The Ukes are fighting back and taking back land…Bono shows up in Kyiv…The West turns up the heat on Moscow.

FNC: “Ukrainian forces are successfully launching a counteroffensive in Kharkiv and could soon push Russian troops back to Russia’s border, according to a U.S. think tank.

Close

Russian forces are retreating from the northeast Kharkiv area and notably destroyed several bridges in an effort to mitigate the ‘successful Ukrainian attack,’ the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington D.C.-based group, said Saturday.”

“Armies generally only destroy bridges if they have largely decided they will not attempt to cross the river in the other direction anytime soon; Russian forces are therefore unlikely to launch operations to retake the northeast outskirts of Kharkiv liberated by Ukrainian forces in the near future,” the report said.

“Given the current rate of Ukrainian advances, Russian forces may be unable to prevent Ukrainian forces from reaching the Russian border, even with additional reinforcements,” the ISW report said.

“Ukrainian counteroffensive demonstrates promising Ukrainian capabilities and may set conditions for further offensive operations into northeastern Kharkiv Oblast,” the report continued. But all is not rosy.

“By all indications, Russian forces will announce the creation of a Kherson People’s Republic or possibly forcibly annex Kherson Oblast in the near future and are intensifying occupation measures in Mariupol,” the report continued. “Russian forces are reportedly increasing their security presence in both Kherson and Mariupol.”

In related news, singer Bono held an impromptu concert in the depths of a Kyiv metro station. “The people in Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you are fighting for all of us who love freedom,” Bono told the crowd at the Khreshchatyk metro station/bomb shelter. “We pray that you will enjoy some of that peace soon…This evening, 8th of May, shows will ring out in the Ukraine sky, but you’ll be free at last,” Bono told the crowd. “They can take your lives, but they can never take your pride.”

“It’s a Beautiful Day in the Kyiv metro,” U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken tweeted. “The people of Ukraine have shown remarkable determination and resilience in the face of this brutal invasion. WE stand #UnitedWithUkraine and support its pursuit of more peaceful, democratic, and beautiful days ahead.”

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

Also related, Western nations pledge to end imports of Russian oil and gas. “We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies,” the leaders of the U.S., Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan said. They will also cut Russia off from Western professional services. “Preventing Russia from accessing the United States’ valuable professional services increases the pressure on the Kremlin and cuts off its ability to evade sanctions imposed by the United States and our partners,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.