Russia-Ukraine updates: Two killed in attacks in Donetsk
Region’s governor says two killed, eight wounded when Russia shelled eastern Ukrainian city of Toretsk in the Donetsk region.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday, May 29.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday, May 29.
- Kyiv says its forces shot down all missiles launched by Russia in a fresh wave of day time attacks, which rocked central districts of the Ukrainian capital city.
- Russian overnight strikes hit a military facility in the region of Khmelnytsky in western Ukraine, the local administration said on Monday in a rare admission of military targets being struck.
- Ukraine’s air force says it shot down 29 of 35 Russia-launched drones and 37 out of 40 cruise missiles overnight.
- Russia’s interior ministry has put US Senator Lindsey Graham on a wanted list, Russian media reports said, citing the ministry’s database.
Wagner fighters replaced in Bakhmut: Ukrainian forces
Serhiy Cherevatyi, the spokesperson for the eastern group of Ukrainian forces, has told Ukrainian television that Wagner mercenary units were being replaced in the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut by Russian paratroops and motorised units.
He added that there had been three military clashes around Bakhmut in the past 24 hours.
“But the enemy has maintained its fire on our positions. There were 373 shelling hits of various types in the past 24 hours and six air strikes on our positions,” he said.
Ukrainian forces returned fire, Cherevatyi said, and 155 enemy soldiers had been killed and 116 wounded.
He said Ukraine’s military was conducting “a reorganisation and other military moves … so that further movement can be even more successful in terms of hitting the enemy”.
Ukraine says five aircraft taken out of service in Khmelnytskyi
In a rare acknowledgement of damage to a military “target”, Ukraine has said that work was under way to restore a runway and that five aircraft were taken out of service in the western region of Khmelnytskyi, though it did not name the sites.
Russia said on Monday its military hit Ukrainian air bases in overnight strikes.
“At the moment, work is continuing to contain fires in storage facilities for fuel and lubricants and munitions,” the Khmelnytskyi regional governor’s office said.
Russian state-owned news agency RIA cited the defence ministry as saying more than one air base had been hit. There was no confirmation from Ukraine of damage to other air bases.
Ukrainian diplomat says Zelenskyy’s peace plan only way forward
Chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva has told Reuters that Ukraine has no interest in a ceasefire that locks in Russian territorial gains, and wants the implementation of its peace plan, which envisages the full withdrawal of Russian troops.
He pushed back on a flurry of peace initiatives from China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa in recent months.
“There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine,” Zhovkva said in an interview.
Kyiv’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and the time for mediation efforts has passed, he said.
Ukrainian tennis champion hopes to ‘bring joy’ to war-torn homeland
Elina Svitolina says she wants to “bring joy” to people in Ukraine after marking her comeback to Grand Slam tennis with a first-round victory at the French Open.
“I want to do it for myself. I have some goals that I want to complete before I retire completely,” she said when asked what motivated her to return to the Women’s Tennis Association Tour in April.
“Of course, for my country, as well, to bring these little moments like, for example, winning Strasbourg, starting well here, as well.”
Svitolina recently returned to the tour following maternity leave, having previously taken a break from the sport citing health problems and mental exhaustion following Russia’s invasion of her home country, Ukraine.
Zelenskyy expresses ‘gratitude’ to Americans on Memorial Day
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his “special gratitude” to Americans “of different times” who “were destined to show to the world that freedom will always shine bright on the hill”.
The US on Monday celebrated Memorial Day, a festivity honouring and mourning the military personnel who died while serving the country.
My special gratitude on this Memorial day goes to all Americans of different times – sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, who became the warriors and whose strength turned into the strength of freedom and who were destined to show to the world that… pic.twitter.com/98kpAGApIw
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 29, 2023
Second UN-facilitated shipment of Russian fertiliser reaches Africa from EU
A second shipment of Russian fertiliser facilitated by the United Nations World Food Programme has arrived in Africa from the European Union, the Russian company Uralchem says.
The shipment was designed to keep alive a Black Sea grain export deal that Russia has threatened to halt.
The 34,000-tonne consignment was under the Uralchem-Uralkali Group’s name and arrived in Kenya. The company also said in a statement that in March, an initial shipment of Russian fertiliser, also dispatched from the EU and weighting 20,000 tonnes, had arrived in Malawi.
Uralchem did not say which EU port either shipment set sail from, but Latvia said last month that it had allowed a shipment of Russian fertiliser to go to Kenya.
Russia had cited the seizure of Russian fertiliser stored in Riga due to EU sanctions as a key stumbling block to its continued participation in a Black Sea grain deal, which allows Ukraine to export farm goods from its Black Sea ports.
Russia won’t enter negotiations while trying to win the war: Borrell
The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, says he believes Russia will not negotiate while it is still trying to win the war in Ukraine, adding that he was “not optimistic” about what could happen in the conflict this summer.
“I see Russia’s clear intent to win the war,” Borrell said at an appearance in Barcelona. “[Russia] will not go to a negotiation until it has tried to win the war.”
Two people killed, eight wounded in Russian attacks in Donetsk: Governor
Two people have died and eight have been wounded when Russia shelled the eastern Ukrainian city of Toretsk in the Donetsk region, according to the region’s governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.
“Every day, the Russians purposefully hit civilians in the Donetsk region. I am asking everyone, especially the residents of the front-line communities: Do not put your life at risk! Evacuate in time,” Kyrylenko said in a statement on Telegram.
Finland hosts NATO exercises after becoming alliance member
Finland has kicked off NATO air exercises involving more than a dozen countries and 150 aircraft weeks after the country joined the alliance in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The exercise has started today. We currently have the first big rotation under way,” Colonel Henrik Elo from the Finnish air force, which is hosting the drills, told the AFP news agency.
Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Kherson ‘kills one’
Russian shelling in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson has killed one person, according to the regional administration.
“A 61-year-old man was killed in his house as a result of the shelling in the village of Kozatske,” the administration said in a statement on Telegram.
Ukraine approves sanctions against Russia’s ally Iran
Ukraine’s parliament has approved a new sanctions package against Russia’s ally Iran.
Kyiv has accused Tehran of sending weapons to Moscow.
“The resolution synchronises Ukrainian sanctions with the actions of the entire civilised world on the path to the complete isolation of Iran,” the parliament said on its website.
China continues to ‘contribute to political settlement of Ukraine crisis’
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the war in Ukraine has now reached a “critical juncture”, adding that the Chinese government will “continue to contribute to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.”
The ministry’s statement on Twitter came after Beijing envoy Li Hui visited Ukraine, Russia, Poland, France, Germany and Brussels to discuss a political settlement to the crisis.
China will continue to contribute to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. pic.twitter.com/98uUfQ71bb
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) May 29, 2023
Denmark to increase military aid to Ukraine
Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, says her government will increase its military aid to Ukraine by $2.6bn during this year and next year.
Zelenskyy responded with a tweet, saying, “This major contribution will further strengthen the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the short and medium term.”
Grateful to the @folketinget, the Danish government and the Danish people for the decision to increase the financing of the Ukraine Fund by $2.6 billion. This major contribution will further strengthen the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the short and medium…
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 29, 2023
Ukrainian presidential aide proposes ‘demilitarised zone’ in Russia in peace settlement
Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said in a tweet that a demilitarised zone of 100km to 120km (62 to 75 miles) long should be established inside Russia along its border with Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement.
The key topic of the post-war settlement should be the establishment of safeguards to prevent a recurrence of aggression in the future. To ensure real security for residents of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions and protect them from shelling, it…
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) May 29, 2023
Russian shelling in Donetsk kills one person: Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office
A Russian attack on the city of Toretsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region has killed one person and injured nine, according to a report by Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office.
In a statement on Telegram, the office said that one of the bombs – likely an air-dropped, Soviet-designed FAB-250 – hit a petrol station, killed a 28-year-old employee and injured eight people.
The prosecutor general’s office said a second bomb hit a local administrative building in the region and injured one more person.
Zelenskyy thanks those who protect ‘our children from Russian terror’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the people who play a role in protecting Ukrainians after a fresh wave of Russian attacks rocked Kyiv.
Referring to a video shared on Ukrainian media and also by the first lady of children in Kyiv running for shelter as air raid sirens sounded, Zelenskyy said in a message on Telegram: “Ukrainian children. Every time an air raid alert sounds. This is what an ordinary weekday looks like.
“Thank you to everyone in the world who helps protect people and our children from Russian terror! From the terrorist state.”
‘Anxiety once again’: Ukrainian first lady’s response to Russia’s attacks on Kyiv
Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, has shared a video on Twitter of children in the capital city running for shelters as Russian missiles attacked Kyiv for the 16th time this month.
“Anxiety once again,” she posted.
Ukrainian air defences said its forces shot down all the missiles launched by Russia towards Kyiv in this latest attack.
Kyiv. Morning after sleepless night under fire. Anxiety once again…
Children running and screaming for shelter to the sounds of explosions. But it should not be like this – anywhere and never. Fear cannot be turned off – but we do not stop, we act. Ukraine continues to fight 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/wTKS3sv6qi— Олена Зеленська (@ZelenskaUA) May 29, 2023
Putin signs law allowing elections in Kremlin-occupied Ukrainian territories
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation into law that will allow elections in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories to take place this year.
Metros in Kyiv became ‘largest city shelter’ for residents during Russian missile attacks
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence says in a tweet that metro stations in Kyiv have become the “largest city shelter” for thousands of Ukrainians during a fresh wave of daytime attacks by Russia.
Kyiv officials said Ukrainian forces have shot down all the Russian missiles fired at the city.
Today, russian terrorists attacked Kyiv again by ballistic and cruise missiles. Metro became the largest city shelter for thousands of Ukrainians.
🎥@suspilne_news pic.twitter.com/4GqWFCApB5
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 29, 2023
Russian shelling in Kharkiv injures seven people
Russian shelling of two villages in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv province has injured seven people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov says.
The wounded include three women aged 73, 85 and 90; a pregnant woman; a 14-year-old; and a 10-year-old, he said on Telegram.
Ukraine’s air defence shoots down 11 Russian missiles targeting Kyiv
Ukraine’s air defence has shot down 11 ballistic and cruise missiles launched by Russia targeting Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
According to @CinC_AFU, on May 29 russians attacked Kyiv and Kyiv region with 11 missiles (Iskander-K and Iskander-M).
ALL MISSILES WERE SHOT DOWN.
Excellent work of the Ukrainian air defenders!— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 29, 2023
One person killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Dnipro: Governor
Russian shelling in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed at least one person and injured nine people according to the region’s governor Serhii Lysak.
In a Telegram statement, Lysak said shelling in Dnipro’s Synelnykove district led to the death of one woman as well as the injury of an 11-year-old child and eight other people.
He added that at least two houses in the Synelnykove district were completely destroyed by the attack while 30 sustained damage.
Russia hit Ukrainian airbases in overnight strikes: RIA Novosti
Russia’s defence ministry has confirmed its forces hit Ukrainian airbases overnight, according to a report by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Earlier, Ukrainian officials said that Russia had struck targets across the country, using dozens of missiles and drones.