President Zelensky opens up about the challenges faced by Ukraine's military morale.
In a conversation with AFP News Agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledges the ongoing struggle with the morale of Ukrainian soldiers. Following over two years of combat, a significant number of battalions require immediate reinforcements, he stated. Essential supplies must be supplied for a rotation of troops to occur. Additionally, there are challenges in recruiting new recruits. As a conclusion of heated discussions, a statute came into effect, reducing the bare minimum age for conscription to 25. Furthermore, the punishments for men who try to avoid their duty have become stricter.
16:50 Poland pours over two billion euros into fortifying its eastern borderPoland plans to invest approximately 2.3 billion euros to strengthen its eastern border. The primary objective is to safeguard their nation against increasing threats from adjacent Russia and Belarus, explains Prime Minister Donald Tusk. "We've started a significant project to build a secure border, which includes constructing a fortification system, in addition to landscape and environmental decisions that will make this border impassable for any potential enemy," Tusk notes ambiguously about the type of fortifications. A week ago, the Prime Minister had already claimed that Poland faced a growing "hybrid war" due to illegal immigration from Belarus. According to the Polish border guard, 300 illegal attempts to cross the border between Poland and Belarus occur each day.
16:25 Casualties in attack on KharkivThe eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, along with the nearby city of Vovchansk, is once again enduring Russian assaults, according to the local military administration. Mayor Ihor Terekhov published on Telegram that a residential sector in Kharkiv was struck by several shells. Five individuals were hurt. Vovchansk suffered severe damage due to Russian glide bombs and shells once again. "Unfortunately, the city of Vovchansk has been almost completely destroyed by the relentless enemy as they ruthlessly bombard it with glide bombs," wrote Security Council member Andrey Kovalenko on Telegram. Despite ongoing attacks, Vovchansk maintains Ukrainian control. The city in northeastern Ukraine had roughly 19,000 residents prior to the war.
15:52 Drones with Russian flags menace the Reichstag building in BerlinA man flew a drone carrying a Russian flag near the Reichstag building in Berlin. The Bundestag Press Office confirmed that the incident took place on May 9. Circulated footage of the drone flight depicted. According to the Bundestag, the drone flew over the middle of Friedrich-Ebert-Platz on the east side of the Reichstag building at approximately 20 meters in height. The Berlin State Police filed a criminal complaint for breaching the Air Traffic Act. The Bundestag refrains from commenting on security matters related to drone flights at the parliament building. Reports suggest that the drone pilot is an ultra-radical supporter of the Russian war against Ukraine. Police officers recorded the pilot's personal details onspot. T-Online.de reports that the same individual previsouply painted the "Z" emblem utilized by Russian troops in Ukraine on the tower of the previous state parliament building in Potsdam and harmed Ukrainian pictures.
15:24 Zelensky apprehensive of Russian offensive broadeningUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi expresses considerable concern about the insufficient abundance of weapons in his country's air defense and dreads an expansion of the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine has a mere quarter of the air defense systems it needs for its protection, asserts Selenskyj in an exclusive interview with AFP. Russia advanced around five to ten kilometers in the Kharkiv region during its ground assault launched just over a week ago. Further waves of attacks are anticipated.
"It's crucial to recognize that they have advanced further onto our land," Zelenskyj emphasized in his initial interview since the beginning of the Russian land offensive in north-eastern Kharkiv on 10 May. According to ISW data, Russian soldiers acquired at least 278 square kilometers of land during the advance - their most extensive territorial gain since the end of 2022. Ukraine currently possesses "approximately 25 percent of what we require to defend Ukraine" in terms of air defense, according to Selenskyi, who added that his military needs approximately 120 to 130 current fighter jets to establish parity with Russia's air forces.
3:00 PM: Zelensky sees possible counter-offensive, but front line needs to stabilize first
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian president, suggests the possibility of a new offensive against Russia. However, the frontline needs to be stabilized and the Russian assault halted, Zelensky said in an interview with the French news agency AFP. While there's a hope for a counter-offensive, the situation at the front is volatile. Zelensky is confident that the Ukrainian military can stop the Russians. Post-cessation, he mentioned that proper placement of brigades to prepare for the next steps of the counter-offensive is needed. There are numerous brigades in desperate need of reinforcements, according to the head of state. Supplies are required to ensure a troop rotation. However, when asked about a potential Ukrainian counter-offensive in 2025, Zelensky replied, "I can't say."
2:36 PM: Russians attack Kharkiv - multiple explosions reported
The mayor of Kharkiv, Igor Terekhov, alerts the city residents through a Telegram message about several explosions in the area. They imply Russian aggression towards Kharkiv. Zelensky had previously stated that the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region this month might be the first of several waves and that the Russians could target the regional capital, Kharkiv.
2:06 PM: Poland spends vast sums to fortify its borders with Russia and Belarus
With a planned investment of over two billion euros, Poland aims to strengthen its eastern border together with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. As per Prime Minister Donald Tusk, this move is part of a deterrence strategy to keep war from reaching the Polish borders.
1:37 PM: Ukraine reports 22 skirmishes, eight of which are ongoing
Since last night, 22 military skirmishes took place along the frontline, the Ukrainian military reported. Eight of these skirmishes are still ongoing, as stated by a General Staff statement. Additionally, the Russians had launched a missile attack and employed 25 kamikaze drones and 547 attacks on Ukrainian troops' positions.
1:02 PM: Missile attack on Odessa
Ukrainian troops monitoring the southern region of Ukraine report that Russia targeted Odessa again with a ballistic missile (likely Iskander-M).
12:53 PM: Russia captures another village, Kharkiv region
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that the Russian army has "liberated" the village of Staryzia in the Kharkiv region. The forces are reportedly advancing in the area, according to the ministry. The invasion in the Kharkiv region started about a week ago, creating a third front for Russian aggression along with those in the east and south.
12:42 PM: Ukrainian troops strive to repel Russians in Kharkiv region
Ukrainian troops seem to be attempting to push Russian forces towards the village of Hlyboke in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian news agency RBC reported. Hlyboke is approximately 40 kilometers from Kharkiv and 10 kilometers from the Russian border. "Our troops are making efforts to push the enemy back towards the settlement of Hlyboke," the Ukrainian General Staff said.
12:10 PM: Fourth death following Russian glide bomb attack on Kharkiv
Four people have been killed due to the Russian bombardment of the city of Kharkiv on Friday. The Governor of the region, Oleh Synyehubov, reported that an injured 33-year-old man passed away in the hospital. There were 31 injured people as a result of the strike in the Shevchenkiv district. Two of the casualties were in critical condition, Synyehubow confirmed. One woman was injured when Russians also hit the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi with a glide bomb.
11:41 AM: Jäger: "Russia's influence on Germany is significant"
Zelensky plans to utilize Western-supplied weapons not only for defense in Ukraine, but potentially on Russian soil. Thomas Jäger, a political scientist, along with Europe and the USA, has varied perspectives on this. Meanwhile, Russia is also impacting Germany, argues Jäger.
11:22 AM: One killed, another wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack in Kursk
Regional governor Alexei Smirnov reports that one person was killed and another injured in a Ukrainian drone strike in Kursk, a border region of Russia. However, details from the Russian authorities about possible attacks and casualties cannot be verified independently.
At 11:09 in London, intel from the British Ministry of Defense claims Russia's air defenses in Crimea may have weakened, as Ukraine's attacks on the region have forced Moscow to expand its air forces. This could potentially lead to further losses of aircraft.
Russia has been dealing with a setback in their air surveillance capabilities. In January, February, and March, they lost a Beriev A-50 airplane, responsible for aerial monitoring. Consequently, they're expected to up their flight hours and have more combat aircraft patrolling to compensate for the shortfall in coverage, which could lead to additional maintenance issues for their fleet.
In the Kharkiv region, around 10,000 people have been saved from threatened villages since the Russian ground offensive began on May 10. The regional governor, Oleh Synegubov, shared this information. The Red Army has moved around 5 to 10 kilometers near the northeastern border since then.
With 75% of Russians supporting their forces, a recent survey conducted by the Russian Levada Institute reveals the level of support for the military. However, this drops to 30% if the topic changes to ceding conquered territories.
While Kharkiv and Odessa have been targeted since the invasion of Ukraine, a report by ntv's Jürgen Weichert raises questions about the reasons, apart from the cities' size and appeal. He mentions the potential use of live bullets by the Ukrainians.
For the first time, Social Democratic Party (SPD) politicians are advocating for German troops to protect Ukrainian airspace from NATO territory. SPD's defense expert, Joe Weingarten, suggested deploying German anti-aircraft missile troops with Patriot systems along the border. SPD budget politician, Andreas Schwarz, views air defense as a vulnerable point in the Ukrainian army and proposes seeking aid from NATO allies.
Ukraine is asking the US to help identify targets in Russia that Ukraine could potentially strike with their existing weapons. Additionally, Kiev requests access to American weapons to target military facilities residing in Russia. According to a Dow Jones and Wall Street Journal report, US government officials confirmed the requests from Ukraine.
In an interview with AFP, President Zelenskyi expressed his belief that Ukraine and its Western allies share similar values, albeit some discrepancies in approach towards ending the conflict. He stated that Western nations fear a Russian defeat and also do not wish to see Ukraine lose. He urged China and countries from the Global South to participate in a peace summit in June, an event where Russia was not invited and had no plans to attend.
Russia is reinforcing its naval base in Novorossiysk, located on the Black Sea, in an effort to guard against Ukrainian naval drones, according to a report by RBC relying on the Telegram channel of the partisan group "Atesh." Weapons like air defense and radar systems will also be augmented at the Russian port city.
On May 10, Russian ground forces kicked off an offensive in the Kharkiv region. By Friday night, Ukrainian drones had targeted the port of Novorossiysk. The port is crucial for Russia because a significant portion of their oil and other exports pass through it. Furthermore, Russia relocated several vessels to the port after facing attacks on the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea, in September 2023.
Ukraine: Russian Military Casualties Reach 491,080
The Ukrainian army shares its daily update on Facebook regarding the numbers of soldiers they consider gone from the Russian army. Their numbers reveal a loss of 1210 soldiers on a Friday, which pushes the grand total to 491,080 Russian soldiers. Besides, Ukraine claims to have destroyed 43 armored vehicles, two airplanes, and a helicopter. However, these figures remain unverified.
ISW: Allied Policies Cripple Ukraine's Defense
The Institute for the Study of War believes that Western allies' stances hinder Ukraine's military power. They argue that these allies prevent Ukraine from attacking Russian military targets on their side of the border using the weapons given. Consequently, Russians have a safe zone on the Rhakiv oblast where they can launch glide bombs and missiles. Such policies endanger Ukraine's defense by allowing more freedom of movement for Russians on that front. "The current US policy undermines Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian assaults in the northern Kharkiv oblast," ISW shared.
Ukraine Takes Down Iranian Drones
The Ukrainian air defense is said to have successfully downed all Iranian-made Shahed drones navigating the skies above Ukraine. A senior officer, Mykola Oleshchuk, shared this information with the media, stating that 13 of these drones were shot down during the night. The origin of these drones is linked to the Russian port city of Primorsko-Akhtarsk (at the Sea of Azov) and the Kursk oblast.
Explosion in Belgorod Following a Missile Alert
A missile alert was sounded early on Saturday morning in the Russian border region of Belgorod. The state news agency Tass also reported an explosion, prompting Russian Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov to urge people to seek safety. These explosions are frequent in this region due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, the magnitude is hardly relevant compared to the consequences taking place in Ukraine.
Russians Step Up Barrage at Krynky Bridgehead
The Russian invasion force is escalating their bombardment of Ukrainian soldiers' positions in the Krynky area. Regional think tank, The Institute for the Study of War, published that Russia is trying to overwhelm the Krynky bridgehead with a more potent barrage. While there's no reported shift in the front line, Ukraine's military is challenged to maintain their line of defense.
Putin's 'Buffer Zone' in Kharkiv Ambition
Russia continues to push its forces toward Kharkiv, asserting its aim to create a 'buffer zone' in the northern part of this region. Although not planning to capture the city, they suffer setbacks. The ISW report underlines that the Russian army is not on a mission to conquer the city but merely occupy some districts. They're just trying to create dangerous conditions.
St. Petersburg Explosions: No Terror Link
The Russian army states that the explosions in St. Petersburg's Budyonny Military Academy were accidental. Ammunition dating back to World War II caused the blast. Governor Alexander Beglov dismissed terrorism as the culprit behind the incident, with Interfax attributing incidents to an accident.
Klingbeil Craves Chinese Involvement in Peace Talks
The SPD leader, Lars Klingbeil, expresses his hope that China will join the Swiss Ukraine peace conference. This invite also extends to India, Brazil, and South Africa, essential participating nations. The possibility of their absence would be unfortunate but not a disaster, according to Klingbeil. "We come together to discuss ways to achieve peace."
Zelensky Regrets Limitations on Western Weapons Supplies
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, boxes for the approval to equip his army with Western weapons. He points out a significant disparity between Russia and Ukraine's abilities to use their firearms. Russia is allowed to launch all their arsenal from home, but Ukraine cannot retaliate against these weapons on Russian territory. He reiterates his request for a change in the arms policy.
Ukrainian Army Commander: Russian Front Line Near Kharkiv is 70 Kilometers Long
The Russian ground troops still fight to expand their newest offensive on Kharkiv's border. The commander of the Ukrainian army, Olexander Syrskyj, writes on Telegram that the new front is now 70 kilometers wide, a more sizeable area to defend. Despite the preeminence of Russian weapons, Syrsky's men hold the firing line. On the Russian side, they rely on air defense, missiles, artillery, and tanks. Ukraine gains an upper hand with the use of drones and level-targeted artillery.
The situation in Ukraine remains tense as nations try to find ways to restore peace while ensuring their own safety in the process. The latest military advancements and defensive strategies are designed to achieve this goal of maintaining balance between parties.
03:35 Kiev: Initial Russian Assault in Kharkiv
President Zelenskyi stated that the Russian onslaught in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine might be the "first wave" of Russian assaults. "They have initiated their operation, which could include several waves. This is their first wave," he informed AFP news agency.
02:17 Zelensky: Ukraine requires 130 F-16 fighter jets
According to Zelensky, Ukraine possesses just a quarter of the air defense systems necessary to safeguard itself against Russia. His nation also requires between 120 and 130 F-16 fighter jets to dismantle Russia's air dominance, he informed AFP news agency. In addition, he acknowledged that the absence of troops is affecting the morale of the military personnel.
00:17 Zelensky pleads for energy conservation
Due to damage to the Ukrainian power grid, President Zelensky requested that citizens conserve electricity. "Now comes the time for extremely cautious, considered electricity usage," Zelensky stated in the evening in Kiev. Municipalities and energy providers should provide information about the necessity of temporary power cuts. During his evening video address, he reported that he had communicated with the government and the military regarding the challenging situation in Ukraine's power system, which had been under attack from Russia. "As a result of Russian attacks, our energy sector has now lost a significant portion of its production," Selensky says. Substantial efforts are necessary to reconstruct the energy supply in a manner that is beyond the reach of Russia. He did not disclose further details.
23:59 Return of consular services for Ukrainians abroad
Now that the mobilization legislation has come into force, Ukrainian conscripts living overseas can use consular services again. The prerequisite is the provision of proof of registration with the military authorities in hard copy or electronic format. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this in the evening. The Ministry of Defense also established an app for online registration. Over 300,000 men eligible for military service have also left Ukraine due to the conflict with Russia.
22:59 Freezing of Unicredit accounts and assets in Russia
An arbitration court in St. Petersburg has frozen the bank accounts and assets of the Italian bank Unicredit in Russia. This was undertaken at the request of RusChimAllianz, a subsidiary of Gazprom operating an LNG terminal on the Baltic Sea, as reported by Russian news agencies. The background to this situation is the failure to build the terminal due to Western sanctions supported by Unicredit. RusChimAllianz is seeking 444 million euros in damages from Unicredit. The assets worth 463 million euros are to be frozen. Unicredit is the largest foreign bank still functioning in Russia following Raiffeisenbank and is one of the 20 largest banks in the country in terms of assets.
21:55 Legislating to permit Ukrainian prisoners to enlist
To boost the number of Ukrainian soldiers, certain prisoners are to be conscripted into the army. President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted legislation that authorizes prisoners to be suspended from their sentences and called up for military service on a temporary contract basis. Only certain convicts are eligible. Convicts convicted of serious crimes are not permitted to report for military service.
21:36 Report: Starlink devices failed during Kharkiv Russian assault
According to media reports, all Starlink devices of a Ukrainian military unit stationed there failed at the beginning of the Russian offensive in Kharkiv. As reported by the Washington Post, citing members of the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade, malfunctions occurred on May 10th, coinciding with the entry of Russian troops into the border region. According to the Washington Post, Russian electronic warfare systems are believed to be responsible for the Starlink disruption. It is the first extensive Starlink system failure in Ukraine since the Russian invasion commenced in spring 2022.
20:56 Explosion at St. Petersburg's military academy
As per Russian media, an explosion occurred in the Russian metropolis of St. Petersburg. The Budyonny military academy was the location, according to numerous media outlets. The Russian news agency RIA cites local authorities as reporting an explosion at the academy. The Telegram channel Baza, which is associated with law enforcement agencies, claims that seven people were injured.
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- In light of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, President Zelensky expresses concern about the insufficient number of air defense systems, fearing a broader Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
- Poland is committing over 2 billion euros to fortify its eastern border, preparing for potential threats from neighboring Russia and Belarus.
- Amidst the Russian assault on Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky suggests the possibility of a counter-offensive, stating that the frontline needs to stabilize first.
- The Russian military is reportedly engaging in cyberwarfare, with several instances of suspected Russian hacking attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and government systems.
Source: www.ntv.de
