Ukraine increases ammunition production, Putin wants to freeze war in Ukraine - Friday brief

Collage by RBC-Ukraine

The Kremlin's leader, Vladimir Putin, is prepared to stop the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine is increasing its munitions production.

RBC-Ukraine has compiled the main news for May 24.

Russia's war against Ukraine: Latest

・Ukrainian border guards warn of possible Russian offensive in Sumy region

・Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff provides update on frontline situation

・Russia disrupts Starlink at frontline using new technologies

・Russian offensive in Kharkiv region - Threat to Kharkiv from Sumy region assessed

・Ukrainian forces halt Russian advances in north of Kharkiv region, inflict damage – General Staff

・Russia deploys African corps of former Wagnerians to Vovchansk - UK intelligence

・Russia builds up group near borders of Chernihiv and Sumy regions - General Staff

・Aerial terror: Russian army drops eight guided bombs on Vovchansk in one day

Putin signals willingness to halt Ukraine war through ceasefire talks - Reuters

The Kremlin's leader, Vladimir Putin, is prepared to halt the war in Ukraine through ceasefire negotiations. However, the war is intended to cease at the current front lines, according to Reuters.

At the same time, according to the media, Putin is willing to continue the war if Ukraine does not agree. Three sources familiar with discussions within Putin's circle reported that he "expressed frustration to a small group of advisers" regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to refuse negotiations.

"Putin can fight for as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefire – to freeze the war," said the second of four high-ranking Russian sources who worked with Putin.

US announces nearly $300 mln aid package for Ukraine: What's included

The United States has allocated another military aid package to Ukraine in its war with Russia. The announced package amounts to $275 million, according to the Voice of America correspondent Ostap Yarysh.

According to the Pentagon, the military aid package includes:

・Ammunition for HIMARS;

・155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;

・60mm mortar rounds;

・Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;

・Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;

・Precision aerial munitions;

・Small arms and additional rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades;

・Demolitions munitions;

・Anti-armor mines;

・Tactical vehicles to recover equipment;

・Helmets, body armor, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment; and

・Spare parts, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.

This is the fifth aid package the United States has allocated to Ukraine after receiving new funding from Congress.

Ukraine increases ammunition production: Cabinet of Ministers' proposal

Ukraine is scaling up the production of ammunition, just as it did with drones. The government has increased profitability for Ukrainian enterprises, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

One factor contributing to the increase in production has been the involvement of private companies. The Cabinet of Ministers set a profitability rate of 25% for them, resulting in a 100-fold increase in drone production over the year.

"Now we are scaling this successful drone production case to the manufacturing of ammunition. We are approving a resolution that sets the profitability level for domestic ammunition manufacturers at up to 25% of their cost," Shmyhal said.

New German air defense system IRIS-T arrives in Ukraine - Spiegel

Yesterday, on May 24, a new air defense system from Germany arrived in Ukraine. It is capable of intercepting enemy cruise missiles, informs Spiegel.

The source notes that the German federal government is bolstering Ukraine's air defense.

"According to Spiegel, another IRIS-T SLM surface-to-air missile system arrived in Ukraine on Friday," the journalists wrote.

According to their information, Ukraine currently has four medium-range IRIS-T systems and one short-range IRIS-T system. Meanwhile, Germany has promised Kyiv nine IRIS-T SLMs and eleven IRIS-T SLSs, manufactured by Diehl Defense.

Ukrainian drones damage important radar in Krasnodar Krai - Media

Ukrainian drones were able to hit an important radar station, Voronezh-DM, located in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. It partially "monitored" the territory of the occupied Crimea.

According to Defense Express, on May 22, information about a possible drone attack on Russian radar appeared on the Internet. Yesterday, photos appeared that showed the damage caused by the drones.

The agency indicates that the hits were made, particularly in the administrative buildings, for the personnel and management of this radar.

The journalists point out that the claimed range of targets that Voronezh-DM can see is up to 6 thousand kilometers. This may include ballistic and cruise missiles and, allegedly, space objects.

The media analyzed the scheme with the viewing areas and ensured that the affected radar covered the viewing area partially over the temporarily occupied Crimea.

At the same time, its main viewing vector is the Balkans and the Mediterranean as NATO operational areas, as well as Asia, including the Persian Gulf.