Photo : The Kyiv Independent
Photo : The Kyiv Independent
By Shilpa Joseph and Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 25 May, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President reported on Ukraine forces securing “combat control” of northern Kharkiv areas which Russian troops have claimed to have entered the. According to the report, two were killed in an aerial attack in Kharkiv city. Zelenskyy added: “Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered.” Whereas, Viktor Vodolatskiy, member of Russia’s lower house of Parliament claimed on Russian forces occupying more than half of Vovchansk of five kilometres inside.
On 26 May, Anadolu Agency reported on the Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of Ukraine’s Air Force statement on Russia launching an overnight air attack using 14 missiles and 31 drones. In response, Ukraine's Defence Forces shot down 12 missiles and all the drones. However, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service, in Khmerynka city in the central Vinnytsia region, debris from the shot drones had caused damage to three apartment buildings and seven private homes in addition to injury of three people.
On 26 May, France 24 reported on the attack in Kharkiv. According to the report, two guided bombs hit the centre of DIY hypermarket in a residential area of Kharkiv city. Approximately 120 people were inside the hardware store causing death of 16. A separate missile strike was also recorded targeting a residential building, included a post office, a beauty salon, and a cafe. After the attack, Zelenskyy issued air raid alerts in Kharkiv for over 12 hours and 400 police officers and 200 emergency personnel were placed to address the aftermath. Additionally, European Council President Charles Michel condemned the attack as a heinous crime. However, Moscow denied targeting of civilians.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 25 May, the TASS reported on Russia’s troops claim on capturing Berestovoye, a village in the Kharkiv oblast. According to Russian defence ministry: “Russia’s battlegroup West liberated the settlement of Berestovoye in the Kharkov region as a result of active operations.” It confirmed on Russian air defence forces shooting down of 41 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, five ATACMS and 32 HIMARS rockets. It also reported on Ukraine loosing close to 285 troops in result of Russian troops infliction of damage on the formations of Ukrainian army.
On 25 May, RT reported on Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President statement on Russia’s vision. He said that Russia “must always be one step ahead” and maintain technological advances as a guarantee to victory. The statement comes as Putin visited Tactical Missiles Corporation, a Russia owned defence company. Calling out the defence corporations he added: “Your specialists and you personally always remain in touch with our men fighting on the line of contact without sparing themselves to defend Russia’s interests.” He stressed on quick adoption by the military of “radio-electronic warfare devices or sophisticated drones” given by the civilian crowd-funded military manufacturers.
On 26 May, Sputnik International reported on Putin signing of a decree outlining the procedures for requesting compensation from the US which had caused harm to Russia and its central bank. It was titled: "On the Special Procedure for Compensation for Damage Caused to Russia and the Russian Central Bank in Connection with Unfriendly Actions Taken by the United States.” A commission for the foreign investment in Russia will supervise the assessment of damage claims and the identification of assets that could be used to reimburse damages following the principle of proportionality. These include bonds and shares in Russian legal entities, property rights, and both movable and immovable property owned by the US and its affiliates. The move follows the west plan to obtain the interests of the frozen Russian assets for funding Ukraine.
On 24 may, the TASS reported on Igor Kimakovsky, Russia’s spokesperson to self-claimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on the Ukrainian army preparation for a counteroffensive operation in the Kharkiv. He noted that several brigades of the Ukrainian forces were redeployed from the Donetsk area to other sectors along the line of engagement. According to him, they carried almost no arms and equipment, and the Russian forces aimed to deplete the remaining infantry brigades in the area.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses of the US and Europe
On 26 May, Anadolu Agency reported on Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General statement on China’s crucial support to Russia. He said: "China says it wants to maintain good relations with the West. At the same time, however, Beijing is fueling the war in Europe. You can't have it both ways." He noted that the sales of microelectronics, machine parts, and other technologies to Moscow were used to build missiles, tanks, and aircraft for the war against Ukraine were clearly on the rise. He expressed support for the Ukrainian forces by agreeing to send more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, including air defence systems and long-range weapons. However, he made it clear that NATO will not send its troops or extend the alliance’s air defence umbrella to Ukraine. He also stressed the need to renew their military inventories and increase the production of weapons and ammunition to supply Ukraine with defence against Russian attacks.
