Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] In the Kharkiv direction, the line of battle is dynamic.
by Iryna Lysohor
During the week of May 13-19, more than 850 combat clashes took place, which means that the intensity of fighting compared to the previous week has increased. Russia launched 38 missile strikes and more than 680 airstrikes, conducted more than 810 attacks from rocket salvo systems on military positions and populated areas.
This was announced by the spokesman of the General Staff, Dmytro Lykhovii, on the air of the telethon. According to him, the enemy continues to focus on the Kharkiv, Kupyan, Lyman, Siver, Pokrovsky, Kramatorsk, Kurakhiv, Vremiv, Orikhov and Dnieper directions.
"Despite numerous losses in personnel and military equipment, the Russian aggressor is trying to push our troops out of their positions," he said.
The defense forces oppose the enemy's attempts, under favorable conditions - counterattack and, if necessary, maneuver.
In the Kharkiv direction , 83 enemy attacks took place in the area of Hlyboke, Neskuchne, Bugruvatka, Liptsi, Staritsa and Vovchansk settlements. The battle line is dynamic.
On Kupyanskyi, the enemy advanced in the area of the settlements of Sinkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Pishchane, Berestov in the Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk region. The defenders repelled 93 Russian attacks.
On Lymanskyi, 59 attacks by occupiers were repulsed near Novoyehorivka, Makiivka, Nevsky and Serebryansky forests of Luhansk region, Terniy, Novosadovoy and Torsky - Donetsk region.
In the Siversky direction, the Defense Forces prevented 64 attacks in the directions of Bilogorivka, Luhansk region, Verkhnyokamyanka, Vyimka, Spirne, Rozdolne, Donetsk region.
In the Kramatorsk direction, defenders repelled 107 attacks by Russians in the area of Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, Novy, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka and Andriivka settlements of the Donetsk region. The enemy tried to improve the tactical position there.
In the Pokrovsky direction, defenders repelled 228 attacks in the directions of Kalinovo, Novooleksandrivka, Sokol, Novopokrovsky, Umansky, Novoselivka Pershoya, Solovyo, Yasnobrodivka, and Netailovo.
In Kurakhivsk, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in and near Krasnohorivka, Pobyeda, Novomykhailivka, Slavny, Vodyany, Georgiivka, Paraskoviivka, and Kostyantynivka areas, where the enemy tried to break through the defenses 87 times.
In Vremivsk, defenders repelled 81 attacks in the area of Southern Mine No. 1, the villages of Kosnyatinovka, Vodyane, Urozhane, Staromayorske of the Donetsk region.
The enemy attacked the positions of the defenders in the Orichovo area ten times in Orichivskoye.
In the Dnieper direction, the occupiers launched 43 unsuccessful attacks, in particular near Krynyk.
During the week preceding the last one, the number of enemy attacks was several dozen less : there were 830 of them.
During that week, there was a higher number of missile strikes - 95, and the enemy also carried out 850 airstrikes.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:15 The defense forces maintain control along the entire front line, including in the Donetsk directions and in the Kharkiv region, Zelensky said in an evening video message. According to him, Russian troops are actively using guided bombs: “This again and again returns to the need for air defense - for additional defense systems that could significantly reduce the difficulties for our soldiers and the threat to our cities and communities. And this also concerns the preparation of the transition Our Air Force for new combat aircraft. Unfortunately, the free world still lacks efficiency in these two tasks. But we still have promising work with several partners and are doing everything so that the day comes as soon as possible when we can add strength. "patriots" to our eastern regions, our cities, such as Khar'kov, Sumy and others."
21:58 The Netherlands will transfer YPR-765 armored vehicles to Ukraine, the country’s Ministry of Defense reported. These vehicles provide fire support in battle, they evacuate wounded military personnel and deliver ammunition to the front. The number of armored vehicles has not been disclosed. Previously, the Netherlands had already supplied 207 YPR armored vehicles of various types to Ukraine.
21:13 The Russian army attacked Belozerka, Kherson region, two people were wounded, the OVA reported.
20:46 Russia purchased from the DPRK more than 11 thousand containers of weapons for use in the war against Ukraine, said US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Robert Wood. He emphasized that the Russian Federation would not have been able to continue its war in Ukraine without external support from the DPRK, Iran and China. Wood also added that the United States will supply Ukraine with everything it needs until the Russian Federation withdraws its troops.
20:40 Western countries are extremely slow in making decisions on military assistance to Ukraine, which complicates the situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Zelensky said in an interview with Reuters: “All the decisions that we, and then everyone else together, come to are about a year late.” So, according to him, the supply of air defense systems like Patriot is “one big step forward, and before that - two steps back.”
The president also explained that Ukraine is striking at Russian energy facilities “because it leaves us without energy.” At the same time, the head of state assured that Ukraine has never used Western weapons to strike Russia, since “we were not given the green light.”
20:37 Zelensky will continue to remain the President of Ukraine for the UN, despite the fact that his term of office is expiring, said the Speaker of the Secretary General Stephane Dujarric: “President Zelensky remains for us the head of state of Ukraine and the person with whom the Secretary General communicates when he needs to contact with the Ukrainian leader."
