WAR IN UKRAINE: May 29, 2023
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 460
Russian missiles have hit Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, following two nights of heavy drone strikes. They were all reportedly shot down and there are no reports of casualties. Flaming debris from the intercepted missiles landed in residential areas in central Kyiv. Russia has launched 16 air attacks on the Ukrainian capital this month. The latest, however, was unusual because it took place during the day - and seemed to be targeted at the city centre. All other air assaults on the capital so far in May have taken place at night and appeared to be directed at critical national infrastructure and air defences on the outskirts. Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat said that Iskander ballistic missiles were used in the latest attack and that it was possible S-300 and S-400 missiles had also been fired. According to reports, only one person was injured and all missiles were destroyed by Ukrainian air defences. Russian authorities claimed all their targets had been hit. Air raid sirens reportedly also rang out across several other Ukrainian regions. Local military commanders in Kyiv accused Russia of changing its tactics and deliberately targeting the civilian population. It certainly appears that Moscow wants to step up its pressure on Ukraine even further ahead of any counter-offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday submitted a draft resolution to his country’s parliament to impose sanctions on Iran for 50 years, following a massive Russian attack using Iranian-made drones on the war-torn country overnight.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily address Sunday that the overnight attack ranked as “one of the largest attacks by Shahed drones…Almost all of them were shot down. Unfortunately, there are hits in Zhytomyr region,” he added, referring to a northern region bordering Kyiv.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is claiming victory in the Turkish election. With counting ongoing, official results have him on around 53% of the vote. His secular rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, is on around 47%. Erdogan's supporters are celebrating, and some foreign leaders have sent congratulations
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said, in an interview with the Russian state-controlled TASS news agency, that Ukraine must recognize the "new territorial realities," meaning it should give up Russian-occupied territories. President's Office Head Andriy Yermak said Kyiv would not hold any peace talks with Russia as long as Russian troops are on Ukrainian territory - Kyiv Independent
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the pledged delivery of fighter jets by some Western states is an "unacceptable escalation," criticizing the West for what he called an attempt to "weaken Russia," according to Russian state-controlled media. "It's playing with fire," Lavrov said, as quoted by Russia's Foreign Ministry. Some Western countries have expressed willingness to train Ukrainian pilots on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, while others have said they are willing to provide them, following U.S. President Joe Biden's green light for NATO allies to supply Ukraine with them. However, Ukraine’s allies have yet to decide which country will provide the jets, how many, and when - Kyiv Independent