«Missiles positioned on the western borders»

Russia “has already geopolitically lost” the war in Ukraine. This was stated in an interview with the newspaper L’Opinion by French President Emmanuel Macron, referring to Moscow’s relations with its traditional allies, such as China, and the entry into NATO of Sweden and Finland. “It has in fact initiated a form of vassalage towards China and has lost access to the Baltic, which was fundamental for it, since it accelerated the Swedish and Finnish choice to join NATO”, explained the French president, who in these hours his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, awaits in Paris

“We must win and we must defeat the aggressor.” This was stated by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, after receiving the Kralspreis in Aachen. “We will be able to fulfill our mission but only together,” he added.

US think tank ISW claims Ukrainian forces recaptured more than 16 square kilometers of territory from Bakhmut in three days. «On May 13, the spokesman of the Ukrainian Eastern Forces group, Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, said that the Ukrainian forces liberated 17.3 square kilometers of territory in the Bakhmut direction in three days of counterattacks. ISW estimated as of May 13 that Ukrainian forces liberated 16.85 square kilometers in the Bakhmut area during recent counterattacks,” the think tank reports in its latest update.

Belarus has put tactical and multiple-launch missile systems into combat readiness on the country’s western border. This was stated by the Belarusian Defense Ministry TV channel, quoted by Interfax. «Tactical missile systems and multiple launch missile systems are positioned on the western borders. The army clearly demonstrates that our Polonez and Tochka systems will immediately respond to any aggression attempts against Belarus,” the TV channel said and added that they are operating as part of combat readiness control.

The Kremlin claims that Ukraine has become a state sponsor of terrorism: «Kiev sponsors, instigates and perpetrates the assassinations of Russians. The Tax reports it.

Will the weapons delivered by the West be enough for a counter-offensive? “A few more visits and they will be enough,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky replied today to a question from a Ukrainian journalist at the chancellery in Berlin.

The Russian Defense Ministry said overnight attacks in Ternopil (in western Ukraine) and Petropavlivka in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region “hit” Western weapons sites. Both in the East and in the West of Ukraine

An explosion rang out in the Russian-occupied town of Yasinuvata, Donetsk region. This was reported by Rbc Ukraine which mentions local Telegram channels. According to media reports, it was not specified on social media where exactly the explosion occurred, but local residents have published footage that would show smoke over the city. RBC Ukraine reports that pro-Russians denounce an attack on the city, blaming the Ukrainian army.

«Ukraine wants peace», «but the conflict cannot be frozen», «Russia must first of all withdraw its troops». This was stated by Olaf Scholz in Berlin at a press conference with the Ukrainian president Zelensky

“We have supplied weapons to help Ukraine defend its territory. This is what it is about and this is what we continue to do». This was stated by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, answering the question of whether Germany will allow the delivered weapons to be struck on Russian territory

“We do not attack Russian territorial targets, but we liberate our territories.” Volodymyr Zelensky said this in Berlin, responding to the US leaks leaked in the last month and disseminated by the Washington Post according to which the Ukrainian president allegedly hypothesized that he was “conducting attacks in Russia”. Zelensky said the Ukrainians have no weapons that can strike Russia

On the night of May 14, the Russians attacked Ukraine from several directions, and the air defense destroyed three cruise missiles and 25 drones. The Ukrainian Air Force reports it on Telegram. According to reports, «18 attack drones of the Shahed-136/131 type, a UAV of the »Lancet« type were shot down; two operational tactical UAVs »Orlan-10«; four UAVs whose type is currently being defined; three Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles»

