Ukrainian insurgents claim destruction of a Russian air force facility.
Ukrainian rebel group ATESH suggests an insider has infiltrated a Russian air force base, hinting at potential sabotage operations. On Telegram, they shared details of their scouting of Voronezh's airport, home to the 47th Russian Guard Bomber Aviation Regiment, roughly 220 kilometers northeast of the Kharkiv border. A variety of aircraft, such as helicopters and SU-34 fighter-bombers, are seen in the accompanying images and videos. The post warns, "We've got some surprises cooked up for the Russians." The group also asserts they've shared information about the base with Ukrainian officials and hints at upcoming results of their efforts.
Late in the evening, Serbia is disclosed to have secretly increased arms sales to the West, which eventually benefits Ukraine's defense despite Serbia being one of the few European countries not imposing sanctions on Russia. The Financial Times suggests weapons sales worth around 800 million euros have reached Ukraine since Russia's invasion, a figure verified by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in an interview with the newspaper. He described it as a business opportunity, expressing neutrality towards the war.
Later, Barbados and the Marshall Islands sign the Ukrainian peace summit declaration in Switzerland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this on Telegram X, stating growing global support for the Ukrainian peace formula, aiming to reinforce the UN Charter. Switzerland hosted the peace conference, attended by over 90 countries and organizations, with 80 out of 93 agreeing on a final declaration. Russia was not invited, and China did not attend despite receiving an invitation.
In the midst of the chaos, Zelenskyy appeals for immediate Western aid after a bombing in the eastern Ukrainian city of Charkiw. He expressed gratitude for recent capabilities provided to destroy Russian support points for rocket launches near the border and concentrations of occupation troops. Three deaths and numerous injuries resulted from the Russian attack, with the authorities reporting 56 injuries at the end of the day.
Russia is reported to be firing missiles from warships in the Azov Sea, according to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk. He stated four of the 16 rockets are Kalibr missiles, fired due to inadequate safety in the Black Sea. The Russians are said to use the Azov Sea as a strategic stronghold because they consider it a safer body of water than the Black Sea. Pletenchuk issues a warning to the Russian military not to feel overly secure in the Azov Sea. According to Ukrainian military reports, about 30% of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has been destroyed by December 2023.
In Kharkiv, the number of wounded has increased to at least 52 following a Russian attack, as announced by mayor Igor Terekhov on Telegram. Initially, three deaths had been reported. Three of the wounded were children.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia has launched over 2400 guided bombs since the start of the month. He called on allies to provide military aid for the protection of the country in his evening address, stating that 700 of these bombs were targeted at the second largest Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Finally, a part of the Russian forces is reportedly pulling out of the area around Wowtschansk in the Charkiv region, as announced by Nasar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Chortyzja Group, a formation of Ukrainian ground troops, on state television. Russia initiated a new offensive in the northern region of Charkiv on May 10, with Wowtschansk becoming a major battlefield.
6:35 University in Ivano-Frankivsk hit by Russian assault, claims Ukrainian PravdaThe National Technical University for Oil and Gas in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk sustained significant damage from a Russian attack, as per Ukrainian Pravda. Reports suggest that 14 buildings on the university campus were impacted, although no fatalities or injuries were mentioned. To assist with the repairs and reconstruction, the Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz has pledged their help.
6:05 Russian air defenses reportedly shoot down Ukrainian drone over Bryansk, RussiaAccording to Russian news agency TASS, Russian defense forces shot down a Ukrainian UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) over the western Russian region of Bryansk. This information comes directly from the Russian Defense Ministry.
5:41 US Government shuts down two Russian visa centersThe US is closing two Russian visa centers, one in New York and another in Washington. This was shared by the Russian news agency TASS, quoting the Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoli Antonov. Furthermore, it appears that Russian diplomats will now lose their tax privileges, a move Antonov described as "another small, malicious attack on Russian diplomats." Antonov hinted at potential reciprocal actions by Russia. I encourage you to check in at Russian visa centers in Berlin, Bonn, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Munich in Germany.
