On 25 May, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Russian forces carried out attacks on Kharkiv, dropping two UMPB D-30SN guided bombs on the Epicentr K construction hypermarket, with about 200 people inside, and one bomb on the Central Park of Culture and Recreation. In the evening there was another rocket attack on a residential area in the city centre. According to Governor Oleh Sinehubov, at least 18 people were killed and approximately 65 others injured in the attacks. Among the injured were 25 victims of an attack on a residential building, including a 14-year-old child.

At the same time, Russian authorities reported that Ukrainian forces had carried out attacks in the Belgorod region, leaving four people injured and several houses damaged. Ukrainian forces also shot down a Russian Su-25 fighter over the Donetsk region.

These attacks marked a further escalation in the conflict, resulting in casualties on both sides, including many civilians.

On 26 May, Ukrainian media reported that a Ukrainian drone had travelled approximately 1,800 km and struck the Russian Voronezh-M over-the-horizon radar in Orsk, the Orenburg oblast. This radar was a critical component of Russia’s nuclear early warning system, designed to detect air and space threats, including ballistic missiles. While no casualties were reported, the attack may have compromised Russia’s ability to detect early threats, potentially weakening its defensive capabilities.

The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, stated that Ukraine could not use German-supplied weapons to attack military targets within Russia, warning that such actions could escalate the conflict. The Defence Minister of Sweden, Pål Jonson, voiced support for Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied weapons for self-defence against Russian aggression, emphasizing that such actions must adhere to the laws of war.

A Sky News report based on an analysis made by the consulting firm Bain & Company revealed that Russi was producing artillery shells around three times faster than Ukraine's allies and for about a quarter of the cost. Russian factories were expected to produce or refurbish 4.5 million 152 mm shells in 2024, while European countries and the U.S. were projected to produce only 1.3 million 155 mm shells.

On 27 May, President Volodymyr Zelensky made an official visit to Spain, where he and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez signed a 10-year security agreement between Ukraine and Spain. Spain also announced a new €1.129 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which included: 19 Leopard 2A4 tanks, Patriot missiles, artillery ammunition, anti-drone systems and training of 400 Ukrainian soldiers.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a declaration calling for support for Ukraine by lifting some restrictions on the use of Western-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia and by accelerating the delivery of critical weapons. The declaration was supported by over 200 representatives of NATO member states.

Moreover, following a video meeting with the Defence Minister of France, Sébastien Lecornu, General Oleksandr Syrsky announced that France would send its military instructors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers. The necessary agreements were signed, allowing French instructors to work at Ukrainian training centres.

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland were considering deploying troops to Ukraine if Russia made significant advances on the battlefield, according to a report by the German news magazine Der Spiegel.

On 28 May, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year agreement on security and long-term support with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo. Belgium pledged to provide Ukraine with military aid worth at least €977 million in 2024, including the supply of F-16 fighter jets. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo emphasized that these weapons, including F-16 jets, could only be used within Ukrainian territory.

Similarly, Ukraine and Portugal signed a military support agreement valued at over €126 million. The Netherlands announced plans to send components of the Patriot air defence system, while Latvia committed €20 million to a drone coalition supporting Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, authorized Ukraine to use SCALP EG missiles against Russian military bases, restricting their use to launch sites responsible for attacks on Ukraine. The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, expressed support for the use of Western-supplied weapons against Russian targets. Additionally, Czech artillery shells were set to be delivered to Ukraine in the coming days.

Ukrainian intelligence reported that Russia had intensified its recruitment of mercenaries in African countries, offering them attractive financial incentives and Russian citizenship. The German newspaper Bild reported that Ukraine had used the Patriot system at least once to carry out attacks on Russian territory. This development caused dissatisfaction in Germany and the U.S., both of which warned that they might suspend further deliveries of anti-aircraft missiles. 

On 29 May, Sweden announced $1.3 billion in military aid for Ukraine in its largest package ever. The package included two ASC 890 reconnaissance and control aircraft, the entire Swedish stock of decommissioned Pansarbandvagn 302 infantry fighting vehicles, 155 mm artillery shells, and AIM-120 AMRAAM air defence missiles.

The Foreign Minister of Finland, Elina Valtonen, stated that Finland would not restrict Ukraine from using Finnish-supplied weapons against Russia. Similarly, Poland’s Deputy Defence Minister, Cezary Tomczyk, affirmed Ukraine’s right to defend itself, adding that Poland had not imposed limitations on the use of its weapons. Also Canada had not set restrictions on the use of transferred weapons, as reaffirmed by Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Foreign Minister. Altogether, 11 allied nations, including France, Lithuania, Canada, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom, had approved Ukraine’s use of their supplied weapons to strike Russian targets.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, noted that the United States may adjust its policy on the use of weapons supplied by the United States to attack Russia if necessary.

Meanwhile, due to the large number of detainees, Ukraine had to open a third camp for Russian prisoners of war. Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, blamed the Ukrainian authorities for constantly making new demands, which resulted in suspending the prisoners of war exchange for several months.

On 30 May, the UK’s Ministry of Defence estimated that Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in the war likely tallied up to 500,000 in 2024. Russian casualties were high throughout the year, and the average daily death toll in May exceeded 1,200. The high number of casualties was the result of attrition-based offensive along the front line. The majority of Russian forces consisted of soldiers with minimal training; consequently, the army had to rely on waves of small yet costly assaults designed to exhaust Ukrainian defences. Although Russia continued to recruit additional personnel, the constant need to replenish its ranks limited its ability to form more capable and cohesive units. 

During an unannounced visit to Odessa, the Defence Minister of Germany, Boris Pistorius, announced a new military aid package worth €500 million to support Ukraine. The package included ammunition for IRIS-T air defence systems, reconnaissance drones, 1 million rounds of ammunition for small arms, Leopard 1 tanks, Marder 1 armoured vehicles, and spare parts for artillery systems and Leopard tanks. At a press conference, Pistorius added that Germany may consider allowing Ukraine to use German weapons to attack military targets in Russia.

Meanwhile, the President of Estonia, Alar Karis, signed a law allowing the use of frozen Russian assets to pay compensation for war damage in Ukraine. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide approved the use of weapons supplied by their countries, including F-16 fighter jets, for strikes on military targets in Russia, deeming it consistent with the laws of war.

President Joe Biden also permitted limited use of U.S.-supplied weapons on Russian territory, restricting their use to border areas adjacent to the Kharkiv region. The use of long-range weapons for strikes deep within Russian territory, however, remained prohibited.

On 31 May, during his visit to Sweden, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a security agreement with Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden, providing $9.95 billion in military and civilian support for Ukraine over the period 2022–2026. Moreover, Zelensky signed similar agreements with Prime Ministers of Iceland and Norway. Both countries pledged long-term economic, humanitarian, and defence support for Ukraine, with Norway announcing an additional €1.2 billion in military aid for 2024.

The United States and Germany agreed to permit Ukraine to use weapons supplied by their countries against military targets in Russia, but only in regions bordering Ukraine, in order to avoid escalation of the conflict. However, Germany imposed restrictions on the operational range of its weapons, limiting strikes to a depth of 40 kilometres into Russian territory.

In response to Russia’s escalating aggression, Lithuania declared that it was prepared to send its troops to Ukraine, while Poland put forward a proposal to form military units consisting of Ukrainians mobilized in Poland. At the same time, Poland was struggling with a cyberattack carried out by hackers linked to Russian services, who tried to spread disinformation by suggesting Poland was mobilizing men for war.

Illustrative photo. Generated by AI