This was reported by the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov
an enemy drone of the Geran-2 type hit a non-residential building
as a result of which its roof caught fire on an area of 500 m²
18 houses and five school buses were damaged
a man was treated for acute stress reaction
the State Emergency Service clarified that on the night of March 15
Russian invaders twice attacked rescuers in Bohodukhiv as they were fighting a fire caused by a drone attack
the enemy attacked a local lyceum in Bohodukhiv using kamikaze UAVs
the invaders targeted emergency respondents
leaving some of the firefighting equipment damaged
A fire truck was damaged but no rescuers were injured and the blaze was soon put out
were injured as a result of Russian drone attacks and shelling in Kharkiv region
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Ukraine (AP) — Russia and Ukraine traded heavy aerial blows overnight Saturday
with both sides reporting more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories
Andrei Bocharov confirmed that falling drone debris had sparked a fire in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city close to a Lukoil oil refinery
Nearby airports temporarily halted flights
The Volgograd refinery has been targeted by Kyiv’s forces on several occasions since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago
Russia’s Defense Ministry said that it had shot down 126 Ukrainian drones
64 of which were destroyed over the Volgograd region
Drones were also shot down over the Voronezh
Ukraine’s air force said Saturday that Russia had launched a barrage of 178 drones and two ballistic missiles over the country overnight
The barrage was a mixture of Shahed-type attack drones and imitation drones designed to confuse air defenses
while 38 more were lost en route to their targets
said Ukraine’s private energy company DTEK
Russia struck energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions
Some residents were left without electricity
Energy workers are already working on the ground
We are doing everything possible to restore power to homes as soon as possible,” the energy firm said
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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Russia attacks Kharkiv oblast often because of its proximity to the border and the frontline. Since September, strikes on the eastern and southeastern parts of the region ramped up as Russia intensified its offensive on the Kupiansk axis.
At around 01:40 a.m., Russians attacked Bohodukhiv, injuring an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old, who got an acute stress reaction. Crushing of the Geran-2 drone, a Shahed-type drone, destroying an outbuilding, damaging five houses, a tractor, and a car.
Then, at 04:30 a.m., a Russian attack on Kupiansk, presumably from multiple rocket launchers, injured two men, 46 and 47, and the latter was hospitalized. The strike destroyed a house, garage, and damaged two residential buildings.
On Feb 13 at 2:30 p.m., Russia hit a residential neighborhood in Kozacha Lopan from artillery. The attack hit a house with an 83-year-old woman inside—the building caught fire, and the woman was hospitalized with moderate injuries.
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Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, announced this on Telegram
Russian troops struck Bohodukhiv at around 01:40
Debris from a downed Geran-2 drone destroyed a utility building and damaged five private houses
A 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy suffered acute stress reactions
likely using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS)
The attack destroyed a private home and a garage while damaging two more houses
Ukrinform reported earlier that 31 more residents had been evacuated from the Kupiansk district due to relentless Russian shelling
This was reported on Facebook by the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region
four enemy drones attacked a civilian enterprise in the city of Bohodukhiv
A large-scale fire broke out over an area of 2000 square meters
the fire was extinguished and rescue operations were completed,” the statement said
including a pyrotechnic unit and a dog training unit of the SES
three people were killed and seven others were injured
As reported by Ukrinform, on March 8, from 1:35 to 2:55, four enemy drones attacked the territory of a meat processing plant in the city of Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv region
preliminarily of three men who worked in the same shop
Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, reported this on Telegram
the occupiers struck a civilian enterprise in Bohodukhiv with a hostile drone
He said that rescuers retrieved the charred body of the deceased from the rubble and added that an examination was ongoing
