Ukraine says it intercepted 77 out of 89 Russian drones and missiles in the last day
From CNN's Tim Lister
An explosion is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, early Monday. Gleb Garanich/Reuters
The Ukrainian military says it destroyed the majority of Russian drones and missiles fired at the country on Sunday night and Monday.
There have been two waves of strikes, the General Staff said in its daily update. The first had involved 40 air-launched cruise missiles and 38 Shahed attack drones — and Ukraine said only four missiles and eight drones penetrated Ukrainian air defenses.
"In the afternoon, the enemy used cruise and ballistic missiles from the Iskander tactical missile system against civilian and critical infrastructure in Kyiv. The Air Force of Ukraine destroyed 11 out of 11 missiles," the General Staff said, confirming earlier Ukrainian assessments.
The overall tally of missiles is one of the highest daily counts in recent months.
10:58 a.m. ET, May 29, 2023
Kremlin sees "big vacuum" in arms control that needs to be filled, Putin spokesperson says
From CNN’s Anna Chernov
The Kremlin said Monday that Russia's recent denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) will not have direct consequences, but there is a “big vacuum” in the sphere of arms control that needs to be filled.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law on Russia's denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe earlier on Monday. Commenting on the decision on a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “There should be no direct [consequences of it] because, in fact, it was already a lifeless mechanism.”
Peskov said the Russian side “simply brought the situation into line,” adding that "in the field of arms control and strategic stability, now, of course, a large vacuum is emerging, which urgently needs to be filled with new acts of international law that would regulate this situation."
More on the treaty: Russia unilaterally suspended the implementation of the treaty in 2007, a move that the US State Department said undermined trust-building and transparency. Both Moscow and Washington have long been at odds over arms control, and Putin has often described former US President George W. Bush's decision in 2001 to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty as a major grievance.
The 1990 CFE Treaty regulates conventional armed forces in Europe and aims to prevent large-scale offensives by limiting the overall deployment of tanks, armored combat vehicles, artillery, combat aircraft, and attack helicopters.
CNN's Nathan Hodge contributed reporting to this post.
12:01 p.m. ET, May 29, 2023
Ukraine: Intensity of Russia's Bakhmut offensive has "significantly decreased" as Wagner forces are replaced
From CNN's Tim Lister and Svitlana Vlasova
An aerial view of a battle field near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on May 27. Libkos/AP
Ukrainian officials have indicated there's been little change in positions around the eastern city of Bakhmut — and the intensity of Moscow's offensive has decreased as Russian regular units continue to replace Wagner fighters.
"The intensity of the enemy's offensive has significantly decreased as it is replacing troops from Wagner with regular units and trying to stabilize the defense in this area," Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister, said on Telegram.
The official added: "Our troops are making this process much more difficult for the enemy... At the same time, the intensity of enemy artillery shelling has not decreased."
Currently, Ukrainian units hold positions immediately to the south and west of the city itself.
"To the south of Bakhmut, the enemy is attempting to reinforce and build up army units," Maliar said.
More background: The head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Sunday that the handover of his fighters' positions in Bakhmut to Russian army units may extend to June 5.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its latest assessment of the situation that there is continuing evidence that Russian units are being transferred to Bakhmut from other areas of the Donetsk front lines, including Avdiivka.
It said Sunday that "the Russian transfer of these elements to Bakhmut may decrease the tempo of Russian offensive operations on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City front."
ISW also said that "The tempo of Russian operations around Bakhmut remains notably low." Ukrainian officials have said much of the same, with daily recorded clashes in the area falling into single digits.
10:06 a.m. ET, May 29, 2023
Zelensky and wife share video of children running for shelter in Kyiv
From CNN's Svitlana Vlasova
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a half-minute video of children running to a shelter in Kyiv Monday morning as an explosion is heard in the background.
Zelensky posted the video to his Telegram channel, with the caption, "Ukrainian children. Every time an air raid alert sounds. This is what an ordinary weekday looks like."
