A drone triggers a fire at a refinery in southern Russia at 06:09.
In the city of Slavyansk-na-Kubani in southern Russia, authorities report a drone has crashed at an oil refinery site. No casualties or damage were reported. Eschewing Russia, Ukraine has been targeting refineries for a while now.
5:40 Danone makes Russian exit
French dairy giant, Danone, has successfully sold its Russian business to a businessman linked to Chechnya after 30 years of presence. Ukrinform details the news, referencing the company. Previously, Vamin Tatarstan, owned by businessman Mintimer Mingasov, had agreed to pay 17.7 billion roubles (180 million euros) to gain control of Danone's Russian business. Experts forecast a real worth of up to 80 billion roubles. In July '21, Yakub Zakriyev, a nephew of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, was named as Danone's Russian subsidiary's new head.
4:37 Crimean explosions
Explosions occurred in the Russian-held Black Sea peninsula of Crimea overnight. Crimean governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev used his Telegram channel to announce that the air defenses in Sevastopol had thwarted a missile attack. The Sevastopol rescue service reported no civilian infrastructure damage.
3:33 Drone attacks rattle Ukraine
Russia conducted extensive drone attacks on Ukraine during the night, according to the Ukrainian air force. It shares that Kiev, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Odessa were affected. There have been reports of numerous explosions. No casualties or damage have been reported thus far.
2:20 Civilians targeted in Kharkiv region
Ukrainian reports suggest civilians were fired upon during the night in two northern towns of Kharkiv region. The public prosecutor's office is examining the Russian airstrike on a residential area in Kharkiv as a possible war crime. Six civilians, three of which young, were injured. Moscow denies targeting civilians.
1:04 Pistorius seeks considerable more for Kiev
"Bild am Sonntag" cites that the German government intends to significantly boost military aid for Ukraine this year. The Federal Ministry of Defense has proclaimed a need for 3.8 billion euros in additional military support. Year to date, 7.1 billion euros have been allocated for military help. The extra-budgetary expense shall be presented to parliament in June.
12:00 Ukrainian General Staff records 77 skirmishes
In its evening report, the Ukrainian General Staff mentions 77 battle engagements within the past 24 hours. 7 of these skirmishes remain ongoing. "Russian troops are attempting to strengthen their tactical position," the General Staff shares on its Telegram channel. Ukrainian troops conducted four actions to evict Russians from occupied positions.
22:25 War hero Denys Vasyliuk perishes
Lieutenant Colonel Denys Vasyliuk, a "Order of Valor" recipient, lost his life during a recent combat mission. The 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, which Vasyliuk served at, announced his passing on Facebook. He was the chief of staff of the brigade and a deputy commander. The Ukrainian air force has not made any statements about this event.
21:57 Putin at Cannes: Polish director displays AI-powered biopic
Russian President Vladimir Putin dies in the conclusion. "I'd planned for a joyous outcome," comments Polish filmmaker, Patryk Vega, who showcased his Putin biopic at the Cannes Film Festival. "I called Putin to participate... - oh, I was joking," adds the filmmaker humorously. As the actual Putin was unavailable, Vega opted to have him appear as an AI deepfake.
At first, the filmmaker aimed to bring Putin's image to the big screen using real-life footage. Unfortunately, the footage's quality didn't meet the required standards. "AI demands high-resolution images - around 20,000 of them," he added. As a result, he pioneered an innovative tech that uses artificial intelligence to create the facade of a genuine actor resembling Putin. "It's the first film to make use of this new technology," revealed Vega. The results were remarkable, portraying Putin as usual, seated at grand desks, but also playing the piano and nervously wetting his pants in his hospital bed.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu openly shared his concerns about the impact of the Ukraine crisis on his country's fate. In a conversation with Kyiv Independent, Wu stated, "Taiwan's future lies in the battle for Ukraine." The commencement of Russia's military onslaught against Ukraine sparked a call to action for Taiwan. If Kiev succumbs to the invasion, Wu believes that Taiwan may face the same fate. Even after two years, Wu still feels that the outcome of the war in Ukraine significantly influences the future of Taiwan. Pundits from various factions theorize that China would attempt to unify the two Chinas through coercive measures, given Russia's potential success in Ukraine.
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- In response to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, NATO has increased its cybersecurity measures to protect against potential cyberwar attacks from Russia.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, has repeatedly accused Russia of conducting military operations, including cyberattacks, against Ukraine.
- Recent military operations in Ukraine have seen an increased use of drones, with both Ukraine and Russia reportedly launching attacks using these unmanned aircraft.
- The attack on Ukraine has prompted calls for increased military aid from western countries, with Germany pledging to provide additional funds for Ukrainian defense capabilities.
Source: www.ntv.de
