11:34: Russia enlarges combat area in Ukraine by 70 kilometers

Russia has enlarged the war zone in Ukraine by 70 kilometers.

Ukrainian army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Russian forces have enlarged their combat zone by approximately 70 kilometers due to their offensive against the Kharkiv region. Russia's objective behind this offensive was to make Ukraine deploy additional reserve brigades. Syrskyi anticipates that the conflict will escalate as the troops in Kiev get ready to defend the Sumy region.

In the video, it's reported that Ukraine has struck numerous locations on Russian soil, including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assault on an oil refinery in Tuapse, situated on the Krasnodar coast. Russia claims that they repelled over a hundred Ukrainian UAVs during the night.

Germany's Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is urging for longer-range weapons to be provided to Ukraine. Baerbock made these remarks on the sidelines of a meeting of the Council of Europe's foreign ministers, stating that the situation around Kharkiv is "highly dramatic." Russia is conducting attacks from its own territory, making it challenging for Ukraine's air defense system to be effective. Ukraine may require "weaponry that's capable of medium and long-range attacks," she added. Kharkiv is approximately 40 kilometers from the Russian border.

In a heartwarming gesture, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping embraced each other following their conversation in China. In a video obtained from state broadcaster CCTV, Putin and Xi first shook hands before embracing. Putin's two-day visit to Harbin continues.

Ukraine claims to have shot down all 20 drones directed at the country by Russia during the night. The military reported these shootdowns across the regions of Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odessa, and Mykolaiv. Kharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, declared that four explosions occurred during the attack, which left a fire burning after one detonation. The regional governor reported that five buildings were damaged, including an administrative building.

Russia's ntv reporter, Jürgen Weichert, highlighted the tense situation in Kharkiv, stating that Ukraine can now secure the military situation at the city's outskirts, but Russia has also "managed to stabilize their positions." Weichert emphasized that the Russians are about 30 kilometers away from Kharkiv.

Russia reported two casualties in the Russian territory of Belgorod due to Ukrainian attacks. A mother and her four-year-old son were killed by a combat drone in the village of Oktyabrsky, as per Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the city of Sevastopol in Crimea was subjected to an attack during the night. The local governor announced that a substation has been damaged. As a result, there will be power outages in certain areas. Sevastopol is the base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Videos showing a presumed Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet port of Novorossiysk have surfaced. The Russian state news agency RIA reports of missile attacks but doesn't mention the port explicitly.

Russia confirmed intercepting more than 100 Ukrainian drones during the night. The Ministry of Defense recorded 51 drones being intercepted in Crimea, 44 more in Krasnodar, six in the Belgorod region, and one more in the Kursk region. The navy also destroyed six naval drones in the Black Sea. In response to the continuous shelling from Russia, Ukraine has escalated their attacks on Russian territory, frequently targeting energy facilities.

Satellite images from Maxar reveal that three fighter jets were completely destroyed - two MiG-31s and one Su-27 - and another MiG-29 was damaged in Ukrainian attacks on the Russian military airfield Belbek in Crimea. The "New York Times" analyzed these images, revealing that a fuel depot was also destroyed. Last night, Ukraine attacked the airbase for the second night in a row.

Videos circulating on X depict an alleged additional Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil refinery. The Tuapse refinery on the Black Sea is said to have been targeted. (Update at 7 a.m.: Local authorities have confirmed the fire, which has since been contained.)

6:14 Emphasizing Trade in Northeastern China's Border Areas near Russia

To prioritize trade in the regions near the border between Russia and northeastern China, Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to highlight importance after signing a strategic partnership with Chinese President Xi Jinping later today. Putin's visit to China wrapped up in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, which has maintained trading and cultural ties with Russia for a long time.

6:00 Declaring a British Military Attaché as Persona Non Grata

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to declare the British Military Attaché, Adrian Coghill, persona non grata and directed him to leave the country within a week. This decision is a retaliatory measure following the UK's expulsion of the Russian Military Attaché on May 8, who they believed was an undeclared intelligence agent.

5:30 Potential Deployment of Military Trainers to Ukraine by NATO Countries

Some NATO member states are mulling over the idea of sending military trainers or contractors to Ukraine to assist in the training of 150,000 troops stationed near the frontline, according to The New York Times. Ukraine had requested aid in training this enormous number of soldiers from the US and other NATO countries. However, the US is hesitant due to the potential risk of attacks on these trainers that could potentially activate NATO's mutual defense clause. As an alternative, some officials suggested continuing to train Ukrainian recruits in Germany and Poland as has been done previously. However, this approach brings about significant logistical challenges with regards to the transportation of such a massive number of troops. Multiple NATO countries, including the UK, Germany, and France, are considering providing defense contractors to Ukraine while the White House reconsiders its ban on US defense contractors in Ukraine.

4:42 Japan Advocates for Respecting International Law in Distribution of Russian Assets

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki spoke on the US's proposal to use the interest generated from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Suzuki stated that it was essential to align the discussions with international laws. "Japan plans to join the upcoming G7 meeting to discuss these issues from this perspective," he added.

3:11 Denial of Arms Deal with Russia by Kim Yo Jong

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, refuted the allegations of arms dealings with Russia. As per KCNA's report, she attributed the supposed arms trade with Russia to an "absurd theory" created from biases and false claims. Both Moscow and Pyongyang deny the allegations.

2:04 Air Raid Alert in Kharkiv Ends after Drone Attacks

The air raid alert in effect for more than 16 hours in Kharkiv has been lifted in most areas. In the city's statement, Oleh Synyehubov, the regional governor, mentioned that at least five drones targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. According to local reports, Ihor Terekhov, the city's mayor, confirmed that a district experienced a blaze. This was the longest air raid alert since the initiation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

0:51 Friendly Meeting between Xi and Putin Pushes West-China Relations Further Away

In light of the amicable encounter between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the US government perceived China's support for Russia as an impediment to reconciliation with the West. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel in Washington stressed that "China can't participate in two weddings at the same time," emphasizing that better relations with Europe and other countries were not achievable if China simultaneously "fuels the greatest threat to European security in a long time," referencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

23:34 Zelensky Warns on Dangers of Russian Missile Attacks against the Gas Infrastructure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned Europe about the potential risks of Russian missile strikes on the gas distribution system. He shared these concerns with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a conversation, as stated in a video message. The ongoing missile attacks on the gas infrastructure in western Ukraine imperil everyone in Europe, Zelensky added, stressing the need for joint action to counter this.

22:06 Extended Power Cuts for Months Following Russian Attack on Ukraine's Infrastructure

Due to the significant damage caused to power plants and substations in Ukraine, the government expects power cuts to last for several months. Yuri Boyko, advisor to the Prime Minister and a member of Ukrenerho's supervisory board, foresees that improvements wouldn't materialize until August or September. On Thursday, regionally, staggered blackouts will be implemented to save electricity, impacting streets in the capital Kiev as well. Russia's missile attacks have played a significant role in damaging Ukraine's power grid, Boyko noted.

To read more on this, follow the link here.