The Ukrainian command is pulling all its remaining reserves there
On May 13, the Russian Defense Ministry reported high-precision weapons strikes on the military structure of Ukraine, as a result, the headquarters of the territorial defense and the battalion of the 24th mechanized Brigade were destroyed. On the northern outskirts of the city of Kremenchuk, Poltava region, the production facilities of an oil refinery and fuel tanks were affected. Experts suggest that the coming weeks will be decisive for the fate of the AFU grouping in the Donbass. Meanwhile, the head of the National Defense Management Center told how schools and hospitals of Ukrainian formations are being turned into fortified areas, and how militants are speculating with gasoline coupons allocated for ambulance.
In several directions
On May 13, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued attacks on the military infrastructure of Ukraine.
— High-precision air-launched missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the areas of the settlements of Zolotoye and Vrubovka of the Luhansk People's Republic destroyed the headquarters of territorial defense and the battalion of the 24th mechanized Brigade. Sea— and air-based missiles on the northern outskirts of the city of Kremenchuk, Poltava region, hit the production facilities of an oil refinery and tanks with gasoline and diesel fuel intended to provide military equipment for Ukrainian troops, - said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
In addition, 32 areas of concentration of troops, as well as an ammunition depot in the Krasnopavlovka area of the Kharkiv region were hit by high-precision missiles of the Aerospace Forces. As a result of the strikes, more than 300 militants were destroyed, 37 units of military equipment were disabled, the general said.
Operational-tactical and army aviation hit more than 200 areas of concentration of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Near Kharkov, two Ukrainian installations of multiple rocket launchers "Grad" and a radar warning and air defense guidance station manufactured by the United States were destroyed.
Rocket troops and artillery struck more than 900 enemy targets, hitting, among other things, eleven artillery units in firing positions, as well as a missile weapons depot near the settlement of Shebelinka, Kharkiv region.
In the same place, Russian air defense means shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 near the village of Lozovaya. In addition, 18 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit during the day, and two Ukrainian multiple rocket launchers "Smerch" were intercepted over Topolsky.
— Since the beginning of the special military operation, 165 aircraft, 125 helicopters, 845 unmanned aerial vehicles, 304 anti—aircraft missile systems, 3039 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 369 multiple rocket launchers, 1498 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2882 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, - Igor Konashenkov listed.
— The next two weeks will be key for the fate of the Donetsk Armed Forces group in the Donbass, — military expert Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia. — Russian and Allied troops there are developing an offensive in several directions at once. After the breakthroughs at Popasna and Rubezhny, the main allied forces were brought into battle, which successfully solve the main tasks and goals. There is an advance south of Izyum and in the area of Toshkovka. The plan of the Russian command is not yet known — whether it is planned to close the Ukrainian units in one or several boilers, force them to leave Severodonetsk and Lisichansk, or just gradually "grind" them with aviation and artillery until they lose combat capability. The offensive is not going so fast, because the enemy has also thrown all its free reserves into this direction, including mobilized theroboronovtsy from Western Ukraine and parts from Dnepropetrovsk.
In addition to the main direction in the LPR and DPR, the fighting intensified near Kharkov. This can be seen even by the declared number of strikes and destroyed objects in the latest statements of the Russian defense Ministry. In the remaining sectors of the front, after the unsuccessful attempt of the Ukrainian forces to recapture the island of Zmeiny, a relative calm was established, Dmitry Boltenkov added.
On Friday, May 13, the head of the National Defense Control Center of Russia, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, said that 22,985 people, including 3,231 children, had been evacuated from dangerous areas of Ukraine and the People's Republics of Donbass over the past day. A total of 1,260,241 people, 218,814 of whom are children, have been evacuated since the beginning of the military operation, according to the head of the NCSO.
Mikhail Mizintsev provided data on the facts of the use of social infrastructure facilities by Ukrainian armed formations for military purposes. So, in buildings and on the adjacent territory of educational institutions of Kharkov (schools No. 73, 117, 145, gymnasium No. 14, 43), Dobropillya (school No. 3), Konstantinovka (schools No. 5, 3) and Kramatorsk (school No. 2) the servicemen of the Ukrainian armed formations equipped firing positions and placed heavy weapons, including artillery and MLRS. At the same time, residents of nearby houses are forcibly detained in basements under the pretext of allegedly ensuring their safety.
— In Severodonetsk of the Luhansk People's Republic, nationalists have equipped firing points on the upper floors of apartment buildings along Vilesova Street, and residents are forcibly held in their apartments; in Putivl of the Donetsk People's Republic, neo—Nazis have equipped a strongpoint in the psychiatric hospital building, placed heavy weapons in the courtyard, and forcibly hold hospital staff and patients in the basement, - said The general.
According to the head of the NCSO, in the Kharkiv region, militants of nationalist formations are speculating with fuel coupons intended for refueling ambulances and other emergency services.
— Such behavior of nationalists has long been the norm for Ukraine. At the same time, official Kiev tries not to notice these crimes, which have already become commonplace. Such inaction of the official authorities is regarded by the militants as tacit approval of the lawlessness they are doing," Mikhail Mizintsev said.
Remove from under fire
On May 13, the Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles.
The tank company of Junior Sergeant Alexander Koznov during the liberation of one of the settlements found two camouflaged tanks, one of which opened fire on the Russian unit.
— Having instantly assessed the situation, Alexander, performing anti-fire maneuvers, destroyed the enemy tank with the first shot. As a result of the shot of the second tank, the Russian tank was damaged, could not move and continue the fight. Realizing that a stationary tank is an excellent target for the enemy, Alexander Koznov gave the command to the crew to leave the car, while pulling out the driver, who as a result of an enemy shot could not get out on his own. Hiding from the fire of the nationalists, Alexander received shrapnel wounds from a shell that exploded nearby, but despite this, he brought the crew out from under enemy fire to the main forces, the military department said.
Private Maxim Martin acted as part of the tactical group of the howitzer artillery division. The enemy put up fierce resistance, using barrel and rocket artillery, strike drones.
— In the conditions of systematic artillery volleys, Private Martin performed 50 firing tasks as part of the gun crew. As a result of Maxim's aimed fire, the Grad MLRS battery, the firing positions of enemy howitzers, enemy mortars, as well as more than 100 nationalists were destroyed, the Defense Ministry said.
Sergeant Ruslan Akulov commanded the crew of the Grad multiple launch rocket system. The crew inflicted a targeted strike on the positions of the field refueling station, where a tank company of Ukrainian armed formations was located. As a result, 10 tanks, an anti-aircraft missile system covering the refueling area, a large number of tankers and fuel trucks were destroyed, the ministry said.
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