16:54 Pistorius views Berlin airlift by the Allies as an illustration of unity.

Pistorius views the Berlin airlift carried out by the Allies as an example of unity.

The German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (SPD) sees the Allied airlift during the Berlin Blockade by the Soviet Union as a call for modern-day Germany to display international solidarity. "We can't stand idly by while international law, our order, and our values are trampled on," said the SPD politician during a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Blockade's conclusion. This applies worldwide, but "particularly in Ukraine."

16:10 Approximately half of the population think a Russian attack on a NATO country is improbableWhile Western security experts believe a Russian attack on NATO territory is possible in the near future, many Germans still view this as an unlikely scenario. This is evident in a recent YouGov opinion survey conducted for Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The poll showed that 36% of Germans believe it is likely or somewhat likely that the Russian military will invade a NATO member nation by 2030. At 48%, nearly half of adult Germans see such a scenario as unlikely or somewhat unlikely. 15% of the study's participants were unaware of their perception of the potential Russian attack.

15:38 Posthumous Dresden Peace Prize for Alexei NavalnyThe late Russian Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has received the posthumous Dresden Peace Prize. Navalny's widow Julia Navalnaja accepted the award at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden. The citation praised Navalny's commitment to freedom, democracy, and peace.

14:56 Belgorod Tower Block Collapses After Shelling - Russia Launches Terror Investigation Against UkraineAfter a multi-story apartment building in the Russian border town of Belgorod, allegedly caused by Ukrainian artillery fire, partially collapsed, Russia's highest investigative body declared it had launched a criminal investigation for a "terrorist attack." A spokesperson stated that there were casualties in the wreckage but provided no further details. According to reports, at least three are deceased, several injured, and possibly 20 individuals are still missing under the rubble.

14:35 Ukrainian Army Chief Describes Situation in Kharkiv as "Significantly Aggravated"Following the Russian troops' advance into the Ukrainian Kharkiv border region, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Olexander Syrskyi considers the situation there severe. "The situation in the Kharkiv region has significantly deteriorated this week," Syrskyj wrote on Telegram. "Combat is ongoing in the border areas adjacent to the Russian Federation." Syrskyi subsequently acknowledged that Russian forces had made "partial gains" in some areas. Since Friday night, Russian troops have initiated an assault on the border area around the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

14:07 ISW: New Military Group with 50,000+ Fighters Increases Pressure on UkraineA CNN report suggests that the ongoing assault on the Ukrainian Kharkiv region, taking several villages and putting pressure on Ukraine, is due to the establishment of a new Russian military group called Sever. George Barros of Washington's Institute for the Study of War informed the broadcaster that Sever is "operationally important." "Russia intends to deploy 60,000 to 100,000 troops for this group's attack on Kharkiv. We estimate it's closer to 50,000," Barros said, "but they still have substantial combat power."

13:30 Kharkiv Region Governor: 4,000 People Evacuated in Two DaysAccording to Oleh Synyehubov, the Governor of the Kharkiv region, 4,000 residents have been evacuated from settlements in the area due to the threat of the new Russian offensive. "We are providing accommodations for everyone who requires them. 70% of the evacuees have been housed, mainly with family and friends," Synyehubov disclosed on Telegram.

12:59 Russia Reports Capturing More Villages, Destroying Several HelicoptersThe Russian Ministry of Defense has reported that their troops have captured four more villages in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region. Hatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets, and Oliyinykove are now under Russian control, according to the ministry. They had already reported the capture of five villages the previous day. Since Friday, Russian troops have launched a new offensive in Kharkiv. While they initially entered the region after Russia's invasion in February 2022, they were eventually pushed back by Ukrainian forces. In the Dnipropetrovsk area of southern Ukraine, Russian troops reportedly destroyed four Ukrainian helicopters and harmed one, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

12:24 "We're aware of the enemy's strategies and adapt accordingly to their actions"Ukraine's army commander Syrskyj discussed the current battlefield scenario: "Our troops are putting up a fierce fight. We've stopped Russian invaders from breaching our defenses. Our surveillance, artillery, and drone divisions are in action. We're aware of the enemy's intentions and swiftly counter them." Regarding the recent offensive by the Kremlin forces, Syrskyj revealed: "In the past week, the situation in the Kharkiv area has deteriorated significantly. The state is currently in a difficult position, but the Ukrainian defense forces are doing their best to secure and maintain our defensive lines and stations.