5:13 Zelensky: Three deaths confirmed in Kharkiv after Russian attackAccording to the governor of Kharkiv, Oleg Synegubov, the death toll has risen to three in Kharkiv following a Russian bombing attack. The number of injured is now at 37, with four of them still critical. Earlier, Kharkiv's Mayor Igor Terekhov had announced on Telegram that there were two dead and 18 injured initially. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that "Russian barbarism with guided air bombs must and can be stopped. It requires bold decisions from our partners so that we can destroy Russian terrorists and Russian aircraft where they operate."
5:55 German medics helping sick and injured children in UkraineMarc Friedrich, founder of "Ambulance for Kids," leads a team providing emergency medical care to ill and injured kids in Ukraine. In an interview with ntv, Friedrich discussed his risky and emotional work, outlining the hurdles his team faces.
4:16 Battle for Donetsk: Five fatalities and seven injuries reported in fightingBoth Russian and Ukrainian-controlled regions in the Donetsk area have reported casualties due to combat. Ukrainian governor Wadym Filaschkin stated on Telegram that the previous day, five people were killed in the Donetsk region due to Russian assault, and seven were injured. Denis Puschilin, the head of the pro-Russian administration in Donetsk, had announced earlier (see entry 14:22) that three people were killed and four injured due to Ukrainian shelling.
4:45 Report: Extensive damage to oil refinery in Russia as per satellite imagesFollowing the Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery in the Russian city of Asow, satellite images show that three of the six fuel tanks have been destroyed (*source: Mark Krutov, correspondent of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) via satellite images from X (@see images below)). According to Krutov, it took three days to extinguish the resulting fire at the Asow oil refinery. Ukraine has been carrying out series of attacks to hamper the Russian oil industry, from which Moscow finances the war.
Images of before and after the attack on the oil refinery in Asow have been provided
In a residential area of Kharkiv, two fatalities and 18 injuries have been reported after four Russian shellings. According to Igor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, a house bore the brunt of the attack.
4:22 Puschilin: Four fatalities and four injuries caused by Ukrainian shelling in DonetskThe head of the pro-Russian administration in Donetsk, Denis Puschilin, said on Telegram that, due to Ukrainian shelling, four people were killed, and four more were injured the previous day.
14:22 Ukraine: Rocket attack on Donetsk causes 3 deathsAccording to the Ukrainian government, a rocket attack on the city of Donetsk, administered by Russia, resulted in the death of 3 people. HIMARS missiles allegedly struck the city, as stated by Denis Pushilin, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk region. Furthermore, a drone attack near Horlivka left 3 people injured and an explosion in Donetsk injured 1 more. The Donetsk region, located in eastern Ukraine, is part of the disputed Donbass area, which Ukraine believes is under Russian occupation.
13:56 Russia accused of European infrastructure sabotageReports suggest that Russia is increasingly sabotaging critical infrastructure in Europe, including GPS disruptions in the Baltic region. In Ukraine, more than 56,000 fallen Russian soldiers' identities are being verified, according to security expert Frank Umbach.
13:25 Ukraine purchases additional French radar for air defenseUkraine has ordered a second ControlMaster 200 radar system from France to manage its airspace. The ControlMaster system includes the ControlMaster 200 radar and the ControlView GBAD C2 electronic system, which processes radar data to guide and target missiles towards air defense systems. Ukraine received a similar system last year.
12:55 Civilians killed in Ukrainian attacks by Russian forcesEight civilians died in Ukraine over the past day due to Russian attacks, according to the "Kyiv Independent." Additionally, 19 people were injured in 14 regions of the country. The city of Selydove in the Donetsk region was particularly affected, with two deaths and three injuries. Attackers destroyed several buildings and houses in the city.
12:20 Power outages expected due to Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructureFollowing Russian air strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, power suppliers announced additional power outages in the affected country. Ukrenergo expects hourly power outages between 14.00 hours (13.00 EEST) and 24.00 hours (23.00 EEST) due to damages.
