Newsletter 15/05/2024
Daily news digest
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Blinken: U.S. allocates additional $2 billion for military support to Ukraine
First, this fund will provide assistance today so that Ukraine can get weapons; second, it will allow us to focus on investments in Ukraine's defense infrastructure; and third, it will build a defense industry base that will help further strengthen the ability to produce what Ukraine needs now.
“And finally, using this fund to help Ukraine purchase military equipment from other countries, not just the United States, for Ukraine's use. All of this, in particular as we're thinking about the defense industrial base, builds on an incredible spirit of innovation, of ingenuity, of entrepreneurship, that we see here in Ukraine, and that I again had a chance to witness for myself,” added U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Crimea strike: satellite images show traces of fire at Belbek airfield
Satellite imagery shows traces of a massive fire at the Belbek airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea following a Ukrainian precision strike believed to have involved multiple missiles.
The photos were taken by the NASA FIRMS orbital fire monitoring system, OSINTtechnical reported via X
Russian forces’ offensive in Kharkiv region appears to have slowed, they are using new tactics - ISW
The pace of Russian offensive operations in the northern Kharkiv region appears to have slowed over the past 24 hours; Russian troops are using new tactics in this area.
Ukraine’s forces partially stabilize front lines - Zelensky
All day long our military and the Ministry of Defense have been delivering reports. Our attention is constantly focused on the frontline, on all combat zones. In the Kharkiv region — the areas near the border, the city of Vovchansk — our defensive actions continue. Over the course of the day our Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine — all units involved — have managed to partially stabilize the situation, - said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky
Zelensky postpones all int’l events scheduled for coming days
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, instructed his Office to postpone all international events with his participation, scheduled for the coming days, and to revise the relevant schedule.
War
Ukrainian border guards thwart Russian offensive in Bakhmut sector
Source: Official Telegram channel of the State Border Service of Ukraine
Ombudsman: Ukraine documents 292 cases of sexual violence by Russian forces
"Currently, 292 facts of sexual violence as a result of the armed conflict have been recorded. The invaders committed the largest number of these crimes in Kherson, Donetsk, Kyiv, and Kharkiv regions," noted Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada's Human Rights Commissioner.
Resistance Movement: Russians intensify mobilization in Luhansk region amid heavy losses near Vovchansk
The enemy is conducting a total mobilization to the TOT of the Luhansk region due to the mass deaths of its soldiers near Vovchansk.
The invaders are intensifying the mobilization of Ukrainians in the occupied Luhansk region against the backdrop of heavy losses in the Kharkiv region. The informants of the Anti-Z movement reported on the intensification of mobilization processes in the following cities: Starobilsk, Svatove, Alchevsk, and Antratsyt. The occupation authorities, together with the Russian military, are conducting house-to-house raids on local residents.
Russian bombs destroying Ukraine’s cultural heritage - British intel
Since Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 3,000 objects and cultural institutions have been destroyed and damaged by Russian attacks, and more than $3 billion will be needed to restore cultural heritage that has been affected.
Politics
First important condition for Ukraine’s European integration already fulfilled - Polish minister
Ukraine has already fulfilled the first important condition toward European integration: there is consensus among the elites and Ukrainian society regarding joining the EU. Warsaw is doing everything possible to quickly adopt the negotiating framework for Kyiv's European integration.
Ukraine and Poland working on draft security agreement - Ambassador Zvarych
The Ukrainian and Polish sides are working on a draft bilateral agreement on security guarantees, and the document is currently undergoing interagency approval in Poland.
Society
Most Ukrainians believe strikes targeting energy infrastructure part of Russia’s long-term strategy
Some 74 percent of Ukrainians believe Russian missile and drone strikes on energy infrastructure facilities across the country are part of the aggressor’s long-term strategy in the ongoing war.
That’s according to a survey run by the Rating Sociological Group on May 6-8.
"Seventy-four percent of respondents believe that missile strikes on energy facilities are a long-term strategy pursued by Russia, aiming at destroying the Ukrainian energy industry. Seven percent opine that such actions are sporadic, and nearly 19 percent remain undecided on the issue," the agency says.
Defense
France to send Ukraine new batch of Aster SAMs
French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu vowed a new batch of Aster missiles for the SAMP-T air defense system already deployed in Ukraine.
Australia’s new aid package for Ukraine to include boats
A batch of modern Sentinel 830R RHIB boats will be part of the $100 million military aid package to Ukraine announced by the Australian government in April.
Latvia allocates EUR 10M for artillery ammunition for Ukraine
The Latvian government at a closed meeting on Tuesday decided to allocate EUR 10 million for the purchase of artillery ammunition for Ukraine.
The specified amount of money is provided for by the Czech initiative to supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The Czech Republic coordinates the actions of a number of countries that provide financing for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine's needs. More than 3,000 155mm shells are expected to be purchased with the money allocated by Latvia.
Publications
Maj-Gen Dmytro Hereha, AFU, Commander, Support Forces
The Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are performing several critical tasks in support of the Ukrainian defenders fighting at the front line. Major General Dmytro Hereha, newly appointed Commander of the AFU’s Support Forces elaborates, in a blitz interview to Ukrinform, on how defense lines are being built and on other tasks assigned to the AFU’s Support Forces.