May 30, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Jack Guy, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 12:01 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023

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7:55 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Russian Defense Ministry blames Ukraine for Moscow drone attack

From CNN's Olga Voitovych, Clare Sebastian, Nathan Hodge and Sarah Dean

Russian law enforcement officers gather outside a multi-story apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on May 30. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has claimed that Ukraine is responsible for a "terrorist attack" using drones against Moscow on Tuesday.

All eight aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles launched at the Russian capital were destroyed, the ministry said in a statement.

“Three of them were suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control and deviated from their intended targets," the statement said. “Another five UAVs were shot down by the Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile system in the Moscow region.”

Kyiv has not yet commented on the drone attack.

Russian state media reported earlier that two buildings were damaged in a drone attack. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in an update that two people were injured but no one was hospitalized. Emergency services continue to work at the sites, he said.

3:05 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Russia says its air defenses shot down a number of drones near Moscow

From CNN's Radina Gigova

This picture shows a damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on May 30. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Russian air defenses shot down a number of drones as they approached Moscow Tuesday, the country's main federal investigating authority said in a statement Tuesday.

"As a result of the fall of unmanned aerial vehicles, several buildings in Moscow have sustained minor damage. In addition, a number of unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by Russian air defense forces on their way to Moscow," the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement.

Based on preliminary information, there were no casualties, while city emergency services and Russian Investigative Committee personnel are on the scene following the attack, it added.

"The persons involved in the crime are being identified," the Investigative Committee added.

2:44 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Ukraine says it shot down nearly 30 drones over Kyiv early Tuesday

From CNN’s Olga Voitovych

Ukrainian air defense intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air in the third Russia aerial attack on the capital in the last 24 hours in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, May 30. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 29 of 31 Iran-made Shahed drones launched at Kyiv by Russia early Tuesday, Ukraine’s Air Force said.

“Almost all of the drones were destroyed on the outskirts of the capital and in the Kyiv sky,” the Ukrainian Air Force said.

One person was killed in the bombardment, the 17th aerial assault launched by Russian forces at Kyiv during this month alone, authorities said earlier.

Four people were injured by shrapnel, according to Kyiv police chief Andrii Nebytov, and there were 50 reports of damage to houses, commercial properties and cars.

“The police are recording every crime of the Russian army, for which they will definitely be held accountable,” Nebytov wrote.

Earlier reports from Ukrainian officials said 20 drones were shot down overnight.

Iran sanctions: Ukraine has slapped new sanctions on Iran for a period of 50 years in response to what Kyiv sees as Tehran's role in supplying weapons to Moscow. Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv this month with Iran-manufactured Shahed drones, resulting in destruction of infrastructure and civilian deaths.

2:22 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Moscow drone attack caused minor damage to several buildings, mayor says

From CNN’s Clare Sebastian

Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin visits the Victory Day Red Square Parade in Moscow, Russia on May 9. Stringer/Getty Images

A drone attack on Russia's capital city early Tuesday resulted in "minor damage to several buildings," but no casualties were reported, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

"All of the city's emergency services are on the scene," Sobyanin said on Telegram. "They are investigating the circumstances of what happened. No one has been seriously injured so far."

One of the damaged buildings was in the south of Moscow, and another is located southwest of the Russian capital, according to state news agency RIA.

Quoting a spokesperson for the emergency services, state news agency TASS said authorities are investigating several possibilities, including that a drone hit a building.

What looked like drone fragments were found around the building, TASS reported.

2:51 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

BREAKING: Drone attack damages buildings in Moscow, Russian state media reports

From CNN’s Clare Sebastian in London

A damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on May 30. Lev Sergeev/Reuters

A drone attack damaged two buildings in Moscow Tuesday morning, according to Russian state media. No injuries were sustained, according to the reports.

More to follow ...

1:01 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

How Ukrainian forces are gearing up for a fast-approaching counteroffensive

From CNN's Vasco Cotovio, Frederik Pleitgen and William Bonnett in Chernihiv, Ukraine

The loud engine announces the approach of the Soviet-era armored BTR vehicle long before it appears — racing through a grassy plain on the outskirts of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine. Suddenly it stops, its door opens and Ukrainian soldiers rush out, storming the trench below.

“Today our task is training and cleaning the trenches,” a Ukrainian soldier with the call-sign Jenia says. He is a member of Kyiv’s Offensive Guard, which is part of an initiative by the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs to establish new assault brigades.

“The enemy has lost positions, we quickly arrive, take positions, and restore it,” he adds.

This operation is just a drill, but the scenario has been engineered to be as realistic as possible. The trenches are muddy — despite weeks without rain — and the soldiers are forced to face the unexpected, such as tending to and evacuating the wounded, or adapting after suffering casualties.

“Some people say training is not hard, that there is no danger — but running through the trenches and constantly training, knowing that you will go to battle, it is not easy,” Jenia says. “Everything comes with practice, It is clear that during the hostilities there will also be the psychological impact of war — but practice is very important.”

