Military Report: Russian Drone Captures Images of Ukrainian Pilots
Pilots in open-canned aircraft are visible in a video shared by the Ukrainian military. The army claims that the Yak-52 aircraft acted as an air defense system and was in use over Mykolajiw region. The video captures the aircraft through a Russian reconnaissance drone lens. The co-pilot purportedly shot down the drone, according to "Kyiv Post" and "Militarnyi." However, the information cannot be cross-verified.
At 13:58, the Ukrainian intelligence service (HUR) asserts they attacked a modern Russian fighter jet 600 kilometers from the border in southern Russia. The source from HUR reveals the strike was performed with a drone made in Ukraine. The intelligence service is renowned for its bold operations on Russian territory and occupied areas in Ukraine.
13:27: Russia plans to rename occupied territories as "Novorossiya"Russia aims to amalgamate the occupied territories from four southeastern regions and the Crimean Peninsula into a federal district called "Novorossiya." The head of Luhansk's regional military administration, Artem Lysohor, shares this announcement on Telegram. He mentions the locals are not offered the chance to choose a name because the sole option is "Noworossiya." Lysohor highlights that territorial entities of such nature hold no legal standing. Post-holiday season, students will learn local history based on a Russian textbook.
12:57: Ukrainian military confirms attack on Russian territoryA Ukrainian brigade commander confirms that permission to employ Western weaponry on Russia yielded remarkable results for the Ukrainian armed forces. Yuriy Fedorenko stated in an interview with Radio NV, "The impact of this opportunity on the general course of hostilities has been positive." Besides reconnaissance, electronic warfare, air defense, the commander adds that the S-300 and S-400 systems were disabled in Kharkiv. This is the first step; the extension to the Russian territory's depth would be step two.
12:35: Ukrainian Ministry reports 103 Russian attacks since yesterdayThe Ukrainian military records 103 Russian assaults on settlements and 93 on infrastructure since the previous day. Ten regions sustained attacks. In Kharkiv, Kherson, and Izium, at least three people lost their lives, houses, and a school were damaged.
12:09: Significant increase in female representation in the Ukrainian armyApproximately 67,000 women serve in the Ukrainian army, mainly as soldiers. The high mobilization after Russia's massive assault in 2022 didn't target women. Despite this, the female soldiers' number has risen by 40%. Many of these women perform roles such as shooting, artillery operation, and drone operation. The Ukrainian government acknowledges the need to create career advancements for women.
11:31: Minefields cover hundreds of sq. km. in post-war Ukrainian territoriesThe Ukrainian government intends to record explosive and mined regions in a registry to track the demining progress in real-time. This is crucial for farmers to detect land contamination or clearance. Post-combat situations present immense hazards. Security expert Gustav Gressel states, "We have North Korean ammunition from the 50s with a dud rate of over 30 percent." The Ukrainian countryside will become a vast minefield.
10:55: Majority of Germans endorse conscription returnSurveys by YouGov on behalf of "Welt am Sonntag" reveal 60% of Germans support the conscription reintroduction, entirely (28%) or slightly (32%). However, thirty-two percent object, with 18% slightly and 14% entirely. Conscription was banned in 2011. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, debates arise on expanding the Bundeswehr significantly.
10:32: Ukraine claims success: First attack on Modern Russian fighter jetThe Ukrainian military intelligence service reports a successful hit on a Su-57 fighter jet. Allegedly, the aircraft suffered damage at an airfield in the Astrakhan region, southern Russia. This region is nearly 600 kilometers from the border. Satellite images depict the intact Su-57 on Friday and its damaged state on Saturday after explosions. Yesterday, Russia disclosed a drone attack on several regions, including Astrakhan. The Su-57, Russia's most advanced jet, can also carry cruise missiles. Only a few have been used in combat.
Russia mobilizes 30,000 soldiers per month, some of whom are sent as reinforcements to the front. However, according to a US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analysis, these reinforcements won't be enough to carry out large-scale offensive operations on several fronts during the summer. The new reserves won't be able to act as first or second-line forces, which are needed for a major offensive.
9:27 UN: At least 174 Ukrainian civilians killed in May
In May, at least 174 civilians were killed and 690 were injured in Ukraine. This represents the highest monthly toll of civilian casualties in a year, according to the UN mission in Ukraine. The UN attributes this increase in casualties to the intense attacks by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, with more than half of the casualties coming from this part of the country.
8:50 Ukraine: Russians plan to train officers in occupied territories
Russia is planning to offer courses for training officers of the Russian army in the currently occupied territories of Ukraine. The Kyiv Post reports this, citing a report from Ukrainian special forces. The trained officers will be offered "good positions within a contract." The courses will focus specifically on electronic warfare, such as working with radar or jammers. The Russian army is currently using jammers so intensively that Western precision weapons often cannot reach their targets.
8:19 Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,270 casualties on Russian side
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 1,270 dead or wounded Russian soldiers in the past 24 hours. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainians report a total of over 518,000 casualties on the Russian side. In the past day, 26 Russian tanks were destroyed, as well as 26 armored vehicles, 60 artillery systems, and two air defense systems. The number of destroyed drones is given as 37 by the General Staff.
7:40 Ukrainians push back Russian advances in the north
Russia has been amassing troops along the northeastern border of Ukraine for some time. The town of Vovchansk near Kharkiv has been under heavy bombardment for weeks, leading to expectations of a larger attack in the region. However, it now appears that the Ukrainians are successfully pushing back the Russian advance there.
