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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• Russia Taking Command of Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine Officials Concede VOA 31 May 2022 -- Russia has taken control of half or more of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk that plays a pivotal role in Moscow's attempt to capture the industrial Donbas region, the city's mayor and a Ukrainian regional governor acknowledged Tuesday.
• The operational update regarding the russian invasion on 18.00 on May 31 2022 Ukraine MOD 31 May 2022
• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 31.05 Ukraine MOD 31 May 2022
• The operational update regarding the russian invasion on 06.00 on May 31 2022 Ukraine MOD 31 May 2022
• Russia takes control of half of key city in east Ukraine Press TV 31 May 2022 -- Russian forces have taken partial control over a key industrial city in eastern Ukraine, as they continue an unrelenting push deeper into the Donbass region.
• Russian Troops Control Most Of Syevyerodonetsk, Eastern Ukrainian Regional Official Says RFE/RL 31 May 2022 -- The head of the Luhansk regional military administration says Russian troops control most of the city of Syevyerodonetsk but fears that Ukrainian forces will be surrounded are unfounded.
• UN In Talks On Ukrainian Grain As Kyiv Accuses Russia Of Playing 'Hunger Games' By Blocking Exports RFE/RL 31 May 2022 -- The United Nations says a senior UN official had "constructive discussions" in Moscow on facilitating Russian grain and fertilizer exports to global markets after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of "playing hunger games" with the world by blocking Ukrainian food exports.
• 600 Russians Suspected of War Crimes, Says Ukraine's Top Prosecutor VOA 31 May 2022 -- Ukraine's top prosecutor says she has identified more than 600 Russians suspected of war crimes.
• Two Russian Soldiers Handed Lengthy Prison Terms In Ukraine For Attacks On Civilian Targets RFE/RL 31 May 2022 -- A court in Ukraine's northeastern town of Kotelva has sentenced two Russian soldiers to 11.5 years in prison each after finding them guilty of violating the rules of war.
• Ukraine Court Sentences 2 Russian Soldiers for Shelling Civilians VOA 31 May 2022 -- A Ukrainian court sentenced two Russian soldiers to 11½-year prison terms on Tuesday after they had pleaded guilty last week to indiscriminately shelling civilian targets in the Kharkiv region, from across the border in Russia.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon in Contact With Moscow to Avoid Escalation in Ukraine, Chiefs of Staff Head Milley Says Sputnik 31 May 2022 -- The United States sees risks of the Ukraine crisis escalating and is working to prevent it, including through contacts with Russian military chiefs, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said.

Foreign Policy

• Putin, Erdogan discuss situation in Ukraine over phone People's Daily 31 May 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine during a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at a joint news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Manama, May 31, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 31 May 2022
• Telephone conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev President of Russia 31 May 2022 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the Azerbaijani side's initiative.
• Russia Sanctions Seen Loosening Moscow's Grip on Central Asia VOA 31 May 2022 -- Russia's influence in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia is expected to decline as its overstretched military struggles in Ukraine and its economy suffers shocks from the sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies, according to experts.
• EU leaders agree on sixth package of sanctions against Russia Finnish Government 31 May 2022 -- At the special meeting of the European Council, which began on 30 May in Brussels, the EU leaders agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. The leaders were joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via video conference for a discussion at the beginning of the meeting. Finland was represented at the meeting by Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
• EU leaders agree to partially ban Russian oil imports, says Charles Michel People's Daily 31 May 2022 -- EU leaders agreed on Monday night to ban "more than two thirds" of Russian oil import to the bloc, President of the European Council Charles Michel tweeted, referring to the move as a maximum pressure on Russia to end the conflict.
• EU leaders strike deal to ban majority of Russian oil imports over Ukraine war Press TV 31 May 2022 -- The European Union leaders on Monday struck a deal to ban the majority of Russian oil imports over Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, which is now into its fourth month.
• Borrell Says EU Sanctions Will Force Russia To Sell Oil At A Lower Price RFE/RL 31 May 2022 -- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the bloc's sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which include major cuts to Russian oil imports to the bloc, will not only impact the amount of crude Moscow will sell abroad, it will also force down the price it can ask.
• U.S. Hails EU Compromise On Russian Oil Sanctions, Urges Less Reliance Over Long Term RFE/RL 31 May 2022 -- The United States has hailed a European Union decision to scale back Russian oil imports but said more needs to be done over time to lessen reliance on Russian energy.
• Russia's Gazprom to stop gas supply to Netherlands People's Daily 31 May 2022 -- Russia's energy company Gazprom is set to halt its gas supply to the Netherlands from Tuesday after the latter refused to pay in roubles, Dutch gas company GasTerra said Monday.
• Netherlands Becomes Latest Country To Be Cut Off From Russian Gas Over Payment System RFE/RL 31 May 2022 -- Russian energy concern Gazprom says it has cut off gas supplies to the Netherlands after the country's gas trader GasTerra, refused to adopt a new payment system required by Russia's government that forces all payments to be made in rubles through a special account system.
• Czechs Summon Russian Ambassador Over Embassy's Real Estate Dealings RFE/RL 31 May 2022 -- Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky has summoned Russia's ambassador to Prague over the Russian Embassy's usage of real estate in the European Union country.

News Reports

• Navalny Says Faces New Charge That Carries 15-Year Sentence RFE/RL 31 May 2022 -- Jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny says he has been informed by investigators that he faces new charges for "creating an extremist group" in connection with his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and groups associated with it.
• Kremlin Critic Navalny Says He Is Facing New Charges VOA 31 May 2022 -- Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, who is in prison in Russia, could face 15 more years under a new charge, he said Tuesday.