Tuesday, May 14

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Volunteers place an elderly man on a stretcher during an evacuation on May 13 in Vovchansk, Ukraine as the Russian army continues its offensive against Kharkiv Oblast.  (Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Reuters: Blinken arrives in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived in Ukraine by train early in the morning on May 14, hopes to “send a strong signal of reassurance to the Ukrainians who are obviously in a very difficult moment.”

Governor: 5,900 people evacuated from Kharkiv Oblast amid new Russian offensive. At least 5,900 people have been evacuated from Kharkiv Oblast since Russian forces launched a new offensive in the region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said during a press briefing in Kharkiv on May 13.

Governor: Up to 300 civilians remain in Vovchansk amid Russian advances.

Up to 300 people remain in Vovchansk as Russian troops “advance in certain directions,” Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on May 13.

Construction of fortifications around Vovchansk was ‘difficult,’ official says.

The construction of fortifications around the border town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast was “difficult” due to constant Russian shelling, Tamaz Gambarashvili, the head of Vovchansk City Military Administration, told Radio Svoboda on May 13.

General Staff: Russian forces ‘partially succeed’ near Lukiantsi in Kharkiv Oblast. Russian forces have “partially succeeded” near the village of Lukiantsi in Kharkiv Oblast as its offensive in the region continues, Ukraine’s General Staff reported on May 13.

WSJ: Ukrainian air interception rates decline amidst heightened Russian attacks. Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian missile attacks has declined, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on May 13.

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Russia approves bill to ban ‘undesirable’ foreign state-funded organizations. Around 500 people remain in the city of Vovchansk, close to the Russian border. Earlier in the day, two casualties were reported in Vovchansk and the nearby village Liptsy.

Energy Minister warns of summer energy supply issues followed by ‘difficult winter.’ Ukraine may face “difficulties with electricity supply in the summer” and should “prepare for a difficult winter” due to Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said in a statement on May 13.

Zelensky dismisses Foreign Intelligence Service’s first deputy head. There was no reason given for Andrii Alieksieenko’s dismissal. He was replaced by Oleh Luhovskyi in a subsequent decree.

Military intelligence identifies Russian soldiers behind cruise missile strikes.

Ukraine has identified Russian Air Force personnel responsible for carrying out cruise missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) announced on May 13.

Military: Ukraine downs Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter. Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter on May 13, the 47th Mechanized Brigade reported. Later in the day, Ukraine’s 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade shot down a Russian Su-25 fighter jet.

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Ukraine war latest: Russian troops push further in Kharkiv Oblast; nearly 6,000 people evacuated from region

At least 5,900 people have been evacuated from Kharkiv Oblast since Russian forces launched a new offensive in the region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said during a press briefing in Kharkiv on May 13.

Photo: Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent

Explainer: What’s behind ongoing protests in Georgia?

For the past few weeks, thousands of protesters have gathered every night in front of the Georgian parliament in opposition to the controversial foreign agents law that the ruling Georgian Dream party is attempting to pass.

Photo: Patrick Wendt/@patrickwendt0815 via the Kyiv Independent

Human cost of war

Police: Russian cluster munitions attack in Chernihiv Oblast injures 3.

Russian troops attacked the border town of Snovsk in Chernihiv Oblast on May 13 with cluster munitions, injuring three people, Ukraine’s National Police reported.

Kharkiv Oblast town faces annihilation as Russia opens new front

International response

Ambassador: Germany to supply Ukraine with another IRIS-T air defense system in May. Berlin will provide Kyiv with another IRIS-T air defense system in May, German Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Jager said on May 13.

Estonian official says Tallinn ‘seriously’ discussing sending troops to Ukraine for non-combat roles. The comments came after the head of Estonia’s Armed Forces, General Martin Herem, said earlier in May that there had been talks about the possibility of sending Estonian soldiers to western Ukraine.

European Council extends export tariffs suspension for Ukraine for another year. The extension of the free-trade regime also included two new “safeguard mechanisms to protect the EU market.”

In other news

Court arrests ex-first deputy secretary of Ukraine’s security council in absentia. The High Anti-Corruption Court arrested Oleh Hladkovsky in absentia on May 13, Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) reported. Hladkovsky was the first deputy secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council during Petro Poroshenko’s presidency.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Oleksiy Sorokin, Elsa Court, Kateryna Denisova, Teah Pelechaty, Kateryna Hodunova, Nate Ostiller, Sonya Bandouil, and

Olena Goncharova.

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