Newsletter 31/05/2024
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POW swap: 75 Ukrainians released from Russian captivity
Video: Security Service of Ukraine
These are soldiers with the Armed Forces, National Guard, as well as border guards and four civilians. All of them have already crossed into Ukraine.
Among the 75 Ukrainians released from captivity, 19 were captured on Snake Island, 10 were defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal steelworks, the head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, reported via Telegram.
Death toll from overnight missile attack on Kharkiv rises to six
The number of those killed in a Russian missile attack on Kharkiv in the early morning hours of May 31 has increased to six, and 25 people were injured in the strikes
Biden secretly gave Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia with U.S. weapons - Politico
The Biden administration has quietly given Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia -- solely near the area of Kharkiv -- using U.S.-provided weapons, a major reversal that will help Ukraine to better defend its second-largest city.
Germany allows Ukraine to use German weapons against targets inside Russia
The German government said on Friday that Ukraine could use German-supplied weapons to defend itself against Russian attacks launched directly from its border areas.
Ten countries, EU condemn defense cooperation between North Korea, Russia
"Our governments stand in resolute opposition to these continued arms transfers, which Russia has used to strike Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people. We are gravely concerned by the deepening DPRK-Russia cooperation in flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," reads joint statement by the top diplomats from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, US, and the EU.
Zelensky: Russia preparing to carry out aggressive provocations in Baltic region
"Putin has the ability to spread war. The situation is not as good as he tries to make it out to be, but he can still spread terror against our cities and villages in an attempt to expand the war zone, and he is training more forces near our borders. Russia is also signaling that it may be ready to commit aggressive provocations, in particular, against the borders in the Baltic region," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukraine's ability to hit targets on Russian soil in line with int’l law - EU spox
The European Union does not comment on NATO's decisions or statements, and at the same time shares the conviction that Ukraine, as a victim of Russian aggression, has a legitimate right to self-defense, including to hit military targets on the territory of the aggressor state.
Explosions ring out in Crimea, fire breaks out at Port Kavkaz
A series of explosions rang out in temporarily occupied Crimea overnight.
War
Volunteer from the Netherlands killed in action in Ukraine
According to media reports, the man, whose name has not been disclosed, fought as part of the International Legion. He was killed in combat near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, on May 20.
His body was repatriated to his home country.
SBU drones “shut down” Russia’s valuable radar in Crimea - source
Overnight Thursday, May 30, the Russians lost their Nebo-SVU long-range radar detection system worth nearly $100 million.
General Staff: 127 combat engagements on front lines in past day
Over the past day, 127 combat engagements were recorded. In total, the enemy launched three missile attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas, using 22 missiles, as well as 64 air strikes, including 97 guided aerial missiles.
U.S. opens factory to produce artillery ammunition for Ukraine
A plant still under construction will soon turn out 30,000 artillery shells each month, roughly doubling current U.S. output.
Defense
Germany contributing another Patriot system to Ukraine
Germany will transfer another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine to strengthen the country's air defense against Russian aggression.
Lithuania ready to deploy ground troops to Ukraine - Landsbergis
Lithuania is ready to join the French and German initiatives to send troops to Ukraine and transfer elements of the air defense system to contribute to covering Kyiv’s needs.
"We have French initiative, you know, for training or sending troops to Ukraine. Again, Lithuania clearly indicates that we are ready. And then it's German, and then again, we indicate that we are ready to join with our radar systems that we are going to add are going to complement the equipment that's being sent by Germany to Ukraine," said the head of the Foreign Ministry of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis
Politics
Zelensky: Peace deal with Russia “trap”
Zelensky said that Russia's war against Ukraine is similar to World War II, but on a smaller scale, because of the "ideology of Russian fascism." In his opinion, Putin's harsh "methodology" was the same as in Nazi Germany, and included "mass executions, burials and rapes."
The Ukrainian leader noted that Russian soldiers even used the "same routes" as Hitler's army in their campaign to capture Kyiv and dominate the country. If Russia had won in Ukraine, Putin would have sought to further redraw Europe's borders by attacking other countries, he added.
Ukraine concludes security agreement with Norway
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store, signed in Stockholm the Agreement on cooperation in the field of security and long-term support.
Ukraine, Iceland sign security deal
In particular, throughout 2024-2028, Iceland will allocate at least 4 billion Icelandic kroner (almost $30 million) annually, and support for Ukraine will continue throughout the term of the deal. In addition, Iceland is ready to finance, purchase, and supply defense materiel and equipment, as well as cooperate with Ukraine to develop its defense industry.
Photo report
Clear of mines: how sappers prepare the site for the construction of a hospital
Since the beginning of April, sappers have been inspecting 5 hectares of land in the recreational area of Kyiv region for possible explosive objects. The goal is to remove this area from the list of mined territories by the end of May and hand it over to contractors for the construction of a modular hospital on the basis of a mental health center, which will specialize in the rehabilitation of our defenders.
In 2022, Russian occupiers stayed here in the Bucha community for 35 days. Remnants of rockets for Grad systems were found nearby. So, inspecting the territory was definitely necessary.
The journalists of Ukrinform spoke to people involved in demining. We also observed the operation of the innovative GCS-200 mine-clearing machine, which is the first to enter potentially dangerous areas and is capable of safely disarming mines.