15:38 Alexei Navalny is granted the Dresden Peace Prize posthumously.

15:38 Alexei Navalny receives the Dresden Peace Prize posthumously.

Late Russian critic Alexei Navalny receives the Dresden Peace Prize posthumously, with his wife Julia Nawalnaja accepting the honor at Staatsschauspiel Dresden. The citation commends Navalny's dedication to freedom, democracy, and peace.

14:56: A tower block collapses in the Russian town of Belgorod, allegedly due to Ukrainian shelling, prompting Russia's top investigative authorities to launch a terror investigation. With casualties still unclear, officials have reported at least three deaths, several injuries, and approximately 20 people missing in the rubble.

14:35: General Syrskyi calls the situation in Kharkiv "dramatically aggravated" as Russian forces clash with Ukranian troops in the Kharkiv border region. "The situation in the Kharkiv region has deteriorated significantly this week," Syrskyi said on Telegram. "Combat is happening in the region along the Russian border. Despite the challenges, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are working hard to maintain defensive lines and positions. Russian forces have achieved some successes in specific areas."

14:07: ISW assessment reveals a new Russian military group, Sever, is causing pressure on Ukraine with up to 50,000 soldiers. George Barros of the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said, "Russia is planning to deploy 60,000 to 100,000 troops for its group's attack on Kharkiv. It's probably more like 50,000, but they still have substantial military capacity."

13:30: Over 4,000 residents have been evacuated from settlements in the Kharkiv region due to the threat of the new Russian attack. Kharkiv region governor Oleh Synyehubov announced on Telegram, "We've evacuated 4,000 people over the last two days. We're providing accommodations for those who need it. 70 percent of the evacuees have found a place to stay, primarily with family and friends."

12:59: Moscow claims Russia has captured four more villages in the Kharkiv region and destroyed several Ukrainian helicopters. The Russian Ministry of Defense listed the villages of Hatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets, and Oliyinykove as now under Russian control. It had previously boasted about conquering five villages the day before. In Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian troops claim to have destroyed four Ukrainian helicopters and damaged one.

12:24: Ukrainian General Syrskyi acknowledges the difficult situation on the front lines, stating, "We are experiencing intense combat. The Russian invaders' attempts to breach our defenses have been repelled. Our reconnaissance, artillerists, and drone squads are at work. We are familiar with the enemy's intentions and respond flexibly to their actions." He comments on the renewed attacks from Russian forces in the Kharkiv area, noting, "The situation in the Kharkiv region has deteriorated considerably. While it's challenging, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are diligently defending our lines and causing harm to the enemy. In Chassiv Yar, the Russians failed to regain the position they'd lost in Klishchiivka." Discussing troop rotations, Syrskyi says, "To provide soldiers with rest and restore combat readiness, the units are being rotated."

11:53: Partial collapse of a Russian building after artillery fire - at least three deadGovernor Vyacheslav Gladkov reports that a residential building in the Russian city of Belgorod partially collapsed due to Ukrainian artillery fire. He confirms at least three fatalities. About 20 people may still be trapped under the rubble. "Belgorod Oblast has been under heavy artillery fire, with the city and the region itself experiencing a barrage from Ukrainian forces," Gladkov states. "A direct hit on an apartment building caused the entire entrance area, between the tenth and second floor, to collapse." Belgorod Oblast borders Ukraine and has come under attack several times. Ukraine has not issued an official statement about this incident. Russia's air force has previously dropped bombs on civilian infrastructure in the region, allegedly due to technical errors.

11:19: Impact of Russia's war on Russian energy giant GazpromAccording to a report from the British Ministry of Defense, the Russian energy giant, Gazprom, will face consequences of the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine for years to come. This stems from the deterioration of relations with its primary Western customers since the Russian invasion in 2022. The company's overreliance on the European market for exports has negatively impacted its finances. Gazprom has experienced its first net loss since 1999 and is expected to pay 25 billion euros in taxes this year, which accounts for 9% of Russia's total state revenue, the report reveals. The Russian government aims to increase Gazprom's tax burden in 2024, leading the company to reduce its investments by 15% that same year.

