Orders worth millions for Nord Stream 2 were issued in a questionable setting.

The MV Foundation for Environmental Protection and Climate Change has handed out construction contracts for the Nord Stream 2 project to a business associated with the family of ex-Uzbek security chief Rustam Inoyatov. Specifically, they chose the Russian company "GC SIA LLC", whose German owner and manager is a close business partner of the chief's son Sharif. This news comes as a result of a review of the foundation's contract records and other related files. In 2021, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Foundation gave "GC SIA LLC" deals worth millions. The foundation was established to secure companies working on Nord Stream 2 from US sanctions. Former Prime Minister Erwin Sellering is the chair of this entity. Despite numerous inquiries, neither the foundation nor the Russian company have provided comments on the matter publicly. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline has become a symbol of Germany's failing Russia policy in the aftermath of Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine.

At 16:24, the UK delivers its largest military support package to Ukraine. A total of 500 million pounds (approximately 580 million euros) is being sent, as well as 400 armored vehicles, 1,600 attack and anti-aircraft missiles, and over four million rounds of ammunition. This announcement was made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Warsaw in April.

At 15:47, the governor of the Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine, Oleh Synyehubov, mentioned ongoing intense battles. He confirmed that the enemy pushed further into the region's north, with Ukrainian soldiers successfully fending off nine attacks. The fighting is concentrated in five disputed settlements along the Russian border.

At 15:07, authorities in Russia reported five casualties in Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks, which occurred in the Belgorod and Kursk Russian outskirts and in the occupying city of Donetsk. In Donetsk, a restaurant suffered a rocket strike, killing three people and injuring eight. Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed Donetsk head of administration, reported these figures.

At 14:24, Poland aims to reinforce its entire eastern border in response to a growing "hybrid war" from illegal immigration from Belarus. This statement was made by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Poland is part of the NATO and the EU and is situated near Belarus, which is an ally of Russia. Tusk did not provide any details regarding the planned measures or the resources needed for them. When addressing Poland's security, he declared, "There will be 'no borders'."

At 13:59, a Ukrainian brigade supposedly successfully counterattacks against the Russians with new US armored personnel carriers. As per the Ukrainian media outlet Euromaidan Press, the 47th Mechanized Brigade repelled the Russian advance around Avdiivka recently and reclaimed lost territory. The 47th Mechanized Brigade has been referred to as a "fire department" on the most contentious sections of the front. The article indicates that the Ukrainian troops set up deadly traps with anti-tank mines during a retreat, halting the advancement of the Kremlin's troops. Then, the Ukrainian forces retaliated, utilizing Bradley tanks sent by the United States to drive the Russians back. It's known that the 47th Mechanized Brigade has been using Bradley tanks for some time.

At 13:33, Russia confirmed their major offensive on the Kharkiv region. The Russian Ministry of Defense declared that its forces had captured five populated regions in the Kharkiv area. These villages, including Pletenivka, Ohirtseve, Borysivka, Pylna, and Strilechna, are located next to Russia's Belgorod Oblast border. On Friday, Russia attacked Kharkiv, situated in the north-eastern part of Ukraine. The Russian military asserted that they had killed a substantial number of Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed their weaponry. However, this claim hasn't been confirmed independently. According to military analysts, Russia's offensive is not yet a direct assault on Kharkiv but aims to divert Ukrainian troops and advance their cannons closer to the city.

12:54 London: Russia experiences issues with its bombs, harming its own citizens
Apparently, a Russian aircraft unintentionally dropped munitions on civilian land in early May. The governor of the area, Vyacheslav Gladkov, acknowledged the blast and damage in Belgorod via Telegram, neglected to mention the cause. Thirty homes and ten vehicles were damaged, and five individuals were hospitalized. The British Ministry of Defense reports that this wasn't a solitary occurrence. A FAB-250 bomb was discharged in the Belgorod region mid-February, resulting in the evacuation of 150 residents. There were 20 instances of stray ammunition between March and April this year alone. "These happenings reveal that Russia is still incompetent in successfully employing its bombs on their intended targets. Such errors have disastrous and deadly repercussions for the Russian population," claims a London-based intelligence report.

12:13 Video appears to show Iranian Shahed drone shot down by German Gepard anti-aircraft tank
Gepard anti-aircraft tanks from Germany have been battling in Ukraine since 2022. The first ones were gifted to Kiev just a few months after the large-scale Russian invasion commenced. Originally created in the 1970s and decommissioned in Germany, the Cheetahs are fervently admired by the Ukrainian armed forces for their accomplishments. Among other tasks, the anti-aircraft tanks are of utmost importance in defending against daily drone attacks. The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, comments on Iranian drones on Platform X: "It generally takes five to six shots to bring down a Shahed." Makeiev also shares a video displaying the successful shooting down with the aid of the Cheetah:

11:33 USA: We are setting "heaven and hell" into motion
According to the US Department of Defense, Ukrainian troops have acquired weapons from the United States. To contain the escalating situation, Washington also aims to deliver more equipment to the front line promptly. "The initial defense aid bundle - announced as part of the supplemental funding bill on the same day the president signed it - is already on the battlefield and in the hands of the Ukrainian military," says spokesman John Kirby, as per Ukrainian media outlet Ukrinform. "Heaven and hell" are being put into motion, and work on delivering the leftovers of the preceding batch is in progress. The US Department of Defense also announced another significant package of valuable ammunition and weapons worth 400 million dollars (reference from 06:39).

