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Ukraine: military situation update with maps, May 8, 2022
(’Orc ‘is associated with the various hoards of Mongol invaders, as well as LOTR evil villains)

War in Ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP2QApi8G2TKc8NZmeDWSUg/videos

**denotes transcribed dialogue

Bonus:
Someone actually made a hilarious voiceover video of a destroyed Russian tank
https://twitter.com/ItsBorys/status/1523664324950036480

_______Fun Facts: Sergei Shoigu, who has rarely appeared in public for the two and a half months of Russia’s war in Ukraine. You wouldn’t know it from the medals, but he never served a day in the army; the uniform and medals worn by Shoigu aren’t for military service; the medals are mostly commemorative coins for anniversaries and services to the census. He probably paid good money to obtain the position.

_______Putin’s speech was only moderately saber-rattling - almost solely comprised of justifications he’s already made for the war in Ukraine and devoid of nuclear threats.

**The bridge at Bilhorod-Dnistrovis’kyi is apparently still functioning despite being hit many times. Meaning fuel can get in from Romania and some agriculture products can still be exported.

**Popasna has fallen

**No other strategic comments today.

Summary:
Key areas:
- Izyum bridgehead - no expansion today.

- Russian troops are slowly mopping up corner between Oskil and Siverskiy Donets rivers controlled by Ukrainian side before. No changes today or yesterday.

- Zaporizhya frontline - no changes today.

- Ukrainian army has lost control over Popasna - Russian troops are squeezing line around Severodonetsk and attempting to establish bridgeheads near Bilogorivka and Pryvillya. Russian side claims that it has established bridgehead near Bilogorivka.

1. Kharkiv: Ukrainian troops are slowly pushing Russian side out - they captured village of Lyptsi, Vesele. Russian is withdrawing its battle-worn troops from here to Russian territory.

2. Izyum bridgehead: No major Russian progress today. It is extremely dangerous penetration by Russian troops that potentially could lead to large pocket for Ukrainian troops west of Donetsk.

3. Lyman bridgehead. No changes today.
**7th TB and 245sfB pushing Lyman to surround the UA 79th forcing them yo withdraw and cutting off other UA units

4. Popasna, Rubizhne and Severodonetsk. Russian troops captured all of Rubizhne. Russian mercenaries - Wagner Group operates in Popasna, also Russian 57 brigade operates there as well. Confirmed capture of Popasna by Russian troops.
**Popasna fully under Orc control. Very negative development for UA.
**May force UA to withdraw from Severodonetsk without a fight.
**Will force large chunk of territory to be ceded to Orcs.
**Major road, west of Popasna, which supplies UA troops, under heavy Orc shelling.

5. West of Donetsk: Avidyivka and Maryinka. Avdiyivaka - never ending attempts of the Russian side to break-through there. Russian forces captured village called Troitske, attacking towards Novobakhmutivka.

6. Vugledar is in Ukrainian hands.

7. Velyka Novosilka - Gulyapole stretch of frontline. Ukrainian strongholds are towns of Gulyaypole and village of Velyka Novosilka. Russian 19D is operating there. Russian troops are consolidating their gains. Also, 42D has been spotted in the area. Russian troops captured village Vremivka attached to Velyka Novosilka from west and separate by small river. The most northern group of Russian troops has been stopped before village of Vilne Pole. Ukranian side brought its 128 brigade and regiment Azov Kyiv to stop Russian advance there. No Russian progress here today.
**Velyka Novosilka - Gulyapole region where Orcs are trying to create northward pincer.

8. No new attacks on Orikhiv.

9. Mariupol: opportunity to do a breakout attempt by the Ukrainian forces might have been lost as density of Russian troops increased due to smaller perimeter. Based on other sources, opportunity to break out is still viable.

10. Mykolayiv: No major changes.
**Mention of Snakes Island. UA believes it of strategic importance. M-777s shelling island. Recapturing island will achieve nothing because Orc navy still controls Ukraine waters and ports.