And Russian fighters and air defense systems shot down two Su-25 attack aircraft in the DPR and the Kherson region during the day
On May 21, the Russian Defense Ministry announced a strike on the Ukrainian special forces training camp near Odessa and military fuel reserves at the Odessa port plant, as well as an air battle over the DPR, in which Russian fighters shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft. On the same day, a large batch of military equipment from the United States was destroyed at a railway station in the Zhytomyr region. Experts believe that the liberation of other cities of the DPR and LPR will accelerate the complete surrender of the garrison from the "Azovstal" in Mariupol, which ended a day earlier
Aerial combat
The Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday, May 21, told about enemy military facilities destroyed during a special operation in Ukraine.
— High—precision sea-based Kalibr missiles destroyed a large batch of weapons and military equipment delivered from the United States and European countries for the grouping of Ukrainian troops in the Donbas near the Malin railway station in the Zhytomyr region, - said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
High-precision aircraft-based missiles at the Odessa port plant destroyed storage facilities with fuel intended for armored vehicles of Ukrainian troops. In addition, three control points were hit, including the command post of the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade near the city of Bakhmut, 36 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment, as well as eight ammunition depots.
The operational-tactical and army aviation of the VKS hit four control points, 47 areas of concentration of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces during the day, and also destroyed an ammunition depot in the Drobyshevo area.
Russian fighters shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft in an air battle near the settlement of Belitskoye in the DPR, the Defense Ministry reported. Another such aircraft was destroyed by ground-based air defense near Novoaleksandrovka, Kherson region. They also hit 14 drones and eight Ukrainian multiple rocket launchers "Smerch" in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
The wreckage of the downed Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
Rocket troops and artillery hit 77 control points, 602 areas of concentration of the AFU troops, including a special operations forces training camp near Lake Sasik in the Odessa region, 43 artillery and mortar units in firing positions, two MLRS Grad batteries, 10 ammunition depots and a Buk-M1 air defense missile launcher at the settlement of Mayaki, Kharkiv region.
— In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 174 aircraft, 125 helicopters, 966 unmanned aerial vehicles, 315 anti—aircraft missile systems, 3182 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 402 multiple rocket launchers, 1614 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 3054 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, - Igor listed Konashenkov.
According to military expert Dmitry Boltenkov, the fate of the Azovstal garrison will play a direct role in the upcoming events on the Donbass Arc
— It is expected that even after the encirclement of Severodonetsk and Lisichansk, difficult battles may unfold for them, as in Mariupol. These are rather big cities, with dense buildings, large industrial zones, thousands of military personnel are concentrated there, preparing them for defense. Smaller "boilers" are also planned in the LPR and DPR," he told Izvestia.
However, now, having before his eyes the example of the "Azov" (the group is banned in Russia), every soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will understand that after the encirclement there will be no deblockade, Dmitry Boltenkov is sure.
— There will be no help from the government, command or wait. There are only two alternatives — death or captivity. This thought will undermine the will to resist in any new "cauldron" and encourage surrender. And this will accelerate the liberation of cities and thus reduce the destruction in them," the expert believes.
Mine safety
Russian sappers continue humanitarian demining in the liberated territories, the head of the National Defense Control Center of Russia, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, said on Saturday.
— Detachments of mine clearance of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics checked 1,620.09 hectares for explosive objects (including 76.17 hectares per day); 35 buildings (including 13 socially significant objects); one bridge and 9.64 km of roads. 9,255 explosive objects were found and neutralized, 1,659 of them per day," Mikhail Mizintsev clarified.
Photo: TASS/Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
According to the Defense Ministry, since March 2, 2022, the Russian Federation has already delivered 21 580.4 tons of basic necessities, food, medicines and medical products to Ukraine, 1,039 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including eight in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye, Kharkiv and Kherson regions, during which 326 tons of humanitarian aid were transferred to the civilian population.
Crossing under fire
On May 21, the Russian Defense Ministry told about the soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication during the special operation.
The platoon of Senior Sergeant Alexander Antipyev provided security during the movement of armored vehicles. Moving along the main route, he noticed on a side road a well-armed group of Ukrainian nationalists numbering over 30 people. The senior sergeant reacted instantly and opened fire on the militants with a PKT course machine gun. Alexander managed to destroy the grenade launcher and the ATGM calculation. In the ensuing firefight, about 20 nationalists were killed, and the survivors hastily left the battlefield.
The courageous and professional actions of Senior Sergeant Alexander Antipyev ensured that armored vehicles entered the specified area without losses, the Defense Ministry noted.
Photo: TASS/Peter Kovalev
Image source: iz.ru
The engineer-sapper regiment, being under constant mortar fire, was engaged in guiding and maintaining a pontoon crossing over the river for the advancement of Russian units.
As a result of the shelling, the commander of the pontoon-ferrying battalion was seriously wounded. Major Artem Khlynovsky saved the commander's life by giving him first aid. Then he took over the management of the unit. Despite the fact that Artyom also received a concussion and a shrapnel wound due to a mortar shell exploding next to him, he continued to lead his subordinates, as a result of which the task of constructing the crossing was successfully completed.
The courageous actions of Major Khlynovsky and the professionalism of his subordinates ensured the promotion of units and their consolidation on the other side, the military department said.
The rifle company, where Junior Sergeant Maxim Bervinov served, was engaged in the protection of roads of strategic importance. Patrolling the area, Bervinov personally detained five Ukrainian nationalists, who were then handed over to counterintelligence agencies.
At night, a group of 25 militants tried to break through to the positions of the Russian troops, but thanks to the bold and decisive actions of Junior Sergeant Maxim Bervinov and his subordinates, this attempt was unsuccessful. About 15 saboteurs were eliminated in a fierce battle. Four nationalists were captured, and the rest retreated, abandoning the wounded.
Anton Lavrov
Ksenia Fedoseeva