Brief Facts:
- EU, USA, UK create Advisory Group to coordinate efforts to bring to justice those involved in war crimes during Russia’s war against Ukraine.
- Israel has rejected a U.S. request to allow Germany to send Spike anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.
- Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal states Russia’s war destroyed or damaged over 200 factories and large enterprises in Ukraine while the economy of Ukraine suffered damage in the amount of $600 billion.
- Russia loads cruise missiles onto submarines in Crimea.
- Both chambers of the Russian parliament have passed a bill abolishing the age cap for concluding the first contract with the Russian armed forces.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, accused Nato of “doing literally nothing” in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine does not confirm the interpretation that the Ukrainian army is allegedly retreating in the east of Ukraine.
- Canada to send artillery ammunition to Ukraine.
- French "Caesar" howitzers are already being used in Ukraine – CinC of Ukrainian Armed Forces
- Russians open fire on 39 settlements in the JFO area, 14 civilians killed
- Ukraine to resume talks when Russian troops withdrawn to positions before Feb 24 – Zelenskyy
- National Guard serviceman downs Russia’s Su-25 in Zaporizhzhia Region
Side note: news are marked in accordance with the Kyiv time zone: Eastern European Time (EET), GMT/UTC+2
Read more: The 90th Day of the War: Russian Casualties in Ukraine
Latest news
01:20 EU, UK, US set up advisory group to help Ukraine investigate Russia’s atrocities.
The Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) will support the war crimes units of Ukraine’s Prosecutor’s General Office in its investigation and prosecution of war-related crimes, according to the British government. “The ACA will reinforce current EU, US and UK efforts to further accountability for atrocity crimes in the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine,” the U.K. government said.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Chronicle of the Russian Federation Crimes in Ukraine
00:35 Israel turns down US request to approve missile supplies to Ukraine.
Israel has rejected a U.S. request to allow Germany to send Spike anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, Israely media source Axios reported on May 25, citing U.S. and Israeli officials.
Spike missiles are produced in Germany with Israeli technology under an Israeli license. Since the beginning of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, Israel has taken a neutral stance and refused to supply weapons to Ukraine.
00:15 Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal: Russia’s war destroyed or damaged over 200 factories and large enterprises in Ukraine. As Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, stated during a discussion at the Ukrainian House at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, Ukraine will also need to restore 12 airports, more than 1,000 educational institutions, and almost 300 bridges and overpasses that have been damaged, destroyed, or seized as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
23:45 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. Defenders of Ukraine repulsed 10 enemy attacks, inflict losses on invaders in manpower and equipment on Wednesday, May 25.
The relevant statement was made by the Joint Forces Operation Task Force on Facebook.
Along the entire line of defense, the enemy is using combat aircraft, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber barrel artillery, tanks, various types of mortars, and launches missile and bomb strikes on civilian infrastructure and peaceful residential areas.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Defenders of Ukraine Repeled 10 Enemy Attacks in JFO Area, Destroyed Equipment, Shot Down 4 UAVs
23:25 The Head of the Donetsk Military Administration: Russia’s war killed 4 civilians, injured 12 in Donetsk Oblast on May 25.
According to the statement on Telegram of the Head of the Donetsk Military Administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, two people were killed in Lyman, along with two more in the villages of Sydorove and Bеrestove.
It is currently impossible to determine the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha, the official states.
22:45 Russia loads cruise missiles onto submarines in Crimea.
According to Ukrainian media outlet Krym Realii, two Varshavyanka class submarines (NATO reporting name Kilo) moored at the pier in the southern bay of Russian-occupied Sevastopol are being loaded with Kalibr cruise missiles.
22:25 Polish expert: Russia can no longer actively use Iskander launchers.
The deployment of Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile launchers to the Brest region of Belarus does not mean they can be actively used against Ukraine, as Russia now does not have a large number of missiles for these systems.
Waldemar Skrzypczak, former commander of the Polish Land Forces and former deputy minister of national defense, said this in a comment to Ukrinform.
