Putin aims to provide China with further energy resources.

Putin seeks to increase energy deliveries to China.

While in China, President Putin proposes a plan to increase energy supply to the nation. He states confidently, "Russia is prepared and capable of consistently and reliably providing the Chinese economy, businesses, cities, and remote villages with environmentally friendly and budget-friendly energy, electricity, and heat." This alliance in the energy sector is expected to strengthen further.

Images from a satellite show aftermath of the shelling in Russian airbase Belbek. The last two days have witnessed Ukrainian troops shelling Crimea and targeting Belbek airbase. Russia claims that a total of five ATACMS were intercepted. Images also show burnt planes from the airbase.

Rainer Munz, a reporter from ntv, points out some weaknesses in the partnership between Russia and China. There are signs of tension due to possible Chinese involvement in Swiss peace talks, or because Beijing aims not to become overly reliant on Russian resources.

In an interview, Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi informs that Russian troops have increased their active combat area by almost 70 kilometers in the Kharkiv region. They have engaged in an offensive to force Ukraine to deploy extra reserve brigades. He predicts that the fighting will intensify as the troops in Kiev gear up for defense in Sumy region.

Video footage demonstrates the consequences of nighttime Ukrainian attacks on Russia. The Ukrainian army is said to have targeted several locations, including an oil refinery in Tuapse on the Krasnodar coast. Russia states that over 100 Ukrainian drones were repelled throughout the night.

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urges for the provision of long-range weaponry for Ukraine. In a meeting of the Council of Europe's foreign ministers, she shares the dire situation around Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine, where Russia is shelling from their own territory. The city is located around 40 kilometers away from the Russian border, preventing Ukrainian air defense from being effective.

At the conclusion of their conversations in China, Putin and Xi Jinping, Chinese President and Party Leader, exchange a warm farewell. The Russians and Chinese presidents first shook hands and then hugged in a cordial manner, based on a video from China Central Television (CCTV).

Ukraine reports that all 20 Russian drones targeted during the night have been shot down. The Ukrainian military reported attacks on the regions of Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odessa, and Mykolaiv. In Kharkiv, four detonations happened during the attack. One fire broke out during a detonation, and according to Regional Governor, five buildings were damaged, including an administrative building.

A ntv reporter, Jürgen Weichert, shares information about the tense situation in Kharkiv. Ukraine is now capable of securing the military situation at Kharkiv's city limits, but Russian forces have also established a stable position and are approximately 30 kilometers from Kharkiv.

In Russia, reports of casualties from the nighttime Ukrainian drone attacks reached two people. A mother and her four-year-old son in the Belgorod region village of Oktyabrsky were said to have been struck dead by a combat drone, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

According to Russia's Ministry of Defense, Sevastopol in Crimea was attacked during the night. The local governor reported a damaged substation. "There will be occasional power interruptions." Schools and kindergartens in the area were closed as a precautionary measure, as Sevastopol is the home port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 in defiance of international law.

Reports emerged of an alleged mass Ukrainian drone strike on the Black Sea Fleet port of Novorossiysk. Russian state news agency RIA mentions missile strikes in the region but omits the port's name.

Moscow reports over 100 Ukrainian drones intercepted

Around 100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted during the night, as stated by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The 51 drones were intercepted above the annexed Crimean peninsula, while 44 more were detected in the Krasnodar region. Further drones were intercepted in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, each containing six and one respectively. The Russian Navy also managed to destroy six additional naval drones in the Black Sea. In response to the ongoing shelling from Russia, Ukraine has launched multiple attacks on Russian territory to target energy facilities.

06:58 - Several Russian fighter jets destroyed in Crimea

Analysis of recent satellite images from Maxar reveals the complete destruction of three fighter jets - two MiG-31s and an Su-27 - while an additional MiG-29 was left damaged. These incidents took place in the Ukrainian attacks on the military airfield Belbek in Crimea. The "New York Times" examined these images, along with the reports of a destroyed fuel depot. The Ukrainian military carried out a nighttime assault on the airbase for the second night in a row.

