At least six people lost their lives in a Russian assault on Kharkiv at 23:31.

11:29 PM: Russian assault in Kharkiv takes the lives of six or more people

Following a Russian assault on a lumberyard in Kharkiv, updated casualty numbers have become available. Six individuals perished instantly, 16 more are missing, and there are 40 injured. This information was shared by the Governor of Kharkiv region Oleh Synegubov through his Telegram account. Two of the deceased were men who were staff members at the Epizentr lumberyard in the northeastern part of Kharkiv. Earlier reports had indicated two fatalities and 24 injuries. Ukrainian President Zelensky addressed these occurrences on Telegram, claiming over 200 people had accumulated at the lumberyard at the time. Multiple emergency services are actively assisting people and suppressing fires.

At 22:20, French President Emmanuel Macron issued a statement condemning the assault on a lumberyard in Kharkiv as "unacceptable" via X. France's displeasure resonates with the Ukrainian populace, and France will continue to provide support, Macron ensured.

Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Minister of Ukraine, subsequently called on international partners through X to offer additional air defense systems and aide in striking Russian military targets. Kuleba considered such measures the only way to prevent further barbaric atrocities against civilians.

Governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, used Telegram to note more air raids (refer to 16:30 from earlier) in the southern Russian region. He reported that 15 targets, ranging from drones to supplies, were struck. In the village of Dubovoye, one casualty was reported. Houses and businesses were affected by hits, and four individuals with severe wounds were transferred to a local hospital. Additionally, a home caught fire.

By 20:43, the death toll in the Russian attack on a lumberyard in Kharkiv reached four, with 38 individuals having sustained injuries. Ukrainian officials provided these statistics through their respective Telegram accounts, including Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov and Kharkiv region Governor Oleg Synegubov.

Ukrainian soldiers near Vovchansk explained the city faces an increasing threat of artillery shelling. They described the destruction of schools, churches, and administrative buildings. Despite this, they anticipate no resolution to the conflict as Vovchansk carries significant strategic value for Russia.

Igor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv, reported less than two hours after a prior attack on a hardware store in the city had taken place and claimed multiple casualties. This incident occurred in a densely populated area, inflicting at least 11 injuries - a 13-year-old boy was among them. The overall extent of harm and injured people is still being determined, Terekhov stated.

At 19:04, a Russian bombardment on Kingdom of Kharkiv unleashed a massive smoke plume over the city. A hardware store was targeted, with a minimum of 200 individuals present. Casualties have been noted.

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, branded the Russian military's attack on the hardware store in east Ukrainian city Kharkiv as an act of despicable madness. This sentiment was expressed in his daily video message. Regional civil defense provided details on the event, specifying at least two fatalities and 33 injuries. The rescue teams from the fire brigade are working diligently through the wreckage of the store "Epizentr."

The situation in Kharkiv, Ukraine has taken a turn for the worse after Russian attacks on various locations.
The latest update from Governor Oleh Synegubov states that six people have died, while sixteen are still missing and forty others have been injured.
The initial death toll was two, with twenty-four people being injured.
The Russian military targeted a lumberyard of the chain Epizentr in the northeastern suburbs of Kharkiv.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed his concern and shock, stating that over two hundred people gathered at the site.
French President Emmanuel Macron has responded to the incident by condemning the actions as "unacceptable."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked for extensive air defense systems from Ukraine's global allies to liberate military targets in Russia.
Belgorod's Governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, released information regarding on-going air raids in the southern Russian region.
At least one death has been confirmed in Dubovoye village and four injured individuals have been hospitalized.
Another attack in Kharkiv some hours ago left twelve people injured; among them was a thirteen-year-old.
Video footage shows a large plume of smoke rising due to a Russian bombardment on the city.
The target was a hardware store with about two hundred people inside.
Zelensky labeled the Russian military's actions as further evidence of "madness."
Regional civil defense service advised of two casualties and thirty-three injured as a result of the attack on the "Epizentr" store.
Ukrainian soldiers near the city of Vovchansk describe daily artillery attacks on the place.
Schools, churches, and administrative buildings have been destroyed, causing the majority of residents to flee.
The city retains heavy strategic importance in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
The battle for Vovchansk is ongoing, with no end in sight.

18:06 Ukraine: Anti-Air Defense Force downs Russian fighter jet in Donetsk

Soldiers from the 110th Brigade of the Ukrainian Military have recently taken down a Russian Su-25 fighter jet in the Donetsk territory. This was brought to light by "Ukrainian Pravda" through their reference to a post on the Telegram channel OSUV "Khortytsia."

