Ukraine Invasion: Part 49

[MagicFox]

Welcome to our 49th thread with the usual thanks to all regular contributors and lurkers 🇺🇦

**
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Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

President Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine is negotiating with international partners on the possibility of using their weapons to strike targets in Russia
“So far, there is nothing positive,” Reuters
quoted https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/western-aid-ukraine-too-slow-risks-us-election-limited-zelenskiy-2024-05-20/ him as saying.

Ukrainian Armed Forces control 60% of Vovchansk, but attacks do not stop - Regional Military Administration
“We have continuous attacks. The enemy continues assault actions, mainly focused on the directions of Lyptsi, Vovchansk, and the left-right flank of Vovchansk,” said Roman Semenukha, deputy head of the Kharkiv Military Administration.
The enemy keeps trying to push the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of the city in the middle of Vovchansk.

The Economist, citing "obtained military plans," writes https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/05/20/ukraines-desperate-struggle-to-defend-kharkiv?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3-fmsmlveIXodkh22JcuTaRvZ3z4K1ECB0HLmjVgRyJ0B9TuVEgbd9lGU_aem_AWzbGw8ZbMjZS7BLGvvEtMthdxxollRuzI1QpGk7pV1xodHM4qbU3bRKAgfuv6wnqkRiUWL3BrW-SNZde2xHDEtq that the Russians planned to partially surround Kharkiv and push eastward from the Pechenihy reservoir
The Russians allegedly "identified two directions" of attack on both sides of the reservoir. In particular, the offensive in the western direction was to bring Russian troops within artillery range of Kharkiv near the village of Borshchova.
However, they were stopped by the 92nd Brigade, which pushed the invaders back 10 kilometers from their original goal.
The Economist also writes that in the Vovchansk direction, the occupiers planned to break through to the town of Pechenihy.

🇩🇪German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in Kyiv on a visit

Exactly two years ago, the defense of Mariupol and Azovstal ended
Denys Prokopenko, a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard of Ukraine and commander of the Azov Special Forces Brigade, recalled those days.
"Before that, after a round of difficult negotiations with the Russian side, agreements were reached to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal plant. Hundreds of people, residents of Mariupol, who had taken refuge on the territory of the plant, were rescued. All the civilians who were hiding from enemy bombardment at Azovstal survived. The last civilian left the plant on May 7, 2022,” he wrote.
Redis also posted https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=359034420519842&id=100092398602398&rdid=fA2FJCW0C2mFv3Og a photo of the negotiations with the Russians, which took place on neutral territory, between the Kommunalnyk enterprise and the Azovstal metallurgical plant in May 2022.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-20-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Ukrainian sources indicated that Russian forces are concentrating limited, understaffed, and incohesive forces in the Sumy direction, but even such a Russian grouping of forces will be able to achieve the likely desired effect of drawing and fixing Ukrainian forces in the international border area.
• Kremlin officials expressed their condolences to senior Iranian officials following the announcement of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's and Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian's deaths on May 20.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Yury Sadovenko on May 20, replacing him with former Deputy Economic Minister and current Federation Council Accounts Chamber Auditor Oleg Savelyev.
• Putin also dismissed Presidential Advisor Alexandra Levitskaya on May 20, but the reason for Levitskaya’s dismissal is unclear.
• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated the White House's unwillingness to approve Ukraine's use of US-provided weapons in strikes against military targets in Russia following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format) on May 20.
• Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that some unspecified countries, presumably NATO member states, have already sent personnel to train Ukrainian soldiers "on the ground."
• Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev amplified a known Russian information operation aimed at directly undermining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy as president.
• Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Vovchansk, Chasiv Yar, Avdiivka, and Donetsk City and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and the Dnipro River Delta.
• Russian opposition outlet Vazhnye Istorii (iStories) reported that Russian military authorities and Kazakh law enforcement acting on Russian orders detained at least two more servicemen in Kazakhstan who had deserted from the Russian military.

Here we go with the pushing boundaries with NATO

@olganyc1211

Russia has decided to unilaterally move the border with Lithuania and Finland in the Baltic Sea

“According to the document prepared by the Ministry of Defense, Russia intends to declare part of the water area in the east of the Gulf of Finland, as well as near the cities of Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region, as its internal sea waters.”

moscowtimes.ru/2024/05/21/ros…

x.com/olganyc1211/status/1793008891267052017?s=46&t=ZRiOqYBPJdwGCarjKNzCeQ

And no doubt NATO will do precisely ... Nothing.

I've just read that Russia have withdrawn the claim - I wonder if there were conversations had behind the scenes?

