Ukraine Prepares For Attack From Belarus Border

“Ukrainian forces have built a new line of defenses along the country’s previously unfortified northern border with Belarus amid signs of another attack,” British newspaper The Guardian reports. “Russian forces invaded Ukraine through the Belarusian border in February when they tried to capture the capital, Kyiv. On 10 May, Belarus’s army chief, Viktor Gulevich, announced the deployment of Belarusian special forces and equipment in response to what he described as a “southern threat” from Ukraine and NATO. Belarus has been conducting military drills on its border with Ukraine since early May,” the paper relates.

(Photo credit should read Hennadii Minchenko/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Ukraine and Poland Agree Joint Customs Control

On Sunday, Ukraine and Poland agreed to establish joint customs control dealing with the movement of people and goods. Many Ukrainians fleeing the war have exited through the Poland border; presently, the Polish government has authorized rights to remain and access benefits to around three million people. The two nations are also working together on a rail project that seeks to increase import trade.

Russian Soldier Pleads Guilty to War Crimes

The first Ukrainian war crimes trial since Russia invaded the country has its first conviction. a 21-year-old Russian prisoner pleaded guilty to shooting an unarmed 62-year-old civilian in Ukraine’s Sumy region on the fourth day of the war. He now faces a life sentence. When asked by the victim’s widow why he came to Ukraine, he answered: “We were ordered to come with the column, what will follow I did not know.” He said that he acknowledges his fault and feels shame for what has happened. “I understand that you will not be able to forgive me,” the captured soldier said in court, “but I am sorry.”

(Photo by Andriy Dubchak/ dia images via Getty Images)

Switzerland to Reopen Embassy in Kyiv

The Swiss embassy in Kyiv has been closed for two and a half months, but will be reopening soon, according to a statement from the Swiss department of foreign affairs. Five Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) staff members will return to the city over the next few days, the statement read.

Russian Attacks on Donetsk Destroys Civilian Infrastructure

The town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region is seeing increased attacks from Russian missiles and artillery, according to Ukrainian officials. Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the regional military administration, reported another airstrike on the town, where some 20,000 of the original population of 73,000 people still live. The increased attacks have devastated the civilian infrastructure of the city, making life even more dangerous for those remaining. “Once again, I ask everyone who has the opportunity to leave the Donetsk region. Now there are no absolutely safe places in Donetsk region,” Kyrylenko announced.

(Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Ukraine Hopes to Exchange Russian POWs For Mariupol Steel Mill Defenders

“Ukrainian fighters extracted from the last bastion of resistance in Mariupol were taken to a former penal colony in enemy-controlled territory, and a top military official hoped they could be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war. But a Moscow lawmaker said they should be brought to ‘justice,’” the Associated Press reports. “The Russian parliament planned to take up a resolution Wednesday to prevent the exchange of Azov Regiment fighters, who held out for months inside the Azovstal steelworks plant while Mariupol was under siege, according to Russian news agencies,” AP writes.

Finland And Sweden Submit NATO Applications

(Photo by Chen Jing/Xinhua via Getty Images)

On Wednesday morning, both Finland and Sweden submitted their official applications to join NATO in response to Russian aggression. Their applications have been warmly welcomed by the international community. However, for the process to be successful, it requires the agreement of every member state, and it is possible Turkey could block Finland’s bid. The decision to join will almost certainly anger Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Combat Mission Over in Mariupol

Ukrainian military forces holed up in a steel plant in the coastal city of Mariupol have completed their “combat mission” according to military authorities. Hundreds of people were evacuated from the area under an agreed ceasefire marking a significant blow to Ukraine’s hopes of retaining the territory. “Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said regarding the evacuation. “The 82nd day of our defense is coming to an end. A difficult day. But this day, like all others, is aimed precisely at saving our country and our people,” Zelensky declared.

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Senate Advances $40 Billion Ukraine Aid Package

“The Senate overwhelmingly voted to move toward passage of $40 billion in aid to Ukraine, underscoring the broad Republican and Democratic support for the country as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion,” Bloomberg News reports. “Monday’s 81-11 procedural vote sets up Senate passage of the legislation as soon as Wednesday if all lawmakers consent to waive rules on debate. That would send it to President Joe Biden for his signature if no changes are made,” the news service states.

