Updates: Moscow says Ukraine ‘sabotage group’ crossed into Russia
Russian officials report an incursion in the Graivoron district on the border with Ukraine.
This blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday, May 22.
This blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday, May 22.
- The Kremlin says Russian forces are working to eliminate a Ukrainian army “sabotage group” that crossed the border. Kyiv has denied responsibility, saying Russian citizens were likely behind the alleged attacks.
- The Wagner Group will leave Bakhmut starting on Thursday and transfer control of the eastern Ukrainian city to Russia, according to the chief of the mercenary force. Ukraine denies Russian claims that Bakhmut has fallen.
- Power has been restored at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after Ukraine and Russia blamed one another for the latest blackout.
- The United Kingdom says Russian troops are likely forming a new “elite” aviation group as the West pledges to bolster Kyiv’s air defences.
Ukraine’s weaponry checklist for its coming counteroffensive
Tanks, troop carriers, air cover, and ammunition. Who is supplying them to Ukraine, and how will they be used in the expected counteroffensive against Russian forces?
Why is Bakhmut important in the ongoing war?
Bakhmut, which once had a population of about 70,000 people, has seen eight months of fierce fighting in the bloodiest battle since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The symbolic importance of the small city in Ukraine’s east now far outweighs any strategic value for either side.
Read more here.
US says Wagner seeking to transit material acquisitions through Mali
The US State Department has said Russian mercenary force Wagner Group is trying to obscure its efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, adding that Washington has been informed that Wagner is seeking to transit material acquisitions to aid Russia in the war through Mali.
“There are indications that Wagner has been attempting to purchase military systems from foreign suppliers and route these weapons through Mali as a third party. We have not seen as of yet any indications that these acquisitions have been finalized or executed, but we are monitoring the situation closely,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.
UN concerned by lack of grain ships going to one Ukrainian port
The United Nations has expressed concern that Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Pivdennyi, in the city of Yuzhne, has not received any ships since May 2 under a deal allowing the safe wartime export of grain and fertiliser.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric did not say who was to blame for the lack of ships travelling to the port, near Odesa, which is also where Russia used to pump up to 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia annually for export via a pipeline from Togliatti.
Russia to set $1bn monthly currency cap for deals with exiting firms
Russia is set to introduce a $1bn monthly cap on the amount of foreign currency residents can buy on the domestic market to settle transactions with exiting foreign firms, according to a text published by the Kremlin.
The cap, issued by President Vladimir Putin, applies to deals approved by the central bank, finance ministry or government commission monitoring foreign investment.
Putin has called for the measure to be introduced by June 1, the Kremlin said.
African leaders seek to persuade Russia, Ukraine to cease hostilities
Six African leaders propose that Ukraine accept opening peace talks with Russia even as Russian troops remain on its soil, South Africa’s presidency has said, as South African officials prepare to visit both countries to sell the idea.
“First is the cessation of hostilities. Second is a framework for lasting peace,” South African presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the initiative on May 16. President Macky Sall of Senegal, last year’s African Union chairperson whose country was not present at the latest UN vote condemning Russia in February, leads the initiative.
It includes presidents Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia — which both voted for the resolution — and Republic of the Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso, and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, which both abstained.
The peace mission is expected to travel to Moscow and Kiyv in early June.
“My President made it very clear … [There will be] no talks between Ukraine and Russia unless Russians leave our territory within its internationally recognised borders,” Ukraine’s Ambassador to South Africa Liubov Abravitova said in a text message.
But she added: “We will receive all delegates and speak to them.” A spokesperson for Russia’s embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fall of Bakhmut would signal ‘a Pyrrhic victory for Wagner’: Analysts
The ravaged southeastern city of Bakhmut, home to about 70,000 people before the war broke out, has been reduced to ruins after a 10-month-long siege.
If confirmed, Bakhmut’s capture would be Russia’s first military gain since the fall of Soledar, a much smaller town northeast of Bakhmut, in January.
