Alexandr Syrsky, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has summarized the combat operations for May. In his report, he outlined key figures characterizing the current dynamics of the conflict: the Ukrainian side managed to liberate more territory than it lost and, for the first time, struck strategic objects in the Russian capital.
Territorial Balance: Victory in Numbers
Although Syrsky describes the situation on the front as complex and dynamic, the final indicators for the month favored Ukraine. According to him, the enemy continues attempts to advance in the east and south of the country, and the number of combat engagements has increased significantly. The most fierce fighting continues on the Pokrovsk, Alexandrovka, and Huliaipole directions.
However, Ukrainian troops retained the initiative on certain sections. As a result of active operations in May, the ratio of liberated to lost territory is almost +100 square kilometers in favor of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. If considering the entire period since the beginning of the year, the Ukrainian army has liberated more than 600 square kilometers of land.
Strikes on Moscow and Economic Damage
Special attention in the report was paid to Deep Strike operations. Syrsky stated that during the month, Ukrainian troops delivered thousands of effective strikes against enemy military objects. Direct and indirect economic losses inflicted on Russia in May are estimated at $1.058 billion.
The main event of the month was the conduct of a series of successful strikes on military-industrial and fuel-energy complex facilities within Moscow and the Moscow region. The general emphasized that this was the first implementation of such attacks within a unified concept.
Air Defense and Navy Operations
In May, Ukraine's air defense forces destroyed more than 59 thousand aerial targets and repelled 25 missile-air strikes. At the same time, Syrsky noted that the need for additional modern air defense systems and missiles for them remains relevant.
The Naval Forces ensured the safety of civilian shipping by conducting about 1,500 operations. Thanks to this, it was possible to ensure the safe passage of 633 ships to the ports of "Big Odesa" and the Danube River.
Context: Attack on Kronstadt
The activity of the Ukrainian army was not limited to May events. A reminder of recent actions was also voiced in the context of the report: on June 3, Ukraine struck ships in the port of Kronstadt, located near St. Petersburg. The attack took place on the day of the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Command of the Special Operations Forces reported that ships and port infrastructure were hit. Satellite images recorded the consequences of the drone attack at a distance of about 1,100 km from the Ukrainian border.