09:09 Drones used by Ukraine to strike Russian soil

09:09 Russia experiences drone assault from Ukraine

In a Ukrainian drone attack on a gas station in the Russian area of Orjol, someone lost their life, reports say. "A drone fell on the premises of a gas station in the city of Liwny this morning," Governor Andrej Klytschkow stated on Telegram. Three folks were injured during the strike around 160 kilometers from the Ukraine border. An office building is also claimed to have been damaged. A second drone attack occurred once emergency services arrived at the scene, Klytschkow elaborated. "According to preliminary information, the driver of a fire truck was regrettably killed." The three wounded were also first responders, Klytschkow specified. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that a dozen Ukrainian drones were deactivated overnight, including six in the Orjol region.

08:35 Lange: "We urge Russia to commit more war crimes, instead of deterring it"

The Russian missile strikes on a printing facility and a hardware store in Kharkiv are seen as new war crimes by military expert Nico Lange. "If we limit our response to backing Ukraine, we are encouraging Russia to commit more war crimes rather than discouraging it," he writes on the platform X.

07:59 Election in Lithuania sparks great delight in Ukraine

The re-election of Gitanas Nauseda as President of Lithuania is met with enthusiasm in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Zelensky greeted him with a message: "Dear Gitanas Nauseda, my warmest congratulations on your re-election! You've been by our side day and night in these trying times. I appreciate your genuine support for Ukraine and am confident that together we'll secure freedom, peace, and safety in Ukraine, the Baltic States, and all of Europe." Lithuania has been aiding Ukraine in every possible way.

07:19 Kuleba: Russia attempted to destroy peace process amidst 200 rounds of conversations

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has an abundance of unsuccessful communication experiences with Russia, stating, "The main issue is that Russia never negotiated in good faith unless they were compelled to." Moscow has sabotaged the peace process through 200 rounds of peace discussions between 2014 and 2022 and started a "total war against Ukraine." Kuleba proposes that the only solution lies in a united effort by the entire global community to guide the way towards genuine peace. "That's why the peace summit in Switzerland on June 15 and 16 is so crucial. And that's why it's so crucial for as many nations as feasible to be a part of it."

06:36 What's going on at the Russian border near Ukraine?

Russian soldiers are reportedly assembling near the boundary, 90 kilometers from Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. The Russian maneuver is likely to serve as a way to immobilize and entice Ukrainian troops while positioning for offensive operations to expand Russia's presence in the border region, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The ISW has identified satellite imagery from Graiworon-Borissowka-Proletarski in the western area of Belgorod that shows Russian troops' involvement with depots and warehouses in nearby settlements. The extent of the possible Russian troop amassing remains unclear, the US think tank surmises.

05:59 Klitschko anticipates help from Western allies after Kharkiv attack with numerous casualties

The shock from an attack on a hardware shop in Kharkiv with numerous casualties endures. Vitali Klitschko stated in a post on the platform X, "These Ukrainians passed away because of Russian bombs, because we lacked enough air defense. For how long will nations with Patriot systems delay?" Additionally, he believes that authorized attacks on targets within Russia should be permitted using Western weapons. "The planes that launch bombs on our citizens take off from Russian airfields. We need to eradicate these planes there."

05:16 Air raid alert in southern Ukraine

In southern Ukraine, a second nighttime air raid alarm was issued. The Ukrainian military also reports seeing a Russian stealth bomber Su-57 over the Black Sea and predicts the launch of cruise missiles.

04:57 Zelenskyy: West should opt for preemptive strikes against Russia

After the fatal bombing of the Ukrainian town of Charkiw, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy demands an allowance of using Western weapons against Russian territory. Many foreign politicians and organizations have shared their condolences and condemned Russia, according to Zelenskyy in his video message. "It is essential that this condemnation results in proper steps." Ukraine needs more air defense, but also the right to attack Russian targets with its foreign arms. "We see every strategic area of Russian troops. We know every starting point from which Russian rockets and combat aircraft are launched," he says. It is a political choice to permit the preventive annihilation of these troops before they attack Ukraine.

