09:09 Drone strikes target Russian land from Ukraine
In a Ukrainian drone assault on a gas station in Russia's Orjol region, one person has allegedly been murdered, as per Russian authorities. Orjol's Governor Andrej Klytschkow announced on Telegram, "A drone fell on the premises of a gas station in the city of Liwny this morning." Three people were also injured in the attack, approximately 160 kilometers beyond the Ukrainian border. One government structure is also said to have been ruined. A second drone attack was reportedly initiated after the rescue teams arrived at the scene, according to the governor, claiming that the driver of a fire truck died as a result. The three casualties were also rescue workers, Klytschkow reported. The Russian Defense Ministry has stated that a dozen Ukrainian drones were disengaged overnight, including six in the Orjol region.
At 08:35, Nico Lange, a military expert, claimed that the Russian missile strikes on a printing house and a hardware store in Kharkiv are considered fresh war crimes. "If we curb our support for Ukraine, we are encouraging Russia to commit additional war crimes rather than deterring them," he wrote on the platform X.
The re-election of Gitanas Nauseda, the Lithuanian president, is celebrated in Ukraine, where Ukrainian President Zelensky sent a congratulatory message: "Dear Gitanas Nauseda, I sincerely congratulate you on your re-election! You have been by our side day and night in these challenging years. I appreciate your genuine support for Ukraine, and I'm certain that together, we'll ensure freedom, peace, and security in Ukraine, the Baltic states, and throughout Europe."
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, has extensive history of failed negotiations with Russia. "The main issue is that Russia has never negotiated honestly, except when they had no other choice," he said on X. Russia has undermined the peace process with 200 rounds of peace discussions between 2014 and 2022 and launched "a total war against Ukraine." Kuleba believes that the only solution lies in a joint effort by the entire international community to guide humanity toward actual peace. "That's why the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland on June 15 and 16 is so significant. And that's why it's essential for as many countries as possible to participate."
According to Ukrainian President Zelensky, Russian troops are amassing within 90 kilometers of Kharkiv. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has observed satellite photos demonstrating that Russian forces have enlarged their operations to storage facilities and depots in the vicinity of Graiworon-Borissowka-Proletarski in the western administration of Belgorod, suggesting that Russian troops have intensified their activities.
Vitali Klitschko laments the catastrophic attack on a home improvement store in Kharkiv on the platform X, asking, "These Ukrainians were murdered by Russian bombs because we didn't have enough air defense. For how long will the countries possessing Patriot systems wait?" Klitschko proposes attacking targets within Russia while using Western weapons allowed. "The planes that drop bombs on our citizens take off from Russian airfields. We need to destroy these planes there."
There is once again an air raid warning in Southern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army is monitoring a Russian stealth bomber Su-57 over the Black Sea and warning against the launch of cruise missiles.
Zelensky has demanded the right to employ Western weapons against Russian territories after the deadly strike on the border town of Charkiw. Foreign politicians and organizations have expressed their grief and denounced Russia, Zelensky remarked in his video message. "It is critical that this condemnation results in appropriate actions." Ukraine needs not only more air defense systems but also the ability to bomb Russian territory with these weapons. "We can detect every Russian troop gathering. We know the locations from which Russian rockets and jet fighters are launched." It is a political choice to allow the preemptive destruction of these forces before assaulting Ukraine.
On platforms like Twitter, the events are being widely covered, with players taking Merkel to task for her insufficient support to Ukraine. Videos of the apocalyptic damage caused by Russian missiles are being shared. Even the German public and popular opinion seem to be turning against Russia.
The Ukrainian prosecutor's office reveals that four civilians have met their end due to Russian shelling in the Donetsk region. Casualties have been reported in Sieversk, Krasnohorivka, and Tschassiw Jar. The prosecutor's office of the Kharkiv region shares that a civilian was killed near Tschuhujiw.
00:47 Zelenskyy's Spanish Journey
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Spain today. Zelenskyy will be extended a warm welcome by the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at noon, according to the Madrid government. There's supposed to be a press conference, too. Zelenskyy's initial plan was to pay a visit to Spain on May 17th. However, he postponed it due to the pressing situation in Kharkiv.
