Timeline: day 85 of Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression
Today is May 19. russia's full-scale military attack on Ukraine has been going on for 85 days. We're reporting on all the current news. The article will be constantly updated.
What about today?
Key points
Today Ukraine celebrates Vyshyvanka Day (The Day of Embroidered Shirt). The embroidered shirt is not only a part of national clothes but also one of the most recognizable elements of our heritage, a symbol of freedom and love for Ukraine.
On the occasion of Vyshyvanka Day, the creative workshop in Cherkasy created the world's first combat embroidered shirt. It was presented by Territorial defense fighters. The initiative to create a combat embroidered shirt belongs to a Cherkasy Territorial Defense soldier who is also an art critic.
Our defenders have already liberated about half of the territory that was occupied by the russian army in February-March (marked yellow). Ahead is the liberation of the entire Ukrainian territory from the invaders!
During the past 24hrs, Ukrainian defenders of the Joint Forces destroyed 35 units of military equipment of the russian occupation forces, and Ukrainian fighters from the East group destroyed up to 220 occupiers. Keep it up!
The occupiers' total estimated losses as of May 19, 2022 are:
- personnel – 28,500 (+200);
- tanks – 1254 (+3);
- armored combat vehicles – 3063 (+20);
- artillery systems – 595 (+9);
- multiple-rocket launchers – 199;
- means of air defense – 93 (+2);
- aircraft – 203 (+1);
- helicopters – 167;
- automotive equipment and tank trucks – 2157 (+20);
- ships, boats – 13;
- UAVs of operational and tactical level – 455 (+14);
- special equipment – 43;
- cruise missiles – 103 (+1)
At the same time, the Pentagon says that russian troops have recently reduced the scale of their actions in Ukraine, and this indicates that the enemy's ambitions have decreased. If the russians had ambitions for large cities and individual parts of the territory before, now the russians are focused on villages and intersections.
88 sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been exposed in Ukraine since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Yenin said. About 800 people involved in sabotage were detained. Almost all of them were handed over to Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), Yenin added.
Another important piece of news for Ukrainians: the United States Senate unanimously approved the candidacy of Bridget Brink for US Ambassador to Ukraine! Before that, this key position was vacant for three years. Read in our article what we know about Brink.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi states that Ukraine has managed to take away a strategic initiative from the russian aggressor. "We managed to take away the enemy's strategic initiative, inflict critical losses, forced to abandon the primary goal–the capture of Kyiv. Today we are not only defending. We have carried out several successful counteroffensive actions. We managed to unblock Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. The fighting continues in the Kherson direction," he said. At the same time, russia continues to fire missiles at Ukraine, so the Commander-in-Chief believes it is important to strengthen missile defense.
Humanitarian missions
The evacuation in Mariupol is not over. In particular, military doctor Viktoria Obidina, who was taken prisoner by the ruscists, hasn't been released yet. It was Viktoria Obidina who was separated from her 4-year-old daughter Alisa by the aggressors during the evacuation from Azovstal. A petition has appeared on the Change.org platform where Ukrainians call on international organizations to save the doctor.
The International Committee of the Red Cross maintains a register of Ukrainian servicemen, including the wounded, leaving the Azovstal plant. During registration, Ukrainian fighters must provide personal data: name, date of birth, and next of kin. This information allows the Red Cross to track down those captured and help them keep in touch with relatives.
And the wife of a civilian Ukrainian killed by a russian soldier, Vadim Shishimarin, told the court that she was awaiting a life imprisonment verdict for him, but didn't mind exchanging the accused for defenders of Mariupol.
Who's coming to Ukraine?
On financial and information assistance, weapons and politicians
An official statement from the US Department of Defense: "Marine Corps Marines are preparing M777 towed 155 mm howitzers for shipment, along with other supplies and munitions, as part of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine." Thanks for the help!
Another piece of news from the United States: The Senate put a bill to provide Ukraine with almost $40 billion in military aid on the agenda on May 19. We are waiting for the result!
UPD: the bill was passed! The document was supported by 86 lawmakers and opposed by 11 senators.
In addition, the United States will provide $215 million in food aid to Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a meeting of global food security ministers at the United Nations. He added that the United States would do much more for Ukraine: "We expect our Congress very soon to approve approximately $5.5 billion in additional funding for humanitarian assistance and food security."
And the Japanese government has decided to provide Ukraine with another $300 million in financial assistance for humanitarian needs, NHK reports.
Poland will provide Ukraine with 25,000 tons of gasoline from its reserves. This should help balance the fuel market, Economy Minister Yulia Svyridenko said.
The Australian government has approved a decision to hand over a new consignment of weapons to Ukraine, and citizens have collected 60 pallets of medical care. 14 M113 tracked armored personnel carriers and 20 Bushmaster armored vehicles will go to Ukraine. The cost of armaments is $60 million.
The National Bank of Ukraine received 5 million pounds (more than 182 million hryvnias) from the British Foreign Office in a special account opened to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Support for Ukraine doesn't subside!
News from partners
The Canadian Parliament recognized the deportation of Crimean Tatars by the Soviet authorities in 1944 as genocide. From now on, the country will commemorate the Day of Remembrance of the Deportation of Crimean Tatars on May 18 every year.
