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Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 05-26-2024

Stay on top of Russia-Ukraine war 05-26-2024 developments on the ground with KyivPost fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated war maps.

Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 05-26-2024

British Defence Intelligence Update Ukraine 26 May 2024

British Defence Intelligence Update Ukraine 26 May 2024

Latest from the British Defence Intelligence.

  • Russian forces are continuing to attack the town of Vovchansk as partof their offensive into northern Kharkiv, which began on 10 May 2024. The town remains contested, with defending Ukrainian forces repelling the majority of Russian assaults. With the village of Buhruvatka, west-south-west of Vovchansk, likely under their control, Russian forces are attempting to achieve physical control of the nearby crossing over the Siverskiy Donets river, thereby threatening the flank and rear of*defending Ukrainian forces in Vovchansk itself.
  • On the Luk'yantsi axis, Russian forces continue to launch attacks in the direction of the village of Lyptsi but had made no significant progress according to the Ukrainian General Staff as of the evening of 22 May2024.
  • On 17 May 2024, President Putin stated that Russian forces were creating a buffer or safety zone in Kharkiv, this has currently not succeeded. The northern Kharkiv front has likely stabilised with Russian territorial control fragmented and not joined up. Russia's gains in this axis will be limited in the coming week, as Russia's initial momentum has been contained byUkrainian resistance.

See the original here.

Victory for Ukraine Requires Destruction of Russian Oil Industry

Victory for Ukraine Requires Destruction of Russian Oil Industry

A friendly amendment to Andriy Yermak’s WSJ Op-on using the oil weapon against Moscow.

In Andriy Yermak’s Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Op-ed of March 23, it was argued that in order to defeat Russia: “The West must ratchet up sanctions to make Russia’s oil trade less profitable, while also increasing Saudi and US oil output. The West should also cut off Russia’s access to technologies, including by imposing sanctions on intermediaries.”

I would like to offer a friendly amendment to this article. Mr. Yermak is correct in identifying the Russian vulnerability from lost oil revenue and the need to increase non-Russian oil production. But appealing to the US and Saudi Arabian governments to increase oil production to drastically reduce the price of oil is the wrong tack to take. A political appeal to act strategically in support of Ukraine will be ineffective.

Maria Prymachenko: Beyond Folk Art

Maria Prymachenko: Beyond Folk Art

As a painter, embroiderer, ceramicist, and illustrator of children’s books, Maria Prymachenko’s oeuvre has helped shape Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Today she embodies Ukrainian resilience.

The exhibition “A Tiger Came into the Garden” by Maria Prymachenko (1909-1997), an icon of Ukrainian culture whose work is a significant part of Ukrainian heritage, is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. Kyiv Post interviewed Szymon Maliborski, a curator at the Museum of Modern Art, who helped put the exhibition together. The show is open for visitors until June 30, 2024, at the Museum on the Vistula.

Michał Kujawski: The exhibition “A Tiger Came into the Garden” is the largest of Maria Prymachenko’s works in Poland so far. Where did the idea come from and what was involved in putting it together?

Ukraine Must Continue Receiving Strong European Support in Food, Agricultural Sector

Ukraine Must Continue Receiving Strong European Support in Food, Agricultural Sector

In the past year, exports of agricultural goods from Ukraine and, lately, Russia have taken center stage in discussions around the situation in European agriculture.

By Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Jacob Jensen; Estonian Minister for Regional Affairs and Agriculture, Piret Hartman; Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry,  Sari Essayah; Latvian Minister of Agriculture, Armands Krauze; Lithuanian Minister of Agriculture, Kęstutis Navickas; and Swedish Minister of Rural Affairs, Peter Kullgren.

As agriculture ministers of the Nordic-Baltic countries, we strongly support Ukraine’s ability to export agricultural products to the EU and world markets. This is crucial for the Ukrainian economy and for ensuring global food security and several EU countries also rely on Ukrainian imports for animal fodder.

WORLD: What is Happening to Conscientious Objectors in Europe?

WORLD: What is Happening to Conscientious Objectors in Europe?

Conscientious objection to serving in armed forces has become an important issue in Ukraine as it battles against Russian invaders. So what is the current international practice in this sphere?