20:34 The United States opposes expanding the geography of the use of American weapons transferred to Ukraine, Pentagon head Lloyd Austin said after a meeting in the Ramstein format. He also said that Washington does not plan to send military instructors to Ukraine.
20:31 Lithuania is ready to return its military instructors to Ukraine as part of a coalition that could be led by France, said the country’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis: “We could again send instructors to Ukraine - those who were already present there. Lithuania is ready to join coalition to train the Ukrainian military, led, for example, by France."
At the same time, he added that Europe “should not count” on Beijing’s assistance in resolving the war in Ukraine on Kyiv’s terms. “Nothing is done for free; China will always demand something in return,” the minister noted.
20:28 In Ukraine there was not a single fact of the use of nuclear materials for purposes other than their intended purpose, said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi: “When allegations of violations of nuclear safety arose, the IAEA conducted an impartial and scientifically based investigation. We established the facts that there was no use of nuclear material for other purposes, thereby dispelling the fog of war and defusing the tense situation."
19:52 The second batch of Leopard battle tanks from Spain will arrive in Ukraine at the end of June, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said. According to her, they will also come with various types of ammunition - 155-mm artillery, anti-aircraft missiles for Patriot, anti-drone systems, optical-electronic surveillance and tracking systems, etc.
19:39 On Tuesday, May 21, from 00:00 and throughout the day throughout Ukraine, hourly shutdown schedules will apply to industrial and household consumers, Ukrenergo reported. Schedules can be applied when certain consumption limits are exceeded.
18:44 The front line in the north of the Khar'kov region has been stabilized, fighting continues in Volchansk itself - the confrontation goes on almost every street, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov. At the same time, he added that the Russian plan to quickly capture the north of the Khar'kov region failed.
17:58 Factories in Ukraine are forced to hire women due to staff shortages, writes the Financial Times. Thus, at one of the metallurgical plants in Krivoy Rog, managers say that hiring more women is a matter of survival for the enterprise. Of the 18,000 men who worked for the company at the start of the war, about 3,500 men were mobilized, and many more are likely to be mobilized this year. If previously women worked mainly in administrative positions, now they take on more difficult physical functions.
17:12 The Austrian Ministry of Climate Protection announced that it will allocate 5 million euros to Ukraine for the restoration of energy infrastructure.
16:40 Countries participating in the Ramstein format have allocated $95 billion in military support to Ukraine since February 2022, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said.
16:14 The coming weeks and months will be decisive for Ukraine, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at the opening of the next meeting in the Ramstein format. According to him, now is the moment of challenge, when Russian troops have gone on the offensive and will try to create a buffer zone along the border in the Khar'kov region.
15:31 The Russians shelled the front-line Stepnogorsk, Zaporozhye region - one person was killed, said the head of the OVA Ivan Fedorov.
14:53 India will be represented at the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
14:37 Ukraine realizes that the war with Russia will end in negotiations, said NSDC Secretary Alexander Litvinenko in a video message to participants of the Baltic Sea Region Forum. According to him, Zelensky’s peace formula is being promoted precisely for this purpose. Litvinenko stressed that Ukraine does not need a truce, but a stable peace for decades, and for this we need security guarantees, and “real guarantees are NATO membership.” Litvinenko also said that the situation at the front is difficult, but “not catastrophic.”
14:19 290 foreign components were found in the North Korean ballistic missile with which Russia attacked Ukraine, said Alexander Ruvin, director of the Kiev Forensic Research Institute: “In only one object identified as a sample of the North Korean ballistic missile, 290 foreign-made microelectronics components were found. The vast majority of the elements provide rocket navigation; they are produced by more than 25 companies with headquarters in the USA, China, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan, etc.
13:24 The number of people killed as a result of a Russian strike on a recreation center in the village. Cherkasskaya Lozovaya, Khar'kov district, has grown to seven - today, while examining the bottom of the reservoir, divers discovered the body of a man, the State Emergency Service reported. Also, 28 people were injured as a result of the strike.
12:50 The Armed Forces of Ukraine control 60% of Volchansk, said Roman Semenukha, deputy chairman of the Khar'kov OVA: “The enemy does not abandon attempts inside Volchansk to push the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of the city. The city is approximately 60% controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, that is, the assaults do not stop.”
12:37 Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that some states have already sent their instructors to Ukraine to train the Ukrainian military. She stressed that NATO allies should not fear that sending troops to Ukraine to train its soldiers could drag the Alliance into a war with Russia. According to Kallas, if Russian troops attacked NATO training personnel in Ukraine, it would not automatically trigger Article 5: “I can’t imagine that if anyone got hurt there, those who sent their people, they will say: this is Article 5, let’s bomb Russia. This is not how it works. This does not happen automatically. Therefore, these fears have no basis.”
