Ukraine War Update NEWS: Overnight & Other News
Table of Contents 📖
| Topic ID | Topic Title | Timestamp |
|---|
"If there is a moment in this conflict, we can make a difference. Why not seize it? What are we waiting for?"
Hello Team!
Jonathan starts the video with his usual dedication, noting he hasn't even had a cup of tea yet. He then dives into the latest figures from the Ukrainian General Staff on Russian losses.
Return to top⤴️
🪦 DISCLAIMER FOR GENERAL STAFF LOSSES DATA
- These are real people with real lives and real families who love them. Don’t let the numbers sap your humanity.
- These numbers probably aren’t accurate but they’re the best we have and we don’t need them to be accurate to be indicative of patterns of activity.
- All losses are estimates. Losses cannot be counted with accuracy because of the conditions on the ground.
- Both sides would see it to be of their advantage to minimize their own losses maximize the other side’s losses.
- Neither side releases their losses but we have enough transparency from the Ukrainian side to have confidence in they are indicative.
- Personnel losses are hard to count. If a soldier gets injured, heals up, and returns to the front line only to get injured again, is that one loss or two? Also, how to deal with losses from PMC’s or soldiers fighting with RF from occupied territories?
- Equipment losses are hard to count. If an AA complex involves several parts and one part gets disabled, is that a loss, or a fraction of a loss? If a tank gets disabled, repaired, back into the fight, then disabled again, is that one lost tank or two?
- All recorded losses are vulnerable to multiple reporting. We have already seen numerous cases of multiple drones in the air reporting the same loss from different angles as multiple engagements.
- Losses are not always reported on the same day they occurred. It is frequent that drone losses are reported at least 24 hours after other terrestrial equipment losses. Certain losses may not be reported for days or weeks for military intelligence reasons.
Russian Losses
- 650 Russian troops liquidated, higher than previous day but lower than peak
- Losses of 4 tanks, 4 APVs, 13 artillery systems, 1 anti-aircraft system, 4 drones, 8 cruise missiles, 11 vehicles/fuel tanks, 4 pieces of special equipment
- Continued high attrition of Russian artillery and special equipment, likely targeted by Ukraine ahead of counter-offensive
Refrigerated Truck Drivers Wanted
A Russian advert urgently seeks to recruit drivers for refrigerated lorries to transport the dead from Ukraine to Rostov-on-Don. The high demand for these drivers supports the reported Russian troop losses. As Jonathan jokes, it's Putin's "ingenious plan" to reduce unemployment in Russia.
Return to top⤴️
Drone Strikes on Russian Vehicles
Ukraine continues to release daily footage of FPV drone strikes on Russian vehicles, particularly in Marinka. One road has become known as the "road of death" for Russian equipment. The frequency of these videos from the same location is notable.
Return to top⤴️
Overnight Cruise Missile Attacks
- Russia launched 25 cruise missiles overnight, but Ukraine's air defences shot down 23
- 8 Kalibr missiles fired from Black Sea, then 17 Kh-101/Kh-555 missiles from Caspian Sea
- Minimal damage reported in Kyiv and Cherkasy regions
- 6 S-300 missiles also launched at Kharkiv
Partisan Attack on Russian Aircraft Factory
On May 8th, unknown partisans destroyed a Su-24 combat aircraft at a Sukhoi factory in Novosibirsk. The aircraft was awaiting repair and modernization. Ukraine will welcome this action by partisans within Russia.
Return to top⤴️
Victory Day Parade Poster Fail
A Russian poster celebrating Victory Day ironically states "Thanks for life without war", despite the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. As Jonathan points out, they no longer have a life without war because of the conflict.
Return to top⤴️
Russian Looting in Zaporizhzhia
The Ukrainian General Staff reports that Russian occupation forces are moving looted property from frontline settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to Crimea. The exiled mayor of Melitopol says 674 houses near the city have been recently seized by Russian proxies.
Return to top⤴️
Analysis of Wagner and Prigozhin
Key points about the Wagner situation:
- Prigozhin does not own Wagner, it ultimately reports to Putin
- Current events are about assigning blame for the failed Russian offensive
- Prigozhin is trying to save himself ahead of the expected Ukrainian counter-offensive
- Kadyrov has a personal army loyal to him and won't put it in the "meat grinder"
Military Aid Updates
- Ukraine received €189 million from the World Bank for social expenses
- 14 Mi-8 helicopters pledged by Croatia are on the way or already in service
- Poland has transferred 10 MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine
- Ukraine has received Romanian APR-40 and Croatian RAK-12 multiple launch rocket systems
- US expected to announce $1.2 billion aid package including Hawk air defence systems, artillery rockets, drones
- UK poised to send long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine
EU Sanctions on Chinese Companies
The EU plans to introduce sanctions against 7 Chinese companies accused of selling equipment to Russia that could be used in weapons, particularly microelectronics. This is a significant move that could impact China's stance, but risks escalation. The outcome will depend on how much China values trade with the West compared to Russia.
Return to top⤴️
Victory Day Developments
- Moscow's Victory Day parade featured only 1 WWII-era tank and ~50 other vehicles, far fewer than normal, suggesting equipment has been sent to the front lines
- Aerial portion of the parade was cancelled
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to meet with Zelensky, sending a message to Moscow
- Putin gave a speech claiming "a war has been unleashed against the Russian people" by the West, despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Wrap up
Jonathan concludes this longer news update, thanking viewers for their support and apologizing for the length. He signs off with his usual "take care and I'll speak to you soon."
Return to top⤴️
