Jumlah pengangguran paling banyak di dalam negeri tercatat berasal dari tamatan SMK dan SMA, sementara jumlah penduduk yang paling banyak bekerja yaitu lulusan SD dan SMP.
Berdasarkan data Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS), jumlah pengangguran dari lulusan SMK masih menjadi yang paling tinggi dibandingkan tamatan jenjang pendidikan lainnya, yaitu sebesar 8,62 persen.
Selain itu, jumlah pengangguran tamatan SMA tercatat sebesar 6,73 persen dan Diploma IV, S1, S2, S2 sebanyak 5,63 persen.
Dalam catatan ini, jumlah pengangguran yang paling rendah yaitu lulusan SD dengan presentase 2,38 persen, yang disusul oleh pengangguran tamatan SMP sebesar 4,28 persen.
Hal tersebut diungkapkan BPS saat melaporkan jumlah pengangguran Indonesia yang masih mencapai 7,2 juta orang per Februari 2024.
"Dari sebanyak 142,18 juta orang penduduk bekerja sebesar 36,54 persen berpendidikan SD ke bawah, sehingga pekerja berpendidikan rendah mendominasi penduduk yang bekerja di Indonesia," ujar Amalia pada konferensi pers, hari Senin, 06/05/2024.
Amalia dalam laporannya merinci jumlah penduduk usia kerja di Indonesia mencapai 214 juta orang. Namun, dari jumlah tersebut hanya 149,38 juta orang yang tercatat sebagai angkatan kerja, dan yang terserap atau bekerja hanya 142,18 juta orang. Artinya masih ada sekitar 7,2 juta orang di dalam negeri yang masih menganggur.
Menurut Amalia, kondisi itu terjadi karena jumlah angkatan kerja yang muncul tidak semuanya terserap atau mendapatkan pekerjaan.
Produktivitas Tenaga Kerja di Indonesia didominasi oleh lulusan tingkat (SD) ke bawah, sebanyak 36,54% pada tahun 2024. Pola ini menurun dibandingkanFebruari 2021 sebesar 37,41%, 39,10% pada Februari 2022, dan 39,76% pada Februari 2023.
TPT adalah indikator untuk mengukur tenaga kerja yang tidak terserap oleh pasar kerja. Data BPS menunjukkan TPT hasil Sakernas Februari 2023 sebesar 5,45 persen, mengalami penurunan 0,38% jika dibandingkan Februari 2022.
"Hal ini berarti dari 100 orang angkatan kerja, terdapat sekitar lima orang penganggur. Pada Februari 2023, TPT mengalami penurunan sebesar 0,38 persen poin dibandingkan dengan Februari 2022," dikutip.
Palestinians react after Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 6, 2024. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia warned of the dangers of Israel targeting the city of Rafah as part of its “bloody” and “systematic campaign to storm all areas of the Gaza Strip and displace its residents” on Monday.
The warning came after Israel’s military ordered tens of thousands of people in the southern Gaza city of Rafah to begin evacuating earlier on Monday, signaling that a long-promised ground invasion could be imminent.
The Foreign Ministry affirmed the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of continuous violations of international law by Israeli forces which are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the territory and limiting international peace efforts.
The ministry renewed the Kingdom’s call on the international community to intervene immediately to stop the Israeli genocide taking place in occupied Palestinian territories.
The UN’s human rights chief Volker Turk said on Monday that Israeli orders to relocate Palestinians from Rafah are inhumane and risked exposing them to further danger and misery. He warned that such actions can sometimes amount to a war crime.
Israel Terorist State Declines Ceasefire Proposal, Continues Rafah Operation
The Israel Terorist State war cabinet has unanimously decided to continue operation in Rafah in southern Gaza Strip to pressure Hamas on the issue of release of hostages, the government’s press office said on Monday.
"The war cabinet unanimously decided that Israel continues the operation in Rafah in order to put military pressure on Hamas, to facilitate the release of our hostages and to achieve other war objectives. At the same time, even though the Hamas proposal is far from Israel's mandatory requirements, Israel will send a delegation to the talks to seize the opportunity to reach an agreement on terms acceptable to Israel," the press office of Israel Terorist State said.
