Ukraine has attacked Russian military bases in Crimea with ATACMS missiles supplied by the US. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that six ATACMS missiles were intercepted and shot down in the past 24 hours. Independent media sources, on the other hand, reported impacts on three military bases in Crimea during the night, resulting in several injuries. The attacks aimed to target Russian missile defense systems, with reports of one attack causing a fire near the capital Simferopol, leading to multiple injuries among soldiers. The US had recently announced the delivery of longer-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, expanding their range to beyond 165 kilometers.
Sergei Aksyonov, the appointed governor of Crimea, confirmed the attack on the village of Donske near Simferopol. He stated that the missiles were intercepted, although he warned about unexploded ammunition remnants. Simferopol is over 200 kilometers away from the front line. The attacks also targeted the Dzhankoy airport in northern Crimea, where a helicopter regiment and air defense forces are stationed. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in approximately 30 deaths among men trying to evade conscription by illegally fleeing the country since the beginning of the war in 2022. The Ukrainian Border Guard reported that these men died while attempting to cross borders illegally, with some perishing while crossing a mountain river and others in the mountains.
The border crossing attempts primarily occur outside official checkpoints, with the highest number of cases involving fake documents recorded at the border with Poland. Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 are restricted from leaving the country except for specific circumstances, as they could be drafted to fight against the Russian invasion forces under martial law. The government has suspended the consular services for male citizens of military age abroad until May 18th, aiming to recruit more volunteers for front-line military service amid ammunition shortages and increasing pressure from an overwhelming adversary.
The use of cluster munitions by Russia in an attack on Odessa raised concerns over civilian casualties. Ukrainian authorities reported that metal fragments from the Iskander ballistic missile used in the attack were found up to a kilometer and a half from the impact site. A video released by the Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office depicted the explosions caused by the strike, resulting in five fatalities and over 30 injuries. The officials accused Russian officers responsible for the attack of deliberately using the weapon to target civilians. Another instance of a Russian attack in the city of Kharkiv resulted in two deaths and six injuries, with reports of precision-guided bombs being used by Russian forces.
The situation in the second-largest city of Ukraine, Kharkiv, has deteriorated due to Russian bombardments, severely impacting the infrastructure and necessitating restrictions on electricity consumption. The International Rescue Committee highlighted the worsening living conditions in the city, with destruction of essential services such as electricity and limited access to water in some areas. The ongoing airstrikes have led to heightened fear and stress among residents, with constant sounds of air raid sirens disrupting daily life. The conflict continues to escalate, with humanitarian organizations expressing concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
