Newsletter 23/05/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Ukraine welcomes home 390 POWs in first wave of historic "1000-for-1000" swap
As part of the "1000-for-1000" exchange, 390 prisoners have been returned to Ukraine.
"Today – 390 people. On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue,” the President noted on .
As reported, on May 22, President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting to prepare for the "1000-for-1000" exchange, after which he stated that details were being clarified for each person listed by the Russian side.
Earlier, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, commenting on the results of talks with the Russian delegation in Istanbul on May 16, stated that the "1000-for-1000" prisoner exchange could take place soon.
Death toll from Russian missile strike on Odesa rises to two
The death toll in Odesa has risen to two after a Russian missile strike on port infrastructure.
According to Ukrinform, Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa regional military administration, shared the updated details via Telegram.
"The number of victims of today's missile attack has risen. A 71-year-old resident of Odesa died of his injuries in hospital," Kiper stated.
As Ukrinform previously reported, on May 23, Russian forces launched two ballistic missiles at Odesa's port infrastructure. Earlier reports confirmed one fatality and eight wounded, with four in serious condition.
Drones strike key Russian military factory, halting missile component production
In Yelets, a town in Russia’s Lipetsk region, drones targeted the Energia plant, which manufactures critical components for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Iskander and Kinzhal missiles, and electronic warfare systems.
The Energia plant is a supplier to the Russian Ministry of Defense, as well as other state structures including Roscosmos, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and Gazprom.
The plant’s products are actively used in communication and control systems, electronic warfare, drone technologies, production of Iskander and Kinzhal missiles.
General Staff confirms strike on Russian plant producing missile batteries
Russia reports drone attacks on Severny air base
Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamonov stated that a drone crash triggered a fire in an industrial area in Yelets, with reports of possible casualties. He added that electronic warfare and air defense systems "continue to operate in Yelets."
Local residents have reported several drones strikes on the Energia plant, a manufacturer of batteries and accumulators that supplies the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Social media sources also cited a drone attack on the Severny air base in Ivanovo. The Regional Operational Headquarters confirmed that debris fell on the outskirts of the city but did not specify the exact location.
Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported other drones, claiming they were shot down while flying toward the capital
Ukrainian Air Force strikes Russian command post in Bakhmut
On May 21, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out a strike on the forward command post of the 3rd Army Corps of Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region.
As a result of the strike, the structure housing the enemy was significantly damaged. This strike seriously reduces the Russian Federation's ability to plan and conduct operations in the Pokrovsk sector, one of the most intense areas of the frontline.
Russia’s Lavrov dismisses holding Russia–Ukraine peace talks in Vatican
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that Moscow is against organizing Russia–Ukraine peace negotiations in the Vatican, calling the idea "not elegant." He also dismissed the notion that Russia would ever "allow" Ukraine to live under its own laws as an illusion.
Russians execute two Ukrainian POWs near Pokrovsk
Law enforcement authorities have launched an investigation into the execution of two more Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces in the Pokrovsk sector.
“According to operational data, in the morning of May 22, the Russian invaders launched an assault on the positions of Ukraine’s Defense Forces near the village of Udachne in Pokrovsk district, where four Ukrainian servicemen were carrying out combat missions. During the attack, representatives of the aggressor state captured two Ukrainian servicemen and then executed them unarmed in a forested area using automatic weapons. The fate of the other defenders is currently unknown,” reported by the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
War
Russian forces attempt to push AFU from Antonivsky bridge
In the Prydniprovsky direction, Russian troops are trying to force the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the Antonivsky bridge, and in the south of the island zone they are trying to take control of the islands of Zabych, Nestryha and Kozulisky.
“The enemy has concentrated assault groups at several points to conduct forcible actions. The enemy usually carries out these forcing actions with small groups of infantry in one or more boats, and he is trying to force our defenders away from Antonivsky bridge, and is also trying to take control of several islands in the south of the island zone. In particular, these are Zabych, Nestryha, Kozuliskyi,” said the spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces Vladyslav Voloshyn.
The spokesman emphasized that the occupiers want to take a foothold to gradually land on the right bank of the Dnipro. However, all these attempts are unsuccessful.
According to Voloshyn, the forces and means that the enemy has concentrated there are sufficient to carry out such actions, but not for a large, strategic crossing of the Dnipro.
AFU destroys Russian self-propelled artillery system and tractor with FPV drones in Pokrovsk sector
In the Pokrovsk direction, operators of the Corsair battalion of the 38th Separate Marine Brigade destroyed Russian self-propelled artillery systems and MT-LBs using FPV drones.
Ukrainian forces destroy Russian Solntsepyok flamethrower system in Vovchansk sector/Video
Partisans discover Russian military equipment depot near Yevpatoria/Video
Russia’s war casualty toll in Ukraine up by 1,050 over past day
Russians launch 658 attacks on Zaporizhzhia region in past 24 hrs
Russian troops kill three more civilians in Donetsk region, four injured
Politics
Putin’s aggressive 'buffer zone' claims reject peace efforts – Sybiha
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called for increased pressure on Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in response to his recent statements about creating a “security buffer zone” along the Russian-Ukrainian border.
Economy
Three more plants preparing to start biomethane production in Ukraine – expert
“Four plants are already running and began to export biomethane to Europe. Three more plants are finishing the conversion of equipment from biogas production to biomethane, and will start production operations in the near future,” told Bioenergy Association of Ukraine Board Chairman Georgii Geletukha.
In his words, Europe is currently facing the so-called ‘growth problems’ in the biomethane market, but generally the market is in short supply and its participants are willing to purchase Ukrainian biomethane.
A reminder that, on February 6, 2025, the Energy Customs of the Ukrainian State Customs Service made the first customs declaration on the export of biomethane.
Russian sovereign assets to stay frozen until Ukraine compensated – G7
Russia's sovereign assets will remain frozen until it halts its aggression against Ukraine and compensates for the damages caused.
Crime
Six Russian arsonist agents detained across multiple regions
Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the National Police have detained six agents of Russian intelligence services involved in setting fire to vehicles belonging to Ukraine’s Defense Forces and to infrastructure of Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways), including a 13-year-old boy.
Specifically, in Dnipropetrovsk region, two minors from the town of Samar were detained after setting fire to several relay cabinets for signal systems that regulate train movement. According to investigators, their next task was to identify and burn service vehicles belonging to Ukrainian military personnel. However, they were caught in the act shortly after committing the railway sabotage.
In Odesa region, three Russian agents were detained — two young men aged 17 and 18 from Odesa, and a 27-year-old resident of the town of Chornomorsk — each carrying out tasks individually on behalf of Russia.
According to case materials, the suspects destroyed three Ukrzaliznytsia relay cabinets and an SUV belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which was undergoing maintenance after returning from the front.
In Chernihiv, a 24-year-old welder from a local auto repair shop was detained while attempting to set fire to a Ukrainian serviceman’s car.
"According to case materials, he planned to ignite the vehicle right on the shop premises, staging the incident to look like it was done by 'unknown intruders' who entered the area at night. The SSU agents acted preemptively and detained the man just as he was preparing the flammable substance for the crime," the agency reported.