The offensive was completely unexpected, and the missile strikes established immediate Russian air and naval dominance.
There are four main theaters of ground operations.
1. Southern Front: Russians launched an offensive north out of Crimea. There was a naval landing at Genichensk, and helicopter landings at Kherson and Novaya Kakhovka. The Ukrainian front collapsed immediately, and now the enemy's army is not present in this area at all. Bridgeheads have been created across the Dnieper for further advances. Attempts by the Ukrainians to form a front are discouraged by airstrikes. Russians reached Melitopol during the night.
The main strike groups will continue their offensive along the Dnieper, to the cities of Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk, towards Nikolaev, and in the rear of the army group in Donbass.
2. Donbass Front: The DPR is conducting a limited offensive towards Volnovakha, in order to threaten Mariupol and link up with the Southern Front. This has tied up thousands of Ukrainian troops.
The LPR offensives across the river have no real strategic objective besides tying up the Ukrainian forces to prevent them from being sent to Kharkov, and to keep them pinned down and encircled. They will continue heavy combat tomorrow to prevent the enemy from withdrawing.
3. The "Russian Front:" Sumy, Konotop, and almost the entire Sumy province were captured; the enemy either did not intend to resist or had insufficient numbers. Progress is being made towarde Chernigov and Russian units continue to advance deeper and outflank the Ukrainians resisting at Kharkov. Russians cannot allow Kharkov to remain under enemy control, and battles will continue to capture it tomorrow.
4. The Kiev Front: The airborne operation to capture the Gostomel airbase was a complete surprise to Ukrainian command. Now, these forces must link up with those crossing the border at Chernobyl, in order to prevent Ukrainian counterattacks. If the connection is made soon, the fate of Kiev is clear.
In general: Simultaneous attacks in many directions have made the Ukrainian forces the weaker sider on every front. Thousands of them are sitting in Odessa, far away from any battlefield. Thousands more are deployed on the Belarusian border and not seeing any combat.
Military setting:
🔹 Kiev direction: Russian MTR forces landed at the Gostomel airfield, which hold the airfield until the main forces approach. According to the Ukrainian media, a massive Russian landing is planned. Apparently, the Ukrainians are being lured into a fire bag in order to deliver a massive blow and break into the defenses of Kiev on the eastern flank. Another grouping of troops is expected to approach from Zhytomyr.
🔹 Sumy direction: by midnight fierce battles broke out in the city. Part of Sumy is on fire. Partially transferred reinforcements from Kiev. Taken under control of Konotop.
🔹 Kharkiv direction: despite the advance of Russian troops on the northeastern outskirts of the city, the Armed Forces of Ukraine still hold Kharkiv, transferring reinforcements to the Tsirkunov area. Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine undermined the dam on the Pechenezh reservoir.
🔹 Kherson direction: several regional districts have been taken under control. The city itself is under the control of the administration. Aircraft overflights and explosions were noted at midnight. The Crimean Canal was unblocked, water went to the Crimea.
🔹 Zaporozhye direction: Melitopol is blocked, Russian troops control the situation in the city. A shock fist is going to advance to Zaporozhye.
🔹 Donbass-Lugansk direction: in some areas, LDNR units advanced to a depth of up to 7 km and are successfully developing the offensive. Near Kramatorsk, closer to midnight, shooting began. The Azov battalions and other Nazi units were destroyed. A massive attack on Mariupol is expected. In general, the forces of the LDNR tied up a huge grouping of troops in the zone of the “Ukrainian operation”.
🔹 Odessa direction: in the morning the base of the Ukrainian Navy in Ochakiv was destroyed. In the evening, Zmeiny Island in the north-west of the Black Sea was taken. A naval landing operation is expected in Odessa itself. (CC)
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