On May 15, the International Conscientious Objection Day, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) published its Annual Report “Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe 2023/24” covering all the member states of the Council of Europe.

Every year, EBCO produces its Annual Report on conscientious objection to military service in Europe, gathering input from member states’ governments, national human rights institutions, as well as international and national non-governmental organisations and solidarity groups. The culmination of this work comes with its presentation to the European Parliament, to the Parliamentary Assembly and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, and to various State authorities. In each case EBCO accompanies its report with a set of targeted recommendations.

Three Times Faster and Cheaper: Russia Outpaces West in Artillery Shell Production - Sky News

Three Times Faster and Cheaper: Russia Outpaces West in Artillery Shell Production - Sky News

According to an analysis shared with Sky News, despite Ukraine's Western allies' larger combined economies, they are currently lagging behind Russia in shell production rates.

Russian enterprises are now producing artillery shells three times faster and at a quarter of the cost compared to the United States and European Union countries, Sky News reports, citing Bain Consulting Company analysis.

Despite Ukraine's Western allies' larger combined economies, they are currently lagging behind Russia in shell production rates.

A Story of Crime and Oppression

A Story of Crime and Oppression

Alla Horska was an artist who came to embrace her Ukrainian roots. Throughout her career, she necessarily encountered Ukraine’s often violent and tragic past.

During my fourth trip to Kyiv since the total war, on March 23, 2024, thanks to my friend Konstantyn Sigov, I had the chance to visit the exhibition devoted to Alla Horska at the Ukrainian House, curated by Olena Grozovska, who was generous enough to comment on the works and photos presented here.

'We Don't Want the UN Charter to Burn Down Like These Books' - Zelensky Records Appeal Amidst Kharkiv Printing House

'We Don't Want the UN Charter to Burn Down Like These Books' - Zelensky Records Appeal Amidst Kharkiv Printing House

The printing house was targeted by Russian missiles on May 23, resulting in seven fatalities, over 20 injuries, and the destruction of 50,000 publications.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kharkiv, a city enduring daily Russian strikes, where he recorded a video message at the Vivat printing house.

The printing house was targeted by Russian missiles on May 23, resulting in seven fatalities, over 20 injuries, and the destruction of 50,000 publications.

Eurotopics: Moldova - On The Fast Track to EU Accession?

Eurotopics: Moldova - On The Fast Track to EU Accession?

After granting Moldova candidate status just under two years ago and committing to starting accession talks last December, the EU has now signed a security pact with the Eastern European country.

After granting the Republic of Moldova candidate status just under two years ago and committing to starting accession talks last December, the EU has now signed a security and defence pact with the Eastern European country. The press takes a look at factors that could either delay or accelerate its accession.

Reform corrupt system

Video Captures Moment of Airstrike on Kharkiv Hypermarket

Video Captures Moment of Airstrike on Kharkiv Hypermarket

The target was the Epicenter construction hypermarket, which had over 200 people inside at the time.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office has released a video showing the moment a Russian airstrike hit a busy hypermarket in Kharkiv.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 25, at approximately 16:00, in the Kyiv district of Kharkiv. The target was the Epicenter construction hypermarket, which had over 200 people inside at the time.

China Ends Military Drills Around Taiwan

China Ends Military Drills Around Taiwan

China's two-day military drills around Taiwan were a "blatant provocation to the international order", Taipei said in a statement Saturday after the war games encircling the self-ruled island ended.

China has ended two days of military drills around Taiwan that saw jets loaded with live munitions and warships practise seizing and isolating the self-ruled island.

The exercises simulated strikes targeting Taiwan's leaders as well as its ports and airports to "cut off the island's 'blood vessels'", Chinese military analysts told state media.

Russia Launches Overnight Missile Attack Across Ukraine

Russia Launches Overnight Missile Attack Across Ukraine

The overnight aerial attack came shortly after Russian troops bombed a busy shopping centre in Kharkiv on May 25, which killed at least 12 people and injured 43.

Russian forces launched yet another missile attack against Ukraine on Sunday morning, May 26, firing Shahed drones and missiles from at least 4 strategic bombers, targeting different regions across Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported on the morning of May 26 that air defense units had intercepted 31 Shahed drones and 12 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles overnight, protecting regions including Mykolaiv, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, and Chernihiv.

