Because the struggle enters its 813th day, these are the principle occasions.
Right here is the scenario on Friday, Could 17, 2024.
Wrestle
- Visiting Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the scenario within the northeast was “extraordinarily troublesome” however “beneath management” after the military partially halted a Russian advance, notably thwarting an invasion of Vovchansk, 5 kilometers away ( 3 miles) from the border with Russia. .
- Sergiy Bolvinov, head of police investigations in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv area, accused Russia of taking “30 or 40” civilians captive in Vovchansk to make use of as “human shields” close to its command middle.
- Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO’s prime allied commander in Europe, mentioned he didn’t imagine the Russian army had the variety of troops wanted to make a strategic breakthrough within the Kharkiv area and was assured Ukrainian forces would maintain their traces there. .
- Ukraine’s Common Workers mentioned Russia was directing its most intense assaults on the entrance line close to the cities of Pokrovsk and Kramatorsk within the japanese Donetsk area, the place the Russian offensive has been relentless for months.
- An airstrike alert within the northeastern Kharkiv area remained in impact for greater than 16 and a half hours amid Russian drone and missile assaults. Authorities mentioned 5 drones attacked elements of the town of Kharkiv and began a fireplace. There have been no studies of casualties. The alert was lifted early Friday morning.
- Vyacheslav Gladkov, regional governor of Russia’s Belgorod area, mentioned a lady and her four-year-old son had been killed when their automobile was hit by a Ukrainian drone. Two different folks touring within the automobile had been injured.
Politics and diplomacy
- Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese language President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The 2 had conversations, walked in a park and drank tea. Xi mentioned the deepening relationship between the 2 international locations was a “stabilizing power” on the earth and that he hoped the struggle in Ukraine may very well be resolved peacefully. China has not condemned the large-scale invasion of Moscow. Putin mentioned he was grateful for China’s efforts to resolve the disaster.
- Russia expelled Adrian Coghill, the UK protection attaché, from Moscow, per week after Britain ordered Russia’s protection attaché to go away London for being an “undeclared army intelligence officer”. UK Protection Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned Moscow’s transfer was as a result of Coghill “epitomized the UK’s unwavering help for Ukraine”.
- Sri Lanka mentioned it will ship a high-level delegation to Russia to research the destiny of a whole lot of residents who reportedly fought within the Ukraine struggle. The Protection Ministry mentioned social media campaigns by way of WhatsApp have focused former army personnel with guarantees of profitable salaries and citizenship in Russia, warning its residents to not be fooled.
Weapons
- The US introduced sanctions on two Russian residents and three Russian firms for facilitating arms transfers between Russia and North Korea, together with ballistic missiles to be used in Ukraine. US State Division spokesman Matthew Miller mentioned Russia had already used at the very least 40 ballistic missiles produced by North Korea in opposition to Ukraine.
- Kim Yo Jong, the highly effective sister of chief Kim Jong Un, denied that Pyongyang was promoting weapons to Russia, saying it was a “most absurd principle,” in keeping with state media. UN observers have discovered remnants of North Korean missiles in Ukraine.
- Denmark mentioned it will ship Ukraine a brand new army assist bundle, primarily air protection and artillery, price about 5.6 billion Danish crowns ($815.47 million).