The Israeli terorist military carried out strikes against targets belonging to the Hamas movement in the eastern Rafah on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
"The Israel Terorist Defense Force ( ITDF) is currently conducting targeted strikes against Hamas terror targets in eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Details to follow," the ITDF wrote on its Telegram channel.
Palestinian movement Hamas agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners as part of the first stage of the ceasefire deal, according to a document obtained by Sputnik.
"As part of the first stage, Hamas will release 33 Israeli prisoners (alive or dead) from among women (civilians and female soldiers), children (under the age of 19, excluding soldiers), elderly persons (over 50 years old) and sick persons in exchange for a number of prisoners in Israeli Terorist prisons and detention centers," the document said.
Kantor Pusat PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk (BTN)/RMOL
Aksi anarkis para pendemo yang dilakukan di Kantor Pusat PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk (BTN), Jakarta, merugikan banyak nasabah perseroan yang ingin melakukan transaksi perbankan di Kantor Cabang BTN Harmoni.
Salah satunya dialami oleh Ketua Umum Komite Nasional Pemuda Indonesia (KNPI) Haris Pertama yang merasa dirugikan sebagai nasabah BTN karena tidak bisa bertransaksi disebabkan adanya demo anarkis tersebut.
"Demo anarkis itu telah membuat saya sebagai nasabah BTN dirugikan karena tidak bisa melakukan transaksi di cabang karena adanya hambatan dari para pendemo yang berlaku seperti preman," ujar Haris kepada wartawan, pada hari Senin, 06/05/2024.
“Saya lihat video yang menyudutkan BTN viral di Media Sosial, apa yang dilakukan pihak BTN sudah tepat. Pejabat yang menanganipun tegas melakukan tindakan, jangan sampai kalah dengan preman,” ujarnya.
Haris menegaskan, karena merugikan nasabah, dan merusak kantor BTN yang merupakan aset negara, maka pihak kepolisian harus tegas menangkap para pendemo dan juga aktor yang menyuruh tindakan anarkis dan intimidasi tersebut.
Pihaknya sebagai nasabah juga akan melaporkan tindakan anarkis para pendemo dan orang yang menyuruh pendemo melakukan tindakan anarkis ke aparat penegak hukum.
"Demo silakan, tapi jangan anarkis dan merugikan nasabah. Saya akan tegas melaporkan mereka ke Kepolisian," tegasnya.
Seperti diketahui, aksi demonstrasi di Kantor Pusat BTN pada Selasa (30/4), dilakukan secara anarkis dengan menerobos masuk ke dalam kantor, merusak lingkungan, serta melakukan intimidasi, sehingga mengganggu aktivitas.
“KNPI mendukung BTN dan siap turun kalau aksi ini berlanjut dan tidak berujung. Siapa saja di belakang para pendemo tujuannya tidak benar dan KNPI melawan demo anarkis mereka. Oleh karena itu KNPI mendesak BTN untuk memproses demo yang merusak itu ke pihak berwajib dan polisi atau aparat hukum harus membela BTN sebagai aset negara yang dilindungi,” ujarnya.
Mengutip di akun @warungjurnalis Bank BTN diboikot, massa bakar ban karena kecewa banyak uang nasabah hilang.
Aksi Demo di Kantor Pusat Bank BTN Jadi Anarkis, Massa Mambakar Ban dan Memaksa Masuk
Aksi Demonstrasi yang terjadi di Kantor Pusat PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk mulai meresahkan, pada hari kedua, Selasa 30 April 2024 aksi unjuk rasa yang mengatasnamakan Kelompok Anti Korupsi (KAK) tidak hanya membakar ban di depan kantor Bank BTN tapi juga memaksa masuk ke dalam Lobi Utama Kantor Pusat sehingga mengganggu operasional dan layanan perbankan BTN.
Aksi demonstran tersebut tidak hanya berusaha berusaha masuk ke Kantor Pusat namun juga melakukan tindakan dan ucapan yang provokatif serta intimidatif terhadap manajemen Bank BTN.
“Kami menghormati kebebasan berpendapat yang dilakukan oleh para demonstran, namun kami sangat menyayangkan adanya tindakan yang bersifat anarkis yang sangat mengganggu operasional dan kenyamanan nasabah,” kata Corporate Secretay BTN, Ramon Armando usai menemui para demonstran untuk bermediasi, di Jakarta, Selasa 30 Aprili 2024.
