The main news of the Donbas: The City Council session failed, a battalion commander who defended Donetsk airport is released

Three Ukrainian servicemen perished, 12 more wounded in the ATO zone during the day.
Militants are shelling in Luhansk, Donetsk, and Mariupol directions.

Donetsk airport defender Oleh Kusmynykh, commander of the 90th battalion of the 81st brigade, was released from captivity on May 22. Oleh Kuzmymykh, together with his comrades-in-arms, was taken captive by pro-Russian terrorists on January 20.

Water supply was stopped in Donetsk at night, May 22. It happened because of the damage done to the water filter station as the result of shelling.

On Friday, May 22, the remains of Ukrainian soldiers were excavated from the rubble of Donetsk airport The OSCE exercised control over the excavation and transportation of the bodies to the morgue in Donetsk. The bodies are expected to be transferred to the Ukrainian side. During the excavation procedures both sides did in general adhere to ceasefire.

A City Council session failed in Slovyansk on May 22. The question of appointing deputy head of the city of Slovyansk was on the agenda, but the tribune was blocked by the city activists. They protested against the fact that Oleh Zontov,  acting head of the city, chose the candidates for the position of his deputy from ex-members of the Party of Regions. 

After the activists had blocked the tribune, Oleh Zontov announced a break but the activists also blocked the exit from the room, which resulted in a fight. Deputies used an emergency exit to leave the place. A new City Council session is planned for 9 a.m., May 27.

The State Agency for the Restoration of Donbas still has neither a head, nor a staff list. This information was provided by the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Communal Living of Ukraine in respond to the “News of Donbas” question. 

A unanimous decision to demolish Vladimir Lenin monument was taken during the Kurakhovo Town Council session on May 22 (the Donetsk region), the monument was then dismantled. Besides, over the night of May 21/22 a Lenin monument was toppled in Krasny Liman (the Donetsk region).

All the main news of the Donbas in English are presented here.