Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 22:39 Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the conditions for training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 will be developed in the coming weeks. In turn, acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the final format for training Ukrainians in the countries of the “coalition of fighters” will be finalized over the next month, and in the near future they will be discussed during a meeting of defense ministers of several countries in Warsaw. Poulsen also confirmed that Denmark is still open to discussing a possible transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but for now this issue is not on the table.
22:08 Portugal will join the coalition of fighters, help with the training of Ukrainian pilots and mechanics, Kuleba said after a meeting with the heads of the Foreign and Defense Ministry of the country.
21:33 Strong explosions are reported in Mariupol. In particular, strikes were recorded between the village of Agrobaza and the city, as well as in the airport area, said Petr Andryushchenko, adviser to the mayor.
20:54 After pressure from members of the US Congress and European allies, the Joe Biden administration decided to allow the export of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Such an important decision was also made against the background of the preparation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a counteroffensive and the intensification of Russian air attacks. More details - in the material When Ukraine will receive F-16 aircraft .
20:17 Zaluzhny said that he had a telephone conversation with the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley: “He spoke about the massive attacks by Russians with drones and missiles of various types, in particular, the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. He thanked for the Patriot complexes and noted their effective work. The priority is additional air defense systems to strengthen the protection of our skies. We discussed the need to supply weapons and ammunition, in particular long-range shells."
20:13 British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that the United States has granted permission for the training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16. He stated that London would join forces in this area with the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium.
Meanwhile, NBC reports, citing White House officials, that Washington and its allies plan to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters, but they will not necessarily come from the United States. It is not yet known which countries will hand over the planes to Ukraine and when, but it is already clear that they will not be used during the future Ukrainian counteroffensive.
19:34 Russian troops have connected the island of Dzharylgach with the occupied mainland of the Kherson region in the area of the settlement of Lazurnoe, filling the crossing to the island with sand, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. Now they will be able to more intensively use the territory of the national park for military purposes. In particular, the invaders set up a military training ground on the island.
19:28 In the Bakhmut direction, the Russians have increased the presence of troops by several thousand people and are trying to use the advantage in heavy artillery and the number of shells, said Anna Malyar, Deputy Defense Minister. According to her, the enemy continues to attack "at the cost of heavy losses, disproportionately exceeding our losses."
Malyar said that in Bakhmut, the Russians are destroying buildings to the foundation, which cannot be defended. At the same time, Ukrainian troops hold the borders of the Samolet district in Bakhmut. "In the suburbs of Bakhmut, today the pace of advancement of our troops is somewhat reduced. At the same time, the enemy is unable to regain lost positions. Our soldiers are repelling all enemy attacks in this direction," Malyar added.
19:19 Zelensky announced Biden's decision to support the fighter coalition: "I welcome the historic decision of the United States and President Biden to support the international fighter coalition. This will significantly strengthen our army in the sky. I look forward to discussing the practical implementation of this decision during the G7 summit in Hiroshima."
19:17 Prigozhin bought 20,000 helmets for his mercenaries in China, bypassing sanctions, writes the Financial Times. The shell company acquired them from China's Hangzhou Shinerain Import And Export Co at the end of 2022. At the request of journalists, the newspapers there stated that the helmets were allegedly intended "for games and are not suitable for protection on the battlefield." Estimated cost of the party - more than 2 million dollars.
19:10 The warhead of the Russian missile found near Bydgoszcz, Poland, was made of concrete, Pavel Shrot, head of the President's Cabinet, said. He suggested that this missile was supposed to distract the Ukrainian air defense.
18:52 Kiev may allow the transit of Russian ammonia through its territory for export, provided that the grain agreement is expanded to include more Ukrainian ports and a wider range of goods, Reuters reports, citing a source in the Ukrainian government.
18:46 During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Zelensky held meetings with the heads of delegations of the UAE, Oman and Kuwait, spoke about the situation at the front, discussed the Ukrainian peace formula and the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The President also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Sabbar As-Sudani.
18:34 The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation put on the "wanted list" the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, who issued a warrant for the arrest of Putin.
6:21 pm Biden told G7 allies that the United States will support joint training of the Ukrainian military on F-16 aircraft, CNN reports, citing an unnamed White House official. The exercise is expected to take place in Europe, but US personnel will also take part. This is expected to take several months.
