IDF Recovers Three Deceased Hostages, Including 22-year Old Shani Louk

"The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) made a major, and tragic, announcement on Friday. IDF

Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the military has recovered the bodies of three hostages from the Gaza Strip.
The deceased include the body of Shani Louk, the 22-year old girl filmed on Oct.7 lying half-naked, mangled and unconscious in the bed of a pick-up truck while being taken into the Gaza Strip. The military also identified Itzhak Gelerenter and Amit Buskila. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he is "heartbroken" by the news their deaths have been confirmed. "My wife Sara and I grieve with the families," he said before vowing "We will return all of our hostages — living and deceased alike." ZH

Ukraine launches massive attack on Russian port, oil refinery, power plant

"The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) utilized over a hundred drones overnight to attack Russian targets in Sevastopol, Tuapse, and Novorossiysk. These targets include a seaport, an oil refinery, an oil terminal, and a power substation." MS

Ukraine Power restrictions on 18 May to be applied only to industrial consumers

"On Saturday 18 May, from 19:00 to 24:00, the Ukrenergo dispatch center will impose power limitation schedules solely on industrial consumers. As a result, if a region reaches specified thresholds, limitations may be introduced. Information on if and when shutdowns will occur in a specific location is available at the consumer's personal account, on official websites of local electricity suppliers, and on their social media profiles." Pravada

Russian strikes kill two in Ukraine’s Kharkiv as Moscow steps up attacks

"Russian guided bombs have killed at least two people and injured 13 in Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv...Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, and the surrounding region have long been targeted by Russian attacks but the strikes have become more intense in recent months, hitting civilian and energy infrastructure." AlJazeera

Russia and Afghanistan Plan to Build Logistics Center For Oil Transit to South Asia

"Afghanistan plans to launch talks with Russia on a logistics center in the Afghan province of Herat, which, among other things, will facilitate exports of Russian oil to South Asia, acting Afghan Minister of Industry and Trade Haji Nooruddin Azizi told Sputnik.

"We would like to launch negotiations on the matter so that part of the transit of Russian oil passes through the territory of Afghanistan - it is the shortest route," Azizi said on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum" in the Russian city of Kazan." Sputnik

Russia Won't Accept Any Ultimatums on Ukraine - Putin

"Russia wants to understand whom it can trust before engaging with partners on the Ukrainian conflict, President Vladimir Putin said during a trip to China on Friday.

"We must understand with whom and how we can engage and whom and to what degree we can trust. We are of course analyzing everything that is going on," Putin told a press conference in Harbin.
The president pointed to China as a stakeholder that was sincerely trying to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine. "We believe that China is sincere about its efforts to solve this problem. It has suggested different options and has been very flexible about it," Putin said.
Commenting on the Swiss initiative on Ukrainian peace, the Russian president stressed that Moscow would not accept ultimatums.
"It is clear what this event is all about: bringing together as many countries as possible to claim that they have everything agreed on and then giving Russia an ultimatum," Putin said, adding he would not have it.
Russia is keeping tabs on the preparations for the Swiss conference on Ukraine, which is due on June 15-16, the president said." RT

41 Russian attacks in the Pokrovsk sector over the past day

"41 Russian attacks in the Pokrovsk sector over the past day. "The situation in this sector is certainly changing dynamically. There are cases when the enemy partially achieves limited tactical success in certain areas due to intense shelling, and sometimes our Defense Forces are recapturing lost positions and returning to them," Voloshyn said." Ukrin

Ukraine downs all Russian 20 drones overnight

"Russian invasion forces launched 20 one-way attack UAVS of the Shahed-131/136 type at Ukraine.....All incoming drones were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense units." Ukrin