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Russia has unilaterally decided to change the maritime border with Lithuania and Finland in the Baltic Sea, according to the decree published on the Russian government's website.
Lithuania and Finland have not yet reacted to Russia's decision toward the maritime border, nor has Russia's decision been recognized internationally. https://kyivindependent.com/russia-unilaterally-decides-to-change-maritime-border-with-lithuania-finland-in-baltic-sea/

⚡️Swedish commander: Putin aims to control Baltic Seahttps://kyivindependent.com/swedish-commander-putin-aims-to-control-baltic-sea-has-his-eye-on-gotland-island/ has his eye on Gotland Island.

⚡️Russia launched counterspace weapon https://kyivindependent.com/russia-launched-counterspace-weapon-into-orbit-us-says/ into orbit, US says.
Russia had launched a counterspace weapon into orbit capable of attacking a nearby U.S. government satellite, Washington officials said earlier this week.

Opinion: Putin's China visit was another battle in Russia's war of economic endurance
“Putin’s visit to China last week signaled that Russia is preparing for a long economic struggle for Ukraine; Xi signaled that, if the U.S. wants to avoid a bad outcome in Ukraine, it needs China to play ball — the price for which is concessions on issues such as trade,” writes Timothy Ash, an associate fellow at Chatham House, in this guest op-ed. https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-putins-china-visit-was-another-battle-in-russias-war-of-economic-endurance/

⚡️ UK defense secretary: China supplying Russia with lethal aid https://kyivindependent.com/uk-china-supplying-russia-with-lethal-aid-world-needs-to-wake-up/ world needs to 'wake up.'
The U.S. and U.K. have evidence China is supplying Russia with lethal aid that is being used in Ukraine, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said on May 22.

⚡️Military: Ukrainian troops have stabilized the military situation in Kharkiv Oblast, including the town of Vovchansk, but it remains "complex," Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, said on television on May 21.
https://kyivindependent.com/military-ukrainian-forces-stabilize-situation-in-kharkiv-oblast-including-vovchansk/

⚡️Governor: Around 100 civilians remain in Vovchansk, Russians have threatened to shoot them. https://kyivindependent.com/governor-around-100-civilians-remain-in-vovchansk-russians-have-threatened-to-shoot-them/

⚡️ Police: Russian forces shooting civilians in Vovchansk.https://kyivindependent.com/police-russian-forces-shooting-civilians-in-vovchansk/

⚡️Zelensky: Situation in Donetsk Oblast difficult https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-situation-in-three-directions-in-donetsk-oblast-remains-extremely-difficult/ but there is military success in Kharkiv Oblast.
The situation on the front line in the direction of Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, and Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast remains extremely difficult, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his May 21 evening address.

⚡️ Governor: Russia trying to storm Luhansk Oblast's Bilohorivka situation 'really difficult.' https://kyivindependent.com/governor-russia-trying-to-storm-luhansk-oblasts-bilohorivka-situation-really-difficult/

⚡️General Staff confirms https://kyivindependent.com/general-staff-confirms-russian-missile-ship-zyklon-struck-off-occupied-crimea/ Russian missile ship Tsiklon struck in occupied Crimea.
The ship was reportedly hit during an attack that the Ukrainian Navy said resulted in the destruction of the Russian minesweeper Kovrovets.

⚡️Moldova, EU sign pact on security, defense. https://kyivindependent.com/moldova-eu-sign-security-pact/

⚡️Major General Ivan Popov, the former commander of Russia's 58th Army, was arrested on May 21 on suspicion of fraud, the state-run media outlet TASS reported. https://kyivindependent.com/former-russian-major-general-arrested-on-suspicion-of-fraud/ [He was popular and effective]

⚡️European Commission says Ukraine will receive first payment of revenue from frozen Russian assets in July. https://kyivindependent.com/european-commission-says-ukraine-will-receive-first-payment-of-revenue-from-frozen-russian-assets-in-july/

⚡️Russia begins https://kyivindependent.com/russia-begins-exercises-simulating-use-of-tactical-nuclear-weapons/ exercises simulating use of tactical nuclear weapons.

⚡️Defense Ministry: 700,000 draft-aged men update https://kyivindependent.com/defense-ministry-700-000-draft-aged-men-update-military-documents-after-launch-of-online-app/ military documents after launch of online app.
Over 1 million military-aged men have registered in the mobile application Rezerv+, while 700,000 have updated military documents via it as of May 21, the Defense Ministry reported.

⚡️ EU Council approves using Russian assets revenue https://kyivindependent.com/eu-council-approves-using-russian-assets-revenue-to-fund-ukraine/ to fund Ukraine.
Up to 3 billion euros ($3.26 billion) only this year, 90% goes for Ukraine's military. Russia must pay for its war damages," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said.

