Moscow removes British military attache at 21:33.

Moscow ejects British military attache at 21:33.

Russia expels a British military diplomat in response to the UK's expulsion of a Russian representative due to spy allegations. The British citizen is deemed undesirable and must leave within seven days, as stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow. This act was retaliation for Britain's "unfriendly actions." London had expelled the Russian official on suspicion of espionage on May 8. Furthermore, Moscow sent a protest letter to the British representative, denouncing the removal of its military attaché as unjustified. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, this move had a "clear Russophobic character" and would damage the bilateral relationship. Moscow maintained the right to take additional measures. Following talks in Brussels, the NATO commander, Christopher Cavoli, stated that Russia lacks the necessary soldiers for a strategic breakthrough near Kharkiv, ensuring that Ukraine would maintain its positions in the region. Additionally, significant ammunition supplies to Ukrainian troops would soon be received.

In the Kharkiv area, thousands of affected individuals are escaping to the city of Kharkiv due to Russian artillery bombardment. A sum of displaced people are reportedly fleeing the region. An ndtv reporter, Jürgen Weichert, speaks to those impacted and aid organizations.

Ukrainian sources claim that Russia is using captive civilians as human shields in the embattled border town of Vovchansk in the country's north-east. The head of the criminal investigation department of the Kharkiv regional police, Serhiy Bolvinov, reported that 35 to 40 hostages are imprisoned. "The Russians are holding them in one place as human shields because their command center is nearby," he added. Many of these captives are elderly individuals. Earlier, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko had blamed Moscow for capturing and shooting civilians in Vovchansk.

In surveillance camera footage from Vovchansk, the tense situation is perceptible. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko had previously accused Russia of shooting civilians in the region. Reports also allege that Russian mercenaries had tried to seize a hospital.

In Latvia, security forces have arrested two persons on suspicion of spying for Russia. Both suspects are being investigated for collecting and transmitting confidential information to Russian special services, as confirmed by the EU and NATO nation's security police in Riga. Supposedly, both individuals passed on information about alleged spies in Latvia. One of the detainees is reportedly a person who had been accused of espionage for Russia in the past.

During his first trip to China since getting re-elected, Russian President Putin advocates for increased cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. The common mainstay of this cooperation is the aim of an alliance against the West, according to political scientist Gerhard Mangott.

At a European Union (EU) celebration close to the Kremlin, embassy officials criticized Russia's attack on Ukraine. Accompanied by protests from Russian activists, the EU's ambassador to Russia, Roland Galharague, lashed out against the unprovoked, illegal aggression of Russia against Ukraine, violating the United Nations Charter. "The wars of today only fuel the hatred of tomorrow," said the French diplomat. Anti-Western activists demonstrate in the very heart of Moscow, protesting the celebration of diplomats from various nations. A leaflet circulated by mostly communist protesters states that it is ridiculous to celebrate Europe Day in Russia while Russian blood is being spilled due to Western weapon deliveries to Ukraine. "Russian blood is on your hands" is written on a red banner. Diplomats reported that they were approached by the protesters and Russian media upon entering the venue.

5:22 PM UK Defense Secretary Warns against Ongoing Support to Ukraine Over Kharkiv Offensive

Britain's Defence Secretary Grant Shapps reminds the world that the recent attack on Kharkiv should be a wake-up call, urging all governments to continuously support Ukraine rather than just during specific periods. In a chat with Sky News, Shapps said, "I sincerely hope that this is the wake-up call we've been trying to convey, that it's not a battle where you can afford to be careless or preoccupied with another conflict and then expect no change. You need to constantly support Ukraine, not occasionally."

1:53 PM Expert Depicts Connection Between Fico's Assassination and Russia

The security expert Frank Umbach, during his interview with ntv, sheds light on the impact of Russia's hybrid warfare on the growing rift within Slovakian society.

3:03 PM Reports: First Civilians Killed in Vovchansk by Russian Military

The Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko shares shocking news regarding the Russian army's capture and murder of civilians in the city of Vovchansk. He posted on his Telegram account, "Reports of the first shootings of civilians by the Russian military in Vovchansk have surfaced." The detailed account includes a resident who attempted to escape and refused to follow Russian orders, resulting in getting killed. Early in the chaos, residents of Vovchansk were impounded and detained in basements.

