Ukrainian President Zelensky meets the Arab League. Big diplomatic breakthrough for Ukraine coupled with the scheduled meeting between Zelensky and PM Modi at G7. #geopolitics#Velsigpic.twitter.com/RnaMqtzS2o
[Moscow Times] Russian lawmakers are drafting legislation that would punish anti-Russian words and actions deemed as "Russophobia" with up to five years imprisonment, the independent news outlet Vyorstka reported Thursday.
The bill is expected to amend Russia’s Criminal Code by adding clauses on "Russophobia" to articles criminalizing public calls for extremism and violating equal rights.
Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of parliament, defines "Russophobia" as actions and statements directed against Russian citizens, Vyorstka cited an unnamed lawmaker as saying.
Analysts say the Kremlin co-opted the term "Russophobia" to advance its idea of Moscow as a besieged fortress amid rapidly deteriorating relations with the West.
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision in March to issue an arrest warrant for war crimes against President Vladimir Putin and his children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova falls under the new legislation, Vyorstka said.
It added that the Russophobia bill will also target statements by people on Russia's "foreign agents" registry who openly support Ukraine, which Russia invaded in early 2022.
An unnamed lawmaker said the "timely" Russophobia bill will apply primarily to punish violations of the rights of Russian nationals abroad.
"The terms will be vague enough to apply [punishments] against whoever needed," another source close to the Kremlin was quoted as saying.
Where's Pete?
[Breitbart] Another embarrassment for Russia as, just days after it boasted of having stopped rail sabotage by deploying its fleet of armoured trains, another track was blasted causing a train to plunge down an embankment.
Eight rail cars of a grain shipment in occupied Crimea near the village of Chistenkoye were derailed on Thursday, with reports claiming a bomb blast under the train destroyed the tracks the train was running on, causing the wagons to topple down the side of the embankment. Photographs of the scene of the bombing on social media show mounds of grain spilt from the cars as workers try to clear the line.
The fact the blast struck the centre of the train rather than the engine suggests a range of scenarios, including that the explosive device was detonated locally by an observer, or that saboteurs are using time-delay fuses.
The line, which has strategic importance as it links Russia’s Black Sea naval base at Sevastopol with the hinterland, was been totally blocked to traffic, the Ukrainian government said, and over 160 feet of track needs repairs. A spokesman of Russia’s occupation regime in Crimea said rail replacement buses would be laid on for passengers in the meanwhile and vowed to have the line re-opened within 24 hours.
The British Ministry of Defence said there was strategic significance to the blast, saying in a statement taking out that rail line could potentially disrupt the supply of weaponry to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, including the Kalibir missiles which are fired from naval vessels against Ukrainian cities. “Any sabotage in this sensitive area will further increase the Kremlin’s concerns about its ability to protect other key infrastructure in Crimea. The peninsula retains a vital psychological and logistical role in enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine”, said Britain.
The blast under the tracks was caused by “unauthorised individuals”, said Russia — Ukrainian saboteurs, in other words — and said it would need to strengthen “anti-terrorist security measures”.
The Chairman of the State Council of Crimea — the collaborator administration which has worked with Russia in occupied Crimea since 2014 — Vladimir Konstantinov said the railway had been “undermined” by “the tricks of the Ukrainian Nazi team”.
Ukraine for their part have not officially claimed responsibility for this, or many other acts of rail sabotage against Russia in recent weeks, often choosing to leave the authorship of blasts up to speculation. In other cases, the Ukrainians claim infrastructure explosions may be down to a domestic Russian resistance trying to take down the Putin regime.
The major derailment comes just days after Russia, thorough its state propaganda channels, boasted that it had managed to stop Ukrainian sabotage of its railways by deploying armoured trains. While a relic of another century for every other country on earth, Russia has four armoured trains in commission, used to keep its enormous network of railways open, an essential task for a nation that relies on rails to move tanks and military supplies fast.
[MSN] Moldova is in the process of terminating some agreements signed under the umbrella of the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration confirmed on April 20.
In February, Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu announced that the government is reviewing the dozens of agreements signed under the CIS umbrella and will scrap those that do not serve the country’s interests.
For instance, the Moldovan government approved a bill this week on withdrawing from the agreement on international legal guarantees for the work of the TV and radio company Mir.
The confirmation comes in response to a statement by CIS secretary general Serghei Lebedev who claimed that Moldova is not taking steps to pull out of the organisation.
"Frankly speaking, I am pleased and satisfied that so far no concrete measures have been taken regarding Moldova's withdrawal from the CIS. As far as the denunciation of some agreements and contracts is concerned, we cannot yet cite facts," said Lebed.
Popescu stressed that many CIS-related agreements will be rejected on the grounds that they are no longer relevant, non-functional or are to Moldova's detriment. Now the objectives of Moldova's foreign policy, according to Popescu, are aligned with the European integration process and, as a priority, the agreements incompatible with Chisinau's foreign policy priorities will be denounced.
While not imposing sanctions on Russia, Moldova has become increasingly oriented towards the EU since the election of President Maia Sandu and her Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS). After Moldova secured EU candidate status in summer 2022, Sandu also hinted Chisinau may lift its military neutrality and seek membership of Nato, which has angered Russian officials.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian intelligence warned Moldovan officials earlier this year that Russia is planning to destabilise Moldova, and several Russian nationals, including the head of the Tatarstan Republic, have been denied entry to Moldova.
#1
News is from April. Was looking for an article stating Moldova is leaving the CIS and plans to join the EU. This article is from Friday:
MoldovaIs Distancing Itself From The CIS, But Leaving Might Not Be So Easy On May 15, the speaker of the Moldovan parliament, Igor Grosu, announced that Moldova will initiate its withdrawal from the CIS's Interparliamentary Assembly, which facilitates cooperation among member parliaments and, according to the organization's website, "serves as a guide in the development and convergence of legislation of the countries of the community."
This, Grosu said, was "a first step" for Moldova's withdrawal from the CIS. "We can no longer sit at a negotiating table with an aggressor state," he said, alluding to Russia's war on Ukraine.
Chisinau has been distancing itself from the CIS for a while, with Grosu's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) believing that cutting ties with the organization would enable Moldova to work toward aligning its policies with the European Union, before eventually joining the bloc.
In other news, 499 Americans and 1 Briton breathe a sigh of relief.
[CNN] Former United States President Barack Obama, late night television host Stephen Colbert, and CNN’s Erin Burnett are some of the "500 Americans" Russia has banned from entering the country.
Russia on Friday announced it was banning "500 Americans," many prominent figures of US executive power, from entering the country "in a response to the regularly anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the Joe Biden administration," according to a statement from Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The list includes Obama, former US Ambassador Jon Huntsman, several US senators and the next expected chairman of the joint chiefs Charles Q. Brown Jr.
The rambling list of names also includes American late night TV hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Colbert, and Seth Meyers.
The statement also said: "The attached ’list-500’ also includes those in government and law enforcement agencies who are directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called Storming the Capitol." On January 6, 2021, scores of supporters of former US President Donald Trump sought to stop Biden’s certification as president and attacked the US Capitol.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to question the arrest of the rioters a few months later, saying the people had come to Congress "with political demands," Reuters reported.
Friday’s list also includes CNN Anchor Erin Burnett and is an update of a previously published longer list of sanctioned individuals that includes CNN’s Chief International Security Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, CNN contributors Bianna Golodryga and Timothy Naftali.
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
05/20/2023 7:31 Comments ||
Top||
#3
That ain't nuthin'. At least in the West, we summarily confiscate private property from Russian citizens, disobeying the most common sense of property rights and also bar them from the SWIFT financial network.
[Twitter] China has offered a military and economic alliance to the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union. On Friday, Xi Jinping met with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and offered them expanded cooperation, including in the defense sector.
The first face-to-face summit of the group, called China-Central Asia (C+C5), was held in Xi'an, the ancient Chinese capital where the famous "Silk Road" began in the past.
Following the talks, Xi said China was ready to "strengthen the defense" of the Central Asian republics and improve their security capabilities to "ensure peace in the region," state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
He also announced plans to provide 26 billion yuan ($3.6 billion) in financial support and "free aid," without specifying where the money would be used. In the near future, China is likely to resume joint military exercises with post-Soviet countries, including those involving Chinese internal troops, Temur Umarov, a researcher at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told the Financial Times.
Tajikistan, which borders not only China but also Afghanistan, could be of particular interest to Beijing, he said. Formerly influenced by the Kremlin, post-Soviet Asian countries are seeking to distance themselves from Russia, which has become "toxic" due to the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions. Kazakhstan, one of Russia's biggest trading partners in the former Soviet Union, refused to support the invasion of Ukraine and last year signed an intelligence-sharing agreement with NATO member Turkey.
In 2022, C5 trade with China amounted to $70.2 billion, up more than 40 percent year-on-year. China is the largest trading partner of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, the second largest for Kazakhstan and third largest for Tajikistan, according to official data.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 22:39 Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the conditions for training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 will be developed in the coming weeks. In turn, acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the final format for training Ukrainians in the countries of the “coalition of fighters” will be finalized over the next month, and in the near future they will be discussed during a meeting of defense ministers of several countries in Warsaw. Poulsen also confirmed that Denmark is still open to discussing a possible transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but for now this issue is not on the table.
22:08 Portugal will join the coalition of fighters, help with the training of Ukrainian pilots and mechanics, Kuleba said after a meeting with the heads of the Foreign and Defense Ministry of the country.
21:33 Strong explosions are reported in Mariupol. In particular, strikes were recorded between the village of Agrobaza and the city, as well as in the airport area, said Petr Andryushchenko, adviser to the mayor.
20:54 After pressure from members of the US Congress and European allies, the Joe Biden administration decided to allow the export of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Such an important decision was also made against the background of the preparation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a counteroffensive and the intensification of Russian air attacks. More details - in the material When Ukraine will receive F-16 aircraft .
20:17 Zaluzhny said that he had a telephone conversation with the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley: “He spoke about the massive attacks by Russians with drones and missiles of various types, in particular, the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. He thanked for the Patriot complexes and noted their effective work. The priority is additional air defense systems to strengthen the protection of our skies. We discussed the need to supply weapons and ammunition, in particular long-range shells."
