Things to remember from Monday 1 May

About 20,000 Russian fighters have died in Ukraine since December, according to the United States, a “Explosive Device” A freight train derailed and burned in Russia on Monday, May 1. Additionally, Ukraine pulled out of the judo world championships in Qatar over the weekend in protest at the presence of Russian athletes in the event. Here’s what to remember from this new day in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

In Russia, an “explosive device” derailed a freight train near Ukraine

A “Explosive Device” A freight train derailed and caught fire in the Russian region of Bryansk on the border with Ukraine on Monday, a rare incident that caused no casualties, officials said. A high-voltage line was also damaged by an explosive device in the Leningrad region of northwestern Russia on Monday amid fears of sabotage and attacks in Russia.

The incidents come a day after a Ukrainian strike killed four people in a village in the Bryansk region and two days after a drone strike caused a major fire at an oil depot in annexed Crimea. Moscow’s ally Belarus, which serves as a base for Russian troops, has already reported sabotage on its railways in recent months and arrested those accused of organizing such activities.

According to the US, 20,000 Russian fighters have died in Ukraine since December

US intelligence estimates that 20,000 Russian fighters have been killed and another 80,000 wounded in Ukraine since December, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told a news conference.

About half of the dead belonged to the Russian private military group Wagner and were mostly ex-prisoners, the official said. “Plunged into fighting in Baghmouth (Eastern Ukraine) without training or adequate military command”. “The result is that Russia’s offensive is backed off.”, John Kirby promised. On the other hand, Ukraine refused to comment on the losses suffered. “It’s up to them to talk about it or not. I won’t make anything public that will embarrass them. They are the victims, Russia is the aggressor.”He explained.

Russia attacks: One killed in south and 34 injured in eastern Ukraine

Russian attacks on Ukraine from Sunday to Monday left one dead and three wounded in the southern region of Kherson and 34 in the eastern region of Dnipropetrovsk, local officials said. Moscow fired missiles early in the morning at Ukrainian cities, which Kiev forces say are mostly neutral. “The Russian army targeted the populated areas of the (Khersan) region and the official building in the center (of the city) of Kherson”The head of the local military administration, Oleksandr Prokhudin, said in a telegram.

Ukraine withdrew from the Judo Worlds to protest the presence of Russians and Belarusians

The Ukrainian Judo Federation announced on Monday that it will not send a delegation to the World Judo Championships in Qatar from May 7 to 14 due to the presence of Russian and Belarusian judokas. The Ukrainian Federation also claims that some of these judokas are active athletes. The International Judo Federation (IJF) on Sunday gave the green light to the Russians and Belarusians at the world championships on condition that they remain separate and neutral athletes.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said Russian and Belarusian athletes could by the end of March “Compete as Neutral Individual Athletes”If they don’t “Don’t Actively Support War in Ukraine” And don’t be “under contract” with the military or security forces of both countries. However, the IOC is yet to decide on the participation of the two countries’ representatives in the 2024 Paris Olympics.