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Ukraine in Brief: Latest regional news May 20, 2022 (photo, video)

Compiled by Tetiana Kliuchnyk-Horobets and Tetiana Pidgorna

It has been the 86th day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the Russian invasion.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the situation on the frontline of the war with russia reveals signs of further escalation. The occupiers are actively shelling the entire line of contact, delivering artillery strikes at the depth of the AFU defense in Donetsk and Slovyansk directions.

Ukraine briefly:

Ukrainian troops are conducting a defensive operation, causing the enemy a significant loss of manpower and equipment.

The enemy concentrates their forces on holding the occupied boundaries, conducts reconnaissance, implements engineering reinforcement of positions, replenishes equipment, ammunition and fuel stocks, and tries to improve its tactical position.

Russia is now defining new boundaries for missile launches on Ukrainian territory. Specifically, the Russian Tu-22M3 bombers operate simultaneous missile launches from the airspace of the north-eastern part of temporarilly occupied Crimea.

In the Black Sea, there are two warships with a total salvo of up to 16 KRMB of the Kalibr type. The Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation continues to isolate civilian shipping and ports of Ukraine.

Evacuation of the Ukrainian military from the Azovstal plant is underway.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, russians are advancing in the areas of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, shelling Ukrainian cities. In Donetsk oblast, five civilians were killed, in Kharkiv oblast, ten wounded during the day.

In Volyn direction, there are no significant changes in the state and position of the units of the Armed Forces of Belarus. There is a threat of missile and bomb attacks from the territory of Belarus.

In Polissya direction, as a result of a missile strike on Malin, Zhytomyr oblast an infrastructure facility and almost 100 buildings were damaged; three people were injured.

In Siversk direction, the enemy conducts engineering reinforcement of positions near Azarovka in Bryansk oblast. He fired artillery and mortars at Boyaro-Lysya, Bruska, Stary Virky, Sumy oblast and Gremiach, Chernihiv oblast.

In Kharkiv direction, the enemy focuses on maintaining seized boundaries, tries to launch counteroffensive to restore positions and conducts enhanced aerial reconnaissance from UAVs.

In the area of Ternova and Vesele, fighting continued. In addition, shelling was recorded near Ruski Tyshky.

In Lozova, there was a missile strike on a newly reconstructed house of culture. Seven people were injured, including an 11-year-old child. The invaders identified culture, education and humanity as their enemies.

In Slavyansk direction, the enemy shelled civilian infrastructure near the settlements of Dovhenke, Velyka Komyshuvakha and Dolyna.

In Donetsk direction, the enemy intensified offensive and assault actions to improve their tactical position. They fired from mortars, barrel artillery, multiple launch rocket systems and operational-tactical aviation causing destruction of four units’ fortifications along the contact line.

In Liman direction, the enemy carries out periodic shelling of civilian infrastructure in the areas of Dibrova and Zakitne.

In Severodonetsk direction, the enemy launched the assault in the direction of Severodonetsk, did not succeed, suffered losses and was forced to retreat. There was fighting in the area of Toshkivka.

In Bakhmut direction, supported by artillery and mortars, the invaders carried out an offensive in the area of Vyskryva, at the same time trying to improve their tactical position near Volodymyrivka and Vasylivka. Russian invaders suffered losses in the area of Aleksandropillia.

In Avdiivka direction, the enemy, supported by artillery, led an assault and offensive near Vesele. As a result, they suffered losses and retreated.

In Kurakhiv direction, the enemy carried out massive artillery shelling of civilian infrastructure, using multiple launch rocket systems.The offensive operation was carried out in the areas of Novomikhailivka and Oleksandrivka unsuccessfully.

In Novopavlovske and Zaporizhzhia directions, the enemy struck infrastructure and peaceful households with rocket and barrel artillery and mortars and fought a counterbatary struggle. In the area of Novodarivka, russian invaders suffered losses and retreated to previously occupied positions.

The russian military blocked all exits from the temporarily occupied Kherson oblast to the territory controlled by Ukraine.