17:47 Canada has imposed new sanctions against the Russian Federation, the restrictions apply to more than 70 people and organizations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during the G7 summit in Hiroshima. In particular, the sanctions concern 17 people and 18 organizations associated with Russian companies that supply military technologies and developments to the armed forces of the Russian Federation, relatives of sanctioned persons and members of the Kremlin elite. In addition, sanctions will be applied to 30 individuals and eight organizations involved in human rights violations by Russia, including the abduction of Ukrainian children.
17:29 Russians today use 25-30 thousand shells, Reznikov said: "According to our calculations, the Russians spent up to 60 thousand shells of various calibers against Ukrainians day and night. As of today, they use 25-30 thousand shells of various calibers per day . This is also very, very much."
The Minister also stressed that the NATO countries were not ready for a war in Ukraine in terms of logistics: "The procedures that NATO has today are correct, logical, wise, but not for wartime. The regime in which we had to carry out Armed Forces of Ukraine - the NATO countries were not ready for this. And, fortunately, they have already realized this."
17:06 The leaders of the G7 countries agreed to limit the trade in Russian diamonds.
17:03 The United States has imposed restrictions on the export of another 1,224 items to Russia and Belarus, the Ministry of Commerce said. Among them are a number of telephones, voice recorders, microphones and household appliances, tools and electrical appliances, photographic paper and other paper products, paints, fabrics, boats and passenger vehicles, equipment for the food industry, etc.
16:52 In the Bakhmut direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have advanced up to 500 meters in different areas over the past day, said the speaker of the Eastern Group, Sergei Cherevaty: "The situation is very difficult in this direction, but controlled. We see the intentions of the enemy, predict them, warn them. We can say that yes - there is a certain, let's say, element of the fact that we seize the initiative from them and try to counterattack."
16:48 Medvedev said that since January 1, over 117,000 people have been admitted to the RF Armed Forces on a contract basis and within the framework of "voluntary formations".
16:43 The Russians are flooding the fields in the Zaporozhye region and mining the fields and dams, preparing for the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the head of the UVA, Yuriy Malashko, told Radio Liberty. In addition, the number of attacks increased in the region.
16:29 Zelensky said that Saudi Arabia contributed to the return of ten foreign prisoners of war from Russian captivity. "We are interested in continuing our joint efforts to free people," the President stressed.
16:07 Russia loses a battalion a day near Bakhmut, and the total number of enemy losses in the Bakhmut direction is up to 70 thousand killed and wounded, Reznikov said.
16:04 Saudi Arabia is ready to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In turn, Zelensky at the summit of the League of Arab States called for support for the Ukrainian formula of peace.
15:57 In the Sumy region, during the inspection of the power line, three power engineers were killed - employees of JSC Sumyoblenergo, the Ministry of Energy reported.
15:49 The Armed Forces of Ukraine are counterattacking in Bakhmut, which Russia has been trying to take under its control for more than six months. Moreover, the Institute for the Study of War believes that the Ukrainian troops seized the tactical initiative and received tactically significant successes in the Bakhmut area following the counterattacks on May 18. About what is happening in this direction - in the material Interception of the initiative .
15:33 Any negotiations over the end of Russia's war against Ukraine, identifying the aggressor and the victim, must be rejected, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the G7 summit. She urged to support Zelensky's peace formula and continue to provide Ukraine with military and financial assistance "as much as needed."
15:14 Russia is trying to disrupt Ukraine's preparations for active military operations by shelling, while intense strikes are taking place both along the front line and the rest of the country, Vadim Skibitsky, a spokesman for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, said. According to him, the Russian Federation is trying to hit with missiles clusters of weapons and military facilities - command posts, supply routes and points of concentration of ammunition, equipment, fuel storage, areas of concentration of troops. The enemy began to pay special attention to the areas for deploying air defense systems.
In addition, the Russians are actively using the aviation component on the front line: the enemy’s operational-tactical aviation uses about 20-25 KAB-500 aerial bombs daily and strikes on the front lines and front-line territories, Skibitsky added.
15:09 As a result of Russian shelling, the main lines were damaged, which ensured the power output of one of the TPPs of DTEK Energy, after which the station stopped generating electricity, the company said. In May, generating enterprises of DTEK Energy were attacked three times, and since September last year - 33 times.
15:01 On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan, Zelensky plans to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since the beginning of the Russian invasion, CNN reports.
14:40 Russia claims that it allegedly destroyed ammunition depots with depleted uranium in Ternopil and Khmelnytsky, which caused the level of radiation to rise there. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said that the supposedly radioactive cloud from these munitions is already moving towards Europe, and an increase in radiation has already been allegedly recorded in Poland.
