CNN camera crew observes a drone-related tragedy in Vovchansk.

18:17 CNN crew captures drone tragedy in Vovchansk

The Kharkiv region has been the center of conflict since the war outbreak. Currently, the small town of Vovchansk experiences regular Russian attacks with shells and drones. A CNN crew witnesses this rapid retreat.

3:49 Insider: Russian refinery shuts down after assaultIndustry insiders report the Tuapse oil refinery in the Black Sea has been shut down after a Ukrainian drone attack. Both informants declare the halt was initiated by a fire, one stating the drones hit the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production plant, while the other claims the crude oil distillation unit remained undamaged. The source mentioned no black smoke rose from the fire, implying only the LGP was burning. He predicts the operation may recover soon since the LPG unit can be bypassed. As indicated by state news agency Tass, the fire has been extinguished, but the operator Rosneft has not issued a statement.

3:19 Zelenskyi: Olympic ceasefire illogicalVolodymyr Zelenskyi dismisses the notion of a ceasefire throughout the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris. He expresses uncertainty over the details, particularly concerning the potential for Russia to continue moving military equipment toward Ukraine. The president reiterates the failure of an earlier ceasefire, emphasizing it failed to deter the adversary. Zelenskyi ponders the potential to advance weapons technology during the truce and then launch an offensive. "It doesn't make sense to me so far." In the meantime, Putin, currently in China, rebukes the West for pressuring Russia to obey an Olympic truce while not observing it themselves by barring Russian athletes.

2:43 Russian dependence on ChinaThe Russian president depends heavily on Chinese counterpart Xi. While China provides weaponry, helping Russia in the war against Ukraine, Xi advocates political resolution. His commitment to this is questionable.

2:07 Missile strike on Kharkiv - casualtiesRussia once again attacks the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. At least two civilians perished, and thirteen sustained injuries due to multiple precision bombs. Governor Oleh Sinehubov disclosed this information through Telegram.

1:27 Putin opposes Swiss peace conferencePutin declares the Swiss peace summit to be a tool for imposing conditions on Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine. He cited his two-day trip to China in Harbin as evidence, as the West demands Russia abide by the Olympic truce while not inviting the nation to participate. The Kremlin has openly stated multiple times over the past few months its refusal to join the Switzerland-based conference.

1:04 Bodycam videos show intense street combat in Kharkiv areaUkrainian troops publish video recordings from the beleaguered city of Vovchansk. The fighting is fierce, but the defense remains unbroken, according to Ukrainian accounts. NATO concurs, predicting Russia is unlikely to make a significant headway.

12:53 EU enforces sanctions on pro-Russian news network and three other Russian media outletsEU nations have imposed sanctions on the pro-Russian platform Voice of Europe and three other Russian media entities. They plan to obstruct these organizations across the EU.

12:25 Putin denounces Western sanctions as fickle economic desecrationPutin slams Western sanctions as distractions hindering global trade. "These are not market-oriented, absolutely stupid decisions with no prospects," he shared with Russian media representatives in China. He further accuses the United States of weakening the dollar while "sawing off the branch [they] are sitting on". Putin contradicts assertions linking the sanctions to his aggression against Ukraine, instead citing a motive to gain a competitive edge.

11:53 Putin hopes for additional pipeline to ChinaThe energy partnership between Russia and China is set to expand. Leaders of both nations traveled to China, where Putin expressed his desire for building the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline which aims to transfer Russian gas to China. He anticipates an agreement will be reached regarding the route of the pipeline, further considering construction of an oil pipeline "in the same corridor".

Putin says no plans to take Kharkiv right now

President Putin has told Russian state media representatives that they're not aimed at taking the city of Kharkiv, which has been under attack from Russian forces for several weeks. The question was triggered by Zelensky's recent visit to the heavily bombarded Kharkiv region where he reported a stabilization of the situation. However, Putin claims Russia is establishing a buffer zone in the area because of intense shelling on the Russian city of Belgorod. Many experts speculate that the Kremlin might be eyeing Kharkiv for annexation.

Beijing communicates with Putin clearly behind closed doors, according to political expert

China may be expressing a polite attitude towards Putin in public, but according to political scientist Thomas Jäger, things could be vastly different behind the scenes. The significance of their relationship can't be overstated as Russia's dependencies on China are substantial.

