18:15 Mützenich opposes NATO safeguarding Ukrainian skies.

Mützenich declines NATO's defence of Ukrainian skies.

SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich firmly denied proposals from several German lawmakers to defend Ukrainian airspace from Russian air raids with NATO forces. He told the "Tagesspiegel" newspaper that such a move would go against the principle of not actively intervening in the conflict. Mützenich deemed such suggestions irresponsible and potentially dangerous. If Germany were to get its military involved, the country would become directly involved in the war and would need parliamentary approval, which the SPD wouldn't grant.

At 5:35 pm, Russian soldiers advanced on the city of Vovchansk during their ground offensive in northeastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Tymoshko, police chief in the Kharkiv region, confirmed Russian forces were surrounding the city from three sides. In the access road leading to Vovchansk, an AP news team spotted a Russian tank. Smoke was seen rising from Vovchansk, and residents were trying to evacuate the remaining 17,000 people, mostly elderly.

At 4:54 pm, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius hailed the Berlin airlift as an example of global solidarity amid the current geopolitical crisis. Speaking at an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Blockade, Pistorius urged the German government to stand up for international law and values worldwide, particularly in Ukraine.

A survey by YouGov on behalf of Deutsche Presse-Agentur found that 48% of Germans believe a Russian attack on a NATO member country is unlikely or somewhat unlikely by 2030. Although defense experts predict a Russian attack on NATO territory as possible in the near future, 36% of survey respondents expressed concern that Russia could launch an invasion by that year. Fifteen percent of participants were undecided or didn't answer the question.

Accepting the Dresden Peace Prize posthumously, Alexei Navalny's widow, Julia Navalnaya, commemorated his dedication to freedom, democracy, and peace.

Authorities in Moscow launched a terror investigation after a multi-story building's partial collapse in Belgorod was blamed on Ukrainian shelling. Witnesses and reports suggest at least three people were killed, several injured, and perhaps 20 more trapped under the debris.

Ukrainian commander-in-chief Olexander Syrskyi reported that the military situation in Kharkiv had deteriorated significantly this week, with active combat in the border region with Russia. Despite some progress in defending against the Russian advance, Syrskyi acknowledged that the enemy had achieved "partial successes" in certain areas.

George Barros of the Institute for the Study of War told CNN that the recent Russian offensive in the Kharkiv area was led by a new military group called Sever, which he speculated consisted of 50,000 troops.

Further suggestions

German politician rejects sending NATO forces to defend Ukrainian airspace: "It'd be going against the principle of not actively intervening in the conflict, making us direct participants in the war," said Rolf Mützenich.
Reports of ongoing Russian expansion in the Kharkiv area: Vovchansk has been under heavy artillery fire as Russian soldiers approach the city from three sides.
Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius compares Russian aggression to the Berlin Airlift, advocating for global solidarity against injustice now.
Opinion poll reveals almost half of Germans don't see a Russian attack on a NATO country as likely by 2030, while 48% believe it's unlikely or somewhat unlikely.
Dresden honors late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny posthumously with the city's Peace Prize.
Moscow investigates Russian tower collapse as a "terror attack." Reports suggest at least three people killed, multiple injuries, and around 20 people still missing.
Russian Chief-in-Command Olexander Syrskyi describes the situation in Kharkiv as "significantly worsened" after Russian troops launched an offensive.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War identifies a new Russian military group, Sever, which may deploy between 60,000 and 100,000 troops, potentially posing a considerable threat to Ukrainian defenses.

1:30 Kharkiv region governor reports 4000 evacuations due to Russian offensiveGovernor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Synyehubov, says that 4000 people have been evacuated from settlements within the region due to the mounting threat of a new Russian offensive. He states on Telegram, "We're providing accommodation for everyone who needs it. 70% of the evacuees have somewhere to stay, mainly with relatives and friends."

12:59 Russian claims of capturing villages and damaging helicoptersThe Ministry of Defense in Moscow reports that Russian troops have now captured four more villages in Kharkiv, including Hatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets, and Oliyinykove. They already had control over five villages previously. The ministry also claims that Russian forces have destroyed four Ukrainian helicopters and damaged another in the Dnipropetrovsk region. These operations follow the renewed Russian offensive on Friday, after which they retreated from the region for a time.