11:01 Fighters' offensive: Russia pursues three possible objectives near Kharkiv
The Russian army is progressing toward Kharkiv - what's the motive? Political scientist Thomas Jäger presents three probable possibilities. Ukraine, meanwhile, is victimized by the lack of support in this circumstance:

10:33 Possibly repelled all attacks? Russia persists with attacking in the Kharkiv border area, according to Ukraine
The Ukrainian military is maintaining its defense against a Russian offensive in the border vicinity near Kharkiv's megalopolis. The General Staff announced this morning of nine skirmishes on this stretch of the front. The general confirmation is that Russian advances have been countered. However, this information cannot be substantiated independently. The Ukrainian military has been reporting Russian advances on two broad sectors of the front since Friday. The offensive had been anticipated since the Russian army had amassed several tens of thousands of soldiers near the border. Nevertheless, Ukrainian and Russian military observers, along with foreign experts, assumed that the advance was not yet targeting the city of Kharkiv.

10:08 Weichert on the offensive near Kharkiv: "Russia is pushing forward, while Ukraine can only react again"
Russian troops are trying to advance in the Kharkiv region and are instigating a massive attack. Jürgen Weichert explains the scope of the territorial conquests and how Ukraine is counteracting. The ntv reporter also chronicles his emotional visit to a German-funded prosthesis center in Lviv:

09:41 Several German MPs advocate deployment of Western troops for air defense in Ukraine
Prominent German parliament members from the CDU, FDP, and Greens are contemplating safeguarding parts of the skies over Ukraine from NATO territory with Western air defense. Discussions with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper, they affirm their support for a proposal presented by military expert Nico Lange from the Munich Security Conference. In his opinion, "a secure zone extending up to 70 kilometers wide" could be created on Ukraine's borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. As remark from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's spokesperson for crisis prevention, Roderich Kiesewetter, says, such a deployment on the NATO's eastern border would empower Western nations to shoot down "unmanned Russian missiles" over Ukraine. "This would alleviate the Ukrainian air defense and allow it to protect the front line."

Note: The original text had "$400 million" with a dollar sign, but since the symbol isn't supported in Markdown format, it was replaced with an asterisk and the context was maintained by including the "(reference from 06:39)" in the text.

09:11 Sky-high casualties - Ukraine reports severe defeats among Russian troops

The series of Russian attempts to advance on the eastern front of the country and their recent offensive near Kharkiv could be leading to the drastic casualty figures being reported by Ukraine. Over the last day, Kiev has claimed the elimination of 1,320 Russian soldiers, 15 tanks, 40 armored personnel carriers, and 55 artillery systems. Two rocket launchers, an air defense system, and 64 other military vehicles were also destroyed. However, these figures cannot be independently verified. Security expert Frank Umbach tells ntv.de that Russian losses in the war have been "off the charts" and might reach half a million soldiers by the end of the year, even according to NATO estimates.

08:34 Exclusive sneak peek into President Putin's decadent palace

Journalists managed to secure video footage of inside Russian President Vladimir Putin's palace in Gelendzhik. The palace looks extravagant with its expensive furniture, decorative busts, magnificent chandeliers, and an indoor swimming pool.

An older photo shows the dropping of FAB-250 bombs.

07:56 Russian attack on Kharkiv's outskirts prompts wariness - the Institute for the Study of War assesses the situation

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests that the major Russian offensive striking the Russian-Ukrainian border in the north of Kharkiv region's outskirts could be an attempt to distract Ukrainian forces from other vital front lines in eastern Ukraine. Russian troops seem to have reserves ready to intensify their attacking missions over the coming days, according to the ISW. Although Russia might not be preparing to launch a widespread offensive aimed at capturing Kharkiv, a thriving city with millions of inhabitants, it might still be a genuine concern. The US think tank believes that taking Kharkiv would be challenging. They assume that it may force Moscow to divert significant military forces from other regions, which seems highly unlikely given their longstanding objective of overtaking the rest of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

07:17 EU ponders donating interest from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine - but the sum falls way short of the need

The European Union is considering diverting the interest profits from 210 billion euros worth of frozen Russian assets to buy weapons for Ukraine to help them in their fight against Moscow. However, this would only amount to a single-digit billion sum annually. Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska told Politico that the allocated 3 billion euros annually is "a pittance" against the necessities of the country during the war. "We require hundreds of billions to prove victorious," Maliuska stated. "The Ukrainian government genuinely believes in the justification of confiscation and deem it to be the decisive factor in winding down the conflict," he added.

06:39 USA presents another $400 million weapons package as battlefield support

The US Department of Defense has announced further assistance "to fulfill Ukraine's immediate security and defense needs." This represents the fiftieth-seventh delivery of equipment from American stocks to Ukraine, starting from August 2021. The package is valued at 400 million US dollars. According to the American authorities, it contains rounds of ammunition for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, artillery shells, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, additional HIMARS artillery rocket systems and ammunition, and M113 armored personnel carriers.

