At 20:13, Ukrainian troops describe a challenging conflict for Vovchansk.
The city of Vovchansk in Ukraine is bombarded with artillery daily, according to local soldiers. Schools, churches, and administrative buildings are left in ruins, forcing residents to flee. The fighting shows no signs of stopping as the city holds a significant strategic importance for Russia.
19:44 At least 11 wounded in another attack in Kharkiv
Less than three hours after an attack on a hardware store in Kharkiv resulted in at least two fatalities and 33 injuries, the city center suffered a second strike. Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov shared this news on his Telegram channel. A 13-year-old boy was among the injured, and was taken to the hospital, according to the governor of the region, Oleg Synegubov. The severity of the damages and number of casualties are currently unknown. The first attack had targeted a hardware store in the city center.
19:04 Massive smoke cloud rises after Russian airstrike on Kharkiv hardware store
The Russian military has attacked the disputed Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, targeting a local hardware store. A substantial cloud of smoke arose from the scene of the bombing. As many as 200 people were present during the attack. There are casualties but the exact figures are yet to be determined.
18:42 Zelensky terms attack on hardware store as Russian insanity
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the Russian military's strike on a hardware store in Kharkiv as "another instance of Russian insanity." According to him, only people with disturbed mentalities like Putin could commit such brutal acts against civilians. The regional civil defense confirmed two deaths and 33 injuries in the incident. Firefighters were still combatting the blaze. Zelensky stated that the hardware store had roughly 200 people present when the attack occurred.
18:06 Ukraine's frontline unit announces downing of Russian Su-25 fighter jet in Donetsk
The Ukrainian army's 110th Brigade has shot down a Russian Su-25 fighter plane in the Donetsk region. This was reported by the website "Ukrainian Pravda" based on a message on Telegram from the OSUV channel, "Khortytsia."
17:35 New ammunition supplies reach frontline unit in Luhansk as Ukraine receives U.S. aid
The Ukrainian Army's frontline unit in Luhansk has received the first ammunition shipments in two years of war. Ukrainian troops were quoted as saying, "We have a full load." Preparations are underway for another aid package from the U.S. to aid the fight in Kharkiv. In addition, Germany is sending another air defense system.
16:50 Ukrainian authorities report at least two killed in Kharkiv hardware store attack
According to Ukraine's authorities, two individuals are dead following a Russian attack on the eastern city of Kharkiv. Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov shared this information on his Telegram account. Another 24 individuals have also been injured. It is suspected that a hardware store in a residential area was the target. President Zelensky indicated that about 200 people might have been present in the "Epizentr" store at the time of the attack. All emergency services are present to help those affected and to extinguish fires.
16:30 Belgorod city has been struck twice by Ukrainian drones
The Governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, disclosed via Telegram that Ukrainian drones had targetted Shebekino, a city in Belgorod, twice that morning. The strikes caused no civilian casualties, according to Gladkov. An industrial building's roof was damaged by the crash of one of the drones.
16:07 Iran and Russia affirmed their growing partnership
Russian and Iranian foreign ministers have agreed to maintain the strategic partnership initiated by presidents Putin and Raisi, post mortem. They emphasized the need to carry on with all commitments and projects in different fields.
15:46 Italian banks urged to pull operations from Russia
Italian central bank governor Fabio Panetta implored Italian banks to withdraw their connections to Russia. He pointed out that the repercussions could be unfavourable but the issue of reputation was pivotal. As of now, UniCredit, the bank with the most ties to Russia among European banks, is planning to sell its Russian business. Intesa Sanpaolo is also working towards this goal.
Ukrainian forces have lost control of Archangelske, a village in the eastern region of Donetsk, following an encounter with Russian soldiers, according to the news agency Interfax. Furthermore, Russian troops have advanced in the northeastern region of Kharkiv and successfully fended off two Ukrainian counterattacks, as stated in a press release by the Russian Defense Ministry. Currently, there's no statement issued by the Ukrainian government.
14:30 The Russian Finance Minister has given a warning against using seized Russian assets to aid Ukraine.
