Former employee of Selenskyj faces charges

In Ukraine, a former associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky has been accused of corruption. This individual is suspected of gaining illicit assets, including real estate, land, and luxury cars, valued at $400,000, according to the National Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau. It has been claimed that this person is Andriy Smyrnov, Zelensky's former deputy office manager, who was previously dismissed in March. Smyrnov acquired two Mercedes and one Volkswagen car, two Honda and BMW motorcycles, three parking spaces in Kiev, an apartment in Lviv, and a plot of land in Transcarpathia. He attempted to hide the existence of these assets by transferring most of them to his brother, but he retained the right to "dispose of the entire property." If convicted, he could face up to ten years in prison.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, one of the top politicians in the US, supports allowing Ukraine to attack Russian territory with American weapons. When asked by Voice of America, he said, "Ukraine should be allowed to wage war as it sees fit. It should be able to defend itself." This statement is similar to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks during a visit to Kiev, where he said, "We have not supported or enabled attacks outside Ukraine. But Ukraine must decide for itself how it wants to wage this war to defend its territory." Despite conflicting opinions from other US officials, this statement can be seen as an implied authorization.

Russia has reportedly installed barriers in the water in front of the Crimean Bridge to protect it from potential Ukrainian attacks using naval drones. According to satellite images, the majority of these barriers were installed within the past two weeks. An official from Ukrainian military intelligence predicted a third attack on the bridge would occur in the first half of 2024. Military expert Ralph Thiele weighs in on Russia's ambitions in the Baltic Sea, commenting that the region has been a contested area since World War II.

Ukrainian soldiers are being rewarded for destroying Russian military equipment. Soldiers have been filming themselves in videos destroying enemy property, but it has also been noted that many Russian tanks and other equipment are also being destroyed. The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has approved a procedure for granting additional leave to soldiers for damaged enemy equipment. This is meant to alleviate the stress of the soldiers, who have been experiencing a lack of relief due to the ongoing war.

Local authorities in Kharkiv, Ukraine, report that ten people were injured, some seriously, from a Russian airstrike. A café, a petrol station, and a bus were also damaged in the attack. One driver required both legs to be amputated due to his injuries, and three other people are receiving treatment in hospitals. The city of Kharkiv endures frequent Russian airstrikes, largely targeting the civilian population.

A video supposedly showing a massive area bombardment by Russian troops is circulating on social media, though its authenticity cannot be confirmed. In the aerial footage, multiple shots apparently fired by Russian rocket launchers are seen scurrying across the area every second. The numerous explosions illuminate the sky.

As the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky was once close to his former deputy office manager, Andriy Smyrnov. However, Smyrnov has recently been charged with corruption, believed to have accumulated assets worth $400,000 through illegal means by acquiring real estate, land, and luxury vehicles. Officials are alleging he has concealed the existence of these assets by transferring most of them to his brother, but still kept the right to "dispose of the entire property." Conviction could lead to a ten-year imprisonment.

American officials, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have expressed their support for Ukraine to use US weapons to attack Russian territory. This authorization is seen as de facto but is being met with mixed reactions from other US officials who advocate keeping the ban in place.

The Baltic Sea is a power struggle zone since World War II, according to military expert Ralph Thiele. Analysts are pondering whether Russia's naval presence in the region poses a genuine threat to the Baltic Sea countries.

As Ukrainian fighters continue to record visible damage to Russian military equipment, the Ukrainian government has agreed to offer soldiers extra time off for destroyed enemy property. As soldiers battle stress, this gesture aims to provide much-needed relief.

Daily Russian airstrikes terrorize Kharkiv's civilian population, resulting in injuries reported as ten people being injured, with some of them severely hurt. A café, a petrol station, and a bus have also fallen victim to these attacks.

The German administration remains resistant to the American proposals of utilizing congeled Russian assets for financing Ukraine. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin clarified their stance, "Our stance persists: it's about the revenue generated from these assets, not the assets themselves." This decision was formed in view of the G7 summit in Italy, where their ministers are seeking long-term strategies to finance Ukraine. The U.S. aims to either seize or use these frozen funds as collateral for securities or loans. However, certain EU states possess legal reservations in this regard. A total of approximately 300 billion dollars in assets were frozen, most of which is located in Europe. Distribution of these assets' earnings could only potentially generate a low-digit annual billion income, which is insignificant for Ukraine.

The imminent deployment of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine approaches, as technicians who have completed their training abroad are beginning to return. They will pass on their acquired knowledge to additional personnel in preparation of the delivery of fighter jets from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. The Netherlands plans to deliver at least 24 fighter jets to Kiev.

