09:35: The Danger of Glide Bombs Explained
In a piece discussing Russia's increased use of glide bombs, the BBC sheds light on why Ukraine finds it so challenging to shoot these projectiles down. The escalating deployment of glide bombs makes it almost impossible to counter them, as per Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute: "The sheer number of glide bombs being launched is too quick to deplete all available air defense ammunition," he says. One potential solution would be to target the aircraft launching the glide bombs, but Ukraine lacks the necessary firepower to achieve this without putting their own assets at risk.
Glide bombs are relatively basic, self-propelled bombs that can be fired from a significant distance, thus exposing the launching aircraft to minimal danger. They're easy to manufacture and have a devastating impact. Mariia Zolkina, a Ukrainian security expert, shares her thoughts on the topic with the BBC, noting that "glide bombs allow Russia to eliminate the Ukrainian defense systems without having to deploy ground troops". Additionally, the Russians are blatantly bombing non-military sites with these weapons. "The city of Vovchansk has regrettably been almost completely destroyed by the enemy, who relentlessly attacks with glide bombs," writes Andrey Kovalenko, a member of the Security Council, via Telegram on Friday.
08:46 Ukraine successfully fends off a major Russian air assaultUkraine reported what it regards as a triumphant defense against a massive Russian aerial aggression in the outskirts of the capital, Kiev. The Ukrainian Air Force asserts that Russia assaulted nine different regions, including Kiev, Odessa, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Zhytomy, Cherkasy, and Kherson, using 37 attack drones throughout the night. All of these drones, which were of the Iranian model Shahed, were allegedly thwarted by the air defense.
08:26 Russia is tiring out UkraineThe Ukrainian military's dwindling resources, despite the recent US military aid, hinder them at the front lines. The soldiers' ranks are shrinking, and conscription efforts are proving futile. Russia is taking advantage of this predicament and attacking various areas of Ukraine.
07:47 Russia claims to have thwarted nine US ATACMS missilesMoscow claims to have intercepted nine US ATACMS missiles near the Russian-annexed Crimea during the night, according to a Ministry of Defence announcement on Telegram. Additionally, an unspecified enemy drone was reportedly shot down around the same region, and three drones were allegedly destroyed over the Russian region of Belgorod near the border. The information has not been independently verified.
07:10 Ukraine estimates further Russian casualtiesAs they've done every day, the Ukrainian military reports the supposed death toll of Russian soldiers. According to their daily count, 1,210 Russian soldiers were killed or injured on Saturday, increasing the Russian war casualties tally to 492,290. The Ukrainian Air Force also reportedly destroyed 16 tanks and 35 armored vehicles that day. These figures are unverifiable.
06:34 ISW: Russia targets the strategically significant city of Chassiv YarThe Russian forces are mounting a more intensive attempt to seize the crucial city of Chassiv Yar in the Donetsk region, the Institute for the Study of War explains. Moreover, Russia likely intends to pressure Ukraine into withdrawing troops from the vicinity of Chassiv Yar by advancing in the Kharkiv sector.
06:09 Drone triggers blaze at a Russian oil refineryIn the Russian city of Slavyansk-na-Kubani, a drone crashed on the premises of an oil refinery, resulting in a "localized fire", according to Krasnodar region authorities. No casualties or damage were reported. Ukraine reportedly initiated such attacks on Russian refineries in the past.
05:40 Danone concludes its Russian business withdrawalAfter three decades in Russia, French dairy behemoth Danone has finalized the sale of its Russian business to a businessman connected to Chechnya. The independent Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform has learned of the development, disclosing that a businessman, Mintimer Mingasov, had agreed to pay 17.7 billion roubles (180 million euros) to take control of Danone's Russian subsidiary. Market analysts suspect the real value to be closer to 80 billion roubles. The Russian nephew of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, Yakub Zakriyev, was appointed as Danone's new Russian division head in July the previous year.
