Kyiv Post Morning Memo – Everything You Need to Know on Tuesday, May 30

Good morning, Kyiv Post readers. Here’s your Morning Memo for May 30 to get you up to speed on events in Ukraine:

·      Top Headlines

·      Military Situation Report (Day 460)

·      President Zelensky’s Message of the Day

·      FYI Kyiv Locals

·      Quotable Quote

Top Headlines

Dates for Ukraine’s counteroffensive have been approved by President Zelensky and his high command. “We have approved the dates for the start of the movement of our troops [and] the decisions have been made,” Zelensky said.

At around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Kyiv experienced its 17th assault from Russian missiles and drones during May – and its third in the last 24 hours. Fires or damage from falling debris occurred in six districts of the city. There was one fatality. Odesa and Mykolayiv were also attacked. The Ukrainian military said that it had destroyed 36 of 40 Kh-101/555 missiles, 30 of 38 Shahed drones and 11 of 11 Iskander missiles.

Iran is subject to sanctions by Ukraine for 50 years, following a decision by Ukraine’s national parliament. Earlier, this decision was also made by the country’s National Security Council.

Denmark will increase military support for Ukraine by another $2.6 billion in 2023-2024, the Danish Minister of Economy said. In global terms, Denmark is 12th in support for Ukraine.

Other Topics of Interest

Zelensky Meets CIA Director William Burns in Ukraine

Zelensky said he had met Burns on multiple occasions throughout the war, but their meetings had been undisclosed.

US Senator Lindsay Graham (Republican – North Carolina) was issued an arrest warrant by Russia. During his recent visit to Ukraine, the Senator described US military aid to Ukraine as “the best money we’ve ever spent.”

1,376 people killed during Russia’s occupation of the Kyiv Region have been discovered, according to Ukrainian police. Police have also identified 15 mass burial sites and three places where people were tortured by Russian forces.

No Russian or Belarusian trucks will be allowed into Poland from Belarusia from June 1.

Fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps claimed to have again raided into the Belgorod Region in Russia yesterday.

Military Situation Report

Russia has lost nearly 10,500 military vehicles, including more than 2000 tanks, since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the independent Oryx research group. Oryx’s list includes only vehicles where there is photographic or videograhic evidence.

Wagner Group forces are being rotated out of Bakhmut and replaced with regular Russian military units. The senior spokesman for Ukraine’s eastern forces said “that there are rotational changes happening there primarily due to the large losses that the criminal group Wagner has had…  Units of the occupier’s airborne troops and motorized rifle units are entering. We know their names; we know their commanders and their combat potential.”

The May 29 campaign assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) had the following key take-aways: 

·      Russian forces conducted another series of strikes against Ukraine with cruise missiles and Iranian-made drones overnight on May 28 to 29 and during the day on May 29 [as well as the morning of May 30 – Editor].

·      Russia deployed more S-400 air defense systems (probably at least a battery) to Belarus on May 28.

·      Former Russian Deputy Minister of Defense for Logistics Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev confirmed that he is now operating as deputy commander of the Wagner Group.

·      Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line.

·      The tempo of Russian offensive operations in and around Bakhmut remains notably low [as Wagner forces are being rotated out – Editor.]

·      Russian forces continued limited offensive operations along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City front, particularly focusing on Marinka.

·      Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks in western the Donetsk Region and are expanding fortifications in Mariupol.

·      Russian sources claimed that Russian forces repelled limited Ukrainian reconnaissance in force operations in the Zaporizhzhia Region.

·      The Russian military command appears to be introducing doctrinal organization to some of its irregular formations.

·      Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on May 29 that will further strengthen the martial law regime in occupied areas of Ukraine.

The update at 06:00 on May 30 (Day 460) for the last 24 hours from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports:

·      62 Russian air raids;

·      54 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) attacks;

·      27 combat engagements primarily around Mariinka – with none in Bakmut;

·      Russian artillery, rocket, mortar and/or airborne fire in the following regions: Kharkiv (30); Sumy (five); Luhansk (five); Donetsk (28); Zaporizhya (seven), and Kherson (11);

·      Ukrainian air forces undertook 15 raids against Russian positions, and;

·      Three civilians were killed and 18 were injured in Russian assaults

President Zelenskys Message

“The world must see that terror is losing. When Patriots in the hands of Ukrainians ensure one hundred percent downing of any Russian missiles, terror is losing.

“When the world increases pressure on Russia, including sanctions, when the terrorist's isolation grows, when its former partners are ashamed of any closeness with Moscow, terror is losing.

“And, of course, there is no greater humiliation for a terrorist state than the success of our warriors.” – Volodymyr Zelensky in his nightly address

FYI Kyiv Locals 

During the last two days and three Russian aerial assaults on Kyiv, 50,000 Kyivans took shelter in the city’s Metro stations. That was the highest figure for May – during which there have been 17 attacks by Russian missiles and drones on the nation’s capital. 

Quotable Quote

“To know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy. I will continue to stand with and for Ukraine’s freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory. I will wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin’s corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor.” – US Senator Lindsay Graham