Selenskyj: Assault on hardware store illustrates Russian insanity at 18:42.

18:42 Selenskyj: Hardware store attack reflects Russian insanity.

Russian military's assault on a hardware store in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, is "another example of Russian insanity," claims President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Only lunatics like Putin can murder and terrorize people in such a disgraceful manner," says Zelensky in his daily video address. As per regional civil defense, at least two people were killed while 33 others were injured in the attack. Firefighters are still battling through the demolished building. At the time of the incident, about 200 people were in the "Epizentr" hardware store.

18:06 Ukraine: Air defense shoots down Russian Su-25 fighter jet in Donetsk

The Ukrainian Army's 110th Brigade has downed a Russian Su-25 fighter jet in the Donetsk region. This is reported by "Ukrainian Pravda" citing a Telegram post on the OSUV "Khortytsia" channel.

17:35 Ukrainian frontline unit feels proud about new ammunition supply

The first ammunition deliveries from the US have reached Ukraine. "For the first time in two years of war, we have a full load," one of the soldiers in Luhansk shares. Now, the United States is preparing a second aid package for the fight for Kharkiv. Germany is sending a new air defense system as well.

16:50 Death toll rises to two in Russian attack on hardware store in Kharkiv

At least two people died in a Russian attack on Kharkiv city in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, as per officials. "We've confirmed two deaths," Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov reveals on Telegram. Thirty-three others were injured, as announced by the head of the regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, through a Telegram post. Preliminarily, a hardware store in a residential area was targeted. Zelensky adds that "probably more than 200" could have been in the hardware store. All emergency services are working to help people and extinguish the fires, according to the Ukrainian President's Telegram post.

16:30 Ukrainian forces bombard city in Belgorod

Shebekino, a city in the Russian region of Belgorod, was attacked twice by Ukrainian drones in the morning, the governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reports in a Telegram post. "Luckily, no civilians were harmed in the attacks," Gladkov writes in the post. The roof of an industrial building was damaged due to the drone crash, claims the governor's Telegram post.

16:07 Russia and Iran maintain their strategic partnership

Russians as well as Iranian Foreign Ministers have reaffirmed the strategic partnership between their countries despite the tragic demise of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi. This information comes from a phone call between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his temporary Iranian counterpart Ali Bagheri-Kani, reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The partnership set by Presidents Putin and Raisi will be maintained, the ministers affirm in their statement. All agreements and projects on different issues should continue.

15:46 Italian banks called to abandon Russia

Italian Central Bank Governor Fabio Panetta is urging Italian banks to withdraw from Russia, although this comes with challenges, shared Panetta after the G7 finance meeting in Stresa. "But you have to get out, due to the reputation issue." The Russian connection of European banks is largest for UniCredit, which has its headquarters in Italy. Intesa Sanpaolo is working on dismantling its business in the nation.

15:22 Media discloses: Russian troops progress further in Donetsk

Russian troops reported have seized control of the village of Archangelske in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, as per the news agency Interfax. Also, they've advanced in the northeastern region of Kharkiv and repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks, the Russian Defense Ministry's statement reveals. There's no response from the Ukrainian administration at this time.

14:59 Russian Finance Minister threatens reprisal for sanctions

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has threatened retaliation for the G7 countries' plans to employ frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. This is conveyed by the Russian news agency TASS citing a comment by Siluanov on journalist Pavel Zarubin's Telegram channel of Rossija-1. Russia will administer mirror measures if its assets are misused unlawfully by Western countries, reveals Siluanov's Telegram post.

14:31 G7 countries to sustain Ukraine's financial aid

The G7 countries plan to continue financing Ukraine. "We stand by Ukraine," declared German Finance Minister Christian Lindner at the G7 meeting in Stresa. The money is already secured. "But we want more." It's about novel approaches in 2025.

14:06 Paris plans to name road after Navalny

Paris plans to honor Alexei Navalny, the prominent Kremlin critic, by naming a street after him. Navalny's symbolism of freedom in Russia and beyond is exemplified by a senator's statement. The city council has unanimously decided on the street's renaming. Navalny Street will be situated in the affluent 16th administrative district - close to the Russian embassy.

03:47 Investigators Probe Ukraine's 125th Brigade Over Poor Defense in Kharkiv

Ukrainian authorities have launched an investigation into the actions of the 125th Brigade, deployed to protect Kharkiv in early May. When Russia launched a new offensive in the north of the country on May 10, they advanced up to 10 kilometers into the region. A preliminary report revealed that the brigade failed to properly organize the defense and showed a "nonchalant attitude" towards military duties. Officials intend to examine the conduct of 30 commanders and commanders but haven't specified any potential punishment yet.

