Ukraine and Russia assess the aftermath of last night's drone attacks.

Ukraine and Russia assess the impacts of the drone attacks from last night.

Based on Russia's account, they dispatched approximately 60 drones and several missiles over their territory on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force declared the annihilation of all 37 Russian drones that targeted their country that same evening. The Russian Ministry of Defense asserted that 57 Ukrainian drones were shot down in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar. It was also reported that drone debris struck an oil refinery in Slavyansk-na-Kubani, but no fires or damage were documented. Nine long-range missiles and a drone were taken out over Russian-occupied Crimea. Additionally, three drones were downed in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that a church roof caught fire, but nobody was hurt. The Russian-installed governor of the partially occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, claims that a Ukrainian drone killed one person and wounded 16 others when it hit a minibus on Sunday morning. In Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine where Moscow has recently commenced an offensive, a person was killed by the previous day's shelling according to Governor Oleh Synyehubov. Injuries were also suffered by eleven people. Later, Synyehubov reported that four people were killed and fifteen injured in a Russian attack on the outskirts of Kharkiv's regional capital.

14:00 Zelensky Calls for Air Defense Systems against Russian Missile Terror

Ukrainian President Zelenskyi has provided his condolences to the family members of those killed in the Russian missile attacks on Sunday. In his remarks, he said, "Russian terrorist attacks are reported almost every hour. Rockets, bombs, and artillery are their weapons. The world can put an end to Russian terror. The only way is to overcome the political will absence among heads of state and government. The presence of two Patriot air defense systems in Kharkiv would tremendously shift the situation. In addition, sufficient support for our troops on the front lines will ensure the defeat of Russian terror."

13:23 Casualties from Kharkiv Region due to Russian Missile Attacks

The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, has revised the casualty count after the Russian attacks. Five people were killed in a recreational park located in a Kharkiv suburb. At least sixteen people were injured. "Two Russian missiles struck a recreational area where people were relaxing, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuries to sixteen individuals." A seven-month pregnant woman was among the casualties, as noted by local police. The second attack took place approximately twenty minutes after the first. This double-tap technique is designed to eliminate rescuers after the initial strike. According to the governor of Kharkiv, an emergency paramedic is part of the group of injured. Additionally, two people were killed and three were injured in Russian shelling of Novosynove and Kivsharivka villages in the eastern Kharkiv region, as reported by Ukrainian police.

13:07 Ukraine Confirms Additional Attacks in Russia

According to RBC, Ukraine launched further assaults on targets within Russia both Sunday night and Monday morning. The refinery in Krasnodar was among the targets, alongside the Kushchevsk military airfield and an oil depot in the Leningrad region near Saint Petersburg. The Ukrainian armed forces' drone forces were deployed in these operations. Previously, Ukraine had mentioned an attack on Kushchevsk in April.

12:41 Russia Reports Extensive Ukrainian Attacks

The Russian Ministry of Defense shared details regarding the intensity of Ukraine's attacks. In the past 24 hours, they stated, their air defense had shot down 103 Ukrainian drones and 12 ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States. Earlier, the ministry had said that Ukraine had assaulted the annexed Crimean peninsula with nine ATACMS missiles and attacked Russian regions using at least 60 drones.

11:57 Update: Casualties Rise in Kharkiv to Four

The death toll from the Russian airstrikes on the Kharkiv district has increased to four, according to Ukrinform. The double-strike plan in Kharkiv appears to have been more lethal, leading to four deaths.

11:35 Two Killed, Eight Injured in Kharkiv

Two civilians have perished in a Russian attack in the Kharkiv district. This was communicated by the military administration of the region. Governor Oleh Synegubov confirmed that an emergency paramedic forms part of the eight wounded (see entry from 11:06).

11:06 Russian Attacks Stalled Outside Kharkiv

The Russian ground forces halted their advance towards Kharkiv on Saturday. This information was provided by the Ukrainian General Staff on Telegram. "The enemy ceased active operations in the direction of Kharkiv. Defense units are doing all they can to strengthen positions, restock supplies, conduct reconnaissance, and maintain situational awareness."

10:53 Ukrainian Forces Counterattack

Ukrainian forces have reportedly counterattacked in the Izyum region, according to the General Staff. "Units of the Air Assault forces and the Army successfully counterattacked in the Izyum direction during the last three days, liberating six square kilometers of Ukrainian territory," they stated on Telegram.

10:23 CRIM-1 Cruise Missile Hits Russian Training Base

A CRIM-1 cruise missile was employed to strike a Russian training base in the Belgorod region, various sources have disclosed.