12:24 Ukrainian army chief addresses current front situationsIn a statement, Ukrainian army chief, Syrskyj, discusses the intense fighting on the front and the Russian forces' attempts to break through their defenses. He highlights the action of reconnaissance, artillery, and drone units, expressing their ability to adapt to the enemy's movements. Commenting on the escalating situation in the Kharkiv region, Syrskyj points out that the situation is strained but highlights the efforts made by the Ukrainian Defense Forces to maintain their positions. He also mentions that a rotation of units is underway to allow soldiers to rest and restore the brigades' combat effectiveness.

11:53 Belgorod: Partial collapse of a high-rise building following shellingGovernor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reports that a multi-story residential building in Belgorod partly collapsed after being shelled by Ukrainian forces. Three people are known to have died, and around 20 people are believed to be trapped under the rubble. Belgorod oblast has faced multiple attacks from Ukraine since it shares a border and has been hit by shelling several times before. So far, there's been no statement from Ukraine about the incident. There have also been reports of Russian bombers mistakenly bombing civilian infrastructure in the area.

11:19 Gazprom struggling with the war's long-term effects on businessAccording to the British Ministry of Defense, Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, will likely be affected financially by the war in Ukraine for years. The poor relations with Western customers following the 2022 invasion and Gazprom's reliance on the European market make it difficult for the company to break its export dependency. Despite a recent net loss reported by Gazprom, it's expected to lose 25 billion euros in taxes in 2023 – 9% of total Russian state revenue. The UK suggests that the Russian government will push for further tax increases, which may contribute to Gazprom's decision to downscale investments by 15% in 2024.

10:44 Ukraine admits to attacking Russian targetsUkraine claims responsibility for using kamikaze drones to launch attacks on several Russian targets, including an oil refinery in Volgograd, an oil depot in Kaluga, and a plant in Lipetsk. A military intelligence source shares this information with the Unian news agency. There were several explosions reported following the attack on the Volgograd refinery, leading to a fire spreading across the area. Counting the refinery damage, the oil depot, and the plant, the damage cause is significant. The Russian side claims to have successfully intercepted the drones, explaining that the only result was a small fire due to falling drone debris. However, videos and pictures shared by Ukrainian media show a larger fireball.

10:06 "The situation is growing increasingly complex" - an appeal for more reinforcements

Deepstate, a channel with close connections to the Ukrainian military, shares an analysis of the ongoing struggle in the Kharkiv border area. "The situation is getting more and more difficult. The adversary is steadily sending more and more troops into our region, infantry is frequently breaking through, forming groups and attempting to establish a foothold there, and advancing further. It's crucial to provide more attention to this area," said Deepstate. Failure to do so could result in even greater success for the enemy, which would have disastrous consequences, the analysis warns. Although the primary mission of the Russian forces is to divert attention from other regions, the situation may become "extremely severe" without the deployment of Ukrainian reserves, it adds.

09:30 Weichert (ntv reporter): "Russia wants to force Ukrainian soldiers to withdraw"

The Russian military is mounting a massive attack near Kharkiv, with multiple villages reportedly captured. President Zelenskyi aims to stop the advance at any cost. Ukrainian troops are being deployed to the region - but this is exactly what Moscow wants, according to ntv reporter Jürgen Weichert:

08:50 Video of Kharkiv reveals a different story: Russian engineers in panic?!

As the Russian military advances near the Ukrainian metropolis of millions, there appears to be no sign of mass evacuations there. Ukrainian security expert Maria Avdeeva, speaking on X, questions the image of panicked streets on Russian propaganda networks:

08:12 ISW: Russians are making significant strategic progress in Kharkiv region

Russian forces are engaged in small-scale offensive operations in the northern Kharkiv region and are "continuing to make significant tactical advances in likely less well-defended areas," according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The size of the involved units suggests that Moscow is not pursuing a large-scale operation to encircle, surround, or capture the city of Kharkiv, the ISW claims.

07:28 Fire at Russian oil refinery allegedly caused by Ukrainian drone attack

Rescue workers evacuate an elderly woman in the Kharkiv region.

A Ukrainian drone attack has left a fire at the Volgograd oil refinery in southern Russia, governor Andrey Botsharov announced on Telegram. "The fire has been extinguished. There were no injuries," he writes. Neither the oil producer Lukoil nor the Ukrainian side has issued a statement yet.

