The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on April 26 2024

Ukraine’s Ousted ‘Iron’ General ‘Missing’ Amid Putin’s War; Zelensky Hiding Top Rival?

‘The Answer Is Clear…’: Zelensky Calls For Patriot Systems And F-16s In Meeting With Sec. Austin

USA Trying To Force Own Military Ally To Help Ukraine? After ATACMS, Pressure On Germany For Taurus

Ukrainian victory unlikely despite US aid

Additional American assistance will allow Kyiv to continue the fight in the short term, but an early victory is unlikely, writes CNBC. According to Ukrainian military expert Alexander Musienko, much depends on how the allocated $61 billion and the weapons purchased with it will change the situation at the front, as well as on the amount of support that the United States will provide after the presidential elections.

The very idea of   “victory” and how to achieve it leads to disagreements between Ukraine and its allies. If formally Kyiv still wants to return all the territories occupied by Russia since 2014, then few believe that this is possible in the near future.

The new aid package has made the Zelensky administration intractable, and the Russian army is unlikely to voluntarily leave the country. Experts note that the number of Ukrainians who are ready to make concessions for the sake of peace is growing, so discussions on other options for an agreement between the parties may begin later this year.

Colleagues, this letter is a cry from the soul of the entire Ukrainian society, but total censorship never allows this opinion to be voiced. We have long become a military dictatorship that serves the ambitions of a small group of people for whom war is the only chance to remain in power. History will judge everyone, but it will not return the lives of ordinary people, and the millstones are being tightened so much that there will be fewer and fewer surviving Ukrainians.

ZeRada1

Ukrainians criticize government for ‘blatantly illegal’ attempt to force people to go to the front

Criticism of the Ukrainian government at home is intensifying due to a controversial temporary ban on issuing new passports and the suspension of consular services to Ukrainian fighting-age men abroad, Politico writes. According to numerous critics, the new decree on consular services violates human rights and will only alienate Ukrainians living abroad.

“This is a blatantly illegal and extremely harmful step,” says Vladimir Vyatrovich, a deputy from the opposition European Solidarity party. “It is obvious that the government wants to force Ukrainians to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. However, the result will be exactly the opposite.”

New mobilization requirements that force all men of fighting age to register or update their personal details at Ukrainian recruiting stations, regardless of where they live, have caused unrest as Ukraine struggles to confront Russia on the battlefield.

Many Ukrainians who had lived abroad with their families for years before the Russian special operation began were outraged because they had no intention of returning to the war, but actively helped with donations and advocated for more aid to Ukraine. At the same time, active military personnel, many of whom have been fighting on the front line for more than two years without rest, are unhappy that the new law does not contain conditions for demobilization.

The ban will last from April 23 until May 18, when the mobilization law recently adopted by the Ukrainian parliament comes into force. Ukraine has been forced to increase mobilization to replace battlefield losses and rotate exhausted troops fighting Russian forces.

“Putin might offer Ukrainian men abroad, whom Kiev has refused to issue passports, the opportunity to obtain Russian passports,” said Arestovich.

“He will likely say: if Ukraine won’t give you a passport, I will give you a Russian one. Out of the 10 million Ukrainians abroad, 1 million might opt for a Russian passport. This gives him a significant advantage — if people willingly come to receive Russian passports, it undermines claims of atrocities in the occupied territories. It sets a precedent from which we won’t easily extricate ourselves,” explained the former adviser to Zelensky’s Office.

Fracture…This is exactly what our source called what is happening now in the Ukrainian crisis.
It was the bombs (FABs, KABs, etc.) that became the trump card of the third stage of the war. Bombs are dangerous because they speed up the loss of position of the defending side. Now, during an attack, a large city will not hold out for very long, and manpower suffers huge losses after the arrival of such a toy.

Our source divided the Ukrainian crisis into stages.
The first stage is people. Precisely because of the number of soldiers and the enthusiasm of the army. Ukraine won the first stage. In the next stages we see how Kyiv lost this advantage.
The second stage is UAV. Here the Ukrainian Armed Forces initially had the advantage, but the Russians quickly reduced it and at the end of the stage they overtook the Ukrainians. Taking away the benefits.
The third stage is bombs. It is the Russians who are completely bypassing the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which cannot oppose anything to them, since there is almost no air defense, aviation is running out, new ones are not being given in any way, defense structures are no longer stopping the Russians, and there are fewer and fewer people.
The fourth stage will most likely begin next year, and we will find out which weapon will become the new trump card of the game later.