10:00 Russian Army Loses More Than 400 Soldiers

According to British military intelligence, the Russian armed forces have lost more than 400 soldiers in the battle for Lyman, Donetsk region of Ukraine.

09:35 Russian Airstrikes Continue to Plague Ukraine

Russian missiles continue to plague Ukraine with missile strikes across the country. The city of Zaporizhzhia, located in the southeast, experienced a missile strike around dawn. A teacher and a volunteer firefighter were killed and four more individuals were wounded.

09:13 Russian Drones Blown Up in Luhansk Oblast

Ukrainian forces have destroyed a batch of Russian drones in the Luhansk Oblast.

10:47 Eastern Ukraine under air alert

Several news outlets in Ukraine have issued air alert warnings across the eastern part of the country. According to the online news site, Ukrajinska Pravda, a Russian missile is headed towards Kiev.

10:40 Ukrainian navy sinks Russian minesweeper

The Ukrainian navy has announced that they successfully sank a minesweeper from the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Sharing an image of the sunken ship, a member of the navy named "Kovrovets" released on Facebook, the navy revealed the ship belonged to the "Project 266M" class and was commissioned in 1974.

10:18 Larger Russian drones carried "more destructive elements"

A Ukrainian police officer and a war crimes prosecutor inspect fragments of a glide bomb in front of a damaged house after a Russian airstrike on a residential neighborhood in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

After drones struck the site of a refinery in southern Russia earlier today, Russian sources claimed the six drones were carrying steel balls. The refinery head in the Krasnodar region disclosed in an interview with the Russian state news agency Tass that the drones were larger and had more destructive elements. The refinery has stopped operations, and they are currently assessing the damage caused. Moreover, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that they had shot down 57 Ukrainian drones in Krasnodar.

09:52 Chasiv Yar remains the center of frequent attacks

The recent implementation of the law on mobilization requires Ukrainian men who are physically fit for military service to report. Apart from combat drones, other weapons like missiles and glide bombs are being utilized in a new wave of attacks. A reporter from ntv, Jürgen Weichert, shared his observations from Kiev, highlighting the ongoing situation in the country.

09:35 Complexity of defeating glide bombs

In a recent article on the BBC website, the use of glide bombs by Russia has been discussed, emphasizing the difficulty in shooting them down. The Russian government is believed to have launched a huge number of glide bombs, and US expert Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute stated, "All available air defense ammunition would be used too quickly." Shooting down the launching aircraft is another solution, but Ukraine's lack of weapons with the necessary range to carry out this tactic is shown as a significant obstacle.

09:00 Glide bombs allow Russia to bypass Ukrainian defense lines

Glide bombs are simple, self-propelled bombs that can be fired from a great distance, placing the aircraft at minimal risk. They are easy to manufacture and have catastrophic consequences. Ukrainian security expert Mariia Zolkina commented on the BBC article, asserting that "glide bombs allow Russia to bypass Ukrainian defense lines without using infantry." In the same article, Russian officials also reportedly launched glide bombs at civilian areas, including the city of Vovchansk, which has been "practically destroyed" by these weapons.

08:46 Ukraine defense forces thwart a massive Russian airstrike

The Ukrainian Air Force claims to have repelled a major Russian aerial assault. Throughout the night, Ukraine's air defense systems targeted 37 "Shahed" attack drones used by Russia against regions like Kiev, Odessa, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Zhytomy, Kherson, and Crimea.

08:00 Russia wearing down Ukraine on multiple fronts

The ongoing military conflict in Ukraine has left many Ukrainian defensive units struggling for resources. President Zelensky's request for support from NATO countries has yet to bear significant fruit, forcing Ukraine to prioritize its defense efforts. Despite this, Russia continues to advance, wearing down Ukraine's capabilities.

07:35 Alleged interception of nine US ATACMS

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have intercepted nine US ATACMS missiles over the contested territory of Crimea. They also shot down an enemy drone and destroyed additional drones near Belgorod and Krasnodar. The information remains unverified.

07:00 Russian troops face additional casualties, per Ukrainian army claims

Every day, the Ukrainian army discloses the estimated number of Russian soldiers killed or wounded based on their analysis. In their recent post shared on Facebook, the army reported the deaths of 1,210 Russian soldiers on Saturday, bringing the total casulty count to 492,290. Moreover, they additionally claimed to have destroyed 16 tanks and 35 armored vehicles.

