US to supply long-range weapons for Ukraine, Pentagon doesn't see Russian progress in Donbas: last night's highlights

Biden administration is preparing to supply Ukraine with advanced long-range missile systems. Pentagon says that despite an enormous advantage in numbers, Russian forces attacking the Donbas have made only "incremental progress." Here is what you may have missed from the night of May 27.

US PREPARES TO SUPPLY LONG-RANGE WEAPONS FOR UKRAINE

Biden administration is preparing to step up the kind of weaponry it supplies to Ukraine by sending advanced long-range missile systems, which are now the main request of Ukrainian officials,  reports  CNN.

According to the source, the US is leaning towards sending long-range systems as part of a larger package of military aid to Ukraine, which may be announced next week.

At the same time, Reuters  reported  that the US and Ukraine are discussing the supply of long-range weapons, including the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and the limit of their use due to possible escalation if it strikes deep inside Russia.

LAVROV THREATENS THE WEST

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  says  that the Western arms supplies that could strike at Russia "would be a serious step towards unacceptable escalation."

"We have warned the West in the strongest possible terms that they are already, in fact, waging a proxy war with the Russian Federation with the hands, bodies, and brains of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, but this will be a serious step towards unacceptable escalation. I hope that common sense in the West, there are still a few left, understand this,"  Lavrov said.

PENTAGON ON RUSSIAN PROGRESS IN DONBASS

Pentagon  says  that despite an enormous advantage in numbers, Russian forces attacking the Donbas have made only "incremental progress." These gains are offset by Ukrainian gains on other battlefields, most notably around Kharkiv. Pentagon concludes that "the Russians have a large force with a lot of capabilities, but the Ukrainian military is more than holding its own."

The US  estimates  that Russia lost approx. 1,000 tanks, more than 350 artillery systems, nearly 30 fighter-bombers, and more than 50 helicopters in the war against Ukraine. However, Russia still has an advantage in the amount of equipment and human power.

RUSSIAN TRANSFERS TROOPS TO THE UKRAINE'S SOUTH 

Russia is transferring its forces to the Zaporizhzhia axis from the temporarily annexed Crimean peninsula, including ground troops and air and naval forces,  reported  Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration.

In particular, a column of military equipment from Crimea moved in the direction of Melitopol, which included about 20 covered cargo trucks and 20 Grad multiple rocket systems. In addition, the enemy group was further reinforced by the formed tank battalion on T-62 tanks.

UKRAINE HAS ENOUGH GRAIN UNTIL THE END OF 2022

Ukraine  has  enough stored grain to meet domestic and global demand at least until the end of 2022 or even in 2023, but this requires a halt to all hostilities in the Black Sea, said an economic adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

RUSSIAN ARMY LOSSES

In Donbas, Ukraine's Joint Forces Task Force  destroyed  a Russian multi-role helicopter Ка-52, cruise missile, and Orlan-10-class drone, 1 tank, 5 artillery systems, 5 units of armored combat vehicles and 5 enemy vehicles on May 26. On May 26, Operational and tactical unit East  destroyed  87 Russian personnel.

At the same time, in the south of Ukraine, the Russian forces tried to launch a helicopter strike on Ukrainian positions,  reported  Operational Command South. The Ukrainian Armed Forces forced Russian troops to retreat so that they did not have time to launch the strike. The Armed Forces also destroyed 35 Russian personnel and several infantry fighting vehicles.