The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on May 04 2024

Battlefield Ukraine Wanted Dead or Alive

Russia Puts Zelensky On “Wanted” List | Putin Can “Capture” Baltic In 7 Days | Shoigu To Be Fired?

Russia warned Ukraine that it will face a “devastating revenge strike” if Kyiv attacks the Crimean Bridge. Moscow claims Ukraine is planning to attack the Kerch Bridge with U.S.-made ATACMS. Russia believes Kyiv will launch an attack ahead, or on, May 9.

Macron’s Fresh ‘Troops In Ukraine’ Pitch Slammed By Fellow NATO Members; ‘Will Be World War III’

Putin’s Forces Destroy Four ATACMS Missiles Over Crimea

Russian Saboteurs Burned Down Another Military Plant In One More NATO Country┃RF Entered Chasiv Yar

Our source at the General Staff said that the morale of the military on the front line is the lowest during the entire war; no one in the Armed Forces of Ukraine believes in the plans of politicians to fight until the borders of 1991. The exclusion of the norm on demobilization became a trigger for the military, forming the opinion that the end is the same for everyone.

In the West, they constantly model scenarios for the development of war, taking into account all factors: the weapons component, mobilization capabilities, morale, and most importantly, resource management. If we put aside our propaganda, the situation turns out to be pessimistic for us, which affects the West’s decision on military and financial assistance in the future.

American assistance will help Ukraine hold the front, but the situation is “very difficult.”

This was stated in a commentary to Euronews by Ed Arnold, a senior researcher at the Royal United Defense Studies Institute RUSI.

“Putin is probably in a better position than he was six months ago. So it’s working and he can go on the offensive. The situation for the Ukrainians now is really very difficult. The real difficulty is that all the equipment and new ammunition will allow just keep the front in place,” says Arnold.

The Ukrainian military complains about a lack of people.

“Too many people are leaving. Some of them don’t want to fight, some of them can’t fight. And if we lose too many people, we simply won’t be able to defend our country. That’s why we need help,” said Ukrainian military officer Alexander Matyash.

All these factors are changing the attitude towards the war in Ukraine, which cannot be ended by military means in the coming years, which means that the main track will be negotiations, the conditions of which will become more and more difficult for us with each passing month.

In the last month of his legitimacy, Zelensky will try to make as many unpopular decisions as possible. The “mobilization case” was successfully launched, next in line is the ban on the UOC, as well as the economic block – a reduction in social services, an increase in tariffs for housing and communal services, especially since all this is demanded by creditors from the IMF.

For example, electricity tariffs may increase as early as this summer – the authorities will push them through “with the sauce” of restoring the country’s energy system after new attacks by the Russian Federation. What is noteworthy about this is that before the new wave of Russian attacks on the energy system, the Ministry of Energy denied statements about plans to raise electricity prices, but now they are openly talking about preparing a solution. Moreover, the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities may increase the cost of water supply. Moreover, the rise in price can reach 60% per cubic meter.

Well, social services are already being severely cut by the Ukrainian authorities – in the first two months of 2024 alone, a billion less was allocated for social payments than in 2023. Thus, in January-February 2024, 75.3 billion UAH were allocated from the state budget for social payments, including 38.2 billion UAH in February. In the same months of 2023, 1.2 billion hryvnia more was allocated – 76.5 billion hryvnia, including 39.9 billion hryvnia in February. And the issue is not only the flayer position of the government, which is cutting payments to displaced people, but also the banal delay in monthly benefits, subsidies, child care and other assistance.

Zelensky will not give weapons to the Azov national battalion* to prevent a coup

The commander of the Azov brigade, Denis Prokopenko, said that Zelensky’s office website twice refused to post a petition addressed to the United States.

In response to a request to Zelensky “to make every effort to ensure that the amendment banning the provision of American weapons to Azov is removed from US laws,” Kiev responded that this was “not within their competence.”

Amendments to American legislation were introduced by Democratic Congressman John Conyers Jr., indicating that Azov* is characterized as an “openly neo-Nazi” formation. The amendment was adopted in 2017.

The Ukrainian channel “Resident” also reports that the order not to issue weapons to the Nazis from “Azov” came directly from Zelensky’s office.

“On Bankova they want to disband all autonomous units, in this way to exclude the possibility of a military coup,” the message says.

