Note: This page is an archive of events related to the Russian war on Ukraine from May, 2022. The situation in Ukraine is very serious. If the subject brings up questions or worries for you, be sure to discuss them with an adult you trust.
Monday, May 30, 2022
Last Friday, Russian soldiers took control of the town of Lyman where important railway lines come together. That leaves Severodonetsk as the key city in Luhansk that is still under Ukraine’s control. Russia has been pounding Severodonetsk almost without stop for a long time. The city’s mayor describes it as being “completely ruined” from all the bombing.
Russia’s forces are hoping to completely surround the Ukrainian soldiers in Severodonetsk. Violent fighting has broken out between the two armies in the streets of the city. As many as 13,000 civilians are still believed to be in the city. Most of them are hiding out in basements, hoping to avoid the violence.
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Russia has been pounding Severodonetsk almost without stop for a long time. The city’s mayor describes it as being “completely ruined” from all the bombing. Now there is violent fighting between the two sides in the streets of the city.
Ukraine is working to take back Kherson. The southern port city was one of the first cities that fell to Russia. If it can reclaim the city, Ukraine will also make it hard for Russian forces to move supplies. Ukraine was waiting on Western weapons before it began its attack to take back Kherson. Many of those weapons have now arrived.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine is losing between 50 and 100 soldiers a day in the war. Some people believe the numbers are higher than this. But the attack on Ukraine has also cost Russia and its army greatly. Outside military experts believe that Russia has lost more soldiers since the war started in late February than it did during 10 years of fighting in Afghanistan.
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Russia has increased its attacks on the eastern Ukrainian Donbas regions. The Russian attacks have become so intense that Ukrainian forces have been pushed back in some areas. Ukraine says that right now Russia has the “upper hand”.
Russian soldiers are working to take over an area where important railway lines come together. Taking control of this area could make it far easier for Russia to take over Severodonetsk. Severodonetsk is a key city that Russia has been pounding constantly for days. Taking it would basically bring the entire province of Luhansk under Russian control.
But Russia is suffering losses, too. Using weapons supplied by Western countries, Ukraine has been able to destroy hundreds and hundreds of Russian tanks.
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Russia is suffering losses, too. Using weapons supplied by Western countries, Ukraine has been able to destroy hundreds and hundreds of Russian tanks. Above, a destroyed tank near Kyiv.
Now Russia has lost so many tanks that it is starting to bring older models of tanks out of storage. Ukraine reports that it has now seen Russia using T-62 tanks. That’s a model of tank that Russia first used in 1961.
Turkey is talking with both Russia and Ukraine about allowing grains (like wheat) to be safely moved out of Ukraine. There is growing concern about a global shortage of food, largely because of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia are large producers of wheat.
Turkey would like both countries to allow the 20 million tons of grain currently being stored in Ukraine to be moved out of the country safely so it can be sold to countries that need it.
Monday, May 23, 2022
Russian forces are pounding the city of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine. The city, which is home to 100,000 people, is the largest city controlled by Ukraine in Luhansk province. Taking the city seems to be an important part of Russia’s effort to capture the Donbas region.
The governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Gaidai, says that Russian soldiers have been hitting Severodonetsk with heavy weapons almost constantly. He says the city may soon be cut off, since all of the bridges into the city have been destroyed, except for one.
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Russian forces are pounding the city of Severodonetsk. It’s the largest Ukrainian-controlled city in Luhansk province. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai says Russian soldiers have been hitting Severodonetsk with heavy weapons constantly. Above, Severodonetsk on May 21.
Ukraine is asking outside countries to increase their sanctions on Russia. Ukraine would like the European Union (EU) to completely ban Russian oil. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says the EU spends about $1 billion on Russian oil and gas daily, which he says helps Russia’s war efforts. Though many EU leaders want to ban Russian oil, several EU countries, especially Hungary, have so far kept this from happening.
The first Russian soldier accused of war crimes during the current war on Ukraine has been sentenced to life in prison by a Ukrainian court. The 21-year-old soldier was found guilty of killing an unarmed civilian on a bicycle.
The United Nations says that over 6.5 million Ukrainians – mainly women, children, and older people – have left Ukraine since the start of the war. Most of these refugees have gone to Poland.
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Russia says that 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers who have been living under the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol for weeks have surrendered. On Wednesday, Russia said that at least 900 of the soldiers had been sent to a prison in Olenivka, Ukraine. At least 80 others were reported to have been taken to the hospital. It’s not known where the rest of the soldiers are.
