Victory Chronicles
-DAY 439

Above: Ukrainian air force pilots pose for a photo as they sit on a Su-25 ground attack jet (Aljazeera)

Above: UK Ministry of Defence

• In the latest episode of Muscovy military drama, Wagner and the Kadyrovites are saying the opposite of what they said two days ago.  Per their new announcements at the beginning of this week, Wager isn’t leaving Bakhmut because they have a written promise for more ammo and the Kadyrovites aren’t redeploying to Bakhmut to take over for an absent Wagner.
• Starting tomorrow, 9 May 2023, Ukraine will celebrate Europe Day. President Zelenskyy signed a decree stating, “Aware of the European identity of the Ukrainian people, with the aim of strengthening the unity of the peoples of Europe, ensuring peace, security and stability on the European continent, attesting to the commitment to the ideals and values ​​of democracy, supporting the initiatives of youth and other public associations, I decree: establish Europe Day in Ukraine, which to be celebrated every year on May 9 together with the states of the European Union.”

General Staff’s Daily Video Digest with English subtitles

Above: “Stop! Unsafe for life”. (Gward Media)

Below: Russia’s saturation level of corruption is a key source of Russian losses.  For example, news is breaking that their national ballistic missile early warning radar is useless.   The long thread below explains how corrupt procurement frittered away hundreds of millions of dollars and national security.

1/ Rampant corruption is reported to have rendered Russia's ballistic missile early warning system virtually useless. Scams by contractors are said to have led to unsuitable foreign-made components being used on a wide scale. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VBSutWwNHD

— ChrisO_wiki (@ChrisO_wiki) May 8, 2023

Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces estimated enemy losses since February 24, 2022 (with daily additions)

• Liquidated personnel, 194,970 (+540)
• Tanks, 3,730 (+7)
• Armored personnel vehicles, 7,253 (+5)
• Artillery systems/MLRS, 3,018/554 (+8/0)
• Anti-aircraft systems, 306 (0)
• Aircraft/helicopters, 308/294 (0)
• Unmanned aerial vehicles, 2,614 (+42)
• Cruise missiles, 947 (0)
• Warships/boats, 18 (0)
• Vehicles and fuel tanks, 5,958 (+6)
• Special equipment, 384 (+4)

Above: A non-residential building in Odesa was hit by a Russian missile on May 8, 2022. Russia launched at least 35 Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones in the early hours of May 8 amid another large-scale attack on Ukraine. At least 30 of those drones were downed over Kyiv, causing damage to buildings and property and injuring five people.  (Odesa News) 

Tonight was one of the most intense attacks on Kyiv. Within 3.5 hours Air Defense Forces shot down 35 deadly Shahed drones. All that were launched. Russia increased the density of attacks, this it the fourth attack on the capital since the beginning of May. pic.twitter.com/ENQNyxYVDM

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) May 8, 2023

Glory to Ukraine!
The 439th day of the Russian large-scale invasion has begun.

• On the night of May 8, 2023, the russian forces again attacked the territory of Ukraine, using the Iranian Shahed drones. 35 out of 35 drones were shot down by Ukrainian defenders.
• Continuing its terror tactics, the russian Federation launched 16 missile strikes last night, in particular on the cities of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odesa Oblast. In addition, 61 airstrikes and 52 enemy attacks from rocket salvo fire systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas were recorded. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded civilians, high-rise buildings, private homes and other civilian infrastructure were damaged.
• The probability of further russian missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.
• On the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi directions, the enemy carried out airstrikes on the areas of the settlements of Zareche, Leonivka, and Kostobobriv of the Chernihiv Oblast and Glukhiv of the Sumy Oblast. He carried out mortar and artillery shelling of the settlements of Orlykivka, Tymonovichi, Zareche, Bleshnya, Zaliznyi Myst, Arkhipivka, Leonivka, Buchki of the Chernihiv Oblast; Stara Huta, Seredyna-Buda, Bachivsk, Ulanov, Vorozhba, Iskryskivshchyna, and Novgorodske in the Sumy Oblast, as well as Udy, Vovchansk, Pletenivka, Bochkove, Mala Vovcha, Nesterne, Budarky, and Stroivka in the Kharkiv Oblast.
• The russian forces carried out airstrikes in the areas of Hryanikyukka and Vilshan settlements. The settlements of Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlynsk, Zapadne, Lyman Pershey, Berestov in Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivske and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk Oblast were hit by artillery and mortar attacks.
• On the Lyman direction, the enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of the settlements of Bilogorivka in the Luhansk Oblast, as well as Torske and Spirne in the Donetsk Oblast. Stelmakhivka, Makyivka and Nevske in the Luhansk Oblast and Belogorivka and Spirne in the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the occupiers bombarded the city with incendiary and phosphorous ammunition. During the day, the enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of the settlements of Bakhmut, Bohdanivka, Kurdyumivka and New York. Zaliznyanske, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Markove, Bakhmut, Ivanovske, Chasiv Yar, Stupochki, Oleksandro-Shultine and Leonidivka of the Donetsk Oblast were affected by enemy shelling.
• On the Avdyivka direction, the enemy shelled Keramik, Novokalynove, Ocheretine, Berdychi, Avdiyivka, Vodyane, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, Netaylove, Karlivka, and Gostre settlements in the Donetsk Oblast.
• On the Maryinka direction, Krasnohorivka, Georgiivka, Kurakhove and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast came under enemy fire.
• They shelled the settlements of Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka, Elizavetivka, Vugledar, Pavlivka, Prechistivka, Zolota Niva, Novoukrainka, Shakhtarske, and Velyka Novosilka of the Donetsk Oblast.
• On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions. russian troops carried out airstrikes in the areas of Vremivka in the Donetsk Oblast and Gulyaipol and Novodanilivka in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Meanwhile, he shelled more than 50 settlements. Among them – Poltavka, Charivne, Novoandriivka of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Zmiivka, Prydniprovske, Romashkove, Yantarne, Kizomys, Sofiivka, Stanislav of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

