Ukraine conducts trials on domestically produced guided bombs.
Ukraine is set to test homemade guided aerial bombs, reveals a senior air force officer, Serhiy Golubtsov, in a conversation with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
19:16 Ukraine potentially damaged two Russian aircraft in Southern Russia:
Reports indicate a Ukrainian attack on the Achtubinsk airfield in Russia may have damaged two modern Sukhoi Su-57 combat aircraft. A spokesperson from the Ukrainian military intelligence service (HUR) divulged this information on Ukrainian television. The authenticity of the information is yet to be confirmed. The Su-57 is a cutting-edge jet in service with the Russian Air Force since last year.
18:44 Charkiv: Russian army attacks residential area:
The city of Charkiv endures another attack by the Russian army. A guided bomb hit a residential area, informs Governor Oleg Sinegubov. No casualties have been reported yet. Mayor Igor Terekhov acknowledges several damaged buildings.
18:17 Russian offensive in Charkiv appears to have stalled:
According to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, speaking with CBS, the Russian military offensive in Eastern Ukraine around Charkiv has reportedly slowed down. "The momentum of this operation in the Charkiv region has come to a standstill," states Sullivan. "Charkiv is still threatened, but the Russians have not made significant progress in this area in recent days." Previously, President Biden lifted restrictions on Ukraine's use of weapons provided by the United States on Russian soil. Following this, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz allowed German weapons to target Russian territory.
17:47 Moscow seemingly relocates troops from Kherson to Charkiv:
There are speculations that Russia is shifting a particular number of units from the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson to the northern region of Charkiv. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports this in their latest situation update, citing a Chechen commander and Ukrainian military information. No confirmation regarding Moscow's immediate deployment plans for these forces is available.
17:24 Moscow allegedly conscripts African migrants to join fight near Charkiv:
To bolster its offensive on Charkiv, Russia is said to have forced thousands of African migrants to fight alongside its troops. Russian authorities have reportedly threatened African students and young workers that their visa extensions would be denied if they did not join the fighting. Some migrants have managed to avoid participating by paying off the officials, adds Bloomberg, quoting European diplomats.
16:40 Biden announces agreement with Macron on handling Russian assets:
US President Joe Biden claims to have reached an agreement with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on the administration of Russian assets. Both have reportedly consented to utilize the profits from frozen assets to assist Ukraine, except for details.
16:23 Belgorod, Russia, witnesses an explosion and downed drones:
Reports of an explosion in the Russian region of Belgorod emerge. Videos captured by residents of the incident are shared on Telegram via the Russian-language Telegram channel Astra. The Russian Defence Ministry acknowledges the destruction of several Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod area.
15:44 Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, as Russians gather troops:
Bloomberg reports this and refers to European diplomats. Some of the affected people were able to stay in the country without having to go to the front by paying the Russian officials.
Russian soldiers have been spotted on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine. An unidentified military source tells "Ukrajinska Pravda" that they have been attempting to gather their forces in houses for almost a week. The source claims that more than 1,500 bombardments have occurred in the past week. The Russians have supposedly destroyed various positions with multiple rocket launchers and guided air bombs to secure their logistics along a road from Bachmut to Chasiv Yar. "And they started advancing and [troops] under the protection of first-person view drones were gathered," the source asserts. The city center is in Ukrainian control, the source concludes.
The Ukrainian military has released a video featuring the pilots of an open-cockpit aircraft. According to the Ukrainian armed forces, who shared the video on Telegram, the aircraft is a Yak-52, used for air defense, and was in action over the region of Mykolayiv. The pilots are seen in the video through the lens of a Russian reconnaissance drone. The co-pilot is said to have shot down the drone, as reported by the "Kyiv Post" and military portal "Militarnyi." However, the information cannot be independently verified.
The Ukrainian Intelligence Service (HUR) claims responsibility for the drone attack on a modern Russian fighter jet parked on Russian territory, 600 kilometers from the border. The jet's destruction was confirmed by a source from the HUR who stated that the attack was carried out with a Ukrainian-made drone. The defense ministry-affiliated military intelligence service has a reputation for conducting daring operations on Russian territory and in Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine.
Russia plans to rename the occupied territories in southeastern Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula as "Novorossiya," according to the regional military administration of Luhansk. The head of the administration, Artem Lysohor, made the announcement on Telegram, saying that the locals are not given a choice of name. These territorial units have no legal status, and after the holidays, schoolchildren will learn local history based on a Russian textbook.
The Ukrainian military confirmed that the permission to direct Western weapons at Russia has had a significant impact on the course of hostilities, benefiting Ukrainian forces. Commander Yuriy Fedorenko emphasized that the impact has been felt across the board, including the disabled electronic reconnaissance, electronic warfare, air defense, and S-300 and S-400 systems. It represents "Step 1," with a potential expansion to the depth of Russian territory being "Step 2."