Anton Siluanov, Russia's Finance Minister, has conveyed the threat of retaliatory actions if their assets are deployed illegally by Western nations. TASS, a Russian news agency, reported on a comment from Siluanov on journalist Pavel Zarubin's telegram channel, suggesting that if these assets are utilized inappropriately by Western countries, Russia will enact measures mirroring those taken.
13:55 Financial support for Ukraine is expected to continue from G7 nations.
At the end of the G7 meeting in Stresa, Germany's Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, expressed his support for Ukraine. Although financing has been secured for this year, Lindner emphasized the need to explore new strategies beyond 2025.
13:20 Paris wants to commemorate Alexei Navalny by naming a street in his honor.
The city of Paris intends to bestow a street name - Navalny Street - in memory of the Kremlin critic, who has come to symbolize freedom, not only in Russia but also worldwide. The city council unanimously made this decision. Navalny, who fatally suffered in prison and had repeatedly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had urged for taking a more robust stance against Russian aggression. The new street is set to be located in the refined 16th administrative district of Paris, close to the Russian embassy.
12:35 Ukrainian authorities are investigating a brigade for their defense during the Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian prosecutor's office is probing the 125th Brigade, whose deployment to safeguard the Kharkiv region in early May occurred before Russia launched a fresh offensive and advanced by 10 kilometers. Based on preliminary findings, the brigade allegedly failed to implement a systemic defense, leading to systematic neglect. Authorities plan to review the conduct of 30 officers and commanders.
11:55 Germany's Finance Minister Churchill emphasizes the importance of excluding risks for taxpayers when deciding on further assistance for Ukraine.
At the G7 finance ministers meeting in Italy, discussions about additional financial support for Ukraine were presented. Lindner hopes to prevent any taxpayer-borne risks, and claims the G7 seeks to use the funds from the Russian central bank's frozen assets for the aid. A potential course of action suggests giving Ukraine an enormous loan, potentially up to $50 billion, which would be secured with the interest collected from these assets. These future plans will be discussed during a meeting between G7 heads of government in Apulia, planned for mid-June.
11:20 Rogozin accuses the United States of involvement in an attack on a crucial Russian defense system.
According to reports, Ukraine was responsible for a drone attack on a radar system of the Russian early warning system for atomic rockets. Dmitri Rogozin, a former Russian ambassador to NATO and current senator in the Russian Federation Council, suggests the United States knew of or supported this action. These drastic actions could lead us closer to nuclear warfare, Rogozin explained.
10:50 Budanov highlights the potential significance of unmanned ships in the future of naval warfare.
Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kirilo Budanov discussed the country's focus on enhancing its fleet of unmanned ships to enable them to target specific objectives and assault coastal regions. He anticipated that you will see a surge of uncrewed warships completely replacing conventional warship-types in regions such as the Black Sea or Mediterranean.
10:19 Mangott assures that Russia aims to cause unrest in the Baltic Sea with potential changes to its territorial waters.
Security expert Gerhard Mangott commented on Russia's proposed law by the Defense Ministry, hinting at an expansion of Russian territorial waters within the Baltic Sea. These changes may increase unrest in the region, Mangott added.
9:51 Kharkiv was subjected to Russian airstrikes using Iskander missiles.
The Prosecutor's Office reported that Russian Iskander missiles bombarded two targets in a Kharkiv district the previous night. Iskander-M is a system known for its considerable range - up to 500 km - and its capacity to carry nuclear warheads. The flexible flight trajectory makes Iskander tough to intercept. Apparently, a school and a residential building were damaged during the attack.
NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commented on the international debate about the use of Western weapons against Russian military targets. In a recent interview with 'The Economist', he expressed his opinion that allies should reconsider the restrictions on using arms given to Ukraine. "Now may be the time to lift some of the restrictions on the use of weapons that we have provided to Ukraine, especially when there are numerous battles taking place near the border in Charkiv," he said. Stoltenberg highlighted that self-defense is enshrined in the UN Charter and is a legal and legitimate form of defense. "We're assisting Ukraine in upholding this right, which includes being permitted to attack targets located on Russian territory," he added.
09:24: Ukrainian drones attack Russian radar station in Krasnodar
Ukraine allegedly made use of drones to assault a vital radar station in Krasnodar, a Russian region. The station is part of Russia's early warning system for ballistic missile launches and any launches armed with nuclear warheads. Military experts from OSINT claim that the radar station is responsible for controlling a specified region up to a distance of 6,000 km.