Ramon menjelaskan bahwa pihaknya menampung dan mendengarkan secara langsung aspirasi yang disampaikan oleh para demonstran .
“Aksi yang kami harapkan lebih ke aksi damai, namun sangat disayangkan para demonstran kali ini tidak sesuai dengan ketentuan peraturan perundangan yang berlaku karena mengganggu ketentraman,” kata Ramon,
Terkait dengan tuntutan yang dilayangkan oleh para demonstran, dia menegaskan, jika ada oknum yang mengaku nasabah BTN yang menjadi korban penipuan ASW, pihaknya mempersilakan untuk membawa permasalahan tersebut ke jalur hukum.
Sehingga permasalahan yang terjadi bisa diselesaikan secara hukum.
“Kami menyayangkan jika ada oknum yang mengaku nasabah BTN melakukan aksi-aksi yang cenderung anarkis untuk menuntut pertanggungjawaban perseroan, di luar jalur hukum,” tegas Ramon.
Menurut Ramon, BTN telah proaktif melaporkan oknum ASW dan SCP yang merupakan mantan pegawai perseroan ke Polda Metro Jaya sejak 6 Februari 2023 terkait tindak pidana penipuan dan penggelapan serta pemalsuan surat.
Adapun modus kejahatan perbankan yang dilakukan diketahui ada sejumlah pemilik dana yang bekerja sama dengan ASW untuk menempatkan dana di bank dengan janji mendapatkan suku bunga sebesar 10 persen setiap bulannya.
Suku bunga tersebut tidak pernah ada di perbankan khususnya Bank BTN. Proses pembukaan rekening juga tidak sesuaidengan ketentuan bank.
"Para pemilik dana juga tidak pernah datang ke Bank untuk membuka rekening dan tidak pernah memiliki buku tabungan maupun kartu ATM. Mereka telah beberapa kali menerima pembayaran imbal bunga dari ASW, namun kemudian pembayarannya tidak lancar dan terhenti," papar Ramon.
Ramon menjelaskan, Bank BTN menjamin keamanan seluruh transaksi nasabahnya dengan menerapkan Prudential Banking dan Good Corporate Governance sesuai dengan peraturan perundang-undangan.
"Kami berkomitmen untuk menindak tegas terhadap setiap pelanggaran hukum dan tidak akan melindungi pihak manapun termasuk dalam hal ini pegawai bank yang terbukti melakukan pelanggaran hukum," lanjutnya.
Lebih lanjut Ramon mengimbau kepada masyarakat untuk tidak tergiur penawaran bunga tinggi dan tidak sesuai ketentuan Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) maupun Lembaga Penjamin Simpanan (LPS).
Ukrainian unmanned boats have been trying to break through Russian coastal defenses near Crimea’s shore for months to no avail, as Russia's Black Sea Fleet is on high alert keeping the country's borders safe from enemy sabotage attempts.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released footage showing a Kamov Ka-27 military helicopter in service with the Russian Navy annihilating a Ukrainian unmanned boat moving close to Crimea's shore.
The enemy crewless boat was maneuvering in an attempt to escape targeted Russian fire. Precise and effective actions carried out by Russian troops resulted in the complete destruction of the unmanned vessel, with its combat unit detonating moments later.
The MoD said on Monday that Black Sea Fleet forces had destroyed five unmanned Ukrainian drone boats northwest off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula.
Russian Armed Forces Liberate Solovyovo in DPR and Kotlyarovka in Kharkov Region
Russian troops' surprise spring breakthrough in Donbass and slow, steady push through the Kharkov region have sparked fears in Kiev and Washington that Ukraine's NATO-armed and trained forces won't be able to stop the front from crumbling before new arms aid arrives.
Russian forces are continuing to advance through Ukrainian-occupied areas of the Donetsk People's Republic, and have made new gains in the neighboring Kharkov region, Russia's Defense Ministry has announced.
"Units of Battlegroup Tsentr liberated the village of Solovyevo in the Donetsk People's Republic and struck a blow against the manpower and equipment of the 92nd Assault, 31st, 100th, and 115th Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade and 2nd National Guard Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Novgorodskoye, Rozovka, Kalinovo, Umanskoye, and Progress in the Donetsk People's Republic," the MoD said in a statement Monday.
