As the war enters its 814th day, here are the main developments.
Here is the situation as of Saturday May 18, 2024.
Struggle
- At least two people were killed and 19 others were injured. Russian bombing of Kharkiv, said regional head Oleh Syniehubov on the Telegram application. Four of the injured were in critical condition.
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A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and injured another in southern Russia’s Belgorod region, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. He said the drone hit the village of Novaya Naumovka, where the two residents tended a garden.
- Ukrainian authorities say about 8,000 civilians from the recently explosive town of Vovchansk, located 5 km from the Russian border, have been evacuated.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects Russia to step up its offensive in the northeast, warning in an interview with the AFP news agency that Ukraine has only 25% of the defenses air which it needs to hold the front line.
- Zelensky also acknowledged that Russian troops had advanced five to ten kilometers along the northeastern border before being stopped by Ukrainian forces, adding that the region could be the “first wave” of a broader offensive .
- The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskii, said the new Russian offensive had “expanded the zone of active hostilities” by almost 70 km (45 miles) in an attempt to force Ukraine to disperse its forces and to use reserve troops.
- Zelensky said the situation in Kharkiv was “controlled” but “not stabilized,” adding that Ukraine needed “120 to 130” F-16 fighter jets or other advanced aircraft to achieve air “parity.” with Russia.
Politics and diplomacy
- Zelensky signed two laws authorizing prisoners to join the army and increasing the fines imposed on draft dodgers by five. The controversial mobilization law comes into force on Saturday.
- Ukraine’s leader urged China to attend a peace summit in Switzerland after President Xi Jinping hosted his Russian counterpart. Vladimir Poutine In Beijing.
- Putin criticized next month’s peace conference and called it a futile attempt to enforce the terms of a peaceful settlement with Russia.
- The Russian leader said any possible peace talks should be based on a draft agreement negotiated by Russia and Ukraine during their talks in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2022.
- During his visit to China, Putin claimed that the Russian offensive in Kharkiv was aimed at creating a buffer and there were no plans to capture the city.
- White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration does not encourage or enable attacks with U.S.-supplied weapons in Russia.
