Yesterday, May 20, a regular Ramstein meeting of Ukraine's allies took place. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash.
RBC-Ukraine has collected the main news for May 20.
Air defense, Leopard tanks, and more: Outcomes of Ramstein meeting
Ukraine's Western allies held another meeting in the Ramstein format. The partners made a number of statements and announced the delivery of military aid.
Find more details in the RBC-Ukraine report.
Iran's President and Foreign Minister killed in helicopter crash
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash on the border with Azerbaijan. The crash happened on May 19.
Along with the Iranian president, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who accompanied Raisi on the trip, also died in the crash.
The helicopter was also carrying the Governor of Iran's East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, a Representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azarbaijan, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, and several other unnamed individuals. All of them died.
Zelenskyy on frontline situation: We maintain control everywhere
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the situation in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
According to the president, Ukrainian forces maintain control everywhere.
"Russian killers actively use guided air bombs - both in the areas of the town of Chasiv Yar and in the Pokrovsk direction, and in the Lyptsi area in the Kharkiv region, and in other combat zones," the president stated.
He also emphasized that this repeatedly underscores the need for air defense systems - additional protection systems that could significantly reduce difficulties for our soldiers and the threat to our cities and communities.
Ukraine officially announces its participation in Olympics in Paris
Ukraine will take part in the 2024 Summer Olympics to be held in the French capital.
The head of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Matviy Bidnyi, and the president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Vadym Huttsait, held an informal meeting with representatives of Ukrainian and foreign media, at which they announced that Ukraine was going to the Olympics. Ukraine's slogan for the Olympic Games is “The Will to Win”.
“This time for Ukraine, the Olympics is primarily a big screen to the world. We must remind that Ukraine exists, fights, and is capable of winning. The very fact that they perform under the Ukrainian flag in Paris is a great manifestation of willpower," said Bidnyi.
Spain officially announces delivery of batch of Leopard tanks to Ukraine
Ukraine will receive a new package of military assistance from Spain, which will include Leopard tanks and ammunition.
Minister of Defense of Spain, Margarita Robles, said that the delivery was set to take place at the end of June.
Robles announced this during her participation in a video conference at the twenty-second meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine, convened by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, which was attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
The minister highlighted the significant efforts Spain is already making, particularly noting the training of Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukrainian Armed Forces control 60% of Vovchansk, but attacks continue
Ukrainian Armed Forces control approximately 60% of Vovchansk, but the city remains under ongoing attacks.
"We are facing continuous shelling. The enemy persists in their assault, primarily focusing on the directions of the settlements of Lyptsi and Vovchansk, and the left-right flanks of the city of Vovchansk," said Roman Semenukha, the deputy head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.
Semenukha further added that the enemy hit Lyptsi with guided aerial bombs multiple times today.
"The enemy is relentless in attempting to force the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of the city center of Vovchansk. The city is approximately 60% under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, indicating that the assaults are far from abating," he said.
ICC seeks arrest warrants for Hamas leader and Israeli Prime Minister
The International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
According to ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, the ICC is also seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as two other senior Hamas leaders - Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, leader of the Al-Qassem Brigades, known as Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, a political leader of Hamas.
The orders against Israeli politicians mark the first time that the ICC has targeted a senior leader of a close ally of the United States. This decision puts Netanyahu on a par with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who was issued an arrest warrant by the ICC in connection with Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Now the ICC panel of judges will consider Khan's application for an arrest warrant.