On day 1183 of war, the Russians continue their attacks on Ukraine, but Kiev is not backing down.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 76 drones last night. Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 22 of them, while another 41 disappeared from radar. The regions of Kharkiv and Sumy were affected.
A rocket attack by Russia on a Ukrainian military range killed six soldiers on Tuesday and injured at least 10 during training.
Russia may be preparing to launch new attacks in the Kharkiv sector, as indicated by the accumulation of its forces near the border with Ukraine, confirming the opinions of experts who have warned that Russia rejects ceasefire proposals because Putin believes he can conquer the Ukrainian regions he is attacking this year.
On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it intercepted over 150 Ukrainian drones in a massive attack that took place Tuesday night, stating that 53 were shot down. The apparent target of the attack was a semiconductor factory in the city of Bolhov.
Temporary flight restrictions have been introduced at the airports in Yaroslavl, Kostroma, and Kaluga.
Vladimir Putin visited the western region of Kursk for the first time since Russian forces drove out Ukrainian troops from the area last month. The Kremlin stated that during the visit, Putin met with volunteer organizations in the region and visited the Kursk-II nuclear plant.
Regarding peace negotiations, the German Defense Minister says that American President Donald Trump misjudged his influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin, after a phone call between the two leaders yielded no progress in the peace talks in Ukraine.
Frontline Situation
- 6 Dead in Sumy - A Russian rocket attack on a shooting range in the Sumy region resulted in six soldiers killed and over 10 wounded, announced the National Guard of Ukraine. "An official investigation into the tragedy is ongoing," said the National Guard in a statement. The National Guard Command has established protocols and issued directives to respond to aerial attack threats and avoid unnecessary personnel concentration, the unit mentioned. "The unit commander has been suspended, and the necessary information has been relayed to law enforcement agencies," the statement said.
- Attack with Over 70 Drones - Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 76 drones last night. Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 22 of them, while another 41 disappeared from radar. The drones were launched from the Kursk, Oryol, and Bryansk regions in Russia. The regions of Kharkiv and Sumy were affected by the Russian attack.
- Russia Moves Troops Near Kharkiv - Russia may be preparing to launch new attacks in the Kharkiv sector, as indicated by the accumulation of its forces near the border with Ukraine, said Andrii Pomahaibus, the chief of staff of the 13th Guard Brigade Hartiia of Ukraine, on Wednesday. He told Suspilne that Russia is trying to move its forces closer to the contact line but has not yet launched attacks. "There is an accumulation of personnel closer to the state border, meaning there are attempts to involve personnel (Russian), evidently preparing for active assault operations. Our Defense forces are ready to repel the attacks," he said. In April, the Ukrainian army announced that Russian forces were regrouping and preparing for a new assault on the Kharkiv region. Russia has rejected ceasefire proposals unless accompanied by stopping military aid to Ukraine and continues ground attacks along the front and long-range strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
What's Happening in Russia
- Massive Drone Attack in Russia - The Russian Ministry of Defense intercepted over 150 Ukrainian drones in a massive attack that took place Tuesday night, stating that 53 were shot down. Several sources reported attacks on industrial targets, according to Kiev Independent. The apparent target of the attack was a semiconductor factory in the city of Bolhov, reported the independent news channel Astra. The Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ shared what it claimed to be images of the facility in flames and damaged. Russian officials have not commented on a possible attack on the plant, which was sanctioned by the US last year due to its role in the Russian military-industrial complex. Temporary flight restrictions have been introduced at the airports in Yaroslavl, Kostroma, and Kaluga. The Ukrainian army has not commented on these claims.
- Putin Visits Kursk - Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kursk region, bordering Ukraine and whose liberation was announced by Moscow at the end of April, the Kremlin announced in a statement on Wednesday. Putin met with volunteer organizations in the region and visited the Kursk-II nuclear plant. "Vladimir Putin made a working trip to the Kursk region, where he met with his interim governor Aleksandr Hinstein and representatives of volunteer organizations," the Russian presidential administration said. Russia claimed at the end of April that it had fully recaptured the Kursk region with the help of North Korean soldiers, where Ukrainian forces had entered in August 2024 in a rapid operation that surprised the Russian army.
Peace Talks
- Trump Misjudged His Influence over Putin - German Defense Minister says American President Donald Trump misjudged his influence over Vladimir Putin, after a phone call between the two leaders yielded no progress in peace negotiations, prompting Europe to announce new sanctions against Russia, Reuters reports. "I suspect he misjudged his negotiating position," said Boris Pistorius, after Trump's now-abandoned efforts to pressure Putin into accepting an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. The European Union is currently working on its next package of sanctions against Russia due to the war in Ukraine. Pistorius said it remains to be seen if Washington will join these measures, with discussions continuing through normal diplomatic channels.
- Negotiations at the Vatican? - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni assured that Pope Leon XIV confirmed, during a phone conversation, the Vatican's willingness to host peace negotiations regarding Ukraine. "The discussion follows a phone call with American President Donald Trump and other European leaders," during which Giorgia Meloni was asked to verify the Holy See's willingness to host the negotiations, according to a WhatsApp message from the Italian prime minister's services. "Finding in the Holy Father the willingness to host future discussions between the parties," Meloni thanked the pope for his "unceasing commitment to peace," the message stated.
Other Relevant Information
- Ukrainian Spies in Hungary - Hungarian security services have identified two Ukrainian spies, announced a government spokesperson, the latest in a series of mutual accusations of espionage between Budapest and Kiev, Reuters reports. One of the identified men built connections with the Opposition and organized meetings with political and military figures "to influence Hungary's position on the conflict in Ukraine," said the government spokesperson, Zoltan Kovacs, in a post on X. The post, quoting the head of the ruling party's parliamentary group, Mate Kocsis, does not specify when the espionage activity took place, but mentions that the man was banned from traveling in 2024. The second person sought military and energy information and is under criminal investigation for espionage, Kovacs said.
- Former Ukrainian Politician Assassinated in Madrid - Former Ukrainian politician Andrii Portnov was fatally shot on Wednesday morning in front of a private school in the upscale Pozuelo neighborhood of Madrid, according to a source close to the investigation. Details HERE.
- Iran Has a Strategic Pact with Russia - The Iranian Parliament approved on Wednesday a 20-year strategic partnership pact between Moscow and Tehran, announced state media. The agreement entails strengthening bilateral ties, including closer defense cooperation, Reuters reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian signed the strategic partnership document on January 17. The Russian parliament approved the pact in April. Although the agreement does not include a mutual defense clause, it stipulates that both countries will cooperate against common military threats, develop their military-technical cooperation, and participate in joint military exercises. The strategic pact also includes several clauses aimed at bolstering economic partnership, especially through enhancing direct interbank cooperation and promoting their national financial products. A free trade agreement between Iran and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union came into force last week, reducing tariffs to boost trade between the two economies, both targeted by harsh Western sanctions.