Ukrainian president suggests more aid deal with Germany.
To combat the Russian invasion, Ukraine is negotiation for more aid from Germany. President Zelenskyy states, "We're working on new agreements for Ukraine with European partners for additional support measures, especially with Germany." The exact nature of this aid is unknown. Moreover, a security agreement with the US is in the works.
Minister Schulze denies pressuring Ukrainian refugees residing in Germany to return. Regarding those who have sought refuge in Germany, she assures, "It's entirely up to the individual Ukrainian citizens whether or not they want to return home." Additionally, she emphasizes, "Germany is not forcing anyone back, and no return premiums are being paid."
The Ukrainian military documents 62 assaults by the Russian military. The attacks have been concentrated in the area of the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, where 23 clashes occurred.
The governor of the Dniperpossessing, Lysak, reports Nikopol has endured continuous shelling. There were 15 occurrences with kamikaze drones as well as artillery attacks. Another miracle is there are no casualties. However, there was damage to numerous buildings and a power line.
Save Ukraine successfully retrieved a 17-year-old kidnapped female from Russia, who will reunite with her mother. Ukraine claims more than 20,000 children and adolescents were abducted from Ukraine or Russian-occupied regions.
Zelenskyy expresses gratitude to the soldiers on the Donetsk front line. "We're working on ensuring that you and our entire army have more weapons, equipment, and modernized systems," he says. "We're outlining our next moves."
Syrskyj, the Ukrainian Chief of Staff, visits the soldiers of the 79th separate airborne brigade in the Donbass, praising them for their courage and determination, claiming their resolve disrupts Russian plans to seize Ukrainian territory.
In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Ukrainian air force senior officer, Golubtsov, says domestic guided bombs will be tested soon.
During a Ukrainian assault on Russia's Achtubinsk airbase in southern Russia, a second up-to-date combat aircraft may have been damaged - a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence service confirms this suspicion on Ukrainian television. However, it can't be independently verified at this time. The Su-57 jet is of the most recent generation and the Russian Air Force has utilized it since 2020.
Kharkiv is under attack from Russian artillery once more. A guided bomb hit an inhabited area, according to Governor Sinegubov, no casualties have been reported. Other buildings were also damaged.
Biden's security adviser Sullivan confirms to CBS that the Russian assault in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv has stagnated. He remarks, "The progress in the region of Kharkiv has stalled. Kharkiv remains vulnerable, but the Russians have not made significant advancements in this area for quite some time." Previously, Biden lifted constraints that barred Ukraine from deploying American-provided weapons against Russian targets on Russian soil. A direct result was Scholz allowing German weapons to be used against Russian targets in the border region.
Kherson may be seeing some Russian troops relocated to reinforce their presence in Kharkiv, as the border forces' spokesperson informs Ukrainian television. The exact circumstances are still being clarified.
So, in a nutshell, multiple updates on the situation in Ukraine reveal it's expecting more aid from Germany, ongoing preparations for a security agreement with the US, and denial of pressuring refugees to return. The army is conducting tests on homemade guided bombs, and the Biden administration's security adviser highlights a halt in the Russian offensive in Kharkiv.
It has been reported that Russia is allegedly shifting soldiers from the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson to the northern region of Kharkiv. However, it's uncertain if Moscow plans to send these troops into battle immediately or if they're meant as reinforcements for the military group Sever (North). The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) brings this up in their latest update, referring to a Chechen commander and Ukrainian military sources. The ISW analysis does not mention the number of soldiers being relocated.
17:24: There are claims that Russia is forcing African migrants to fight in Kharkiv.
To strengthen their offensive on Kharkiv, Russia is purportedly compelling thousands of migrants from Africa to join the Russian soldiers. Russian officials threatened African students and workers with a non-renewal of their visas if they did not enlist, say European diplomats, who spoke to Bloomberg. A few individuals allegedly managed to avoid joining the Russians by bribing officials.
16:40: Biden and Macron reach agreement on handling Russian assets.
US President Joe Biden disclosed that he and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, have reached a deal on what to do with frozen Russian assets. The joint decision is to reallocate the frozen funds to support Ukraine, Biden informs. Details of the plan have yet to be divulged.