He added, "Thank you to everyone in the world who helps protect people and our children from Russian terror!"
His wife, Olena Zelenska, reposted the video, adding, "Morning after sleepless night under fire. Anxiety once again...Children running and screaming for shelter to the sounds of explosions. But it should not be like this — anywhere and never."
2:07 p.m. ET, May 29, 2023
Ukraine promises swift retaliation after latest barrage of Russian missile attacks
From CNN's Tim Lister
A drone explodes as it is shot down, during a Russian drone strike targeting the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on May 28. Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images
The head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence promised retribution "very soon" after the latest wave of Russian missile and drone attacks against Kyiv and other locations.
"All those in Russia who still believed, believe or maybe dream that they can frighten Ukraine, I want to disappoint you — this is not true. Everyone has been and is still at their workplaces and continues to do their jobs," Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview Monday.
He added: "All those who tried to scare us, dreaming that it would have some effect, will regret it very soon. Our response will not be delayed. Everyone will see everything soon."
More than 70 drones and missiles have been fired by Russian forces since Sunday night, according to Ukrainian officials, who say the great majority were intercepted.
Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, said that the missile barrage Monday appears to have been largely with Iskander missiles, either in ballistic or cruise mode. Ballistic missiles travel faster and are more difficult to intercept, though the Ukrainian military insists all 11 missiles that were fired toward Kyiv in a rare daytime barrage were brought down.
Ihnat also noted on Ukrainian television that there's a possibility that S-300 and S-400 missiles were used.
"The direction of the attack was from the north," Ihnat said, without indicating whether the missiles were fired by Russian units based in southern Belarus or in Russia.
Asked whether recently received US Patriot missile batteries had been in action, Ihnat said: "I think you can guess, if Iskander-M missiles were shot down, then one can conclude what kind of means were used to hit such targets, ballistic targets."
The Kyiv city military administration, said the daytime barrage was the 16th attack on the capital since the beginning of the month. "Thus, the enemy changed its tactics — after prolonged, nighttime attacks only, it struck a peaceful city during the day, when most residents were at work and outside. In other words, the Russians are clearly demonstrating that they are aiming to destroy the civilian population," it said.
9:04 a.m. ET, May 29, 2023
Russian defense ministry claims it hit Ukrainian airfields and destroyed all targets
From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova
Russian forces hit Ukrainian airfields, destroying all targets, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed Monday.
“Tonight, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a group strike with long-range precision air-launched weapons against enemy targets at airfields,” the defense ministry said.
“As a result of the strike, command posts and radar posts, as well as aviation equipment, storage facilities with weapons and ammunition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit,” it added in its daily briefing.
What Kyiv is saying: Earlier on Monday, Ukraine claimed that Russia launched a widespread missile and drone attack on its territory overnight. Ukraine’s Armed Forces said Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 67 out of 75 "air targets" launched on Kyiv.
Khmelnytskyi regional military administration said Russia had attacked a military facility, in the western region overnight, damaging five aircraft.
9:24 a.m. ET, May 29, 2023
Ukraine says it downed 11 Iskander missiles launched by Russia in daytime attack
From Olga Voitovych in Kyiv and Sarah Dean in London
Police officers inspect a fragment of a Russian rocket after an attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday, May 29. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
Ukraine downed 11 Iskander missiles launched by Russia in a daytime attack on Monday, the commander in chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said Monday.
“At about 11:30am, it attacked Kyiv region with ballistic and cruise missiles from the Iskander missile system,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi said.
“A total of 11 missiles were fired: ‘Iskander-M’ and ‘Iskander-K’ from the northern direction. All targets were destroyed by air defense forces and means,” he added.
12:07 p.m. ET, May 29, 2023
It’s mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here’s what you need to know.
From CNN staff
People rush to take shelter during a Russian rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday, May 29. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
The sounds of air raid warnings and explosions have been heard most nights in Kyiv this month. Often these explosions are evidence that the Ukrainian capital’s shields are working – the vast majority of Russian drones and missiles have been shot down by Kyiv’s US-made Patriot defense systems.