⚡️ Ukrainians have purchased $25 billion https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-government-bonds/ in domestic government bonds since start of full-scale war.

⚡️ Sweden plans to allocate additional $7 billion (https://kyivindependent.com/sweden-plans-to-allocate-7-billion-in-military-aid-to-ukraine-between-2024-2026/) in military aid to Ukraine between 2024-2026.

⚡️ Reuters: India's Russian oil imports in April highest in 9 months. https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-indias-russian-oil-imports-reach/
India's imports of Russian oil rose to a nine-month high after shipments from non-sanctioned tankers of the Russian Sovcomflot company resumed, Reuters reported on May 21, citing data from shipping and trade sources.

⚡️Canada imposes sanctions on Russian firms accused https://kyivindependent.com/canada-imposes-sanctions-on-russian-firms-accused-of-shipping-north-korean-weapons-to-ukraine/ of shipping North Korean weapons to Ukraine.

⚡️ Source: SBU has a new weapon – Grad-equipped Sea Baby drones.https://kyivindependent.com/the-sbu-has-a-new-weapon-grad-equipped-sea-baby-drones/
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has revealed the latest update to its highly-effective Sea Baby naval drones which are now capable of launching salvos of Grad rockets, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent on May 22.
According to the SBU source, the new weapons system has already been in action "against Russian positions on the Kinburn spit," a thin stretch of coastal land near Mykolaiv.

⚡️Swedish defense minister: Up to 2 years needed https://kyivindependent.com/swedish-defense-minister-up-to-2-years-needed-to-reach-desired-capacity-to-send-more-shells-to-ukraine/ to boost production capacity to arm Ukraine.

⚡️ Justice Ministry: Over 3,000 Ukrainian convicts https://kyivindependent.com/justice-ministry-over-3-000-ukrainian-convicts-want-to-join-army/* have applied to join army.*

⚡️Russian court jails https://kyivindependent.com/russian-jails-yet-another-hypersonic-missile-expert-for-treason/ yet another hypersonic missile expert on treason charges.
A Russian court on May 21 convicted Anatoly Maslov, a 77-year-old physicist, of treason and sentenced him to 14 years in a penal colony.

⚡️ Politico: Some senior U.S. Republicans criticized the presidential administration's decision to direct military aid to Haiti from Pentagon stocks, claiming it could have otherwise been sent to Ukraine, Politico reported on May 21. https://kyivindependent.com/us-republicans-slam-bidens-military-aid-to-haiti-fear-it-threatens-ukraine-aid/

⚡️Tucker Carlson launches new show on Russian TV.
U.S. far-right political commentator and conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson launched a new television show in collaboration with the Russian state television network Rossiya 24, with the first episode, about the dangers of ticks and Lyme disease, being available online on May 21. https://kyivindependent.com/tucker-carlson-launches-new-show-on-russian-tv/

⚡️Tucker Carlson's team denies https://kyivindependent.com/tucker-carlson-launches-new-show-on-russian-tv/ launching show on Russian TV.

⚡️Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 3, injure 19 over past day.
⚡️ Russian drone attack on Kherson Oblast injures 3 elderly women.
⚡️Russian attack on Kherson injures 3, including 15-year-old boy.
⚡️Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast damage energy infrastructure, injure 1 person.
⚡️ Russian attack on Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast injures 7.
⚡️ Authorities: Russian guided munition attack on Kharkiv injures at least 9.

Ragnar Gudmundsson
WAR IN #UKRAINE - MAY 22, 2024
■ Casualties slightly below 7-day average; milestone of 500k expected before end of week
■ Equipment losses below average but most 7-day vehicle & drone losses since the invasion started
■ Shelling & drone attacks far above average but other strike indicators below
■ Poternet: +214names added to database; confirmed KIA surpass 76k

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

U.S. intelligence believes the satellite Russia launched last week is a weapon capable of inspecting and attacking other satellites, as a Russian spacecraft now tracks a U.S. spy satellite in orbit, — U.S. Space Command

It is Russia, and not some incomprehensible business, that is behind the organization of recruitment, transportation and attempts to illegally import thousands of people to Europe, said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Poland and other European countries accuse Russia and Belarus of jointly organizing the influx of migrants as part of a "hybrid" attack aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region and the EU in general.
According to the Polish Border Guard Service, more than 13,000 attempts to cross the border from Belarus have been detected this year.

Germany has collected almost 1 billion euros to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.
According to Baerbock, Germany is "leaving no stone unturned" in its search for new Patriot systems, and is leading the way with its decision to transfer a third such system from its stockpile.

