Friday, May 19. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News and Information

Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 450.

As Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues and the war rages on, reliable sources of information are critical. Forbes gathers information and provides updates on the situation.

National.

Russia launched 18 missiles against Ukraine on May 16. The attack included six Kinzhal high-precision hypersonic missiles, nine Kalibr cruise missiles and three ballistic missiles, all of which were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defense systems. Although Russia claimed that the strikes destroyed a Patriot anti-missile battery recently supplied by the United States, the damage appears to be minor and the battery remains effective even without repairs.

Mykolaiv region. A Russian attack on the city of Mykolaiv on May 16 ignited a fire that heavily damaged a trade centre and a motor show. One civilian was wounded.

Odesa region. Russian aircraft fired on the city of Odesa on May 18, killing one civilian and wounding two others.

Kherson region. A Russian attack on May 18 on a grocery store in the village of Zelenivka killed three civilians, including a 5-year-old boy. Two other victims remain under hospital care with moderate to critical wounds.

World.

At the Council of Europe summit on May 17 in Rejkavik, Iceland, representatives of 43 nations agreed to join the Register of Damage, an international organization that will keep a record of damage caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Registry will enable Ukrainian citizens directly affected by the invasion to submit requests for compensation. The European Union and the European Council will provide initial funding for the Register and the United States also will serve as a founding member.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Central Hospital in Tokyo is preparing to provide medical treatment and physical therapy to wounded Ukrainian soldiers, possibly as early as next month. The decision to offer these services, the first ever for foreign soldiers, followed a specific request from the Ukrainian government. The plans include accommodating several wounded soldiers, some injured by landmines. Japan also will consider covering the costs associated with the medical treatment. Since the start of Russia’s invasion, Japan has provided Ukraine bullet-proof vests, helmets, drones and other non-lethal SDF supplies.

The French Senate has recognized the nation-wide famine inflicted on Ukraine’s population in 1932-33 by the Soviet regime as an act of genocide. France’s National Assembly passed a similar resolution in March. Some 20 nations have given such recognition to the famine, known as the Holodomor, which took the lives of more than three million Ukrainians. Such resolutions are not binding on their governments and do not require any resulting actions.

Crimea. A freight train of cars filled with grain derailed en route to the port city of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea on May 18, after Russia renewed the Black Sea deal on Wednesday, May 16. Several Russian-owned Telegram channels reported an explosion, blamed on “interference by outsiders,” just before the accident. All rail traffic between Simferopol and Sevastopol has been suspended. Russia’s railways have suffered several acts of sabotage in recent months.

Russia has agreed to extend the the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia recently withdrew from the initiative, which had allowed Ukraine to export millions of metric tons of grain to developing nations and other countries. While awaiting the renewal, nearly 70 freighters loaded with Ukrainian grain have been anchored in Turkish waters.

To celebrate Vyshyvanka Day today, UNITED24, a charitable platform created by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has launched a fund-raising campaign aimed at reconstructing a school repeatedly blasted by Russian tanks and artillery in the village of Buzova. In collaboration with UNITED24, Ukraine’s ETNODIM clothing and embroidery brand has created 13 unique designs of the traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka shirt, each representing authentic techniques from various regions of the country. Two versions of each vyshyvanka are available to donors for a contribution of $24.

Russian army casualties since the start of the invasion have now surpassed 200,000 troops killed and wounded, according to figures released by the Ukrainian General Staff. The Staff also counts 3,773 Russian tanks, 7,373 APVs and 3,198 artillery systems destroyed.

By Daria Dzysiuk, Alan Sacks