4:37 Crimea Explosions: Air Strike on Sevastopol
There are reports of explosions on the Russian-occupied Black Sea peninsula of Crimea during the night. Governor Mikhail Rasvoshaev, appointed by Moscow, announced via his Telegram channel that Sevastopol's air defenses successfully repelled a missile attack. However, according to the Sevastopol rescue service, no damage to civilian infrastructure was reported, the governor added.
3:33 Ukraine Alert: Intense Drone Attacks
Russia is conducting massive drone attacks in Ukraine again, during the night. The Ukrainian Air Force reports that these areas are under attack: Kiev, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Odessa. Explosions could be heard in numerous locations, but there's no information on damages or casualties yet. Previously, air alerts were issued in many parts of the country.
2:20 Civilians Targeted in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine
According to Ukrainian reports, civilians were shot at during the night in two towns in the north-eastern region of Kharkiv. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is investigating the Russian airstrike on a residential area in the regional capital Kharkiv as a potential war crime. Six civilians, including three youths, were injured. Moscow insists on not deliberately targeting civilians. Since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of people have been killed and injured.
1:04 Kiev's Request: Nearly Four Billion Euros for Ukraine
As per a media report, the German government plans to significantly step up its military support for Ukraine this year. The Federal Ministry of Defense has asked for an additional 3.8 billion euros for military assistance, according to the newspaper "Bild am Sonntag". So far this year, the coalition government has allocated 7.1 billion euros for military aid. The extra-budgetary spending will be presented to parliament for approval in June. Finance Minister Christian Lindner's approval has been indicated.
12:42 Ukrainian General Staff: 77 Combats in Past 24 Hours
Ukrainian General Staff issued its evening report, detailing 77 combat operations within 24 hours. Seven of these are still on-going. The army is trying to enhance Russian troops' tactical position. The Ukrainian army conducted four attacks to drive the Russians out of occupied positions.
22:25 Valor Award Winner Killed in Combat
Lieutenant Colonel Denys Vasyliuk, recipient of the "Order of Valor," an award for individual courage and bravery, died recently during a combat mission. His services, the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, posted on Facebook that he served as the brigade's chief of staff and deputy commander of an aviation squadron. His unit has not yet provided details about his death. The Ukrainian Air Force has not commented on Vasyliuk's death.
21:57 Putin at Cannes: Polish Filmmaker Shows Biopic using AI
Filmmaker Patryk Vega screened his biopic about Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Cannes Film Festival. Regarding Putin's participation, he joked, "I called Putin and asked if he wanted to be involved... - oh, I was joking." Unable to secure real Putin footage, Vega used AI to create Putin's face with the same stature. This is the first movie to use this technology, stating, "It's simply incredible that you see other Putins, much like Putin himself, in his dictator's posture, at baroque desks, playing the piano, and even with his pants wet in his hospital bed."
21:35 Taiwan's Future Hinges on Ukraine Conflict
"If Russia can do this with Ukraine, China could try the same with Taiwan," says Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu in an interview with the Kyiv Independent. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was a wake-up call for Taiwan, believes Wu. In the event of a Ukrainian defeat, Taiwan would be the next potential conflict area. China might aim for the "peaceful reunification" of the two Chinas by force, according to Wu.
You can review all previous developments here.
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- The escalation of Russia's use of glide bombs in the Ukraine conflict, including attacks on civilian areas, has led to concerns within NATO about the potential for a cyberwar against Ukraine's infrastructure.
- In response to the military operations in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, has called on NATO for increased support in defending against Russia's advances.
- The Russian government has denied allegations of involvement in cyber attacks against Ukraine, but some security experts believe that Russia has the capability to launch such attacks as part of a broader strategy to disrupt Ukraine's military operations and undermine its ability to resist.
- Ukraine has reported multiple incidents of cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure, including electricity and water supplies, and some experts believe that Russia may be using cyber warfare as a complement to its traditional military tactics in the ongoing conflict.
Source: www.ntv.de