The Russian invasion forces have possibly regained control of Klishchiivka, a village in eastern Ukraine, for the second time since the conflict began. According to Russian Ministry of Defense, the town's control was gained through offensive operations. However, the Ukrainian General Staff admitted to sustained attacks on the village but deemed the situation under control. Klishchiivka had a population of about 500 individuals prior to the hostilities.

According to Ukrainian sources, Russian soldiers are committing war crimes by shooting civilians attempting to evacuate in Vovchansk, which serves as the third frontline in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The city's police chief Oleksii Kharkivskyi, in an interview with Kyiv24, reiterated that Russian troops have been responsible for several incidents of killing civilians as they try to flee the fighting. An estimated hundred people remain in the city.

The interest in enlisting in Poland's military is high and Poland is not contemplating the reintroduction of conscription; instead, they only consider voluntary basic military service adequate. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz expressed this in parliament, "There's no reason to reintroduce compulsory military service. Voluntary basic military service ensures more than enough interest among citizens." The Polish army, which is a wealthy military backer of Ukraine, currently boasts around 198,000 troops. In the coming years, it aims to increase the troop count to 300,000. In 2009, Poland abolished compulsory military service, although men still have to register at a draft board for potential conscription in case of defense.

In April, Ukraine's grain and oilseed exports surpassed all records since the Russian assaults started in 2022. According to figures from the British Ministry of Defence, Ukraine exported 6.6 million tons of these products in April. The current ship traffic at Ukraine's Black Sea ports is greater than the amount recorded during pre-conflict times. The Ukrainian maritime corridor secured peacefully in summer 2023 facilitates ship transits and has enabled the export of 45 million tons of cargo.

The Ministry of Defense in Moscow declared that Russian troops have taken over Klishchiivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. According to reports from Russian state news, Klishchiivka, which was under attack by the Ukrainian military, has been recaptured. The Ukrainian military, on the other hand, denied any loss of control in the region. The village has been severely damaged after months of constant engagement.

London, 1:05 PM: China accused of furnishing Russia with lethal weaponry

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has leveled accusations at China for supplying Russia with potentially lethal gear that could be used in conflict against Ukraine or, alternatively, preparing to supply such weapons. Based on British and American intelligence, "lethal aid is currently flowing or will flow from China to Russia and Ukraine," Shapps remarks in London. "This should concern us." Previously, China attempted to portray itself as a moderating force on Russian President Vladimir Putin during the initial phase of the war. Shapps did not present any evidence to support his claims. The Chinese embassy in London has yet to respond to a request for comment. The Chinese embassy in the States conveyed in April that the People's Republic had not provided weapons and was not "involved in the Ukraine crisis".

12:37 PM: Russian presidential office downplays escalating tensions in Baltic Sea

The Russian presidential office has the Ministry of Defense to address any concerns related to speculations of border alterations in the Baltic Sea. According to the presidential office, there is no political motive behind these reports. As of now, tensions in the region are increasing.

12:06 PM: Sweden allocates 6.5 billion Euros for military aid towards Ukraine

Sweden aims to provide Ukraine with EUR 6.5 billion worth of military aid until 2026. Stockholm's administration has decided to split this aid equally between 2024, 2025, and 2026. The objective is to enhance Swedish support for Ukraine and generate positive long-term outcomes. This support encompasses both the provision and financial assistance for procuring military equipment. With this planned three-year package, Sweden's military aid for Ukraine would amount to above EUR 8.6 billion.

11:36 AM: Russia denies reports of contemplated border shift in the Baltic Sea

Per reports from Interfax, a source close to the military-diplomatic sphere has refuted rumors of Russia's inclination to modify maritime boundaries. Both TASS and RIA have also reported Russia's rejection of these claims. Previously, a draft law from the Ministry of Defense had hinted that Russia was vying to alter maritime borders in the Baltic Sea.

11:12 AM: Modernized Ukrainian Sea Baby Drones speculated to fire Grad missiles

The Ukrainian domestic intelligence service SBU is believed to have upgraded its Sea Baby naval drones, resulting in them now being capable of launching volleys of Grad missiles. Reports published by the Kyiv Independent cite a representative within the agency explaining that these drones have already delivered significant damage to Russian vessels and positions. "This technological innovation is already producing significant results," the source adds. "Ukraine's Sea Baby is not merely a drone, but a multifunctional platform that is constantly being developed."

10:49 AM: Poland acquires US radar system to bolster air defense

Poland has acquired a radar system from the US to support its northern and eastern border regions. A EUR 960 million contract has been signed, confirms Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. Poland is expected to become the second nation to utilize this system. The deal entails the delivery of four balloons, which will assist Polish air defense and coastal surveillance systems.

