At 12:41, Russia reports continued assaults from Ukraine.

Russia documents more assaults from Ukraine at 12:41.

According to recent updates from Moscow, the Ukrainian air attack on Russia was much bigger than initially reported. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that their air defense system managed to shoot down 103 Ukrainian drones and twelve ATACMS missiles supplied by the US in the last 24 hours. Earlier reports suggested that Ukraine had attacked the annexed Crimean peninsula with nine ATACMS missiles and assaulted Russian regions with at least 60 drones.

11:57 Update: Death toll in Kharkiv rises to four - Ukrinform

The death toll caused by Russian airstrikes in the Kharkiv district has now risen to four. Reports suggest a particularly treacherous double strike occurred at a public park.

11:35 Two killed and eight injured in Kharkiv - District's military administration

The district's military administration reports that two civilians were killed during a Russian attack in the Kharkiv area. Additionally, there were eight injured, including a paramedic.

11:06 Russian advance towards Kharkiv halted - Ukrainian General Staff on Telegram

The Ukrainian General Staff announced that the Russian ground forces stopped their advance towards Kharkiv on Saturday. "The enemy did not conduct active operations in the direction of Kharkiv. The defense forces are making every effort to reinforce positions, replenish reserves, conduct surveillance, and maintain fire control over the enemy's actions," the message reads. Despite the halt, Russian airstrikes continue.

10:47 Air alert in eastern Ukraine - Multiple Ukrainian media outlets

All eastern regions of Ukraine have issued an air alert, according to several Ukrainian media outlets. A Russian missile is believed to be headed towards Kiev, as reported by the online medium Ukrajinska Pravda.

10:40 Ukrainian navy sinks Russian minesweeper

The Ukrainian navy has reported sinking a minesweeper from the Russian Black Sea Fleet during the night. The navy shared a crossed-out image of the damaged "Kovrovets", a boat of the "Project 266M" class, which joined the fleet in 1974.

10:18 Bigger and destructive Ukrainian drones - Tass

The Ukrainian drones that attacked a refinery in southern Russia were reportedly larger and carried heavier payloads, according to Russian sources. The "Krasnodar region refinery boss" told Tass that the drones were "carrying much larger loads and were filled with destructive elements in the form of steel balls". The plant halted operations after the drones crashed, and the damage is being assessed.

9:52 A new wave of attacks: Mobilization law and the use of glide bombs - NTV reporter Jürgen Weichert

A mobilization law came into effect recently, requiring all Ukrainian men fit for military service to report. The Ukrainian military is bolstering its defenses against the growing use of combat drones, missiles, and glide bombs in a new wave of attacks.

9:35 The danger posed by glide bombs

BBC explains in an article why it is so challenging for Ukraine to shoot down glide bombs. The Russian explosive bombs are simple and can be fired from a considerable distance, making aircraft relatively safe. The Russian military has deployed an overwhelming amount of glide bombs, rendering it practically impossible to intercept them. The only possible solution would be to target the planes launching the glide bombs but, currently, Ukraine lacks weapons with the capability to do so. If Ukraine moves one of its few Patriot systems close enough for engagement, there's a high risk of losing it.

9:04 Ukraine successfully defends against major Russian attack

Ukraine claims victory against a large Russian air attack, shooting down all 37 attacking drones, all of the Iranian type Shahed.

8:46 Russia wears down Ukraine on all fronts - Ukrainian air force

Although Washington has provided military assistance, many Ukrainian frontline units' munitions are running low. Troops have thinned out, and new recruits are hard to come by. By preying on this weakness, Russia takes control of several regions experiencing heavy fire.

Despite this, the Ukrainians are valiantly defending their territory and maintaining strong positions. They have launched a counter-offensive in the Kupyansk direction and are forming a defensive line in Lyman. The Ukrainian air force is working to secure the sky, but they are facing a growing challenge due to Russia's increased use of kamikaze drones. The country recently shot down 43 Shahed and another unknown number of truck-based drones.

6:09 Iranian-made Shahed drones target Russian refinery

Eight drones struck a refinery in southern Russia, causing significant damage. All of them were reportedly Iranian-made, with two drones crashing in the refinery's central part, while the other six impacted in the surrounding area. The plant has suspended operations to assess the extent of the damage.

07:47 Russia claims to have intercepted 9 US ATACMS missiles over Crimea

The Russian Ministry of Defense alleges it intercepted 9 American Advanced Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) over the occupied Crimean peninsula at night. Additionally, a drone was reportedly shot down in the area, according to the ministry's announcement on Telegram. Three more drones were also intercepted and destroyed over the Belgorod region close to the border and 57 others over Krasnodar. The validity of this news cannot be confirmed.

07:10 Ukrainian army reports 1210 Russian soldiers killed/wounded

The Ukrainian military shared on Facebook the number of Russian soldiers who were killed or injured based on their count the previous day. On Saturday, according to these records, Russia lost 1210 soldiers, taking the total Russian casualties in the war to 492,290. Additionally, 16 tanks and 35 armored vehicles were allegedly destroyed by the Ukrainian army. This information cannot be verified.