The railway, which the Russian Federation is building as an alternative to the Kerch bridge, currently operates only on one section of the route and is not fully functional, said Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy clarified that Ukraine does not want to invite Russia to the peace summit in Switzerland to prevent it from disrupting the process; it will be involved through intermediaries at the next stage.
According to him, the main goal of the summit is to form a common position on three key issues: free navigation, nuclear and energy security, and the exchange of prisoners and the return of illegally deported children.

Gazprom shares collapsed on the Moscow Exchange after it became known that the company would not pay dividends based on operating results in 2023.
Gazprom's quotes sank by almost 6% and fell to 145.03 rubles — the lowest since October 2023. Against the backdrop of the decision of the Russian government, the largest shareholder of the gas monopoly, to prepare a directive to refuse payments, Gazprom's capitalization fell by 144 billion rubles, or almost $1.6 billion, in just over an hour.
Gazprom de facto has nothing with which to pay dividends: last year, for the first time in 25 years, the company closed with a net loss, and its size — 629 billion rubles — became a record in the three decades of its history.
Unable to sell gas, Gazprom was forced to freeze wells and in two years lost a quarter of its production, which last year was the lowest in its history.

Russia has decided to unilaterally change the country’s maritime borders with Lithuania and Finland in the Baltic Sea, according to a draft resolution of the Russian government.
According to the document prepared by the Ministry of Defense, Russia intends to declare part of the water area in the east of the Gulf of Finland, as well as near the cities of Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region, as its internal sea waters.
On the border with Finland, the Russian Federation intends to adjust the coordinates in the area of the islands of Jähi, Sommers, Holland, Rodsher, Maly Tyuters, Vigrund, as well as near the northern entrance cape of the Narva River. On the border with Lithuania, the area of the Curonian Spit in the Gulf of Gdansk, the areas of Cape Taran, the cape south of Cape Taran, as well as the Baltic Spit came under review.
The current geographic coordinates established by the USSR Council of Ministers in 1985 “do not fully correspond to the current geographical situation,” the Russians say.

Russian forces shoot civilians in the temporarily occupied part of Vovchansk.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇱🇹🇫🇮🇱🇻Lithuania views https://x.com/GLandsbergis/status/1793183674847862872 Russia's plan https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2024/05/21/rossiya-reshila-vodnostoronnem-poryadke-sdvinut-granitsu-slitvoi-ifinlyandiei-ibaltiiskom-more-a131403 to revise maritime borders in the Baltic Sea as intimidation and provocation. Latvia and Finland are still trying to clarify https://x.com/elinavaltonen/status/1793144351704441239** the situation. Moscow has not officially explained this situation to the countries

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Kuleba insists that Ukraine should be able to hit military targets on Russian territory, as this will help bring the war to a quicker end
In an interview with Reuters, President Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine is negotiating with international partners on the possibility of striking targets in Russia with their weapons.
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister spoke in support of such a permission for Ukraine.

Russian forces hit a police car with a drone as it was evacuating people from Vovchansk community.
The officer suffered a concussion, but the evacuation continued, says Kharkiv police chief Tymoshenko. [later reports say one police officer killed]

🇺🇸 A group of congressmen has once again called on https://x.com/houseintel/status/1792701887361450424?s=46&t=hmPdh3epcvbnoUN2TQsSDw the Pentagon to allow Ukraine to attack targets in Russia

Arthur Schwartz, a representative for Carlson, told https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/05/21/tucker-carlson-team-says-reports-of-russian-tv-show-are-pure-nonsense/?sh=61860079504a Forbes in an email “it’s pure nonsense” in response to questions about Carlson’s show being aired in Russia with Russian voice overs and whether it was licensed by Carlson.
The clips appear to be old clips from Carlson’s show he has aired on X and YouTube since being fired from Fox News but with a Russian voiceover over them, the Daily Beast reported, saying Monday’s episode on ticks was from an episode available in the U.S. on May 10.

Soooo looks like a General Election coming, about bloody time!

But the choices on offer……😑

At this stage we just need rid of the Tories and a move away from the populist right wing.

Imagine how I feel about the bloody choices on offer!

