Ukraine in Brief:
The 70th day of the Ukrainian people’s heroic struggle against the russian military invasion goes on.
The adversary continues offensive action in the East Operational Zone.
The russian aggressor has stepped up its missile and bomb strikes to ruin the transport infrastructure of Ukraine.
Air and artillery strikes of Kharkiv continue. The russian invaders have established an auxiliary operations center of the 36 combined arms army of the eastern army command in valuyki raion, belgorod oblast.
In the Izyum direction, the aggressor attempts to recapture the initiative and carries out an offensive towards Izyum-Barvinkove. For this, the enemy is shelling Ukrainian troops’ positions in the areas of Hrushuvakha, Nova Dmytrivka, and Kurulka.
In the direction of Donetsk, the enemy focused on assaults on Lyman, Orikhove, Popasna, Velyka Novosilka, Huliaypole, Komyshuvakha, and Orikhiv.
In the direction of Lyman, the enemy’s unsuccessful attempts throughout the day have been locked on Oleksandrivka. The invaders have been carrying out offensive action towards Voyevodivka, Severodonetsk direction, though without success. In Popasna direction, the aggressors have been trying, without success, to expand their control over Orikhove.
To keep down Ukrainian Defense Forces units, the enemy has been shelling their positions along practically the whole contact line. It has also been dealing with airstrikes in the areas of Avdiyivka, Mariupol, Severodonetsk, Kramatorsk, and Huliaypole.
The siege in the area of Azovstal in Mariupol and the attempts to wipe out Ukrainian units there continue. The enemy has renewed its offensive in some areas with support from the air to take the mill territory under control. It has not succeeded in it, though.
The invaders are waging combat actions towards Kherson – Mykolayiv, and Kherson – Kryvyi Rih lines to hold the temporarily occupied territories and create conditions for renewed offensive effort.
In the north of Ukraine, individual military units of belarus continue with their task of reinforcing control of the Ukrainian-belarusian border sections in the brest and gomel oblasts.
Northern oblasts
Kyiv
The Kyiv Oblast Military Administration has presented the National Museum of the Second World War with fragments of the downed russian air force helicopter and the remains of missiles the invaders used to attack the capital. They intend to set up a public display with exhibits of the equipment used by russia against the Ukrainian people.
Ukrainian blast technicians have completed the mine-clearing of Pushcha-Vodytsia. There still are unsafe areas in the capital, and the government advises against visiting green belt territories.
A memorial service has been held in the capital for ATO veteran Ruslan Borovyk who died in the fighting for Ukraine.
Kyiv Oblast
Moldova Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu visited Irpin with Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk. Mine clearing of de-occupied population centers continues. The specialists made safe 339 UXOs in the past 24 hours.
Zhytomyr Oblast
There was an air raid alert last evening. The situation in the Oblast was serene during the day. Three tons of humanitarian assistance from Italy have reached Zhytomyr. According to the City Council, Italian cities send targeted aid to Zhytomyr weekly. The humanitarian aid collection centers work in the Italian towns of Leno and Manerbio.
Chernihiv Oblast
The bodies of 11 people who died of starvation and suffocation were found in the basement of a school in Yahidne. Seven of them exploded on a mine or were shot by the russian occupiers. It takes at least three years to restore Chernihivoblenergo’s facilities, which the occupiers damaged. Local authorities are considering installing a temporary transport bridge across the Desna.
Sumy Oblast
At night in the area of one of the settlements of Sumy Oblast, the military of russia hung up its tricolor. Ukrainian border guards discovered this and liquidated the russian flag. According to the Sumy Border Detachment Press Secretary, this tower is located a few meters from the Ukrainian-russian border. To prevent the Ukrainian border guards from removing the flag, the russians placed sniper positions in this direction.
At about 3 am, the russian military shelled the village of the Esman community. Two shots were fired from a helicopter and two from the ground. Hit the school and infrastructure. Between 6 and 7 am artillery shelling from “Grad” along the border near Yunakivka. There were also several helicopter shots in the area near Mohritsa.