The European Parliament has backed the suspension of all EU import duties on exports from Ukraine for one year to support Ukraine's economy during the war.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised Ukraine further assistance in defending itself against russia's attack and said putin would not be able to dictate terms of peace. At the same time, Scholz speaks of the impossibility of accelerating Ukraine's accession to the EU. He says that on the way to the EU it is impossible to "cut a corner" and adds that the accession process is a matter of months or years.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that russia's offensive in Donbas has stalled, but this doesn't mean that russia has abandoned its strategic goals. Because of this, he said, we need to prepare for a long war.
As a sign of support and solidarity with Ukraine, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen wore a traditional Ukrainian folk shirt today, on the Day of Embroidered Shirt. "In these difficult times, let's preserve the culture and traditions of Ukraine!" she called in her Facebook post.
Sanctions on the aggressor!
On May 18, US pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) began the process of transferring their russian business to its partner in Central and Eastern Europe, Swixx BioPharma. By the end of June 2022, BMS will close all research sponsored by it in russia. BMS is the first global pharmaceutical company to announce the transfer of commercial operations in the russian market to another entity.
Life considering hostilities
Remember Stepan the Cat? Yes, we're talking about a Ukrainian Instagram blogger from Kharkiv! Stepan received the World Influencers and Bloggers Awards in Cannes. On the red carpet, like a true patriot, the cat wore a blue-yellow butterfly.
Ukrposhta announced the start of sales of the second series of stamps dedicated to the repulse of the "russian warship." It will be a stamp with the same ship, but now after the Ukrainian military sank it.
The United States has released a biographical comic about the life story of the President of Ukraine, from a comedian to a wartime leader. The comic was called Political Power: Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Russian Radio–Ukraine" has officially changed its name to Radio Bayraktar! Surprisingly, until now this radio's name had the word "Russian," but such changes are always on time.
Another embassy is returning to Kyiv; today the Swiss embassy announced its return after 2.5 months of evacuation.
Kyiv and the region
Kyiv residents say that salt has disappeared from the shelves of supermarkets in the capital. They talk about rock salt, which is produced in Ukraine, but sea salt from foreign brands is still available.
The Security Service works! Another member of the russian agent network was detained in Kyiv. The collaborationist disseminated calls for support for the occupiers through Internet resources and justified the crimes of the invaders. All this with the backing of computer scientists with the russian secret services.
Donetsk and Luhansk regions
Constant shelling continued at night in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The biggest damage is in Sievierodonetsk and the Popasna community. At least eight houses in Sievierodonetsk were damaged. Four people were killed and three were wounded. The last substation In the Luhansk region was damaged; the region remains without electricity.
Because of the constant shelling in Sievierodonetsk, 12 people have been killed and 40 were injured today… Data are still being clarified.
10 dead and 7 wounded in the Donetsk region were confirmed during the day. The village of Niu York was left without a gas supply. The railway infrastructure in Avdiivka is damaged. A school, a construction lyceum, and a children's and youth sports school were destroyed in Kostiantynivka. The evacuation of the civilian population continues.
Today the enemy struck Bakhmut, Donetsk region, again. An enemy shell hit a five-story apartment building and destroyed the entire entrance, TSN reports from the scene.
The Center for Countering Disinformation warns that the enemy may be preparing provocations with mass murders in the Donetsk region. In particular, the occupiers' defense ministry reports alleged provocations under the "Bucha scenario," which, according to the enemy, "are being prepared by the Ukrainian government with the support of Western curators." And russian propaganda media spread reports that to implement the plan, the Ukrainian military will "change into the uniform of the russian army with white armbands and "shoot" residents of Kostiantynivka on camera. Be careful!
37 people were evacuated from the Luhansk region. Sievierodonetsk is still under heavy shelling. Among the evacuees are five young children who remained under daily fire.
At the same time, the russian invaders took another 127 people from the blockaded Mariupol, including 12 children, to the filtration camp in the village of Bezymenne.
News from Azovstal: Azov's management is still on the territory of the plant, Deputy Commander of the Regiment Sviatoslav Palamar said.
The occupiers continue to dismantle the ruins of the Drama Theater in Mariupol. Yesterday and today the bodies of the victims were taken away several times by trucks towards Staryi Krym. The area is guarded and denied access to locals. The operation is conducted to conceal the consequences of russia's war crimes in action, Petro Andriushchenko, Mariupol mayor's adviser reports.
Ombudswoman Liudmyla Denisova says that about 3,500 teachers from the occupied territories are already being retrained for "russian standards." Forced integration is in action. But not for long. All currently occupied territories are temporarily occupied. They will definitely return to the control of Ukraine.
Kharkiv region
Kharkiv region came under night shelling. As a result of the shelling, a person was wounded in the Lozova district. During the day, the occupiers fired on Tsyrkuny, Prudianka, and Vilkhuvatka. So far, three people have been injured.
A monument to Prince Aleksandr Nevsky on Akademika Pavlova Street was demolished in Kharkiv today. Ukraine is being cleansed of monuments to russians!
Dnipropetrovsk region
At night, the enemy fired five times at the Zelenodolsk community in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the village of Velyka Kostromka suffered damage; more than ten houses were destroyed. Electricity and gas supply have partially disappeared in the village.
Kherson region
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported the notice of suspicion to another collaborationist! Hennadii Shelestenko, a Kherson "journalist" and employee of the Kherson Visnyk new propaganda publication, was declared suspected of collaborationism. A man who voluntarily cooperated with the occupiers faces up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Mykolaiv region
The Bereznehuvate community came under fire at night. According to preliminary data, there are no damaged houses or victims. There were also shellings in the Inhulka community at night. 12 residential buildings were damaged. There are no reported victims so far.
