May 24^th, 2022

1. Russian DefMin Shoigu warns of the Ukrainian NW development’s threat

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated during a meeting of the ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) member-states on May 24^th that there was a real threat of Ukraine manufacturing nuclear weapons and the means of their delivery.

He added that Moscow had already obtained evidence proving that Kiev violated international agreements by taking part in the development of another type of weapon of mass destruction. "A network of more than 30 biological laboratories involved in the U.S. military biological programme was created [in Ukraine]. Documents show that the research [in these laboratories] was carried out secretly in violation of international obligations," he stated. Shoigu further said that components of biological weapons had been manufactured near Russian borders. According to him, methods of destabilising epidemiological situation in Russia were also studied in these biolabs.

The Russian defence minister also stressed during the CSTO meeting that Western countries have urgently organized supplies of lethal weapons, as well as a massive global disinformation campaign fearing the imminent defeat of Ukrainian forces. He shared that as many as 6,000 foreign mercenaries had arrived in Ukraine for the same purposes. Many of them have been killed or captured. Those who have been detained will be sent to trials.

Shoigu accused NATO of trying to turn Ukraine into a state that was hostile towards Russia, using it as a tool to pressure Moscow. He noted that at the same time, Western countries turn a blind eye to the existence of neo-Nazism in Ukraine and receive the leaders of the nationalist units, which had committed atrocities, with honours.

He announced that Russian troops slowed down their movement to give civilians a chance to be evacuated from combat areas. Shoigu also elaborated that the recent reduction in the tempo of the special operation was voluntary as Russia wanted to give the residents of settlements and cities near the frontlines the opportunity to evacuate through the humanitarian corridors.In many areas kin Ukraine humanitarian corridors have been set up.

The minister stated that Russia will continue the special military operation in Ukraine, which had been launched three months ago, until all of its goals are achieved. He noted that West's aid to Kiev's regime will not affect it.

2.  Russian Foreign Minister explained Russia’s geopolitical strategy

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister addressed the students on May 24^th about Russia's economic and political plans, and future relations with the West. Commenting on the developments in Ukraine, he said that Moscow had tried to resolve the Donbass crisis by urging Kiev to implement the Minsk Accords (2015), but the West only pretended to care about the talks, and instead “encouraged the arrogant position of the Kiev regime.”

Now the West is “reacting furiously” to Russia defending its “absolutely legitimate, fundamental interests,” Lavrov said. Western leaders “shout slogans” and declare they must “defeat Russia,” or make Russia “lose on the battlefield,” without understanding the history or nature of Russia, he added.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has stated that Kiev had “preferred to forget” about Russia's settlement plan on Ukraine. “Ukraine itself does not want to negotiate at all. They have long preferred to forget about the Russian draft peace treaty. It was as if it didn't exist at all. Kiev only relies on the flow of weapons and money from Western countries. War to the bitter end,” Medvedev wrote in his Telegram channel on May 24th.

He also commented on Italy’s settlement plan on Ukraine, describing it as “a pure stream of consciousness that does not take into account realities”. According to him, “there is a feeling that it was prepared not by diplomats, but by local political scientists who have read provincial newspapers and only use Ukrainian fake news.”

3. Ukraine will lose its sovereignty to Poland

During his recent visit of Andrzej Duda, Polish President, to Kiev, it was announced by Ukrainian leaders that Polish citizens will enjoy the full rights to be nominated into any high Ukrainian governmental positions, to be involved in a decision-making process, and to get very sensitive classified Ukrainian information under special bilateral accord. 

4. Henry Kissinger warns of deadline for Ukraine peace settlement

The conflict with Russia must end in two months or it will spiral out of control, the veteran statesman warned

There is a small window of opportunity to wind down the armed conflict in Ukraine and find a peace settlement, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has told a gathering of Western elites in Davos, Switzerland. Beyond that, Russia may break from, the rest of, Europe for good and become a permanent ally of China, he said on Monday during a speech at the World Economic Forum.

