16:43 "China is crucial for Russia's ability to conduct wars"

China is essential for Russia to engage in conflict.

Putin is on a visit to China, highlighting the close relationship between the two leaders. While China is providing support to Russia in its war against Ukraine through weapon supplies, Xi continues to advocate for a political resolution. However, it's uncertain how sincere he is about this.

16:07 Bucha Mountains: A Missile Strike Claims Lives
Russian military fires on Kharkiv city, leaving two civilians dead and thirteen others injured due to multiple precision bombs. Governor Oleh Sinehubov confirmed this via Telegram.

15:27 Putin Criticizes Planned Peace Summit in Switzerland
Putin dismisses the peace summit planned for June 15-16 in Switzerland as a tool to exert pressure on Russia. During his two-day tour of China in Harbin, he deemed it an effort to impose terms on Russia to end the conflict. Ukraine and the West anticipate that a Chinese representative will attend the Swiss conference to bolster its influence. Putin lamented that despite constant accusations, Russia was not invited to the meeting. Moscow had repeatedly stated its reluctance to participate in the conference in recent months.

14:54 Embedded Cameras Capture Intense Combat in Kharkiv Region
Ukrainian forces release footage from the besieged city of Vovchansk, displaying intense fighting. The defense remains firm, as per Ukrainian reports. NATO believes that Russia is currently incapable of making any significant progress.

14:25 EU Adopts Sanctions Against Pro-Russian Platform Voice of Europe
EU members have enacted sanctions on the pro-Russian platform Voice of Europe and three other Russian media outlets. They will be blocked throughout the EU.

13:53 Putin: Western Sanctions "Misguided and Destructive"
Putin referred to the Western sanctions as distorted market conditions damaging the entire global economy. "These are not market-driven, totally foolish decisions, with no future," he declared to Russian state media representatives in China. According to him, the US was undermining the dollar through the sanctions and creating "a branch they're sitting on." Though he denies any connection to the Ukrainian conflict, he claims the West is aiming to gain a competitive advantage.

13:41 Putin: No Imminent Plan to Seize Kharkiv
According to Putin, there are no current plans to seize the heavily shelled city of Kharkiv. As of now, it remains a topic of discussion after Zelensky's visit to the Kharkiv region the previous day, where he hinted at a stabilized situation. Putin justified the Russian military presence in the region by claiming they are securing a buffer zone because of Belgorod region's heavy shelling from Kharkiv.

12:58 Analyst: Behind Closed Doors, Beijing's Messages to Putin are Clear
Although China publicly maintains a polite demeanor towards Putin, the true nature of their discussions may vary. Russian dependence on China is too great, according to political scientist Thomas Jäger.

12:28 Putin Pledges More Energy to China
During his visit to China, Putin proposed increasing energy supplies to China. "Russia is capable and ready to consistently and reliably provide China's economy, companies, cities, and villages with ecologically clean and affordable energy, electricity, and heat," emphasized Putin at the opening of a Russian-Chinese trade fair in Harbin. He was sure that the strategic partnership in the energy sector would be strengthened.

12:14 Satellite Images Depict Damage to Russian Airbase Belbek
Russia claims to have intercepted five ATACMS during a two-day barrage on Crimea, targeting the Belbek airbase. Satellite photos reveal fire debris and wrecked fighter jets.

11:57 Analyst: Signs of Cracks in the Russian-Chinese Partnership
Despite a 30-page agreement, certain fissures exist, claims ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. For instance, China's potential involvement in the planned Switzerland peace summit or refusal to become reliant on Russian natural resources.

11:28 Putin: Russian-Chinese Bond is Robust
Putin asserts that the relationship between Russia and China is solid regardless of inaccuracies in the media. "Russia and China are united by strategic agreements and a strong mutual trust."

11:11 Op-ed: Deepening Energy Ties Between Russia and China
China's growing energy demand presents an opportunity for Russia to enhance its economic ties with China by expanding its energy sector.

