Prominent Ukrainian author Serhiy Shadan enlists in the military.
Renowned Ukrainian author Serhij Schadan, who has won the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, is now serving in the military of his country. "I joined the 13th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard, Chartia," he shares online. An accompanying photo shows Schadan clad in camouflage gear, carrying an automatic rifle.
9:57 Scholz defends supplying weapons for Ukrainian strikes in Russia
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz argues that Ukraine can employ supplied weapons to target Russian positions within Russia. Ukrainian territory, cities, and citizens are legally safeguarded from attacks, says Scholz during a statement in the Bundestag. "This also applies to attacks happening in the Charkiw region from Russian border positions," he adds. "When defending against such attacks, Ukraine may utilize weapons provided by us and our allies, adhering to international legal obligations." We've assessed the risks with our allies.
9:26 Munz: "Putin tries to exert pressure on Germany"
Addressing the international media, Russian President Putin makes threats against the West, focusing on Germany. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz interprets the statements.
9:26 Russia: 13 Ukrainian drones downed over Crimea
One night ago, Russia claims to have shot down 13 Ukrainian drones over the Crimean Peninsula, according to their Defense Ministry. Additionally, they destroyed six objects in the Belgorod region and an anti-ship missile in the Rostov region. The statements cannot be verified independently. The same is valid for the Ukrainian claim that they shot down drones used by Russian attackers during the same period of time (refer to the entry at 6:54).
9:19 Ukraine announces Russian losses of 515,000 soldiers
Russian losses in the ongoing attack war on Ukraine amount to 515,000 soldiers, claims the Ukrainian General Staff via the digital medium X. Over the last 24 hours, these losses surged by 1,300 soldiers. Furthermore, 22 tanks and 48 artillery systems were destroyed. The Russian losses encompass an anti-aircraft system and 40 armored personnel carriers, according to the General Staff's statement. These numbers cannot be verified.
8:55 Ukraine halts work at Russian refinery with drone attack
A Russian refinery in southern Russia was interrupted by a Ukrainian drone attack, as per Russian reports. Fire resulted from the drone attack in the Nowoschachtinsk refinery, explains Rostov's governor, Wassili Golubew. Operations have ceased, leaving no casualties. The refinery is a significant one in southern Russia and often targeted by Ukrainian attacks.
8:23 KNDS: Obtaining spare parts for Ukraine is challenging
Ralf Ketzel, the head of the defense company KNDS, states that repairing damaged tanks in Ukraine is not straightforward. "Seventy to ninety percent of the repairs are not done by us, but at the front." Acquiring spare parts for heavy military equipment is generally a difficult task. "This is a topic we must think about if the government says: We aim for readiness to battle," says Ketzel.
6:54 Ukraine shoots down 17 Russian combat drones
Ukrainian forces intercept a Russian drone attack. They report 17 of 18 Shahed drones were downed in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Saporischschja, and Khmelnytskyi regions overnight. Additionally, attacks occurred in the Dnipro region using two Iskander missiles. The Ukrainian army did not report if these could be shot down.
6:25 Russia hints at stationing long-range missiles near Western countries
Should Ukraine possess long-range weapons on Russian soil, Putin threatens to position long-range missiles near countries approving such actions. He indicates this to journalists in St. Petersburg, mentioning American ATACMs, British, and French rocket systems specifically. The locations for these missiles haven't been specified yet.
5:52 Defense company: Immediate deliveries to Ukraine impossible
Ralf Ketzel, the managing director of the German defense manufacturer KNDS, expresses his company's inability to provide Ukraine with additional resources promptly. "The ability to deliver something quickly is now depleted," he shares with the online portal web.de. "Two years ago, we would have had to make the strategic decision: This will be a lengthy conflict. Then we could supply new material today." However, that could not be foreseen to that extent.
Putin Pushes for Wider Russian Connections with the Taliban
Russian President Putin promotes deepening Russia's relationships with the Taliban, the present leaders in Afghanistan. During a gathering with foreign reporters at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, the Taliban delegation participates. Putin says, "We've always stood by the adage that we must confront reality." Furthermore, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had mentioned previously that Moscow plans to erase the Taliban from the list of terror organizations, which they've been on since 2003.
Julia Nawalnaja, widow of anti-Kremlin activist Alexei Nawalny, obtains the Freedom Prize from Deutsche Welle. Alexei Nawalny perished under enigmatic circumstances in a Siberian jail on February 16th. Nawalnaja vowed in her acceptance speech to keep up her late husband's work. Regarding the alleged murder of her husband by Putin, Nawalnaja stated, "Putin murdered my husband Alexei Nawalny, but he didn't silence his ideas." She cautioned against Russian misinformation and deceitful experts not only in Europe but also before the impending European elections. Nawalnaja concluded, "We'll keep on fighting," asserting that "freedom of speech will eventually overpower the 'poison of propaganda.'"
Feuer in Russischer Ölraffinerie
According to Russian media, a fire broke out in an oil refinery in the city of Novoshakhtinsk. Beforehand, there were several explosions. The governor of the Rostov border region disclosed through a drone that a drone attack was involved, and rescue services were deployed. The refinery had already been targeted by a Ukrainian drone attack in March.
