10:00 PM Scholz urges Ukrainian refugees to find employment

Scholz urges Ukrainian refugees to start working at 10 PM.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has encouraged Ukrainian war refugees in Germany to find work as soon as possible. Speaking at the "RND vor Ort" stage talk hosted by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland in Potsdam, he stated, "Those who are in Ukraine and can work should now also do so." Scholz highlighted the investment in integration and language courses and expressed his desire to "encourage many of them to work with a big job turbo." While many have already found work, he emphasized that there are still hundreds of thousands more desperately needed in the labor market. He urged everyone, "Do the same."

As of 21:13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi declared that halting the latest Russian offensive in the East should be the top priority. In his evening address, he asserted, "This task depends on every soldier, every non-commissioned officer, and every officer." On Friday, Russian soldiers had launched a significant offensive towards the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. They have been counterattacking for two days in order to safeguard Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian military leaders have mobilized reinforcements in the direction of Kharkiv.

Tomorrow, Sunday, the well-known Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny will receive the first Dresden International Peace Prize posthumously. Navalny's widow, Julija Nawalnaja, will receive the award, endowed with 10,000 euros, at the Schauspielhaus. Ex-Federal President Joachim Gauck is expected to deliver the address. A requiem by Russian composer Sergei Nevsky for Navalny will be premiered. The Kremlin critic and outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin passed away on February 16 in a Siberian prison camp under mysterious circumstances.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj has shared updates on the situation in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. He announced that fighting continues in the Kharkiv region, and the Donetsk region's situation is particularly tense. The defense in the vicinity of the villages attacked by Russian soldiers will persist.

During his speech at the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland event in Potsdam, Scholz expressed hope that Gulf states, India, South Africa, Brazil, and China will participate in the upcoming peace conference in Switzerland set for June. While the main peace issue is not slated for discussion, issues related to the war will likely be addressed. He stressed, "It would be a big step if countries from the Arabian Peninsula, India, South Africa, Brazil, and China are present."

Regarding Ukrainian workers in Germany, Scholz assured them that their stay in the country would not be jeopardized by a desire for conscripts to return to Ukraine. "Their stay in Germany is not at risk due to this." Germany is working to ensure that as many Ukrainians as possible can find employment in the country.

As of 18:39, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the capture of six villages in eastern Ukraine. The ministry stated, "As a result of offensive actions, our servicemen have liberated six villages." On Friday, Russian troops had made progress in the Kharkiv region. Close to the border, more than a thousand people were evacuated. The villages reported to be under Russian control are Borisivka, Ohirtseve, Pletenivka, Pylna, and Striletcha in the Kharkiv region and the village of Keramik in the Donetsk region. Moscow initially claimed the capture of five villages.

16:40 Nord Stream 2 Awarded Contracts to Company Linked With Uzbek Ex-Secret Agent's Son

The MV Foundation for Climate and Environmental Protection has given building contracts for Nord Stream 2 to a Russian company with ties to Rustam Inoyatov's family, specifically his son Sharif. The same was reported by "t-online," referring to the foundation's contract list and other important papers. From 2021, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Foundation has been doling out million-dollar contracts to a Russian firm called "GC SIA LLC," whose German owner and CEO is closely related to Sharif Inoyatov. The establishment of this so-called climate foundation by Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig was intended to safeguard businesses associated with Nord Stream 2 from US sanctions. Since then, former Prime Minister Erwin Sellering has been its chairman. The foundation has not responded to repeated queries. The company in Russia also remained unresponsive. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline symbolizes Germany's faltering Russia policy, particularly after Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine.

15:00 UK Sends Largest Military Aid Package to Ukraine Till Date

According to UK's Ministry of Defense, Britain is dispatching its biggest military aid package to Ukraine to date. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak disclosed the package during his visit to Warsaw in April. In addition to US $670 million (€580 million) worth of military support, the package includes 400 armored vehicles, 1,600 assault and anti-aircraft missiles, and over four million rounds of ammunition.

13:55 Governor of Kharkiv District Says Severe Fighting Taking Place

The governor of the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, Oleh Synyehubov, reports heavy combat in the area. "The enemy is presently driving deeper into our region. Our troops fended off nine assaults," the governor said at a press conference. Fighting is also ongoing in five contested villages close to the Russian border, he added.

13:05 Russian Authorities Claim Five Deaths in Ukrainian Strikes

According to the authorities, five individuals have lost their lives in Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks in the Russian border provinces of Belgorod and Kursk and the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk. In Donetsk, three individuals were killed and eight wounded when a rocket struck a restaurant, said Denis Pushilin, the Russian-assigned head of administration for the occupied region.

