The United Kingdom will send long-range M270 missile systems to Ukraine following Russian strikes on the outskirts of Kyiv, marking the first such attack since April. These systems can launch precision missiles up to 80 kilometers, surpassing the range of any previously used in the conflict. The British Ministry of Defence stated that these systems would help Ukrainians better defend against the indiscriminate use of long-range artillery by Putin's forces. Ukrainian soldiers will be trained in the UK to operate the equipment. Following the announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of expanding targets in Ukraine if the West sends long-range weapons to Kyiv. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited troops and displaced persons near Zaporizhzhia, expressing support and vowing to find housing for all displaced individuals. Kyiv experienced explosions while Ukrainian forces battled Russian troops in Severodonetsk, with Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko reporting no casualties in the city's first severe air attack since Russian forces refocused efforts on the Donbas and southeastern Ukraine.

The stigma surrounding menstruation, considered a sign of fertility or sexual maturity, persists in modern society, with discussions often shrouded in outdated codes. Many girls and women are unable to manage their menstrual cycle in a dignified, healthy manner. To address this, May 28 is marked as World Menstrual Hygiene Day. The new episode of 'Shortcut' highlights the peaceful protest demands made by women's rights activists to the authorities. It also covers the consequences of inadequate menstrual hygiene on reproductive health, with insights from the president of the Macedonian Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, Professor Dr. Tofoski. The episode also focuses on youth mental health post-COVID pandemic and the evaluation of students at the end of the school year, along with a feature on the Nihon-Ki Japanese culture festival in Skopje. The episode will be aired on social media channels at 19:00.

Approximately 1.8 billion people worldwide experience menstruation each month, with many lacking the means to manage it in a dignified, healthy way. May 28 is marked as World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Despite modern society, menstruation is still often discussed in coded language. Ana Ashtalkovska Gajtanoska, a professor at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, notes that while girls who menstruate were not completely excluded from daily activities in Macedonian tradition, they were limited during their cycle. A study by Tiit Ink found that 53% of respondents feel 'unclean' during menstruation. Dr. Gligor Tofoski, president of the Macedonian Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (MAGO), emphasizes the importance of menstrual health education. Statistics show that 81% of high school girls believe that schools should provide free menstrual hygiene products. In response to menstrual poverty, countries like Spain, Scotland, and England have introduced measures such as free menstrual products in schools and paid leave for severe menstrual pain. In North Macedonia, despite activists' recommendations to institutions, there has been no positive response, and the status of Skopje's decision to provide free menstrual hygiene products in schools is unknown. Activists continue to advocate for reduced VAT on menstrual products and improved conditions for menstrual hygiene.

Russian troops continue to fight for control over the eastern industrial city of Sievierodonetsk after the United States announced it would provide Ukraine with longer-range missile systems to help force Moscow to negotiate an end to the war. President Joe Biden stated that the U.S. would supply Ukraine with advanced rocket systems and ammunition for more precise targeting on the battlefield. Despite concerns that such weapons could draw the U.S. into direct conflict with Russia, assurances were given that the missiles would not be used to attack Russian territory. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its nuclear forces conducted exercises in the Ivanovo province. The latest U.S. pledge of military support comes as Russia intensifies its assault to take the eastern Donbas region. Nearly all critical infrastructure in Sievierodonetsk has been destroyed, with 60% of residential property severely damaged, and around 12,000 civilians remain trapped without adequate access to essentials.

Activists from several civil organizations protested in front of the Ministry of Finance demanding the reduction of menstrual poverty by lowering the VAT on menstrual hygiene products to 5% and subsidizing these products in schools and public toilets nationwide. They highlighted the public health issue, citing a 70% increase in vaginal infections due to lack of access to proper menstrual health management products in 2021. The activists also called for the promotion and subsidization of menstrual cups to break the menstrual stigma and restore dignity to women and girls in the country. Ljupka Trajanovska, representing the Network for Gender-Responsive Budgeting, emphasized the need for a gender-responsive state budget to equally satisfy the needs of all citizens.

A guerrilla action against disinformation continues in the center of Skopje. Today, a model with liars holding banners with fake news appeared. Some of the messages from the guerrilla action 'Liars with short legs caught in the middle of Skopje' include false statements about ASNOM being deleted from the Constitution, the Prespa Agreement turning citizens into 'North Macedonians', Putin liberating Ukraine from fascism, and the construction of camps to settle hundreds of thousands of migrants in Macedonia, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking.