16:23: Incident in Belgorod region of Russia, drone shootdowns reported.
An incident has been reported in the Russian Belgorod region which resulted in a fire at a munitions depot, according to residents' videos shared on Telegram. The governor previously warned of the risk of rockets. The Russian Defense Ministry announced it had shot down several Ukrainian drones in the Belgorod region.
15:44: Russians gathering troops on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces are alleged to have been assembling on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, with a view to mounting an assault. This claim comes from the Ukrainian news outlet "Ukrayinska Pravda," citing a military source. The source reports that over 1,500 bombardments have occurred in the area over the past week. Russians are said to have destroyed positions using multiple rocket launchers and guided air bombs to pave the way for their advance. "The city center is under our control," says the Ukrainian source.
14:57: Ukrainian pilots in view of Russian drone's camera.
A video shared by the Ukrainian military shows pilots of an open-cockpit aircraft clearly visible through the lens of a Russian drone. The Ukrainian armed forces detail that the Yak-52 aircraft serves for air defense and was in operation in the Mykolayiv region when the footage was taken.
13:58: Ukrainian intelligence service admits responsibility for drone attack on Russian combat jet.
The Ukrainian intelligence service (HUR) has acknowledged its involvement in an attack with a Ukrainian drone on a modern Russian combat jet parked 600 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. A HUR source imparts that the attack on the aircraft, guided by a drone built in Ukraine, was orchestrated by their service. It's worth noting that the HUR is known for adventurous operations on Russian soil and in the Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine.
13:27: Kremlin to merge occupied territories into new region called "Novorossiya."
Russia plans to combine the occupied territories in four southeastern oblasts and Crimea into a federal district named "Novorossiya," says the head of Luhansk's regional military administration, Artem Lysohor, via Telegram. "The locals are not provided the chance to suggest a name because there's only one option – Novorossiya," he adds. Lysohor points out that these territories do not carry legal acknowledgment. After the holidays, residents of these regions will learn their history using a Russian textbook.
12:57: Permission to target Russian territory has "immediately impacted" military course, asserts Ukrainian commander.
Brigade Commander Yuriy Fedorenko of the Ukrainian armed forces affirms that the authorization to strike Russian territory has "instantly impacted" the course of the conflict, benefiting the Ukrainians. In an interview with Radio NV, he shares that the Western-provided weapons have helped disable key things, like electronic surveillance, electronic warfare, air defense, and crucial systems like the S-300 and S-400. According to the military, the current authorization is "Step One." The expansion to further reach Russian territory marks "Step Two."
12:35: 103 Russian attacks on Ukrainian settlements since yesterday.
Ukrainian military authorities declare that Russia has launched over a hundred attacks on Ukrainian settlements in the past 24 hours.
The Ukrainian military has recorded 103 attacks on settlements and 93 on infrastructure in the last 24 hours. These attacks were directed at 10 different regions. In Kharkiv, Kherson, and Izium, at least 3 people were killed, with houses and a school sustaining damage.
12:11 An increasing number of women serve in the Ukrainian army
Currently, more than 67,000 women are part of the Ukrainian military, most of whom are in roles as soldiers. Despite the 2022 invasion not specifically targeting women for recruitment, the number of female soldiers has increased by 40%. In contrast to previous times, these women are now willing to take up responsibilities like shooting, managing artillery, or operating drones. Since there's an increasing need to provide these female soldiers with career opportunities, the government is taking note.
11:32 The government plans to create a list of explosive-contaminated areas
The Ukrainian government intends to create a state registry to track mine-infested and explosive-laden areas. The goal is to monitor the demining status of these regions almost in real time. This is especially important for farmers to determine whether their land is still hazardous or has been successfully cleared. The post-war situation in Ukraine is expected to be perilous with many potential dangers in formerly war-torn areas. "We have munitions from the 50s, with a dud rate of over 30%," says security expert Gustav Gressel. "The post-war landscape of Ukraine would essentially become a vast minefield."