Later, Syniehubov updated the situation, stating the number of casualties had risen to three
"The number of dead has increased to three
All of them were civilian men," Syniehubov wrote
Rescue operations continue at the site of the attack
This was reported by the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration (RMA), Oleh Syniehubov, in a Telegram message
“The invaders are attacking the Zolochiv community with guided aerial bombs
Russian aviation launched two strikes with guided aerial bombs on the outskirts of the village of Kalynove
one strike near the village of Karasivka and three more near the village of Sosnivka
four bombs fell near the village of Baranivka in Zolochiv community
there were no casualties,” noted the head of the RMA
As reported, on April 8, Russian invaders dropped guided aerial bombs on the Zolochiv community of Kharkiv region - an elderly woman was injured
Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, announced this via Telegram
the occupiers targeted a civilian enterprise in Bohodukhiv with an enemy drone
one person was killed," Syniehubov wrote
Rescue teams recovered the charred body of the victim from the rubble
Seven other individuals sustained injuries
and rescue operations continued at the strike site
Russian forces fired an Iskander-M missile at a critical infrastructure facility in Kharkiv
Russia has increasingly used North Korean missiles during air attacks on Ukraine
The KN-23 ballistic missiles are essentially an inferior-quality analog to Russia's Iskander-M
Why has the aggressor started using North Korean missiles more frequently
Military expert and reserve major of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Official reports of Russia using North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles against Ukraine first emerged in early January this year
Defense Express noted that the first incident involving these missiles occurred on July 31 after the pause
a KN-23 missile failed to reach its target
The next instance of these missiles being used was on August 6
when one of the North Korean missiles that fell near Brovary exploded in mid-air
The most recent KN-23 launch was directed at Bohodukhiv in Kharkiv region
Experts speculate that the adversary may have used the pause to work on improving the KN-23
Military expert Oleksii Hetman shares this view
"The first North Korean missiles used against us didn’t even reach their target
most likely because they were refining these missiles and addressing the deficiencies discovered during combat testing on our territory
they are trying again to see if these missiles can achieve their objectives," Hetman told RBC-Ukraine
He notes that it is not accurate to say that Russia is using KN-23 missiles because it lacks its own armament
regarding ballistic and cruise missiles of all types
they still have a certain reserve of missiles from the beginning of the full-scale war
This reserve amounts to no more than 15% of what they originally had
and they are unlikely to deplete it," explains Hetman
He adds that the number of Russian missiles converted into semi-ballistic ones from S-300/400 SAM systems is estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 units
It is not necessary to say that they need North Korean missiles to make a significant change
it is an agreement between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to test these missiles in combat conditions to determine what needs improvement," Hetman speculates
The expert notes that there are various estimates of how many such missiles Pyongyang might supply to the Russians
He does not exclude the possibility that it is certainly not in the tens
It could be hundreds (from 100 to 500-600 units)
He also agrees that the KN-23 is a kind of analog to the Russian Iskander-M missile but of lower quality
"The Iskander-M has decent technical characteristics
If the KN-23 missile is worse in its performance
it will be easier for us to shoot them down
any additional missiles for the Russians will be advantageous for them
But it should not be expected to make a significant difference on the front line," Hetman concluded
Back in January, the US and its allies issued a joint statement against the supply of weapons between North Korea and Russia
particularly condemning Moscow’s purchase of North Korean ballistic missiles and their use against Ukraine
it is not precisely known how many missiles and launchers Russia has received or who is servicing them—whether North Korean or Russian personnel
In addition to ballistic missiles, Pyongyang is also supplying Moscow with artillery shells
South Korea believes that the Russians might have received at least five million ammunition rounds from North Korea in exchange for technology for space satellites and conventional weapons
It should be noted that the UN Security Council has imposed an embargo on North Korea