There are some concerns for the safety of the soldiers. Some experts believe that Russia will want to make an example of them. The International Red Cross has been collecting information about the soldiers in order to help keep track of them as prisoners of war.
With the surrender of the Azovstal soldiers, the city of Mariupol – largely destroyed by over 80 days of bombing – is now under the control of Russian forces.
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Russia says that 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers who have been living under the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol for weeks have surrendered. The city of Mariupol – largely destroyed by over 80 days of bombing – is now under the control of Russian forces (above).
The US Senate has approved a $40 billion plan to support Ukraine. US President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill. The massive aid package will include weapons and other kinds of support for Ukraine. Advanced weapons from the US and other Western countries have made a big difference in Ukraine’s recent efforts at pushing back Russia’s attacks.
The World Bank says it will put $30 billion toward food projects designed to make up for shortages caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has ended the shipment of almost all grains (like wheat) from both Russia and Ukraine. This has left countries that depend on those supplies with huge shortages.
Monday, May 16, 2022
Over 260 Ukrainian soldiers, many of them wounded, have been allowed to safely leave the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, where they have been living underground for weeks. Ukraine’s military leaders ordered the soldiers in the Azovstal steel factory to stop fighting. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Ukraine needs its Ukrainian heroes alive.” It’s expected that Ukraine will release captured Russian soldiers in exchange for getting its soldiers out safely.
It’s unclear how many Ukrainian soldiers remain in the steel plant, or when and how they might finally leave. That will mark the end of one of the longest and deadliest battles of the war. Ukraine says tens of thousands of people in Mariupol have died. Finally taking control of Mariupol will be a big victory for Russia. Mariupol is an important part of a Russian plan to connect up areas of Ukraine that it controls.
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Ukraine has been pushing back against Russian forces in and around Kharkiv. Ukraine reports that Russian forces near Kharkiv have been forced to pull back to the Russian border. Above, a Ukrainian soldier looks at a damaged bridge near Kharkiv.
In recent days, Ukraine has been pushing back against Russian forces in and around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city. Their efforts appear to have been successful. Ukraine reports that Russian forces near Kharkiv have been forced to pull back to the Russian border. The news will be very encouraging for Ukraine’s military, showing that it can take back land that has been taken over by Russia.
That could become important in the future, as Ukraine considers its next moves. Russia’s efforts in eastern Ukraine are not going the way Russia had hoped. Many military experts believe that Russia may soon have a difficult time continuing its attacks. If that happens, Ukraine will have to think carefully about when and how it tries to take back land it has lost.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Russia’s recent attack on eastern Ukraine seems to be going more slowly than expected. Russian forces have only taken a few miles worth of land in the last few weeks. After doing poorly in northern Ukraine, Russia is taking it slowly. But Russia is also facing challenges, like spring mud and soldiers who won’t follow orders to fight.
That doesn’t mean things are easy for Ukraine. Russia’s weapons are better than the ones Ukraine is using now. Ukraine is waiting eagerly for better weapons that have been promised from Western countries. These could help even the battle.
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Russia’s recent attack on eastern Ukraine seems to be going more slowly than expected. Still, Russia’s weapons are better than the ones Ukraine is using now. Ukraine is waiting for better weapons from the West. Above, a Ukrainian soldier on a tank being moved in eastern Ukraine.
On Thursday, Finland’s leaders said that Finland should join NATO “without delay”. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has also been considering joining NATO, and is expected to announce a similar decision soon.
Russia has said that if Finland joins NATO, Russia will take steps to “balance the situation”. One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reasons for attacking Ukraine was his concern over the strength of NATO in Europe. Now his invasion itself seems to be making NATO stronger.
Monday, May 9, 2022
Ukraine’s government says that all of the women, children, and older people who were hiding out in the Azovstal steel factory in Mariupol have now been taken to safety. Ukrainian soldiers are still trapped in the tunnels under the huge factory. They have very few supplies and conditions are extremely difficult. But so far the soldiers have refused to surrender to Russian forces.
