Russian officials confirm deaths from Ukrainian assaults, totaling five victims.

Russian authorities confirm five casualties in Ukrainian attacks.

As reported by authorities, the Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks allegedly claimed the lives of five people in the Russian provinces of Belgorod, Kursk, and the occupied city of Donetsk. In Donetsk, three people lost their lives and eight others got injured when a rocket slammed into a restaurant, according to Denis Pushilin, the head of the Russian-appointed administration in the region.

At 14:24, Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, declared that the country intends to fortify its entire eastern border due to a growing "hybrid war" resulting from the illegal immigration from Belarus. Poland is a member state of both NATO and the European Union, and it shares its border with Belarus, an ally of Russia. Tusk didn't disclose any specifics about the planned measures or the methods involved. When discussing Poland's safety, he stated, "There will be 'no borders.'" During a border visit to meet soldiers and border guards, Tusk made the statement.

A counteroffensive by Ukrainian troops was allegedly successful in thwarting the Russian troops' advance near Avdiivka with the help of new US armored vehicles, according to a report from Euromaidan Press. The 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian military is present in this area, commonly referred to as a "fire department" for extremely contentious sections of the frontline. As per the report, the brigade had set up killing zones with anti-tank mines while they were withdrawing, which were able to stop the Russian soldiers' advance. The Ukrainian armed forces then counterattacked and pushed the Russians back. The report also mentions that new Bradley tanks provided by the US played a role in the area. It had been known for a while that the 47th Mechanized Brigade was operating Bradleys.

Russia's massive offensive in the Kharkiv region was responded to by the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, claiming that Russian troops had captured five villages in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. The villages of Pletenivka, Ohirtseve, Borysivka, Pylna, and Strilechna, which border the Russian Belgorod Oblast, are now under Russian control. On Friday, the Russian army kicked off an assault against Kharkiv, situated in the north-eastern part of Ukraine. The Russian military claims to have wiped out numerous Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed their weapons. However, there is no independent confirmation of this. According to military experts, the Russian offensive doesn't represent a direct attack on Kharkiv. The Russian army aims to bind Ukrainian forces while simultaneously pushing its artillery deep enough to target the city.

In the beginning of May, a Russian aircraft accidentally dropped munitions on civilian territory, causing damage in Belgorod and harming five people. The region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed the explosion and devastation on Telegram, without delving into the details. The British Ministry of Defense reported that this isn't an isolated occurrence. A FAB-250 bomb fell in the Belgorod region in mid-February, leading to the evacuation of 150 inhabitants. Between March and April of this year alone, there were 20 occurrences of stray ammunition. "These incidents show that Russia remains unable to effectively use its ammunition on targets. Such errors can be devastating and lethal for the Russian population," a London-based intelligence report suggests.

A video allegedly depicts an Iranian Shahed drone being shot down by a German Gepard anti-aircraft tank. Since 2022, Gepard anti-aircraft tanks from Germany have been used in Ukraine. Several months after the beginning of the extensive Russian invasion, the first ones were delivered to Kiev. Initially developed in the 1970s and since decommissioned in Germany, the Cheetahs are highly appreciated by the Ukrainian military for their capabilities. Their main use is for defending against daily drone attacks. The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, states regarding Iranian drones on Platform X, "Five to six shots are usually sufficient." Makeiev also shared a video of a successful attack using the Cheetah: https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1644952307029311464

11:33 AM USA: Mobilizing "heaven and hell" for Ukraine
The US Department of Defense has revealed that Ukrainian soldiers have acquired weapons from the US. To counter the escalating conflict, Washington is planning to accelerate the delivery of more arms to the front line. John Kirby, a spokesperson, stated that part of the first defense aid package had already been deployed and was being used by the Ukrainian military, as reported by Ukrinform. They are still working on the completion of the previous package. The United States also recently announced an additional ammunition and weapon package worth $400 million.

11:01 AM: Russian fighters engage in extensive offensive near Kharkiv
The Russian army is approaching Kharkiv - what is their strategy? Political scientist Thomas Jäger proposes three possible scenarios. On the other hand, Ukraine is losing support as it struggles to cope with the situation.

10:33 AM: "Repelled" - Russia attacks in the border region of Kharkiv, says Ukraine
The Ukrainian military insists that it continues to defend itself from a Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region. Last night, the General Staff reported nine battles on this stretch of the front. However, the information cannot be independently verified. Ukrainian and Russian military experts, as well as international analysts, believe that the advance was not initially aimed at the city of Kharkiv.

10:08 AM: Weichert on the offensive near Kharkiv: "Russia pushes, Ukraine responds"
Russian soldiers are attempting to advance in the Kharkiv region and are launching an extensive attack. Jürgen Weichert discusses the extent of the territorial gains and the measures being taken by Ukraine to defend itself. The ntv reporter also shares his experience at a German-sponsored rehabilitation center in Lviv.

09:41 AM: German MPs consider deploying Western soldiers for air defense in Ukraine
German MPs from the CDU, FDP, and Greens are discussing the deployment of Western troops to defend Ukraine's borders from NATO territory. This would involve protecting parts of Ukraine's airspace with Western air defense. CDU/CSU spokesperson for crisis prevention, Roderich Kiesewetter, supports the idea, which could potentially shield Ukrainian air defense and protect the front line.

09:11 AM: "Immense" - Ukraine reports significant casualties among Russian forces
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine's east, which includes the offensive near Kharkiv, could have resulted in substantial losses for the Russian military. Ukraine reported the destruction of 1,320 Russian soldiers, 15 tanks, 40 armored personnel carriers, and 55 artillery systems in the past day. According to security expert Frank Umbach, Russian casualties could reach 500,000 soldiers by the end of the year, even by NATO's estimates. Furthermore, the Russian government has faced challenges with mobilization.

