Another week of heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people against the Russian invaders has passed. It was a very eventful week, and Fakty ICTV has collected the most interesting in its final digest.
The Security Service of Ukraine detained two colonels of the parole service who were preparing Zelenskyy’s assassination. Why did the French ambassador come to the inauguration of the Russian dictator? Zaluzhny became the British ambassador after all. And how the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding back the occupiers’ offensive in Kharkiv region. Read about this and more in our article.
Attempted assassination of Zelenskyy
The Security Service of Ukraine has detained FSB agents who were preparing an assassination attempt on Zelensky, Malyuk and Budanov. Among them are two colonels on parole.
One of the tasks of the Russian agents was to find perpetrators among the military close to the president’s security detail who could take him hostage and then kill him.
In addition to President Zelenskyy, the FSB planned to eliminate the head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, and other senior officials. To do this, they wanted to stage a terrorist attack.
One of the UDO colonels personally brought FPV drones, RPG charges and anti-personnel mines to Kyiv. The terrorists were detained red-handed while transporting the weapons. They were promised between $50 and $80 thousand for committing the attack.
The operation was led by officers of the 9th Directorate of the Operational Information Department of the 5th FSB Service, namely Maxim Mishustin, Dmitry Perlin and Alexei Kornev.
The situation in Krasnohorivka
Recently, Russian occupants broke through to Krasnohorivka in Donetsk Oblast. They took refuge on the territory of a refractory plant. However, this led to the Ukrainian military blocking them at this facility. The occupiers are sitting at the plant without any supplies.
Krasnohorivka on the map of hostilities
According to military expert Petro Chernyk, the Russian offensive in the Donetsk region has been on the decline for a long time.
– Indeed, there is an endless counter-artillery confrontation, but it has never stopped. I would like to emphasise that while in the summer of 2022, in Krasnohorivka, in that very location, the firepower was 45-80 thousand shells per day, which is something fantastic, something incredible, now it has dropped to 15-20 thousand. Although they did increase the production of shells,” he said.
Occupants’ offensive in Kharkiv region
Russia has launched a new wave of offensive in the Kharkiv sector, but as of the morning of 10 May, the Defence Forces stopped it with artillery fire.
According to Chernyk, Russia does not have enough resources for a large-scale offensive. And the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding back the occupiers, who make periodic attacks in small groups.
– In my opinion, they are now carrying out so-called “in-and-out” operations. They went in for a few kilometres, which is what they have done now. They have engaged us in battles, but I am firmly convinced that they do not have a great breakthrough potential to go 40 kilometres. Well, 40 kilometres is an incredibly long way,” the expert said.
– “They (the occupiers – Ed.) have been occupying small Avdiivka, 5-8 kilometres in diameter, for 10 years, and the last active phase lasted more than 4 months. During those 4 months, they lost more than 15,000 people killed. We can easily multiply this by 3 and see what a huge body it is. Practically, 50 thousand. 748 armoured vehicles, if divided by 102, because that’s how a regular regiment is manned, is more than 7 regiments, and 364 tanks, and if divided by 94, because this is a regular tank regiment, we have almost 4 regiments. So we can say that they lost two divisions there, two full-fledged large divisions. And they could not advance any further,” he added.
Meeting between Xi and Macron
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The French president said that he would urge Xi to influence Putin to end the war.
However, this is simply not profitable for China, says Volodymyr Fesenko, a political scientist and head of the Penta Centre for Applied Political Studies.
– “Of course, Macron, like other leaders, calls on China to influence Putin to end the war. But I am absolutely convinced that Paris, Berlin and Brussels are under no illusions. Firstly, Xi Jinping will not do this because he does not need to. He has basically chosen for China the role of mediator, a peaceful mediator,” he said.
According to him, Xi can restrain Putin on some issues, such as the use of nuclear weapons. But business is business. And China wants to maintain economic relations with the Kremlin.
– But, for example, we need to understand that it is not profitable for China to see Ukraine win this war, because Xi will consider it a victory for the United States. This is unacceptable to him, but a complete victory for Russia, a complete victory, is not very profitable for Beijing either. After all, then Russia would become a full-fledged competitor for China. And he wants Russia to remain dependent on China, first and foremost, economically dependent, and politically dependent. That is why he will continue to pursue this dual policy,” Fesenko added.
A strike against Gazprom petrochem Salavat
One of the largest oil refineries in Russia, Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat, was on fire. It was hit by a Ukrainian drone.
According to our sources in the special services, it was a drone of the Security Service of Ukraine. By covering a distance of 1,500 km, the UAV set a historical record.
– The Security Service of Ukraine has once again proved that it has powerful technological solutions that help inflict painful blows on the enemy. This means that Russian refineries and oil depots operating for the military-industrial complex cannot feel safe even in the deep rear,” the source said.
This is a remarkable breakthrough for the Ukrainian Defence Forces, said military expert Petro Chernyk. He noted that Ukraine has moved to a new level of striking behind enemy lines.