The Ukrainian military reported 103 Russian attacks on settlements and 93 on infrastructure since yesterday. Ten oblasts were targeted, resulting in at least three deaths, damaged houses, and a school.
More than 67,000 women now serve in the Ukrainian army, most of them as soldiers. The number has increased by 40% since the Russian full-scale attack in 2022. Women are now willing to take on a variety of roles previously reserved for men, such as shooting, operating artillery systems, or operating drones. The government is seeking to provide career opportunities for women, recognizing the importance of their involvement.
The Ukrainian government intends to create a state register to track explosive-contaminated and mined areas, aiming to monitor their demining status almost in real-time. This is crucial for farmers to know whether their land is still dangerous or if it has been cleared. After the fighting ends, the war zone will have dangers hidden beneath it. Gustav Gressel, a security expert, estimates that "We have North Korean ammunition from the 50s with a dud rate of over 30%." The post-war situation in Ukraine will consist of hundreds of square kilometers of minefields.
A poll by the market research institute YouGov on behalf of "Welt am Sonntag" found that 60% of Germans support the return of conscription. 28% are in favor of it completely, while 32% support it to some extent. Conscription was suspended in 2011. As Russia invades Ukraine, there is a growing debate about how to significantly increase the number of Bundeswehr soldiers.
The Ukrainian military also reported a successful attack on a Su-57 combat jet, Russia's most modern combat jet, for the first time. The aircraft was damaged during an attack on an airfield in the region of Astrakhan in southern Russia. This is about 600 kilometers from the border, and satellite images confirm that the jet was intact on Friday and damaged by explosions on Saturday. Yesterday, Russia reported a drone attack on multiple regions, including Astrakhan.
In the past month, Russia has mobilized approximately 30,000 soldiers while sending some as reinforcements to the front line. An analysis by the US Institute for the Study of War suggests that these reinforcements will not be sufficient for large-scale offensive operations on various fronts during the summer. Consequently, these new reserves may not serve as first or second line forces, which are essential for a massive offensive.
Regarding the latest casualty figures in Ukraine, the UN reported that at least 174 civilians were killed, with 690 more injured in May. This places this month as the highest number of civilian casualties so far. The UN attributes the spike in casualties to Russia's extensive attacks in the region of Kharkiv. Over half of the victims were from this region.
Meanwhile, Russia intends to offer courses to train officers of its army in the currently occupied territories of Ukraine. A report by the Ukrainian special forces indicates this, suggesting that these individuals will be offered "good positions within the framework of a contract." The course's focus will be on electronic warfare, such as operating radar or jamming devices. These devices have been used extensively by the Russian army, causing Western precision weapons to frequently miss their targets.
Ukrainian General Staff reported that 1270 Russian soldiers were killed or injured over the past day. The total losses since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, per Ukraine, exceed 518,000. Additionally, 26 Russian tanks were destroyed, alongside 26 armored vehicles, 60 artillery systems, and two air defense systems. Thirty-seven drones have also been destroyed.
Reports suggest that Ukraine is successfully containing Russian advances in the north. Despite Russia amassing troops near the northeastern border of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces appear to be blocking their progress in the region around Kharkiv.
NATO is considering appointing a "high-ranking civilian representative" to serve as a permanent envoy in Kiev. This individual would coordinate NATO support for Ukraine, including military assistance from Western countries. NATO is pursuing this strategy due to the likelihood that its members will refuse to commence accession negotiations with Ukraine at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.
Ukraine is seeking to strengthen its relationship with arms manufacturers by entering into more direct agreements. For instance, Ukraine's Vice Defense Minister, Dmytro Klimenkov, recently signed a contract with a Bulgarian company, as reported by the news portal "Ukrinform." Klimenkov states that this approach helps the country obtain "modern weapons directly from the manufacturer," speeding up and enhancing the modernization of the Ukrainian army.
Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner expressed her concerns that Germany, France, and the US crossed a "red line" by granting Kiev permission to use Western weapons on Russian soil. She commended NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's announcement that no NATO troops will be sent to Ukraine.
The German government has reservations about President Emmanuel Macron's plan to train European troops in Ukraine. "Training in the EU provides security, while training facilities in Ukraine being potentially targeted makes the training inefficient," the "Welt am Sonntag" quoted an internal EU document stating.
Germany is increasing its reserve troops, aiming to have up to 60,000 men and women trained for specific tasks. This would allow them to reinforce active troops or replace them in combat, as per military planners.
While the Ukrainian army is engaging in numerous battles against Russian forces, the bulk of the war rages in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. However, Russia has also deployed troops and artillery in other regions. Ukrainian forces are operating outside the Donbas with some success, but facing a massive offensive along the Sea of Azov.
Ongoing shelling continues from Russian-occupied positions in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. The Ukrainian military has also reported significant activity in Crimea.