12:55 Poland Seeks Further Reinforcement of Its Entire Eastern Border

Poland plans to reinforce its entire eastern border. The country faces a growing "hybrid war" because of illegal immigration from Belarus, said Prime Minister Donald Tusk. As an EU and NATO member state, Poland lies adjacent to Belarus. Tusk did not provide specifics about the envisaged measures or the methods for enforcing them. Tusk stated that "there will be no borders" when it comes to Poland's security during a border visit, where he spoke with soldiers and border patrols.

12:25 Alleged Ukrainian Brigade Stops and Counterattacks Russian Troops

According to a report by Ukrianian outlet Euromaidan Press, Ukrainian troops stemmed the Russian advance near Avdiivka on the previous day and retaliated using newly arrived support from the US military. The 47th Mechanized Brigade, which is stationed in the region and is called a "fire brigade" on particularly disputed chunks of the front, utilized newly deployed US aid. The article goes on to claim that the 47th Mechanized Brigade had set up killing grounds with anti-tank mines when they withdrew, which halted the Russian progress. Ukrainian troops launched a counterattack with the assistance of these mines and the new American armored troop transporters. The 47th Mechanized Brigade has been using American Bradley armored personnel carriers for some time.

12:00 Russian Military Confirms Capturing Five Villages in Kharkiv Region

According to the Ministry of Defense in Russia, Russian troops have conquered five villages in the Ukrainian district of Kharkiv. The villages of Pletenivka, Ohirtseve, Borysivka, Pylna, and Strilechna, all directly neighboring the Russian Belgorod Oblast, are now under Russian dominion. On Friday, the Russian army launched an offensive against Kharkiv, a town in eastern Ukraine. The Russian army boasts of having eliminated a large number of Ukrainian soldiers and destroying their weaponry. There's no independent confirmation of this. According to the observers, Russia's offensive doesn't yet represent a direct assault on Kharkiv. The Russian army hopes to tie down Ukrainian troops and, at the same time, advance their artillery to a distance that permits firing on the city.

11:25 Artist Turns Russian Tanks Into Moscow Subway Cars

Russian artist Andrey Stiroh has recreated Russian tanks into Moscow subway cars. Earlier this year, Stiroh transformed 4 tanks into subway cars and created a video about it, stating that "the city that built tanks now has subway cars." Stiroh's stated intent is to encourage people to see these tanks as straightforward machines instead of weapons of war.

London: Russia struggles to handle explosives, harming its people

As per reports, a Russian plane accidentally dropped bombs on a civilian area in early May. The governor of the region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed the incident and the damage in Belgorod on his Telegram post. Around 30 houses and 10 cars were damaged, and five people were taken to the hospital. The British Ministry of Defense revealed that this was not a single incident. Earlier in mid-February, a FAB-250 bomb had been released in the Belgorod area, leading to the evacuation of 150 residents. During March and April, there were 20 instances of stray ammunition. "Russia is still unable to effectively deploy its ammunition on the targeted enemies. Such mistakes bring severe and fatal effects on the Russian population," said an intelligence report from London.

12:13: A video appears to show an Iranian Shahed drone being shot down by a German Gepard anti-aircraft tank

The German Gepard anti-aircraft tanks have been sent to Ukraine since 2022. Prior to this, they'd been unused in Germany since the '70s. These tanks are highly preferred by the Ukrainian armed forces due to their capabilities, such as defending against daily drone assaults. The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksiy Makeyev, commented on the Iranian drones via Platform X: "Usually, 5-6 shots are enough for a Shahed." Makeyev also shared a video showcasing the successful launch of one of the Cheetah tanks:

11:33: US: "Heaven and hell" in motion

Per the US Department of Defense, Ukrainian soldiers have received weapons from the US. In light of the dire situation, the US plans to expedite the delivery of more weaponry and ammunition to the front lines. Spokesman John Kirby stated, according to the Ukrainian media outlet, Ukrinform, "A part of the first defense aid package, which we announced as part of the supplemental funding bill the same day the President signed it, is already on the battlefield and in the hands of the Ukrainian military." The processes of delivering the leftovers from this package are still ongoing. Also, the US recently announced another tranche of vital equipment and weapons worth $400 million (see 06:39).[*notes]

11:01: Russia's strategy behind its offensive near Kharkiv:

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

The Russian army is making progress towards Kharkiv. Thomas Jäger, a political scientist, outlines three potential strategies Russia might employ. Ukraine, meanwhile, is grappling with its supporters' failures in this situation:

10:33: Continuing attacks? Russia's military moves in the Kharkiv border region, per Ukraine

According to the General Staff, the Ukrainian military remains steadfast in its defense against a Russian offensive in the border region near Kharkiv's metropolis. They confirmed this morning there were nine battles across that section of the front. The military claims that the Russian advance has been repelled. However, this information can't be independently verified. Ukrainian troops have been facing this potential threat since Friday. The widespread assumption among Ukrainian, Russian, and international analysts was that the offensive was not directly aimed at the city of Kharkiv.