20:13 British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that the United States has granted permission for the training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16. He stated that London would join forces in this area with the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium.
Meanwhile, NBC reports, citing White House officials, that Washington and its allies plan to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters, but they will not necessarily come from the United States. It is not yet known which countries will hand over the planes to Ukraine and when, but it is already clear that they will not be used during the future Ukrainian counteroffensive.
19:34 Russian troops have connected the island of Dzharylgach with the occupied mainland of the Kherson region in the area of the settlement of Lazurnoe, filling the crossing to the island with sand, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. Now they will be able to more intensively use the territory of the national park for military purposes. In particular, the invaders set up a military training ground on the island.
19:28 In the Bakhmut direction, the Russians have increased the presence of troops by several thousand people and are trying to use the advantage in heavy artillery and the number of shells, said Anna Malyar, Deputy Defense Minister. According to her, the enemy continues to attack "at the cost of heavy losses, disproportionately exceeding our losses."
Malyar said that in Bakhmut, the Russians are destroying buildings to the foundation, which cannot be defended. At the same time, Ukrainian troops hold the borders of the Samolet district in Bakhmut. "In the suburbs of Bakhmut, today the pace of advancement of our troops is somewhat reduced. At the same time, the enemy is unable to regain lost positions. Our soldiers are repelling all enemy attacks in this direction," Malyar added.
19:19 Zelensky announced Biden's decision to support the fighter coalition: "I welcome the historic decision of the United States and President Biden to support the international fighter coalition. This will significantly strengthen our army in the sky. I look forward to discussing the practical implementation of this decision during the G7 summit in Hiroshima."
19:17 Prigozhin bought 20,000 helmets for his mercenaries in China, bypassing sanctions, writes the Financial Times. The shell company acquired them from China's Hangzhou Shinerain Import And Export Co at the end of 2022. At the request of journalists, the newspapers there stated that the helmets were allegedly intended "for games and are not suitable for protection on the battlefield." Estimated cost of the party - more than 2 million dollars.
19:10 The warhead of the Russian missile found near Bydgoszcz, Poland, was made of concrete, Pavel Shrot, head of the President's Cabinet, said. He suggested that this missile was supposed to distract the Ukrainian air defense.
18:52 Kiev may allow the transit of Russian ammonia through its territory for export, provided that the grain agreement is expanded to include more Ukrainian ports and a wider range of goods, Reuters reports, citing a source in the Ukrainian government.
18:46 During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Zelensky held meetings with the heads of delegations of the UAE, Oman and Kuwait, spoke about the situation at the front, discussed the Ukrainian peace formula and the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The President also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Sabbar As-Sudani.
18:34 The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation put on the "wanted list" the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, who issued a warrant for the arrest of Putin.
6:21 pm Biden told G7 allies that the United States will support joint training of the Ukrainian military on F-16 aircraft, CNN reports, citing an unnamed White House official. The exercise is expected to take place in Europe, but US personnel will also take part. This is expected to take several months.
17:47 Canada has imposed new sanctions against the Russian Federation, the restrictions apply to more than 70 people and organizations, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during the G7 summit in Hiroshima. In particular, the sanctions concern 17 people and 18 organizations associated with Russian companies that supply military technologies and developments to the armed forces of the Russian Federation, relatives of sanctioned persons and members of the Kremlin elite. In addition, sanctions will be applied to 30 individuals and eight organizations involved in human rights violations by Russia, including the abduction of Ukrainian children.
17:29 Russians today use 25-30 thousand shells, Reznikov said: "According to our calculations, the Russians spent up to 60 thousand shells of various calibers against Ukrainians day and night. As of today, they use 25-30 thousand shells of various calibers per day . This is also very, very much."
The Minister also stressed that the NATO countries were not ready for a war in Ukraine in terms of logistics: "The procedures that NATO has today are correct, logical, wise, but not for wartime. The regime in which we had to carry out Armed Forces of Ukraine - the NATO countries were not ready for this. And, fortunately, they have already realized this."
17:06 The leaders of the G7 countries agreed to limit the trade in Russian diamonds.
17:03 The United States has imposed restrictions on the export of another 1,224 items to Russia and Belarus, the Ministry of Commerce said. Among them are a number of telephones, voice recorders, microphones and household appliances, tools and electrical appliances, photographic paper and other paper products, paints, fabrics, boats and passenger vehicles, equipment for the food industry, etc.
16:52 In the Bakhmut direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have advanced up to 500 meters in different areas over the past day, said the speaker of the Eastern Group, Sergei Cherevaty: "The situation is very difficult in this direction, but controlled. We see the intentions of the enemy, predict them, warn them. We can say that yes - there is a certain, let's say, element of the fact that we seize the initiative from them and try to counterattack."
16:48 Medvedev said that since January 1, over 117,000 people have been admitted to the RF Armed Forces on a contract basis and within the framework of "voluntary formations".
16:43 The Russians are flooding the fields in the Zaporozhye region and mining the fields and dams, preparing for the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the head of the UVA, Yuriy Malashko, told Radio Liberty. In addition, the number of attacks increased in the region.
16:29 Zelensky said that Saudi Arabia contributed to the return of ten foreign prisoners of war from Russian captivity. "We are interested in continuing our joint efforts to free people," the President stressed.
16:07 Russia loses a battalion a day near Bakhmut, and the total number of enemy losses in the Bakhmut direction is up to 70 thousand killed and wounded, Reznikov said.
16:04 Saudi Arabia is ready to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In turn, Zelensky at the summit of the League of Arab States called for support for the Ukrainian formula of peace.
15:57 In the Sumy region, during the inspection of the power line, three power engineers were killed - employees of JSC Sumyoblenergo, the Ministry of Energy reported.
15:49 The Armed Forces of Ukraine are counterattacking in Bakhmut, which Russia has been trying to take under its control for more than six months. Moreover, the Institute for the Study of War believes that the Ukrainian troops seized the tactical initiative and received tactically significant successes in the Bakhmut area following the counterattacks on May 18. About what is happening in this direction - in the material Interception of the initiative .
15:33 Any negotiations over the end of Russia's war against Ukraine, identifying the aggressor and the victim, must be rejected, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the G7 summit. She urged to support Zelensky's peace formula and continue to provide Ukraine with military and financial assistance "as much as needed."
15:14 Russia is trying to disrupt Ukraine's preparations for active military operations by shelling, while intense strikes are taking place both along the front line and the rest of the country, Vadim Skibitsky, a spokesman for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, said. According to him, the Russian Federation is trying to hit with missiles clusters of weapons and military facilities - command posts, supply routes and points of concentration of ammunition, equipment, fuel storage, areas of concentration of troops. The enemy began to pay special attention to the areas for deploying air defense systems.
In addition, the Russians are actively using the aviation component on the front line: the enemy’s operational-tactical aviation uses about 20-25 KAB-500 aerial bombs daily and strikes on the front lines and front-line territories, Skibitsky added.
15:09 As a result of Russian shelling, the main lines were damaged, which ensured the power output of one of the TPPs of DTEK Energy, after which the station stopped generating electricity, the company said. In May, generating enterprises of DTEK Energy were attacked three times, and since September last year - 33 times.
15:01 On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan, Zelensky plans to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since the beginning of the Russian invasion, CNN reports.
14:40 Russia claims that it allegedly destroyed ammunition depots with depleted uranium in Ternopil and Khmelnytsky, which caused the level of radiation to rise there. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said that the supposedly radioactive cloud from these munitions is already moving towards Europe, and an increase in radiation has already been allegedly recorded in Poland.
14:36 Erdogan said that Turkey is now "not at that stage" to impose sanctions against Russia, as the West does.
14:17 The team of the International Criminal Court visited Kherson and examined about ten places where signs of war crimes against the civilian population were recorded: torture and murder in places of illegal detention, indiscriminate shelling of crowded places, medical institutions, apartment buildings, the Office said Prosecutor General.
13:49 In Kiev, during martial law, the navigation of river, small, sports boats, jet skis and entertainment facilities at water bodies is prohibited, the city administration said. Permission to sail ships is granted by the KSVA in agreement with the Command of the grouping of forces and means of defense of the capital.
13:30 The night Russian attack did not damage the main networks, at the same time, the main lines, which ensured the output of power from one of the power plants in the east, were damaged by shelling during the day, Ukrenergo reported. Also, as a result of shelling, distribution networks in the front-line and border areas are damaged.
Due to the combination of these factors, the volume of electricity production has decreased. So far, it is enough to cover the needs of consumers, but in order to maintain a balance in the evening hours, economical consumption of electricity is necessary. Ukrainians are asked, if possible, to transfer the use of electricity from the evening hours (from 19:00 to 22:00) to the morning, afternoon or night.
13:23 Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev said that the murder of "military correspondent" Vladlen Tatarsky and the blowing up of the car of propagandist Zakhar Prilepin allegedly "were committed by Kiev with the direct coordination of Washington."
13:04 Zelensky announced that he had arrived in Saudi Arabia: "I will speak at the Arab League summit. I will meet with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman al-Saud and hold other bilateral negotiations. Our priorities are the return of all political prisoners of Crimea and the temporarily occupied territories, the return all prisoners and illegally deported, the presentation of our peace formula, in the implementation of which it is necessary to involve as many states as possible, ensuring energy security next winter."
The president called the protection of the Muslim community of Ukraine another priority: "Together with us is Mustafa Dzhemilev, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people. Crimea was the first to suffer from Russian occupation, and most of those who are subjected to repression in the occupied Crimea are Muslims."
12:55 The White House released a joint statement by the G7 countries on Ukraine, which states, in particular, that peace cannot be achieved without a "complete and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian troops. The participants also reaffirmed their commitment "together to oppose the illegal, unjustified and unprovoked aggressive war of Russia against Ukraine."
The document emphasizes unity in the sanctions policy against the Russian Federation, and also argues that Russia should pay for the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine and be held responsible for attacks on civilians and infrastructure. The G7 countries intend to keep the assets of the Russian Federation frozen until Moscow compensates for the damage from the war in Ukraine.
