The question is “who, or what determines a legitimate Government?”
Today, that is determined either by the people in the country (or area), and/or the UN.
The problem is, what good is a constitution if no one follows it?
Blinken gave permission (lost in the guitar playing) to Z that he was the ruler (no elections needed) as long as there was a war.
He might as well have proclaimed him dictator for life.
So there is no reason for Z to ever end the war, if he wants to stay in power. And what megalomaniac doesn’t want that?
I believe Russia will appeal to the UN that there is currently NO legitimate government (lets not forget all the parliament seats not voted on) in place. In fact the ONLY elections happened in Russia occupied territory. Putin has a better claim as a leader than Z does.
I think that meeting with Xi, this was all discussed.
It will be presented to the UN Security council. Russia and China will be facing the rest. Of course any resolution will be vetoed by US and allies. But it will be presented, and force the world to consider.

Posted by: BroncoBilly | May 21 2024 3:02 utc | 103

Elber | May 21 2024 2:51 utc | 102
A titmouse is a bird.
Birds chirp, or “cheep”.

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 21 2024 3:16 utc | 105

#102 Elbers
I am Canadian and I read it as a funny take off of one, or a combination ofŕ these possible words, “squeek of a mouse, “chirp” of a bird, “cheap” as in not wanting to spend much money, or even “sheep” !
Combine to you taste and humor!
I pick cheap mouse!
Others might have more to add!

Posted by: Blind Bridge Troll | May 21 2024 3:24 utc | 107

I believe Russia will appeal to the UN that there is currently NO legitimate government (lets not forget all the parliament seats not voted on) in place. In fact the ONLY elections happened in Russia occupied territory. Putin has a better claim as a leader than Z does.
I think that meeting with Xi, this was all discussed.
It will be presented to the UN Security council. Russia and China will be facing the rest. Of course any resolution will be vetoed by US and allies. But it will be presented, and force the world to consider.
Posted by: BroncoBilly | May 21 2024 3:02 utc | 103
The UN Security Council doesn’t deal with questions of domestic ruler legitimacy, for obvious reasons. Otherwise, everyone and their mom would be petitioning the UNSC trying to delegitimize their countries’ rulers. I doubt Russia and China – guardians of domestic sovereignty that they are – will even broach the topic. Zelesnky’s “legitimacy” to rule is determined by the Ukrainian people only.

Posted by: James M. | May 21 2024 3:27 utc | 109

>… “world cries: ‘Putin, pull out’”
Yeah. They’re fucked.

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 21 2024 3:40 utc | 111

@bar. Looking for smart guys (gals).
Is it possible to search telegram?
Saw a post in the last week, that Iran had announced it now had nuclear weapons.
I scan so many accounts, I doubt I’ll retrace my steps.
Anyone else see that posted on telegram?

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 21 2024 3:46 utc | 113

Over the last five days, four top Russian officials have reiterated Russia’s willingness to negotiate with no preconditions with anyone deemed reasonable. The #1 problem is there aren’t any Western officials who are reasonable, and those officials prove that status on a weekly or more often basis. And the Global Majority knows that and thus isn’t fooled one iota.
IMO, the West is scared-to-death to negotiate with Russia, just are they’re scared to compete with China. Soon the West will be cowering in its own little Bloc while the RoW goes about development and democratizing the global system–other facets of the coming reality the West is scared-to-death of occurring.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 21 2024 3:49 utc | 115

Leaders of South Africa, Brazil and China will not come to the summit on Ukraine in Switzerland.
It is also expected that the event will be ignored by Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Indonesia, India, Syria, Iran, Ethiopia, Malaysia, and Venezuela.
The whole idea for the summit is to get the neutral countries of the “Global South” to back Zelensky’s peace plan.
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/53643

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 21 2024 3:50 utc | 117

I don’t understand why they are having at least two “peace conferences” without Russia to go over Zelensky’s “peace proposal” which is just a call for the full surrender and punishment of Russia.
What do countries expect to be gained from it? Or does a country have to attend to avoid getting in the USA’s crosshairs?

Posted by: Cheney | May 21 2024 4:00 utc | 119

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 21 2024 3:50 utc | 117
The idea of the summit is to humiliate* Russia. *There is another specific word in Portuguese, but I don’t know how to say it in English.

