State TV uses hate speech: "Russians unleash a barrage of unimaginable curse words"
Putin's aggression towards the West escalates - Russia analyst Niko Karasek views this as a "single provocation." Russia wages a propaganda war, painting itself as the oppressor of the Western elite while linking itself to the Nazis. This narrative will be further promoted by Russian TV shows.
At 5:38pm, the U.S. readies a $400 million arms package for Ukraine. The package includes artillery, air defense systems, armor-piercing ammunition, armored vehicles, and small arms. These weapons can be used immediately on the battlefield. The U.S. has resumed supplying military aid to Ukraine following Congress's removal of the months-long blockade.
Ukraine expects its first F-16 jets in June or July. A high-ranking military official told Reuters that Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium have agreed to supply the American-made aircraft. The jets are intended to help Ukraine break Russia's air supremacy.
16:39 - Lies about Kharkiv: Ukraine's government denies Russia's advances in Kharkiv regionRussia is attacking in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. According to the Ukraijinska Pravda news portal, Russia has taken control of four villages near the city: Striletsche, Krasne, Pylne, and Boryssiwka. However, Kharkiv regional governor Ihor Synyehubov refutes this claim, stating that Ukrainian forces remain in control. Synyehubov believes there is no imminent danger to Ukraine's troop positions or the city.
16:17 - Occupation attempt at ex-Russian consulate in Leipzig: Russia complains to GermanyRussian climbers attempt to occupy their former consulate in Leipzig. Russian TV channels report that six protesters climbed over the fence and displayed anti-Russian banners on the balcony. They also stated their intention to occupy the building. Two Russian embassy employees were inside the building at the time and contacted police, who apprehended the group. Russia plans to file a complaint against Germany.
15:42 - Umbach: "Russian losses are sky-high"An offensive on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is underway. Frank Umbach points out that Russia has placed itself under time pressure, saying the rear is close. He also highlights the unsung aspect that Russia's casualties are extremely high.
15:13 - Minister Schulze inaugurates Ukraine's largest prosthesis centerGerman Development Minister Svenja Schulze inaugurated Ukraine's largest prosthesis workshop in Lviv. The building was funded by Germany with 1.8 million euros. It serves as part of an orthopedic center, where specialists are trained and connected to a rehabilitation center. "This is a place of hope, a place of strength," Schulze said at the inauguration ceremony. The center offers hope to individuals who have lost limbs or even their lives due to mines, grenades, and collapsed buildings.
14:48 - Zelensky confirms Russian offensive operationUkrainian President Zelensky confirms Russia's assault on the Kharkiv region. The Russian military has initiated a new offensive operation against Kharkiv. The Ukrainians are meeting the Russians with their troops, brigades, and artillery, and resist the attacks.
14:09 - Underground reconnaissance in BachmutThe remnants of Bachmut are under Russian control, but Ukrainians continue to fight for the town. If the region falls to the Russians, they fear the enemy will advance inland. Underground units scout for opportunities to carry out smaller-scale attacks from hiding places. They constantly risk being discovered themselves.
13:47 - Russian forces inch forward one kilometer in Kharkiv oblastA high-ranking Ukrainian military source reports that Russian forces have advanced one kilometer into the Kharkiv oblast in northeastern Ukraine near Vovchansk. They aim to advance up to ten kilometers, creating a buffer zone. The Ukrainian military is fighting to stop Moscow's encroachment.
13:28 Civilians are evacuating from Vovchansk in the Kharkiv oblast due to potential Russian ground advance. Ukrainian sources claim a Russian breakthrough has been thwarted thus far. As a result of increased Russian artillery fire, residents of Vovchansk and nearby regions are leaving the city. Tamaz Gambarashvili, the head of Vovchansk's military administration, spoke on Hromadske radio about the evacuations: "Many citizens are using their own cars. Simultaneously, we're collaborating with the humanitarian center to transport those who don't have vehicles."
13:11 Lange examines the military parade: "Putin's strength is not as powerful as he wishes it to be"
During Russia's Victory Day parade, there are usually numerous armored vehicles and other military equipment displayed. However, this year, there are significantly fewer military displays. Defense expert Nico Lange interprets the images from Moscow and the false assumptions Western countries should avoid making.
12:42 Ukraine sends reinforcements to Kharkiv
As per the Ministry of Defense, Ukraine has deployed military reinforcements to the border region of Kharkiv. These forces are supporting the troops stationed there in resisting Russian attacks. Earlier attempts by the Russian military to break through the border with armored vehicles were repelled. However, the conflict continues "at varying intensities."
