The Kremlin seeks to renaming seized areas as "Novorossiya."
The Russian authorities plan to create a new federal district named "Novorossija," encompassing occupied territories in four southeastern oblasts and the Crimean Peninsula. This information was shared on Telegram by the head of the regional military administration of Luhansk, Artem Lysohor. He mentioned that the locals will not have the opportunity to choose a name for this region. He also noted that such territorial units lack legal status. Local schoolchildren will start learning their region's history using a Russian textbook after the holidays.
In a separate development, a Ukrainian brigade commander, Yuriy Fedorenko, disclosed that the permission given by Western states to target Russian territory for attacks has already affected the course of fighting. According to Fedorenko, who spoke with Radio NV, this permission allowed Ukraine to disable up-to-date systems like electronic reconnaissance, electronic warfare, air defense, and S-300 and S-400 systems, which were previously attacking Kharkiv. He referred to this as "Step One." When asked what "Step Two" might entail, he added that it involves an expansion deep into Russian territory.
The Ukrainian military also reported that Russian forces had made 103 attacks on Ukrainian settlements and 93 on infrastructure since the previous day. At least three people were killed, with houses and a school being damaged during these attacks in the regions of Kharkiv, Kherson, and Izium.
It has been noticed that women constitute a significant portion of the Ukrainian army and their representation has increased considerably over time. More than 67,000 women are currently serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with most of them being soldiers. While women were not targeted in the mobilization that followed Russia's full-scale attack, the number of female soldiers has increased by 40% in comparison to the past. Many of them are now ready to take on combat roles such as shooting, operating artillery systems, or operating drones. The Ukrainian government is now looking to provide women with more career opportunities.
Ukraine is expected to record explosive-contaminated and mined areas in a state register to keep track of the demining status of different areas. This is important for farmers to know if the land they intend to cultivate is still contaminated or has been cleared. With the end of the war, these areas in Ukraine are expected to become highly dangerous. Security expert Gustav Gressel commented, "We have North Korean ammunition from the 50s that have a dud rate of over 30%. The post-war situation in Ukraine will consist of hundreds of square kilometers of minefield."
In an opinion poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of Welt am Sonntag, 60% of Germans supported the idea of reintroducing conscription in the German military. The poll found that 28% were in favor of it "completely", while 32% were in favor of it "rather". The remaining 32% opposed the idea. Conscription has been suspended since 2011. In light of the invasion of Russia in Ukraine, there's a growing debate about how to increase the strength of the Bundeswehr.
Ukrainian military intelligence reported the successful hit on a Su-57 fighter jet in Russia's Astrakhan region. Satellite images revealed that the jet had been damaged by explosions on Saturday, just a day after it was seen intact in the same area. Russia had previously reported a drone attack on several regions, including Astrakhan. The Su-57 is Russia's most modern fighter jet that can carry cruise missiles. It's still unclear how many of them have been deployed in combat.
A study by the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) posited that Russia's current mobilization of 30,000 soldiers per month, some of whom are used as reinforcements on the front, would not be adequate for a large-scale offensive in the summer. The institute's analysis showed that the reservists likely to be deployed in combat would not qualify as first or second line forces, which are necessary for a large-scale offensive.
The United Nations mission in Ukraine reported that at least 174 civilians had beenkilled and 690 injured in the country in May. It noted that this was the highest monthly number of civilian casualties over the past year, with most of the casualties occurring in the Kharkiv region. May witnessed an intensification of Russian attacks.
Russia intends to hold training classes for new officer recruitment in the areas of Ukraine that have been captured. The Kyiv Post has reported this story and is based on information provided by Ukrainian special forces. Individuals who successfully complete these classes will be awarded "attractive contracts." The instruction will primarily focus on electronic warfare, which includes dealing with radar or even signal jamming technology. The Russian military is extensively using signal jammers, making it difficult for Western precision weapons to reach their destinations.
Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,270 Russian losses:There were 1,270 Russian casualties within the past 24 hours, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. This brings the overall count of Russian injuries and deaths from the offensive to over 518,000. Forty-two Russian tanks were destroyed, along with 46 armored vehicles, 180 artillery systems, and two air defense systems. A total of 37 drones were also damaged.
Ukrainians push back against Russian advances in the north:The Ukrainian military has been successful in thwarting Russian advances in the northern region near Kharkiv. They have been subjected to intense bombing raids in the area of Wovtchansk, leading some to expect a larger assault in the near future. Instead, it appears that the Ukrainian forces have been able to contain the Russians.
NATO looking into establishing permanent representative in Kiev:It is being considered that NATO establish a high-ranking diplomat role in Kiev. This person would coordinate NATO aid and support for Ukraine, including military assistance from Western countries. NATO is considering this move because the member nations are unlikely to allow Ukraine to enter membership negotiations at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington. The goal is to take steps towards Ukraine while avoiding full commitment.