– “If the drone flew such a huge distance and, most importantly, hit the target, then we, the Ukrainians, have the first precedent of a technological breakthrough in building such systems. And there is another factor of purely military growth. The entire air defence system of the Russian Federation is being revised. Their famous S-300, S-350 and S-400 systems cannot compete with small, cheap unmanned systems,” said military expert Petro Chernyk.
Salavatnefteorgsintez on the map
Mobilisation of convicts
On 8 May, the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill allowing certain categories of prisoners to be mobilised.
Those convicted of grievous premeditated murder, rape and sexual violence will not be able to join the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to the military expert, Ukrainian units formed from convicts will be radically different from Russia’s Wagner PMC.
– “Wagner is a private military structure. It has a completely different philosophy and ideology of relations between them. Everything was based on Prigozhin’s personal authority. There were not only prisoners there, there were various criminals from various social strata. In our case, the legislator clearly stated that serious criminals would not be admitted. That is, murderers and rapists, and anything that is sexually motivated, especially with a touch of paedophilia. As for the rest, why not, I support it and consider it a right step by the state in that direction,” Chernyk said.
The expert noted that this way Ukraine will be able to mobilise up to 20,000 people, which will significantly help the Armed Forces.
– Is this the right step forward on our part, and why not? People who committed not very serious crimes, especially of an economic nature. They were given long sentences. In my opinion, it will be possible to put into service between 15 and 20 thousand. This is quite a lot, about four full-fledged mechanised brigades.
Putin’s inauguration
On 7 May, Putin was inaugurated in Russia. Only six countries attended the ceremony.
This is a kind of boycott, says political scientist and head of the Penta Centre for Applied Political Studies Volodymyr Fesenko.
– “It was a gesture – a political, moral, ethical act. It was a manifestation of criticism and non-recognition of Putin by most countries of the European Union. And, in particular, the non-recognition of these elections as a democratic procedure. But six countries were present. As for four countries, it was expected and did not come as a surprise, first of all, Hungary and Slovakia, which do not hide their sympathy and are in favour of maintaining relations with Putin,” he said.
“However, the biggest surprise for everyone was the visit of the French ambassador. While Macron declares his readiness to send his military to Ukraine, the ambassador expresses his trust in the self-appointed president of the Russian Federation.
– Greece and Cyprus are Orthodox countries, and they also have long-standing relations with Russia, which is also not surprising. Malta is a small and not very influential country in the European Union. I think either Russian diplomats or Russian money have done a very good job here. Everyone was surprised by the participation of the French ambassador. After Macron’s loud, harsh statements, including the possibility of Russian troops being present in Ukraine and NATO troops being sent to Ukraine, this is a gesture. Therefore, words are words, but actions such as participating in Putin’s inauguration, I believe, were big mistakes of French diplomacy – and this crossed out Macron’s sharp, loud and basically correct statements. This is a paradoxical situation,” the expert added.
Zaluzhnyi is the British ambassador
Meanwhile, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyi has become Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK.
Zelensky signed the decree on 9 May, having previously dismissed Zaluzhny from military service for health reasons, but with the right to wear the uniform.
– “The UK is honoured to have such a person as ambassador to their country, but we need to help him in a purely diplomatic way. I think that the work of the ambassador will be very useful for Valeriy Zaluzhnyi in the future, if he later decides to go into politics, then diplomatic political experience and work abroad will be useful to him,” the political expert said.
The parade in Moscow
On 9 May, during a parade in Moscow, Putin once again threatened the West with nuclear weapons over assistance to Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, this year’s Red Square parade featured 9,000 troops and weapons.
These included air defence systems and intercontinental nuclear missiles, but only one tank – a World War II-era T-34.
– If I were to describe this parade in one sentence, it would be a very pale likeness of the old greatness. The Russian Empire is on the verge of collapse. And it will inevitably collapse, no matter how much they try to hold on to their ideological uniqueness with these rituals, or as Putin himself says: “God created Russia to watch over the world.” The world has long accepted the truth that this state is heading for disaster,” Chernyk said.
Britain expels Russian attaché
The UK is expelling a Russian military attaché and plans to revoke the diplomatic status of some Russian real estate.
According to Sky News, this is due to the reckless and dangerous activities of the Russian government across Europe.
– As a rule, this happens when a military attaché is exposed not as a diplomat, but as a representative of the intelligence services who conducts intelligence operations or even facilitates sabotage operations in the host country. In this case, this is the reason, and I think it is also due to the deterioration of relations between the UK and Russia,” Fesenko said.
– After David Cameron said that the UK recognises the legitimate use of British long-range weapons against Russia, Ukraine has the right to do so. Russia has said that they will destroy British military facilities in Ukraine (meaning military equipment located on the territory of Ukraine). They’ve been doing this for a long time, but there was a hint that they might do it outside of Ukraine. It’s a hint, but I don’t think Russia will do it, because it’s almost a declaration of war. However, it was an aggressive gesture on the part of Russia, and the British made their own gesture,” the expert added.