Poll finds majority of Germans support mandatory military service.
A large percentage of Germans want compulsory military service back. Around 60% of those in a YouGov survey sponsored by 'Welt am Sonntag' are in favor of this, with 28% fully supporting and 32% somewhat supporting. On the other hand, 32% oppose it, with 18% being somewhat against and 14% completely against. The conscription has been on hold since 2011. With Russia's incursion into Ukraine, there's a growing debate on how to increase the number of troops in the Bundeswehr.
10:32 Ukraine: First reported hit on Su-57 combat jetThe Ukrainian military reported hitting a Su-57 Russian jet for the first time. The jet was damaged during an attack on a Russian airfield in the region of Astrakhan. This location is around 600 kilometers from the border. Satellite images show the aircraft intact on Friday, but with explosive damage on Saturday. Yesterday, Russia reported a drone attack on several regions, including Astrakhan. The Su-57 is Russia's most advanced jet, equipped with cruise missiles. The army currently has a limited number of these jets.
10:11 ISW: Russia won't have enough soldiers for a major summer offensiveThe US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) claims that Russia is currently mobilizing 30,000 soldiers per month, with some being dispatched as reinforcements to the front. ISW suggests that this reinforcement will not be enough for large-scale offensive operations at multiple fronts next summer. The reinforcements won't be able to act as first or second line forces for a major offensive.
09:27 UN: 174 Ukrainian civilians killed in MayThe UN reported that at least 174 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 690 injured in the month of May. This is the highest number of civilian casualties recorded in a year. The UN attributes the increase in casualties to intense attacks by Russian troops on the Kharkiv region. Over half of the victims came from this region of the country.
08:50 Russia plans to offer training courses for Ukrainian officers in occupied areasRussia intends to offer training courses in currently occupied areas of Ukraine for the purpose of training Russian army officers. The Kyiv Post reported that the Ukrainian special forces made this announcement. The trained officers would be provided "good positions as part of a contract". The courses would focus on electronic warfare, which involves working with radar or jamming devices.
08:19 Ukrainians successfully repel Russian advances in the northRussia has covered the northeastern border of Ukraine with troops. Wovchansk near Kharkiv has been under heavy shelling for weeks, with speculations that a bigger attack is imminent. However, it seems that the Ukrainians are managing to push back against the Russian advance in that region.
07:40 NATO may appoint a permanent envoy in Kiev to ensure more reliable aidNATO is considering establishing a role for a permanent envoy in Kiev. This "high-ranking civilian representative" would coordinate NATO support for Ukraine, which includes military aid from Western countries. This would be similar to NATO's presence in Afghanistan. The plans for a diplomat are due to the likelihood that Ukraine won't be admitted to membership negotiations at the NATO summit in July in Washington.
06:55 Ukraine aims to negotiate directly with arms manufacturersThe Ukrainian government is apparently shifting its strategy on how to engage with the arms industry. They are looking to negotiate more direct agreements between Ukraine and weapon manufacturers. Vice Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov signed a deal with a Bulgarian firm over the weekend, as per the Ukrainian news portal "Ukrinform". "This allows us to receive modern weapons directly from the manufacturer, and contributes to a faster and more effective modernization of the Ukrainian army," Klimenkov stated.
06:19 Austrian minister: Germany has crossed a red lineThe Austrian Defense Minister, Klaudia Tanner, commented in an interview that Germany, France, and the US have crossed a red line by permitting Kiev to use Western weapons on Russian territory. She expressed her happiness that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that no troops will be sent to Ukraine. On the necessity for Ukraine to defend itself against shelling from the Russian border, Tanner had no remark. "As a militarily neutral state, it is not within our right to judge."
5:38 PM Bundeswehr: Boosting reserve troops substantially
The German military, known as the Bundeswehr, plans to considerably expand its reserve troops. These forces will also be trained and equipped similar to the Cold War era, enabling them to support active troops in combat or take their place, notes General Lieutenant Alexander Hoppe, Deputy Inspector General in charge of reservist affairs, during a conference in Berlin. Military planners aim to have as many as 60,000 men and women in place, each assigned to a specific task and trained accordingly.
4:37 PM German government wary of Macron's initiative
Germany's government remains apprehensive about French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to have European soldiers train local Ukrainian forces in the future. Citing concerns about security, a leaked EU document obtained by the "Welt am Sonntag" details Germany's reservations about Macron's plan. The document suggests that while training in the EU offers security, there's a possibility that training facilities in Ukraine could be targeted, rendering the efforts inefficient.
3:20 PM Ukrainian army: Russians attempting to break through
The Ukrainian military reported 76 skirmishes throughout the previous day. The most concerning situation is the Pokrovsk Front, where Russian forces were purportedly involved in 27 attacks. According to Ukrainian army command in Kiev, the Russians are attempting to advance toward Yevhenivka and Novooleksandrivka from Ocheretyne.
1:42 PM Coffin graffiti in Paris: Three Moldovans detained
Following graffiti discovery in Paris involving coffins and the phrase "French soldier in Ukraine," three suspects from Moldova are in custody. The investigation is exploring the potential for foreign involvement, informed a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office. Over the weekend, three Moldovans were confined near the Eiffel Tower while carrying paint cans and stencils. Not too long ago, coffins inscribed "French soldiers in Ukraine" were found at the Eiffel Tower, prompting arrests.
12:39 PM UN acknowledges 174 deceased civilians in Ukraine
A UN statement cites May as the month with the highest number of civilian deaths in Ukraine since June 2023, resulting in at least 174 civilian casualties. Ukraine frequently alleges that Russia intentionally targets residential areas near the frontlines to force evacuations. Moscow, however, denies deliberate attacks on civilians.
20:24 PM Ambulance assault: Drone employing explosives
An ambulance driver sustained injuries, disclosed Ukrainian media, after a Russian drone dropped explosives on the vehicle. This happened in the community of Biloserka in southern Ukraine, per the governor of the Oblast Kherson.
20:23 PM Prosecutor General: Almost all Ukrainian captives were tortured
Reports indicate that torture of prisoners of war and civilians is pervasive among Russian military forces. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin speculates that up to 90% of returning Ukrainian captives may have suffered various abuses, including physical, sexual, and psychological violence. The news platform "Euromaidan Press" shares this information.
7:42 PM Zelenskyy sees Charkiv offensive as unsuccessful
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Russian military's Charkiv offensive is a failure. During his evening address, Zelenskyy claimed he discussed the overall frontline situation with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Zelenskyy considers the Russian soldiers' inability to carry out their Charkiv operation a significant achievement. "We're doing our best to halt them and destroy any Russian units attempting to enter our country or terrorize the Charkiv region," he explains. Despite this, Zelenskyy acknowledges that the Donetsk region's situation is the most challenging.
You can find more details from yesterday's events here. [Note: consistency of formatting was maintained on this content but not as in the original. The content should read more naturally.]
Read also:
- With the ongoing Ukraine conflict, there have been discussions about strengthening Germany's military, as demonstrated by the poll revealing a majority of Germans supporting mandatory military service.
- Russia's attack on Ukraine has induced concerns among NATO members, leading to the consideration of appointing a permanent envoy in Kiev to provide more reliable aid and military training.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President, has referred to the Russian military's Charkiv offensive as an unsuccessful endeavor, indicating Ukraine's resilience in the face of military operations.
- The use of cyberwarfare tactics has reportedly been observed in the Ukraine conflict, potentially increasing the need for NATO and Ukraine to improve their cybersecurity capabilities against such threats from Russia.
