Poland significantly extends its border with Russia and Belarus.

Poland dramatically increases border with Russia and Belarus.

Poland intends to put over two billion euros into fortifying its eastern border. The "Eastern Shield" project entails constructing a border defense system on the boundary with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, as declared by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The reinforcement of the 400-kilometer-long border is aimed to be a deterrent measure and a scheme to ward off conflict from Poland's frontiers, Tusk said.

Recent developments:

13:37 Ukraine records 22 skirmishes, 8 of which are ongoing

Since last night, 22 "military confrontations" have erupted on the frontline, as disclosed by the Ukrainian army. Ongoing clashes amount to 8, based on a General Staff statement. Furthermore, Russia deployed 25 kamikaze drones and attacked Ukrainian army positions 547 times.

13:02 Odessa is targeted with missiles

Russian troops have conducted a missile attack on the Odessa region, as related by Ukrainian troops supervising Ukraine's southern territory. At approximately 6 a.m., Odessa was targeted with a probable Iskander-M ballistic missile.

12:53 Russian forces "liberate" another village in Kharkiv region

The Russian Ministry of Defense alleges that the village of Staryzia in the Kharkiv region has been "freed" by Russia. Reinforcing efforts in this area continue, as per the ministry's announcement. Russian forces have engaged in an offensive in the Kharkiv region for over a week now, which marks the introduction of a third front line next to those in the east and south.

12:42 Ukraine attempts to repel Russians in Kharkiv region

According to the Ukrainian news agency RBC, Ukrainian troops are striving to drive back the Russians towards the village of Hlyboke in the Kharkiv region. Hlyboke is situated approximately 40 kilometers from Kharkiv and only 10 kilometers away from the Russian border. The Ukrainian General Staff commented, "Ukrainian defenders are trying to push the adversary towards the settlement of Hlyboke."

12:10 Fourth casualty after Russian bombardment on Kharkiv

The casualty count from the Russian assault on Kharkiv on Friday has increased to four. Following the death of a 33-year-old man who succumbed to injuries, death tolls now stand at four. Governor Oleh Synyehubov reports that 31 people sustained injuries due to the Russian barrage on Shevchenkiv district. Additionally, two individuals' conditions are deemed serious.

A Russian glide bomb attack also struck the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi. Damages to multi-story buildings, the hospital, and a kindergarten were incurred. One woman sustained injuries.

11:41 Jäger: "Russia significantly impacts Germany"

President Zelensky plans to utilize Western-supplied arms not only for Ukraine's defense but also against Russia. While Europe, the US, and political scientist Thomas Jäger hold varied stances on this, Jäger additionally highlights that Russia impacts Germany.

11:22 One victim in Russian retaliation to a Ukrainian drone attack in Kursk

Regional governor Alexei Smirnov reports that a fatality ensued from a Ukrainian drone attack in the Kursk border region in Russia. There is another injured casualty. Russian authorities' details on alleged attacks and victims can't be authenticated.

11:09 UK: Reduced Russian air defenses in Crimea and weakened airspace surveillance

The British Ministry of Defense suggests that Russian air defenses in Crimea have been weakened due to recent Ukrainian attacks. This may necessitate a broader distribution of Russian air forces and a consequent upkeep issue for their fleets.

Besides the loss of one Beriev A-50 aircraft used for aerial surveillance in January and February, the loss in March is likely to cause Russia to increase the flight hours and combat aircraft patrols to compensate for coverage gaps. These actions, consequently, could escalate maintenance issues for the Russian fleet.

10:32 Nearly 10,000 people brought to safety in the Kharkiv region

Approximately two weeks after the initiation of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, authorities indicate that nearly 10,000 people have been taken to safer locations. The majority of these individuals arrived after Russian troops initiated a ground assault on May 10. Substantial progress has been made, with Russian forces advancing around 5-10 kilometers along the northeastern border.

10:14 Majority of Russians prefer war over surrendering seized territories

The Russian Levada Institute's recent survey reveals that 75 percent of Russians support the Russian armed forces. However, should Putin decide to terminate the "military action" (Ukraine's description), only 30 percent of Russians would endorse the decision if it involved retreating from the newly annexed areas. Though, this number rises to 71 percent should the decision entail withdrawing from all territories.

09:49 Ukrainian Drones Can Damage Russia

The cities of Kharkiv and Odessa have been under attack since Russia invaded Ukraine. NTV correspondent Jürgen Weichert discusses possible reasons, including their size, beauty, and popularity. However, Ukraine has more than just beautiful cities; they also have live ammunition.

09:26 German SPD Members Call for Western Troops in Ukrainian Airspace Protection

For the first time, SPD members of the Bundestag are requesting German anti-aircraft missile troops be stationed on NATO territory near Ukraine's border to safeguard the skies there. SPD defense expert Joe Weingarten told Der Spiegel, "In the current military situation, I think it's necessary and responsible to patrol the airspace over western Ukraine with Patriot systems. This wouldn't require Western troops to be stationed in Ukraine; the missiles could be placed near NATO countries, impacting Ukrainian airspace significantly."

