Stavropol explosion kills Russian official who led attacks on Ukraine's Mariupol

"An explosion in Russia’s Stavropol on May 28 killed Zaur Gurtsyev, the city's deputy mayor who participated in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
Stavropol Krai Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed Gurtsyev’s death, describing it as a "nighttime incident on Chekhov Street" without providing further details.
The Investigative Committee of Russia reported that the bodies of two men with multiple injuries were found at the scene.
Multiple Russian Telegram channels identified Gurtsyev as one of the victims and shared what they claimed was footage of the explosion." KI

205 clashes on front lines in past 24 hours

"Ukrainian forces engaged in 205 combat clashes with Russian invaders.
Russian airstrikes targeted multiple settlements across Ukraine, including Velykyi Prykil, Uhroidy, and Esman in the Sumy region, Dovha Balka, Zoria, Oleksandro-Kalynove, Novotoretske, Pokrovsk, Novoukrainka, Myrnohrad, and Sukhyi Yar in the Donetsk region, as well as Malynivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
On the Kharkiv front, four attempted enemy breakthroughs were stopped near Starytsia, Vovchansk, and Krasne Pershe.

On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight enemy attacks near Zahryzove and Zelenyi Hai.
On the Lyman front, the enemy made 24 attempts to breach Ukrainian lines near Ridkodub, Kolodiazi, Nadiia, Hrekivka, the Serebrianskyi Forest, and in the direction of Karpyvka, Serednie, Novyi Myr, and Zelena Dolyna.
On the Siversk front, three attacks were repelled near Verkhniokamianske and Hryhorivka.
On the Kramatorsk front, 15 enemy assaults were launched toward Markove, Predtechyne, Chasiv Yar, and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk front, 21 enemy attacks were recorded around Toretsk, Dyliivka, Druzhba, and in the direction of Pleshchiivka and Oleksandro-Kalynove.
On the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian troops stopped 54 assault attempts near Myroliubivka, Malynivka, Myrne, Lysivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Kotliarivka, and Orikhove, as well as toward Zoria, Oleksiivka, Rusyn Yar, Novomykolaivka, and Yablunivka.
On the Novopavlivka front, 21 enemy attacks were conducted near Kostiantynopil, Bahatyr, Novopil, Zelene Pole, Vilne Pole, and in the direction of Voskresenka and Odradne.
On the Huliaipole front, no combat engagements were reported.
On the Orikhiv front, six enemy assaults were repelled near Shcherbaky, Stepove, Novodanylivka, and Robotyne.
On the Dnipro River axis, two enemy attacks were stopped.
On the Volyn and Polissia axes, no signs of offensive group formations were recorded.
Ukrainian forces also conducted operations in the Kursk sector, where 33 clashes occurred. The enemy launched 20 airstrikes, dropping 38 guided bombs, and carried out 205 artillery attacks, four of which involved MLRS." Ukrin

Putin lays out conditions to end Ukraine war

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined conditions for ending the war in Ukraine,

which include written guarantees on NATO non-expansion and the partial lifting of Western sanctions, Reuters informs.
According to the report, Putin insists that Western leaders provide formal commitments to halt NATO's eastern expansion and ease certain sanctions before he agrees to any peace deal with Ukraine.
Following a more than two-hour phone call with US President Donald Trump last week, Putin reportedly agreed to begin working on a ceasefire memorandum, outlining the basic terms for a potential peace settlement." ms

Ukraine launches almost 300 drones at Russia; UAV facility near Moscow reportedly targeted

"Drones attacked the Kronstadt drone enterprise in the town of Dubna in Moscow Oblast

overnight, independent news channel Astra reported, as local authorities reported a Ukrainian attack against the region.
Astra published videos of residents showing a drone flying over t he city. The videos also show smoke rising above the area where the enterprise is located.
Russian air defenses shot down 296 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions overnight, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed, potentially marking one of the heaviest drone attacks against Russia during the full-scale war. Russian officials also announced that operations were suspended at Vnukovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo airports.