"The Russians do not have many Iskanders, so they will save them. The deployment of launchers does not mean anything, because you need to have missiles for them. They have already used a lot of missiles. I don't think they have significant reserves," Skrzypczak said.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Ukrinform:
Russia Can No Longer Actively Use Iskander Launchers - Polish Expert
21:55 Both chambers of the Russian parliament have passed a bill abolishing the age cap for concluding the first contract with the Russian armed forces.
That’s according to Meduza news outlet, Ukrinform reports.
The State Duma unanimously adopted the new legislation at first reading and in general. The Federation Council approved the amendments with 159 votes for and one abstained.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Ukrinform:
Russia Lifts Age Cap for Contracted Soldiers
21:25 The Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of responsibility of the Operational and Tactical Group East have destroyed 62 enemy troops, armored vehicle, artillery systems, mortars, trucks, UAV on Wednesday, May 25
The Operational and Tactical Group East reported this on Facebook.
According to the Operational-tactical group "East" report Ukrainian defenders eliminated:
- 62 troops;
- 1 armored personnel carrier;
- 6 artillery systems:
- 4 mortars;
- 4 trucks;
- 1 UAV.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Ukraine’s Defenders Continue Restrain Invaders in the Operational and Tactical Group East Area of Responsibility
20:45 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba Nato 'doing literally nothing' to stop Russia.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, accused Nato of “doing literally nothing” in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The Guardian reports.
Kuleba praised the EU for its “revolutionary” decisions to back Kyiv but said the Nato military alliance had been “completely sidelined”.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Kuleba said: “Nato as an alliance, as an institution, is completely sidelined and doing literally nothing. I’m sorry to say it.”
He said that at the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine, “there was a public sentiment that Nato was the strong force and the EU was only capable of expressing various different levels of concern”, adding:
But war is always a test that takes the masks off.
Kuleba praised Brussels for its “revolutionary, groundbreaking decisions, which even they themselves did not expect to make”, and accepted that some Nato allies “are helping us”.
20:10 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has released an operational update on the state of warfare as of 18.00 on May 25, 2022.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff operational report, Invaders are focused on the defeat of the Joint Forces and attempts to establish full control over the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The enemy tries to overcome the resistance of the units of the Joint Forces in the regions in order to create favorable conditions for the offensive. The enemy focused its main efforts on the Bakhmut direction. It is trying to develop success in the Lyman direction. In addition, occupiers continue to actively prepare for offensive operations in the Novopavlivsk and Zaporizhzhia areas.
Find more details on the theme and key points of the report in a publication by Defense Express:
Ukraine’s General Staff Operational Report: Enemy Focuses Main Efforts on Bakhmut Direction
19:30 The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine does not confirm the interpretation that the Ukrainian army is allegedly retreating in the east of Ukraine, said spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Oleksandr Motuzianyk.
"Of course, Russian groups have temporary tactical success in certain areas, and, in principle, this is not a secret. But the fact that Ukrainian troops are retreating there is an absolutely incorrect interpretation of these actions. In some areas, Ukrainian units are conducting maneuverable defense, that is, where it is possible - to step aside, change positions, if favorable conditions occur - to conduct counter-offensive actions," Motuzianyk said at a briefing at the Ukraine media center in Kyiv on Wednesday.
He pointed out that there are certain territories and settlements that are passed on. "There is a very dynamic situation there," Motuzianyk added.
"Therefore, I do not confirm the interpretation that the Ukrainian army seems to be retreating there. This is absolutely not the case," the Defense Ministry spokesman stressed.
18:45 Adviser to the Head of the Office of President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak: Ukraine rules out territorial concessions, signing another Minsk Agreement.
Presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said that agreeing to give up territories is impossible and would only backfire as Russia would use the pause in fighting to prepare for further offensives. “It will lead to a larger, more bloody war,” he said, Kyiv Independent reports.
18:35 The Guardian: Wagner Group fighters accused of murdering civilians in Ukraine.
Ukrainian prosecutors have released the names and photographs of eight men wanted for alleged war crimes – including murder and torture – in the village of Motyzhyn. Several are believed to have fought in Syria, The Guardian reports.
