Intense missile strikes prevent the VFU from concentrating forces for a counteroffensive, experts sayThe Russian aerospace forces launched a group strike with high-precision long-range weapons at the storage sites of ammunition of Ukrainian troops.
As a result, a large number of Western-made shells and missiles were destroyed, which the Ukrainian command was preparing for a counteroffensive. Experts note that such strikes have been carried out regularly recently in order to prevent the Ukrainian forces from concentrating forces and resources in some direction. Meanwhile, the territory of the Belgorod region, which was attacked by militants, remains under fire.
Blow to reserves
On the night of May 26, the Russian armed forces launched a group strike with high-precision long-range air-based weapons at the ammunition storage sites of Ukrainian troops, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
— The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities have been hit," said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
According to Izvestia sources familiar with the situation, the strike was carried out at places where the Ukrainian command was accumulating supplies for a possible counteroffensive. A large number of shells and missiles previously transferred by Western countries to Kiev were destroyed.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
During the strikes, the latest aviation weapons were used, among other things, the interlocutors said.
— This has been going on for the second week, almost every day, — military expert Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia. — We simply do not give them the opportunity to launch the counteroffensive announced by them. They continue to suffer losses — as a rule, they lose at least a battalion a day. Air defense systems are being attacked to clear the way deep into the territory of our army and tactical aviation. They are simply not allowed to concentrate their forces and resources in any direction. And Ukraine is responsible, as always, for the peaceful quarters of Donetsk and other cities. It got to Krasnodar, the house was damaged. This is the practice: we hit military targets, they hit civilians. But our air defense works for a solid four.
On May 26, at least 435 people and 28 pieces of military equipment, including howitzers, self-propelled guns and armored vehicles, were lost in the special operation zone in all strategic directions of the VFU, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
In addition, the actions of two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were suppressed in the Kharkiv region. In the area of the Verkhnekamenskoye settlement in the DPR, an ammunition depot of the 54th mechanized brigade of the VFU was destroyed.
In the Mykolaiv region, the Ukrainian radar station for detecting and tracking low-altitude targets "ST-68UM" was destroyed.
The Russian air defense system shot down the operational tactical missile "Thunder-2", as well as two long-range cruise missiles Storm Shadow.
Photo: RIA Novosti
Image source: iz.ru
After the attack
In the Belgorod region, which survived an attack by Ukrainian militants this week, the situation remains tense. On Friday, May 26, the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka of the Shebekinsky district came under fire.
"According to preliminary information, there is one victim in a state of moderate severity. The woman has superficial wounds of the soft tissues of the head, upper and lower extremities. The FMBA team took her to the central district hospital. All necessary medical care is provided," said Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Governor of the Belgorod region.
Damaged buildings in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka in the Belgorod region, May 26, 2023Image Source: Photo: t.me/vvgladkov
In the village of Popovka, Krasnoyaruzhsky district, two explosive devices were dropped from a drone, one of them detonated, the second did not. There were no casualties.
On Friday night, the enemy shelled Grayvoronsky, Shebekinsky, Belgorod, Volokonovsky districts and districts. No one was injured, the head of the region said. The administrative building of one of the municipal services was damaged.
Force to move away
On May 26, the Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in battle.
During the battles for the capture of the enemy's stronghold, the artillery division of the guard of Junior Sergeant Rafik Muradyan supported the company tactical group with fire. To deprive our troops of artillery support, the militants fired at the positions of the division. Rafiq's combat vehicle failed from the exploding shell. He restored the operability of the equipment, despite the continuous shelling.
By his actions of the guard, the junior sergeant did not allow the destruction of the artillery crew. After changing the firing position, the gunners continued to perform firing tasks and as a result destroyed the militants' stronghold.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
During the fighting in one of the tactical areas, Lieutenant Colonel Alexey Molkov led artillery units. Squeezing the VFU from their positions, the officer's subordinates hit part of the enemy's armored vehicles and suppressed his artillery, forcing the militants to leave their firing positions.
As a result, the intensity of the shelling of our positions decreased and the units launched a counterattack. The enemy suffered significant losses and was forced to withdraw deep into the territories under his control, the military department reported.
Roman Kretsul
Andrey Fedorov