Absolutely. The other choices might not be great but anything is better than the Tories now. Glad I got my voting rights back in time for this election, just need to sort out a proxy.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-21-2024

Key Takeaways:

• The Kremlin continues to time its nuclear saber-rattling to coincide with major policy discussions in the West as part of a Kremlin reflexive control campaign to influence Western decision-makers.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that the limited Russian offensive in northern Ukraine is achieving its goal of drawing attention away from intense Russian offensive operations in eastern Ukraine.
• The Russian military command reportedly initially planned that Russian forces would quickly make significant advances in northern Kharkiv Oblast, but the limited force grouping deployed to the area suggests that the Russian military command likely changed these plans in the lead up to offensive operations in Kharkiv Oblast.
• Russian authorities recently arrested the former commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army (CAA), Major General Ivan Popov, on fraud charges.
• The Kremlin is likely using the pattern of recent arrests of high-ranking officials on corruption charges in the Russian MoD to conceal the real reasons for Popov's punishment almost 10 months after his conflict with the Russian military command and subsequent dismissal from his command position.
• Satellite imagery indicates that Ukrainian forces likely damaged the Russian Black Sea Fleet's (BSF) Tsyklon small missile ship in occupied Sevastopol, Crimea on May 19.
• Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Vovchansk, Kreminna, Chasiv Yar, and Donetsk City.
• A Russian milblogger claimed that frequent Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian vehicles that lack electronic warfare (EW) systems along the frontline have created an "urgent" shortage of off-road vehicles.
• Russian authorities continue to illegally and forcibly deport Ukrainian citizens, including children, to Russia and to forcibly remove Ukrainian citizens deeper into occupied Ukraine.

Bad news about modern Labour...

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-22-2024

Key Takeaways:

• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) proposed on May 21 that the Russian government reassess Russia’s maritime borders in the Baltic Sea so that these borders “correspond to the modern geographical situation.”
• Kremlin and Russian MoD officials denied on May 22 that Russia is planning to change the Russian maritime border, but invertedly implied that the Russian government is considering undertaking some “security” measures in the Baltic Sea.
• Western officials noted that Russia may be reassessing the basis for maritime borders in order to revise maritime zones in the Baltic Sea.
• The Kremlin appears to be developing a system to legalize the status of Russia's so-called “compatriots abroad,” likely as part of its efforts to set information conditions to justify further aggression and hybrid operations abroad as “protecting” Russia's compatriots.
• United Kingdom (UK) Defense Minister Grant Shapps stated on May 22 that US and UK intelligence have evidence that the People's Republic of China (PRC) “is now or will be” providing lethal military assistance to Russia, a statement that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan questioned.
• Western officials warned that Russian intelligence services intend to increase sabotage activities and other hybrid operations against NATO member countries.
• US Space Command reported on May 21 that Russia recently launched an anti-satellite weapon, the most recent report that Russia intends to field disruptive anti-satellite capabilities.
• Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indirectly accused Russia and directly accused Belarus of helping Azerbaijan to prepare for the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, against the backdrop of deteriorating Armenian-Russian relations.
• Ukrainian forces recently recaptured territory near Vovchansk and Chasiv Yar, and Russian forces recently marginally advanced near Vovchansk, Avdiivka, Donetsk City, and Velyka Novosilka.
• Russian courts reportedly began forcibly hospitalizing Russians charged with political crimes such as spreading “fake” information about the Russian military, in psychiatric hospitals.

Ukrainian forces recently recaptured territory near Vovchansk and Chasiv Yar, and Russian forces recently marginally advanced near Vovchansk, Avdiivka, Donetsk City, and Velyka Novosilka.

Excellent.

Western officials warned that Russian intelligence services intend to increase sabotage activities and other hybrid operations against NATO member countries.

There have been several incidents recently attributed to the Russians, one in Czechia. On top of those there was an explosion in a S Wales munitions / hardware factory, which has not overtly been attributed to Russia but rather begs the question.

Russian courts reportedly began forcibly hospitalizing Russians charged with political crimes such as spreading “fake” information about the Russian military, in psychiatric hospitals.

Back to the good old days.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️China sanctions https://kyivindependent.com/china-sanctions-12-us-military-companies-over-taiwan-war-in-ukraine/ 12 US military companies over Taiwan, war in Ukraine.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan distanced himself from an assertion from U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, who said earlier on May 22 that the U.S. and U.K. have evidence that China is supplying or about to supply lethal aid to Russia. https://kyivindependent.com/sullivan-says-hes-not-aware-of-intelligence-about-chinese-lethal-aid-to-russia/

⚡️NYT: Blinken supports lifting ban on Ukrainian strikes inside Russia with US arms. https://kyivindependent.com/nyt-blinken-us-arms/

⚡️Official: Poland weighs https://kyivindependent.com/official-poland-weighs-shooting-down-russian-missiles-near-border/ shooting down Russian missiles near border.

⚡️ Finance minister: Ukraine's budget lacks $5 billion for military spending. https://kyivindependent.com/finance-minister-budget-5-billion/

⚡️Ukraine approves system to grant https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-approves-mechanism-to-grant-soldiers-additional-vacation-days-for-destroying-russian-military-equipment/ soldiers additional vacation days for destroying Russian military equipment.