Eastern oblasts
Kharkiv Oblast
Over the past 24 hours, russian occupation troops have struck 2 MLRS and artillery strikes in Kharkiv. In the Oblast, the occupiers fired on Ruska Lozova, Derhachi, Zolochiv, Bohodukhiv, Chuhuiv, and Barvinkove.
For the past 24hrs – 8 were wounded and one killed in the Donetsk community in Kharkiv Oblast. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are liberating territories. Many mines after the russian troops are recorded on the approaches to settlements and in private houses. Authorities are urging locals not to return home for official announcements.
Ukrainian artillery burned a russian convoy of ammunition near Izyum. Despite the shelling, Ukrainian services are restoring critical infrastructure. Yesterday, the occupiers damaged the main gas pipeline again. Ukrainian emergency crews worked for more than 12 hours. Thousands of homes were left without gas in the Derhachiv Raion.
Donetsk Oblast
The russians continue to search for civilian objects in the center of the Oblast. In the morning, the Avdiivka and Mariinsky communities were attacked. The Avdiivka Coke Plant came under fire, this time under the mortar. The building is damaged; there is no information about the victims yet. As a result of the night shelling in Avdiivka, a house and a school were damaged.
The russians incendiary shells at night – there are fires in the private sector. The shelling in the Novomykhailivka area continues almost around the clock. Nevertheless, the specialists managed to restore the power line to Krasnohorivka.
Kramatorsk
The situation remains alarming. In the morning, neighboring Slovyansk was shelled. Explosions were heard in Kramatorsk, but no damage or casualties were reported. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), together with the Troika, are preparing to meet the enemy.
The mayor was forced to refute rumors that the abandoned apartments would house the military. Unfortunately, residents do not check the information, so fake messages are spread quickly on social networks.
The AUI “Active Community” coordinator had the opportunity to talk to an elderly woman who went through the war in Afghanistan, was involved in the aftermath of the Chornobyl disaster, survived the occupation of the Donbas National Republic city, and is now unable to buy food. Despite this, the woman constantly gives help to the military – homemade jams and other twists. The coordinator and the team of the humanitarian center organized the delivery of food kits to remote areas of the city.
Pokrovsk and Pokrovsk Raion
The enemy continues to focus its efforts on conducting offensives in the Avdiiv and Kurakhiv areas. In the location of the village Novomykhailivka, shelling almost around the clock.
Russian occupation troops fired upon a bus with the Avdiivka Coke Plant workers. As a result of direct contact with passenger transport, ten plant employees were killed, and about 20 were seriously injured.
Metinvest has started conservation of the Avdiivka Coke Plant. The company minimizes the number of plant personnel. The company is ready to evacuate workers with their families.
The Pokrovsk community is restless. According to the Situation Center of the Main Department of the National Police in the Donetsk Oblast, on May 2nd and 3rd, fragments of enemy shells hit the territory of the Novotroitsk, Starostinsky Raion outside the settlements. There is no damage or destruction of infrastructure, residential buildings, and dead and wounded among the civilian population. There have been no emergencies in the Myrnohrad community in the last 24 hours. It received humanitarian aid – more than 1300 food kits.
In Pokrovsk, the streets are being cleaned, and flowers are being planted. Condominiums that have submitted applications will receive fruit tree seedlings for landscaping their neighborhoods. From the Pokrovsky nursery, 5000 thousand rose seedlings went to Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, another 3000 – to other cities of Ukraine, where the patrons found shelter.
Bakhmut
Private trade facilities operate in a restricted mode. Bakhmut-Khlib LLC works stably to meet the needs of the community. The market is also working.
The Bakhmut City Center for Culture and Leisure continues to operate a checkpoint for people evacuating from dangerous areas. The Bakhmut community recently received humanitarian aid from the “Right for Protection” Charitable Foundation. Immigrants, as well as locals, are in dire need of help, especially in food. A variety of products were delivered to the community.