USA Expects Russian Military Exercises in the Caribbean
A US government representative mentioned that the USA anticipates Russia to conduct more prominent naval and air force drills near the United States this summer, peaking in a sizeable Russian naval exercise in the autumn. The exercises will be part of their regular military activities and are not deemed a direct threat to the United States, claimed the official. However, he emphasized that they're simply "about Russia showcasing its global power." Nonetheless, the US Navy will monitor the exercises to keep an eye on these movements.
Putin Supports Russian Collaboration with AfD
In a conversation with international journalists at a conference in St. Petersburg, Putin defended meetings between Russian officials and AfD politicians. "We'll ally with anyone who favors cooperating with Russia," Putin stated. He added, "We don't detect any traces of neo-Nazism in the AfD's actions." There aren't any "formal ties" between the Russian government and the German opposition party. However, Moscow would endorse agreements grounded in harmonious relations with other nations.
22:54 Putin Discards Military Incursion into NATO Territory as "Hogwash"
During a conversation with journalists, Kremlin chief Putin expressed that the speculation about possible Russian incursion into NATO territory was "bullshit." He further refuted the claim that he had hinted at utilizing "some kind of atom bomb." "So, have I hinted at using atomic weapons?" chimed Putin, "But have you? This is nothing short of absurd."
21:57 Putin Opens to Investigating Slain AFP Journalist Arman Soldin's Demise
As per Russian media, Putin has asserted his readiness to authorize inquiries into the events sparking the death of AFP journalist Arman Soldin. "We'll strive to unravel this mystery," Putin affirmed, addressing journalists from top international agencies in St. Petersburg. "We're willing to help. However, I'm unsure how this will play out, as he passed away in a war-torn region," Putin added. The Kremlin had previously declared that Russia couldn't dig into the incident since Soldin had been on Ukrainian-controlled soil. Journalist Soldin perished on May 9th, at 32 years old, in a rocket attack in the midst of Ukrainian troops near the contested city of Bachmut. He was documenting troops in close proximity to the trenches at Chassiv Yar, a war-torn area in the east of the nation.
21:23 Lavrov Pursues New Allies in Africa
Russian media relay that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has declared intentions to provide additional military devices and trainers to Burkina Faso to bolster its defense capacity. Over the course of Lavrov's ninth African visit, Russia intends to establish new partnerships. Russia is seeking an ally for military support who does not endorse the conflict but also voices no criticism against the ongoing war. Russia is trying to establish new connections.
9:25pm Putin doesn't anticipate a major shift in US approach to Russia post-election
Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced his belief that there would be no significant alteration in the US's stance towards Russia following the presidential elections. In a media gathering in St. Petersburg, Putin shared that the outcome of the election holds minimal importance for Russia, and they will cooperate with the new American leader chosen by the people. Previously, Putin had professed his preference for an additional term of incumbent President Joe Biden as he deemed him more foreseeable. Furthermore, Putin denounced the legal proceedings against Donald Trump, a candidate opposing Biden on November 3.
9:58pm Putin estimates over 6,000 Ukrainian POWs captured since Russian invasion
Vladimir Putin approximated that more than 6,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war had been captured since Russia's incursion in Ukraine. This figure exceeds the number of Russian soldiers and officers detained by Ukraine, according to the Russian president during a sit-down with representatives from major international news agencies in St. Petersburg. While the number cannot be validated independently, Putin was asked about the death toll on the Russian side. Despite this, neither party has provided clear figures about the losses. The president also predicted that Ukraine would incur considerably more casualties than Russia in the ongoing conflict. In contrast, the Ukrainian side emphasized that a larger number of Russian than their own soldiers have perished in the war.
9:18pm Putin cautions against Ukrainians using German weapons on Russian targets
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed concerns about Ukrainian soldiers using German weapons against targets within Russian territory. He warned the utilization of such armaments could lead to the irrevocable deterioration of Russian-German relations. This is a reference to the delivery of German tanks to Ukraine last year, which left many Russians feeling uneasy. Putin, at a media gathering in St. Petersburg at the Lachta Center of gas giant Gazprom during the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, highlighted that this was the first international meeting of its kind since the beginning of Putin's war against Ukraine.
Read also:
- The ongoing cyberwar between Ukraine and Russia has led to frequent attacks on digital infrastructure, with the Ukrainian military reporting several successful defenses against Russian cyberattacks.
- NATO has expressed concern over the escalating cyberwar and has pledged to support Ukraine in strengthening its cyberdefenses, recognizing the importance of digital security in modern military operations.
- Amidst the Ukraine conflict, Volodymyr Zelensky has called for increased international cooperation in the realm of cybersecurity, emphasizing the critical role of cyberwar in contemporary military operations.
- In response to the cyberwar, Russia continues to develop its offensive cyber capabilities, with some analysts predicting that future attacks on critical infrastructure could have significant implications for both military operations and civilian life.