11:37 ISW: Russians face resistance in the Charkiw regionThe ISW states that Russia has made no progress in its offensive in the Charkiw region. The Ukrainian military reports that Russian forces launched ground attacks north of Charkiw and northeast of Charkiw, but they did not do so on Friday, and instead opted for heavy aerial bombardments.
11:01 Analysis of captured Russian armored personnel carrier reveals weaknessesRussian troops use specially equipped armored personnel carriers for protection in the war against Ukraine. One such carrier was captured by the Ukrainians, reportedly in Donetsk, and is now being analyzed. The analysis is expected to reveal the carrier's strengths and weaknesses.
10:35 US diplomat predicts more support for Ukraine in the coming weeksUS diplomat John Bass anticipates further action from the Western allies to aid Ukraine in the upcoming weeks. Bass suspects that allies will take additional steps after discussing with their European partners and hosting President Zelenskyy and other top Ukrainian officials in Washington in the coming month.
10:07 Ukraine destroys over 28 artillery systems in one dayThe Ukrainian military destroyed a total of 28 artillery systems of Russian aggressors in a single day, according to their own statements on Facebook. In addition to 1100 soldiers, the enemy lost 8 tanks and 11 infantry fighting vehicles. The total number of Russian casualties is now at 533,090 soldiers, according to Ukraine's military.
09:31 Naval War: How Russia is losing in the Black SeaIn the Black Sea, Ukraine's fight against the Russian colossus has been exceptionally successful, thanks to improvised inventions, needles, and innovative military strategies. ntv.de explains how Moscow is losing its ships and losing control.
09:05 Majority of Russian rockets intercepted by Ukrainian air defenseThe Ukrainian air defense claims to have intercepted around three quarters of all Russian rockets from the previous night. Seven out of ten X-101/X-555 missiles, four Kalibr missiles, and one out of two Iskander missiles were intercepted. Thirteen Shahed drones were also shot down. The rocket attacks originated from the Black Sea, occupied Crimea, and the Russian mainland, according to Ukraine's claims.
Independent Russian platform Mediazona, in partnership with the BBC, verifies over 56,858 Russian soldiers who perished in Ukraine since February 2022, according to "Kyiv Independent". The actual number is believed to be much higher due to the information being sourced from public avenues such as death notices, family contributions, local media reports, and statements from authorities.
In another incident, two people were hurt following a Russian rocket attack on energy infrastructure in south and west Ukraine. The victims were employees of Ukrenerho who were taken to the hospital in Saporischschja, as per the company's report on Telegram. Two of the company's facilities in Lwiw and Saporischschja were damaged by the attack.
Ukrainian key airbases remain out of reach for Ukraine, despite U.S approval for Western weapons against Russian targets. According to "Washington Post", this is due to the presence of Russian jets bombarding Ukrainian cities within those bases, as reported by two anonymous Ukrainian officials.
During the night, Russian forces bombarded various regions of Ukraine with rockets and drones, causing a fire in the Lwiw Oblast's energy infrastructure, as reported by "Kyiv Independent" citing Governor Maksym Kozytskyi. The extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Other civilian infrastructure in different cities also faced damage from Russian attacks.
New Russian drone attacks were reported in the night in Ukraine's Ivano-Frankivsk region, with several explosions occurring. The regional military administration advised the population via Telegram not to distribute images of the incidents to avoid helping the enemy. No further information regarding the potential targets of the missiles is available as of morning.
Poland deployed military jets during a Russian rocket attack on Ukraine at night. The Polish armed forces operational command reported an increase in noise levels due to Polish and allied aircraft taking off in their airspace. The activity was associated with Russian cruise missiles, Shaheed type drones, and ballistic missiles attacks on western Ukraine.
The U.S government has imposed sanctions on twelve executives of software company AO Kaspersky Lab. The U.S Treasury Department stated that it is committed to securing the integrity of its cyber domain and protecting citizens from malicious cyber threats. The sanctions ban American companies and citizens from conducting business and financial transactions with the affected executives, freezing their assets in the U.S. Kaspersky Lab denies any connection with Russian military or intelligence services.