Posted by: Elber | May 21 2024 4:02 utc | 121

It has been amusing to see the king of beggars become more and more useful to Russia alive over time. The longer he is in power the more damage to the image of so-called-ukraine project he deals, and image is the most paramaunt to the west, despite being lavished by total western propaganda.
Not only is he a textbook dictator now, in the “freest europe” and focus of media no less, but he allows a foreign chucklefuck to show up in his capital and publically announce when and why his free sovereign country is allowed to have elections. He has never been safest from Russian missiles.
The west can not or are unwilling to replace him, perhapse due to various globalist factions infighting.

Posted by: boneless | May 21 2024 4:27 utc | 123

Telegram trawl: multiple accounts. No links. Idgaf.
The President of Bulgaria called Ukraine’s victory over Russia impossible – Euractiv
According to Rumen Radev, if the conflict continues, Ukraine will be “a demographically devastated country, with completely destroyed infrastructure, industry, production, and this will have extremely serious consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for the whole of Europe.”
The Bulgarian leader called for a move from the distribution of weapons to a diplomatic solution to the situation.
He also spoke about the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Fico by “radical fanatics because of his support for peace”, which “indicates a deep-rooted intolerance of dissent and hatred”.
>…Electronics production in Moscow increased by more than 2.5 times
While amusing Russophobic propagandists imagine Russia as a kind of gas station country, in reality, high-tech production is successfully developing in our country. Based on the results of the first quarter of this year, the production of electronics and computer equipment in Moscow increased 2.5 times.
>… Nine people were arrested in Poland due to “sabotage ordered by the Russian Federation” – Prime Minister Tusk.
According to him, the detainees are accused of beatings, arson and attempted arson. Among the “mercenaries” there are allegedly representatives of the criminal world from Ukraine, Belarus and Poland.
>… Ukraine will be forced to pay debts
Friendship is friendship, but Ukraine will still pay its bills to Western creditors. Holders of Ukrainian government debt are demanding that Kyiv resume payments on Eurobonds, which were stopped at the beginning of 2022 due to the start of the SVO.
In total, Western creditors expect to receive up to $500 million a year in interest from Kyiv.
>… The US State Department explained why the ICC can prosecute Russia, but not Israel.
According to Washington, for the international criminal court to extend its jurisdiction, it must be recognized by at least one party to the conflict.
State Department spokesman Miller said that neither Israel nor Palestine recognize the court, but Ukraine does.
According to him, the United States is ready to cooperate with the ICC, despite the resistance of the Israeli authorities against any investigation into Tel Aviv’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
>…Reader warning. Some of you will reflexively get a grip; Maria speaks/
The Russian Foreign Ministry compared the United States to a spider entangled in its own web
“Washington’s statements in connection with the ICC charges against the Israeli leadership resemble the reaction of a scorpion stung by itself or a spider caught in its own web,” the official noted representative of the Zakharov ministry.
According to her, the catastrophic situation in the Middle East is the work of American political engineers, and the legitimization of the ICC, which is not recognized by Washington itself, depending on the situation – “the calling card of the Anglo-Saxons”.
>…Part of “this is different you don’t understand” and how the “rules based order” applies…
The State Department explained the “fundamental difference” regarding the ICC jurisdiction over the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
According to Washington, the jurisdiction of the ICC extends to those cases where it is recognized by at least one of the parties to the conflict.
Neither Israel nor Palestine recognizes the jurisdiction of this court, but Kiev, the US emphasizes, does.
Therefore, the US believes that only Russia can be persecuted, and this does not concern Israel.
The State Department also emphasized Israel’s readiness to cooperate with the ICC, despite the fact that Israeli authorities had previously rejected all attempts to investigate possible violations of humanitarian law in Gaza.