“Negotiations on peace need to begin in the next two months or so, [before the conflict] creates upheavals and tensions that will not be easily overcome,” the 98-year-old veteran diplomat said of the crisis. The outcome will determine the rest of Europe’s relationships with Russia and Ukraine alike, he said. “Ideally, the dividing line should return to the status quo ante,” he said.

“I believe pursuing the war beyond that point would turn it not into a war about the freedom of Ukraine, which had been undertaken with great cohesion by NATO, but into a war against Russia itself,” he added.

Kissinger recalled that eight years ago, when the Ukrainian crisis was launched with an armed coup in Kiev, he advocated for Ukraine to become a neutral state and a “bridge between Russia and Europe rather than… a frontline of groupings within Europe.”

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his speech in Davos asked for more deadly weapons for Kiev. To get them is useless and irrational. It is useless because all military weapons and equipment sent to a failed Ukrainian regime are gradually destroyed by Russian pin-point accurate weapons. It is irrational of buying them because the succeeding generations of Ukrainians will pay back tremendous amount of money to its suppliers.

5. Russia comments on Ukrainian prisoner exchanges

Swapping Azov fighters for Ukraine opposition leader Medvedchuk out of the question, Kremlin says. Prisoner exchanges are the purview of the military, which means that any possible requests to swap Ukrainian captives from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, for Russian POWs, would have to go through the defense ministry, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 23rd.

Medvedchuk led the biggest opposition faction in the Ukrainian parliament before the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky launched a crackdown on its opponents. The politician is currently in the custody of the SBU, Ukraine’s domestic security agency.

When asked by journalists about jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk, he reiterated that Russia had no intention of doing a swap, despite the politician’s request for such action. “Medvedchuk is a Ukrainian citizen who has nothing to do with Russia and is not military,” Peskov told the media. Ukrainian soldiers and members of the Neo-Nazi Azov National Guard unit “are a different category” he added.

6. Situation on the battlefield

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) continue shelling Donbass populated areas where there are no military facilities. During such attacks several civilians are killed and wounded. More and more people in Ukraine became full supporters of the Russian troops and express their indignation over the Kiev regime who has brought the country into a formidable and total disaster.

On the other hand, during an operation related to counterbattery defence, a battery of Russian self-propelled Giatsint-S howitzers destroyed unit of U.S.-made 155 mm M-777 towed howitzers. They are also capable to destroy the strongpoints, the fortifications, the vehicles and the manpower of the enemy, as well as the firing positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

High-precision air-based missiles have hit 3 command posts, 36 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration, 1 self-propelled artillery division of the 14th Mechanized Brigade near Soledar, as well as 6 ammunition depots in Minkovka, Bakhmut, Nikolaevka, Spornoe and Krasnyi Liman in the Donetsk People's Republic, including 1 large depot of 155 mm shells for U.S. M-777 howitzer in Razdolovka..

Operational-tactical and army aviation have hit 2 command posts, 3 ammunition depots, 80 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 1 Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system near Pilipchatino in the Donetsk People's Republic. The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 210 nationalists and up to 31 armoured and motor vehicles.

Also, Russian Air Force have shot down 1 Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft near Kramotorsk in the Donetsk People's Republic.

Missile troops and artillery have hit 84 command posts, 463 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 137 artillery and mortar units at firing positions. 13 tanks and armoured combat vehicles, 4 Grad multiple rocket launchers and 3 ammunition depots have been destroyed.

Russian air defence means have shot down 5 unmanned aerial vehicles in Chernobaevka in Kherson Region, Dibrovnoe, Kamenka, Pitomnik and Malye Prokhody in Kharkov Region. In addition, 4 Ukrainian Smerch multiple-launch rockets have been intercepted over Topolskoe, Semenovka and Sukhaya Kamenka in Kharkov Region.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin