16:25 Attack in Kharkiv leads to injuries.

16:25 Attack in Kharkiv Leaves Individuals Hurt

The administrative body overseeing the military in the eastern region of Ukraine has reported that the cities of Kharkiv and Vovchansk are enduring assaults from Russia once more. The Mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, communicated through Telegram that a residential area in Kharkiv had been targeted by a barrage of shells, resulting in five individuals suffering injuries. Vovchansk continues to be held by Ukrainian forces, even though it has experienced significant damage due to Russian bombings. Security Council member Andrey Kovalenko shared via Telegram that Vovchansk has been nearly decimated by these relentless attacks. "Regrettably, the city of Vovchansk has been mostly obliterated by the enemy, who unmercifully bombards it with glide bombs," wrote Kovalenko. The city of Vovchansk, situated in the north-eastern part of Ukraine, had a population of nearly 19,000 people before the war began.

The day is 15:52, and a drone adorned with a Russian flag was spotted hovering near the Reichstag building in Berlin. The representative office of the Bundestag confirmed that this incident transpired on May 9th. Clips of the drone's flight have been circulating online. The drone hovered around 20 meters above the ground in the middle of Friedrich-Ebert-Platz on the eastern edge of the Reichstag building. Police in Berlin have subsequently filed charges for breaching the Aviation Security Act due to the drone's violation of the aviation regulations. The Bundestag refrains from discussing security concerns linked to drone flights in that specific location. Some sources claim that the pilot of the drone is a fervent supporter of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Law authorities recorded the pilot's personal information at the scene. Reports also surfaced that the same person had previously adorned the "Z" emblem, frequently used by Russian military personnel, on Potsdam's former parliament building's tower and vandalized Ukrainian images.

At 15:24, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, voiced concerns about an elevated number of Russian attacks in the Kharkiv region and Umbrage at a severe lack of air defense weapons. The offensive by Russia in the Kharkiv area has progressed by approximately 5 to 10 kilometers in the course of the ground campaign, which began ten days ago. The advance has been assessed as their most exceptional territorial gain since late 2022 by the Institute for the Study of War. Ukraine is said to only possess 25% of the required air defense systems they need. Zelensky additionally emphasized his military's demand for at least 120 to 130 modern fighter jets to establish a parity in the skies with Russian forces.

At 15:00, Zelensky expressed optimism about Ukraine's prospects of executing a counter-offensive. He emphasized that stabilizing the front lines and ceasing the Russian advance are necessary prerequisites for a counterattack. "There's a chance, but the situation along the frontline is unpredictable. I'm sure, though, that our Ukrainian Armed Forces will halt the Russians. After that, we need to make strategic decisions about which units should replace those on the frontlines for any future counter-offensive," the Ukrainian President said in an interview with the french news agency AFP. Zelensky further mentioned that many brigades require urgent replenishment, citing the need for supplies and equipment to facilitate troop rotations. He didn't offer a definitive answer when queried whether a Ukrainian counter-offensive would be initiated in 2025 or not.

By 14:36, Kharkiv's Mayor, Igor Terekhov, announced through Telegram that the city was being bombarded by the Russians, and citizens should keep a wary eye out for their safety. Zelensky had previously forewarned that over the course of this month, the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region could be the first in a series of waves and admitted that Russians could potentially target the region's capital, Kharkiv.

The anticipation of a counter-offensive from the Ukrainian military remains a possibility, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky stated that ensuring stability on the front lines and stopping the Russian offensive is crucial before launching any counter-offensive operations. "The chances are there, but the situation on the front lines is unstable," he said. Moreover, Zelensky assured that the Ukrainian armed forces would successfully counter the Russian advance. "Upon achieving that, we must allocate suitable brigades to begin the next stages of the counter-offensive. However, I can't definitively say whether there will be a counter-offensive by the Ukrainian military in 2025," he continued.

