9:39 pm: NGO Reports 17-Year-Old Kidnapping Victim Safely Fetch Back from Russia
According to the humanitarian organization Save Ukraine, a kidnapped girl from Russia has returned to her home in the country. The 17-year-old Ilona is reported to have arrived in Ukraine, where she will reunite with her mother. Estimates suggest that nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children and young people have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories.
20:54: Zelensky's update on frontline soldiers, new measures to come
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared his support for the soldiers stationed in the Donetsk region during his evening address. He thanked these soldiers for their courage in the face of immense pressure and daily battles. Zelensky assured them and the entire army of his commitment to providing them with more modern weapons, equipment, and systems. He mentioned these as Ukraine's upcoming steps to support its defense.
20:31: Commander awards bravery medals to paratroopers at Donbass front
Ukraine's Chief of Staff Oleksandr Syrsky honored the paratroopers of the 79th independent airborne brigade on the Donbass front. He praised them for their resilience, interrupting the enemy's attempts to seize the territory and creating prerequisites for future liberation. Syrsky bestowed military medals upon them in recognition of their service.
19:57: Ukrainian military to test domestically made guided bombs
The Ukrainian military aims to test domestically produced guided bombs in the coming weeks, according to Serhiy Golubtsov, a high-ranking officer of the Ukrainian Air Force.
19:16: Possible damage to two Russian Su-57 jet fighters
During the Ukrainian attack on a Russian airfield in Achtubinsk, two modern combat aircraft, presumed to be Su-57 Sukhoi Su-57s, may have sustained damage. This was disclosed by the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence service, HUR, on Ukrainian television. The Ukrainian military is investigating the incident further.
18:44: Russian hits residential area in Charkiv, casualties unknown
Charkiv has endured another attack by the Russian army. A guided bomb impacted a residential area. Charkiv's governor, Oleg Sinegubov, informed that it's not yet certain if there are any casualties. Mayor Igor Terekhov mentioned multiple damaged buildings.
18:17: Reports suggest Russian offensive at Charkiv has halted
A report from the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, reveals that the Russian military offensive on Charkiv has presumably stagnated. According to Sullivan's statement on CBS, the Russians have made insignificant progress in Charkiv in recent days. Previously, President Biden permitted Ukraine to use weapons obtained from the US, and it subsequently authorized German weapons to be employed for targets on the Russian border.
17:47: Potential Russian troop relocation from Kherson to Kharkiv
Reports indicate that the Russian military may be shifting some contingents from the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson to the northern Kharkiv region. It is unclear if these forces will immediately join the combat or act as reinforcements for the Sever (North) military group. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) brings forth this information from the Chechen commander and Ukrainian military sources.
17:24: Coerced recruitment of African migrants to fight in Kharkiv
To consolidate more soldiers for the offensive on Kharkiv, it's alleged that Russia is compelling thousands of African migrants to fight alongside its troops. Russian officials threaten African students and young workers, claiming that their visas will not be renewed if they do not join the front. Some of these individuals would have been immune from joining the front if they had bribed Russian officials.
16:40: Biden and Macron achieve consensus on handling Russian assets
US President Joe Biden reportedly achieved a consensus with French President Emmanuel Macron on how to manage Russian assets. The two leaders reportedly agreed to employ the revenues from the frozen assets to support Ukraine, but details remain unknown.
16:23: Explosion reported in Belgorod region, Russian downs drones
A blast was registered in the Russian Belgorod Region, and Russian authorities reported downing Ukrainian drones over the same area. Footage uploaded to Telegram suggests that a munitions depot in the Rakityansky district exploded during the afternoon. The governor of the region had anticipated the potential hazard of rockets via Telegram.
15:44: Suspected troops gathering in the vicinity of Chassiv Yar
Russia is rumored to be assembling a number of troops close to the town of Chassiv Yar. The exact details of the number or purpose of the forces are not yet known.
