11:28 Ukrainian Forces Step Up Offensive in Vovchansk Area
The battle for the city of Vovchansk near the Russian-Ukrainian border is still ongoing. Ukrainian forces are striving to inflict heavy losses on the Russians, prevent any gains, and gradually retake territory, says the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) quoting Ukrainian General Staff Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Russian military bloggers assert that Ukrainian forces have intensified their counterattacks in and around Vovchansk on Wednesday, and the leader of the military administration of the city, Tamaz Gambaraschvili, reports that Ukrainian forces have recently regained control of some positions within the city.
10:52 Ukrainian Military Intelligence destroys a Russian ship in the Black Sea:The Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) claims to have destroyed a Russian ship in the Black Sea, as stated by its own announcements. According to "Kyiv Independent," HUR spokesman Andriy Yusov mentioned this on Ukrainian television. The ship in question is said to be a tugboat stationed in the waters around the Russian-occupied Crimea. "Another hostile ship was destroyed in the Black Sea last night. The Special Operation conducted by the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) was a success, resulting in 'one less' enemy ship," said the spokesman.
10:23 Serhiy Zhadan, a renowned Ukrainian writer, joins the army:Serhiy Zhadan, a well-known Ukrainian writer who won the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, has enlisted in the Ukrainian army. He announced this via online media, saying, "I have joined the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, Chartia. I'm going through training. I serve the people of Ukraine." In addition, Zhadan published a photo of himself wearing camouflage clothing and holding an automatic rifle.
09:57 Scholz defends the supply of weapons for Ukrainian attacks on Russia:German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asserts that Ukraine can use the weapons provided to attack Russian positions even within Russia. The Ukraine has the legal right to defend itself against attacks on its territories, cities, and citizens, says Scholz in his government statement in the Bundestag. "This applies to attacks like those in the area of Kharkiv, which Russia carries out from positions on the directly adjacent Russian border." Ukraine can use the weapons supplied by us and our allies to defend against such attacks, adhering to international legal obligations." We have weighed the risks alongside our allies.
9:26 Munz: "Putin applies pressure on Germany":Russian President Putin speaks to international media for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine and uses the opportunity to issue threats against the West. Putin focuses primarily on Germany. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz addresses the statements in context.
08:56 Russia: 13 Ukrainian drones taken down over Crimea
Russia declares to have shot down 13 Ukrainian drones around the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Furthermore, six other targets were destroyed over the Belgorod region and an anti-ship missile over the Rostov region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. These claims cannot be confirmed independently. Ukraine also reports the destruction of drones of the attacking forces.
08:23 Ukraine: Russian losses reach 515,000 soldiers
The Ukrainian forces claim that Russian invaders have lost 515,000 troops in their invasion. In the past 24 hours, over 1,300 more Russian soldiers were killed, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. 22 tanks and 48 artillery systems were also damaged. The death toll for attackers includes an anti-aircraft system and 40 armored personnel carriers. These numbers cannot be independently confirmed.
07:55 Ukraine disrupts work at Russian refinery with a drone attack:In southern Russia, a refinery's operations have been disrupted due to a Ukrainian drone attack, according to Russian reports. The refinery in Novoshakhtinsk experienced a fire as a result of the drone attack, says Rostov region governor Vasily Golubev. The work has stopped, but no one was injured. The refinery of Novoshakhtinsk is considered one of the most important oil refineries in southern Russia. It is situated about ten kilometers east of the border and is often attacked by Ukrainian forces.
07:22 KNDS: Parts replacement for Ukraine challenging:Ralf Ketzel, head of defense equipment manufacturer KNDS, observes that it was not foreseen that the Ukrainian forces would need many years to maintain damaged tanks. "We don't have a clear understanding of how big the maintenance issue is on the ground. 80-90% of the repairs are not done by us, but at the front." It is fundamentally not easy to procure spare parts for heavy military equipment. "This is a topic we should consider if the government sets the goal of being ready for battle."
Ukraine's military defends against an attack by Russian drones, successfully taking down 17 out of 18 Shahed drones in areas including Mykolaiv, Kherson, Saporischschja, and Khmelnytskyi, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. Also, the region of Dnipro was targeted with two Iskander missiles, although it remains unclear if they were successfully intercepted or not. The Ukrainian Army is not providing that information.
06:25 Russia threatens to deploy advanced long-range missiles
Russian President Putin warns that if Ukraine allows the use of long-range weapons on Russian territory, Putin will respond by deploying these high-tech missiles in proximity to countries permitting such use. He specifically mentions the American ATACMS, along with British and French missile systems as potential targets. However, he doesn't clarify the specific locations of these Russian missiles.
05:52 German weapons manufacturer struggles to supply Ukraine promptly
The managing director of the German arms manufacturer KNDS, Ralf Ketzel, acknowledges his inability to supply Ukraine with necessary equipment swiftly. "We have run out of the capability to deliver equipment rapidly," he states in an interview with the German news portal web.de. Had the company made a strategic move two years ago to prepare for a long-term conflict, they could now be providing Ukraine with much-needed resources.
04:22 Putin endorses deeper ties with the Taliban
Putin supports Russian collaboration with the Taliban, currently governing in Afghanistan. Addressing foreign journalists during the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, he emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the reality of the situation. Additionally, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has hinted that Moscow intends to remove the Taliban from the list of designated terrorist organizations, maintaining they have been since 2003.
