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Ukraine in Brief: Latest regional news May 21, 2022 (photo, video)

Materials compiled by Tetiana Kliuchnyk-Horobets, Tetyana Pidgorna

It has been the 87th day of the heroic fight of Ukrainian people against the russian military aggression.

Ukraine briefly:

Eastern regions still remain the hottest spots. The enemy does not give up attempts to launch the offensive towards Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. There is fighting in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. The invaders are shelling Mykolaiv, Odesa and border areas of Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts which they were forced to retreat.

Russia declares that all Ukrainian defenders were taken away from the besieged Azov steel works in Mariupol.

This night was quite calm in Volyn, Zakarpattia, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Ternopil, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi oblasts, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrag, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Poltava oblasts.

Early morning on May 21 russian troops launched the air strike on the military infrastructure facility in Rivne. Since the large-scale russian invasion began, the railway station, airport, TV tower, three military infrastructure facilities and the oil depot were struck by russian troops in Rivne oblast.

Also near Nemyriv, Vinnytsia oblast, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down a Russian missile.

The occupiers continue to fire on the border areas of Chernihiv oblast. In the afternoon, observers recorded 9 “arrivals” of probably a 120mm mortar in the direction of Gremyach and in the direction of the village of Mykolaivka. There are no casualties among personnel and equipment. There were no reports of casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure.

A Russian helicopter fired on the area between Kharkiv and Sumy regions.

As of 15:30, for more than an hour, the Russian occupiers fired artillery at the settlements of the Sumy region from “Hail” multiple rocket launchers.

In Odea oblast, the russian air strike was launched on one of the regions at day time, while at night there was one air strike on one facility. Some damages were caused. There are no casualties. The data on consequences is being verified.

Kharkiv: the enemy shelled Dergachi, Mala Danylivka, Chuhuiev regions. The emergency response workers were extinguishing the fire in private houses. The air strike has literally destroyed the Lozova culture palace. At around 20:30, shopping units at one of Kharkiv city markets caught on fire as a result of shelling. The residential houses caught on fire as the invaders shelled the Zolochiv community at night. 20 people were wounded, including one kid, as a result of the russian aggression in Kharkiv oblast.

Luhansk oblast: about 50 houses were destroyed. The air strikes were launched on Hirskii and Popasna. In Lysychansk, 23 houses were destroyed, 16 – in the neighbouring Pryvillia, 5 – in Severodonetsk. The russian invaders also hit the school and Azot enterprise which caught on fire and was put out. The coal bin in the mine ignited in Lysychansk. There are casualties and damages. The data is being verified.

Donetsk oblast: russians shell the front line from Mariyinka to Lyman. 27 houses and 8 civilian infrastructure buildings were damaged during the day. The enemy shelled the school in Yelyzavetka. Krasnohorivka was bombarded with mortar. There is no power supply in most parts of the city. Avdiivka coking plant and residential districts were once again under the enemy’s attack. In Svitlodarsk, the power supply lines to Novoluhansk were damaged. However, the specialists restored the power supply by night. New York and Sukha Balka, Torets community, were under the enemy’s attack. 3 people were killed, 4 wounded during the day.

In Mariupol, the enemy takes measures to resume the port operations. The areas adjacent to the port are being defused.

In Mykolaiv, the outskirts of the city were shelled with Smerch multi launch rocket systems. There are no damages and casualties. Shyrokivska community was shelled at night and during the daytime outside the city boundaries. Based on the preliminary data, there are no casualties and damages. The data is being verified.

In Kherson, warfare is ongoing. Explosions and shooting were heard in all areas of the oblast. Locals also heard the sound of missiles launching. The occupied villages are on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. The invaders don’t allow people to get in or out of Kherson oblast, only via Crimea. The situation is critical.

The enemy’s ships in the Black and Azov seas are assigned to isolate the areas of hostilities, reconnaissance and covering fire in the coastal region.

Large volumes of water are dumped on the Kakhovka dam captured by the Russian military, which floods Nova Kakhovka.

As a result of hostilities on the M-07 highway in Kyiv oblast, three man-made structures were destroyed, and in Zhytomyr oblast – one. To date, the vehicle traffic has resumed on all destroyed facilities in two areas. The connection with the Warsaw highway M-07 on the route Kyiv – Kovel has been completely restored after the main bridge restoration.

In the temporarily occupied Kherson region, people began receiving social benefits and pensions in February, March, April and partly in May.

From May 21, the National Bank will lift restrictions on setting the rate at which banks sell cash currency. So far it could not deviate by more than 10% from the officially set by the regulator.

