RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian troops wipe out large Western-supplied armament depot in Ukraine operation

Russian troops destroyed a large Ukrainian army logistics center of Western-supplied armament over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces destroyed a large logistics center of the Ukrainian army accumulating, storing and redistributing armament, including missiles delivered to the Kiev regime by Western countries," the ministry said in a statement.

During the last 24-hour period, Russian troops struck massed enemy manpower and military equipment in 112 areas, it specified.

Ukrainian army loses 220 troops in Kharkov area over past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 220 troops, a tank and two artillery guns in battles with Russian forces in the Kharkov area over the past day, the ministry reported.

Russia’s Battlegroup North units "inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 36th marine infantry, 113th territorial defense and 13th National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Volchansk, Bochkovo and Liptsy in the Kharkov Region. They repelled a counterattack by assault groups of the enemy’s 71st jaeger brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Kharkov direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 220 personnel, a tank, three armored combat vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, a German-made 155mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzer, a 122mm D-30 howitzer and two electronic warfare stations, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts 480 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West gained better ground and inflicted roughly 480 casualties on the Ukrainian army over the past day, the ministry reported.

"During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup West units gained better positions and inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 14th, 21st, 115th and 116th mechanized brigades in areas near the settlements of Nevskoye and Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region and Grigorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 480 personnel, an infantry fighting vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, a German-made 155mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzer, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, a 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika motorized artillery system, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, a US-made 105mm M119 artillery gun and a 122mm Grad multiple rocket launcher, it specified.

"In addition, an artillery ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army was destroyed," the ministry said.

Kiev loses over 610 troops in Donetsk area over past day

The Ukrainian army lost more than 610 troops, a tank and seven ammunition depots in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

Russia’s Battlegroup South units improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on the Ukrainian army’s 46th airmobile and 79th air assault brigades in areas near the settlements of Konstantinovka and Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the ministry specified.

"The enemy lost more than 610 personnel, a tank, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, four motor vehicles, a US-manufactured 155mm M777 howitzer, a UK-made 155mm FH70 howitzer, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, two 122mm D-30 howitzers and a 122mm Grad multiple rocket launcher. Three electronic warfare stations and seven field ammunition depots were destroyed," the ministry said.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine's Zelenskiy replaces commander of joint forces

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday he had replaced the commander of the Joint Forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Yuri Sodol, after reports surfaced that he had performed badly in the 28-month-old war against Russia.

Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, gave no reason for the dismissal. He said Sodol had been replaced by Brigadier-General Andriy Hnatov in the post, which involves strategic planning of operations.

Sodol's removal, one of a series of personnel changes, followed publication of a letter by the head of Ukraine's revered Azov regiment, Bohdan Krotevych, in which he alleged that Sodol's actions had led to serious military setbacks.

In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Krotevych did not identify Sodol by name, but said an unnamed general "has killed more Ukrainian soldiers than any Russian general."

"What I do care about is that combat battalion and brigade commanders are put on trial for losing an observation post, but a general is not put on trial for losing regions, dozens of cities and thousands of soldiers," Krotevych wrote.

"All the military personnel now understand who I am talking about because 99 percent of the military hate him for what he does."

The news outlet Ukrainska Pravda, citing a leaked report, said a criminal complaint had been submitted concerning Sodol, who was promoted earlier this year, although it did not identify him. It said Krotevych was willing to testify against him.

Hnatov had served as deputy commander of the southern theatre of operations since 2022 and played a leading role in recapturing much of southern Kherson region from Russian invaders.

In the spring of 2023 he commanded the defence of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, a town that eventually fell to Russian forces after many months of pitched battles.

Krotevych, in a social media post after the president's announcement, described Hnatov as a "very worthy officer".

With Russian forces making gains and slowly advancing through eastern Ukraine in recent months, the military has undergone considerable changes.

The military top commander, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, was dismissed in February after public differences with Zelenskiy over the conduct of the war.