12:09 Since May 18, 260 thousand men have updated their data in the Reserve+ application, said Dmitry Lazutkin, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense. According to him, now men abroad can also update their data, which was impossible on the first day of the application’s launch. Within a month, an update is planned in the Reserve+ application, after which it will display a special code similar to the one that should be in a military registration document. This code will be valid for verification by employees of the TCC and SP, police, and State Border Guard Service.
11:58 The Russians attacked one of the enterprises in the Dnieper district of Kherson - one person was killed, one was wounded, said the head of the OVA Alexander Prokudin.
11:17 In the village of Novoandreevka, Zaporozhye region, the Russians dropped ammunition from a drone on rescuers who were putting out a fire in a house after the shelling. One of the rescuers was injured, the State Emergency Service reported.
10:36 During a drone attack on the night of May 19, at least three UAVs were not shot down and hit the territory of a military airfield in the village of Kushchevskaya, Krasnodar Territory, reports the opposition Russian publication Astra, citing sources in the region’s emergency services. As a result of the attack, a fire broke out and the Russian SU-27 supersonic fighter and airfield infrastructure were damaged.
10:20 Russian public pages write about the Ukrainian attack in the area of the Academy of Internal Affairs in Lugansk, where the Russian military was based. The “governor” of the occupied Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, also announced a massive shelling of Vasylivka.
09:43 In the Kherson region over the past 24 hours, eight people were injured as a result of Russian shelling, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin. A high-rise building and 21 private houses, public utilities and agricultural infrastructure were damaged.
09:27 In the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, three people were wounded as a result of Russian shelling - two in Severny and one in Yekaterinivka, said the head of the OBA Vadim Filashkin.
09:01 The number of victims as a result of yesterday's Russian attack with an Iskander-M missile on a recreation center in the village. Cherkasskaya Lozovaya in the Khar'kov region has grown to 28, six people have died, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA. Among the wounded are two ambulance workers. In Volchansk over the past 24 hours, one person was killed and one was wounded as a result of Russian shelling. In the village Two people were killed and five were injured in Novoosinovo, Kupyansky district. In the village Three people were killed and four were injured in Kovsharovka, Kupyansky district.
08:44 In the Zaporozhye region, one person was wounded as a result of an enemy attack in the Pologovsky district, said the head of the OVA Ivan Fedorov.
08:32 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of May 20:
personnel - about 493,690 (+1400) people,
tanks - 7590 (+14),
armored combat vehicles - 14,665 (+35),
artillery systems - 12,737 (+50),
MLRS - 1076 (+2),
air defense systems - 807 (+4),
aircraft - 354 (+0),
helicopters - 326 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 10 236 (+81),
cruise missiles - 2205 (+1),
ships/boats - 27 (+1),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 17,311 (+60),
special equipment - 2079 (+2).
08:07 Air defense at night destroyed all 29 attack UAVs of the Shahed-131/136 type, which Russia attacked from Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kursk, the Air Force reported. Drones were destroyed in Odessa, Nikolaev, Poltava and Lvov regions. In addition, at night the Russians attacked the Khar'kov region with an Iskander-M ballistic missile.
07:48 In the Nikolaevsky district in the morning, debris from a downed Shahed-type UAV damaged a private home, one person was injured, said the head of the OVA Vitaly Kim.
05:55 The “most promising” idea for Ukraine is for the G7 countries to provide it with a loan, which will be secured by income and interest from frozen Russian assets in Europe, said US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Along with the announced option for using $300 billion of frozen Russian assets, several more remain under consideration. G7 finance ministers will meet in Italy this week with the intention of finalizing a plan that they can convey to heads of state before the group's leaders meet next month, The New York Times writes.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] Ukrainian soldiers courageously repulse enemy attacks.
Russian troops continue active offensive and assault operations in the Kupyansky, Kurakhovsky, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsky directions.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces published operational information about the Russian invasion as of 20.00 Monday, May 20.
“The Russian occupiers continue active offensive and assault operations in the Kupyansky, Kurakhovsky, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsky directions. Enemy aircraft are also operating with high intensity in the last two - in total, the occupiers dropped 15 KABs, and also used about three dozen unguided aircraft missiles,” the statement says. message.
In the Khar'kov direction, the number of today’s clashes has increased to four. During the day, the enemy attacked twice near Volchansk and once each in the direction of the villages of Staritsa and Liptsy. The General Staff assures that the situation is under control.
“Starting from May 10 and as of this time, in the Khar'kov direction, the Russian invaders have already lost 1,974 people killed and wounded in manpower and 342 units of weapons and military equipment!” - says the construction of the General Staff.
In the Kupyansk direction, three clashes continue in the Stelmakhovka and Sinkovka areas. In just these 24 hours, the enemy tried to break through our defenses in this direction 11 times.
There are no changes in the Seversky direction.
“In the Kramatorsk direction, in the second half of the day, the enemy became more active near Chasov Yar and carried out three attacks. There is also a battle going on now near Andreevka. The situation is under control. The invaders launched another airstrike, this time in the Druzhba area,” the General Staff reports.
