Day eighty-third of Ukrainian people’s heroic struggle against the russian military invasion goes on.

About us: The Active Community Initiative, launched by activists of the Respublika Institute after the Euromaidan (2014), focused on activating and involving Ukrainians in the decision-making process. The goal for 2025 is to activate and involve at least 1% of citizens in decision-making and promoting reforms in Ukraine on a systematic basis for the well-being of Ukrainian communities. Today we work in 30 communities in Ukraine.

Ukraine in Brief:

Day eighty-third of Ukrainian people’s heroic struggle against the russian military invasion goes on.

The enemy offensive in the East Operational Zone continues unabated. The aggressors have kept dealing missile strikes of military and civil infrastructure facilities in the Lviv, Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts.

There have been no substantial changes in the positions and status of enemy troops in the north of Ukraine.

The threat of air and missile strikes of infrastructure in Ukraine from the territory of the republic of belarus remains.

The enemy is shelling population centres in the Sumy and Chernihiv Oblasts from the territory of the russian federation.

In Kharkiv direction, the enemy units have been concentrating on keeping their taken objectives and preventing our troops from advancing towards the national border of Ukraine. The enemy has shelled our positions.

In the direction of Donetsk, the enemy task force is trying to attack along the whole LoC subjecting population centres to artillery fires. The aggressors used Su-25 jets to inflict bomb and missile strikes in the area of Bakhmut, Klynove, Soledar and Vovchoyarivka. They also used Orlan-10 UAV for air recon missions.

In the direction of Severodonetsk, the invaders supported by artillery try an offensive towards Borovenki and Severodonetsk. In the direction of Bakhmut, the enemy unsuccessfully attempted to breach the defence line of our troops but has been forced to retreat. Enemy attempts to storm attack in Avdiyivka direction to assume control over a section of the road between Novobakhmutivka and Novoselivka Druha have also failed.

In Mariupol, the core enemy efforts have been focussed on the blockading of our units in the area of Azovstal Mill.

There has been no active action of the invaders in the south of Ukraine. Mortar and conventional artillery shellings of our units have been registered. The invaders continue engineering works to outfit their second line of defence with reinforced concrete constructs.

 

Northern Oblasts

Kyiv

The Embassy of Israel has resumed its operation in Kyiv.

Mine threat remains in the boroughs around Kyiv that saw active hostilities. Because of that, there is a strict ban on visits to wooded and park areas both on foot or in vehicles in the capital. Mine clearing works continue.

Kyiv Oblast

The police continue discovering more and more proof of russian army’s heinous crimes. A torture site where the invaders would kill peaceful civilians has been found on the territory of a children summer camp in Bucha.

A mass grave of civilians summarily killed by the invaders has been discovered nearby Makariv. The pit contained three male bodies; one of those belonged to a Czech national. The deceased were shot in different body parts by the invaders. A trip-wired F-1 hand grenade left by the invaders has been found nearby the mass grave.

A tractor driver hit a russian anti-tank mine in Bucha area. The tragedy happened in the village of Andriyivka when the driver went out in the field to work. Miraculously, the driver was spared serious wounds. Another intact mine has been discovered by the rescuers under the wheels of the damaged tractor.

A Virtual War Memories Museum dedicated to the aftermath of the russian onslaught has been launched online by the Kyiv Oblast Administration. 3D exhibits display the ruins left after shellings in Irpin, Bucha, Gostomel, Stoyanka and Borodyanka https://kyivregiontours.gov.ua/war.

Zhytomyr Oblast

A missile left after the strikes carried out by rf troops has been found in the field near the village of Vydumka, Pulyn community.

Another yet collaborator, a woman from the village of Voroneve, Korosten Raion, who supported the russian aggression and tried to convince locals to capitulate has been served with charges by the police. Some 42 episodes of collaboration activities have been registered in the Oblast since the beginning of the full-scale war.

The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine jointly with the UNICEF have kicked off a multipurpose programme of financial assistance to vulnerable families with children who suffered from the war and are in need of financial support in the Oblast centre.

Truck traffic will be allowed on the Zhytomyr highway by the end of May. For this, a bridge of the river of Irpin is currently being restored in the village of Stoyanka. 

Chernihiv Oblast

In the morning, russian troops fired four missiles at Desna village, two of which hit the building. 8 people were killed and 12 were injured in the shelling.