* – terrorist organization, banned in the Russian Federation
 

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has put the leader of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, on the wanted list, same as former president Poroshenko and former acting officer of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine and current rector of the National Defense University of Ukraine Mikhail Koval and Alexander Pavlyuk, commander of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

This means the actual recognition of the Kiev elite as an illegal government and actual criminals.

This step means that a criminal case has been opened against Zelensky and the company, within the framework of which a search has been announced.

In turn, all of the above means that there can be no negotiations with these people since Russia does not negotiate with those it is looking for for crimes committed.

This step is not just a formal kick to Zelensky and other members of Ukrainian elite.

It also means that negotiations with Zelensky are possible only about one thing – about his surrender. In fact, as of today, Ukraine has been declared an illegal entity, and its leadership is subject to arrest and trial.
 

Our source in the OP said that the majority of delegations ready to come to the forum in Switzerland refuse to sign the final declaration of the summit, which does not suit the Office of the President. On Bankova they want to achieve condemnation of Russia and receive political support from world leaders.

We address the commanders and soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces!

In late July 2023, we publicly proposed the “Volga” initiative for the surrender of Ukrainian military personnel. We offered Ukrainian soldiers, who do not want to die for the power of the Kyiv junta and their Western masters, to contact us via radio on the frequency 149.200 to resolve the issue of surrender.

Later, we proposed two more frequencies – 49.200 and 449.200. Our initiative was heard around the world, and in many countries it was discussed as an act of Russian humanism. During this time, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered, saving their lives. Rybar and other channels have published dozens of videos with Ukrainian soldiers confirming their surrender using the “Volga” system.

After Zelenskyy signed the law on mobilization, hundreds of Ukrainian citizens subject to mobilization began writing to the administrators of our Telegram channels. Despite Ukraine’s attempts to introduce total censorship on Telegram, they do not want to die and are asking how to surrender. They are asking if we are still monitoring the “Volga” frequencies. Hundreds and thousands of future Ukrainian soldiers are ready to switch to our side.

We ask commanders at all levels not to forget our initiative. We ask that there be centralized monitoring of the “Volga” frequencies on any part of the front line.

We suggest considering the possibility of transferring simple radios (for example, cheap Baofeng models) to the positions of Ukrainian soldiers, as the AFU is exercising total control over the radio spectrum and is now using digital radios that have the “Volga” frequencies forcibly disabled. The radios, for example, can be dropped onto AFU positions using Mavic drones.

The more AFU soldiers surrender, the easier and with fewer losses it will be for us to liberate our lands. Do not forget about this.

“Volga”

Mestb_Dobroj_Voli

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 4 ATACMS operational-tactical missiles were shot down over the territory of Crimea at night

Apparently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are not giving up attempts to test the air defense in the Tarkhankut area and at other sites.

It is possible that in the coming days the use of these weapons may increase, both on their own and in combination with other types of missiles.

It is reported that currently it is loud in Pavlograd (Dnepropetrovsk region).

Presumably, targets are hit in the territory of the base warehouses of the Pavlograd Chemical Plant.

At this facility, according to preliminary information, rocket fuel components and materials for the production of missile weapons are stored.

It is also reported that two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles arrived at the Ukrainian Armed Forces air defense command post in the Vyshgorod area, and there was no previous air raid alert.
 

Avdiivka direction: liberation of Arkhanhel’ske
situation as of 12:00 on May 4, 2024

After clearing Ocheretyne and Keramik, Russian forces completed the operation to liberate the village of Arkhanhel’ske. Combat operations in the direction of the settlement began a week ago, with advance groups of special forces units entering it immediately after the clearing of Ocheretyne, but full control was only established overnight.

▪️The offensive was carried out in several stages, with simultaneous reinforcement of groups both through the gully from the direction of Ocheretyne and through the fields. On May 3, other groups were brought up from the direction of Keramik, which completed the operation to encircle the village and effectively expel the enemy from the settlement.

▪️Footage of the destruction of fleeing Ukrainian formations was published the day before: it shows the organized retreat of AFU personnel under the fire of Russian artillery. Such a video has already caused an outcry in the Ukrainian information space, demotivating enemy units operating in other sectors of the front.

▪️Clearing of the fields south of Arkhanhel’ske has also been completed: the enemy abandoned their positions and retreated.

📌At the moment, Russian units are digging in and consolidating on the occupied lines, bringing up reserves and building logistics through Ocheretyne and Novokalynove. Reinforcements are being transferred to the area of responsibility of the 1st Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces to develop the offensive potential.