>…On this day, 20th of May, 2022 Russian Army liberated Mariupol.
>… European officials believe that after the assassination attempt, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who opposed arms supplies to Ukraine and the country’s membership in NATO, may become embittered, the Financial Times reports, citing sources.
According to the publication, the EU fears that Robert Fico could become the “new Viktor Orban” and interfere with the work of the alliance.
>…In the U.S. Congress, a bill will be introduced to impose sanctions on Georgian politicians responsible for promoting the foreign agents law, reports Politico.
The document asserts that Georgia “openly attacked American and other Western organizations promoting democracy,” while seeking to strengthen ties with Moscow and Beijing.
Meanwhile, the Georgian Prime Minister stated on Monday morning that the foreign agents law will ensure long-term peace in the country.
>…Ukrainian bloggers demand that eighteen-year-old boys be drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine
One of the flagships of this statement is the well-known “military” blogger Evgeniy Karas, who began to be indignant at the absence of 18-year-old boys at the front during a live telethon.
In his words, they need to be called up first, because “ they don’t have a family yet. ”
He believes that it is much more profitable to throw young people into “meat” assaults than 30-year-old men who already have families.
Considering that Karas is directly subordinate to the Office of the President, his statement means one thing – 18-year-old schoolchildren will soon be drafted into the Ukrainian army.
And if this really happens, then Ukraine will definitely have no future – the country’s young and economically active population will be virtually destroyed.
>…Russians With Attitude
Good summary of Zelensky’s legtimacy problem by историк-алкоголик:
Everyone talks about elections and the term of presidential powers, after which problems with staying in power begin.
But this is mostly speculation – a vivid topic for propaganda.
The Constitution of Ukraine is not archaic; it was written considering global state-building experiences, including the experience of avoiding a power vacuum.
The Constitution, to simplify, is essentially an instruction manual for the application of power in a particular country.
Therefore, it must account for problematic moments, such as the impossibility of holding elections.
And the Constitution of Ukraine does consider this, although there are some ambiguities: it is not entirely clear whether the president can remain in office even after the end of his term until a new one is elected (a norm that exists) or whether he should be replaced by the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (another norm that also exists). This is the crux of the legitimacy problem.
The Constitutional Court could provide clarification.
And Vladimir Putin subtly mocked Zelensky on this issue during the final press conference in China.
When asked about the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president after May 20, Putin stated that the answer should be given by Ukraine’s political and legal system, including the Constitutional Court.
The irony of the situation is that Zelensky does not appeal to the Constitutional Court. Why not?
Because he was set up by the Americans.
In 2020, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine clashed with the president over the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).
NABU, an external management body for the country, was basically directly subordinate to Washington DC and had overlapping powers with practically every law enforcement agency.
The Constitutional Court of Ukraine found this contradictory and significantly curtailed their powers.
The head of the world’s most independent country immediately received a hefty kick from Washington with a threat to cut off financial aid, echoed by the IMF.
As a result, Zelensky was in conflict with the Constitutional Court of Ukraine for a year and a half, issuing decrees to dissolve it and dismiss the chairman, although he does not have such rights under the Constitution.
The Constitutional Court annulled these decrees, and so on.
The conflict subsided but did not end with the start of hostilities.
And now the president of Ukraine is simply afraid to seek clarification from the court on constitutional norms because the answer is unpredictable.
Therefore, he remains in a state of legal uncertainty.
……~ https://t.me/RWApodcast/1399

