Canada participates in Ukraine's peace conference at 23:49.

11:49 PM Canada participates in Ukraine peace conference

Trudeau: Canada to Attend Global Peace Summit for Ukraine

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada will participate in the upcoming Global Peace Summit for Ukraine, which will take place in Switzerland on June 15 and 16. The summit will focus on achieving peace in Ukraine in accordance with President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point peace formula, which calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territories. Trudeau writes on Twitter, "The first peace summit for Ukraine will take place in June - and Canada will be there. I look forward to working with other world leaders to advance our shared goal of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine."

Scholz: Caution Against Russian Influence on Elections

German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has raised concerns about Russian influence on the upcoming European and national elections. "There are attempts from outside to influence the European and state elections," Scholz said during an interview with "RND vor Ort," a stage talk organized by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. Reports of money payments to Alternative for Germany (AfD) politicians are "disturbing," he added, and the responsible authorities must investigate and prove them. "There is indeed an incredible amount of Russian disinformation in election campaigns," Scholz said.

Scholz: Ukrainian Refugees Can Find Work Quickly

Scholz has encouraged Ukrainian war refugees in Germany to seek employment quickly. "We hope that those who are here from Ukraine, as far as they are able to work, will now also work," the SPD politician said during the "RND vor Ort" event. "We have paid for integration courses and language courses, and that is why we now want to encourage many of them to work with a big job turbo." Scholz acknowledged that some refugees have already found work, but "there are still a few hundred thousand more who are urgently needed on the labor market."

Zelenskyi: Stopping Russian Offensive is Top Priority

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi says that crushing the most recent Russian offensive in the east of the country is "task number one." "The fulfillment of this task depends on every soldier, every non-commissioned officer and every officer," Zelenskyi said in his evening video address. On Friday, Russian troops launched a broad offensive towards the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, prompting the Ukrainian military to carry out counterattacks in the area.

Navalnaya: Navalny's Widow to Accept Posthumous Award in Dresden

Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny will receive the first Dresden International Peace Prize posthumously on Sunday. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, will collect the award, which is endowed with 10,000 euros, at the Schauspielhaus. Former Federal President Joachim Gauck is expected to serve as laudator. A requiem by Russian composer Sergei Nevsky for Navalny will also be premiered. Navalny, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, died under unexplained circumstances in a Siberian prison camp on February 16.

Zelenskyj: Situation in Donetsk Region "Particularly Tense"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj describes the situation in the Donetsk region as "particularly tense" and notes that fighting in the Kharkiv region is ongoing. The defense against Russian troops attacking villages will continue, Zelenskyj said in his evening video address.

Scholz: Invite Gulf States, Emerging Economies to Ukraine Conference

Scholz expressed hope that Arab countries, India, South Africa, Brazil, and China will take part in the planned Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland in June. The chairman of SPD and Germany's federal chancellor believes that even if the main peace issue is not discussed at the conference initially, addressing related matters would be a significant step. "It is very important to me that countries from the Arabian Peninsula, India, South Africa, Brazil, and, if possible, China are also there," Scholz stated.

Scholz: Working Ukrainians Can Stay in Germany with Permits

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has assured Ukrainians residing in Germany with employment and residence permits that their stay in the country is not threatened by the desire for conscripts to return to Ukraine. Speaking at an event organized by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Scholz stated, "Their stay in Germany is not endangered by this." The German government aims to ensure that as many Ukrainians as possible find work in its country. [Ironically, the paraphrasing led to a longer text!]

Russia Captures Six Villages in Eastern Ukraine

The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported the capture of six villages in eastern Ukraine, citing "offensive actions" by their soldiers. These villages are situated in the Kharkiv region near the border, with Borisivka, Ohirtseve, Pletenivka, Pylna, and Striletcha being the names of the captured towns, along with Keramik in the Donetsk region. On Friday, Russian troops made an advance in the Kharkiv region, causing more than a thousand people to be evacuated from border areas. Moscow had previously announced the capture of five villages.

MV Foundation Awards Contracts to Company with Uzbek Secret Service Chief's Family Connections

The MV Foundation for Climate and Environmental Protection has given contracts for the construction of Nord Stream 2, a pipeline extending from Russia to Germany, to a Russian company with connections to a member of the family of the former Uzbek secret service chief, Rustam Inoyatov's son Sharif. According to t-online, the foundation's contract list and related documents show that a company called "GC SIA LLC" has been awarded millions of euros from the foundation. The foundation was established by Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig in 2021 to protect companies involved in Nord Stream 2 from U.S. sanctions, and was later chaired by former Prime Minister Erwin Sellering. Neither the foundation nor the Russian company have made any comments on the matter.

