By removing Sergei Shoigu and promoting key allies, Russia’s leader is shoring up the war machine he needs to justify his survival, says Samantha de Bendern of Chatham House
More Ukrainian forces are being deployed to Kharkiv Oblast amid Russia's offensive in the region, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on May 15, following a meeting with top military commanders.
Blinken was asked about recent Ukrainian complaints that a Washington ban meant Ukraine could not strike Russian forces as they built up before crossing the border into Kharkiv Oblast.
Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in the Vovchansk direction in Kharkiv Oblast and "partially pushed out enemy forces from the town," the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on May 15.
Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) was warned by the U.S. Treasury that its access to the U.S. financial system could be curbed due to its continued presence in the Russian market, Reuters reported on May 15.
President Volodymyr Zelensky could meet with U.S. President Joe Biden to sign a bilateral security agreement in the "coming weeks," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on May 15.
In combat conditions, the formation of young officers of the Russian Armed Forces follows an “accelerated program”. It is easy to make sure of this by talking to lieutenants from the special military operation zone. We had a chance to talk to a tank officer who graduated from a military university this year and has already...
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine has shown the photos from the site of Russian missiles and aerial bomb attacks on residential quarters in various districts of the city of Kharkiv on 14 May.
KHARKIV – The first signs that something ominous is happening in Kharkiv come as soon as the train from Kyiv reaches the suburbs of the city – as two pillars of smoke appear in the distance, every single phone in the carriage erupts with a piercing electronic squawking. "I guess we've arrived,
Ukraine's state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo said it had to introduce additional restrictions due to the damage from the recent Russian strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the increase in electricity consumption after the temperature drop.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on May 12 that Andrei Belousov, a former aide and Russia's economy minister from 2012-2013, should replace Sergei Shoigu as defense minister in a surprise reshuffle of Russia's security and defense apparatus.
France will deliver an unspecified number of air defense missiles, as well as additional military aid, over the coming days and weeks, Reuters reported on May 14.
Explosions were heard in the city and fires are still burning near the Belbek military airfield after an alleged missile attack against occupied Crimea on May 15.
President Joe Biden on May 13 signed a bipartisan bill that bans Russian imports of enriched uranium, the primary fuel used in nuclear power plants. The move aims to sever one of the remaining major financial channels from the United States to Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Several cars of a freight train in Russia's Volgograd Oblast were derailed due to "interference by unauthorized persons," the Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on May 14, citing a statement from the Russian railway services.
Antony Blinken’s rock performance in Kyiv bar divides opinion in Ukraine (www.theguardian.com)
US secretary of state took to stage with his guitar to perform Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World
Putin’s war machine reshuffle reveals his deepest fear – the rise of Kremlin rivals | Samantha de Bendern (www.theguardian.com)
By removing Sergei Shoigu and promoting key allies, Russia’s leader is shoring up the war machine he needs to justify his survival, says Samantha de Bendern of Chatham House
Lammy and Healey visit Ukraine to say Labour would keep up UK’s backing (www.theguardian.com)
Shadow foreign and defence ministers go to Kyiv ‘to ensure we take politics out of the UK’s support for Ukraine’
Zelensky confirms postponing participation in upcoming international events (kyivindependent.com)
President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to postpone all of his international events planned for the coming days, the Presidential Office said on May 15.
Ukraine deploys more forces to Kharkiv Oblast (kyivindependent.com)
More Ukrainian forces are being deployed to Kharkiv Oblast amid Russia's offensive in the region, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on May 15, following a meeting with top military commanders.
Blinken: US to give Ukraine additional $2 billion in military financing (kyivindependent.com)
The U.S. will provide Ukraine with an additional $2 billion in foreign military financing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on May 15.
JCB built and supplied equipment to Russia months after saying exports had stopped (www.theguardian.com)
Exclusive: Russian customs records suggest firm owned by major Tory donor kept supplying machines after ‘voluntary pause’
Blinken: Washington has not encouraged Ukraine to strike inside Russia with US weapons, but decision up to Kyiv (kyivindependent.com)
Blinken was asked about recent Ukrainian complaints that a Washington ban meant Ukraine could not strike Russian forces as they built up before crossing the border into Kharkiv Oblast.