Russian authorities claim Ukrainian drone attacks on two power plants in Enerhodar, which also supplies electricity to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The two power plants are now reportedly inactive, leaving most of the city's residents without power. The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reportedly remained unaffected by the drone attack. No confirmation has been independently provided by Ukraine.
British right-wing populist Nigel Farage accused the West of partially causing Putin's aggression towards Ukraine. He claimed that the persistent EU and NATO enlargement gave Putin a justification for the war. Farage identified Putin as an aggressor but also asserted that the West shared some responsibility for the conflict. Farage played a significant role in Brexit.
Ukraine's ambassador Oleksii Makeiev warned against exploiting the refugee debate. He argued that refugees should not be politicized, and suggested that language proficiency requirements in German delayed employment opportunities for Ukrainian refugees, despite many of them holding university degrees or higher qualifications. Makeiev is working closely with German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil to integrate Ukrainian asylum seekers into the labor market.
23:26 Zelenskyy: EU talks can now kick offPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine has cleared the way for EU negotiations. In a video address, Zelenskyy declared, "The European Union has given the green light for the negotiating framework for Ukraine - many have worked hard for this on various fronts." With the approval, negotiations can now commence effectively. He terms it a "major breakthrough." Furthermore, Kiev has already formed a negotiating team for the accession discussions, according to Zelenskyy. The president appears optimistic about the success of the talks, stating, "Ukraine remains a part of the united Europe."
22:14 Kiev eyes second peace summit this yearVice President of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, Igor Schowkwa, revealed plans for a second international peace conference in Ukraine this year. "We aim to host the second peace conference before the end of the year," Schowkwa told Interfax Ukraine. Ukraine is eager for peace as much as anyone else, and as soon as possible, Schowkwa added. There is a high probability that the upcoming conference will take place in a southern country. The initial peace conference was held on June 15 and 16 in Switzerland. Schowkwa suggests that Ukraine stands ready "right away" to resume negotiations with Russia, following an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
21:38 Dutch Defense Minister announces Patriot plan for UkraineIn collaboration with another unnamed country, the Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren revealed intentions to supply Ukraine with a Patriot air defense system, as reported by the Dutch news agency ANP. According to Ollongren, all components for the Patriot system are now ready. The minister did not provide details on the cooperation partner or the delivery timeline of the system. Earlier reports in May indicated that the Netherlands aimed to construct and deliver a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine shortly with assistance from other countries.
20:57 Estonia shuts down Russia border crossing for securityEstonia has decided to temporarily close the border crossing to Russia in Narva for safety purposes over the weekend. The border police and control authority of the Baltic EU and NATO member state explained the move due to substantial delays at the Russian border control. Reports suggest that travelers had to wait for hours to cross the border on Thursday and Friday. To thwart potential risks to public health and order, the border crossing will remain shut on Saturday and Sunday, as the authority announced. Estonian media speculate that the prolonged checks could be linked to the planned Estonian Victory Day celebrations against the Red Army on June 23, 1919 in Narva.
Read also:
- The ATESH Ukrainian rebel group suggests that an insider may have infiltrated a Russian air force base, potentially leading to future sabotage operations, echoing their scouting of a Russian air force facility in Voronezh near Ukraine's border.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, calls for immediate Western aid after a bombing attack in Charkiw, expressing gratitude for the provided capabilities to destroy Russian support points in the border region and condemning the loss of lives and injuries caused by Russian military operations.
- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, cybersecurity concerns rise as reports emerge that Russia is allegedly engaging in cyberwarfare, aiming to disrupt critical Ukrainian infrastructure and impacting the country's defense mechanisms.
- Railways in Ukraine are targeted by Russian attacks, causing significant disruptions to transportation, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shares on Telegram, calling for Western allies to provide support in protecting the country's infrastructure and ensuring the continuity of essential services during the conflict.