The AUI “Active Community” coordinator advised on the provision of humanitarian aid.
Volnovakha
The city is under occupation. The shelling of the Velykonovosilkivska and Komarska communities continues. The Deputy of the Volnovakha Council in Rozvoz provided humanitarian aid in the Velykonovosilkivska community, and is evacuating people – he says that many people refuse to leave the community.
The AUI “Active Community” coordinator distributed books sent by volunteers to internally displaced children involved in the volunteer group. She also collected two humanitarian packages for families who have moved and live in remote villages of Poltava and Khmelnytskyi oblasts.
Mariupol
The occupiers are preparing for a parade on May 9th in the ruins of Mariupol. To do this, the ruins and bodies of the dead are removed from the streets. Locals are forced to do these works. On the morning of May 4, the Ukrainian military could not get in touch with Azovstal, Mariupol Mayor Boychenko said. The occupiers have been storming the plant for the second day.
Luhansk Oblast
In Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Lysychansk, and Zolote-4, the russians fired 34 missile strikes. Two people died in the past 24 hours. A shell hit a church in a village near Rubizhne, killing a priest. A total of 45 houses and other facilities in the region were damaged. In addition, the occupiers carried out assaults in the area of Popasna. The fighting continues.
Southern oblasts
Zaporizhzhia Oblast
The situation in Zaporizhzhia Oblast remains difficult. Fierce battles continue, but the brave defenders of Zaporizhzhia Oblast are resisting the invaders.
Last night, the Ukrainian military captured another group of russian occupiers, as well as destroyed the anti-aircraft missile system “Buk”, four rocket-propelled grenade launchers “Hrad”, a tank, eight armored combat vehicles, 2 UAVs “Orlan-10”, 2 152mm howitzers D-20 and five units of automotive equipment. The Msta-S self-propelled artillery mount was also damaged. In Horlivka, more than 100 bodies of mobilized russian service members who died in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast were taken to the central morgue.
On May 3rd, at about 11:40 pm, sounds similar to explosions were heard during an air raid in Zaporizhzhia. The successful work of the air defense system was later reported. As a result of the massive shelling of the railway infrastructure, trains to and from Zaporizhzhia have been significantly delayed over the past 24 hours.
Yesterday 156 people that were evacuated from Azovstal in Mariupol arrived in Zaporizhzhia. Evacuation columns from Tokmak and Vasylivka are expected today, but as of 6 pm, there is no information about them.
In the temporarily occupied Berdyansk, no head of local authorities, budget institutions or utilities sided with the occupiers. The invaders “appoint” to managerial positions collaborators without relevant experience and education – cleaners, locksmiths, etc.
In Tokmak, the russian military began mass sewing Ukrainian military uniforms and changing into them. Probably, this is done to provoke and sabotage. The AUI “Active Community” team continues to work on providing the necessary assistance to Ukrainian defenders: food, necessities, and ammunition.
Kherson Oblast
In the village of Kozachi Lageri of the Oleshkiv community, the russian military fired at a kindergarten at night. Russia continues to impose its market in the temporarily occupied territories. In Kakhovka, the occupying “authorities” require entrepreneurs to register by May 15th and obtain a business permit. Those who do not register will be banned from working. All mobile operators have reconnected in Kherson Oblast.
Skadovsk
The occupiers are preparing for the “celebration” on May 9th. They are trying to cut off the Kherson Oblast from Ukrainian communication and the Internet. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are present in the Oblast. There are no Territorial Defense Forces in the city.
The mayor works remotely; no other news. People are stressed, but try to hold on. Those who have the opportunity to leave the city leave as quickly as possible. The situation is very critical. The power in the Oblast State Administration is changing completely. Orcs feel at home, trying to control everything. The number of checkpoints has increased. Communication is intermittent. There is no home internet in the city. There are no supplies in pharmacies. Food products are imported from the Crimean side.