12:31 Governor: Russian troops attempt infiltration in Kharkiv
As per the governor of the Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine, Oleh Synehubov, Russian troops have attempted to break through the Ukrainian border. They have escalated their artillery fire on Vovchansk, a city near the Russian border, Synehubov stated on Telegram. These assaults were repelled, and the Ukrainian armed forces "confidently maintained their positions and did not lose an inch of land." Russia lacks the resources to invade Kharkiv, according to Synehubov. Moscow's actions on the border were a "provocation."
12:13 One woman killed, another injured in Russian bombardment in Sumy Oblast
A woman was killed and another injured in a Russian attack in Sumy Oblast. Ukrinform, the Ukrainian state news agency, reported the incident. A 64-year-old lady was fatally injured, and a 17-year-old girl was wounded in the Shostkynskyi district. The latter is the granddaughter of the deceased victim, as confirmed by the regional public prosecutor's office through Telegram. "At 07:10 on May 10, 2024, the occupiers fired artillery at civilian infrastructure in the Esman community of the Shostkynsky district for an hour," says the statement.
11:41 "Substantial power outage" necessitates limiting power for industry in Ukraine
The increased Russian attacks targeting Ukraine's infrastructure have forced the country to curb its power supply: Ukrainian companies and the industrial sector will face further energy supply restrictions due to a "substantial power outage," according to a Ukrenergo report by Kyiv Independent. Throughout the year, Ukraine has endured five significant attacks on its energy infrastructure in its central and western regions, most recently on the night of May 8. Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukrenergo, warns that European imports will not be sufficient to cover Ukraine's energy deficit caused by the assault. Ukraine has asked countries like Poland for energy assistance.
11:23 FDP parliamentary group opposes excluding defense spending from the debt limit
The FDP parliamentary group opposes the idea of excluding defense spending from Germany's debt brake. "Investment in our security is not constrained by the debt brake but by political choices," said parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr in Berlin. "In the coming weeks, we will need to make decisions to adjust the budget." Defense Minister Boris Pistorius proposed excluding defense spending and certain elements of crisis management from the debt brake. SPD politician Pistorius said, "The debt brake will remain in effect, but defense and civil protection expenditure would not be included." Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP immediately objected to this proposal: "The proper course of action is to reallocate funds in our large state budget and stimulate the economy."
10:51 Kharkiv Mayor: City Targeted with Russian S-300 Missile in the Night
The city of Kharkiv in Ukraine was attacked by an S-300 missile from Russian forces last night, according to a report from the state news agency Ukrinform, quoting Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The attack, which targeted the private sector, left an 11-year-old child and a 72-year-old woman injured. The mayor shared on Telegram that a fire broke out in three houses, with two completely destroyed and one partially destroyed. In total, approximately 26 buildings and over 300 windows were destroyed in the attack.
10:13 Putin Recommends Mishustin for Prime Minister Position Again
In an announcement made by the speaker of the Russian parliament's lower house on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed the previous Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, as his choice for the prime minister post in his new term.
09:56 Ukrainian General Staff: 95 Skirmishes with Russian Troops in One Day
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook that 95 clashes occurred between Ukrainian troops and Russian forces within the past 24 hours. They further explained that Russian military conducted six rocket attacks, 80 airstrikes, and 127 assaults with multiple rocket launchers on the positions of Ukrainian troops, towns, and villages.
09:18 Munz: Putin's Resurfaced Nuclear Threat is a Political Bluff
During the military parade in Moscow held to mark the victory over Nazi Germany, President Putin once again threatened to employ Russia's nuclear forces. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz sheds light on the motivation behind this and how Ukrainian drones could pose a problem for Russia.
08:36 ISW: Moscow Accuses Moldovan Government of Genocide - Could it Signal Expansionist Plans?
Moscow's claims of "Nazi-like genocide" by the Moldovan government are seen as an interesting shift in the Kremlin's official discourse, as per analysts at the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The ISW speculates that this is likely intended to create the grounds for a Russian advance to control Moldova entirely, not just specific regions. According to the analysis, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made these accusations in an interview with the Russian state news agency TASS, and Putin has additionally been voicing narratives about discrimination against Russian citizens abroa dand a so-called "existential geopolitical conflict with a supposed modern Nazi movement".