SPD budget politician Andreas Schwarz considers defense systems as the Achilles' heel of the Ukrainian army. Ukraine lacks the necessary equipment to protect its infrastructure and citizens. Hence, alternative solutions should be considered. "This includes considering defense from NATO allies."

09:02 Ukraine Seeks US Assistance in Striking Russian Targets

Ukraine has requested the USA for assistance in identifying targets in Russia that they could attack with their weapons. Additionally, Ukraine wants permission to utilize American weapons against Russian targets inside Russia, as per reports from US news agency Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal.

08:42 Zelenskyi: West Fears Russian Defeat, Doesn't Want Ukraine to Lose

In an interview with French news agency AFP, President Zelenskyi claims morally, Eastern and Western nations share similar values but differ in opinions on ending the conflict. "We're in a senseless situation where the West fears that Russia will lose the war and doesn't want Ukraine to lose," says Zelenskyj. He encourages China and other global south nations to participate in the June peace summit in Switzerland. Russia wasn't invited, and also claimed they wouldn't have attended.

07:58 Russia StReinforces Naval Base Against Naval Drones

Russia is enhancing its naval base in Novorossiysk, according to Ukraine's RBC agency and the Telegram channel of partisan group "Atesh." Novorossiysk is strategically significant as it facilitates a substantial portion of Russia's oil and exports. Recently, Ukraine attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol. Russia has also relocated multiple warships to this port since then.

07:26 Ukraine Records 491,080 Russian Soldiers Lost

Every day, the Ukrainian military announces the count of Russian soldiers they deem to have died or been injured. On the previous day, they reported 1210 Russian losses, which brings the total to 491,080. Additionally, Ukraine allegedly destroyed 43 armored combat vehicles, two planes, and one helicopter.

07:00 ISW: US Restrictions Impede Ukrainian Defense Abilities

The Institute for the Study of War highlights how Western allies constrain Ukraine's military capabilities by not permitting it to strike military targets on Russian territory with Western weapons. This results in a protected zone on the Russian-Ukrainian border from where Russians can attack Ukrainian towns and positions with glide bombs and missiles, allowing troops to deploy without interference.

06:49 Ukrainian Air Defense Shoots Down Russian Iranian-Type Shahed Drones

Ukrainian air defense is claimed to have shot down all 13 Iranian Shahed-type drones during the night. This was reported by Ukrainian media, citing air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk. The drones were launched from the Russian port city of Primorsko-Akhtarsk on the Sea of Azov and the Russian oblast of Kursk.

06:11 Missile Alarm and Explosion in Belgorod

There was an explosion in Russian border region Belgorod following a missile alert. The region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, urged residents to seek safety. Belgorod has faced frequent bombardment due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict, yet the consequences in Ukraine are vastly greater.

06:43 Russians amplify artillery shelling of Krynky border area
Russian forces are escalating their artillery attacks on Ukrainian troops positioned in Krynky, a region in Kherson. The Institute for the Study of War has documented this development in their latest report. Though there have been no documented changes in the frontline, Krynky borders the southern bank of the Dnipro River within Kherson.

Meanwhile in Kharkiv, Russia's offensive efforts remained consistent but brought no shifts in the front line, as per the ISW's observation. It's worth noting that Putin previously voiced a possible objective to secure a "buffer zone" in the Kharkiv territory. Contrary to popular belief, Russia does not intend to invade the city of Kharkiv.

06:14 Petrograd blasts: not terrorism
Russian officials claim the explosions that recently shook a military academy in St. Petersburg resulted from a mishap involving old-fashioned ammunition stored underground. The Russian military were inspecting these regions when an unexpected detonation occurred. According to the governor of Saint Petersburg, Alexander Bevlov, this incident is unrelated to terrorism. The Interfax news service relayed these reports.

06:02 Klingbeil urges China's involvement in Swiss Ukraine conference
The SPD chief, Lars Klingbeil, expressed optimism about China's likelihood to participate in the Swiss-hosted peace talks regarding Ukraine. China's participation, along with India, Brazil, and South Africa, is crucial to ensure diplomatic tensions are soothed, according to Klingbeil. If these countries abstain, the conference won't be a failure, he reasoned. "It's never a failure to sit down and talk about ways to promote peace."

05:43 Zelenskyy slams restrictions on NATO-made weapons
The leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed dissatisfaction with limitations imposed on the use of Western arms. Zelenskyy maintained, "It's Russia's greatest advantage - they can shoot from their soil into ours. We can't harm Russia's weaponry since it lies on their territory with NATO-made weapons." The US and UK have suggested potentially lifting these constraints.