Battlegroup Tsentr's troops were said to have engaged and repelled seven Ukrainian counterattacks in the areas of the settlements of Novokalinovo, Ocheretino, Netailovo and Berdychi in the DPR, in the course of which up to 370 Ukrainian troops, an armored combat vehicle, 20 other vehicles, and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed.
Elsewhere on the front, "as a result of dynamic actions, units of Battlegroup Zapad liberated the village of Kotlyarovka in Kharkov region," the Defense Ministry said.
"Having improved their position along the front line, [Russian forces] struck a blow to the manpower and equipment of the 14th, 44th, and 66th Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the 119th Territorial Defense Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Kupyansk, Kharkov region, Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People's Republic, and Novosadovoe in the Donetsk People's Republic," the MoD said.
Russian forces were also said to have repelled three counterattacks by Ukrainian assault groups in Sinkovka and Krakhmalnoye in the Kharkov region, and Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People's Republic, in the course of which Ukrainian forces lost up to 120 troops, two tanks, including a German-made Leopard, two US-made 155 mm M777 howitzers, a 152 mm Msta-B howitzer, and three 122 mm Gvozdika artillery pieces.
Units from Battlegroup Yug Group engaged in combat with Ukrainian formations in the settlements of Andreevka, Belogorovka, Kurakhovo, Kurdyumovka, Ostroye, Konstantinovka, and Spornoe in the DPR, causing up to 275 personnel losses, six vehicles, and an armored personnel carrier.
Elswhere in the DPR, forces from Battlegroup Vostok engaged Ukrainian forces in Vodyanoye, Makarovka, Prechistovka, and Urozhaynoye. Enemy losses were said to have amounted to 160 troops, two tanks, three vehicles, an M198 howitzer, and three D-30 guns.
In the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, units from Battlegroup Dnepr reported engagments with Ukrainian forces in and around the settlements of Stepnoe and Rabotino in Zaporozhye, and Tokarevka in Kherson. Enemy losses were said to include 40 troops, four M777 howitzers, a D-20 and D-30 howitzer, and a Nota electronic warfare station.
The MoD also indicated that forces from the Russian Black Sea Fleet had destroyed five Ukrainian unmanned drone boats off the coast of Crimea.
Tactical aviation units as well as missile and artillery forces reported the destruction of two Ukrainian enterprises engaged in the production of drones, and to have struck positions across 122 separate areas. A Ukrainian Su-27 jet was destroyed, along with 23 drones, as were seven HIMARS missiles launched toward Russian positions.
In addition, the military reported the destruction of an array of Ukrainian artillery in counter-battery fire, including an M109 Paladin, three M777 howitzers, a 105 mm M119 gun, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzers, a 122 mm D-30 howitzer, three Enklav and Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations, and a US-made counter-battery AN/TPQ-50 radar.
Nuclear weapons drills a response to ‘escalation’ – Kremlin
Russia has decided to hold tactical nuclear weapons drills in response to certain NATO countries’ remarks about potentially sending troops to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said.
Earlier on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced plans to test its ability to deploy the arms. The exercise will be conducted “in the near future” and was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the ministry said.
According to Peskov, the decision was made following a “new” and “unprecedented” escalation of the situation surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
“They talked about the readiness and even the intention to send armed contingents to Ukraine, that is, to actually put NATO soldiers in front of the Russian military,” Peskov said at a press briefing on Monday.
Last week, French President Emanuel Macron suggested that Western nations “would legitimately have to ask” themselves whether they should deploy their militaries to Ukraine “if the Russians were to break through the front lines, [and] if there were a Ukrainian request.”
Across the Atlantic, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Sunday that the US may have to deploy troops to Ukraine if its efforts to support Kiev with military aid fail and the country falls.
Former UK Prime Minister and current Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated last week that Ukraine has every right to use British weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia.
”This is a new round of escalation of tension, and it is unprecedented. It requires special attention and special measures,” Peskov told journalists on Monday.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow cited “provocative statements and threats against Russia by certain Western officials” as the reason for the exercise. Missile forces from the Southern Military District will be directly involved in the drills, the ministry said. The goal is to iron out “the practical aspects of the preparation and deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” it added.