18:14 The Air Assault Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted successful destruction of russia’s armored vehicles by Ukraine’s paratroopers.
“The servicemen of the 79th Separate Mykolaiv Air Assault Brigade of the Air Assault Forces have destroyed a few enemy armored fighting vehicles. The crew eliminated together with their equipment,” the message states.
17:53 To complain about the armor in an interview and die. That’s what expecting russian servicemen invading Ukraine. It literally happened to a russian tanker, who managed to give an epic interview shedding the light on issues which emerged with bizarre additional hand-made armor on enemy tanks.
Read more in the article by Defense Express: Interview With russian Tank Operator: Barbecue Grills Turned Tanks Into Iron Coffins Without Communication
17:40 Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzianyk: Fierce battles raging in eastern Ukraine, Russians conduct offensive on several directions.
According to Motuzianyk, in the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops focused efforts to maintain the captured frontiers and prevent the further advancement of Ukrainian forces. “For this purpose, the enemy launched fire attacks on Rubizhne and Ternova, and attempted to counterattack in the direction of Ternova, Ruski Tyshky and Pytomnyk,” Motuzianyk told, Ukrinform reports. Read more here.
17:10 Defense intelligence of Ukraine: Russia used 60% of its stockpiles of high-precision weapons.
Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate, told Krym Realii that Russia could not replenish its reserves quickly, Kyiv Independent reports.
16:50 Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzianyk: Russian troops use bombers to detect Ukrainian air defense systems.
“Russian invaders continue to use long-range and strategic bombers to detect the air defense systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and determine the new frontiers for missile attacks on the territory of Ukraine,” Motuzianyk told, Ukrinform reports.
In his words, according to the Ukrainian intelligence data, Russia’s Tu-22M3 and Tu-95/160 long-range bomber crews practiced simulated cruise missile strikes from the Sea of Azov and the Caspian Sea.
16:15 The time’s come to assess how American artillery impacts the situation on Ukraine's frontlines, and that’s what foreign journalists did, having a close and in-depth look.
Read more in the article by Defense Express: Foregin Look at M777 Howitzers Fighting in Ukraine
15:14 The Mykolayiv Regional State Administration: Enemy fires Tornado-S rockets on Mykolayiv.
“On the evening of May 24, yet another artillery strike was launched on Mykolayiv city from Tornado-S system. A high-rise building suffered significant damage in shelling of the outskirts of the city. One person was injured," the Mykolayiv Regional State Administration posted on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
14:45 Good news fromLithuania: the country is going to hand over about 10% of their armored personnel carrier fleet to Ukraine along with providing assistance for demining the territory.
More details in the article by Defense Express: Lithuania to Hand Over M113 APCs, Trucks and SUVs to Ukraine
14:15 The Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko confirms his country is supplying weapons to Russia – Belarussian Media.
Roman Golovchenko said that Belarusian weapons were in demand not only domestically but also in Russia and the two countries had set up joint programs to work through Western sanctions complicating sales of weapons, Kyiv Independent reports, siting Pravda.
13:25 Due to inflicted losses and in order to replenish these losses somehow russia is going to deploy T-62M tanks from storage and send them on the battlefield in Ukraine. It’s not their first experience to use such obsolete vehicles as they’ve already applied T-62M tanks in Syria. This time second army in the world is going to supply own units with Khrushchev-era tanks in Ukraine.
Read more in the article by Defense Express: Where Exactly In Ukraine russia Might Apply T-62M
12:52 Ukraine's actions limited russian navy activities in the Black Sea – intelligence
Russian naval forces in the southern Ukraine were forced to avoid approaching the Ukrainian-controlled coast, said Defense Intelligence spokesman Vadym Skibitskyi in an interview to "Crimea.Realities", Radio Liberty project.
"They have become cautious, but their naval grouping today, unfortunately, provides full control of the Sea of Azov, and this is clear, along with the Kerch Strait, and they are now blocking our ports on the Black Sea," he said, Ukrinform reports.