prohibiting UN member states (including Russia) from buying or selling weapons and military equipment to North Korea
Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, announced this on Telegram
<script async src="https://telegram.org/js/telegram-widget.js?22" data-telegram-post="synegubov/13319" data-width="100%"></script>
a guided aerial bomb hit an open area on the outskirts
damaging three private homes and two outbuildings
a 51-year-old man was injured in an FPV drone attack on March 1
Syniehubov also reported that Russian forces attacked the village of Zolochiv in the Bohodukhiv district
Debris from enemy drones fell in the city of Balakliia and the village of Malyi Burluk
fragments of a Russian Geran drone damaged a high-voltage power line
In the village of Klynova-Novoselivka (Oleksandrivka)
an FPV drone strike damaged two private houses
a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) attack damaged a nine-story apartment building
the enemy did not conduct offensive operations over the past day
Russian forces attempted three assaults near Novoosynove and Zahryzove but were repelled," Syniehubov said
Click here to see ISW’s interactive map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
This map is updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report
Click here to see ISW’s 3D control of terrain topographic map of Ukraine
Use of a computer (not a mobile device) is strongly recommended for using this data-heavy tool
Click here to access ISW’s archive of interactive time-lapse maps of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
These maps complement the static control-of-terrain map that ISW produces daily by showing a dynamic frontline
ISW will update this time-lapse map archive monthly
Note: The data cut-off for this product was 12:00pm ET on May 26
ISW will cover subsequent reports in the May 27 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment
Russian forces are reportedly concentrating forces of unspecified size in western Belgorod Oblast near the border with Ukraine
likely to fix and draw Ukrainian forces to the area and prepare for offensive operations that aim to expand the Russian foothold in the international border area in northeastern Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on May 26 that Russian forces are preparing for new offensive actions and are concentrating a grouping of an unspecified size near the Ukrainian border 90 kilometers northwest of Kharkiv City.[1] Zelensky appears to be referring to the Grayvoron-Borisovka-Proletarskiy area in western Belgorod Oblast
and ISW has observed satellite imagery of the area that suggests that Russian forces have expanded activities at depots and warehouses in settlements in the area in recent weeks.[2] The current size of the possible Russian force concentration in the Grayvoron-Borisovka-Proletarskiy area remains unclear
Ukrainian State Border Service Representative Andrei Demchenko stated on May 26 that Russian forces may launch offensive operations into Sumy Oblast or areas of Kharkiv Oblast bordering Sumy Oblast in order to stretch and fix Ukrainian forces further along the international border area in northeastern Ukraine.[3]
The Grayvoron-Borisovka-Proletarskiy area would notably offer Russian forces opportunities to launch offensive operations to the south in the direction of Zolochiv and Bohodukhiv
two Ukrainian towns northwest of Kharkiv City within 25 kilometers of the international border
or to the west in the direction of settlements along the P-45 highway that connects Bohodukhiv with Sumy City
Russian forces could pursue offensive operations in either one or both directions
and the Russian concentration here could be intended to cause Ukrainian forces to commit manpower and materiel to a wider section of the border in Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts
Russian forces are also concentrating limited forces in Kursk and Bryansk oblasts close to the border with Sumy Oblast
even at the upper limit of its reported end strength
will lack the necessary manpower needed to conduct a successful operation to envelop
Western officials continue to publicly debate Ukraine's right to use Western-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia amid Russian efforts to persuade the West to continue its self-imposed limitations and divide the NATO alliance
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated during an interview with The Guardian published on May 25 that Poland supports Ukraine's right to strike military targets within Russia and that the West must stop "constantly limiting" its support for Ukraine.[6] Sikorski noted that Russia continues to strike civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and that Europe must improve its ability to "play the escalation game..
