17:24 Update: Russian troops mandate Africans to engage in combat near Kharkiv.
Russia is alleged to have forced thousands of African migrants to fight alongside their troops in Kharkiv by threatening to terminate their visas if they refused. This according to European diplomats, as reported by Bloomberg. Although some of these individuals could have remained in the country by paying Russian officials, these offers were not extended to them.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden announced an agreement with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on handling Russian assets. The plan is to use the frozen assets to support Ukraine, but the specifics of how this will be carried out are yet to be disclosed.
There have been reports of an explosion in the Belgorod region in Russia, with videos of it being posted on Telegram. These videos show a fire in a munitions depot in the Rakityansky district of the region, according to the Russian-language Telegram channel Astra. The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed that several Ukrainian drones had been shot down over the Belgorod region.
Russian soldiers are said to be stationed on the outskirts of Chassiv Yar in eastern Ukraine by Ukrainian news portal "Ukrajinska Prawda" and a source in the Ukrainian military. The soldiers were allegedly gathering troops in houses and had been there for almost a week. The source mentioned that there have been more than 1500 bombings in the area, with numerous positions destroyed using multiple rocket launchers and guided air bombs. Despite their advancements on the city center, the Ukrainian troops claim the area is still under their control.
The Ukrainian military shared a video on Telegram showing pilots clearly visible through the lens of a Russian reconnaissance drone. The plane type, Yak-52, is used for air defense and was flying over Mykolajiw. According to the "Kyiv Post," the co-pilot shot down the drone. However, this information could not be independently verified.
The Ukrainian intelligence service (HUR) claimed responsibility for the drone attack on a modern Russian combat jet parked 600 kilometers from the border in Southern Russia. A HUR source stated that a Ukrainian-made drone was used in the attack. The HUR is known for its daring operations on Russian territory and in Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine.
Russia is reportedly planning to rename the occupied territories in a federal district called "Novorossiya." The regional military administration of Luhansk announced this on Telegram, saying that locals won't be given a chance to choose the name because it has already been decided. The HUR clarified that these territorial entities have no legal status.
A Ukrainian brigade commander confirms that the permission to direct Western weapons at Russia has immediately affected the course of hostilities in general, to the advantage of the Ukrainian armed forces. Commander Yuriy Fedorenko stated in an interview with Radio NV that the permission has allowed them to disable electronic reconnaissance, electronic warfare, air defense, and S-300 and S-400 systems, which have systematically attacked Kharkiv.
Ukrainian military reported 103 attacks on settlements in Ukraine and 93 on infrastructure since the day before. These attacks happened in ten different regions, leaving three people dead in Kharkiv, Kherson, and Izium, and causing damage to houses and a school.
Female representation in the Ukrainian army has been growing rapidly, with more than 67,000 women currently serving in the Ukrainian army. These soldiers primarily serve as soldiers, but many are now willing to take on combat roles, such as shooting, operating artillery systems, and operating drones. The Ukrainian government is taking measures to provide career opportunities for women.
The Ukrainian military reported 103 attacks on settlements in Ukraine and 93 on infrastructure since the previous day. These attacks affected ten different regions, resulting in the deaths of three people in Kharkiv, Kherson, and Izium, as well as damage to houses and a school.
Ukrainian military females are on the rise, with more than 67,000 of them currently serving in the Ukrainian army. In fact, most of these women serve as soldiers, and many are now willing to engage in combat actions like shooting, managing artillery systems or drones. The government is taking steps to provide these females with professional opportunities.
11:31 Ukraine to document hazardous areas in national registry
The Ukrainian government aims to track explosive and mine-infested areas in a nationwide registry. This initiative is designed to keep tabs on demining progress in near real-time, according to the Ministry of Economy. Farmers need this information to determine if their land remains contaminated or has already been cleared. Following the war, various hazards remain in Ukraine. Security expert Gustav Gressel comments on the ambiguous post-war situation in Ukraine: "We have varying amounts of North Korean ordnance from the 50s with a dud rate over 30%."