The FILMAJ International Short Film Festival announced the winners and selected films for this year. Samir Karahoda from Kosovo won the 'Lazar Gjorgjević' award for best direction for his film 'Displaced', which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and has won multiple awards. Vladimir Samoilovski received the 'Radislav Ristevski' award for best cinematography for his work on the Macedonian film 'Northern Pole', and 'Angels of Christmas' (Greece) by Fotis Zampetakis won the 'Kozjak' award for best screenplay. 'Ordinary Eli', directed by Lavinija Sofronievska, won the award for best domestic (Macedonian) film. The newly created FILMAJ award for best short film was given to 'Alone' (Croatia, directed by Borna Zidarić), a joint decision by members of the photo-cinema club 'Kozjak' - Kumanovo. The festival screening will take place on June 2, 2022, at NUCK 'Trajko Prokopiev' - Kumanovo. The jury for this year's FILMAJ consisted of three members: Sezer Salih (screenwriter and director), Kosara Mitić (screenwriter and director), and Filip Ilievski (member of the photo-cinema club 'Kozjak').

During Women's Health Week, May 8-14, the Macedonian Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (MAGO) launched a sexual education campaign in collaboration with the global NGO Amaze. The campaign includes 20 educational videos and resources in Macedonian and Albanian. Findings from mobile gynecological clinics show that the youngest minor to have an abortion in North Macedonia was 13 years old, and in 2020, there were 18 girls under 15 who gave birth, with 4.9 percent of all newborns born to mothers aged 15 to 19. Despite a possible decline in underage pregnancies, the numbers remain significant. The campaign also aims to address reproductive health topics, break down stigmas, and emphasize the importance of regular gynecological exams. A concerning statistic is that over 60% of women do not have an annual gynecological exam, and over 40% do not have a chosen primary gynecologist. The Eastern Region has a lower turnout for such exams, and the pandemic has reduced the number of gynecological exams among pregnant women. Mobile gynecological clinics have served 1,300 patients, providing various medical services.

Laurence Soper, a former abbot of Ealing and a senior cleric in the Roman Catholic Church, has been blocked from being extradited to Britain by a judge in Kosovo. Soper was arrested in Peja, Kosovo, after a five-year manhunt initiated by the Metropolitan Police. He is accused of child abuse crimes dating back to the 1970s when he taught at St Benedict’s School in west London. The extradition request was rejected because Kosovo has a 30-year statute of limitations, and the alleged crimes have expired. The Metropolitan Police plan to appeal the decision, and a new hearing is expected soon at the appeal court.

Laurence Soper, a former abbot of Ealing Abbey in west London, was arrested in Kosovo over allegations of child sex abuse. Despite being on police bail and under a European arrest warrant, Soper had been travelling freely in the Balkans using his British passport. He had visited Macedonia and Albania. Soper disappeared from a monastery in Rome in 2011 when he was due to answer bail in London related to abuse claims from his time teaching at St Benedict’s school. Authorities are now preparing to extradite him to Britain.

A leaflet in Arabic, falsely attributed to German politician Norbert Blüm, led around 2,000 refugees to leave the Idomeni camp in Greece and attempt a dangerous crossing into Macedonia. The leaflet promised buses or trains to Germany on the other side and warned that staying in Greece would result in deportation to Turkey. Despite the perilous journey, which claimed three lives, the refugees who crossed were rounded up by Macedonian military and sent back to Greece. The incident has highlighted the desperation of refugees stranded at the Greek border due to the Balkan route closure and the risks they are willing to take to reach safer European countries.

Halo Rashid, a 29-year-old British man, has flown to the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border to assist his 18 relatives, including his pregnant sister and newborn nephew, who have fled Iraq. Rashid, originally from Kirkuk and a UK resident for 16 years, showed a British passport and claimed to run a dry cleaning business in London. He arrived at the camp after being contacted by his family, who are living in dire conditions, with some refugees boiling grass for food. Rashid has been able to buy supplies due to his British passport, improving his family's diet compared to others in the camp. His family's journey included a perilous boat crossing from Turkey to Greece, and they are now hoping Rashid can help them reach safety. Rashid has attempted to seek assistance from the British Embassy but is uncertain of the support he can receive. The article also touches on the broader refugee crisis, with many trapped at the border and aid workers struggling to provide sufficient food and care.

Halo Rashid, a 29-year-old British man, has flown to the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border to assist his 18 relatives, including his pregnant sister and newborn nephew, who have fled Iraq. Rashid, originally from Kirkuk and a UK resident for 16 years, showed a British passport and claimed to run a dry cleaning business in London. He arrived at the camp after being contacted by his family, who are living in dire conditions, with some refugees boiling grass for food. Rashid has been able to buy supplies due to his British passport, improving his family's diet compared to others in the camp. His family's journey included a perilous boat crossing from Turkey to Greece, and they are now hoping Rashid can help them reach safety. Rashid has attempted to seek assistance from the British Embassy but is uncertain of the support he can receive. The article also touches on the broader refugee crisis, with many trapped at the border and aid workers struggling to provide sufficient food and care.