The massive Russian attack on Kyiv on May 24 caused true shock and panic within the Ukrainian leadership. During this strike, Ukrainian air defense failed to intercept a single hypersonic Kinzhal missile, while managing to shoot down only one-third of the at least 110 Russian missiles launched that day… It was emphatically proven just how vulnerable the Ukrainians are against these Russian weapons... At the same time, on the front lines, the Russians have penetrated further into Donbas and are conducting critical battles in Kramatorsk and Konstantinovka, while simultaneously strengthening their positions in Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk. And while assessments suggest the collapse of the Ukrainian defense is approaching—with some experts placing it within 6 to 9 months—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is issuing a desperate plea to his American counterpart, Donald Trump: Send us Patriot systems, stop the Russians... do not abandon us... There is no doubt: Kyiv is facing a critical turning point; Russian pressure is intensifying, air defense stockpiles are dwindling, and the political equation in the US and Europe is becoming increasingly complex.
Dramatic appeal
After Europeans provided Ukraine with another 90 billion euros, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky... became completely emboldened. According to the Russians, he began striking the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, as well as schools, gymnasiums, and colleges. He defiantly ignored American appeals to avoid strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure so as not to trigger a surge in global oil and gas prices, which were already affected by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Suddenly, after the latest massive strikes against Kyiv and the Khmelnytskyi region, and following the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement that "the cup of patience has overflowed," Zelensky put his pride aside and urgently wrote a letter to Trump requesting help.
"Leaky" air defense
According to official Ukrainian data, during the air raid on Kyiv on May 24, the air defense failed to intercept even one hypersonic Kinzhal, while out of several dozen ballistic missiles, it shot down only one-third. On the night of May 27, the Kinzhal missiles struck the airport in Starokostiantyniv, in the Khmelnytskyi region, where Ukrainian aircraft equipped with British long-range Storm Shadow missiles are stationed. Information from Russian intelligence sources reported fires, medical teams, and medical evacuation helicopters on the scene. And Zelensky, who until recently implied he could wage war with Russia without the US, relying only on European aid, suddenly changed his tone.
I ask for your help
"The rates of arms deliveries under the PURL program no longer correspond to the real threat. I ask for your help to protect the Ukrainian sky from Russian ballistic missiles. In this, we rely almost exclusively on the United States," writes Zelensky to Trump and Congress. He writes that Ukraine is prepared to purchase—naturally with foreign, European money—Patriot missiles, which have almost run out in Kyiv. He asks Trump to deploy their production in Europe "under US control." So, in the end, is it impossible to fight alongside Europe but without America?
Do not abandon us
Zelensky is practically begging the US "to remain involved, to continue supporting Ukraine and everyone who defends life." This plea for "defending life" seems particularly contradictory against the backdrop of the killings of Russians, and especially children, in Starobilsk on May 22, the attacks on a school in Mykhailivka in the Kherson region on May 21, and a gymnasium in Svatove on May 27. And all this against the backdrop of recent strikes against an airport in Voronezh, an aircraft repair plant in Taganrog, and a refinery in Tuapse.
The delegation
Trump has not yet responded, but an American delegation already rushed to Kyiv to clarify the details of necessary military aid—Democratic congressmen Richard Blumenthal and Jim Himes. But what can their visit really offer Zelensky? Both Blumenthal and Himes are personal enemies of Trump. The former, in 2017, initiated the noisy and humiliating "Blumenthal vs. Trump" case regarding illegal payments he allegedly received from foreign governments. The latter, in late March, publicly accused Trump of "blatant lying" regarding negotiations with Iran.
What will Trump do?
Therefore, the emergency arrival in Kyiv of precisely these two figures will likely prove detrimental to Zelensky. As will the proposal to establish the production of Patriot systems and missiles in Europe. At this moment, Trump is very angry with his European allies in NATO, believing they betrayed him in the war against Iran. And now they are asking for his help through the mouth of Zelensky—a truly amusing moment for Trump. Besides, why should he help Ukraine and the European Union with Patriot systems when the US itself needs them now desperately? The US is intensively accumulating these and other missiles, preparing for a new round of war with Iran. And now Zelensky reappears, who "ruined the deal with Putin for Trump," asking for help again—instead of simply taking and fulfilling the terms of the agreement.
Russia's opportunity
In any case, whether Trump agrees to help Ukraine or not, Russia has gained an excellent opportunity to cause very serious damage to the enemy, Russian analysts point out. Exactly now, when Ukraine, the US, and Europe face a shortage of air defense missiles, air strikes must be radically intensified. And at the same time, it must be proven to the whole world that Russia can not only threaten but also act decisively.