17:35 Ukrainian Infantry Unit Exhibits Fresh Munition Supply

The first munition deliveries from the United States have arrived in Ukraine. One of the soldiers in Luhansk confidently declares, "For the first time in two years of combat, we possess a complete stock of munitions." Consequently, the United States is preparing a fresh aid package for the ensuing fight for Kharkiv. Germany is also expected to contribute another air defense system.

16:50 Casualties Mounting Due to Russian Assault on Hardware Store in Kharkiv

According to official reports, over two individuals lost their lives in a Russian strike on Kharkiv, a city in Ukraine's northeastern area. Igor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, disclosed this via a Telegram post. At least 24 people have sustained injuries, according to the regional military administration chief Oleg Synegubov, who also posted on Telegram. Initial findings indicate that a hardware store in a residential area was stricken. A staggering 200 people could've been present in the hardware store, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky contended in a Telegram post. All essential services are now being mobilized to assist people and suppress fires, Zelensky added.

16:30 Governor: Shebekino City Targeted by Ukrainian Drones in Belgorod

Governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, mentioned via a Telegram post that the region's city of Shebekino was struck by Ukrainian drones twice in the morning. Gladkov confirms no civilians were hurt. But a drone's influence gave rise to a damaged roof in an industrial building, according to the governor.

16:07 Russia and Iran Strengthen Partnership

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and Iranian counterpart, Ali Bagheri-Kani, have confirmed Russia's strategic alliance with Iran following the demise of Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated after a call between the ministers, "The course set by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Raisi towards a strategic alliance will be sustained." Additionally, it insisted on continuing with their commitments in different sectors.

15:46 Italian Institutions Obliged to Forfeit Russia

Fabio Panetta, the governor of the Bank of Italy, has asked for Italian financial institutions to sever their ties with Russia. Following the G7 finance summit in Stresa, he remarked in an interview that this might cause difficulties but cited the importance of defending their good name. After Raiffeisen Bank International, UniCredit has the maximum Russian dealings among European banks. Intesa Sanpaolo is currently taking steps to discontinue its Russian operations.

15:22 Media Speculation: Russian Troops (Casualties) Advance in Donetsk

Russian troops have allegedly seized the village of Archangelske in the Ukrainian Donetsk region, as conveyed by the news agency Interfax. Additionally, they have seized ground in the northeastern region of Kharkiv and held off two Ukrainian counter-assaults, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense's statement. No comment has been provided by the Ukrainian Executive.

14:59 Russian Finance Minister Warns of Countermeasures for Sanctions

Russian Finance Minister, Anton Siluanov, has cautioned against repercussions for G7 nations' plans to seize Russian assets to reinforce Ukraine. Russian news agency TASS reported this from a comment by Siluanov on journalist Pavel Zarubin's Telegram channel of the Russian television station Rossiya-1. "We'll retaliate with corresponding countermeasures if our resources are used unlawfully," Siluanov said on the channel.

14:31 G7 Countries Committed to Continued Financial Backing for Ukraine

G7 countries have decided to regularly shield Ukraine's finances. As per German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who spoke after the G7 encounter in the northern Italian town of Stresa, "We stand in solidarity with Ukraine." For this year, financing is already secured. "But we desire to advance." It pertains to innovative methods in 2025.

14:06 Paris Envisions Renaming a Street after Navalny

Paris plans to title a street after Alexei Navalny, a well-known pundit against the Kremlin. This view was shared by a senator at a meeting a day ago. The city councillors in a unanimous decision opted for the renaming. Navalny, who is deceased, had frequently likened the Russian invasion of Ukraine to a campaign of oppression. This future-named street will be in the elite 16th arrondissement of Paris, closely neighboring the Russian embassy.

In the ongoing fight for additional financial aid for Ukraine, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner anticipates significant efforts by the G7. He stresses the necessity to protect taxpayers' risks and avoid them altogether. Western industrialized nations seek to reallocate the frozen Russian central bank funds to Ukraine's benefit, yet the exact process is under debate. The United States proposed a large loan secured by the interest on the frozen Russian central bank funds, amounting to approximately $50 billion. A potential agreement might occur in mid-June at the G7 summit in Apulia.

Meanwhile, Russian politician and former NATO ambassador, Dmitri Rogozin, addresses the suspected Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian early warning radar system for atomic rockets. Rogozin claims this crucial element is vital for strategic nuclear force military control. He alleges the U.S. is behind this attack or at least aware of it, and warns that such actions edge the world closer to an atomic war.

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian Military Intelligence, asserts Ukraine is enhancing its fleet of unmanned ships, capable of assaulting human settlements and targeting air objectives. Unmanned vessels are expected to replace traditional warships, particularly in enclosed or semi-enclosed waters like the Black Sea or Mediterranean.