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 21 2024 4:32 utc | 125

Posted by: karlof1 | May 21 2024 3:49 utc | 115
This is the current dilemma. Karlof said it all in a few words! That’s exactly what’s happening!
After: a) a very interesting song from Soviet times that Putin played in full in China; and b) after Xi’s embrace of Putin; the West lost hope in a supposed future Chinese neutrality.
The West now understands that the more time passes, the defeat will be bigger and worse.
Right now, the West is eager for an “elegant” “conciliatory” “humanitarian” agreement… Macron even invited Russia to celebrate D-Day (I saw it on RT in English a couple of days ago and I even put the link here on MoA).

Posted by: Elber | May 21 2024 4:58 utc | 127

I see Finland is considering “carefully” re-opening the border to Russia. I feel sorry for the local population, but I think Russia should “carefully” consider keeping them closed, to all except family. Let Finland rot in its own stupidity and wokeness.

Posted by: g wiltek | May 21 2024 5:57 utc | 129

#rumors
Our source reports that the situation in the Kharkov region is really sad for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As we wrote earlier, the Bankova situation was actually slowed down thanks to the redeployed units and the huge amount of equipment that was accumulated for the future offensive. The Russian Armed Forces also slowed down Volchansk, which will soon be surrendered.
Then the Russians can go all the way to the settlement of Pechenegs, creating a huge sleeve, which they will then begin to close, heading towards Kupyansk.
If they succeed, then the Ukrainian Armed Forces may find themselves in the biggest cauldron in the entire history of the conflict.
That is why the situation in the Kharkov region has a huge impact on the future of the entire Ukrainian crisis.

Posted by: unimperator | May 21 2024 6:32 utc | 131

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 21 2024 0:38 utc | 94 in reply to Posted by: SergeT | May 20 2024 17:39 utc | 14
———————————
I bet SergeT never heard of loopholes or SergeT’s former law school never thaught their students the same.

Posted by: AI | May 21 2024 6:33 utc | 133

Posted by: Elber | May 21 2024 4:58 utc | 127

……………………………
Right now, the West is eager for an “elegant” “conciliatory” “humanitarian” agreement… Macron even invited Russia to celebrate D-Day (I saw it on RT in English a couple of days ago and I even put the link here on MoA).

there is currently NO such invitation !!! and certainly not from macron
https://www.swentr.site/news/597825-macron-normandy-us-putin/ —-> this is RT , maybe even your source ; from 18 May, 2024
“…The French organizers, Liberation Mission, said last month that they wanted Moscow to take part in the event marking 80 years since the June 6, 1944 Allied operation in Normandy. They clarified that a Russian representative, but not President Vladimir Putin, will be invited to take part in the ceremony…”

Posted by: ghiwen | May 21 2024 7:03 utc | 135

📋🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Two Majors #Report for the Morning of 21 May 2024; pub. 06:57📍
🔹In the #Kharkov direction, the RFAF have advanced from 100 to 350 m deep in #Volchansk. The buildings of the aggregate plant were taken under control, and the battle is taking place in the centre of the town. In the #Liptsy section, our assault units improved the situation, repulsed the enemy counterattack and advanced from 300 to 450 m. The enemy claimed that only during the day by the evening of 20 May the Russian Aerospace Forces hit #Liptsy with 20 FABs with UMPC. There is heavy fighting, the enemy is bringing in reserves.
🔹In the #Seversk sector, the successful actions of the Russian Army in #Belogorovka (#LPR) to take the enemy strongholds became a reason for a hasty report on the capture of #Belogorovka, which is still too early to talk about (⭐️Note: RF MoD claimed again the capture, as for #Rabotino and…).
🔹In #ChasovYar direction, on the southern flank, the zone of control in the forest area of the reserve has been extended. In the eastern microdistrict of the town our troops are advancing along Zelenaya Street.
🔹In the #SouthDonetsk direction, our troops have occupied the eastern part of #Paraskoviyevka (west of #Novomikhaylovka) over the last days. Fighting continues in #Krasnogorovka.
🔹On the #Zaporozhye front, the enemy recognises the advance of our forces southeast of #Rabotino in an area up to 3.5 km wide by up to 1 km deep. West of #Verbovoye the RFAF also have success in advancing.
🔹In the #Kherson direction, our arriving paratrooper units are operating in difficult conditions on islands in the floodplain of the #Dnieper River. The RFAF have intensified their actions near the destroyed #Krynki. The frozen front may “come to life” in the short term.
💥The #Belgorod region continues to suffer from shelling. During the day reported strikes on #Tavolzhanka, #Arkhangelskoye, #Rzhevka and #Shebekino, #Bezymeno Grayvoro urban district, #Grafovka Krasnoyaruzsky district.
💥In the #Kursk region, the AFU hit #Gornal and #Guyevo, the Oleshnya Farm in the Sudzhansky district, the villages of #Gordeyevka and #Troitskoye in the Korenevsky district, the villages of #Yelizavetovka in the Glushkovsky district and #Milayevka in the Belovsky district. In the village of #Troitskoye, a house caught fire after the AFU dropped an explosive device. Explosive devices were dropped near the Zarya Farm, Glushkovsky district, in #Sudzha and near the Sudzha Checkpoint. Kamikaze drones attacked the Sudzha Checkpoint, the village of #Yelizavetovka and the village of #Krasnooktyabrsky in the Glushkovsky district and the village of #Gordeyevka.
🛡Electronic Warfare equipment suppressed AFU copters near #Yelizavetovka, Popovo-Lezhachi and #Tyotkino in the Glushkov district, #Kozino in the Rylsk district and Oleshnya Farm in the Suzhansky district. In #Akimovka and #Gorodishche of the Rylsk district, the drones used electronic warfare equipment and small arms.
💥In the #LPR, yesterday the AFU launched a missile strike on #Sverdlovsk, a fuel depot was damaged, and ignoring missile danger signals led to other serious consequences.
💥In the #DPR, Makeyevka was shelled from the AFU’s MLRS, and the enemy is hitting civilians in #Donetsk with drops from copters. Nine civilians were wounded over the day.
🎬KrasnyLiman direction – a tribe of wild Ukrainians built themselves a hut in the wrong place. Our men first lit a signal fire above their heads, and then knocked on the hut with something.