Potential Russian Withdrawal: Reports from inside Kharkiv suggest that Russian forces are pulling out of the area and back across the Russian border. A lieutenant on the ground theorized: “There is less shelling from the Russians… We think they are retreating.” However, he worried that the loss of face for Putin might be too much, saying, “Putin will never forgive us. It will be difficult for him to explain to the Russian people why his special operation is over.”

Decimated Russian Forces: According to British military intelligence analysis, Russia has lost roughly a third of its engaged forces so far. “Despite small-scale initial advances, Russia has failed to achieve substantial territorial gains over the past month whilst sustaining consistently high levels of attrition,” the Defence Ministry noted. “Russia has now likely suffered losses of one third of the ground combat force it committed in February.”

Sergey Lavrov Photo by Russian Foreign Ministry / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Seeking Other Alliances: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov this weekend said that his nation is looking to cement alliances with other states as sanctions and global condemnation continue to bite. He pointed out that “The collective West has declared total hybrid war on us and it is hard to predict how long all this will last but it is clear the consequences will be felt by everyone, without exception.” It is expected that these alliances will include China, India, and others.

Mariupol’s Azovstal Evacuation

According to a Ukrainian officer inside the facility, it is believed that all civilians who were sheltering in the Azovstal steel plant of Mariupol have been evacuated. However, the officer added that it’s difficult to make a full assessment of the situation across the entire plant due to the constant bombardment from Russian forces.

(Photo by Victor/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Ukraine Offers Russia an Exchange

Ukraine has offered to release Russian prisoners of war in exchange for Russia allowing the injured Ukrainian soldiers in the Azovstal plant to safely evacuate. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna announced the offer Wednesday, but added that no agreement has yet been made. 

The Growing NATO?

As much as Vladimir Putin doesn’t want NATO to grow around his borders, the invasion certainly seems to be having that effect. Finland’s leaders announced they are in favor of applying to NATO, and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said the nation would be “warmly welcomed” into the alliance. Sweden could very well be next, as Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Thursday that they would “take Finland’s assessments into account.” Ukraine itself still expects to join NATO at some point, as Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna has tweeted about her expectation that Ukraine may be granted candidate country status at some point in June.

House Greenlights Additional $40 Billion in Aid to Ukraine

On Tuesday, the House approved a $39.8 billion aid package for Ukraine. It passed in a 368-57 vote. The legislation includes up to $6 billion for security assistance, such as training, equipment, and weapons. It also includes $900 million for refugee support services like housing, language classes and trauma services.

Belarus to Deploy Special Forces

Belarus announced that it was deploying special operation troops in three significant areas along its borders, although stressed that it was not taking part in Vladimir Putin’s “operation” in Ukraine. President Alexander Lukashenko said that NATO forces on his borders have more than doubled in the last six months, and that the deployment of his troops was in reaction to this.

Odessa Under Fire

Reports of heavy shelling by Russian forces in the southern port city of Odessa say that a number of buildings are in ruins. Early intel suggests that one person has been killed and several more were injured in the blast. In a Facebook post, the Ukrainian military said that seven rockets hit a shopping center and a depot.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron (Photo by Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Macron Calls For New European Political Entity

French President Emmanuel Macron tacitly proposed a new type of “political European community” that would allow membership from other nations such as Britain and Ukraine. He said that Ukraine’s desire to join the EU would take several years and suggested this would an interim solution. “Ukraine by its fight and its courage is already a heartfelt member of our Europe, of our family, of our union,” Macron asserted. “Even if we grant it candidate status tomorrow, we all know perfectly well that the process to allow it to join would take several years indeed, probably several decades.”

Sixty Feared Killed as Ukraine School Is Bombed

Up to 60 people are feared to have been killed when a bomb struck a village school in eastern Ukraine, according to the regional governor. “Luhansk region Governor Serhiy Gaidai said the school in Bilohorivka, where about 90 people were sheltering, was hit on Saturday by a Russian bomb. He said “There is almost no hope that anyone survived. The aerial bomb exploded in the middle (of the building) … In the school, there were approximately 90 people, 27 were rescued. About 60 people were probably killed.”