10:44: Ukraine claims attacks on Russian oil refinery, military targetsUkraine allegedly launched attacks on Russian territory last night, targeting various facilities and military installations. They reportedly destroyed a Volgograd oil refinery in the Krasnoarmeysky district, the Kaluganaftelectroduct oil depot in Kaluga, and a plant in Lipetsk. "Military targets were also targeted," a military intelligence source informed Ukraine's Unian news agency. An oil refinery in Volgograd reportedly suffered multiple explosions, resulting in a large blaze. The governor of the region, Andrei Bocharov, confirmed the damage. The Russian military claims air defenses were effective and only experienced a minor fire caused by falling drone debris. However, videos and photos shared by Ukrainian media show a much larger fireball.

10:06: Call for reserves amid difficult fighting in Kharkiv regionThe Ukraine-based Deepstate channel describes a challenging situation in the Kharkiv border area. "The situation keeps getting more and more complicated. The enemy is gradually sending more troops into our region, with infantry units continuously assaulting and infiltrating settlements, trying to establish a foothold and extend their advance," Deepstate says. It suggests that greater attention to the region is needed to prevent further enemy success with potentially dire consequences. Even though the Russian forces' primary goal appears to be distracting attention from other areas, the situation could deteriorate "dramatically" without the deployment of Ukrainian reserves.

09:30: Channel Deepstate: Russia aims to force Ukrainian troops away from KharkivAccording to ntv reporter Jürgen Weichert, the Russian military is attempting to push Ukrainian forces away from the key city of Kharkiv through a massive assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's goal is to halt the Russian advance at all costs. Ukraine is reinforcing its military presence in the region, which is one of Russia's objectives.

08:50: Despite Russian propaganda, life continues in KharkivAs Russian forces advance near the Ukrainian metropolis, public panic and mass evacuations are yet to be observed, contrary to Russian propaganda. Kharkiv security expert Maria Avdeeva emphasizes this in a video on X. There are no panic scenes at the bustling city market. She insists that experts don't believe the Kremlin's troops will succeed in capturing the city, and the Kremlin may be trying to trigger a mass exodus from Kharkiv. Despite previous airstrikes, Kharkiv residents are accustomed to Russian aggression.

08:12: ISW: Limited Russian operations in the northern Kharkiv region, substantial advancementsThe Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian forces are conducting small-scale operations in the northern Kharkiv region and are making "tactically significant advances in likely less well-defended areas." The scale of the military units suggests that Russia isn't aiming for a large-scale operation to encircle, surround, or capture the city of Kharkiv, according to the ISW.

Here's a summary of the story:A high-rise residential building partially collapsed in the Russian city of Belgorod due to Ukrainian shelling, leaving at least three people dead and around 20 trapped under the rubble. The Russian energy giant, Gazprom, is expected to suffer financial consequences from the war in Ukraine as its Western customers sever ties and its tax burden increases. Ukraine is said to have conducted successful strikes on a Volgograd oil refinery, a Kaluga oil depot, and a Lipetsk plant, while a plant in the region experienced minor damages attributed to falling drone debris by the Russian side. Deepstate urges for reserve troops to effectively handle the difficult fighting near Kharkiv due to the gradual advance of Russian forces. An ntv reporter believes Russia is attempting to force Ukrainian troops away from Kharkiv by increasing the scale of its operations. In spite of Russian propaganda, life in the Ukrainian metropolis seems relatively normal, with no widespread panic observed.

07:28 Ukrainian drone attacks cause fire at Russian oil refinery

The governor of a Russian region, Andrey Botsharov, reported on Telegram that a fire had broken out at the Volgograd oil refinery in southern Russia after a Ukrainian drone attack. The fire was later extinguished, and there were no casualties reported. As of now, neither the oil company Lukoil nor the Ukrainian authorities have issued any statements on the incident.