by keeping Putin guessing." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated on May 26 that Ukraine should only use Italian-provided weapons within Ukraine
and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that there is "no reason" to lift the West's restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons to strike within Russia as Germany's restrictions "work."[7] Chairperson of Ukraine's Permanent Delegation to NATO's Parliamentary Assembly Yehor Chernev insinuated that the White House is reviewing its policy restricting Ukraine's ability to strike targets in Russia with US-provided weapons
Sikorski also insinuated during his May 25 interview that US officials have threatened to strike Russian military concentrations and frontline positions in Ukraine if Russia uses tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine
which prompted a response from Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev who threatened that a US strike against a Russian target in Ukraine would "start a world war."[10] Medvedev denied that the US has issued such a threat
and threatened that Poland would "get its share of radioactive ash" if NATO places tactical nuclear weapons in Poland
Medvedev issued this threat on his English language X (formerly Twitter) account
suggesting that his statements are meant for an international audience
Medvedev may be attempting to single out Sikorski's statements as escalatory in order to drive a wedge between Poland and other NATO member states
Russian officials will likely continue to demand that the West respect arbitrary "red lines" on Western support for Ukraine in the face of continual Russian war crimes and aggression
particularly as the West continues to debate allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike targets in Russia
Russia's defense industrial base (DIB) will reportedly manufacture and refurbish three times as many artillery shells as the West will produce in 2024
although Russian shells reportedly suffer from quality-control issues and Ukrainian artillery is reportedly more precise than Russian artillery
citing open-source research from US-based consulting firm Bain & Company
reported on May 26 that Russian DIB producers will likely be able to manufacture and refurbish 4.5 million artillery shells in 2024 compared to 1.3 million artillery shells that the US and European countries will collectively produce in 2024.[11] Sky News reported that it costs Western countries about $4,000 to produce one NATO-standard 155mm shell – although this price "significantly" varies depending on the country of production – while it costs Russia about $1,000 to produce one 152mm shell
The report does not make clear if the dollar value comparison between the price to produce one shell accounts for the difference in purchasing power parity between Western countries and Russia
A Ukrainian artillery battery commander operating in northern Kharkiv Oblast told Sky News that Russian forces operating in this area have a five-to-one artillery shell advantage but noted that Ukrainian forces can "completely destroy" a target using one to three shells
Ukrainian and Western officials and several Russian milbloggers previously stated that Ukrainian artillery is more precise than Russian artillery despite the fact that Russian artillery supplies greatly outnumber those of Ukrainian forces.[12] Russian milbloggers recently complained that the amount of gunpowder in Russian artillery shells widely varies
causing artillery systems to perform inconsistently.[13] The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) reported in March that Russia currently has about three million rounds of old artillery ammunition in its stockpiles
but that much of it is in poor condition.[14] RUSI and other Western analysts also assessed that Russia’s current domestic ammunition production is not sufficient for its war in Ukraine
so Russia will likely continue relying on supplies from partners.[15] Ukraine's Main Military Intelligence Deputy Chief Major General Vadym Skibitskyi reported in February that Russia had imported about 1.5 million rounds of ammunition from North Korea
but that about half of the munitions did not function and the other half required restoration or inspection before use.[16]
Kremlin officials continue to indicate that Russia is not interested in meaningful negotiations with Ukraine and promote Kremlin information operations that aim to push the West to make concessions on Ukraine's sovereign territory and people
Chairperson of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin claimed on May 26 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky violated the Ukrainian constitution by "canceling" elections and is not the legitimate leader of Ukraine.[17] Volodin alleged that Zelensky therefore has no right to make official decisions
Volodin claimed that Ukraine "ceased to exist as a rule of law state" in 2014 and that "any agreements with an illegitimate president are invalid and may be challenged in the future." Volodin's statements are in line with multiple longstanding Kremlin narratives about Ukrainian electoral law and Ukraine's legitimacy over the past decade
