As the war enters its 812th day, here are the main developments on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
Intense fighting continued in various regions of Ukraine, with casualties reported. Russian forces took control of several settlements, while Ukrainian troops managed to push back some infantry groups. Air attacks resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure in cities like Dnipro, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. Sri Lanka reported the loss of 16 citizens fighting as mercenaries in Ukraine.
On the diplomatic front, Ukrainian President cancelled visits to Spain and Portugal, while Switzerland saw delegations from over 50 countries signing up for a peace summit. Russian President Putin arrived in China for talks with President Xi Jinping. European Union expanded sanctions on Russian media outlets for spreading propaganda.
In terms of weapons, the US announced $2bn in military aid for Ukraine, with additional support being sent to bolster their defense. Putin mentioned a potential increase in Russia’s defense spending for 2024.