It is reported that the enemy continues to concentrate efforts in the Pokrovsky direction, where he has already made 32 attempts to advance forward.
“24 attacks have been repulsed, eight are ongoing. The invaders carried out another five airstrikes in the areas of Novoaleksandrovka, Vozdvizhenka, Umansky, Karlovka and Elizavetovka. Our soldiers are responding harshly to the enemy. Today, as a result of the actions of Ukrainian units, the invaders have already lost 366 people killed and wounded in this direction. Also 22 units of enemy military equipment were damaged and destroyed, including six tanks,” the General Staff added.
11 enemy attacks were also reported in the Kurakhovsky direction, three of them are ongoing, the situation is under control. In other directions - without any significant changes.
“Thanks to the flexibility of our defense system, Ukrainian soldiers confidently hold their positions. Units of the Defense Forces keep enemy actions under fire control, perform maneuvers, and, under favorable conditions, carry out assault operations to dislodge enemy troops from occupied lines,” the Prosecutor General’s Office reports.
Let us remind you that on the night of May 19, the Ukrainian military destroyed the Russian sea minesweeper Kovrovets.
It was also reported that the Russian Navy ship Cyclone, which carries Caliber missiles, was likely hit during a missile attack in temporarily occupied Sevastopol.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] During the May offensive, the Russians planned to partially cordon off Khar'kov
The Russians continue to attack along almost the entire front line. They focus their main efforts on the Pokrovsky and Kupyansky directions.
The Russians planned to partially encircle Khar'kov and put pressure east of the Pechenezh reservoir. The Economist writes about this on Monday, May 20, with reference to “received military plans.”
According to the publication, the operation was allegedly planned by the invaders for May 15-16, but it was postponed by almost a week for unknown reasons.
The Russians seem to have “identified two directions” of attack from both sides of the reservoir. In particular, the offensive in the western direction was supposed to be aimed at bringing Russian troops within artillery range of Khar'kov near the village of Borshcheva.
However, as the publication points out, they were stopped by the 92nd brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which pushed the invaders back 10 kilometers from the initial target.
The Economist adds that in the Volchansky direction the occupiers’ plan was to break through to the Pecheneg city.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that Russian troops are seeking to attack Kha'rkov, although they understand that it will be “very difficult.”
Let us remind you that on May 17, Russian troops also dropped guided bombs on Khar'kov - on the Kholodnogorsk district of the city. According to the latest data, four civilians were killed and another 29 were injured.
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[EngMilRu] Units of the Sever Group of Forces continue advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences.
Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade near Glubokoye (Kharkov region).
In addition, two counter-attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments were repelled near Volchansk and Staritsa (Kharkov region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 380 Ukrainian troops, eight motor vehicles, three 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one Bukovel electronic warfare station.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade and 1st National Guard Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova and Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one armoured personnel carrier, three motor vehicles, one 152mm D-20 howitzer, and one 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.
Units of the Yug Group of Forces completely liberated Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic) and took more advantageous lines and positions.
Losses were inflicted on the enemy's manpower and hardware near Spornoye, Razdolovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 340 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, and three motor vehicles.
In the course of counter-battery warfare, two 122mm D-30 howitzers, two UK-made 105mm L-119 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105mm M119 howitzer, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station were neutralised.
Four AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, and 142nd Infantry Brigade near Umanskoye, Netaylovo, and Ocheretino (Donetsk People's Republic).
One counterattack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 143rd Infantry Brigade was repelled near Solovyovo (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 330 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, including one German-made Marder and one U.S.-made Bradley, as well as two motor vehicles.
In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made 155mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155mm M777 howitzer, one 152mm Msta-B howitzer, and one 122mm D-30 howitzer were neutralised.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted losses on the enemy's manpower and hardware near Urozhaynoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, and one 152mm D-20 howitzer.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade, 141st Infantry Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, and 108th Territorial Defence Brigade near Stepnoye (Kherson region), Stepnogorsk, Rabotino, and Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region).
One AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group was eliminated on the Pereyaslavsky island.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one tank, nine motor vehicles, one 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one 152mm D-20 howitzer.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces neutralised one German-made IRIS-T air defence system radar station and one S-125 SAM system.
A meeting place of command of the AFU 92nd and 95th Assault brigades were hit, as well as the enemy's manpower and hardware was engaged in 138 areas.
Air defence units shot down 45 unmanned aerial vehicles, one French-made Hammer guided aerial bomb, four U.S.-made HIMARS and Olkha MLRS projectiles, and one Neptune anti-ship missile.
In total, 601 airplanes and 274 helicopters, 24,419 unmanned aerial vehicles, 523 air defence missile systems, 16,097 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,305 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,700 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,843 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:59 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 05/20/2024 to 00:00 05/21/2024.
A total of 18 facts of armed attacks by the UFU were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC over the past 24 hours.
Nine civilians were reported injured.
DAMAGED:
One car,
One residential building,
Two civil infrastructure facilities.
A total of 16 artillery attacks in the Donetsk direction,
Two artillery attacks in the Gorlovka direction,
A total of 41 units of various ammunition were fired.