Putin claimed on May 24 that the Ukrainian parliament and constitutional court need to examine the Ukrainian constitution to determine the legality of officials remaining in office past their stated terms.[18] The Ukrainian law defining martial law
which Ukraine has been under since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022
clearly states that "conducting elections of the President of Ukraine" is "prohibited in the conditions of martial law."[19] The Kremlin has also consistently promoted narratives that the Ukrainian state and government lost its legitimacy
and independence as a result of the EuroMaidan movement in 2014.[20] Volodin's May 26 statement suggests that Russia does not consider any agreements it made with Ukraine since 2014 as valid and that Russia will likely also not respect any future agreements it makes with the current Ukrainian government
including any possible future negotiated settlement
The Kremlin has repeatedly promoted information operations that aim to persuade the West to make concessions on Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty.[21] Any negotiated settlement that does not directly involve the legitimate government of Ukraine would be ignoring Ukraine's sovereignty as an independent state
We do not report in detail on Russian war crimes because these activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting
We will continue to evaluate and report on the effects of these criminal activities on the Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian population and specifically on combat in Ukrainian urban areas
We utterly condemn Russian violations of the laws of armed conflict and the Geneva Conventions and crimes against humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Kharkiv Oblast (Russian objective: Push Ukrainian forces back from the international border with Belgorod Oblast and approach to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City)
Ukrainian forces reportedly recently regained positions near Lyptsi (north of Kharkiv City) amid continued fighting in the area on May 26
but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline
Russian forces continued offensive operations near Vovchansk (northeast of Kharkiv City) on May 26
but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline in the area
Voloshyn stated that Russian infantry units are conducting assaults in Vovchansk but that Ukrainian forces are pushing Russian forces out of unspecified positions.[25] Fighting also continued within Vovchansk and west of Vovchansk near Starytsya.[26] Elements of the Russian 138th Motorized Rifle Brigade (6th Combined Arms Army [CAA]
Leningrad Military District [LMD]) reportedly continue operating within Vovchansk.[27]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Luhansk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast)
Russian forces recently advanced northwest of Svatove and continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove line on May 26
Geolocated footage published on May 26 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced into southeastern Ivanivka (northwest of Svatove).[28] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces seized Berestove (northwest of Svatove) and Russian milbloggers continued to claim that elements of the Russian 26th Tank Regiment (47th Tank Division
Moscow Military District [MMD]) seized Ivanivka
Russian forces also continued offensive operations northeast of Kupyansk near Synkivka; east of Kupyansk near Petropavlivka; west of Svatove near Myasozharivka; and southwest of Svatove near Novoyehorivka
and Druzhelyubivka.[32] Elements of the Russian 752nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (3rd Motorized Rifle Division
MMD) are reportedly operating near Novoyehorivka.[33]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kreminna area on May 26 but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline
Russian forces continued offensive operations northwest of Kreminna near Nevske; west of Kreminna near Terny and Torske; and south of Kreminna near the Serebryanske forest area and Bilohorivka.[34]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #3 – Donetsk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast
the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas)
The Ukrainian General Staff reported on May 26 that Russian forces continued ground assaults in the Siversk direction near Verkhnokamyanske (southeast of Siversk).[35]
Russian forces continued offensive operations near Chasiv Yar on May 26
Russian forces recently marginally advanced southwest of Avdiivka amid continued fighting in the area on May 26
Geolocated footage published on May 26 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced within the western outskirts of Netaylove (southwest of Avdiivka)
Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced 1.9 kilometers in depth west of Umanske (west of Avdiivka) and gained a foothold on the outskirts of Novopokrovske (northwest of Avdiivka)
although ISW has not observed confirmation of these claims.[42] Russian forces continued assaults northwest of Avdiivka near Arkhanhelske