https://t.me/two_majors/24535

Posted by: Down South | May 21 2024 7:16 utc | 137

Posted by: ghiwen | May 21 2024 7:03 utc | 135
Forgive me. I read the text again and there is no mention of Macron. Here is the opening paragraph:
The White House is “not thrilled” about France inviting Russia to take part in celebrations commemorating the anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings, Politico has reported, citing unnamed US officials.

Posted by: Elber | May 21 2024 7:29 utc | 139

@ titmouse
Mother tit is busily feeding her young ones in our garden, to near exhaustion. I add to feed them as long as I have Vogelfutter.
For Spitzname, I go with Alex from the Duran, Elensky! As a german it sounds like Elendsky. Elend meaning misery.

Posted by: Aurora | May 21 2024 9:28 utc | 141

Sorry for the double post, small phone, big fingers;-)

Posted by: Aurora | May 21 2024 9:36 utc | 143

I was thinking Cheep Cheep was about the Road Runner vs Coyote cartoon, but recall that is Meep Meep and not Cheep Cheep. So, Cheep Cheep must be a British reference of some sort, perhaps Middle of the Road group? Beats me.

Posted by: Old Microbiologist | May 21 2024 9:53 utc | 145

I see Finland is considering “carefully” re-opening the border to Russia. I feel sorry for the local population, but I think Russia should “carefully” consider keeping them closed, to all except family. Let Finland rot in its own stupidity and wokeness.
Posted by: g wiltek | May 21 2024 5:57 utc | 129
Hear, hear!

Posted by: SergeT | May 21 2024 10:47 utc | 147

HMS Defender
Posted by: rk | May 21 2024 11:15 utc | 148

i remember that ship backing off heroically after some potshots were fired in its general direction.

Posted by: Justpassinby | May 21 2024 11:41 utc | 149

What source material I’ve very wrongly attributed to M. K. BHADRAKUMAR at Indian Punchline, and why, I currently have no idea. I even remember reading the Indian Punchline article but it has the opposite meaning.
I am completely reduced, I do apologise, to all concerned.
Posted by: anon2020 | May 20 2024 20:01 utc | 45
Thank you so much for clearing that up, anon2020! I was totally perplexed when reading that and even went to his blog to search for it…

Posted by: Zet | May 21 2024 13:24 utc | 151

@titmouse | Tue, 21 May 2024 02:20:00 GMT | 101
I shall offer the hugely insulting Comedy Hitler.

Posted by: persiflo | May 21 2024 13:33 utc | 153

General Christopher Cavoli, stated that “‘Russia does not have sufficient forces on the ground to make a major breakthrough in Ukraine after launching its offensive in the Kharkhov region…More to the point they don’t have the skill and the ability to do it.”

Exhibit 103838383920 of cosmic level hubris and incompetence. I give you NATO ladies and gentlemen.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | May 21 2024 14:17 utc | 155

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | May 21 2024 14:17 utc | 155
So, you’ve just shown proof that they’re believing their own propaganda.
You talk about incompetence and arrogance on a cosmic level. Pepe Escobar is a little more rhetorical: “this is incompetence and arrogance on an intergalactic level!”

