The operation to rescue the military blocked on the territory of Azovstal has started. 53 seriously wounded soldiers were taken to the occupied Novoazovsk, Donetsk Oblast. Another 211 were evacuated through the humanitarian corridor to the occupied Olenivka, now Ukraine plans to exchange them. In Kharkiv Oblast, the Ukrainian Armed Forces pushed back Russian troops, reached the state border of Ukraine. Also, border guards stopped the Russiansʼ attempt to break through the border in Sumy Oblast
Brief facts:
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the military and intelligence officers had begun the operation to rescue Ukrainian troops from Mariupol, but the the work needs “delicacy and time”.
The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units have destroyed fifteen enemy targets: eleven unmanned aerial vehicles and four cruise missiles.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiyjust gave a surprise address to open the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Russian Media: russian parliament to consider ban on exchanging Azov POWs.
Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President, Mykhailo Podolyak: Negotiations with Russia currently on pause.
The evacuation of troops from Mariupol's Azovstal plant has begun.
Ukrainian defenders repulse 11 enemy attacks in the JFO area, destroying a plane and five tanks.
The enemy focused its main efforts on the Donetsk direction - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Side note: news are marked in accordance with the Kyiv time zone: Eastern European Time (EET), GMT/UTC+2
01:00 In his nightly address, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the military and intelligence officers had begun the operation to rescue Ukrainian troops from Mariupol, but the the work needs “delicacy and time”, The Guardian reports.
Meanwhile, he said, “we also maintain maximum diplomatic activity in other areas in the interests of Ukraine”.
I spoke today with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. On how to speed up the provision of financial assistance to Ukraine, given the state budget deficit during the war, which is about $ 5 billion a month. We also talked about the main directions of further cooperation.
On the eve of the meeting of the G7 finance ministers, these talks with the IMF Managing Director are a direct preparation for very important decisions for Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the military and intelligence officers had begun the operation to rescue Ukrainian troops from Mariupol, but the the work needs “delicacy and time”
A high-ranking Polish delegation worked in Kyiv. Consultations with them were held regarding cooperation at the European Union level. In particular, it concerns the acceleration of our integration into the European Union and the expected decision on the candidate status for Ukraine.
We are also working to ensure that the European Union agrees on a sixth package of sanctions on Russia. The oil embargo must be a part of it, and it is in the interests not only of our state, but also of the whole of Europe. I am grateful to those leaders of the continent who are aware of this and help promote the respective decision.
Zelenskiy said that in the mean time, Ukrainian troops are “repelling constant attacks in those areas where Russia is still trying to advance”, naming Severodonetsk and other cities in Donbas as main targets.
“We do everything to protect our land and our people,” he said.
00:40 Germany to lend 150 million euros to Ukraine. On May 17, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers approved a decision to get a “soft loan” of up to 150 million euros from German state bank KfW. “We will immediately use these funds to finance key social expenditures and key aspects of our country’s reconstruction,” Ukraine’s Prime MInister Denys Shmyhal said.
Ukraine’s Prime MInister Denys Shmyhal
00:20 The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units have destroyed fifteen enemy targets: eleven unmanned aerial vehicles and four cruise missiles on Tuesday, May 17
On May 17, the strike aircraft of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck at the company's tactical groups, areas of concentration of equipment, manpower and ammunition depots of the enemy.
The relevant statement was made by the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook.
"The air defense of the Ground Forces hit ten drones of the operational and tactical level. Another UAV and four cruise missiles were destroyed by anti-aircraft missile units of the Ukrainian Air Force," the statement read.
In general 15 air targets of invaders were shot down during the day - 11 unmanned aerial vehicles and 4 cruise missiles.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units have eliminated fifteen enemy targets
23:15 Ukrainian troops acting as a part of Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Group continue to conduct a defense operation in a certain area of responsibility in the Donetsk and Luhansk areas. The situation is difficult, but controlled. The Ukrainian military have repulsed 12 enemy attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions Tuesday, May 17.
