Weekly Ukraine war summary: Kharkiv border region “comes into motion,” record long-range drone attack on Russian territory

Ukraine has adopted a law giving some convicts the right to parole in order to sign a contract with the AFU. However, the option is not available to those convicted of crimes against the national security of Ukraine, premeditated murder of two or more persons, or murder involving particular cruelty or sexual assault. Those found guilty of serious offenses involving corruption are also exempt from parole. Ukraine’s Justice Minister Denys Maliuska explained that the law will allow for anywhere from 10,000-20,000 prisoners to enter the ranks of the AFU.

Meanwhile, Russian convicts who served in Storm-Z detachments under a far more dubious scheme are complaining that wounded fighters have not been paid compensation and that others were not provided with benefits and veterans' certificates. Simultaneously, soldiers of one of the Storm line detachments (not to be confused with Storm Z, as these are assault units formed out of regular troops) refused to “go to die” on orders from their commanders.

Mutual strikes and sabotage

This week, Russian forces launched another massive missile and drone strike on Ukrainian energy facilities. According to the AFU Air Force, a total of 55 cruise and ballistic missiles (of which 39 were shot down) and 21 Shahed-type suicide drones (20 were shot down) were used on the night of May 8 alone. Electricity transmission and generation facilities in six regions of Ukraine were hit. Kyiv Oblast was also attacked, but no damage to infrastructure facilities was recorded there.

Although kamikaze drone attacks on Ukraine continued throughout the week (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), the overwhelming majority of UAVs were intercepted, according to the AFU. However, power infrastructure facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy Oblasts were impacted. Russian forces also shelled the railway station in Kherson, the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast (using UMPB D30 gliding munitions), and the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (with artillery).

The shelling of Kharkiv continued throughout the week (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), resulting in dozens of casualties. Two people were killed and five were injured in the shelling of Vovchansk and other border settlements in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast as the Russian offensive kicked into gear, prompting local authorities to announce an evacuation of the area.