Monday, May 22

Russia’s war against Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky poses for a photo with the G7 leaders, as well as European Union officials, during the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 21, 2023. (President’s Office)

Zelensky: Bakhmut hasn’t been captured by Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 21 that Russian troops have not captured the embattled city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukrainian military says it controls ‘some buildings’ in southwestern Bakhmut, situation ‘extremely difficult.’ The Ukrainian military said on May 21 that the situation in Bakhmut is “extremely difficult,” but Ukraine still holds “some buildings” and fortifications in the southwestern part of the destroyed eastern city.

Ukraine’s military reports advance near Bakhmut. Ukraine’s Third Assault Brigade on May 21 reported that it had advanced 700 meters deep into previously Russian-occupied territory near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast.

Land Forces chief says Ukrainian troops may soon encircle Bakhmut. Ukrainian troops keep advancing on the flanks and approach a “tactical encirclement” of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine’s Land Forces, reported on May 21.

Air Force says 4 drones shot down overnight in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Air Force reported on May 21 that it shot down four Shahed-136/131 drones that Russia launched against the country overnight.

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UK intelligence: Russia likely restarted intense missile strikes to degrade Ukraine’s air defense. Russia has restarted its intense waves of long-range missile strikes deep inside Ukraine, targeting cities such as Kyiv, likely to degrade the Ukrainian air defense, the U.K. Defense Ministry said on May 21.

Zelensky proposes to hold peace formula summit in July. President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed to hold the Summit of the Peace Formula in July, a “symbolic” time when Ukraine will mark 500 days of defending against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Zelensky to G7: ‘We need a clear global leadership of democracy’. President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the G7 leaders at a summit in Hiroshima on May 21, saying that “we need a clear global leadership of democracy” to strengthen global security.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Biden pledges to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16

U.S. President Joe Biden on May 21 pledged support for Ukraine’s Air Force, saying the U.S. would start training Ukrainian pilots to fly fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets.

Photo: President’s Office

Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly – Issue 88

Check out this weekly digest on the most important news related to state-owned enterprises and the state-owned banks in Ukraine.

Photo: Ukroboronprom/Facebook

Russia takes Bakhmut: Taking stock of the war’s bloodiest battle so far

Ten months after Russia’s assault on the once-flourishing city in Donetsk Oblast began, Bakhmut has now been effectively occupied by Russian troops. This hasn’t been confirmed yet by Kyiv, but is evident based on both official statements and those made by soldiers on the ground to the Kyiv Independent.

Photo: Viktor Fridshon/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Prosecutor’s Office: Russian attacks kill 2, injure 6 across Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces attacked the towns of Avdiivka, Chasiv Yar, New York, Toretsk, and Marinka in Donetsk Oblast, killing two civilians and injuring six others, the regional prosecutor’s office reported on May 21.

Russia attacks Kharkiv Oblast, injures civilian. Russia launched a missile attack on the village of Tsyrkuny in Kharkiv Oblast injuring a man, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on May 21.

Governor: Russian shelling kills 1 in Kherson Oblast. Russian forces have shelled the village of Kozatske in Kherson Oblast, killing a 55-year-old man, Oleksandr Prokudin, the regional governor, reported on May 21.

General Staff: Russia has lost 203,160 troops in Ukraine. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on May 21 that Russia has lost 203,160 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with an estimated 670 casualties on May 20.

International response

US announces $375 million in military aid for Ukraine, as Zelensky meets Biden in Japan. The U.S. Department of Defense on May 21 announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $375 million, aimed to help Ukrainian forces “push back against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression.”

Biden pledges support for Ukraine’s air force. U.S. President Joe Biden on May 21 pledged support for Ukraine’s air force, saying that the U.S. would start training Ukrainian pilots to fly fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets.

Japan to provide Ukraine with 100 vehicles, food kits, medical assistance. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on May 21 that Japan would send around 100 vehicles and 30,000 food kits to Ukraine. He added Japan could also accept wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

Modi says India will do ‘everything’ to stop Russia’s war, abstains from imposing sanctions. In a first in-person meeting since the start of Russia’s all-out invasion, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told President Volodymyr Zelensky that India would do everything it could to help end the war.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Toma Istomina, Asami Terajima, Oleg Sukhov, Alexander Khrebet, Oleksiy Sorokin, Natalia Datskevych, Anastasiya Gordiychuk, and Anastasiia Malenko.

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