Russia has been planning a law from the Defense Ministry, generating concerns among the defense policymakers surrounding the Baltic Sea. This legislation hints at the Kremlin's aspiration to extend Russian territorial waters within the internal sea. Security expert Gerhard Mangott weighs in on this development.

Kharkiv experienced a nighttime Russian attack with two Iskander missiles, inflicting damages on a school and residential building. Iskander-M is a system whose missiles have a 500-kilometer flight range and can carry nuclear warheads. Their flight paths are flexible and challenging to intercept.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also voices support for allowing the use of Western weapons against Russian military targets. While self-defense is enshrined in the UN Charter, Stoltenberg asserts it is time for allies to ponder lifting some restrictions on weapons provided to Ukraine.

Allegations emerge that Ukrainian drones have taken out a pivotal radar station in the Russian Krasnodar region, forming part of the Russian early warning system for ballistic missile launches and nuclear-laden missiles. Independent military experts link this station to controlling an area up to 6,000 kilometers away.

US analysts caution against a ceasefire pushed by Russian President Putin. A ceasefire predicated on current territorial gains could jeopardize Ukraine, allowing Russia to fortify its forces to launch more offensive operations aimed at regime change, demilitarization, and Ukraine's conquest. The Kremlin may also speculate that a stalemate would diminish Western support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian drones are reported to have damaged a crucial radar station of the Russian early warning system for ballistic missile launches in the region of Krasnodar, an organ integral to the control of a zone spanning up to 6,000 kilometers. Independent military experts attribute the radar station to Kursk and cite it as the foundation for Russia's "system of strategic deterrence" and critical to maintaining peace and stability. Russian officials are urging an explanation for the drone incursion, which was only detected after the strikes.

07:55 US experts warn of potential Russian missile strike on power grid

In light of the Russian Iskander missile attack in Ukraine, US experts advise that Moscow could potentially target the country's power grid. Justin Bronk, researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, contemplates that Russia might employ Iskander missiles to pressure Kyiv into negotiating peace terms. Launching a missile with a ground-burst warhead could create risks for energy distribution, resulting in extended blackouts.

07:22 Ashton Carter calls for increased Turkish and Romanian defense

The recent Russian missile attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine has prompted former US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to advocate for stronger defenses in Turkey and Romania. He recommends a stronger NATO involvement in equipping these countries with vital military systems, enabling them to aid Ukraine and diminish the threat of potential Russian aggression in the future.

06:54 Russia launches heavy missile strikes on Kharkiv

Russian forces unleashed significant missile strikes on Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv. Iskander missiles were reportedly used in the attack, targeting military bases and infrastructure, including a medical facility, a university, and a shopping mall. The scale of the damage is still being assessed.

06:22 Russian assets frozen could fund entire war, says Ukraine PM

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal speculates that Western countries' sanctions and frozen Russian assets could fund the entire war. He maintains the economic effect of the sanctions on Russia outweighs their intention of isolating Moscow. Shmyhal's expectations remain that the assets' value could cover the entire conflict's expenditure, which would drastically impact Russian citizens' livelihoods.

05:55 Iskander missiles cover all Ukraine, from Lviv to Kharkiv, indicates US official

US officials claim Russian Iskander missiles can reach the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and virtually every area in the country. In an analysis for Defense One, J.Z. Laszewski and Steve Abolafia discuss the strategic impact of these heavy missiles, expressing concern over how they undermine Ukraine's defenses and hinder the NATO alliance's potential role.

CDU's foreign policy specialist, Roderich Kiesewetter, urges Germany's government to declare a state of emergency amid the Ukraine war. He says, "The war can only be won with borrowing" while "Ukraine needs immediate aid." He questions why the pandemic is considered a state of emergency to fund a power and gas price cap worth 200 billion euros, while the war doesn't meet the same criteria. This declaration could temporarily suspend the debt brake regulations prescribed in the Basic Law. However, the FDP in the coalition is sternly against such a move.

07:56: Zelensky applauds Ukrainian troops' success in Kharkiv

The U.S. sends Ukraine another massive military package, and Germany is providing an air defense system. Zelensky in a video announces his army's victories.

07:23: Ukrainian General Staff: Russia alienated half a million soldiers

The Ukrainian General Staff reports that since the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Russia has lost 500,080 soldiers. In the last 24 hours, 1,140 losses were tallied. Russian forces are severely pressuring Ukrainian defenders at various fronts, sacrificing their own lives. Ukrainian forces have counted 15 destroyed Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, one air defense system, and two multiple rocket launchers.

