In Ukraine on Monday, May 16, Russian occupation forces continued slow movement forward in the epicentre of the Donbas front. Ukrainian troops have reached the international border in Kharkiv region. Europe has showed its solidary with Ukraine once more by voting Ukraine to win the Eurovision song contest. The victory has not gone unnoticed in Mariupol, where the Azovstal steel works still have not fallen to the invaders, Belarusian Nexta TV, Ukrainian public broadcaster Ukrinform and UK’s the BBC and The Guardian report.
The Ukrainian Defence Ministry stated that Ukrainian defenders of one of the Territorial Defense battalions pushed back the Russian military and reached a section of Ukraine–Russia state border.
«The 227th Battalion of the 127th Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine of Kharkiv city pushed back the Russians and reached a section of the state border,» the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.
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— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 15, 2022
Ukrainian defenders continue pursuing a successful counter-offensive north of Kharkiv towards the border with Russia.
Russian troops making gains in Donbas
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated in its report on the operational situation in the country in the 24 hours to Monday morning, that the invaders were seen using aircraft to fire on the Eastern Operational Zone and the industrial facilities in the depths of Ukraine.
«As of 06:00 on May 16, the enemy does not stop conducting offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone. The enemy focused its main efforts on Donetsk direction. In Slobozhansky direction, it tries to deter the offensive of Ukraine’s Defense Forces north of the city of Kharkiv and prevent them from reaching the state border of Ukraine. The enemy is preparing an offensive by forces amassed in the area of Izium,» the General Staff noted.
In the northern Volyn and Polissya directions, the invaders did not take active action. The Armed Forces of the of Belarus in the amount of seven battalions continued to guard the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.
In the north-eastern, Siversky direction, the Russian troops tightened control over the Ukrainian-Russian border in Bryansk and Kursk regions and conducts demonstrative activities to keep the units of Ukraine’s Defence Forces in this direction and prevent them from being transferred to the Eastern Operational Zone.
On the Donbas front, the Russian military fired artillery on civilian infrastructure in the area of Dovhenke, Ruski Tyshki, Ternova, and Petrivka localities. The invaders conducted air reconnaissance with Orlan-10 UAV.
In the eastern Donetsk direction, the Russian army fired from the full range of available weapons including aircraft to exhaust the personnel and destroy the fortifications of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the Lyman, Bakhmut, and Kurakhove directions, the invaders continued to advance, while intensive fighting continued.
In the Avdiivka direction, the Russian troops suffered losses and retreated to the previously captured positions, while in Sievierodonetsk and Novopavlivsk directions, the they did not conduct active hostilities and tried to fire on the Ukrainian positions.
In the Southern Buh direction, the invaders did not conduct active hostilities, fired on the Ukrainian forces artillery and mortars, while the Odessa region stayed safe with remaining missile threats.
Eurovision and Mariupol
In long-besieged and destroyed port city of Mariupol, the Russian forces continued massive artillery and air strikes. The main efforts of the Russian army were focused on blocking and eliminating Ukrainian units in the area of the Azovstal steel works, the Ukrainian military claimed.
On the week of Russia marking Victory Day, Ukraine has won the Eurovision song contest. Russia has not been allowed to participate in the event.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra performed its song Stefania in Italy on Eurovision final. Its lead singer Oleh Psiuk ended the performance with: «Please help Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal right now.»
The words and the victory has also been probably noticed in Azovstal, where soldiers hope for a miracle to evacuated them as they see no mercy from Russian troops and their bombs and artillery rounds.
Here is a soldier singing the chorus of Stefania in a bunker of the Azovstal, while explosions are heard.
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— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 15, 2022
Zelenskyy points to another Russian offensive coming
Ukraine is readying for a new Russian offensive in the eastern Donbas region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated.
«We are preparing for new attempts by Russia to attack in Donbas, to somehow intensify its movement in the south of Ukraine,» President Zelensky noted evening address.
See the video with English subtitles here.