08:34 AM: Exclusive footage shows Putin's lavish palace near Gelendzhik
Media outlets have obtained video footage of Russian President Vladimir Putin's opulent residence in Gelendzhik. The palace is reportedly finished and packed with extravagance, including expensive furnishings, statues, massive chandeliers, and a pool.

8:46 ISW: Russian Kharkiv offensive could divert resources, not aim for city takeover

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suspects that Russia's large-scale offensive in the north of Kharkiv is intended to divert Ukrainian soldiers and supplies from crucial frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Although there's potential for Russian troops to intensify operations, ISW asserts that a massive effort to capture Kharkiv, a city with millions of residents, is unlikely. The US-based think tank's report suggests it would be hard for Russian forces to secure Kharkiv, as they'd need to redirect resources away from their primary objectives in Luhansk and Donetsk.

12:18 EU eyes interest from frozen Russian assets for weapons for Ukraine: Minister

Frozen Russian assets in the EU are said to total roughly €210 billion. EU leaders plan to use the interest generated from these assets to purchase weaponry for Ukraine. However, the President of Ukraine's Justice Ministry, Denys Maliuska, observed that this would likely result in a tiny fraction of the amount required to support their war effort, estimating a €3 billion annual profit as "almost nothing" compared to their needs. Maliuska emphasized Ukraine's desire to seize and use these resources and believes it's justified, claiming it's the only strategy that could bring a swift end to the conflict.

10:44 US reveals new $400 million range of weapons for Ukraine

The US military unveiled a new shipment of military equipment to Ukraine on May 4, worth approximately $400 million. 61st Army Brigade General Michael Afton of the US Department of Defense disclosed the package consisted of ammunition for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, artillery shells, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, more HIMARS artillery rocket systems and ammunition, as well as M113 armored personnel carriers.

An older photo shows the dropping of FAB-250 bombs.

10:11 Nine new robotic complexes deployed for different battlefield tasks by Ukraine

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reports the deployment of nine land-based robotic complexes since the beginning of this year. These robots are equipped to handle a range of tasks on the battlefield, from machine gun combat to mine clearing and casualty evacuation. The ministry highlighted that many domestic manufacturers are focusing on robotic systems development to augment the Ukrainian Armed Forces and preserve the lives of soldiers.

10:00 Civilians die in Sumy region from Russian attacks: Regional military admin

The Russian assault on nine Sumy Oblast border settlements on May 10 left one civilian dead and two others injured, according to a statement from the regional military administration. A 64-year-old woman and her 17-year-old granddaughter were victims of an artillery attack in the village of Esman. Another local was hurt by shelling in the village of Seredyna-Buda.

10:00 Vovchansk under siege, Russian forces targeting to destroy city: Ukrainian official

The Ukrainian authority in the town of Vovchansk reports that Russian forces are actively attempting to destroy the city. Vovchansk's police patrol chief claimed more than 200 artillery, mine, and cluster bomb strikes had occurred in the last 24 hours, underlining a remorseless Russian scheme to annihilate the city and invade the region.

08:34 Governor: Casualties at Russian oil depot targeted by Ukrainian strike

Governor Leonid Passetschnik of Luhansk reported three fatalities and six wounded in Ukraine's attack on an oil depot, which is under the Russian administration. Eight civilians were caught in an explosion and two suffered from poisoning through inhaling fumes, according to a Telegram post by the governor. While he alleged the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical army missiles in the Ukrainian attack, Ukrainian authorities didn't respond. The blast caused a significant fire in the oil storage installation.

Russia: Recent Drone Raids on Belgorod and Kursk Oblasts

Per Russia's reports, Ukraine carried out drone attacks on the Russian territories of Belgorod and Kursk on May 10. These strikes caused damage to agricultural buildings and equipment, as per the Russian authorities. As per the Russian Defense Ministry, a total of 17 projectiles from the Vampire rocket launcher, 13 drones, and five guided aerial bombs were fired over Belgorod Oblast. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod region, disclosed that a drone fell on a farm, resulting in three buildings and two pieces of equipment getting damaged. Additionally, the Kursk region's governor, Roman Starovoit, reported that 12 settlements in their region were under drone attacks on the same day. One drone damaged an infrastructure facility, as claimed by Starovoit.

Zelensky: Brave Efforts Against the Russian Onslaught

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized a strong response from Ukraine in response to Russia's latest offensive. In his video message, he stated, "There's heavy fighting all across the front." Zelensky added, "We will unavoidably destroy the aggressor in a way that all future Russian war plans will be nullified."

Apparent Fire Incident at an Oil Depot in Luhansk

The Russian news agency TASS reported an attack on an oil depot in the Russian-administered Luhansk region. A fire erupted at the site as a result of a Ukrainian strike. According to Ukrainian bloggers, the depot in the village of Rowenky was targeted.

US Government's Concern over Russian Offensive

The US administration is monitoring the latest major Russian offensive near Kharkiv with apprehension. National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby noted, "We had anticipated that Russia would initiate an offensive against Kharkiv, and it now seems to have commenced." In the months following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the country had already made multiple attempts to seize Kharkiv but failed. Therefore, Kirby considers the current military activities in the region "very intriguing and undeniably concerning."

President Zelensky Insists on Immediate Foreign Aid for Ukraine's Military

Zelensky highlighted the necessity of prompt supplies of foreign aid for the Ukrainian army to fend off the new offensive by the Russian military in Ukraine. "What's truly effective are the weapons that actually arrive in Ukraine, not just the announced aid packages," said Zelensky in his evening address. The impending Russian assault wasn't unexpected, as he acknowledged. "We realize the might of the enemy's troops and their strategy," Zelensky continued. "Ukraine's soldiers, artillery, and drones are responding to the enemy."