Russia almost took over Bakhmut, G7 sanctioned Moscow

According to The Kyiv Independent , the protracted battle in the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk province, is divided into two separate parts: inside the city and on the flanks.

Ukrainian counterattacks forced Russia to withdraw from two main routes leading to Bakhmut.

Quick view: What hot developments happened in the Russian military campaign in Ukraine on day 449?

However, as of May 18, Russia controlled more than 95% of the city and field maps showed that Ukrainian forces held only a few streets and apartment buildings in areas west of Bakhmut.

"The Battle of Bakhmut, which may have been the bloodiest battle of the 21st century, appears to have entered its final stages," wrote The Kyiv Independent.

Ukrainian soldiers fight near Bakhmut on May 18.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on May 19 that Russian forces had gained some more areas in the city but were not yet in full control. "The enemy is trying to regain the lost areas, but our forces are repelling the attacks. It is very difficult to carry out combat missions there and every meter of advance is like 10 kilometers in other conditions," Maliar said on television.

Ukraine counterattacks around Bakhmut, Wagner attacks last neighborhoods

Meanwhile, leader of Wagner mercenary force Yevgeny Prigozhin assessed that Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut are unlikely to collapse in the next 2 days.

Regarding the general developments of the war, the Ukrainian Air Force announced on the morning of May 19 that its air defense forces had shot down three cruise missiles and 16 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Russia during the night. Three other missiles and six UAVs were not intercepted. Russia has not commented on this information.

According to CNN, Russia has launched eight missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv this month alone, the latest of which involved the launch of at least 18 missiles and a series of drones. However, Kyiv claims to have intercepted all of them, and asserts that no targets were damaged in the attacks. Experts say Ukraine's claims may be exaggerated.

A Ukrainian military position and a US-made counter-battery radar were destroyed in Donetsk, a Russian military spokesman said, citing a TASS report. In Zaporizhzhia province, a Russian Grad multiple rocket launcher destroyed a Ukrainian troop deployment point and ammunition depot.

Is the flow of aid from the US to Ukraine about to dry up?

On the other hand, a Russian politician said that Ukraine is concentrating about 65,000 soldiers along or near the front line in Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine has not commented on this information.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on May 19 that Minister Sergei Shoigu had inspected a frontline command post in Zaporizhzhia. Mr. Shoigu listened to commanders report on the situation and praised the soldiers for discovering and destroying Ukrainian military equipment and troop concentrations.

Zaporizhzhia is one of four regions in Ukraine that Russia annexed last year, despite protests from Kyiv and the international community.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awards medals to soldiers in Zaporizhzhia

Ukrainian President arrives in Saudi Arabia, likely to visit Japan soon

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on May 19, where he will attend the Arab League conference. Mr. Zelensky traveled by French government plane, according to Reuters.

President Zelensky announced that he will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his first visit to the Gulf state. The Ukrainian leader stressed that his priorities are to discuss Kyiv's peace plan to end the conflict with Moscow, protect Ukraine's Muslim community, and free political prisoners from Crimea.

President Zelensky arrives in Jeddah on May 19

Last year, Prince Mohammed scored a diplomatic victory by helping to free 10 foreigners detained by Russia in Ukraine.

After the conference in Saudi Arabia, President Zelensky is expected to travel to Hiroshima, Japan, to attend the G7 summit. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said on television on May 19 that the main issues of Ukraine will be discussed at the conference, so the direct presence of President Zelensky is important.

G7 summit expected to focus on Russia, China

G7 statement on Ukraine

G7 leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine at a summit in Hiroshima on May 19. A joint statement issued after the meeting stressed that the countries would continue to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The leaders declared that peace would only be achieved when Russia completely withdrew its troops from Ukraine.

In addition, the G7 also announced that it would announce sanctions and export restrictions targeting Russia.

G7 leaders at the Itsukushima shrine on Miyajima island near Hiroshima

The embargo is intended to block Russia's ability to source materials for its battlefields, plug loopholes Moscow exploits to evade sanctions, reduce countries' dependence on Russian energy and limit its access to the international financial system.

On the same day, Britain, the United States and Australia imposed separate sanctions on Russia.

The West tightens the sanctions on Russia

US miscalculates aid to Ukraine

The AP news agency reported today, May 19, that the Pentagon admitted on May 18 that its accountants had overvalued the value of the weapons they sent to Ukraine, with a difference of at least $3 billion.

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