The Russian attack on a residential area in Kharkiv: the number of casualties increased to 12, Sea Baby drones of the Security Service of Ukraine were equipped with Grad systems, russians are blocking the repatriation of bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
Russia’s attack on a residential area in Kharkiv: the number of casualties increased to 12
On May 22, Russian troops hit a residential area in the Shevchenkivskyi district in Kharkiv with the latest UMPB D-30 guided air bombs; twelve people were wounded.
This was reported by head of Kharkiv RMA Oleh Syniehubov. He specified, “According to early reports – with a guided munition. A civilian petrol station caught fire, and a cafe was damaged. The information about casualties is being ascertained.” Later, the mayor of the city clarified that the Shevchenkivskyi district came under attack. The trolleybus driver was severely wounded. The trolleybus itself was without passengers. Besides, a shrapnel fragment struck the windshield of the tram. The female driver got out of it at that time.”
Sea Baby drones of the Security Service of Ukraine were equipped with Grad systems
The Sea Baby marine drones of the Security Service of Ukraine, for which Ukrainians have been raised funds through the UNITED24 platform, are now equipped with Grad multiple launch rocket systems, NV sources in the SSU reported on Wednesday, May 22.
It is noted that on the night of May 21, these modified drones struck Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit.
“Today, we can confirm that the drones are equipped with the multiple launch rocket systems, and this technological solution is already showing powerful results. Therefore, new surprises are waiting for the enemy,” said an interlocutor in the SSU.
In January, the SSU Head Vasyl Malyuk informed that a Sea Baby marine drone is capable of both carrying explosives and firing.
In March, the SSU said that Ukraine had modernized its naval drones and made them “more lethal.” According to SSU General Ivan Lukashevych, now Sea Baby drones can deliver an explosive charge weighing 850 kg.
At the beginning of the year, Ukraine launched an initiative to raise funds for dozens of additional Sea Babies for the SSU. Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development, announced that Ukrainians were able to collect 297,500,000 hryvnias for 35 Sea Baby drones in two days.
Russians are blocking the repatriation of the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, – Coordination Headquarters
Bohdan Okhrimenko, the head of the secretariat of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said that the Russians delay the repatriation of the bodies of the fallen Ukrainian defenders.
This was stated by the Coordination Headquarters on Wednesday, May 22.
“All our calls to return the bodies of our defenders to Ukraine are ignored by the Russian side. An example of this is another groundless refusal of the Russian side to repatriate the remains of the fallen defenders,” Bohdan Okhrimenko noted.
The issue of handing over the bodies of Ukrainian prisoners of war who allegedly died in the IL-76 crash in late January 2024 also remains open. In reality, the Russian side once again manipulates information.
“The return of bodies for burial by family and friends is a humanitarian mission inherent in most conflicts. However, even in this matter, the opposing side cannot do without artificial barriers and politicization. Russia does not want to give rest even to the remains of its soldiers. The Coordination Headquarters is doing everything to return our fallen Heroes. At the same time, we call on the Russian side to remember universal human values. Take the bodies of your military and give them to their relatives for a proper burial,” said Bohdan Okhrimenko.
Russian Attack on Kharkiv: the dangers, the fallout, the response. Ukraine in Flames №614
In this episode of Ukraine in Flames, we discuss the recent Russian offensive on Kharkiv, the reasons, dangers, and failures behind it and what this means for Ukraine and the West in their continued fight against the Russian aggressor. Our experts tell how, as of now, the offensive doesn’t threaten too much, but the next few weeks will be crucial, and the world must continue building its military complex arsenal to meet Ukraine’s demands; otherwise, this war will spill over into Europe. Watch UIF #614 to learn more about what the new Kharkiv offensive means.
Guests:
- Archil Tsintsadze, security policy expert.
- Oleksandr Chupak, Head of Economic Programs at the Ukrainian Institute for Strategic Studies.