12:32 Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar called the Russian side's reports about allegedly "full control" over Bakhmut an "informational false start". She acknowledged that "there is some progress," but the Armed Forces of Ukraine now control the southwestern part of the city.
“If we analyze the battles for Bakhmut that have been going on since last August, since last August they have not been able to advance. If they advance in the city for a kilometer in almost a year, this can be called standing still,” Malyar added. According to her, the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Bakhmut direction destroyed the Wagner warehouse, reduced the offensive potential of the Russians and stopped the advance of the enemy deep into the territory of Ukraine.
12:11 The Russians fired at the Kupyansky district of the Kharkiv region at night, one person died in the village of Petropavlovka, the Office of the Prosecutor General said.
11:45 An analysis of the fragments of Russian missiles fired at Ukraine indicates that they were made quite recently - in the first quarter of 2023, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Vadym Skibitsky told RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, the Russians import Caliber to Crimea at least twice a month. Now the Russian Federation can produce about 25 Calibers per month, 35 units of Kh-101, Kinzhals - two units per month, ballistic missiles 9M723 to Iskander-M - five units.
11:24 As a result of Russian night shelling in the Dnepropetrovsk region, a fire station was damaged, a rescuer was injured, head of the State Emergency Service Serhiy Kruk said.
11:19 The press service of the National Security and Defense Council announced that Zelensky will take part in the meeting of G7 leaders in Japan online.
10:58 EU sanctions have led to a reduction in exports from the union to Russia by 55%, imports - by 60%, said the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
10:41 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes that Ukrainian forces seized the tactical initiative and achieved tactically significant successes in Bakhmut during counter-offensive operations on May 18. Analysts note that these operations are a continuation of local counterattacks that Ukrainian forces have been conducting for several days, and are not the beginning of a new major operation.
10:28 Hungary is ready to provide a platform for negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, said Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in an interview with Russian propaganda media.
09:57 British intelligence writes that a train derailment in Crimea as a result of sabotage blocked the only railway route to the port in Sevastopol, where the Black Sea Fleet is based. Russia will try to quickly repair the line, but the incident will disrupt the supply, possibly including weapons, in particular Caliber cruise missiles, to the Black Sea Fleet, experts predict.
Any sabotage in this sensitive area will increase the Kremlin's fears about its ability to protect Crimea's key infrastructure, analysts say. Intelligence notes that the island retains a critical psychological and logistical role in supporting Russia's war against Ukraine.
09:46 The UK has included in the sanctions list companies associated with Rosatom that produce modern materials and technologies, including lasers. London also imposed sanctions on the president and CEO of the Kalashnikov concern, against Metallinvestbank and the House of the Russian Federation. Sanctions have been imposed on 86 people and companies associated with Putin, including those who actively circumvent existing restrictions, the British Foreign Office said.
09:11 In the Donetsk region over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, two people were killed (in Konstantinovka and Velyka Novoselka), nine more were injured. In the Kharkiv region, as a result of a missile attack on the village. Tsirkuny killed one person, two injured. In the Kherson region, two people were injured, according to the IVA.
09:04 In Crimea, a drone attacked the railway near Dzhankoy, not far from the Salt Lake station, local publics write. The drone broke contact wires and fell near the railway track without damaging it. "Head" of Crimea Aksyonov said that four UAVs were shot down in the northern part of the peninsula.
08:57 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of May 19.
personnel - about 201,760 (+660) people liquidated,
tanks - 3777 (+4),
armored combat vehicles - 7377 (+4),
artillery systems - 3210 (+12),
MLRS - 564 (+1),
air defense systems - 319 (+1),
aircraft - 308 (+0),
helicopters - 294 (+0),
UAV operational-tactical level - 2769 (+10),
cruise missiles - 1011 (+21),
ships/boats - 18 (+0),
automotive equipment and tankers - 6083 (+10),
special equipment - 419 (+1).
08:49 Danilov confirmed that Zelensky will personally attend the G7 summit in Japan. "Very important things will be accepted there, and therefore the presence of our president is absolutely important for defending our interests," the NSDC secretary added.
The main topic of the three-day summit, which begins on May 19 in Hiroshima, will be the war in Ukraine. The leaders are expected to make a joint statement of support for Ukraine and unveil new restrictions against Russia.
08:44 At night, the Russians hit a private industrial enterprise in Krivoy Rog, one person was injured, the head of the OVA, Sergei Lysak, said. There is significant destruction of shops, equipment is destroyed. Also, due to an enemy attack, a fire broke out in a four-story administrative building, one person was injured.
08:33 At night, the Russians attacked Lviv with drones, aiming at the critical infrastructure of the city. The air defense went off, there were no casualties, Mayor Andrei Sadovyi said.
08:25 The Russian army is concentrating its main efforts on the Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions - over the past day, there have been 29 clashes in these sectors of the front. The most heated battles are being fought for Bakhmut and Marinka, the General Staff reported in the morning summary .
08:17 Air defense forces destroyed 16 enemy Shahed drones out of 22 launched by the Russians and three out of six Caliber missiles at night, the command of the Air Force reported. On the night of May 19, Russia attacked Ukraine from the north and southeast with attack drones and cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea.
07:11 Bloomberg reports, citing sources, that Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia to attend the Arab League summit, after which he will fly to Japan on a US military plane to personally join the summit of G7 leaders.
06:26 The Biden administration has told European allies that the United States will allow them to transfer American F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, CNN reports, citing sources. The White House is ready to take such a decision against the backdrop of growing pressure from representatives of the US Congress and allies due to the intensification of Russian air attacks on Ukraine.
05:55 Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian plane using Patriot air defense systems, CNN reports, citing unnamed Pentagon officials and US Congress officials. It is noted that the event took place "in recent weeks" - Ukrainian air defense, with the help of Patriot, managed to shoot down an enemy bomber that was about to launch missiles at Ukrainian targets.
04:39 At night, the Russians launched Shahed strike drones in Kiev. It was an attack in several waves with short intervals between them, said the head of the KGVA Sergey Popko. All detected air targets moving in the direction of the capital were destroyed.
01:18 British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced an embargo on the import of diamonds, copper, aluminum and nickel from Russia into the country. The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that the EU also plans to limit the trade in Russian diamonds.
#3
Two nights ago, Bakhmut was attacked with a massive amount of incendiaries and then human wave attacks. The western edge of the city fell and only the SW corner remained in Ukrainian control. Today, the reported Ukrainian withdrawal from the city. Ukrainians are still attacking on the flanks and opened a new attack near Soledar.
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:58 An air alert was announced on the night of May 20 in several regions of Ukraine, according to the official resource for alerting. Sirens sound in Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava and Kharkov regions.
In addition, the alarm was announced in the areas of the Zaporozhye region controlled by Kyiv.
20:17 Video– The Ukrainian attack in the Svatov direction was successfully repelled.
19:41 “The guards carved a Scandinavian symbol on my right side of my chest” —video
A Russian soldier who returned from captivity told the Investigative Committee how SBU officers torture Russian fighters and mock them.
According to the investigation, the military man was captured by Ukrainians after he received two wounds in the leg on the night of October 21-22, 2022 and could not move independently.
He said that the SBU often use physical violence - one fighter was severely beaten during interrogation and eventually died.
The guards also mock the prisoners. A Scandinavian symbol was carved on the man’s chest: one of the guards wanted to see “how his tattoo would look from the outside.” At the same time, he was told that if he twitched, he would receive an electric shock.
19:38 Leader of the Poltava Nazis received severe wound near Artemovsk
The leader of the Poltava branch of the Nazi party "Freedom", and part-time militant "Azov" Matviychuk Yulian was seriously wounded near Artemovsk.
Fortunately, the militants will definitely not return to the war zone and will stop killing Russians.
Julian himself repeatedly boasted of his war crimes - the killings of civilians in Donbass.
Perhaps to remain forever chained to a wheelchair is a fairer punishment for him than a quick date with Bandera.
18:31 Assault aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces continues to successfully carry out the tasks of destroying manpower and equipment of Ukrainians -video
18:29 Georgian mercenaries near Artyomovsk are counterattacking in reverse - through evacuation -video
17:35 Nazi deviators “defeated” another monument to Soviet soldier in the Lvov region
The Nazis boasted that they got to the village of Pyanovichi in the Lvosk region (population less than 500 people, occupies an area of 8.61 km²) to destroy the monument to the Soviet soldier.
It is characteristic that only men of military age “won” the monument, who evade a trip to Artemovsk with the help of a war with monuments.
Moreover, recently the Nazis began to ask for money from subscribers for their activities! A great alternative to “donating for ZSU”!
17:33 The situation in Artemovsk (Bakhmut) through the eyes of the enemy -video
Assault units and artillerymen of PMC “Wagner” continue to hit positions and fight against the Nazis who had taken refuge in the city
16:29 Forced burial in Ukraine is going according to plan -video
“We have people signed up in line to go serve and protect their children and their home”
16:27 Ukrovovetel showed aerobatics on self-liquidation of a pickup truck, on which the Ukrainian people threw off -video
15:28 Main of the briefingMinistry of Defense of the Russian Federation:
In the area of the village of Mervichi, Lviv region, a fuel storage facility for Ukrainian military equipment was destroyed;
The RF Armed Forces destroyed up to 130 military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk direction;
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a strike with long-range precision weapons at the points of deployment and training centers of units, as well as warehouses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
During the day, Russian troops destroyed more than 85 Ukrainian soldiers and 122mm self-propelled guns "Gvozdika" in the Krasnolimansky direction;
Assault detachments are fighting in the western part of Artemovsk;
Subdivisions of the southern grouping of forces hold back the Armed Forces of Ukraine, covering the flanks of the assault detachments in the battles for Artemovsk;
The RF Armed Forces destroyed a warehouse of missile and artillery weapons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the village of Bokovoe in the DPR;
The RF Armed Forces inflicted a defeat on the manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Kalinovka, Chasov Yar and Krasnoye in the DPR;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed up to 120 military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Yuzhno-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions;
Russian troops destroyed up to 65 Ukrainian soldiers in the Kupyansk direction in a day;
As a result of the strike with high-precision weapons, the supply, training and formation of the reserves of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were disrupted;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the village of Konstantinovka in the DPR;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed more than 70 Ukrainian soldiers and mercenaries in the Artemovsk tactical direction in a day.