3:09 PM Top Military Official Injured Near Vovchansk by Russian Attack

Tamaz Gambarashvili, the head of the military administration in Vovchansk, was injured in a shelling of a village close to the city, according to the announcement by Kharkiv region governor Oleh Sinehubov via Telegram. The shelling incident caused harm to a total of five people, including two medical staff and two drivers.

2:58 PM Russia Gains Largest Territorial Advance in Ten Months

In just one week, Russian forces gained 278 square kilometers of new territory, reports AFP. The majority of this new land was acquired in the Kharkiv region, with Russian troops capturing 257 square kilometers between May 9 and 15, indicating a significant maritime operation. Additionally, 21 square kilometers of land was garnered in other front areas. This makes Russia's largest territorial gain since previous year's December. From the start of the war in February 2022, Moscow has assumed approximately 65,300 square kilometers of Ukraine's land, equaling around twelve percent of the country's size. The Crimean Peninsula, which was seized by Russia earlier, is not included in this calculation.

1:57 PM New Zealand Imposes Fresh Sanctions

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters unveils new sanctions targeting 28 individuals and 14 entities. They're imposed to curb the transfer of North Korean weapons to Russia for usage against Ukraine and prevent tools of military aid from Iran.

1:30 PM Former Russian Defence Minister Proud of Ukraine Offensive

Shoigu, the ex-Russian Defence Minister, speaks about the Kharkiv offensive for the first time, expressing that the offensive continues to make progress in various directions. He said, "The offensive is making progress in all directions, and it's working well. I hope this progress continues." According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Shoigu was demoted from the role of Russian Defence Minister.

1:15 PM Breaking: Russian Ex-Defence Minister Hails Ukraine Offensive

Shoigu, the former Russian Defence Minister, speaks about the ongoing assault on Ukraine in a conversation on the Russian journalist Pavel Tsarubin's Telegram channel. Shoigu commends the operation, emphasizing that producing ammunition, weapons, and military gear is the most critical job in Russia currently. "The special military operation in Ukraine remains the main task [for Russians]," he writes, "specifically including the manufacturing of ammunition. This would also entail the production of artillery and military equipment, and I believe it's our primary responsibility right now."

13:27 Zelensky in Kharkiv: The situation is challenging, yet well-managed

President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the Kharkiv region, which has been targeted by Russia. There, he described the circumstances as very challenging, but in general, they are manageable. He convened a meeting with the military afterward and discussed ongoing difficulties. Zelensky indicated that reinforcements would be sent to the Kharkiv region due to the difficult situation. Earlier, the Ukrainian General Staff had reported accomplishments in slowing down the major Russian offensive that had been going on for almost a week.

13:00 The Ukrainian army repels Russian advance in the north-east

The Ukrainian army disclosed that they have thwarted the advance of invading Russian soldiers in the north-east section of the nation. The Ukrainian General Staff communicated that there is ongoing fighting in the northern sector of Vovchansk. However, Russian troops advancing in the town have been stopped. Despite these developments, the circumstances are manageable. Seizing Vovchansk, which is approximately five kilometers from the Russian border, would represent a significant territorial advance for the Russian military. Concurrently, Russian media reported, citing Russian officials in annexed land, that Russian soldiers were set to capture the village of Lypzi and were preparing to do so. Lypzi is to the west of Vovchansk and closer to Kharkiv.

12:33 Russian researcher indicted for spying for Germany

During the trial concerning the scientist Anatoly Maslov from Novosibirsk, the Russian prosecutor's office wants him to face a 17-year prison sentence in a strict penal colony and a fine. This was relayed by the Russian newspaper "Kommersant" and the television channel "Real Time". Maslov, who is 77, is being accused of passing on confidential information to Germany's intelligence service. The trial at the St. Petersburg court is confidential. According to "Kommersant", the prosecutor's office considers the treason to be confirmed. Scientists Alexander Shiplyuk, Valery Swegintsev and Maslov were arrested in 2022. They specialize in hypersonic technology, which is important for the development of weapons such as the Kinshal missile. The defendants deny the allegations. In April, researcher Alexander Kuranov, who specialized in hypersonic technologies, was also convicted of treason and sentenced to seven years in prison.