A fire also broke out in Zelenograd near Moscow, allegedly connected to the drone strikes.
Russian officials have claimed that there are no casualties or serious damage to report." KI

216 clashes on frontline

"216 combat clashes between Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders occurred on the frontline.
The aggressor conducted air strikes, particularly targeting the areas near the settlements of Sumy, Petrushivka, Osoivka, Klymentove in Sumy region; Stepanivka in Donetsk region; Novodarivka, Huliaipole, Kamianske, Stepnohirsk in Zaporizhzhia region; and Lvove in Kherson region.
In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy attacked the Ukrainian positions nine times near the settlements of Vovchansk, Zapadne, Stroivka, Fiholivka, and Dovhenke.
In the Kupiansk sector, two enemy attacks occurred yesterday. The Ukrainian defenders stopped enemy assault actions near Zahryzove.

In the Lyman sector, the enemy launched 32 attacks. They attempted to break into the Ukrainian defenses near Serebriansky Forest, Nadiya, Novomykhailivka, Ridkodub, Kopanky, Katerynivka, Yampolivka, Zelena Dolyna, and in the directions of Hrekivka, Hryhorivka, Karpivka, and Novyi Myr.
In the Kramatorsk sector, 11 clashes were recorded near Chasiv Yar, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, and towards Bila Hora.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian forces carried out 19 attacks near Druzhba, Dyliivka, Kurdiumivka, and Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 65 enemy assault attempts near the settlements of Zoria, Myroliubivka, Malynivka, Lysivka, Zvirove, Udachne, Yelyzavetivka, Dachenske, Kotlyne, Horikhove, Novoserhiivka, Novomykolaivka, Muravka, Kotliarivka, Troitske, Bohdanivka, Andriivka, and towards Yablunivka and Oleksiivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the enemy conducted 25 attacks near the settlements of Kostiantynopil, Burlatske, Novopil, Zelene Pole, and towards Shevchenko.
In the Orikhiv sector, the Russian invaders attempted to advance 11 times near Mali Shcherbaky, Shcherbaky, Stepove, and in the directions of Novoandriivka and Novodanylivka.
In the Siversk, Huliaipole, and Prydniprovske sectors, the enemy did not conduct active offensive operations.
In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, there are no signs of enemy offensive groups formation.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to hold the enemy in the Kursk sector. Yesterday, Russian forces launched 11 air strikes, dropping 21 guided aerial bombs and carried out 273 shellings, including 14 with multiple rocket launchers. The Ukrainian defenders repelled 32 enemy assault attempts." Ukrin

170 clashes on frontline over past day

"170 recorded combat clashes, with the most intense fighting taking place in the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka sectors.
Russian forces carried out airstrikes on the settlements of Poliushkyne in Chernihiv region, Osoivka, Uhroidy in Sumy region, Novotoretske, Dovha Balka, Toretsk, Kostiantynivka, Novopil in Donetsk region, Novohryhorivka in Dnipropetrovsk region, Malynivka, Zaliznychne, Stepnohirsk, Kamianske, Novoandriivka in Zaporizhzhia region, and Odradokamianka in Kherson region.

In the Kharkiv sector, Ukrainian forces repelled five attacks near Vovchansk and Dvorichna.
In the Kupiansk sector, five Russian attacks were repelled near Zahryzove and toward Petropavlivka and Nova Kruhliakivka.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy launched 16 attacks trying to break through near Hrekivka, Novomykhailivka, Ridkodub, Yampolivka, Torske, and toward Hryhorivka.
In the Siversk sector, three Russian attacks were stopped near Bilohorivka and Verkhniokamianske.
In the Kramatorsk sector, five enemy attacks occurred near Chasiv Yar, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, and in the direction of Stupochky, Bila Hora, and Predtechyne.
In the Toretsk sector, 12 enemy attacks were launched in the areas of Ozarianivka, Toretsk, and Shcherbynivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian defenders halted 65 Russian assaults near the settlements of Zoria, Oleksandropil, Malynivka, Yelyzavetivka, Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Udachne, Novomykolaivka, Kotliarivka, Troitske, and Andriivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, 24 attacks were recorded near Kostiantynopil, Bahatyr, Odradne, Zelenyi Hai, Novosilka, Novopil, and Vilne Pole.
In the Orikhiv sector, four enemy assaults were repelled in the areas of Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, and toward Novoandriivka.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Russian troops attempted to advance on Ukrainian positions but were stopped.
In the Kursk sector, Ukrainian defense forces continue to restrain Russian forces. Over the past day, the enemy carried out 16 airstrikes, dropping 29 guided bombs, conducted 228 shellings, including eight from multiple launch rocket systems. Ukrainian defenders repelled 23 assaults." Ukrin

