Ukraine Conflict: Day 42 & 43

Battle fronts remain static despite continued fighting over the past few days, with the Russians unable to achieve a breakthrough against Ukrainian forces in East Ukraine.

Kherson

Fires continue in Kherson, presumably from Ukrainian bombardment. This sector has remained relatively static despite continuous fighting. In addition, missile strikes damaged infrastructure in Odessa.

Russian shelling continued against the outskirts of Kryvyi Rih, as well as nearby villages such as Novovorontsovka.

Mariupol

Footage from Mariupol showed a Ukrainian APC attacking two Russian T-72 tanks from the rear with 30mm tracer rounds. Most of the shells appear to bounce off the tanks’ armour, but damage is claimed. The city centre of Mariupol remains surrounded, but has not fallen.

East Donbas

A Russian offensive near Rubizhne was repelles by Ukrainian troops, with a 10km radius cleard around the town of Kreminna. Recent Russian offensives in Ukraine have failed to take advantage of the initiative following their withdrawal from Kiev, before fresh Ukrainian troops from the capital may be redeployed to this sector.

A Russian airstrike against a railway bridge near Barvinkove has blocked 3 evacuation trains from leaving East Donbas. This railway line is one of the major infrastructure routes connecting the Ukrainian Eastern Front with central Ukraine, and by extension, resupply.

Shelling continued on the outskirts of Kharkiv.

Other Areas

Russia claims that the explosion of an arsenal in Belgorod on March 29th was caused by 3 Ukrainian Tochka-U cruises missiles.

Ukraine claims to have captured 16 sabotage groups in Kiev over the past 48 hours. The deputy chief of staff of Ukrain’s Ground Forces claimed that some members are recruited Ukrainians.

Foreign Aid

The US has so far delivered $1.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, according to the Us Secretary of Defence. This includes nearly 14,000 anti-armour and anti-air weapon systems. However, this pales in comparison to the $85 billion dollars abandoned to the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Austraila is donating 20 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles to Ukraine.

A 5th package of sanctions against Russia has been approved by EU ambassadors.