Victory Chronicles-DAY 799

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine’s active operations units have uncovered evidence of the use of kamikaze drones by occupants over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian occupation. The video captured from an enemy FPV drone, with the help of electronic intelligence means, revealed a UT4D.TT marking indicates that the Russian Ministry of Defense supplied the drone to the occupation forces. Andrii Chernyak, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, commented on the situation, highlighting that the Russians are utilizing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as a launch site for drones. This is possible because Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces cannot retaliate within the 1.5-kilometer zone surrounding the plant. 

According to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), Russian forces in Ukraine have likely carried out extrajudicial executions of at least 15 Ukrainian fighters who were attempting to surrender. Additionally, the report suggests that six more fighters may have been executed either while surrendering or after they had already surrendered. The human rights organization argues that these incidents should be investigated as potential war crimes. HRW came to these conclusions by analyzing drone videos posted on social media, which showed Ukrainian service members clearly expressing their intention to surrender during three specific incidents in December 2023 and February 2024. HRW emphasizes that under international humanitarian law and the laws of war, individuals no longer participating in hostilities cannot be targeted.

The Public Affairs Service of the 71st Separate Ranger Brigade of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine published a photo report on the training of anti-tank fighters of the 71st Brigade, where they are learning to target and destroy targets with man-portable missile systems. “Stopping convoys of vehicles is the key to successfully repelling an enemy assault.  Understanding of the specifics of control, different types of missiles – all this is acquired by the anti-tank warriors at the training ground. The skills of our fighters, honed to perfection, are tested by the enemy on the battlefield,” the Brigade’s public relations service said in a statement.

Operators of one of the Special Forces units discovered a Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system while working in the Sumy sector. The Ukrainian Air Force operators struck the target with attack drones. “Russian occupants tried in vain to extinguish the fire and save the equipment. The strike destroyed a launcher with six missiles and damaged a Buk-M1 anti-aircraft system,” the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement. 

Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in Ryazan Oblast for the second time in less than a month on the night of April 30 to May 1. Ukrainian outlets Suspilne and RBK-Ukraine reported that sources in Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) stated that the GUR conducted a drone strike on the Rosneft oil refinery in Ryazan City.

Ukrainian and Russian sources posted footage of a fire at the refinery. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces shot down one drone over Ryazan Oblast. Ryazan Oblast governor Pavel Malkov acknowledged that a drone struck Ryazan Oblast, however, but did not specify any damage.

Ukrainian forces first struck the Ryazan oil refinery on the night of March 12 to 13. Ukrainian strikes within Russia are reportedly forcing Russian forces to take additional defensive measures.Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated that Russian forces have begun to withdraw up to 43 operational-tactical and army aircraft from forward air bases, likely out of fear of Ukrainian drone and long-range high-precision strikes.

Mashovets stated that the total number of Russian aircraft deployed at frontline air bases has decreased from 303–305 aircraft to 280–283 aircraft.

25-year-old fighter Ihor Medynskyi, with the call sign Demon, died on June 30, 2023, near the village of Rozdolivka, Bakhmut district, Donetsk Oblast. While performing his official duties, he was fatally wounded in an enemy air strike. He was considered missing for four months.

Ihor Eduardovych was born in the city of Selidove, Donetsk Oblast. He graduated from the National Technical University “Dnipro Polytechnic” with a degree in Underground Engineering. However, he dreamed of working in IT. He completed his military service in the Presidential Regiment. Most recently, he lived in Pershotravensk, Dnipro Oblast. He worked at Vodafone. He loved to play football and volleyball.

With the outbreak of a full-scale war, the man joined the ranks of territorial defense, and in August 2022, he became a member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Mazepa. He was a UAV operator. As part of his unit, he defended his native Donetsk Oblast. He received the Cross of the 54th Mechanized Brigade award.

“He was a strong, smiling and kind man. He always took the initiative, was resilient, fearless and courageously defended our country until his last breath,” said the family of the deceased. The defender was buried in his hometown. Ihor is survived by his parents, brothers, sister and grandmother.

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

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