07:07: Ukrainian F-16 pilots' training completed; to reach combat readiness in the summer

The first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots has completed their training in the U.S. and is now continuing in Europe. These pilots and ground personnel training has taken nearly a year. They are expected to be ready for flying combat missions against Russian air forces by summer. Ukraine will get over 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. These countries, alongside the U.S., Britain, Romania, France, and Bulgaria, have mobilized troops, aircraft, and ground equipment to teach the Ukrainians how to fly and maintain the combat planes.

06:33: There have been issues with U.S. Excalibur shells due to Russian jamming devices

Ukraine has stopped using specific US weapons as their accuracy has drastically decreased. The Washington Post reports that it affects several weapons relying on GPS, particularly the Excalibur artillery shell and the HIMARS system. These guided weapons' accuracy rate has dwindled to less than 10%, prompting the U.S. to halt their delivery to Ukraine. For HIMARS attacks, the Russians' jamming devices need to be neutralized with methods like smoke munitions.

04:34: Stoltenberg: China's Russian support is pivotal in the Ukraine war

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg views China's support for Russia in the war as "crucial." He tells "Welt am Sonntag," "China says it seeks good relations with the Western world. However, China is stoking the war in Europe." China is not known to be directly supplying weapons or ammo to Russia. Nevertheless, China is witnessing a rise in the sale of machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies Russia uses to construct rockets, tanks, and aircraft used against Ukraine, Stoltenberg adds.

03:06: Hofreiter: Ukraine should use Western weapons to strike Russian targets in Russian territory

Green foreign policy politician Anton Hofreiter believes that Ukraine shouldn't be prevented from using Western weapons to target Russian targets in their airspace. "This is about protecting the Ukrainian population. We shouldn't hinder the Ukraine from defending itself against Russian warplanes in Russian airspace with the weapons we've given them," explains the Bundestag's European Affairs Committee head. "International law allows an assaulted country to attack military targets in the aggressor's territory."

02:01: Ukraine experiences multiple Russian air raids and "marginally successful" victories near Kupiansk

The Ukrainian General Staff reports that the Russian army has aerial assaulted the city of Wowtschansk. Eight guided bombs struck the city. The Ukrainian forces fought off ten Russian attacks on the city and its vicinity. The Russian army managed "marginally successful" attacks close to Kupiansk east in the Kharkiv region and the Pokrovsk area in the Donetsk region.

01:30: More evacuations planned in Kharkiv area; 123 children to be rescued

Over 11,000 civilians have been evacuated since the onset of the new Russian offensive. 123 children from the Kharkiv region's northeastern part are to be evacuated first to Charkiv and then to Volhynia's northwestern region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the Ukrainian army has regained control of the border area in the eastern region of Charkiv where Russian invaders had infiltrated. Zelensky made this statement in his evening video address, claiming that their fighters have managed to reclaim the combat control over the area. Russian forces launched a ground offensive two weeks ago and occupied several Ukrainian villages in the border area.

In other news, there are currently 403 Ukrainian women held captive in Russia. According to a report by the Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, many of them are civilians who have been detained illegally. Some women have been missing since 2014, and their fate remains unknown. The Russian government has ignored numerous appeals for their release, according to the report.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to prevent the upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland from being successful. Kuleba's statement came in response to reports that Putin might be open to peace negotiations. Kuleba claimed that Putin doesn't want to end the war in Ukraine and is trying to sabotage the peace summit scheduled for June 15 and 16.

Six NATO member states bordering Russia want to build a "Drone Wall" to protect their borders against potential provocations from hostile countries, according to Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite. The project, dubbed the "Wall from Norway to Poland," would use drones and other technologies to monitor the borders for smuggling and other threats. The interior minister didn't specify a timetable for the project but mentioned that it was a response to security concerns due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The United States continues to provide military aid to Ukraine in response to the Russian attack. The latest package, worth $275 million (about 253 million euros), includes ammunition for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and artillery ammunition with calibers of 155 and 105 millimeters. This marks the fifth package of aid from the US, totaling over $61 billion (56.2 billion euros) since Congress allocated funds for Kiev at the end of April. The new package will be delivered as quickly as possible to help the Ukrainian military defend their country and protect their people, said the US State Department.

In a move reminiscent of the Soviet era, the Russian government has added a compulsory subject called "Basics of Life Safety" to the school curriculum. This subject includes learning military basics like shooting and first aid.

In an effort to seem open to peace negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned that they would "talk about returning to negotiations." However, he later added that they would start from "the current realities that have developed on the ground," implying that Ukraine must accept the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of several Eastern Ukrainian areas. The Ukraine has maintained that the withdrawal of Russian troops from their territory is a necessary condition for lasting peace.