UK Delivers Largest Military Support Package to Ukraine Yet

The United Kingdom is delivering what it describes as the largest military support package to Ukraine to date, according to its Ministry of Defense. This package includes 500 million pounds (approximately 580 million euros) of military aid, 400 armored vehicles, 1,600 attack and anti-aircraft missiles, and over four million rounds of ammunition. Announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Warsaw in April, the package came shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Kharkiv Governor Reports Fierce Fighting in Regions

Oleh Synyehubov, the governor of Kharkiv, has reported fierce fighting taking place in his region in north-eastern Ukraine. At a press conference, he mentioned that the enemy was pushing further into the north and that Ukrainian armed forces had repelled nine attacks. Five contested villages near the Russian border are still seeing combat.

Five People Killed in Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Border Regions

Russian authorities have confirmed that five individuals have died as a result of Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks in the Russian border provinces of Belgorod and Kursk, and the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk. Donetsk's Russian-appointed head of administration, Denis Pushilin, said that three people were killed and eight injured when a rocket hit a restaurant in the region.

Poland to Reinforce Its Entire Eastern Border

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stated that Poland plans to further beef up its entire eastern border, which is faced with a growing "hybrid war" due to illegal immigration from Belarus, a country allied with Russia. Tusk did not provide specifics about the plans or the means for implementing them, but emphasized that there would be "no borders" when it comes to Poland's security. He made this statement during a visit to the border while meeting with soldiers and border guards.

Ukrainian Brigade Counterattacks Russian Forces with New US Armored Personnel Carriers

Ukrainian troops have successfully halted the Russian advance near Avdiivka and pushed back with the help of newly arrived US military aid, as reported by the Ukrainian media outlet "Euromaidan Press". The 47th Mechanized Brigade, a unit deployed in the area where intense battles are taking place, prepared kill zones with anti-tank mines during their retreat, ultimately stopping the Kremlin troops. They then launched a counterattack, pushing the Russians back again with the use of newly delivered American Bradley tanks. The 47th Mechanized Brigade has been using Bradleys for some time.

12:33 Russia announces capture of five villages in Kharkiv regionThe Russian military has asserted control over five villages in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, near the border with Russia. These villages include Pletenivka, Ohirtseve, Borysivka, Pylna, and Strilechna, as declared by the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. On May 13, Russia initiated an offensive against the Kharkiv region, located in northeastern Ukraine. The Russian army is reported to have eliminated many Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed their equipment, but these claims have not been independently verified. Military experts speculate that the Russian offensive is not a direct assault on Kharkiv yet, but rather an attempt to tie down Ukrainian troops and position their artillery closer to the city.

11:44 UK Intelligence Reports: Russian Bombing Errors Affect Civilian PopulationReports indicate that Russian forces dropped munitions onto a civilian area in Belgorod, Russia, on May 1. The governor of the region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed the explosion and the resulting damage on Telegram but did not provide details about the cause. Thirty houses and ten cars were damaged, and five people were hospitalized. The British Ministry of Defense believes that this was not an isolated incident. Since mid-February, a FAB-250 bomb had been mistakenly released in the same region, leading to the evacuation of 150 residents. There were twenty cases of stray ammunition between March and April this year alone. The intelligence report from London stated, "These incidents demonstrate that Russia continues to struggle with accurately targeting its munitions, with tragic consequences for its own people."

An older photo shows the dropping of FAB-250 bombs.

11:12 Video: Iranian Shahed Drone Shot Down by German Gepard Anti-Aircraft TankGerman Gepard anti-aircraft tanks have been involved in the conflict in Ukraine since 2022. Initially supplied to Kiev a short time after the start of the large-scale Russian invasion, these Cheetah tanks have been highly valued by Ukrainian forces for their ability to defend against frequent drone attacks. The vehicles, which were initially developed in the 1970s and later retired in Germany, have proven invaluable in fending off enemy drones. Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, commented on Iranian drones on Platform X, mentioning that "5-6 shots are usually enough for a shahed." Makeiev also shared a video of a successful engagement using the Cheetah.

10:41 US Department of Defense: Weapons Provided to Ukrainian TroopsThe US Department of Defense has confirmed that Ukrainian troops have received arms from the United States. With the growing threat, the US seeks to speed up the delivery of remaining supplies to the front lines. Spokesman John Kirby stated, "Part of the first defense aid package - announced as part of the supplemental funding bill on the day the president signed it - is already on the battlefield and in the hands of the Ukrainian military." The US recently announced another shipment of significant ammunition and weapons worth $400 million (as reported at 06:39).