During the past 24hrs, russian troops have shelled the oblast's border villages five times. In total, about 70 mortar shots were recorded. According to preliminary information, there are no victims in all cases.

The Transport Department of the Chernihiv City Council reported that UAH 100 million is needed to fully restore the Chernihiv contact trolleybus network to pre-war conditions. As a result of the shelling by russian troops, almost half of the catenary length was destroyed, which is 45 kilometers out of the available 110.

Sumy Oblast

The occupiers are shelling the state border in Sumy oblast. The battle continues in the north of Shostka raion. There is also an attempt to break through the state border in the Seredino-Buda area. There are fires along the border caused by shelling. No breakthrough of the state border has been recorded, provocative shelling by the russian federation continues.

Two residents of Shostka were informed about the suspicion of justifying armed aggression against Ukraine.

At around 5 am, a missile attack was carried out on Okhtyrka. Five russian missiles hit civilian targets. Warehouses caught fire. At least five people were injured.

 

Eastern Oblasts

Kharkiv Oblast

Despite the reduction in the intensity of shelling in Kharkiv and the retreat of the occupiers, hostilities continue in the oblast. The occupiers continue to shell civilian infrastructure and residential buildings. Yesterday the enemy opened fire on the settlements of Dergachiv community, Kharkiv and Chuhuiv raions. The enemy once again struck at the destroyed Dergachiv House of Culture. During the past 24hrs, 10 people were injured and 2 died.

Fighting continues in the Izyum direction. The occupiers are trying to hold on to their positions and prevent the advance of Ukrainian troops.

More than 64 tons of humanitarian aid were handed over to Kharkiv and Kharkiv oblast residents.

Donetsk Oblast

Eleven enemy attacks have been repulsed in the Donetsk and Luhansk directions over the past 24 hours. Five tanks, one anti-aircraft missile system "Thor", six artillery systems, twelve units of armored combat vehicles and one enemy automobile were destroyed.

Since the beginning of the russian invasion of Ukraine, 375 civilians have been killed and 1,081 wounded in shelling and bombing in the Donetsk oblast.

Pokrovsk and Pokrovsk raion

The russians fired on Avdiivka, Mariinka and Ocheretyno. In the morning, Avdiivka was hit by an air missile strike from the enemy. As a result, three residential buildings were damaged. There is no information about the victims. Krasnohorivka (the village in Mariinka community) has been de-energized as a result of the shelling, and restoration work is underway. The russians have killed two civilians in Avdiivka and one in Mariinka over the past 24 hours. The shelling continues in the Ocheretyno community, so it is not possible to completely restore the damaged high-voltage line.

The military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine repulsed enemy attacks. Representatives of the local Territorial Defense unit patrolled the community.

The past day in the Pokrovsk community and the Myrnograd community of the Pokrovsk raion passed relatively calmly. Utilities continue to operate normally.

The Self-Organization Committee of the Pokrovsk City Population has already issued about 2,000 roses and 300 fruit trees to the citizens. Landscaping continues - community residents can still apply to the Self-Organization Committee for flowers and seedlings.

Pokrovsk medics received humanitarian aid from UNDP and UNICEF.

Humanitarian aid was transferred to the perinatal center and the surgical department of the Pokrovsky Clinical Intensive Care Hospital. The cargo included medical kits for assistance, materials for surgical interventions and two electric generators for the uninterrupted operation of the department.

Бахмут

У Бахмуті внаслідок ранкового ворожого обстрілу пошкоджено школу №4 та декілька інфраструктурних об’єктів:

Тяжко поранену 9-річну дитину та щонайменше одну загиблу людину дістали рятувальники ДСНС із-під завалів п'ятиповерхівки у Бахмуті. Ракетний удар, якого завдали окупанти, зруйнував конструкції будинку з п'ятого по перший поверх. Крім того, у багатоповерхівці зайнялася пожежа, на даний час її вже вдалося приборкати. Рятувальники продовжують розбирати завали - не виключено, що під ними ще можуть перебувати люди.

Станом на 17 травня приватні об'єкти торгівлі працюють в обмеженому режимі. 

Координаторка ВІ “Активна Громада”організувала арт-терапію для дітей внутрішньо переміщених осіб.

Маріуполь

Потужною обороною захисники Маріуполя змінили хід війни та зірвали плани окупантів захопити схід України.

