Good morning, Kyiv Post readers. Here’s your Morning Memo for May 9 to get you up to speed on events in Ukraine:
· Latest Headlines
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· Military Situation Report
· President Zelensky’s Message
· Quote of the Day
· Infographic of the Day
Headlines
Russia is continuing a further wave of missile and rocket assaults including on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, and other locales. From the evening of May 7 to the morning of May 9, some 40 missiles and 60 Shahed drones were launched against Ukraine. The Ukrainian Red Cross stated that one Russian missile destroyed an entire Red Cross warehouse in Odesa oblast.
Why now? Theories include: a) reinforcing the May 9 Victory Day holiday which is central to Putin’s ‘greatness’ narrative, or; b) stretching Ukrainian resources prior to the anticipated counteroffensive. But, then again, logic may not apply. See the Quote of the Day below.
US is expected to announce today that $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid will go to Ukraine, particularly to strengthen its air defenses.
The aid package will be provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and will fund HAWK air defense systems, air defense munitions and drones for air defense, according to officials who spoke to AP. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, this is the 38th US aid package for Ukraine for a total of approximately $37 billion in support.
What if Russia Wins?
Sit-Rep
The May 8 daily report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says:
o Russian forces conducted further large-scale missile and drone strikes against Ukraine.
o Vladimir Putin is attempting to use the Victory Day parade to show Russia’s continued influence in Central Asia, including the presence of regional leaders.
o Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line.
o Russian forces made marginal advances within Bakhmut amid reports of intensified Wagner Group offensive operations and continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
The May 8 daily morning report and Facebook feed of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says:
o At 10:00 pm last night, 8 Kalibr missiles were launched from Russian ships on the Black Sea. All 8 were destroyed. At 04:00 am this morning, 17 Kh-101/Kh-555 air-launched missiles were launched from Russian TU-95 bombers. Of the 25 total rockets launched in those two assaults, 23 were destroyed by Ukrainian air defense systems, including those aimed at Kyiv. During all of May 8, there were 30 missile attacks, 61 air strikes, and 89 multiple launcher rocket system (MLRS) attacks on Ukrainian positions and population centres.
o During May 8, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled 42 enemy attacks in the Bakhmut and Mar’inka areas of the frontline.
o In Kherson oblast, in the city of Skadovsk, Russian district and city administrations have begun to cease operating and were leaving town.
“On the night of May 6 and 7, Russians loaded documentation, office equipment and other property of state institutions onto road transport. On the morning of May 7, together with their families, a significant part of the Russian occupation administration left the city”" the General Staff’s Facebook site reported.
It continued that the settlements of Mykhailivka, Petrivka, Shevchenka, Shyroke, Ulianivka and Krasne in Kherson Oblast are experiencing similar exits, including by sea due to the overcrowding on the Kerch bridge.
On the evening of May 8, Russian forces launched a missile strike against Kharkiv oblast, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the local military administration. He reported that around 10:00 pm last night, Russian forces attacked the city and regional towns with S-300 missiles, and that at least six strikes were recorded. Casualties are being established.
Zelensky
“Many years ago, the tradition of celebrating Europe Day on May 9 was established on our continent – to mark peace and unity achieved.
“Today, unity on our continent brings us closer to celebrating the first day of our peace. And it will be right to celebrate Europe Day together with all of free Europe.
“Today, I signed the relevant decree, and every year from tomorrow, May 9, we will commemorate our historic unity – the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat ‘ruscism’. The unity that brings peace closer.” – President Zelensky, May 8
Quote
“We keep looking for a logic to what Putin’s doing. Why has he started the missiles and drones again, we ask ourselves. Everybody has an opinion. And all of us are wrong. Because there is no logic. There’s only his own delusions.” – Svitlana, 52, Kyivan shopkeeper, May 8
Infographic
Today’s infographic shows that, while Ukraine’s economy has shrunk by 29 percent in the last year, the damage is less than predicted. However, the role of foreign aid has been absolutely essential in economic sustainability. It’s provided by UA War Infographics produced by Top Lead.
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