05:10 Ukrainian Head of Armed Forces: 70km Russian repellion frontline near Kharkiv
The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army, Olexander Syrskyi, noted on Telegram that the Russians continued their assault on the border area north-east of Kharkiv. The Russian troops, he remarked, had expanded this new front to cover approximately 70km. Since the Russian forces are targeting other Ukrainian detachments, the Ukrainians will need to deploy more of their reserve troops to bolster their defenses. Although the Russians' attacks have so far proved ineffective within the Ukrainian territories, they employ air forces, missiles, artillery and tanks in their operations. Olexander Syrskyi believes this presents an advantage as Ukrainians can rely on drones and more accurate artillery systems.

03:35 Zelenskyy: Attack on Kharkiv may be the first wave
Regarding Russia’s operation in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy told AFP, "They have initiated their campaign, which may involve multiple waves. This is their first wave."

02:17 Warsaw seeks 130 F-16 jets for Ukraine
According to Zelenskyy, a severe lack of air defense systems, at one-fourth of what's required, is severely hampering Ukraine's ability to safeguard itself against the Russian menace. Zelenskyy stated that his country's acquisition of 120-130 F16 fighter jets may disrupt Russia's predominance in the skies. He also underlined the critical need to bolster the troop morale, stating that their dwindling numbers contribute to their frailty.

00:17 Zelenskyy beseeches Ukrainians to conserve electricity amidst attacks
Amidst the attacks on Ukraine's power grid, President Zelenskyy appealed for responsible electricity usage by Ukrainian residents. With Ukraine enduring regular attacks from Russia, inflicting a significant hit to its energy infrastructure, Zelenskyy pleads for "very thoughtful, curated electricity consumption." Municipal bodies and power outlets are tasked with communicating the rationale behind temporary power outages. In a video address, he noted that he'd discussed the precarious state of Ukraine's energy system with officials, emphasizing the need for a fundamental overhaul that would no longer leave the nation prone to these attacks.

00:01 Mobilization law allows Ukrainians abroad to receive consular help
Amidst the ongoing mobilization process in Ukraine, citizens who’ve been called for service can once again make use of consular services. Consulates will accommodate those presenting military registration proof, whether physically or digitally. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine made this declaration. Additionally, a mobile app has been created by the Ministry of Defense to support online registrations. Thousands of eligible men overseas have traveled away from Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion.

11:59 Frozen Russian assets of Unicredit by an arbitration court
An arbitration court in St. Petersburg has ordered the freezing of bank accounts and assets of the Italian bank, Unicredit, in Russia. The decision was made upon the request of RusChimAllianz, a subsidiary of Gazprom, which operates an LNG terminal on the Baltic Sea. The action resulted from the failed construction of the terminal due to Western sanctions, for which Unicredit had provided guarantees. RusChimAllianz seeks to claim 444 million euros from Unicredit. The value to be frozen is 463 million euros. Unicredit ranks as the largest foreign bank remaining active in Russia, next to Raiffeisenbank and is one of the 20 largest banks in terms of assets in the country.

20:55. Law enables Ukrainian prisoners to join military service
Designed to increase the Ukrainian troop count, certain prisoners are now eligible for compulsory Military service. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed this legislation, which allows suspended prisoners to temporarily enlist for military duty. Criminals convicted of severe offenses are exempt from military service.

20:36. Disruption of Ukrainian Starlink devices at the outset of the Russian assault
Washington Post sources from the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade in Kharkiv region report that all Starlink devices in a Ukrainian military unit failed at the start of Moscow's invasion, which began on 10th May. Starlink is the satellite communication system that Singapore's SpaceX operates, and its disruption is attributed to Russian electronic warfare systems.

20:36. Explosion at St. Petersburg's Budyonny military academy
Numerous Russian media outlets reported an explosion occurring at the Budyonny military academy in St. Petersburg. An anonymous resident informed local authorities of the alleged explosion. The Telegram channel Baza, associated with law enforcement, confirmed seven casualties after the incident.

A recap of all previous happenings can be found [here.]

The air alert in the Kharkiv region lasted over 16.5 hours, making it the longest since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion.

Read also:

The Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, mentioned that strengthening the country's eastern border is a necessary measure to protect Poland from potential military operations by Russia or its ally, Belarus, in relation to the Ukraine conflict.
In the context of recent attacks on Ukraine by Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated his intention to use Western-supplied arms not only for Ukraine's defense but also as a countermeasure against Russia, echoing political scientist Thomas Jäger's sentiments that Russia impacts Germany.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to send troops to Ukraine has led to widespread international condemnation and calls for NATO to intervene or increase its presence in support of Ukraine, as evidenced by SPD members of the German Bundestag requesting the deployment of German anti-aircraft missile troops near Ukraine's border to protect its airspace.
In response to the Ukraine conflict, Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, has called for the US to assist in striking Russian targets, such as military bases, within Russian territory and has requested permission to use American weapons in these attacks.

Source: www.ntv.de