15:44 News Update: Russian forces amass near Chassiv Yar
In the outskirts of Chassiv Yar, Russia has reportedly positioned its soldiers, while trying to consolidate their position in the eastern part of Ukraine. Their efforts to assemble troops in nearby houses have been ongoing for nearly a week, as per Ukrainian news outlet "Ukrajinska Pravda," which cited a military source. Over this period, there were more than 1500 bombardments conducted by the Russians, according to the source. The Russians destroyed multiple positions using rocket launchers and guided air bombs to secure logistics along a road from Bakhmut to Chassiv Yar. The Ukrainian source claimed that the city center was under the control of Ukraine.
In a telegram update, a video was shared by the Ukrainian armed forces, displaying the pilots of an open-cockpit aircraft - Yak-52 - clear on a Russian reconnaissance drone lens. The military has stated that the aircraft was used for air defense purposes, and it was active in the Mykolayiv region. In the video, the aircraft is shown through the lens of a Russian drone. The co-pilot is believed to have shot down the drone, as reported by "Kyiv Post" and the military portal "Militarnyi".
The Ukrainian intelligence service (HUR) has taken credit for a drone attack on a modern Russian fighter jet parked approximately 600 km from the border in southern Russia. A source from HUR revealed that the attack was carried out with a drone of Ukrainian origin. HUR is known for its brave operations on Russian territory and in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.
Russia aims to join the occupied territories in the four southeastern oblasts and the Crimean Peninsula into a federal district called "Novorossiya." This was disclosed by the head of the Luhansk regional military administration, Artem Lysohor, in a telegram post. "The locals are not given the chance to choose a name, as there is only one option - Novorossiya," Lysohor wrote. He added that such territorial entities have no legal standing. After the holidays, schoolchildren are to be informed about local history with the help of a Russian textbook.
A Ukrainian brigade commander stated that permission to utilize Western weapons against Russia had "immediately impacted" the course of the hostilities, acting in favor of the Ukrainian armed forces. This was expressed by Commander Yuriy Fedorenko in an interview with Radio NV. The permission given by the Western states allowed the Ukrainian military to conduct crucial tasks like electronic reconnaissance, electronic warfare, air defense, and even thwarting S-300 and S-400 systems that were frequently attacking Kharkiv. The current sanction is viewed as "Step 1" by the military, while an extension to Russian territory would be "Step 2."
The Ukrainian military has registered 103 Russian attacks on settlements in the past day, along with 93 attacks on infrastructure. ten regions have been targeted by the Russians. In the territories of Kharkiv, Kherson, and Izium, at least three deaths have been reported, with houses and a school also receiving damages.
Close to 67,000 women are currently a part of the Ukrainian army. Most of them are soldiers. Although the mobilization of recruits following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 hadn't specifically targeted women, the number of female members of the army has increased by 40 percent. Contrary to past norms, these women are now willing to take significant roles in the Ukrainian military, including shooting, operating artillery systems, and operating drones. The government has begun to see the need for providing female personnel with career prospects.
The Ukrainian government plans to create a state registry to monitor, in real-time, the demining status of various areas. The objective is to provide dependable data to farmers about whether their land is still contaminated or has been already cleared. In the war, numerous dangers still exist following the conclusion of the fighting. "We have North Korean ammunition from the 50s, with a dud rate above 30 percent," says security expert Gustav Gressel, referring to the many post-war difficulties in Ukraine.
In a survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of "Welt am Sonntag," it was found that a majority of Germans favor the reintroduction of conscription. 60 percent of the respondents agreed with reinstating the conscription army "completely" (28 percent) or "to a large extent" (32 percent). 32 percent, on the other hand, disagreed - 18 percent "to a large extent" and 14 percent "completely." Conscription had been on the backburner since 2011. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a debate about how the Bundeswehr might be significantly expanded.
For the first time, the Ukrainian intelligence service reported a successful attack on a Russian Su-57 fighter jet. The aircraft was said to have been damaged during an airfield attack in southern Russia's Astrakhan region, about 600 kilometers from the border. Satellite images reveal the jet intact on Friday, but with explosive damage on Saturday. Yesterday, Russia reported a drone attack on several regions, including Astrakhan. The Su-57 is Russia's most advanced fighter plane, capable of carrying cruise missiles, with only a few deployed militarily.
10:11: Insufficient Russian soldiers for large-scale summer offensives
Russia is mobilizing 30,000 soldiers a month, some of whom are reassigned as reinforcements at the frontline. The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says this reinforcement won't be enough for large-scale offensive operations across multiple fronts in the summer. The new reservists won't be ready for first- or second-line combat duty, which is necessary for massive offensives.
09:27: UN: At least 174 Ukrainian civilians lost in May
At least 174 civilians were killed and 690 injured in Ukraine in May, according to the UN mission in Ukraine. The most significant daily civilian casualties since the war began have come from the Kharkiv region due to intense Russian troop attacks. Over 50% of all civilian casualties were reported in this region.
08:50: Russians plan to train officers in Ukraine's occupied territories
The Russians plan to offer officer training courses in the currently inhabited regions of Ukraine, according to a report by the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces. Trained officers will be given "favorable job positions" within a contract. The courses will focus particularly on electronic warfare, including working with radar or jammers. The Russian army has been using jammers so often that Western precision weapons frequently fail to hit their targets.
08:09: Ukrainian military reports 1,270 Russian losses
The Ukrainian military reported 1,270 Russian soldiers killed or wounded in the last 24 hours. The total losses since the start of the full-scale invasion now exceed 518,000, according to the Ukrainians. In the past 24 hours, 26 Russian tanks, 26 armored vehicles, 60 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed. The number of destroyed drones is reported as 37 by the Ukrainian military.