General Staff: Russian forces 'partially pushed out' from Vovchansk (kyivindependent.com)
Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in the Vovchansk direction in Kharkiv Oblast and "partially pushed out enemy forces from the town," the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on May 15.
Reuters: US warns Raiffeisen that access to dollar system could be restricted due to Russia presence (kyivindependent.com)
Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) was warned by the U.S. Treasury that its access to the U.S. financial system could be curbed due to its continued presence in the Russian market, Reuters reported on May 15.
Blinken: Zelensky, Biden may meet to sign security agreement in 'coming weeks' (kyivindependent.com)
President Volodymyr Zelensky could meet with U.S. President Joe Biden to sign a bilateral security agreement in the "coming weeks," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on May 15.
The path of one of the heroes: Guards Lieutenant “K”
In combat conditions, the formation of young officers of the Russian Armed Forces follows an “accelerated program”. It is easy to make sure of this by talking to lieutenants from the special military operation zone. We had a chance to talk to a tank officer who graduated from a military university this year and has already...
Rescuers show photos from site of Russian attacks on 20-storey-building in Kharkiv – photos (www.pravda.com.ua)
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine has shown the photos from the site of Russian missiles and aerial bomb attacks on residential quarters in various districts of the city of Kharkiv on 14 May.
The Guardian view on Russia’s new offensive: Ukraine’s allies must renew their focus | Editorial (www.theguardian.com)
Editorial: Significant advances by Vladimir Putin’s forces in the Kharkiv region must concentrate minds in the west at a critical moment
Blinken delivers message of US support to Kyiv as thousands flee Kharkiv region (www.theguardian.com)
US secretary of state promises long-awaited $60bn Ukraine aid package will make ‘real difference on battlefield’
Blinken sings, plays guitar with local band in Kyiv (kyivindependent.com)
Videos circulated on Instagram showed U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken singing and playing guitar along with other musicians onstage.
48 hours in Kharkiv, Ukraine's most-bombed major city (kyivindependent.com)
KHARKIV – The first signs that something ominous is happening in Kharkiv come as soon as the train from Kyiv reaches the suburbs of the city – as two pillars of smoke appear in the distance, every single phone in the carriage erupts with a piercing electronic squawking. "I guess we've arrived,
Ukraine introduces emergency power cuts throughout country amid 'significant' shortage (kyivindependent.com)
Ukraine's state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo said it had to introduce additional restrictions due to the damage from the recent Russian strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the increase in electricity consumption after the temperature drop.
Putin signs decree officially appointing Belousov as new Russian defense minister (kyivindependent.com)
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on May 12 that Andrei Belousov, a former aide and Russia's economy minister from 2012-2013, should replace Sergei Shoigu as defense minister in a surprise reshuffle of Russia's security and defense apparatus.
Latvia to allocate additional $11 million for Czech-led initiative to buy artillery shells for Ukraine (kyivindependent.com)
Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said additional funds would allow the allies to buy over 3,000 rounds of 155 mm shells.
Reuters: France to deliver additional air defense missiles, military aid shortly (kyivindependent.com)
France will deliver an unspecified number of air defense missiles, as well as additional military aid, over the coming days and weeks, Reuters reported on May 14.
Russian proxy: Missile attack causes fires, explosions in occupied Sevastopol (kyivindependent.com)
Explosions were heard in the city and fires are still burning near the Belbek military airfield after an alleged missile attack against occupied Crimea on May 15.
Biden signs bipartisan bill prohibiting Russian imports of enriched uranium (kyivindependent.com)
President Joe Biden on May 13 signed a bipartisan bill that bans Russian imports of enriched uranium, the primary fuel used in nuclear power plants. The move aims to sever one of the remaining major financial channels from the United States to Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Freight train derailed in Russia's Volgograd Oblast due to alleged 'interference' (kyivindependent.com)
Several cars of a freight train in Russia's Volgograd Oblast were derailed due to "interference by unauthorized persons," the Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on May 14, citing a statement from the Russian railway services.