Russian Losses Soar As Ukraine Repels Attacks

Russian forces are trying to advance towards Slovyansk in Donetsk Oblast and Severodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast, as well as along the entire frontline near the city of Donetsk, Ukraine’s General Staff said.

Photo Insert: A downed Russian helicopter

Russian troops also fired missiles from Su-35 aircraft near Bakhmut, Soledar, Kalynove, and Vovchoiarivka, in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, the General Staff said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 226 attacks on Ukrainian health care facilities since Russia’s all-out war began. WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge told a news briefing in Kyiv on May 17 that the total amounts to “almost three attacks per day since the 24th of February,” leaving at least 75 people dead and another 59 injured, Kyiv Independent reported on May 18, 2022.

The UN said that as of May 16, there have been 7,814 civilian casualties in Ukraine due to Russia’s war. At least 3,752 civilians were killed and 4,062 were wounded since Feb. 24.

Ukrainian President Volodoymyr Zelensky said Russia's recent missile attacks across Ukraine are an attempt to compensate for Russian military failures. Missile attacks and airstrikes on Lviv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Luhansk oblasts over the last 24 hours are the Russian military’s attempt to compensate for a “series of failures in the east and south” in Ukraine.

These attacks do not dramatically change the situation, “especially since our air defense and anti-sabotage measures are becoming stronger.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces destroyed two Russian ammunition depots in Kherson Oblast.

Russia has lost 27,900 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. As of May 17, Russia has also lost 1,235 tanks, 3,009 armored personnel carriers, 2,109 vehicles and fuel tanks, 578 artillery systems, 198 multiple launch rocket systems, 90 anti-aircraft defense systems, 167 helicopters, 201 aircraft, 436 UAVs, and 13 boats.

Ukraine's military reported several high-ranking Russian military officers were killed by guerrillas in Melitopol on May 17 but the Russian occupying forces are “trying to suppress the news.”

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