In the South Bug direction, the invaders did not conduct active hostilities. Residential buildings were shelled with mortars and barrel artillery. The engineering equipment of positions and construction of the second defense line continued.

There is still a high probability of continued fighting to improve the tactical situation and get access to the administrative border of Kherson oblast.

In Bessarabiia direction, the situation did not change. Enemy ship groups in the Black and Azov Seas continue to block civilian shipping.

In Donetsk and Luhansk directions the AFU units repelled fourteen attacks of the enemy, destroyed eight tanks, fourteen units of armored combat vehicles and six units of automotive equipment of the enemy. Our air defense units shot down one Orlan-10 UAV.

Russian invaders actually destroyed the city of Rubizhne in Luhansk oblast – there are no undamaged houses, many of them cannot be restored.

In the Lubenska community of Poltava oblast, the Russian military hit an infrastructure facility.

As of morning of May 20, 2022, over 659 children were injured in Ukraine due to the orcs’ actions: 232 children were killed and more than 427 wounded. Children suffered the most in Donetsk oblast – 145, Kyiv oblast – 116, Kharkiv oblast- 100, Chernihiv oblast – 68, Kherson oblast – 48, Luhansk oblast- 47, Mykolaiv oblast – 44, Zaporozhzhia oblast – 28, Sumy oblast – 17, Kyiv – 16, Zhytomyr oblast – 15.

During the day, pyrotechnic units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine were involved 219 times. 1047 explosive objects were found, extracted and disposed. The area of 396 hectares was examined.

A total of 113,952 explosive objects and 593.4 kg of explosives have been defused since the beginning of the large-scale military invasion, including 1976 t of air bombs. The area of 22, 247 ha was examined.

The Lend-lease cargo for Ukraine has already been taken by ships, almost all logistics vessels of the US Navy in the Atlantic are involved.

In Ukraine, the U.S. dollar exchange rate is expected to increase. According to Yaroslav Zheleznyak, First Deputy Chairman of the Tax Committee of the Verkhovna Rada, it was caused by blocked Ukrainian exports and lack of funds.

Ukrainians who leave the war zone, as well as cities under occupation or siege, will be able to receive financial assistance from the state directly during evacuation. To do this, Ukrainian railway transfers data from its evacuation trips to colleagues from Ukrposhta for whom cash withdrawal points are already equipped at the railway station in Lviv. Soon the list of railway stations will expand.

Eastern regions

Kharkiv oblast

According to head of the RMA Oleh Synehubov, early on May 20, three people were injured as a result of shelling Shevchenkove. At night, a shell hit a private house in Derhachi. In Mala Danylivka, as a result of shelling at about 5am on May 20, the garages of the Zoo-Veterinary Academy caught fire. According to the preliminary data, there were no injuries. Six garages and four cars were burned.

The rubble of destroyed buildings was dismantled by rescuers on the territory of Saltiv, Industrial, Novobavarsky, Nemyshlyansky and Shevchenkivskyi districts of Kharkiv, as well as in Derhachi community. Pyrotechnics defused 45 Russian ammunition units.

Russian invaders are shelling positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine north of Kharkiv and south of Izium, trying to advance in Slavyansk direction, and are trying to restore the crossing through the Seversky Donets near the village of Yaremivka in Izyum district, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

At least seven people, including an 11-year-old child, were injured in a missile strike on Lozova in Kharkiv oblast, according to Viktor Zabashta, public director of the Center for Emergency Medical Care. The shell hit one of the buildings around 3 p.m. Firefighting and debris sorting are underway. As a result of the russian missile strike on Lozova, in addition to the Palace of Culture, about 10 high-rise buildings were damaged, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

Vice-champion of Europe and champion of Ukraine in orienteering Oleр Lenshuk died in the battles in Kharkiv oblast.

Oleh Haidabur, a tractor driver from the village of Osniahi of Hadiach community, Poltava oblast, died in the Kharkiv hospital on the night of May 20. He was injured when the missile hit, suffered burns and leg injuries. For more than a week he was treated at the Kharkiv Military Hospital.

In the evening, Kharkiv residents reported a missile attack on the Kyiv district of the city. The shelling resulted in a fire, the regional DNSD confirmed.