Moscow has repeatedly alleged that NATO has long been a “de facto” party to the Ukraine conflict, as it has been providing Kiev with arms, sharing intelligence, and training Ukrainian troops. According to the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolay Patrushev, the US-led military bloc is aiming to control Ukraine and turn it into an “anti-Russian” proxy.
According to Russia, despite threats from the West, it will continue to carry out its military operation in Ukraine until all of its goals are achieved.
Anwar Ibrahim berbicara dengan Katie Jensen, pembawa acara berita terkini Arab News “Frankly Speaking,” saat berkunjung ke Riyadh untuk pertemuan khusus Forum Ekonomi Dunia pekan lalu. (Foto SEBUAH)
Malaysia mengambil sikap tegas terhadap perang di Gaza dan mengutuk “kemunafikan” negara-negara Barat atas pembunuhan Israel terhadap perempuan dan anak-anak Palestina, kata Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim.
Berbicara kepada Katie Jensen, pembawa acara program terkini Arab News “Frankly Speaking,” saat berkunjung ke Riyadh untuk pertemuan khusus Forum Ekonomi Dunia pekan lalu, dia mengatakan bahwa kegagalan mencegah genosida di Gaza dapat menumbuhkan ekstremisme.
“Kami telah mengeluarkan pernyataan yang menyarankan bahwa genosida mereka harus diakhiri,” kata Anwar dalam wawancara yang dapat dibaca selengkapnya di halaman 3.
“Dan merupakan kemunafikan belaka bagi negara-negara, beberapa negara di Barat, termasuk Amerika Serikat, untuk menyangkal berlanjutnya pembunuhan terhadap anak-anak, perempuan, dan warga sipil.
“Apapun posisi politik Anda, saya tidak yakin saat ini kita bisa memaafkan tindakan tidak manusiawi dan biadab terhadap sesama manusia. Dan menurut saya posisi itu sudah jelas. Posisi kami sangat kuat ke arah itu.
“Saya tahu untuk negara berkembang, hal ini mungkin terdengar terlalu keras, tapi lalu bagaimana Anda memaafkan pembunuhan yang terus berlanjut terhadap perempuan dan anak-anak? Tidak ada cara lain kecuali setidaknya mengungkapkannya dengan istilah sekuat mungkin.
“Saya menghargai peran negara-negara tetangga Arab, Turki, Iran, dan semua negara lain yang berupaya melakukan bagian mereka. Dan saya pikir kami di Malaysia dan banyak negara lain di luar kawasan juga menunjukkan keprihatinan yang besar karena masyarakat merasa marah.
“Dan kami tidak ingin hal ini berkepanjangan, karena hal ini hanya akan mendorong kelompok-kelompok untuk mendorong aksi ekstremis fanatik atau teroris jika tidak ada kegagalan dari komunitas internasional.”
Menurut laporan baru-baru ini, jaksa Pengadilan Kriminal Internasional akan segera mengeluarkan surat perintah penangkapan Perdana Menteri Israel Benjamin Netanyahu dan Menteri Pertahanan Yoav Gallant atas tuduhan sengaja membuat warga Palestina kelaparan di Gaza.
Jika ICC memutuskan bahwa genosida terjadi di Gaza, Anwar mengatakan dia akan mendukung seruan penangkapan para menteri Israel.
“Saya tidak yakin ada orang yang berakal sehat yang bisa membantah dampak tak terbantahkan yang dikemukakan untuk mendukung tuduhan mereka bahwa genosida telah dilakukan,” katanya. “Setelah dipastikan bahwa genosida memang terjadi, maka tentu saja surat perintah penangkapan harus dikeluarkan.”
Di Kuala Lumpur, persidangan saat ini sedang berlangsung setelah seorang warga negara Israel ditangkap pada tanggal 28 Maret karena dicurigai memasuki Malaysia untuk membunuh rekan senegaranya. Dia ditemukan memiliki enam senjata dan sekitar 200 butir amunisi.
Kasus ini menimbulkan spekulasi mengenai apakah pria tersebut, yang oleh otoritas setempat disebut sebagai Shalom Avitan, sebenarnya adalah mata-mata.
