Mariia Makukha

The Russian occupation authorities have announced plans to destroy the Azovstal steel plant and turn Mariupol into a resort city, depriving Russia of some of the most important economic benefits it hoped to gain by capturing the city. This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The House of Commons of Canada unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars by the Soviet regime in 1944 as an act of genocide. Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine, announced this on her Facebook page.

In the last 24 hours, as of May 19, the defenders of Ukraine destroyed 3 enemy tanks, 9 artillery systems, 1 aircraft, and 14 UAVs. This is reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Martial law in Ukraine has been extended for another 90 days, until August 23. The corresponding order was signed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 320 MPs voted for the corresponding bill No. 7300.

The European Commission approved the Recovery Plan for Ukraine and offered to provide Ukraine with new macro-financial assistance in the amount of up to 9 billion euros. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced this on his Telegram channel.

Martial law and the terms of the general mobilization may be extended in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted relevant draft laws to the Verkhovna Rada. This became known from the Verkhovna Rada website.

The flow of those entering through the western border of Ukraine exceeds the flow of those leaving the country eight days in a row. The total net inflow to Ukraine during these days amounted to 61,000 persons — these are record figures since the war started. This is reported on the Facebook page of the State Border Guard Service.

Russian troops fired missiles at the village of Desna in the Chernihiv region, where the training center of the Armed Forces is located. The shelling took place around 5 am, the aircraft fired four missiles, two of them hit the building. This is reported by the head of the Chernihiv Military Administration Viacheslav Chaus on his Telegram channel.

A memorial service for Leonid Kravchuk, the first President of Ukraine, who passed away on May 10, was held at 11.00 on May 17 at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv, Ukrainska Pravda reports.

In a procedural vote, the US Senate supported a bill on $40 billion worth of aid for Ukraine. The law is expected to be adopted in full this week. Also, the EU Committee of Ministers approved the allocation of the fourth tranche of aid for Ukraine in the amount of €500 mln to procure military equipment and realize the country’s right to self-defense at a session in Brussels.