Kremlin allegedly transfers soldiers from Kherson to Kharkiv at 17:47.
Russia allegedly transfers an unidentified quantity of troops from Kharkiv's south to its north. The Institute for the Study of War's most recent update is vague on Moscow's intentions for these units, as they could be either instantly deployed into hostilities or utilized as support for the Northern military group. US analysts cite a Chechen commander and Ukrainian military sources.
In an additional tale, Russia reportedly coerces thousands of African migrants to join their military efforts in Kharkiv by threatening to withdraw their visas. "Bloomberg" references European diplomats for this information. Some of the impacted migrants might have been spared involvement in the war if they paid Russian officials.
Biden declares an accord with Macron concerning the administration of frozen Russian assets. The details of this agreement are not yet made public.
There are rumors of an explosion in Russian's Belgorod region. Residents have posted footage of it on Telegram, according to the Russian-speaking Telegram channel Astra. Rumors suggest that a munitions depot in the Rakityansky district caught fire in the afternoon. The governor of the region had previously warned about the potential danger of rockets. The Russian Defense Ministry stated in the afternoon that multiple Ukrainian drones had been shoot down over the Belgorod region.
Russian troops are allegedly situated near Chassiv Yar in eastern Ukraine. For about a week, the Russians have been attempting to amass their troops in this area in private residences. According to a military source in the Ukrainian news outlet "Ukrajinska Prawda," there were more than 1,500 bombardments in the previous week. The Russians annihilated countless positions through long-range rocket launchers and guided air bombs to safeguard logistics along the road from Bachmut to Chassiv Yar. "Now, they began to advance and [troops] under the protection of first-person-view drones to gather," the source states. "The city center is under our control," it claims.
Ukrainian pilots are visible in a video shared by their armed forces. The military force writes on Telegram that the Yak-52 plane used for aerial defense was active over the region of Mykolajiw. Through the lens of a Russian spy drone, it is evident that the pilots of this aircraft with open canopies are clearly visible. "The Kyiv Post" and "Militarnyi" reference a co-pilot shooting down the drone.
For the drone attack on a modern Russian fighter jet, parked 600 kilometers south of the border in southern Russia, Ukraine's intelligence service (HUR) claims responsibility. One of their sources asserts that these assaults were carried out using a drone created in Ukraine.
Russia intends to combine the occupied territories in four southeastern regions and the Crimean Peninsula into a federal district dubbed "Novorossiya." This information was shared by the head of the regional military administration of Luhansk, Artem Lysohor, on Telegram. "The locals are not given the option to choose a name, as there is only one option - Novorossiya," he writes. He also states that these territorial entities have no legal standing. After the holidays, students are to learn the region's local history according to a Russian textbook.
After receiving authorization to strike Russian territory, a Ukrainian brigade commander revealed that this directive positively impacted the overall course of the battle. Commander Yuriy Fedorenko shared this perspective in an interview with Radio NV. He highlights the significance of activities like electronic reconnaissance, electronic warfare, air defense, and the shutting down of S-300 and S-400 systems, which had been repetitively targeting Kharkiv. This is reportedly the initial step. Extending the scope of protection to Russian territory is described as the second step.
Ukrainian Military Reports 103 Attacks by Russia on Settlements and Infrastructure
The Ukrainian military reported 103 Russian assaults on settlements and 93 on infrastructure since yesterday. The attacks targeted 10 different regions across the country. In the regions of Kharkiv, Kherson, and Izium, at least three individuals were killed, houses, and a school were damaged.
Increased Female Representation in the Ukrainian Army
More than 67,000 women currently serve in the Ukrainian military, with the majority of them acting as soldiers. Although women were not initially targeted during the mobilization efforts after Russia's full-scale attack in 2022, their numbers have increased by 40%. The Defense Ministry has now identified the need to provide women with career opportunities.