06:34 ISW reports increased Russian pressure on Chassiv Yar

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russia is intensifying its push to capture the strategic city of Chassiv Yar in eastern Donetsk. This follows their ongoing offensive in the Kharkiv region where they are also making progress. Russia's ultimate goal seems to be to force Ukraine to withdraw troops from the region surrounding Chasiv Yar, as per ISW analysis. According to ISW's assessment, Russia is demanding that the proposed "buffer zone" in Ukraine encompass the entire country. This demand suggests that Russia's intention to control Ukraine is far from over.

06:09 Drone triggers fire at Slavyansk-na-Kubani oil refinery

A drone has crashed on the site of an oil refinery in the southern Russian city of Slavyansk-na-Kubani, causing a local fire, as declared by the Krasnodar region's authorities. Although there were no casualties or significant damage from this incident, similar attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in Ukraine have been happening for a while.

05:40 Danone completes Russian withdrawal after 30 years

French dairy giant Danone has finished the sale of its Russian business to a man with ties to Chechnya, ending almost three decades of presence in the country. Vamin Tatarstan, a dairy company owned by businessman Mintimer Mingasov, agreed to purchase Danone's Russian holdings for 17.7 billion roubles (approximately 180 million euros). Experts believe this figure could be closer to 80 billion roubles based on the true value of the business. In July 2021, Yakub Zakriyev, a nephew of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, was appointed to lead Danone's Russian subsidiary.

04:37 Explosions reported in Crimea: missile attack on Sevastopol

There are reports of explosions on the Crimean peninsula, which is under Russian control. The governor appointed by Moscow, Mikhail Razvozhayev, announced on Telegram that the air defenses in Sevastopol fended off a missile attack. However, the region's rescue service stated there was no damage to the civilian infrastructure, as per Razvozhayev.

03:33 Air alert in most of Ukraine: widespread drone attacks

Russia is committing widespread drone attacks throughout Ukraine during the night, with areas affected including Kiev, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Odessa. Explosions were heard in various places, while an air attack alert had been issued in almost all regions of the country. There is currently no information about the extent of any potential damage or casualties.

02:20 Civilians shelled in Kharkiv region

Ukrainian sources claims that civilians were shelled during the night in two towns in the northern region of Kharkiv. The Ukrainian prosecutor general's office is now investigating the Russian air raid on Kharkiv's residential area as a potential war crime. As a result, six civilians including three teenagers were injured. Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of people have been killed and injured.

01:04 Germany requests nearly four billion more for military aid to Ukraine

According to a report, the German government plans to substantially boost its military support for Ukraine this year. The German Ministry of Defense has indicated an additional requirement of 3.8 billion euros for military assistance in 2023. This is on top of the 7.1 billion euros already allocated this year. The extra-budgetary spending must be approved by parliament in June. The Ministry of Finance has expressed support for this initiative.

Ukrainian Military Reports 77 Skirmishes in a Day

According to an evening update by the Ukrainian General Staff, there were 77 battles recorded within a 24-hour period. These conflicts had seven ongoing incidents. The statement issued on their Telegram channel stated that "Russian troops are striving to enhance their tactical positions." The Ukrainian army had conducted four offensive moves to push out Russian forces.

Lieutenant Colonel Denys Vasyliuk Passes Away During Combat Operation

Denys Vasyliuk, a recipient of the "Order of Valor" for individual courage and heroism, has perished during a combat operation, according to the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade on Facebook. He had conducted numerous combat missions throughout his career. While serving in the same unit, he held the position of chief of staff of the brigade and deputy commander of an aviation squadron. The brigade has yet to provide any details about the circumstances surrounding his death, and the Ukrainian air force has not made any statements.

Patryk Vega's Putin Biopic Employs AI to Create Deep Fakes

Polish filmmaker Patryk Vega premiered his biopic on Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Cannes Film Festival, with a twist - Putin dies at the end. "It was supposed to be a happy ending," says Vega, adding with a smile, "I jokingly called Putin and asked if he wanted to take part." When Putin was unavailable, Vega utilized AI to create a deep fake of the Russian president.

He initially opted to utilize real footage of Putin but found the quality inadequate for the big screen. "AI requires 20,000 high-resolution images to function properly," the filmmaker explains. To overcome this, he developed a new technology that employed AI to create an actor with a similar stature as Putin. The film's use of this technology marks the first of its kind, generating a surprisingly realistic portrayal of the Russian president in various scenarios.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Expresses Concerns Over Ukraine's Future

Joseph Wu, Taiwan's Foreign Minister, shared with the Kyiv Independent that the country's future hinges on the developments in the Ukrainian war. According to Wu, Russia's invasion of Ukraine served as a wake-up call for Taiwan. He fears the possibility of China following Russia's actions against Ukraine and employing force to "reunite" with Taiwan. "The future of Taiwan depends on the outcome of the Ukraine war," he asserts, adding that even after two years, the conflict's impact remains significant in Taiwan.