The number of women in Ukraine's military significantly increases.
About 67,000 women are in the Ukrainian military, mainly as soldiers. The Defense Ministry states that numbers have risen by 40% due to the 2022 invasion from Russia. Now, women are prepared to fire weapons, control artillery, and operate drones. The government wants to provide job opportunities for them.
11:31: Ukraine to track explosive and mine-free regions
The Ukrainian government aims to create a registry of explosives and mined regions to monitor the demining process. This helps farmers find out about the status of their farms, which is crucial after the end of the fighting. Security expert Gustav Gressel warns that the post-war situation will involve hundreds of square kilometers of minefields. "We have North Korean ammunition from the 50s with a dud rate of over 30%," he said. "Ukraine will be a minefield of hundreds of square kilometers."
10:55: Many Germans support compulsory military service
60% of Germans in a YouGov poll have expressed support for conscription: 28% for "complete" and 32% for "rather." 32% disagree: 18% "rather" and 14% "completely." Since 2011, conscription has been suspended. As debates on how to significantly increase the Bundeswehr's strength during the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold, the idea of reinstating compulsory military service has gained attention.
10:32: Ukraine claims successful attack on Russia's most advanced combat jet
For the first time, the Ukrainian military intelligence reports a successful attack on a Su-57, one of Russia's most advanced fighter jets. The plane was damaged during an assault by the Ukrainian military on an airfield in Astrakhan, Russia. The aircraft, reportedly intact on Friday, has since suffered severe damage thanks to explosions on Saturday. The Su-57 is Russia's latest fighter jet and can carry cruise missiles.
10:11: Russian reserves not enough for large-scale summer offensive, says ISW
According to an analysis by the US Institute for the Study of War, Russia is conscripting 30,000 soldiers each month, some of whom are paired with reinforcements to the front lines. These reinforcements will not be enough to launch large-scale, multi-front offensives in the summer as they serve as secondary or third-line forces.
09:27: UN: 174 Ukrainian civilians killed in May
Almost 174 civilians in Ukraine were killed, and 690 were injured in May, making it the deadliest month for civilians in the year, reported the UN Mission in Ukraine. The escalation in casualties resulted from increased attacks on Kharkiv, with more than half of the deaths coming from this region.
08:50: Russia wants to train officers in occupied Ukrainian territories
Russia is planning to offer training courses to officers in occupied territories of Ukraine. Citing a Ukranian Special Operations Forces report, the Kyiv Post discloses that the rescued officers will be given "good positions within a contract." The courses are said to focus on electronic warfare, like working with radar or jammers.
08:19: Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,270 Russian casualties in the last 24 hours
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,270 casualties on the Russian side: 630 killed and another 640 wounded. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Ukraine, the total number of Russian casualties is 518,000. Ukrainian forces have destroyed 26 tanks, an equal number of armored vehicles, 60 artillery systems, and two air defense systems. Thirty-seven drones were also eliminated.
07:40: Ukrainian troops are holding off Russian advances in the north
Russia built up its forces along the northeastern border of Ukraine. Since Wowtschansk, a town near Kharkiv, has been under constant bombing for weeks, observers anticipate a larger attack in the region. However, it seems that Ukrainian troops have been successfully curbing the Russian advance there.
07:27: NATO discusses a permanent presence in Kiev and strengthening support
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is considering putting a permanent representative in Kiev. This "high-ranking civilian representative" would manage NATO support for Ukraine, specifically military assistance from Western nations. This role would be akin to NATO's position during its 20-year presence in Afghanistan. The reason behind the planned representative: It is unlikely that countries will agree to let Ukraine join membership negotiations at the July NATO summit in Washington. Consequently, NATO is seeking actions that will have a more tangible effect on Kiev while still binding its support.
06:55 Ukraine Works on Direct Contracts with Weapon Manufacturers
The Ukrainian government intends to develop a new strategy in its collaboration with manufacturers of weapons. The objective is to establish direct contracts between Ukraine and the arms industry. Over the weekend, Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov signed such a contract with a Bulgarian firm, according to "Ukrinform." "This allows us to procure modern weapons directly from the manufacturer and facilitates the faster and more effective modernization of the Ukrainian military," stated Klimenkov.
06:19 Austrian Minister: Germany Crossed the Line with Western Weapons in Ukraine
In an interview with "Die Presse," Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner said that Germany, France, and the United States have "crossed the red line" by allowing Ukraine to utilize Western weapons on Russian soil. Tanner is relieved to hear that NATO, under the leadership of Jens Stoltenberg, will not send troops to Ukraine. When asked about the necessity for Ukraine to defend itself against shelling from the Russian border, Tanner refrained from commenting. "As a militarily neutral country, it is not our place to pass judgment."