Upcoming Registry of Explosive and Mined Areas in Ukraine
The Ukrainian government plans to establish a state registry for explosive and mined areas to monitor their demining status in real time. This move is particularly crucial for farmers to determine if their land is still contaminated or has been cleared. Experts have warned that numerous hazards may remain even after the fighting ends, including outdated North Korean ammunition with a dud rate of over 30%.
Majority of Germans Seek Return to Conscription Army
A survey by YouGov on behalf of "Welt am Sonntag" found that 60% of Germans support the reinstatement of conscription. 28% are fully in favor of it, while 32% favor it but not as severely. Conscription was suspended in 2011, and a renewed debate has emerged regarding increasing the strength of the Bundeswehr in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine Reports Successful Hit on Russia's Most Advanced Fighter Jet
For the first time, the Ukrainian military intelligence service has reported a successful strike on a Su-57 fighter jet. The aircraft was damaged during an attack on an airfield in Russia's Astrakhan region, which is approximately 600 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The Su-57, Russia's most advanced fighter jet, can carry missiles.
ISW: Russia's Soldier Shortage Impedes Plans for Major Summer Offensive
The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates that Russia is mobilizing around 30,000 soldiers per month, with some of them serving as reinforcements in the front lines. However, this number is insufficient to initiate large-scale offensive operations on multiple fronts in the summer, as the new recruits would not be trained enough to operate as first or second line forces.
UN: 174 Ukrainian Civilians Killed in May, Most Casualties Since Last Year
The United Nations reported that at least 174 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 690 injured in the month of May. These casualties are the highest monthly count of civilian deaths since the war began, with more than half of the victims coming from the Kharkiv region. The increase in casualties is attributed to the intense attacks by Russian troops in this area.
Russia Plans to Train Officers in Occupied Territories
Russia is planning to offer officer training courses in the currently occupied territories of Ukraine. These courses will focus on electronic warfare, such as working with radar or jammers. The Russian army currently relies heavily on jammers, making it difficult for Western precision weapons to hit their intended targets.
Ukrainian General Staff Reports 1,270 Russian Casualties
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the Russian side incurred 1,270 casualties (dead or wounded) in the past 24 hours. The total number of losses from the beginning of the full-scale invasion, according to the Ukrainians, is now over 518,000. Additionally, 26 Russian tanks, 26 armored vehicles, 60 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed during this timeframe. The number of destroyed drones is reported to be 37.
Ukrainians Repel Russian Advance in the North
After gathering troops along Ukraine's northeastern border for some time, Russia may soon launch a larger assault in the region around Kharkiv. However, recent reports suggest that the Ukrainian forces have managed to halt the Russian advance in Vovchansk, a town near the city of Kharkiv.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is contemplating the establishment of a permanent ambassador in Kyiv. This top-ranking civilian representative would serve to coordinate NATO's support for Ukraine, which includes military aid provided by Western nations. This role would resemble NATO's part during its two-decade involvement in Afghanistan. The origin of this plan: NATO member countries are unlikely to endorse inviting Ukraine to membership talks at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington. Consequently, the alliance is now seeking alternatives to demonstrate a more tangible effect on Kyiv and to make its support binding.
06:55: Ukraine pursuing a new approach in collaboration with arms manufacturers
The Ukrainian government is reportedly initiating a fresh strategy involving arms manufacturers. The primary objective is to ink more direct agreements between Ukraine and the arms industry. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister, Dmytro Klimenko, executed such an agreement with a Bulgarian firm over the weekend, according to the news portal "Ukrinform." Klimenko confirms that this would allow Ukraine to directly receive modern weapons from the manufacturers, facilitating the rapid and effective modernization of its military.
06:19: Austrian Defense Minister voices disapproval
Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner believes that Germany, France, and the United States have "crossed the red line" by enabling Kiev to deploy Western weapons on Russian territory. She expresses great satisfaction that NATO, led by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, will not send troops to Ukraine. While she refrains from commenting on Ukraine's need to defend itself against shelling from the Russian border, she emphasizes that "as a militarily neutral state, it is not our responsibility to determine this."