On 24 May, the US Department of Defence signed a new security assistance package to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defence. This includes security assistance package of USD 275 million of “High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), artillery rounds, air-launched munitions, and anti-tank weapons, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, small arms and demolition munitions.”
On 25 May, Deutsche Welle reported on the finance ministers of the G7 countries meeting in the northern Italy on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. According to the report, after Russia invaded Ukraine, the G7 and its allies froze USD 300 billion (EUR 276 billion) of Russian assets. The EU’s earlier plan was to use the interest from the frozen Russian assets estimated to be EUR three billion a year to help Ukraine. During the talks, the ministers claimed to have made progress in arriving at a plan consistent with international law and respective legal systems to aid Ukraine. The ministers reaffirmed that "until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine," Russian assets would be blocked. They also brought up the prospect of more sanctions against Russia. Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Italian Finance Minister, stated that although the ministers had encountered legal and technical difficulties, they hoped to submit a proposal before the G7 leaders' meeting in Puglia, Italy in June 2024.
On 26 May, according to a report by Bloomberg, against the backdrop of the attack in Kharkiv, Zelenskyy called the leaders of the US and China to attend the summit held by Switzerland on the peace plan for Ukraine. He also urged the US to allow its donated weapon systems to be used to strike Russian troops on Russian territory citing the Russian offensive in Kharkiv oblast.
On 25 May, German government confirmed the transfer of another IRIS-T air defence system to Ukraine. According to Boris Pistorius, German Defence Minister, IRIS-T would improve Ukraine's air defence in addition to the recently delivered Patriot system which adds up to five medium- and short-range IRIS-T systems for the Ukrainian forces. Nine IRIS-T SLMs and eleven IRIS-T SLSs had been promised to Ukraine by Germany. Apart from this, Canada claimed to finance the purchase of anti-aircraft missiles for the IRIS-T air defence systems and allocated about EUR 52 million.
References
“G7 makes 'progress,' but no deal on Russian assets for Kyiv,” Deutsche Welle, 25 May 2024
Dominic Culverwell, “Scholz against Ukraine using German weapons to strike Russian territory,” The Kyiv Independent, 26 May 2024
Samya Kullab and Elise Morton, “Zelenskyy says Ukraine has taken back control in areas of Kharkiv region, aerial attacks continue,” The Washington Post, 25 May 2024
“Death toll rises in Russian strike on crowded DIY store in Ukraine’s Kharkiv,” France 24, 26 May 2024
Mariia Yemets “European Council Presidents reacts to Russian strike on hypermarket in Kharkiv,” Ukrainska Pravda, 26 May 2024
Max Hunder and Vitalii Hnidyi, “Russian attack on Ukraine’s Kharkiv kills 14, injures dozens,” Swissinfo.ch, 26 May 2024
Daryna Krasnolutska,” Zelenskiy Urges Biden, Xi to Attend Summit as Russia Ramps Up,” Bloomberg, 26 May 2024
Burc Eruygur, “Ukraine claims downing 31 Russian drones,12 missiles, but 3 injured in debris fall,” Anadolu Ajansı, 26 May 2024
“Putin Signs Decree on Compensation for US Damage to Russia, Central Bank,” Sputnik International, 23 May 2024
“Ukraine preparing counteroffensive operations in Kharkov area — DPR official” TASS, 24 May 2024
“We must stay a step ahead of the enemy – Putin,” RT, 25 May 2024
“Russian forces liberate Berestovoye community in Kharkov region — top brass,” TASS, 26 May 2024
“Germany confirms transfer of additional IRIS-T system to Ukraine”, Militarnyi, 25 May 2024
“Biden Administration Announces New Security Assistance for Ukraine,” US Department of Defence, 24 May 2024
Cuneyt Karadag, “NATO secretary general says China is fueling war in Europe by supporting Russia” Anadolu Ajansı, 26 May 2024