Victory Chronicles-DAY 1181

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described his meeting in Rome with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “productive,” saying the parties discussed Russia’s “unrealistic conditions” for ceasefire negotiations that were held in Istanbul on May 15.

The low-level governmental delegation meeting between both sides was the first time they spoke in March 2022 when discoveries of Russian war crimes and atrocities became public in the Kyiv region by invading Kremlin forces. 

Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin had initially proposed the meeting earlier last week after Washington and Brussels had threatened to impose stricter sanctions if Moscow wouldn’t make definitive steps toward a ceasefire and cessation to hostilities. 

Instead of sitting at the negotiation table face-to-face with his Ukrainian and U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, Putin sent a presidential aide as the head of the delegation, while Kyiv sent its defense minister and head of the presidential office to Turkey. 

So, the U.S. and the European Union postponed the imposition of restrictive measures until the outcome of the Istanbul talks would be known.

Western media outlets wrote that Putin had “balked” and that he “self-rejected” his own peace proposal meeting as Ukrainian political leaders said he was a coward for not appearing at the discussion table.

According to a Ukrainian presidential office statement, the Ukrainian leader emphasized Kyiv’s readiness for “genuine diplomacy” and called for the “swift and unconditional cessation of hostilities.” 

Zelenskyy described the low-level Russian delegation at the peace talks as “a prop-in” that had no decision-making power or real mandate – the only outcome was another prisoner exchange that this time is on a parity of 1,000-1,000 and is likely to take place this week.

Ukraine’s second war-time president also  pointed out that Russia repeatedly violated ceasefires it had proposed itself, reinforcing that the Kremlin “has no intention of ending the war” and must be pressured until it agrees to a full cessation of hostilities.

The meeting also covered sanctions against Russia, battlefield developments, future prisoner exchanges, and plans to expand bilateral defense cooperation and trade.

Denmark announces $628 million military aid package for Ukraine, including artillery and ammunitionю. Ukraine’s main provider of U.S. made F-16 jets, Denmark, has unveiled a new long-term military aid package for Ukraine valued at approximately 4.2 billion Danish kroner ($628.4 million), the country’s defense ministry announced on May 18. This marks Denmark’s 26th military support package for Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Funded through Denmark’s Ukrainian Fund and the EU’s European Peace Facility, the package is designed to provide sustained military assistance to Kyiv from 2025 through 2028.

A key component of the aid includes additional artillery systems and ammunition, part of the Czech-led initiative aimed at streamlining artillery supplies to Ukraine. According to the Danish Defense Ministry, new funding allocated under this initiative in 2025 will enable the procurement of another batch of artillery shells, helping Ukraine to better plan and stabilize its ammunition supply.

Zelenskyy presents pope with icon painted on ammunition crate from front line in Kharkiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented  newly elected Pope Leo XIV – the first U.S. born pontiff – a symbolic icon painted on a fragment of a wooden ammunition box used to store heavy artillery shells, during their meeting at the Vatican on May 18.

The box, brought from the northeastern Kharkiv regional Izium area —an area heavily affected by Russian aggression — was transformed into a depiction of the Holy Mother and Infant. Zelenskyy said the icon represents Ukraine’s war-affected children, especially those abducted and deported by Russia, whose numbers are in the thousands and are undergoing indoctrination and forced conscription into Russian military units.

Ukrainian drones destroy Russian radar on Black Sea gas platform in its internationally recognized sovereign waters

Ukraine’s security service – the SBU – used air and maritime  drones to destroy a Russian radar installation and support infrastructure on offshore gas platforms in the Black Sea, according to an official statement.

The combined strike was carried out by the 13th Main Directorate of the SBU’s military counterintelligence department. The target was a Russian “Neva” radar system – named after the river that flows through Saint Petersburg, but is exported as the “Pechora” – placed on Ukrainian drilling platforms seized by Moscow. The radar had been used to track aerial and maritime activity.

The operation began with an aerial drone strike on one of the platforms, followed by an attack from a maritime drone, the agency said. The dual strike destroyed the radar, storage units, and a residential module on the rig. Footage released by the SBU shows the moment of impact and resulting fire on the platform.

Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces conducted the largest single drone strike of the war against Ukraine on May 17-18 — in disregard of U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for Russia to stop long-range strikes against Ukraine, particularly against Kyiv Oblast.
• The Kremlin continues efforts to project Russia’s military strength ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled phone call with Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin on May 19.
• Reported support within the Russian military and society for continuing the war until Russia achieves its original war aims and territorial demands reflects the success of the Kremlin’s years-long narrative efforts to justify a protracted war effort.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyу continues efforts to negotiate a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Borova and Toretsk.

In memoriam: Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Poddubnyi, a hero of Ukraine’s defense forces

Sgt. Oleksandr Poddubnyi, known by the call sign “Frantsuz” (Frenchman), was killed in action on Nov. 12, 2024, during a combat mission near the city of Myrnohrad in Donetsk region. He died in a Russian mortar attack. He was 53.

Poddubnyi was born and lived in Kharkiv. A production manager for much of his life, he worked across a range of industries — from household chemicals to light manufacturing. He had a lifelong love for cars, enjoyed skiing and traveling, and was a talented artist who once aspired to become a designer. In 2022, he re-enrolled at Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, a university he had earlier left without completing.

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion, he evacuated his family to safety and repeatedly applied to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Initially rejected due to his age, he instead joined a local self-defense unit in Liubotyn. There, he helped evacuate civilians, patrolled key infrastructure, unloaded humanitarian aid and even made Molotov cocktails.

In 2023, on his fourth attempt, he was finally accepted into the army. He began as a communications operator and, by October 2024, had become commander of the 3rd infantry squad, 1st platoon, 3rd company, of the 142nd Infantry Brigade (later reorganized as a mechanized brigade).

His call sign, “Frantsuz,” came from his enthusiasm for French cars — especially Renault — which he often defended in debates with his fellow soldiers.

“My dad was an incredible person,” said his daughter, Daryna. “He wasn’t afraid of death and always said he would live forever — and in some way, he does. He was cheerful and full of wisdom, always ready with an answer to life’s big questions. He knew every joke in the book and could make anyone smile.”

Poddubnyi was laid to rest at the Alley of Glory in Kharkiv City Cemetery No. 18. He is survived by his wife, daughter, parents and sister.

*Poddubnyi’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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