Ukraine wants to destroy the Crimean bridge soon. According to NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, Ukraine will become a NATO member. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Ukrainian fighters: Captured secret Russian technology
6:14 p.m.: Ukrainian partisans are said to have captured secret technical documents from the Russian Black Sea Fleet. This is reported by the “Kyiv Post”, citing the “Atesh” group.
The partisans are said to have infiltrated a Russian research group and stole the documents. These were made available to the government in Kiev. The Ministry of Defense receives detailed information about the structure and technical capabilities of the Russian fleet. The alleged documents were also published on Telegram.
Former Ukrainian President Poroshenko wants to run again
4:27 p.m.: Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has ambitions to return to the highest state office, even though it is currently not possible to vote because of the Russian war of aggression. “If you ask me whether I would like to take part in the next elections – yes,” the former head of state told the Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera.
But before elections can take place, Ukraine must achieve a victory over Russia. The head of the largest non-banned opposition party says that another political plan is to be elected to the European Parliament after Ukraine joins the EU in the future.
Ukraine announces destruction of Kerch Bridge
2:42 p.m.: The Ukrainian army has already carried out two attacks on the strategically important Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia with the occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. In both cases, the damage was minimal and Russia was able to quickly repair it. The Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR wants to change that with the next attack.
“We will shut down the bridge in the first half of 2024,” explains a senior HUR employee to the British Guardian. Kyrylo Budanov, the director of the HUR, has the appropriate means to carry out such an attack. The destruction of the bridge is “inevitable” for Ukraine’s military success, the “Guardian” quotes the unnamed secret service employee as saying.
For Russia, the Kerch Bridge is an important supply connection to the south of Ukraine. Their destruction would mean that Russia would have to transport new military equipment and personnel overland via Kherson and Zaporizhia to the front in southern Ukraine.
Zelensky: Russia is preparing to mobilize 300,000 soldiers
1:25 p.m.: According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia is preparing to mobilize 300,000 more soldiers. This should happen by June 1st, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted the president as saying. The Russian leadership itself has not yet announced such a mobilization. However, experts expect such a step given the high losses suffered by the Russian armed forces. Both warring parties do not provide any information about the injured and dead.
Zelensky: Russia attacked with over 3,000 bombs in March
11:38 a.m.: Russia attacked Ukraine with more than 3,000 guided bombs in March, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. There were also attacks with 600 drones and 400 rockets. Russia has increased its airstrikes over the past two weeks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which was already damaged by previous bombings. The Russian military has increasingly used guided bombs, which are dropped by fighter jets in Russian-controlled areas and then glide to their targets at high speed.
NATO Secretary General: Ukraine needs more and longer help
11:18 a.m.: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on the defense alliance’s allies to prepare for more and longer aid to Ukraine. Ukraine needs not just short-term bilateral, but long-term and predictable military assistance, Stoltenberg told the press in the run-up to the NATO foreign ministers meeting. Stoltenberg does not address NATO’s proposed 100 billion euro fund. But it is clear that more money and a coordinating role for NATO are needed, emphasizes the Secretary General.