08:12 Fire Breaks Out at Oil Refinery in Russian Kaluga after Ukrainian Drone Strike
A fire began at an oil refinery in Kaluga, Russia, after a Ukrainian drone attack, as reported by the Russian state news agency RIA. Citing sources from the local emergency services, insiders reported that three containers with diesel fuel and one with heating oil were destroyed in the fire at the Pervyi Zavod refinery. Kaluga's governor, Vladislav Shapshah, had previously stated on Telegram that a fire at one of the companies had been promptly extinguished, but he did not specify the company involved.
07:51 Ukraine Claims Almost 1000 Russian Soldiers "Eliminated" in a Day
The Ministry of Defense in Kiev claims that more than 980 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured and can no longer participate in the war in a single day. Since the start of the war in February last year, Ukraine reports a total of 479,710 Russian soldiers "eliminated." The Ministry of Defense also shared that the enemy lost 5 more tanks (7434) among other things. Since the Russian invasion began, Ukraine has counted over 14,300 armored vehicles and about 9,800 drones seized or destroyed by the Russian military. The data provided cannot be independently confirmed. Moscow remains tight-lipped on its own losses in Ukraine.
07:30 Russian assault on Sumy oblast exceeds 300 attacks
The military authorities of Sumy oblast reveal that Russian troops assaulted the area 302 times yesterday in 60 distinct attacks over the course of a single day. The Ukrainian paper "Kyiv Independent" states that the Russian military attacked 11 communities along the border. The report details that Russia attacked these border communities with varying weaponry including mortar, drone, rocket, and artillery fire, plus airdropping explosives from drones on two specific communities. Fortunately, there are no reports of fatalities or injuries. The city of Velyka Pysarivka, with a pre-war population of around 4,000 people and situated right on the Ukrainian-Russian border, saw the majority of these actions, with 67 explosions recorded in the area.
07:04 SBU arrests man suspected of spying in Kharkiv
The Ukrainian domestic intelligence agency SBU reports the arrest of a 45-year-old man from Kharkiv on charges of spying on Ukrainian military positions. "Kyiv Independent" discloses that the suspect was allegedly tracking Ukrainian military installations and passing the coordinates to Russian intelligence operatives. The man was detained at his home in the Vovchansk district of Kharkiv, and his cell phone, which supposedly contains correspondence with Russian spies, was seized by the Ukrainian authorities.
06:34 Ukrainian forces intercept and destroy all Russian drones during the night
Ukrainian military representatives claim they have successfully intercepted and destroyed all ten combat drones launched by the Russian military during the night, as they shared on Telegram. Russia also launched two anti-aircraft guided missiles, as stated by the Ukrainian air force, but the outcome of these missiles is not mentioned.
06:09 Ukrainian drone strike leads to a fire in a Russian region
The governor of the Russian region of Kaluga announces through Telegram that a fire broke out at some company after a Ukrainian drone strike. "The fire has now been extinguished," the governor, Vladislav Shapshah, writes. There were no casualties. It remains unclear which specific company was damaged.
05:17 Russian airstrike on Kharkiv targets residential neighborhood
A Russian airstrike on the city of Kharkiv causes damage to buildings within a residential neighborhood and ignites a fire, as mentioned by Kharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, on Telegram. One person received injuries during the attack. "Kyiv Independent" mentions that a total of five explosions were heard in the city.
04:26 Defense Minister Pistorius emphasizes unity for Western defense
During his visit to Washington, Ukraine's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stresses unity between the United States and Europe. "I am certain that only America and Europe together can keep the West strong and resist Russia's expansionist intentions and the desires of other powers for power and dominance," says Pistorius. He further adds, "My message today is: As in other moments of transatlantic partnership - like the Berlin Airlift, the Marshall Plan, and the reunification of Germany – let us seize this transatlantic opportunity once more."
03:15 Russian air defense intercepts drone south of Moscow
Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, uses Telegram to announce that Russian air defense units have successfully intercepted a drone south of Moscow. Sobyanin noted that neither casualties nor damage occurred as a result of the drone's destruction.
01:19 President Zelensky advocates for Ukraine's entrance into the EU
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky advocates for his country's entry into the European Union in his daily YouTube address. "Our state, our people deserve it, and the European Union also needs this step - not just politically," Zelensky explained. Ukraine hopes that the formal accession negotiations commencing in June will lead to its EU membership.