Donetsk oblast

On Friday, May 20, the spokesman of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Oleksandr Motuzianyk said that the enemy shelled the civilian infrastructure near the settlements of Dovhenke, Velyka Komyshuvakha and Dolyna. Ukrainian defenders repel the enemy, who is trying to advance in the direction of Novomikhailivka, which is located 10 kilometers south of Marianka.

Commander of the regiment “Azov” Prokopenko reports that the military command gave an order to stop the defense of Mariupol and save the military lives. According to him, the process of evacuating the bodies of the dead soldiers continues.

Advisor to the mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriuschenko reports that the occupiers have completed to disassemble the rubble of the Drama Theater. They also removed the bodies of all the victims. “Now we will never know how many Mariupol civilians were actually killed by a russian bomb at the Drama Theater,” he writes. According to him, the victims were buried in a mass grave in Manhush.

Today, the Ukrainian railway has saved 440 passengers from the horrors of the war, of which 13 are low-mobile, and three deserve special attention. Tatyana Efremovna from Kramatorsk will celebrate 99 years in autumn. Maria Fedorivna from Kramatorsk will celebrate 97 in summer. Liubov Dmytrivna from Avdiivka will blow 90 candles in 10 days.

Luhansk oblast

The enemy has launched the offensive in the areas of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk. There is heavy fighting. Russians’ key goal is to encircle our troops.

On May 20, at least 3 civilians were killed as russian troops shelled a school in Severodonetsk used as a shelter by 200 civilians, including many kids.

According to Serhiy Haidai, Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration, 38 people, including 12 kids, were evacuated from Luhansk oblast.

Northern regions

Kyiv oblast

Mine clearing is underway. The State Emergency Services inspected and disarmed the explosive objects in the following settlements:

Bucha region: Bucha, Borodyanka, Vorzel, Gostomel, Makariv, Andriivka, Berestyanka, Bilohorodka, Patashnia, Lypivka, Pochepy, Korolivka, Nalyvaikivka, Nizhylovychi, Negrashi;

Brovary district: Shevchenkove, Bobryk, Bervytsia, Skybyn, Lukianivka, Bogdanivka, Knyazhychi;

Vyshhorod region: Zaprudka, Kozarovychi, Dymer, Luhovyky, Strakholissia, Sloboda Kukharska, Poliske.

325.49 hectares of territory were inspected. 13.6 km of highways and roads were examined. 307 explosives were defused. 34K explosives were disarmed since the work commenced.

According to Kyiv Regional State Administration, as of May 20, 300 city and intercity public bus routes have resumed. Over 400 vehicles are now being used. Public transport is available in all regions of Kyiv oblast.

The national police detected the wrongdoer who collaborated with the russian invaders during occupation in Bucha region ok Kyiv oblast. He provided the information on places of residence of soldiers and other persons owning weapons. He showed the russian soldiers favorable positions for their military equipment and dislocation of Ukrainian soldiers.

The first court hearing on the case of russian war criminal convicted of murdering the civilian of Sumy oblast. The court hearing was held today and will continue on Monday, May 23.

The deputy of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine Kateryna Pavlichenko reported the work results of the special mobility group in Kyiv oblast:

21 settlements were inspected;
340 persons were interrogated;
13 sexual harassment victims were detected;
pre-trial investigation on two criminal raping cases by russian invaders commenced.

During this period: The head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Pavlyuk, signed an order to transfer three religious communities in Kyiv oblast from the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Pereyaslav city council deputies decided to dismantle the monument “Naviki razom”, erected for the 300th anniversary of Ukraine’s reunification with russia on the central square of the city.

Today we solemnly met rescuers Oleksandr Baran and Volodymyr Dudka, who returned from the most prestigious competitions among the firefighters Firefighter Combat Challenge 2022 in the United States of America. Not being able to fully prepare, “training” on the rubble in Kyiv and Borodyanka, these men showed a decent result – 4th place and once again proved that Ukrainians are a nation of strong people!

