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A destroyed house near the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. - Sputnik International

LIVE UPDATES: Six Ukrainian Troops Die in Attempt to Detonate Weapon Depots at Azovstal, DPR Says

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Previously, Russian forces took over the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, as almost 2,500 Ukrainian troops and radicals from the Azov regiment surrendered at the facility after a weeks-long siege.
In the meantime, Russian troops and Donbass militias continue to advance, pressing Ukrainian forces from the region.
Russia launched the military operation in Ukraine in February, as massive shelling carried out by Ukrainian forces in Donbass caused the mass evacuations of civilians in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.
After the DPR and LPR asked Moscow for assistance, Russia targeted Ukraine's military infrastructure in order to stop the eight-year long war, waged by Kiev in the region. President Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia's goal in this operation in "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine.
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22:53 GMT 22.05.2022
Blinken Holds Ukraine Talks With France’s New Foreign Minister - State Department
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held his first phone talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, discussing Ukraine, among other issues, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said.
"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna to congratulate her on her appointment and discuss some of the pressing global issues the United States and France are confronting together," Price said on Sunday.
According to the spokesperson, Blinken and Colonna agreed on the importance of Western support to Ukraine and talked about the possibility of NATO expansion.
"The Secretary and Foreign Minister Colonna agreed on the importance of continuing steadfast support to Ukraine and maintaining significant costs to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin for his war of choice. They discussed steps the United States and France could take together to support EU accession paths for countries that qualify for membership. They touched upon the NATO Alliance, including how best to support Finland and Sweden’s bids to join NATO and key issues ahead of the Madrid summit," Price said.
Blinken and Colonna also discussed issues related to the looming global food crisis.
"They also discussed the importance of moving forward on the global minimum tax to end the race to the bottom on corporate taxes and lay the groundwork for increased investment and growth," Price said.
Colonna was appointed as the new French foreign minister on Friday. She previously served as France’s ambassador in the United Kingdom.
21:57 GMT 22.05.2022
A picture shows a view of the US embassy in Kyiv on May 18, 2022, as the embassy reopens after closing it for three months due to the Russian invasion. - Sputnik International, 1920, 22.05.2022
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Pentagon Reportedly Considering Sending US Special Forces Personnel to Kiev Embassy
21:12 GMT 22.05.2022
Russian Lead Negotiator Blames Halt in Peace Talks on Ukraine
Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky accused Ukraine on Sunday of putting the peace process on hold after Kiev refused to back a draft treaty it helped thrash out.

"It was entirely Ukraine’s initiative to freeze the negotiations," he told Belarusian state news channel ONT, adding that "Russia has never refused to talk, including at the highest level."

He said Russia presented to Ukraine a list of key points, many of which had been agreed on by both teams, but the talks hit a roadblock.

"They have not even officially backed the draft they helped negotiate. We agreed that our interlocutors would take a pause. They are apparently in no hurry," Medinsky said.

The official, who is also an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said the "ball is in their court and we are ready to continue the dialogue."

Medinsky suggested that President Putin was open for talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky as long as there was a highly-detailed document for them to finalize and sign.
20:33 GMT 22.05.2022
European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (C) delivers a speech during a special plenary session of the European Parliament focused on the Russian special operation in Ukraine at the EU headquarters in Brussels, on 1 March 2022.  - Sputnik International, 1920, 22.05.2022
Military
EU Depleted Military Stockpiles Helping Ukraine - Borrell
15:43 GMT 22.05.2022
Ukrainian Parliament Votes to Quit Treaty Guaranteeing Protection to Soviet War Memorials
The Ukrainian parliament voted on Sunday to pull the country out of a 2011 treaty that guarantees protection to Soviet World War II memorials in former republics, a lawmaker said.
"We voted for the following amendments… The exit from the Agreement to Preserve the Memory of Courage and Heroism of CIS Peoples in the Great Patriotic War," Yaroslav Zhelezniak said on social media.
The agreement was signed by then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych as well as leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Tajikistan.
14:41 GMT 22.05.2022
Ukrainian President to Propose Special Legal Status for Poles, Lawmaker Says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will bring a bill before parliament that seeks to grant Polish nationals a special status, the deputy chair of the parliament's legal policy committee said Sunday.
"The president of Ukraine has announced plans to present to parliament a draft law on Polish citizens' special legal status in Ukraine in the coming days," Olha Sovhyria said on social media.
Sovhyria is a member of the president's Servant of the People party.
During a meeting with the Ukrainian parliament on Sunday, Zelensky announced that an agreement with Poland to simplify border crossing will be signed.
"There should be no borders or barriers between us. The Ukrainian and Polish peoples have not been separated mentally for a long time. Therefore, we have agreed to translate this into a corresponding bilateral agreement in the nearest future," Zelensky told the meeting.
He mentioned that the agreement will be covering the bilateral border and customs control until Ukraine accedes to the European Union and has a single border with other European countries.
11:15 GMT 22.05.2022
Ukrainian Forces Shell Hospital in Settlement of Yasinovataya in DPR, Authorities Say
The Ukrainian military units fired upon a hospital on Shkolnaya Street in Yasinovataya, the DPR authorities said.
11:07 GMT 22.05.2022
Almost 1,000 Ukrainian UAVs Destroyed Since 24 February, Russian Defence Ministry Says
Almost 1,000 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been destroyed since the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Sunday.

"In total, since the start of the special military operation, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 174 planes, 125 helicopters, 977 unmanned aerial vehicles, 317 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,198 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 408 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,622 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 3,077 units of special military vehicles", Maj. Gen. Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov noted that the Russian air forces overnight hit 26 personnel and military equipment hubs and destroyed three control centers and an ammunition storage facility, adding that Russian high-precision missiles hit another 13 personnel and military equipment hubs and destroyed four ammunition depots.

"As a result of the strikes, more than 210 nationalists were killed, 38 units of Ukrainian military equipment were disabled," the spokesman said.

10:23 GMT 22.05.2022
MoD: Russian Air Defences Downs 11 Ukrainian Drones Over Past Day
09:24 GMT 22.05.2022
WATCH: Russian Ka-52 Alligator Helicopter Eliminates Ukrainian Military Positions
Progress Helicopter Plant in Primorye Territory - Sputnik International, 1920, 22.05.2022
Russia
WATCH: Russian Ka-52 Alligator Helicopter Eliminates Ukrainian Military Positions
07:53 GMT 22.05.2022
Gazprom Pumps 44.7Mcm of Gas to Sudzha Station for Transit to Europe Via Ukraine
Russian energy giant Gazprom streamed 44.7 million cubic meters of gas to the Sudzha station on Sunday for further transit to Europe, as verified by Ukraine, Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov said.

"Gazprom supplies Russian gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine in the amount confirmed by the Ukrainian side through the Sudzha station - 44.7 million cubic meters as of May 22. The application for the Sokhranivka station was rejected," Kupriyanov told journalists.

The Sunday figure is a 3% drop compared to Saturday when 45.9 million cubic meters of gas was supplied by Gazprom.
07:48 GMT 22.05.2022
Russian National Guard Eliminates Ukrainian Stronghold Near Lugansk
06:11 GMT 22.05.2022
DPR: Over 300 People Evacuated From Mariupol Over Past Day
05:29 GMT 22.05.2022
Ukrainian Forces Shell Settlement of Yasinovataya in DPR
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