Ukrainian forces extend presence in Krynky as Russian occupiers make gains near Kupiansk – ISW

Operation #2 – Donetsk region

On May 5, Russian soldiers kept up their attacks in the Siversk area (located northeast of Bakhmut), but according to reports, they did not make any advancements.

The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces reported that the occupiers made unsuccessful attacks east of Siversk near Verkhnokamiansk, southeast of Siversk near Vyimka and Spirne, and southwest of Siversk near Rozdolivka.

On May 5, the Russian invaders continued offensive actions in the area of Chasiv Yar but did not achieve confirmed territorial gains.

According to the Russian war correspondent, the Russian airborne forces reportedly moved towards the summer cottage area north of the Kanal microdistrict (located in the easternmost district of Chasiv Yar). They forced Ukraine's armed forces to retreat to the southern edge of the microdistrict. However, ISW did not witness any visual proof of this.

According to the Russian blogger, Ukrainian troops counterattacked on the northern and western administrative boundaries of Bohdanivka (northeast of Chasiv Yar), and Russian troops continue to strengthen their positions in the Stupky-Holubovsky 2 nature reserve (south of the Kanal microdistrict).

Russian and Ukrainian forces also continued fighting near Chasiv Yar, particularly near the Kanal and Novy neighborhood, east of the city near Ivanivske, and to the southeast of Chasiv Yar near Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

Multiple sources shared videos on social media of the destroyed bridge over the Siversko-Donetsk Canal in Donbas. The bridge is believed to be near the Kanal microdistrict, but who was responsible for the damage is unclear.

Lt. Col. Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia armed forces group, reported that the occupiers had gathered 20,000 to 25,000 individuals in the Chasiv Yar region.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced on May 5 that Putin's troops occupied Ocheretyne (northwest of Avdiivka).

In a statement, Commander of the Ukrainian National Guard Volodymyr Cherniak noted that the enemy forces managed to outflank the newly constructed defenses in Ocheretyne, resulting in a small bulge in the Ukrainian territory. He attributed this to the lack of engineering personnel among the Ukrainian forces, which hindered their ability to erect defensive fortifications quickly in response to the Russian attack.

According to Cherniak, the Russian troops are advancing slowly. Still, he also noted that it is difficult to defend against even the gradual advance of the invaders, as Russian "meat assaults" are "simple, bloody, inhuman and effective."

Russian troops continued their offensive in the Arkhanhelsk region, near Novokalynove and Novooleksandrivka, Berdychi and Semenivka, Novopokrovsky, Sokil, and Solovyove.

Russian troops continued offensive operations to the west and southwest of Avdiivka on May 5 but did not make any confirmed advances.

Russian military correspondents claimed that the occupiers launched a tactical offensive in Netaylovo (southwest of Avdiivka) and allegedly advanced 300 meters in the settlement.

Russian troops attacked to the west of Avdiivka in the area of Umanske and Yasnobrodivka and to the southwest of Avdiivka in the area of Netaylove.

Geolocation images published on May 4 indicate that Ukraine's armed forces could retake positions in Nevelske (southwest of Avdiivka) on an unspecified date.

On May 5, Russian troops continued offensive operations to the west and southwest of the city of Donetsk but did not make any confirmed advances.

According to Russian military bloggers, Putin's forces reportedly achieved some small victories east of Krasnohorivka (located west of Donetsk) and in eastern Paraskoviivka (to the southwest of Donetsk).

The occupiers also attacked west of Donetsk in the areas of Novomykhailivka and Heorhiivka and southwest of Donetsk in the areas of Kostiantynivka and Vodiane.

It is reported that Russian troops advanced in the area of the administrative border of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, but there were no confirmed changes in this part of the front line on May 5.

On May 4, a Russian "war blogger" claimed that Putin's forces had apparently advanced to 500 meters near Novomayorske, although ISW experts had not observed visual evidence of this claim.

Positional battles continued to the south of Velyka Novosilka in the Staromayorske and Urozhany districts and to the southwest of Velyka Novosilka in the Novopol and Novodarivka areas.

Southern axis

The Russian Federation's troops recently advanced in Robotyne on May 5 despite ongoing positional battles in the western Zaporizhzhia region.

Geolocation footage released on May 4 shows that the occupiers have recently advanced in the southern part of Robotyne.

Positional battles continued near Robotyne and Verbove (east of Robotyne).

Ukraine's defense forces recently expanded their positions on the eastern (left) bank of the Kherson region on May 5, despite ongoing positional battles in this area.

Geolocation images published on May 4 indicate that Ukraine's armed forces have expanded their positions in Krynky.

Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine, stated that Russian soldiers attempted multiple unsuccessful attacks near Nestryha Island in the Dnipro River Delta.

For reference:

Earlier in the morning summary of May 6, the General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces reported that 125 combat clashes took place at the front during the past day.

The military command noted that the Russian occupiers, in particular, are putting pressure on the Defense Forces of Ukraine in three directions in the Donetsk region.

At night, the Russians launched 13 Shahed drones over Ukraine; Ukraine's armed forces destroyed 12 of them over the region.