Lithuanians Vote in Presidential Runoff Amid Russia Fears

Lithuanians Vote in Presidential Runoff Amid Russia Fears

Both candidates agree that the NATO and EU member of 2.8 million should boost defence spending to counter the perceived threat, and to that end the government recently proposed a tax increase.

Lithuania's heads of state and government face off on Sunday in round two of the presidential election, as the Baltic nation prioritises defence and security amid fears over neighbouring Russia.

Both candidates agree that the NATO and EU member of 2.8 million should boost defence spending to counter the perceived threat, and to that end the government recently proposed a tax increase.

Humanizing the Enemy: In Pursuit of ‘Good’ Russians

Humanizing the Enemy: In Pursuit of ‘Good’ Russians

It’s easy to relegate Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine to the ambitions of a single evil man. Too easy. But evil, in this case, is less top-down than ground-up.

As the third year of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine unfolds, a new wave of media attempts emerges to make Russia look better than it really is. It is a curious intersection of human nature and political misjudgment.

The tendency was given a new life with the death of Alexei Navalny, who is now depicted in Western media as a “martyr and a saint,” a courageous warrior for democracy and against Putin’s regime – that same Navalny, who didn’t oppose the invasion of Georgia or the annexation of Crimea, yet exhorted for the extermination of the non-white population in Russia, calling them “flies and cockroaches.” After his death, Navalny’s fellow anti-Putin activist Bozhena Rynska posted on her Facebook profile about Mr. and Mrs. Navalny: “Alexei and Yulia were such ideal Russians. Tall, with nice bodies, blond hair and light-colored eyes. The proper ones. They could be an ideal representation of Russia abroad.”

Kyiv Post Team’s Favorite Places in Ukraine’s Capital

Kyiv Post Team’s Favorite Places in Ukraine’s Capital

In honor of the Day of Kyiv this Sunday, members of the Kyiv Post team put together a list of some of their favorite places to give you a sense of why we love this city.

Kyiv, the ancient and modern Ukrainian capital striding over the banks of the Dnipro River, has a unique natural and architectural landscape – the latter, the iterative product of some 1,400 years of history – most notably visible in its golden-domed churches.

It’s also a modern city with a well-developed infrastructure – you can take your pick of metro, tram, trolleybus, bus, taxi, electric kick-scooter, or marshrutka – to get to a Puzata Hata cafeteria, a hipster cafe, an up-scale clothing boutique, an Irish pub, or catch the latest movie at one of its shopping malls.

Biden Reaffirms No US Troops for Ukraine

Biden Reaffirms No US Troops for Ukraine

US President reaffirms his position on Ukraine: support will continue, but no American boots on the ground.

President Joe Biden reiterated on Saturday, May 25, that he has no intention of deploying American soldiers to Ukraine while still highlighting US global leadership.

This statement implicitly countered accusations of weakness from Republican rival Donald Trump.

Toll From Russian Strike on Kharkiv Hardware Store Rises to 14

Toll From Russian Strike on Kharkiv Hardware Store Rises to 14

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is just a few dozen kilometres from the border and regularly comes under attack from Russian missiles.

The death toll from a Russian strike on a hardware superstore in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv rose to 14 on Sunday, the regional governor said, with President Volodymyr Zelensky condemning the attack as "vile".

"Unfortunately, the death toll at 'Epitsentr' has increased to 11 people," Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram, referring to the store hit on Saturday.

WORLD BRIEFING: May 25, 2024

WORLD BRIEFING: May 25, 2024

The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.

