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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The operational update regarding the russian invasion on 18.00 on May 20, 2022 Ukraine MOD 20 May 2022
• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 20.05 Ukraine MOD 20 May 2022
• The operational update regarding the russian invasion on 06.00 on May 20, 2022 Ukraine MOD 20 May 2022
• Russia Claims Capture of Ukraine's Mariupol, Ramps Up Assault in East VOA 20 May 2022 -- Russia claimed Friday to have captured Ukraine's southern port city of Mariupol, after the last Ukrainian fighters holed up in the city's steelworks plant surrendered.
• Russia Ramps Up Assaults in Eastern Ukraine VOA 20 May 2022 -- Russia stepped up its assault on eastern Ukraine Friday, using artillery, rocket launchers, and aircraft to pound the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, destroying houses in residential districts and killing a number of civilians, according to Ukrainian civilian and military officials.
• Russia Claims All Ukrainian Troops Out Of Steelworks In Mariupol RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- Russian troops are in full control of the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol and all Ukrainian fighters that had been holed up there have surrendered, the Russian Defense Ministry says, as Moscow intensifies its assault on eastern Ukraine.
• Russia says 771 more Ukrainian soldiers surrender at Azovstal steel plant People's Daily 20 May 2022 -- Russia said Thursday that a new batch of 771 Ukrainian soldiers blocked at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol have surrendered over the past 24 hours.
• Ukraine orders troops holed up in Mariupol's Azovstal to stop fighting Press TV 20 May 2022 -- Kiev has ordered the remaining Ukrainian soldiers still holed up in the blockaded Azovstal steel plant in the southern port city of Mariupol to stop fighting, as Russia continues to make advances in its military operation in eastern Ukraine.
• Joint statement on Ukraine's application against Russia at the International Court of Justice Germany Federal Foreign Office 20 May 2022 -- Statement on behalf of Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, European Union
• 'I Did Not Want To Kill,' Russian Soldier Tells War Crimes Trial RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- A Russian soldier on trial for committing a war crime in Ukraine has told the court in his final statement that he didn't want to kill an unarmed civilian as his unit moved through a small village in the north of the country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Russian, U.S. military chiefs discuss Ukraine over phone People's Daily 20 May 2022 -- Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley held a phone call on Thursday to discuss issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Ukraine.
• Facts about Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian, U.S. military chiefs discuss Ukraine over phone People's Daily 20 May 2022 -- The following are the latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine:
• Security Council meeting President of Russia 20 May 2022 -- Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Russian Federation Security Council via videoconference. The meeting agenda included ways to improve the security and stability of the state's information infrastructure.
• Shoigu Says Russia To Strengthen Its Western Defenses In Response To NATO Growth RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says Moscow will create new military bases in its western regions and form 12 new units and divisions in response to Sweden and Finland's move to join the NATO military alliance.
• Russian Duma Mulls Scrapping Upper Age Limit Of 40 For Military Enrollment RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, says it will discuss a draft bill that would remove the upper age limit and allow anyone over the age of 18 to sign up for the military, a possible sign that Moscow has suffered heavy personnel losses in its war against Ukraine.

Foreign Policy

• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions at a news conference following talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali Abdoulaye Diop, Moscow, May 20, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 20 May 2022
• Russia taking 'countermeasures' against Finland, Sweden joining NATO, cuts gas flows to Helsinki Press TV 20 May 2022 -- Moscow is set to take "adequate countermeasures" to oppose military threats near its western borders posed by Finland and Sweden's NATO membership, says Russia's defense minister.
• Russia To Cut Gas Flow To Finland Over Refusal To Pay In Rubles RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- Russia's Gazprom has informed Finland it will cut the flow of natural gas from May 21, the Finnish state-owned gas company Gasum said, after the wholesaler refused to pay in rubles.
• Finland's Gasum Announced Gas Supplies From Russia to Stop Early on Saturday Sputnik 20 May 2022 -- Gas supplies from Russia to Finland will stop at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Finland's Gasum said on Friday.
• Russia cuts natural gas supplies to Finland - situation under control Finnish Government 20 May 2022 -- On 20 May 2022, Gazprom Export informed the energy company Gasum Oy that natural gas deliveries to Finland under Gasum's supply contract will be cut on 21 May 2022 at 7.00 am. The reason for the cut is that Finland has not agreed to pay in rubles for pipeline gas supplies.
• Leasing of LNG terminal ship will ensure sufficient gas supply in Finland Finnish Government 20 May 2022 -- Gasgrid Finland Oy and US-based Excelerate Energy, Inc. signed a ten-year lease agreement for the LNG terminal ship Exemplar on 20 May 2022. The vessel will safeguard Finland's security of supply and help Finland meet its gas needs in the event that imports of Russian pipeline gas are shut down.
• Despite Doomsday Predictions, Bulgaria Proves There Is Life After Russian Gas RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- Shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his country's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, debate heated up in the European Union over how and when to end the bloc's dependency on Russian natural gas and oil.
• Condemnation of Russia, Council of Europe's priorities, assistance for Ukraine - Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting concludes in Turin Council of Europe 20 May 2022 -- At the end of a meeting where the consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine figured high on the agenda, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe's 46 member States decided today that the organisation should not emerge weakened from the crisis but, on the contrary, strengthened.
• Hungary Proposes Embargo on Maritime Shipments of Russian Oil, Foreign Minister Says Sputnik 20 May 2022 -- Hungary is proposing to impose an embargo on maritime deliveries of Russian oil instead of onshore deliveries, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said.
• Joint statement on Ukraine's application against Russia at the International Court of Justice Germany Federal Foreign Office 20 May 2022 -- Statement on behalf of Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, European Union
• Canada Slaps New Sanctions On Russian Oligarchs, Including Formula One Driver Mazepin RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- Canada has announced new sanctions on 14 Russians - including Formula One race-car driver Nikita Mazepin - and a ban on the importing and exporting of certain luxury goods from Russia in response to what it called President Vladimir Putin's "continued aggression" against Ukraine.

News Reports

• This Is Not Just 'Putin's War' And Russians Should '100 Percent' Feel Guilty: A Veteran Russian Analyst Pulls No Punches RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- Vladislav Inozemtsev is a Russian academic and the director of the Moscow-based Center for Research on Post-Industrial Studies. In a wide-ranging interview with RFE/RL's Georgian Service, the veteran analyst discusses the health of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whether Russians should feel collective guilt, and predicts how the Putin regime will end.
• Navalny Allies Urge U.S. Lawmakers To Spread Pain Of Sanctions To Mid-Level Russian Politicians RFE/RL 20 May 2022 -- Members of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's team were in Washington on May 19 to urge lawmakers to impose sanctions over the war in Ukraine to include figures lower down Russia's political ranks.
• Russian Finance Ministry Paid Coupon on Eurobonds Maturing in 2026, 2036 in Dollars, Euros Sputnik 20 May 2022 -- The Russian Finance Ministry has paid the coupon on sovereign Eurobonds maturing in 2026 and 2036 in dollars and euros in full, the ministry said in a statement.