In the Chassiv Yar region, the Russians unsuccessfully attempted to regain control over the Klishchiivka area. Syrskyi stated, "Concurrently, our units are being rotated to allow soldiers to rest and improve the combat readiness of the regiments."

11:53 Multistory building in Russia seemingly imploded after bombardment - three casualties reportedPer the governor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, a multistory residential building in Belgorod, Russia, seemingly partially collapsed due to Ukrainian shelling. Reportedly, at least three people have passed away. Around 20 individuals are likely still buried beneath the debris. Gladkov remarked, "Both the city and the oblast have suffered intense shelling by the Ukrainian military." He mentioned that a shell pierced a residential apartment building, causing the whole entrance hall to collapse from the tenth to the second floor. Belgorod Oblast rests alongside Ukraine and has frequently been attacked from there. Initially, there was no statement released by Ukraine. Russian jets have also repeatedly bombed civilian infrastructure in the region, presumably as a result of technical errors.

11:19 Gas Giant Gazprom's income to be potentially harmed by Russia's war with Ukraine for yearsBased on British estimates, the Russian gas corporation Gazprom will suffer the consequences of the war against Ukraine for years to come due to its strained relations with its past major clients in the West since the Russian invasion of 2022, as per the UK Ministry of Defense. The inability to free itself from its export reliance on the European market will likely harm Gazprom's prospects until 2030. In 2023, Gazprom is expected to pay approximately 25 billion euros in taxes, accounting for 9% of Russia's total state revenue. "The Russian government intends to increase Gazprom's tax liability in 2024, contributing to Gazprom's decision to reduce investment by roughly 15% in 2024," stated the London report.

10:44 Ukraine alleges kamikaze drone strikes on various targets in Russia, including an oil refinery and military installationsUkraine claims to have assaulted targets on Russian territory during the night, including a Volgograd oil refinery in the Krasnoarmeysky region, a Kaluga oil depot, and a facility in Lipetsk. "Military targets were also attacked," a military intelligence source told Unian news agency. The drone attack on the oil refinery in Volgograd caused several explosions and ignited a fire. "The refinery's damage was also confirmed by the Volgograd region's governor, Andrei Bocharov," the source said (info from 07:28). As usual, the Russian side claims that the air defense was successful. Yet, videos and pictures from Ukrainian media display a more alarming volume of explosions and fire.

10:06 "The situation is deteriorating" - more reinforcements necessaryDeepstate, a channel with ties to the Ukrainian military, provided a recent analysis highlighting the tough fighting in the Kharkiv region's border area. "The situation is worsening. The enemy is gradually introducing more troops into our region, constantly infiltrating villages and tempting to establish a foothold before proceeding further. It's necessary to pay more attention to this area or else the enemy will gain further ground, potentially causing significant harm." Although the main goal of the Russian forces is to attract attention away from other locations, the situation could transform into "a far more challenging scenario" without the deployment of additional Ukrainian troops.

9:30 Journalist Jürgen Weichert (ntv): "Russia aims to push Ukrainian troops to abandon their positions"Russia is initiating a substantial assault near Kharkiv. Several villages are said to have been seized. Zelenskyi's mandate is to prevent the invasion at any cost. Ukraine is mobilizing additional troops in the area - and according to ntv journalist Jürgen Weichert, this is exactly what the Russians are aiming for: [raising eyebrows] Russia wants to drive the Ukrainian soldiers away from their strongholds and therefore saturate the region with troops.

It's 8:50 and the Russian army is making moves near the massive Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. However, there's still no information about any major evacuation process there. Security expert Maria Avdeeva from X believes that Russian propagandists are exaggerating the chaos in Kharkiv. In a video she shared, normal daytime shopping can be seen at a busy market. The city has already experienced multiple airstrikes, so the citizens are accustomed to Russian aggression. Experts don't think the Kremlin's troops will be able to take Kharkiv. It's possible they're trying to trigger a mass exodus from the city.

At 8:12, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian forces are making strategic progress in the northern Kharkiv region. They continue to advance in seemingly lesser-defended areas. The ISW also states that the size of the involved units doesn't suggest a large-scale operation to take over Kharkiv.