and Semenivka; west of Avdiivka near Yasnobrodivka; and southwest of Avdiivka near Nevelske.[43]
Russian forces recently marginally advanced west of Donetsk City amid continued fighting in the area on May 26
Geolocated footage published on May 25 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced during a roughly platoon-sized mechanized assault within central Krasnohorivka (west of Donetsk City)
and a Russian milblogger claimed that elements of the Russian 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st DNR AC) advanced up to 400 meters within Krasnohorivka (west of Donetsk City).[44] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced near Paraskoviivka (southwest of Donetsk City)
but refuted claims about the Russian seizure of the settlement as premature.[45] Russian forces continued assaults west of Donetsk City near Heorhiivka and southwest of Donetsk City near Pobieda
and Vodyane.[46] Elements of the Russian 110th Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st DNR AC) are reportedly operating near Krasnohorivka.[47]
Russian forces continued assaults in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area on May 26
including southeast of Velyka Novosilka near Volodymyrivka and south of Velyka Novosilka near Urozhaine and Staromayorske.[48]
Russian Supporting Effort – Southern Axis (Russian objective: Maintain frontline positions and secure rear areas against Ukrainian strikes)
Positional fighting continued in western Zaporizhia Oblast on May 26 but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline
Positional fighting occurred near Robotyne
and northwest of Robotyne near Novoandriivka.[49] Russian sources also claimed that elements of the Russian 19th Motorized Rifle Division (58th Combined Arms Army [CAA]
Southern Military District) attacked Ukrainian positions in the Vasylivka direction (west of Robotyne along the Kakhovka Reservoir).[50] Elements of the Russian 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment (42nd Motorized Rifle Division
SMD) are reportedly operating west of Robotyne.[51]
Positional fighting continued in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast
on May 26.[52] Ukraine's Southern Operational Command Spokesperson Captain Third Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk stated that Ukrainian forces maintain their limited tactical bridgehead in Krynky but that logistics across the Dnipro River are difficult.[53] A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces remain within Krynky and also hold positions on Milkyi and Frolova islands in the Dnipro River Delta.[54]
Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted missile strikes against Russian targets in occupied Crimea on the night of May 25 to 26
A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces launched an unspecified number of R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles against unspecified targets in occupied Crimea
and another milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces launched an unspecified number of ATACMS missiles.[55] Sevastopol occupation governor Mikhail Razvozhaev announced air raid alerts on the evening of May 25 but did not provide further comments.[56] A Russian milblogger claimed that residents heard explosions near Sevastopol and that Russian air defenses were activated near Yevpatoria
and Chornomorske.[57] Russian and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the reported strikes and ISW has not observed evidence of the reported strikes causing damage to Russian targets
and Drone Campaign (Russian Objective: Target Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure in the rear and on the frontline)
Russian forces conducted a series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of May 25 to 26
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk stated that Russian forces launched 31 Shahed-136/131 drones from Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Yeysk
Crimea; two Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from MiG-31 aircraft; and 12 Kh-101/555 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS aircraft.[58] Oleshchuk reported that Ukrainian forces shot down all 12 Kh-101/555 missiles and all 31 drones over Mykolaiv
Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Ilya Yevlash stated that Russian forces targeted critical energy infrastructure and military facilities.[59] Russian sources claimed that Russian forces struck Ukrainian energy and military facilities in Starokostyantyniv
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported on May 26 that Russian forces have launched about 10,000 glide bombs at Ukraine since the start of 2024.[61]
Russian Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts (Russian objective: Expand combat power without conducting general mobilization)
Former Wagner Group fighters reportedly continue to form new units under Rosgvardia and Chechen Akhmat Spetsnaz
A Russian insider source claimed that a former Wagner Group commander with the call sign "Zombie" is hoping to recruit about 3,500 former Wagner personnel for the newly formed "Vostok" volunteer reconnaissance assault brigade under Rosgvardia.[62] The insider source also claimed that there are about 1,000 former Wagner fighters in the "Kamerton" detachment under the Chechen Akhmat Spetsnaz