We speak to a Ukrainian military expert, service member and analysts about what the possible capture of Bakhmut means.
Read more here.
Russia evacuates civilians from area near Ukraine border: Governor
The governor of Russia’s southern region of Belgorod, the scene of an armed incursion of a “sabotage” group from Ukraine, said authorities were helping people leave the area under attack.
“The situation here continues to be extremely tense,” Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said, adding that authorities were going door to door to notify residents. “I hope that our military will complete their task in the nearest future.”
Poland in talks to buy Swedish early warning aircraft, minister says
Poland is in advanced talks to buy Swedish early warning planes and hopes negotiations will be finalised shortly, Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak has said.
Poland has ramped up military spending since Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, with the government pledging to double the size of the army and spend 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence in 2023.
“We are conducting detailed negotiations. I hope they will succeed in a short time. This way we strengthen the resilience of Poland, but also of NATO’s eastern flank,” Blaszczak wrote on Twitter after a meeting of defence ministers from northern Europe.
He did not provide further details on the number or type of aircraft discussed.
DPM @mblaszczak: I wish to say for the first time publicly that we are advanced in talks to obtain🇸🇪early warning aircraft. We are conducting detailed negotiations. I hope they will succeed in short time. This way we strengthen resilience of🇵🇱, but also of #NATO‘s eastern flank. pic.twitter.com/9MPIAg9glB
— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) May 22, 2023
Photos: Russia and Ukraine’s battle for Bakhmut
Thousands rally in Moldova for EU membership
Tens of thousands of Moldovans have rallied in the capital, Chisinau, to support their pro-Western government’s drive towards Europe amid what officials have said are Russian efforts to destabilise their country.
‘Anti-terror’ operation launched in Russia’s Belgorod: Governor
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, says that to safeguard the region’s citizens, a “counterterrorist” operation has been launched.
In a statement on Telegram, he said the restrictions in Belgorod will start from the “verification of documents proving the identity of individuals and ending with the suspension of the activities of hazardous industries and organisations that use explosive, radioactive, chemically and biologically hazardous substances”.
Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Kherson region kills one person: Governor
One person has died from shrapnel wounds after Russia shelled the village of Stanislav in Ukraine’s Kherson region, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
“A 45-year-old man received life-threatening injuries due to enemy attacks on Stanislav. During the shelling, he was repairing the roof of a previously damaged house. One of the fragments of the projectile hit his heart, as a result of which he died on the spot,” Prokudin said in a statement on Telegram, adding that residential buildings had been damaged due to the shelling.
‘Great support’ for training Ukrainian pilots: Denmark
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen says defence ministers from Northern European countries have shown “great support” at a meeting in Poland to train Ukrainian pilots in flying F-16 fighter jets.
He added that Denmark is ready to play a central role in this training.
Ukrainian military intelligence official urges Russian soldiers to surrender
Ukrainian military intelligence officer Kyrylo Budanov has addressed Russian soldiers in a video and urged them to surrender if they do not wish to die.
Speaking in Russian in the video released by the Ukrainian defence ministry’s intelligence directorate, he highlighted that for over a year, the Kremlin had been “unable to achieve a single goal set at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.”
“I am appealing to the Russian soldiers who were lucky enough to survive the meat grinder and the battered trenches – it’s going to get worse. You have the choice to die or to save your life,” he said.
Casualties from Ukrainian shelling rise to five in Russia’s Belgorod: Governor
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region says Ukrainian shelling has injured three people in the city of Grayvoron, which borders Ukraine.
“The shells also damaged three private residential buildings as a result of which they caught fire. A Russian administration building has also been hit,” he said on Telegram.
Earlier, the governor reported that Ukrainian attacks had injured two people in the village of Glotovo in the Grayvoron district.
IAEA pushes to safeguard Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant: Washington Post
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is pushing for an agreement to safeguard the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant ahead of Ukraine’s planned counteroffensive, according to a Washington Post report.