10:55 Majority of Germans support conscription reinstatement, survey shows
60% of those polled by YouGov for "Welt am Sonntag" favor the reintroduction of mandatory military service. 28% express strong support while 32% convey moderate support. In opposition, 32% dismiss the idea; 18% planning to vote against it, and 14% outright reject it. Germany suspended conscription in 2011. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a debate has arisen as to the most viable method to substantially increase the size of the Bundeswehr.
10:32 Su-57, Russia's latest fighter jet, said to be hit for first time
The Ukrainian military intelligence agency claims to have inflicted damage on a Su-57 fighter jet. This is the first-recorded incident of such a weapon being affected in conflict. The plane was reported damaged during an operation at an airfield in Russia's Astrakhan region. The Su-57 is the most advanced Russian aircraft, capable of carrying cruise missiles. Only a limited number of them have been commissioned, making it a strategic asset worth tracking.
10:11 ISW: Russian reinforcements will not suffice for major summer offensives
ISW analysis sheds light on how Russia's monthly recruitment of 30,000 troops is insufficient to launch extensive offensives at multiple fronts in the summer. These new recruits would primarily serve as rear-line or reserve forces, but not as front-line or first-line troops needed for a large-scale offensive.
09:27 UN: 174 Ukrainian civilians kiled, 690+ injured during May
The UN mission in Ukraine estimates that over 174 civilians lost their lives and at least 690 were injured last month. This is the highest recorded number of civilian casualties in a single month since the beginning of the invasion. The victims were attributed mainly to the increased shelling of Russian troops in the Kharkiv region.
08:50 Russia offers officer training in occupied Ukrainian territories
Russia is offering courses to train officers in the grabbed Ukrainian regions. The Kyiv Post reports, citing the Ukrainian Special Forces, that those who complete the training will receive "lucrative career opportunities," allegedly having a say in electing the trainees, many of whom are likely mercenaries. The courses will focus on technical aspects, specifically working with radar or jammers.
08:19 Ukrainian General Staff counts over 518,000 Russian fatalities, injuries
The Ukrainian General Staff reports that they have counted 518,000 Russian casualties, with 1,270 additional dead or injured in the last 24 hours. This figure was inflated by the destruction of 26 tanks, 26 armored vehicles, and 60 artillery systems, as well as two air defense systems and 37 drones.
07:40 Ukrainians pop up against Russian advances in the north
After assembling their troops on the northeastern Ukrainian border, the Russians have been pushing towards the Kharkiv region. The town of Wowtschansk has been under heavy shelling for weeks. However, initial optimism has given way to indications that the Ukrainians are stymying the Russian advance.
07:27 NATO may send permanent envoy to Kyiv, U.S. seeks to reinforce Ukrainian allegiance
NATO is contemplating sending a high-level representative to Kyiv, whose role would be to manage and coordinate NATO support for Ukraine, including military assistance from western countries. This move resembles NATO's involvement in Afghanistan for two decades. The rationale behind this proposal is that many alliance members are unlikely to support Ukraine's admission into membership talks at the NATO summit in July. Therefore, the alliance is seeking interim measures to deepen its alliance with Ukraine and increase the reliability of its support.
The Ukrainian authorities are implementing a new plan to collaborate with weapon producers, with the goal of finalizing more direct contracts between the nation and the arms industry. Director of Defense Vice Dmytro Klimenkov from Ukraine reportedly signed such a deal with a Bulgarian firm over the weekend, according to the news portal "Ukrinform." He explained, "This enables us to secure contemporary weaponry directly from the manufacturer, aiding in the quicker and more efficient modernization of the Ukrainian military."
06:19 - Austrian Minister Claims Germany, France, and the US Overstepped Boundaries
Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner mentioned in a talk with "Die Presse" that Germany, France, and the United States surpassed a red line by allowing Kiev to utilize Western weaponry on Russian territory. She is pleased that NATO, as per Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, won't dispatch soldiers to Ukraine. Tanner declined to express her opinion on whether Ukraine needs to defend itself against projectiles from the Russian border. "As a militarily impartial state, it is not our duty to judge this."