During the day, pyrotechnic units of the SES were involved 134 times, 1,316 explosive devices were found, seized and defused, and an area of 150 hectares was inspected.

According to the most optimistic forecasts, Ukraine needs 5-7 years to disarm the entire territory. Since the beginning of the large-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, almost 114,000 explosive devices have been neutralized in our country, including almost 2K aircraft bombs. Rescuers surveyed an area of more than 22K hectares. On average, pyrotechnic units of the SES seize from two to five thousand explosive devices every day.

May 21 is Europe Day in Ukraine. The purpose of this day is to emphasize the importance of European integration for the Ukrainian state, as well as to highlight the common historical background and values.

For the time being, the first trial of a russian war criminal has ended in Kyiv. He is due to be sentenced on May 23.

The total value of assets of russia and belarus, which were seized by the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BEB), is over 30 billion UAH.

Already 42 countries are ready to join Ukraine’s lawsuit against russia in the UN International Court of Justice.

Since the beginning of the war, border guards have registered almost 38,000 vehicles with humanitarian aid. Numerous items of cargo, received on behalf of governmental, charitable, volunteer organizations, local and religious communities, are immediately handed over to soldiers on the front lines and victims of the war.

5 largest cargo planes of Ukraine AN-124 “Ruslan” from Gostomel will now be based at the airport “Leipzig/Halle”, according to “Antonov Airlines”.

There is a separate hangar for repair and maintenance work, provided to the Ukrainian airline. The company will return to the airfield in Gostomel after its restoration.

Eastern regions

According to the General Staff, the greatest activity of the enemy continues to focus in the Eastern operational zone.

Kharkiv oblast

In Sloboda direction, the enemy continues to conduct warfare to maintain the seized positions. They carried out air strikes and shelled areas of Chornohlazivka, Prudianka, Dementiyivka and Ternova.

Units of the occupation troops are preparing to resume the offensive in Slaviansk direction. During the day, the enemy carried out artillery shelling in the areas of Velyka Komyshuvakha and Dovzhenke, Kharkiv oblast.

An enemy helicopter launched a missile strike on the outskirts of one of the settlements on the border between Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts.

Here is the information from the State Emergency Service in Kharkiv oblast as of May 21: in the Kyiv district of Kharkiv, a Russian shell hit the market. As a result, a fire broke out in an area of 1000 sq.m. Rescuers put out the fire for more than 3 hours. In the Kholodnohirsky, Industrialny, Novobavarsky districts of Kharkiv and in Shevchenkivsky and Dergachivsky communities of the region rescuers dismantled the rubble of destroyed buildings. Pyrotechnicians neutralized 18 russian munitions.

During the last 24 hours, rescuers went out on call 40 times, 10 of them were related to extinguishing fires due to shelling. Private houses, outbuildings, garages, infrastructure facilities and natural ecosystems in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv, Loziv and Bohodukhiv districts of the region were on fire.

As a result of the shelling of Kharkiv and the region on May 21, five Kharkiv residents in Saltivka, 1 resident of Lozivskyi, 1 resident of Chuhuivskyi district and 1 resident of Shevchenkivska community were injured, the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration said.

Donetsk oblast

In Donetsk direction, the enemy is trying to break through the defense of our troops and reach the administrative borders of Luhansk oblast. They carried out air strikes on civilian infrastructure in the areas of Vrubivka, Luhansk oblast and Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast.

Now the frontline is Lyman. Ukrainian policemen daily take citizens out of places where it is impossible to get out on their own.

Preparations for the offensive on Lyman direction continue. Supported by aviation and artillery, the enemy led assault actions in the areas of Lypove, Vasylivka, Marinka and Novomikhaylovka, Donetsk oblast, and was unsuccessful. The invaders carried out an air strike on the settlement of Mykilske, Volnovakha district, Donetsk oblast. They carried out shelling of civilian infrastructure in the areas of Vremivka, Donetsk oblast.

The invaders carried out an airstrike on the temple in the village of Bohorodychne, in the basement of which about 100 ministers of the church were living and hiding – nuns, monks and children. The skit in honor of the icon of the Mother of God of “all the mourners Joy” in the Sviatohorsk Lavra was destroyed; the people, fortunately, were not injured. The police, the military, border guards and the defense unit, asked the worshipers to go to a safer place. Law enforcement officers evacuated more than 40 women, 20 children and men. They also saved the lives of five people with disabilities, villagers who were unable to get out on their own.

