Ukraine reports 22 combat engagements, with eight remaining unresolved.
The Ukrainian military has reported 22 "military encounters" along the front line since Saturday night, of which eight are still ongoing. According to a statement from the General Staff, the Russian army also launched a missile strike, utilized 25 suicide drones, and conducted 547 assaults on the positions of Ukrainian soldiers.
At 13:02, reports indicate that Russia targeted Odessa region with missiles. This attack was carried out by the Ukrainian troops responsible for managing the south of Ukraine. The statement states that at approximately 6 a.m., the Russian occupiers once again attacked Odessa with a ballistic missile (probably Iskander-M).
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims it has "freed" the village of Staryzia in the Kharkiv region on May 16. In addition, they confirm that their military is continuing their advance in the area. The invasion forces began their offensive in the region around a week ago, establishing a third front alongside the ones in the east and south.
The Ukrainian army is attempting to push back the Russians towards the village of Hlyboke in the Kharkiv region. RBC, a Ukrainian news agency, has reported this development, citing the Ukrainian army. Hlyboke is located about 40 kilometers from Kharkiv and 10 kilometers from the Russian border. The Ukrainian General Staff released a statement, saying, "Our defenders are trying to push the enemy back towards the settlement of Hlyboke."
Following a Russian attack on the city of Kharkiv on May 13, the death toll has now risen to four. Governor Oleh Synyehubov confirms this, stating that a 33-year-old man who was injured in the attack died in the hospital. Russian troops assaulted the Shevchenkiv district with two glide bombs, injuring 31 people in total, and the condition of two of them was serious. A woman was injured in an attack on the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, with multi-storey buildings, a hospital, and kindergarten being damaged.
Thomas Jäger, a political scientist, believes that Russia's influence on Germany is significant and asserted that Ukrainian President Zelensky may use weapons provided by the West to defend Ukraine and also target Russian territory.
One person was killed and another injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border region of Kursk, according to regional governor Alexei Smirnov. Conversely, the Russian authorities' information about attacks and casualties cannot be verified independently.
The British Ministry of Defense presumes that Russian air defenses in Crimea have been hampered by recent Ukrainian attacks, and the Russians may need to distribute their air forces more widely to maintain them. Alternatively, they risk losing more aircraft, and this could lead to increased maintenance issues for their fleets.
Moreover, the Russians lost a Beriev A-50 aircraft, used for air surveillance, in January, February, and March. As a result, Russia is likely to have to increase flight hours and combat aircraft patrol deployment rates to compensate for the decrease in coverage.
Over 10,000 people have been evacuated from threatened villages in the Kharkiv region since the beginning of the Russian ground offensive a week ago. Authorities say that more than 9,900 people have been saved so far. Russian forces launched a ground offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10, advancing about five to ten kilometers along the northeastern border since then.
According to a survey by the Russian Levada Institute, three-quarters of Russians support the Russian armed forces. If President Putin were to end the "military action," known as a war of aggression in Russia, 71% would support this decision. However, this number drops to 30% if returning the "captured territories" is a condition.
Jürgen Weichert, an ntv correspondent, discusses the reasons for Kharkiv and Odessa's vulnerability to Russian attacks, including their size, beauty, and popular appeal. Nonetheless, Ukraine also possesses firepower.
08:35: SPD Members Urge NATO to Shield Ukrainian Skies
For the initial time, SPD representatives among the Bundestag are pleading for Western troops to defend Ukrainian skies from NATO territory. The SPD's defense expert, Joe Weingarten, elaborates that in the present military situation, it's reasonable and prudent to deploy German anti-aircraft missile units on NATO territory bordering Ukraine, employing Patriot systems to protect western Ukraine's airspace. This wouldn't necessitate Western troops to be located on Ukrainian soil. Air defense platforms along NATO nations and Ukraine could have significant impact on Ukrainian airspace.
Andreas Schwarz, SPD's budget politician, maintains that air defense is the 'Achilles' heel' of the Ukrainian military. The country lacks the necessary defense systems and missiles to protect its infrastructure and inhabitants. As such, allies' contribution to Ukraine's security should be pondered over. "This also includes the raising of the prospect of fortifying Ukraine's shield with aid from NATO partners," he says.
08:24: Ukraine Requests US Aid to Identify Russian Targets
Ukraine has approached the US government for assistance in identifying objectives within Russia for Kyiv to assault using its weaponry. The US has additionally been inquired about lifting constraints barring the usage of American weapons against military installations within Russia, according to US media sources and Pentagon officials.
