Successes of guerrillas in Zaporizhzhya region, 'volunteer squads' in Mariupol: last night's highlights

In Zaporizhzhya region, the defense forces, together with representatives of the Resistance Movement, are destroying equipment of the Russian occupiers, while in Mariupol, the invaders are creating "volunteer squads" ostensibly to patrol the city. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.

'Volunteer squads' in Mariupol

In the temporarily occupied Mariupol, the Russian occupiers are creating so-called volunteer squads to patrol the city with the Russian military and the "DPR" People's Militia.

The real purpose of this is probably to step up "search operations": the invaders are beginning to target not only for activists, but also for public utilities, teachers and other professionals. In this way, the Russians are also making "soft" preparations for mobilization.

Zelensky on the situation in Donbas

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the situation in eastern Ukraine remains extremely difficult as Russian troops try to attack Sloviansk and Severodonetsk. According to him, during May 21, the military situation did not change significantly, but "remained very difficult."

Destruction of the bridge in Luhansk region

In the Luhansk region, on May 21, the Russian occupiers destroyed the Pavlohrad Bridge, which connected Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. This will significantly complicate the evacuation and delivery of humanitarian goods. Nonetheless, connection between cities remains.

The regional governor said that "they have already taken revenge for the bridge": the National Guard destroyed enemy equipment that ruined the Pavlohrad bridge on May 21 and previously shelled the city of Severodonetsk.

Successes of guerrillas

Zaporizhzhya regional authrorities reported that the local defense forces together with representatives of the Resistance Movement are destroying the equipment of the Russian occupiers.

Near Melitopol, the occupiers' radar stations were destroyed, which jammed communications and conducted reconnaissance. In addition, thanks to concerted action with the guerrillas, Ukrainian riflemen destroyed several artillery systems of the Russian army.

New bodies found in Kyiv region

The bodies of two other civilians killed by the Russian military have been found in the Bucha district of Kyiv region: an elderly woman was killed in a shelling in her backyard in late February, and her 27-year-old grandson was killed by occupiers in early March.

Kyiv Region Police have already identified and inspected 1,290 bodies of people who died during hostilities in the region. Law enforcement officers continue to investigate the war crimes of the invaders.

The occupiers moved a civilian car

In the temporarily occupied city of Melitopol in the Zaporizhzhya region, the Russian occupiers, "joyriding", ran over a car, as a result of which the female driver was trapped in the cabin. Now the woman is in hospital.

Destroyed Solntsepeks, Giatsint and Pion

During May 21, the strike aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force destroyed at least 12 units of military equipment of the occupiers, including two heavy flamethrower systems Solntsepek.

The Ukrainain defenders in the south fired on the checkpoint of the occupiers in the Kherson region, as a result of which the enemy lost control of the units. Ukrainian fighters also destroyed a large-caliber Giatsint gun, a Pion self-propelled gun and other enemy equipment.

Detention in Latvia

Latvian law enforcement officers detained in Riga a man who on May 20 after the action "For liberation from the Soviet heritage" inflicted bodily injuries on a young man with a Ukrainian flag. Now the perpetrator faces up to five years in prison. Law enforcement officers must assess whether the crime is related to incitement to national, ethnic or social hatred.

Evaluation of the Institute for the Study of War

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests that Russian occupation forces may be preparing for an offensive in southern Ukraine to capture the rest of the Kherson region and advance toward Zaporizhzhya.