23:50 Dnipropetrovsk region. Explosion!
It is reported that as a result of today's daytime missile strike on Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities, a military workshop for assembling equipment for Armed Forces armored vehicles and a warehouse with parts were hit.
22:45 SITUATION IN KHAR'KOV REGION AS OF 20.05 22:40.
“We notice that the enemy is accumulating his reserves with all his strength and capabilities. We are confident that even despite their not so impressive forces, they will try to hit our flank to distract attention and create media noise. Perhaps these will not be large sabotage groups, but maybe a tank fist with 2-3 platoons, or maybe an imitation of an attack on the state. border in Sumy region,” –writes"Front Bird"
21:04 Our soldiers from the 2nd Artillery Brigade of the Southern Group of Forces destroyed part of the positions of Ukrainian Armed Forces militants in the Belogorovka area
19:10 Attack aircraft of the 11th Air Force and Air Defense Army applies strikes on positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
18:30 UAV operators using an FPV drone destroyed the artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces –video.
18:00 The number of those wounded during the rocket attack on Makeyevka by Ukrainian troops has increased to five, said the head of the DPR Denis Pushilin.
17:40 Consequences of artillery attack of a gas station in Makeyevka, where a pregnant woman and four other civilians were injured.
17:14 Explosions between Sumy and Poltava regions.
16:55 The Armed Forces of Ukraine at 15.50 dropped an explosive object from an unmanned aerial vehicle on the Petrovsky district of Donetsk, the JCCC reported.
16:47 Night strike on the positions of Ukrainian formations using TOS "Solntsepek" in the village of Chasov Yar -video.
15:55 Soldiers with the Russian flag in the northern part of Volchansk -video.
15:35 In the DPR, from May 14 to May 19, seven people were killed and another 14, including one child, were injured due to aggression on the part of Ukrainian troops, the office of the regional ombudsman Daria Morozova reported.
14:48 Ukrainian drone reset in the Kirovsky district of Donetsk, ammunition hit a minibus and a car, a civilian was wounded.
14:45 Assault detachments of the “Southern” group of troops occupied stronghold of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk direction.
The fortifications of Ukrainian militants were discovered during aerial reconnaissance. The coordinates of enemy positions were immediately transmitted to the assault troops on the front line.
With the support of operators of unmanned reconnaissance and strike aircraft, assault groups quickly attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from several directions.
Having broken the enemy's resistance, our fighters occupied and completely cleared the strong point.
14:40 In the skies over Donetsk, Makeyevka, Avdeevka and Gorlovka in the DPR over the past week, the Russian FSB intercepted 215 Ukrainian drones, the press service of the regional headquarters of the department reported
14:31 The Russian Armed Forces destroyed the 152mm 2S4 Akatsiya self-propelled guns of the Ukrainian Armed Forces using the Lancet -video.
14:26 A private gas station came under fire from the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the north of Makeyevka, three people were injured, the DPR Ministry of Coal and Energy reported.
13:50 Six people received shrapnel wounds as a result of massive artillery attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Vasilyevka and the Vasilievsky district of the Zaporozhye region, Governor Balitsky said.
13:10 The main thing from the new briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense:
The Russian Armed Forces liberated the village of Belogorovka in the Lugansk People's Republic;
Russian troops hit the site of a meeting of the command staff of the 92nd and 95th Assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces;
Units of the North group of troops continue to advance into the depths of the enemy’s defense;
During the day, the Russian Armed Forces repelled two counterattacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Volchansk and Staritsa, Khar'kov region;
The group of troops “West” improved its tactical situation within 24 hours; the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 60 soldiers;
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost more than 340 military personnel and three tanks as a result of the actions of units of the Southern Group of Forces;
Russian troops destroyed the radar of the IRIS-T complex and the launcher of the S-125 air defense system of Ukraine;
During the day, air defense shot down 45 UAVs, a Hammer bomb, 4 HIMARS and Alder rounds, and a Neptune missile from the Ukrainian Armed Forces;
The Vostok group of troops repelled a counterattack by the assault group of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the enemy lost up to 120 soldiers;
The “Center” group of troops improved the tactical situation within 24 hours; the total losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine amounted to more than 330 military personnel, a tank, three infantry fighting vehicles;
Units of the Dnepr group of troops destroyed a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Pereyaslavsky Island.
12:58 UAV operators 36 Army FPV drone destroyed artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
12:27 The Mirgorod airbase in the Poltava region was hit by ballistic missiles. The 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is based at this airfield.
12:05 As a result of shelling, French SCALP-EG missiles started a strong fire in the village of Yubileiny - a residential building was engulfed in flames, dozens of other buildings were cut by shrapnel, glass was broken by the blast wave, said the head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik.
Five victims are preliminary known. They are now receiving all the necessary medical care. Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Investigative Committee are working on the spot.
11:57 The head of the LPR, Pasechnik, said that the attack on Lugansk was carried out using Western weapons.
