Video suggests Iranian Shahed drone was struck down by German Gepard anti-aircraft weapon.
German Cheetah anti-aircraft tanks have been in use by Ukrainian forces since 2022, creating a significant impact on the battlefield. These decades-old tanks, initially developed in the 1970s and retired from active service in Germany, have been welcomed by the Ukrainian military for their unique capabilities. With daily drone attacks being a constant threat, the Cheetahs are essential in providing air defense for Ukraine. Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, discussed the effectiveness of these tanks in a statement featured on Platform X, highlighting how a few shots are often enough to neutralize Iranian drones. He also posted a video demonstrating the tank's successful deployment.
Moving on to other fronts, the United States Department of Defense's recent disclosure pointed towards the delivery of weapons to Ukraine. As the conflict continues to escalate, Washington remains committed to supplying additional aid and support to the front lines. Spokesperson John Kirby informed Ukrinform that part of the first aid package has already reached the Ukrainian military. While the process of delivering the remaining resources is still ongoing, the US government also announced a new $400 million package of vital ammunition and weapons.
The ongoing Russian offensive near Kharkiv, a Ukrainian megacity, is being closely monitored by political experts. Thomas Jäger, a political scientist, outlined three potential motives behind Russia's moves, with varied implications for Ukraine. The instability in the region has resulted in unsuccessful attempts by Ukraine's allies to provide meaningful aid, leaving them to deal with the crisis on their own.
Ukraine is facing ongoing battles against the Russian army in the Kharkiv border region. The General Staff reported nine clashes on this section of the front as of this morning. While Ukrainian troops are defending themselves against the Russian advance, independent verification of these claims is not possible. However, Russian advances had been anticipated with the buildup of vast forces in the area in recent days. It's unclear whether Russia plans to attack the city of Kharkiv.
Jürgen Weichert, an ntv reporter, shed light on the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv area. The video shows the extent of the territorial gains and how the Ukrainian military is handling the situation. He also shared his visit to a German-funded prosthetics center in Lviv.
German parliamentary leaders from CDU, FDP, and Greens are contemplating the deployment of Western soldiers for air defense in Ukraine. In conversations with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper, they voiced support for Nico Lange's proposal to create a "secure zone" 70 kilometers wide on Ukraine's borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. As per the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's spokesperson for crisis prevention, Roderich Kiesewetter, this move would enable Russia's "unmanned missiles" to be shot down by Western air defense systems, freeing up Ukrainian air defense to protect the front.
Russia is experiencing heavy losses on the Ukrainian front, according to Ukraine's reports. Over the last day, roughly 1,320 Russian soldiers, 15 tanks, 40 armored personnel carriers, and 55 artillery systems were reported destroyed. Additionally, two rocket launchers, an air defense system, and 64 other military vehicles were eliminated. These claims cannot be independently confirmed. Frank Umbach, a security expert, pointed out that these losses could reach a staggering 500,000 soldiers by the end of the year, even according to NATO estimates. Moreover, difficulties with the mobilization process are also problematic for Moscow.
Lastly, journalists managed to obtain exclusive footage of Russian President Vladimir Putin's palace in Gelendzhik. The video showcases the opulent interior, featuring expensive furniture, busts, extensive chandeliers, and even a swimming pool. The grandeur of the palace speaks volumes about the resources Russia continues to invest in its leadership and military might.
07:56: Russian assault near Kharkiv, a city housing millions, triggers worries - ISW weighs in on the circumstances
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) postulates that the significant Russian onslaught on the Russian-Ukrainian border in the northern sector of the Kharkiv region is intended to draw Ukrainian military personnel and resources away from other significant frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Additionally, Russian forces are presumed to have standing reserves, poised to ratchet up their offensive operations in the coming days, as per ISW. "Nevertheless, the present minimal efforts of Russian forces do not imply that they are promptly targeting a major, all-encompassing offensive operation to encircle and seize Kharkiv." The American think tank persists in considering that it would be challenging for the Russian military to seize Kharkiv if they aimed to do so in the first place. This is as a result of the fact that it "presumably would necessitate them to set aside other essential parts of the front and redeploy substantial numbers of troops to the international border area, which is highly improbable given the Russian military's enduring goal of seizing the rest of the Luhansk and Donetsk territories."
07:17: The EU intends to utilize interest earnings from Russian assets valued at over 200 billion euros to arm Ukraine - Minister: "Barely anything"
In the EU, it is estimated that around 210 billion euros in Russian assets are frozen. The EU is planning to distribute the interest earnings to buy weapons for Ukraine. However, this would only amount to a low-digit billion figure. Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska informed Politico that the yearly financial package of 3 billion euros derived from the profits of frozen Russian assets is "barely anything" when compared to the nation's necessities. "We require numerous billions to triumph in the war," Maliuska said. "The Ukrainian administration genuinely desires complete forfeiture and genuinely believes that this is justifiable and the sole avenue that will determine the outcome of the war," he adds.
06:39: US furnishes Ukraine with a fresh $400 million arms package
The US Department of Defense unveils further support "to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense requirements". This marks the fifty-seventh distribution of equipment from US supplies for Ukraine since August 2021. The package is believed to be evaluated at 400 million US dollars. As stated by a declaration from Washington, it encompasses munitions for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, artillery shells, Bradley infantry combating vehicles, additional HIMARS artillery rocket systems and ammunition, and M113 armored personnel carriers.