Luhansk oblast

57 people were evacuated from Luhansk oblast during the day. “It is very hot in Severodonetsk, Lysychansk and Belohorivka now. The shelling does not stop even for an hour, the russians use artillery day and night. Every life of 57 rescued from these settlements is important to us today. They are safe,” – wrote Serhiy Haidai, head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration.

Today, the occupiers destroyed the bridge between Severodonetsk and Lysychansk for the second time (the first time this happened in July 2014). But Gaidai clarified that despite this, there is a connection between the cities.

The Guards destroyed the Peony, which destroyed the Pavlograd Bridge and shelled Severodonetsk. This also became known from Sergei Gaidai.

There are three doctors left in the hospital, which continues to operate in Severodonetsk in the Luhansk region. “They are helped by five nurses, and there are 20 patients in the hospital,” – said hospital manager Roman Vodyanyk. – The hospital was practically destroyed by the Russians. There are a lot of unexploded ordnance left near the buildings. “

Northern regions

Kyiv oblast

The Kyiv Regional Military Administration announced that the curfew will be in force in the Kyiv Region from May 22 to 29 from 23:00 to 5:00. During the curfew it is forbidden to be on the street and in other public places, to move by transport or on foot. Exceptions are the presence of a special standard pass and identity card.

According to the head of the President’s Office, sappers have completed demining of the main highways in the occupied territories of Kyiv oblast.

The First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Yevhen Yenin, noted that only key highways in Kyiv region have been completely demined. Work on demining of administrative buildings and residential buildings is still underway. It is too early to talk about full demining, it may take several more years.

Water supply in Kyiv region has been restored by 100%.

In Motyzhyn, they plan to restore the lyceum, which operated for 50 years, by September 1.

In Andriyivka, Makariv district, about 50 roofs have been repaired. In addition, communications and the Internet have been partially restored, and gas and electricity supplies have been completely launched.

In Makarіv, work has begun to restore the bridge over the river Zdvizh. The bridge was damaged and partially destroyed by russian invaders as a result of direct shelling.

Currently, information and communication services for the civilian population of the region are being restored in many districts of Kyiv oblast thanks to Starlink satellite stations. Today, May 21, the Starlink satellite internet station was transferred to the school in the village of Andriyivka, Makariv district, Kyiv region. Providing educational institutions with the Internet is one of the main areas of restoration of Kyiv region.

Leipzig will become the base airport of Ukrainian Antonov Airlines instead of Gostomel, which was destroyed by the russian occupiers. Five Ruslan An-124 aircraft will be transferred to the German airport, where a separate hangar is located for repair and maintenance work. The relocation will allow the airline to continue operating commercial and government flights. The company will return to the airfield in Gostomel after its restoration.

Oleksiy Kuleba is returning to the position of the head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, Deputy Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said. Oleksandr Pavliuk held this position at a time when the Kyiv region needed experienced military leadership. Together with Oleksiy Kuleba, they worked under partial occupation, organizing community work with civilian and military leaders to achieve the best results.

After the liberation of the Kyiv region from enemy troops, Lieutenant General Pavlyuk worked on restoration of the region – the restoration of infrastructure, repair of communications, and demining. Now these tasks have been fulfilled, so his experience and ability to work will be especially needed in military areas.

A flash mob of gratitude to the countries that gave a temporary home to Ukrainians has started in the capital on the Europe Day. The Department of Public Communications of the Kyiv City State Administration offers warm words of gratitude to European countries that kindly offered a temporary home and assistance to Ukrainian citizens fleeing russian aggression.

Zhytomyr oblast

Specialists of the National Police together with prosecutors, SBU and rescuers went to Malyn, where after the missile strike they recorded the events and consequences of the war crime. The regional prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal case for violating the laws and customs of war.

Law enforcement officers of Zhytomyr Region recorded the consequences of the air strike in the Malyn community:

On the morning of May 20, the Russian armed forces launched a rocket attack on the town of Malyn. As a result of the war crime, people were injured and numerous destructions were inflicted on the local community.

Destruction of power lines, damage to civilian infrastructure, utility rooms, about 50 homes and vehicles were reported.

Residents of the Malyn community, aged 36 to 48, were also injured in the enemy shelling.

Further documentation of all the circumstances and consequences of the shelling is currently underway.

Chernihiv oblast

The occupiers continue to fire on the border areas of Chernihiv region, according to the Operational Command “North”.

At about 12: 10-12: 20, observers recorded 9 “arrivals” of probably a 120 mm mortar in the direction of Gremyach. Approximately at the same time 6 “parishes” from, probably, a mortar of caliber of 120 mm or barrel artillery in the direction of Nikolaevka are recorded.