01:40 Four civilians lost to Russian shelling

Based on the Ukrainian prosecutor's office, three individuals have been killed as a result of Russian fire in the Donetsk region. Civilians have suffered casualties in Siversk, situated in the north of the region, as well as in Krasnohorivka and Chassiv Yar. In addition, the prosecutor's office of the Kharkiv region reported that one civilian was fatally injured close to Chuhujiw.

00:47 Zelenskyy travels to Spain

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will be visiting Spain today. He is due to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at noon, as the Spanish government in Madrid stated. Following their meeting, they are scheduled to hold a press conference. Zelenskyy's initial plan was to visit Spain on May 17, however, he cancelled the trip due to the dramatic situation in Kharkiv.

23:18 Macron: "Peace is not capitulation"

French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned against relinquishing support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia. "Standing with peace today involves reinforcing the law. Peace isn't capitulation. Peace involves granting a nation the ability to defend its borders and sovereignty," Macron said during his three-day state visit to Germany. Macron further mentioned that Germany and France will reiterate this stance during their meeting of the bilateral Defense and Security Council on Tuesday. They plan to help Ukraine "until the end" in resisting, "to exhaust, to train, and to prepare for all eventualities to establish a lasting peace - a peace compatible with international law."

22:22 Medvedev threatens Poland with "radioactive ash"

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's past leader, threatened Poland with "radioactive ash" in light of comments from Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. Sikorski discussed with The Guardian how the United States might react to a Russian nuclear attack on Ukraine. "If the Americans retaliate against our targets, it suggests a global war, and a foreign minister, even from a country like Poland, must understand that," Medvedev, the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, remarked on X. "Warsaw won't avoid the fallout and will undoubtedly receive its share of radioactive ash. Is this what you desire?" added Medvedev.

22:00 Zelenskyy speaks to media from Central Asia for the first time

For the first time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed media from Central Asia, particularly journalists from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The interview was published by the Kazakh medium "Orda" as a YouTube video. Regarding the possibility of a ceasefire with Russia, Zelenskyy said there was no chance of an agreement.

21:40 Putin embarks on a state visit to Uzbekistan

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a state visit to Uzbekistan. Russian state media confirmed this. Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed Putin at the Uzbekistani capital Tashkent's airport. Since 2016, Mirziyoyev has been the President of this Central Asian nation with 37 million inhabitants. Putin and Mirziyoyev will discuss the advancement of Russian-Uzbek relations and current regional issues during their two-day visit. The Kremlin intends to sign a "comprehensive package of bilateral documents" upon completion of the journey.

9:20pm Ukrainian General Staff: Notwithstanding "maximal effort" by the Russians, no breakthrough

The Kyiv military leaders claim that there were 83 skirmishes with Russian forces on Sunday. The Russians are reportedly making "maximal effort" to penetrate the Ukrainian defense lines. The General Staff disclosed in a social media update: "The Ukrainian troops are taking steps to maintain their positions and erase the enemy's assault capability." There have been no substantial changes near Kharkiv, but the Russian forces are continuing their onslaught in the areas near Vovchansk and Lyptsi.

9:00pm Ukrainians protest in Kyiv at the US Embassy

The restriction limiting the use of Western weapons against Russian territory is causing bewilderment among the Ukrainian populace. Around 150 people are demonstrating in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv, as reported by ntv-reporter Stephan Richter. They demand the abolition of the restriction.

8:40pm Georgian Freedom Day: Protests march through Tbilisi

On May 26, during the Georgian Independence Day, thousands of protestors partook in a "Liberty March" through Tbilisi's capital. This was reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). The participants carried the flags of Georgia and the European Union and shouted slogans, including anti-"foreign influence" law. They also switched on their cell phone torches. They cried out: "No to the Russian law!" and "No to the Russian regime!" Earlier, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili had spoken during the swearing-in of recruits at the Freedom Square in Tbilisi about the "threatening shadow of Russia" looming over Georgia.