UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-05-22
Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. Since June 2023 I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 60 sources daily, much of which forms the basis of the script. While the Podcast is on hiatus I will make this Draft available here both on my own Substack and The People’s Media for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 23:00 on May 22 stated that day 819 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was about to begin.
During the past day, 94 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 35 air strikes, 367 drone strikes and 2,800 shellings across the positions of our troops.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line and continue to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deep into the territory of Ukraine.
Air Force Daily Report
On the night of May 22, 2024 the Russia attacked with 24 Shahed UAVs. Launches were carried out from the districts of Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk (Russia) and from the territory of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Qirim.
As a result of the anti-air combat, the Defense Forces of Ukraine were shot down all 24 UAVs.
The Shaheds destroyed within Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Sumy and Odessa oblasts.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kharkiv axis: The enemy made 10 attempts to break through the defenses of our troops in the areas of Lyptsi, Starytsya, and Vovchansk. The situation is under control. Our soldiers in some areas conducted a number of assault operations, and measures to strengthen defense resilience are ongoing.
Kupyansk axis: Russian invaders attempted to breach Ukrainian defences 13 times. Fighting is ongoing in the areas of the villages of Synkivka Ivanivka and Tabaivka and Berestove. The situation is controlled, measures are being taken to stabilise the environment.
Lyman axis: Russian forces attempted to advance in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast) but were repelled by Ukrainian defenders
Siversk axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 assault actions of the enemy in the areas of Bilohorivka, Vyimka and Rozdolivka.
Kramatorsk axis: Russian occupiers 10 times unsuccessfully tried to breach the defensive lines of Ukrainian defenders in the area of Novyi, Ivanivske, Klischiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast)
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk axis: The heaviest fighting is ongoing on this front with 37 enemy assaults over the last day in the vicinity of Kalynov, Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, Yehenivka, Novoselivka Persha and north of Netailove. In some areas, the situation requires Ukrainian defenders to carry out manoeuvres. Defence forces are taking measures to defeat the enemy and stabilise the situation.
Kurakhove axis: Ukrainian defenders continue to suppress the activity of the Russian invader, who, since the beginning of the day, conducted 2 unsuccessful assaults on Ukrainian positions.
Vremika axis: The situation has not undergone significant changes, however the aggressor in the area of Staromaiorske focused a significant artillery fire on Ukrainian defenders and increased its intensity. Stabilisation measures are being carried out.
Orikhiv axis: Russia did not carry out any active offensive actions in the last 24 hours. Ukrainian defenders continue to solidify their defences.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Prydniprovsk axis: Russia did not carry out any active offensive actions in the last 24 hours. Ukrainian defenders continue to solidify their defences.
Ukrainian Missiles Are Blowing Up Russia’s New Missile Corvettes Faster Than They Can Build Them
The Russian navy missile corvette Tsyklon entered service with the Black Sea Fleet in July 2023, three years after launching at Zalyv Shipbuilding Yard in Russian-occupied Crimea. Forbes reports.
Ten months later, on Sunday, a Ukrainian strike sank the 220-foot Karakurt-class vessel in Sevastopol, in Crimea, 150 miles from the front line of Russia’s 27-month wider war on Ukraine. Satellite imagery from Monday confirmed that Tsyklon is resting on the seafloor.
Russian navy officials should be very worried about the future of the Black Sea Fleet. Ukraine is taking out the fleet’s warships faster than Russia can build or reinforce them with ships from other regional fleets.
The Black Sea Fleet is getting seven of the cruise-missile-armed Karakurts. Tsyklon was the first to commission into front-line service. Another Karakurt, the incomplete Askold, was damaged in a November Ukrainian missile raid on a shipyard in Kerch in Crimea.
As long as Turkey blocks warships from passing through the Bosporus Strait connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea, the only way for the Russians to reinforce the shrinking Black Sea Fleet is to transfer smaller vessels to the Black Sea by river—or to build them in Black Sea shipyards.
In addition to the damaged Askold and the wrecked Tsyklon, five more Karakurts are under construction at shipyards in Crimea or on the Volga River, which connects to the Black Sea by way of the Don River. There’s every reason to expect those corvettes will also come under attack as they join the fleet in the near future.
Ukraine has received more than 120 ATACMS in two batches—one last fall, another in April—and has aimed the inertially guided missiles at Russian air bases, air defence installations, training grounds and now naval bases.
Russian air defences have been powerless to stop the incoming ATACMS. That’s an ominous development for Russian navy commanders who are struggling to preserve what’s left of the Black Sea Fleet.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Former deputy head of the presidential office Andriy Smirnov was informed of suspicion of illegal enrichment
SAPO released the following press release on May 22
On behalf of the head of the SAPO, the prosecutor reported suspicion of illegal enrichment for UAH 15.7 million to the former deputy head of the Office of the president of Ukraine. The person's actions are qualified under Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
The vast majority of the acquired property was registered to the sibling, but the person retained the right to dispose of it in full. The Honda motorcycle was registered to a friend, but later the official reissued it for himself. However, it turned out that neither official income nor savings were enough to purchase them. The difference between the value of property and a person's funds is UAH 15.7 million
- SAPO
Sources from SAPO reported to UNN that the former deputy head of the presidential office Andriy Smirnov was the subject of this investigation.
It is reported that as part of the pre-trial investigation carried out by NABU detectives, it was established that in 2020-2022 the official acquired assets worth UAH 17.1 million. we are talking about 2 cars (Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen), 2 motorcycles (Honda and BMW), three parking spaces in Kiev, an apartment in a prestigious residential complex in Lviv and a land plot in Transcarpathia.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russia begins nuclear drills in an apparent warning to West over Ukraine
Russia’s military on Tuesday began drills involving tactical nuclear weapons that were announced by Russian authorities earlier this month in an apparent warning to senior Western officials who had spoken about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine. AP reported.