“Suffering defeat at the front, Ukrainian armed forces are hitting civilian homes and civilian infrastructure. Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and law enforcement agencies are working on the spot. Details about the victims and destruction are being clarified,” Pasechnik noted.
11:47 Information is received that Russian troops, breaking through enemy resistance, have reached the center of Paraskovievka. The 79th Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, part of which was transferred to Volchansk, are unable to hold back our offensive.
11:30 Explosions in Krivoy Rog.
10:37 Explosionin Lugansk local Telegram channels report.
10:20 Ukrainian Telegram channels report heavy artillery attack by KABs in the Khar'kov region
10:07 A minibus driver was wounded in the Kirovsky district of Donetsk due to a shell being dropped from a Ukrainian drone, said the mayor of the city of Kulemzin.
10:01 Explosions in Mirgorod, Poltava region.
09:44 Statement of Head of the press center of the “West” group:
As a result of active actions, the group’s motorized rifle units improved the tactical position and defeated manpower and equipment of units of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Torskoye area.
During the counterbattery fight, artillery units destroyed: two 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mounts, three M777 towed howitzers, a 152mm Msta-B howitzer, and five mortar crews.
The group's air defense systems destroyed six aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles. Enemy losses amounted to up to 440 troops, two pickup trucks and five UAV control posts.
08:19 Destruction of ammunition depot and howitzer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the Russian "Gyacinth" in the Kherson region.
08:14 The Russian kamikaze drone “Lancet-3” destroyed the German Gepard self-propelled gun in one of the directions of the Northern Military District zone –video.
08:10 Soldiers of the 26th TP in one of the directions in the Northern Military District zone “landed” the Ukrainian drone “Baba Yaga” with small arms -photo.
08:06 Russian military of the 1st Guards Tank Army using the Lancet-3 kamikaze drone destroyed enemy 152mm D-20 howitzer in the Kupyansk direction.
08:01 Russian troops launched a series of attacks on enemy targets in the Odessa region.
08:00 Personnel combat work of crews of 2S7 203mm self-propelled artillery systems "Malka".
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] Russian troops continue to build on their success in several directions in the Northern Military District zone. Fierce fighting continues in the Donbass, primarily in the area of the city of Chasov Yar. The Russian Armed Forces are also advancing in the Kharkov region to create a buffer zone and push the enemy away from the state border.
The main defense hub of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the border zone has become the regional center of Volchansk, where powerful reserves of the Ukrainian army are concentrated. According to the authorities of the Kharkov region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces control 60% of the city's territory, while Russian sources say that Volchansk is actually divided in half.
Also, the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces assures that the situation in the city and in general in the Kharkov direction is under the control of the Ukrainian army. Allegedly, the Ukrainian Armed Forces manage to push the enemy back to their original positions and even counterattack. In reality, the situation is different. Despite the fact that the pace of the Russian army’s offensive has slowed down somewhat, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to retreat.
The key issue in the assault on Volchansk is taking control of the bridges across the Volchya River, which divides the city into two parts, as well as high-rise buildings in the center, a source located in the Kharkov direction told IA Regnum.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine use high-rise buildings to adjust the fire of tanks and artillery, as well as to place sniper nests and observation points. Enemy artillery operates approximately 5-10 kilometers from the city - in the Bely Kolodez-Yurvenkovo area. Russian drones are working on identified targets, but the priority task is to deprive the artillery of its “eyes” in Volchansk itself.
Before the area is cleared, a frontal assault on the city could result in serious losses. Therefore, limited assault groups are still operating there, identifying pockets of defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“The enemy is snapping back, using all resources, including aviation, which they usually try to save. They use French JASSM bombs, cluster munitions, and drones. They don’t want to lose the city, you can feel it,” said the interlocutor of IA Regnum.
The AGM-158 JASSM aviation ammunition, adapted for use by Soviet-made aircraft, has a penetrating warhead with a programmable fuse. The warhead penetrates the roof of the building, and the explosion occurs inside.
Despite regular supplies of missiles, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are experiencing an acute shortage of carrier aircraft and qualified pilots, so the command decides to use aviation only in critical cases. The next raid on Volchansk cost the loss of at least one aircraft, official sources of the Ukrainian Air Force reported.
“During the execution of a combat mission, the chief of staff of the aviation squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Denis Vasilyuk, died,” the official account of the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade reported.
But even Ukrainian aviation cannot slow down the advance of Russian troops. According to Regnum news agency sources, fighting continues in the area of the bridge over the Volchya River, on Gagarin Street. The northern part of the city, including the suburbs and industrial zones, is under the control of the Russian army.
The key center of defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is organized in residential areas along Sobornaya Street and in the administrative quarter of the city.
Most likely, with the further advance of the Russian army, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will retreat to the other side of the Volchya River, where defense lines have also been created: primarily in the area of the Volchansk railway station and in the adjacent industrial zone. At the same time, Ukrainian troops are deliberately delaying urban battles, trying to have time to build new defensive structures.