There are no casualties among personnel and equipment. There were no reports on casualties or damage to the civilian infrastructure.

Due to the destruction of the Kyiv Bridge in Chernihiv, the city was on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. The occupiers dropped an air bomb on it in late March. It was through this bridge that evacuations were carried out and humanitarian goods were imported.

Its restoration is now complicated by the overflow of the Desna River. Long and difficult work is planned. First it will be a pontoon crossing, and later, a new road bridge to connect with the capital.

Sumy oblast

This morning the enemy fired again at the border Sumy oblast.

Observers recorded 6 “parishes” in the direction of the village of Kucherivka from the territory of the russian federation. There are no casualties among personnel and equipment.

The enemy also fired on the territory between Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts and the border of Chernihiv oblast. An enemy helicopter fired a missile on the outskirts of one of the settlements on the border between Kharkiv and Sumy regions. In addition, Sumy oblasts was shelled from the territory of russia from “hail”. There were about a dozen shots. Mortar shelling was recorded in the direction of the villages of Gremyach, Mykolaivka and Kucherivka.

Active work is underway to restore roads in the Sumy region “to the point where it is possible to drive on them,” said Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, head of the Sumy Regional State Administration. Today 1,600 square meters have been restored on the road H 12 “Sumy – Poltava” and R 60 “Krolevets – Pyryatyn”, R 61 “Baturyn – Konotop”, R 44-45 “Hlukhiv – Sumy – Bohodukhiv”.

Central regions

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Evacuees from Bakhmut and Lyman of Donetsk oblast are arriving in Dnipro. People are leaving because of aggravation of the situation. For about a week, these cities have been under massive shelling by russian troops.

Police officers of Dnipropetrovsk oblast actively support Ukrainian defenders who serve on the front line: they accompany buses with humanitarian aid to Donetsk oblast, collect aid for servicemen who are on the front line, and help residents escape enemy shelling.

“In Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk region, a pensioner was killed while disassembling ammunition after shelling. An 82-year-old man collected seven cluster munition rounds, brought them home and tried to disassemble them. There was an explosion,” said head of Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration Valentyn Reznichenko.

Kirovohrad oblast

In Kropyvnytskyi, Dobrovolsky Street was re-named after the Hero of Ukraine, fighter pilot Stepan Choban, who was the first to take off on an Su-27 aircraft and engaged an air fight over Kropyvnytskyi on February 28. He was attacked by missiles and died bravely distracting the enemy aircraft.

Poltava oblast

In Poltava they bid farewell to five soldiers who were killed in the war with Russia. The memorial service held near the Holy Assumption Cathedral, was attended by relatives, friends, colleagues and blood brothers of the killed soldiers.

Law enforcement officers detained the head of the Myrhorod district military administration Viktor Ivanenko on a bribe. This was announced by the head of the Poltava RMA Dmytro Lunin. According to the press service of the Prosecutor’s office of Poltava and the National Police of Poltava region, the head of the Myrhorod DMA demanded 500 thousand UAH from a local businessman for not obstructing his business activities. The regional military administration is cooperating with law enforcement to establish all the circumstances.

Vinnytsia oblast

In the morning on the territory of Vinnytsia region, after the announcement of the air-raid alarm, explosions in the region were reported. Near Nemirov, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down one Russian missile. This was announced by the head of the Vinnytsia regional military administration Serii Borzov.

Southern regions

Zaporizhzhia oblast

Today, a humanitarian corridor has been deblocked for those wishing to leave for the territory controlled by Ukraine, near the village of Kamianka. The russian troops blocked about 1000 cars there.

In Zaporizhzhia, people affected by the war will be able to receive financial assistance from the UN. Due to the difficult security situation, mobile groups are working in the city accepting applications for financial assistance. Where exactly and when mobile teams will work can be found by phone. UN refugee agency hotline: 0 800 30 77 11

Zaporizhzhia City Council intends to terminate contracts with those bus companies that did not go on routes on May 20. We mean “Alliance-Auto”, “Unitar-Auto”, “Zaporozhzhia automobile lines” and “Proftaxi-1”, which serve public transport routes No. 1, 11, 18, 81, 5 and 5A, 9, 20, 85, 37 and 46.

Kherson oblast

Fighting continues in Kherson oblast. Explosions and shelling cover almost the entire territory of the oblast. The occupied villages are on the verge of a humanitarian crisis. The occupiers continue to block the area for entry and exit.

In the temporarily occupied Kherson, residents began to receive pensions and social benefits for February, March, April and partly May. As a result, there were queues at ATMs.