The relevant statement was made by the Joint Forces Operation Task Force on Facebook.
“The enemy is using combat aviation, multiple rocket launcher systems, cannon artillery, tanks and mortars all over the defense line. Occupiers are launching missile and air strikes on civil infrastructure facilities, residential areas,” the report states.
The occupiers fired on 45 settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, destroyed and damaged 36 residential buildings, 6 industrial and farm enterprises, a supermarket, a sports school, a dormitory, and a pharmay. As a result of these shellings, 8 civilians were killed and 4 were injured (including one 8-year-old child).
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Aerial view of a Russian T-72B MBT destroyed by the Ukrainian 53rd Mechanized Brigade
22:35 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiyjust gave a surprise address to open the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Over video, Zelensky said that “it’s necessary for cinema not to be silent”, The Guardian reports citing the Hollywood Reporter. Zelenskiy cited several movies, including Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator and said that such movies were “horrific documentaries and newsreels”. But, ironically, “the most brutal dictators of the 20th century loved cinema”.
“I’m sure that the dictator will lose,” Zelesnkiy said at the end of the address. “Glory to Ukraine.”
22:10 The Armed Forces of Ukraine have destroyed up to 110 enemy troops, armored vehicles, artillery systems, UAVs on the past day, Tuesday, May 17
The Operational and Tactical Group East reported this on Facebook.
“During the day, May 17, in the area of responsibility of The Operational and Tactical Group East, Russian fascist troops carried out 2 attacks,” the statement said.
According to the Operational-tactical group "East" report Ukrainian defenders eliminated:
up to 110 troops;
6 infantry fighting vehicles;
1 armored personnel carrier;
3 artillery systems:
1 mortar;
1anti-aircraft missile system;
4 trucks;
2 UAV.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Ukrainian warriors inspecting something that looks like russia's destroyed IFV
21:25 Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov: Russia wants to protract war.
In order to prevent Russia from protracting the war, Ukraine is interested in receiving international military aid and buying weapons as quickly as possible and in the right quantities.
Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said this in his speech at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council at the level of defense ministers with the participation of the NATO secretary general, Ukrinform reports.
"There are many indications of Russia preparing for a long-term military operation. The war is entering a protracted phase. We can already see how the Russian occupiers are beginning engineering and fortification works in the Kherson region, in the Zaporizhzhia region in order to move to defense if necessary," Reznikov said.
Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov: Russia wants to protract war
In view of this, he stressed the need to prevent new casualties among the military and civilians.
"Every day of the war brings casualties among our military and great suffering of the civilian population. Especially in the territories temporarily occupied by Russia. The whole world saw what happened in Bucha. The same 'Buchas' are now taking place wherever Russian troops are stationed. Our people are being kidnapped, tortured, killed," Reznikov said.
He also said that the war is destroying the Ukrainian economy, and the need for funds to rebuild the country is growing day by day.
"The protracted war creates the risk of a global food crisis, as well as another migration crisis. With this in mind, we want to defeat the enemy and liberate our territories as soon as possible. Do not let Russia prolong the conflict. That is why we are very interested in receiving international aid, buying weapons as quickly as possible and in the right quantities. We need tanks, armored vehicles, long-range fire weapons systems (MLRS, heavy artillery, aircraft, missiles). We strive to save the lives of our people," he said.
At the same time, according to Reznikov, "we see the need to increase the effectiveness of international assistance through better coordination between all partners."
To find more about Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov statements read a publication by Ukrinform:
20:55 Ukraine obtains new evidence of Russia’s atrocities in Kharkiv region.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has intercepted a phone call of a Russian serviceman boasting to his father about torturing the Ukrainian POWs and shelling peaceful settlements in Kharkiv region.
That's according to the SBU press service, Ukrinform reports.
In the intercepted call, the Russian serviceman, who was recently part of the forces attempting to advance across Kharkiv region, tells his father: “We captured two people. We cut one’s ear off as he wasn’t willing to speak. It could have been worse: we could have shot him in the head or quartered him with an APC. Or still, we could have released 100 bullets, at him, a full machine gun case, make a colander of him. Well, at most, we could have cut his fingers off.”