14:36 Erdogan said that Turkey is now "not at that stage" to impose sanctions against Russia, as the West does.
14:17 The team of the International Criminal Court visited Kherson and examined about ten places where signs of war crimes against the civilian population were recorded: torture and murder in places of illegal detention, indiscriminate shelling of crowded places, medical institutions, apartment buildings, the Office said Prosecutor General.
13:49 In Kiev, during martial law, the navigation of river, small, sports boats, jet skis and entertainment facilities at water bodies is prohibited, the city administration said. Permission to sail ships is granted by the KSVA in agreement with the Command of the grouping of forces and means of defense of the capital.
13:30 The night Russian attack did not damage the main networks, at the same time, the main lines, which ensured the output of power from one of the power plants in the east, were damaged by shelling during the day, Ukrenergo reported. Also, as a result of shelling, distribution networks in the front-line and border areas are damaged.
Due to the combination of these factors, the volume of electricity production has decreased. So far, it is enough to cover the needs of consumers, but in order to maintain a balance in the evening hours, economical consumption of electricity is necessary. Ukrainians are asked, if possible, to transfer the use of electricity from the evening hours (from 19:00 to 22:00) to the morning, afternoon or night.
13:23 Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev said that the murder of "military correspondent" Vladlen Tatarsky and the blowing up of the car of propagandist Zakhar Prilepin allegedly "were committed by Kiev with the direct coordination of Washington."
13:04 Zelensky announced that he had arrived in Saudi Arabia: "I will speak at the Arab League summit. I will meet with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman al-Saud and hold other bilateral negotiations. Our priorities are the return of all political prisoners of Crimea and the temporarily occupied territories, the return all prisoners and illegally deported, the presentation of our peace formula, in the implementation of which it is necessary to involve as many states as possible, ensuring energy security next winter."
The president called the protection of the Muslim community of Ukraine another priority: "Together with us is Mustafa Dzhemilev, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people. Crimea was the first to suffer from Russian occupation, and most of those who are subjected to repression in the occupied Crimea are Muslims."
12:55 The White House released a joint statement by the G7 countries on Ukraine, which states, in particular, that peace cannot be achieved without a "complete and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian troops. The participants also reaffirmed their commitment "together to oppose the illegal, unjustified and unprovoked aggressive war of Russia against Ukraine."
The document emphasizes unity in the sanctions policy against the Russian Federation, and also argues that Russia should pay for the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine and be held responsible for attacks on civilians and infrastructure. The G7 countries intend to keep the assets of the Russian Federation frozen until Moscow compensates for the damage from the war in Ukraine.
12:32 Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar called the Russian side's reports about allegedly "full control" over Bakhmut an "informational false start". She acknowledged that "there is some progress," but the Armed Forces of Ukraine now control the southwestern part of the city.
“If we analyze the battles for Bakhmut that have been going on since last August, since last August they have not been able to advance. If they advance in the city for a kilometer in almost a year, this can be called standing still,” Malyar added. According to her, the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Bakhmut direction destroyed the Wagner warehouse, reduced the offensive potential of the Russians and stopped the advance of the enemy deep into the territory of Ukraine.
12:11 The Russians fired at the Kupyansky district of the Kharkiv region at night, one person died in the village of Petropavlovka, the Office of the Prosecutor General said.
11:45 An analysis of the fragments of Russian missiles fired at Ukraine indicates that they were made quite recently - in the first quarter of 2023, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Vadym Skibitsky told RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, the Russians import Caliber to Crimea at least twice a month. Now the Russian Federation can produce about 25 Calibers per month, 35 units of Kh-101, Kinzhals - two units per month, ballistic missiles 9M723 to Iskander-M - five units.
11:24 As a result of Russian night shelling in the Dnepropetrovsk region, a fire station was damaged, a rescuer was injured, head of the State Emergency Service Serhiy Kruk said.
11:19 The press service of the National Security and Defense Council announced that Zelensky will take part in the meeting of G7 leaders in Japan online.
10:58 EU sanctions have led to a reduction in exports from the union to Russia by 55%, imports - by 60%, said the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
10:41 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes that Ukrainian forces seized the tactical initiative and achieved tactically significant successes in Bakhmut during counter-offensive operations on May 18. Analysts note that these operations are a continuation of local counterattacks that Ukrainian forces have been conducting for several days, and are not the beginning of a new major operation.