10:52 Poll suggests 60% of Germans support conscription
A majority of Germans are in favour of returning to conscript-based military service. 60% believe that reintroducing conscription is either a good idea (28%) or a reasonable step (32%). 32% people, however, are against it, with 18% leaning towards the 'no' side and 14% firmly rejecting the idea. Conscription had been on pause since 2011. Amidst speculation regarding a potential invasion by Russia in Ukraine, a debate has ensued on how to boost the Bundeswehr's presence.
10:30 Ukraine reports damage to Su-57 fighter jet
The Ukrainian military has claimed that their forces managed to damage a Su-57, Russia's most advanced fighter jet. The damage occurred during an airstrike on an airfield in the area of Astrakhan, Russia. It's located about 600 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Satellite images seem to indicate that the jet was unharmed on Friday, while showing visible signs of damage on Saturday. The previous day, Russia had reported attacks on various regions, including Astrakhan. The Su-57 is a sophisticated jet capable of carrying cruise missiles - only a small number have been deployed in combat.
10:12 ISW reports Russia's inability to mount large-scale summer offensives
ISW, an American research institute, estimates that Russia can mobilize 30,000 soldiers each month, some of whom are being sent as reinforcements to the frontlines. According to this analysis, the new recruits won't be enough to initiate large-scale offensives on multiple fronts during the summer. Consequently, these reinforcements won't be capable of acting as primary or secondary troops essential for a large offensive.
09:25 UN reports 174 civilian deaths in May
The UN mission in Ukraine has revealed that at least 174 civilians lost their lives while 690 were wounded in the month of May. This makes May the deadliest month for civilians in a year, according to the UN. These escalated casualties are partly due to the extensive attacks launched by Russian soldiers in the Kharkiv region. More than half of the victims have been identified as originating from this region.
08:52 Russell wants to educate officers in their occupied territories
Russia is planning to conduct training courses for officer-level positions in their occupyed territories in Ukraine. According to a report by the Ukrainian special forces, these trained officers will be provided with lucrative job offers. These courses will focus on electronic warfare, including the use of radar technology and jammers. The Russian forces have been using jammers rigorously, hindering the use of precision-guided weapons from the West.
08:18 Ukrainian military reports 1,270 Russian casualties
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1270 Russian soldiers killed or injured within the last 24 hours. The cumulative victim count of the invading forces now stands at over 518,000. Yesterday, 26 Russian tanks were destroyed as well as 26 armored vehicles, 60 artillery systems, and two air defense systems. The number of neutralized drones has been estimated at 37.
07:40 Ukrainians successfully contain Russian advances in the north
There's been an amassment of Russian troops near the northeastern border of Ukraine. The town of Wowtschansk near Kharkiv has been under constant bombardment, sparking speculation of an imminent major Russian offensive in the region. However, the Ukrainians seem to be successfully holding their ground and repelling the attempted advances.
NATO Contemplates Stationing Rep in Kiev, Aid to Become More Solid
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is exploring the establishment of a post for an unswerving civilian representative in Kiev. This high-ranking individual would spearhead NATO assistance for Ukraine, including armaments from Western nations. This resembles NATO's role during its two-decade stay in Afghanistan. The mulling over a representative is due to the likelihood that NATO members won't agree to invite Ukraine for membership discussions at the approaching NATO summit in Washington. As a result, the alliance is now investigating actions beneath such a commitment, paving the way for a closer relationship with Kiev.
Ukraine Desires Direct Deals with Weapons Makers
The Ukrainian government has officially initiated a new strategy in terms of cooperating with weapons producers. The aim is to finalize more direct agreements between Ukraine and the weapons industry. Vice Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov inked a pact with a Bulgarian company over the weekend, per news outlet "Ukrinform." "This allows us to procure modern armaments straight from the producer, and speeds up and maximizes the modernization of the Ukrainian army," Klimenkov disclosed.