06:30 Increased pressure on Chasiv Yar and continued Kharkiv assault

The think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) highlighted in their analysis today that the Russian invasion forces have attempted to capture the vital city of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. The Russian army is also said to be making progress in their attack on the city of Kharkiv.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) mentions a demand made by ex-Russian President Medvedev. He proposed that the proposed "buffer zone" in Ukraine should cover the entire nation. Medvedev serves as Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council and is part of the hardline crew surrounding Putin. ISW stated that the request indicates that the supposed "buffer zone" is just a front for Russia's long-standing plan to seize control of all Ukraine.

In southern Russian city Slavyansk-na-Kubani, a drone crashed into the site of an oil refinery, the Krasnodar region authorities declared. The incident led to a "local fire," though there were no casualties or damage. Ukraine has been assaulting Russian refineries for some time.

Danone, a French dairy company, has completed the sale of its Russian business to a businessman with links to Chechnya after thirty years in the nation. The Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform shared this information, referencing the company. Vamin Tatarstan, owned by businessman Mintimer Mingasov, had previously agreed to pay 17.7 billion roubles (180 million euros) to gain control of Danone's Russian activities. Analysts projected the actual worth could reach 80 billion roubles. In July last year, Yakub Zakriyev, a relative of Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov, emerged as the new head of Danone's Russian affiliate.

Following an explosion incident in Sevastopol, Crimea, there are reports of destruction during the night. The Crimean governor appointed by Moscow, Mikhail Rasvoshaev, stated through his Telegram that the city's air defenses successfully thwarted a missile attack. However, the Crimean rescue service did not report any damage to civilian infrastructure, he added.

Ukraine encounters a series of drone attacks at night. According to the Ukrainian air force, the regions affected include Kiev, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Odessa. Explosions were heard in various locations. Before this, an air raid alert was issued in large parts of the country. There are no reports of harm or casualties.

In Kharkiv's north-eastern region, civilians were shot at during the night, according to Ukrainian sources. The Ukrainian prosecutor's office declared it would examine the Russian airstrike in the regional capital Kharkiv for potential war crimes. Six civilians, including three youngsters, endured injuries. Moscow denies intentionally attacking civilians. Since the beginning of their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, countless people have suffered death or injury.

The German government wants to boost military assistance to Ukraine drastically this year, estimated at 3.8 billion euros. The Federal Ministry of Defense has notified an additional request for military support. Since the beginning of this year, the coalition government has allocated 7.1 billion euros for military aid. The extra-budgetary spending will be submitted for parliamentary approval in June, according to certification from the Ministry of Finance.

The Ukrainian General Staff reports 77 conflicts within a 24-hour timeframe. Seven of these are ongoing. "The Russian troops continue to try and enhance their tactical position," the General Staff conveys on its Telegram page. The Ukrainian army executed four assaults to drive out the Russians from occupied territories, it adds.

Lieutenant Colonel Denys Vasyliuk received the "Order of Bravery," a merit awarded for individual valor and heroism. He took part in "dozens of combat missions." The 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, where he served, released news of his passing on Facebook. Vasyliuk functioned as chief of staff of the brigade along with being a deputy commander of an aviation squadron. The unit disclosed that Vasyliuk perished "recently" during a combat operation. His death's details are unknown. The Ukrainian air force has not released a statement regarding Vasyliuk's passing.

At the Cannes Film Festival, Polish filmmaker Patryk Vega introduced his biopic about Russian President Vladimir Putin. The film ended with Putin's death. "It was supposed to be a happy ending," Vega stated about the movie. "I called Putin and asked if he wanted to participate... - oh, I was joking," he added, grinning. Because the real Putin was indisposed, Vega opted to display Putin as a deepfake using artificial intelligence (AI).

To start, the director considered incorporating actual video clips of Putin in his movie. Unfortunately, these weren't high-quality enough for cinematic usage. "An AI needs 20,000 top-notch images to function correctly," the filmmaker notes. So, he invented a novel method wherein an AI generates the image of a genuine actor resembling Putin's stature. "This is the first film employing this method," shares Vega proudly. This innovative approach produces astounding results. In the movie, Putin's authentic appearance is presented - commanding, seated at ornate desks, and even affectionately playing the piano while also freely reliving embarrassing incidents like soiling his pants in a hospital bed.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu, expressed his perspectives during an exchange with the Kyiv Independent. While initially hoping to concentrate on Taiwanese affairs, the Russian invasion of Ukraine provoked a serious reflection among Taiwanese officials. Wu underlined that the fate of Taiwan was substantially influenced by the Ukrainian conflict. If Russia manages to win, there's a strong probability that China would attempt to forcefully re-unite the two Chinas, echo the sentiments of various political factions.