Putin aims to increase energy supply to China

During his visit to China, Putin has offered to increase energy supplies to his neighboring country. Putin said, "Russia is ready and capable to continuously and reliably supply the Chinese economy, companies, cities, and villages with eco-friendly, low-cost energy, electricity, and heat." He's sure that the strategic alliance in the energy sector will be further strengthened.

Satellite images show damage at Russian airbase Belbek

The Ukrainian military bombed the occupied Crimea and targeted the Belbek airbase. Russian officials reported intercepting a total of five ATACMS. Newly released aerial photos reveal the aftermath of the attacks, showing the charred remains of several fighter jets.

Cracks appearing in Russia-China partnership

Despite reports of a 30-page agreement between Russia and China, there might be some underlying tensions. For instance, it's been speculated that Beijing could participate in peace negotiations in Switzerland, or that it doesn't want to get overtly reliant on Russian resources.

Russian army expands combat zone by 70 kilometers

According to Ukrainian Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Russian military has extended its active combat area by nearly 70 kilometers with their offensive on the Kharkiv region. This move is designed to force Ukraine to deploy more reserve brigades. He predicts the fighting will increase as troops near the border of Sumy.

Video reveals consequences of Russian attacks

Ukraine has hit several targets on Russian-occupied territory, including a drone strike on a Tuapse oil refinery. More than 100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted during the night, according to Russian officials.

Baerbock urges longer-range weapons for Ukraine

In response to the worsening situation in Kharkiv, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is calling for longer-range weapons in Ukraine's arsenal. The situation in Kharkiv is highly critical, with Russia shelling the city from its own territory, out of reach of Ukraine's air defense. She emphasized the need for medium and long-range attack weapons.

Putin and Xi bid farewell with a hug

Since the beginning of their talks in China, Putin and Xi have closely cooperated. At the conclusion of their meeting yesterday evening, they warmly exchanged hugs in a video shared by state broadcaster CCTV. Putin's two-day state visit to Harbin continues today.

Four explosions reported in Kharkiv after Russia drone attacks

Ukraine claims to have shot down all 20 drones Russia launched against them during the night. The attacks occurred in regions like Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odessa, and Mykolaiv. In Kharkiv, 4 explosions were reported. City Mayor Ihor Terekhov shared that fires broke out from one of the blasts and five buildings were damaged, including an administrative building.

ntv reporter: "Russians are approaching the city limits of Kharkiv"

Tensions in the Kharkiv region are at an all-time high. Ukraine's military has managed to secure the military situation near the city limits, but the Russians have also fortified their positions. The Russian army is believed to be stationed around 30km from the city's restrictions.

Around 8:34 a.m., Russia reports casualties in Belgorod region. Russian authorities say that two people have been killed due to Ukrainian nighttime drone attacks. In the village of Oktyabrsky, a mother and her four-year-old son were killed by a combat drone. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed this incident.

08:06 am - Russia reports attack on Sevastopol in Crimea. According to the Moscow Ministry of Defense, the city of Sevastopol in Crimea faced an attack during the night. The local governor reveals that a substation has been damaged. Due to this, there are plans for some power outages. As a result of the situation, many schools and kindergartens have remained closed. Sevastopol is the home port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In 2014 Russia annexed Crimea in violation of international law.

07:42 am - There are reports of an attack on the Black Sea Fleet port. X-platforms feature videos reporting an alleged massive Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet port of Novorossiysk. The Russian state news agency, RIA, mentions missile attacks across the region, but avoids specifically mentioning the port.

07:18 am - Moscow states interrupted 100+ drone intercepts. The Russian Ministry of Defense shares information that they intercepted over 100 Ukrainian drones throughout the night.51 drones were seized over Crimea, 44 more in Krasnodar, six in Belgorod, and one in Kursk. The navy also managed to destroy six naval drones in the Black Sea. Since Russia has been continuously shelling Ukraine, Ukraine has intensified their attacks on Russian territory, with regular targeting of energy facilities.

