Newsletter 23/05/2024
Daily news digest
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Strike on factory in Kharkiv: seven dead, 21 wounded
On 23 May, Russia struck Kharkiv and the region. As of 14:00, seven people were reported dead and 17 wounded at a printing plant in Kharkiv. A large-scale fire broke out in the paper shop.
Russian troops also struck the village of Zolochiv in Bohodukhiv district with an air strike, injuring two people and destroying a kindergarten and houses.
Media: U.S. prepares new $275 million military aid package for Ukraine
The Biden administration plans to announce a new $275 million military aid package for Ukraine on Friday amid efforts by Ukrainian defenders to deter a Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region.
Southern defence forces destroy Lancet, radar system and Russian army field station
"During the day, we received confirmation of a decrease in the number of enemy personnel by 104 people," this was reported on Facebook by the operational command "South".
It is noted that the enemy lost 50 pieces of weapons and military equipment, including: 9 cannons, 3 mortars, 24 armoured vehicles, 4 reconnaissance UAVs, 5 aerial photographic stations, 1 radar system and 4 boats. A field ammunition supply point, 3 observation posts and a Lancet UAV control centre were also destroyed.
We are looking for intermediaries who can influence Russia's position on exchange of Mariupol defenders
"We can't say that it [the prisoner exchange process] has been put on hold, but we must remain realistic that the Russians will use these factors against the Ukrainian government... I cannot say that I directly see that these processes have been suspended. Some heads of structures in the Russian Federation are being replaced, and this, in my opinion, may be due to the fact that we are not currently experiencing any processes. But we are communicating," said Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.
UK defense minister says intelligence has evidence of Chinese lethal aid to Russia
Shapps told a conference in London that U.S. and British defense intelligence had evidence that "lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine, I think it is a significant development."
War
Guerrillas discover Russian military equipment in Yevpatoria
“In the course of reconnaissance, an agent of our movement discovered the unloading of an echelon of equipment at the Yevpatoria freight station. In the photo, you can see BMP-3 and a T-72 tank platoon,” reported by the
ATESH guerrilla movement on Telegram.
Every day the situation in Stepnohirsk (Zaporizhzhia region) worsens
Every day, the situation in Stepnohirsk (Zaporizhzhia region) worsens. The enemy continues to bombard with artillery and Grad rockets, deploys various modifications of drones, and now the strikes with KAB bombs have become more frequent. The locals are exhausted and scared, so evacuation is the best way for them to preserve their lives.
Almost daily, the territory of the Stepnohirsk hromada is under Russian fire. Recently, the occupiers struck the village with guided aerial bombs. Denys Dyatlov, head of police station No. 1 of the Vasylivka District Police Department, reported on the consequences of the hits: “One of them hit a building where people were present, another fell nearby. As a result, three citizens were injured, three floors of the building were completely destroyed, and surrounding multi-story buildings were damaged.”
Yesterday, the police evacuated a family from Stepnohirsk who lived opposite the village council building that was hit by a KAB.
Since the start of the police evacuation group's work, almost 200 people have been evacuated from the frontline village, including elderly and immobile citizens.
Russians shelled Sumy region thirty times during day
During the day, the Russians fired 30 times at the border areas and settlements of the Sumy region. 139 explosions were recorded. The Mykolaiv, Bilopillia, Krasnopilia, Velykopysariv, Putivl, Hlukhiv, Esman, Shalyhyne, Seredyno-Bud, Znob-Novgorod communities were shelled
Reportedly, the enemy attacked the Velykopysarivska community with mortars (55 explosions), artillery (10 explosions), dropped Fragmentation grenade launcher (VOG) ammunition from a UAV (5 explosions) and attacked with an FPV drone (1 explosion).
Politics
Ukraine, Latvia to continue developing joint security projects
Oleh Nemchinov, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, told this to an Ukrinform correspondent during the 10th meeting of the Ukrainian-Latvian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Industrial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation.
"Latvia is one of the biggest providers of aid to Ukraine when measured in relation to its GDP. And it will continue to provide [this aid] in the future. […] In addition, there are many joint security projects, including the one where Latvia initiated the creation of a drone coalition and many other points that we do not comment on at the moment," he said.
Society
Russians flee Turkey due to problems with residence permits - Reuters
Russian citizens who came to Turkey after the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine are leaving the country due to the inability to obtain residence permits and financial problems, in particular with banking services due to sanctions.
Economy
Economy ministry: Ukraine’s GDP up by 4.3% in Apr 2024
Ukraine’s economic recovery takes place despite the war and Russian massive missile attacks. According to preliminary estimates of the Economy Ministry, the GDP growth rate was about 4.3% [±1%] in April 2024 compared to April 2023. Overall, in January-April 2024, the growth rate was estimated at around 4.4% [±1%] compared to the same period last year
Germany ready to transfer revenues from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine - Reuters
"If there is a legally viable mechanism that will enable us to make even better use of these financial flows from the frozen assets in the future, then we are certainly prepared to do so," one German source said.
At the same time, Germany insists that it is ready to confiscate only the income from the frozen Russian assets, not the assets themselves. According to the German Ministry of Finance, this means that fundamental principles of international law such as state immunity are preserved.
Publications
Defense of Kharkiv region, Russian nuclear blackmail, situation with POWs
The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.