"Collapse of defense"
At the same time, on the front, it became known that one of the largest Ukrainian defense lines on the entire front has "broken." Key interest is immediately focused on two main sectors of the contact line, while experts argue that a third sector is ready to "explode." The situation in Kramatorsk is intensifying: Russian FAB-250 aerial bombs are falling on residential neighborhoods, while FPV-drones hover over the city 24 hours a day. Even the local police are no longer concerned with maintaining order, but with dealing with UAVs. Residents say the explosions do not stop day or night, while Ukrainian soldiers of the 93rd Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine admit that the situation will only get worse, reports the OSINT channel "Херсонский Вестник": "The story of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd showed that the Ukrainian presidency conceals the real loss of territory until the very end, so as not to create panic among the people. With Kramatorsk, just as with Sloviansk, there is a risk that the same scenario will be repeated." If not worse.
100,000 casualties
Ukrainian sources predict that the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the battles for these cities will amount to at least 100,000 soldiers. According to information from the channel "Женщина с косой," reports are emerging that the Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Syrsky, has given an order to hold this "cluster" of cities at any cost, regardless of losses. At the same time, mobilization is being tightened so that the volume of reserves funneled into assault battalions does not decrease.
Controlled chaos
In the direction of Konstantinovka, a barrage of information is beginning to arrive regarding clashes directly inside the city. The Ukrainian command describes the whole situation as chaos, reported the Colonel of the Special Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vladimir Antonyuk: "However, this does not mean the fall of the city's defense. By this word, they mean the actions of Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups, which act throughout the city in the dozens and have already spread to the central districts." In just the last 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine detected about 10 such groups. Ukrainians complain that neutralizing sabotage groups in high-rise buildings with drones is impossible. Entire special clearance operations need to be conducted. This requires a secret concentration of forces somewhere nearby and the creation of great numerical superiority. But as soon as fighters begin to gather in one place, they are immediately struck by UAVs and artillery.
Invasion... in Konstantinovka
Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are unable to predict the general direction of their movements. Russian groups enter Konstantinovka almost every hour from the southwest direction, from the Ilyinovka and Berestok areas. The sabotage and reconnaissance groups operating in the city's central districts primarily take up defensive positions, avoiding direct clashes due to the enemy's numerical superiority. Their tactic consists of dispersing in high-rise buildings to organize ambushes against the Ukrainian infantry. However, this is not their main function: "Mostly they act as observers and fire correctors for the Aerospace Forces and drones. The priority is Ukrainian UAV launch stations, as their neutralization is a key prerequisite for gaining control of the city's airspace."
The role of Russian drones
The effectiveness of Russian drones in disrupting the supply chains of the city's garrison has reached a very high level. This became one of the key reasons why the Armed Forces of Ukraine abandoned offensive actions outside the city and transitioned fully to defense exclusively within its neighborhoods. Thus, the Ukrainian command of the 100th Brigade gave the order to withdraw from Ivanopol and Ilyinovka. However, the practical application of this order proved extremely difficult. Only the units located on the very outskirts were able to attempt to save themselves. The rest found themselves trapped in a semi-encirclement.
Tension in Zaporizhia
A few days ago, shortly after the visit of the Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov to the headquarters of the "Vostok" force group for inspection, the eastern front of Zaporizhia flared up with unprecedented intensity. Thus, Russian troops captured one of the most inaccessible settlements—Verkhnyaya Tersa. Fighters of the 155th Marine Regiment raised flags throughout the settlement's area. Subsequently, Dobropasovo was liberated. With decisive and skillful actions, fighters from the Transbaikalia of the 36th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Army of the "Vostok" force group took control of a large enemy defense hub in the Dnipropetrovsk region. "The guards from Transbaikalia, after prolonged fierce battles, managed to expel the enemy from Dobropasovo. As a result of long battles, more than 400 houses were liberated, while the following were destroyed: over two companies of personnel from the 82nd and 95th Air Assault Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, seven armored combat vehicles, 12 ground robotic systems, 25 Baba Yaga-type hexacopters," reported the channel "Воин DV".
Complete rupture of defense
The key event of recent days was the capture of Vozdvizhevka, which signifies a complete rupture of the enemy's main defensive line. The fighters of "Vostok" revealed for the first time details of the attack on the settlement. Units of the 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps and the 40th Marine Brigade participated in the operation. As the fighters clarified in a conversation with REN TV, the defense area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine west of the Gaichur River was one of the key hubs of the Ukrainian defensive line.
The 137 hellish days
The battles toward the Verkhnyaya Tersa – Vozdvizhevka line, according to media reports, lasted 137 hellish days, in which Russian troops achieved a crushing victory. "The enemy had prepared, from fortified points to the approaches to the settlement. There were also machine-gun positions, minefields. And the main danger, of course, was the enemy's UAVs," said the sniper of the 40th Independent Marine Brigade with the call sign Robot. To prevent the Ukrainians from transitioning to a counteroffensive, Russian soldiers from the "Vostok" force continue to strike concentrations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the border and rear zones. In the last 24 hours, 19 attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to launch an attack were thwarted.
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