On a knife-edge: Slovak PM shooting widens societal rift, feeds disinformation
The assassination attempt escalated the already palpable tensions permeating Slovak society. Some of Fico's allies have rushed to lay the blame on their political rivals or the media. https://kyivindependent.com/on-a-knife-edge-slovak-pm-shooting-widens-societal-rift-feeds-disinformation/

⚡️54 delegations IAEA conference call to punish Russia https://kyivindependent.com/54-iaea-delegations-call-to-punish-russia-due-to-jeopardizing-global-nuclear-radiation-security/ for jeopardizing global nuclear security.

⚡️Latvia allocates nearly $6.5 million to Ukraine's infrastructure development. https://kyivindependent.com/latvia-allocates-nearly-6-5-million-to-ukraines-infrastructure-development/

⚡️Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated that supplying a Patriot system to Ukraine must be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense, and must not compromise Romania's air defense.
"Even if Romania finally makes some concessions, it must receive something in return. Otherwise, nothing will happen," Iohannis said. https://kyivindependent.com/romanian-president-outlines-condition-of-sending-ukraine-patriot-system/

Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, a deputy chief of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff and head of the Main Directorate of Communications, was detained for allegedly receiving a large bribe, the Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported on May 23, citing a court statement. https://kyivindependent.com/russian-media-gerasimovs-deputy-detained/

⚡️PM Sunak announces https://kyivindependent.com/pm-sunak-announces-uk-general-election/ UK general election.
Sunak's opponent, Labour MP Keir Starmer, is widely expected to win the July 4 vote. Starmer has pledged to continue the UK's support for Ukraine.

⚡️ Norway to further restrict entry https://kyivindependent.com/norway-to-further-restrict-entry-for-russian-tourists/ for Russian tourists.

⚡️Media: France investigating https://kyivindependent.com/media-france-investigating-potential-role-of-russia-in-paris-holocaust-memorial-graffiti/ Russia's potential role in Paris Holocaust memorial graffiti.

⚡️ SBU suspects notorious musician Yurii Bardash of war propaganda (https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-bardash/) after he fled to Russia.

⚡️Russia attacks 10 communities in Sumy Oblast.
⚡️Update: Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast kill 6, injure 10.

Ragnar Gudmundsson
WAR IN #UKRAINE - MAY 23, 2024
■ Casualties slightly above 7-day average; milestone of 500k may be reached on Saturday
■ Equipment losses slightly below average; most 7-day drone & artillery losses to date
■strikes intensify; 12strikes reported
■ Poternet: +256names added to database

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

The zone that the Russians have created and what they are doing — they are lining up all their artillery, rockets and shells right across the Ukrainian border, which they then use to attack the Ukrainians. But your administration and Jake Sullivan limited the use of weapons so that Ukraine could not defend itself and fight back against Russia, — Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, Michael McCaul, addressed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during hearings in the U.S. Congress.

The US State Department is working on easing the prohibition on striking targets in Russia with US weapons, — The New York Times.
According to the article, Joe Biden's administration is now actively debating whether to ease the ban to allow Ukrainians to hit missile and artillery launchers located directly across the border from Russia.

The Stanford International Working Group on Sanctions against Russia recommends depriving Russia of access to modern technologies through comprehensive export controls, similar to those imposed on the USSR during the Cold War, reports RTVI.
The group proposes recreating the Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (CoCom), established by the Western bloc in the early post-World War II years during the Cold War, to enforce a technological embargo against the countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA).
CoCom controlled exports to the USSR and other socialist countries within the CMEA. It included 17 states, such as the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and Turkey. The organization mainly restricted the export of weapons, nuclear-related equipment and technologies, and dual-use industrial goods to the USSR.

Poland will increase the number of troops on the border with Belarus, — said Minister of Defense of the country Kosiniak-Kamysz.
According to him, the measures will be taken due to the increasing attempts of organized groups to illegally cross the border with the assistance of Belarusian services.

The EU is preparing to tighten sanctions against Belarus to close a loophole that allowed Moscow to import luxury cars and other Western goods banned by earlier sanctions, — Financial Times.

The Russian army attacked an evacuation vehicle in Vovchansk, Kharkiv region using an FPV drone. As a result, a 41-year-old policeman was killed and another law enforcement officer was injured, according to the regional prosecutor’s office.

In the Pokrovsk direction of the Donetsk region, units of the Defense Forces shot down an enemy Su-25, — General Staff.

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have identified 357 Russian servicemen and representatives of the occupation authorities suspected of committing war crimes, 83 of whom have already been convicted.