06:58 am - Three fighter jets destroyed in Crimea. According to satellite images from Maxar, three of Russia's fighter jets were completely obliterated - two MiG-31s and an Su-27 - while an MiG-29 was severely damaged in the Ukrainian assaults on the Russian military installation at Belbek in Crimea. The New York Times analyzed these developments. On Thursday night, Ukraine attacked the base for the second consecutive night.

06:33 am - New attacks on a Russian refinery are reported. Videos suggesting an additional Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil refinery, located in Tuapse, have surfaced. Local authorities have certified the fire and have contained it successfully.

06:14 am - Putin places focus on trade with China's northeast. Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to emphasize the significance of trade near the border with northeastern China after finalizing a strategic partnership with Chinese President Xi Jinping today. Putin's visit to China ends in Harbin, a province recognized for its continued trade and cultural relationships with Russia.

06:00 am - Russia ousts British military attaché. The Russian Foreign Ministry expels Adrian Coghill, the British embassy's military attaché, declaring him a persona non grata. This reprisal was enacted in response to the UK's expulsion of the Russian military attaché, believed to be a covert intelligence agent, on May 8th.

05:30 am - Some NATO Nations Consider Sending Military Trainers to Ukraine. The New York Times details potential moves by certain NATO countries to send military trainers or contractors to Ukraine. The aim is to instruct Ukrainian troops and help restore equipment. Ukraine has requested that the US and other NATO countries provide training for 150,000 soldiers near the front line. However, the United States has expressed concerns over the potential for trainers to be attacked, an event which may trigger the alliance's collective defense clause. Some officials propose selecting larger numbers of Ukrainian recruits to train in Germany and Poland, though they concede the logistical challenges involved in transporting such a significant number of soldiers. Other NATO nations, including the UK, Germany, and France, are examining the possibility of employing defense contractors in Ukraine. The White House is currently reconsidering its restriction on US defense contractors operating in Ukraine.

04:42 am - Japan emphasizes the need for lawful distribution of Russian assets. Japanese Finance Minister, Shunichi Suzuki, emphasizes the importance of complying with international law during discussions regarding the distribution of frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. Suzuki expresses Japan's commitment to participating in the upcoming G7 meeting from this perspective.

03:11 am - Kim Jong Un's sister refutes reports of a Russian arms deal. Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, dismisses the claim that North Korea is involved in arms trading with Russia. According to Kim, the weapons North Korea develops are not intended for export, but rather for defensive purposes targeted at South Korea. She asserts that the rumored arms trade with Russia is an "absurd theory" concocted from malice and lies. Both Moscow and Pyongyang reject these allegations. The United States and South Korea accuse North Korea of providing weapons to Russia which would then be employed against Ukraine.

02:04 Kharkiv air raid alert ends after drone attacks

The air raid alert in Kharkiv has been lifted in most areas of the region, following at least five drone attacks on Ukraine's second largest city. The regional governor, Oleh Synyehubov, confirmed the incidents while Kharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, reported a district had been hit and there was a fire. The public broadcaster Suspilne stated that the air raid siren had been blaring for over 16.5 hours, the longest since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

00:51 China's support for Russia hinders US-China rapprochement

Chinese President Xi Jinping's friendly meeting with Vladimir Putin has led the US government to identify Chinese support for Russia as a hindrance to improving relations with the West. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel in Washington commented, "China can't dance at two weddings at the same time." This friendship with Moscow poses difficulties for Beijing's better relations with Europe and other countries, explained Patel, as it keeps fueling the greatest threat to European security in years - the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

23:34 Zelensky warns Europe of consequences from gas infrastructure attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a warning about the potential dangers Europe faces due to Russian missile attacks on the country's gas transportation system. He spoke of these dangers to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during an evening video message, emphasizing the need for joint action against these attacks. He said, "These attacks on gas infrastructure represent a danger not only for us but also for our neighbors."

22:06 Power cuts in Ukraine may last for months due to infrastructure damage

The Ukrainian government expects power cuts to last for up to two months due to severe damage sustained by power plants and substations. Adviser to the Prime Minister and member of Ukrenerho's supervisory board, Yuri Boyko, shared news of upcoming regional blackouts on Thursday to conserve energy. The capital Kiev is also affected, with power cuts across the city. Russia's missile strikes are responsible for the extensive damage to the power grid, Boyko confirmed.