On Saturday, Russian forces led a bombing attack on a school in Luhansk. Ninety people were taking shelter in the school. It’s believed that as many as 60 of them died in the attack.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech on Monday, a day that is celebrated as ‘Victory Day’ in Russia because it marks the day Nazi Germany was defeated during World War II (above). Mr. Putin compared Russia’s fight against Ukraine to the fight against Nazi Germany.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech on Monday, a day that is celebrated as ‘Victory Day’ in Russia because it marks the day Nazi Germany was defeated during World War II. Mr. Putin compared Russia’s fight against Ukraine to the fight against Nazi Germany. Many people had expected Mr. Putin to announce a change to the way Russia is fighting its war, but that didn’t happen.
While Mr. Putin was giving his speech, one of Russia’s top news websites, Lenta.ru, published several articles criticizing Mr. Putin and Russia’s war on Ukraine. The articles were the work of two reporters at the website who felt they could no longer stay silent about Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The articles were quickly taken down. The reporters are no longer working at the website.
Foreign leaders continue to make visits to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. On Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited. As part of his visit, Mr. Trudeau reopened Canada’s embassy in Ukraine.
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On Sunday, First Lady Jill Biden – the wife of US president Joe Biden – made a surprise visit to Ukraine. She met with Olena Zelenska (above), the wife of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Also on Sunday, First Lady Jill Biden – the wife of US president Joe Biden – made a surprise visit to Ukraine. She met with Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Earlier in her trip, Ms. Biden traveled to Romania, where she met with the first lady, and Slovakia, where she met Slovak President Zuzana Caputova.
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Russia is increasing its attacks on railway lines and storage areas in Ukraine. Russian forces are hoping to make it much harder for Ukraine to use the weapons and other supplies it has been given by Western countries.
Russia hit over 40 different military targets across Ukraine on Tuesday, including weapons storage buildings and six train stations. Russian bombs also took out power stations in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, leaving parts of the city in darkness.
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Russia hit over 40 different military targets across Ukraine on Tuesday, including weapons storage buildings and six train stations. Russian bombs also took out power stations in the western city of Lviv, leaving parts of the city in darkness (above).
Ukraine says that over 150 people have been safely evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. For weeks, Ukrainian soldiers and civilians had been hiding out in tunnels under the factory in terrible conditions. Russia began bombing the factory again almost as soon as the civilians had left. Roughly 200 civilians and hundreds of soldiers are still trapped in the steel factory.
On Wednesday, the European Union (EU) announced plans to ban Russian oil by the end of the year. The plan will still need to be approved by all of the EU’s 27 member countries. Many EU countries depend heavily on oil from Russia, so following through on the ban will be a real challenge. The EU plans to end the use of Russian oil in several steps to make sure that the ban causes as few problems as possible.
Sunday, May 1, 2022
Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the US House of Representatives visited Kyiv over the weekend, where she met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders. Several other members of Congress made the trip with her. Ms. Pelosi is the highest level representative of the US government to visit Ukraine since the war began. Ms. Pelosi said the trip was designed to send the message that “America stands firmly with Ukraine.” After leaving Ukraine, Ms. Pelosi and the others visited Poland.
Ukraine claims that its forces have retaken four villages near Kharkiv that used to be under Russian control. Ukraine says a Russian missile has ruined the runway of the city of Odesa’s main airport. Mr. Zelensky says that Ukraine will rebuild the airport, but that “Odesa will never forget Russia’s behavior towards it.”
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Nancy Pelosi (in blue), the leader of the US House of Representatives visited Kyiv, where she met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (center, left). Several members of Congress made the trip with her. Ms. Pelosi said the trip sends the message that “America stands firmly with Ukraine.”
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine – held in internet video meetings – have continued for weeks, but without much progress. Ukraine says Russia’s violent acts towards its civilians makes it difficult to make progress on peace talks. Russia claims that Western military support for Ukraine is making the talks more difficult. The last time the two sides met in person was on March 29.
For more background and earlier reports on the situation in Ukraine, see these articles:
• Russia’s War on Ukraine – April, 2022 Archive
• Russia’s War on Ukraine – March, 2022 Archive
• Companies Protest Russia’s War on Ukraine
• Fighting Continues In Ukraine, Despite Peace Talks
• Russia Continues Attack on Ukraine
• Russia Invades Ukraine, World Leaders Condemn Attack
• Russia ‘Recognizes’ Areas of Ukraine, Sends Soldiers
• Will Russia Invade Ukraine? Talks Could Lower Tensions
• Biden & Putin Meet Over Tense Ukraine Situation
Note: The situation in Ukraine is very serious. If the subject brings up questions or worries for you, be sure to discuss them with an adult you trust.