(Photo by Alex Chan Tsz Yuk/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Ukraine Troops Retreat from Key Areas

“Ukrainian troops retreated from the eastern Ukrainian city of Popasna, the governor of Luhansk region said on Sunday, confirming previous reports that it had been taken,” Reuters reports. This comes as Russian troops continue their push against Ukraine’s eastern flank. Chechnya’s Ramzan Kadyrov confirmed that troops under his command had taken control of Popasna.

G7 Commits to Phasing Out Russian Oil Imports

The Group of Seven (G7) on Sunday agreed to begin phasing out all imports of Russian oil. “We commit to phase out our dependency on Russian energy, including by phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil. We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion,” G7 leaders wrote in a statement. This announcement came as President Biden unveiled further sanctions against three Russian television stations.

Ukrainian Railroad Rolls On: Despite intense attacks from the Russians, Ukrainian Railways continues to operate. The Lviv power station was bombed Wednesday morning, and was one of six railway facilities in central and western Ukraine targeted by Russian forces this week, according to Ukrainian Railways Chairman Olexander Kamyshin. The coordinated attack knocked out power in parts of the region temporarily, and more than 40 trains were delayed. Water pumping stations were disrupted as well. However, contingency plans already in place were executed, and the water supply was not significantly impacted.

(Photo by Vladimir Shtanko/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Belarus Prepares for War: Belarus announced it was beginning combat-readiness drills Wednesday, saying the purpose of the exercise was to “assess the readiness and ability of personnel to quickly respond to possible crises.” Belarus insisted there was no threat to its European neighbors, but many are concerned the Russian ally might join the war effort to take northern Ukraine – or, at the very least, act to divert Ukrainian forces away from Donbas, giving Russia the region. The UK Defence Ministry said Thursday that land forces have been observed deploying from garrisons to the field for exercises. This is in line with season norms as Belarus enters the culmination of its winter training cycle in May – but few have forgotten that the Russian invasion began as a training exercise, as well.

Mariupol Down: Russia fired rockets at the steel plant in Mariupol which is believed to be the final hold-out of Ukrainian troops in the area. The attack came after a number of civilians were evacuated from the plant under a UN-backed ceasefire agreement. Reports suggest that there are still numerous civilians in the surrounding tunnel complexes and bunkers.

Azovstal steelworks in the industrial city of Mariupol. (Photo by Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

An Insult to Israel: Prominent world leaders have joined together to condemn Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for suggesting that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had Jewish blood. During his nightly briefing, President Zelensky said that “these words mean that Russia’s top diplomat is blaming the Jewish people for Nazi crimes.” “This means that the Russian leadership has forgotten all the lessons of World War Two,” he lamented.

Ukraine has formally closed four sea ports along the Black Sea and Azov Sea that are now controlled by Russian forces. The Ministry of Agriculture announced that the ports of Mariupol, Berdiansk, Skadovsk, and Kherson were closed “until the restoration of control.” “Russia does not let ships come in or go out, it is controlling the Black Sea,” Ukrainian President Zelensky told Australian 60 Minutes. “Russia wants to completely block our country’s economy.”

Limited Embargo

The European Union is reportedly willing to allow two of its member states to opt-out of the proposed embargo on Russian oil. Hungary and Slovakia are both heavily reliant on Russian exports, and it seems the EU Commission is concerned that without the full slate support required for its ban, it will not be able to implement its proposals. Agreement from all member states is required on such decisions; by offering an exemption, the EU hopes it can pass its plans.

(Photo by Ukrainian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Awarding Pelosi

President Zelensky gave Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi the Order of Princess Olga award following her visit to Kyiv. Pelosi and several congressional members met with the Ukrainian president this weekend in the capital city. “We discussed how we can strengthen sanctions on Russia in a way that most effectively encourages it to end the war and limits Russia’s ability to circumvent existing and future sanctions,” Zelenskyy said. “I felt the support of our initiatives.”