He enthusiastically adds that the invaders shelled a peaceful village in Kharkiv region before looting it.
The Security Service of Ukraine stated that “such inhumane acts do not infuriate his father – he is glad that he raised an executioner who might get a reservation in a Cargo 200 refrigerator at any moment.”
20:05 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said he held a “long and meaningful” phone call with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to discuss the issue of fuel supplies to Ukraine and defence support from France, The Guardian reports.
Zelenskiy tweeted that he told Macron about “the course of hostilities, the operation to rescue the military from Azovstal and the vision of the prospects of the negotiation process”.
The two leaders also spoke about the “preparation of the sixth package of sanctions, possible ways to export Ukrainian agricultural products”, Zelenskiy said.
They also held a “substantive discussion of our application for the status of a candidate for EU membership”, he added.
Йшлося також про оборонну підтримку від Франції, підготовку 6-го пакету санкцій, можливі шляхи експорту української аграрної продукції. Предметно обговорили розгляд нашої заявки на отримання статусу кандидата на вступ до ЄС. (2/2)— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 17, 2022
The situation is tense at the frontlines, russian troops are trying to breakthrough at the Donbas area to encircle Ukrainian troops and capture Luhansk oblast completely, at the same time the Armed Forces of Belarus keep conducting military exercises being ready to start combat in the noth of Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff operational report, the enemy does not stop conducting offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone. The enemy continued to launch missile strikes on military and civilian infrastructure in Lviv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions.
Destroyed russia's tank / Photo credit: the General Staff of Ukraine
19:10 Russia may be suffering ‘impressive losses’, says EU’s Borrell.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said Russian forces may have suffered “impressive losses” since their invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Borrell said: “I wouldn’t dare to make an hypothesis about how long Russia can resist... If it is true that Russia has lost 15% of their troops since the beginning of the war, this is a world record of the losses of an army invading a country.”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks to reporters following a EU Defence Ministers Council in Brussels, Belgium / Photo credit: Stéphanie Lecocq/EPA
He added that the European Union “will not let” Ukraine run out of military equipment, The Guardian reports citing Reuters.
18:45 Russian Media: russian parliament to consider ban on exchanging Azov POWs.
Wounded fighter from Azovstal plant / Photo credit: Azov Telegram
Russia’s parliament will consider banning the exchange of Russian prisoners of war for captured members of the Azov regiment, Russian state-controlled RIA Novosti reported. On May 26, the Russian Supreme Court will consider recognizing Azov as a terrorist organization. 264 Ukrainian soldiers, including Azov fighters, were evacuated from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol to the Russian-occupied territory. Ukraine said they would be exchanged for Russian POWs, Kyiv Independent reports, siting Pravda.
18:30 The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Liudmyla Denisova: In occupied Luhansk region, "conscripts" threatened with execution for dodging draft.
"The Russian occupiers are searching the area for men who have moved deep into the occupied territories and to safer locations places to flee shelling. They raid apartments, households, and suburban areas. Conscripts are taken away at gun-point, and in case of any resistance, the men are threatened with execution," the ombudsperson stressed, Ukrinform reports.
17:35 US has managed to launch a hypersonic missile from B-52, which means that there’s one more significant “argument” for potential US opponents.
17:00 Operational Command "South" Spokesperson Vladyslav Nazarov: Russian military again fire missiles at bridge over Dniester Estuary.
Operational Command "South" Spokesperson Vladyslav Nazarov / Open source photo
The relevant statement was made by South Operational Command Spokesperson Vladyslav Nazarov on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
“Two more cruise missiles hit the bridge over the Dniester Estuary, which had not been operated for over two weeks,” Nazarov told.
In his words, the bridge was damaged so heavily that “repair works would require a lot of time and efforts. But, now it is impossible to conduct them, same as to operate the bridge”.
