Russia lost more than 1,500 troops last week in the bitter war in Kharkiv, even as Vladimir Putin said he had “no plans” to take Ukraine’s second-largest city.
Last night, Russia lost 1,572 soldiers over the past seven days and 263 units of military equipment, including 75 drones, 66 military vehicles and eight tanks, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops have attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses using aircraft and guided aerial bombs, and there have been a dozen ground skirmishes.
Tens of thousands of Russian troops crossed the border into the Kharkiv region last month to capture the city. But Mr Putin, speaking in Beijing last week, said his troops had “no plans at the moment” to try to take control of the city of Kharkiv.
It comes as at least 11 people were killed and dozens more injured after Russian forces struck a bustling lakeside resort on the outskirts of Kharkiv and attacked villages in the surrounding region.
Key points
Russia loses more than 1,500 soldiers in attempt to take Kharkiv
Russian missile attack on Kharkiv resort kills at least 11
Volodymyr Zelensky calls for more Patriots and Western aid to Kharkiv
Putin has lost 493,690 troops in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion
07:15 , Arpan Rai
Russia has lost 493,690 soldiers in Ukraine since its invasion began on February 24, 2022, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said today.
Russia also lost 7,590 tanks, 14,665 armored fighting vehicles, 17,311 non-combat vehicles and fuel tanks, 12,737 artillery systems, 1,076 multiple launch rocket systems, 807 air defense systems, 354 aircraft , 326 helicopters, 10,236 drones, 27 ships and boats. and a submarine, added the staff.
The statement comes as Russian forces continue to advance into northern areas of the Kharkiv region. The Russian military said it had so far captured at least 12 villages in the region.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has previously rejected the figures provided by Ukraine, but has not shared its own estimates of human and material losses. Moscow considers this information a state secret.
Ukraine shoots down 29 drones launched by Russia in the night
06:43 , Arpan Rai
Ukrainian forces shot down all 29 drones used by Russian forces in a nighttime attack, the Ukrainian Air Force announced today.
Sixteen drones were shot down over the southern region of Mykolaiv, where debris damaged a private residence and caused a fire, the region’s governor said.
Three of the drones were shot down over the western Lviv region, with no damage reported by local authorities.
The attack also targeted the Odessa and Poltava regions with drones, in addition to attacking the Kharkiv region with an Iskander-M ballistic missile.
Russia has intensified its offensive on several Ukrainian territories as kyiv’s forces shot down all 90 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia last week, military spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy said today.
Ukraine’s divisive mobilization law takes effect
06:22 , Arpan Rai
A controversial mobilization law in Ukraine has come into force as kyiv faces a severe shortage of soldiers to fight the Russians who have launched a new offensive apparently to take the country’s second city, Kharkiv.
The law facilitates the identification of all conscripts in the country and severely punishes those who resist. It also promises conscripts incentives such as cash bonuses or money to buy a house or car that some analysts say Ukraine cannot afford.
Ukrainian lawmakers passed the mobilization law in mid-April, a week after lowering the age of men eligible for conscription from 27 to 25. The measures reflect the growing pressure put by more than two years of war with Russia on Ukrainian forces, who are trying to hold the front in fighting that has sapped the country’s ranks and reserves of weapons and ammunition.
Ukraine’s divisive mobilization law takes effect as new Russian push strains frontline troops
Ukraine and Russia exchange drone attacks as Russia continues eastward advance
05:50 , Arpan Rai
Russia said its forces shot down nearly 60 drones and several missiles over its territory overnight Sunday, while Ukraine claimed to have destroyed more than 30 Russian drones. These attacks come as the Russian army continues its new offensive in northeastern Ukraine.
Russian air defenses shot down 57 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region overnight Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Sunday morning.
Local military officials said drone debris hit an oil refinery in the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban, but there was no damage. A local media outlet, Astra, published videos showing an explosion at the refinery as it was hit by a drone. The videos could not be independently verified.
Nine long-range ballistic missiles and a drone were also destroyed over Crimea following a Ukrainian drone attack Friday morning that knocked out power in the peninsula city of Sevastopol.
Ukraine and Russia exchange drone attacks as Russia continues eastward advance
Volodymyr Zelensky calls for more Patriots and Western aid to Kharkiv
05:31 , Arpan Rai
President Volodymyr Zelensky has once again called on his Western allies to provide kyiv with additional air defense systems to protect Kharkiv and other cities.
“The world can stop Russian terrorism – and to do so, the lack of political will among leaders must be overcome,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
“Two Patriots for Kharkiv will make a fundamental difference,” he said, referring to Patriot missile defense systems. Air defense systems for other cities and sufficient support for soldiers on the front lines would ensure Russia’s defeat, the president added.
Russian missile attack on Kharkiv resort kills at least 11
05:27 , Arpan Rai
At least 11 people were killed and dozens more injured after Russian missiles struck a bustling lakeside resort on the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine, yesterday.
The missile strikes are the latest in a series of constant Russian attacks in recent weeks against the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, where Russian troops have launched an offensive.
Prosecutors said six people were killed there, one was missing and 27 were injured. Rescuers said the first strike was followed by a second strike about 20 minutes later, targeting emergency crews at the scene with a “double tap”.
Ukrainian officials said the Russian missiles were aimed at an area where there had never been soldiers.
“There were never any soldiers here,” said Yaroslav Trofimko, a police inspector who arrived after the first strike and was overtaken by the second. “It was a Sunday, people were supposed to be here to rest, children were supposed to stay here, pregnant women to rest and enjoy a normal lifestyle.”
Valentyna, 69, had blood streaming down her face in the lakeside resort where her home was destroyed and a busy restaurant nearby was destroyed. Her husband was killed near the lake, she said, pointing to an area near the shore that is now home to a crater, rubble and bodies.
“Losing my husband, losing my house, losing everything in the world, it hurts, it hurts me,” she cried while crying. “They (the Russians) are animals. Why do they need to kill people?
Russia loses more than 1,500 troops and 200 pieces of equipment in attempt to capture Kharkiv
05:06 , Arpan Rai
Russia has lost more than 1,500 troops over the past week in the bitter war in Kharkiv, as well as a large stockpile of military equipment, Ukrainian military officials said.
Last night, Russia lost 1,572 soldiers over the past seven days and 263 pieces of military equipment, including 75 drones, 66 military vehicles and eight tanks, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops have attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses using aircraft and guided aerial bombs, and there have been a dozen ground skirmishes.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the number of casualties of its troops shared by kyiv.
Thousands of Russian troops crossed the border into the Kharkiv region last month and are now engaged in a fierce war to try to capture Ukraine’s second city.
04:30 , Arpan Rai
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the war in Ukraine for Monday, May 20.
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