10:06 Three Possible Russian Strategies in the Kharkiv OffensivePolitical scientist Thomas Jäger discusses three potential scenarios for Russia's offensive in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine, on the other hand, is under mounting pressure from its backers' inability to provide adequate support.

10:00 Ukraine Repels Russian Advances, According to General StaffThe Ukrainian army is reportedly engaging the Russian offensive in the border region near Kharkiv. The General Staff mentioned 9 skirmishes on that part of the front on May 17. Despite these reports, the accuracy of the information cannot be verified. The Ukrainian military has been warning of a potential Russian advance in two distinct regions of the front since Friday when the offensive began. The Russian army's objectives in advancing are still unclear, with some experts doubting they are directly targeting the city of Kharkiv.

10:00 Weichert on Kharkiv Offensive: "Russia's Aggressive Moves, Ukraine Can Only Fight Back"Russian forces are attempting to gain ground in the Kharkiv region, launching another massive assault. Journalist Jürgen Weichert discusses the extent of Russian territory gains and how Ukraine is coping with the situation. Additionally, the reporter shares an emotional account of his visit to a prosthetic center in Lviv, funded by Germany.

09:41 German lawmakers discuss deployment of Western troops for air defense in Ukraine

Some significant members of the German parliament, such as CDU, FDP, and Greens, are thinking about safeguarding a part of the Ukrainian sky from NATO territory using Western air defense systems. Parallel discussions were held with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung paper, where they strongly advocate for a related proposal proposed by military strategist Nico Lange of the Munich Security Conference. According to Lange, it is possible to set up a secure zone measuring 70 kilometers in width on Ukraine's borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Roderich Kiesewetter, representing the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's spokesperson for crisis prevention, revealed that such a deployment drill along NATO's eastern frontier would enable Western nations to shoot down unoccupied Russian missiles hovering above Ukraine. Consequently, it would help the Ukrainian air defense to focus on preserving the front line.

09:11 "Immensely high" - Ukraine notes substantial losses in Russian troops
The current intensified endeavors of the Russian army to progress in eastern Ukraine and their counterattack near Kharkiv may also be demonstrated in the casualty statistics. Authorities in Kiev revealed yesterday that they successfully neutralized 1,320 Russian soldiers, 15 armored cars, 40 personnel carriers, 55 artillery systems, 2 rocket launchers, a missile defense system, and 64 other military vehicles. Sadly, we cannot independently confirm these reports. Russian casualties in the war have been described as "immensely high" by security expert Frank Umbach, who expects the toll to exceed 500,000 soldiers by the end of the year as per estimates from NATO. Furthermore, the Russian military has encountered challenges with conscription.

08:34 The reporters struck gold with a blowout view of Putin's palace in Gelendzhik
Reports claim that journalists have managed to secure a sneak peek into Russian President Vladimir Putin's palace in Gelendzhik. It is said to be fully completed and drenched in splendor, featuring costly furniture, busts, oversized chandeliers, and a pool:

07:56 ISW evaluates the intensity of the Russian offensive near Kharkiv, a city with millions of residents
According to The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the major Russian offensive in the north of the Kharkiv region near the Ukrainian-Russian border might be meant to drawn Ukrainian military personnel and equipment away from other critical areas in Eastern Ukraine. The institute also anticipates that Russian forces could potentially ramp up their offensive strategy in the coming days. Still, they argue that a large-scale offensive geared towards encircling and capturing the city of Kharkiv is unlikely to materialize. They further suppose that it would be a taxing task for Russia, considering the strategic goal of seizing the rest of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

07:17 Brussels intends to divert Russian assets with the exception of around 210 billion euros and funnel the proceeds to Ukraine
The EU is considering using the interest allocations from frozen Russian assets totaling around 210 billion euros to purchase arms for Ukraine. The profits, however, would only amount to a low single-digit billion sum. Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska expressed his concern to Politico, remarking that it is "almost trivial" considering Ukraine's requirements. "The required amount is in hundreds of billions to win the war," he said, adding that the Ukrainian government genuinely wants to seize the assets and deems it the just approach in concluding the war.

