As part of the large prisoner exchange "1000 for 1000," 307 Ukrainian defenders were returned. Among those released are 27 defenders of Mariupol, the youngest is 25 years old, and the oldest is 61.
During May 23, 202 combat clashes were recorded on the front line, the Russian army is attacking Ukrainian positions in 10 directions. The Defense Forces are inflicting significant losses on the occupiers.
"ATESH" agents published a photo of the headquarters of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces in Rostov-on-Don. They studied patrol schedules, transportation routes, and security habits.
A UAZ Patriot with four officers of the Russian army was blown up between Skadovsk and Antonivka in the Kherson region. After the explosion, the ammunition that the occupiers were transporting detonated.
On May 19-20, a "yellow" level of danger has been declared in a number of regions of Ukraine due to thunderstorms. Exceptions are Kyiv, Vinnytsia and Chernihiv regions.
Due to the freezing of most orchards in the Kherson region, Ukraine may have problems with early apricots. Frosts have already damaged fruit and berry crops.
During negotiations in Istanbul on May 16, Russia made demands regarding Ukraine's neutral status, renunciation of reparations, and recognition of Russian territories. It also demanded a ceasefire.
Andriy Kovalenko stated that the threats from the Russians are traditional behavior, which often has no basis. During negotiations in Istanbul, the Russians demanded that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the occupied territories.
The Russian delegation at the Istanbul talks threatened to seize Kharkiv and Sumy regions. This could happen if Ukraine does not withdraw troops from four partially occupied regions.
The Russian army has increased the number of attacks in the South, trying to break through to the border of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions. The number of strikes by strike UAVs has increased.
During the day, 161 combat clashes took place, mostly in the Pokrovsky direction. Ukrainian troops struck at the areas of concentration of the occupiers, destroying their equipment.
Russian forces attacked a police crew with a drone in the Kherson region while they were evacuating two women. Despite this, the police officers were able to complete the evacuation and take the people to a safe place.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on a massive Russian attack on Ukraine. Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk region, Zhytomyr region, Kherson region, and Dnipropetrovsk region were under attack, and there are casualties.
Russian artillery shelled the village of Ivanopillia in Donetsk region, killing a 44-year-old man and injuring two others. At least four private houses were damaged.
Modular educational centers are planned to be installed in the affected communities of the Kherson region. Also, 7 schools will be transferred to a mixed form of education, which will allow the return of more than 1,400 children.
The Russians advanced near Lyman, Siversk, Novopavlivka, Kurakhovo and Velyka Novosilka. The Armed Forces are counterattacking in a number of areas, fighting continues in many directions.
In the Beryslav district of Kherson region, a man died due to the detonation of a Russian drone with explosives. He tried to take it out of the yard, but the drone exploded in his hands.
Due to Russian aggression, 1453 cultural heritage sites have been damaged in 18 regions of Ukraine and Kyiv. The Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk regions have suffered the most.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation stated that Ukraine allegedly attacked the market in Oleshky with FPV drones, which led to casualties. Russia will not allow the restoration of Ukraine within the borders of 1991.
Putin insists on recognizing the annexed territories as part of Russia as a condition for negotiations, which complicates Trump's efforts to end the ceasefire. Negotiations have reached a deadlock.
The government has supported a program of payments to agricultural producers in Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions who grow cotton. The payment will be 10,000 UAH per hectare.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, at least 200 people have been injured by mines during agricultural work. The government is improving the mechanism for compensating for landmine clearance.
Russian troops struck a medical facility in Kachkarivka three times with UAVs, causing a fire and destruction. 12 people were injured in the region during the day, infrastructure was damaged.
Russia continues to integrate the temporarily occupied territories into its management system, redistributing electoral districts. In the 2026 State Duma elections, 7 deputies will be elected from the occupied regions.
Four children, including a boy who was being mobilized into the Russian army, have been returned from the temporarily occupied Kherson region. Since the beginning of the year, 39 children have been returned.
April 28 is Emergency Medical Services Day and World Day for Safety and Health at Work. They also commemorate the martyrs Maximus, Dada, Quintilian and honor Anastasia, Andrew, Victor.
Russia refuses to make concessions regarding Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia NPP, insisting on conditions that are tantamount to Ukraine's capitulation. This undermines Trump's efforts to achieve peace.
During April 26, 174 combat clashes took place on the front line, 68 of them on the Pokrovsk direction. Intense fighting is also taking place in the Lyman and Toretsk directions.
Negotiations with the participation of the Russian dictator's aide Ushakov and representative Kirill Dmitriev took place in the Kremlin. Details of the meeting have not yet been disclosed.
The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people condemned any attempts to recognize Crimea as Russian, emphasizing that this is a gross violation of international law and an encroachment on the sovereignty of Ukraine. The only way to peace is de-occupation.
