Tuesday, May 21

Russia’s war against Ukraine

The aftermath of Russian attacks against Kharkiv Oblast on May 19-20, 2024. (Governor Oleh Syniehubov/Telegram)

Security council secretary: Ukraine ‘clearly understands’ war will end with negotiations. Ukraine “clearly understands” that Russia’s full-scale war will end in negotiations, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko said on May 20, addressing the participants of the Baltic Sea Region Forum.

Every Western decision is late by a year, says Zelensky. Western partners have been deliberating key decisions on military assistance for Ukraine for “too long,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 20 in an interview with Reuters. The president described the delivery of aid, particularly badly needed air defense, as “one big step forward, but before that, two steps back.”

Kharkiv Oblast official: Ukraine controls around 60% of Vovchansk. Ukrainian forces control about 60% of the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast amid continuous Russian assaults, Roman Semenukha, deputy governor, said on national television on May 20.

Governor: Ukraine strikes Russian base in occupied Luhansk’s suburb. A Ukrainian rocket attack targeted a Russian military base in occupied Luhansk’s suburb of Yuvileine on May 20, said the governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast, Artem Lysohor, citing local residents.

Medvedev says Zelensky is ‘legitimate military target.’ Dmitry Medvedev, who previously served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, has regularly used bellicose language in an attempt to intimidate the West and Ukraine.

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Russian media: Oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai damaged after drone attack. A unit of an oil refinery in the Russian town of Slavyansk-on-Kuban was damaged in a drone attack, the Russian state-owned media RIA Novosti claimed on May 20, citing a source in the operating company.

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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces control 60% of Vovchansk; heavy battles continue in Kharkiv Oblast

Ukrainian forces control about 60% of the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast amid continuous Russian assaults, Deputy Governor Roman Semenukha said on national television.

Photo: Libkos/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Governor: Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia Oblast kills man. Russian troops hit the front-line village of Stepnohirsk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on May 20, killing a man, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Russian attack on Kherson kills 1, injures elderly man. Russian forces attacked the city of Kherson on May 20, killing a man and injuring another, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Russia strikes village in Kherson Oblast, injuring 2. A 74-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman were injured due to the Russian strike.

International response

Nine people arrested in Poland over alleged Russian sabotage plot. The Polish government arrested nine people from a Russian spy ring in connection to alleged sabotage plots, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told Polish media outlet TVN24.

Austin at Ramstein: US has ‘already delivered many of Ukraine’s top priority requirements.’ U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the ongoing defense against the Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast as a “hard and dangerous fight.”

Spain announces aid package for Ukraine containing Leopard tanks, Patriot missiles. The new package will contain the second batch of Leopard tanks, 155mm artillery shells, a new shipment of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, anti-drone, optronic surveillance and tracking systems, and remote weapon turrets.

Netherlands to supply Ukraine with additional YPR-765 armored vehicles. The Dutch government has sent Ukraine 207 YPRs of different types so far. The number of YPRs in the future batch has not been unveiled.

Austria to allocate nearly $5.4 million for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure restoration. The allocated funds will be spent on urgently needed spare parts, generators, and repair lines, according to Der Standard.

Estonian PM: NATO training soldiers in Ukraine won’t escalate war. The NATO allies’ fears that sending troops to Ukraine to train the country’s soldiers could draw them into war with Russia “are not well-founded,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in an interview with the Financial Times published on May 20.

Modi confirms India’s participation in Ukraine’s Global Peace Summit. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet confirmed his attendance. “The level of participation will depend on timing, logistics, and parallel commitments,” Modi said.

Tusk: Poland signs contract with European Investment Bank to join Sky Shield Initiative. According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the Polish government signed a contract with the European Investment Bank (EIB) worth 300 million euros (around $326 million) to construct its part of the pan-European air defense.

They fled from Russian bombs near Kharkiv. What awaits them now?

In other news

More than 180 Ukrainian political parties fail to comply with financial reporting requirements. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements can result in a fine that ranges from Hr 5,100 to 6,800 ($129 to $172).

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Kateryna Denisova, Nate Ostiller, Oleksiy Sorokin, Kateryna Hodunova, Olena Goncharova, and Rachel Amran.

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