Even as Ukrainian cities experience barrage after barrage of Russian missile and drone strikes, Jenia and the other members of the Offensive Guard have remained unfazed, simulating scenarios they expect to find once Kyiv finally launches its much anticipated counteroffensive.

That day is fast approaching, if one of the top advisers to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is to be believed.

Read the full story here.

1:27 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Ukraine imposes 50 years of sanctions on Russia's ally Iran

From CNN's Mariya Knight

Broken windows and a damaged facade of a residential building are seen as a result of a Russian attack with Iran-made Shahed drones in in Kyiv on May 8. SOPA/Alamy/AP

Ukraine has slapped new sanctions on Iran for a period of 50 years in response to what Kyiv sees as Tehran's role in supplying weapons to Moscow.

The move, announced by Ukraine’s parliament in a Telegram post Tuesday, includes a ban on exports of "military and dual-use goods" to Iran and the "suspension of economic and financial obligations in favor of residents of Iran."

The sanctions also ban Iranian goods from transiting through Ukraine and bar Iranian aircraft from flying through Ukraine’s airspace.

Some context: Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv this month with Iran-manufactured Shahed drones, resulting in destruction of infrastructure and civilian deaths.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the Iranian people not be "accomplices in Russian terror." He said last Wednesday that his forces had shot down about 900 of more than 1,160 drones used against Ukraine — figures that have likely risen during Russia barrage of aerial attacks in the days since.

1:12 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

New attack on Kyiv as Zelensky says Ukraine has set timing for counteroffensive. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

Cars were damaged during a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on May 30. Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

At least one person died in Kyiv after Ukrainian air defenses shot down 20 drones early Tuesday amid the 17th aerial assault launched by Russian forces at the capital during this month alone.

It comes after Russia hit Kyiv with an array of missile fire on Monday in a surprise daytime attack, sparking sirens and sending residents rushing for shelter just as the city recovered from a more typical overnight bombardment.

"The enemy changed its tactics," said Serhii Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration. "After prolonged, nighttime attacks only, it struck a peaceful city during the day when most residents were at work and outside."

Catch up on the latest headlines from Russia's war in Ukraine:

Counteroffensive timing decided: President Volodomyr Zelensky said Monday the timing of Ukraine's long anticipated counteroffensive has been set. "The decisions have been made," he said, without providing further details. On Monday, the head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence promised imminent retribution for Russian attacks. "Our response will not be delayed. Everyone will see everything soon," the official said.
Across the border: One person was killed and several others were injured by shelling in the town of Shebekino in Russia's southwestern Belgorod region, its governor said. Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said Belgorod had endured a "large amount of damage caused by hours of shelling" in recent days, along with temporary outages to power, cell phone connection, heat and water.
New incursion claim: The Russian Volunteer Corps, a group of anti-Putin Russian nationals aligned with the Ukrainian army, claimed Monday that its members had reentered Russian territory. The group published photos of armed men in a field, but the pictures don't clearly indicate where they were taken. CNN cannot verify the authenticity of the photos.
Russian movements: Moscow has been transferring its forces to the eastern city of Bakhmut to replace Wagner fighters, a spokesperson for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said. "Yes, [Russia] is currently rotating its units [in Bakhmut] — primarily in light of the significant losses the Wagner group has suffered. They are forced to do it, not for any other reason,” the spokesperson said.
Eastern fighting: Ukraine's State Emergency Service said at least two people were killed and eight others wounded in a Russian airstrike Monday on a gas station in the town of Toretsk, near Bakhmut. Earlier, the Russia-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic accused the Ukrainians of shelling the occupied town of Horlivka from positions around Toretsk.
Gloomy outlook: The European Union's top diplomat said Monday he was "not optimistic" about how the Russia-Ukraine conflict will play out this summer. "I see a concentration of troops on both sides, I see Russia's clear intent to win the war, (Russia) will not go into a negotiation if it doesn't win the war,” Josep Borrell, said.
China's influence: Meanwhile, a visit to European capitals by a Chinese envoy for the war in Ukraine has laid bare the divisions between Beijing and Europe when it comes to how peace can be reached — and served to underline China's close alignment with Russia.

1:13 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

1 killed in "massive" drone attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say

From CNN's Mariya Knight

An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, in Kyiv on May 30. Gleb Garanich/Reuters

One person was killed and at least three others were injured as a result of explosions in Kyiv early Tuesday as the city's air defenses intercepted 20 drones, the Ukrainian military said.

In a Telegram post, the Kyiv city military administration said a fire broke out at a high-rise apartment building in Holosiivskyi district due to falling debris and warned that people may be trapped under rubble.

Authorities also reported that debris fell on several other districts of the capital, including Pecherskyi, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, Podilskyi and Sviatoshynskyi.

It marks the 17th aerial attack on Kyiv this month, with the Russians varying their assaults with missiles, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, according to Ukrainian officials.

“The attack was massive, from different directions, in several waves. The air alert lasted almost 3 hours!” the Telegram post said.

The drone attacks Tuesday come after after Moscow's forces launched an unusual daytime missile attack on Kyiv Monday that Ukraine's military said signified a change in Russian tactics.