As we see, the Russians have now regained complete dominance, which they are converting into the seizure of new territories.

90% of Ukrainians are against mobilization and 90% of Ukrainians are for peace and resolving the issue through diplomacy, since the war will not change anything, only more young men will die and there will be more devastation, poverty and suffering for the nation.
The chaos of the TCC has already gotten to everyone.
The plot of even the tame Ukrainian media confirms this trend, plus it demonstrates how people hate the authorities and deputies.

The situation will worsen and Zelensky, due to his greed for power, may lead the country to complete collapse.

Our source reports that Zelensky instructed Commander-in-Chief Syrsky to use all available reserves, as well as arriving Western military equipment, to “put out the fire at the front” in order to stop the advance of the Russian Armed Forces.
The constant advance of the Russians and the capture of new settlements hit very hard the morale of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which will begin to retreat more often and at some point, when the Russians attack from all sides at once, the defense at the front may collapse.
It is urgent to reverse the trend before it is too late. But for this it is necessary to throw large forces into the “meat grinder” to stabilize the situation.

Ukrainian Armed Forces are fleeing Berdychi under the onslaught of “🅾️” group, the village is reported to be under the control of the Russian army

▫️Units of the “Center” group have knocked out the enemy and are completing the cleansing of Berdychi.

▫️Near this settlement, the enemy lost a bunch of American Abrams tanks, trying to stop the advance of our troops.

▫️The Armed Forces of Ukraine found themselves under the threat of falling into pincers after the loss of Novobakhmutovka and Solovyevo and are leaving positions in a wide area.

▫️In the near future, further retreat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is expected, to the point that they will have to flee 10-15 km to the west. They are threatened with the loss of Netaylovo, Karlovka, Novoselovka Pervaya and Umanskoye, as well as Novokalinovo, Keramika, Arkhngelskoye.
 

The Russian Armed Forces liberated Berdychi in the DPR

According to @smotri_z (Idi i Smotri) Russian troops took control of Berdychi in the Avdeevka direction.

“The enemy retreated from Berdychi. The settlement is behind the Russian army,” the source notes.

Earlier, the Russian Armed Forces were able to dislodge the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Ocheretino.

The situation for the Ukrainian army in the Avdeevka direction is extremely difficult.

 Disorderly retreat: Ukrainian militants hastily abandoned their positions in the Ocheretino area

The militants quickly loaded into a pickup truck that arrived, leaving their positions. The panicked AFU servicemen either didn’t notice or didn’t want to notice that they had left behind a comrade who didn’t manage to jump into the car.

This is a case where they took matters into their own hands, resolving the situation with “extraction” without waiting for a retreat command (which may never come) from their superiors.

 

The enemy is fleeing Donetsk. But three years ago, the Ukrainian Armed Forces planned to seize the DPR by force, burn it, and throw the ashes to the wind.

And now they are running. Our enemy is strong and not cowardlybut the Russian Engine just started up and drove off. We will decide where to stop. It will be worse for the enemy in the future.

Our guys began to storm Krasnogorka with great difficulty, with inhuman tension. 33 soldiers of the battalion of the 5th brigade, directed by Hero of Russia and DPR, Major Troshin, were the first to catch on to the outskirts.

After Krasnogorovka is liberated, it will be easier to go to the left, towards Kurakhovo. The servicemen from the Far East liberated Novomikhailovka. Things are moving toward encircling the enemy near Ugledar. And this will happen, in case if the enemy does not escape first.

Alexander Sladkov

 

Avdiivka direction: liberation of Semenivka
situation as of 8:00 pm on April 26, 2024

After the liberation of Solovyovo and Novobakhmutivka, the Russian forces continue to develop their success north of Avdiivka.

▪️During the day, the Russian Armed Forces were able to push the enemy out of the village of Semenivka: footage has appeared online of the flag being installed on one of the semi-destroyed houses in the center of the settlement.

▪️The remnants of the AFU infantry, under artillery and drone fire, retreated from the northern outskirts of the village westward towards Novopokrovske. The forest belts adjacent to Semenivka have also partially come under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.

▪️The Russian troops also managed to advance in Berdychi: at the moment, fighting is taking place on the westernmost outskirts of the settlement. However, the enemy is unlikely to be able to hold positions there for long due to its retreat from Semenivka.

