Russia claims attack on southern Ukraine command headquarters, improving position along entire front line

On May 1, Russia announced that it had attacked the headquarters of the Armed Forces of Southern Ukraine, based in the port of Odesa, where Kiev said a rocket attack had killed three people.

Ukrainian President and Greek Prime Minister visit Odesa, March 2024. (Source: AP).

"The operational command post of the Armed Forces of Southern Ukraine was attacked by tactical and operational aviation, missile forces and artillery," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry did not provide further details about the offensive, but said Russian forces were improving their position along the entire front line.

Ukrainian prosecutors said residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were damaged in Odesa in an overnight air strike, while the southern military command said administrative and residential buildings, medical and educational facilities were hit.

Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian forces during the more than two-year military conflict, with numerous attacks targeting the city's port facilities.

Previously, on April 30, the Russian Defense Ministry also announced that within 24 hours, the country's military had shot down 6 Ukrainian ATACMS tactical missiles made in the US.

“Over the past 24 hours, air defense systems have shot down 10 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, six US-made ATACMS combat missiles and two French-made Hammer guided bombs,” the statement said. According to the ministry, losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to 100 servicemen, two pickup trucks and two US-made M777 155 mm howitzers.

On the same day, Sergei Aksyonov, the head of Russia-backed Crimea, said ATACMS tactical missiles were shot down over the Crimean peninsula.

Last week, a US official said that in recent weeks the US had secretly transferred long-range missiles to Ukraine and that Kiev had used them twice.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-tuyen-bo-tan-cong-tru-so-chi-huy-mien-nam-ukraine-cai-thien-vi-the-doc-theo-toan-bo-chien-tuyen-269800.html