Ukrainian frontline forces showcase their updated arsenal.

5:35 PM: Ukrainian soldier unit showcases recently acquired weaponry

The initial shipments of ammunition from the US finally arrived in Ukraine. A soldier from Luhansk said, "For the first time in two years of war, we have a full load." The US is currently preparing another aid package for the battle of Kharkiv. Germany, on the other hand, is sending another air defense system.

At least two people lost their lives in an attack by Russia on a store in Kharkiv, while 24 were injured. The Mayor of Kharkiv, Igor Terekhov, shared the news in a Telegram post. The October 8th Telegram post by the regional military administration head, Oleh Syniehubov, said that at least 24 people were hurt. Preliminary reports indicate that a store in a residential area was targeted. In a subsequent Telegram post, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed that "possibly more than 200" people may have been in the store. All emergency services are currently helping people and extinguishing fires, according to Zelensky.

Twice in the morning, the city of Shebekino was struck by Ukrainian drones, as per Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's Telegram post. No civilians were injured, according to the post. The roof of an industrial building suffered damage due to a fallen drone, as per the governor's Telegram post.

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and Iranian counterpart Ali Bagheri-Kani have affirmed the strategic partnership between both countries after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. According to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, their commitment to the course set by Putin and Raisi for a strategic partnership will be maintained. All agreements and projects in various fields must continue, the ministers agreed.

Italian central bank governor, Fabio Panetta, is urging Italian banks to disengage with Russia citing repuation as a problem. The statement comes following the G7 financial meeting in Stresa. UniCredit, the largest European bank in terms of deposits from Russia, is currently reviewing its business in the country. Intesa Sanpaolo is working to withdraw its connections to Russia.

Russian troops reportedly have control over the village of Archangelske in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, based on an Interfax news agency report. Additionally, they advanced in the Kharkiv region and repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, also citing the ministry. There is no response from the Ukrainian government yet.

Russian Finance Minister, Anton Siluanov, has threatened retaliatory measures against plans by G7 countries to use Russia's frozen assets to support Ukraine. The Russian news agency TASS reported on a Telegram post by Siluanov on journalist Pavel Zarubin's channel of the Rossija-1 TV channel. Russia will take mirror action if its assets are used illegally by Western nations.

The G7 countries have decided to continue financing Ukraine. German Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, reaffirmed their support for Ukraine at the conclusion of the G7 meeting in Stresa on Saturday. Funding for this year has already been secured. The minister expressed interest in exploring new methods of aid in 2025.

Paris is planning to name a street in the 16th district after Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who has become a symbol of liberty not just in Russia but also worldwide. The city council unanimously decided on the renaming. The future Navalny Street will be located near the Russian embassy.

Ukrainian investigators have opened a case against the 125th Brigade, deployed to defend the Kharkiv region in early May. This was in reaction to Russia's offensive in the north of Ukraine, which advanced up to 10km into the region on May 10. A preliminary investigation found that the brigade had not properly organized defense, leading to accusations of negligence in military duty. The plan is to investigate the conduct of 30 commanders and commanders-in-chief, although the potential punishment has not yet been stated.

During the ongoing struggle to obtain more financial aid for Ukraine, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner anticipates significant work ahead for the G7. Lindner, speaking after a meeting of the G7 finance ministers in northern Italy, emphasized the need to minimize and exclude risks for taxpayers. The major Western industrialized nations plan to utilize the profits from the frozen billions of the Russian central bank to benefit Ukraine, but how this should be done remains contentious. The United States suggested that the G7 could lend a substantial amount to Ukraine, which would be secured by the interest on the funds of the frozen Russian central bank. This loan, estimated at around $50 billion, is expected to be agreed upon in mid-June during the meeting of G7 heads of government in Apulia.

12:17 - A Russian politician, Dmitri Rogozin, who is a former ambassador to NATO, commented on a reported Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian early warning system for nuclear missiles. Rogozin, now a senator in the Russian Federation Council, accused the US of being involved in the attack or at least knowledgeable about it. He warns that such actions could possibly lead the world closer to the brink of nuclear war.

11:48 - The head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, revealed that Ukraine is actively enhancing its fleet of unmanned ships. These ships are specifically designed to attack coastal areas and target small aerial targets. He believes that in the near future, unmanned ships will replace traditional warships, especially in enclosed or semi-enclosed waters such as the Black Sea or the Mediterranean.

