War

More than 3,000 convicts have already applied for parole in order to join the Army ranks in Ukraine. That’s according to Deputy Minister of Justice Olena Vysotska, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "This is more than 3,000 people. This is what we foresaw before the law passed parliament. It cannot be said that all 20,000 people we had in our outlook as the entire potential will ultimately join. During the previous polls, about 4,500 expressed such will. Now these numbers will fluctuate..." Vysotska said, answering the question of how many applications for…

Ten Ukrainian servicemen underwent F-16 fighter jet maintenance training in the Netherlands. This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to the Dutch Ministry of Defense. "Ten Ukrainian servicemen have undergone training in the Netherlands in the maintenance of F-16 fighters. The Netherlands agreed to provide Ukraine with at least 24 F-16s. They also need to be maintained and serviced," the report reads. It is noted that the Ukrainians were trained in the maintenance of all parts critical for a fighter pilot. It is about the helmet, oxygen systems, and parachutes. Read also: New satellite imagery shows two MiG-31s, one Su-27…

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group have allocated a total of $95 billion in military support to Ukraine, and promised that the United States, for its part, will continue to provide regular aid packages to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He stated this in his opening remarks at the beginning of the Ramstein meeting on Monday, Ukrinform's own correspondent reports. "Our fellow Contact group members continue to step up to meet Ukraine's most urgent needs. Together they have now committed more than $95 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start a Putin…

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday, May 20, launched the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, delivering a traditional opening speech. This is already the 22nd meeting in the so-called Ramstein format, this time is being held in video conference mode, Ukrinform's own correspondent reports. "We’re meeting at a moment of challenge. Putin's invaders have launched another offensive onto sovereign Ukraine territory. And the Kremlin's forces will try to make further advances in the weeks ahead and try to carve out a buffer zone along the Ukrainian border," the head of the Pentagon noted. Read also: Ukraine's…

British Defense Minister Grant Shapps has published a list of weapons and equipment that the country has donated to Ukraine as military aid over the past three weeks. Shapps reported this on X, Ukrinform saw. "The world cannot wait, Ukraine needs us to step up so they have what they need to push Putin back," the head of the British defense ministry emphasized. In the list of aid he published, he recalled 80 missiles for air defense already transferred to Ukraine, out of the 100 set to arrive by the end of May; more than 20 demining systems; 30 pallets…

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen announced on Thursday a new package of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 750 million. That’s according to MFA Denmark’s press service, Ukrinform reports. "Pleased to announce a new military support package to Ukraine worth 750 million EUR bolstering their air defense and artillery. Denmark also looking into opportunities for investing in Ukraine’s defense industry," Rasmussen said. He noted that Denmark “stands firmly” with Ukraine and its people. Read also: Head of Zelensky’s Office, Denmark’s PM talk defense aid to Ukraine As Ukrinform reported earlier, the chief of the Ukrainian President's…

President of Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine says several additional Patriot air defense systems are needed to protect Kharkiv from Russian attacks. He said this in an interview with the ABC News, whose crew accompanied the Ukrainian head of state during a visit to one of the hospitals in Kharkiv, Ukrinform reports. “The situation is very serious. We cannot afford to lose Kharkiv. (..). All we need are two Patriot systems. Russia will not be able to occupy Kharkiv if we have those," Zelensky emphasized. According to the president, over the past few days, hundreds have died or been injured amid…

French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu vowed a new batch of Aster missiles for the SAMP-T air defense system already deployed in Ukraine. The minister spoke at a hearing of the National Assembly, Ukrinform reports, referring to Le Monde. "I have just signed the documents regarding the second batch of Aster missiles, which will allow the SAMP-T medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems that we have transferred together with our Italian partners to continue operations," the minister said. Neither the number of missiles nor the delivery schedule has been disclosed. Recently, France has stated that it is channeling efforts to halve…

A batch of modern Sentinel 830R RHIB boats will be part of the $100 million military aid package to Ukraine announced by the Australian government in April. That’s according to the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia, Vasyl Miroshnychenko, who reported the news via X, Ukrinform saw. While in Hobart, in addition to delivering talks at Tasmanian Club and Royal United Services Institute, I was also able to inspect the boats which are manufactured for Ukraine at the innovative Tassie company Sentinel. They were included in the latest package of assistance from… pic.twitter.com/bhqnu01Ex0 — Vasyl Myroshnychenko (@AmbVasyl) May 15, 2024 "I…

In the Bakhmut sector, the Defense Forces destroyed seven units of enemy equipment with drones. The Department for Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. "In the Bakhmut direction, the Achilles combat UAV company of the 92nd Ivan Sirko Separate Mechanized Brigade hit 7 units of enemy equipment with FPV drones," the report says. The Ukrainian defenders destroyed an S-60 cannon, Ural 4320, Ural, Kamaz vehicles, a D-30 howitzer, a BTR-D, and a 2s3 Akatsiya self-propelled gun. In addition, three occupiers were killed and wounded.…