytne and Vodyane. Russia made no progress in Pervomaiske and may have moved slightly in Nevelske. The attacks in Krasnohorivka and Marinka are to keep Ukraine in place, not genuine attempts to capture ground.
South of Donetsk, Russia launched a powerful attack on Pavlivka (4). They have reportedly entered Pavlivka, but I do not know the full extent of their success in the city. However, my sources say the situation is difficult, and Russia may control all of Pavlivka.
Russia is supporting this attack with aviation, but more interesting to me are the large salvos of S-300. Russia is firing these missiles from Mariupol, roughly in the areas marked B and C on the map.
Sticking to the Mariupol area, a large explosion was reported in Berdyansk today. I didn’t see an explanation for this. Perhaps they were detonating recovered sea mines. I marked it on the map due to the events in Sevastopol.
South of Hulyaipole, Ukraine attacked Konstanynivka and Marfopil. These are minor attacks, probing for weaknesses in the Russian defenses.
West of Orikhiv, Ukraine attacked Pyatykhatky. Again, likely a minor attack, probing for weaknesses.
Today, Ukraine attacked all major Russian river crossings in the Kherson area, striking the Khakovka dam, the Darivka pontoon area, and the Antonovskiy Bridge area.
Finally, Ukraine attacked Bruskynske today (5). Russia repelled this attack with aviation and artillery fire.
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Russia is moving a lot of military equipment through Mariupol, shutting down roads and bridges to civilian use in the process. Moving tanks, helicopters, kamaz full of infantry and equipment.
They are moving west toward Magush and Babakh-Tarama.
In case you missed it, or if you just woke up, there were a few explosions in Sevastopol (which Russia claim were “training”)
And now stuff is on fire. Word on the street is that the frigate Admiral Makarov, the largest ship remaining in the black sea fleet, is damaged and may have lost its air defense radar.
Many attacks are in progress, so the news is incomplete.
In the Kupyansk area, there were rumors today of a Ukrainian breakthrough. However, I do not see evidence to support this claim. Ukraine is attacking east toward Mykolaivka (1) and Kyslivka (2), but they have not broken the Russian defenses.
There is heavy fighting going on around Kuzemivka (3). It is unknown whether Ukraine’s attack is successful, but there are likely high casualties to both attackers and defenders.
Ukraine repelled a Russian attack near Andriivka (4).
In the Kupyansk/Svatove area, Ukraine performed a few minor attacks and both sides fired some artillery. Ukrainian artillery focused on the northern side, Russian on the southern side.
Of note in this area, Popivka (near Svatove, too small to have a name at this level of zoom) has taken heavy damage from Ukrainian (and Russian) shelling. Locals fled the town, and report large Russian losses. Several dozen dead.
In the Kupyansk area, Ukraine is attacking Kuzemivka (1). However, to my knowledge, their attacks to date have failed.
However, Ukraine has “advanced to” Dzherelne (2). I am not entirely sure what this means. Maybe Ukraine is actively attacking, possibly the town is contested, or perhaps it is liberated. Regardless, Russia seems rather upset about Ukraine being near this town.