In the early hours of Monday morning, Kyiv suffered another bombardment – its 15th attack of the month according to city officials. But few expected the 16th to follow so swiftly afterwards – until air raid warnings began around midday local time after Russia launched a rare daytime attack on the capital.
Here are the latest developments:
Kyiv hit at night: Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 67 “air targets” launched overnight on Kyiv, the commander of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said Monday. General Valerii Zaluzhnyi said 37 cruise missiles, 29 Shahed drones and one reconnaissance drone were shot down. Police confirmed that “almost all enemy targets were destroyed,” but some buildings were damaged.
And in the day: Just hours later, Kyiv came under an unusual daytime attack. Serhii Popko, head of Kyiv city military administration, said this attack shows “the enemy changed its tactics – after prolonged, nighttime attacks only, it struck a peaceful city during the day, when most residents were at work and outside.” One man was hospitalized in the capital’s Podilskyi district but no hits were reported on facilities in Kyiv.
Belarus offers nuclear weapons: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch Kremlin ally, has claimed that countries who are willing “to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus” will be given nuclear weapons. This just days after Lukashenko said the transfer of some nuclear weapons from Moscow to Minsk had begun. “It’s very simple,” he said in an interview released Sunday. “Join the Union State of Belarus and Russia. That’s all -- there will be nuclear weapons for everyone.”
Counteroffensive continues to loom: The commander of the Ukrainian Land Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, told troops near the eastern city of Lyman on Monday that the time will “soon come” to take offensive actions against Russian forces. His comments come shortly after General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, hinted that Ukraine’s counteroffensive is imminent.
Iranian drone blowback: Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, warned Iran of “consequences” after Kyiv faced yet another Russian bombardment using Iranian Shahed drones. Podolyak said “Tehran has become a key ally of Moscow in this war” and reminded Iran of “the law of the boomerang,” warning that Shahed drones will “find its way to its manufacturer one day.”
Explosions in the south: A series of explosions were reported in and around the Russian-occupied southern cities of Berdiansk and Mariupol on Sunday, according to Ukrainian officials. The exiled Mariupol City Council said Monday that the number of attacks on the city is increasing.
Tensions on the court: Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Belarusian opponent Aryna Sabalenka after their opening round match at the French Open, leading to boos from some of the crowd at Roland Garros. Kostyuk, who is from Kyiv, said at January’s Australian Open that she would not shake hands with any Russian or Belarusian opponent with war waging in her country.
Russian issues arrest warrant for US senator: The Interior Ministry in Moscow has placed US Senator Lindsey Graham on its wanted list "under an article of the Criminal Code," according to Russian state media. The chairman of the Investigative Committee, Aleksandr Bastrykin, ordered a criminal case against Graham be opened after video of the senator's meeting with Zelensky was posted by the Ukrainian side. Graham responded to Russia issuing of an arrest warrant for him, saying Monday he will wear it "as a Badge of Honor."
8:00 a.m. ET, May 29, 2023
China responds to report that its envoy proposed a plan allowing Russia to retain control of parts of Ukraine
From CNN's Mengchen Zhang in Beijing and Wayne Chang in Taipei
Chinese Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui is pictured during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, on May 26. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout/Reuters
China on Monday responded to Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporting that its special envoy of Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, proposed a ceasefire plan to European officials that would have Russia retain control over the parts of Ukraine it currently occupies.
"The Foreign Minister of Ukraine has publicly stated that he has made his contacts with all parties, and none of which indicated that Special Envoy Li Hui made the representations reported by the Wall Street Journal," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said when asked to comment on the WSJ story. Mao was speaking at a regular press briefing.
Li elaborated on China's position and "forged more international consensus" while meeting with the parties relevant to the Ukraine crisis, Mao added.
On Friday — as Li ended his nearly two-week tour of Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, the European Union's Brussels headquarters and Russia — the WSJ reported that he proposed an immediate ceasefire that would allow Russia to retain possession of the parts of Ukraine it now occupies.