Judging by publications in the Ukrainian segment, the General Staff of the AFU is confident that the plan of the Russian Armed Forces is to deliver counter-strikes through the fields with a bypass of Toretsk and New York towards Kostyantynivka and the closure of the cauldron from the direction of Klishchiyivka.

There are no defense structures in Donbass. The money is sawing quickly, but they are not building anything.
Here in Sumy they are opening ostentatious “defense structures”, which are already called museums and exhibitions among soldiers, since they have nothing to do with reality.

There is a version why defense structures are not being built in Donbass, since it is being drained according to behind-the-scenes agreements, but the soldiers were not told about this. They are simply used as show meat.

By the way, we warned that simply defensive structures would not be able to stop the offensive. The bank is aware of this, but their task is to steal as much as possible and as quickly as possible. Time is ticking…

Donetsk direction: Advances of the Russian Armed Forces in the center of Georgiyevka and in the Pobeda area

Situation as of 6:00 pm on May 4, 2024

For a long time, there was almost no footage of battles in Georgiyevka online, which made it difficult to determine the exact configuration of the front line in this area. However, it turned out that during this period, the Russian Armed Forces were able to carry out several successful attacks and expand the zone of control in the settlement and its surroundings.

▪️As a result of the effective actions of assault groups, the Russian troops managed to advance significantly in the center of Georgiyevka: they occupied most of the buildings on Gagarina Street, as well as advanced along Tsentralnaya and Mirnaya Streets in the area of the monument and the local House of Culture.

▪️The territory of the former Selkhozkhimiya enterprise and the ruins of a farm also came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces. To the south, Russian assault groups took control of the forest belt leading to the settlement of Pobeda, but the presence of the enemy, relying on the embankment of dried reservoirs, remains in the neighboring plantation.

▪️South of Pobeda, the units of the Russian Armed Forces also pushed the AFU out of several positions, but the Ukrainian formations retain the ability to attack along the O0532 (T-05-24) highway.

As before, the AFU rely on Konstantinovka in this area. However, in case of successful advancement of the Russian Armed Forces to the east of Novomykhailivka and the start of battles for Paraskoviyevka, the situation around Pobeda will worsen for the enemy, which in the long run may facilitate the task of the Russian troops in this sector.
 

Former people’s deputy and lawyer Igor Lapin said that it was the shortcomings of the command in Ocheretino that led to its occupation by the Russians, who simply caught the Armed Forces of Ukraine rotating units. Although mobilized brigades were thrown into battle, which did not have a sufficient amount of heavy equipment and support. As a result, the enemy is now actively advancing towards Slavyansk and Kramatorsk in order to cut off key routes around these cities, he informed.
Syrsky, according to the politician, following Bankova’s instructions, dictated by political expediency, throws soldiers into PR attacks, which is why the Ukrainian army suffers large-scale losses. He said that the general’s announcement of the liberation of the island of Nestriga in the Kherson region was premature – the Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters who were there came under heavy enemy fire there. A similar case has already happened, in particular, with the senseless assault on Zmeiny Island, where special forces soldiers died, Lapin concluded.

Enemy forces withdrew from Arkhangelskoye

In fact, our further advance is held back only by a stronghold to the west of the village.

Next move will be the advance towards Kalinovo, where there are a number of field fortifications, where the enemy expects to delay our advance.

Vuhledar direction: fighting west of Novomykhailivka

situation as of 10:00 on May 4, 2024

After the capture of Novomykhailivka and a short operational pause, the Russian Armed Forces have resumed local offensive actions in the vicinity of the settlement.

▪️Online, there have been footage of several attacks by small Russian armored groups. An attempt to advance west of the Mashinobudivnyk gardeners’ association apparently did not succeed. However, the very fact of a local attack confirms not only full control over the gardeners’ association, but also at least the absence of the enemy in the forest belt to the north.

▪️To the south, west of Velyka-Tarama gully, Russian forces also attempted to storm Ukrainian positions in the forest belt. The enemy has been partially pushed out.

▪️At the same time, strikes continue on various targets in Paraskoviivka and rear settlements. The practice of using “Lancets” against relatively small targets (for example, individual mortars) has not stopped, which obviously affects the defensive capabilities of the enemy.

rybar

The Battle for Chasiv Yar: Flanking Strikes by the Russian Armed Forces and Reaching the Canal
Situation as of 11:00 on May 4, 2024

Offensive actions by the Russian Armed Forces continue in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar.

