05:41 Dead in Vilniansk: Moscow claims to have targeted military target
After the Russian shelling of the Ukrainian city Vilniansk in the Saporischja region with at least seven fatalities, the Russian Defense Ministry speaks of an attack on a military target. A railway station with ballistic Iskander-Raketen was reportedly attacked, according to Interfax news agency's statement from the Moscow department. A military train loaded with military cargo was hit, claims the Russian military leadership. Photos and videos show that residential buildings and parked cars in the city center were hit.
04:53 Kiev Mine Clearance Corps: 30,000 Square Kilometers have been clearedSpecialists from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry have cleared 30,000 square kilometers of Ukraine from mines in the past two years - an area comparable to the size of Belgium or Moldova. This is reported by the "Kyiv Independent" with reference to Colonel Ruslan Berehulia, head of the department for environmental safety and mine clearance. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, approximately 174,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land have been contaminated with explosives. In April 2022, Ukraine established the Mine Clearance Corps. Units of the Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian Armed Forces joined by 2024. These units with 5000 specialists are currently active in the regions of Mykolajiw, Cherson and Charkiw.
03:53 Ifo Survey: Nearly Half of Personnel Managers use "Jobturbo"According to a survey by the Munich Ifo Institute among 627 personnel managers of German companies, 48% find the "Job-Turbo" and the Skilled Workers Immigration Act unhelpful for businesses. This is evident from an Ifo survey. The initiative aims to integrate Ukrainian refugees more quickly into the labor market. However, nearly every fourth company reports positive effects: More than one in four companies state that through the new regulations, more skilled workers are available. In addition, language courses before job placement have led to fewer language barriers. Every 18% of personnel managers praise shorter hiring procedures and simpler recognition of diplomas. The respondents could give multiple answers. Almost half of them find that the bureaucracy in the hiring of foreign labor is still too high, although 17% also observe a reduction in bureaucracy.
02:37 Governor: Russian Region Kursk shelled all dayAccording to local governor Alexej Smirnow's statements on Telegram, Ukraine continued to shell the Russian border region Kursk all day on Saturday. Smirnow writes that Ukrainian forces attacked eight border villages repeatedly. Two people were injured in the shelling. A video Smirnow posted in his Telegram channel shows a destroyed house and debris. Previously, Smirnow reported the death of five people due to a Ukrainian drone attack early on Saturday morning.
01:29 "Putin loves Farage": Activists mock Farage
The British campaign group Led by Donkeys pranked the leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, Nigel Farage, during a campaign appearance. After Farage recently claimed that the West and not Russian President Vladimir Putin had provoked the war in Ukraine, activists dropped a banner with Putin's image behind him. Farage was not pleased, the activists write laconically.
00:32 Emergency services working through the rubble in Vilniansk
Emergency services are clearing the rubble of a Russian attack on the city Vilniansk in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. After the search and rescue operations are completed, it is determined: Seven people were killed, including two children, and 31 people were injured, including eight children. "The fire was extinguished simultaneously at two locations: in a two-story building and near parked cars on a 300 square meter area, as well as in two one-story buildings on a 150 square meter area. The search and rescue operations are completed," the Ukrainian state emergency service reports.
21:24 Seehofer: No asylum for young Ukrainian men
Approximately 1.2 million Ukrainians have found refuge in Germany from the war in their homeland. CSU state group leader Alexander Dobrindt recently called for Ukrainians to be deported if they do not work. "The proposal can be misunderstood," says CSU honorary chairman Horst Seehofer to the "Augsburger Allgemeine". Mothers and children from the war-torn land find it difficult to work; be it due to language skills or a lack of kindergarten places. "It belongs to a humane state to provide protection." Young men who evade military service in Germany, however, should not be granted asylum, he means.
20:51 Man lights grenade in Luzk city center
A resident of the city of Chmelnytskyi lights a grenade in the city center of Luzk and is arrested. There are no injured. This is reported by the Ukrainian Security Service SBU. The motive of the 23-year-old is still unclear.
- The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of engaging in a cyberwar against Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure and political institutions, including those of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian military.
- In response to the Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Vilniansk, the United States and its allies in NATO have increased their military operations in the region, providing additional support and equipment to Ukraine's military.
- The Russian Defense Ministry has denied any involvement in the cyberwar against Ukraine, stating that all of its actions are solely in response to Ukraine's own provocations and attacks against Russian territory.
- Ukrainian politicians have called for tougher sanctions against Russia and for the West to provide greater military aid to Ukraine, arguing that Russia is not serious about negotiating a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
- In a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that he is open to negotiations with Ukraine, but has also warned that Russia will respond forcefully to any further attacks on Russian territory or military targets.