06:52 Latvia may soon provide crucial weapons to Ukraine

Ukrainian Ambassador to Latvia Anatoly Kutsevol revealed in an interview with Ukrinform that Latvia would soon be able to supply drones and radar defense systems to Ukraine. Additionally, there would be cooperation in the production of 155mm grenades. Kutsevol added, "There are other areas in which we cooperate, but for security reasons, we cannot talk about them at the moment."

06:14 Ukraine claims to have shot down a Russian fighter jet

The 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on Facebook that its anti-aircraft gunners had shot down a Su-25 fighter jet by Russian troops. The statement read, "The occupants still haven't realized that there's no point in flying into our skies. They will continue to fall." According to Ukrainian Major Oleksiy Hetman on the We-Ukraine channel, Moscow had around 190 Su-25 jets left. The Su-25s are designed to support combat missions directly on the line of contact.

05:42 Belgorod reports extensive damage after reported attack by Ukraine

In an update on Telegram, the governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, revealed that the region had experienced significant damage and casualties due to what he described as a Ukrainian attack on the evening of May 11. He did not specify the number of casualties but mentioned that one woman had been killed and 29 people, including a child, were injured and hospitalized. In addition, several homes, businesses, cars, and medical and educational facilities were damaged. The situation in the nearby village of Dubovoye was also reportedly affected.

04:29 Autocratic regimes like Russia can prioritize arms industry, claims US general

Lieutenant General Steven Basham, deputy commander of US Air Forces in Europe, stated that an autocratic regime like Russia could easily prioritize the expansion of its arms industry over economic well-being to support its military actions in Ukraine. He also commented on the help provided by Iran and North Korea, stating, "Make no mistake. It is picking up speed. It will continue to outpace Russia's capabilities. The time Russia spends in Ukraine is also the time we have to get our industrial base to the level it needs to be."

Rescue workers evacuate an elderly woman in the Kharkiv region.

03:02 Zelensky urges troops to disrupt Russian attack plans in Kharkiv region

Volodymyr Zelensky, the head of state in Ukraine, expressed his intention to have the Ukrainian army carry out counterattacks in the Kharkiv region, where the Russian army had launched an offensive. He said, "The main task of our troops at the moment is to disrupt Russian attack plans. Ukraine must now regain the initiative."

01:46 One civilian killed in Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast

Reports from the regional administration in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, claimed that Russian forces had shelled ten communities in the region over the past 24 hours, resulting in 93 explosions. A 37-year-old woman lost her life when a rocket attack hit the outskirts of the city of Sumy. The attack targeted local infrastructure, but no further details regarding the consequences were provided.

23:49 Canada to participate in global peace summit for Ukraine

Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, confirmed that Canada would take part in the upcoming global peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland on June 15 and 16, where the focus would be on achieving peace in accordance with President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point peace formula, which envisions a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the occupied regions. "The first peace summit for Ukraine will take place in June - and Canada will be there," Trudeau tweeted. "I look forward to working with other world leaders to advance our shared goal of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine."

11:06 Scholz cautions about Russian impact on European and local polls

German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz alerts against the potential influence of Russia on the forthcoming European and regional elections. At the "RND vor Ort" in-person event organized by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, the SPD leader cautioned of external attempts to alter the outcomes of these elections. He reacted to reports of money payments to AfD officials, labeling them concerning. Scholz urged the appropriate authorities to carry out a thorough investigation and provide solid proof for the claims. He also acknowledged, "There is indeed a vast volume of Russian disinformation in election campaigns."

10:00 Scholz urges Ukrainian refugees in Germany to start working

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged Ukrainian war refugees currently in Germany to commence working as soon as possible. "We hope that those who are capable of working among the Ukrainians here will now also consider employment," said Scholz during the "RND vor Ort" event in Potsdam. "We have provided funding for integration courses and language programs and now want to propel many of them into the labor market," he explained further. "Many have already started working, but there are still hundreds of thousands more in dire need of jobs," added Scholz. "I encourage everyone to follow this path."

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