Newsletter 22/05/2024
Daily news digest
Top
Air strike on Kharkiv: number of casualties rises to 12
At 13:45, the occupiers launched a strike on Kharkiv. According to preliminary reports, guided munitions were used. A fire broke out at a civilian gas station, and a cafe was damaged .The number of victims has increased to 12 people. A 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital with an injury
Sources: Sea Baby struck Kinburn Spit from sea
The SBU Sea Baby maritime drones, for which Ukrainians raised funds through the UNITED24 platform, are now equipped with Grad systems and have already struck at the occupiers from the sea.
In particular, on the night of May 21, the Sea Baby of the Security Service of Ukraine together with the Ukrainian Navy effectively worked from the sea on the positions of the Russians on the Kinburn Spit.
Russian army loses 1,300 soldiers in Ukraine over past day
In addition, Ukraine's defense forces destroye:
7,611 (+6) Russian tanks;
14,721 (+22) armored fighting vehicles;
12,820 (+41) artillery systems;
1,077 multiple rocket launchers;
812 (+1) anti-aircraft warfare systems;
354 warplanes;
326 helicopters;
10,346 (+56) tactical unmanned aerial systems;
2,208 (+1) cruise missiles;
26 warships/cutters, 1 submarine;
17,442 (+59) vehicles and fuel tankers;
2,090 (+5) pieces of special equipment.
UK intelligence assesses potential for Ukraine's economic recovery
High levels of exports demonstrate Ukraine's ability to export products through its shipping corridor in the Black Sea, contributing to the recovery of the Ukrainian economy in 2024.
According to the update, in April 2024, Ukraine exported the highest volume of grain and oilseed since the outbreak of war, reaching 6.6 million tonnes. According to experts, this demonstrates Ukraine's ability to export unilaterally via its shipping corridor in the Black Sea.
"Throughput at the Black Sea ports have almost certainly reached a monthly export volume higher than any other point in the conflict [Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine], including that achieved under the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI)," the UK Defense Ministry said this in a situation update on Ukraine published on X.
Russia’s ‘nuclear saber-rattling’ is part of Kremlin campaign to influence Western decision-makers - ISW
ISW recalled that the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on May 21 that missile elements of the Southern Military District (SMD) began the first stage of non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons exercises. The Russian MoD claimed that Russian Aerospace Forces will also exercise with Iskander ballistic missiles and Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles.
Experts also said that a prominent Kremlin-awarded milblogger explicitly tied Russian tactical nuclear weapons exercises to Kremlin efforts to influence Western decision-making — particularly targeting the recent discussions about the restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia
Sweden to provide $7B in military aid to Ukraine for 2024-2026
The military aid in the 2024-2026 period could take the form of equipment donations as well as financial contributions and support for procurement of defense materials, the statement reads.
U.S. lawmakers call on Pentagon to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to strike targets in Russia
A bipartisan group of congressional representatives, members of the U.S. House of Representatives' Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, has called on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russian territory, strengthen Ukraine's Air Force and bolster its air defenses.
War
Ukraine's air defense forces down all 24 Shahed drones overnight
On the night of May 21 to 22, the enemy attacked Ukraine with 24 Shahed-131/136 strike drones launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kursk in Russia and temporarily occupied Crimea.
Russians deliberately delay repatriation of bodies of fallen defenders - Coordination Centre
"All our calls to return the bodies of the defenders to Ukraine are ignored by the Russian side. An example of this is the groundless refusal of the Russian side to carry out another repatriation of the remains of the fallen defenders," the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported this in Telegram.
The issue of the transfer of the bodies of prisoners of war who, according to the Russian side, died in an Il-76 aircraft at the end of January 2024 also remains open. The Russian side is once again postponing the possible repatriation.
Border guards destroy enemy position in Zaporizhzhia sector
Source: Official Telegram channel of the State Border Service of Ukraine
Politics
Zelensky says NATO summit might decide on additional Patriot systems for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped dozens of nations would get behind such an initiative when they gathered at the Global Peace Summit in mid-June in Switzerland. And he pressed again for a plan for Ukraine to join NATO.
At the same time, Zelensky also urged the alliance to come through with more F-16 fighter jets as well as Patriot air defense systems.
Society
Ukraine's parliament passes law on single roaming zone with EU
Now Ukrainians traveling in the EU countries will use national mobile phone tariffs and will not pay additional fees for roaming services.
Economy
Ukraine's budget received about EUR 50B thanks to Solidarity Lanes - European Commission
The EU's Solidarity Corridors have helped export Ukrainian goods to the European and global markets for two years and generated about EUR 50 billion in income for Ukraine's economy.
Parliament introduces moratorium on bankruptcy of state-owned critical infrastructure facilities
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted a law on the settlement of disputes concerning state ownership of state-owned critical infrastructure facilities.
Publications
Mykhailo Boyko, Frontline Surgeon
Mykhailo Boyko, 31, military surgeon, officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,. In 2019, he graduated from the Ukrainian Military Medical Academy, after he had graduated from the Ternopil Medical University with a Master’s Degree in Medicine. After graduating from the academy, he was assigned to a hospital located in Donetsk Oblast. Until the end of 2023, Mykhailo had been doing military service at the hospital, occupying different positions: chief of surgical department, leading surgeon, and, after the breakout of Russia’s all-out war, chief medical officer. His team has saved thousands of lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
Doctors at the hospital work 24/7, almost without a sleep and, after a short rest, Mykhailo goes there again to care and save.
During the interview, he spoke about the work performed by military healthcare personnel, their daily feat, difficult moments and achievements.