Chernihiv oblast

Today at 4:00 am, border guards of the Chernihiv detachment recorded shelling from Russian territory near the Ukrainian checkpoint “Senkivka”. The enemy fired about 8 shots from a 120 mm mortar.

Also during the night, single indirect shots, probably from a mortar, were recorded on the territory of Ukraine within the Semenov district of Chernihiv and Shostka district of Sumy regions. There were no casualties among personnel or equipment.

From May 20 and at least until June 3, hot water will not be supplied to homes and institutions served by Chernihiv CHP. This is reported by the company on its Facebook page. It was caused by a large number of damages in the main heating networks, found during hydraulic tests and made it impossible to perform them according to the rules and achieve the test pressure.

The special operation unit of the security service of Ukraine in Chernihiv oblast during the region occupation by military invaders. The occupants captured and held captive a child, demanding from his military mother information about the location of military facilities of the MFU, stationed on the territory of the region. In response, counterintelligence officers developed and conducted a successful special operation to rescue the child. The investigation materials brought numerous proofs of violations of the laws and customs of war by the occupants.

Sumy oblast

In the morning, the enemy fired at the territories of Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts from the territory of russia. There were no casualties among personnel or equipment.

In order to clarify our artillery positions, routes and the position of our units, the enemy conducted aerial reconnaissance. In the future, there is a possibility of continuing rocket and artillery attacks on the border regions of Ukraine.

For residents of de-occupied settlements in northern Ukraine, Ukrainian railway appoints a new two-group train and connects Sumy and Chernihiv with Ivano-Frankivsk. Train tickets will be available online and at the stations’ ticket offices.

The State Investigation Bureau officers reported suspicion to two servicemen, who actually shot the premises of Trostyanets district hospital at point-blank range. The article provides for a penalty of up to 12 years in prison. All the occupants will be identified and severely prosecuted.

Zhytomyr oblast

As a result of missile attacks on the Malyn community, occurred on the morning of May 20, the railway infrastructure and about fifty residential buildings were damaged. 3 people were injured. The head of the Zhytomyr regional military administration, Vitalii Bunechko, noted that the infrastructure of the Zhytomyr region as a whole suffered losses, according to preliminary estimates, of 2.5 billion hryvnias.

The mayor of Zhytomyr Serhii Sukhomlyn announced his intentions to reinforce the section of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. According to him, “the Ukrainian military has already strengthened the state border, and now this defense will be strengthened with engineering and concrete blocks”.

Central regions

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

At night, Russian troops fired twice at Velyka Kostromka. “In several houses, the windows are broken. People are not injured,” said Valentyn Reznichenko, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration.

Mykola Lukashuk, head of the regional council, re-assured that emergency crews work seven days a week to resume the power supply in the settlements. Due to constant shelling of territories in Kryvyi Rih district, the power infrastructure suffered significant damage. However, DTEK emergency teams managed to restore power in more than 900 homes in three settlements of the region.

Kirovohrad oblast

In Kropyvnytskyi they have planted 500 bushes of roses delivered from the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk oblast. 90 seedlings are planted in a flowerbed near the monument to Shevchenko, 410 – at the intersection of Malaniuk and Mykhailivska streets. Displaced persons, employees of Kropyvnytskyi City Council and the regional military administration joined the flower planting.

Head of the regional council Serhii Shulga says that within the framework of creative studios, by means of graphics or painting, artists of Kropyvnytskyi are going to tell the stories about soldiers, doctors, rescuers and volunteers.

Poltava oblast

According to Head of Poltava Regional Military Administration Dmytro Lunin, in Lubny community, Russian militaries have hit an infrastructure facility. There are no casualties.

Representatives of Poltava business have handed over three automobiles to the Territorial Defense brigade: two ambulances and a bus.

Vinnytsia oblast

According to Vinnytsia mayor, 20 Ukrainian enterprises have moved to the city. The geography of the relocated business is diverse: Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Dnipro. They specialize in various spheres from logistics to mechanical engineering.

Three companies have resumed operations in Vinnytsia. Among them is the plant of Kharkiv company UBC Group, which is the leader in production of refrigeration equipment in the world market.