15:26 Artillery of the RF Armed Forces continuously continues its work to identify and destroy the positions of the Ukronazis -video
15:24 Recruitment of crews for Leopard tanks continues in Ukraine -video
Representatives of the military registration and enlistment office continue to catch the male population of Nezalezhnaya
“Mobilization in Ukraine is going well” – Danilov
14:34 Result of strikes of Kamikaze UAV "Lancet" in one of the British Stormer HVM air defense systems in the Donbass
The drone exploded upon impact with the very edge of the armored body of the air defense system, not destroying the entire vehicle, but hitting its launcher and missiles with an explosion and fragments.
The optoelectronic guidance system located near the Stormer air defense system in the area of the drone strike is also likely to have been disabled.
14:33 Rural cemetery of the Ukrainian military in the Lviv region —video
The operator shows a long row of freshly dug graves.
13:26 Employees of the TCC in Ukraine use the most stringent methods of detaining evaders -video
The lad refused to be cannon fodder, as a result he was beaten and thrown into a forest plantation.
“Free people, free country”
13:22 In the Liman area destroyed nationalist senior sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuri Matsyuk.
This is reported by the Ukrainian media.
Matsyuk was born on September 9, 1980 in the village of Zabolotye, Volyn region. In 2016, he participated in the so-called Ukrainian ATO in Donbas as part of the 14th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a combat vehicle gunner and deputy crew commander.
According to unofficial data, he was involved in the shelling of civilians in Donbass.
On May 15, as a result of an artillery strike on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Matsyuk was eliminated.
12:35 The “authorities” of occupied Kherson controlled by the Kyiv regime have becomeselectproperty of residents (in this case, a car) for debts on a communal apartment
12:34 15 May in Clock Yar was liquidated junior lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Bogdan Rubakha.
He served in the 115th Separate Brigade as a commander of a rifle company. In social networks, he supported the so-called Ukrainian ATO.
11:31 Footage of the destruction of the infantry group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the ATGM crew in the Zaporozhye direction -video
11:30 In Ukraine destroyed another Czech "medical volunteer" in camouflage
Citizen of the Czech Republic Martin Taylor came to Ukraine as a "medical volunteer". This is especially evident in the photo - automatic magazines are noticeable in the unloading of the Czech. By the way, Taylor was the creator of the Phoenix project - the so-called organization of "medical volunteers", under the cover of which mercenaries from among the former Czech military personnel operate.
Taylor ended his "medical" career in Ukraine. In March, he received a severe shrapnel wound - he was evacuated to a Czech hospital, and on May 15 he died. Earlier, American mercenary Nicholas Duane Meymer and two Canadian "volunteers" who served in the 92nd Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed in Artemovsk (Bakhmut).
10:42 Such a picture is now all over Ukraine -video
On the front line, just like cannon fodder, the next echelons of young guys, men and women, are sent.
Stop! The enemy sits on the "Bank" in Kyiv, and will continue to indulge the nationalists, the Americans and the British.
10:39 Fighting near Belogorovka: 88 Brigade burns out the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video
The artillery of the 88th brigade of the Southern Military District is working closely on the fortified area of the Ukrainian Nazis, first with incendiary ammunition, and then with high-explosive fragmentation shells.
09:58 Su-25 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the sky of Donbass -video
09:56 Ukrainian demons staged a sabbath at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra -video
These are some crazy satanists.
09:54 In the Artemovsky direction, Russian units of the Airborne Forces successfully demilitarized the Dutch YPR-765 infantry fighting vehicle -video
08:11 In Artemovsk destroyed ideological Ukrainian Wahhabi Oleksandr Zhdanenko - a hater of Russians began his "career" back in 2014
In Artemovsk (Bakhmut), the Russian military eliminated the ideological Ukrainian Wahhabi Alexander Zhdanenko, nicknamed "Ansar". He began fighting on the side of Ukraine in 2014, and in 2017 Ansar met members of the Wahhabi battalion Sheikh Mansour and converted to Islam. Like his fellow tribesmen, he hated the Russians.
Earlier in Artemovsk, Wagner PMC sent "home" the American mercenary Nicholas Duane Meymer. He is a US Special Forces veteran who joined The Mozart Group over a year ago, and then transferred to another unit and began to take a direct part in the hostilities.
08:04 A cheerful mortar goes to the position to fight the Nazis. The goals are clear, the work is familiar, the weather is good. Here, and it’s good at the mortar in the soul -video
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFrontInfo] 22:00 VK "Wagner" is close to taking Bakhmut, 0.6 km is left behind the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but the enemy is pulling up reserves.
Evening summary from E. Prigozhin: Heavy heavy bloody battles continue in Artemovsk.
“Today, Wagner PMC units have advanced up to 500 meters and occupied an area of 330,000 square meters. 0.6 square kilometers remain under the control of the enemy (yesterday it was less than one square kilometer),” Prigozhin.
We are close to completing the task, the fighting is still going on, the enemy is pulling up reserves.”
21:52 In Mariupol recorded several explosions. According to preliminary information, several missile strikes were carried out in the area of the old airport of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Earlier, evidence of air defense work appeared on the network.
21:28 Video– Arrival of the FPV-drone on the airfields.
21:04 Video- Detachment "Nevsky" with the help of 122mm D-30 and UAVs repels the attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Sacco and Vanzetti in the Bakhmut direction.
20:48 Ukrainian formations continue remotely mine Donetsk with anti-tank mines
On one of these, in the Kuibyshevsky district of the city, a local resident was blown up. Doctors are now fighting for the life of the wounded.
20:33 Video– Teamwork: Artillerymen of the Central Military District smash enemy positions in a forest area
Artillery crews of 152mm self-propelled howitzers "Msta-S" and 152mm towed howitzers "Msta-B" strike manpower, equipment and enemy strongholds camouflaged in dense forest.
Particular attention is paid to counterbattery combat, during which self-propelled howitzers travel to open areas and fire a series of shots at enemy targets, forcing him to return fire. Then the combat vehicles quickly change position. At this time, the crews of towed howitzers strike from closed firing positions at the artillery mounts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that opened fire.
20:01 Video– Statement by the head of the press center of the Center group
- In the Krasno-Limansk direction, artillery units of the "Center" group of forces inflicted fire damage on areas of concentration of manpower, fire weapons, as well as enemy strongholds.
- The aviation of the Russian group continues to strike with the use of high-explosive aerial bombs and unguided rockets on objects and positions of nationalists.
The crew of the Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system destroyed several enemy weapons.
- In the Torsky section and in the area of Serebryansky forestry, the forces and means of intelligence of the "Center" group revealed the movement of assault groups of the 81st Airmobile Brigade and 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result of the fire impact of the artillery units of the "Center" grouping, the enemy suffered significant losses in personnel and equipment.
19:42 Video- Arrivals of rockets from the MLRS Orchestra near Aretemovsk (Bakhmut).
19:29 Video- And here are the Polish mercenaries “they are not there” on the front line.
19:11 Video– “Let's go forward! Russia is with us!
The commander of the motorized rifle squad with the call sign "Kazakh" has been participating in a special military operation from the very beginning. When asked why he is here, the serviceman confidently answers: “So that my nephews and all relatives do not personally see the war.”
"Kazakh" speaks warmly about his comrades-in-arms: "We have been here for a long time, we do not offend each other and support."
“In a special military operation, we are only moving forward! Victory will be ours! Russia is with us! - convinced the commander of the department.
18:40 Video– “Everyone who is on the front line - everyone is a hero”
Vladimir Putin, at a meeting of the Council on Interethnic Relations, noted the courage of the fighters who are now fighting on the front line in the NVO zone.
“It doesn’t matter what awards they are presented for.<…> This interfaith and interethnic mix is so strong in our country,” the head of state emphasized.
He also told a unique story about a brigade commander with a Lithuanian surname who succeeded a dead comrade.
“He has been fighting for four days and has not slept all this time. <…> This is what military heroism is all about,” he added.
18:25 Video- Wagner artillery is working on Ukrainian positions in Artemovsk (Bakhmut).
18:09 Video- Destruction of the Ukrainian opornik by artillery of the 64th Separate Mechanized Rifle Brigade in the Zaporozhye region.
17:47 Video– Vsushniks received cast iron from UMPC to their place of deployment on the island of Borshcheva on the Dnieper in the Kherson region.
17:33 Video- The consequences of arrivals at the Ukrainian position were shown by one of the Vushniks.
17:10 Kupyansky section of the front situationas of May 19, 2023
– After losing control over an important tactical height to the west of Masyutovka, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to contract. Ukrainian formations are actively using mortars and copters with a grenade drop system to strike at the positions of the RF Armed Forces.
- Over the past day, separate battles were on the line of contact south-west of Liman 1, where the forces of the 40th Separate Rifle Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were stationed.
- Soldiers of the RF Armed Forces respond with dense artillery fire. In Tishchenkovka, at the time of unloading ammunition for the 14 Separate Mechanized Rifle Brigade, a warehouse was destroyed: as a result of the explosion, 14 members of Ukrainian formations were liquidated.
- Now the Ukrainian headquarters are waiting for the activation of the Russian army from Tavolzhanka. To strengthen their lines, the enemy deployed assault groups of 40 OSB of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Dvurechnaya and Novomlynsk.
16:52 Video– The fighting is going on for the fortified area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Airplane area – the last stronghold of the enemy in the city. From us there flies everything that can fly. At the same time, enemy artillery and mortars also continue to work on our positions.
Advancing is very difficult. Despite everything, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to resist fiercely. The fighters say a lot of Polish and Turkish mercenaries.
16:34 Video- "Winged Archangels" pinched the facial nerve of the Ukrainian in fortified positions.
“Observers say that the wild boar has not yet migrated from the trenches”
16:17 Video- Crews of 120mm self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona-S" of the self-propelled artillery unit of the Airborne Forces daily conduct combat work to destroy manpower, equipment and fortifications of Ukrainian nationalists on the right bank of the Dnieper.