12:19 Update on russian military losses
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has published a new summary of total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 25.05. About 29,450 troops were eliminated, 979 air targets (excluding cruise missiles) of invaders shot down, thousands of tanks, armored vehicles and tracks destroyed.
Find them in an infographic by Defense Express:
More details:
The 91st Day of the War: Russian Casualties in Ukraine
11:58 Ukraine must have a modern air defense system and security guarantees – Zelensky
Answering questions about how he sees the future of his country, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said the main task in the future for Ukraine is to "have the most modern air defense system, the most modern multi-security system, have a security agreement with countries that we trust, that we consider our partners, and, of course, to make sure that any attempts by the aggressors to invade Ukraine could be stopped even before they entered our land."
He stated this at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrinform reports.
"Our state is losing a lot today. It is paying a very high price for freedom and independence, for this struggle, the people's war for freedom and independence. Our victory is ahead. And we know that in the future we will have a victorious state with a united people and government. And it must have clear security priorities, because with a neighbor like Russia, there can be anything, including war," Zelensky said.
11:35 The Czech Republic has donated attack helicopters to Ukraine.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin thanked the Czechs for their donation during public comments after a Monday, May 23, meeting of allied defense officials. The Czechs are ready to hand over even more Soviet helicopters to Ukraine, but in exchange for speeding up supplies of American UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper
The moves mark a significant escalation in Western support for the country in its fight with Russia, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The helicopters – Soviet-designed Mi-24 gunships – were deployed to Ukraine in recent weeks, part of a broader effort to help the country reclaim its airspace.
Find more details on the theme in a publication by Defense Express:
Czechia Sends Ukraine Mi-24 Attack Helicopters
11:14 Another high-rank Kadyrovite down
Commander of the second squadron of Ramzan Kadyrov's special regiment, police captain Asvad Idrisov was eliminated in Ukraine. The information was confirmed by the Strategic Communications HQ of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
10:53 M777 impact the frontlines
The New York Times has published a report on the use of M777 towed howitzers in Ukraine. Referring to military experts, the newspaper says the new, longer-ranged Western artillery are the most powerful and destructive of the many other types. The M777s fire three miles farther than the most common artillery system used by the Russian army in the Ukraine war, the Msta-S self-propelled howitzer.
Since the deployment of howitzers two weeks ago, about a dozen of them operating in two artillery batteries have fired 1,876 rounds, according to Ukrainian officers. Using various types of projectiles, the Ukrainian artillerymen have destroyed at least three Russian armored vehicles, and by Colonel Kachur’s estimate killed at least several dozen Russian soldiers.
10:34 Russians continue heavy shelling of Lyman
The city of Lyman is under attack. Ukrainian General Staff reported earlier today that russian forces intensified hostilities there with artillery and air support. The video below shows the scale of fighting.
10:12 Russian sea blockade threatens the global grain prices – British intelligence
UK Ministry of Defense has published another update on the situation in Ukraine. The intelligence says russian naval blockade of Ukraine's ports has deterred the commercial shipping industry which will affect, first of all, grain exports. Ukrainian overland export can't keep up with pre-war maritime trade volumes, so a large amount of grain in storage is unable to be exported.
09:27 Ukrainian soldiers captured at Azovstal plant are in ‘satisfactory’ conditions
Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal steel plant captured by russian occupiers are being held in “satisfactory” conditions, according to the unit commander’s wife. Kateryna Prokopenko told the Guardian she received a call from her captive husband saying prisoners had not been subjected to violence by russian forces. It was not immediately clear if the captive soldier had been able to speak freely during the conversation.
"They are being fed, given water. The conditions meet the requirements and they have not been subjected to violence during this short period," said Kateryna Prokopenko. "What will happen next, of course, we don’t know but at the moment there are third parties – the UN and the Red Cross – who are controlling the situation."
told the Guardian she had received a call saying prisoners have not been subjected to violence by Russian forces
08:53 Three children died in Mariupol due to russian shelling
The Office of the Prosecutor General published a regular report on russian war crimes. The prosecutors have found out that three more children died because of the russian occupiers in Mariupol, Donetsk region: teenagers aged 14, 15 and 17.
