The Russian army is making a massive attack near Kharkiv and several villages are said to have been taken. Zelensky’s motto is to stop the advance at all costs. Ukraine is moving troops into the region – and according to ntv reporter Jürgen Weichert, that is exactly one of the goals that Russia wants to achieve:
+++ 08:50 Russia creates panic in the metropolis of Kharkiv – video shows a completely different picture +++
While the Russian armed forces are advancing near the Ukrainian metropolis, nothing is known about any major evacuation measures there. “According to Russian propagandists, Kharkiv is panicked and empty,” says Ukrainian security expert Maria Avdeeva on X. On a video, which she shares, shows people shopping normally at a busy market during the day. There have been numerous air raids on the city in the past; the population is used to Russian aggression. Experts currently do not believe that Kremlin troops will be able to take Kharkiv. It is considered possible that Moscow wants to provoke a mass exodus from the Ukrainian city.
+++ 08:12 ISW: Russians are making tactically significant progress in the Kharkiv region +++
Russian forces are conducting relatively limited offensive operations along the Russian-Ukrainian border in the northern Kharkiv region and “continue to make tactically significant advances in likely less well-defended areas,” according to the Institute for War Studies (ISW). The size of the units involved in the limited operations indicates that Russian forces are currently “not pursuing a large-scale operation to encircle, encircle or capture the city of Kharkiv,” the ISW said.
+++ 07:28 Ukraine attacks oil refinery in Russia +++
A Ukrainian drone attack briefly caused a fire in the Volgograd oil refinery in southern Russia, the region’s governor, Andrei Bocharov, said on Telegram. “The fire was extinguished. There were no injuries,” writes Bocharov. Neither oil producer Lukoil nor the Ukrainian side have yet issued a statement on the incident.
+++ 06:52 Ukraine can hope for important weapons from Latvia +++
Ukrainian Ambassador to Latvia Anatoly Kutsevol says in an interview with Ukrinform that Latvia will soon be able to supply drones and radar defense systems to Ukraine. “I think that over time we will receive more media reports about drones and anti-radar systems from Latvia being supplied to Ukraine,” said Kutsevol. There should also be cooperation in the production of important 155 mm grenades. And: “There are other areas in which we work together, but for security reasons we cannot talk about them now.”
+++ 06:14 Ukrainian brigade reports Russian fighter jet shot down +++
The 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports the shooting down of a Su-25 fighter jet belonging to Russian troops. “The anti-aircraft gunners of the 110th Brigade are once again doing an excellent job. Today they hit another SU-25,” said a post on Facebook. “The occupants still haven’t realized that there’s no point in flying into our skies. They will continue to fall.” According to Ukrainian major Oleksiy Hetman on the We-Ukraine broadcaster, Moscow estimates that it still has around 190 Su-25 jets. “This is a pretty good aircraft when it comes to doing damage to our troops,” Hetman said. The Su-25 is designed to support combat operations directly on the line of contact.
+++ 05:42 Apparently one dead after the attack on Belgorod +++
Apparently, a large-scale Ukrainian attack hit Belgorod and the surrounding region on the evening of May 11, causing damage and casualties, according to the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. Ukraine typically does not comment on reported attacks on Belgorod. Gladkov reports a missile attack alert in the oblast. Shortly afterwards, Russian Telegram channels published images of burning cars and smoke rising over Belgorod. According to Gladkow, a woman was killed in the attack and 29 people, including a child, were injured and hospitalized. Several homes, businesses, cars, and medical and school facilities were reportedly damaged. Damage was also reported in the nearby town of Dubovoye, Gladkow said on his Telegram channel.
+++ 04:29 US General: Russia can easily give priority to the defense industry +++
An autocratic regime like Russia can easily prioritize expanding its defense industry over economic well-being to sustain its military actions in Ukraine, along with help from Iran and North Korea, says Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Speaking at the “Foundation for Defense of Democracies” event on “Transatlantic Security after 75 years of NATO,” Basham pointed out that the Western defense industrial base is also on the rise: “Make no mistake. It assumes “It will continue to outpace Russia’s capabilities. The time Russia spends in Ukraine is also the time we have to get our industrial base to the level it needs.”
+++ 03:02 Zelenskyj: Ukraine carries out counterattacks in Kharkiv region +++
After the Russian offensive in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian army is carrying out counterattacks, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The troops’ main task at the moment is to “disrupt the Russian attack plans,” says Zelensky in his evening video speech. The troops must now “give the initiative back” to Ukraine.
+++ 01:46 Ukraine: Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast kill a civilian +++
According to the regional administration, Russian armed forces shelled ten communities in the northeastern Ukrainian oblast of Sumy during the day. At least 93 explosions were reported in Sumy Oblast in the last 24 hours. A 37-year-old woman was killed in a rocket attack on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Sumy, it said. The attack was directed against local infrastructure, it said, without giving further details about the target or the consequences.
+++ 23:49 Canada takes part in Ukraine peace summit +++
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will take part in the upcoming global peace summit for Ukraine. The summit will take place on June 15 and 16 in Switzerland and will focus on peace in Ukraine in accordance with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 10-point peace formula, a plan that calls for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territories provides. “The first peace summit for Ukraine will take place in June – and Canada will be there,” Trudeau writes on X. “I look forward to joining other world leaders in advancing our shared goal of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. “
+++ 23:06 Scholz warns against Russian influence on European and state elections +++
Chancellor Olaf Scholz warns against Russian influence in the upcoming European and state elections. There are attempts from outside to influence the European and state elections, says the SPD politician at the “RND on Site” stage talk by the Germany editorial network. Scholz called the reports about money payments to AfD politicians “disturbing.” This must now be determined and proven by the responsible authorities, adds Scholz. “There is actually an incredible amount of Russian disinformation circulating in election campaigns.”
+++ 22:00 Scholz appeals to Ukrainian refugees to take up work +++
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has appealed to Ukrainian war refugees in Germany to take up work quickly. “We would like those who are here from Ukraine, as long as they are able to work, to work now,” said the SPD politician at the “RND on Site” stage talk organized by the Germany editorial network in Potsdam. “We have paid for integration courses and language courses and that is why we now want to encourage many people to work with a big job boost,” the Chancellor continued. “Many people are already doing that, it has to be said, but there are a few hundred thousand more that are urgently needed on the job market,” said Scholz. “And my advice to everyone is to do the same.”
You can read all previous developments here.