This Saturday, a total of 22 military conflicts occurred along the Ukrainian frontline since last night, with eight still ongoing, as announced by the Ukrainian army's General Staff. In addition, Russia carried out a missile strike, used 25 kamikaze drones, and made 547 assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian military.

At approximately 6 a.m., Russia launched a missile attack on Odessa, like their previous one. Ukrainian soldiers guarding the south of Ukraine reported this incident.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that Russian forces have "liberated" the village of Staryzia in the Kharkiv region. The Russian invasion units are progressing further in the area, according to the ministry. The Russians started their offensive in the region about a week ago, making it the third front alongside the ones in the east and south.

Ukrainian troops are attempting to push back the Russian forces towards the settlement of Hlyboke in the Kharkiv region, as reported by the Ukrainian news agency RBC, which cites the Ukrainian army. Hlyboke is located approximately 40 kilometers from Kharkiv and 10 kilometers from the Russian border. "Our defenders are trying to push the enemy back towards the settlement of Hlyboke," stated the Ukrainian General Staff.

Four people have died after a Russian glide bomb attack on Kharkiv on Friday. An injured 33-year-old guy perished in the hospital, as per Governor Oleh Synyehubov's update. Russian forces targeted the Shevchenkiv district with two glide bombs, injuring 31 people. The conditions of two of the injured are critical, Synjehubow mentioned. Furthermore, the Russians launched a glide bomb attack on the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, damaging multiple-story buildings, a hospital, and a kindergarten. A woman sustained injuries.

Thomas Jäger, a political scientist, is one of the individuals who has various views on President Selensky's intentions to use weapons provided by the West not only to defend Ukraine but also on Russian soil. Russia is, according to Jäger, also exerting influence over Germany.

A man is said to have been slain, and another hurt, in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian border region of Kursk, as per regional governor Alexei Smirnov. Independent verification of the Russian authorities' information about potential attacks and casualties is impossible.

The British Ministry of Defense assumes that Russian air defenses in Crimea have been weakened due to recent Ukrainian attacks. It is likely that Russia will need to spread its air forces more widely to maintain them. There is a risk of losing more aircraft otherwise, according to the daily intelligence update from the British Ministry of Defense.

Russia has confronted additional issues since the loss of one of its Beriev A-50 aircraft, which are employed for air surveillance, in January, February, and March. Both losses will almost certainly result in Russia needing to raise flight hours and combat aircraft patrol deployment rates to fill the gaps in coverage, leading to increased maintenance issues for their fleets.

More than 9,900 people have been evacuated to safety from endangered communities in the Kharkiv region since the start of the Russian ground offensive there a week ago. Russian troops launched a ground offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10, progressing up to five to ten kilometers along the northeastern border.

In a recent survey conducted by the Russian Levada Institute, support for the Russian military forces remains high, backed by 75% of the population. However, this drops to 30% if the condition is the reclaiming of "new territories."

Some members of the SPD are requesting NATO to safeguard Ukrainian airspace by stationing German anti-aircraft missile troops on NATO land adjacent to Ukraine. SPD defense expert Joe Weingarten told Der Spiegel that German missile troops could protect the airspace above western Ukraine by utilizing systems like Patriot. This would not necessitate Western troops to be stationed in Ukraine. Air defense systems along the boundary between NATO nations and Ukraine might have an effect in the deepest regions of Ukrainian airspace.

Another SPD politician, Andreas Schwarz, acknowledges the lack of Ukrainian air defense systems and missiles to safeguard their infrastructure and population. He suggests contemplating the possibility of obtaining protective cover from NATO allies.

At 9:15 a.m., Ukraine petitioned the U.S. administration for aid in identifying targets in Russia that Ukraine could attack with its weapons. They also inquired about removing constraints on utilizing American armaments against military targets within Russia. This is based on information obtained from a Dow Jones and Wall Street Journal article.

