May 30, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Jack Guy, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 12:01 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023
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4:37 p.m. ET, May 30, 2023

1 person killed in strike in Russia's Belgorod region, governor says

From CNN's Mariya Knight

A frame from a video shared on social media shows the aftermath after an Ukraine strike on accommodation center in Belgorod.
A frame from a video shared on social media shows the aftermath after an Ukraine strike on accommodation center in Belgorod. readovkanews/Telegram

One person was killed and two others were injured in a Ukrainian attack on a temporary accommodation center, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region.

Gladkov said in a Telegram post on Tuesday that “[…] the security guard of this institution died. Two more people were injured. They are in critical condition in intensive care."

According to Gladkov, cannon artillery was used in the strike that hit the center. 

Some context: There has been increased fighting along the border, specifically in the Belgorod region, officials have reported.

Namely, last week, a group of anti-Putin Russian nationals – who are aligned with the Ukrainian army – claimed responsibility for an attack in Belgorod, leaving Moscow to say it was fighting the group of saboteurs.

In a Telegram post, groups calling themselves the “Freedom of Russia Legion” and “Russian Volunteer Corps” said they had “liberated” a settlement in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.

5:27 p.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Ukrainian tennis player describes how Russia's invasion of her country impacts her on the court

From CNN’s Matt Foster

Tsurenko in action against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in the first round on Day Three of Roland Garros on Tuesday, May 30 in Paris.
Tsurenko in action against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in the first round on Day Three of Roland Garros on Tuesday, May 30 in Paris. Robert Prange/Getty Images

Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko beat her first-round opponent at the French Open Tuesday, but still described her disposition as "unhappy."

Tsurenko, who lived in Kyiv as a teenager, said the Russian invasion and subsequent war in her country has impacted her state of mind on the court.

“Some days if I have unhappy face, it's just because, you know, my city was probably bombed I think 16 times in May only,” she said.

Speaking to the media on her 34th birthday, an emotional Tsurenko was not in a celebratory mood.

“Yesterday, part of the rocket landed 100m away from my home. This can make me unhappy, you know, and probably, my face is not super happy just because of that. Not because I go into the locker room and I'm, like, spreading hate towards someone," she said.

Ahead of the Miami Open in March, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, said she struggled to understand the “hate” she encountered in the locker room amid strained relations between some players following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sabalenka did not specifically mention Tsurenko.

Tsurenko next competes at Roland Garros on Thursday against the American Lauren Davis.

2:48 p.m. ET, May 30, 2023

US expects Sweden accession to NATO in weeks ahead, secretary of state says

From CNN's Michael Conte

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference with Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Lulea, Sweden, on Tuesday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference with Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Lulea, Sweden, on Tuesday. Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency/Reuters

The US expects Sweden’s accession to NATO to be completed “in the weeks ahead,” according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“We have no doubt that it can be, and it should be and we expect it to be,” said Blinken at a news conference in Luleå, Sweden, with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Key context: Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine prompted non-aligned Finland and Sweden to abandon their neutrality and seek protection within NATO. Finland officially became the 31st member of NATO on April 4.

US President Joe Biden said he spoke on Monday with newly reelected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and discussed the potential of approving the sale of new US fighter jets if Turkey drops its objections to Sweden joining NATO.

However, Blinken said the two issues are viewed as separate by the administration.

“From our perspective, we believe that both should go forward and should go forward as quickly as possible — that is to say, Sweden's accession — and we'll move forward on the F-16 package,” Blinken said.

The secretary of state also said that it was “appropriate” that every member have its say on the accession of new members into the alliance.

“Each member is making a solemn commitment to every other member that it will join in coming to their defense if they are the victims of aggression, and so it's important that every member have its say in this process,” he said.

2:09 p.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Ukraine has the right to "project force" beyond its own borders for self-defense, UK foreign secretary says

From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood in London

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks during a meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Tallinn, Estonia, on Tuesday.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks during a meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Tallinn, Estonia, on Tuesday. Pavel Golovkin/AP

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Tuesday that Ukraine has the right to "project force" over its borders for self-defense, following a drone attack in Moscow

"Ukraine does have the legitimate right to defend itself. It has the legitimate right to do so within its own borders, of course, but it does also have the right to project force beyond its borders to undermine Russia’s ability to project force into Ukraine itself," Cleverly told reporters after a joint news conference with Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
"So legitimate military targets beyond its own border are part of Ukraine’s self-defense. And we should recognize that," he added.

Cleverly said he does not have any assessment over the drone attacks in Moscow on Tuesday, and he was referring to military targets more broadly beyond borders that are "internationally recognized as being legitimate as part of a nation’s self-defense."

At least three residential buildings were damaged by drones in Moscow on Tuesday, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Russia has blamed Ukraine for the incident, while Kyiv has denied any direct involvement.

What the US says: A National Security Council spokesperson stressed that the US does not back attacks in Russia

"We saw the news and are still gathering information about what happened," the spokesperson said. "As general matter, we do not support attacks inside of Russia."

4:37 p.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Catch up on the latest from Ukraine and a drone attack in Moscow

From CNN staff

A person inspects the damaged face of an apartment building after a drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday.
A person inspects the damaged face of an apartment building after a drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

The Russian Defense Ministry said a Tuesday attack in the Moscow region involved eight drones. Ukraine has denied any direct involvement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for the drone attack, calling it a "clear sign of terrorist activity."