Ukraine pursuing direct agreements with arms manufacturers:The Ukrainian government is reportedly sending a new message to arms manufacturers: they are open to direct agreements with them. The Vice Defense Minister, Dmytro Klimenkov, signed a contract with a Bulgarian company over the weekend, which will allow Ukraine to purchase modern weapons directly from their manufacturers. Klimenkov stated that these agreements would help to modernize the Ukrainian army quicker and more effectively.
Austrian Minister: Germany has breached a red line:Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner shared in an interview with "Die Presse" that Germany, France, and the United States have crossed a significant boundary by giving permission for Ukraine to use Western weapons on Russian territory. She is relieved to know that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that NATO will not send its forces to Ukraine. When prompted about the necessity of Ukraine's right to self-defense, Tanner expressed her neutral stance.
The Bundeswehr is planning to enhance its reserve strength:The German Ministry of Defense is looking to significantly increase the sheer number of its reserve force. The reserve should be prepared and trained to the extent that they can reinforce or replace the active troops in combat situations. General Lieutenant Alexander Hoppe, in charge of the reserves, made these remarks while in Berlin. The aim is to have up to 60,000 soldiers and civilians to be part of the basic reserve and trained for specific assignments.
German government is cautious of Macron's plan to send European soldiers to Ukraine:Emmanuel Macron's proposition to send European soldiers to Ukraine for training purposes raised concern from the German government due to potential security risks. According to an internal EU document Deutsche Welle had access to, these concerns were communicated during a meeting of EU defense ministers in late May. The German officials were reportedly very concerned about these training facilities in Ukraine being targeted.
Ukrainian army reports numerous engagements:The Ukrainian General Staff documented 76 combat engagements in the last 24 hours. The most intense conflict was at the Pokrovsk front, where Russians instigated 27 attacks. Ukrainian forces are trying to halt the Russians from pushing through towards Yevhenivka and Novooleksandrivka.
Following the appearance of a soldier's coffin graffiti in Paris, three suspects from Moldova are being held in custody. The inquiry is focusing on potential foreign involvement, as stated by a representative from the prosecutor's office. On Friday, graffiti depicting a coffin with the caption "French soldier in Ukraine" appeared on the walls of buildings in the French capital. In the early hours of Saturday, three Moldovans were detained, each carrying paint cans and stencils. Not long ago, coffins with the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine" were set up at the Eiffel Tower. Three individuals were apprehended, including a German.
00:39 The UN records 174 civilian deaths in Ukraine so far in May
As per a statement from the United Nations, May has seen the highest number of civilian fatalities in Ukraine since June 2023, with at least 174 civilians killed. Ukraine frequently blames Russia for deliberately targeting residential areas near the frontline, which is intended to force people out of their homes. Russia denies knowingly targeting civilians.
23:24 Ambulance driver hurt in attack: Drones dropped explosives
As per Ukrainian news, the driver of an ambulance was injured when Russian forces deployed a drone to drop explosives on the vehicle. The occurrence transpired in the village of Biloserka in southern Ukraine, according to the governor of the Oblast of Kherson.
22:23 Prosecutor General: Almost all Ukrainian POWs were subjected to torture
It has been reported that torture is widespread in the Russian military, according to Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin. He estimates that up to 90% of the returning Ukrainian prisoners of war were tortured. Different kinds of physical, including sexual, and psychological abuse were inflicted upon them, reports "Euromaidan Press." "The first so-called screening - an informal conversation with returning military prisoners - demonstrates that almost 90% of our people experienced various forms of torture, both physical and psychological," Kostin claims.
21:42 Zelensky proclaims Russian Charkiv offensive a failure
In the eyes of Ukrainian President Zelensky, the Russian army's offensive in the Charkiv region has failed. During his evening address, the president stated that he had engaged in a discussion with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi regarding the current situation on the front line. He considers their failure to carry out their mission in Charkiv to be a significant accomplishment. "We are currently doing everything we can to hold them back and destroy Russian units that are intruding into our territory and terrorizing the inhabitants of Charkiv," Zelensky stated. The situation in the Donezk region is the most challenging.
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Read also:
- Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, criticized Russia's offensive in the Charkiv region as a failure, considering it a significant accomplishment in holding back Russian forces.
- Russia announced plans to hold training classes for new officer recruitment in the captured territories of Ukraine, focusing on electronic warfare techniques, such as dealing with radar or signal jamming technology.
- The Western states' permission to target Russian territory for attacks has impacted Ukraine's military operations, allowing it to disable key systems like electronic reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and air defense systems, according to Brigade Commander Yuriy Fedorenko.
- NATO is considering establishing a permanent representative in Kiev to coordinate NATO aid and support for Ukraine, including military assistance from Western countries, as member nations are unlikely to allow Ukraine to enter membership negotiations at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.
