Tim MakMay 21, 2023

Hello to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

But Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut are hanging on by a thread.

Our newsletter today focuses on a former U.S. servicemember now fighting for Ukraine, recalling the sacrifices, optimism, and stress of his multiple deployment there.

Show threadTim MakMay 21, 2023

Here’s the latest information on the situation:

Ukrainian forces have partially encircled Bakhmut, said Hanna Malyar, an official with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. ”[It] gives us the opportunity to destroy the enemy," she wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Show threadTim MakMay 21, 2023
Malyar said Saturday night that Ukrainian forces still had a foothold in “certain industrial and infrastructure facilities” in the city, and that fighting was still ongoing.
Show threadTim MakMay 21, 2023
But Russia’s Vladimir Putin claimed to have captured the entire city, after months of fighting led by Wagner Group mercenaries. Russian news agencies reported that Putin congratulated “Wagner assault detachments, as well as all servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces units"
Show threadTim MakMay 21, 2023
Russian information sources also posted videos of Wagner troops hoisting Russian and Wagner flags in Bakhmut, claiming that Russia had taken the city on Saturday.
Show threadTim MakMay 21, 2023

Zelenskyy denied later on Sunday that Bakhmut had fallen: “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/5/21/russia-ukraine-live-zelenskyy-says-nothing-left-in-bakhmut

Russia-Ukraine live: Zelenskyy says Bakhmut is ‘not occupied’

Ukrainian soldiers were still engaging Russian forces in fierce battles in and around Bakhmut, military officials said.

Al Jazeera
Show threadTim MakMay 21, 2023
At the G7 in Japan, U.S. President Joe Biden pointed out that Russian losses have been enormous -- 100,000 casualties! -- and that the city has hardly anything remaining:
Show threadTim MakMay 21, 2023

The city is not a particularly important strategic location.

It is known for its salt mines and gypsum, according to
Chris Miller, a former Peace Corps volunteer who had been stationed there and now writes for the Financial Times.

Show threadTim MakMay 21, 2023

Today's special edition of The Counteroffensive is focused on Daniel Montano, a pseudonym for a former US military servicemember currently fighting for Ukrainian forces.

He took this photo in Donbas on May 11, 2023, just a week and a half ago.

Show threadArnoWI 🇧🇪🇪🇺🇺🇦🇵🇸
@timkmak
Could this be the same person as in CivDiv's videos on Youtube?
May 21, 2023 at 2:35pmFedilab