"Kyiv chose the path of intimidation of Russian citizens and attacks on residential buildings," he said, adding, "We are concerned about attempts to evoke a response from Russia. It seems that is what they (Ukraine) want ... Kyiv provokes us to mirror actions. We will see what to do about this."

Putin said the city's air defenses worked normally, also suggesting that the drone attacks had been in response to recent Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure.

Here's more about what happened today in Ukraine:

  • Aerial assault on Kyiv: One person was killed and at least three others were injured as a result of explosions in Kyiv early Tuesday, the Ukrainian military said, the 17th aerial attack on the capital city this month. Speaking to CNN’s Fred Pleitgen outside a damaged apartment building in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said there would've been more damage without Ukraine’s modern air defense systems.
  • Strikes in Belgorod: The governor of Russia's Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said there have been dozens of strikes in several areas by Ukrainian mortar and artillery fire over the last 24 hours — by far the highest reported number in a single day. The region is located next to Ukraine and has seen a growing incidence of cross-border fire.
  • NATO chief says aid continues: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that there is no fatigue among Western countries on providing aid to Ukraine. He stressed that support for Ukraine is being "stepped up." 
  • Melitopol blasts: Powerful explosions were heard throughout the key southern city of Melitopol, according to Ukrainian Mayor Ivan Fedorov, who is not in the city himself. A Russian-appointed official also reported a series of explosions. Melitopol has become a hub for Russia's military as it reinforces defenses in the occupied southern regions of Ukraine.
  • Request to protect Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant: International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi outlined five principles to protect Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and asked that Russia and Ukraine observe them to ensure the plant's safety and security. Grossi added that he has not yet secured their agreement on protecting the facility.
1:11 p.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Explosions reported in southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol

From Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv

A Russian-appointed official in the occupied area of southern Ukraine has reported a series of explosions in the city of Melitopol.

"It's loud in Melitopol! A series of explosions sounded in the city. One of them was very powerful," Vladimir Rogov, who is on the council of the civil-military administration of Zaporizhzhia region, posted on his Telegram channel. "According to preliminary information, the cause of the explosions in Melitopol was an attempt by AFU [Ukrainian armed forces] fighters to launch a missile strike on the city."

Russian air defenses had worked, he added.

Powerful explosions had been heard throughout the city, according to Ivan Fedorov, the Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, who is not in Melitopol himself.

An eyewitness to the explosions told CNN that a plane was shot down in the area late Tuesday. CNN is not disclosing their identity for their own security.

"This is the first time in all the days of the full-scale war that a plane was shot down over us," the eyewitness said. "There is a fire nearby, and there is a lot of smoke."

The eyewitness added that there were six incoming rockets or missiles. Three had been brought down by air defenses, but the others had struck their targets. One had hit the airfield.

Melitopol has become a hub for Russia's military as it reinforces defenses in the occupied southern regions of Ukraine. A community social media channel said the strike had been near the airfield, which has been attacked several times in the past. There is no independent verification of what may have been hit.

12:32 p.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Russian governor says there are casualties after Ukraine strike on accommodation center

From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova

People have been killed and injured in a Ukrainian attack on a temporary accommodation center, Russia's Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

The center was sheltering residents resettled from rural municipalities of the Shebekinsky District, he said in a Telegram post.

Some context: The region of Belgorod has seen a growing incidence of cross-border fire, in both directions, as well as incursions from Ukraine by groups calling themselves anti-President Vladimir Putin Russian nationals

11:47 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

US is still gathering information on drone attack in Russia, official says

From CNN's Arlette Saenz

Workers repair damage on the roof of an apartment building after a drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday.
Workers repair damage on the roof of an apartment building after a drone attack in Moscow on Tuesday. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

The US is compiling information on the drone attack in Moscow, a National Security Council spokesperson said, while stressing the US does not back attacks in Russia.

"We saw the news and are still gathering information about what happened," the council's spokesperson said. "As general matter, we do not support attacks inside of Russia."

Russia blamed Ukraine for the drone attack in Moscow, while Ukraine has denied any direct involvement.

The NSC spokesperson also criticized Russia for launching an overnight aerial assault on Kyiv — the 17th this month.

"We have been focused on providing Ukraine with the equipment and training they need to retake their own sovereign territory, and that’s exactly what we’ve done. Today was also Russia’s 17th round of air strikes on Kyiv this month, many of which have devastated civilian areas, as Russia continues its brutal attacks against the people of Ukraine," the spokesperson said.

"Russia started this unprovoked war against Ukraine. Russia could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine instead of launching brutal attacks against Ukraine’s cities and people every day," the spokesperson said.

11:34 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

German chancellor condemns Russian airstrikes on civilian targets in Ukraine

From CNN’s Inke Kappeler in Berlin

In a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced the latest Russian airstrikes on civilian targets in Ukraine, a statement from the chancellor’s office said.

According to the statement, Zelensky thanked Germany for its military support, in particular for strengthening Ukrainian air defenses. Scholz vowed to continue to provide support to Ukraine "in close coordination with European and international partners," the statement added.

Scholz reaffirmed "Germany's unwavering solidarity with Ukraine in the face of aggression by the Russian Federation," according to the statement. 

At least one person died in Kyiv after Ukrainian air defenses shot down drones early Tuesday in the 17th aerial assault launched by Russian forces at the capital during this month alone.