Russia-Ukraine Flash Report for 6-5-22 11:45 PDT - Severodonetsk Salient

Editor's Note: The date on the subject line was for June 4 and has been corrected to June 5. Thank you for your understanding.

Ukrainian forces have made stunning gains in the last 24 hours.

To the north, Ukrainian forces have pushed to the outskirts of Vojevodivka and, according to reports from reliable Russian sources, still hold a sliver of Rubizhne.

Mostly Luhansk People's Republic (LDR) separatists backed by a limited number of Chechens have been pushed out of the city center, another four blocks north across a broad front. The Russian lines are 400 meters west of the Mir Hotel and Central Bus Station, close to the line of conflict on May 29.

Russia-backed forces have fallen back to the forests, east of the hospital Chechen forces and Russian State Media were located on May 29.

Ukraine controls 70% to 80% of Severodonetsk.

Metolkine is under Ukrainian control.

Russia-backed forces have been pushed out of Voronove, after threatening the Severodonetsk airport (closed for months)  for over two weeks. Ukrainian forces control 70% to 90% of Voronove, with Russia-backed forces retreating to the forest.

Borivske, southeast of Severodonetsk is under Ukrainian control, with fighting in the forests east of the town.

Russian forces are attempting to push back into Ustynivka from Popasna, but have been unsuccessful.  

Reports by Pro-Russian accounts that Komyshuvakha was fully captured were untrue, they still control about 50% of the settlement and not the critical eastern half.

Reports by Pro-Russian accounts of heavy fighting in Zolote were exaggerated. Russia-backed militias made small advances measured in meters out of Orikhove. They moved far enough east to control a major intersection of the P66 Highway, which Ukraine can now use as a Ground Line of Communication due to the advances southeast of Severodonetsk.

Multiple military leaders and Russia supports in the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and LDR are condemning the Russian strategy, and are accusing Russia of using them and Chechens as proxy troops in the war. Russian group troops have had little involvement, according to their reports, within Severodonetsk.

There are multiple reports that there are no reserve forces left in the Donbas among the LDR and DNR. There are some reports that Russia has started to strip artillery defenses from the Donetsk region to relocate to Popasna and Severodonetsk.