10:17 AM: Russia's aggressive actions catch Baltic Sea nations by surprise

Historically, Russia has not made serious territorial claims on Sweden's Baltic Sea island of Gotland, leading to a minimal military presence from Sweden in the area. The threat scenario is changing, and Stockholm has now issued a warning. Moscow, on the other hand, is proceeding with this "aggressive act," as Rainer Munz writes.

9:53 AM: Finland demands that Russia adheres to international maritime law

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen presses Russia to abide by United Nations and international maritime regulations. It was recently disclosed that Russia plans to expand its borders in the Baltic Sea. The rationale behind these modifications remains unknown. Discussions with other countries that border the Baltic Sea concerning these potential modifications have yet to be revealed. Finland forms part of NATO.

9:25 AM: USA aims to seize or leverage frozen Russian funds for Ukraine's financing

During their meeting in Italy on Friday and Saturday, the finance ministers of the seven leading Western industrialized nations (G7) will explore methods of financing Ukraine over the long term. The U.S. government is urging them to go beyond the current measures. They are pushing for an outright seizure or the utilization of these funds as collateral for securities or loans. Nevertheless, this plan is provoking legal concerns, particularly within the European Union.

At 8:56, it seems Russia and Belarus are once again pushing migrants towards Western Europe, particularly Germany. This is apparent from the reports by "Süddeutsche Zeitung", WDR, and NDR, revealing a rise in migrants arriving in Germany via these countries. According to the German Federal Police, migration via this route had significantly dropped in January and February, with under 30 arrivals each time, but surged to 412 in March, 670 in April, and 416 by mid-May. It's not just Germany, Polish border police have also noted an increase in people entering Poland from Belarus. Security officials are once again questioning if this is a form of "hybrid warfare".

At 8:21, a group of Ukrainian soldiers, armed with smartphones, Starlink, mines, and drones, are performing nightly missions over Russian territory. They're dropping various booby traps from the air and jokingly refer to it as "without a visa" since they're technically entering Russian areas.

By 7:37, the European Commission has announced that Ukraine will receive its first payment from seized Russian assets in July. Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis emphasized the urgency for Ukraine to receive this money, stating that the European Commission will try to make the first payment in July.

07:03 - Russia looks to extend its territorial waters in the Baltic Sea, according to "Moscow Times". This information comes from a draft government decree reportedly created by the Ministry of Defense, detailing plans to claim part of the water area in the east of the Gulf of Finland and near Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region. The affected areas on the Finland border include islands like Jähi, Sommers, Holland, Rodsher, Male Tyuters, and near the northern entrance cap of the Narva River. On the Lithuania border, the Russian government plans to "adjust" the coordinates of the Curonian Spit, Cape Taran, Cape South of Cape Taran, and the Baltic Spit.

06:35 - The Federal Ministry of the Interior suggests the Russian "doppelganger" network created in 2022 is responsible for a new disinformation campaign featuring fake quotes from popular German celebrities. These instruction have been seen on social media and even as Facebook ads, usually involving fictitious statements about Ukraine. Officials are aware that this publicity campaign, which uses the same tactic as previously imitating websites for media and institutions, is ongoing.

06:06 - Russia's representative to the EU in Brussels has expressed disapproval over the EU's decision to utilize interest income from blocked Moscow assets to support Ukraine's military effort. Considering this an act of "theft" against a sovereign state, the EU shows total disregard for their duty to protect property.

05:38 - The Council of Europe advises Georgia to repeal the controversial "foreign influence" law. The Venice Commission states the law infringes upon fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of association, the right to privacy, and is, therefore, inconsistent with the European Convention on Human Rights.

In short, Russia and Belarus are directing refugees toward EU countries, including Germany; a secret team of Ukrainian soldiers is using drones to undermine Russia; Ukraine will get its first payment from frozen Russian assets in July; Moscow plans to expand its territorial waters in the Baltic Sea; a Russian network is creating fake quotes from celebrities; Russia considers EU theft for locking up Russian assets; and Georgia must rescind the law on foreign influence.

05:20 Warning from Sweden's Army Chief: Putin's Appetite for the Baltic Sea

The Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces, Micael Byden, expresses concern over Russia's expanding power in the Baltic Sea. "I'm convinced Putin has targeted Gotland," Byden told Germany's Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) newspapers. "His aim is to assert control over the Baltic Sea," he continued. "If Russia were to lay claim to the Baltic and block it off, it would have massive consequences for us and other nations bordering the sea. We can't permit that." Byden warned against allowing the Baltic Sea to become Putin's personal arena, where he could bully NATO members.