03:32 Nawalny's widow vows to continue her husband's fight against propaganda
Julia Nawalnaya, the widow of the late Kremlin critic Alexei Nawalny, and the foundation bearing his name, have been honored with the Freedom Prize from the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. Nawalna died unexpectedly in a Siberian prison on February 16th, leaving behind his wife and their mission. During her acceptance speech, Nawalnaya affirms their intention to continue Nawalny's work. She highlights Putin's agenda pushing and asserts the importance of combating Russian disinformation and false experts in the EU during the upcoming elections.
02:44 Russia experiences a fire at an oil refinery
As per Russian media, a fire has erupted at an oil refinery situated in the Russian city of Novocherkassk. Initially, there were multiple explosions. The governor of the region bordering Ukraine, Rostov, describes a drone assault, with rescue teams in action. This refinery had already been subjected to a Ukrainian drone assault in March.
01:24 The US is forecasting Russian military drills in the Caribbean
The US estimates that Russia will host military drills in the Caribbean. "As a part of standard Russian military exercises, we expect that Russia will stage intensive naval and air force drills near the United States this summer," reports a US government official to journalists. These exercises are considered regular maritime activities, but may pose a threat to the US indirectly. "It's about Russia demonstrating its global power." Nonetheless, the U.S. Navy plans to monitor these drills.
00:04 Putin defends Russian cooperation with the AfD
Russian President Putin advocates for enhanced cooperation with the German AfD, insisting that Moscow will collaborate with any party that wishes to engage with Russia. Putin feels that the AfD doesn't exhibit signs of Neo-Nazism. Furthermore, he maintains that no political alliances with the German opposition party presently exist. However, he's willing to support those advocating for better relations with Russia.
23:29 Putin dismisses Western concerns of a Russian invasion
Putin scoffs at fears of a Russian invasion into NATO territory, deeming them arbitrary. "Have you gone crazy? Are you as dumb as this table? Who came up with that idea? It's nonsense, do you understand. Bullshit," he tells journalists from major international news outlets. He also brushes off claims that he threatened nuclear warfare. "But have I raised the possibility of utilizing nuclear weapons? You have."
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has stated his intention to look into the circumstances surrounding the death of French Press Agency (AFP) journalist Arman Soldin. At a gathering with journalists from various global news outlets in St. Petersburg, he declared, "We will do everything possible" to investigate the matter. However, he admits that "I'm not sure how it will play out in practice" since Soldin died in a war zone. Earlier, the Kremlin had maintained that they couldn't investigate Soldin's death because he was in an area under Ukraine's control. The videographer, aged 32, was killed by a rocket attack near the disputed Ukrainian city of Bachmut on May 9, 2023, while reporting on Ukrainian soldiers near the front lines.
Meanwhile, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, has announced that Moscow will supply additional military equipment and trainers to strengthen Burkina Faso's defensive capabilities. During his visit to the West African nation, Lavrov remarked, "Since the first contacts between our countries after the military coup in 2022, Russia and Burkina Faso have been in close collaboration in all fields, including the development of military and military-technical relations." This move is part of Russia's diplomatic effort to forge new connections amid its war against Ukraine. Burkina Faso's support of Russia without openly condemning the war earns Moscow a supportive military ally.
Regarding the US presidential election, Putin expects there will be no significant change in the United States' approach towards Russia. In a gathering at the Lakhta Center of gas giant Gazprom in St. Petersburg, he shared, "For us, it doesn't matter much who wins the election." Russia plans to work with the chosen candidate. Before the historic event on November 5, Putin preferred incumbent Joe Biden as he is more predictable. He also disparaged the legal proceedings against former US president Donald Trump, who was running against Biden at the time.
According to Putin, there are over 6,000 Ukrainian prisoners in Russian captivity since the invasion in Ukraine started more than two years ago. He spoke to representatives of major international news agencies at the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he mentioned that the number of Ukrainian prisoners is significantly higher than that of Russian soldiers and officers in Ukrainian captivity. These figures could not be confirmed independently. Putin admits that both sides refrain from providing explicit casualty information. While Russia claims to have suffered fewer losses in the war, the Ukrainian side emphasizes that more Russian soldiers have perished than their own.
Finally, Putin has cautioned against Ukrainian forces using German weapons against targets in Russia. "This would be a dangerous move," Putin said at the same meeting in St. Petersburg. The provision of German tanks to Ukraine in 2022 was a surprise for many in Russia. If Ukrainian forces fire rockets at Russian facilities, "It will completely ruin Russian-German relations," the president warned. The media gathering marks the first international event of its kind since the start of Putin's conflict with Ukraine.
Read also:
- Despite recent military operations in the Vovchansk area, there have been reports of Russian cyberwar attempts against Ukraine, with the Ukrainian government warning of potential attacks on critical infrastructure.
- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, has called for further NATO support, citing the need for advanced weaponry and cybersecurity assistance to counter Russian cyberattacks.
- With the conflict in Ukraine escalating and Russian military operations continuing near the border, the Russian government has been accused of orchestrating cyberwar attacks on Ukraine, targeting its critical infrastructure and disrupting vital services.
- In response to the Russian military operations and potential cyberattacks on Ukraine, Nato has pledged to provide additional cybersecurity support to Ukraine, aiming to strengthen its defenses and protect its critical infrastructure from future Russian cyberwar attacks.
