Sunday, May 28

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A destroyed building in the town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, on May 26, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergey Bobok/ AFP via Getty Images)

Russia launches 14th aerial attack at Ukraine this month, debris kills 1. Debris from an aerial target that was shot down fell onto a gas station in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, killing one person and injuring at least one, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported on Telegram.

Ukrainian intelligence: Russia starts false-flag operation with chemical weapons in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported on May 27 that Russian forces have begun a false-flag operation involving chemical weapons in occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia Oblast in what it said was “an attempt to disrupt the counteroffensive.”

Russia wants Ukraine to give up occupied territories, NATO and EU membership to start peace talks. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said, in an interview with the Russian state-controlled TASS news agency, that Ukraine must recognize the “new territorial realities,” meaning it should give up Russian-occupied territories. President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak said Kyiv would not hold any peace talks with Russia as long as Russian troops are on Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian intelligence says it gained ‘valuable information’ from Belgorod incursion. The Ukrainian military intelligence said on May 27 that it gained “valuable information” from the Belgorod Oblast incursion, which was carried out by Russian anti-government militia fighting alongside Ukraine in Russia’s full-scale war.

NYT: About 400 Ukrainian soldiers begin training on Abrams tanks in Germany. About 400 Ukrainian soldiers began training on American M1 Abrams tanks in Germany on May 26, the New York Times reported, as Ukraine readies itself for a much-anticipated counteroffensive.

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Danilov: Wagner regrouping in 3 locations after partial withdrawal from Bakhmut. National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said in an interview released on May 27 that Russia’s Wagner mercenaries are “regrouping to another three locations” after what he called was their partial withdrawal from Bakhmut.

Exiled local authorities: Ukraine attack on Russian military positions in occupied Berdiansk results in casualties. Ukraine launched an attack on Russian military positions in the Russian-occupied town of Berdiansk in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the exiled local authorities said on May 27, claiming that many Russian soldiers were killed in the strike.

Russian media: Drone attack allegedly kills 2 Russian soldiers in Bryansk Oblast. Russian Telegram Channel Baza, which is allegedly linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), said on May 27 that two soldiers were killed in a Russian bordering region due to a drone attack.

General Staff: Ukraine repels Donbas attacks amid shelling and airstrikes. Russian forces attacked Avdiivka and Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast but were repelled without gaining ground on May 27, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.

Poll: Two-thirds of Ukrainians oppose negotiations with Russia. A new poll has found that 64% of Ukrainians oppose direct talks with Russia before the war ends, while 23.1% are in favor of negotiations.

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‘A very noble man’: Ballet dancer turned soldier killed on front line near Bakhmut

The Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater’s late ballet dancer, Rostyslav Yanchyshen, stepped in to defend Ukraine during the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was killed in combat on April 19.

Photo: Ukraine Culture Ministry/ Facebook

Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly – Issue 89

Two draft laws were registered in parliament on May 24 that aim to improve the ownership structure of GTSOU in order to meet Ukraine’s commitments under the IMF program and reform its corporate governance.

Photo: Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine/Facebook

Human cost of war

Russia attacks 16 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, killing one. Russian troops shelled 16 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast over the past day, killing a 73-year-old woman and injuring two more, Governor Yurii Malashko reported on May 27.

Governor: 1 killed, 1 wounded in Russian shelling of Kharkiv Oblast. A 61-year-old woman was killed, and a 60-year-old man was wounded in yet another Russian shelling of the Kupiansk area in the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, the regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on May 27.

General Staff: Russia has lost 206,200 troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has also lost 3,799 tanks, 7,442 armored fighting vehicles, 6,172 vehicles and fuel tanks, 3,406 artillery systems, 572 multiple launch rocket systems, 329 air defense systems, 310 airplanes, 296 helicopters, 2,941 drones, and 18 boats.

International response

Denmark creates $133 million fund to invest in Ukraine. Denmark has launched a new program to aid Ukraine - an investment fund with 1 billion Danish kroner ($133 million), Ukraine’s Economy Ministry announced on May 27.

VOA: US lawmakers call for speeding up arms supplies to Ukraine. U.S. lawmakers from both parties interviewed by the Voice of America came out in favor of providing Ukraine with the long-range weapons and fighter jets it needs to conduct its long-awaited counteroffensive, with some calling for the delivery timetable to be sped up.

In other news

Ukrainian tennis player Svitolina beats Russian opponent in WTA final. Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina defeated her Russian opponent Anna Blinkova on May 27 at the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg tournament in France, claiming her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) victory since giving birth to a baby girl.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Toma Istomina, Martin Fornusek, Oleksiy Sorokin, Oleg Sukhov, Kate Tsurkan, and Lili Bivings.

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