News Today May 16, 2023, Russia, Ukraine Updates
This morning, May 16, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United Kingdom for a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The United Kingdom had delivered “Storm Shadow” cruise missiles to Kyiv, Ukraine to assist in the war effort. The United Kingdom is in support of Zelensky as his efforts for a highly-anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces mount. An announcement is expected soon with regard to more defense missiles in the “hundreds” to be sent for military support in Ukraine. Zelensky continues to travel through the European allies in search of support. In the past week he has met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, and the Italian prime minister and Pope Francis in Rome.
This past weekend it has been reported that Russian forces have a huge setback with four of its aircraft apparently being shot down within its own territory. The incident occurred within the region of Bryansk, and a Russian media outlet says that at least two combat aircraft – a Su-34 and a Su-35 – and two Mi-8 helicopters crashed. Ukraine has not yet confirmed taking any action against Russian Air Forces in this regard. To clarify, the area of Bryansk is on the border with Ukraine. Kyiv has been blamed for previous attacks in this location.
Yuriy Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman, reported that a Russian “strike air group attacked Ukraine from the north, from Bryansk Oblast. They do this almost every day. They carry out strikes with guided bombs.” He said, “They ran into some trouble. They wanted to bomb our civilians, our peaceful people.” He went on to call it a “black day” for Russian aviation.
Social media videos and credit to CNN report multiple crashes within the region of Bryansk. In addition, at least one helicopter crashed near the town of Klintsy in Bryansk, which is 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Video footage shows an aircraft came down in a column of black smoke, geolocated to a village in Bryansk some 25 kilometers from Klintsy. The Governor of Bryansk, Aleksandr Bogomaz, confirmed that a helicopter had crashed, injuring one civilian. No other information was forthcoming. Interestingly, TASS, the official Russian news agency published a video of an explosion in mid-air and confirmed that a Su-34 fighter had crashed. The news agency did not indicate a cause for the incident.
Unofficial Russian sources have reported Ukraine has detailed intelligence about the planned Russian mission. This would be of major concern to Russia as the loss of four aircraft was over Russian territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to offer foreigners Russian citizenship for signing into military service. Signatures assuring service "for a period of one year" can now apply for citizenship through a simplified procedure. These updated rules extend the eligibility for simplified citizenship to family members of military personnel.
As of Monday morning, May 16, 2023, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced the first batch of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) has been received to deploy near the Russian border. “Today we are accepting HIMARS to the Polish Army. [An] equipment that has proven itself in combat in the hands of the Ukrainians, stopping the Russian invasion," Błaszczak said."This weapon will go to the northeastern part of our country, to the 16th Mechanized Division. Its task will be to deter the aggressor, strengthen the Polish Army on the eastern flank of Poland and the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance," Błaszczak added.
The global forum is forever on guard and vigilant. Movement within the war effort is tenuous and ever-changing. Will peace ever be at hand?
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