07:59: Tories – bombing of Russian areas in Ukraine

According to their states, the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod were bombed by Ukrainian forces in the morning. According to current information, there were no casualties in the attacks across state borders. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on the Telegram news app this morning that „the city of Valuyki is under fire from Ukrainian forces.” He left the place open whether it was rocket fire, artillery or any other form of attack. The air defense system succeeded, but there is devastation on the ground.” The governor of the Kursk region north of Belgorod, Roman Starovoit, said that a fire broke out in the village of Tyutkino. A school and a private house were damaged. Starovojt did not comment on the nature of the attack.

05:44: Putin – The Russian economy is developing better than expected

According to Putin, the Russian economy is developing better than expected. The Russian President announced this on the website of the Russian Presidential Office. Prime Minister Mishustin’s report on economic growth was surprisingly positive. Mishustin told Putin at a meeting in the Kremlin that GDP growth could exceed 2 percent this year and annual consumer price inflation is unlikely to rise above 5 percent. The International Monetary Fund expects Russia’s economy to grow by 0.7 percent this year. Russia’s economy shrank by 2.1% in 2022. It came under particular pressure last spring when Kyiv’s allies imposed far-reaching sanctions on Moscow over the military operation in Ukraine.

05.20: Ukraine: The Russian „formation” at Makevka no longer exists after the attack

The Ukrainian military announced that it attacked a Russian „formation” in the city of Makievka in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine. „Due to the effective fire of defense forces units, there is no more formation of Russian terrorists in the temporarily occupied Makevka,” the Ukrainian military said in a Telegram. It also released a video showing a powerful explosion lighting up the night sky and revealing the outline of at least one building. The Ukrainian military did not provide any other information about the attack. Denis Pushlin, the Russian-appointed governor of Donetsk, said Ukrainian soldiers had launched „violent attacks” on residential areas and a hospital complex in Makeyevka. Russia’s official Interfax news agency reported that a man was killed and 36 civilians were injured to varying degrees in the Ukrainian attacks. The statements of both sides could not be verified.

5:08 am: So far 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained in Germany

5,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained in Germany since the start of Russia’s War of Aggression. Up to 5,000 more could follow this year, a spokesman for the German Army’s Training Command told AFP. The EU mission created for this purpose has „the capacity to train up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in Germany by the end of the year”. After the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the federal government decided last year not only to supply weapons but also to train soldiers from Ukraine. This was mostly related to the promise of heavy weapons systems, including the Panzerhaubitze 2000 or, since this year, the Leopard battle tanks.

02:34: Ukraine – successes south of Bakhmut – Russian advance in the north

According to Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar, Ukrainian forces are making progress daily in the areas outside Bakhmut, despite fierce Russian resistance. „We are advancing on the southern side of Bakhmut. Frankly, in the north there is heavy fighting and no progress so far,” Malgar said on state television. Russian forces were increasing their strength in the south and east and were advancing north near Liman and Svatoy.

02:04: Ukraine – attack on Russian forces in the Donetsk region

The Ukrainian military reported on its Telegram short message service that Ukrainian forces had „destroyed” a formation of Russian forces in Makezhevka, in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region, with targeted fire. The head of the separatist administration in the region, Denis Pushlin, announced on his Telegram channel that residential areas and a hospital had been hit in the attack. One man was killed and 36 people were injured, including an infant and a seven-year-old child. Reuters could not verify the statements of the two sides.

12:40 am: Selinski’s adviser slams IAEA chief Rafael Grossi

Zelensky’s advisor, Mykhailo Podolak, has been highly critical of the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Rafael Grossi’s efforts to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhia NPP had no effect. The International Atomic Energy Agency had turned around in an attempt to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant. Grossi was „joking” rather than making the IAEA’s position clear from the start. „And if there was a disaster, he would say that they had nothing to do with it, and yes, they warned of all dangers.”

12:11 a.m.: Dozens injured in an attack on the city of Makievka, in eastern Ukraine

According to local authorities, 25 people were injured as a result of several projectiles hitting the city of Makivka, in eastern Ukraine, which is controlled by Russian forces. Denis Pushlin, head of the partially Russian-occupied Donetsk region, said on his Telegram channel on Wednesday evening that two children were among the injured. According to Pushlin, houses, a hospital, schools and a kindergarten were damaged. According to Russian military blogs, the Himar missiles that Ukraine received from the United States were used in the bombing. According to Ukrainian sources, the force of the explosion was due to the fact that the shelling hit a fuel or ammunition depot. Information provided by the warring parties cannot usually be independently verified.