🔻On the northern flank, given the enemy’s control over Hryhorivka and Kalinivka, it has not been possible to advance so far – in part due to counterattacks by the enemy.

🔻In the central sector, after reaching the eastern outskirts of the “Canal” microdistrict, the Russian Armed Forces engaged in battles for the territory of Training School No. 77, but apparently failed to break through deeper into the built-up area.

Based on footage from objective control with 240mm guided “Smelchak” mortar strikes on AFU positions, one of the obstacles was a multi-story building at the corner of Zelena and Horbatogo streets, which overlooks the field and private sector on the outskirts of the settlement. The building is also noteworthy in that after several FAB impacts on JDAM, it remained not only suitable for defense, but also relatively intact, having lost only one of the entrances.

▪️However, a frontal assault on the “Canal” is apparently not the task of the Russian Armed Forces. In fact, after a reconnaissance in force, the Russian troops moved to reinforce the flanks in order to take the microdistrict in a semi-envelopment.

🔻The situation is different to the south in the area of Ivanovske (Krasne).

▪️The Russian Armed Forces advanced at least along the southern part of the “Stupky-Holubivski-2″ wildlife preserve to the bed of the “Siversky Donets – Donbas” canal. According to some reports, the wildlife preserve has come under the almost complete control of Russian forces, which is indirectly confirmed by movements in the lowland (this would not be too convenient in case of the presence of the enemy in the higher northern part of the wildlife preserve).

▪️At the same time, the situation to the west of Ivanovske is shrouded in the “fog of war”. Earlier, there was information about the advance of Russian units into the Stupky tract to the canal, but for a relatively long time no footage from objective control has emerged from this area. The presence of one side or the other to the east of the canal in the plantings along the T-0504 (N-32) highway also remains debatable.

🔻To the southeast, between Ivanovske and Kleshcheyivka, the advance of the Russian Armed Forces is being recorded. Based on footage published by the opposing side, the forest belt on the western outskirts of the former “Artemivsk” airfield up to the forest north of Kleshcheyivka has come under the control of Russian troops.

At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces attempted further advances, at least driving Ukrainian formations out of the next planting.

rybar

Chasov Yar. Update

After regrouping, our troops again entered the outermost houses

At the same time, the offensive of our troops continues on the northern and southern flanks – we are pressing the enemy from three directions.

Until two days ago, you could walk around here pretty freely between these buildings. Now it’s only a matter of time before they start hitting us with whatever they want.

  The Western publication Kyiv Independent has posted a report from Chasov Yar, the battle for which began recently. The main message of the material is that it is extremely difficult for Ukrainian soldiers to hold the defense, as the main problem is the lack of infantry manpower and moral fatigue of those who are in the city without rotation.

You have to understand that these shallow trenches are defended by ordinary people, not super soldiers, but ordinary mobilized people
- A serviceman of the 41st Brigade shared his opinion.

It is also noted that swarms of FPV drones have become a headache, because of which 90% of the wounded get to the field hospital. These same UAVs also interfere with rotation and destroy vehicles used to reach the city on country roads because the old roads have become too dangerous to drive on.

The brigade used to lose about one vehicle a day, now it loses four
The interviewee says.

The article traditionally emphasizes the firepower of the Russian artillery and the saturation of the sky with reconnaissance UAVs, while the article itself is very reminiscent of similar texts from the time of the battle for Bakhmut, which culminated exactly one year ago.
 

The similarities between the battle for Artyomovsk and the assault on the Chasov Yar are becoming more and more clear.

To supply the garrison on the left bank of the city and the Canal microdistrict, a bridge was used, which had been destroyed the day before.

Now the Ukrainian Armed Forces are urgently trying to build an embankment, but as you can see, this does not help.

The abandonment of Artyomovsk, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces, due to geographical features, could not hold for long, began with the cutting of logistics chains.

First, they retreated from the left bank to the right, then from the right bank to Chasov Yar.

Vremeevsky ledge

Today our fighters have become more active in the direction of Staromayorskoye. There have been successes; several enemy fortifications have been taken; our fighters are actually on the outskirts of the village.