The insider source later claimed that an unspecified source refuted some of these initial claims.[63] The source reportedly claimed that "Zombie" will be unable to recruit 3,500 personnel to the "Vostok" brigade and that the "Kamerton" detachment had no more than 150 former Wagner fights but "died as a combat unit," forcing its personnel to move to the newly formed "Kashtan" unit
Ukraine-based open-source organization Frontelligence Insight reported that Russian cruise missile manufacturer Raduga has been able to bypass US sanctions and import Western and Chinese machinery since 2022.[64] Frontelligence analyzed documents that the Ukrainian Cyber Resistance group obtained and found that Raduga's Plan for Technical Modernization and Reconstruction for 2023 listed equipment from Italian
Frontelligence stated that other documents showed that Raduga had successfully implemented part of these plans on time
suggesting that Raduga had purchased some of the foreign equipment
if Raduga purchased this equipment from third parties or countries but assessed that in some cases
Raduga likely dealt directly with the company
Russian Technological Adaptations (Russian objective: Introduce technological innovations to optimize systems for use in Ukraine)
Ukrainian Defense Industrial Efforts (Ukrainian objective: Develop its defense industrial base to become more self-sufficient in cooperation with US
ISW is not publishing coverage of Ukrainian defense industrial efforts today
Activities in Russian-occupied areas (Russian objective: Consolidate administrative control of annexed areas; forcibly integrate Ukrainian citizens into Russian sociocultural
ISW is not publishing coverage of Russian-occupied areas today
Russian Information Operations and Narratives
A Kremlin-awarded Russian milblogger continued efforts to claim that officials from the ruling Georgia Dream party are not pro-Russian.[65] Kremlin and Georgia Dream officials have both recently promoted established Kremlin information operations
Russian milbloggers responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's interview on May 25 with several Central Asian journalists with claims that the West is trying to destabilize Russia and the former Soviet space
One milblogger claimed that Ukraine is trying to open a second front against Russia in Central Asia and implied that the West is involved in this effort.[67] Another milblogger claimed that American non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were involved in the interview and are engaged in subversive activity in Central Asia.[68]
Significant activity in Belarus (Russian efforts to increase its military presence in Belarus and further integrate Belarus into Russian-favorable frameworks and Wagner Group activity in Belarus)
Belarusian Gomel Oblast Executive Committee Chairperson Ivan Krupko and Russian Altai Krai Governor Viktor Tomenko met on May 26 to discuss strengthening cooperation.[69]
Note: ISW does not receive any classified material from any source
and Western reporting and social media as well as commercially available satellite imagery and other geospatial data as the basis for these reports
References to all sources used are provided in the endnotes of each update
[1] https://www.president.gov dot ua/news/mi-ne-hochemo-shob-tak-samo-yak-ci-knizhki-zgoriv-statut-oon-91137
[2] Commercially available satellite imagery via Planet Labs PBC
[3] https://www.rbc dot ua/rus/news/dpsu-otsinili-situatsiyu-kordoni-sumskiy-1716727096.html
[5] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-25-2024
[6] https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/25/poland-foreign-minister-radoslaw-sikorski-long-term-rearmament-europe
[7] https://www.ukrinform dot ua/rubric-polytics/3868094-v-uradi-italii-proti-togo-sob-ukraina-zavdavala-udariv-po-teritorii-rf-zahidnou-zbroeu.html ; http://www.ansa dot it/sito/notizie/mondo/2024/05/25/stoltenberg-via-il-divieto-a-kiev-contro-obiettivi-in-russia_ab49272c-c2a6-409d-9d35-d26134fc0204.html ; https://www.tagesschau dot de/newsticker/liveblog-ukraine-sonntag-430.html#Scholz
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[30] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/69064 ; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/11116 ; https://t.me/z_arhiv/26916
[31] https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/17910 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/69048 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/69064 ; https://t.me/motopatriot/23305
[32] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0mWesNKDhBqREqjXKnVAkFVhbZjC3ShrgLjkwq8t5AfQrESPvzmUUxLYn49PVJeCBl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0FQGtwTFddWAZfCa1szKcVuvQToHS8X4dG4SfXF7XtFewTJWp3jKBQFRhFMvuTHcKl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0386Y8if5kh8G7QZDccFZC2mJpBuW51oninnoAwHWw2SSmG4BkQnpw3XDZZpdFEeV9l ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0aptMxB6gh2GTxuQ3sLah1JMxtiB3nP2ERHALejmdv4ozVM7zRXNVus2mGuUzszj8l
[33] https://t.me/tass_agency/250930 ; https://t.me/tass_agency/250936
