Day 448 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:
Russian strikes against Kyiv damaged US-provided Patriot system
Russian missile strikes on civilian infrastructure in southern Ukraine
Zelensky thanked all countries and leaders who helped Ukraine improve its air defense
ISW: Russia sends troops to defend Bakhmut, but AFU may surprise them elsewhere
China to Foreign Missions: Remove Ukrainian Flags
Russian strikes against Kyiv damaged US-provided Patriot system
In Ukraine, a “Patriot” air defense system provided by the US to Kyiv was probably damaged after Russian strikes. This is reported by two anonymous American representatives and they add that this does not mean that it has been destroyed.
The damage occurred after Russian strikes with a supersonic "Kinzhal" missile. Washington has given instructions to Kyiv on how to repair the “Patriot” system. Otherwise, Ukraine continues to report significant progress in the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut. Against this background, Russia carried out airstrikes on the capital, Kyiv.
Russian missile strikes on civilian infrastructure in southern Ukraine
Russia hit the civilian infrastructure of the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv last night with two “Kalibr” cruise missiles, the General Staff of Ukraine announced in its morning report. In addition, two Russian Federation S-300 missiles hit the civilian infrastructure of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region. Also during the day, the occupiers carried out 57 airstrikes and carried out 96 attacks from rocket systems for salvo fire on positions of the Ukrainian troops and settlements, UNIAN agency states.
6 “Kinzhal” missiles, 13 “Kalibr” cruise missiles and 10 land-based missiles were used, 25 of which were destroyed by the Ukrainian defenders. Civilian infrastructure was reported as destroyed, and civilians were killed and injured.
The likelihood of further missile and airstrikes across Ukraine remains high.
Britain wants to build an "international coalition" to help Ukraine
Britain wants to build an "international coalition" to help Kyiv get F-16 fighter jets. This was announced by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after a meeting with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.
The Ukrainian military announced that it had shot down six Russian “Kinzhal” ballistic missiles fired from an aircraft. For them, Moscow claimed that they could not be destroyed by any air defense system.
Last night there was a massive attack over Kyiv. The Ukrainian capital was attacked from the north, south and east with missiles and drones. In recent weeks, Russia has stepped up airstrikes - possibly in anticipation of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Zelensky thanked all countries and leaders who helped Ukraine improve its air defense
In the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, the meeting of the Council of Europe began - the organization in which a larger number of countries are members than in the EU, such as Turkey, Great Britain and Ukraine. Their goal is the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and this is the first meeting after a two-decade break. During the two days of the Council of Europe forum in Reykjavik, the emerging threats against the background of the ongoing war in Ukraine will be discussed. Russia was excluded after hostilities began.
Before the start of the meeting of the Council of Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for the creation of an international registry of military damage in Ukraine. According to Scholz, this will help in the recovery of the country. According to him, the register can provide a basis for talks at the international level.
Addressing the forum after renewed heavy rocket fire on Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his supporters and emphasized the power of European cohesion. Zelensky said:
"Russia is trying hard to improve its ability to kill. At the same time, we are trying to improve the defense of our people. And I thank all the countries and leaders who help us improve our air defense. A year ago we did not have the opportunity to shoot down most of the terrorists' missiles, especially the ballistic ones."
The Ukrainian capital was subjected to extremely intense shelling on the night of Tuesday. The anti-aircraft systems of the Ukrainian army managed to shoot down all 27 missiles fired by the Russian military, including six “Kinzhal” ballistic missiles.
Russia, for its part, said it had hit all the targets, which included ammunition depots and military equipment supplied to Ukraine by its Western allies. Moscow also claims to have destroyed a “Patriot” anti-missile system with its supersonic missile.
However, according to US officials, the system, which is used to repel Russian airstrikes targeting critical infrastructure, has been damaged, and Washington and Kyiv have already discussed the best way to restore it.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military intelligence has reported that around 400,000 Russians are currently fighting in Ukraine. The head of intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, pointed out that very few foreigners are fighting in the Russian units.
ISW: Russia sends troops to defend Bakhmut, but AFU may surprise them elsewhere
Russian forces are likely to step up their advance near Bakhmut amid local counterattacks by the Ukrainian army. However, this will likely affect their military's ability to repel the upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive.
This is stated by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing information from Russian military personnel, that four additional Russian battalions have been transferred to Bakhmut. The information was also confirmed by the leader of the separatists from the unrecognized "DPR" Denis Pushilin, who defined the measure as "stabilizing the flanks".
The ISW report said these statements were consistent with Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar saying that Russia was moving its airborne troops to the area. On May 16, the occupiers achieved minor successes in Bakhmut itself.
The Russians have focused their main efforts on Bakhmut, while Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized that it is moving towards limited operations for now, experts explain.
"The redeployment of Russian troops from other parts of the front to the Bakhmut area is likely in response to Russia's continued concerns about the stability of the front line in the area amid the continued deterioration of the situation of the Wagner Group in the offensive to capture Bakhmut," write from ISW.
The AFU’s small successes in the Bakhmut area may have prompted Russia to further focus on tactical offensive efforts in the area. At the same time, the Kremlin intends to present the "capture" of Bakhmut as a "victory" before possible setbacks during the Ukrainian counteroffensive. These tactical considerations and shifts in Moscow's priorities could undermine Russia's broader efforts to prepare to repel a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine has recently achieved limited success in the city itself. Geolocation footage from 16 May indicated that the AFU had made minor gains east of Orikhovo-Vasilovka (11 km northwest of Bakhmut), although as of 16 May ISW had recorded no further progress by Ukrainian forces around Bakhmut.
In the last couple of days, the Ukrainian defense forces have liberated from the Russian occupiers about 20 square kilometers in the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut.
According to Hanna Maliar, the fact that the defense of Bakhmut has lasted for so many months and that there is progress in certain areas is a super effort of the AFU and shows a high level of professionalism of the defense command.
Earlier, the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that as of May 13, Ukrainian defenders near Bakhmut had liberated 16.85 square km from the enemy during the latest counterattacks.
China to Foreign Missions: Remove Ukrainian Flags
China has notified several foreign missions in Beijing that they should not display "politicized propaganda" in their buildings. That's what diplomats told Reuters, adding that the request appeared to be aimed at the Ukrainian flags they have been displaying since the Russian invasion.
Several foreign missions in China have raised the Ukrainian flag or displayed its image on posters and lights since the February 2022 invasion, which drew international condemnation of Russia, a close Chinese ally.
"We and others received a letter urging embassies and missions to refrain from using the exterior walls of their buildings for 'politicized propaganda,'" one diplomat, whose embassy displayed an image of a Ukrainian flag, told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The diplomat said the mission did not intend to comply with the notification. Three other Beijing-based diplomats confirmed there had been a notification, adding that while it did not directly mention Ukraine's flag, it was clearly aimed at it.
Reuters has not seen the notice. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Weeks after Russia launched what it called a "special military operation" in Ukraine, a Ukrainian flag poster on the outside wall of the Canadian embassy in Beijing was defaced with anti-NATO graffiti, according to a Reuters witness.
The missions of the European Union, Great Britain, Germany and Poland in Beijing have also displayed images of Ukrainian flags. They did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
China has called for peace in Ukraine but refrained from condemning its ally Russia, drawing criticism from Western countries. Some embassies in Beijing also displayed rainbow flags in support of the LGBT community to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on Wednesday and LGBT Pride Month in June.
It was not known whether China, which has faced criticism from rights groups for cracking down on LGBT activism in recent years, objects to such displays.