Влітку у Маріуполі може бути спалах епідемії через катастрофічні санітарні умови, — повідомив мер міста Вадим Бойченко. У місті немає працюючої каналізації. Російські окупаційні війська вбили понад 20 тисяч місцевого населення, яких ховали у братських могилах. Тому це має ознаку майбутньої екологічної катастрофи.

Луганська.

Зранку ворог спрямував вогонь артилерії на Сєвєродонецьку міську лікарню, де тепер пошкоджено ще два корпуси. Зафіксоване влучання в будівлю Сєвєродонецького науково-виробничого об’єднання «Імпульс». Також в Сєвєродонецьку зруйновані магазин будівельних матеріалів та чотири багатоповерхівки. Ще чотири будинки – в Рубіжному, два – в Лисичанську.

Щонайменше 10 загиблих внаслідок ворожих обстрілів у Сєвєродонецьку.

Щонайменше два авіаційні удари нанесли росіяни по селам Попаснянської громади. Руйнувань зазнали три будинки у Врубівці, чотири – у Комишувасі, по два – у Новозванівці та Троїцькому. Три – у Тошківці Гірської громади. 

ЗСУ вибили окупантів із-під кількох населених пунктів Луганщини. Атаку росіян відбили у районі міст Горське, Золоте та селища Сиротине. Окупанти змушені були відступити, втрати ворога – численні. 

Південні області

Запорізька

Протягом минулої доби захисниками України на Запорізькому напрямку знищено: 5 танків, самохідну артилерійську установку, 5 бойових броньованих машин, 8 одиниць автомобільної техніки та 3 міномети.

Частина тієї допомоги, яка надана Україні в рамках ленд-лізу, вже надійшла до Запорізької області. Українські артилеристи розпочали тренування у застосуванні новітнього озброєння.  

Минулої доби російські загарбники обстріляли село Преображенка (Пологівський район). Внаслідок обстрілів горіла господарча споруда та був пошкоджений підземний газопровід. Рятувальники загасили пожежу та ліквідували неполадку газопроводу.

Місцева влада попереджає, що камери автофіксації, розташовані в Запорізькій області та місті Запоріжжя, наразі не працюють.

За інформацією від Запорізької міськради, з початку повномасштабного вторгнення росії в Україну, Запоріжжя покинуло понад 30 000 школярів. Це 52% учнів міських навчальних закладів.

В Енергодарі окупанти здійснили рейд по квартирах, під час якого забирали чоловіків, зв'язували їм руки та вивозили у невідомому напрямку. Повідомляють про шістьох викрадених. Рашистські загарбники риють окопи навколо міста та будують укріплення. Існує ймовірність, що вони планують провести референдум стосовно приєднання Енергодару до складу росії.

Команда ВІ "Активна Громада" передала запорізьким захисникам технічне ремонтне обладнання вартістю понад 17 тисяч гривень.

Mykolaiv Oblast

At night Ukrainian soldiers shot down the russian rocket moving in the western direction over the Mykolaiv Oblast .

Central Oblasts 

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Ukrainian soldiers shot down an enemy drone over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

In Kryvyi Rih, police caught a fan of the "russkiy mir" (russian world). While checking his phone, the police officers found chats with the occupiers. This collaborator was to pass information about the village in Kherson Oblast.

Teachers from the Solone community teamed up with the locals to help Ukrainian soldiers at the frontline. Since the beginning of the full-scale offensive, they prepared more than 4,000 liters of borscht, 5,000 cans of porridge and more than 6,000 pyrizhky (buns) for the defenders.

In the Slobozhanske community, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, people launched a book-carrying service. Libraries serve the homes of retirees and people with disabilities. Their workers bring books people have ordered and fill in reader's forms.

Kirovohrad Oblast

The air-raid warning went off. There was a threat of a missile strike. 

The Armed Forces of Ukraine guarded the Oblast borders and military facilities.

Territorial Defense Forces units stood guard at checkpoints and patrolled the city with the police.

In general, the situation in Oblast is under control.

The Head of the Kirovohrad Oblast Military Administration Andriy Raikovych said that Kirovohrad Oblast has practically finished the sowing campaign of spring crops. Plans for planting barley, pea, wheat, oat and corn are fully completed. The sowing campaign of industrial crops and vegetables is in progress. The Head sincerely thanked all the countrymen and farmers who joined this important event.