06:39 United States intends to provide an additional 400 million dollar armament bundle
The US Department of Defense officially declares further assistance "to address Ukraine's critical security and defense needs." It signifies the 57th installation of military equipment sourced from US resources for Ukraine since August 2021. Via an announcement from Washington, it comprises ammunition for Patriot and NASAMS surface-to-air defense systems, Stinger antiair missiles, artillery shells, Bradley infantry fighting cars, additional HIMARS artillery rocket systems and ammunition, and M113 armored personnel carriers.

06:04 The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claims to have activated several robotic complexes on the warfront
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated that nine land-based robotic complexes have been activated since the start of the year. These robots are assigned to perform multiple duties on the battlefield, minimizing the risks for Ukrainian troops. Their tasks encompass anything from engaging with machine guns to mine clearance and assisting in evacuating wounded personnel. "A considerable pool of local manufacturers are shifting their focus onto the manufacture of robotic systems due to the Ukrainian armed forces' need to improve their capacities and prevent casualties among our soldiers," Colonel Volodymyr Rochniak, the Ministry of Defense's representative, asserts.

Ukraine: Russian Assault Claims Lives in Sumy Region

Russian military forces targeted nine communities bordering the Sumy Oblast on May 10, resulting in the death of a civilian and two injuries, according to the local military administration. A 64-year-old female resident perished, and her 17-year-old granddaughter sustained injuries from artillery fire in the village of Esman. An individual from Seredyna-Buda village also underwent medical treatment due to artillery shelling that transpired on the same day.

04:45: Authorities Contend Russians Seek to Wreak Havoc in Vovchansk

A Ukrainian official disclosed Russian intentions to annihilate the border town of Vovchansk. "Over the course of a day, there were likely several hundred artillery, mine, and cluster bomb strikes," the Vovchansk police patrol leader offered. "They're attempting to destroy the city and infiltrate the area."

03:35: Three Perish in Ukrainian Assault on Luhansk Oil Depot

The local Russian governor declared that three casualties occurred due to a Ukrainian assault on an oil facility in the occupied Luhansk region. Six individuals sustained injuries, and two experienced respiratory distress from the ensuing smoke inhalation. Governor Leonid Paschennik conveyed this news through the messaging service Telegram. A considerable blaze had erupted in the oil storage facility, prompting suspicions of Ukrainian usage of US-supplied ATACMS. No official comments were provided from the Ukrainian side.

02:20: Russian Officials Allege Drone Attacks in Belgorod and Kursk Oblasts

In Russian accounts, Ukraine conducted drone raids on the Belgorod and Kursk regions, causing damage to agricultural establishments and machinery on May 10. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that 17 projectiles, 13 drones, and five guided aerial bombs were fired over Belgorod Oblast by air defense units. The Belgorod region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, divulged that one drone was intercepted on a farm, resulting in damage to three buildings and two pieces of equipment. In Russia's Kursk region, 12 settlements encountered drone assaults on May 10, with Governor Roman Starovoit emphasizing that another drone struck an infrastructural facility.

00:53: Zelensky Explicitly Requests Stout Ukrainian Retaliation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged a resolute response to thwart the current Russian incursion. "Vigorous fighting is taking place across the front lines," Zelensky acknowledged in a video announcement. "We will inexorably eliminate the invader, ensuring all Russian plans for offensive operations are frustrated."

23:46: Smoldering Oil Depot Nears Luhansk Following Ukrainian Attack

The Russian news agency TASS reported a Ukrainian attack on an oil depot in the Russian-controlled region of Luhansk, resulting in the outbreak of a fire. An unknown attack on the storage facility in Rowenky village was also described by Ukrainian bloggers.

22:14: US Authorities Consider Kremlin Campaign "Pertinent and Troublesome"

The US administration is closely monitoring the recently arisen major Russian onslaught near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, conveying concern. "We knew that Russia would launch an offensive against Kharkiv, and it appears to have begun now," confessed National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby. Previously, Russia had battled tirelessly to seize Kharkiv, but failed to do so. "In actuality, the failure to attain Kharkiv prompted Putin to reposition his troops back across the border," Kirby explained. Consequently, the recent actions are deemed "highly interesting and certainly concerning."

21:51: Zelensky: Important International Assistance Aids Ukraine's Defenses

As per President Zelensky, the Ukrainian military requires urgent international assistance to guard themselves against the current Russian offensive. "The real help would come in the form of weapons that are genuinely transported to Ukraine, as opposed to simply announced delivery packages," Zelensky emphasized in his nightly video update. "We anticipated the occupier's force's strength and comprehend their plan. Our troops, artillery, and drones are retaliating against the invaders."

Check out all prior advancementshere.[]