10:08: Weichert on the offensive near Kharkiv: "Russia attacks, Ukraine can only react"

Russian forces are escalating their assault in the Kharkiv region, initiating a massive attack, according to Jürgen Weichert. He discussed the extent of the territorial conquest and how Ukraine is defending. Weichert also reported on his impactful visit to a Germany-sponsored prosthesis center in Lviv:

09:41: German MPs support sending Western soldiers to safeguard Ukrainian airspace

Leading German MPs from CDU, FDP, and Greens are considering protecting Ukrainian airspace from NATO borders with Western air defense. In a discussion with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper, they favor a proposal put forward by military expert Nico Lange from the Munich Security Conference. If implemented, it may establish a secure region up to 70 kilometers wide on Ukraine's periphery with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Roderich Kiesewetter, representing the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, stated that this deployment on NATO's eastern border would help to down "Russian unmanned missiles" over Ukraine, allowing Ukrainian air defense to focus on defending the front line.

[original: A video is said to show an Iranian Shahed drone shot down by a German Gepard anti-tank weapon[revised: A video appears to show an Iranian Shahed drone being shot down by a German Gepard anti-aircraft tank[original: We are mobilizing "heaven and hell"[revised: "Heaven and hell" is being set in motion[original: An offensive near Kharkiv: Russia's strategy[revised: Fighters over massive offensive: Russia pursues three possible targets near Kharkiv*]

09:11 "Extremely high losses" - Ukraine reports large numbers of Russian troops killed
The ongoing efforts by the Russian military to advance in the eastern part of the country and launch attacks near Kharkiv may be reflected in the casualty reports coming from Ukraine. According to officials in Kiev, over the past day, they have eliminated 1,320 Russian soldiers, 15 tanks, 40 armored personnel carriers, and 55 artillery systems. In addition, two rocket launchers, an air defense system, and 64 other military vehicles were destroyed. These statistics, however, cannot be independently verified. Security expert Frank Umbach told ntv.de that Russian losses in the war have been "exorbitantly high" and could reach 500,000 soldiers by the end of the year, according to NATO estimates. Moscow is also having trouble mobilizing its forces.

08:34 Journalists gain access to extravagant Putin palace
Journalists claim to have obtained video footage of the interior of Russian President Vladimir Putin's palace in Gelendzhik. The palace is reportedly fully completed and exudes opulence: Expensive furniture, statues, enormous chandeliers, and a swimming pool are just some of the features of this extravagant residence.

07:56 Russian offensive near Kharkiv, a large city, raises concerns - ISW examines the situation
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that the major Russian offensive along the Russian-Ukrainian border in the north of the Kharkiv region is designed to divert Ukrainian troops from other critical fronts in eastern Ukraine. It is also very likely that Russian forces have reserves ready to intensify their offensive operations in the near future, according to ISW. "However, the current limited efforts of Russian forces do not indicate that they are immediately planning a large-scale, comprehensive offensive operation to encircle and capture Kharkiv." The US think tank further assumes that it would be challenging for the Russian military to take Kharkiv if they intended to do so. This is because it would require them to set aside other important sectors of the front and redeploy a significant number of troops, which is likely impossible given the Russian military's long-standing goal of capturing the rest of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

07:17 EU plans to use interest profits from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine - Minister: "Virtually nothing"
Approximately 210 billion euros in Russian assets are frozen in the EU. Brussels intends to use the interest profits on these assets to buy weapons for Ukraine. However, this would only generate a low-single-digit billion sum. Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska told Politico that the annual package of 3 billion euros from the profits of frozen Russian assets is "almost nothing" considering the country's requirements. "We need hundreds of billions to win the war," Maliuska said. "The Ukrainian government is determined to achieve complete forfeiture and truly believes that this is the only way to settle the conflict," he adds.