Hit accuracy is coordinated from the air by reconnaissance units.
15:57 Video- Forced burial in Ukraine is going according to plan!
“We have people signed up in line to go serve and protect their children and their home,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
15:46 Video- Freshly dug graves for the destroyed VSUshnikov and Bandera in one of the rural cemeteries of the Lviv region of Ukraine.
15:35 Video– Statement by the head of the press center of the Vostok group
- In the South-Donetsk direction, the advanced units of the Vostok group, with the support of artillery, thwarted an attempt by the enemy to conduct reconnaissance in force, a pickup truck and manpower were destroyed.
The crew of the heavy flamethrower system "TOS-1" hit the enemy's stronghold near Novodonetsk.
- Based on the results of aerial reconnaissance, artillery fire destroyed a car in the area of Velika Novosyolka, a mortar crew in the area of Novomikhailovka.
Loitering ammunition "Lancet" destroyed an American-made counter-battery station "AN/TPQ36" in the Shevchenko area.
- In the Zaporozhye direction, the calculations of the 122mm BM-21 MLRS "Grad" destroyed the point of temporary deployment of militants and the ammunition depot in the village of Malinovka.
- Artillery fire destroyed two mortar crews in the area of Belogorye and Novodanilovka, as well as a cluster of militants in the area of Kamensky, Novodanilovka and Novaya Tokmachka.
The calculations of the Buk and Strela-10 air defense systems shot down two UAVs Fury and Strepet.
15:27 Video- As part of the new prisoner exchange, 35 of our prisoners of war were released.
15:00 Summary Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (05/19/2023)
“Tonight, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a strike with long-range, sea-based high-precision weapons at deployment points and training centers for units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as warehouses of ammunition, weapons and foreign-made equipment.
The target has been reached. All assigned objects are hit. As a result of the strikes, the supply, training and formation of reserves of Ukrainian troops to perform tasks in the combat areas were violated.
- In the Kupyansk direction, air strikes and artillery fire from the "Western" group of forces hit enemy units in the areas of the settlements of Dvurechnaya, Novomlynsk, Kislovka and Berestovoye of the Kharkov region. In the areas of the settlements of Timkovka, Sinkovka, Kharkiv region and Rozovka, Luhansk People's Republic, the actions of three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were stopped.
Enemy losses per day amounted to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, two vehicles, and a 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mount. In addition, an ammunition depot of the 14th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed near the settlement of Tishchenkovka, Kharkiv region.
- In the Krasno-Limansky direction, operational-tactical and army aviation, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems of the "Center" group of troops defeated enemy units in the areas of the settlements of Nevskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova of the Luhansk People's Republic and Grigorovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
Up to 85 Ukrainian servicemen, three armored combat vehicles, a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mount, as well as 152mm Msta-B and 122mm D-30 howitzers were destroyed.
- On the Artemovsky tactical direction, assault detachments fought in the western part of the city. Subdivisions of the "Southern" group of troops held back the enemy, covering the flanks of the assault detachments.
Operational-tactical and army aviation, artillery fire of the "Southern" group of troops, defeated the enemy's manpower and equipment in the areas of the settlements of Kalinovka, Chasov Yar and Krasnoe of the Donetsk People's Republic. Over the past day, five sorties were carried out in this area by aviation. The artillery of the grouping completed 68 fire missions.
During the fighting, more than 70 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, two infantry fighting vehicles, one armored personnel carrier, three pickup trucks, a 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mount, as well as two US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar stations were destroyed.
- In the Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions of units, air strikes and artillery fire of the "Southern" group of forces, up to 130 Ukrainian servicemen, ten vehicles, as well as one L118 towed howitzer made in Great Britain were destroyed.
A warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons was destroyed near the village of Bokovoe in the Donetsk People's Republic.
- In the South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, air strikes and artillery fire from the Vostok group of troops defeated enemy units in the areas of the settlements of Shevchenko and Novoselka of the Donetsk People's Republic, Malaya Tokmachka and Novodanilovka of the Zaporozhye region.
During the day, up to 120 Ukrainian servicemen, three armored combat vehicles, and two 122mm D-30 howitzers were destroyed in these areas. An ammunition depot of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed near the village of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
- In the Kherson direction, as a result of fire damage, the enemy’s losses per day amounted to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, three vehicles, and a 152mm D-20 howitzer.
- Operational-tactical and army aviation, artillery of groups of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the day hit 76 artillery units in firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 103 districts
- In the area of the settlement of Krasnoarmeysk of the Donetsk People's Republic, a warehouse of artillery ammunition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was hit. In the area of the village of Mervichi, Lviv region, a fuel storage facility for Ukrainian military equipment was destroyed.
Air defense systems intercepted seven rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system per day.
- In addition, ten Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Dvurechnoye, Gorobyevka of the Kharkov region, Vesele, Blagoveshchenka, Belogorovka, Novomikhailovka and Yegorovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the following have been destroyed: 428 aircraft, 234 helicopters, 4,218 unmanned aerial vehicles, 423 anti-aircraft missile systems, 9,227 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles of multiple launch rocket systems, 4,852 field artillery pieces and mortars, as well as 10,304 units of special military vehicles.
14:39 Video- Krasnopolya strikes on Ukrainian equipment, a gantry with ZU-23-2 and self-propelled guns came under fire.
14:22 Video- Another "agricultural warehouse" was destroyed by the Russians. Even the “tractors” exploded.
13:44 Video and Photo– Consequences of the “Lancet” strike on the British Stormer air defense system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Launcher and hull damaged. The drone's trajectory was not the most successful and, as a result of the air defense system, it was not destroyed and will apparently be repaired.
It is also possible that the optical-electronic station received damage.
13:27 General advance of Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of Bogdanovka and Dubovo-Vasilyevka from May 11 to May 19. Here the enemy pushed back units of the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 9th Motorized Rifle Brigade. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy here had only minor shifts in his favor. The enemy had the most serious advance in the first days after the start of the counteroffensive.
Now the enemy continues to attack, using previously accumulated reserves, hoping to achieve some more progress in their favor, while Wagner clears Artemovsk. After that, the situation for the Armed Forces of Ukraine will begin to change here.
13:07 Video– Statement by the head of the press center of the “South” group
- At the Soledaro-Artemovsky operational direction, an attempt to attack the Ukrainian company tactical group was prevented.
The enemy suffered losses in manpower and armored vehicles.
- The calculation of the anti-aircraft missile system "Buk-M3" of the "Southern" group of forces destroyed two missiles of the enemy's "Haymars" air defense system.
- In the Avdievka operational direction, a rifle group of a special forces unit of the Yug group shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine of the Fury type.
As a result of a fire raid by artillery crews of the Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system of the formation of the Southern Military District in the area of the settlement of Gornyak, ten units of transport vehicles and a 155mm self-propelled gun were destroyed.
- In the Maryinsky operational direction, units of the motorized rifle formation of the Southern Military District during the attacking actions destroyed five artillery pieces of various calibers, three firing positions of enemy mortars and a stronghold of a platoon of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Also, in the area of the settlement of Pobeda, two attempts to rotate Ukrainian units in combat positions were thwarted.
12:35 Local authorities in Krivoy Rog confirmed arrival at an industrial enterprise. Shops destroyed.
12:18 Video- In the course of work in the zone of the special military operation, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, inspected the forward command post of one of the formations of the Vostok group of troops in the Zaporozhye direction.
At the command post, the head of the Russian military department heard reports from the commander of the Vostok group and headquarters officers on the current situation, the nature of enemy actions and the performance of combat missions by Russian troops in the main tactical areas.
At the headquarters of the grouping of troops, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation held a meeting with the commander of the grouping, at which he noted the high efficiency of identifying and destroying military equipment and concentrations of enemy personnel in the main directions of the grouping. The commander and commanders were given the task of continuing active integrated reconnaissance in order to reveal enemy plans in advance and prevent their implementation.
He also paid special attention to the organization of comprehensive support for the troops involved in the special military operation and the creation of conditions for the safe deployment of personnel.
At the end of the work, Sergei Shoigu thanked the military personnel performing tasks in the special military operation zone. For their dedication and heroism, he presented state awards to servicemen. Including the Order of Courage, the insignia "St. George's Cross" and the medal "For Courage".
“High awards are a high appreciation of your military work. Thank you for this. I hope you will continue to faithfully serve our country, for the benefit of its people! Congratulations, and take care of yourself!" Sergei Shoigu said.
12:05 The situation in Bakhmut critical: having occupied the fortified area "Domino" PMC "Wagner" knocks out the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the last piece of the city.
This is reported by Ukrainian military analysts in the operational report.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine control only a piece of the western outskirts. Those few houses (more precisely, their ruins), which the Armed Forces of Ukraine recaptured during the counterattack a few days ago, have already been lost again.”
"Useable area for the defense of the remnants of the city has decreased to critical values."
“At the crossroads east of the 8th headquarters, in the north of the gray zone of Bakhmut, the PMC continues to storm the fortified area.
To the west of the Novy (“Domino”) district, the “Wagners” continue their attacks towards Donetska and Kyiv streets.
To the south of the New (“Domino”) district, PMC Wagner is conducting assault operations towards Bulavina Street.
11:37 Video- Wandering tool
Footage of the combat work of artillery crews 152mm "Msta-B" of the Southern Military District when performing fire missions in the zone of the special operation. In the course of counterbattery combat, Russian crews of self-propelled guns "Msta-B" confidently destroy Western weapons supplied to Ukraine.
Artillerymen fire with precision-guided munitions, so the crews have time to quickly hit enemy vehicles and change position before the enemy opens fire back.
UAV operators monitor the work of the calculations in real time. They transmit to the firing position data on the results of fire destruction of targets.
11:22 Video- The work of tankers.
11:00 Video– Statement by the head of the press center of the Zapad group
In the course of hostilities in the Kupyansky direction, the aviation of the group carried out strikes on the concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment of the 14th Separate Mechanized Rifle Brigade and on TerO units.
In addition, three enemy UAVs were destroyed by air defense systems: Valkyrie, Fury and Leleka-100.
