Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 432.
As Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues and the war rages on, reliable sources of information are critical. Forbes gathers information and provides updates on the situation.
Uman. Russian shelling of a residential neighborhood in the city of Uman in central Ukraine on Apr. 28 resulted in the death of 23 civilians, including six children, police confirmed as rescue operations ended. Uman authorities declared a three-day mourning period for the victims. “A missile on Uman, a city that is absolutely peaceful, known to the whole world for hosting tens of thousands of Hasidic pilgrims every year,” President Volodymir Zelensky said, “only absolute evil can unleash such terror against Ukraine.”
Dnipropetrovsk region. The town of Pavlograd in eastern Ukraine suffered a massive missile attack in the early morning hours of May 1, said regional governor Serhii Lysak. According to preliminary information, 34 civilians, including five children, sustained injuries, with 19 high-rise buildings, 25 private houses, six schools and five shops recorded damaged.
Chernihiv region. Russian Su-35 fighter jets shelled the village of Lyzunivka on May 1, the Ukrainian military’s Operational Command North said. A 14-year-old child was killed, and two other civilians injured. The missiles also partially destroyed a non-operational local school and a number of private houses nearby.
More than 25,000 Russian servicemen are said to be deployed in Bakhmut, Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military Operational Command East, told Ukrinform news agency on May 1. “In the Bakhmut area, 25,600 Russian personnel, 65 tanks, 450 armored fighting vehicles, 154 guns, and 56 MRLS are fighting against us,” his comment reads. The official further noted that Russia is losing an estimated 100 soldiers each day in the area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shed more light on the agenda of his phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Apr. 25. Zelensky said the heads of state discussed Ukraine’s peace formula, presented at the G20 summit in November, along with a mechanism for returning Ukrainian children illegally transferred to Russia, securing prisoners of war exchanges and the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelensky added that his country intents to attract as many international actors as possible to constrain the aggressor. “So that as many countries as possible were involved in this formula or in the platform where our formula is discussed, and they could then put pressure on the Russian Federation to restore peace, restore our territorial integrit
The European Commission has found an accommodation with Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia regarding Ukrainian agricultural products, the body’s Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Apr. 28. The deal reached between the parties stipulates the withdrawal of unilateral bans imposed on grain imports from Ukraine by the five member states, enactment of safeguards for four key products (wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seed) and allocation of €100 million for farmers most affected in those states. “We have acted to address concerns of both farmers in neighboring EU countries and Ukraine,” Dombrovskis added.
Crimea. An enemy fuel depot in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol caught fire on Apr. 29. According to Russian sources, a drone attack is to blame for the blaze, which broke out in the city’s Kozacha Bukhta neighborhood. Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine, told media an explosion on the site destroyed 10 petroleum product tanks with a total capacity of 40 thousand tones. “Explosions in Sevastopol are punishment from God, in particular for the civilians killed in Uman. This punishment will be long lasting. It is desirable for all residents of the temporarily occupied Crimea not to be near military facilities and facilities supplying the aggressor’s army in the near future,” he advised.
Sergeant Andrii Liniichuk, call sign “Celt,” considered Ukraine’s most effective anti-aircraft gunner, has been killed in action, his unit, the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade, confirmed. Liniichuk was a legend both in Ukraine and Great Britain for his record of Russian air targets shot down over the course of the invasion, and for being the first to use the British STARStreak portable anti-aircraft missile system in combat. A full knight of Ukraine’s Order for Courage, Liniichuk, 25, was responsible for disabling 16 Orlan drones, one Zala drone, and a Ka-52 combat helicopter. “His persistence and responsibility were an example for us, and his sense of humor was a consolation during military outings. We will definitely take revenge for Andrii’s death,” said Oleksandr, a 95th Airborne brother-in-arms.
By Daria Dzysiuk, Karina L. Tahiliani