12:05 Lindner weighs risks in aiding Ukraine

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner addresses the challenge of obtaining more financial support for Ukraine amid the G7. At a meeting of finance ministers in northern Italy, he highlights the need to minimize financial risks, saying, "The risks for taxpayers must be eliminated." The West aims to use funds from the frozen Russian central bank to help Ukraine. The US recently proposed a $50 billion loan secured by interest payments from the frozen Russian bank funds, but the details are controversial. Discussions with the G7 are ongoing, with a potential agreement during the upcoming mid-June summit in Apulia.

11:30 Rogozin responds to drone attack on Russian radar system

Reports suggest Ukraine used drones to damage a Russian early warning system for nuclear missiles. Former Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitri Rogozin, reacts to the situation, saying the system is a "keystone in the military control of strategic nuclear forces." Rogozin, now a senator in the Russian Federation Council, accuses the US of either planning or knowing about this attack. He believes such actions could push the world closer to an atomic war.

10:52 Ukrainian Military Chief Foresees Future of Unmanned Ships

Ukrainian military intelligence service head Kyrylo Budanov notes Ukraine is improving its fleet of unmanned ships, designed to attack shores and target aerial targets. Budanov believes unmanned ships will eventually replace traditional warships in the near future, especially in enclosed or semi-enclosed waters.

10:17 Mangott analyzes Russian territorial waters expansion plan

A proposed Russian Defense Ministry law has alarmed Baltic Sea defense experts. The Kremlin is seen as hinting at an increase in Russian territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. Security expert Gerhard Mangott responds to the development.

09:40 Russian Missiles Strike Kharkiv, Damaging School and Residential Building

Russian troops are reported to have struck Kharkiv with two Iskander missiles overnight. Iskander-M has a 500 km firing range and can be equipped with nuclear warheads. These missiles are difficult to intercept due to their flexible flight path. The missiles damaged a school and a residential building.

Zum Schutz vorm russischen Vormarsch werden Kinder aus der Region Charkiw in Sicherheit gebracht.

09:05 Stoltenberg calls for allowing Western weapons against Russia

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg enters the conversation on the use of Western weapons against Russian targets. In an interview with The Economist, he suggests that the alliance should consider easing restrictions on these weapons now that there are many battles taking place near the border in Kharkiv. Stoltenberg emphasized that self-defense is "embedded in the UN Charter" and legal and legitimate, adding, "We are helping Ukraine uphold this right, and that should include the possibility of attacking targets on Russian territory."

08:49 Unconfirmed: Ukraine Hits Russian Radar Station with Drones

According to unofficial reports, Ukrainian drones may have targeted a crucial radar station in the Russian Krasnodar district. This station is part of the early warning system for ballistic missile launches and missiles with nuclear equipment, controlling up to 6,000 km.

07:48 US Experts Warn Against Ceasefire

Russian President Putin openly talks about a ceasefire, but NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warns that Ukraine risks being in a weaker position if a truce occurs. He highlights that a ceasefire could give Russia time to better prepare its forces for future offensive operations targeting regime change, demilitarization of Ukraine, or the conquest of the country. The Kremlin might also assume that a stalemate reduces the need for Western support for Ukraine.

The CDU foreign policy expert, Roderich Kiesewetter, has recommended that the German government formally declare a state of emergency in response to the Ukraine conflict. In an interview with "Spiegel," Kiesewetter contends that the war can only be won with debt and states that Ukraine requires immediate assistance. It is puzzling to him why the federal government labelled the Corona pandemic a state of emergency in order to fund a €200 billion power and gas cost ceiling, but the war does not meet the criteria for a state of emergency. If a state of emergency were declared, the strict fiscal restrictions enshrined in the Basic Law could be postponed. However, the FDP is staunchly opposed to such a strategy in the ruling traffic light coalition.

07:56 Zelensky highlights Ukrainian troops' achievement in Kharkiv

The United States is supplying Ukraine with yet another military bundle worth millions. Addit... the German military has delivered additional air defense equipment to the nation. Zelensky himself disclosed a success of the Ukrainian military in a video.

07:23 Ukrainian General Staff disclosed 500,000 Russian troops losses

Since the total-scale intrusion on February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian General Staff reports a cumulative total of 500,080 casualties among the Russian side. Moreover, 1,140 casualties were documented in the past 24-hour period. Russian forces are subjecting intense pressure on Ukrainian defenders at various fronts and are recording substantial losses on their own. The Ukrainians claim to have destroyed 15 Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, an air defence system, and two multiple rocket launchers.

07:07 First Ukrainian F-16 pilots nearing combat readiness

A cluster of Ukrainian F-16 pilots have undergone their training in the United States and are preparing to travel to Europe for further training. The training of pilots and ground staff members has allegedly absorbed close to a year. They are anticipated to be able to fly combat missions against Russian aerial forces in the summer months. Ukraine is set to admit in excess of 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, and Belgium. These countries, as well as the United States, United Kingdom, Romania, France, and Bulgaria, have mobilised personnel, aircraft, and terra equipment to instruct the Ukrainians on flying and preserving the combat aircraft.

