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Russo-Ukraine War - 06 May 2024 - Day 803

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that it is likely that around 9,000 personnel are currently serving in pro-Russian Chechen units in Ukraine.

Pro-Russian Chechen forces have been fighting in Ukraine since 2014. Additional Chechen formations were dispatched to Ukraine at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. However, suffering initial heavy losses, Chechen units became largely relegated to conducting rear area security operations and became derided as 'TikTok' troops for their social media antics. Since the withdrawal of Russia's private military company Wagner from the frontlines from May 2023, Chechen units have been pressed back into frontline service.

It is likely that Chechen special forces units bear the brunt of frontline fighting, whilst the bulk of Chechen forces continue to conduct rear area security operations. Besides providing personnel, Chechnya's other key contribution to Russia's war against Ukraine is in providing training for Russian personnel. The Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes, Chechnya, has provided training for around 42,000 Russian personnel since 2022, according to Chechnya's leadership. However, it is likely personnel only receive up to 10 days training at the university, bringing the effectiveness of the training and institution into doubt.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 6, there were 87x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile and 69x air strikes, 52x MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have wounded civilians. Residential apartment blocks and private houses, as well as other infrastructure, got destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the russian areas bordering Ukraine. Russia conducts subversion, continues shelling of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Oleksiivka, Minakove, Bilopillya (Sumy oblast), Zolochiv (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements, including, Khotiivka (Chernihiv oblast), Velyka Rybytsya, Zapsillya, Mala Rybytsya, Krasnopillya (Sumy oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast), Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast), where Russian forces, using air attacks, attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Nevs'ke, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Vyimka, Rozdolivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Druzhba and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Klishchiivka, Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 22x attacks in the vicinities of Novooleksandrivka, Novopokrovs'ke, Umans'ke, Yasnobrodivka, Netailove, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Prohres, Sokil, Kalynove (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Kalynove, Novooleksandrivka, Novopokrovs'ke, Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces near Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka, Vodyane and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian invaders, using air attacks, made 14x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Antonivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Maksymil'yanivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces launched 5x assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Malynivka, Chervone, Robotyne, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. In particular during the day of May 6, the Russian invaders, with air support, executed 2x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervonyi Mayak and Ivanivka (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including L'vove, Inzhenerne, Antonivka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of May 6, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 11x concentrations of Russian troops, meanwhile the Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x Russian artillery system. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 1x Kh-59 guided air-launched missile.