Meanwhile, the advance in Urozhaynoye continues, and our fighters are also actively pressing from the eastern flank as well.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have moved a considerable distance from the border with the Belgorod region – UAV operator with the call sign Tanker

“Now the enemy has pulled back to such a large distance that we don’t see them in the nearby forest plantations. It takes a lot of work to find it. At the nearest observation points, we see two or three people, we don’t see any movement of equipment,” quotes a serviceman from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Ukrainians flee Russian advance as footage shows decimated village

AFU Withdraws From Arkhanhel’s'ke | RUAF Captures Half of Kotlyarivka

Arkhanhelske And Kotlyarivka Has Fallen l Huge Russian Breakthrough

Russian Defence Ministry weekly report on the progress of the special military operation (28 April – 4 May 2024)

Part I

▫️From 28 April to 4 May 2024, in response to the Kiev regime’s attempts to damage Russia’s energy and industrial facilities, the Russian Armed Forces carried out 25 group strikes by high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, which hit Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure facilities, enterprises of the military-industrial complex, missile and ammunition storage areas, as well as a production facility for uncrewed boats and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Moreover, temporary deployment areas of nationalist groups and foreign mercenaries, clusters of AFU manpower and military hardware have been hit.

▫️Over the past week, the units of the Zapad Group of Forces have taken up more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on units of 12 enemy brigades close to Stelmakhovka, Novogorovka (Lugansk People’s Republic), Petropavlovka, Glushkovka, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Torskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

23 counter-attacks of assault detachments of AFU 77th airmobile, 3rd assault, 63rd mechanised brigades, 10th and 18th National Guard brigades have been repelled close to Chervonaya Dibrova, Novovovodyanoye (Lugansk People’s Republic), Grigorovka, and Terny (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 975 servicemen, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, 28 motor vehicles, two Grad MLRS combat vehicles, and 27 field artillery guns, including 13 Western-made guns.

▫️During the week, the units of the Yug Group of Forces continued to advance to the depths of the enemy defence.

Two AFU airmobile, three assault, and nine mechanised brigades have been hit near Spornoye, Andreyevka, Maksimilyanovka, Paraskoviyevka, Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

Four counter-attacks by AFU 46th airmobile, 79th, 80th air assault brigades, and 93rd mechanised brigades have been repelled close to Bogdanovka, Georgiyevka, Krasnogorovka, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 2,325 servicemen, seven tanks, 10 armoured fighting vehicles, including four U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 44 motor vehicles, and 20 field artillery guns.

Five electronic warfare stations have been eliminated: one Nota, one Anklav, one Bukovel-AD, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery warfare station, and four field ammunition depots.

▫️The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and liberated Novobakhmutovka, Semyonovka, and Berdychi (Donetsk People’s Republic).

In addition, 14 brigades of the AFU have been defeated and 66 counter-attacks of the enemy have been repelled close to Leninskoye, Usmanskoye, Novgorodskoye, Novokalinovo, Ocheretino, and Netaylovo (Donetsk People’s Republic).

More than 2,405 servicemen, three U.S.-made Abrams tanks, 20 armoured fighting vehicles, including four U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 27 motor vehicles, 33 field artillery guns, 14 of them are Western-made.
 

Russian Defence Ministry weekly report on the progress of the special military operation (28 April – 4 May 2024)

Part II

▫️The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation by defeating the units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 102nd and 128th Territorial Defence brigades near Chervonoye, Gulyai pole (Zaporozhye region), Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 745 servicemen, 15 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery guns, two Anklav and Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations, as well as one ammunition depot.

▫️Over the week, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged personnel and hardware of four brigades of the AFU, marines brigades, three Territorial Defence brigades, and National Guard brigades close to Malaya Tokmachka, Rabotino, Novoandreyevka, Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), Mikhailovka, Ivanovka, Tyaginka, and Berislav (Kherson region).

The AFU losses were up to 215 servicemen, nine motor vehicles, and six field artillery guns.

▫️Missile Troops and Artillery, and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian Groups of Forces have eliminated two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS combat vehicles, two S-300PT anti-aircraft missile system launchers with an illumination and guidance radar, one IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system launcher, as well as one fuel depot for AFU military hardware.

In addition, one military echelon with Western-made hardware and weapons delivered to Ukraine by NATO countries has been destroyed.

▫️Aviation and air defence facilities have shot down 15 U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, 17 French-made Hammer aerial bombs, six GLSDB, HIMARS, and Uragan projectiles, as well as 201 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Over the past week, 14 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered on the line of contact.