07:28 There was a Ukrainian drone attack that resulted in a fire at the Volgograd oil refinery in southern Russia. The fire was put out, but there were no casualties, according to the governor of the region, Andrey Botsharov, who shared the news on Telegram. Neither Lukoil nor the Ukrainian side have released a statement about the incident yet.

06:52 The Ukrainian ambassador to Latvia, Anatoly Kutsevol, talks about possible deliveries of drones and radar defense systems from Latvia to Ukraine. In an interview with Ukrinform, Kutsevol says, "I think we'll soon hear more about drones and radar defense systems from Latvia being sent to Ukraine." There'll be cooperation in the production of 155mm grenades as well. "[There are] other areas where we cooperate, but we can't discuss them in detail now due to security reasons," he adds.

06:14 The 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian army says they have shot down a Su-25 fighter jet used by the Russians. "The anti-aircraft gunners of the 110th Brigade are doing terrific work," a post on their Facebook page reads. "The invaders still don't seem to understand that it's pointless to fly into our skies. They'll keep falling." Ukrainian Major Oleksiy Hetman from the We-Ukraine channel shares that Moscow currently has approximately 190 Su-25 jets, which are effective in damaging Ukrainian troops.

05:42 A large-scale Ukrainian attack is reported to have hit Belgorod and surrounding areas on May 11. Despite Ukraine normally not commenting on Belgorod attacks, the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reports a missile alert. Photos of burned cars and smoke rising in the city appeared on Russian Telegram channels. Gladkov confirmed one fatality and 29 people, including a child, were injured and hospitalized. Several homes, businesses, and vehicles, as well as medical and educational facilities, were also damaged. Damage was also reported in the nearby village of Dubovoye.

04:29 General Steven Basham, deputy commander of US Air Forces in Europe, thinks an authoritarian regime like Russia can prioritize its arms industry over economic well-being to keep fighting in Ukraine. He also mentioned that Russia is getting help from Iran and North Korea. Basham spoke at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies event on "Transatlantic Security after 75 Years of NATO."

03:02 Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced the army is conducting counterattacks in the Kharkiv region since the Russian offensive. His primary goal is to "disrupt Russian attack plans" and "give back the initiative" to Ukraine.

Rescue workers evacuate an elderly woman in the Kharkiv region.

1:46 Ukraine: Russian attacks in Sumy Oblast claim one life

Reports suggest that Russian forces have been targeting ten communities in northeastern Ukraine's Sumy Oblast with shelling, causing around 93 explosions within the past 24 hours. The unfortunate incident that came to light was a woman, 37 years old, losing her life due to a rocket attack near Sumy city's outskirts. The attack supposedly targeted local infrastructure but no specifics regarding the targeted location or consequences were disclosed.

23:49 Canada to join Ukraine's peace summit

Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has announced that Canada will be part of the upcoming peace meeting for Ukraine slated to occur in Switzerland on June 15 and 16. The summit's primary focus is the attainment of peace in Ukraine, as prescribed in President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point peace plan, which advocates for the withdrawal of all Russian forces from occupied territories. Trudeau expresses enthusiasm about the collaboration with other world leaders towards achieving a fair and perpetual peace deal for Ukraine, stating, "The first peace summit for Ukraine will take place in June - and Canada will be there."

23:06 Scholz cautions about Russian involvement in European, national elections.

Olaf Scholz, Germany's Federal Chancellor, has expressed concern over potential Russian interference in the forthcoming European and regional elections. Speaking at the "RND vor Ort" stage talk show by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, he mentioned the claims of financial payments to a few politicians from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as disconcerting. Scholz insists that the competent authorities must now investigate these allegations and substantiate them. He acknowledged that there's a substantial volume of Russian disinformation floating around during election campaigns.

22:00 Scholz urges Ukrainian refugees to seek employment

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked anyone from Ukraine currently residing in Germany, who has the ability to work, to take up a job as soon as possible. In an interview with the "RND vor Ort" stage talk show organised by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland in Potsdam, Scholz stated, "We're hoping those who are here from Ukraine, as much as they are able to work, will now also work." Obviously, many Ukrainians have already taken up employment, but he added that there were still "a few hundred thousand more who are urgently needed on the labor market," and his recommendation for everyone is to seek employment.

To know more about past developments, head over here.

^(https://www.heise.de/newsticker/Dienstleistungen/Tracking/Ukraine)]()