Ukrainian forces are closing in on Kherson, the army says. Ukraine claims to regain ground in this region of southern Ukraine, in Russian hands since the start of the invasion on February 24. “Kherson, hold on, we’re close!”, said the Ukrainian General Staff on its Facebook page. In its update, published on the night of Sunday May 29 to Monday May 30, the Ukrainian army claims to advance towards the villages of Andriyivka, Lozove and Bilohirka. On Monday morning, an army bulletin stated that the Russian forces had brought special forces to Mikolaiv, the neighboring town, “with the intention of carrying out offensive actions to recover lost positions”. Follow our live.
Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the Twenty-Seven. The Ukrainian president will speak on Monday by videoconference at the start of the European summit, devoted to the situation in Ukraine, issues of energy independence, food security and defence. New sanctions against Moscow are on the menu for this meeting on Monday and Tuesday.
The Ukrainian leader visits Kharkiv on Sunday. For the first time since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Volodymyr Zelensky went to Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, on Sunday. “We will defend our land until the end. They have no chance”, did he declare. The Ukrainian president went to meet soldiers on the ground, visiting the rubble of destroyed buildings. The city’s security chief was sacked because he “did not work for the defense of the city”, announced Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Russian army continues its advance in the Donbass. Russian forces, which retreated from the Kharkiv region, continued their advance this weekend towards the key cities of Severodonetsk, relentlessly shelled, and Lyssychansk, its twin city, in the Donbass. “On the Donetsk side, the aggressor is focusing on offensive operations to encircle our troops in Lysychantsk and Severodonetsk”assures the Ukrainian army in its bulletin Monday morning.