15:02: Russia summons 100,000 members of Moldovans for military mobilization
The Telegram channel Pskov-Moldova reported on Saturday morning that Russia mobilized 100,000 Moldovans on a military training ground in Khovanskly near St. Petersburg, according to the latest issue. The message states that they were trained for war. Moldova's Foreign Ministry did not immediately confirm or deny these claims. However, the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Moscow denies the information. Their statement asserts that Moldovan citizens in Russia have confirmed that no such mobilization occurred.
14:48: Russian civilians helping Ukraine report military pressure
Three volunteers from Russia who have been assisting Ukrainians report that they faced threats from Russian soldiers. The Volunteers, who had previously aided civilians and provided food and medicine, claimed that DPR soldiers threatened them. They alleged that the soldiers confiscated their work vehicles and warned them against helping Ukrainians in occupied areas.
Ukrainian troops are reportedly being assembled on the edges of Chassiv Yar in eastern Ukraine. For close to a week, Russian soldiers have been amassing their forces inside homes, as per Ukrainian news outlet Ukrajinska Prawda, citing a source from the Ukrainian military. Over the past week, there have been more than 1,500 artillery attacks, the source is quoted as saying. The Russians have used multiple rocket launchers and guided air bombs to ensure uninterrupted supply chains along a road between Bachmut and Chassiv Yar. "[Troops] are advancing and are being protected by first-person-view drones to gather," the source adds. "We have control over the city center," declares the Ukrainian source.
3:57 Military: Ukrainian pilots appear in video captured by enemy drone
Ukrainian pilots are clearly visible in a video shared by the Ukrainian armed forces. The army states on Telegram that an open-top Yak-52 plane was utilized for air defense in the Mykolajiw region and was in operation when spotted by the Russian reconnaissance drone. In the video, the pilots can be seen sitting in the cockpit. The co-pilot is believed to have shot down the drone, according to "Kyiv Post" and the military portal "Militarnyi". However, these assertions cannot be confirmed independently.
1:58 Drone assault on advanced Russian fighter jet attributed to Ukrainian intelligence service
The Ukrainian intelligence agency (HUR) is claiming responsibility for the drone attack on a modern Russian fighter aircraft parked approximately 600 kilometers away from the border in southern Russia. A HUR source reveals that the assault was executed with a drone manufactured in Ukraine. The governing body, part of the Ministry of Defense, is renowned for its daring operations on Russian soil and in Russian-held parts of Ukraine.
1:27 Russia plans to unite occupied territories in "Novorossiya" federal district
Russia aims to combine the seized territories in the four south-eastern regions and Crimean Peninsula into a federal district dubbed "Noworossiya". This announcement was made by the head of the regional military administration of Luhansk, Artem Lysohor, via Telegram. "The residents aren't even given the chance to choose a name as there's only one option - Novorossiya," he writes. He notes that there is no legal basis for such territorial entities. Post-holiday, schoolchildren will learn local history according to Russian textbooks.
11:57 Ukrainian military: Permission to strike Russian territory led to improved combat effectiveness
A Ukrainian brigade commander confirmed that the authority to direct Western weapons towards Russia sparked an "immediate, positive effect on the overall course of the conflict," according to Radio NV. In an interview, Commander Yuriy Fedorenko stated, "We were authorized to conduct important operations such as electronic intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, air defense, and - which is significant - disabling the S-300 and S-400 systems that systematically targeted Kharkiv." The Ukrainian military perceives this permission as "Step 1". Progression towards Russia's interior would constitute "Step 2".
11:31 Ukrainian army: 103 Russian assaults on Ukrainian settlements since yesterday
The Ukrainian military has documented 103 Russian strikes on settlements in Ukraine and 93 on infrastructure since yesterday. The report mentions ten oblasts were targeted. In the areas of Kharkiv, Kherson, and Izium, at least three casualties were reported, whereas a school and houses were damaged.
11:09 Increased female presence in Ukrainian military
Over 67,000 women are currently serving in the Ukrainian military, predominantly as soldiers. Despite the mobilization absenting women from the military, the quantity of female members has surged by 40%, according to the Defense Ministry. Earlier, women were restricted to support roles. Now, many women operate as soldiers, artillery operators, and drone handlers. The government has acknowledged the need to create career prospects for women.
