Russian pressure on the Donbass; US $ 40 billion in aid to Ukraine. Current May 20 / Article

Russia is increasing pressure on the Donbass; The US approves 40 billion in aid to Ukraine

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Battles and attacks

• The Russian army has failed to break what is important Bahmut track In the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region. If the Russian army were to disrupt the Lysichansk-Bahmut highway, it could block the Luhansk region and also stop the evacuation of people and the delivery of humanitarian cargo. The opponent has so far failed to implement this plan, and the Ukrainian army has struck this and several more attacks.

• The Ukrainian army is currently holding the one in Donbass Severodonetskand Russian forces are also continuing to move towards Lisichanska. The Russian army continues to fire heavily on the city with heavy artillery, including strikes at civilian targets. Thursday at least 12 people were killed and more than 40 injured in the crashes.

• Representatives of the Ukrainian joint forces informed that Russian troops in the Donbass in the last 24 hours fired about 50 settlements and the armed forces repelled 14 enemy attacks.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia is trying intensify offensive in Donbass and thus it has turned the eastern region of Ukraine into “hell.” The shooting and bombing of military and civilian sites, including settlements, continues.
  “The brutal and completely pointless bombing of Severodonetsk … 12 dead and dozens injured in just one day. Bombing and shooting of other cities, air and missile strikes by the Russian army… It is a deliberate and criminal attempt to kill as many Ukrainians as possible. Destroy as many houses, civilian objects and businesses as possible. This is what will be qualified as the genocide of the Ukrainian people and for which the occupiers will definitely be held accountable, “Zelensky said.

• Information from the British intelligence service shows that reinforcement of operations In Donbass, Russia could attract units in Mariupol. Relocating these units may be time-consuming, but Russia is likely to do so in a hurry without proper military training and technical repairs.

Home affairs

• The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office has demanded the first sentence of life imprisonment A Russian soldier, which entered Ukraine before a court on war crimes. The prosecutor’s office has asked the court to sentence 21-year-old Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin to life in prison for killing a 62-year-old Ukrainian civilian, Oleksandr Shelipov, on February 28 in the Sumy region. A Russian soldier pleaded guilty this week and asked the victim’s widow to be forgiven.

• Thousands have been proposed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine criminal proceedings for war crimes.

• President of Ukraine Volodimirs Zelenskis said that after the war, Ukraine will be built as a country with a high level of security, using the best security technologies following the example of leading countries. He explained that Ukraine will build its infrastructure at the level of Israel and other leading countries, where people have realized that there is someone living next to them who can bring misfortune at any time.

Civilian population

• Since the beginning of the Russian invasion refugees 6.36 million people have left Ukraine and 1.88 million have entered Ukraine, according to the UN Refugee Agency data. Most people have gone to Poland and at least half of them have stayed there.

International evaluations and events

• US Senate approved by assistance package $ 40 billion for Ukraine. Members of the House of Representatives have already supported the initiative.

• For additional assistance to Kiev announced British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Its total amount is 1.3 billion pounds or about one and a half billion euros.

• G7 countries after Thursday’s meeting of finance ministers announced that more than $ 15 billion will be allocated to the Ukrainian economy.

• US officials and UN Secretary-General Antoniu Guteresre are exploring the possibility route for Ukrainian grain exports – in the northern direction by rail through Belarus to the port of Klaipeda in Lithuania.
  According to its sources, the United States Wall Street Journal reports that the United States is considering lifting the sanctions on six months. Belarusian potassium fertilizer industry in exchange for the transit of Ukrainian grain through Belarus. A few days ago, it was reported that the United States and its allies in Europe were developing routes for Ukrainian wheat and corn exports.

• The White House met on Thursday between US President Joe Biden and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalene Andesson and Finnish President Sauli Niniste. Biden said he would submit the two countries’ requests to join NATO to the US Congress for ratification. The owner of the White House has expressed strong support Finland and Sweden NATO membership and said it would make NATO stronger.
  Regarding Turkey’s intention to block Turkey’s accession to Finland and Sweden, Niniste said that Finland was ready to discuss all of Turkey’s concerns openly and constructively. Andesson also explained that Sweden currently has a dialogue with all NATO members, including Turkey, at various levels to resolve all current issues.

• According to the readers’ version of the American magazine “Time” for the President of Ukraine Volodimiram Zelensky has managed to become the most influential person of the year. Ilon Masks, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took second place in the readers’ vote last year. In third place was British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Current in Ukraine on May 19.

CONTEXT:

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start Russian troops invade Ukraine. Putin claimed that NATO was going to use Ukraine as a bridgehead for aggression against Russia, although there was no evidence of these allegations. Ukraine believes that Putin’s real goal is to destroy Ukraine’s statehood and bring the territory under Moscow’s control.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has provoked a general one condemnation of the international communityagainst Russia is new sanctions have been introduced. Many Western companies have decided to leave the Russian market.

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