US and European diplomats told the Post that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has five principles in mind to secure the plant: “a ban on stationing heavy military equipment and military personnel at the plant; a ban on firing from and toward the plant, including a ban on attacking the personnel at the site; protection of all safety and security systems at the plant; protection of all external power lines; and monitoring of compliance of the above-mentioned principles”.
Grossi plans to submit his five principles to the UN Security Council this month to prevent a nuclear accident.
NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly recognises Russia’s crimes in Ukraine as ‘genocide’
NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly has recognised Russian actions in Ukraine as “genocide”, according to Yehor Cherniev, the head of Ukraine’s delegation at the assembly.
“This is our diplomatic victory. All our key wishes regarding the final text of the declaration have been taken into account,” he said in a post on Facebook.
He highlighted that the assembly’s declaration includes support for an international tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes, help for Ukraine win the war and a commitment to help restore the country’s territories by implementing more sanctions.
Cherniev added that the NATO assembly has pledged to urge the alliance’s governments to support Ukraine’s NATO membership during an upcoming summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Zelenskyy’s senior aide says Ukraine has nothing to do with Belgorod operation
A senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv had nothing to do with what Russia is calling a “sabatoge” operation in its Belgorod region.
“Ukraine is watching the events in the Belgorod region of Russia with interest and studying the situation, but it has nothing to do with it,” Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted.
“As you know, tanks are sold at any Russian military store, and underground guerrilla groups are composed of Russian citizens,” he said.
The only driving political force in a totalitarian country of tightened screws is always an armed guerrilla movement. #Ukraine is watching the events in the #Belgorod region of #Russia with interest and studying the situation, but it has nothing to do with it. As you know, tanks…
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) May 22, 2023
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 453
Click here for a roundup of the war’s key events from day 453.
Keep reading:
Putin informed about Ukrainian ‘sabotage group’ trying to enter Russia: RIA
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed about a Ukrainian “sabotage group” trying to enter the Belgorod region, according to a report by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
RIA reported that Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov said work was under way to “squeeze out Ukrainian saboteurs from Russian territory”.
Peskov said the purpose of the Ukrainian mission in Belgorod is “to divert attention from the direction of Bakhmut and minimise the political effect of the loss of Artemovsk”, the Soviet-era name of Bakhmut.
Kyiv says Belgorod attacks carried out by Russian citizens
Ukrainian military intelligence officials say attacks in Russia’s Belgorod region have been carried out “solely” by Russian citizens, according to Ukrainian media reports.
Military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps were responsible for the operation, the Ukrainian media outlet Hromadske reported.
Earlier, Belgorod’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a Ukrainian army “sabotage group” had entered Russian territory in the Graivoron district, which borders Ukraine.
He also reported increased shelling in the region and said two people had been injured.
Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Kupiansk injures two people: Governor
Two women have been wounded by Russian shelling in Kupiansk in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv province, according to the region’s governor, Oleh Syniehubov.
“Two women – 76 and 53 years old – were injured and have been hospitalised. Their condition is moderate,” he said in a statement on Telegram, adding that residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have been damaged.
Ukrainian forces took back Kupiansk from Russian control in September.
Belgorod governor says Ukrainian ‘sabotage group’ crosses into Russia
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, says a Ukrainian army “sabotage group” has entered Russian territory in the Graivoron district, which borders Ukraine.
“The armed forces of the Russian Federation, together with the Border Service, the National Guard and the FSB [Federal Security Service], are taking the necessary measures to eliminate the enemy,” he said in a statement on Telegram.
According to Reuters, Telegram channel Baza, which is linked to Russia’s security services, published footage that it said showed a Ukrainian tank attacking a Russian border post.
EU has a ‘non-constructive’ stance: Kremlin’s Peskov
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says the European Union’s reluctance to reconnect the Russian Agricultural Bank to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) represents the bloc’s “non-constructive” stance.
According to TASS, Peskov also said EU spokesperson Peter Stano’s words about the status of the Russian Agricultural Bank would hinder the UN’s Antonio Guterres in the context of the execution of the grain deal.