The company STALEKS, which is also one of the world’s largest manufacturers of tools for the beauty industry, is being prepared for launching.

Southern regions

Zaporizhzhia oblast

This morning in the temporarily occupied Enerhodar fire department employees have come to the rally. Firefighters protested against the abduction of the head of the fire and rescue unit Vitalii Troian.

Invaders used forceful methods against the rescuers who came out to protest. The rally lasted for less than an hour.

On May 18, the occupants arrived at the fire department of DPRC-13 (State Fire and Rescue Department) in Enerhodar and searched Vitali Troian’s office. The office was sealed. Vitalii was taken to an unknown location.

Kherson oblast

The humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories of the Kherson region is worsening as a result of the actions of russian troops. Thus, according to Yuri Sobolevsky, deputy chairman of the Kherson regional council, russian military block humanitarian corridors, pressure on volunteers working in the occupied territories, and the occupiers’ inability to coordinate life in the occupied territories themselves.

In Kherson today there are 1164 11th grade students. 639 graduates were able to leave Kherson and participate in the multi-subject test. As for the graduates who remain in the occupied territory, the authorities have not yet been able to guarantee safe conditions for the test.

There is no power, water or gas supply in the Vysokopil territorial community. The community’s population is in need of urgent evacuation and humanitarian aid.

Another 2,450 people from Vysokopillya, Arkhangelsky and Knyazivka were able to evacuate on foot and by car towards Dnipropetrovsk oblast.

Mykolaiv oblast

According to the head of the Mykolaiv military administration Vitalii Kim, 85-86 percent of the fields have been sown with crops. Sowing continues in the territories where there are no russian troops.

Russian troops continue to shell Mykolaiv oblast. As of May 20, 255 people were killed in the region, including 9 children.

Mykolaiv rescuers received 10 drones from the USAID Democratic Governance in Eastern Ukraine (DG East) project.

Odesa oblast

Around 6 p.m. today, the enemy launched a missile attack on the Odesa region. The russian army struck another blow earlier in the day, hitting a toilet on the beach.

This year the vacation season in Odesa and the region will not open due to russian ships sailing in the Black Sea, the beaches and the sea mining.

Failure to open the holiday season will impact the economy, affecting the labor market and citizens’ earnings.

Western regions

Volyn oblast

As of May 20, there are 800 job openings in the regional employment center. 8K people are registered as unemployed. This was reported on the air of the programme on Suspilne TV Volyn by director of the regional employment center Roman Romaniuk. Since February 24, 1,200 IDPs have applied to the center. Currently, there are officially 800 displaced persons registered.

Lutskteploenergo reports that debts for the supply of natural gas, which amount to about UAH 30 million. Since the beginning of the year, the population owes more than UAH 36 million for the supply of heating and hot water. Non-payment of debts may lead to cessation of hot water supplies.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

The company Elektroavtotrans reported that in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast they reduced the number of communal buses on some routes. Route 57 was cancelled.

Lviv oblast

Lviv regional authorities urge farmers to ask local communities to provide additional land for agricultural cultivation. In the last week alone, land lease agreements have been concluded and registered for 87 agricultural plots with an area of more than 300 hectares. In total, during the period of martial law, 110 plots with an area of more than 560 hectares were leased. Detailed analytics can be found at the link.

Yesterday, the Boryslav City Council banned activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. According to the decision, from June 1, 2022, it will be forbidden to use the premises of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for meetings and services and sell the products of the Orthodox Church.

Rivne oblast

In a kindergarten of Ostroh, there is a mini-shop for manufacturing canned meat for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. More than 15 thousand cans of stew have been made. In addition to canned meat, kindergarten workers bake pies with various fillings, sausages in dough, cookies and other tasty things.

Zakarpattia Oblast

In Transcarpathia, mobile teams organize planned visits to temporary residence centers of internally displaced persons for vaccination. For immunization, it is not necessary to conclude a declaration with a family doctor, but it is desirable to have a record of previous vaccinations in order to plan them in accordance with the National Immunization Calendar.

Ukrainian Women’s Guard