The Kirovohrad Oblast Library for Junior Readers named after Yevhen Malaniuk hosted an English language club "Speak Up" together with the American Jeff Shliper.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyi posthumously awarded soldier Oleksandr Bikmurzin from the Pervozvanivka community with the Order for Courage of the 3rd Degree.

The AUI "Active Community" coordinator wove camouflage nets and sorted things and food brought by citizens.

Poltava Oblast

A shell was found in a forest in Hadiach District. Law enforcement officers were immediately called to that place. On the outside, the ammunition looked like a shell of the multiple rocket launch system “Urahan”. According to preliminary findings, it was launched from Sumy Oblast. Its use could have threatened the lives of civilians. The investigation is in progress.

Poltava authorities plan to allocate 40 hectares of land for the construction of an industrial park.

They want to create a park within the Zaturyne industrial complex. The first industrial park activity will be focused on process manufacturing, i.e. the production of industrial and agricultural products to create gross value added (GVA).

Poltava Oblast received humanitarian aid for hospitals and rescuers from the German organization “Nicht reden. Machen!” Such special attention to Oblast is primarily caused by the fact that a large number of migrants receive shelter here and a significant number of wounded soldiers receive treatment.

The system of automatic fixation of traffic violations has been restored on the roads of Poltava Oblast.

The list of kindergartens that will open on June 1st will be published next Monday.

The prosecutor's office of Poltava Oblast reported the Donetsk Oblast resident to be suspected of taking part in the "people's militia of Donetsk People's Republic" in Sumy Oblast.

The "Active Community" team in Poltava calls IDPs by phone to inform them about the possibility of receiving financial aid from the UNHCR in Poltava.

Vinnytsia Oblast

Khmilnyk 

The air-raid warnings went off in the city in the morning, but during the day the situation was calm.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine had an enhanced regime of service. The Territorial Defense Forces units patrolled the community territory.

Yesterday, the situation in the community was relatively calm. Municipal utilities continue to operate normally. Their workers planted flowers in the center and in the central park.

On May 13th, Andrii Volodymyrovych Shpakovskyi, born in 1978, died while defending Ukraine. The body of Ukraine's defender was taken to Khmilnyk. Almost the entire community paid last respect to the soldier. Oleksandr Tanenok, the "Active Community" coordinator in Khmilnyk, also joined the funeral procession.

Also, the AUI "Active Community" coordinator together with the director of the Khmilnyk House of Creativity held a master class dedicated to the Vyshyvanka Day for internally displaced children.

Zhmerynka

The community is calm.

Air alarms became more frequent.

People from abroad return home. Most motivate this by the fact that they considered the war short-lived and left for a certain period. Now they think the war will be protracted, so they return. The regional coordinator of AUI “Active Community” has agreed to hold art therapy, they are preparing to hold a master class on making a doll-motanka for the family day.

Western Oblasts

Lviv Oblast

Russian troops have struck at Ukrzaliznytsia's infrastructure facility in Yavoriv district. Air defense shot down three cruise missiles. Also in the Novoyavorivska community, private houses were damaged, windows were broken and roofs and doors were cut into pieces. The school, kindergarten and outpatient clinic were also damaged. Many debris fell in the village.

Ivano- Frankivsk Oblast

Ivano-Frankivsk received another humanitarian aid from abroad. Partners from the Czech city of Tabor (with which a cooperation agreement was signed this year) responded to the request for the need for vehicles to transport wounded soldiers, civilians and material assistance. “Pomoc Ukrainině Tábor” sent a 9-seater Mercedes minibus with clothes, blankets, medicine and other necessities.

The head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Svitlana Onyschuk said that they plan to create a modern military hospital in Prykarpattia. It should employ the best doctors on modern high-tech equipment. Currently, Ukrainian defenders are being treated in civilian hospitals, but the regional authorities are working to ensure that soldiers can be treated faster and better. She also added that the regional leadership is already looking for suitable premises and purchasing medical equipment.

In connection with the shortage of fuel at gas stations, the mayor - Ruslan Martsinkov asked to reduce the costs of utilities by 50% and reduce fuel consumption limits. Reducing costs should primarily be due to reduced administrative costs.

The coordinator of AUI "Active Community" conducted a regular lesson on art therapy for children of internally displaced persons.

Rivne Oblast

Relatively calm, there were two aerial alarms. The Armed Forces of Ukraine patrol the border with Belarus. Representatives of the local Territorial Defense units are patrolling and on duty at checkpoints.

