Dmitry Polyansky, a deputy representative of Russia at the United Nations, said that Sweden and Finland joining NATO would turn them into enemy countries. “They know that the moment they become members of NATO it will imply certain mirror moves on the Russian side,” he told the unherd.com news site. “If there are NATO detachments in those territories, these territories would become a target — or a possible target — for a strike.” Finland and Sweden have considered joining NATO to boost their defense since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.
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Wednesday, May 20
(Updated: )United Kingdom
The SBU findings indicated that the warhead of the R-60 missile contained depleted uranium projectiles, specifically Uranium-235 and Uranium-238.
(Updated: )
"It must be made clear that none of the EU Member States can be threatened," the letter reads.
(Updated: )
According to the General Staff, an AVT-6 oil refining unit was hit, leading to a subsequent fire at the Lukoil-Nizhegorodorgsintez refinery near the town of Kstovo in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
The two leaders signed a joint statement on further strengthening the countries' "comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation."
(Updated: )
A Russian attack on the city of Konotop in Sumy Oblast struck a multi-story building, killing a woman and injuring at least 11 people, regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov reported.
The number includes 920 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
The Moscow Oil Refinery temporarily halted its processing operations following a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on May 17, Reuters reported, citing industry sources.
"I'm not going to make pre-commitments in a negotiation on any particular topic," Vance said, though he maintained the proposal was "not currently" part of the plan.
Tuesday, May 19
Short-range drones killed and injured more Ukrainian civilians in April 2026 than in any other month since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
*Russia hits Ukraine's Chernihiv, Sumy oblasts in morning attacks, killing 5*Ukraine says it struck major Russian oil refinery, pumping station*China secretly trained Russian soldiers who later fought in Ukraine, Reuters reports*Russia launches large-scale nuclear forces drills after Belarus exercises *Russian military hospitals overwhelmed by wounded soldiers from war in Ukraine, media reportsT
The Czech Interior Ministry proposed a set of legal changes that could restrict the temporary protection benefits that have been in place for Ukrainian refugees since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
MEPs in Brussels agreed on May 19 to slash the EU’s tariff-free steel imports to 18.3 million metric tons per year — a 47% reduction from what is currently allowed — starting in July 2026.
Russian military hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of soldiers wounded in the war against Ukraine, forcing authorities to repurpose civilian hospitals, maternity wards, and other medical facilities for military use.





