In a significant escalation of aerial warfare, both Ukraine and Russia reported intense drone activity over the past week. Russia claimed to have intercepted 3,124 Ukrainian drones, including 1,054 on May 17 alone. Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force stated it shot down 503 Russian drones and four missiles during an overnight attack that targeted areas including Dnipro, resulting in dozens of injuries.
Zelensky Reports Attack on Chinese Vessel
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia attacked a Chinese cargo ship, the KSL DEYANG, off the coast of Ukraine. The vessel was en route to load iron ore at the Pivdennyi port. The incident caused a fire but no serious damage or casualties. Zelensky suggested that Russia was aware of the ship's identity, as the attack occurred just a day before a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant at Risk
Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, warned that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is nearing a 'point of no return.' He attributed the danger to Ukrainian attacks, despite the plant being under Russian occupation since 2022. The warning has raised international concerns about nuclear safety.
Ukraine Calls for Sanctions at G7
Ukraine's finance minister, Serhii Marchenko, called for increased sanctions against Russia during the G7 meeting in Paris. He also anticipates the first disbursement of a €90 billion EU loan by early June, which would provide crucial financial support for Ukraine's war effort.
Moldova Protests Drone Violation
Moldova summoned Russia's ambassador to protest a drone that violated its airspace on May 13. The incident underscores the regional spillover effects of the conflict.
Human Cost of the Conflict
The human toll of the war was highlighted by the deaths of Maryna Homeniuk and Yurii Orlov, who were among 24 people killed when a Russian cruise missile flattened their apartment building. Ukrainian officials described the attack as the war's biggest barrage. In a separate incident, a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Belgorod region killed two people and injured two others.
