(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Ukraine Invasion Day 1,547: RU buzzes UK Rivet Joint flight [1] ['Sabrina Haake', 'Chitown Kev', 'Commander Ogg', 'Belinda Ridgewood', 'Bill In Portland Maine'] Date: 2026-05-21 A @RoyalAirForce Rivet Joint aircraft operating in international airspace over the Black Sea was dangerously intercepted by Russian military jets – flying as close as six metres and triggering onboard emergency systems. Despite these reckless manoeuvres, RAF crew completed their mission safely. The aircraft was conducting a routine flight in support of @NATO operations, contributing to the security of the Alliance’s eastern flank. Russian forces conducted a missile strike and a series of long-range drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of May 19 to 20 and during the day on May 20. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile from Rostov Oblast and 154 Shahed (including jet-propelled), Gerbera, and Italmas-type strike drones, Parodiya decoy drones, and other drones from the directions of Kursk, Bryansk, and Oryol cities; Shatalovo, Smolensk Oblast; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; and Millerovo, Rostov Oblast overnight.[57] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 131 drones, that the Iskander-M missile and 23 drones struck 20 locations, and that downed debris fell on six locations. The Ukrainian Air Force reported on May 20 that Russian forces also launched 84 Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas-type drones, Parodiya decoy drones, and other drones during the day.[58] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 75 drones, and that six drones struck an unspecified number of locations. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes damaged energy and residential infrastructure in Odesa and Sumy oblasts.[59] Ukrainian officials also reported that Russian forces struck food warehouses and residential areas in Dnipro City, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, likely with an Iskander-M ballistic missile, killing at least two civilians and injuring at least six.[60] ISW previously reported that Russian forces have begun launching daytime strike packages, in addition to overnight strikes, in what ISW assesses is an effort to maximize visibility for long-range strikes and disrupt civilian and commercial activity.[61] Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) reported on May 20 that authorities detected depleted Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 elements in the wreckage of a Russian Geran-2 (Shahed-type) drone armed with an R-60 air-to-air missile that Ukrainian forces shot down in Chernihiv Oblast on April 7.[62] Ukraine downed or suppressed 131 of 154 Russian drones overnight into May 20, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and other types launched from Russia. Moscow also fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile, with hits recorded at 20 locations. Russian President Vladimir Putin and the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) President Xi Jinping failed to reach an agreement on the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline and signed only comparatively minor bilateral agreements during Putin’s official visit to the PRC. Other Key Takeaways: Ukrainian forces appear to be regaining the tactical initiative in different sectors of the frontline in Ukraine. * Ukrainian forces advanced in the Kupyansk direction, the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast. * Russian forces advanced in the Sumy and Pokrovsk directions. * Russian forces launched one ballistic missile and 154 drones toward Ukraine overnight and an additional 84 drones during the day. Ukrainian forces appear to be regaining the tactical initiative in different sectors of the frontline in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have conducted a series of counterattacks in different areas across the theater in recent months, having made their most significant gains on the battlefield since Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024.[6] Ukrainian counterattacks recaptured much of Kupyansk starting in November 2025, liberated over 400 square kilometers in southern Ukraine in winter and spring 2026, and most recently liberated several settlements in western Zaporizhia Oblast since late April 2026.[7] Ukrainian counterattacks in southern Ukraine have created cascading operational and strategic effects against Russia’s ongoing Spring-Summer 2026 offensive against the Fortress Belt, which has forced Russia to choose between defending against Ukrainian counterattacks or allocating manpower and resources to priority sectors.[8] Ukraine’s intensified mid-range strike campaign against Russian logistics, military equipment, and manpower since early 2026 has also degraded Russian forces’ ability to conduct offensive operations across the theater and has also likely supported recent Ukrainian advances.[9] Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on May 15 in an exclusive interview with Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi that precise Ukrainian strikes, the destruction of Russian reserves, and constant pressure on Russian assault units have allowed Ukrainian forces to increasingly seize the tactical initiative and force Russian forces to react to a Ukrainian-defined operational tempo.