In the Kherson oblast, at the Kakhovka hydropower plant seized by the russian military, water is discharged from the Kakhovka reservoir in large volumes. The reason is the malfunction of two hydraulic units, which are not possible to repair due to the occupation. As a result, the embankment and the city’s Stepan Faldzinsky park have been flooded in Nova Kakhovka. The surrounding villages and Kherson are under threat.

The Association for Reintegration of Crimea reports that in Kherson on May 18, the occupiers presented a new “head” of the police.

It turned out to be Vladimir Lipandin, who until February 2014 in the rank of colonel of the militia headed the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Cherkasy oblast. During the Revolution of Dignity, Lipandin organized beating of local activists and attacks of “titushki”. The new “leader” has already warned “subordinate” collaborators about their urgent “lie-detector check” to identify “ties with Ukraine”.

Mykolaiv oblast

Russian troops continue to shell the peaceful quarters of Mykolaiv and the oblast. As a result of the attacks, there are victims among local residents, damaged residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure.

On the evening of May 20, shelling of the outskirts of Mykolaiv with cluster munitions was recorded.

Today, pyrotechnicians of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine extracted 56 explosive objects.

Today, medical supplies and equipment intended for the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova have come as well as those provided by the non-governmental organization IsraAID. Humanitarian aid will be directed to equip and restore first aid points in the villages of Mykolaiv oblast.

Odesa oblast

The Institute for the Study of War reports that russians are preparing for a counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the south of Ukraine. The russians are delivering engineering equipment to the front line and strengthening defensive lines getting ready for possible protracted battles.

Yesterday in Odesa oblast, the enemy carried out three missile strikes on one of the districts of the oblast, one of them on an industrial enterprise of fertilizers. There is damage, yet no injuries.

From May 23, 2022, restrictions will be introduced within Odesa, Belgorod-Dniester and Bolgrad border regions of Odesa oblast. They will be applied to zones located 500 meters to the state border line. Specifucally, there will be limited movement due to palanka, fishing and hunting. This was reported by the press service of the Belgorod-Dniester border detachment.

From today, the cycling patrol resumes its work in Odesa.

Western regions

Volyn oblast

Volunteers of the Angar Center in Lutsk raised almost UAH 25 million for the needs of the Ukrainian army. Since February 24, Ukrainian soldiers have been provided with over 40 cars, 30 quadcopters and more than 500 thermal imagers.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

Today, in Ivano-Frankivsk at a charity race they collected over 30 thousand hryvnias for power banks for Ukrainian defenders. Among the participants were famous Olympic athletes: Rina Shepetiuk, twice participant of the Summer Olympic Games and Valerii Litaniuk, participant of the XXIII summer Olympics.

The youth project “24 Steps to Success” for internally displaced persons and local residents aged 14 to 18 starts in Ivano-Frankivsk. During 24 sessions, teenagers will be taught media literacy, basics of creating projects, and communication skills.

Lviv oblast

Last night there were three air raid sirens in Lviv oblast, but no missile strikes were recorded. During the day, 97 people were evacuated from the battlefields.

17K people went abroad through checkpoints in Lviv oblast. Queues are kept at checkpoints.

A biogas power plant near the Hrybovytsia landfill was launched in the Lviv region today. The plant will generate 2.6 million kWh of electricity per year and provide it to more than 700 households.

The station will also help to improve the environmental situation and reduce the volume of solid waste in bulk.

Rivne oblast

At about 11 a.m., the Russian army launched a missile strike on a military facility in the Rivne region. Six people were injured in the missile strike.

Khmelnitsky oblast

Students and teachers of Khmelnytsky National University create and hand over solar mini-power stations to the Ukrainian military. They can be used to charge mobile phones and walkie-talkies. Three such power plants have already been sent to the Armed Forces.

Zakarpattia oblast

The district hospital in Beregovo received medical equipment from the Hungarian Ecumenical Aid Service worth UAH 22 million.

Hospitals donated a laparoscopic LAPOMED rack – Premium, MyLab X6 ultrasound machine, EX-65 PRO anesthesia and breathing apparatus, Biomed B-8 neonatal incubator, Hamilton C3 ventilator, Olympus 190 video endoscopic system with videogastroscope, mobile X-ray system 112 furniture and other equipment.

Chernivtsi

The international organization Save the Children in Ukraine has launched its activities in Bukovyna. Their goal is to create comfortable conditions for the education and leisure of migrant children who currently live in our region. The organization has already opened one center and plans to build 6 more such centers.

Ukrainian Women’s Guard