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SITUATION OVERVIEW
Since the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, major attacks have been reported across the country, including in the capital, Kyiv, resulting in widescale destruction of infrastructure, loss of life, and displacement.
On 21 May, people attempting to evacuate from the Kherson region into Ukrainian-controlled territory continued to be blocked by Russian Federation forces and redirected to Crimea. There have been reports of critical shortages of medicines, harassment from Russian Federation troops, disappearances and violence against those who remain in the region, and convoys of cars have been blocked for days at a time and occasionally fired upon. Following a Russian Federation airstrike on residential areas and privately owned businesses on 24 May, the mayor of Kramatorsk, Oleksandr Honcharenko, urged residents not to return to the city.
Meanwhile, on 25 May, Russian Federation forces launched four cruise missiles on the city of Zaporizhzhia, reportedly killing one person, injuring three others, and damaging 62 buildings in residential areas. That same day, three missiles were fired at Kryvyi Rih, resulting in severe damage to an industrial enterprise, with casualties still being confirmed.
OHCHR is reporting that between 24 February and 24 May, there have been 8,628 civilian casualties, including 3,974 people killed, though these figures are likely to be considerably higher (source: OCHA). Although civilians in conflict-affected areas remain in dire need of basic goods and social services, ongoing fighting continues to deter evacuations.
During a meeting with media representatives on 21 May, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy reported that 22 million tons of grain could not be exported as a result of Russian Federation troops blocking Ukrainian ports. President Zelenskyy also stated that if the routes cannot be unblocked, there will be a food crisis around the world, a statement that was affirmed by WFP, as it buys almost half of its wheat from Ukraine every year.
Alongside the unfolding grain shortage, as of 24 May, a total of 708 settlements in Ukraine remain without electricity due to damage caused by the war. In total, approximately 639,200 consumers have been cut off from electricity. Regions particularly affected have been Donetsk region (330,700 consumers), Luhansk region (128,200), and Kharkiv region (90,200), leaving most communities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions disconnected. The war in Ukraine has also caused a significant fuel shortage within the country that continues to effect the operations of humanitarian actors, especially in hard to reach areas.