11:17 - Security expert Gerhard Mangott expressed concern over a planned Russian Defense Ministry law, suggesting an expansion of Russian territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. Mangott assesses that the Kremlin may be hinting at extending their borders in the Baltic Sea.

10:55 - Two Iskander missiles, launched by Russian troops, struck targets in Kharkiv overnight, damaging a school and a residential building. Iskander-M is a powerful missile system with a range of 500 kilometers that can also carry nuclear warheads. These missiles have a highly flexible flight path, making them extremely challenging to intercept.

10:04 - In an interview with "The Economist," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed the issue of Western weapons being used against military targets in Russia. Stoltenberg asserted that the possibility of using Western weapons to attack targets on Russian territory should be allowed under the right of self-defense "enshrined in the UN Charter."

09:24 - Independent military experts from OSINT report that Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian early warning system for nuclear missiles. This station is essential for monitoring and controlling an area of up to 6,000 kilometers.

08:42 - US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warned against the possibility of a Russian ceasefire, as Putin has openly spoken about it. However, doing so while maintaining their current territorial gains is considered highly risky for Ukraine, as it could allow Russia to better prepare their forces for future offensive operations.

08:11 - Among the CDU party, foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter urged the German government to declare a state of emergency due to the Ukrainian war. Kiesewetter believes that defeating Russia can only be achieved through borrowing and spending more money. The German government should use the debt brake's suspension to support Ukraine. So far, the FDP has strongly opposed this step within the traffic light coalition.

07:56 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the success of his army through a video message. Subsequently, the United States provided another military shipment to Ukraine, and an air defense system from Germany arrived.

The Ukrainian military estimates that Russia has suffered 500,080 casualties since the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. In the past day, 1140 losses have been recorded. The Ukrainian forces are facing intense Russian pressure at multiple front lines, which comes at a heavy cost for Russia itself. Ukrainians have also reported the destruction of 15 Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, one air defense system, and two multiple rocket launchers since yesterday.

The first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots has completed their training in the US and is now moving on to Europe. This training, which includes both pilots and ground personnel, has taken almost a year. The goal is to make these pilots ready for combat missions against Russian air forces this summer. The Ukrainian Air Force is set to receive more than 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium, aided by these countries and other allies like the US, Great Britain, Romania, France, and Bulgaria in providing personnel, aircraft, and ground equipment to help the Ukrainians learn how to fly and maintain combat aircraft.

US Excalibur grenades have become less effective due to Russian jamming. Their accuracy has decreased, affecting not only Excalibur artillery shells but also HIMARS systems. These weapons rely on GPS guidance and are now only hitting their targets about 10% of the time. The US has reportedly stopped providing Excalibur shells to Ukraine. To counter Russian jammers during HIMARS attacks, cluster munitions must first be used.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg believes that China's support for Russia in the war in Ukraine is crucial. Despite China's claims of wanting good relations with the West, it is allegedly helping Russia acquire machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies used in producing rockets, tanks, and aircraft.

German Green politician Anton Hofreiter supports allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against Russian targets. According to him, the goal is to protect the Ukrainian population, and the delivered weapons should not be used to attack Russian combat aircraft in Russian airspace. International law permits an attacked state to defend itself in the aggressor's territory, he notes.

Ukrainian forces report Russian air raids on the city of Kupiansk. Eight guided bombs have hit the city, while Ukrainians have repelled ten Russian attacks in the area. Russian forces have achieved partial success near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region as well as in the Donetsk region's sector of Pokrowsk.

Evacuations are planned for 123 children from the northeast of the Kharkiv region. They will first be taken to the city of Charkiw and then to the northwestern region of Volhynia. So far, more than 11,000 civilians have been evacuated.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the Ukrainian army has regained control of the border area in the eastern section of Charkiw. The Russian invasion started two weeks ago, and Russian forces have occupied several Ukrainian villages in this area.

Around 403 Ukrainian women are currently held captive in Russia, according to a report in Ukrainian media. Many of these women are illegally detained civilians. The Russian side has dismissed numerous appeals to return these captured women.