Work on the agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the U.S. is nearing completion, — the Office of the President of Ukraine.

View of the (former) Kakhovka Reservoir from space. Sentinel-2 image for May 20.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

In the Sumy Oblast, the Russians have intensified their sabotage and reconnaissance groups
They enter the region several times a week to find out the location of the Defense Forces. The occupiers also shell the border every day.
▪️The DIU expects that Russia is planning an offensive on Sumy to stretch the reserves of Ukrainian troops.

Speaker of the House of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson supports allowing Ukraine to use US weapons against Russia
Asked whether the US should lift the ban on using its weapons to strike Russian targets in Russia, Johnson said: "I think we should allow Ukraine to fight the war the way it sees fit."
"They (Ukrainians) need to be able to strike back. And I don't think it's right for us to micromanage these efforts," the speaker of the lower house of Congress added.

UK Defence Intelligence

Speaker of the House of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson supports allowing Ukraine to use US weapons against Russia
Asked whether the US should lift the ban on using its weapons to strike Russian targets in Russia, Johnson said: "I think we should allow Ukraine to fight the war the way it sees fit."
"They (Ukrainians) need to be able to strike back. And I don't think it's right for us to micromanage these efforts," the speaker of the lower house of Congress added.

According to the New York Times, Anthony Blinken is pushing Biden to do that same. Let's hope this brings an end to the mixed signals the US has been sending on this issue once and for all.

Blinken pushes Biden to end ban on Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons in Russia

The one restriction they might put on it is that the weapons have to be used on purely military targets and not on dual-use targets like oil refineries. But they likely wouldn't make that public if they're smart about it.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️China denies https://kyivindependent.com/china-denies-uk-claims-of-supplying-lethal-weapons-to-russia/ UK claims of supplying lethal weapons to Russia.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied that China has supplied lethal weapons to Russia on May 23, pushing back on claims made by U.K. Foreign Secretary Grant Shapps the previous day.

⚡️ Military: Russian troops trying to advance near Chasiv Yar https://kyivindependent.com/military-russian-troops-havent-entered-chasiv-yar-trying-to-advance/ but haven't entered town.
Russian troops are trying to advance near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, but they have not entered the town, Kyrylo Sazonov, a blogger and a soldier of the 41st Separate Mechanized Brigade deployed in the area, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on May 23.

⚡️ Syrskyi: Russia 'completely bogged down in Vovchansk street fighting, deploys reserves. https://kyivindependent.com/syrskyi-russia-completely-got-stuck-in-street-fighting-for-vovchansk-suffer-big-losses/

⚡️Putin signed a decree on May 23 authorizing the confiscation of assets of U.S. citizens and companies to compensate for Russian assets confiscated by the U.S. kyivindependent.com/putin-signs-decree-authorizing-confiscation-of-us-companies-individuals-if/

⚡️Ukraine to receive https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-to-receive-additional-4-5-billion-from-imfs-extended-fund-facility-in-2024/ additional $4.5 billion from IMF's Extended Fund Facility in 2024.
The funds are meant to lend Ukraine stability amid the disruptions of war, support the country's postwar recovery, and promote economic growth as Ukraine moves forward on the path to EU membership.

⚡️Bloomberg: US President Biden likely to miss Ukraine's peace summit. https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-president-biden-likely-to-miss-ukraines-peace-summit/
According to the news outlet, the event clashes with a campaign fundraiser he is set to attend alongside, among others, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Jimmy Kimmel.

⚡️Poland increases https://kyivindependent.com/poland-increases-security-at-ukraine-aid-export-hub-over-sabotage-concerns/ security at Ukraine aid export hub over sabotage concerns.
Polish authorities are increasing security at the main transit hub for foreign military aid to Ukraine amidst increased threats of Russian-backed sabotage, Bloomberg reported on May 23.

⚡️Estonian authorities say https://kyivindependent.com/estonian-authorities-say-russian-border-guard-removed-river-border-markers-from-estonian-territory/ Russian border guard removed river border markers from Estonian territory.

⚡️ Russia admits Islamic State behind Crocus Hall terrorist attack, still tries to blame Ukraine. https://kyivindependent.com/russia-admits-islamic-state-behind-crocus-hall-terrorist-attack-still-tries-to-blame-ukraine/
In comments reported by state-run RIA Novosti news agency, Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), said the preparations, financing, attack, and retreat of those involved were "coordinated via the internet by members of Khorasan Province (IS-K)," a branch of IS active in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

⚡️First group of Ukrainian pilots passes F-16 training in US. The aviators will now move to Europe for additional training, Politico wrote, citing an undisclosed source. https://kyivindependent.com/first-group-of-ukrainian-pilots-completes-f-16-training-in-us/

⚡️Energoatom: Workers restore https://kyivindependent.com/energoatom-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant-on-verge-of-blackout/ power connection to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after potential blackout warning.