05:38 - German Ministry of Defense: Significant Increase of Bundeswehr Reserve
The German Ministry of Defense plans to significantly increase the Bundeswehr reserve. This force must also be trained and equipped to back up or replace the active troops in combat. According to General Lieutenant Alexander Hoppe, Deputy General Inspector and Reservist Affairs Officer in Berlin, "The objective of military planners is to have up to 60,000 men and women as reservists in a so-called basic order, specifically prepared for a particular assignment."
04:37 - German Government Cautious Against Macron Plan
Due to safety considerations, the German government opposes French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to deploy European soldiers to Ukraine for training purposes in the future. The newspaper "Welt am Sonntag" quoted an EU document that it had access to, stating "Training in the EU provides security, while the risk that training facilities in Ukraine will be attacked makes the training inefficient." At a meeting of European defense ministers on May 28, the German government voiced severe security concerns.
03:20 - Ukrainian Army: Russians Trying to Breach Front Line
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 76 combat situations in the previous day. The most severe scenario occurred at the Pokrovsk Front, where the Russians allegedly carried out 27 attacks. According to the Kiev Army leadership, Russians are attempting to break through from Ocheretyne to Evgeniwka and Novoalexandrivka.
01:42 - Moldovan Suspects Arrested in Soldier's Coffin Graffiti Incident
Four men, including three from Moldova, are in pre-trial custody in relation to the soldier's coffin graffiti in Paris. The investigation is ongoing, and there is no rule-out of foreign involvement. On Friday, graffiti with a coffin and the warning "French soldier in Ukraine" appeared on apartment buildings in the French capital. On the night between Friday and Saturday, the three Moldovans were detained near the Eiffel Tower, carrying paint cans and stencils with them. Just a few days earlier, coffins with the message "French soldiers in Ukraine" were placed at the Eiffel Tower. Three suspects were detained, including a German.
00:39 - UN Reports 174 Civilian Deaths in Ukraine in May
The United Nations reported that May was the month with the highest count of civilian fatalities in Ukraine since June 2023, with at least 174 civilians killed. Ukraine has repeatedly pointed the finger at Russia for intentionally striking residential areas near the front lines to prompt evacuations. Moscow refutes targeting civilian areas.
23:24 - Explosives Dropped from Drone on Ambulance in Ukrainian Community
The driver of an ambulance was hurt, according to Ukrainian sources, when Russian forces dropped explosives from a drone on the vehicle. The strike occurred in the community of Biloserka in southern Ukraine, reported the governor of the Oblast Kherson.
22:23 - Prosecutor General: Nearly All Ukrainian POWs Suffered Torture
Torturing prisoners of war or civilians appears to be frequent within the Russian military, as per Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin's remarks. He estimates that almost 90% of returning Ukrainian POWs experienced various forms of torture, physical, including sexual, and mental abuse. This information was shared by the news portal "Euromaidan Press." "The primary informal screening of returning military POWs shows that up to 90% of our people endured different types of torture, inhumane treatment, physical, including sexual, and psychological violence."
Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, sees the Russian military's offensive in the Charkiv region as a failure. He made this statement in a recent evening address after speaking with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi about the broader battlefield situation. One significant outcome, according to the president, is the lack of Russian military action in Charkiv. He added, "We're doing everything we can to halt them and annihilate any Russian units that set foot in our territory, causing terror in Charkiv." Zelenskyy also highlighted the fortification of the Charkiv front and announced plans for further reinforcements. The most challenging situation right now, he noted, is in Donetsk.
Read also:
- The African migrants, forced to fight in Ukraine by Russia, could potentially seek assistance from Volodymyr Zelensky or the Ukrainian government, as they are alleged to have faced threats of visa termination in Russia.
- There have been concerns about NATO's response to the attack on Ukraine, with some suggesting that a permanent representative in Kyiv could help coordinate and strengthen NATO's support for Ukraine, including military aid.
- The Ukrainian military has been experiencing significant cyberwarfare attacks from Russia, posing a significant challenge to their operations and defense systems.
- Following the attack on Ukraine, there have been calls for an increase in military personnel, with some German citizens supporting the reinstatement of conscription to boost the size of the Bundeswehr.