[34] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0386Y8if5kh8G7QZDccFZC2mJpBuW51oninnoAwHWw2SSmG4BkQnpw3XDZZpdFEeV9l ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0aptMxB6gh2GTxuQ3sLah1JMxtiB3nP2ERHALejmdv4ozVM7zRXNVus2mGuUzszj8l;
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[36] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/11117 ; https://t.me/motopatriot/23314 ; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/124933
[38] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0FQGtwTFddWAZfCa1szKcVuvQToHS8X4dG4SfXF7XtFewTJWp3jKBQFRhFMvuTHcKl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0aptMxB6gh2GTxuQ3sLah1JMxtiB3nP2ERHALejmdv4ozVM7zRXNVus2mGuUzszj8l ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0337tsy1KR1kNqKYFCSkR7npKnwHdkUsfbyh2PPRoQ9yEA7Xn9jjb2JX6NLiWygvVtl ; https://t.me/dva_majors/43588 ; https://t.me/wargonzo/20149 ;
[39] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/69037 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/69061
[40] https://t.me/wargonzo/20156 ; https://x.com/AMK_Mapping_/status/1794683123915268326 ; https://t.me/notes_veterans/17369 ; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/124933 ; https://t.me/motopatriot/23335 ; https://t.me/motopatriot/23328; https://t.me/motopatriot/23338 ; https://t.me/z_arhiv/26919 ; https://t.me/wargonzo/20156 ; https://t.me/sashakots/46960; https://t.me/RtrDonetsk/24815; https://t.me/basurin_e/11603
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[55] https://t.me/rybar/60395 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/43580 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/43588
[56] https://t.me/razvozhaev/6560 ; https://t.me/razvozhaev/6561
[58] https://t.me/ComAFUA/298 ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0iyf47XM3bsASSj4j957TLNtck5YYEbTP26yq1yJTpa86DdsDfaSukR7KFyH9vrPsl
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[60] https://t.me/motopatriot/23323; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/124917 ; https://t.me/milinfolive/122944 ; https://t.me/milinfolive/122945; https://t.me/basurin_e/11600
[61] https://www.facebook.com/rustemumerov.ua/posts/pfbid02i9VcpvcGkz3ss6Jck5DbQtAw4t9tA6rDbSxuJPKZBii2MKm5Mw4nLpYoLBvSNrgBl
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A man was killed and a woman injured in the Kharkiv region due to a Russian attack. The city of Kupiansk and the village of Ivashky, located near the border, were targeted in the attacks, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office
the Russian military carried out an artillery shelling of Kupiansk
"The shell hit a private residential area: a 58-year-old woman suffered an acute stress reaction," the statement said
part of the Zolochiv united territorial community in the Bohodukhiv district
an enemy FPV drone struck a 24-year-old man riding a scooter at the time
The victim died on the spot as a result of the drone attack
"Despite the challenging security conditions
are taking all necessary measures to document the war crimes committed by Russian servicemen," the regional prosecutor's office stated
Under the procedural guidance of the Kupiansk and Bohodukhiv district prosecutors
pre-trial investigations have been initiated into the war crimes (Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)
the Operational and Strategic Group of Troops Khortytsia reported that the Russian army has intensified its offensive on the Kupiansk direction
with occupiers attempting to break through at several points
Russian forces are continuously attacking Kupiansk
with an increase in the intensity of their attacks on the city
Russian forces attacked Kupiansk in Kharkiv region using multiple rocket launchers (MLRS)
marking the second such strike on that day
During Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022
the city was temporarily occupied by Russian forces
Additionally, on April 19, Russia used 10 KABs (air bombs) for shelling Kupiansk, including the rare ODA-1500 (a blast-wave bomb). The strikes resulted in five people being injured
Russians hit the building of the Ukrainian post office
A 57-year-old woman and a 49-year-old man are in the hospital with concussions
As Oleh Syniehubov reported
Russia has conducted 2,500 attacks on civilian targets and critical infrastructure in the Kharkiv Oblast
Russian army strikes the towns and villages of the region with S-300 missiles
which they have been using more actively since the end of March
the Russian military has shelled settlements of Bogodukhiv
Izyum and Kupyansk districts of Kharkiv region
There was a fire on the territory of the meat processing plant
there was a fire in the forestry area in the village of Kruhlyakivka
Kozacha Lopan Kharkiv district damaged private houses
warehouses and economic structures of civil enterprises were damaged
police continue to document the consequences of enemy shelling
Russian troops have been shelling the territory of the region
the investigators opened criminal proceedings under Art
438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Violation of the laws and customs of war”
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