As Russian troops made gains this month near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, they deployed stronger electronic weapons and more sophisticated tools to degrade Starlink service, Ukrainian officials said. The advances pose a major threat to Ukraine, which has often managed to outmaneuver the Russian military with the help of frontline connectivity and other technology, but has been on the defensiveagainst the renewed Russian advance. The new outages appeared to be the first time the Russians have caused widespread disruptions of Starlink. If they continue to succeed, it could mark a tactical shift in the conflict, highlighting Ukraine’s vulnerability and dependence on the service provided by Mr. Musk’s company. As the United States and other governments work with SpaceX, the disruptions raise broader questions about Starlink’s reliability against a technically sophisticated adversary. Starlink works by beaming an internet connection down from satellites revolving around Earth. The signals are received on the ground by pizza-box-size terminal dishes, which then distribute the connection like a Wi-Fi router to laptops, phones and other devices nearby. Starlink has provided Ukraine with vital internet service since 2022, with soldiers relying on it to guide internet-connected drones that are used for surveillance and as weapons, among other tasks. In an interview this week, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s digital minister, said Russia’s recent attacks against Starlink appeared to use new and more advanced technology. The service previously held up remarkably well against interference on battlefields, where there has been widespread electronic warfare, radio jamming and other communication disruptions. - NYT

The EU is preparing to tighten sanctions against Belarus and close a loophole that has allowed Moscow to import luxury cars and other western goods banned in Russia in response to the war in Ukraine. The bloc has already imposed several rounds of sanctions on the regime of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko for supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But restrictions on Belarus have been weaker than those on Russia, allowing the Kremlin to use its ally as a backdoor for western goods for use in the war effort as well as luxury items. The new curbs being discussed by EU member states aim “to minimise the risk of circumvention”, according to a draft seen by the Financial Times. The fresh sanctions would ban exports to and via Belarus of technology and goods that can have military uses, as well as liquefied natural gas. The EU would also stop importing diamonds from Belarus, mirroring a recent ban on stones of Russian origin. If adopted by the bloc’s 27 member states, one of the flows that would be stemmed by the sanctions would be luxury cars. Under the current system, European carmakers can still sell their high-end vehicles to Belarus but not Russia. “The folks around Lukashenko who had ties to Russia were big beneficiaries of this. They were enriching themselves . . . We also know this is how luxury goods get into Russia — through Belarus,” said Vytis Jurkonis, project director at Freedom House think-tank in Vilnius. The monthly flow of vehicles and vehicle parts from EU states to Belarus surged from $50mn in January 2022 to $268mn in January 2024. This is now the largest single component of EU-Belarus exports, largely originating from Germany and Poland. - FT

EXPLAINED: Why ‘Russian World’ Doctrine Declared Heresy Is Important for Orthodoxy

EXPLAINED: Why ‘Russian World’ Doctrine Declared Heresy Is Important for Orthodoxy

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine declared at a synod that the Russian Church’s teachings were heretical. Now the rest of the Orthodox world has to take a stance.

On May 11, the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) convened a Bishops’ Council – which may one day be called historic. The synod condemned the teachings of the so-called “Russky mir” (Russian World).

Specifically, the Decree of the Council stated that the doctrine behind the main propaganda narratives of modern Russia is heretical because it is “based on the heretical principles of ethnophyletism, Manichaeism, and Gnosticism.”

ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 25, 2024

ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 25, 2024

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

  • Ukrainian and Russian sources stated that Ukrainian forces are increasingly contesting the tactical initiative in northern Kharkiv Oblast and characterized Russian operations in the area as defensive, although Russian forces are likely attempting to bring the Northern Grouping of Forces up closer to its reported planned end strength before possibly intensifying offensive operations in the area.
  • The likely premature start of Russian offensive operations appears to have undermined Russian success in northern Kharkiv Oblast.
  • Russian forces continue to leverage their sanctuary in Russian airspace to strike Kharkiv City to devastating effect, likely as part of efforts to depopulate the city and demoralize Ukrainians.
  • Russian electronic warfare (EW) capabilities reportedly impacted the effectiveness of select Western weapon systems in Ukraine in 2023 as Ukraine and Russia continue to compete in a technical offense-defense race.
  • Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov categorically rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy and outlined Russia's maximalist conditions for peace negotiations during an interview with Newsweek on May 25.
  • Russia is likely helping North Korea develop its defense industrial base (DIB) in exchange for North Korean munitions supplies, and US officials reportedly assess that Russia may also be supplying North Korea with military equipment, weapons, or technology.
  • Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Donetsk City.
  • The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has cancelled its annual "Army Games" international competition for the second year in a row, prompting celebration among critical Russian ultranationalist milbloggers.