⚡️Estonia to provide https://kyivindependent.com/estonia-to-provide-650-000-euros-in-humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine/ 650,000 euros in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

⚡️Media: US to announce https://kyivindependent.com/us-to-announce-275-million-in-additional-military-aid/ $275 million in additional military aid for Ukraine.

⚡️Norway announces https://kyivindependent.com/norway-announces-new-190-million-package-of-military-assistance-for-ukraine/ new $190 million package of military assistance for Ukraine.

⚡️Man who shot https://kyivindependent.com/man-who-shot-slovak-pm-fico-cites-national-policy-towards-ukraine-as-motivation-for-attempted-assassination/ Fico cites policy towards Ukraine as motivation for assassination attempt.
The man charged with shooting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico cited his country's policy towards Ukraine as a motivation for the attempted assassination, Slovak media reported on May 23.

⚡️A missile attack on a Russian communications hub in the city of Alushta in occupied Crimea has caused "significant damage to equipment," with numerous casualties reported, the pro-Ukrainian partisan group Atesh reported on May 24.
https://kyivindependent.com/partisans-attack-on-occupied-crimea-damages-communications-equipment-casualties-reported/

⚡️ECHR rules prosecution cases against Georgia's Saakashvili https://kyivindependent.com/echr-rules-prosecution-cases-against-georgias-saakashvili-are-fair/ are fair.

⚡️ US imposes travel restrictions https://kyivindependent.com/us-georgia-travel-restrictions/ on politicians 'undermining democracy in Georgia.'

⚡️Rosneft asks https://kyivindependent.com/rosneft-asks-kremlin-to-compensate-for-costs-of-protecting-refinery-from-drones/ Kremlin to compensate for costs of protecting oil refineries from drones.

⚡️ Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 10, injure 48 in past day.
⚡️Update: 7 killed 21 injured in Russian attack on Kharkiv.
⚡️ Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia Oblast village kills 74-year-old man.
⚡️Russia attacks 8 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Ukrainian forces hit a Russian S-400 air defense system on May 22, Ukraine's General Staff reported on May 23.
⚡️Ukraine's military intelligence confirms drone attack on Russia's Tatarstan Republic.
⚡️Media: Explosions reported across occupied Crimea.

Russian missile strike reduces Kharkiv printing press to ashes, killing 7 (Photos) https://kyivindependent.com/russian-missile-strike-reduces-kharkiv-printing-press-to-ashes/
Russian forces destroyed one of Ukraine's largest printing presses amid a mass missile attack on the city of Kharkiv on the morning of May 23.

Opinion: Russia’s shadow fleet strategy draws from Iran’s playbook https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-russias-shadow-fleet-strategy-draws-from-irans-playbook/
As Russia’s shadow fleet mirrors Iran’s playbook, the growing threat of petro-dictatorships underscores the need for coordinated international responses to safeguard maritime security and global stability, write Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk and Razom We Stand Director Svitlana Romanko in their recent op-ed.

⚡️Ombudsman: 13 more children return https://kyivindependent.com/ombudsman-13-more-children-return-to-ukraine-from-russia-with-help-from-qatar/ to Ukraine from Russia with Qatar's assistance.

⚡️UK man arrested https://kyivindependent.com/uk-man-arrested-on-suspicion-of-helping-russian-intelligence/ on suspicion of helping Russian intelligence.
Howard Michael Phillips, a 64-year-old Londoner, was arrested by British law enforcement officers on May 23 on charges that he was assisting Russian intelligence operate in the U.K.

Ragnar Gudmundsson
WAR IN #UKRAINE - MAY 24, 2024
■ Combat engagements & casualties below 7-day average; only 1.1k needed to reach 500k
■ 7-day artillery losses at record level & 3rd plane in last 7 days
■ Lessshelling but increased MLRS strikes, 12strikes reported
■ Poternet: +372names added to KIA database

Here's a great video of a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile battery trying to intercept an ATACMS missile with a cluster munition payload. It doesn't end well for the S-400. You can see why the cluster munitions work so well against this type of target.

https://x.com/ukraine_map/status/1793897701194502337

If the Russians comment on this, the story will be that 43 ATACMS were shot down before this one got through.

Oops, Russian S-400 goes nuts and is no more.

Is it because the ATACMS are too fast and EW does not work on them? Do you typically have to use more than one ATACMS missile on a target to ensure a hit (i.e. the mythical 43 ATACMS)?