Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»: 20.05 – 26.05

Russia Strikes Shopping Center: 15 Dead

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported  that over 200 people might have been inside a home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv when it was struck by Russian KABs on Saturday.

"Russia delivered another brutal strike on our Kharkiv – on a home improvement hypermarket – on Saturday, right in the middle of the day. As of now, it is known that over 200 people could have been in the hypermarket. All services are already on-site assisting – rescuing people and extinguishing the fire that has completely engulfed the premises, which spans 10,000 square meters. Casualties and injuries have been reported."

The death toll from the Russian airstrikes on the home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv on May 25 has risen to 15.

 

UK Intelligence: Russia Failed to Achieve Set Goals in Kharkiv Region

Russian occupation forces have not achieved the goal stated by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin of creating a "buffer zone" in the northern part of the Kharkiv region. This was reported in a review by the UK Ministry of Defence.

British intelligence notes that in the Kharkiv region, the Russian occupation army continues its offensive on Vovchansk, but the city remains under the control of Ukrainian forces, who repel most Russian attacks.

The Russian occupiers have captured the village of Buhruvatka near Vovchansk and are attempting to establish physical control over a nearby crossing over the Siverskyi Donets River, thereby threatening the flank and rear of the Ukrainian forces defending Vovchansk.

Additionally, Russian troops continue to launch attacks in the direction of the village of Liptsi, but according to the Ukrainian General Staff, as of the evening of May 22, 2024, they have not made significant progress.

Intelligence reminds that on May 17, Putin stated that Russian forces must create a "security buffer zone" in the Kharkiv region. However, so far, they have not succeeded, the department added.

 

Stoltenberg Urges NATO Allies to Allow Ukraine to Strike Russian Territory

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called  on NATO allies supplying weapons to Ukraine to lift the ban on their use against military targets in Russia.

"The time has come for allies to reconsider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have placed on the use of weapons they have provided to Ukraine. Especially now, with a significant portion of the fighting taking place in Kharkiv, near the border, denying Ukraine the ability to use these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory greatly complicates its self-defense."

 

UK Claims to Have Evidence of China Supplying Weapons to Russia

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps on Wednesday accused China of providing or preparing to provide lethal weapons to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.

Speaking at a conference in London, Shapps stated that US and UK military intelligence have evidence that lethal weaponry "is already being sent or will be sent from China to Russia," and then onto the battlefield in Ukraine.

The minister described this as a significant development.

"We should be concerned about this, because in the early days of this war, China wanted to present itself as a country that could exert a restraining influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin," he added.

 

Zelensky: Russia Assembling New Group Near Border

Russian forces are assembling a new group near the border, 90 kilometers from Kharkiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported.

"Russia is the sole source of aggression and constantly attempts to expand the war. Right now, these days, we are defending ourselves 60 kilometers northeast of here against another attempt at a Russian offensive. Russia is preparing for offensive actions 90 kilometers from here to the northwest – another group of troops is gathering near our border. Those who are doing this do not want peace. Does Russia want dialogue? Ukraine has the world's greatest experience of being deceived by Russia in negotiations. Deception that, among other things, served as a cover for Russia to prepare for this war."

 

The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» in English for readers from other countries to tell to tell about current news and events in Ukraine.

Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти про актуальні новини та події в Україні.