At 09:52, the focus of the assaults was again Chassiv Yar.

"Once more, Chassiv Yar served as the center of the assault"

In light of the recently passed law on mobilization, Ukrainian men who are fit for military service are now required to report their whereabouts. Meanwhile, combat drones, missiles, and glide bombs are all being used in a new surge of attacks. ntv reporter Jürgen Weichert provides an update on the situation in Ukraine, starting in Kiev.

09:35 Why are Glide Bombs so Dangerous?

In an article discussing Russia's increasing use of glide bombs, the BBC sheds light on why it's challenging for Ukraine to intercept these weapons. The report states that due to the sheer number of glide bombs being deployed, "all available air defense ammunition would be used too quickly." Explaining further, Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute remarks that the only way to counter this threat is to shoot down the aircraft launching the glide bombs. However, since Ukraine lacks the necessary range for such weapons, relocating their Patriot systems to intercept the planes could lead to their loss.

Glide bombs are basic, self-propelled bombs fired from a considerable distance, making it unlikely the launching aircraft will be harmed. Easy to manufacture and having a destructive impact, they allow Russia to take down Ukrainian defensive lines without risking casualties on the ground. "These weapons enable Russia to mercilessly strike civilian targets," said Ukrainian security expert Mariia Zolkina to the BBC.

08:46 Ukraine Successfully Fends Off Russian Air Assault

Ukrainian air forces claim they have fended off a significant Russian air attack, reporting that Russia launched 37 attack drones targeting various regions during the night. All of these Iranian-made Shahed drones were shot down by their air defense system.

08:26 Ukraine's Military Resources are Thinned Out

Despite receiving military support from the US, many Ukrainian units along the front lines are struggling to maintain ammunition supplies. The troops have also been significantly depleted, making it difficult to recruit new soldiers. Russia leverages this advantage, launching assaults on several regions.

07:47 Russia Claims Interception of ATACMS Missiles and Other Drones

Russia claims to have intercepted nine US ATACMS missiles launched over Crimea during the night, as well as shooting down another drone in the same region. Additionally, they reported intercepting and destroying 57 drones over the Krasnodar region, but the information could not be independently verified.

07:10 Ukraine Releases Estimated Losses of Russian Troops

Every day, the Ukrainian army posts the number of Russian soldiers they believe were killed or injured the previous day on their Facebook page. According to this report, Russia lost 1210 soldiers on Saturday, bringing their overall losses in the war to 492,290. The Ukrainian army also claims to have destroyed 16 tanks and 35 armored vehicles, but the veracity of these claims is uncertain.

06:34 Russia Intensifies Efforts to Capture Chassiv Yar

Following Russia's intensified efforts to seize the crucial city of Chassiv Yar in the Donetsk region, the ISW (Institute for the Study of War) has released its latest analysis. It asserts that Russia is attempting to pressure Ukraine into pulling back troops from the Chasiv Yar area by attacking it more aggressively in the Kharkiv region.

The ISW references a statement made by former Russian President Medvedev, who emphasized the need for a "buffer zone" encompassing the entirety of Ukraine. Since Medvedev is Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council and known to be a hardliner, this statement suggests that the "buffer zone" is a thinly veiled justification for Russia's longstanding desire to assert control over the entire country.

06:09 Drone Ignites Fire at a Russian Refinery

In Slavyansk-na-Kubani, Russia, a drone crashed onto the premises of an oil refinery, triggering a small fire. Authorities in the Krasnodar region confirmed the incident, but there were no injured or casualties reported. Ukraine has been assaulting refineries in Russia for some time now.

05:40 Danone completes Exit from Russia

Danone, a French dairy giant, has finalized the sale of its Russian operations to a businessman with links to Chechnya after operating in the country for 30 years. Vamin Tatarstan, the new owner, will pay 17.7 billion roubles (180 million euros) to acquire Danone's Russian business. Experts suggest that the actual value could be up to 80 billion roubles. In July last year, Yakub Zakriyev, a nephew of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, was named the new head of Danone's Russian subsidiary.