06:04: Ukraine deploys several new robotic complexes to serve its troops
Nine Ukrainian ground-based robotic complexes have been put into operation since the start of the year, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The robots execute a variety of duties on the battlefield and lessen potential risks for Ukrainian soldiers, according to the ministry. The tasks involve using machine guns, removing mines, and evacuating injured troops. "Numerous local manufacturers are currently focusing on the fabrication of robotic systems to expand the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and protect the lives of our soldiers," comments the Ministry of Defense representative, Colonel Volodymyr Rochniak.
05:34: Ukraine: Russian strikes kill civilians in Sumy region
Russian forces assaulted nine settlements along the border with Sumy Oblast on May 10, causing one civilian death and injuring two others, per the regional military administration report. A 64-year-old female resident and her 17-year-old granddaughter, both residents of the village of Esman, were killed in the stratagem of artillery fire, as per the administration. A local of the village of Seredyna-Buda sustained injuries due to artillery shelling on May 10, the administration disclosed.
04:45: Authorities insist: Russians desire to annihilate Ukrainian city of Vovchansk
Russian forces are determined to annihilate the Ukrainian border city of Vovchansk, asserted a Ukrainian official. "Within a time span of 24 hours, there were possibly several hundred impacts by artillery, mines, and dozens of cluster bombs," remarks the leader of the Vovchansk police patrol. "They are in the process of demolishing the city and endeavoring to infiltrate the area."
03:35: Governor: deceased in Ukrainian strike against oil storage in Luhansk
Three individuals were slain in the Ukrainian strike against an oil depository in the Russian-controlled region of Luhansk, as per the local Russian governor. Six people sustained wounds from the explosion and two were harmed by smoke inhalation, reported Governor Leonid Passetschnik on the ephemeral message service Telegram. A significant blaze erupted in the oil storage facility. Passetschnik opines that Ukraine employed tactical army missile systems (ATACMS) provided by the USA, without offering any evidence. There was no immediate response from the Ukrainian side.
02:20 Russia reports attacks on Belgorod and Kursk oblasts by Ukrainian drones
Russian authorities claim that Ukraine launched drone attacks on Russian territories of Belgorod and Kursk on May 10, damaging agricultural buildings and equipment. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that air defense units fired 17 projectiles from the Vampire multiple rocket launcher, 13 drones, and five guided aerial bombs over Belgorod Oblast. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod Region, reported that one drone fell on a farm, damaging three buildings and two pieces of equipment. Roman Starovoit, the governor of Russia's Kursk region, also said that 12 settlements in the region were attacked by drones on May 10, with one drone damaging an infrastructure facility.
00:53 Zelensky vows fierce response to recent Russian offensive
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a strong response from Ukraine against the latest Russian offensive, saying, "There is fierce fighting along the entire front." He added, "We will inevitably destroy the occupier in such a way that all Russian offensive plans will be thwarted."
23:46 Fire erupts at oil storage facility near Luhansk after alleged attack
Russian news agency TASS reported an attack on an oil depot in the Russian-controlled region of Luhansk. A fire broke out there following a Ukrainian attack. Ukrainian bloggers claimed the depot in the village of Rowenky was targeted.
22:14 US government finds Kremlin's offensive "worrisome"
The US government is observing the new major Russian attack near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with concern. National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby said, "We anticipated that Russia would launch an offensive against Kharkiv, and it now appears to have begun." In the months following the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia had previously attempted to capture Kharkiv unsuccessfully. "In fact, it was primarily the failure to take Kharkiv that prompted Mr. Putin to withdraw troops from the border," said Kirby. The current actions of the Russian military there are "very interesting and certainly worrying."
21:51 Zelenskyi stresses need for timely foreign aid for Ukraine's defense
President Zelenskyi emphasized that the Ukrainian armed forces require immediate deliveries of aid from abroad to defend against the new offensive by the Russian army. "What really helps are the weapons that are actually brought into Ukraine, not just announced packages," he said in his evening video address. Zelensky noted that the Russian offensive was expected and "We know the strength of the occupier's troops and see their plan." Ukrainian soldiers, artillery, and drones were responding to the aggression from the occupiers, according to Selensky.
You can learn about all previous developments here.
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- The German Cheetah anti-aircraft tanks, provided to Ukraine, have significantly impacted the country's military operations, providing crucial air defense against daily drone attacks, as highlighted by Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev.
- As the conflict in Ukraine continues, NATO allies are considering the deployment of Western soldiers for air defense in Ukraine, aiming to defend against Russian unmanned missiles, according to German parliamentary leaders from CDU, FDP, and Greens.
- Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, vowed a fierce response to the recent Russian offensive, stating, "We will inevitably destroy the occupier in such a way that all Russian offensive plans will be thwarted," in response to the ongoing battles against the Russian army in the Kharkiv border region.
- The latest $400 million arms package delivered by the US Department of Defense to Ukraine includes various weapons, such as Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and additional HIMARS artillery rocket systems, highlighting the international support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Source: www.ntv.de