06:52 Latvia plans to supply Ukraine with drones and radar defense systems

Ukrainian ambassador to Latvia Anatoly Kutsevol says in an interview with Ukrinform that Latvia will soon be able to provide Ukraine with drones and radar defense systems. "I believe that in the near future we will have more media reports about drones and radar defense systems coming from Latvia to Ukraine," Kutsevol says. Cooperation in manufacturing crucial 155 mm grenades will also be possible. Furthermore, he mentions other areas of cooperation between the two countries, but for security reasons, they cannot be discussed yet.

06:14 Ukrainian brigade reports downing of Russian fighter jet

The 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports the downing of a Su-25 fighter jet by opposition forces. "The antiaircraft gunners of the 110th Brigade continue to excel. Yet another SU-25 has fallen victim to them," reads a Facebook post. "The invaders still haven't grasped that there is no point in flying into our skies. They will keep falling." Estimates from Ukrainian Major Oleksiy Hetman on the We-Ukraine channel suggest that Moscow still possesses around 190 Su-25 jets, which can inflict significant damage on Ukrainian troops. The Su-25 is designed to provide close air support for combat missions on the frontline.

05:42 Belgorod under attack?, casualties reported

Apparently, a large-scale Ukrainian attack targeted Belgorod and the surrounding area on the evening of May 11, causing property damage and casualties, according to Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Ukraine generally doesn't comment on reported attacks on Belgorod. Gladkov reports a missile alert in the oblast. Soon after, Russian Telegram channels shared images of burning cars and rising smoke over Belgorod, which Bulgarian state media also published. Gladkov claims that one woman was killed in the attack, with 29 people, including a child, being injured and hospitalized. Homes, businesses, cars, medical and educational facilities were reportedly damaged. Damage was also reported in the nearby village of Dubovoye, Gladkov said on his Telegram channel.

A sizable totalitarian regime like Russia can easily prioritize growing its armaments industry above economic welfare to sustain its military actions in Ukraine, along with aid from Iran and North Korea, says Lieutenant General Steven Basham, the deputy commander of US Air Forces in Europe. Speaking at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies event on "Transatlantic Security after 75 Years of NATO", Basham highlights that the Western defense industrial base is also gaining momentum: "You shouldn't forget it. It's gaining momentum. It will continue to surpass Russia's capabilities. The time Russia spends in Ukraine is the same time we have to develop our industrial base up to the level it needs to be."

3:02 Zelensky: Ukrainian soldiers counterattack in Kharkiv regionIn response to Russia's offensive in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian military is engaging in counter-attacks, as announced by head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Zelensky stated in his evening video address that the main objective for the soldiers is to "interfere with the Russian attack plans", and they must "reclaim the initiative for Ukraine".

1:46 Ukraine: Civilian dies in Russian attack on Sumy OblastAccording to the regional administration, Russian forces have fired upon ten communities in the northeastern Ukrainian Sumy Oblast throughout the day. Almost a hundred explosions have been reported in Sumy Oblast over the past 24 hours. A 37-year-old woman is reported to have been killed in a rocket attack on the periphery of the northeastern city of Sumy, with no additional details provided regarding the site or aftermath of the strike.

23:49 Canada joins Ukraine Peace SummitCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada will be involved in the upcoming global peace summit for Ukraine. The summit will be held in Switzerland on June 15 and 16, with a focus on attaining peace in Ukraine in accordance with President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point peace formula, a strategy that encompasses the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from annexed Ukrainian territories. "The initial peace summit for Ukraine is happening in June - and Canada will be there," Trudeau tweeted on X. "I look forward to collaborating with other world leaders on achieving our mutual goal of a just and long-lasting peace for Ukraine."

23:06 Scholz speaks out against Russian interference in European and national electionsFederal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has cautioned against Russian meddling in the approaching European and regional elections. Scholz addressed this issue during the "RND vor Ort" stage talk program organized by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. He found the reports of monetary payments to AfD politicians troubling and asserted that these transactions must be investigated and proven by the appropriate authorities. "There's an unbelievable amount of Russian misinformation in election campaigns," he noted.

22:00 Scholz urges Ukrainian refugees to seek employment in GermanyFederal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged Ukrainian war refugees residing in Germany to find employment swiftly. "We hope that those from Ukraine, to the extent they're capable, will begin working now," said the SPD politician at the RND vor Ort stage talk event conducted by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland in Potsdam. "We have paid for integration courses and language courses, so we now want to encourage them to join the workforce with a big job push," continued Scholz. "Many have already done that, but there are still hundreds of thousands more who urgently need to find work on the labor market," he emphasized. "And my advice to everyone is to do the same."