Russian shelling of Kherson region

"Eight people, including two children, were injured in the Kherson region due to Russian aggression." Ukrin

Palestinian Authority President Issues Warning to Hamas

"Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently called on Hamas to release all

Israeli hostages, disarm, and give control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. He accused Hamas of giving Israel justification for military action and urged the group to become a political party under Palestinian law. Abbas delivered his strongest criticism of Hamas since the conflict escalated over a year ago." MS

Two injured in Mykolaiv region following Russian drone attacks

"Two people were injured in the Mykolaiv region as a result of Russian drone strikes." Ukrin

Trump on Fire, Rips Putin and Zelensky in Powerful Statement

"President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social account to fire a broadside at Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. In typical Trump fashion, he let both of the other national leaders have it.

"I'm not happy with what Putin's doing! He's killing a lot of people. And I don't know what the hell happened to Putin! I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him. But he's sending rockets into cities and killing people. And I don't like it at all. OK? We're in the middle of talking and he's shooting rockets into Kiev and other cities! I don't like it at all."
We should note that President Trump isn't sparing Ukraine's president, either; in his Truth Social post on Sunday, the president wrote: "Likewise, President Zelensky is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop." 

RS

180 combat clashes in past day

"180 combat clashes were recorded between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders along the frontline.
Airstrikes targeted multiple locations, including Osoivka in the Sumy region; Dovha Balka, Oleksandro-Kalynove, Stepanivka, and Novopil in the Donetsk region; and Novodarivka, Huliaipole, Malynivka, Mala Tokmachka, Kamianske, and Shcherbaky in the Zaporizhzhia region.

In the Kharkiv sector, Russian forces launched six attacks against Ukrainian positions near Vovchansk, Stroivka, and Krasne Pershne.
In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled two Russian assaults in the areas of Kruhliakivka and Nova Kruhliakivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces launched 21 attacks, attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses in the direction of Ridkodub, Zelena Dolyna, and Novyi Myr, as well as near Hrekivka, Lypove, Torske, and the Serebrianskyi Forest area.
In the Siversk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled six offensives near Hryhorivka, Bilohorivka, and Verkhniokamianske.
The Kramatorsk sector saw 10 combat clashes, with Russian troops advancing toward Predtechyne and Bila Hora, and launching offensives near Chasiv Yar and Kurdiumivka.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian forces carried out 10 attacks in the vicinity of Toretsk, Romanivka, Dyliivka, and in the direction of Novospaske.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully thwarted 63 Russian assaults across multiple locations, including Kotliarivka, Malynivka, Lysivka, Udachne, Zvirove, Troitske, Yelyzavetivka, Andriivka, Nova Poltavka, and Horikhove. Russian forces also attempted attacks in the direction of Novomykolaivka, Shevchenko Pershe, Zorya, Muravka, Oleksiivka, and Myroliubivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Russian militants launched 24 offensives in the areas of Novopil, Kostiantynopil, Novosilka, and Vilne Pole, as well as in the directions of Myrne, Shevchenko, Komar, Zelene Pole, and Bahatyr.
In the Prydniprovskyi sector, Russian forces attempted to advance near Kozachi Laheri three times but failed to break through Ukrainian defenses.
Meanwhile, in the Kursk sector, Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian troops. Yesterday, the enemy launched 14 airstrikes, dropping 25 guided aerial bombs, and fired 225 times—13 of those using multiple launch rocket systems. Ukrainian defenders successfully stopped 26 Russian assault attempts." Ukrin