198,902 food kits were sent from Rivne Oblast to Chernihiv Oblast. 

There is a social canteen in Rivne. Lunches for internally displaced persons will be cheaper, and the cost of lunch will be 22 hryvnias. It is enough to have registration documents. 

Rivne received humanitarian aid from the Ukrainian-American Cultural Association of Oregon. 

Rivne Oblast’s Military Administration informs daily about the availability of fuel at gas stations in the Oblast.

Zdovbytska Territorial Community 

The general situation in the Raion is calm. There were no air alarms.

Representatives of the local Territorial Defense units continue to be on duty at checkpoints.

Deputies of the village council sent a parcel to Slobozhanshchyna for soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: medicines, food, hygiene products. Thanks to the financial support of citizens of the United States, Europe, the charity Sunflower Seeds Ukraine, deputies collected more than 300 first aid kits.

Local volunteers donated cookies, bread, pies, and food for the soldiers to the front line.

In the Greek Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, food kits and hygiene products were distributed by the Caritas Charitable Foundation.

More than 350 internally displaced persons live in the community.

Khmelnytsky Oblast

Kamianets-Podilskyi

An air raid was heard twice in the city last night. City Hall asks citizens to respond to sirens and at least follow the rules of the two walls.

Many IDPs, who first found temporary shelter in the city, now express a desire to stay here for permanent residence. Irpinians and Kharkivites are starting to return home.

Today, 50% of municipal buses went on the routes. This is due to the fact that the Treasury primarily transfers funds to financial issues related to martial law. Stabilization of the situation is expected in the coming days. Private transportation provides about a hundred buses.

The fight against landfills continues in the city.

The city authorities are launching a fountain in the Magdeburg Law Square, as well as completing the Ukrainian Garden project in the courtyard of the central library.

Today, the city opens a second Hygiene Center for internally displaced persons.

An anonymous survey is currently underway to study the lives of IDPs during the war.

From the humanitarian cargo received on Saturday from Spain, the following have already been transferred to the Department of Education food (6.7 tons); "Student Food Factory" (3.5 tons); Department of Health - medical supplies (1.8 tons); social shop on the Soborniy street - clothes and hygiene products (1.2 tons).

Much attention in the city is paid to children who left their homes due to the war. Events are held for them every day in many locations. Information about this is updated every day on the website of the city council.

The coordinator of AUI "Active Community" as a member of the toponymic commission processed 12 appeals from citizens of the city on proposals to rename the streets (sent to him personally).

Chernivtsi Oblast

The air alarm was sounded twice in the oblast now the situation is under control.

The Chernivtsi Oblast Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support, together with the Bukovynian State Medical University, organized military medical training for servicemen.

The Territorial Defense Battalion from Chernivtsi repaired a trophy tank that was delivered to the oblast a month ago.

Bukovyna said goodbye to senior lieutenants Mykola Anasiychuk and Stepan Rachuk, who died in battles with the occupiers.

Assistance from Italy arrived at the Bukovina humanitarian headquarters. Philanthropists donated food, hygiene products and blankets.

At the initiative of the Vugledar Development Agency, the Vostok SOS charity organized 12 washing machines in the Chernivtsi oblast. They were sent to educational institutions in the oblast, where IDPs currently live.

Forced migrants in Chernivtsi together with local environmental activists cleaned the square on Glinka Street. Volunteers took out more than 20 garbage bags and collected a mountain of medical needles. They are cleaning the city for the third time. So they want to thank the people of Chernivtsi for their hospitality.

Zakarpattia Oblast

No hostilities took place in Zakarpattia.

Residents are actively helping IDPs and raising funds for the Armed Forces.

Circles of the Zakarpattia Center for Tourism, Excursions, Local History and Sports of young students together with IDPs trained to overcome the "obstacle course".

At the fair in Uzhhorod, creative volunteers together with children made interesting accessories and sold them immediately. In many open-air locations, volunteers hold various workshops for children. All proceeds from masterclasses and the sale of alterations will be donated to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In Uzhgorod, in the ZakarpattiaOblast Universal Scientific Library. F. Potushnyak will hold a master class on embroidery on May 19. There will be embroidered talismans in yellow and blue colours, which will then be handed over with parcels to the front to the defenders of Ukraine. The organizers invite everyone - both adults and children. Materials are provided. Free entrance. Start at 14:00.

Coordinators help weave camouflage nets for the defenders of Ukraine.