05:38: Bundeswehr aims to increase its reserve forces
The German Defense Ministry is devising a plan to substantially expand the reserve of the Bundeswehr. This increased reserve would be professionally trained and armed, thereby amply equipped to support or replace the active troops in battle situations. General Lieutenant Alexander Hoppe, Deputy General Inspector and Reservist Affairs Officer, explains in Berlin that the goal is to have around 60,000 men and women as reservists in a basic order, each trained for a specific task.
04:37: German officials skeptical of Macron's EU troops plan
Due to security concerns, the German government opposes French President Emmanuel Macron's plan of sending European soldiers to Ukraine to train in the future. "The EU's training offers security, while the inherent risk of attacks on training facilities in Ukraine renders the training inefficient," a leaked internal EU document obtained by "Welt am Sonntag" states. Consequently, the German administration articulated genuine security worries at the meeting of European defense ministers on May 28.
03:20: At the frontlines in Ukraine, Russians make incursions
The Ukrainian General Staff has documented 76 combat situations over the past 24 hours, with the most heated tensions occurring at the Pokrowsk Front. Russian forces registered 27 attacks in this region. According to the Army Command in Kyiv, these troops are attempting to break through from Otscheretyne to Evhenivka and Novooleksandriwka.
01:42: Soldier's Coffin Graffiti perpetrators in custody
French authorities have detained three Moldovans in connection with the Soldier's Coffin Graffiti incident in Paris. The investigation is ongoing, and the possibility of external influence is not dismissed. Graffiti bearing a coffin and the words "French soldier in Ukraine" surfaced on Parisian buildings on Friday. In the following night, three Moldovans were apprehended as they wielded paint cans and stencils. Merely a few days beforehand, coffins bearing the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine" were deposited at the Eiffel Tower. Three suspects, including a German, were also taken into custody at that time.
00:39: United Nations records 174 civilian casualties in Ukraine
The United Nations acknowledges that May marked the deadliest month for civilian deaths in Ukraine since June 2023, with no less than 174 civilians losing their lives. Ukrainian authorities assert that Russia deliberately bombards residential areas near the front lines to elicit evacuations. However, Russia denies focusing on civilians.
23:24: Embattled ambulance targeted in drone attack, reports Ukrainian authorities
In Biloserka, southern Ukraine, an ambulance driver sustained injuries after drones dropped explosives onto his vehicle, according to Ukrainian authorities.
22:23: Severity of Russian torture on Ukrainian PoWs exposed by Prosecutor General
Torturing prisoners of war or civil populations is pervasive within the Russian military, believes Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin. He estimated that up to 90% of the returning Ukrainian PoWs had been tormented, receiving various types of physical, including sexual, and psychological abuse. These insights are shared by the news outlet "Euromaidan Press".
21:42: Zelenskyy labels Russian assault on Charkiv as a setback [
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterizes Russia's offensive on Charkiv as a failure, following intense fighting in the area.
For Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, the Russian soldiers' assault in the Charkiv area has come up short. In his evening speech, the president shared his conversation with Chief of Staff Oleksandr Syrskyi regarding the overall circumstances at the frontline. Notably, Zelenskyy highlighted that the Russian army hadn't conducted their operation in Charkiv. "We're doing our best to halt their advance and annihilate the invading Russian units, creating mayhem in the Charkiv region," he said. The Ukrainian leadership has apparently fortified the Charkiv front and will maintain the reinforcements. The Donetsk region is said to be facing the most challenging conditions.
Read also:
- The Institute for the Study of War mentioned the possibility of Russian military operations in Kharkiv, which borders Ukraine and Russia.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President, referred to the Russian attacks on Ukraine as a failure following a major offensive near Kharkiv.
- There are reports of cyberwarfare tactics being used in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with concerns raised about potential Nato involvement.
- Russian troops have been accused of targeting civilians in the region of Kharkiv, as evidenced by the UN reporting 174 civilian casualties in May.