06:33 - Reports of a new attack on a Russian refinery

Footage circulating on social media implies that another drone attack occurred at a Russian oil refinery in Tuapse, located by the Black Sea. Local authorities have confirmed these claims and have stated that the fire was effectively managed.

06:14 - Putin aligns himself more with China's northeastern region

Vladimir Putin, Russian President, plans to emphasize the significance of trade along the Russian border in northeastern China after concluding a strategic partnership with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Putin is concluding his visit to China in Harbin, Heilongjiang, which has historically maintained trade and cultural relations with Russia.

06:00 - Russian military attaché in the UK is considered persona non grata

The Russian Foreign Ministry decided to declare British military attaché Adrian Coghill persona non grata, compelling him to leave the country within a week. This action was a retaliatory measure after the UK expelled the Russian military attaché earlier on May 8, as they suspected him of being an undeclared intelligence agent.

05:30 - NATO allied countries discuss sending trainers to Ukraine

Certain NATO member states are contemplating the possibility of dispatching military trainers or contractors to Ukraine to provide troops with training while assisting in repairing equipment. Ukraine has called for assistance in training 150,000 soldiers close to the front line. However, this proposition is met with reluctance from the US due to the possible backlash that could lead to the activation of NATO's collective defense clause. Alternatively, these nations may send defense contractors instead, while the White House reconsiders its ban on US defense contractors in Ukraine.

04:42 - Japan advocates for compliance with international law in distribution of frozen Russian assets

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki opined that discussions regarding the US proposal to utilize the interest collected from frozen Russian assets for aiding Ukraine should conform to global law. In anticipation of this topic being discussed at the upcoming G7 conference, Suzuki expressed Japan's commitment to adhere to these principles.

03:11 - Kim Jong Un's sister denies arms deal with Russia

Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sibling, denies any allegations of an arms trade between North Korea and Russia. Expounding upon North Korea's weapons, she remarked that these weapons were solely intended for defense against South Korea, deemed "an absurd theory" full of presumptions. United States and South Korea officials, meanwhile, have accused North Korea of selling weapons to Russia for the purpose of using them against Ukraine. Officials from both nations have denied these accusations.

02:04 - Air raid alert lifted in Kharkiv after drone attacks

The majority of the drone attacks targeting Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, have ceased. A few hours after more than 16 drones attacked Kharkiv, an air raid alert was lifted in most of the region. At least five drones had previously damaged Kharkiv, leading to a fire in one of its districts. The current air raid alert persisted for about 16.5 hours, which is the longest since the initial Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

00:51 - USA: China's support for Russia may hamper diplomatic relations with Europe

The friendly reunion between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Kremlin head Vladimir Putin prompted remarks by the United States government, stating that China's support for Russia serves as an obstacle to diplomatic relations with Europe. A US State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, expressed that China cannot "dance at two weddings at the same time" and that improving ties with European nations while simultaneously furthering Russian aggression against Ukraine is not feasible.

11:34 PM: Zelensky Warns Europe of Gas Infrastructure Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued an alert about potential dangers to Europe, related to Russian missile strikes on the country's gas transportation system. In a video message, he mentioned his recent conversation with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The president stated that damage to gas facilities in western Ukraine could escalate into a risk for everyone in Europe, not just for Ukrainians. He urged urgent coordinated action to address the situation.

10:06 PM: Month-long Power Outages Anticipated in Ukraine

The Ukrainian government has predicted power cuts lasting for months due to the significant damage incurred by power plants and substations in the country. Yuri Boyko, an advisor to the Prime Minister and a member of the Ukrenerho utility board, informed about these expectations. The alternative being considered is regional power shutdowns on specified days to conserve electricity. This also spans to the capital Kiev, as the missile attacks have severely affected the power grid.