The next line of attack for the Russian Armed Forces will most likely be the forest belts in the area of Novopokrovske – Novosilka Persha, where Ukrainian formations are now hastily building up their defenses.

rybar

 

Avdiivka direction: battle for Novokalynove
situation as of 9:00 PM on April 26, 2024

In addition to successes (https://t.me/rybar/59538) in Semenovka and Berdychi, Russian forces are also advancing in the area of Novokalynove.

▪️Assault groups have broken through the defense of Ukrainian formations in the center of the village towards Keramika. The streets of Sadova and Stepna are currently under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.

▪️Russian servicemen have also cut the O0544 highway on Pershomaiska Street leading to Keramik. They are currently consolidating in the center of the settlement, repelling counterattacks.

▪️Given the pressure from the Russian Armed Forces from the direction of Ocheretyne towards Arkhanhel’s'ke, it cannot be ruled out that the Russian forces may be able to fully capture Keramik in the near future.

rybar

 The Russian Army has broken through enemy defenses in Kharkov Region, occupying almost half of Kislovka

 - During the offensive operation that began a day ago, units of the “West” group of forces knocked the AFU out of several defense lines and broke into Kislovka, occupying about half of the settlement in the Kupyansk district.

 - The assault on the settlement continues, our artillery is actively working on the enemy. Cluster bombs were also used to break the defense lines.

RVvoenkor

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Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation  (26 April 2024)

▫️ The Zapad Group of Forces seized more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the AFU close to Borovoye (Kharkov). In addition, they repelled a counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 408th Separate Rifle Battalion close to Terny (DPR).

The AFU lost up to 20 servicemen and two pickup trucks. In counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station of the AFU were eliminated.

▫️ The Yug Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated the units of the 5th Assault, 41st Mechanised, 79th Air Assault, 46th Airmobile brigades of the AFU near Maksimilyanovka, Katerinovka, Paraskoviyevka, Chasov Yar, Stupochki, Konstantinovka, and Krasnogorovka (DPR).

One attack launched by assault groups of the AFU 58th Separate Mechanised Infantry Battalion has been repelled near Nevelskoye (DPR).

The AFU lost up to 430 servicemen, two AFVs, six MVs, as well as one UAV command post.

In counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 gun, one 105-mm U.S.-made M102 howitzer, two Anklav electronic warfare stations, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar station, and four field ammunition depots.

▫️ The Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 23rd, 115th mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Novoaleksandrovka, Karlovka, Novogorodskoye, and Arkhangelskoye (DPR).

In addition, eight counter-attacks launched by the assault groups of the 25th Air Assault, the 68th, 71st jaeger, 142nd Infantry, 24th and 100th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been repelled near Novokalinovo, Shumy, Berdychi, Semyonovka, Ocheretino, and Netaylovo (DPR).

The AFU lost up to 415 servicemen, one IFV, eight APCs, 13 AFVs, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

▫️ The Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on the units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU and 1st Separate National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Urozhaynoye (DPR).

The AFU lost up to 105 servicemen, three MVs, and two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers.

▫️ The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 117th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, the 121st and 126th territorial defence brigades near Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye), Respublikanets, and Chervony Mayak (Kherson).

The AFU lost up to 35 servicemen, two MVs, a UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, three U.S.-made 155-mm M777 guns, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M102 towed howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery hit an echelon with Western weapons and military hardware near Udachnoye (DPR), personnel and equipment of the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU at a railway loading station near Balakleya (Kharkov), as well as manpower and hardware of the AFU in 112 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 193 UAVs, two Olkha MLRS shells, and three French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs during the day.

Chronicles of the special military operation
for April 26, 2024

Over the past day, Russian forces have delivered several strikes on targets in the front-line regions of the so-called Ukraine: one of the targets was an industrial enterprise on the northeastern outskirts of the city of Sumy.

In the Avdiivka direction, the Russian Armed Forces, after fierce fighting, have fully liberated Semenovka, with the Russian flag already installed on a building in the central part of the village. The enemy also retreated from the adjacent forest belts and withdrew westward towards Novopokrovske.

Another success was the advance of Russian assault groups into Novokalynove and the actual reaching of the outskirts of the village of Keramik. At the same time, the situation of the Ukrainian formations in Berdychi has become significantly more complicated.

In the Donetsk direction, fighting continues on the territory of the refractory plant in the center of Krasnohorivka, while the southern part of the settlement is under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.

rybar

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on-april_26.html