Victory Chronicles-DAY 1149

Ukrainian forces have recaptured approximately 16 square kilometers (6.2 square miles) of territory in recent weeks near the population centers of Udachne, Kotlyne, and Shevchenko in the Donetsk region, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on April 10.

He announced the gains following an operational visit to the front lines in Donetsk, where Ukrainian troops are engaged in heavy fighting amid Russia’s spring offensive that is also targeting the Sumy and Kharkiv regions..

“The enemy has not abandoned its objective to push Ukrainian forces out of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and reach the administrative borders,” Syrskyi said. “But its plans remain unfulfilled.”

He noted that Ukrainian forces continue defensive and counteroffensive operations on the Pokrovsk front, repelling up to 30 Russian assaults daily and inflicting significant losses.

During his three-day visit, Syrskyi met with commanders of all brigades operating under the Donetsk Operational Tactical Group, including Brig. Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavskyi.

The eastern front remains the most fluid and hottest spot of the ongoing war, already having entered its fourth year. Ukrainian military officials say the defense of eastern Ukraine remains a key priority as Russia concentrates forces in the region.

Russia 30 times violates ceasefire agreement, continues strikes on energy infrastructure. Despite a temporary ceasefire agreement intended to protect critical infrastructure, Russia has violated the so-called energy truce more than 30 times since March 25, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reported as cited by Ukrinform.

“We are providing detailed reports on these violations and regularly sending them to the capitals of partner countries and the headquarters of international organizations,” said MFA spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi.

Three violations were recorded on April 16 alone: occupiers targeted power transformers in the Mykolaiv region and on the outskirts of Kherson, as well as a power transmission line in the Poltava region.

Ukraine has been consistently sharing information about these attacks with international partners, including the United States, Tykhyi said.

The 30-day ceasefire was agreed upon during talks between Ukraine and the United States on March 11. Although Russia was expected to observe the agreement, Ukrainian officials report that it has continued launching missile and drone attacks on energy facilities in direct violation of the truce.

The Ukrainian World Congress supports the constructive dialogue between the Ukrainian and American delegations. However, we emphasize that Russia is the aggressor, having launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine and persistently carrying out missile and drone attacks, deliberately targeting civilians.

Read more about the 1149th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the Victory Chronicles.

Russian drone strike on Dnipro kills 3 civilians, injures 30 more. A Russian drone strike on the south-central city of Dnipro late on April 10 killed three people, including a 17-year-old girl, and injured at least 30 others, Ukrainian officials said.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported on April 11 that residential buildings, a student dormitory, an educational facility, and a food processing plant were damaged in the attack. Fires broke out across the city but were later extinguished.

Ukrainian Forces repel major Russian assault in south, destroy 29 armored vehicles. Ukrainian forces warded off a large-scale Russian assault in the country’s south on April 16, destroying 29 armored vehicles in the process, according to military officials.

The attack began around 6 p.m. local time and targeted positions near the settlements of Piatykhatky, Stepove, Lobkove, Mala Tokmachka and Mali Shcherbaky, the southern command of Ukraine’s Defense Forces reported.

Russian troops, including elements of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, launched the operation with at least 320 personnel, 40 armored vehicles, three tanks, and about 10 all-terrain vehicles. Ukraine published drone footage of the battle, showing the destruction of Russian hardware as the assault was repulsed.

In Memoriam: Ukrainian soldier Dmytro Salabai, a hero of Ukraine’s defense forces

Sr. Sgt. Dmytro Salabai, 50, died on March 13, 2024, at a military hospital from wounds sustained during a combat mission near the village of Bohdanivka in Donetsk Oblast. Known by the call sign “Nimets,” he suffered critical wounds  in battle.

Salabai was born in the city of Zolochiv in Lviv Oblast, where he completed Secondary School No. 1 and a local vocational school. For much of his civilian life, he worked abroad. He had a deep interest in numismatics.

Salabai previously served in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in eastern Ukraine when Russia initially invaded in 2014. In January 2022, he rejoined the military by signing a contract with the Armed Forces. He initially served in the Air Assault Forces before transferring to the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade. At the time of his final deployment, he held the position of driver-electrician in the anti-tank platoon of the fire support company within the 64th Battalion.

“He was a true patriot,” said his son, Yaroslav. “From the very start of the war, he didn’t hesitate to volunteer to defend Ukraine.” Salabai was laid to rest in his hometown of Zolochiv. He is survived by his son.

*Dmytro`s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine

In Memoriam: Ukrainian soldier Dmytro Salabai, a hero of Ukraine’s defense forces. Sr. Sgt. Dmytro Salabai, 50, died on March 13, 2024, at a military hospital from wounds sustained during a combat mission near the village of Bohdanivka in Donetsk Oblast. Known by the call sign “Nimets,” he suffered critical wounds  in battle.

Salabai was born in the city of Zolochiv in Lviv Oblast, where he completed Secondary School No. 1 and a local vocational school. For much of his civilian life, he worked abroad. He had a deep interest in numismatics.

Salabai previously served in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in eastern Ukraine when Russia initially invaded in 2014. In January 2022, he rejoined the military by signing a contract with the Armed Forces. He initially served in the Air Assault Forces before transferring to the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade. At the time of his final deployment, he held the position of driver-electrician in the anti-tank platoon of the fire support company within the 64th Battalion.

“He was a true patriot,” said his son, Yaroslav. “From the very start of the war, he didn’t hesitate to volunteer to defend Ukraine.” Salabai was laid to rest in his hometown of Zolochiv. He is survived by his son.

*Dmytro`s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

• The Telegraph: Britain will support Germany sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine
• Trump extends US sanctions on Russian ships for another year
• Zelenskyy: More than 40 percent of all the weapons used on the front lines to defend Ukraine are made in Ukraine
• Reuters: Moscow plans to use seized US-owned company to feed Russian army
• UK tests microwave weapon to disable drone swarms
• Bloomberg: Western firms balk at price of admission for return to Russia