10:39 Video– Help your own: combat work of crews of Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems of the Western Military District
The calculation of the MLRS "Tornado-S" received new target designations. According to intelligence, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have concentrated military equipment, weapons and ammunition to supply their forces.
"Tornado-S" disable and destroy command posts, warehouses with weapons, ammunition and fuel and lubricants, communication centers, air defense equipment and other important targets located at a great distance.
Thanks to the well-coordinated actions of the crews, the vehicles leave the dangerous area at maximum speed as soon as possible after the impact, and in a few minutes they can already deliver another strike from another firing position. Crews never work in the same position twice, they never take vehicles to the same cover.
“... When we go on a mission, the first thing in our heads is that we help our own people there, first of all. The life of the infantry, those guys who are closer to the line of contact, depends on our launches. Therefore, in our heads, only to complete the task as quickly as possible in order to save our lives, ”shared the head of the crew of the Tornado-S MLRS combat vehicle, Evgeny.
10:28 Video- Consequences of the night artillery attack of the center of Donetsk.
10:14 Photo- Consequences of the artillery attack of the Central City district of Gorlovka, as a result of which one civilian was killed, two were injured.
10:00 At night, an artillery strike was carried out at the place of temporary deployment of one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the settlement of Tokarevka, as a result of which: 18 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed; 15 - received injuries of varying severity, eight units. automotive equipment - disabled
Yesterday, artillery fire in the area of N. p. Sofiyivka was destroyed by 122mm D-30 howitzer with ammunition loss of 3 dead soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 4 were injured of varying severity. Also, the D-30 howitzer was destroyed in Sofiyivka.
09:52 Official summary of Representative offices of the DPR in the JCCC from 00:00 05/18/2023 to 00:00 05/19/2023
Over the past day, the Representation reported 44 facts of firing by the AFU.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy made 13 attacks from the MLRS, artillery 155mm and 152mm.
On Gorlovsky 29 artillery attacks from 152mm artillery.
On Volnovakhsky one artillery attack from MLRS, artillery 155mm and 152mm.
On Starobeshevsky one artillery attack from MLRS.
Having fired 191 units of various ammunition.
Under enemy fire were areas of seven settlements of the Republic: Gorlovka (Central City, Nikitovsky districts), Ozeryanovka, the capital city of Donetsk (Kiev, Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Petrovsky districts), Aleksandrovka, Yelenovka, Volnovakha, Peschanoe.
Over the past day, information was received about the death of one civilian in the Central City district of Gorlovka.
Wounds of varying severity were received by three civilians in the Central City and Nikitovsky districts of Gorlovka.
18 residential buildings were damaged in the Kuibyshevsky and Petrovsky districts of Donetsk, Nikitovsky and Central City districts of Gorlovka, Staromikhaylovka and the village. Peschanoe, Starobeshevsky district, as well as two civil infrastructure facilities.
In the previous day, 59 artillery attacks were recorded from the side of the VFU.
09:50 Crews of 2S19 152mm Msta-S self-propelled artillery mounts of the Southern Military District carry out fire missions to destroy the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the zone of the special operation —video
Artillerymen of the Southern Military District, supporting the actions of motorized rifle units, disrupt the rotation of Ukrainian nationalists and prevent the enemy from transferring reserves to the line of contact.
09:49 Kherson direction
The criminal Kiev regime continues to shell the civilian infrastructure of the settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired from barrel artillery:
-- n.p. Korsunka fired seven rounds;
-- Alyoshki fired nine rounds at the settlement;
-- 8 rounds were fired at the Solontsy settlement;
-- n.p. Kazachi Lagery fired five rounds;
-- n.p. Cairo fired six rounds;
-- n.p. Staraya Zburyevka fired seven rounds.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being specified.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the settlement. Novaya Kakhovka, n.p. Kakhovka, settlement Krynki, settlement Gornostaevka firing a total of 26 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being specified.
08:29 Summary on the morning of May 19, 2023
The next night, missile weapons and Geran UAVs attacked enemy targets in Ukraine. Explosions sounded in Lvov, Krivoy Rog, Lutsk, Nikolaev, Rivne, Khmelnytsky, Chernihiv and Volyn regions.
Heavy fighting continues in the west of Artemovsk (Bakhmut). PMC "Wagner" took control of the fortified area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "Domino".
In the Kherson direction yesterday, our troops destroyed a small enemy landing group, but the boats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to escape, they report from the field.
In Crimea yesterday, as a result of an explosion on a railway near Simferopol, wagons with grain derailed. By evening, train traffic was restored.
In the Belgorod region, Novaya Tavolzhanka was under fire. In the village of Nizhneye Berezovo, Shebekinsky district, two people died, one was seriously injured.
In the Kursk region, as a result of an explosion in a sports and recreation complex in the village of Glushkovo, windows were broken and the facade was damaged. Two residents received shrapnel wounds of moderate severity.
In the DPR, the enemy fired 191 ammunition, Gorlovka, Ozeryanovka, Donetsk, Aleksandrovka, Yelenovka, Volnovakha, Peschanoe under fire. A civilian was killed, three were wounded.
08:21 Consequences of the night shelling ib Voroshilovsky district of Donetsk by Ukrainian militants
08:07 Frontline summary on the morning of 05/19/2023
On the Donetsk front, the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out offensive operations in the direction of Sladkoye. There was no active hostilities in this zone for more than a year. Thus, the Ukrainian troops are striving to reach the section of the H-20 highway, which goes to Volnovakha. The RF Armed Forces again showed activity in Marinka, where, with the support of artillery, they continued assault operations.
Under shelling, the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Novomikhailovka, Paraskovyivka, the city of Krasnogorovka, Nevelsky, Pervomaysky, Karlovka, Avdeevka, Novoselovka First, Novokalinovo, Shumy and Severny (a settlement north-west of Gorlovka). The Armed Forces of Ukraine struck at Donetsk, Yasinovataya and Horlivka.
To the south of Bakhmut - fierce oncoming battles on the western approaches to Kleshcheevka. Russian troops after artillery strikes tried to counterattack in the direction of Ivanovsky. No success. In Bakhmut itself, PMC Wagner, with the support of artillery, continued to assault the last positions of the Ukrainian garrison on the outskirts of the city from the west and north.
North of Soledar, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are attacking in the area of Sacco and Vanzetti. This "dead" village is of great interest to both warring parties in terms of logistics. Russian troops shelled Belaya Gora, Predtechino, Chasov Yar, Bogdanovka, Grigorovka, Novomarkovo, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, Vasyukovka, Vesyoloye, Controversial and Verkhnekamenskoye. The Ukrainian army hit Kurdyumivka, the districts of Bakhmut and Zheleznyansky controlled by PMC Wagner.
In the Luhansk direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine counterattacked near Belogorivka and occupied a number of previously lost positions. The RF Armed Forces, in turn, managed to advance in the Serebryansky forest area in the Shipilovka area. With the support of artillery, Russian troops carried out offensive operations near Nevsky and Makeevka.
They also launched a ground attack at Novosyolovsky. The positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Belogorivka, Torskoye, Stelmakhivka, Berestovoye, Tabaevka, Kislovka, Zapadny, Dvurechnaya, Novomlynsk, Figolevka and Krasny Pervoy are under shelling.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Kirill Semenov
[REGNUM] President of the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) Bashar al-Assad on May 19 took part in the summit of the League of Arab States (LAS) in Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah. The Syrian leader is participating for the first time since 2010.
On May 7, the foreign ministers of the Arab League member countries decided to return Syria to the organization after its exclusion in 2011, when the country was engulfed in a civil war with numerous victims.
For the head of the SAR, a visit to Jeddah, where he was warmly welcomed by the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman , of course, can be seen as a diplomatic "triumph" that finally put an end to the isolation of Damascus and restored Assad's international legitimacy as the head of the Syrian state.
Thus, the participation of the Syrian president in the Arab League summit is a symbolic point in the end of the civil war and the complete recognition of Assad as the winner in this conflict.
ASSAD "BALANCED" BY ZELENSKY
The restoration of Syria's membership in the Arab League and the participation of its head in the summit of the organization has already caused a sharp reaction in the United States, where members of Congress called on the Joe Biden administration to impose new sanctions against Damascus.
“Assad’s re-admission to the Arab League is a serious strategic mistake that will push Assad, Russia and Iran to continue killing civilians and further destabilize the Middle East,” the House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement signed by Republican Michael McCall and Democrat Gregory Mix .
At the same time, the host country in the person of Saudi Arabia took into account such rejection from the United States and the West. In order not to worsen the already tense relations with Washington, it was decided to balance Assad's participation in the event by inviting the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky , to it . This step, as conceived by the organizers, on the contrary, should have been positively received in the West.
As Igor Subbotin, a specialist in international relations in the Middle East, told specifically for IA REGNUM , Zelensky's trip and his speech at the Arab League summit are designed to rearrange the emphasis in the meaning of this intra-Arab meeting. The talks in Jeddah were originally supposed to be a reflection of the success of Russian diplomacy, for which the process of returning Syria to the bosom of the Arab family turned out to be very resource-intensive. And Assad's arrival was seen as a pivotal moment in the regional summit.
It is likely that the Saudi ruling house, having agreed to accept Zelensky, decided to muffle this motif. That is, at the regional level, the kingdom goes against generally accepted approaches and restores the status of Damascus, and at the global level, on the contrary, it tries to meet the expectations of its ally in the person of the United States, demonstrating the diversification of its diplomatic contacts and its readiness to play the role of a mediator in the Ukrainian problem.
“It can be said that Saudi Arabia played a switch of scale at the summit in order to avoid a possible pick on the Syrian issue at the Arab League summit in advance,” Subbotin said.
GEOPOLITICAL SHIFTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
On the one hand, as noted above, the return of Syria to the Arab League could not take place without Russia's intervention in the Syrian conflict and its ability to create a multi-level system of interested parties around the Syrian settlement, providing links between them and Damascus.
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This began with the gradual normalization of SAR relations with the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt and ended at the present stage with the restoration of ties with Saudi Arabia, as well as with Turkey, with which contacts are developing. In all these processes, Russian diplomacy took an active part, and without it, there could be no question of Assad's triumph.