06:33 Inoperable US munitions due to Russian jammers

The Ukrainians have halted deploying certain American weapons due to their precision drastically diminishing. According to a "Washington Post" article, this encompasses a selection of arms, including GPS-guided weapons - not just Excalibur artillery shells, but also HIMARS systems, whose precision is suppressed by Russian jammers. The precision of US-developed Excalibur shells has dropped to less than 10%, affecting their ability to strike their target. The United States has supposedly ceased supplying Excalibur shells to Ukraine. For HIMARS operations, it is necessary to initially undermine the enemy jammers, for example, by employing smoke munitions.

04:34 Stoltenberg: China's Chinese support for Russia is crucial to the Ukraine war

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg considers China's support for Moscow in the Russian attack war to be "pivotal." "China asserts it seeks to maintain good relations with the West," Stoltenberg staffs "Welt am Sonntag." "Nonequitable to China, Beijing is intensifying the conflict in Europe." Although China hasn't been reported to have provided weapons or ammunition to its ally, Russia, there has been a noticeable increase in sales of equipment, machine parts, and microelectronics used in the production of missiles, tanks, and aircraft.

03:06 Hofreiter: Ukraine should be permitted to use Western weapons against targets in Russian airspace

The Greens foreign policy advisor, Anton Hofreiter, advocates that the West should not deter Ukraine from employing Western weapons to fend off Russian jets within Russian airspace. "This is about protecting the Ukrainian populace," remarks the chair of the European Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag to the Funke media group newspapers. "International legislation allows a state under assault to target military objectives on the aggressor's terrain."

02:01 Ukrainian General Staff reported Russian airstrikes and "partial success" near Kupiansk

According to a declaration from the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russian army has once more aired assaults on the city of Vovchansk. Eight guided munitions were discharged, targeting the city. The Ukrainian armed forces have repelled near ten Russian attacks on the city and its surroundings. The Russian army has made "partial progress" near Kupiansk further east in the Kharkiv region and in the Pokrovsk sector in the Donetsk region.

01:30 Additional evacuations are arranged in the Charkiv district

123 children from Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region are slated to be evacuated. This is reported by "Kyiv Independent." The local governance intends to first transport the children to the city of Kharkiv and eventually to the northwestern area of Volhynia. Since the onset of the recent Russian offensive, over 11,000 civilians have been evacuated.

23:23 Zelensky: Ukrainian troops attain control of the border sector in the Kharkiv region

The Ukrainian military has retaken control of the border region in Charkiv's eastern part, where Russian invaders had infiltrated, as per Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky mentioned in his evening video address that Ukrainian troops have successfully gained back control of the contested area. Russian forces had launched a ground offensive in the border region about two weeks ago and had seized control of several Ukrainian villages.

At 22:22, "Ukrinform" reported that there are currently 403 Ukrainian women in captivity in Russia. These women include captive civilians illegally held by the Russian army. Moreover, they cited a report from a Ukrainian coordinating body for prisoners of war, which also mentioned women who have gone missing since 2014 and whose fates remain undetermined. The Russian authorities have allegedly overlooked numerous pleas demanding the release of these women.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded to claims of Putin's supposed openness to peace talks at 22:02. Kuleba stated that Putin is determined to hinder the success of the upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. "Putin is trying everything he can to ensure the Switzerland summit fails. He's afraid of its success."

Lithuania's Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite announced that the six NATO nations bordering Russia aim to erect a 'drone wall' to guard against "provocations" during a meeting with counterparts from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, and Poland. The plan to build this 'wall' from Norway to Poland would involve deploying drones and other advanced technologies for surveillance and border protection. Bilotaite added that the project also aims to combat smuggling. The plan includes implementing anti-drone systems alongside the deployment of border surveillance drones. However, she did not specify a timeline for this project. The border reinforcement efforts emerge amidst lingering security concerns as a result of Russia's attack on Ukraine.

The US Department of State announced an additional $275 million (€253 million) worth of military aid to Ukraine intended to counter Russian aggression. This latest package includes ammunition for multiple rocket launchers, such as the HIMARS, as well as artillery ammunition with 155 and 105 millimeter calibers. The United States has already provided over $50 billion (€46.1 billion) in military support to Kiev since the beginning of the Russian conflict with Ukraine.

At 8:30 PM, the Lithuanian Interior Minister revealed that children and teenagers in Russia now have to study a mandatory subject called "Basics of Life Safety." On the surface, it appears to be a benign subject, but it actually teaches military skills like shooting and applying bandages to wounds.

Putin showed signs of willingness to negotiate again about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at 8:55 PM during his visit to Belarus, but he stipulated that talks should start from the present situation rather than the initial demands of one party. Russia has been waging war against Ukraine for over two years, currently occupying about a fifth of its territory. Ukraine has continually expressed its condition for a peaceful resolution - the withdrawal of Russian troops from its land.