As soon as some connection appears, the coordinator of the AUI “Active Community” gathers information about people’s needs. The coordinator looks for people who have been forced to go abroad for interviews.
Mykolayiv Oblast
On the contact line, on the border of the Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts, fights proceed round the clock. On May 3rd, russian occupation troops continued to engineer their positions. For the past 24hrs in the Mykolaiv Oblasts, 11 people were wounded. Mykolayiv Oblast is demined by Odesa and Mykolayiv pyrotechnics.
Central oblasts
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Two enemy drones were shot down over the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Two enemy missiles in the Kamyanskyi Raion destroyed the railway infrastructure. One worker received a severe concussion. The Velykomykhailivska community of Synelnykiv Raion was fired at by “Hail” multiple rocket launchers. Dozens of houses were damaged.
As of May 4th, in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the pyrotechnic unit of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) found and destroyed 1757 units of explosive devices.
The inventor from Dnipro has developed a powerful power bank for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). It can charge 20 walkie-talkies and smartphones at the same time. The basis of the power bank was a wooden case from under the cartridge box. The cost of the charger is about 6500 hryvnias.
The director of the James Bond film, Carrie Fukunaga, visited Dnipro. Since March, he has been in Ukraine as part of a mission to provide food for residents of the affected oblasts.
A woman who photographed the movement of Ukrainian equipment was detained in Dnipro. Also, in the city of Apostolovo, one russian and one resident of Crimea were detained, and weapons and explosives were found in their belongings.
The TAPS-Ukraine Foundation and the Dnipro Volunteer Coordination Headquarters received 16 tons of humanitarian aid from Germany, Spain, Poland, and the United States – medicines, clothing, food, and clothing for rescuers from the SES. Volodymyr Braichenko, director of the Charitable Foundation for Socio-Economic Development, handed over turnstiles, first aid kits, and emergency bandages. The «Pomogaem» Charitable Foundation offers a shelter for evacuees from Mariupol. In addition, volunteers create their hot water bottles and burners from metal cans.
Kryvyi Rih received 20 tons of humanitarian aid from Latvia, containing cereals, sugar, flour, canned food, nuts, and raisins. There are currently more than 33 000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the city.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, sowing is in full swing. Farmers complete sowing wheat, barley, peas, oats, and rapeseed, and 75% of the work is completed. Only wheat was sown on 4.5 thousand hectares. It’s 1.5 times more than planned. The AUI “Active Community” coordinator published news about providing medical care for Ukrainians.
Kirovohrad Oblast
An enemy missile strike was launched on the Dolyna community, Kirovohrad Oblast. Two missiles aimed at a traction substation on the railway near the village of Tymkove. As a result of the missile strike, there are dead and wounded. The situation in this area, as well as throughout the oblast, is under control.
The AFU protect the borders of the Oblast and military facilities. Territorial Defense Forces are on duty at checkpoints and patrol the city with the police.
Kropyvnytskyi
Kropyvnytskyi athletes won three awards at the Deaflympics in Brazil. The pupil of the complex children’s and youth sports school number 2 of Kropyvnytskyi City Council won a silver medal at the European Powerlifting Championship.
The coordinator of the AUI “Active Community” provided IDPs with advice on obtaining documents on IDP status and information on the available resources of employers of the oblast center and surrounding communities.
Poltava Oblast
On the night of May 4th, there were two air raids in the Poltava Oblast. In Poltava, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Kyiv Prosecutor’s Office detained the Deputy Head of the Poltava Customs Post of the Poltava Customs of the State Customs Service while trying to obtain a bribe in the amount of 3200 US dollars. According to the investigation, the official demanded from the head of the company that imports industrial goods to Ukraine, illegal benefits for unimpeded customs clearance, and other customs procedures. (https://zmist.pl.ua/news/u-poltavi-zatrymaly-na-habari-zastupnyka-nachalnyka-mytnyczi)
In the Poltava Oblast, law enforcement officers check four people for involvement in cooperation with the enemy.
