Ukrainian counterattacks in Kherson Oblast, Russian assault on Severodonetsk: last night's highlights

In the Kherson Oblast, as a result of Ukrainian counterattacks, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 19 units of Russian equipment, including modern tanks, Petro Poroshenko was not allowed to cross the state border of Ukraine, and the Russians began a direct assault on Severodonetsk. Here is what you may have missed from last night.

Ukrainian counterattacks in Kherson Oblast

As a result of Ukrainian counterattacks in the Kherson Oblast on May 27, the Armed Forces destroyed 63 occupiers and 19 units of equipment, including three modern T-72 tanks, Grad system, self-propelled artillery, aircraft and six helicopters.

The command of the Air Force reported that as a result of an air raid the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a whole company-tactical group of occupiers with equipment and manpower.

Assault on Severodonetsk

The American Institute for the Study of War stated that Russian troops had launched a direct assault on Severodonetsk, despite the fact that the city was not completely surrounded. Analysts have noted that the Russians are not good at fighting in urban areas, so they are unlikely to progress quickly.

According to ISW, the Russians are likely to continue to move forward and may surround Severodonetsk in the coming days. At the same time, Russian operations around Izyum remain deadlocked, and the occupiers are unlikely to be able to step up their advance.

Poroshenko stopped at the state border

The fifth President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko was not allowed to cross the state border of Ukraine at the Rava-Ruska crossing in western Ukraine. His political force, European Solidarity, says Poroshenko was on an official parliamentary mission approved by Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Iryna Herashchenko writes that the other day European Solidarity announced the politician's foreign trips. According to her, the border guards at the intersection "spread some nonsense about the forged or revoked order", and the faction's leadership tried to contact the chairman of the parliament all evening, "to find out what was going on."

Supply of heavy weapons from the United States

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said that heavy weapons are at the top of the agenda of the U.S.-Ukraine talks, and "even more" are in the pipeline.

Pentagon on Russian successes in Donbas

According to the Pentagon, Russia's advance in the Donbas is due in particular to the geography of the area and proximity to Russia. The Russians are now moving more cautiously and are wary of moving too far away from supply lines and capabilities.

The U.S. Department of Defense also believes that the Russians have failed to resolve problems with the command and integration of the air force with the ground. "They still suffer, they still have not been able to effectively manage command and control of their units in the field," the spokesman said.

Grant assistance from Japan

The Japanese government has decided to allocate almost $166 million in emergency grant aid to Ukraine in response to the need for humanitarian support for Ukrainians. These include the transfer of firefighting equipment, communications equipment, medicines, medical devices and other assistance through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Putin on the exchange of prisoners

Russian President Vladimir Putin has "assured" Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer that there will be an exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine, CNN reported. Nehammer also received "positive signals" from Putin that Ukraine would be able to export goods through the currently blockaded Black Sea ports.