Zelenskyi was interviewed by the French news organization AFP, where he remarked that while Ukraine and its Western partners share the same values, they frequently disagree on how to end the conflict. "We're in a contradictory situation where the West is worried that Russia might lose the war. They don't want Ukraine to lose it either," claims Zelenskyi. He also expressed desire for China and other countries from the Global South to take part in the peace conference in Switzerland in June. Russia has not received an invitation, but has declared it wouldn't have attended regardless.

Selensky needs more air defense and modern fighter jets against the Russians.

The Russian army is reinforcing their naval base in Novorossiysk, according to Ukrainian news organization RBC, which cites the Telegram channel of the partisan group "Atesh." The port city of Novorossiysk is located on the Black Sea. The reinforcements are designed to safeguard the base against Ukrainian drones, as stated by RBC.

Friday night saw Ukrainian drones attack the port of Novorossiysk. Novorossiysk is a strategically vital Russian city given the high volume of its oil and other exports that pass through it. The Russian army had previously sent several warships to the port after Ukraine attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol in Crimea in September 2023.

According to the Ukranian military's Facebook update, Russia has lost 491,080 soldiers. On Friday, they revealed 1,210 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded, elevating the cumulative figure to that total. In addition, they claim to have damaged 43 armored combat vehicles, two aircraft, and a helicopter.

The Institute for the Study of War has criticized Western allies for limiting Ukraine's military capabilities by prohibiting the country from attacking Russian military targets with Western weapons. This, according to the think tank, jeopardizes Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian operations in the northern Kharkiv region.

The Ukrainian air defense has allegedly taken down all Iranian-made drones named Shahed throughout the night. There were a total of 13 drones shot down, according to the Ukrainian media, who interviewed air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk. The drones were launched from the Russian ports of Primorsko-Akhtarsk on the Sea of Azov and the Russian oblast of Kursk.

The Ukrainian army launched a missile assault in the Belgorod region of Russia, setting off a missile alarm and an explosion, according to the Russian state news agency Tass. Tass's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, urged residents via his Telegram channel to seek shelter. The poorly protected region is continuously being bombarded as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

At 6:49 a.m., intense shelling of Ukrainian positions in the Krynky region by Russian forces was reported by the Institute for the Study of War. After weeks of assaults on this region, Ukraine has successfully established a bridgehead in Krynky, in the southern part of the Kherson region, near the western bank of the Dnipro River. Although the Russian army increased the intensity of their attacks, the ISW has yet to confirm any significant changes in the front lines.

Russians persisted in assaulting Kharkiv, yet there were no evident alterations to the front lines, according to ISW. Putin had mentioned the desire for establishing a "buffer zone" in the Kharkiv region. The Russian military is not pursuing conquest of the city of Kharkiv at present.

06:14 St. Petersburg Explosions: Not TerrorismPer Russian military, the explosions at Budyonny Military Academy in St. Petersburg (entry 20:56) were the result of a mishap involving World War II ammunition. Interfax, the state news agency, reported that troops were examining subterranean regions of the academy when the accident occurred. Governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, claims the explosion has nothing to do with "terrorism".

06:02 Klingbeil Remains Hopeful for ChinaSPD leader Lars Klingbeil remains optimistic that China will participate in the Swiss Ukraine peace conference. "It would be pivotal for this peace conference to have China at the table," he revealed to the German Press Agency. This also applies to India, Brazil, and South Africa. "It'd be a setback if these countries weren't present." Regardless, he added, the conference wouldn't be a failure even if these nations were absent. "It's never a failure when people gather to discuss ways to achieve peace."

05:43 Zelensky Criticizes Restrictions on Western WeaponsUkrainian President Zelensky denounces the limitations on using Western weapons. Russians can fire all weapons from their territory into Ukraine. "That's the biggest advantage Russia holds." Conversely, Ukraine is unable to strike Russian weapons on Russian territory using Western weapons. UK and US offer indications that these limits could be relaxed.