A military pensioner who passed information about the Ukrainian military in Mariupol to the DNR leadership will be tried in the Poltava Oblast. Supporting the ideas of the “Russian measure”, the suspect sought information on social networks about the location of the Ukrainian military in Mariupol and provided it to the leadership of the so-called “DNR”. He also posted symbols of the communist totalitarian regime on his Facebook page.
A serviceman from the Poltava Oblast received an award from the President of Ukraine. For personal courage and selfless actions shown in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath, he was awarded the Order “For Courage” of the III degree.
Karatekas from the Poltava Oblast won another medal at the Summer Deaflympics:
Yuriy Haiduchenko (Kumite, 67 kg) won gold, Kateryna Maslo (Kumite, 55 kg) took first place, and Elizaveta Bondar (Kumite, 61 kg) took bronze.
The Oblast is in the process of decommunization and de-russification. The streets in Hadyach will be renamed.
Animator from Poltava Vladyslav Molodetsky joined the creation of a video for the London band The Tiger Lillies track, which they recorded together with Ukrainian artists The Hypnotunez. The single sarcastically glorifies Putin’s crimes. Vladislav Molodetsky portrayed Putin in the striped clothes of a prisoner. A total of 17 animators from Ukraine worked on the video for the song. All funds from the product release will be used to support Ukrainian artists. You can watch the clip by following the link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rVhaaXotS0).
Applications for education for first-graders are being accepted in the Poltava Oblast. More than 7.5 thousand applications have already been registered. Last year, almost 13 000 first-graders were enrolled in schools in the Poltava Oblast. Applications must be accepted by May 31st.
The coordinator of AUI “Active Community” is constantly communicating with IDPs families to provide informational and humanitarian assistance in Poltava and Poltava Oblast. Today there will be a regular meeting of the Conversational Online Club “Ukrainian – above all!”
Vinnytsia Oblast
According to the AFU General Staff, Transnistria is preparing for the evacuation of russian officers’ families. The situation in Oblast was not calm. There were missile strikes in Oblast. The Head of the Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration informed that two explosions heard in Vinnytsia were air defense working. The AFU soldiers repel the enemy with air defense. Territorial Defense Forces stand guard.
Due to the limited fuel supply in the gas stations, it is not possible to fuel buses. In the morning, public transport in Khmilnyk did not even start to operate. The first tranche of 40 tons of humanitarian aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross for Displaced Persons has arrived in Vinnytsia.
Two priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the moscow Patriarchate appealed to Metropolitan Bishop Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar to canonically unite them and their religious communities with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Symeon issued decrees accepting them into the Vinnytsia-Bar Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Western oblasts
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
The situation in the community is calm. But yesterday, the air-raid warning was going off for several hours. There is a shortage of fuel in the community now. Public transport may work with interruptions. Also, the “Ivano-Frankivskvodoekotekhprom” (water utility) municipal enterprise reported that citizens owed a large sum for water supply services for the previous two months. If the situation does not change, the water will be supplied only during definite hours.
Citizens paid last respect to the deceased from the village of Tysmenychany. Volunteers continue to actively work and help the AFU and affected citizens.
Rivne Oblast
The situation is relatively calm. There were no air-raid warnings. The AFU patrol the border with belarus. Territorial Defense Forces patrol and stand guard at checkpoints.
The city will receive aid from Switzerland as part of Maedair company’s mission. The company’s specialists are engaged in high-quality training of medical workers and retraining of people; they help implement infrastructure projects and adapt to new living needs.
There are 21 relocated enterprises in Oblast.
Rivne Oblast citizens sent 145 892 food kits to Chernihiv Oblast.
Citizens are united; they help volunteer headquarters with money and not only. 7 tons of aid were sent to Kharkiv Oblast.
There is a School of Digital Literacy for IDPs in Rivne. 50-year-old and older people will learn to use search engines, messengers, and smartphones.