11:34 Ukraine: Russia expands combat range by 70 kilometersAs per Ukrainian army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, Russian troops have enlarged their active war zone by nearly 70 kilometers by attacking Kharkiv region. The move was taken to compel Ukraine to reinforce additional reserve brigades. He predicts a surge in combat intensity as the Kiev troops gear up for defense in Sumy region.

11:15 Visuals show outcomes of huge Russian assaultsUkraine allegedly targeted multiple locations on Russian terrain, including a drone attack on a refinery in Tuapse at the Krasnodar coast. Authorities report repelling over a hundred Ukrainian drones.

10:31 Baerbock demands longer-range weaponryGerman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock seeks extended-range weaponry. Kharkiv's situation is "dramatically perilous" with Russia assaulting the city from its homeland, so Ukrainian air defense systems are less effective. Ukraine also requires weapons capable of medium and long-range attacks, she said convincingly.

10:02 Putin and Xi part ways after cordial meetingRussian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President and Communist Party Leader Xi Jinping concluded their engagements in China with a cordial handshake and a heartwarming embrace. The video was captured by China's state-run broadcaster CCTV. Furthermore, Putin continued his two-day visit in Harbin's northern Chinese region.

09:26 Ukraine notifies explosions in KharkivUkraine claims to have incinerated all 20 drones targeting the country by Russia overnight. Destruction was reported in areas like Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odessa, and Mykolaiv. In Kharkiv, four explosions were witnessed by the city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, during the raid. A fire broke out in one of the blasts. Reported damages constituted five buildings, which included an administrative building.

09:02 ntv journalist: "Russians edge closer to Kharkiv city limits"The tensions around Kharkiv are high. Ukrainian forces can now secure the city's limits, but the Russians have stabilized their position and are around 30 kilometers from Kharkiv, said ntv correspondent Jürgen Weichert.

08:34 Russia confirms casualties in Belgorod regionAs per the authorities, two individuals lost their lives in Russian territory due to the Ukrainian night drone strikes in the borderlands of Belgorod. The mother and her four-year-old kid were killed when a combat drone attacked Oktyabrsky town, the governor stated.

08:06 Russia acknowledges attack on Crimea's SevastopolThe Russian Ministry of Defense claims that a Russian city, Sevastopol in Crimea, was targeted last night. Governor Sergey Aksyonov acknowledged that a substation was ruined, leading to temporary power outages. In light of the situation, schools and kindergartens were shut down. Sevastopol is the anchoring site for the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

07:42 Internet shows alleged strike on Novorossiysk's Black Sea Fleet portClips appear on internet platforms detailing an alleged Ukrainian assault on the Black Sea Fleet port of Novorossiysk. Moreover, RIA, a Russian state news outlet, reported that missile attacks happened in the area, but no mention was made of the port.

07:18 Moscow admits intercepting over 100 Ukrainian dronesMoscow explained that Russian forces shot down over one hundred Ukrainian drones overnight. The distribution included 51 drones over the annexed Crimean peninsula, 44 more in the Krasnodar region, six in the Belgorod region, and one in the Kursk region. The navy annihilated six naval drones in the Black Sea. Frequently, Ukraine targets Russian energy facilties as they keep subjecting the region to daily shelling.

06:58 Evidence reveals destruction of three fighter jets in CrimeaSatellite pictures from Maxar show that three fighter jets - two MiG-31s and one Su-27 - were completely wrecked, and another MiG-29 was damaged in the Ukrainian bombardment at the Crimean military airfield Belbek. It also displayed a damage fuel depot. Ukraine attacked the base for the second night consecutively.

06:33 Allegations surface of fresh Ukrainian drone attack on a refineryFootage are spreading online suggesting another Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian refinery. The plant in Tuapse on the Black Sea suffers alleged damage. [*Correction 7 a.m.: Local authorities confirmed the fire. It was efficiently contained.]