11:53 Commentator Munz on Putin's trip to China: "Russia's sole remaining option"

On a state visit to Beijing, Vladimir Putin acknowledges that China is Russia's strongest ally. Nonetheless, China has not discontinued diplomatic ties with the West. Rainer Munz, an ntv correspondent, contends that Russia is the 'junior partner' in this relationship.

11:00 Duma chief: Ukraine is encouraging Europe, the USA into a devastating war

Vyacheslav Volodin, Russia's parliamentary leader and an ally of President Vladimir Putin, caution heads of state and government in the West. He argues that Ukraine is enticing Europe and the United States into a severe conflict. Western leaders must work towards preventing a massive global catastrophe, he urged. On numerous occasions, Russian officials adjacent to Putin and the President himself have urged the West against crossing Moscow's red lines by distributing weapons to Ukraine. Directly or indirectly, Russia's nuclear arsenal has also been threatened.

10:35 Journo Weichert on the conditions in Kharkiv: "Russians are gaining ground"

Ukrainian President Zelensky declares that the situation in disputed Kharkiv remains stable. However, a more detailed look inside the scenario unveils a less hopeful picture, states Jürgen Weichert, a ntv foreign reporter. Despite the favorable position on the new battlefront being mostly under control, Moscow is "gaining ground" elsewhere.

10:07 Putin commends China's endeavors to solve the "Ukraine issue"

During his visit to Beijing, Vladimir Putin thanked Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, for his efforts in addressing the "Ukraine issue". Putin also informs his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping about the situation in Ukraine. Russian troops are progressing on multiple fronts there. During Putin's journey to Beijing, both leaders highlighted the significance of their countries' relationship. China will always be Russia's neighbor, friend, and partner in mutual trust, Xi stated, per Chinese state television CCTV. Putin commented on the strong basis of practical cooperation between the countries.

At 9:43 AM, Ukraine launched attacks on the Russian military airfield in Crimea for the second consecutive night. Belbek airfield was the target, which has been under Russian control since 2014. Reports suggest that missiles hit the fuel system, leading to a major fire. While Russia's Ministry of Defense noted only the launch of five US ATACMS missiles over Crimea, they failed to mention the fires at the facility. Four Ukrainian drones were shot down, and two others faced interference that led to their inefficiency. Russian military bloggers aligned with the government confirmed the fires. The day before, the same airfield had already faced a similar attack from Ukraine.

At 9:18 AM, SPD politician Michael Roth expressed his support for revising the rules on the use of Western weapons in Ukraine. Given the recent Russian attacks in Kharkiv, Roth believes that the situation warrants a "new phase of war." Until now, the Russians had been engaging in conflict from within Ukrainian territory, but the latest attacks complete changed that dynamic, with strikes emanating directly from Russian land. While international partners have been adamant about not using Western weapons within Russian territory, Roth suggests a pragmatic resolution to this dilemma.

Putin's state visit to China began at 8:57 AM. Meanwhile, his air force struck the city of Kherson, causing significant damage to a residential area.

Air raid alerts were issued in Kiev and several other regions at 8:17 AM by the Ukrainian authorities. The Ukrainian air force warned of the potential dangers of ballistic missile launches from Russia. Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, and Kiev were all affected by these alerts.

Radical changes were announced by authorities in Tatarstan at 7:43 AM. Responding to a drone attack the previous day, two major airports - in Kazan and Nizhnekamsk - were closed for several hours for security reasons.

One civilian was killed and another injured in the Sumy region at 7:10 AM, following ten attacks by Russian forces on different communities involving mortars, multiple rocket launchers, or artillery. These strikes led to 187 explosions.

Throughout this chaotic morning, China hosted a grand ceremony welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing. The Chinese President, Xi Jinping, hailed the need for the alliance between Russia and China, emphasizing its role in creating peace while upholding fairness and justice.

Finland, both a neighbor and a NATO member, decided to alter its conscription laws to prepare for potential emergencies involving a wave of migration. Reservists who had completed military training in the border troops would be shortlisted as potential patrolmen.

Finally, at 6:37 AM, an unfortunate incident took place in the Ukrainian railroad system, as two railroad employees were allegedly killed due to Russian shelling of a civilian railway structure in the Dnipropetrovsk region. They were identified as Serhiy Derevytskyi (age 48) and Oleksandr Prykhodko (51).