23:18 Macron: Don't Legitimize Weakness
French President Emmanuel Macron urged against relinquishing support for Ukraine amid its struggle against Russia. "To stand for peace these days means reinforcing the rule of law. Peace isn't capitulation. Peace is not the function of principles," stated Macron during his three-day tour of Germany. "Peace esteems a nation's capacity to defend its borders and sovereignty," he continued. Macron underlined that Germany and France would reiterate this in the bilateral Defense and Security Council meeting on Tuesday. They would reaffirm their vow to aid Ukraine "until the end" to counteract, "to exhaust, to train, and prepare for all potentialities to establish an enduring peace - a peace that adheres to international law."
22:22 Medvedev Brandishes Threat to Poland
The Russian Security Council's former head, Dmitry Medvedev, issued a warning to Poland: "radioactive ash." Medvedev reacted to remarks by Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski about how the U.S. might respond to a Russian nuclear strike in Ukraine. Sikorski addressed these matters to "The Guardian." "If the Americans attack our targets, it means the outbreak of a worldwide conflict, and a foreign minister, even from a nation like Poland, should grasp that," Medvedev stresses. "Moscow will not remain unscathed, and Warsaw will definitely share in radioactive ash. Is that what you want?" Medvedev added.
22:00 Zelenskyy Addresses Central Asian Media for the First Time
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has granted his first interview to Central Asian media outlets, particularly those in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. "Orda," a Kazakh media platform, posted the interview on YouTube. When questioned about the feasibility of ceasefires with Russia, Zelenskyy didn't foresee any opportunities for compromise.
21:40 Putin Visits Uzbekistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in Uzbekistan on a state visit. This was relayed by Russian state media. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan's president since 2016, welcomed Putin at the airport in the country's capital, Tashkent. During the two-day visit, Putin and Mirziyoyev will discuss the development of Russian-Uzbek relationships and issues in the region. The Kremlin announced plans to pen a "comprehensive bundle of bilateral documents" upon conclusion of the visit.
21:20 Ukrainian General Staff: No Breakthrough for the Russians
The Ukrainian armed forces report 83 battles with the Russian army on Sunday. The Russians strive to breach the Ukrainian defense lines. The General Staff divulged this information in a social media update: "The Ukrainian forces are working on maintaining their positions and neutralizing the enemy's offensive force." There's been no substantial change in the direction of Kharkiv. Russian offensives are persisting around the cities of Vovchansk and Lyptsi.
21:00 Protests Launched in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv
The population in Ukraine is perplexed by the prohibition against attacking Russian territory with Western weapons. Around 150 individuals are demonstrating against this in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv, per ntv reporter Stephan Richter. The protestors are calling for the removal of these restrictions.
20:40 Celebrating Georgia's Independence: Tbilisi March for Freedom
May 26 marks Georgia's Independence Day, and thousands are marching through the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, as part of a "Freedom March." Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports this. The participants carry the flags of Georgia and the European Union and shout slogans, "No to the Russian law!" and "No to the Russian regime!" They also illuminated their smartphones with flashlights. Earlier, the Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili addressed a ceremony for recruits at the Freedom Square in Tbilisi, expressing concerns about the "Russian shadow looming over Georgia."
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- The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of launching a dozen drone attacks overnight, including six in the Orjol region, in response to the drone strike on a Russian gas station in Liwny, Ukraine.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, has demanded the right to use Western weapons against Russian territories after the deadly strike on the border town of Charkiw, citing the need to detect and destroy Russian forces before they launch attacks on Ukraine.
- In response to theevents in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron urged against relinquishing support for Ukraine, stating that to stand for peace means reinforcing the rule of law and that peace is not the function of principles.
- Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, has accused Russia of launching a total war against Ukraine and undermining the peace process with 200 rounds of peace discussions between 2014 and 2022. He believes that the only solution lies in a joint effort by the entire international community to guide humanity toward actual peace.
Source: www.ntv.de