10:14 Putin highlights significance of trade with China's northeastern region

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, plans to underline the value of trade in the northeastern regions of China near the Russian border. This move comes after Putin and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, seal a strategic alliance today during Putin's visit to China. Putin's visit ends in the Heilongjiang province, which has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Russia in terms of trade and culture.

10:00 Russia designates British military attaché as persona non grata

The Russian Foreign Ministry has decreed that Adrian Coghill, the British military attaché in Moscow, is persona non grata. Consequently, Coghill has been ordered to leave the country within a week. The action is presumably retaliation for the UK's expulsion of a Russian military attaché earlier on May 8, whom the UK presumed to be an unreported intelligence agent.

09:30 The New York Times: Some NATO countries ponder sending military trainers to Ukraine

Certain NATO countries are discussing the possibility of sending military trainers or contractors to Ukraine to prepare Ukrainian soldiers and repair damaged equipment. A report by The New York Times suggests that Ukraine requests assistance from the US and other NATO countries for training 150,000 soldiers nearby frontlines. Nonetheless, the US is poised against this idea due to the potential hazard of attacks on the trainers that may spark NATO's collective defense clause. One suggestion put forward involves training substantial numbers of Ukrainian recruits in Germany and Poland, but transporting such a large force raises logistical issues. Keeping in mind these issues, the UK, Germany, and France are mulling over sending defense contractors to Ukraine, while the White House ponders amending its prohibition on US defense contractors in Ukraine.

08:56 Japan emphasizes need for lawful proceedings in the disbursement of Russian assets:

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki of Japan highlights the significance of international law in discussions concerning the utilization of the interest generated from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Suzuki emphasizes that Japan intends to express this perspective at the upcoming G7 conference.

07:36 Kim Yo Jong refutes claims of arms deals between North Korea and Russia

The sister of North Korean ruler, Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong, refutes allegations of North Korea engaging in arms trade with Russia. She notes in a statement obtained by the state news agency KCNA that the firearms developed by North Korea were not meant for export, but for self-defense against South Korea. Kim described the alleged arms deal between North Korea and Russia as a "preposterous theory" concocted from prejudice and falsehoods. The US and South Korea maintain that North Korea has been selling weapons to Russia with the intention of using them against Ukraine. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang affirms these claims.

06:16 Alert for air raids in Kharkiv lifted in most areas after drone attacks

The air alarm in Kharkiv, which prolonged for more than 16 hours, has been lifted in almost all parts of the city. The regional governor, Oleh Synyehubov, revealed that at least five drones had previously struck Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Kharkiv's Mayor, Ihor Terekhov, declared that a district had sustained damage and a fire had broken out. Kharkiv remained under an air raid alert for over 16.5 hours, the longest such restriction since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

05:50 Washington sees Beijing's support for Russia as a hinderance to reconciliation with the West

In response to the positive meeting between Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and Russian President, Vladimir Putin, the US government considers Chinese support for Russia a barrier to reconciliation with the West. State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, says that Beijing cannot "dance at two weddings at once." He explains that better relationships with Europe and other countries are unattainable for China if it concurrently "stokes the gravest European security threat in a long time" – referring to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

21:44 Zelensky warns of possible European hazards due to Russian missile attacks on gas network:

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, urges caution regarding potential dangers to Europe stemming from Russian missile attacks on Ukraine's gas transportation system. Zelensky conveyed his concerns during a conversation with Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, sharing a message on social media. "These attacks on gas infrastructure in western Ukraine present a threat for everyone in Europe, not merely for Ukraine or our neighbors," Zelensky states and suggests adopting united approaches to address this.

20:17 Macron: Power outages in Ukraine expected to continue for several months

Due to extensive damage inflicted on power plants and substations in Ukraine, authorities anticipate that disruptions in electricity supplies will persist for up to two months. Yuri Boyko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Prime Minister and Ukrenerho's supervisory board member, offers this update. He expects some improvement around August or September. On Thursday, regions face adjustable power shortages to preserve energy. This also affects the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.

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