[LIVE] War in Ukraine: Moscow continues its offensive in the Donbass

In front of a crater caused by a Russian strike earlier in May, in front of an apartment building in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, Saturday May 21, 2022. AP - Francisco Seco

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

On the 88th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this Sunday, May 22, follow live the latest information on the conflict.

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► Moscow has blocked the RFI website, which broadcasts information in fifteen languages ​​including Russian.

An alternative URL allows access to the site 

in French

 and 

Russian

.

RFI in Russian is also available on Telegram: 

https://t.me/RFI_Ru

 via a VPN and in Russia in French via satellite on Hotbird.

► RFI's Russian editorial site broadcasts Ukrainian public radio (in the Ukrainian language) from the 

home page.

The main points:

► Ukraine will

not accept a ceasefire

with Russia and will not accept any agreement with Moscow involving a transfer of territory, says a close friend of Volodymyr Zelensky.

► The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had destroyed a large shipment of weapons

supplied by the West

in northwestern Ukraine  .

► The war in Ukraine can only end

through “diplomatic” means

, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assured Saturday, while negotiations between Moscow and Kiev are at an impasse.

► Fighting

intensifies in Donbass,

eastern Ukraine, with the Russian Defense Minister saying the conquest of the Luhansk region is almost complete.

In this region, Sievierodonetsk and Lyssytchansk, now surrounded by Russian forces, constitute the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance. 

Times are given in Universal Time (UT),

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4:30 am: NATO in a position of strength against Russia

The candidature of Finland and that of Sweden to NATO upset the strategic balances in Europe.

After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the two Nordic countries definitively broke with their doctrine of military non-alignment.

These integrations represent an additional resource for the Atlantic organization and a security challenge for Moscow.

NATO in a position of strength against Russia is the theme of Lines of Defense. 

► Listen to the column

The Finnish and Swedish ambassadors to NATO submitted their application for membership to the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, in Brussels, May 18, 2022. REUTERS - JOHANNA GERON

04:00: The Russian army continues to shell the Donbass

Mr. Zelensky, in his usual video message posted in the evening on Saturday, noted that the military situation had “ 

not changed significantly

 ” on Saturday “ 

but it was very difficult

 ”.

“ 

The situation in Donbass is extremely difficult 

,” he insisted.

But the Ukrainian army “ 

pushes back this offensive.

Every day that our defenders disrupt the plans of the Russians brings us closer to the crucial day, (...) which we all desire and for which we fight.

Victory Day

 ”.

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  • Day to day war in Ukraine

  • Ukraine

  • Russia

  • Vladimir Poutine

  • Volodymyr Zelensky

On the same subject

War in Ukraine - Day 87

The day Ukraine ruled out any ceasefire or concession with Russia