05:38 Bundeswehr Plans to Increase Reservist Troops Significantly
The Bundeswehr intends to substantially beef up its reserve forces. These troops should be trained and equipped to the same level as the active forces, ensuring they can reinforce or replace them in combat situations. German Deputy General Inspector and Reservist Affairs Coordinator General Lieutenant Alexander Hoppe disclosed this information in Berlin. The aim of military planners is to have around 60,000 people in a "basic order" as reservists, who are assigned and trained for a specific task.
04:37 German Government Balks at Macron's Plan for European Soldiers in Ukraine
Due to security concerns, the German government objects to French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal of stationing European soldiers in Ukraine to train Ukrainian forces in the future. "The training in the EU provides security, while the risk that training facilities in Ukraine could be targeted makes the training inefficient," a European Union document quoted by "Welt am Sonntag" states. During the meeting of European defense ministers on May 28, the German government expressed significant security worries.
03:20 Ukrainian Army: Russians Attempting to Penetrate from the Otscheretyne Direction
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 76 combat incidents in the past 24 hours. The most volatile situation is at the Pokrovsk Front, where 27 Russian attacks took place. The Army Command in Kiev declared that the Russians are trying to break through from Otscheretyne to Evheniwka and Nowooleksandriwka.
01:42 Suspected Moldovans Behind Paris Soldier's Coffin Graffiti
After images of Soldier's Coffin Graffiti surfaced in Paris, three individuals from Moldova have been apprehended and are under pre-trial detention. The investigation is ongoing, and no possibility of "foreign influence" is being disregarded, confirmed a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office. On Friday, graffiti representing a coffin and the phrase "French soldier in Ukraine" appeared on buildings in the French capital. On Saturday night, three individuals from Moldova were arrested near where the incident occurred, possessing paint cans and stencils. Only a few days ago, coffins marked "French soldiers in Ukraine" were placed at the Eiffel Tower. Three suspects were detained, one of whom was a German.
00:39 UN Records 174 Civilian Casualties in Ukraine
The United Nations has reported that the month of May had the highest death toll of civilians in Ukraine since June 2023, with no less than 174 fatalities occurring. Ukraine consistently accuses Russia of deliberately bombing residential areas adjacent to the front lines to precipitate evacuations. Russia denies targeting civilians.
23:24 Drone Drops Explosives Onto an Ambulance, Injuring the Driver
According to Ukrainian reports, an ambulance driver was hurt after Russian soldiers dropped explosives from a drone onto the ambulance. The attack occurred in the village of Biloserka in the region of Kherson.
22:23 Almost All Ukrainian POWs Suffered Torture, Says Prosecutor General
Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin stated that torturing prisoners of war or civilians is prevalent among the Russian military. Ukrainian POWs may have undergone torture or inhumane treatment, as well as physical and psychological violence. He revealed these findings during a conversation with returning military prisoners, which serves as a preliminary screening, according to the "Euromaidan Press" news portal. "The first so-called screening - an informal conversation with returning military prisoners - indicates that up to 90% of our people experienced various types of torture, inhumane treatment, physical violence, including sexual, and psychological violence."
According to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's perspective, the Russian troops have stumbled in their efforts to advance in the Kharkiv region. During his nightly speech, he revealed he had consulted with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi regarding the overall situation at the front line. A crucial development, as per the President, is that the Russians did not execute their operation in Kharkiv. "Right now, we're doing our best to stop them and annihilate the Russian units that are intruding into our country and creating chaos in the Kharkiv area," said Zelenskyy. The President also mentioned the Kharkiv battlefront has become more intense and will likely become even more so. The most dire situation, according to Zelenskyy, can be found in the Donetsk region.
Read also:
- Despite the increase in women in the Ukrainian military, there are ongoing concerns about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with reports of a successful attack on a Russian combat jet by Ukraine.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President, has expressed concerns about the situation in the Kharkiv region, where Russian troops have been attempting to advance but have been held back by Ukrainian forces.
- In response to the conflict, NATO is considering the deployment of a permanent representative to Ukraine to strengthen military support, signaling an increased involvement in the region's cyberwar and military operations.
- The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has also led to concerns about the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance, with security expert Gustav Gressel warning that Ukraine could become a minefield of hundreds of square kilometers.