On the other hand, there is also the Iranian factor: it is unlikely that the Russian military operation could have helped the Assad government in any way if the Iranians had not come to its aid at the very beginning of the civil war.
It was Tehran's support that was able to keep the Syrian regime afloat until the fall of 2015, when the first Russian air group arrived in the SAR. And it is Iran that is the closest ally of Syria, having the greatest influence on decision-making in Damascus.
Therefore, the condition for the restoration of Syria's participation in the Arab League was the normalization of relations between Tehran and Riyadh, which were in a state of preparation for a military confrontation with each other. At the same time, it was the Yemeni case, and not the Syrian one, that was decisive for the process of restoring Iranian-Saudi ties.
That is, we can say that the path to a more condescending attitude of Saudi Arabia towards Syria lay through Yemen and the refusal of Iranian allies in this country (the Houthi rebels) to continue rocket attacks on Saudi Arabia.
And, finally, the common platform on which the above trends were based is the crisis in relations between the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf, primarily Saudi Arabia, and the United States.
It is the stagnation in relations between the United States and the Arab monarchies that has made these countries immune to signals from Washington. Including those that concerned the categorical rejection of both the normalization of relations between the Arab states and Assad, and the return of Syria to the Arab League.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the 32nd Arab Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 19, 2023
Thus, the restoration of Syria's membership in the Arab League is an important step in a larger regional geopolitical shift, as a result of which the states of the Middle East and North Africa entered into a number of new diplomatic alliances that challenged the existing regional order.
Also, the reunification of Syria with the Arab world is certainly an indicator of the increased role of Saudi Arabia as a regional power. Even Riyadh's failures in the Yemeni conflict could not prevent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from leading the kingdom on the path of becoming another pole of the multipolar world.
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Several Arab states such as Qatar, Kuwait and Morocco have refused to normalize relations with Damascus and continue to argue that the Assad government is illegitimate. Despite this, Saudi Arabia has used its influence as a leader in the Arab and Islamic worlds to convince them not to prevent Syria from returning to the Arab League.
The move is pragmatic on their part, as Riyadh and other Arab capitals prefer to deal with Damascus based on how they understand their countries' national interests.
In recent months, these countries have acted increasingly independently. At the same time, new actors such as China came into play, challenging the US and taking the place of Washington as the chief mediator in the region, pushing through the Iran-Saudi Arabia deal.
In addition, one cannot ignore the consequences of the devastating earthquake on February 6, which seriously affected part of Syria. It hastened the decision by Arab capitals to soften course on Damascus at a time when it was struggling to get much-needed assistance under the current sanctions.
SUCCESSES AND FAILURES WILL BE MONITORED
It should also be borne in mind that there are no "free meals" in Middle East politics. The Syrian leader's trip to Jeddah will by no means involve mainly greetings and pats on the back. This, of course, is also important and symbolic, but substantive issues are still in the foreground.
In particular, about how and in what way the Syrian government intends to fulfill the conditions that the Arab League countries put forward to Damascus as necessary steps. The restoration of SAR membership in the organization was linked to the implementation by the Syrian government of the corresponding road map. That is, the decision to join Syria to the Arab League, of course, was an advance payment for its leadership.
The restoration of Syrian participation in the Arab League followed the initiative of Jordan, announced at a meeting of foreign ministers of the SAR and Arab states in Amman on May 1. The initiative included an action plan to end the civil conflict in Syria. It includes solving the problems of refugees, searching for and releasing missing prisoners, stopping drug smuggling and withdrawing pro-Iranian militants.
Jordan is the main transit route for the Syrian drug Captagon to the Persian Gulf countries and is ready to take unilateral measures if it does not see decisive action from Damascus to curb the drug trade.
Such a signal in anticipation of Assad's trip to Jeddah has already been sent by Amman. On May 8, the Jordanian Air Force attacked the headquarters of Syrian drug traffickers in southern Syria in the province of Suwayda. A Jordanian airstrike killed one of the leaders of the Syrian drug traffickers, Marai al-Ramtan .
Also, according to a Jordanian official, Syria needs to show that it is serious about reaching a political solution, as this will be a precondition for lobbying for any lifting of Western sanctions. And this, in turn, is an important step in financing the restoration of the SAR and attracting investment from the Arab League.
In addition, a special commission was created to monitor the process of Syria's movement along the "road map" of the Arab League, which will monitor the successes and failures of Damascus along this path and draw appropriate conclusions.
AND WHAT DOES RUSSIA GET?
Of course, Russia played a key role in the process that brought Syria back into the fold of the Arab states. However, one should not be too optimistic about the possible dividends for Moscow from this move.
Of course, the restoration of economic ties between Syria and the Arab states can turn the SAR into another element in the system of circumventing anti-Russian sanctions. Numerous "gray" zones in Syria may contribute to the transformation of this country into another hub for overcoming Western restrictions. But for this it is necessary to create an appropriate infrastructure in the country, in which Russia has not yet shown heightened interest.
In particular, there has not been any significant investment in the port of Tartus since the signing of a Russian-Syrian agreement a few years ago on the management of this infrastructure facility, which is in need of serious modernization and reconstruction.
On the other hand, one should not fall into excessive pessimism about the fact that the rapprochement of the SAR with the Arab states will further reduce Russian influence in this country, where it was already difficult for Russia to compete with Iran.
Vladimir Putin's meeting with Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud
As long as Assad is in power, Syria will not move away from Russia.
There are still areas in the country held by opposition and radical groups, which are comparable in their combat capability and numbers to the Syrian government forces. Under these conditions, the departure of Russia would become an existential problem for Assad.
Finally, if we talk about the economic content of Russian-Syrian relations, they have never been put in the first place, but were a concomitant element of the military-political cooperation between Moscow and Damascus. For Russia, the interest in Syria is primarily its geopolitical position.
This country is an important element of Russian foreign policy, since it is from the Syrian platform that Russia is projecting force on the entire region. The military presence gives Russia the opportunity to participate in the politics of the Middle East as a full-fledged Middle East player, and not just an extra-regional actor.
Finally, Russia not only marks its military-political presence in the Middle East, but also threatens the southern flank of NATO. In addition, Russian bases in the SAR are an intermediate point for advancing to Africa.
Therefore, Russia, on the contrary, will be ready to act as a guarantor of stability in the SAR, including in the issue of securing investments from the Arab states. One way or another, Moscow will still benefit from the restoration of Damascus's membership in the Arab League and is unlikely to lose anything.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] The Russian armed forces struck an American anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) Patriot in Kiev with a strike of a hypersonic missile "Dagger". This was informed on May 16 by the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov.
The downed American air defense system is one of two Patriots handed over to the Ukrainian army in March of this year. The anti-aircraft complex, supplied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including to cover important facilities in the capital, was positioned as one of the most modern medium-range missile defense systems. But, as REGNUM has already noted, at that time there were no cases of using these missile defense systems against Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.
On May 9, the Pentagon said that the Ukrainian military allegedly shot down the "Dagger" with the help of Patriot anti-missiles. This was then stated by the press secretary of the US Department of Defense Patrick Ryder , and the mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko even posed with fragments of some kind of ammunition, which he passed off as "Dagger."
Later, a senior source in the Russian Defense Ministry told TASS that Kiev was trying to pass off wishful thinking, since the Dagger was technically impossible to intercept with the help of the Patriots. “The flight speed of the “Dagger” exceeds the limit modes of the air defense systems delivered to Kiev,” a source in the Russian Defense Ministry explained to RIA Novosti.
The “carrier” of the Kinzhal complex, we recall, is the MiG-31K interceptors specially equipped for this. The hypersonic aerodynamic missile has low radar visibility and high maneuverability.
The destruction of the Patriot air defense system was part of a massive strike that the Aerospace Forces (VKS) of Russia inflicted on the night of May 15-16 on the positions of Ukrainian air defense, covering Kiev. At night, footage was published on the Web showing the work of Ukrainian air defense in the sky over Kiev. Observers noted the unprecedented activity of anti-aircraft systems, which carried out dozens of volleys at various targets.
The Ukrainian side claims that none of the Russian missiles completed the task, and moreover, the air defense systems allegedly destroyed all air targets. But numerous video materials indicate that at least two missiles overcame air defense protection and hit some objects. One of the videos shows the operation of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. As soon as the complex releases the last rocket, an explosion occurs in the same area. Subsequently, local residents reported that a large plume of smoke was rising at the site of the explosion.
The fact that the Patriot complexes were involved in repelling a night attack is also evidenced by photographs of fragments of anti-aircraft missiles, which are published on the Web by local residents.
The discovered fragments can be identified as anti-aircraft ammunition designed to intercept ballistic missiles, said military expert, reserve officer Alexander Mikhailovsky, who analyzed photo and video evidence at the request of IA REGNUM .
“From the tail, gas-dynamic rudders and other fragments, we can conclude that PAC-3 CRI or MSE interceptor missiles were transferred to Kiev, whose task is to shoot down tactical ballistic and cruise missiles,” the source said . - Previously, the supply of missiles of this model was not reported, but it can be stated that Kiev and its allies take the strikes of our Aerospace Forces very seriously. Separately, it is worth noting that they would not use such missiles to destroy, for example, drones. To do this, they have NASAMS, IRIS-T, and now also Italian SAMP-T complexes. That is, the blow to Kiev was really inflicted by something powerful, and its reflection by the Armed Forces of Ukraine was considered their priority .
As for the Patriots, as Mikhailovsky notes, these air defense systems have previously demonstrated weaknesses. The example of the failures of the American anti-aircraft systems, the army of Saudi Arabia - to repel the missile attacks of the Yemeni Houthi rebels has already become a textbook. During the attack on the facilities of the oil company Saudi Aramco, Patriot complexes “missed” dozens of drones and cruise missiles. Moreover, according to experts, the Hussites used only "kerosene stoves" - export versions of the Soviet R-17 liquid rockets, also known as Scud.