In the Rivne community, communal utilities operate in the usual way. They mow the grass and repair the asphalt pavement within the community.
Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Kamianets-Podilskyi
A decrease in the number of people has been recorded at the IDPs registration center. According to official data, more than 5000 citizens who have found refuge in the city have already returned to their hometowns. However, the community continues to help with settlements, food, and aid to the neediest. The formation of IDPs certificates has been completed. 20 599 citizens received the IDPs status. As of today, IDPs who apply to the department with the relevant documents will be able to obtain a certificate the next day.
The city community received humanitarian aid from the Polish Peace Corps Foundation, and the SOS UKRAINE PROVENCE Association (Marseille, France). The assistance includes medicines, clothing, and baby food. Humanitarian cargoes from Poland and Spain are still awaited.
Authorities continue to work with relocated businesses that can always receive advice concerning vacant workspaces, settlements, registration, and issuance of IDPs certificates. Now the enterprise from Kharkiv plans to settle in the city.
Ukrainian studios have started working in the Educational Hub of Kamianets-Podilskyi. There are classes on the spoken Ukrainian language, little-known, debatable, and unknown pages of Ukrainian history, works of Ukrainian literature, etc.
Today’s hot topic is the shortage of fuel in Ukraine, which has affected passenger traffic. Only five gas stations out of 13 in the city have fuel. The mayor initiates a meeting with gas station leaders to resolve the critical situation. Currently, the situation is as follows: some buses have already received fuel at the gas station and left for their planned routes, but in this regard, their movement interval will be temporarily increased. In general, public transport operates on a regular schedule.
The AUI “Active Community” coordinators organized a meeting of the AFU soldiers stationed in the city with Dmytro Likartovych, an actor of the Kyiv Theater in Podil, a poet, bard, and recently a Kyiv defender.
Chernivtsi Oblast (Bukovyna)
Today, Bukovyna is outside of active hostilities, but the Oblast has been actively helping the Ukrainian army since the beginning of the war.
The Head of the Chernivtsi Oblast Military Administration, Serhiy Osachuk, said that the local authorities would work actively with communities to create additional opportunities for summer rehabilitation and recreation of internally displaced children in the coming summer mountainous areas.
About 900 roses were planted at the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. The flowers were transferred from Pokrovsk (Donetsk Oblast). Bukovyna received such a gift because in April, the Oblast sheltered about 2000 residents of Pokrovsk, including people with disabilities.
“Rotary International” provides humanitarian assistance to IDPs in Chernivtsi.
For a month now, the Charitable Foundation “Freedom Trust” has been evacuating people with disabilities from hot spots in Donetsk Oblast: Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. It is almost the only organization that deals with this issue because the transportation of sedentary people requires a lot of effort.
In Kitsman, entrepreneurs make knee and elbow pads for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Ammunition protects against blows and fragments of shells and allows it to lean against a dangerous surface.
The museums of Bukovyna are open to visitors: people can get acquainted with the culture, life, and art of the Oblast in the regional institutions; they work for free. At the same time, visitors will be able to donate money for the AFU needs.
The regional coordinator of AUI “Active Community” dealt with the solution to IDPs housing problems.
Zakarpattya Oblast
The day turned out to be uneasy, as a missile strike was carried out in the Oblast. As a result of a missile attack in the village of Volovets, a distribution gas pipeline with a diameter of 50 mm was damaged. Emergency work to restore the gas supply has been completed.
There were no other active hostilities in the Oblast. Events in the AFU support and war-affected citizens occur in the communities.
A charity film marathon starts in Zakarpattya. The initiative is implemented with the support of the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions of the Zakarpattya Oblast Military Administration and the Mukachevo City Council.
For five hours in a row, Uzhgorod residents and city guests danced and raised funds for the military at the Academy of Dance Sports “VOLIA”.
In Uzhhorod, schoolchildren wrote an essay about why they love their city under sakura.