07:40: Ukrainian forces push back Russian advances in the north
Russia has amassed troops near the northeastern border of Ukraine for some time. The town of Vovchansk near Kharkiv has been under heavy shelling for weeks, but Ukrainian forces are now seemingly able to stop the Russian advance.
07:23: NATO plans permanent representation in Kyiv and stronger aid
NATO is considering establishing a permanent ambassador in Kyiv. This "high-level civilian representative" would coordinate NATO support for Ukraine, including military assistance from Western countries. This decision comes as NATO countries are not likely to agree to inviting Ukraine to join membership negotiations at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, so NATO is looking for steps that would unite the alliance with Kiev.
06:51: Ukraine aims for more direct contracts with arms manufacturers
The Ukrainian government is reportedly adopting a new strategy for cooperation with arms manufacturers. The goal is to sign more direct contracts between the Ukraine and the arms industry. Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov signed a contract with a Bulgarian company last weekend, according to the news portal "Ukrinform." "This allows us to receive modern weapons directly from the manufacturer, and contributes to a faster and more effective modernization of the Ukrainian army."
06:09: Austrian Defense Minister: Crossing the red line with weapon supplies
Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner believes that Germany, France, and the United States have "crossed the red line" by allowing Kyiv to use Western weapons on Russian territory. She's pleased that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that no troops will be sent to Ukraine. On the need for Ukraine to defend itself against shelling from the Russian border, Tanner declined to comment. "As a militarily neutral country, it's not our place to judge this."
05:28: German reserves to be significantly strengthened
The German military is planning to significantly increase its reserve force. The reserve force, which is capable of reinforcing or substituting active troops in combat, should be expanded to up to 60,000 men and women under a so-called basic order. The goal is to have a better-trained and better-equipped reserve.
04:30: Federal Government Sees Risks in Macron Plan
France's proposal to rebuild and secure Ukraine's border with Russia involves significant risks, according to the German Government. The Federal Government argues that such a move could lead to escalation and exacerbate tensions between Russia and Ukraine, potentially leading to a new conflict.
Concerns regarding the safety of European soldiers have prompted Germany to decline any participation in French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to train Ukrainian forces in the future. As reported by "Welt am Sonntag," an internal EU document notes that while training in the EU enhances security, the risk of potential attacks on training facilities in Ukraine diminishes the efficiency of such training. The German government raised these concerns during a meeting of European defense ministers on May 28.
03:20 Intensified hostilities at the Pokrovsk Front: Ukrainian troops facing a Russian breakthrough attempt
The Ukrainian Army documented a series of 76 combat operations in the course of 24 hours, with the most significant occurrences transpiring at the Pokrovsk Front. The Russians are said to have carried out 27 attacks during this time. According to the Army Command in Kiev, the Russian forces are attempting to breach through from Otscheretyne to Evheniwka and Nowooleksandriwka.
01:42 Pre-trial detention for three Moldovans: Graffiti probed for potential foreign influence
The appearance of soldier's coffin graffiti in Paris has sparked an investigation. Authorities have detained three Moldovans in pre-trial detention, despite no clear evidence of foreign connections. On Friday, graffiti featuring a shovel and the inscription "French soldier in Ukraine" appeared on several house facades. Shortly afterwards, three Moldovans were arrested near the Eiffel Tower, all carrying paint cans and stencils. Similarly, coffins with an inscription akin to that of the graffiti had been placed at the Eiffel Tower a few days prior, and three individuals, including a German, were taken into custody.
00:39 At least 174 civilians killed in Ukraine in May: UN report
The UN's latest report reveals May 2023 as the month with the highest number of civilian deaths in Ukraine, totaling at least 174 fatalities. Ukraine has alleged that Russia deliberately targets residential areas near the front lines, leading to evacuations. Moscow, on the other hand, denies purposefully attacking civilians.
23:24 Drones drop explosives on ambulance: Casualty reported
The driver of an ambulance was reportedly injured, as per Ukrainian reports, due to explosives dropped by Russian troops from a drone onto the ambulance. The incident occurred in the community of Biloserka, in southern Ukraine. The Oblast of Kherson's governor shared this information.
22:23 Virtual slippery slope: Torture reportedly common in Russian military
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, has estimated that approximately 90% of the returning Ukrainian POWs have suffered from torture, physical and psychological abuse, and sexual violence. This information was obtained from initial conversations with the released soldiers, as reported by the news portal "Euromaidan Press."
21:42 Russian offensive in Kharkiv: Zelenskyy indicates partial success
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy viewed the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region as a failure. During his evening address, he disclosed that he had discussed the current situation with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Regarding the situation in Kharkiv, he stated, "We are impeding their course as effectively as possible, and are destroying Russian units that enter our territory and terrorize the region of Kharkiv." Zelenskyy further added that the region's defenses had already been strengthened and should continue to be fortified. The situation in the Donetsk region, however, remains the most challenging.
Read also:
- The Ukrainian military has voiced concerns about potential Russian civilian attacks on infrastructure, following a reported attack on a Ukrainian school and reported fatalities in several regions.
- In response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, NATO is considering increasing its support to Ukraine, including establishing a permanent representation in Kyiv and providing stronger military aid.
- The Russian military has allegedly been using electronic warfare techniques in its attacks on Ukraine, prompting Ukrainian forces to seek advanced drones and electronic warfare equipment from Western allies.
- With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine causing widespread destruction, the Ukrainian government is planning to create a real-time demining registry to help farmers and residents safely return to affected areas.
