Timeline: day 87 of Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression
Today, May 21, russia's military attack on Ukraine has been going on for 87 days. We're reporting on all the current news. The article will be constantly updated.
What about today?
Key points
Happy Europe Day, Ukraine! Today our country is at the center of Europe's attention because now Ukraine is fighting for freedom and the right to live by democratic laws in a free, European country.
"42 states sided with Ukraine in the case against russia in the UN International Court of Justice and announced their intention to join our lawsuit. I'm grateful to the partners who chose the right side of the story. This is the side of truth, international law, and justice. Together we will bring russia to justice," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked civilized countries.
In addition, Zelensky proposes that we invite partner countries to sign a multilateral treaty and create a mechanism through which each and everyone who has suffered from the russian army's actions will be able to receive compensation for their losses. Under such an agreement, russian funds and property under the jurisdiction of partner countries must be seized or frozen, and then confiscated and sent to a specially created fund from which all victims of russian aggression can receive compensation. "It simply came to our notice then. And russia will feel the true weight of every missile, every bomb, and every projectile it has fired at Ukraine," the president said.
All this will surely come to fruition but for now, the ruscists continue to launch missile strikes, trying to hit Ukraine's transport junctions and critical infrastructure. Luhansk region is the biggest flashpoint in Ukraine, the region deters the enemy from further advance to other regions. In the south, the occupiers are preparing for the Ukrainian army's counter-offensive and protracted war.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine provide a decent rebuff to the enemy. Our air defenses hit 5 air targets in one day:
- 3 UAVs (OTL);
- 1 cruise missile;
- 1 unidentified target (probably a helicopter).
Thanks to their skillful actions, on May 20, the Defense Forces of the Zaporizhzhia region destroyed:
- personnel – 9 people, 12 wounded;
- armored combat vehicles – 2 units;
- UAV "Orlan-10" – 2 units.
- automotive equipment – 5 units;
- mortars – 1 unit.
In the Donbas, Ukrainian defenders destroyed about 80 occupiers and 8 tanks! In addition, the Joint Forces fighters repulsed 11 enemy attacks and destroyed:
- 3 artillery systems
- 10 units of combat armored vehicles
- 3 special armored vehicles
- 6 units of automotive equipment
Meanwhile, the East Operational and Tactical Group destroyed the enemy ammunition depot. During the day the enemy lost:
- personnel – up to 80
- 1 tank
- 2 IFV
- 1 MT-LB armored personnel carrier
- 1 artillery system
- 1 mortar
- 4 tracked tractors AT-T
- 1 unmanned aerial vehicle
The South operational command reports that over the past day, the Ukrainian military destroyed 36 invaders, 3 enemy T-72 tanks, a Grad multiple-rocket launcher, and motor vehicles.
Great work! More to come!
Humanitarian missions
Russian mass media published the first footage of the commander of Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, Serhii "Volyna" Volynskyi, who left Azovstal. He says he got into Azovstal as a result of the fighting and surrendered. According to Volyna, there are no more marines on the territory of the plant.
Almost everyone was evacuated from Azovstal! Volodymyr Zelensky says, "Civilians, medics, and the seriously wounded have been taken out. People are also being evacuated at the moment. It seems to me that shortly, not just days, but in the nearest time, everyone will be taken out," the President said.
The President also told how food and ammunition were delivered to the plant during the siege of Azovstal. According to him, this was done with the help of helicopters, and many pilots died while performing the task. "Unfortunately, many of our pilots died. Heroic people knew that it was difficult, that it was almost impossible to reach Azovstal, bring medicine, food, and water, and pick up the bodies, the wounded."
Meanwhile, the russians announced the "complete liberation" of Azovstal, and the military from Azovstal was brought to the correctional colony 120 in the village of Molodizhne, Volnovakha district.
russia continues to deport civilians from Mariupol, calling it a "humanitarian mission." It goes like this: the ruscists hand over the buses, and announce the evacuation. When people are boarding, they then announce that the bus will bring them to Bezymiane of the Novoazovsk district and then to russia. russian military and "official volunteers" are blocking any attempts of the people to leave the site and refuse to "evacuate." In the 21st century, everything we read about in books about the Second World War has become a reality in Mariupol.
A green corridor from Kamianske has opened in the Zaporizhzhia region. This was reported by the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration. "From 10.00 to 15.00 we open a green corridor for citizens who have expressed a desire to go to the territory controlled by the enemy in the area of the village of Kamianske," the statement reads. In case of a security situation changing, the corridor will be closed, the administration added.
Who's coming to Ukraine?
On financial and information assistance, weapons and politicians
The US Department of Defense has officially announced that "in Fort Stewart, Georgia, US Army servicemen from the US 3rd Infantry Division are loading M113 armored personnel carriers bound for Europe to provide military assistance to Ukraine."