00:23 First batch of Czech-led initiative's ammunition expected to arrive in Ukraine in June
Czech President Petr Pavel tells ARD that the first batch of ammunition obtained through the Czech-led initiative – a multinational effort to equip Ukraine with needed munitions – is expected to arrive in Ukraine in June. In February, Pavel shared that Prague identified 500,000 155mm shells and 300,000 122mm shells outside Europe, and with the necessary funding, these shells could be acquired and delivered to Ukraine. Public commitments from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Poland, France, Denmark, and Slovenia for the Czech initiative may lead to the transfer of 1.5 million shells to Kiev. It is anticipated that the first 180,000 ammunition pieces will be sent in June, and "there are currently contracts in place for an additional five to six-digit number of shells," Pavel shares with ARD.
Kiev restricts outdoor lighting due to power shortages from Russian attacks
The city administration in Kiev plans to limit street lighting during the evening hours as Extensive power outages across Ukraine following Russian attacks on its energy system left the country in darkness. Serhii Popko, head of the Kiev military administration, made the announcement on Wednesday night. The bombing targeted the regions of Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kiev, and Vinnytsia, resulting in widespread disruption to the energy infrastructure, including the forced shutdown of at least two hydroelectric power plants.
Predicted date for Ukraine's EU membership: 2030
2030 is a likely year for Ukraine to join the European Union, according to Katarina Mathernova, the EU Ambassador to Ukraine. However, Mathernova cautions that pinpointing the exact timeline is similar to fortune-telling. In November 2023, the European Commission put forth a recommendation to commence Ukraine's accession negotiations, stipulating the fulfillment of four more prerequisites. The European Council then launched the talks with Kiev the following month.
President Zelensky fires head bodyguard after failed assassination attempt
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked the head of his personal security detail following a thwarted assassination attempt. Zelensky published a decree on Wednesday for "the dismissal of Serhiy Leonidovich Rud from the position of Head of the State Security Department of Ukraine". Earlier this week, two guards were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in planning the attack. The Ukrainian intelligence service SBU declared on Tuesday that they dismantled a "network of agents" under the control of the Russian secret service FSB who were preparing to murder the Ukrainian president.
Oligarch Kolomoisky arrested for supposed contract killing of lawyer
A court in Kiev issued a warrant for the arrest of Ihor Kolomoisky, a Ukrainian oligarch, on May 9 as part of an ongoing murder case. He will stay in custody until July 7 without the option of bail. Kolomoisky, one of the country's most notable businessmen, was detained on September 2, 2023, on charges of fraud and money laundering related to his oil and gas holdings. Kolomoisky stands accused of ordering the murder of the head of a law firm in Crimea dating back more than 20 years ago. Once the lawyer denied Kolomoisky's demands to reverse a decision made at a shareholders' meeting, the oligarch allegedly enlisted killers to execute him, contended the ongoing investigation.
Zelensky brings back former commander after two-month absence
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Dmytro Hereha as commander of the Ukrainian support forces one more time, after initially replacing him with Oleksandr Yakovets in March. Zelensky's reorganization of the Ukrainian military, including dismissing Ukraine's highest-ranking military commander, Valery Salushnyi, led to the replacement of Hereha by Yakovets. Yakovets was dismissed from his position after serving for just two months. The Ukrainian Support Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces play a critical role in providing operational assistance to the nation's troops.
Disappearance of wanted notices for Zelensky and Poroshenko from Russian Interior Ministry site
The warrants for Volodymyr Zelensky and Petro Poroshenko, the current and previous presidents of Ukraine, disappeared from the website of the Russian Interior Ministry, revealed the Russian news outlet Mediazona. The profiles swiftly vanished from the site after they were inadvertently spotted by the Russian news organization RIA Novosti over the weekend. Mediazona claims that the two Ukrainian presidents were placed on the wanted list by a Russian Interior Ministry branch based in the occupied part of the Ukrainian oblast of Donetsk. The notices likely disappeared at around the end of February.
View earlier news updates here.
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- The escalating aggression from Russia towards Ukraine, as noted by analyst Niko Karasek, is seen as a single provocation, potentially leading to a wider cyberwar involving NATO.
- In response to Russia's attacks, Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President, has approved military operations to defend Ukraine's territory, including the deployment of F-16 jets to help break Russia's air supremacy.
- As tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue, a attack on Ukraine was reported at 5:38pm, with Russia taking control of several villages near Kharkiv. However, Ihor Synyehubov, the Kharkiv regional governor, denied the claims, stating that Ukrainian forces remain in control.
- The Russian propaganda war against the West continues, with state TV shows promoting hate speech and linking themselves to the Nazis, as part of their narrative to paint themselves as the oppressor of the Western elite.
Source: www.ntv.de
