Post-Victory Day Update for Russian Military Ops in Ukraine

Update for Russian military operations in Ukraine

-Russia celebrated Victory Day (May 9) with respect and dignity – without a need for flaunting “victory” in Ukraine;

-Canceled flyover was due to weather and has happened in the past, including as recently as 2017;

-For perspective, Russia was to fly 77 aircraft over Moscow which is more aircraft than Ukraine now has in its entire airforce;

-Ukraine’s desire for a symbolic victory resulted in a disastrous operation around Snake Island and a costly “advance” around Kharkov versus Russian troops merely performing fixing operations;

-Pentagon admits Russian progress continues in the Donbas, however “slow and uneven;”

-Even Ukraine’s General Staff admits Russia continues on the offensive in the Donbas;

-Russia takes Popasnya, constituting a major breakthrough of the line of contact in the Donbas;

-Russia will continue focusing on Donbas while holding positions elsewhere in Ukraine;

-Once Donbas is secured, the next area of focus will be targeted (for example Kharkov, Nikoliev, Odessa);

-This systematic approach is precisely how Russia and its allies retook Syria’s major population centers from 2015 onward;

References:

US Department of Defense – Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing MAY 10, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

Ukrainian General Staff – “Operational Update” on May 11, 2022:
https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff…

Newsweek – Russia Hires ‘War Mobilization Specialists’ After Denying It’ll Declare War:
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-hires…

Washington Post – On a Victory Day without victory, Putin faces choice over all-out war: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…

Bloomberg – Transcript: Russia President Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day Speech:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl…

NBC News – Planned flyover at Russian military parade canceled with organizers blaming the weather:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/li…

Moscow Times – Victory Day Flyover Cancelled Due to Bad Weather:
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2017/0…

CNN – Ukraine’s Air Force has added about 20 more operational aircraft after influx of spare parts, senior US defense official says:
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/20/po…

Reuters (via The Hindu) – The chip challenge: Keeping Western semiconductors out of Russian weapons: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/tec…

Reuters – Ukraine troops retreat from Popasna, Luhansk governor confirms:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/…

Reuters (via The Star) – Chechnya’s Kadyrov says his soldiers control Popasna, Ukraine disagrees: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world…

TASS – Bodies of 27 Ukrainian special ops troops, nationalists left on Snake Island – top brass:
https://tass.com/defense/1449045

Ukrainian General Staff – Snake Island, footage supposedly of Russian helicopter loss:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=421…