04:50 Russia's Latest Anti-Satellite Weapon Launched

The United States believes Russia has launched a satellite that could be a space weapon. The Pentagon's Pat Ryder revealed the information, stating that the satellite is likely to target other satellites and is currently in a low-Earth orbit. The launch occurred on May 16, and the Russian satellite now shares the same path as a U.S. government satellite, Ryder mentioned. When quizzed about whether the Russian satellite poses a risk to the U.S. satellite, Ryder replied, "Yes, it's a space defense weapon in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite." This is not the first such launch from the Russians; they previously launched similar satellites in 2019 and 2022.

10:50 FDP Suggests Using Reservists Instead of Compulsory Military Service

In the discussion about reintroducing conscription, FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr urges Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to engage with reservists. "The Bundeswehr reserves need a clear message that they're needed. With active forces, we'd have a mobilizable force of over one million soldiers," Dürr said in an interview with the Funke Medien group.

21:20 EU Council Presidency Offers Hope for Speedy Ukraine Talks Start

Ukraine and Moldova stand a chance of initiating EU entry negotiations promptly. Following a meeting in Brussels, the current Belgian EU Council Presidency indicated that it was making efforts to set up a meeting of negotiating delegations by the end of June. Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib explained, "We're doing everything possible to reach an agreement." Negotiations could potentially begin within the next 40 days. Before any negotiations can commence, however, all EU states must unanimously approve the necessary frameworks, which outline guidelines and principles for negotiations with each candidate country.

22:04 Baerbock Endorses Pistorius' Request for Boost in Ukraine Aid

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock fully supports Defense Minister Boris Pistorius' call for a 3.8 billion euro increase in aid to Ukraine this year. "I completely agree with the Minister of Defense, and not only with him, but also with the Interior Minister," stated the Green politician in an interview with the "Bild" newspaper in Kiev. "We need a security budget," Baerbock added. "Our European peace order, our continent has never been more directly threatened. We can't say 'We were not prepared at the time to spend billions more on peace, and that led to this Russian attack.'"

23:10 Schularick: Germany's Budgetary Policy is a Risk to European Security

The German government should invest more in defense, according to IfW President Moritz Schularick. He even suggested that Germany might need to take on additional debt to address the significant shortcomings in its defense capabilities. "German fiscal policy poses a security risk to Europe," Schularick conveyed to the "Süddeutsche Zeitung."

23:56 Baerbock Slams Russia's Nuclear Exercise

Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, harshly condemns a recent Russian nuclear exercise. "Russia's nuclear forces exercising near the Ukrainian border shows their determination to push things as far as possible - even if that means endangering the safety and security of neighboring countries," Baerbock remarked during a ZDF interview. "Putin is attempting to weaken this society, which has spent the past two years striving for peace and freedom."

15:50 Zelensky Briefs on Current Situation in Donetsk: Dire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky describes the circumstances in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region as incredibly difficult. The most intense fighting is taking place in Kramatorsk, Kurakhove, and Pokrovsk, according to Selensky, who shared his perspective in a televised address. In the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian military is inflicting substantial losses on the invaders. Since Zelensky met with military leaders, results have started to show.

21:00 Zelensky to Focus on Economic Strengthening and Defense

9:38 PM Ukraine: Kharkiv Region: calm restoredNazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Khortytsya gathering, claimed that Ukrainian troops had successfully restored peace in the Kharkiv region on Ukrainian TV. He expressed, "Right now, the operational area in the Kharkiv region is intricate and dynamic." Despite this, Voloshyn asserted that their forces, along with others engaged in the operation, managed to maintain order, especially in the city of Vovchansk. He further mentioned that the Russian military is persistently attempting to infiltrate in the neighboring regions of Vovchansk.

To read more about the past events, please visit: Here [Link removed]

A picture of Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram shows the consequences of the attack on the bus.

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The former associate of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accused of corruption, is Andriy Smyrnov, a military figure who served as Zelensky's deputy office manager. Smyrnov has been charged with gaining illicit assets worth $400,000, and if convicted, could face up to ten years in prison.
Amidst the Ukraine conflict, NATO ally Germany remains resistant to using congeled Russian assets for Ukraine's financing, favoring the revenue generated from these assets instead. This decision was formed to alleviate legal concerns and maintain the stance at the G7 summit in Italy.
Russian forces have reportedly installed barriers in the water surrounding the Crimean Bridge to protect it from potential Ukrainian attacks using naval drones. Analysts predict a third attack on the bridge to occur in the first half of 2024, citing this protective measure as part of Russia's defensive strategy.
Russia has been accused of committing war crimes in Vovchansk, a city serving as the third frontline in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Ukrainian sources allege that Russian soldiers are shooting civilians attempting to evacuate, resulting in loss of life and injury to local residents.

Source: www.ntv.de