06:39 To meet Ukraine's urgent needs: US announces $400 million arms aid package
The US Department of Defense has announced additional aid "to address Ukraine's critical security and defense needs." This is the fifty-seventh batch of equipment from the US stockpiles for Ukraine since August 2021. The package is estimated to be worth $400 million. According to a statement from Washington, it includes ammunition for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, artillery shells, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, additional HIMARS artillery rocket systems and ammunition, and M113 armored personnel carriers.

06:04 Ukraine has put several new robotic systems into operation
Nine Ukrainian land-based robotic complexes have been put into use since the beginning of the year, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The robots carry out a variety of tasks on the battlefield and reduce the risks for Ukrainian troops. The duties range from fighting with machine guns to clearing mines and assisting in the evacuation of wounded soldiers. "Many domestic manufacturers are now focusing on the production of robotic systems to enhance the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and save the lives of our soldiers," says Col. Volodymyr Rochniak, a representative of the Ministry of Defense.

05:34 Ukrainian civilian killed and two injured in Russian attacks
Russian forces attacked nine settlements along the border with Sumy Oblast on May 10, killing one civilian and injuring two others, the regional military administration reports. A 64-year-old woman was killed and her 17-year-old granddaughter was injured in artillery fire in the village of Esman, according to the administration. A resident of the village of Seredyna-Buda was also injured by artillery shelling on May 10, the administration noted.

04:45 Official: Russians aim to annihilate Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk
Russian forces are trying to destroy the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk, according to a Ukrainian official. "In the past 24 hours, there were probably several hundred strikes by artillery, landmines, and cluster bombs," says the head of the Vovchansk police patrol. "They are in the process of destroying the city and attempting to enter the area."

03:35 Ukrainian governor: Casualties in attack on oil depot near Luhansk

Three people lost their lives due to an attack on an oil depot in the Russian-controlled region of Luhansk, as per the local Russian governor. Meanwhile, six individuals sustained injuries from the blast, with two victims experiencing smoke inhalation, reported Governor Leonid Pasetschnik on Telegram. A massive fire engulfed the storage facility as well. Pasetschnik theorized that Ukraine might have employed tactical army missile systems (ATACMS) provided by the US, but presented no conclusive evidence. There has been no statement issued by the Ukrainian government in response.

02:20 Russia claims drone attacks on Belgorod and Kursk oblasts

The Russian government alleged that Ukraine conducted drone attacks on the Russian oblasts of Belgorod and Kursk on May 10th, damaging agricultural buildings and equipment, as cited by Russian authorities. As mentioned by the Russian Ministry of Defense, 17 projectiles from the Vampire multiple rocket launcher, 13 drones, and five guided aerial bombs were fired across Belgorod Oblast. Moreover, Governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed that a drone caused damage to a farm, destroying three buildings and two pieces of equipment. Likewise, Governor Roman Starovoit of Kurcha reported that 12 settlements in the region experienced drone attacks, leaving one infrastructure facility impaired.

00:53 Zeolensky: "Intense combat at the front line"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declares a strong reaction from Ukraine against the recent Russian offensive. "There is intense combat at the front line," stated Zelenskyi in a video message online. "We will inevitably destroy the aggressor in a manner that puts a stop to their entire offensive strategy," he continues.

23:46 Apparent fire outbreak in oil storage facility near Luhansk after attack

TASS, a Russian news agency, reports that an oil depot in the Russian-controlled region of Luhansk fell target to an attack. As a result, a fire erupted at the site. Ukrainian bloggers verified that the depot in the village of Rowenky was assaulted.

22:14 US government apprehensive about Kremlin offensive in Kharkiv

The United States government is monitoring the latest major Russian assault near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with apprehension. "We had been expecting that Russia would initiate an offensive against Kharkiv, and now it appears to have commenced," says John Kirby, Communications Director of the National Security Council. Back when Russia's aggression against Ukraine commenced, it was primarily the failure to take Kharkiv which sparked the order for Russian troops to withdraw across the border. "Therefore, these actions from the Russian military are rather surprising and indeed worrisome," said Kirby.

21:51 Zelenskyi emphasizes the need for timely delivery of weaponry to support the Ukrainian forces

According to President Zelenskyi, the Ukrainian military requires timely provision of aid from abroad to combat the new offensive by the Russian army in Ukraine. "The most essential assistance would be weapons being brought into Ukraine, and not simply declared packages," he stated in his evening address. Zelensky mentioned that the Russian offensive was no surprise. "We are familiar with the strength of the occupier's troops and their intentions," said the President. "Our soldiers, artillery, and drones are responding to the invaders."