16:23 Head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration Dmytro Zhyvytskyy: State border in Sumy Region secured, but provocative shelling from Russia underway.
“An update on the situation in Shostka District. No breaking through the state border has been recorded. But, provocative shelling from the territory of Russia is underway,” Zhyvytskyi wrote, Ukrinform reports.
16:00 Mariupol City Council: Evacuation of Ukrainian defenders from Azovstal plant.
The video shows the Ukrainian defenders leaving the area of the Azovstal steelworks without weapons. After they are checked by the Russian military, they get into white buses. The seriously wounded Ukrainian fighters are carried to buses on stretchers. In buses, military medics are bandaging those in need, Ukinform reports.
15:30 Head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration Dmytro Zhyvytskyy: Russians trying to break through border in Sumy region.
Illustrative photo from open sources
"The battle continues in the north of Shostka district. There is an attempt to break through the state border in the area of Seredyno-Buda," Head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration Dmytro Zhyvytskyy posted on Telegram.
Zhyvytskyy stressed that the shelling of the region from the territory of Russia had been going on since the morning. According to him, five shots were recorded in the area of Esman, about 70 explosions – in the direction of Boyaro-Lezhachi, six explosions – in the area of Sopych, Ukrinform reports.
15:15 A couple of dozens of Czech-modernized T-72 tanks might be sent to Ukraine, that’s thanks to a Czechia-Germany agreement under the "ring exchange" scheme (ringtausch).
T-72M4CZ of the Czech Army / Illustrative photo from open sources
14:55 Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President, Mykhailo Podolyak: Negotiations with Russia currently on pause.
Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak / Open source photo
According to him, there are three reasons: Firstly, Russia does not demonstrate the key – the understanding of today's processes in the world and its [Russia’s] extremely negative role. Secondly, Russia does not understand that the war is no longer waged according to the rules, schedule or plans of Russia in any sense, while the professional resistance of Ukraine only ramps up. Third, he noted, Russia cannot give up propaganda in the domestic market, and therefore the political elite is afraid to tell the truth that the war must be stopped on completely different terms than originally stated, Ukrinform reports.
14:45 The mayor of Kherson Igor Kolykhaiev: in Kherson medicines will run out in two weeks, there are no solutions for drips, there is not enough medicine for cardiovascular diseases, there is not enough oxygen. Significant need for medicines exists in all districts of Kherson region without exception.
14:08 Lviv Oblast GovernorMaksym Kozytsky: Russian missile attack caused damage to railway infrastructure. Regional Governor Maksym Kozytsky said that the Russian forces hit a railway infrastructure facility in the Yavoriv district overnight, but there are no reports of injuries or death so far. The official thanked Ukraine’s Air Defense for shooting down three cruise missiles, Kyiv Independent reports, siting Pravda.
13:45 General Staff informs that combat mission is fulfilled and Mariupol garrison has accomplished their task and now are ordered to save their lives. They are currently being taken to the hospitals in temporarily occupied territories for further exchange for russian captives.
A Ukrainian serviceman at the Azovstal iron and steel works plant / Photo credit: Dmytro Kozatskyi, an Azov Regiment fighter, on Instagram
13:08 Minefields against russian armor
The video appeared on the Internet showcasing how the Ukrainian forces use minefields to neutralize russian armor. A BMP-3 exploded on a mine thrice. Here it is:
12:55 Ukrainian law enforcers continue to find war criminals
Over the last few days, at least two children were injured, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine informs – one in Luhansk and one in Odesa region.
The Office continues to identify war criminals. A serviceman of the 30th Motorized Rifle Brigade is suspected of crimes against civilians in the Kyiv region. Allegedly, he repeatedly terrorized locals in occupation and raped women.
The Security Service of Ukraine reports it has identified 1140 such suspects who committed atrocities against the civilian population in the Kyiv region.