08:42: Institute for the Study of War warns against ceasefire
Russian President Putin has openly expressed his support for a ceasefire, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) cautions that such a move would be detrimental to Ukraine. ISW believes that initiating a ceasefire now would enable Russia to refine its assault forces, preparing them for further operations with the intent of overthrowing the Ukrainian government, disarming the country, and taking control of it. Furthermore, they predict that Russia might make the assumption that Western support for Ukraine would become less crucial and urgent if a cold front were established.
08:11: CDU politician Kiesewetter calls for debt relief due to the Ukrainian conflict
German CDU defense expert Roderich Kiesewetter has argued that the federal government should institute a state of emergency due to the Ukraine war. According to him, the war can only be won by incurring debt, and Ukraine urgently requires assistance. It is mystifying, he says, that the German government has classified the Corona pandemic as a state of emergency in order to finance a price cap on electricity and gas with €200 billion, yet the war does not meet the prerequisites for a state of emergency. With this declaration, the strict limitations of the debt brake stipulated in the Basic Law could be temporarily suspended. The FDP, on the other hand, has continuously objected to this measure in the traffic light coalition.
07:56: Zelensky celebrates Ukrainian military's achievements in Kharkiv
Ukraine received additional financial assistance from the United States. Furthermore, Germany supplied another air defense system to the country. Zelensky, in a video recording, commended the military successes of his army.
07:23: Ukrainian General Staff: Russia forces have sustained 500,000 casualties
The Ukrainian General Staff estimates that Russia has suffered 500,080 casualties since the invasion began on February 24, 2022. 1,140 casualties were added in the last 24 hours. Russia is currently pressing its attack on various fronts and at a high human cost. Ukrainian officials claim that 15 Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, a missile defense system, and two multiple rocket launchers have been destroyed since yesterday.
07:07: First Ukrainian F-16 pilots nearing combat readiness
The first Ukrainian F-16 pilots have completed their instruction in the United States and are now en route to Europe for further training. The training process has taken nearly a year. By summer, they should be prepared for combat roles. Ukraine is anticipated to obtain more than 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as well as the United States, Great Britain, Romania, France, and Bulgaria. These nations, alongside the United States, have mobilized soldiers, aircraft, and ground equipment to train the Ukrainians in both piloting and maintaining the combat aircraft.
06:33: US Excalibur shells can't be fired due to Russian disruption devices
Ukraine has ceased employing certain types of American equipment because of a notable decrease in their accuracy. The Washington Post has reported that weapons guided by GPS are affected, specifically Excalibur artillery shells. In addition, HIMARS systems are also less effective after being rebuffed by Russian disruptive devices. The US-developed Excalibur shells' success rate has dropped to approximately 10%, making them inoperable. The US has stopped delivering Excalibur ammunition to Ukraine. To accurately target HIMARS, it is necessary to defeat Russia's jamming devices through measures such as smoke munitions.
The NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, considers China’s assistance for Moscow in the Russian military invasion to be significant. He states to Welt am Sonntag, "China says it wants to maintain good relations with the West. At the same time, Beijing is escalating the war in Europe." Despite China not providing direct weapons or ammo support to Russia, Stoltenberg highlights a notable spike in the sales of machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies that Russia employs to manufacture tanks, missiles, and aircraft for use against Ukraine.
03:06 Hofreiter urges western weapons for Ukraine's defense against Russian airspace
German Green foreign policy politician Anton Hofreiter champions the allowance of Ukraine to use western weapons to counter Russian aircraft within Russian territories. "This is about safeguarding the Ukrainian population. We shouldn't hinder Ukraine from defending itself against Russian combat planes in Russian airspace via the weapons provided." Hofreiter, head of the European Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, emphasizes the validity of international law that permits an assaulted nation to target military targets within the aggressor's territory.
02:01 Ukraine records Russian airstrikes on Vovchansk; alleges partial success near Kupiansk and Pokrovsk
The Ukrainian General Staff indicates that Russian forces have attacked Vovchansk from the air, with eight guided bombs hitting the town; the Ukrainian military successfully repelled ten Russian attacks on the city and its surroundings. The Russian forces have experienced mixed success near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region and in the Pokrovsk area of the Donetsk region.