Austrian Minister: Germany Has "Overshot the Mark"
The Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner expressed, in an interview with "Die Presse," that Germany, France, and the United States have "transgressed the envelope" following their sanction for Kiev to utilize Western armaments on Russian territories. She hailed that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg vetoed the notion of sending troops to the Ukraine. Nevertheless, Tanner refrained from expressing her stance on Ukraine's need to defend themselves against shelling from the Russian borderland region. "Since we're a militarily neutral state, we're not in a position to adjudicate."
German Government Tries to Demolish Macron's Ideas
Due to security concerns, the German government opposes schemes by French President Emmanuel Macron to dispatch European troops to Ukraine, ensuring that Ukrainian forces are trained onsite. "The training in the EU promotes safety, while the arrisal of training compounds in Ukraine could be assailed, making the training ineffective," says an internal EU report to which "Welt am Sonntag" has pertinent access. The German government reportedly aired considerable security concerns at the assembly of European defense ministers on May 28.
Ukrainian Army: Russians Attempt to Penetrate
The Ukrainian General Staff logged 76 skirmishes in the past 24 hours. The most distressing situation is at the Pokrovsk Front. There, 27 Russian assaults were marked. The Ukrainian army headquartered in Kiev divulged Russians' endeavor to break through from Ocheretyne to Evhenivka and Novooleksandriwka.
Suspects Apprehended in French Coffin Graffiti Case
Following the appearance of coffins in Paris with the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine," three suspects from Moldova are incarcerated in police custody. The inquiry is considering external influence, says a spokesman for the prosecutor's office. On Friday, graffiti sprouted on property exteriors in the French capital portraying a coffin with "French soldiers in Ukraine." During the hours between Friday and Saturday, three Moldovans were ensnared, possessing paint cans and stencils. Just a few days prior, burial urns appeared at the Eiffel Tower inscribed "French soldiers in Ukraine." Suspects were nabbed, comprising a German.
UN Records 174 Civilian Casualties in Ukraine
The United Nations acknowledges May as the month with the highest number of civilian fatalities in Ukraine since June 2023, with at least 174 civilians deceased. Ukraine has perennially accused Russia of intentionally bombing areas close to the frontline to provoke evacuations. Moscow refutes deliberate attacks on civilians.
Drone Drops Explosives on Ambulance
A driver of an ambulance sustained harm, according to Ukrainian sources, when Russian infantry detonated explosives from a UAV on the ambulance. The incident occurred in the village of Biloserka in southern Ukraine, as the governor of the Oblast Kherson attested.
Ukrainian POWs Endured Abuse, Assertion States
The Ukrainian General Prosecutor assumes that nearly all the Ukrainian prisoners of war underwent brutality. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin chipped in this sentiment to "Euromaidan Press." "The initial so-called interviewing - an informal dialogue with returning military POWs - suggests that up to 90% of our people endured different forms of torture, including physical, including sexual, and psychological abuse."
Zelenskyy Views Russian Charkiv Offensive as a Failure
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed the Russian Charkiv offensive as a blunder.
In Zelenskyy's point of view, the Russian forces have not been successful in their assault on the Charkiv area. He mentioned in his nightly address that he had talked with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi about the overall state of affairs at the front. The president noted that a significant achievement is that the Russian troops have not conducted their plan in Charkiv. "We're doing our best to hold them back and destroying Russian units trying to enter our nation and cause terror in the Charkiv region," Zelenskyy expressed. Furthermore, he stated that the front in Charkiv has been fortified and will receive even more reinforcement. The circumstances in the Donetsk region, however, are the most challenging.
Read also:
- Amidst the Ukraine conflict, the German government is considering strengthening its military support for Ukraine, including potential cyberwar capabilities, as discussed between President Zelenskyy and German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock.
- NATO is evaluating the establishment of a civilian representative in Kiev to spearhead NATO assistance for Ukraine, including weapons supply, in lieu of extending an invitation for Ukraine to discuss membership at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.
- The Russian military has been accused of using African migrants as forced recruits to strengthen its offensive in Kharkiv, as revealed by European diplomats to Bloomberg.
- Ukraine is working closely with NATO allies, such as Germany and the US, to bolster its military capabilities, including the potential use of NATO's territorial defense systems against cyber attacks and Russian military operations in Ukraine.