It was the first time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises.
According to a statement by the Defense Ministry released Tuesday, the first stage of the new drills envisioned “practical training in the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” including nuclear-capable Kinzhal and Iskander missiles.
The manoeuvres are taking place in the Southern Military District, which consists of Russian regions in the south, including on the border with Ukraine; Crimea, illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014; and four Ukrainian regions that Russia illegally annexed in 2022 and partially occupies.
The drills were announced on May 6, with the Defense Ministry saying in a statement that they would come in response to “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation.”
Grumpy here - many of the larger ballistic missile systems that Russia has been using in Ukraine for example the Iskander are capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead
NEWS WORLDWIDE
German FM Baerbock says aid delay 'jeopardises' fight
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday morning for an unannounced visit in a show of support for Ukraine. DW reports.
In Kyiv, she called for increased international support for Ukraine's air defence amid the ongoing Russian offensive.
"To protect Ukraine from the hail of Russian missiles and drones, it urgently needs more air defence," she said, urging Kyiv's allies to "join forces." The trip had not been announced for security reasons.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also urged other NATO allies to supply air defence systems to Ukraine as the country suffers sustained attacks on its energy infrastructure by Russia.
UK defence minister says intelligence has evidence of Chinese lethal aid to Russia
British defence minister Grant Shapps on May 22 accused China on Wednesday of providing or preparing to provide Russia with lethal aid for use by Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Reuters reported.
Shapps told a conference in London that U.S. and British defence intelligence had evidence that "lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine, I think it is a significant development".
Shapps did not provide evidence to support his assertion.
"We should be concerned about that because in the earlier days of this war China would like to present itself as a moderating influence on" Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added.
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. said last month it had not provided weaponry, adding that it is "not a producer of or party involved in the Ukraine crisis." The Chinese embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
EU agrees on plan to use proceeds from Russian frozen assets to help Ukraine
EU countries on Tuesday formally adopted a plan to use proceeds from frozen assets of the Russian central bank frozen in the EU for Ukraine’s defence. Reuters reports.
A senior Russian diplomat denounced the plan, saying it would have unpredictable consequences, with the EU obliged sooner or later have to return to Russia what it had "stolen".
Under the agreement, 90% of the proceeds will go into an EU-run fund for military aid for Ukraine against Russia's invasion, with the other 10% going to support Kyiv in other ways.
The EU expects the assets to yield about 15-20 billion euros ($16.30-$21.70 billion) in profits by 2027. The assets are gaining exceptional interest, resulting in so-called windfall profits. Ukraine is expected to receive the first tranche in July, EU diplomats said.
The Group of Seven countries (G7) froze around $300 billion worth of Russian financial assets soon after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the EU and other G7 countries have debated how and whether to use the funds to help Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked the EU for the decision on Tuesday but reiterated Ukraine's ultimate goal of seizing Russian financial assets, not just benefiting from interest.
Russia's acting Permanent Representative to the EU, Kirill Logvinov, quoted by Tass news agency, said the proposal would "clearly have unpredictable consequences for the Eurozone, the economies of bloc members and the investment climate.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is pushing fellow G7 nations this week to agree to a plan to use the profits as collateral to back a larger loan to help Ukraine.
Switzerland has allocated up to 4 thousand military personnel to protect the peace summit
The Swiss Federal Council has confirmed the allocation of up to 4,000 troops in Nidwalden to assist the cantonal police during the security of the peace summit, which will be held here on June 15-16. The number of military personnel was determined taking into account the complexity of the terrain and the scope of tasks, in particular the need to protect numerous objects. This was reported on the website of the Swiss Federal Council. UNN reported.
"The Federal Council has approved the deployment of up to 4,000 troops to support the cantonal police in Nidwalden. The Armed Forces will support the cantonal police, in particular in the areas of property protection, surveillance, intelligence and logistics, as well as provide equipment and vehicles to Nidwalden. These measures will complement the security measures taken by the cantonal authorities and should not entail any additional costs for the Confederation," the press releases say.
They explain that the number of military personnel that will be involved is determined by the complexity of the territory and the scope of tasks, including the number of objects that need to be protected.
MILITARY & TECH
Trained F-16 service specialists begin to return to Ukraine, – Air Force
The first specialists in American service F-16 fighters began to return to Ukraine from training abroad. This was stated by the spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces Ilya Yevlash on the air of the TV channel "Direct".
"Of course, this kind of specialist is never too much. Already the first specialists in this field have started to return to Ukraine, and will already be able to share their experience with other Ukrainian military technicians, — he said.
He stressed that the pilot, who ascends to the sky on the F-16, fully trusts his life as an engineer who serves and secures this aircraft.
As reported by UNIAN, yesterday, May 21, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands announced the completion of the training of 10 Ukrainian specialists who studied the maintenance of F-16 fighters. During the training, the Ukrainian military prepared, including, for possible risks during F-16 flights.
Recently President Vladimir Zelensky stated that Ukraine needs more than 100 F-16 fighters in order to confront the Russian occupiers in the sky.
Ukraine now has Sea Baby naval drones equipped with Grad multiple launch rocket systems
Ukraine's SBU Security Service's Sea Baby marine drones have been equipped with Grad multiple rocket launcher systems, sources inside the SBU reported to NV.
The modified Sea Babies struck Russian positions on the Kinburn spit on the night of May 21.
"Today, we can confirm that the drones are equipped with a rocket launcher system, and this technological solution is already showing powerful results. Therefore, new surprises are waiting for the enemy." the SBU source said.
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