18:06 Ukraine: Air defense successfully downs Russian Su-25 warplane in Donetsk.
Ukrainian soldiers from the 110th Brigade have supposedly shot down a Russian Su-25 fighter jet in the Donetsk region, as per Ukrainian Pravda, citing a Telegram post on the OSUV "Khortytsia" channel.
17:35: Ukrainian troops happily display refilled ammo suppliesWeeks of cautious hope have gradually turned into delight as the first ammunition supplies from the US have arrived in Ukraine. One solider stationed in Luhansk enthusiastically informed reporters that they are now equipped with a complete ammo load for the first time in two grueling years of war. Now, the US is allegedly arranging another aid package for the upcoming clash in Kharkiv. Germany, meanwhile, has sent yet another air defense system.
16:50: At least two fatalities reported after Russian strike on Kharkiv marketThe city of Kharkiv endured a Russian attack on its main market, resulting in at least two deaths and dozens of injuries. According to Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov, those deceased are confirmed. The regional military administration's head, Oleh Syniehubov, reported via Telegram that 24 people experienced the brunt of the assault. Initial reports suggest that a commercial site in a residential area was targeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also acknowledged the occurrence through a Telegram post, stating that "possibly over 200 individuals" might have been affected. All rescue services are currently working to aid those wounded and extinguish fires.
16:30: Shebekino becomes target of Ukrainian drone strikesCommander Vyacheslav Gladkov of the state of Belgorod confirms that his region's city, Shebekino, was attacked twice in the morning by Ukrainian drones. Thankfully, there are no civilian casualties. The Telegram post confirms that the damage mainly included an industrial building's roof.
16:07: The bond between Russia and Iran remains unshakenThe tragic passing of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has not shaken the strategic partnership between both countries. Both Russian and Iranian Foreign Ministers confirmed the long-standing partnership during a recent phone call. Stating that the goals set by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Raisi to strengthen partnership in various sectors will persist.
15:46: Italian banks, especially UniCredit, should pull out of RussiaItalian Central Bank Governor Fabio Panetta urges Italian banks to pull out of Russia. Although this might cause several difficulties, Panetta suggests this action is essential due to the poor image it would create. Meanwhile, UniCredit has the most significant European involvement with Russia among banks, with plans to sell its Russian business. Intesa Sanpaolo is frantically working to sell its operations in the region.
15:22: Russian advance further into DonetskThe village of Archangelske in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region has fallen under Russian control, as per the Interfax news agency's sources at the Russian Defense Ministry. Additionally, their forces managed to thwart two Ukrainian counterattacks. The Ukrainian government has yet to express an opinion on the matter.
14:59: Russian Finance Minister warns of potential retaliation should assets be misused by Western countries
Russia's Russian FinMin Anton Siluanov threatens to confront the West for using seized Russian properties to support Ukraine. The accusation comes from a comment by the FinMin to journalist Pavel Zarubin on the Telegram channel of Rossija-1. Russia vows to resort to countermeasures if their funds are exploited.
14:31: G7 nations will carry on aiding Ukraine financiallyThe G7 countries will persist in financially assisting Ukraine as their G7 meeting in the Italian town of Stresa concludes. "We categorically stand behind Ukraine, despite continuous aggression," stated German FinMin Christian Lindner on Saturday. They have already committed financial support for this year. However, they are aiming for more significant involvement in 2025.
14:06: A street in Paris will bear Navalny's nameA Parisian street is set to be renamed in tribute to the famous Russian activist Alexei Navalny, who has gained fame internationally as a leading voice for freedom in Russia. A senator admits to the council's unanimous approval of the nomenclature. Navalny Street will be located in the 16th district - close to the Russian embassy.
13:47: Ukraine's 125th Brigade under investigation for inadequate defence on Kharkiv frontThe Ukrainian state is placing its own military unit, the 125th Brigade, under investigation due to its inadequate defense strategies during the battle in the Kharkiv region. The brigade allegedly failed to organize proper defense of their positions, leading to a major offensive from Russia on May 10 that captured up to 10 kilometers of Ukrainian territory in the area. Investigators plan to scrutinize around 30 command officers and are yet to determine potential consequences.
12:51: Lindner: Ukrainian aid won't harm taxpayers' pocketsThe G7's financial support for Ukraine will not come at the expense of its taxpayers, assures German Finance Minister Christian Lindner. After concluding the G7 meeting in Stresa, Lindner declared that any monetary aid will not jeopardize budgets. The funds, intended to strengthen the nation's defense, have already been secured for this year. However, Lindner aims to explore new ways of enhancing aid in 2025.
In an attempt to secure more financial aid for Ukraine, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner is facing a challenging situation for the G7. Lindner expressed concerns about minimizing risks for taxpayers and excluding them from the equation during a meeting with G7 finance ministers in northern Italy. The major Western industrialized countries plan to use the billions of dollars currently frozen by them from the Russian central bank for the aid of Ukraine, but the logistics of how this should be done are still disputed. The United States recently proposed that the G7 could provide Ukraine with a large loan, secured by the interest on the frozen Russian central bank funds, amounting to approximately 50 billion dollars. A potential agreement is expected in mid-June during a meeting of G7 heads of state in Apulia.