At 6:06 AM, state television from China covered the arrival of Putin in Beijing for his first state visit as President since his re-election in March. Xi Jinping and other officials welcomed Putin with a lavish ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. The meeting was stated to focus on comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between the two nations.

The Russian President's journey began at 5:32 AM with an earlier decision in Finland to amend their military service regulations. In the event of exceptional circumstances such as sudden migration waves, reservists who had finished training as border troopers would be eligible for border patrol duties to maintain security.

In summary: Ukraine launched attacks on a Russian military airfield, SPD politician Michael Roth asked for a reevaluation of using Western weapons in Ukraine, Putin arrived in China for a state visit, air raid alerts were issued in Ukraine, airports in Tatarstan were closed due to a drone attack, one civilian was killed in the Sumy region, and Finland altered its conscription rules for potential border patrols.

4:20 Russia blasts UN draft resolution recognizing Srebrenica massacre

Russian representatives lambasted a proposed UN resolution that commemorates the Srebrenica massacre. Declaring the text "provocative," Russian envoy to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, told the United Nations Security Council this could spark unrest in Bosnia and the greater region. Nebenzia alleges the Western backers of this draft are intentionally causing old wounds from the civil war. Discussion will take place in the General Assembly instead of the Security Council where Russia could stop its approval.

3:17 Ukraine arrests six presumed Russian intelligence agents

Ukraine security services detained six suspected members of Moscow's military intelligence service, the GRU, in Ukraine. Allegations state these individuals provided coordinates to Russia for attacks in the Donbass region. The men are facing up to life imprisonment for treason. They are accused of sharing GPS data on a residential building in Pokrovsk with the Russian army.

2:06 Russian President Putin visits China for two-day state visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has journeyed to China for a state visit spanning two days. Chinese and Russian state media reported the arrival of Putin and his entourage in Beijing this morning. Putin's agenda includes a meeting with Xi Jinping, China's state and party leader. Furthermore, he plans to visit a trade fair in Harbin.

12:48 Estonia passes legislation to send Russian-frozen funds to Ukraine

The Estonian parliament has enacted a law allowing for the transfer of Russian-frozen assets to Ukraine, a nation under attack by Russia. The act allows for Russian assets frozen due to sanctions against Russia to be utilized as recompense for sustaining war damages. Sixty-five MPs approved the measure submitted by the government, with three dissenting. The law is pending approval from Estonian President Alar Karis.

23:42 Ukraine Peace conference: More than fifty nations commit, but China holds out

Nearly a month prior to the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland, over fifty countries have affirmed their participation. Yet, one key attendee has not yet confirmed: "China has not yet registered," Swiss President Viola Amherd stated after conferencing with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, while emphasizing that the list could undergo changes till the last minute.

21:48 Russia denounces West's plan to use Russian assets to help Ukraine

Russia strongly opposes the intentions of the US and EU to utilize assets seized from Russia to further support Ukraine. Moscow accuses these states of violating their respective laws, potentially destabilizing the international financial system. Spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, described such measures as neo-colonial tactics and part of a hybrid war waged against Russia.

20:58 German finances: 3.9 billion euros worth of Russian assets frozen

Currently, German authorities have held onto German assets belonging to 3.9 billion euros of Russians. A Finance Ministry spokesperson informed the press these resources consist of assets such as cash, stocks, and even luxury vehicles of individuals, organizations, or companies subject to sanctions. The infographic displayed in June, presented the tally as 5.2 billion euros, but it's influenced by market changes and delistings from the EU.

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Russian activists used Soviet symbolism to protest against the EU celebrations in Moscow.

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In the context of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, tensions between Russia and NATO continue to escalate. Russia expands its military operations in the Kharkiv region, causing displacement of civilians and restrictions on aid. The NATO commander, Christopher Cavoli, confirms that Russia lacks the necessary soldiers for a strategic breakthrough near Kharkiv, yet Ukraine remains under threat of a cyberwar. Moreover, tensions heighten further as Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, accuses Russia of using captive civilians as human shields in Vovchansk. These actions against Ukraine are met with international condemnation, including protests from activists in Moscow. In response, Moscow expels a British military attache and retaliates against suspected spying activities in other NATO nations. The UK's Defense Secretary warns that ongoing support to Ukraine is crucial, as the recent attack on Kharkiv should serve as a wake-up call.

Source: www.ntv.de