Day 95 of war in Ukraine: Counterattacks in south, Zelenskyy visits Kharkiv, Eurovision award sold for USD 900 000

On Monday, May 30, Ukraine reported of continued counteroffensives in the southern part of the frontline, where Russia has been trying to amass its troops and equipment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited a frontline area in the north-east, while Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra have sold their award in an auction to buy drones for the Ukrainian army, Ukrinform, Nexta TV and BBC report.
The American Institute for the Study of War has pointed to a successful limited counterattack by Ukrainian forces in the south. The operation has taken place on Saturday, May 28, the border between the regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv and it has forced Russian troops onto the defensive.
The Southern Operational Command Centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that over the past 24 hours dozens of Russian troops and a large number of military equipment has been eliminated.
«The situation in the southern direction is dynamic and tense. The enemy continues to amass reserves and build defensive lines in Kherson region. Not far from Kherson, equipment is being unloaded: about 120 T-62 tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles have been accumulated for several days to strengthen enemy positions. Tank positions are being set up in the area of Nova Kakhovka and Stepanivka,» Ukrinform quoted the Southern Operational Command Centre as writing.
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Meanwhile, Ukrainian units continued taking offensive actions and measures to constrain and hamper the movement of reserves.
The invaders have been noticed trying to conduct reconnaissance with an Orlan-10 drone resulting in it being downed.
Ukraine’s missile and artillery units in cooperation with the air force eliminated 67 invaders, six T-62 tanks, two Grad multiple rocket launchers, three Msta-S self-propelled howitzers, three armoured personnel vehicles, and 13 vehicles. One reconnaissance control point and a command post of one of the enemy units had been destroyed, according to the Southern Operational Command Centre, which did not reveal possible losses on its side.
«In the Black Sea, a ship group of enemy forces continues to pose a threat of a missile attack on the territory of Ukraine. Despite the announced initiatives to organize humanitarian corridors to resume shipping, the «ruscists» do not take measures to demine the sea, which once again emphasizes the falsity of their declared intentions,» claimed the Ukrainian military, as quoted by Ukrinform.
Zelenskyy visits Kharkiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made his first visit outside the Kyiv Region since Russia started the invasion on February 24. On Sunday, May 29, he visited troops in the Kharkiv region, on north-eastern front line, BBC reports.
Zelensky said soldiers as he presented them with awards: «I want to thank each of you for your service.» He also dismissed the te local security chief of the Security Service of Ukraine for «not defending» the city.
«In this war, the occupiers are trying to squeeze out at least some result,» Zelensky stated later. «But they should have understood long ago that we will defend our land to the last man. They have no chance. We will fight and we will definitely win.»
Watch Zelenskyy’s latest video address in Ukrainian with English subtitles.
Kalush Orchestra sells Eurovision award to support army
Ukrainian ethno-rap band Kalush Orchestra, the winners of the recent Eurovision Song Contest, have sold their Eurovision trophy at a charity auction. The top bid was USD 900,000 (EUR 838,440) and the band has stated that the money would be used to buy three drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.