As of 19:13, the Ukrainian military reported that Russian forces in the area near the Donetsk airport have been shelling Ukrainian positions since morning. Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian assault on the village of Pisky, resulting in losses for the Russian side. These clashes have continued for an extended period.
In Chasiv Yar, a village between the Seversky Donets and Donetsk River, Ukrainian forces have transferred a forward position as the situation remains unstable.
In the city of Sviatohirsk, Ukrainian forces repelled an attack by Russian forces. The Russians employed artillery and multiple launch rocket systems. Ukrainian forces claimed that they inflicted significant casualties upon the attackers.
Situation in Mariupol remains critical with heavy shelling by Russian forces, making the humanitarian situation in the city increasingly dire. Mariupol University's library was reportedly destroyed in a recent Russian artillery strike.
In the Bakhmutska region, Ukrainian forces repelled an attack by Russian forces. The Russians were unable to make any gains and retreated, leaving behind two dead soldiers.
At Airfield 20, Russian forces have been shelling Ukrainian positions with heavy artillery fire. No Ukrainian casualties or material losses were reported. Ukrainian forces also shelled Russian positions, causing them to retreat.
Russian forces have been building up their troop presence in the direction of Nikopol, a city located on the right bank of the Dnieper River.
In the area around Kherson, Russian forces have targeted villages with numerous shelling incidents.
In the Mariupol direction, no significant changes are reported. The situation around the Azovstal Steel Plant remains tense. Ukrainian forces continue to resist the encirclement of the plant and its defenders.
In the Donetsk direction, Russian forces have increased their shelling near the city's airport. However, they failed to strike any important infrastructure despite numerous attempts.
Finally, in Bakhmut, Ukrainian forces have repelled a Russian assault. The Russians sustained casualties and retreated without making any gains.
The Ukrainian military reported a total of 76 skirmishes happening over the past 24 hours. The most intense spot is at the Pokrovsk Front. Here, Russia's forces carried out 27 attacks. As reported by Kiev's army command, the Russians are attempting to push through from Ocheretyne to Evheniwka and Novooleksandriwka.
1:42 AM: Coffin graffiti in Paris - Moldovans detained
After coffin graffiti emerged in Paris, three individuals from Moldova were held by the police. The prosecutor's office representative mentioned that the authorities are probing potential foreign influence. Last Friday, coffin-shaped graffiti was found on the walls of Parisian structures with a stencil of a coffin and the words, "French soldier in Ukraine." Over the weekend, three Moldovans, armed with paint cans and comparable stencils, were captured close to the Eiffel Tower. Just a few days before, coffins adorned with the message "French soldiers in Ukraine" were put on the Eiffel Tower. Three detainees were arrested, including a German.
12:39 AM: UN tallies 174 noncombatant deaths in Ukraine this month
The UN disclosed that May had the most civilian casualties in Ukraine since 2023, with at least 174 civilians killed. Ukraine often accuses Russia of intentionally bombing residential areas close to the front to induce evacuations. Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians.
11:24 PM: Ambulance underdrone assault: Dropped explosives injure driver
As per Ukrainian records, the driver of an ambulance was wounded after Russian soldiers deployed explosives from a drone on the ambulance. The occurrence took place in the village of Biloserka in southern Ukraine, reported the Cherson Oblast governor.
10:23 PM: Prosecutor General: 90% of released Ukrainian POWs tortured
The Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin, claimed that roughly 90% of Ukrainian POWs or civilians were subjected to brutal treatment by Russian troops. According to "Euromaidan Press," around 90% of their returned military prisoners experienced different forms of torture, including physical, sexual, and psychological violence.
9:42 PM: Zelenskyy declares Russian Charkiv offensive a failure
From President Zelenskyy's standpoint, the Russian troops have unsuccessfully attempted their offensive in the Charkiv region. During his evening address, the president spoke with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, elaborating on the situation along the frontlines. An important outcome, as per the president, is that Russian soldiers didn't conduct their mission in Charkiv. "We're striving to hinder them as much as possible while decimating Russian squadrons advancing into our nation and terrorizing the Charkiv region," said President Zelenskyy. He also mentioned that the region of Charkiv has already been fortified and would be further augmented. The Donetsk region's situation is especially challenging.
You can go through all prior developments here.
Read also:
- The Ukrainian military, using a Ukrainian-made drone, claimed responsibility for an attack on a Russian Su-57 combat jet, damaging the aircraft while it was parked on Russian territory.
- The city of Charkiv in Ukraine continues to be under threat as Russian military operations have reportedly stalled, but the Russians have not made significant progress in the area in recent days.
- Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has condemned Russia's use of cyberwarfare in the ongoing conflict, stating that they are targeting vital Ukrainian infrastructure to cause chaos and harm the country.
- With the support of NATO, Ukraine has been utilizing Western weapons against Russian forces, including modern guided bombs and drones, which have reportedly caused damage to Russian aircraft and infrastructure.
