The Kyiv Independent
News, analyses, investigations, opinions, podcasts and more. On-the-ground reporting from Ukraine
Ministry: Russia's war destroys or damages almost 2,000 cultural facilities.
Russia's full-scale war resulted in damage to 1,987 cultural facilities as of April 25, the Culture Ministry said on May 2. Some 16.3% of this number – 324 – were destroyed completely.
Ukrainian cultural sites have often become targets for Russian drone and missile attacks as Russia continues to attempt to erase the Ukrainian identity .
The latest figure accounts for almost 200 more institutions damaged or destroyed since the Culture Ministry's previous update from March .
The list of damaged sites includes 958 cultural and social clubs, 708 libraries, 153 art schools, 114 museums and galleries, 36 theaters, cinemas, and concert halls, 15 parks, zoos, and nature reserves, and three circuses.
This number does not include damaged or destroyed cultural heritage sites, which have amounted to 945 as of March.
Club establishments, libraries, museums, theaters, concert halls, and art schools were damaged on the territory of 281 communities.
According to available data, the most affected regions were Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Luhansk oblasts.
The Culture Ministry noted that it is currently impossible to fully account for damages in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, as they remain under partial Russian occupation.
Russian proxy: Drones target Sevastopol in third attack this week.
Dozens of UAVs and naval drones targeted Sevastopol and nearby Balaklava in the early hours of May 17, causing partial blackouts.
Russian media: Novorossiysk port, oil depot hit in overnight attack.
Drones and missiles struck an oil refinery and seaport in the Russian city of Novorossiysk in the early hours of May 17, causing explosions and power outages, the Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported.
UK Defense Ministry: Ukraine's economy to grow by 3% in 2024.
"Despite attacks by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, it is likely that Ukraine will see real economic growth of around 3 percent in 2024," the ministry said.
New York Times: NATO member states considering sending military instructors to Ukraine.
Some NATO member states are discussing the possibility of sending military instructors or contractors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops and assist with equipment repairs, the New York Times reported on May 16.
Record longest air raid alert in Kharkiv, six explosions recorded.
At around 1 a.m. on May 17, a lengthy air raid alert was finally lifted in Kharkiv Oblast after officials reported numerous Russian drone strikes and a ballistic missile threat.
Ukraine forces retreat as Russian forces advance - May 14, 2024.
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