On the last day, the Russians launched attacks on ten regions of Ukraine using drones, cruise missiles, aircraft, heavy artillery and mortars. This is reported by Ukrinform on the basis of consolidated information from regional military administrations. In the Donetsk region, Russian troops shelled 12 settlements in the past day, including Avdiivka, Kostyantynivka and Bakhmut. Seven people died and 16 were injured in 24 hours. In the Ternopil region yesterday evening, following an attack by the Russians, warehouses were hit, causing a fire. Two people were injured. A new attack was registered at dawn: summer houses, commercial and office premises and trucks were destroyed and damaged, causing no casualties. In the Chernihiv region, Russian troops shelled the Novgorod-Siversky district 5 times with mortars and artillery. In the Sumy region, the Russians carried out six bombing raids on the border during the day. 65 explosions were recorded. During the night, the Russian army then bombed two communities in the region, damaging a power line and an administrative services center. In the Zaporizhzhia region, the Russians attacked 18 settlements in the last day, resulting in one casualty. In the Dnipropetrovsk region the Russian army attacked Nikopol with heavy artillery. A 57-year-old man was hospitalized in serious condition. In the city, two buildings, five private houses, several farm buildings, a garage, a minibus and two power lines were damaged. Attacks were reported in Kharkiv, Lugansk, Mykolaiv and Kherson.

“We support you as long as necessary.” Olaf Scholz said it in Berlin, in a press conference with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky

Germany’s new arms aid package demonstrates that there has been “a fundamental change in the view of how dangerous the Russian regime is for the whole world and underlines the need for this war to end”. Speaking to Bild am Sonntag, the foreign policy adviser to the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak welcomes the announcement of new military aid from Germany, made on the occasion of the Ukrainian president’s visit to Berlin. “What I particularly appreciate about this package is the fact that Germany is taking the lead, recognizing the historic moment and understanding that the right direction now needs to be set.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at the chancellery in Berlin, where he is welcomed with military honors by chancellor Olaf Scholz, with whom he will have bilateral talks. The two leaders greeted each other with a long handshake.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Germany for its support as he met today with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in his first visit to the country after the invasion of Russia. “At the most difficult time in Ukraine’s modern history, Germany is proud to be our true friend and reliable ally. Together we will win and restore peace to Europe.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote it in the guest book, as reported by the Guardian. Zelenskiy reached Germany overnight flying in a Berlin government plane escorted into German airspace by Luftwaffe fighters.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at Bellevue Castle in Berlin, where he will be met by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to welcome his first visit to Germany since the start of the war. The arrival of the Ukrainian leader was only officially confirmed yesterday and the landing from Italy took place in the middle of the night, in an armored capital. In the next few hours, Zelensky is expected in the chancellery by Olaf Scholz, where he will also hold a meeting with the press, and in the afternoon in Aachen, where he will receive the Karlspreis, dedicated this year to the Ukrainian people and its president. Yesterday the German government announced a new 2.7 billion military aid package, doubling the resources deployed so far in support of Kiev.

A massive rocket attack was launched by the Russian army overnight on the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, regional military administration chief Oleg Sinegubov said, quoted by Rbc-Ukraine. Transportation infrastructure and an apartment building were damaged but there were no casualties.

According to the latest update of the Ukrainian General Staff posted on Facebook, in the last 24 years Russia has suffered the loss of 620 soldiers in battle, bringing the total number of soldiers of the Federation who have died since the beginning of the invasion to about 199,000. Russian troops suffered heavy casualties at Klishchiivka near Bakhmut in Donetsk yesterday, Ukrainian officer Anatolii Shtefan said, according to UNIAN.

Russian attack with drones in the night on Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, which the defense forces repelled and destroyed, the military administration of the city announced on Telegram and reported by Ukrinform. ‘The seventh air strike against the capital since the beginning of May! According to preliminary information, before midnight, the Russians launched reconnaissance drones towards the capital. Most likely – said Serhii Popko, the head of the military administration of the city – to identify the positions of our air defenses”. According to him, all drones moving towards Kiev were destroyed in the airspace around the capital. At night, there was also another air alert allegedly due to cruise missiles launched by Russian strategic bombers stationed in the Caspian. No cruise missiles of this type have been detected in the airspace around the capital, Popko stressed. As reported by Ukrinform, air alerts were announced across the territory of Ukraine last night.