05:10 Ukrainian Chief Commander: Russian Front Near Kharkiv 70 Kilometers LongRussian land forces insist on the offensive they started a week ago in the border zone near Kharkiv. Olexander Syrskyj, Ukrainian army commander, shares this message via Telegram. The Russian military has now enlarged this new front to about 70 kilometers. This would mandate Ukrainians to deploy more brigades from their reserves. Nevertheless, the enemy has not managed to breach Ukrainian boundaries. Russia is deploying air force, missiles, artillery, and tanks in their attacks. Syrsky sees an edge for the Ukrainians in drones and more accurate artillery fire.

03:35 Zelensky: Russian Offensive in Kharkiv May be First WaveZelensky estimated the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv area of northeastern Ukraine as a "first wave." "Their operation has commenced, and it could comprise multiple waves. This is their first wave," he told AFP news agency.

02:17 Zelensky: Ukraine Needs 130 Fighter JetsAs per President Zelensky, Ukraine currently possesses less than a quarter of the air defense systems it needs to safeguard itself. Moreover, Zelensky believes Ukraine needs 120 to 130 F16 fighter jets to counteract Russia's air dominance. He also stresses the absence of soldiers is negatively influencing the morale of the troops.

00:17 Power Grid Damaged: Zelensky Urges ConservationZelensky calls for energy preservation in response to the damage afflicted on the Ukrainian power grid. "Now is the time for cautious, thoughtful electricity consumption," he said in the evening at Kiev. Municipalities and energy suppliers should disseminate information on the rationale behind necessary power cutbacks. In his evening video message, Zelensky reported his discussion with the government and military about the challenging circumstance concerning Ukraine's energy system, which has been adversely impacted by Russian attacks. "Consequent to the Russian attacks, Ukraine's energy sector has now lost a significant portion of its output," he said. Serious measures are required to restructure the energy supply in a manner that it can no longer be devastated by Russia. No specifics were revealed.

23:59 Restart of Consular Services for Conscripted Ukrainians AbroadOwing to the new mobilization legislation, Ukrainian conscripts abroad can once more benefit from consular services. The prerequisite is to furnish documentation of registration with the military authorities on paper or electronically. This was announced by the Kiev-based Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the evening. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense instituted an interactive application that permits online registration. Hundreds of thousands of men deemed fit for military service departed Ukraine due to the Russian aggression war.

11:59 St. Petersburg Court Freezes Unicredit Accounts and Assets
A court in St. Petersburg has ordered the freezing of bank accounts and assets of Italian bank Unicredit following the request of Russian subsidiary RusChimAllianz. Russia's largest natural gas conglomerate, RusChimAllianz, operates an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) terminal on the Baltic Sea. The action was prompted by the failure of the terminal to materialize due to Western sanctions that Unicredit had guaranteed. RusChimAllianz seeks to recover 444 million euros from Unicredit. The targeted assets are worth 463 million euros. Unicredit is the largest foreign bank remaining in Russia after Raiffeisenbank and occupies one of the top 20 positions in terms of assets among Russian banks.

20:55 Ukrainian Prisoners Drafted into Army
To increase the number of troops for the Ukrainian military, some prisoners will be drawn into military service. President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law that allows for the temporary suspension of sentences for eligible prisoners, who will then be enlisted in the Ukrainian army. Convicts convicted of serious crimes are excluded from this measure.

19:26 Starlink Disruption at Ukrainian Military Base
A media report has emerged suggesting that all Starlink devices at a Ukrainian military unit stationed in Kharkiv malfunctioned when the Russian offensive began. Washington Post has learned that this happened on May 10th, coinciding with the Russian army's entry into the border region. It's believed that Russian electronic warfare systems caused the disruption to the satellite communication system, facilitating the Russian troops' rapid territorial gains. This is the first significant failure of the satellite communications system in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started in spring 2022.

18:50 Explosion at St. Petersburg Military Academy
A blast reportedly occurred at the Budyonny military academy in St. Petersburg, as confirmed by various Russian media outlets. Authorities state that one resident had notified local officials of the explosion. Additionally, the Telegram channel Baza, linked to Russian law enforcement, stated that seven individuals sustained injuries.