[10] Syrskyi did not provide absolute figures but noted that the number of Ukrainian offensive actions exceeded those of Russian forces as of May 14, which may indicate Ukraine contesting the initiative at the tactical level and engaging in more active counterattacks. Ukrainian forces are on track to meet their monthly imposed casualty targets for May 2026. Syrskyi attributed recent Ukrainian battlefield successes to a systematic Ukrainian effort to reduce Russian combat power and Russia’s ability to sustain assault operations by constantly striking Russian manpower.[11] Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) Commander Major Robert “Magyar” Brovdi reported on May 20 that Ukrainian drones struck 19,203 Russian personnel in the first 19 days of May, according to data collected in Ukraine’s Delta battlefield management software, of which USF elements struck over 6,000.[12] Brovdi forecasted that Ukrainian drones will inflict over 34,000 Russian casualties by the end of May 2026, excluding casualties from artillery shelling, rear strikes, frontline battle losses, and other unconfirmed losses. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) is struggling to recruit enough personnel to compensate for losses, and the Russian recruitment rate has dipped below its replacement rate, concluding only 70,500 military service contracts in the first quarter of 2026, below the monthly quota of 33,500 to 34,600 contracts signed.[13] Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated on May 5 that Ukrainian forces reached their objective of inflicting casualties greater than Russia’s recruitment rate in April 2026 and set a new objective of inflicting around 50,000 Russian casualties per month.[14] Ukrainian forces will likely further expand their mid-range strike campaign and continue counterattacks in vulnerable sectors of the frontline, which will likely further inhibit Russian offensive operations. A @RoyalAirForce Rivet Joint aircraft operating in international airspace over the Black Sea was dangerously intercepted by Russian military jets – flying as close as six metres and triggering onboard emergency systems. Despite these reckless manoeuvres, RAF crew completed their… pic.twitter.com/QyUP7dE4OJ — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 20, 2026 https://t.co/cv6SJPw0gg General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Operational update as of 10:00 PM on May 20, 2026, regarding the Russian invasion A total of 177 combat engagements have taken place since the start of this day. The enemy launched a missile strike using one missile, carried out 72 airstrikes, and dropped 230 guided aerial bombs. Additionally, they deployed 5,558 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,297 shelling attacks on populated areas and our troops’ positions. In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, three combat engagements have occurred since the start of the day. The enemy carried out two airstrikes, dropped seven guided aerial bombs, and fired 66 times at populated areas and our troops’ positions, four of which involved the use of multiple launch rocket systems. In the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy launched a single assault on our units’ positions near Starytsia. In the Kupiansky direction, our defenders repelled two enemy attacks near the towns of Kupiansk and Novoosynove. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 11 attempts by the invaders to advance in the areas of the settlements of Drobysheve, Dibrova, Ozerne, Lyman, and Yampil. Two engagements are ongoing. In the Sloviansk direction, the Defense Forces successfully repelled five attempts by the invaders to advance in the areas of the settlements of Zakytne and Rai-Oleksandrivka. In the Kramatorsk and Dnipro directions, the enemy did not conduct any active operations today. In the Kostiantynivka sector, the invaders carried out 18 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Ivanopil, Pleshchiivka, Toretsk, and Kucheri Yar. One engagement is still ongoing. In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy carried out 25 attacks. The occupiers attempted to advance in the areas of the settlements of Rodynske, Hryshyne, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Zatyoshok, Nikanorivka, Shevchenko, Vasylivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, and Molodetske. Two firefights are ongoing. According to preliminary estimates, 32 occupiers were killed and 13 wounded in this sector today; one artillery system, two enemy vehicles, and three units of special equipment were destroyed; two enemy vehicles, six artillery pieces, and 72 enemy personnel shelters were damaged. Seven unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were destroyed, and 228 were suppressed. In the Oleksandrivka sector, the occupiers attempted four times to improve their position by attacking in the areas of the settlements of Oleksandrohrad, Ivanivka, and Kalynivske. In the Huliaipole sector, the occupiers launched 23 attacks toward the settlements of Novozaporizhzhia, Vozdvyzhivka, Tsvitkove, Staroukrainka, Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, Huliaipole, Olenokostyantynivka, and Charivne. Four engagements are still ongoing. In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy carried out two offensive operations in the areas around the settlements of Shcherbaky and Stepnogorsk. In other sectors, there have been no significant changes in the situation. Let’s defeat the enemy and bring our Victory closer! Glory to Ukraine! 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