As of the morning of May 25, 2022, more than 671 children were injured in Ukraine as a result of full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation. According to official information from juvenile prosecutors, 238 children died and more than 433 were injured.
08:33 US Treasury won't renew a dollar payments license for russia
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury said it refused to renew a key license that expires May 25. The GL-9C license allowed russia, under sanctions, to make payments on its sovereign debt to American bondholders.
The imminent expiration of the general license will mean that russia will not be able to legally pay its creditors. Financial institutions will regard this situation as a technical default. It will damage the financial reputation of the russian federation.
Based on reporting by Ukraine NOW and Suspilne.
07:54 Ukrainian forces met an "unusual" enemy unit
Operational Command "South" reports that Ukrainian defenders had a combat with a disguised group of russian military. Russians were trying to seize an observation point in the Mykolaiv region under mortar fire cover. The invaders moved on "Tigr" armored mobility vehicles and had Ukrainian military uniforms on. The attempt was repelled.
Besides, the report from the southern command mentions a deployment of additional S-400 long-range air defense missile complexes to the temporarily occupied Crimea. According to the command, russians are "feeling the threat to their fleet".
07:37 Ukraine's General Staff operational report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has released an update on the situations in the frontlines. The report covers all ten operational directions of the Ukrainian defense. Main takeaways:
- russians have intensified the use of aircraft support to the ground forces;
- the invaders are on the offensive in Donbas, Eastern Ukraine, they try to advance on the cities of Lyman, Severodonetsk
07:03 French "Caesar" howitzers are already being used in Ukraine
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhnyy published photos of self-propelled 155 mm/52-caliber gun-howitzers "Caesar", which are already being used by Ukrainian gunners. "Caesars" are on the frontlines already, he posted on Facebook.
"Our gunners quickly mastered the new self-propelled artillery system, actually in 2-3 hours," he wrote.
More details:
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed French Howitzers "Caesar" Which Already Used in Ukraine
01:10 At a meeting with G7 colleagues, Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland informed that she was being called by Russian sanctioned oligarchs. In addition to travel restrictions and asset freezes, they complain that they cannot distance themselves from the war due to the threat of repression by the Kremlin.
Thus, the sanctioned oligarchs have made a proposal: they can leave a significant part of their billion-dollar assets to the West so that later Ukrainians can use this money to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure. Instead, they would like to disappear from all sanctions lists.
Read more details in a publication by Defense Express:
Canada Provides $50 Million in Small Arms and Ammunition for Ukraine
00:40 Russia claims Mariupol sea port was demined, ready for foreign ships to leave. On the morning of May 25, foreign flag vessels will be able to leave the port in the Sea of Azov through the humanitarian corridor, 115 miles long and 2 miles wide, towards the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.
Read more details in a publication by Defense Express:
Ukraine’s General Staff Operational Report: russians Demining Mariupol Port
00:10 Speaking to CNN’s Melissa Bell, Petro Andriushchenko — who has fled to Ukrainian held territory — said that Mariupol town hall officials believe that at least 22,000 residents of the city were killed during three months of war — a figure that cannot be independently supported, with the free press now unable to get access to the city and those still inside too scared to speak openly.
The figure of 22,000 is based, Andriushchenko said, on the many contacts he and other town hall officials continue to have with officials trapped inside. But he believes the actual figure could be much higher.
Andriushchenko said that the process of reburying the dead has been complicated by Russian official insistence that reclaimed bodies be brought to a morgue and that a person claiming a body must agree to record a video in which the applicant says the deceased was killed by the Ukrainian military.
Andriushchenko said that, based on the information gathered from his network of sources, Mariupol tonight is a city thrown back to the Middle Ages.
“It is absolutely dark inside the city. The only lights are from Russian troops and Russian patrols,” he said. “Everywhere it’s the smell of death and the smell of fire.”
Read more details in a publication by Defense Express:
Chronicle of the Russian Federation Crimes in Ukraine (May)
Read more: Day 90th of War Between Ukraine and Russian Federation (Live Updates)