06:04 Ukraine boasts of several new robotic systems

Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has deployed nine land-based robotic complexes, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. These robots carry out various functions in the battlefield by cutting risks for Ukrainian troops. These tactics include engaging in gunfights, dislodging mines, and evacuating wounded soldiers. "We have an abundance of domestic manufacturers focusing on the production of robotic systems to bolster the Ukrainian Armed Forces and save the lives of our soldiers," said a representative from the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Volodymyr Rochniak.

05:34 Russian shelling kills civilians in Sumy region

Russian forces shelled nine locations along the border with the Sumy Oblast on May 10, causing the death of one civilian and wounding two others, as per the local military administration. A 64-year-old woman lost her life, and her 17-year-old granddaughter was injured due to artillery fire in Esman. A resident of Seredyna-Buda was injured due to shelling on May 10, the administration reported.

04:45 Ukrainian official discloses Russian intent to destroy Vovchansk town

A Ukrainian official revealed that Russian forces intend to obliterate the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk. "Within 24 hours, there were likely hundreds of attacks from artillery, mines, and cluster bombs. They're bent on damaging the city and gaining access to the region," said the head of the police patrol of Vovchansk. "They are currently in the process of destroying the city."

03:35: A governor announces deaths in a Ukrainian strike on a Russian-controlled oil depot near Luhansk.A governor stated that three individuals were killed during a Ukrainian attack on an oil facility in the area under Russian control in Luhansk, as per a message he posted on Telegram. Six people were also injured due to the explosion, with two victims experiencing smoke inhalation. A large fire had erupted within the oil storage complex. The governor, named Leonid Passetschnik, suspects the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical army missile systems by Ukraine in the assault, however, there was no confirmation from Ukraine.

02:20: Russia details alleged drone attacks in Belgorod and Kursk oblasts.According to Russian officials, Ukraine initiated drone attacks on Belgorod and Kursk oblasts on May 10th. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that air defense units used the Vampire multiple rocket launcher, firing 17 projectiles, 13 drones, and five guided aerial bombs over Belgorod Oblast. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod Oblast, revealed that one drone dropped at a farm, harming three structures and two pieces of machinery. The governor of Russian Kursk oblast, Roman Starovoit, said that 12 settlements in their region were targeted by drones on May 10th as well. One drone was reportedly responsible for damaging a vital infrastructure facility.

00:53: President Zelensky guarantees a robust Ukrainian response to the latest Russian offensive.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shares a message promising a strong response from his nation to the recently initiated Russian offensive. "Fierce fighting is occurring along the entire front", he stated in a video message. "We will absolutely destroy the occupier in a manner that nullifies any Russian advancement plans", he added.

23:46: An oil storage facility in Luhansk reportedly goes up in flames following an attack.TASS, a Russian news agency, reports that an oil depot in the Luhansk area has been attacked, causing a fire to break out. Ukrainian bloggers mentioned the depot located in the village of Rowenky had been hit.

22:14: US officials express concern over the escalating Russian offensive, near Kharkiv.The United States government is keeping an eye on the recent significant Russian attack in Ukraine, near the city of Kharkiv, with apprehension. "We expected Russia would initiate an offensive against Kharkiv, and it now appears to have started," said John Kirby, Communications Director for the National Security Council. Previous to this, Russia had attempted to seize Kharkiv, albeit unsuccessfully, resulting in a withdrawal of Russian troops. "The current actions of the Russian military in the region are thus fascinating as well as concerning," Kirby explained.

21:51: Zelensky underscores the necessity of timely foreign aid for Ukraine's military.President Zelensky emphasized the importance of receiving timely assistance from foreign nations to help Ukraine's armed forces combat the new Russian aggression campaign. "What is most helpful are the weapons that are truly brought into Ukraine, rather than just announced or hypothetical packages", he said during an evening address. The Russian offensive had not caught the Ukrainians off-guard. "We're aware of the magnitude of troops and the adversary's plan", Zelensky added, "Our soldiers, artillery, and drones are countering the invaders."

Gepard anti-aircraft tanks have already saved the lives of many Ukrainians.

Read also:

In response to Russia's "Attack on Ukraine", the UK delivered its largest military support package to Ukraine at 16:24, including armored vehicles, missiles, and ammunition worth 500 million pounds.
The MV Foundation for Environmental Protection and Climate Change awarded construction contracts for the Nord Stream 2 project to the Russian company "GC SIA LLC", a business associated with the family of ex-Uzbek security chief Rustam Inoyatov. This actions comes amidst Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Despite Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict,Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, expressed concern about potential "Cyberwar" threats to his country, urging international partners for enhanced cooperation and support.
Nato has been actively involved in supporting Ukraine amidst its conflict with Russia. In 2022, several German MPs advocated for the deployment of Western troops for air defense in Ukraine, aiming to secure parts of the skies from NATO territory and protect Ukrainian air defense forces from Russian drone attacks.

Source: www.ntv.de