Elsewhere, Russian politician Dmitry Rogozin, former ambassador to NATO and now a senator in the Russian Federation Council, has expressed his worries about Ukraine's alleged drone attack on a Russian early warning system for nuclear missiles. He views this as a crucial component of military control for strategic nuclear forces. Rogozin alleges that the US is complicit, either by planning or having knowledge of this attack, dragging the world closer to the brink of a nuclear war.
In addition, Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov shared his thoughts on the future of the country's military capabilities. He claims that Ukraine is enhancing its fleet of unmanned ships to attack coasts and target small targets in the air, viewing these vessels as the future replacement for conventional warships in enclosed or semi-enclosed waters like the Black Sea or the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, Gerhard Mangott, a security expert, is voicing concerns about a planned law from the Russian Defense Ministry suggesting the potential expansion of Russian territorial waters in the Baltic Sea.
Furthermore, Ukrainian troops are reported to have been targeted by two Iskander missiles launched overnight in Kharkiv by Russian forces, with one missile striking a school and a residential building. Iskander-M is a system where missiles can fly up to 500 kilometers and carry nuclear warheads, making them difficult to intercept due to their flexible flight paths.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has publicly expressed his views on the use of Western weapons against military targets in Russia. He argued that self-defense, which is enshrined in the UN Charter and legal and legitimate, should include the possibility of attacking targets on Russian territory.
Ukrainian authorities report that Ukrainian drones hit a key radar station in the Russian region of Krasnodar, which forms part of Russia's early warning system for ballistic missile launches and missiles carrying nuclear warheads. The radar station has been attributed to covering an area of up to 6,000 kilometers.
US experts encourage caution amidst Putin's talk of a ceasefire, citing the potential for Russia to use the ceasefire to prepare forces better suited for future offensive operations aimed at changing the Ukrainian regime, demilitarizing Ukraine, and occupying the country. They also suggest that a frozen front could make support for Ukraine less urgent and vital for the Western world.
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter has urged the German government to declare a state of emergency due to the Ukraine war, saying that it can only be won through debt. Kiesewetter believes that Ukraine needs significant support urgently and finds it alarming that the German government declared the coronavirus pandemic a state of emergency to finance a power and gas price cap of €200 billion but has yet to consider such measures for the Ukraine war. He acknowledges the FDP's strong opposition to this step in the current traffic light coalition.
Lastly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the success of Ukrainian troops in defending Kharkiv while mourning the innocent lives lost during the war.
The U.S. supply Ukraine with an additional military assistance pack, valued in millions. This comes as another air defense system from Germany arrives in Ukraine. President Zelensky himself shares a video announcement of the army's recent achievements.
07:23: Ukrainian General Staff: Russia has lost 500,000 soldiers
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 500,080 casualties on the Russian side since the full-scale invasion kicked off on February 24, 2022. In the past day, 1140 more losses have been reported. The Russian army is currently pushing hard against Ukrainian defenders, taking a heavy toll on their own forces. Ukrainians have recorded 15 destroyed Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, one air defense system, and two multiple rocket launchers since yesterday.
07:07: First group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots almost ready for combat
The first group of Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16s has completed their training in the U.S. and will soon travel to Europe for more training. The pilot and ground crew training had taken nearly a year. They are expected to be ready for combat missions against Russian aircraft by summer. Ukraine is set to get more than 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Apart from these countries, the U.S., Britain, Romania, France, and Bulgaria are all lending a hand by sending personnel, aircraft, and ground equipment to train the Ukrainians.
06:33: Inaccuracy of American GPS-guided weapons - a result of Russian jammers
Ukrainian forces have shelved several types of American weapons due to their lack of accuracy. A Washington Post report claims this is affecting primarily GPS-guided weapons, particularly the Excalibur artillery shell and the HIMARS system, as both are hampered by Russian jammers. The success rate of the American-designed Excalibur artillery shells had fallen alarmingly in recent months - down to around 10%. U.S. has halted sending the Excalibur shells to Ukraine. To counter Russian jammers hindering the HIMARS system, it's required to neutralize them with cluster munitions.
04:34: Stoltenberg: China's significant support for Russia is vital in the Ukraine war
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg views China's vital role in supporting Russia in the current wave of Ukrainian aggression. "China is talking about wanting good relations with the West. While at the same time, China is heating up the war in Europe," Stoltenberg tells Welt am Sonntag. China is not directly supplying weapons or ammunition to their ally Russia, but they've seen a progressive increase in the sale of machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies used in creating Russian rockets, tanks, and aircraft designed to target Ukraine, Stoltenberg elaborates.
03:06: Hofreiter: Ukraine should be free to use Western weapons against targets on Russian territory
Green foreign policy spokesman Anton Hofreiter is pushing for allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against Russian targets located inside Russian territory. "We must keep in mind that this is about protecting the Ukrainian population. We should not prevent Ukraine from defending itself against Russian combat aircraft through the weapons we've provided," says the chair of the European Affairs Committee in the German Parliament. Under international law, the attacked state may strike military targets on the aggressor's territory.