10:28 Hungary is ready to provide a platform for negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, said Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in an interview with Russian propaganda media.
09:57 British intelligence writes that a train derailment in Crimea as a result of sabotage blocked the only railway route to the port in Sevastopol, where the Black Sea Fleet is based. Russia will try to quickly repair the line, but the incident will disrupt the supply, possibly including weapons, in particular Caliber cruise missiles, to the Black Sea Fleet, experts predict.
Any sabotage in this sensitive area will increase the Kremlin's fears about its ability to protect Crimea's key infrastructure, analysts say. Intelligence notes that the island retains a critical psychological and logistical role in supporting Russia's war against Ukraine.
09:46 The UK has included in the sanctions list companies associated with Rosatom that produce modern materials and technologies, including lasers. London also imposed sanctions on the president and CEO of the Kalashnikov concern, against Metallinvestbank and the House of the Russian Federation. Sanctions have been imposed on 86 people and companies associated with Putin, including those who actively circumvent existing restrictions, the British Foreign Office said.
09:11 In the Donetsk region over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, two people were killed (in Konstantinovka and Velyka Novoselka), nine more were injured. In the Kharkiv region, as a result of a missile attack on the village. Tsirkuny killed one person, two injured. In the Kherson region, two people were injured, according to the IVA.
09:04 In Crimea, a drone attacked the railway near Dzhankoy, not far from the Salt Lake station, local publics write. The drone broke contact wires and fell near the railway track without damaging it. "Head" of Crimea Aksyonov said that four UAVs were shot down in the northern part of the peninsula.
08:57 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of May 19.
- personnel - about 201,760 (+660) people liquidated,
- tanks - 3777 (+4),
- armored combat vehicles - 7377 (+4),
- artillery systems - 3210 (+12),
- MLRS - 564 (+1),
- air defense systems - 319 (+1),
- aircraft - 308 (+0),
- helicopters - 294 (+0),
- UAV operational-tactical level - 2769 (+10),
- cruise missiles - 1011 (+21),
- ships/boats - 18 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tankers - 6083 (+10),
- special equipment - 419 (+1).
08:49 Danilov confirmed that Zelensky will personally attend the G7 summit in Japan. "Very important things will be accepted there, and therefore the presence of our president is absolutely important for defending our interests," the NSDC secretary added.
The main topic of the three-day summit, which begins on May 19 in Hiroshima, will be the war in Ukraine. The leaders are expected to make a joint statement of support for Ukraine and unveil new restrictions against Russia.
08:44 At night, the Russians hit a private industrial enterprise in Krivoy Rog, one person was injured, the head of the OVA, Sergei Lysak, said. There is significant destruction of shops, equipment is destroyed. Also, due to an enemy attack, a fire broke out in a four-story administrative building, one person was injured.
08:33 At night, the Russians attacked Lviv with drones, aiming at the critical infrastructure of the city. The air defense went off, there were no casualties, Mayor Andrei Sadovyi said.
08:25 The Russian army is concentrating its main efforts on the Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions - over the past day, there have been 29 clashes in these sectors of the front. The most heated battles are being fought for Bakhmut and Marinka, the General Staff reported in the morning summary .
08:17 Air defense forces destroyed 16 enemy Shahed drones out of 22 launched by the Russians and three out of six Caliber missiles at night, the command of the Air Force reported. On the night of May 19, Russia attacked Ukraine from the north and southeast with attack drones and cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea.
07:11 Bloomberg reports, citing sources, that Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia to attend the Arab League summit, after which he will fly to Japan on a US military plane to personally join the summit of G7 leaders.
06:26 The Biden administration has told European allies that the United States will allow them to transfer American F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, CNN reports, citing sources. The White House is ready to take such a decision against the backdrop of growing pressure from representatives of the US Congress and allies due to the intensification of Russian air attacks on Ukraine.
05:55 Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian plane using Patriot air defense systems, CNN reports, citing unnamed Pentagon officials and US Congress officials. It is noted that the event took place "in recent weeks" - Ukrainian air defense, with the help of Patriot, managed to shoot down an enemy bomber that was about to launch missiles at Ukrainian targets.
04:39 At night, the Russians launched Shahed strike drones in Kiev. It was an attack in several waves with short intervals between them, said the head of the KGVA Sergey Popko. All detected air targets moving in the direction of the capital were destroyed.
01:18 British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced an embargo on the import of diamonds, copper, aluminum and nickel from Russia into the country. The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that the EU also plans to limit the trade in Russian diamonds.
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