This is actually recognized by the head of the military-civil administration of the region Oleg Sinegubov. According to him, “in the border zone in the Kharkov region, already built defense lines are being improved and new ones are being built.”
Regnum news agency sources reported that engineering equipment actually works at a distance of 20–30 kilometers from the border. But organizing defense “in an open field” will be much more difficult.
“Volchansk is the only relatively large settlement in the border zone, so both sides cling to it. As it is liberated from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, we should expect that the creation of a buffer zone will proceed faster and more confidently,” our interlocutor is confident.
In Donbass, the main hot spot remains the area of the city of Chasov Yar. It is noteworthy that the situation in Volchansk is almost completely repeated here: a regional center divided into two parts by a river (canal), with the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces organized around multi-story buildings.
But there are also differences.
On the left bank of the Severodonetsk Canal there is only one district - Kanal, while the main part of the city lies on the right bank. The Ukrainian Armed Forces units holding the area are surrounded on three sides. When Russian troops attempt to advance, they call in artillery support and drones.
Therefore, the key task here is to suppress observation posts in high-rise buildings. When these points are suppressed, assault groups advance and push back the enemy, sources tell IA Regnum.
“The line of defense is the high-rise buildings on Gorbatov Street. Assault groups enter and depart. There are fastenings. There was information that our forces had broken through into the depths of the area - it was too early to talk about this. But we manage to push through the enemy,” our interlocutor added.
In the northern part of the district, the main brunt of the fighting fell on the intersection of Zelenaya and Obraztsova streets in the northern part of the district, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces created a defense center. The enemy's crossing of the Severodonetsk Canal is also under constant attack.
Ukrainian sources write that Russian aviation and artillery are very active. This makes it difficult to transfer fresh forces to the city and prevents the formation of a new line of defense.
Another task of our aviation is to prevent the Ukrainian Armed Forces from retreating from the left bank of the canal to the right.
“There is information that they have already developed plans for withdrawal, but they will not give the order until the last minute. And the rumors were confirmed that part of the forces that were supposed to be sent in our direction are now traveling to the Kharkov and Sumy regions, where they are waiting for a breakthrough. So, maybe we should expect changes for the better in our sector if the enemy decides that this section is not so important for him,” says IA Regnum’s interlocutor.
Western media predict that the next couple of months will be decisive for the situation at the front: the Armed Forces of Ukraine are weakening, and Russian troops are picking up pace and pushing through the enemy’s defenses.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, is a legitimate military target for Russia, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said on May 20, Gazeta reports.
Zelensky's loss of legitimacy as the head of the Ukrainian state does not change anything because Zelensky heads a political regime hostile to Russia, "and the leaders of countries waging war are always seen as a legitimate military target," Medvedev said.
Zelensky is a war criminal, noted the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council.
As Regnum reported, Medvedev also said on May 20 that the cancellation of the presidential elections in Ukraine means the transformation of this country into a failed state and the death of this project. In addition, he suggested that Zelensky canceled the elections because he was afraid of competition, including from the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny and his own predecessor Petro Poroshenko.
On May 16, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council called Zelensky’s trip to Kharkov a “farewell visit ” and reminded the head of the Kiev regime about the fate of the executed Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, publishing a corresponding photograph. Mussolini was executed in 1945 as a war criminal, he was hanged in Piazza Loreto in Milan.
On May 4, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs put Zelensky, Poroshenko and a number of other former and current leaders of Ukraine on the wanted list after the 2014 coup. Russia actually delivered an ultimatum to the United States: either people not associated with the Maidan come to power in Ukraine, or the North Military District will continue until the complete dismantling of the Ukrainian state, followed by direct negotiations between the Russian Federation and the United States, noted IA Regnum columnist Gevorg Mirzayan in his article.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Dozens of Russian oil tankers subject to US sanctions have been idle for several months, Bloomberg reported on May 20.
According to the publication, the restrictions affected tankers for transporting shipments of Russian oil at a price above the ceiling of $60 per barrel. The US Treasury has added 40 vessels to the sanctions register since October 2023. At the same time, only one tanker (SKF Primorye) was able to pick up the cargo and set off for its destination in Asia. If it unloads, other ships may follow its example, the article indicated.
Of the 40 tankers, 21 belong to the Russian state shipping company Sovcomflot. Eight vessels are located near the ports of Vladivostok and Nakhodka. Most of the remaining tankers are controlled by UAE-based Hennesea Holdings Ltd.
According to ship tracking data, other sanctioned tankers are idle and empty around the world, the authors clarified.
As Regnum reported, on May 7, Bloomberg, citing its existing draft of future EU sanctions, noted that the European Union proposed introducing restrictions on 11 vessels, including tankers, which allegedly help Russia circumvent sanctions. The ban is expected to apply to insurance and technical assistance, including the acceptance of liquid fuels, ship servicing, crew changes, loading and unloading services, fendering and towing services.
