Russia strikes Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa

Russian attacks hit Kharkiv region and several Ukrainian cities overnight into May 20, widening a pattern of strikes that now regularly reaches both the front and the rear. Ukrinform reported that Kharkiv and 21 other settlements in the region came under attack over the previous day, leaving one person dead and six injured, including a child. (ukrinform.net) RBC-Ukraine reported that Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv and Sumy region were also hit in overnight strikes. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 154 drones and one Iskander-M ballistic missile in the attack. (newsukraine.rbc.ua) The same 24-hour period also brought evidence of Ukrainian pressure on Russian infrastructure. Ukrinform, citing Reuters, reported on May 20 that Russia's Ryazan oil refinery suspended operations after a Ukrainian drone attack last week. (understandingwar.org) The refinery is owned by Rosneft and accounts for nearly 5% of Russia's oil refining capacity, according to that report. ### How broad were the latest Russian strikes inside Ukraine? Kharkiv region saw attacks on 22 settlements over the previous day, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor, as cited by Ukrinform. The reported toll was one killed and six injured, and Ukrinform said a Russian Shahed drone had struck Kharkiv's Novobavarskyi district on May 19, causing a fire. (ukrinform.net) Dnipro was among the hardest-hit cities in the overnight barrage, RBC-Ukraine reported. That report said five people were wounded and food warehouses were damaged there, while strikes were also recorded in Odesa, Kharkiv and Sumy region. (ukrinform.net) ### What did Ukraine say Russia launched overnight? Ukraine's Air Force said on May 20 that Russia attacked with one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 154 strike drones. The drones were launched from several Russian locations, including Kursk, Shatalovo, Orel, Bryansk, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, according to RBC-Ukraine's account of the Air Force statement. The Air Force said Ukrainian defenses shot down most of the drones, though the report available did not give a complete city-by-city breakdown of all damage in the same passage. (ukrinform.net) RBC-Ukraine separately reported casualties and warehouse damage in Dnipro. (newsukraine.rbc.ua) ### What happened at the Ryazan refinery? Ryazan oil refinery suspended operations after a Ukrainian drone attack last week, Ukrinform reported on May 20, citing Reuters and industry sources. The report said the plant is one of Russia's largest refineries and is owned by Rosneft. A separate Ukrinform report said drones attacked the Ryazan refinery during the night of Friday, May 15. (newsukraine.rbc.ua) That report described the plant as one of Russia's largest oil refineries. ### Where does Putin's China trip fit into this? President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on May 19 for an official visit through May 20, the Institute for the Study of War said in its May 19 campaign assessment. (newsukraine.rbc.ua) ISW listed the visit alongside battlefield developments in Ukraine in its daily update. ISW's May 19 assessment also said Ukrainian forces had recently advanced in parts of northern Kharkiv oblast and in the Kupyansk and Hulyaipole directions. (ukrinform.net) That assessment placed the latest strikes in the context of continuing combat on multiple fronts while both sides also target infrastructure away from the line of contact. (ukrinform.net) ### What comes next to watch? May 20 is the second day of Putin's official visit to China, according to ISW. On the military side, Ukraine's Air Force and regional officials are expected to continue publishing updated damage assessments from the overnight attacks, while Russian and Ukrainian strike reports are likely to remain a focus in daily battlefield updates from Ukrinform and ISW. (understandingwar.org)