10:55 Registry to be established for demining status in Ukraine
The Ukrainian government plans to create a state registry to monitor the demilitarized status of regions "almost in real time". The significance of doing so is particularly high for farmers to know whether their land is still unsafe or has been cleared. In war-torn regions, there remain numerous hazards even after the ceasefire. "We have North Korean ammunition from the 1950s with a dud rate of over 30%," remarks security expert Gustav Gressel. "The post-war situation in Ukraine will consist of hundreds of square kilometers of minefields."
10:31 Ukraine: 60% of Germans want compulsory military service
A recent survey indicates that 60% of Germans advocate the reintroduction of conscription. The results demonstrate shifting public sentiment towards defense issues, triggered by Russia's Ukraine invasion. Despite the controversial nature of compulsory military service, a majority of Germans now favor it due to heightened security concerns.
Most Germans desire the return of conscription for the German Army. In a survey by YouGov commissioned by "Welt am Sonntag," 60% of respondents expressed support for reinstating mandatory military service, with 28% fully in favor and 32% leaning towards it. However, 32% opposed the idea, including 18% who were hesitant and 14% who were firmly opposed. Germany suspended conscription in 2011. As a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, discussions are underway regarding how to significantly expand the Bundeswehr.
10:32: Ukraine Successfully Targets Russia's Most Advanced Combat Jet
The Ukrainian military intelligence revealed that a Su-57 combat jet was damaged in an attack on a Russian airfield in Astrakhan, about 600 kilometers from the border. Satellite images show the jet intact on Friday but damaged by explosions on Saturday. Russia reported a drone attack on several regions, including Astrakhan. The Su-57 is Russia's most advanced combat jet, which also carries cruise missiles. Few of these jets have been deployed in combat.
10:11: ISW: Russia's Troops Inadequate for a Large-Scale Summer Offensive
Russia has been mobilizing 30,000 soldiers per month, some of whom are deployed as reinforcements to the front. According to the United States Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the reinforcements will not be enough to conduct large-scale offensive operations on multiple fronts in the summer. The new reserves will not be able to serve as first or second-line forces, which would be necessary for a large offensive.
09:27: UN: At Least 174 Ukrainian Civilians Killed in May
At least 174 civilians were killed and 690 injured in Ukraine in May. This is the highest civilian death toll in a month according to the UN mission in Ukraine. The UN attributes the increase in casualties to the intense attacks by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region. More than half of the victims were from this part of the country.
08:50: Russia to Train Officers in Occupied Territories of Ukraine
Russia intends to offer training courses for officers in the currently occupied territories of Ukraine. The Kyiv Post reports this, citing a report from the Ukrainian Special Forces. The trained officers will be offered "attractive positions within the framework of a contract." The courses will focus on electronics warfare, such as working with radar or jammers. Russia is currently using jammers so heavily that Western precision weapons often fail to reach their targets.
08:12: Ukrainian General Staff Reports 1,270 Losses on the Russian Side
The Ukrainian General Staff has recorded 1,270 Russian casualties within the past 24 hours. The total number of losses since Russia's full-scale invasion now exceeds 518,000, according to the Ukrainians. In the past day, 26 Russian tanks were destroyed, along with 26 armored vehicles, 60 artillery systems, and two air defense systems. 37 drones were also destroyed, according to the General Staff.
07:44: Ukrainians Push Back Russian Advances in the North
Russia has amassed troops along the northeastern border of Ukraine for some time. Vovchansk near Kharkiv has been heavily shelled for weeks and Russian forces are expected to launch a major attack in the region. However, it seems that the Ukrainians are managing to halt the Russian advance there.
07:21: NATO Considers Appointing a Permanent Representative in Kyiv For More Reliable Support
The NATO is considering appointing a high-ranking civilian representative in Kyiv to oversee NATO support for Ukraine. This individual would coordinate NATO assistance from Western countries, similar to NATO's role in two-decade presence in Afghanistan. The plans for a diplomat come following the likelihood that NATO countries will not invite Ukraine to join membership talks at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington. NATO aims to make its support more binding but without committing to inviting Ukraine to the membership negotiations.
