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What happened on 19 May 2025 in Russia's war
Summary
A retrospective on the Amnesty International ban and the drone attacks that preceded it.
What did the days around 19 May 2025 show about the war's trajectory? On that date, Russia banned Amnesty International as an undesirable organisation, accusing the group of openly supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.
The ban came after a series of attacks on Ukraine. On 17 May 2025, a Russian drone struck a bus evacuating civilians near Bilopillia in Sumy Oblast, killing nine people and injuring five others.
On 18 May 2025, Russia launched 273 drones at Ukraine, the largest such attack since the beginning of the war. As reported at the time, the attack came a day after a round of direct peace talks between the two countries, and a day before a scheduled call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
A tight sequence
Taken together, the events of 17 to 19 May 2025 combined continued strikes on Ukrainian territory with a new restriction on a international human rights organisation inside Russia. The Russian designation rested on the accusation of open support for Ukraine.
The drone barrage and the bus attack unfolded alongside diplomatic activity: direct talks between Russia and Ukraine had taken place, and the call between the two leaders was due on 19 May 2025.
