Fierce battles
Russian oil terminal hit, according to governor
04/30/2022, 12:49 p.m
Russia and Ukraine report detailed individual combat operations. Ukraine stresses that Russian troops have had little success. British intelligence experts suspect that they would first have to regroup.
Russian anti-aircraft defense reportedly prevented a Ukrainian plane from entering the airspace of the Bryansk region. Parts of an oil terminal were hit by shelling, Russian media reported, citing the region’s governor. “There are no victims,” the RIA agency quoted Governor Alexander Bogomas as saying. A logistics building at the terminal was damaged. The information could not be independently verified.
The Russian Defense Ministry also said that Russia’s artillery hit 389 targets in Ukraine overnight, including 35 checkpoints, 15 weapons or ammunition depots and several locations where Ukrainian troops or equipment were located. Four ammunition and fuel depots were hit by Russian missiles.
“No Russian Successes”
In its situation report on the course of the war, the Ukrainian General Staff also listed new Russian attacks with a focus on eastern Ukraine. But there are no successes for Russia, it says. “The fighting continues.” In the vicinity of the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region, Russia continues to concentrate its troops for attacks. There are attempts by the Russian armed forces to advance inland in several places. However, the attacks would be fended off.
In the Dnepropetrovsk region, Russian units fired at targets with rockets and artillery. The Russian armed forces are therefore partly reorganizing and strengthening their troops. In the contested areas of Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, 14 attacks were repelled. Ukrainian forces destroyed 11 tanks, nine drones and seven artillery systems.
The situation around the Azov steelworks in the port city of Mariupol was also unclear. According to Russian information, around 2,500 Ukrainian fighters and foreign mercenaries are said to have holed up in the bunkers of the industrial zone. According to Ukraine, 1,000 civilians are waiting there for rescue, including children. Mediated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Kyiv and Moscow had agreed to set up a humanitarian corridor for civilians to flee. However, results are a long time coming. Russian state television reported that a family of three had left the steel mill. A man who described himself as the father described the escape. This information could not be verified.
Geographic Concentration
According to British intelligence, Russia is being forced to regroup its forces in north-eastern Ukraine after failed attempts. This emerges from a report published by the Ministry of Defense in London. Russia hopes to resolve its difficulties in invading the neighboring country by geographically concentrating troops, shortening supply routes and simplifying leadership.
The Russian military had to pool and regroup exhausted units from the failed raids, the report said. “Many of these units are probably suffering from low morale.” Deficits in tactical coordination persist. Despite local improvements, Russia is unable to fully utilize its full combat capability due to poor unit capabilities and inconsistent air support.