From The Institute For The Study of War:
Karolina Hird, Mason Clark, and George Barros
May 8, 4:00 pm ET
Russian forces did not make any significant advances on any axis of advance on May 8. The Ukrainian counteroffensive northeast of Kharkiv City has likely forced Russian troops to redeploy to Kharkiv instead of reinforcing stalled Russian offensive operations elsewhere in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces are continuing their attempt to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts but have not made substantial territorial gains since securing Popasna on May 7.
Key Takeaways
- Russian forces are likely amassing in Belgorod to reinforce Russian efforts in northern Kharkiv to prevent the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive from pushing closer to the Ukraine-Russia border.
- Russian forces near Izyum focused on regrouping, replenishing, and reconnoitering Ukrainian positions in order to continue advances to the southwest and southeast of Izyum.
- Russian forces continued their ground attacks to drive to the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts but did not make any territorial gains
- Russian troops continued to assault the Azovstal Steel Plant and advanced efforts to economically integrate occupied Mariupol into the wider Russian economy.
- Russian troops may be preparing for a renewed offensive on the Southern Axis but are unlikely to be successful in this endeavor.
Go here to read the rest. A relatively quiet day today in the Ukrainian War. We will see what Putin says to the Russian people tomorrow.
Update:
Putin’s speech a nothing burger. No mass mobilization ordered. More tomorrow.
Putin spoke nonsense at the parade and despite the smiles and handshakes with his old soldiers, most know he is as out of it as Brandon. I doubt the foot soldiers have much desire to continue being cannon fodder.
Denys Davydov, the commercial airlines pilot in Ukraine turned YouTube blogger, reported yesterday 5/8/22 That the Ukrainian forces have had snow significant success according to his sources around the Kharkhiv area and have pushed back the northern part of the “pincer movement” of the Russian forces—really it appears a 3-pronged Russian attack from Kharkiv, from Izium, and toward Severodonetsk from Luhansk— But it appears it is confirmed today by a late update by ISW, that the Russians are in full retreat back to their border, at least in the Kharkhiv area. Luhansk the Russians appear to hold for now. He said Ukrainian forces two days earlier pulled back their lines closer to Severodonetsk to keep them from being encircled and at that time he was pessimistic. Now it appears the luck has reversed.
Also Ukrainian forces are advancing in the suburbs ofKherson in the south