North Korean Destroyer -- Destroyed

"North Korea became something of a widespread punchline Wednesday when a ballyhooed

launch of the nation’s fancy new naval destroyer ended up, well, destroyed.
And North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is steaming mad about it....the 5,000-ton naval destroyer — an impressive spectacle — met its demise due to a snafu from trying to get into the water.
A hitch with the ramp at the northeastern port of Chongjin caused the whole destroyer to become unbalanced, crushing the bottom of the ship. It got stuck before ultimately falling into the water on its side." WJ

Lavrov dismisses Vatican as possible venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

"Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on May 24 cast doubt on the Vatican as a possible venue for future peace talks with Ukraine, saying the Catholic seat would not be an appropriate platform for negotiations between two Orthodox Christian nations.

Previously, Pope Leo XIV expressed his willingness to host the next round of peace talks in the Vatican. Several of Ukraine's partners, including the United States, have suggested that the Vatican could become a neutral platform for further negotiations.
"Imagine the Vatican as a venue for negotiations," Lavrov reportedly said during a speech at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow. “It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes (of the war)."
Lavrov added that he believed "it would not be very comfortable for the Vatican itself to host delegations from two Orthodox countries in these circumstances." KI

204 engagements on front lines in past day

"Russian forces launched a massive assault on multiple fronts across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, with 204 combat engagements recorded.
The aggressor carried out airstrikes near Krasychka and Velyka Pysarivka in the Sumy region; Zoria, Novotoretske, Sofiivka, Koptieve, Dovha Balka, Poltavka, Shakhove, Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, Oleksandro-Kalynove, Myrnohrad, Sukhyi Yar, Novopil,

Perebudova, and Komar in the Donetsk region; Dachne in the Dnipropetrovsk region; Novodarivka, Huliaipole, Malynivka, Novoandriivka in the Zaporizhzhia region; and Kozatske in the Kherson region.
On the Kharkiv axis, the enemy attempted to break through Ukrainian defensive lines five times near Vovchansk, Stroivka, Kutkivka, and Vovchanski Khutory.
On the Kupiansk axis, five assaults were recorded, with Ukrainian defenders repelling attacks near Petropavlivka, Zahryzove, and Nova Kruhliakivka.
On the Lyman axis, enemy forces launched 23 attacks, trying to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Kopanky, Lypove, Ridkodub, Zelena Dolyna, Kolodiazi, Torske, Novomykhailivka, and in the direction of Karpivka, Hryhorivka, Hrekivka, and Olhivka.
On the Siversk axis, three enemy attempts to advance were made near Bilohorivka, Vyimka, and Pereizne.
On the Kramatorsk axis, Russia's invading forces launched four attacks west of Andriivka and toward Predtechyne and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk axis, the enemy conducted 16 assaults near Druzhba, Dyliivka, Krymske, Toretsk, Shcherbynivka, Petrivka, and toward Pleschyivka and Yablunivka.
On the Pokrovsk axis, Ukrainian forces repelled 65 enemy assaults near Zoria, Nova Poltavka, Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Lysivka, Udachne, Malynivka, Sukhyi Yar, Novoserhiivka, Muravka, Troitske, Dachenske, Kotlyne, Kotliarivka, Horikhove, Novoukrainka, Oleksiivka, and Andriivka.
On the Novopavlivka axis, the enemy carried out 14 attacks near Kostiantynopil, Bahatyr, Odradne, Shevchenko, Vesele, Vilne Pole, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, and Novopil.
On the Orikhiv axis, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions four times near Stepove, Mali Shcherbaky, and in the direction of Novoandriivka.
On the Huliaipole and Dnipro River axes, the enemy did not conduct active offensive operations.
On the Kursk axis, the enemy conducted 12 airstrikes, dropped 16 guided bombs, and shelled Ukrainian positions 246 times, including six times using multiple rocket launchers. Ukrainian defenders repelled 39 enemy assaults." Ukrin

Russian military strikes drone-making plant in Kiev

"The Russian military has carried out a successful strike against a drone and missile production plant in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said. Other targets included a surveillance center and a US-made Patriot air defense system." RT