Support the Armed Forces! United we will win! Glory to Ukraine!

Above: “NATO plane shot down by Russians!!” In liberated Vovchansk, Kharkiv, near the border with Russia, the enemy destroyed a soviet monument featuring an 1960s Czechoslovakian-made Aero L-29 Delfin training jet. (Ministry of Defense)

• Russian forces continued limited offensive operations northeast of Kupyansk and south of Kreminna on May 7. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Synkivka, Kharkiv Oblast (8km northeast of Kupyansk); Bilohorivka, Luhansk Oblast (12km south of Kreminna); and Spirne, Donetsk Oblast (25km south of Kreminna).

Above: Ukrainian troops overlooking Bakhmut. (Military Land)

Not enough shells, but more than enough phosphorus.
Ruscists are shelling unoccupied areas of Bakhmut with incendiary ammunition.
They will burn in Hell.

📷 @SOF_UKR pic.twitter.com/7oqNTumJ34

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 5, 2023

Wagner getting shelled from the front, Russia's "Not one step back!" NKVD spetsnaz snipers and artillery in the rear ready to bust a cap in Prigozhin's ass if he tries to retreat. https://t.co/N54bp17lgH

— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) May 8, 2023

• Russian forces increased the rate of shelling in the Bakhmut area and still hope to capture the city by May 9th (Russian Victory Day). Russian forces made some territorial gains in Bakhmut as of May 7. Geolocated footage indicates that Wagner Group forces advanced further west in Bakhmut and near Sakko i Vanzetti (15km north of Bakhmut). Russian forces conducted unsuccessful ground attacks near Bohdanivka (6km northwest of Bakhmut), Khromove (immediately west of Bakhmut), Ivanivske (6km west of Bakhmut), Chasiv Yar (12km west of Bakhmut), Stupochky (12km southwest of Bakhmut), Predtechyne (14km southwest of Bakhmut), and Niu York (30km southwest of Bakhmut). Russian artillery fire did not decrease in the city despite claims of “shell hunger” in the area.
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line on May 7. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful ground attacks near Avdiivka, Pervomaiske (11km southwest of Avdiivka), and Marinka (27km southwest of Avdiivka).

Above: (Top) Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia, under enemy occupation last February. (Bottom) Nervous invaders are forcing the evacuation of Tomak and other southern occupied cities ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.  

• Russian forces and occupation authorities are setting conditions to make life unbearable in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast to accelerate forceful evacuations. Russian occupation authorities are inciting panic in occupied Tokmak and Enerhodar by withholding humanitarian supplies and raising the prices of food and other goods in stores. Russian occupation authorities are removing medical equipment from hospitals and discharging patients early, offering them continued medical care if they evacuate to territory deeper in the Russian rear.
• Zaporizhzhia occupiers made contradictory claims, that 1,552 people (including 632 children, 145 patients from neuropsychiatric centers, and 10 people with limited mobility) have been relocated under military orders while, at the same time, evacuations are entirely voluntary.

Above: Mysterious lights in the sky over temporarily occupied Melitopol. (Nexta)

Signs of 🇷🇺 preparing to leave Melitopol:
– 🇷🇺 passport office closed, equipment moved out, torn passports found.
– 🇷🇺 mil personnel seen switching to civilian clothing, discarded uniforms found in dumpsters.
– Deadly surprises left: mines attached to trees, ready to cause harm. pic.twitter.com/KJUnghIUFn

— Ukraine Reporter (@StateOfUkraine) May 6, 2023