01:30 Plans for evacuating children from Kharkiv
The Kyiv Independent reports that 123 children from the northeastern Kharkiv region will be evacuated. Initial plans involve transporting the children to the city of Kharkiv, followed by relocation to the northwestern region of Volhynia. Since the initiation of the newest Russian offensive, over 11,000 civilians have been evacuated.
23:23 Zelenskyy’s claims of reclaimed combat control in the Charkiv region
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserts, via his evening video message, that the Ukrainian army has recovered control of the border region in the eastern part of the Charkiv region where Russian invaders had infiltrated. Zelenskyy had previously visited Charkiv, where the Russian army had embarked on a ground offensive two weeks ago and occupied several Ukrainian villages.
22:22 Over 400 Ukrainian women are being held in Russian captivity
Ukrinform reports that Russian authorities are detaining 403 Ukrainian women. Among them are civilians unlawfully confined, as well as women who went missing in 2014 whose fates remain uncertain. The Russian government has repeatedly disregarded calls for the return of the women, some of whom are imprisoned.
22:02 Kuleba: Putin's fear of Ukraine peace summit success
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba retorts to reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to engage in peace talks, (see entries at 19:55 and 12:22 pm), by asserting that Putin does not aim to bring a complete end to the Moscow-led war in Ukraine. "Putin is making every effort to thwart the success of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland scheduled for June 15 and 16. He is fearful of its outcome," writes Kuleba on X.
21:40 A "Drone Wall" is desired by NATO members along the Russian border
The six NATO nations bordering Russia seek to establish a "Drone Wall" to safeguard their borders against "provocations" from unfriendly nations. The goal of the project, which spans from Norway to Poland, is to utilize drones and other advanced technologies for border surveillance. This will also combat smuggling. Spokesperson Agne Bilotaite, Lithuanian Interior Minister, refers to this as a "completely new concept," but she does not provide a timetable for the implementation. This initiative is sparked by security risks stimulated by the Russian attack on Ukraine.
21:18 US announces additional military aid for Ukraine's defense
The United States is giving more military assistance to Ukraine to combat the Russian invasion. The recent package is worth $275 million (approximately 253 million euros) and consists of ammunition for multi-rocket launchers like HIMARS, as well as 155 and 105 millimeter artillery ammunition, according to the U.S. State Department. This is the fifth round of aid approved by President Joe Biden following the U.S. Congress's release of approximately $61 billion (56.2 billion euros) for Kiev in late April. The aid from the previous rounds has already reached the front lines, and this new support will be delivered "as quickly as possible" so that the Ukrainian military can defend their country and protect the citizens of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, the United States has given military aid to Kiev worth over $50 billion (46.5 billion euros) as stated by Pentagon figures.
Meanwhile, in Russia, students between the ages of 14 and 17 must now take an extra mandatory subject called "Basics of Life Safety." This subject covers military training, including shooting and bandaging injuries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again expressed his supposed willingness to negotiate with Ukraine, but he made it clear that he wants to discuss the situation based on the current conditions on the ground. Putin made these comments during a visit to neighboring Belarus. "We will talk again about returning to negotiations," he said, according to Interfax. Then he added, "Let's return to them. But not starting from what one side wants, but (...) starting from the current realities that have developed on the ground." Russia has been fighting a war against Ukraine since February 2022 and currently controls about a fifth of its neighboring country. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory is a prerequisite for lasting peace.
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- In response to the ongoing conflict in Vovchansk, Ukrainian troops have voiced their concern about Nato's support in the face of Russia's military operations.
- Amidst the attack on Ukraine, Volodymyr Selensky has criticized Russia's cyberwar tactics, emphasizing the need for international unity against such cyberattacks.
- As Russian forces continue their offensive in various regions of Ukraine, the absence of a declared ceasefire has escalated the Ukraine conflict, leaving military operations as the primary means of defense.
- In the face of recurring attacks by Russia, Ukraine has sought aid from foreign allies, including the United States, to bolster its military capabilities and defend against cyberwar threats.
Source: www.ntv.de
