Victorious news of 443rd day of war: AFU improve positions in Luhansk region, Russian troops prepare defense lines in Crimea

AFU have improved their positions in the Luhansk region

The former head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to significantly improve their positions in the Kupiansk-Svatove, Kreminna and Bilohorivka directions.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces' positions have significantly improved in all three directions - Kupiansk-Svatove, Kreminna and Bilohorivka. It is too early to talk about a counteroffensive, but our Defense Forces managed to strengthen their positions, gain a foothold and improve those positions that were lost or overwhelmed in recent months. Now the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding strong in all three directions,” he said.

On Thursday, May 11, Ukraine received USD 132 million in financing from the World Bank under the Accelerating Private Investment in Agriculture program.

In two months, not a single Russian missile has reached its target over Kyiv

For more than 2 months, not a single missile or drone fired by the Russian army has reached its target in Kyiv, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has stated.

“For more than two months now, the 'guardians of the Kyiv sky' have been working flawlessly - not a single missile or drone has reached its target,” the Ministry of Defense said.

According to the Defense Ministry, 740 air raids have been triggered in Kyiv since February 24, 2022. In total, the alerts lasted 851 hours and 38 minutes.

AFU destroyed a Russian electronic warfare station and three artillery units

According to the General Staff, the Defense Forces' aviation launched 4 strikes on the Russian troops' military positions over the day.

Missile and artillery units struck 3 manpower concentration areas, 3 artillery units at firing positions, and an electronic warfare station over the past day.

Ukraine and Germany will jointly repair and produce tanks

Ukraine’s Ukroboronprom arms manufacturer and the German concern Rheinmetall have established a joint venture. It will be engaged in the maintenance and repair of tanks, and in the future - in their production. This was reported by Handelsblatt.

Ukraine will benefit from this cooperation in the form of comprehensive technology transfer and the supply of military equipment from Germany. Rheinmetall will own 51% in the new company and will also take over its management.

According to Handelsblatt, the concern also expects to sign contracts for two more joint ventures in the coming days - for ammunition and air defense.

For reference: Rheinmetal is a German defense company that produces, among other things, Panther and Leopard tanks, Marder armored personnel carriers, and PzH 2000 howitzers.

Occupying Russian forces prepare defense lines in Crimea

Defense lines continue to be built in Crimea. This is reported by the military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars ATESH.  

Crimean guerrillas report the construction of defense lines in Krasnoperekopske, Dzhankoi and Mizhvodne.

“We recently infiltrated the village of Molochne near Yevpatoria. We assessed the occupiers' readiness to repel a possible landing from the sea. We noted how the defense is organized, where the firing points are located and where the gap in their defense is. The invading forces are preparing for a new Normandy, but they will get a new Kherson,” ATESH reports.