Russians Swiftly Begin to Surround City of Severodonetsk, Home to One of Europe’s Largest Chemical Plants
Morgan Ortagus, Former Press Secretary to Mike Pompeo, Visits Lviv to Support Volunteers
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Ukrainian Poet Who Spoke at Grammys Criticizes Zelenskiy’s Victory Definition
“So naïve to think that you feed Mordor … and he will stop eating you.”
Lyuba Yakimchuk became world-famous this year when she performed at the Grammy Awards April 3. Amid John Legend performing his song “Free,” she read her poem “Prayer,”moments after President Zelenskiy spoke via video to the Grammys audience.
In a TV interview over the weekend, President Zelenskiy said that reclaiming Ukraine’s borders as of February 24, the day of the 2022 Russian invasion, would be victory.
Yakimchuk, the poet ,in a Facebook post criticises Zelenskiy’s position:
“The president's rhetoric has changed. Now a victory in his mind is to take back control of the territory by February 24. And the return of Donbass and Crimea he already sees in the framework of negotiations with the enemy. This says the one who was negotiating in 2019.”
Yakimchuk's point is: For the past eight years, Ukrainians were negotiating with the Russians about the territory Moscow was occupying—and that only led to Moscow taking more territory in this war.
The topic is personal for Yakimchuk, who is from Luhansk, a region that has been occupied by Russian-backed forces since 2014.
“I've just had my house occupied for not a month, not three, but eight years.”
In his interview, Zelenskiy said restoring Ukraine’s borders entirely will take a few stages, in an effort to save lives.
“And so reaching this line of demarcation, the temporary line, would be a victory,” he said. “I’m sure it will be a victory. It will prove that they haven’t captured us, that we’ve defended our land, and then we will move on to the second stage. “
"We must look at the cost of this war and the cost of each deoccupation," Zelenskiy said. "I’m absolutely positive. We've cracked the spine of the world's largest or one of the strongest armies. We've already done it, for sure."
“Yes, the price is high,” Yakimchuk said in her post urging against negotiation. “Because our people are priceless. But she will be bigger next time.”
"It's naïve to think that you feed Mordor … and he will stop eating you.”
Watch Yakimchuk perform with John Legend at the Grammys:
Read about President Zelenskiy's interview here.
Morgan Ortagus, Former Press Secretary to Mike Pompeo, Visits Lviv to Support Volunteers
Watch a recorded live-stream she made from the streets of Lviv here.
Russians Swiftly Begin to Surround City of Severodonetsk, Home to One of Europe’s Largest Chemical Plants
Midday Monday 23 May:
1:42 am Tuesday 24 May
DEVELOPING SITUATION: Sunday 22 May, the Russians destroyed a bridge connecting Severodonetsk, the most eastern city still controlled by Ukraine, to the rest of the country. There’s one more bridge, still in tact. The Russians seem intent on taking this city that had a pre-war population of about 100,000 people.
The city is home to the Azot ("Nitrogeon") chemical plant, which is part of the global semiconductor supply chain. It's one of Europe's largest chemical plants.
🔺 In Lviv yesterday, some volunteers were scrambling to get vehicles to Severodonetsk in order to evacuate citizens. But reports from those who have remained in the city suggest that they don't want to leave, even as Russia tries to encircle them.
Watch the near-real-time maps here.
Follow updates on this and other stories on our Telegram Channel.
PODCAST
Near-Daily War Journal 23 May: Best Way to Clear Mind—Forest Walk or a Martini?
“What are doing here? I keep hitting so many walls. I’m sick of all the fake fakers.”
“Me too. That’s why I’m walking in the forest right now.”
“That’s why I’m drinking martinis right now.”
Two friends, Zakhar Pikh, Ukrainian bartender before the war, and Joe Lindsley, American writer, share a near-daily audio journal about life in a time of war, with occasional guests. They also share stories of other people on the ground here in Ukraine and invite guests from around the world.
*Language advisory*
Listen also on Spotify:
Situation Summary: Medvedchuk testified against Poroshenko, Unity of Ukraine and Poland, speech by Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos
By Pavlo Vitenko, UKRAINIAN FREEDOM NEWS
Summary by regions
DONETSK REGION
Shelling along the entire line. There is significant damage due to the shelling in Avdiivka: at least 20 houses and a school were damaged. The occupiers are constantly shelling positions around the village of Vozdvyzhenka and the village of Myronivka (Svitlodar community), and the bridge near the village of Luhanske has been destroyed. Detailed information on the consequences and victims is being established.
LUHANSK REGION
The Russians again tried to storm Severodonetsk, were unsuccessful and retreated. In total, 19 settlements were shelled during the day, damaging or destroying 70 housing facilities: in Lysychansk, Novodruzhesk, Zolote, Nyrkovo, Mykolayivka, Katerynivka, Hirske, as well as in Severodonetsk.
One person died, in addition, a girl from Privilege died in a hospital in Dnipro on April 7. There are two civilians wounded.
MYKOLAYIV REGION
At night, occupiers fired at Nikolaev from the MLRS "Tornado". Information on damaged objects and victims is being clarified. The Shyrokiv community also suffered from the shelling again: the Russians hit outbuildings, one apartment building was destroyed, however, no one was injured.
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION
There was an air alarm all night. The occupiers twice fired hurricanes at the Apostolic Community, but hit between the settlements and did not affect people. Information on the consequences of the shelling is being clarified.
KHERSON REGION
The occupiers continue to fire on the occupied settlements and destroy social facilities and houses of civilians. Critical condition in the villages of Oleksandrivka and Osokorivka - almost every yard there is damaged. There are dead and injured.
In Bilozerka, 10 houses were partially destroyed by cluster shelling, and three people died. The number of injured is unknown. The difficult situation in the villages of Beryslav and Kakhovka districts. The region as a whole is in critical condition.
Read more including nationwide and global headlines here.
🎙🎙🎙 WGN Radio: Lviv Is Now Full of Americans Here to Help
Joe Lindsley of Ukrainian Freedom News speaks in a daily report with Bob Sirott of Chicago’s WGN Radio. You can listen here.
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