Patriot complexes used by the US Army to repel a missile attack that Iran inflicted on US military bases in Iraq in January 2020 faced similar problems. American anti-aircraft systems could not cope with missiles, which, in terms of their characteristics, are seriously inferior to the Dagger complexes.
The current destruction of the Patriot, which confirmed that the capabilities of the American air defense systems are “somewhat exaggerated,” is part of the recently launched “real hunt for Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems ,” Mikhailovsky notes.
“So, on April 27 , Lancet loitering ammunition hit the launchers of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system,” the expert recalled. —
On the Web, they even called this day "Black Thursday" of Ukrainian air defense.
On the same day, footage of the use of the Lancet against the German-made Gepard anti-aircraft complex appeared. Already in early May, the British-made Stormer air defense system got it. The corresponding videos have been posted online. As you can see, there is a systemic destruction of Ukrainian air defense at all levels.”
Earlier, Western media wrote about the problems of Ukrainian air defense with reference to Pentagon documents leaked to the network . The Wall Street Journal in early April drew attention to the fact that the stocks of missiles for Soviet-made anti-aircraft systems, which are still in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, will expire by early May. In this regard, the supply of Western air defense systems is becoming critically important for the Ukrainian army.
At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are striving to "rebuild" their air defense system. In this regard, of particular importance is the disabling of individual air defense systems before the system is created. According to experts, the “opening” of air defense is possible using the tactics of “false targets”.
It can be assumed that the strikes are delivered in such a way that the anti-aircraft systems unmask themselves. Special missiles can be used - target simulators, drones can be used. In fact, real cruise missiles that hit real targets can also be used.
“The calculation of the anti-aircraft complex sees where the missile is going and makes a decision to launch, thereby unmasking its position. Then the "Dagger" comes into play.
There is practically no chance to shoot down which, anyway, because when approaching the target, the “Dagger” develops such speed and enters such a trajectory that it is almost impossible to shoot it down, using air defense and missile defense systems,” Mikhailovsky explained .
In addition, the launcher had already fired all the missiles by this time and was therefore defenseless, the expert pointed out. “Besides, she has nowhere to go. Kyiv is a big city, complexes can only be placed in parks. And there is not much room for maneuver. Therefore, the Patriot eventually became prey for the "Dagger", - Mikhailovsky summed up.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Victor Lavrinenko
[REGNUM] One of the news that has recently been widely circulated in the world press was the news of the divorce of the former Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin. Apparently, the discord with the man with whom she lived for nineteen years, Marin began last summer. Then the video recordings of too hot parties, in which the head of the Suomi government participated, became public.
SANNA MARIN: FROM SALESWOMAN TO PRIME MINISTER
Last summer, the couple, apparently, agreed not to wash dirty linen in public, so as not to damage Marin's political career. But in the spring, parliamentary elections were held in the country, as a result of which the woman lost the post of prime minister. After that, the need for secrecy disappeared and it became possible to calmly file a divorce.
Nevertheless, despite the unpleasant event for Marin's image, experts predict a cloudless political future for her. To understand why this is so, one should delve into the history of the political career of the “Finnish Snow White”.
Thirty-seven-year-old Marin was born into a dysfunctional family. In her early youth, in parallel with her higher education, she worked in a bakery and as a cashier in a department store.
She owes her meteoric career to Finland's influential Social Democratic Party, which she joined at the age of twenty. At first she worked in the municipality of the city of Tampere, then she was elected to parliament, in June 2019 she was appointed Minister of Transport.
And less than six months later, Marin replaced her party colleague Antti Rinne , who resigned, and became prime minister.
This news aroused the interest of the whole world more than during the usual change of prime ministers of a small northern country. All thanks to the bright appearance of Sanna Marin, who looks more like a movie star than a politician.
Both Marin herself and the new Finnish cabinet formed by her from representatives of five parties became icons of feminism - out of nineteen of its members, twelve were women. Then there were many enthusiastic panegyrics addressed to the " twelve brave women who shouldered the whole state ."
Admired, by the way, not all.
The Minister of the Interior of neighboring Estonia, a convinced right-wing radical Mart Helme, muttered live: “ I remembered the words of Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin that any cook can become a minister, or as he put it there. So we see how the saleswoman rose to the premier - just as some street activists and uneducated people became members of the government .
But Helme hushed indignantly, and Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid apologized for his words to her Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö.
Serious trials soon really fell on the shoulders of Marin's cabinet - the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, many were surprised by the fact that even in the midst of a pandemic, the government took a course towards the militarization of the country.
In October 2020, it became known that the United States plans to supply Finland with combat aircraft, as well as ammunition for them, for a total of $27.2 billion. On this occasion, the left-wing publicist Alexander Kommari , who lives in Finland, wrote that Marin is “leftist” purely nominally - but in fact this “clever and beautiful girl” does not primarily care about the interests of ordinary Finns.
Kommari angrily noted: “ The government of the little things ... is going to swell 12 billion euros in the purchase of American military aircraft. The Finns are already acquiring 70 American missiles, which can reach very deep into Russian territory. Despite the fact that there have been no problems and threats in Russian-Finnish relations since 1944 at all .
Kommari added that there was a clear health crisis in the country. Therefore, the money that is spent on weapons could be spent with a much greater benefit for ordinary Finns - for example, to train the necessary number of medical staff.
"KEEP ON DANCING"
If there is in Finland such a category of the population, the interests of which were baked by Marin, it is the sexual minorities. In the summer of 2021, when the country was still under lockdown, Helsinki hosted a Pride Week under the personal supervision of the Prime Minister.
The personal involvement of the head of government is not accidental.
The ex-premier never ceases to proudly emphasize that she grew up in a same-sex family, in which her mother cohabited with another woman. As Marin complains, in the 80s and 90s it was not yet customary to flaunt such relationships, and therefore she had to remain silent about her family at school.
Marin herself, however, adheres to the traditional family format. She married a man, former footballer Markus Räikkönen , now in communications.
But at the same time, the former prime minister never tired of emphasizing: “ Pride means a lot to me personally because of my origin. I grew up in a rainbow family. For me, the equality of people and the observance of human rights are issues because of which I once entered politics .”
It is easy to understand that Marin understands “human rights” primarily as “gay rights”.
Last year, Finland, under the leadership of Marin, took a historic step. Suomi left the status of a neutral state, in which she had been for over seventy years, and headed for NATO membership, for breaking economic and political ties with Russia.
Russian political scientists called this process the "Balticization" of Finland. Following the example of the Baltic countries, Helsinki also began to act to the detriment of its own economy, which is very dependent on cooperation with Russia. Marin ruthlessly cut off all these ties - for which she received numerous praises from Brussels and Washington.
But soon the position of the prime minister was shaken by a scandal when she was caught addicted to overly fun pastime.
First, videos from a private party were leaked to the network, at which the politician was resting violently with friends, dancing and drinking alcohol. At the same time, Internet users noticed that the party participants were talking about some kind of “powder”. In this regard, Marin was suspected of using drugs, she had to pass a test for prohibited substances.
She justified herself: “ I have a family, I have a job, and I have free time that I spend with friends. I want to show that these positions are filled by ordinary people who live ordinary lives .”
And a little later, a photo became public domain, in which two women kiss in the official residence of the prime minister, covering their bare breasts with a sign with the inscription "Finland". The prime minister had to publicly apologize for this incident as well. She admitted that she threw a party at the government premises during her vacation.
In Finnish society, they seriously doubted that Sanna Marin lived up to her high position. Great efforts were expended in order to "smear off" the head of the government.
A flash mob was quickly organized, during which hundreds of women from Finland and Denmark posted videos on the network in which they also dance, drink alcohol and have fun with friends.
Marin was supported by a number of female politicians, including Hillary Clinton , who addressed the Finnish prime minister on the social network: "Keep dancing."
However, this did not help Marin. The scandal badly damaged the reputation of the Social Democratic Party led by her. And as a result of the parliamentary elections held on April 2, 2023, Marin had to transfer the post of prime minister to the representative of the National Coalition Party, Petteri Orpo.
"YOUNG AUNT" WITH PROSPECTS
And soon after the resignation, Sanna Marin announced a divorce. With her husband Markus Räikkönen, the father of her daughter Emma, she has maintained a relationship since 2004, although the couple entered into an official marriage only in 2020. The exact reason for the divorce is unknown, but it can be assumed that the cooling between the spouses began precisely after the videos leaked last summer.
On one of them, by the way, she dances with the musician Olavi Uusivirta - at some point he clings to the neck of the married Marin.
Eyewitnesses told Seiska that the visibly drunk prime minister " danced intimately " with several men that night and sat on the lap of at least two - in general, she did not behave at all like a married woman. “ The prime minister held the hand of the man next to her, while another man gently held Sanna’s hand ,” a witness to the spectacle reports.
In general, Marin's husband should have accumulated enough reasons for discontent, and the news of the divorce did not particularly surprise anyone.
Alexander Kommari testifies that the Finns are closely monitoring how the news of Marin's divorce spread through the world media.
“Because one of the features of the Finnish mentality is the amazing interest of the Finns in what they say about them abroad. The news about the young prime minister getting into the international press caused the most positive comments in the leading Finnish media: they know about us, they admire us!" the publicist notes.
According to him, the reasons why Sanna Marin has become a world star are simple: she is young and pretty, and shares all the right Western values, and was not afraid to start a confrontation with her eastern neighbor.
The publicist adds that today's humanity lives in the era of visual images. And in this world, the beautiful Finn Marin has an undeniable advantage over the crowd of male politicians with an ordinary appearance. “ Even if you look at it completely impartially, the legacy of Sanna Marin leaves behind a very doubtful one. But, surprisingly, no one cares. But the pretty young politician aunt is now alone again and in search of new loves - this is world-class news , ”Commari concludes.
And one more news - HBO will release a three-part documentary film about the government of Sanna Marin "The Chosen Five". The premiere of this film, which in a laudatory tone will tell about Marin herself and her four colleagues, will take place in early June. Sanna Marin is deliberately made a heroine in the eyes of the layman, so everything will turn out well for her.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
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[Twitter] China has offered a military and economic alliance to the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union. On Friday, Xi Jinping met with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and offered them expanded cooperation, including in the defense sector.