12:22 Details on the Lviv region missile attack
Russians fired a missile at the railway, according to the Head of the Lviv region administration Maksym Kozytsyi. An infrastructure facility of the Lviv Railway regional branch in the Yavoriv district was the target. As a result, the railway infrastructure was damaged, he said. There is no information on injured or killed yet.
Three of the russian missiles were shot down by air defense units of the Air Command "West".
It is thanks to the air defense none of the missiles hit the major city of Lviv, said the Mayor of the city Andriy Sadovyi.
"It surely was one of the largest attacks on the Lviv region in terms of the number of missiles," he noted
11:53 Russian troops have killed a citizen of the Czech Republic
A pit with three people was found in the Kyiv region, one of the deceased was a foreigner. Ukraine NOW reports about it referring to the National Police. The victims were shot, and a grenade trap was placed next to the burial place by the russians.
The Czech citizen used to work as a truck driver in Ukraine before the war and became a volunteer at the outbreak of hostilities.
11:35 Ukrainian artillery blew up an ammo warehouse
Russian ammunition storage was hit with a precise strike by the 45th Artillery Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The brigade's reconnaissance has spotted the location of the warehouse, then a look from above confirmed russian trucks and armored vehicles regularly drive up to the facility. Then a skillful adjust fire led to the target hit.
10:52 More than 3,000 russian APVs destroyed in Ukraine
The number of armored personnel vehicles eliminated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces has reached another "milestone" – 3,009 units. This is the figure provided by the Ukrainian General Staff. The number of russian army's lost personnel is more than 27,900. But still, russia doesn't cease its military campaign in Ukraine despite heavy losses. Find out the exact figures in our statistics:
10:10 General Staff released new operational report
Infrastructure in the Eastern Operational Zone and industrial facilities deep in Ukraine have suffered from russian airstrikes, according to the report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For instance, russian strategic aviation launched an attack on the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district of the Odesa region. Civilian infrastructure and private households were damaged.
The Ukrainian positions in the east are attacked not only by aviation but also with mortar, artillery, and MLRS fire. The invaders shelled the units of the State Border Guard Service in the Sumy region.
At the same time, Ukrainian forces advance in the Kharkiv and Sloboda directions.
Photo credit: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
09:37 russia is ready to use artillery against inhabited areas – British intelligence
The latest intelligence report from the UK Ministry of Defense suggests that russia has increased its reliance on indiscriminate artillery bombardment because of being unable to reach its goals otherwise and unwilling to risk flying combat aircraft.
"In the Chernihiv region north of Kyiv, approximately 3,500 buildings are estimated to have been destroyed or damaged during Russia’s abandoned advance towards the Ukrainian capital. 80% of the damage has been caused to residential buildings. The scale of this damage indicates Russia’s preparedness to use artillery against inhabited areas, with minimal regard to discrimination or proportionality."
08:53 More trophies for the Ukrainian forces
Illustrative photo: 9K35 Strela-10 mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system / Photo credit: Srdan Popovic
Ukrainian military have captured an enemy gasoline and lubricant store in the east of the country, as well as 29 russians, a "Strela-10" surface-to-air missile system, a T-72 tank, and other armored vehicles. This was reported by Operational Command "South".
Cluster munitions were found in Mykolaiv after the shelling. Those are prohibited for use in densely populated areas / Photo credit: Mykolaiv region prosecutor's office
Also, southern Ukraine suffered from russian attacks on May 16. Central areas of big city Mykolaiv was shelled with indiscriminate cluster munitions, which severely damaged civilian infrastructure. An airstrike on Odesa resulted in a touristic facility being damaged. Both in Mykolaiv and Odesa there are casualties among civilian people.
08:21 The evacuation of troops from Mariupol's Azovstal plant has begun
The evacuation of 53 severely wounded servicemen has begun, said the announcement on the official page of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The soldiers were taken to a medical facility in Novoazovsk, (currently occupied by russian forces and illegal military formations – Defense Express). Another 211 defenders were evacuated through a humanitarian corridor to Olenivka, a small town between Mariupol and Donetsk, and then they would return to Ukrainian-controlled territory through an exchange procedure.
