11:57: Munz notices strains in the alliance between Russia and China.
Media in Russia are talking about a 30-page deal with China. However, there are challenges that need to be overcome, as shared by ntv correspondent Rainer Munz - China may participate in Switzerland's peace discussions or don't want to get dependent on Russian resources.
11:34 Ukraine sees Russian troops expanding combat zone by 70 kilometers in Kharkiv region. The Russians began their offensive to compel Ukraine to deploy more reserve brigades. The fighting will likely increase as the units in Kiev gear up for defense in the Sumy area.
11:15 Video evidence shows repercussions of continuous attacks on Russia. Ukraine has targeted several locations on Russian soil, including an oil refinery in Tuapse, part of the Krasnodar region. Russia claims it has thwarted more than 100 Ukrainian drones throughout the night:
10:31 Baerbock petitions for enhanced-range weaponry. Given the critical state of affairs in Kharkiv, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is advocating for weapons with longer ranges. The unfolding situation close to Kharkiv is deeply worrying. Russia is shooting from its own turf, making Ukrainian air defense ineffective. Ukraine also requires weaponry capable of medium and long-range strikes, Baerbock emphasized. Kharkiv is roughly 40 kilometers from the Russian border.
10:02 Putin and Xi share a tender farewell. After their talks in China, Putin and Xi Jinping, the Chinese President and Party Leader, ended their meetings with a warm gesture. Last night in Beijing, Putin and Xi first shook hands and then embraced each other au revoir. Putin's two-day state visit in Harbin continues today.
09:26 Ukraine declines four explosions in Kharkiv. Ukraine liquidated all 20 drones Russia launched against the country, says the military. The incidents occurred in places like Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odessa, and Mykolaiv. Kharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, r mentioned four explosions. The inferno from one of the blasts also torched a building. The regional governor affirmed that the fire knocked down five buildings, including an administrative structure.
09:02 ntv journo: "Russians advancing towards Kharkiv's borders." The standoff in Kharkiv is extremely pressing. Ukraine has secured the military situation near the city, although the "Russians have also solidified their position" and are near 30 kilometers from the city limits.
08:34 At least two deceased due to strikes in Belgorod region, Russia. As per Belgorod's governor, a mom and her four-year-old child in the village of Oktyabrsky were killed by a Ukraine drone.
08:06 Russia declares attack in Sevastopol, Crimea. The Ministry of Defense asserts the city of Sevastopol in Crimea was targeted yesterday. As a consequence, a local governor disclosed that a substation was damaged. "Small-scale blackouts ahead." Prompted by the situation, schools and nurseries remained shut. Sevastopol welcomes the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, breaching international legislation.
07:42 Claims of drone attacks on Black Sea Fleet port in Novorossiysk. Clips circulate on social media of a purported massive, Ukraine drone assault on the Black Sea Fleet's Novorossiysk port. And the Russian state information source RIA mentions missile strikes on the region but omits the port.
07:18 Russia intercepts over 100 Ukrainian drones, per Ministry of Defense. As of now, Russia has blocked more than 100 Ukrainian drones. Almost 51 drones were thwarted over the annexed Crimean peninsula, 44 in the Krasnodar region, six in Belgorod, and one in Kursk. The maritime forces also obliterated six military drones in the Black Sea. Following regular shelling from Russia, Ukraine escalated its lawless attacks, mostly targeting energy sites.
06:58 Shots of damaged jets in Crimean Belbek military base. Satellite pics from Maxar show that three jet fighters - MiG-31s, an Su-27, and a MiG-29 - were utterly demolished and one more - a MiG-29 - was harmed in the Ukraine strikes on the Belbek military airfield in Crimea. The reports allege that aside from the aircraft, a fuel depot was also destroyed. Ukraine bombarded the airfield for the second consecutive evening.
Videos are making their rounds on platform X regarding an alleged new Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil refinery in Tuaps. The plant is claimed to be located on the Black Sea coast.
As of 7 a.m. update: Local authorities have confirmed the fire as it has been successfully contained.