23:23 - President Zelenskyy: "Combat control" restored in the Charkiv area22:22 - Approximately 400 Ukrainian women allegedly held captive in Russia22:02 - Kuleba: Putin fears success of Ukraine peace summit07:23 - Ukrainian General Staff: Russia has lost 500,000 soldiersThe first Ukrainian F-16 pilots have completed their training in the United States and are now set to continue training in Europe.07:07 - US Excalibur grenades no longer usable due to Russian jammers06:33 - First group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots soon combat-ready04:34 - Stoltenberg: China's support for Russia decisive in Ukraine war03:06 - Hofreiter: Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons against Russian targets02:01 - Ukraine reports Russian air raids and "partial success" at Kupiansk01:30 - Further evacuations planned in the area of Charkiw23:23 - Zelenskyy: "Combat control" restored in Charkiv area22:22 - Russia allegedly holds over 400 Ukrainian women captive22:02 - Kuleba: Putin fears success of Ukraine peace summit07:23 - Ukrainian military estimates Russian losses at 500,000 since the invasion began07:07 - Ukrainian F-16 pilots undergo training in the US and Europe06:33 - Excalibur grenades lose accuracy due to Russian jamming04:34 - NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg speaks of China's decisive support for Russia03:06 - Green foreign policy politician Hofreiter calls for allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against Russian targets02:01 - Ukraine reports Russian air raids on Kupiansk, partial success in defending against Russian advances01:30 - Plans for further evacuations in the Kharkiv region23:23 - Zelenskyy announces the restoration of Ukrainian control in the Charkiv area22:22 - Approximately 400 Ukrainian women are held captive in Russia22:02 - Kuleba suggests Putin fears success of Ukraine peace summit

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to hinder the success of the upcoming peace summit between Ukraine and Switzerland. This statement comes after reports suggesting Putin's willingness for peace talks. Kuleba emphasizes that Putin does not desire to end the war initiated by Moscow in Ukraine. On Twitter, he writes, "Putin is trying desperately to prevent the peace summit in Switzerland on June 15 and 16. He is afraid of its success."

Meanwhile, NATO members Norway to Poland are planning to create a "drone wall" to secure their borders against potential provocations. This initiative was discussed during meetings amongst Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, and Poland. The primary objective is to manage "provocations from unfriendly countries" and combat smuggling. The initiative will employ drone technology, with additional anti-drone systems as well. The timeline for this project remains unclear. Eastern Europe has expressed heightened security concerns due to Russia's military aggression towards Ukraine.

At 7:18 PM, the United States Department of State announced further military assistance for Ukraine, valued at $275 million, to confront Russia's offensive war. The package includes multiple rocket launcher ammunition for HIMARS and artillery ammunition for calibers 155 and 105 millimeters. This is the fifth tranche of aid under President Joe Biden, bringing the total aid provided since the US Congress approved additional funds for Kiev in April to around $61 billion. The previous packages have been delivered to the front lines, while the new support is scheduled for immediate delivery to strengthen Ukraine's military defense and protect its people. The US has provided military aid worth over $50 billion to Ukraine since the war began more than two years ago, according to Pentagon data.

At 7:30 PM, Russian citizens are expected to take a new compulsory subject at school this year: "Basics of Life Security." This subject teaches children and adolescents military basics, such as shooting and wound bandaging.

At 7:55 PM, Putin has expressed his willingness to hold peace negotiations but has set specific conditions. He said, "We will again talk about returning to negotiations," during his visit to fellow ally Belarus, according to Interfax news agency. However, he added that these negotiations shouldn't start from "what one side wants" but should consider the current "realities that have developed on the ground." Ukraine has constantly insisted that Russia's troops withdraw from its territory for lasting peace.

Also, at 7:55 PM, the National Declaration of Emergency has been extended in Ukraine for 60 days, under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision. This measure will continue to provide legal and financial support to the military and territorial defense forces, affected civilians, and imperiled regions.

8:25 PM: A set of nuclear-capable bombs mysteriously disappears from a Russian military base

A recent theft marks a blow to the Russian army with the disappearance of a set of tactical nuclear weapons. The bombs vanished from a storage site near the town of Sarapul in Russia. Though Russian authorities mentioned the event, they were reluctant to reveal further details. It is suspected that they were stolen by local mercenaries.