06:50: Ukraine Pursuing Direct Cooperation with Arms Manufacturers
The Ukrainian government is adopting a new strategy for working with arms manufacturers. The goal is to sign more direct contracts between Ukraine and the arms industry to facilitate rapid weapon acquisition. Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov sealed such a deal with a Bulgarian company over the weekend, as reported by "Ukrinform." "This enables us to receive modern weapons directly from the manufacturer and contributes to a faster and more effective modernization of the Ukrainian army," Klimenkov said.
06:13: Austrian Minister: Germany, France, and the US Have "Crossed the Red Line"
Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner believes Germany, France, and the United States have "crossed the red line" by providing Kiev with the right to use Western weapons on Russian soil. In an interview with "Die Presse," she's content that NATO, according to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, will not send troops to Ukraine. Tanner declined to comment on Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against shelling from the Russian border. "As a militarily neutral state, it's not our place to judge."
The German armed forces, also known as the Bundeswehr, have plans to significantly boost their reserve forces. These reservists should be trained and equipped, allowing them to reinforce or replace active troops in combat scenarios. According to General Lieutenant Alexander Hoppe, the Deputy General Inspector and Reservist Affairs Officer in Berlin, their goal is to have around 60,000 men and women on standby in a "basic order," where they're prepared for specific tasks.
The German government, on the other hand, has expressed concerns about a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to send European troops to train Ukrainian forces. In an internal EU document shared by the "Welt am Sonntag" newspaper, the German government believes the training in the EU is more secure compared to the potential risk of training facilities in Ukraine being attacked. Security was a major concern discussed at a recent meeting of European defense ministers on May 28.
The Ukrainian army reported a total of 76 combat engagements in the last 24 hours. The most intense situation seemed to be at the Pokrovsk Front, where Russians were said to have made 27 attacks. The ultimate goal appears to be for the Russians to break through from Otscheretyne to Evheniwka and Nowooleksandriwka.
After images of soldier's coffin graffiti appeared in Paris, three suspects from Moldova are now in pre-trial detention. The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities haven't entirely ruled out the possibility of foreign involvement. On Friday, graffiti featuring a coffin and the words "French soldier in Ukraine" emerged on several house facades in the French capital. Saturday night, three Moldovans were arrested near the Eiffel Tower, carrying paint cans and stencils.
Members of the United Nations have counted at least 174 civilian deaths in Ukraine in May, making it the deadliest month for civilians since June 2023. Ukraine has frequently accused Russia of deliberately attacking residential areas near front lines to force evacuations. Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians.
The driver of an ambulance was injured when Russian troops dropped explosives from a drone on the vehicle, report Ukrainian sources. The incident took place in the Biloserka community in the south of the country.
Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin stated that up to 90% of the returning Ukrainian prisoners of war have reported being tortured. This information was shared by the "Euromaidan Press" news portal. "The first informal conversations with returning military prisoners suggest that up to 90% of our people have suffered various forms of torture, inhuman treatment, physical and sexual abuse, and psychological violence," Kostin explained.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy viewed the Russian offensive in the Charkiv region as a failure. While discussing the overall situation in a television address, he mentioned having spoken with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Military operations in Charkiv have become more intense and are expected to escalate, while the situation in the Donetsk region remains the most challenging.
Read also:
- The ongoing Ukraine conflict has seen Russia engage in cyberwarfare against Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure and government systems.
- Nato has expressed concern over the potential use of Russian cyberwarfare in the conflict and has pledged to support Ukraine in defending against such attacks.
- President Zelensky has called for increased international cooperation in the fight against cyberwarfare, highlighting the need for a unified response to protect democratic values and national security.
- The Ukrainian government has also sought to strengthen its own cyberdefenses, partnering with international cybersecurity firms and implementing new policies to protect critical infrastructure and citizen data.