07:58: Zelensky: Western Allies Fear Russian Defeat - and Adversely Impact Ukraine
In an AFP interview, President Zelenskyi suggests that Ukraine and its Western allies uphold parallel values but frequently disagree on resolving the conflict. He calls out the West for fearing a Russian loss and unwillingness to see Ukraine suffer the same fate. "We are in a confusing predicament where the West is wary of Russia's military loss. Additionally, they're reluctant to witness Ukraine face this fate," says Selenskyj. To garner support from China and other Global South nations, he urges participation in the June peace summit in Switzerland. However, Russia was neither invited nor planned on attending the gathering.
06:54: Russia Frustratingly Bolsters Novorossiysk Naval Base
The Russian army is reinforcing its naval base in Novorossiysk, disclosed by Ukrainian agency RBC, citing the Telegram channel of the partisan group "Atesh". The Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk lies on the Black Sea. The new resources are intended to counter Ukrainian naval drones, per RBC. Air defense and radar systems are thereafter intensified.
Friday night saw Ukrainian drones targeting the port of Novorossiysk. Strategically key for Russia, Novorossiysk serves as a foremost gateway for its oil and other exports. Additionally, following Ukraine's assault on the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea, Russia stationed several warships there.
06:03: Ukraine Announces Russia's 491,080 Soldiers Lost in Conflict
Routine updates by the Ukrainian army on Twitter, mentioning Russia's purported losses, show that on Friday, Russian casualties summed to 1,210 soldiers, elevating the overall tally to 491,080 soldiers. Additionally, 43 armored combat vehicles, two aircraft, and a helicopter were supposedly annihilated. Although unconfirmed, reports suggest similar occurrences.
07:42: ISW: Western Restrictions Impeding Ukraine's Defense Potential
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) conveyed that Western allies are undermining Ukraine's defense performance by barring the country from striking military targets on Russian soil using Western weapons. The ISW warns that this devalues Ukrainian units near the Russian boundary, as they cannot respond to Russian attacks and become vulnerable to Russian artillery strikes. "This US policy drastically risks Ukraine's potential to defend itself against Russian offensives in northern Kharkiv oblast," the think tank cautioned.
06:59: Ukrainian Air Defense Downs Thirteen Iranian-Type Russian Drones
Ukraine's air defense reportedly shot down all Iranian-style Shahed drones through Friday night, that is, 13 in total. The air force commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, reportedly relayed the information to Ukrainian news outlets. The drones, according to the reports, were launched from Primorsko-Aktarsk on the Sea of Azov and from the Russian Oblast of Kursk.
06:47: Alarm, Explosion in Belgorod
A missile alarm and an explosion rocked the Russian border region of Belgorod early Saturday morning, as announced by Russian state news agency Tass. Belgorod's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, instructed inhabitants through his Telegram channel to find safety. Ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia is forcing disturbances in the Russian border areas, oftentimes resulting in injuries and damages inconsistent with the toll in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
06:41: Russians Amplify Shelling of Krynky Bridgehead
The Russian offensive army is reportedly increasing its shellings of Ukrainian positions in the Krynky region. Per the ISW's latest appraisal, Ukraine has established a bridgehead in Krynky, in the southern Kherson region's banks of the Dnipro River. Despite intensified bombardment, the frontline has reportedly remained unchanged.
The Russians persisted in their advance towards Kharkiv, but, as per the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), no significant changes happened to the front line there either. Putin had asserted that Russia aimed to create a "buffer zone" in the Kharkiv region. The Russian military isn't presently intending to capture the city of Kharkiv.
06:14: Explosions in St. Petersburg "Not Terrorism"
As per the Russian military, the explosions that happened in St. Petersburg (see entry 20:56) at the Budyonny Military Academy were the result of an accidental detonation of ammunition from World War II. Interfax, the Russian state news agency, reports that the incident took place when soldiers were inspecting underground areas of the academy. The governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, claims the explosion had nothing to do with "terrorism".
06:02: Klingbeil Hopes for China
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil still hopes that China will agree to take part in the Swiss Ukraine peace conference. During an interview with the German Press Agency, Klingbeil said, "It would be crucial for this peace summit to have China at the table." This also applies to India, Brazil, and South Africa. "Of course, it would be a disappointment if these countries did not attend." However, even if these nations did not participate, it wouldn't make the conference a failure. "It's never a failure when people sit down to discuss methods to achieve peace."
05:43: Zelensky Troubled by Ban on Western Weapons
Ukrainian President Zelensky complains about the limitations on the usage of Western weapons. Russia can shoot any weapon from its land into Ukraine. Zelensky mentioned that "Russia has the biggest advantage in this situation." Conversely, Ukraine cannot harm Russian weapons that are positioned in Russian territory with Western weapons. The UK and the US have hinted that these bans may be lifted soon.