Posted by: Elber | May 21 2024 15:38 utc | 157

Elber I agree with you entirely and have been saying this for some time. If my pedestrian unconnected self can see this, what the fuck is wrong with the strategic braintrust of the West?
The last 3 decades of fighting counterinsurgency while the world’s other major powers pushed back minimally at best have caused a cancerous imbecility to metastasize in Western intellectuals aligned with.. perhaps I should say ensconced..in the halls of power.
The term I have become fond of using in my diatribe-esque way is ‘high on their own supply’ re:propaganda.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | May 21 2024 16:21 utc | 159

@ Elber, §160:
Well said.

Posted by: John Marks | May 21 2024 18:14 utc | 161

I see Finland is considering “carefully” re-opening the border to Russia. I feel sorry for the local population, but I think Russia should “carefully” consider keeping them closed, to all except family. Let Finland rot in its own stupidity and wokeness.

Posted by: g wiltek | May 21 2024 5:57 utc | 129
Hear, hear!

Posted by: SergeT | May 21 2024 10:47 utc | 147
I would rather let Russia decide on what to do on its own turf and leave it at that. Dunno about you, but I never chalked Russia to be anywhere near as spiteful as the USA and/or Israel.

Posted by: joey_n | May 21 2024 20:50 utc | 163

/cheep
Thank you aurora at 142, I really do like that Elendsky having double entendre in German. It’s true, there are language translation issues where some ideas just make better puns and irony in one and doesn’t carry over. So your idea is great, every language needs to come up with their own epithet! =+)
If I were to use English and try a pun, I’d be tempted to merge “Bell End” (meaning idiot, loser, lower percentile) and creat BellEndsky! ^.^
And thank you, persiflo at 153, about Comedy Hitler. Hitler has almost wore out its punch what with so many people calling everyone Hitler, including the over-abundance of Trump epithets in that vein (like Cheeto Hitler, cheeto being a cheesy puff snack). But I now think of the movie “The Producers” with Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, and had Dick Shawn playing a hippie who then gets the lead role for ‘Springtime for Hitler’. Maybe calling Zelensky Dick Shawn’s Hitler may be too obscure a reference, but I like the idea.
Maybe “Springtime for Elensky and The Ukraine” could be a parody song! =}
/cheep cheep cheep ^.^

Posted by: titmouse | May 21 2024 22:24 utc | 165

@ Posted by: titmouse | May 21 2024 22:24 utc | 165
Lol. I think we should have a list of names that the snot coloured T-shirt wearer could use in his new identity as a Nazi saved by his western puppet masters.
I’ll add given that he isn’t the tallest guy in any room – Mr ‘Little’ Richard Potato.
Tiny Dick Tatter, to his mates.
I’ll get my coat…

Posted by: DunGroanin | May 22 2024 0:17 utc | 167

Elber | May 21 2024 4:58 utc | 127
***… Macron even invited Russia to celebrate D-Day ***
A trap — the slimy little shit just wants to get present-day propaganda film footage of Russia “celebrating” the US invasion and occupation of Europe.

Posted by: Cynic | May 22 2024 2:16 utc | 169

arthur brogard@166….the kit supplied is lacking, no shortage of field reports of people complaining, great example, citizens buying kit for front line guys. Any tanker asking for up-armoured tanks is looking at years of design and review, by then, front line tanker is dead.
In field we’d call it ‘jerry riggin’ kids today call them ‘hacks’ anything to save your life. The good thing for the front line tankers is there is no shortage of scrap to weld to your tank. It’s a fix the guys themselves are using, kudos to the officers that see the merit of self protection.
Anything that saves your life, and your comrades lives is very effective, even if it just buys time to get out of the vehicle and run away. It’s not perfect but as more show up at the LOCC hats off to those guys.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | May 22 2024 13:15 utc | 171

Ukraine continues to defy all expectations of its collapse and effectively fight back against Russia. According to the LordofWar telegram channel :

“The Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to stabilize the situation on the Kharkov front, where the pressure from Russian troops is still significant
The Russian Armed Forces continue their attrition and tactical offensive in the Chasov Yar and Orekhovo sectors and continue their offensive towards Svatovo and Ocheritino.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have success in UAV strikes against rear targets on Russian territory. They hit targets near Moscow and St. Petersburg. Regular attacks are also carried out on the Black Sea Fleet and targets in Crimea”

Posted by: bored | May 22 2024 20:08 utc | 173