The USA announces billions more in aid. Russian attacks are feared in Kyiv. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Zelenskyj: Putin could also use this to make gas deliveries to the EU
8:09 p.m.: According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russian missile attacks could also affect gas deliveries to EU countries. Facilities have also been taken that are essential for gas deliveries to the European Union, says Zelensky in his evening speech. With the attacks with 34 cruise missiles, Russia hit Ukrainian industrial, electricity and gas transit facilities.
Russian authorities confirm: Oil refinery damaged in attack
9:41 a.m.: Russian authorities report damage to an oil refinery after an attack in the Krasnodar region. The administration of the Slavyansk district stated on Telegram that there had been a total of nine drone attacks on the facility from Ukraine. The distillation tower was damaged. The tanks remained intact. The Russian Defense Ministry said a total of 66 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over the Krasnodar region and two more over Crimea. Slavyansk is located near the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia with the occupied peninsula.
Drone attack on Russian city: explosion in oil refinery
5.10 a.m.: According to the governor of the Russian city of Krasnodar, Russia’s anti-aircraft defense repelled a Ukrainian drone attack over southern Russian territory on Saturday night. According to preliminary information, more than ten drones were intercepted in different districts, Veniamin Kondratiev said in his Telegram channel.
The drones therefore targeted oil refineries and infrastructure facilities. There were no injuries or serious damage, the governor continued. Emergency services are in the process of extinguishing fires that were started by falling debris. Images of a fire have been shared on X and Telegram, but they cannot be independently verified.
US Institute: Ukraine must prepare for summer offensive
3:10 a.m.: With the US arms deliveries now promised, Ukraine will first have to stabilize the front lines and stop further Russian advances before it can go on the offensive itself, estimates the American Institute for War Studies (ISW). Its daily assessment on Friday said: “Ukrainian forces must repel the Russian summer offensive and prevent Russian forces from making operationally significant progress in the summer months before Ukrainian forces will be in a position to contest the larger initiative and later to conduct a counteroffensive in 2024 or 2025.” Russia is already preparing for American arms deliveries and is adapting its strategy accordingly.
Another challenge for Ukraine is the difficult situation with personnel. New recruits must first be trained and existing troops must be rebuilt. According to the ISW’s assessment, the decisive factor for possible counter-offensives in Ukraine is how further aid from the West will turn out. “Whether Ukraine can regain all of its territory in the long term depends on numerous future decisions in the West, in the Kremlin and in Kiev,” says the American think tank’s analysis.
Lawyers for the Russian deputy defense minister want to appeal
11:10 p.m.: According to a report by the Russian news agency Tass, lawyers for Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov are appealing against a pre-trial detention order against him. A Russian court ruled on Wednesday that Ivanov must be remanded in custody for two months because he is suspected of accepting bribes. According to Russian media reports, 48-year-old Ivanov faces up to 15 years in prison. Ivanov worked in fuel and energy companies and in the Moscow regional government before moving to the Defense Ministry in 2010. In 2016 he was appointed deputy minister.