05:10: Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief: Russian Front near Kharkiv 70 kilometers long
Ukrainian Army Chief Olexander Syrskyj stated on Telegram that the Russian ground forces have extended their offensive, which began a week ago, in the border area near Kharkiv. The Russian army has expanded this new front to approximately 70 kilometers. This should require the Ukrainians to deploy more brigades from their reserves. Nevertheless, the Russian troops have not managed to break through the Ukrainian defenses. Russia is using aircraft, missiles, artillery, and tanks in its attacks. Syrsky considers drones and more accurate artillery fire as advantages for the Ukrainians.
03:35: Zelensky: Offensive in Kharkiv Region May Be Russian First Wave
Zelensky claims that the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine could be the "first wave" of Russian attacks. "They have launched their operation. It may consist of several waves. This is their first wave," he told the AFP news agency.
02:17: Zelensky: Ukraine Needs 130 Fighter Jets
According to President Zelensky, Ukraine only has one-fourth of the air defense systems it requires to defend itself from Russia. Additionally, his nation needs 120-130 F16 fighter jets to end Russia's control over the skies, he said to the AFP news agency. He also disclosed that a lack of soldiers was negatively influencing the morale of the troops.
00:17: Zelensky: Ukraine Needs to Save Electricity due to Power Grid Attack
Considering the damage inflicted on the Ukrainian power grid, President Zelensky urged citizens to reduce their electricity usage. "Right now, what's needed is rational, thoughtful energy consumption," he said in the evening in Kiev. Local governments and energy suppliers should report on why temporary power outages are essential. In his evening video message, he mentioned that he had discussed the challenging situation in Ukraine's energy system, attacked by Russia, with the government and the military. "Due to Russian attacks, our energy sector has lost a significant part of its production capabilities," Zelenskyi remarked. Major changes are needed to reorganize the power supply in a way that it cannot be harmed by the Russians. He didn't provide further details.
00:00: Ukrainian Conscripts Abroad: Consulates Reopen
With the new mobilization law in effect, Ukrainian conscripts abroad can once again turn to consular services. The prerequisite is that soldiers provide proof of military registration in writing or electronically. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kiev announced this in the evening. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Defense introduced an app for online registration. Hundreds of thousands of fit-for-service males fled Ukraine due to the Russian war.
11:59pm Russia blocks Unicredit's accounts and possessions
An idk in St. Petersburg has frozen the financial accounts and properties of the Italian lender Unicredit in Russia. The action follows a request from RusChimAllianz, a subsidiary of Gazprom that runs an LNG terminal on the Baltic Sea, according to Russian media. The impasse stems from the absence of the terminal's construction due to Western sanctions while Unicredit had assisted in its guarantee. RusChimAllianz seeks €444 million from Unicredit. The assets reportedly to be frozen are worth €463 million. Unicredit is now the largest foreign bank remaining active in Russia, following Raiffeisenbank, and ranks among the 20 largest banks throughout the country in terms of assets.
10:55pm New regulation for Ukrainian inmates to perform military duties
To augment the Ukrainian troop numbers, specific prisoners are earmarked for their enlistment into the army. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law authorizing prisoners to have their sentences paused, allowing them to be conscripted for military service on a temporary contract. Eligible inmates must not have been convicted of severe crimes.
10:36pm: Report: Ukrainian Starlink equipment malfunctioned at the outset of the Russian onslaught in Kharkiv region
Per a media report, all Starlink devices belonging to a Ukrainian military unit in the Kharkiv area foiled at the beginning of Russia's offensive. The Washington Post, citing members of the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade, detailed the fiasco on May 10, coinciding with Russian forces infiltrating the border region. The sources cited disruptions in the satellite communication network allowing for the swift territorial expansion of the Russian military. The Post alleged Russian electronic warfare systems were responsible for the disruption of Starlink. This marked the initial wide-scale failure of the satellite communications system in Ukraine since Russia's spring 2022 invasion.
9:56pm: Expertise: Explosion at St. Petersburg's military academy
Russian media outlets disclosed an occurrence of an explosion in Russia's prominent city of St. Petersburg. The Budyonny military academy, according to several news agencies, was the site. The State news agency RIA quoted local authorities, stating a local resident had reported the explosion at the academy. Telegram channel Baza, affiliated with law enforcement agencies, reported seven casualties.
Note: Refer to the previous updates for more details.
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- The Ukrainian military is currently engaged in 22 military operations along the front line with Russia, according to recent reports.
- Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has expressed concern about Western allies' reluctance to supply weapons that can reach Russian military targets on Russian soil, citing Russia's ability to fire weapons into Ukraine from its territory.
- The Russian military has reportedly launched a series of attacks on Ukraine, including missile strikes, drone attacks, and suicide drone attacks, in addition to conducting ground assaults on Ukrainian positions.
- NATO has faced calls from some German politicians to defend Ukrainian airspace from NATO territory, as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate. In response, some NATO allies have expressed concern about the potential for the conflict to draw them into a wider military conflict.
Source: www.ntv.de
