Women's compartments in trains, destruction of Russian equipment in Belgorod Oblast: highlights of the day

Operation in Belgorod Oblast

On the morning of May 23, the governor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, called on local residents who had evacuated their homes not to return for the time being. He said that Russian security forces continue to clear the Graivoronsky district. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has also opened a criminal case over the attack on the settlements in Belgorod Oblast of Russia.

Later, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that during the counterterrorist operation, "nationalist formations were blocked and crushed," and their remains were allegedly thrown back into the territory of Ukraine. In Belgorod Oblat itself, the counterterrorist operation was canceled.

However, the Russian volunteer fighters themselves deny any losses in their ranks and claim that they were able to defeat the FSB forces in Belgorod Oblast during yesterday's fighting. And today, according to the volunteers, they managed to destroy a motorized rifle company of the Russian armed forces and several units of their armored vehicles.

Creation of women's compartments

Following a broad public discussion and a petition, the state rail transport company Ukrzaliznytsia announced that it would create special women's compartments. The company will first test the innovation for several months and, together with the community and experts, will decide whether to make it a permanent practice.

The company's communications manager wrote that women, trans women, and mothers with children under 6 years of age of either gender would be allowed in such compartments. However, the post later disappeared from his page, and the relevant news on the Ukrzaliznytsia website no longer states that trans women and children under 6 years old will be able to use the women's compartments.

Russians clearing occupied districts of Bakhmut

Today, the activity of the Russian occupation army's offensive on the Bakhmut axis has slightly decreased. Nevertheless, the number of attacks is consistently high. In Bakhmut itself, the fighting has decreased, and Russian forces continue to clear the areas they have taken under their control, said Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar.

According to her, Ukrainian troops control the southwestern outskirts of the city in the "Litak" district. Fighting continues in the suburbs of Bakhmut. Russians are trying to take favorable positions, but they are failing. In certain areas, the occupiers are defending themselves and suffering heavy losses. At the same time, the Ukrainian military is making minor progress on the flanks to the north and south of Bakhmut.

Orban plays along with Russian propaganda again

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that Ukraine is not capable of defeating Russia on the battlefield, and it doesn't matter who unleashed the aggression if people are now dying. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Hungarian leader absolved Russia of responsibility.

And EU High Representative Josep Borrell said that EU defense ministers "do not agree with those who say that Ukraine cannot win this war and we must stop supporting them. We do not. On the contrary. Ukraine is doing well. This confuses Putin's plans for a quick victory. It is able to defend itself."

Vanguard groups of pilots leave for F-16 training

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat denied that Ukrainian pilots have already begun training on American F-16 fighters. But, according to him, preparations for the training are ongoing, and vanguard groups of Ukrainian pilots have already left for the training.

Ihnat noted that Poland, the United Kingdom and France have agreed to provide their training sites for Ukrainian pilots. He also said that the coalition includes the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and other countries that have "good bases" to train pilots.

Other important news

• At least two people were wounded in Avdiyivka as a result of a Russian air strike on a high-rise building.
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the frontline and congratulated the soldiers on the Day of the Marines.
• A Kyiv City Council member was charged with committing an accident under the influence of drugs. The victim was seriously injured.
• Military exercises will be held in Kyiv and the region for three days. People are asked not to write about the movement of equipment.
• The National Agency on Corruption Prevention announced violations in the financing of the Servant of the People for almost UAH 3 million ($81,263).
• A court in Moscow extended the arrest of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich until the end of August.
• The Slovenian Parliament recognized the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.
• The EU transfers another €1.5 billion in financial aid to Ukraine. This is the fourth tranche this year.