"Defenders of Mariupol are the heroes of our time. They are forever in history. This is a separate special unit "Azov", the 12th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, the 36th Separate Brigade of Marines, border guards, police, volunteers, the Territorial Defense of Mariupol," reads the statement from the General Staff.
The evacuation is held by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, National Guard, State Border Guard, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Security Service of Ukraine and Azov Regiment.
Relevant statements were also made by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar and the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.
The evacuation of wounded Ukrainian servicemen from Azovstal, Mariupol on May 17 night, 2022 / Photo credit: Aleksander Yermochenko, Reuters
07:38 At night, russians launched an attack on Lviv
According to the Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi, Ukrainian air defense worked. There is no clarified data on missiles hitting the city yet and said to provide more information this morning.
The Head of the region's military administration Maksym Kozytskyi said the target was a military facility in the Yavoriv area. The city of Yavoriv is located about 12 km away from the Polish border. The strike is not the first one. As Defense Express reported, more than 30 missiles were launched at the International Peacekeeping Center near Yavoriv on March 13.
07:10 Sezized T-80BVM on duty in Ukrainian forces
Ukrainian army is already using captured russian tanks to its own good. A seized T-80BVM is being driven by a crew of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade. One of the crew members told about his trophy tank, his story was forwarded by the Ukrainian General Staff.
Crewman Oleksandr said he operated a T-64 before it got hit by russian occupiers. All the crew members managed to survive. That's when he got into a russian T-80BVM main battle tank.
"Before the start of the full-scale war, I was an instructor at the "Desna" training center. After mobilization, I joined the ranks of the 93rd [Brigade]. In "Desna" I rode T-64 and T-72 tanks. There were also T-80 tanks, but old models. And this is the latest 2020 model of the T-80. At night, thermal imagers work well on it. Visibility is up to 5 kilometers. At a distance of up to 3 kilometers, everything is visible at night – we sometimes see wild boars running across the field. The tank we took from the occupiers is very good. It has already come in handy during heavy fighting in the Izium direction," Oleksandr said.
Oleksandr on top of his "trophy". T-80BVM is on serving the Ukrainian Land Forces / Photo credit: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
05:30 Village of Oleksandrivka utterly demolished by russian forces
The battles for Oleksandrivka in the Kherson region lasted for a whole month, Defense Express reports. Now the village that housed 2,500 people is in ruins, as is shown in the video, shot with a drone from above. Fighting for this village continued throughout April, and now, apparently, has already been liberated, or is in the so-called "gray zone".
It is difficult to find at least one surviving house in the video
02:05 According to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine post on Facebook, on May 17, the air defense units of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 1 Su-25 aircraft and one cruise missile. Beside this three russian Orlan-10 UAVs were shot down by the units of the Army of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Also, on May 16, the Air Force's combat aircraft made more than 10 flights to hit ground targets. In particular, fire was inflicted on the command post of the enemy battalion-tactical group.
Ukrainian defender with Orlan-10 UAV, that was shot down in Ukraine
00:18 According to the information of Jack Detsch, Pentagon and national security correspondent at Foreign Policy magazine, the Pentagon reports that it has sent 10 planes with military aid to Ukraine in the last 24 hours.
They also handed over 3 Mi-17 helicopters, which were previously intended for sending to Afghanistan.
Mi-17 helicopters
00:11Reuters news agency said that a dozen buses carrying Ukrainian fighters who were holed up beneath the besieged Azovstal plant have been seen leaving the site. This has not been confirmed by Ukrainian authorities and it cannot be verify independently.
A senior commander of Ukrainian forces at the besieged plant said earlier in a post on social media that fighters there were carrying out a decision by the Ukrainian military high command to save the lives of service personnel, but he gave no details of what the decision was.
Earlier we reported that Russia's Ministry of Defence said it had reached an agreement with Ukraine for wounded soldiers to be evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steelworks.
Reuters news agency said this picture shows one of the buses carrying fighters from the Azovstal
