Russia-Ukraine war updates for May 8, 2023

Civilians and city officials examined the damage from the wreckage of a Russian drone that was shot down over Kiev early Monday morning.

Ukrainian air defenses destroyed all 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones used in the Russian attack on the capital, but local officials said debris from the interception damaged buildings and vehicles, leaving at least 5 a person was injured.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Wagner Group boss Evgeny Prigozhin team up to supply Wagner forces with more ammunition to General Valery Gerasimov, Russian theater commander in Ukraine I think it is highly likely that they effectively coerced Tank War Research Institute writes in the analysis.

“Prigozin and Kadyrov effectively blackmailed the Russian Ministry of Defense to allocate resources to Bakhmut’s Wagnerian army by threatening to withdraw Kadyrov’s Chechen army from elsewhere in the theater to aid Bakhmut’s Wagnerian army. highly likely,” wrote the ISW.

“Prigozin also claimed that the Ministry of Defense gave Wagner full operational freedom in Bakhmut and appointed General Sergei Slovikin as an intermediary between the Ministry of Defense and Wagner,” he added, adding that the Defense Ministry’s secretary. suggested that he “lacks the ability to command Prigogine and Kadyrov.” subordinates, but must instead negotiate with them as companions. ”

Prigozhin’s private army, which has spearheaded Russian fighting in the bloody months-long battle for the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut, has lashed out at Russian military chiefs, saying on Friday that there was an inadequate supply of ammunition. threatened to withdraw his army. He announced on Sunday that he had received a guarantee of new supplies, indicating that his army would eventually stay in Bahmut.

— Natasha Turak

The British Ministry of Defense wrote in a daily Twitter update that Russian military recruiters were targeting Russian Central Asian migrant workers to fight in Ukraine.

“Recruiters have visited mosques and immigration offices to recruit, where Tajik- and Uzbek-speaking staff regularly try to recruit migrants,” the ministry wrote. there is

News agency Radio Free Europe reported that recruiters are “offering a monthly sign-up bonus of US$2,390 and a salary of up to US$4,160.” “The immigrant is also offered a short-term Russian citizenship pass from six months to one year, instead of the usual five years.”

It added that the recruits “are likely to be sent to the front lines in Ukraine, where the casualty rate is very high.”

The program is part of the Russian Ministry of Defense’s goal of recruiting 400,000 volunteers to fight in Ukraine.

— Natasha Turak

At least five people have been injured in several Russian airstrikes, the local council of the Ukrainian capital said after the morning air raids.

The council wrote in a telegram:

A Russian missile strike hit a food warehouse and a recreation center in Ukraine’s southern Black Sea port city of Odessa early Monday morning, local administrators reported.

“X-22 rockets were aimed at a warehouse of a food company and a recreational area on the Black Sea coast,” Serhiy Brachuk, a spokesman for the Odessa military government, wrote to Telegram.

“Rescue teams are working to extinguish the fire. There was no information about casualties. Information is being clarified,” he wrote.

— Natasha Turak

Five people have been injured in Kiev as Russia has launched a new wave of strikes against Ukrainian cities, Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram.

Debris from the drone attack on the building fell on small buildings and parked cars, Klitschko said, injuring people there.

“It is likely that the car caught fire as a result of debris falling on it, which was parked in the yard of a residential building,” Kiev’s military government said in a Telegram post. “There are records of debris falling on residential buildings.”

Explosions have also been reported in the Black Sea port city of Odessa and in the southeastern city of Kherson.

— Natasha Turak

Wagner group leader Evgeny Prigozhin has abandoned last week’s threat to leave the war-torn city of Bakhmut, given the inadequate supply of ammunition.

A private military company boss wrote in Telegram on Sunday: Everything we need to prevent the enemy from cutting us off will be placed on the flanks. ”

On Friday, Prigogine released a video of the longest and bloodiest fight to date.

— Natasha Turak

Moscow hosts Victory Day celebrations on Tuesday, including a massive military parade commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

This year’s commemoration follows a tumultuous week of alleged drone attacks on the Kremlin, which Russia blames on Ukraine and Washington, but Kiev was allegedly engineered by Russia to escalate the war. claim.

Moscow city officials Quoted by the Guardian He described “unprecedented tension” following the drone strike, but added that the Victory Day parade must still be going on.

At least six Russian regions have canceled Victory Day celebrations.

The Guardian wrote: “President Putin held an unusual meeting on Friday with his Security Council, which is composed of senior Russian state officials and heads of defense and security agencies, to discuss preparations for the May 9 Victory Day parade. Even before the drone attack on the Kremlin, there were signs of uneasiness in the celebrations among Russia’s leaders amid fears of a strike in Ukraine.

— Natasha Turak