Gabriel B
15 supporters
Ukraine - May 23, 2024

Ukraine - May 23, 2024

May 24, 2024

The front overall remains pretty stable as a whole, including in Kharkiv oblast. Fighting is still underway within northern Vovchansk, and Russian forces seem unable to advance there or anywhere else. But Ukraine is still almost entirely playing defense, and haven't mounted any offensives outside of the localized one within Vovchansk. On the other sectors of the front, Russia is slowly advancing a field or two at a time at a couple of points. There are two major exceptions though, with one being the Bakhmut area. After having almost entirely secured Klishchiivka, Ukrainian forces have reportedly abandoned the nearby Andriivka. The other is at the other primary axis where Ukraine made any notable gains during their 2023 offensive besides for Robotyne. Russian forces have pushed into the center of Staromaiorske, the furthest south on the western side of the Mokri Yaly river that Ukraine has managed to advance to. Russia launched an accompanying push on the eastern side of river against Urozhaine, but they were repelled.

Ukraine launched two rounds of deep strikes, one targeted in Crimea, and one against Tatarstan, Russia. Ukraine used one of their plane types of drones in Tatarstan according to video. Russia claims to have intercepted the drone, with a likely target being local oil refineries. Ukraine also launched an ATACMS strike behind the city of Donetsk, destroying air defneses at an airbase in Mospyne. Given a prior Ukrainian tactic in Crimea, there's a chance that Ukraine attacks the same airbase again in the near future.

The United States is reportedly set to announce a new military aid package worth $275 million USD for Ukraine in the next few days. As a point of comparison, today Norway announced a package (through an international fund) worth approximately $190 million USD, and the United Kingdom announced a package worth a similar amount, focusing on Ukrainian naval capabilities and air defenses.

Right after Russia withdrew their unilateral claim to change their maritime borders with Lithuania and Finland, Russia is being accused of by Estonia of removing the buoys demarcating the maritime border of Estonia and Russia. Estonia issued a strong statement against Russia, stating that they are in close contact with allies (suggesting article 4 of the NATO treaty may have been invoked), and directly tying the incident to Russia's recent maritime threats to Lithuania and Finland.

The purge by the Kremlin continues, and it anything, has accelerated. Lieutenant General Sukhrab Akhmedov was dismissed. He oversaw Russia's disastrous and failed campaign to take the strategic city of Vuhledar last year. Unlike many of the other generals and top advisors who have been removed from their posts recently, Akhmedov as of now not facing any allegations of corruption, nor has he been detained on any other charges. The same cannot be said for Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, a deputy of Gerasimov's. Shamarin is reportedly facing a detention period of two months, and his house was searched as he's facing down allegations of accepting a large bribe. And finally Vladimir Verteletsky, a senior procurement officer, was arrested and charged with fraud.

The United States has announced sanctions on members of the ruling government of Georgia, and is threatening an overall reassessment of relations between the United States and Georgia. The EU has threatened similar actions, and a suspension of Georgia's progress towards joining the bloc. For now, Georgia's government remains intent on implementing a foreign agents law similar to Russian's law, which has sparked strong backlash from the Georgian public and the west. Separately, the European Court on Human Rights ruled in favor of Georgia regarding the detention of their former president Saakashvili. The conditions of his arrest have been a major sticking point between Georgia and Ukraine, with the latter pushing for him to be sent to Ukraine (he was once also the governor of Odesa oblast) or elsewhere for medical care.

Enjoy this post?

Buy Gabriel B a coffee

More from Gabriel B