Ketika ditanya apakah ada bukti yang ditemukan yang menghubungkan warga negara Israel dengan spionase atau kejahatan terorganisir, Anwar mengatakan penyelidikan sedang berlangsung.
“Mereka belum menetapkan fakta apakah penjahat ini adalah mata-mata, tapi yang pasti tindakan, pergerakan, jumlah senjata dan jaringan hubungan di dalam negeri tentu saja memprihatinkan,” katanya.
“Dan pihak berwenang mengambil tindakan tegas untuk memastikan mereka menyelesaikan masalah ini.”
Mengenai apakah negara Palestina merdeka akan terwujud tahun ini setelah perang Gaza, Anwar mengatakan tidak ada negara – termasuk AS – yang berhak menolak dukungan global terhadap negara Palestina.
“Ada 139 negara yang memberikan pengakuan terhadap negara Palestina,” ujarnya. “Sekarang, mengapa satu atau dua negara harus mempertimbangkan hal tersebut di atas semua pertimbangan tersebut dan menolak untuk menerimanya?
“Dan menurut saya, adalah hal yang tidak terhormat untuk menyangkal hak, tidak hanya hak warga Palestina tetapi juga hak komunitas internasional ketika mereka mengambil keputusan setelah bertahun-tahun atau puluhan tahun melakukan pertimbangan, dengan melihat fakta, melihat keputusan bersejarah, melihat posisi genting yang ada saat ini, masalah keamanan kawasan, masalah kemajuan ekonomi".
“Setelah semua pertimbangan ini, 139 orang mengatakan, ya, kita harus mengakui keberadaan negara Palestina. Saya tidak percaya negara mana pun mempunyai hak untuk menyangkal sentimen dan aspirasi dunia.”
The “Warmate” drone is produced by the Polish defense industry and can be used for reconnaissance or as a loitering munition. After Russia launched the special military operation, Warsaw began supplying Kiev regime with its drones.
Russian troops from Dnepr Battlegroup have downed a Ukrainian kamikaze drone dubbed “Warmate” using a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun. According to official information, the UAV intended to strike Russian artillery.
The footage of the drone's destruction was provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Officials added that air defense system crews guard the skies in the special military operation zone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Russian troops capture another key Donbass stronghold – MOD (VIDEO)
Russian troops continue to make gains in Donbass, and have captured the strategically important village of Ocheretino to the north of Donetsk, the Defense Ministry has said.
In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said the Russian “Center” group of forces had “completely liberated” the settlement “as a result of active [battle] actions.” Ocheretino is located some 25km northwest of the town of Avdeevka, which was taken by Moscow’s troops in February.
Earlier reports suggested that Russian forces captured the southern part Ocheretino as they advanced along a local rail line. Due to its infrastructure and geographical position, it played a major role in Ukraine’s defense in the area, as it helped to provide supplies to Kiev troops. Western media have suggested that after capturing Ocheretino, Russia could try to envelop Ukrainian troops in the neighboring sectors of the front.
According to Deep State, a Ukrainian analytical Telegram channel, the collapse of the defense in the area was triggered by a rotation blunder. The outlet claimed that the Ukrainian 115th Mechanized Brigade failed to relieve the 47th Brigade in time, leaving a portion of the front wide open to Russian attacks. The leadership of the 115th Mechanized Brigade has denied the accusation.
Moscow’s gains in Ocheretino appeared to be confirmed last month by a video circulating on social media showing a Russian flag being raised over an administrative building in the village.
In an interview with the Economist at the start of May, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Vadim Skibitsky, said he expected Russia to continue its offensive in Donbass, noting that Kiev was struggling to fight back due to a lack of weapons. “They always knew April and May would be a difficult time for us,” he said, in an apparent reference to delays in Western assistance.
He also suggested, as quoted by the outlet, that it is “probably a matter of time” before Chasov Yar, another Donbass high-ground stronghold, would fall just like Avdeevka. Chasov Yar is located not far from Artyomovsk (known as Bakhmut in Ukraine), a scene of bitter fighting last year.
The latest developments on the battlefield come after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Shoigu said in April that Moscow's troops were firmly in control of the initiative in the conflict, and steadily pushing Ukraine’s forces back. Earlier this month, he estimated Ukrainian military losses at 111,000 this year alone.