4:37: Explosions in Crimea: Air Strike on Sevastopol

There have been reports of explosions on the Russian-controlled Black Sea peninsula of Crimea during the night. The air defenses of Sevastopol have successfully thwarted a missile attack, according to Crimean governor Mikhail Rasvoshaev, who posted the news on his Telegram channel. The Sevastopol rescue service, however, reports no damage to the civilian infrastructure, says Razvozhayev.

3:33: Air Alert in Almost All Parts of Ukraine: Massive Drone Attacks

Once again, Russia is conducting large-scale drone attacks in Ukraine at night. According to the Ukrainian air force, the targeted regions include Kiev, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Odessa. Reports suggest that explosions can be heard in many locations. An air raid alert had been issued in large parts of the country earlier. There is no information available on any damages or casualties thus far.

2:20: Civilians Shelled in Kharkiv Region, Kiev (Ukraine)

As per Ukrainian reports, civilians were targeted during the night in two towns in the north-eastern region of Kharkiv. The Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office has declared the Russian airstrike on a Kharkiv residential area to be a possible war crime investigation. Six civilians, including three teenagers, were injured. Moscow denies deliberately attacking civilians. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of people have lost their lives and sustained injuries.

1:04: Pistorius requests almost four billion more for Kiev (Ukraine)

Following a media report, the German government intends to significantly increase its military support for Ukraine this year. The Federal Ministry of Defense has thus announced an extra requirement of €3.8 billion for military aid. Previously this year, the coalition government had allocated €7.1 billion for military assistance. The supplementary expenditure is slated to be put before parliament for approval in June. Finance Minister Christian Lindner has already signaled his approval.

0:05: Ukrainian General Staff Reports 77 Battles

In its evening update, the Ukrainian General Staff notes 77 combat operations in the past 24 hours. Seven of these are still ongoing. "The Russian troops are trying to improve their tactical position," it states on the General Staff's Telegram channel. The Ukrainian army has executed four attacks to recapture occupied positions, it adds.

22:25: Ukrainian Aviation Hero Dies During Combat Mission

Lieutenant Colonel Denys Vasyliuk received the "Order of Bravery," an award for individual courage and heroism. He had taken part in "dozens of combat missions," notes the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, where the seasoned pilot served. He was the chief of staff of the brigade and the deputy commander of an aviation squadron. His unit has announced that Vasyliuk was killed recently during a combat mission. No information regarding his death is currently available. The Ukrainian air force has yet to comment.

21:57: Putin in Cannes: Polish Filmmaker Presents AI-Powered Biopic

Putin dies in the end. "It was meant to be a positive ending," says filmmaker Patryk Vega, who presented his biopic about Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Cannes Film Festival. "I contacted Putin and asked if he wanted to take part... - oh, I was joking," says the Polish director with a broad smile. Since the real Putin was unavailable, Vega decided to create a deep fake of Putin using AI.

At first, he intended to make a movie using real Putin footage, but the quality was not suitable for the big screen. "AI needs 20,000 images in high definition to function correctly," explains the filmmaker. Instead, he pioneered a new technology that utilizes AI to create the face of a real actor resembling Putin. "It's the first movie to employ this technology," says Vega. The result is astonishing. The film portrays Putin as we know him - in dictatorial poses, at grand desks, but also playing the piano and wetting his pants in his hospital bed.

21:35: Taiwan's Future Hinges on Ukraine Conflict, Says Foreign Minister Wu

"If Russia can do this with Ukraine, China could do the same with Taiwan," says Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu in an interview with the Kyiv Independent. The beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine served as a crucial reminder for Taiwan, explains the island state's top diplomat. In the event of Kiev's defeat, Taiwan could become the next conflict zone. Even after two years, he believes that the island's future still hinges on the war in Ukraine. If Russia succeeds in Ukraine, officials from all sides suggest that Beijing may seek the "reunification" of the two Chinas by force, says Wu.