7:27 NATO considers installing permanent envoy in Kyiv, aid to become more reliable
The NATO is considering establishing a permanent envoy in Kyiv. This high-ranking civilian representative would coordinate NATO support for Ukraine, including military aid from Western countries. The rationale behind these plans is that it's unlikely NATO countries will agree on inviting Ukraine to join membership negotiations at the July summit in Washington. So, the alliance is looking for smaller steps to make a more tangible impact on Kyiv and make its support more binding.
6:55 Ukraine wants to conclude more direct contracts with arms manufacturers
The Ukrainian government is reportedly launching a new strategy to collaborate more closely with arms manufacturers. The goal is to conclude more direct contracts between Ukraine and the arms industry. Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenko signed a contract with a Bulgarian company over the weekend, according to the news portal "Ukrinform." "This allows us to receive modern weapons directly from the manufacturer, and contributes to a faster and more effective modernization of the Ukrainian army," Klimenko said.
6:19 Austrian Minister: Germany has "crossed the red line"
Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner told "Die Presse" in an interview that Germany, France, and the United States have "crossed the red line" by allowing Kiev to use Western weapons on Russian territory. She is happy that NATO, according to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, will not send troops to Ukraine. Tanner refused to comment on Ukraine's need to defend itself against shelling from the Russian border. "As a militarily neutral state, it's not up to us to judge."
5:38 Bundeswehr: Reinforce Reservist Troops
The Bundeswehr is planning to significantly increase its reserve troops. These troops should be trained and equipped so that they can support or replace the active troops in combat. The goal of military planners is to have up to 60,000 men and women as reservists in a so-called basic order, who are planned and trained for a specific task.
4:37 Federal Government sees risks in Macron Plan
Due to security concerns, the German government rejects plans by French President Emmanuel Macron to send European soldiers to Ukraine to train Ukrainian forces in the future. "The training in the EU provides security, while the risk that training facilities in Ukraine will be attacked makes the training inefficient," quotes the "Welt am Sonntag" an internal EU document that the newspaper has access to. The German government expressed serious security concerns at the meeting of European defense ministers on May 28.
3:20 Ukrainian Army: Russians attempt breakthrough
Russia has been amassing troops along the northeastern border of Ukraine for some time. The town of Vovchansk near Kharkiv has been under heavy bombardment for weeks, and observers expect a larger attack in the region. However, it seems that the Ukrainians are successfully fending off the Russian advance there.
In the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian General Staff documented 76 militant incidents. The most stressful event took place at the Pokrovsk Front, where 27 Russian strikes occurred. The Ukrainian military, headquartered in Kiev, claimed Russian forces were attempting to break through from Ocheretyne to Avehenivka and Novooleksandriwka.
01:42 Parisian Graffiti & Moldovan Arrest: Mystery of the Soldier's Coffin
Following the appearance of the Soldier's Coffin Graffiti in Paris, three Moldovans find themselves in pre-trial detention. An official from the French prosecutor's office remarked that "external influence" can't be excluded. On Friday, graffiti including a coffin and the label "French soldier in Ukraine" was spotted on Parisian buildings. On Saturday night, three Moldovans were apprehended near the Eiffel Tower, carrying paint cans and stencils. Merely days ago, coffins with the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine" were stationed on the Eiffel Tower. Three detainees were apprehended, one of whom was a German.
00:39 United Nations: May's Fatal Margin in Ukraine
The UN has announced that May was the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since June 2023, with at least 174 civilian casualties. Ukraine has accused Russia of intentionally attacking residential areas near the frontlines to prompt evacuations. Russia is repudiating the assertion that it is targeting civilians.
23:24 Biloserka Incident: Ambulance Attack - Drones Target Rescue Vehicles
The driver of an ambulance reportedly sustained injuries after Russian forces dropped explosives onto their vehicle from a drone. The event transpired in the community of Biloserka, according to the Kherson Oblast's governor.
22:23 Prosecutor General: Forty-Five Percent of Ukrainian POWs were Tortured
Torturing prisoners of war or civilians is rampant in the Russian military, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin declares. Kostin contends that ninety percent of Ukrainian prisoners were subjected to some form of torture, inhumane treatment, physical injuries, including sexual abuse, and psychological violence. This was reported by Euromaidan Press. "After the initial informal interrogation with the returning Ukrainian prisoners, it seems that up to ninety percent of them have endured various forms of torture, inhuman treatment, physical, including sexual, and psychological abuse."
21:42 Zelenskyy Regards Charkiv Offensive as a Disappointment
Zelenskyy deems the Russian offensive in the Charkiv region a failure. In his evening address, the Ukrainian president shared his conversation with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi about the current military situation. A crucial outcome, according to him, is that the Russian forces have not successfully executed their operation in Charkiv. "We are presently holding them back as well as we can, and annihilating the Russian units entering our borders and terrorizing the Charkiw region," Zelenskyy explained. Additionally, he emphasized that the Charkiw front has become more challenging and will continue to worsen. The situation in the Donetsk region remains the most challenging.
Read also:
- There have been reports of cyberattacks targeting Ukrainian government institutions and critical infrastructure, leading to concerns about a potential escalation of the Ukraine conflict into a cyberwar.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, has called on NATO to provide more military aid to Ukraine, citing the need to defend against Russian attacks and potential cyberwarfare.
- In response to the ongoing conflict and potential cyberwarfare threats, Ukraine has increased its military training and exercises to prepare for various scenarios and improve its defensive capabilities.
- Russia, meanwhile, has denied any involvement in cyberattacks against Ukraine and has accused NATO of escalating tensions by providing military aid to Ukraine, which Russia sees as a threat to its own security interests.
