Wednesday, May 31

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A man salvages belongings in a destroyed apartment on the upper floors of a residential building hit by drones on May 30, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Oleksandr Gusev/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Drones hit buildings in Moscow, Russia says. A drone attack damaged several high-rise buildings in Moscow on May 30, according to Russian state media. The incident happened around 4 a.m.

Putin comments on Moscow drone attack, threatens with ‘mirror actions’. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin commented on a May 30 drone attack against Moscow, blaming it on Ukraine and threatening Kyiv with “mirror actions,” reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Russian service.

Ukraine shoots down 29 out of 31 drones Russia launched overnight on May 30. According to the information published by Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 31 Shahed kamikaze drones overnight on May 30. The attacks killed one and injured 13.

Russian authorities detain Ukrainian woman helping to return children from Russian-occupied territories. Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti published a video showing the interrogation of a woman who claimed to have tried bringing two orphans from Russian-occupied Henichesk to Germany via Kyiv. RIA Novosti called the woman a representative of the NGO Save Ukraine, but the organization’s press service said she was the godmother of one of the children.

Russian PM: Nearly 1.5 million Ukrainians in occupied territories given Russian passports. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on May 30 that nearly 1.5 million Ukrainians in the occupied territories have been given Russian passports over the past nine months, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

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Fire at oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar likely caused by drone strike, officials say. A fire broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s southern Krasnodar Krai region following what was likely a drone strike, the regional governor said overnight on May 31.

Ukraine retrieves bodies of 79 fallen soldiers. Ukraine managed to return the bodies of 79 fallen soldiers, the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories announced on its website on May 30. The bodies will be returned to their families and loved ones for burial.

Parliament adopts law to allow insurance against war risks. Ukraine’s parliament adopted a law allowing insurance of investments in Ukraine against war risks. The law expands the capabilities of the Export Credit Agency, allowing it to insure both domestic and foreign investments against the risks caused by armed aggression or terrorism.

Ukraine’s parliament lowers enlistment age for young adults. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, voted in favor of proposed legislation to lower the maximum age of military enlistment for young adults from 27 to 25, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported on May 30.

Politico: Wagner Group uses Twitter, Facebook to enlist people for combat operations. The Kremlin-backed private mercenary Wagner Group has been using social media to recruit drone operators, medics, and psychologists to participate in combat operations, including against Ukraine, Politico reported citing exclusive research.

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Human cost of war

Update: At least 1 killed, 13 injured after night attack on Kyiv Oblast.

At least 13 people were injured and one woman killed by the Russian overnight drone strike against Kyiv Oblast and the capital on May 30, the Kyiv police reported on Telegram.

Russian forces shell 10 Ukrainian regions over past day, killing 4, injuring 45. Russia carried out mass strikes against Ukraine over the past day, mostly using drones and artillery.

General Staff: Russia has lost 207,440 troops in Ukraine. According to the report, Russia has also lost 3,802 tanks, 7,469 armored fighting vehicles, 6,219 vehicles and fuel tanks, 3,445 artillery systems, 575 multiple launch rocket systems, 332 air defense systems, 313 airplanes, 298 helicopters, 3,092 drones, and 18 boats.

Ukraine war latest: Drones hit Moscow after Kyiv attacked 3rd time within 24 hours.

One woman was killed and 13 people were injured after Russia launched an overnight drone strike against Kyiv and the surrounding oblast on May 30.

Photo: Photo: Oleksii Samsonov /Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

International response

IMF reaches agreement to lend $900 million to Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported on May 30 that it reached a staff-level agreement with Ukrainian officials that could lead to the disbursement of a $900 million tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement.

US, UK officials have conflicting reactions to drone attack on Moscow. U.S. and U.K. officials have had conflicting reactions to the May 30 drone attack in Moscow, prompting yet another debate as to whether Ukraine has the right to launch strikes on Russian territory.

South Africa to grant diplomatic immunity to participants of upcoming BRICS summit, allowing wanted Putin to join. There has been ongoing speculation as to whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend this year’s summit in person due to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrant for his arrest.

Georgian PM blames Russian invasion ‘partly’ on Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. “I don’t want to speculate, I don’t want to quote the statements of the Russian government. But one of the reasons was the desire of Ukraine to become a member of NATO. Therefore, we see the consequences,” Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said during the 2023 Globsec forum in Bratislava.

Polish president approves commission for investigating ‘Russian influence.’ Poland’s President Andrzej Duda signed the act on the creation of a state commission for investigating Russian influence in the country, the Polish media reported on May 29. Critics worry that the ruling party might misuse it as a tool against political opposition. The party denies it.

In other news

Ukraine’s newly-appointed Education Minister renounces his academic title after scandal. Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi said on May 30 that he had formally renounced his academic title, an announcement which comes after the newly-appointed minister faced accusations of academic plagiarism.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Oleksiy Sorokin, Martin Fornusek, Kate Tsurkan, Olga Rudenko, Oleg Sukhov, Dinara Khalilova, Anastasiya Gordiychuk, and Lili Bivings.

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