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Battle of the 85th: More troops surrender at Azovstal, predicting a prolonged stalemate

The number of Ukrainian soldiers at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol surrendering is increasing as Russia gradually takes control of the city, but in other areas, fighting is still unpredictable.

Evacuation continues in Mariupol

Official Oleksiy Gromov of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army on May 19 announced that the evacuation of “heroes” in Mariupol was continuing.

The Russian military on the same day announced that since the beginning of this week, 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol have surrendered. Of these, 80 were injured and are being treated. Most were sent to detention centers in Russian-controlled areas.

War on the 85th: More soldiers surrendered at Azovstal, predicting a prolonged stalemate - photo 1

Bus carrying Ukrainian forces surrendered at Azovstal leaving Mariupol on May 17

Reuters

Ukraine did not comment on the information. On May 17, Ukraine said that 250 soldiers in Azovstal had surrendered. It is not clear how many people are still entrenched inside the underground tunnels at the factory. Ukraine hopes to exchange prisoners with Russia, but Moscow has not yet responded to the idea.

See more: More than 1,750 Ukrainian soldiers leave the Azovstal steel plant

Forecast of prolonged war

Officials from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said that the situation in Ukraine will not change significantly in the coming weeks. “I think the stalemate will last for a while,” according to the newspaper The Guardian quoted an official military NATO holds intelligence.

On the same day, an official in the Luhansk province in eastern Ukraine announced that at least 12 people were killed and 40 injured by Russian shelling in the city of Severodonetsk. Russia has not commented on this information but has previously stated that it does not attack civilian targets. Severodonetsk has been the target of intense bombing in recent days as Russia seeks to control the furthest city to the east still in Ukrainian hands.

Russian soldiers ask for forgiveness

Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin (21) on May 19 called for forgiveness during the trial in Kyiv. The Russian defendant was tried for war crimes after admitting to shooting dead a Ukrainian civilian in the village of Chupakhivka on February 28.

Ukrainian prosecutors have recommended a life sentence for this person.

See more: Ukraine: Russian soldier pleads guilty to killing civilians

US Senate approves $40 billion aid package for Ukraine

With 86 votes in favor and 11 against, the US Senate yesterday (May 19) approved an emergency humanitarian and military aid package worth up to 40 billion USD for Ukraine. Like the previous 13.6 billion package, this $40 billion package is split between military aid and humanitarian aid.

Thus, since Russia began conducting a military operation against Ukraine on February 24, Washington’s total aid to Kyiv has reached approximately $ 54 billion. According to the sheet The New York TimesIn the past few months, the US has transferred a number of weapons to Ukraine such as 5,500 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 184,000 155 mm rounds…

In another development, to break Russia’s maritime blockade, the United States is considering supplying advanced anti-ship missiles to Ukraine, according to Reuters, citing US officials.

War on Day 85: More soldiers surrendered at Azovstal, predicting a prolonged stalemate - photo 2
Ukrainian soldiers use American Javelin missiles

REUTERS

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Russia to lift the blockade of Ukraine’s ports in the Black Sea to help Kyiv export and prevent a food crisis. In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said that this possibility would only happen if sanctions against Russia were reconsidered.

On the other hand, according to some concerns, equipping Ukraine with anti-ship missiles could widen the risk of conflict. According to the sheet PoliticoUkrainian government officials have repeatedly asked the United States to send multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) in recent months, but the White House has not yet agreed because of concerns that the war in Ukraine could expand and last longer.

In addition, the US Senate on May 19 passed a bill to aid Ukraine with 40 billion USD, including weapons, economic and humanitarian aid. The bill has been passed by the House of Representatives and is only waiting for the President Joe Biden signed promulgation.

See more: US Senate approves $40 billion aid package for Ukraine

Belarus buys Russian ballistic missiles

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko announced on May 19 that an agreement had been reached to purchase nuclear-capable ballistic missiles Iskander and S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia, according to AFP. Lukashenko did not specify the number but said that Belarus will buy the necessary amount of weapons and the army will become completely different with these systems.

US backs Finland and Sweden to join NATO

US President Joe Biden on May 19 received Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson in Washington DC. NATO”.

Finland and Sweden applied to join the union on May 18, giving up policy military neutrality for decades, because of security concerns after the war in Ukraine.

However, the decision was met with strong opposition from NATO member Turkey, which accuses the two countries of supporting extremist forces. Mr. Niinisto said Finland was ready to discuss any concerns with Turkey, while Andersson said it was in dialogue with all NATO members to resolve the issues.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the US is confident that Turkey’s concerns can be addressed.

See more: Turkey blocks Finland and Sweden from joining NATO?

US-Russian military leaders talk by phone

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army Valery Gerasimov had a phone call and discussed the situation in Ukraine.

Russia said the two officials discussed issues of common interest, including the situation in Ukraine, and that the call was made at the request of the United States.

See more: The leaders of the US and Russian armies talked on the phone about Ukraine

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