Numerous anti-Russian sanctions introduced by the West have brought the opposite result; the country’s economy is growing. President Vladimir Putin announced this on May 6 at a meeting with the Russian government. According to him, in 2023 the Russian economy grew at a rate above the world average. Russia’s opponents tried to destroy it from the inside, they wanted to lead the country to unemployment and the closure of enterprises, but these plans were not successful, Putin emphasized.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Nine people were arrested in Poland due to suspicions of sabotage and sabotage allegedly committed by order of Russia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced this on May 20on TVN24.
“At the moment, we have arrested nine suspects who have been charged with direct participation in sabotage in Poland at the request of Russian services. This applies to beatings, arson and attempted arson,” the Polish Prime Minister said.
Tusk explained that we are talking about mercenaries, and in some cases they are representatives of the criminal world. The Prime Minister of Poland added that among the accused are citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Poland.
In particular, Tusk mentioned a “high-profile incident” in Wroclaw, where an attempt to set fire to a paint factory, next to which there was a chemical plant, was stopped. According to Tusk, the arson “was ordered by Russian services.”
“We are dealing with sabotage in Lithuania, the arson of an IKEA warehouse. The same people detained there may also be involved in attempts at sabotage, mainly arson, in Poland,” the Polish Prime Minister noted.
Earlier, IA Regnum reported that on February 6, 2024, the Polish prosecutor's office charged a citizen of the country with “espionage” for Russia. He was also suspected of drug trafficking and document forgery. The man faces up to 15 years in prison.
The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, in July 2023, speaking about spy scandals in Poland, said that Russophobia and spy mania reign in the republic. The diplomat clarified that because of this, the Polish authorities stopped fulfilling their obligations under international law.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The UN Security Council (SC) did not support the draft resolution proposed by Russia on preventing an arms race in outer space.
Of the 15 countries, seven representatives voted for the resolution, including Russia and China. The same number of states were against it. Switzerland abstained from voting. To adopt a document, nine votes of Security Council members must be obtained and none of the permanent members must veto.
As Regnum reported, in April at the UN Security Council, Russia vetoed a draft resolution prepared by the United States and Japan on the non-deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space. During the voting, the resolution was supported by 13 out of 15 countries, China abstained.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova explained that Russia was forced to block the draft UN Security Council resolution on banning the deployment of weapons in space, proposed by the United States and Japan, due to the refusal to accept amendments initiated by Moscow and Beijing, as well as because of Washington’s attempts to create new ones through the resolution obligations in this area.
Russia, according to the diplomat, proposed to abandon any type of weapon in space, and not just weapons of mass destruction. They also discussed guarantees of non-use of force or threat against space objects. Zakharova noted that the adoption of the resolution would allow the United States to legitimize any views on international security that are beneficial to them.
[TWZ] The price for Shahed-136 drones in reportedly leaked documents far exceeds previous estimates, but is that what Russia is really paying?
A hacking group claims to have stolen files from an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) front company in Iran that provides fine details about the Shahed-136 Kamikaze drones that Russia has been using to striking Ukraine for 15 months, The recent dump of leaked documents has called into question how much Russia actually paid Iran for the drones, and while we cannot confirm the authenticity of the documents or the general accuracy of the figures they state, they do prompt an important question — what does a Shahed-136 actually cost?
Media outlets like The New York Times and CNN have reported that the drones were costing Russia about $20,000 apiece. However, documents obtained through the claimed hack show vastly different figures.
Information appeared online that a hacker group Prana Network has hacked the servers of Sahara Thunder, the manufacturer of Shahed drones, and posted a large amount of documents, both technical and related to their supply to Russia. As of now, the leaked documents reveal that:…
The documents state that in 2022, Russia intended to produce 6,000 Iranian drones under license at its facilities within 2.5 years, according to the Ukrainian Militinaryi news outlet. The publication cites a website called Iran Cyber News. The Iranians initially asked Russia to pay $375,000 per Shahed, but that figure was eventually negotiated down to $193,000 per drone for 6,000 units or $290,000 each for 2,000 drones, the publication reported. The total value of the production contract, including the transfer of technologies, equipment, 6,000 UAVs, and software, was $1.75 billion, according to Militinaryi.
However, the documents state that there was a plan for full localization of production in Russia with minimal supply of Iranian components that could be executed in 2023, with the projected cost of each Shahed-136 dropping to about $48.800 each. The all-in 'transfer' price was at $165,500 per unit, Militinaryi reported. "This gap is probably due to the mortgaged payments for linear production, additional costs, and investments in the enterprise." In other words, this would be the all-in cost of the program, including infrastructure and licenses, amortized across the production run. The more you build, the less that number would be as fixed costs are further offset. This would give a total program cost of just under $1B.
Regardless, a unit cost of around $50,000 would seem quite realistic based on everything we know about the Shahed-136 and how they are made, with that price being further reduced, and substantially so, over time.
Russia transferred more than two million grams of gold to Iran as part of these deals, the publication says. Once again, we do not know the final terms of the deal for certain or what it actually included.
The per-unit cost figures released by the hackers do not seem out of line, the CEO of a Ukrainian drone manufacturer told The War Zone.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
