Ukraine war – Russia might formally declare war against Ukraine on Russia’s Victory Day, May 9, commemorating the Nazi’s defeat.
On May 9, a formal declaration of war might energize Russian civilians and boost public support for the attack. It would also allow Putin to deploy reserve forces and draught conscripts under Russian law, which officials believe Russia sorely needs due to a rising manpower shortfall. Since Russia entered just over two months ago, at least 10,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the fight, according to Western and Ukrainian sources.
Annexing the breakaway republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, making a big push towards Odesa in the south, or declaring full control over the southern port city of Mariupol are all possibilities for May 9.
“We’ve seen the Russians really double down on their propaganda efforts, probably, almost certainly, as a means to distract from their tactical and strategic failures on the battlefield in Ukraine,” Ned Price said at a State Department briefing.
According to Maksym Marchenko, the chief of the Odesa region military administration, a missile was fired Monday at “one of Odesa’s infrastructure facilities.”
“Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded,” he said.
Separately, the Ukrainian military’s Command South reported, “Another missile strike in the Odesa region. There were hits to the city infrastructure. In particular, one of the religious buildings was damaged. Information about the victims is being clarified.”
Mykhailo Vershynin, chief of the Mariupol Patrol Police said they have been under constant fire since the early morning.
“There are a large number of wounded here. Everything is going toward the destruction of the site. We are highly interested in getting out the wounded, we are highly interested in getting out civilians. We would like to consider the option of extraction for the military contingent.”