6:33 UPDATE: Putin stresses the significance of trading near northeastern China's border.
Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to highlight the importance of trade along the border of northeastern China following the sealing of a strategic partnership with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Putin's visit to China ends in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, known for its historical trade and cultural relationships with Russia.
6:14 RUSSIA Deports British Military Attaché
The Russian Foreign Ministry has declared Adrian Coghill, the military attaché at the British embassy in Moscow, persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within a week. This action was carried out in retaliation after the United Kingdom expelled the Russian military attaché on May 8th, who was suspected of being an undeclared intelligence agent.
6:00 NATO Nations Discussing Sending Military Trainings to Ukraine
Some NATO member countries are pondering the possibility of deploying military trainers or contractors to train Ukrainian troops and repair equipment. The New York Times reports that Ukraine has requested assistance in training 150,000 troops near the front line. However, the USA is wary of sending military trainers due to the potential risk of attacks on the trainers which could possibly ignite NATO's collective defense clause. Some officials propose training the large numbers of Ukrainian recruits in Germany and Poland. This suggests a significant challenge in transportation of such a massive number of soldiers. Multiple NATO members, including Germany, France and the UK, are contemplating sending defense contractors to Ukraine while America's White House is considering revoking its ban on US defense contractors in Ukraine.
5:30 JAPAN: International law should govern distribution of Russian assets
Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki emphasized that the ongoing discussion about utilizing the interest derived from frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine must align with international law. Suzuki explained that it is Japan's plan to be involved in the discussions to be deliberated at the impending G7 meeting from that fundamental perspective.
3:11 KIM Jong Un's SISTER REFUTES RUSSIAN ARMS DEAL
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, denied an alleged arms trade with Russia as an "absurd theory". North Korea's state news agency KCNA detailed in a declaration by Kim that the weapons manufactured by North Korea were created for self-defense against South Korea. Both Ukraine and the United States accuse North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia to be used against Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang, however, have denied these accusations.
2:04 Air raid alert in Kharkiv lifted after Kharkiv drone attacks
The air raid alert in Kharkiv has been lifted in most areas of the region. Regional governor Oleh Synyehubov confirmed that at least five drones had previously attacked Kharkiv - Ukraine's second largest city. Kharkiv city's mayor, Igor Terekhov, announced that a district had been hit and a fire was ignited. According to public broadcaster Suspilne, an air raid alert in Kharkiv was in effect for a period of 16.5 hours, the longest since the start of Russian invasion in February 2022.
0:51 USA: China's support for Moscow hinders Western rapprochement.
The US government has described Chinese support for Russia as an impediment to rapprochement with the West. State Department official Vedant Patel stated in Washington: "Beijing cannot 'dance at two weddings simultaneously.' Better relations with Europe and other countries are impossible for China if it simultaneously 'fuels the greatest threat to European security in a long time,' referencing the Russian attack on Ukraine.
10:06 Prolonged power outages in Ukraine after attacks
The Ukrainian government predicts that it could take months to restore power to the country following the destruction of numerous power plants and substations. According to Yuri Boyko, an advisor to the Prime Minister and member of the Ukrenerho board, a noticeable improvement may not be witnessed until August or September. In the meantime, scheduled power outages will occur in different regions, including the capital, Kiev, starting from Thursday. The devastation caused by Russian missile strikes to the electricity infrastructure is largely responsible for the current situation.
For more recent updates, check here.
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- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the expansion of Russian military operations in the Kharkiv region, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, has called for stronger military support from NATO, asserting the need for weapons with longer ranges.
- In light of the escalating cyberwar between Ukraine and Russia, there have been discussions about potential Russian involvement in military operations against Ukraine, including drone attacks on Russian soil and critical infrastructure.
- The growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine have prompted concerns from international organizations like NATO, with some member countries considering sending military trainers to help Ukraine fortify its defenses against potential attacks.
- The conflict in Ukraine has also led to diplomatic shifts, such as the RCMP expelling a Russian military attaché from Canada in response to similar actions taken by Russia against foreign diplomats.
Source: www.ntv.de