02:01: Ukraine prepares for evacuation of 123 children from Charkiv area
Over 123 children from the northeast of the Kharkiv region are set to evacuate to Charkiv and then to the northern region of Volhynia. The local authorities in the Kyiv Independent publish the news. With the start of Russia's new offensive, a total of more than 11,000 civilians have been evacuated so far.
01:30: Zelensky: "Combat control" restored in Charkiv region
The Ukrainian army has regained control of the border area to the east of Charkiv, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Our troops have now managed to regain control of the combat area where the Russian invaders have entered," Zelensky said in a video address. Zelensky had just visited Charkiv before making this announcement. The Russian armed forces had launched a ground offensive in the border region two weeks ago, capturing several Ukrainian villages.
00:54: Russia accused of holding over 400 Ukrainian women captive
Ukrainian media outlet Ukrinform, citing the Ukrainian Coordination Center for Prisoners of War, reveals that 403 Ukrainian women are being held captive in Russia. Many of these are allegedly civilians who've been illegally detained. It's also reported that there are women who've been missing since 2014, and their fates are unknown. The Russian side has ignored numerous appeals for their return.
00:22: Ukrainian military records Russian air raids and "partial success" near Kupiansk
The Ukrainian General Staff reports another Russian air attack on the city of Wowtschansk, with eight precision bombs hitting the city. The Ukrainian armed forces have pushed back 10 Russian attacks on the city and its surroundings. The Russian army has experienced "partial success" near Kupiansk in the province of Kharkiv and in the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk region.
00:07: Plans for more evacuations in the Charkiv region
123 children are being taken from the northeast of the Kharkiv region, first to Charkiv, and then onward to the northwestern region of Volhyina. The regional authorities of Kyiv Independent are orchestrating the evacuation. Since the start of the new Russian offensive, more than 11,000 civilians have been rescued from the area.
22:02: Kuleba: Putin fears the triumph of the Ukraine peace summit
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to thwart the upcoming peace summit in Ukraine, Switzerland due to his concerns over its success. Kuleba's reaction came upon reports of Putin's purported eagerness for peace talks (see entries at 19:55 and 12:22 p.m.). The minister asserts that Putin is determined not to conclude the war in Ukraine instigated by Moscow. "Putin is frantically trying to mar the success of the peace summit in Switzerland. He's afraid it might succeed," tweeted Kuleba.
21:40: "Drone fence": NATO members eye construction of a fence spanning from Norway to Poland
The NATO member countries lying on Russia's borders are considering building a "drone fence" to safeguard against alleged hostile activity from neighboring nations. Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite shared this insight with the BNS news agency following discussions with officials from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, and Poland. Bilotaite asserted that this "fence from Norway to Poland" would employ drones and various technologies for border security. The goal, according to Bilotaite, entails defying "provocations by unfriendly states" alongside combating smuggling. Besides, drones for border surveillance, anti-drone systems would also be incorporated. Bilotaite refrained from disclosing a timetable for the project. The edifice is perceived as a response to the security concerns wrought by Russian aggression against Ukraine.
21:18: Uncle Sam's Wallop: USA escalates military donations to Ukraine with fresh $275 million installment
The United States has upped the ante in its military aids directed towards Ukraine, countering the Russian onslaught. According to the US State Department, a new aid tranche worth $275 million (equivalent to roughly €253 million) will consist of ammunition for HIMARS multiple rocket systems along with artillery shells with 155mm and 105mm calibers. This is the fifth group of financial assistance sanctioned by US President Joe Biden since the Congress gifted Ukraine roughly $61 billion (€56.2 billion) in late April. Prior deliveries have already scampered towards the front, it was revealed. The coming assistance would be set for transportation "as swiftly as possible" allowing the Ukrainian military to safeguard their region and shield its residents, it was additional remarked. Since February 2022, Russian aggression against Ukraine, the United States has accorded about $50 billion worth of military assistance to Kiev, Pentagon data suggests.
20:30: The Soviet times are back: Kremlin demands adolescents for military elementary training
Russia has introduced a new mandatory course in schools this academic year: "Basics of Life Safety." The program encompasses rudimentary military training such as firing and dressings of injuries.
19:55: "Reality-check": Putin prescribes conditions for talks with Ukraine
Nearly two and a half years since the inception of Vladimir Putin's unprovoked hostilities against Ukraine, the Russian head-of-state has once more upheld his readiness for negotiation - however lacking an intent to return annexed territories seized while under Moscow's control. While conversing with the allied neighboring nation Belarus, Putin stated, "We'll talk about returning to negotiations once again." However, he clarified further that "We shouldn't start from just one side's demands, but from the realities that have unfolded on the ground." Russia has been lunging forth with aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, possessing around 20% of Ukraine. The Ukraine consistently maintains that the recoil of Russia's troops from its soil is a prerequisite for enduring tranquility.
16:22: Living Legacy: Ukrainians seek new era in freedom without Russia
As the Ukrainian government makes fundamental progress on allocating funds, boarding facilities, and infrastructural projects, a rift among citizens proliferates with some urging that their nation reaches self-dependence isolated from Russia.
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Source: www.ntv.de