A $40 billion bill for Ukraine will be brought to Biden in South Korea. It will be signed by US President Joe Biden, who is currently visiting the country. This information was provided to CNN by a representative of the US National Security Council.
How the world helps Ukraine:
- Ukraine received 504 million euros from the World Bank's Donor Trust Fund, including money from the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Today, the European Commission paid Ukraine the second tranche of macro-financial assistance for 600 million euros.
- In the coming months, Ukraine should receive 9 billion euros from the European Union.
- Another nearly $9 billion in financial aid will come from the United States.
These funds will help Ukraine survive and recover quickly, said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
News from partners
A giant Ukrainian flag about 20 meters long and 4 meters high is hung daily in front of the russian embassy in the Hague. Locals organized a neighborhood patrol to watch the flag all day, as previous flags had been removed.
The United States will leave 100,000 troops in Europe, CNN reports. They will remain until russia ends the war in Ukraine and ceases to threaten Finland, Sweden, and NATO, some US officials have said.
NATO is also discussing the supply of weapons to Moldova to meet the alliance's standards, said British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. She explained this by the threat from russia.
Life considering hostilities
Now everyone can report an explosive discovery through the application from the State Emergency Service, "De-mining of Ukraine." The logo of the application depicts the dog Patron, who specializes in finding explosives and has already become a mascot of the SES.
In just a few days, 125 applications have already been received, 76 of them from the Kyiv region, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
During the Cannes Film Festival, an activist painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag ran onto the red carpet; "Stop raping us" was written on her body!
Kyiv and the region
De-mining of the entire territory of Ukraine will take from 5 to 7 years, but the main roads to the settlements of the Kyiv region and their main roads were completely de-mined.
Ukraine's largest cargo planes will be transferred from Hostomel to Leipzig. Five Ruslan AN-124 planes will now be based at Leipzig/Halle Airport, Antonov Airlines reports. There is a separate hangar for repair and maintenance work, which the Ukrainian airline "has at its disposal." The company will return to the airfield in Hostomel after its restoration.
Chernihiv region
The rescuers began to dismantle the rubble of the blown-up bridge over the Desna River on the Chernihiv bypass. The bridge over the Desna near the village of Shestovytsia on the Chernihiv bypass (section of the M-01 Kyiv-Chernihiv-Novi Yarilovychi highway) was destroyed by the russian occupiers: several air bombs were dropped. As a result of the impact, the spans of the artificial structure fell.
Donetsk and Luhansk regions
On May 20, orcs killed three more civilians in the Donetsk region, all three in the Lyman community: Lyman, Novoselivka, and Sosnovo. In all, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, we know for sure about 400 civilians that russians killed in the Donetsk region. Another 5 people were wounded yesterday.
Six people were killed and several were injured in the Luhansk region in one day. As a result of the shelling, about 50 houses were damaged and destroyed during the day.
Kharkiv region
At night, the occupiers fired on the Zolochiv community, residential buildings are burning. In a total of one day, 20 were wounded as a result of the russian aggression: Kharkiv – 2; Lozova – 8, Shevchenkove – 6; Donets, Balakliia community – 1; Ruski Tyshki – 1, Derhachi – 2. Unfortunately, a 66-year-old woman died in Dehachi.
In the Kharkiv region, the enemy is trying to keep the occupied frontiers. The biggest flashpoint is in the Izium direction. But our fighters hold positions and don't allow the enemy to move forward.
Sumy region
The North Operational Command reports: This morning the enemy fired again at the border of the Sumy region. Observers recorded 6 "hits" in the direction of Kucherivka from the territory of russia. There are no casualties among personnel and equipment.
Zaporizhzhia region
In the Zaporizhzhia region, the occupiers began to allow cars to pass the blocked road. For three days, the russians had blocked the movement of cars in the Vasylivka area, the mayor of Enerhodar Dmytro Orlov says. Because of this, thousands of Ukrainian cars couldn't be evacuated from the south. Women and children were in the cars, and food supplies were running low. So far, about 100 cars have been able to leave the waiting area.
Kherson region
Large volumes of water are poured over the Kakhovka dam captured by the russian military, which floods Nova Kakhovka: the embankment and the city park are flooded. The surrounding villages and Kherson are under threat, the Center for Journalistic Investigations reports.
Odesa region
The fate of the Odesa residential building destroyed by russia has been decided. A 16-story building will be restored; earlier, 6 adults and a baby were killed in a russian missile strike there in April.
New US weapons will help Ukraine "open the port of Odesa," the Republican leader said. "I think this armament package is designed to give them what they need now, not only to win the ground war, but I hope to influence the reopening of the port of Odesa," the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate Mitch McConnell told The New York Times.
