Germany’s new €5B military aid to Ukraine includes €400M for Ukrainian-made long-range weapons. Funded systems include AN-196 “Liutyi” drones (operational range between 1000-2000km), the new BARS missile-drone (800 km), Flamingo interceptors (50 km), and frontline FPVs.

Satellite images show the aftermath of the strike on “Kronshtadt” in the Moscow region — 8 impacts are visible. The facility was involved in developing combat drones.

The next Ukraine Defense Contact Group (“Ramstein” format) meeting will take place on June 4, 2025, at NATO HQ in Brussels. Initiated by the UK and Germany. U.S. participation remains unclear. The previous meeting was on April 11, with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth joining online.

🇺🇦 Russian assault groups made at least 4 attempts to breach Myropillia (Sumy region), less than 1 km from the Kursk border. All were destroyed—up to 20 troops, FPV crews, and shelters.

Two weeks.

Unmanned Systems Regiment “Phoenix” destroyed a Russian R-330Zh “Zhitel” electronic warfare system—at least their third confirmed strike on such equipment recently.

Textbook example of repelling an assault: a Ukrainian drone struck a shelter housing Russian equipment—none of it left.

Combat footage by SPEAR Group B of the 118th Territorial Defense Brigade. At least 4 ATVs and an ammo depot were destroyed.

🇺🇦🇨🇳 China has halted sales of Mavic drones to Ukraine and other European countries—but continues supplying them to Russia, where production lines even include Chinese personnel — Zelensky.

Senior Lt. Viktor Samoylov, rocket artillery battery commander, was killed in Russia’s Belgorod region. As a former Sevastopol Nakhimovsky district official, he backed Crimea’s annexation in 2014, fought with the “BARS” unit from 2022, and signed a contract with Russia’s MoD in 2024.

Destruction of a Russian 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer by Ukraine's 38th Marine Brigade.

❗️IAEA chief Rafael Grossi will visit Ukraine and Russia next week to discuss nuclear safety, the agency has announced.

🇺🇦 Ukraine has used an AI-powered "mothership drone" in combat for the first time, according to Digital Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The drone can carry two strike FPV drones up to 300 km and autonomously target enemy aircraft, air defense systems, and critical infrastructure. If the target is within 100 km, the mothership returns for reuse. Each mission costs around $10,000—hundreds of times cheaper than a missile. The system operates without GPS, using SmartPilot visual-inertial navigation, with LIDAR enhancing targeting precision

🇺🇸 The White House is weighing how to pressure Russia without breaking ties with Putin, Reuters reports. Trump is wary of sanctions but aides say his frustration with Putin is growing. He may let the Graham-Blumenthal bill pass—imposing 500% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil—while maintaining backchannels.

❗️🇮🇹 Italy has no plans to lift restrictions on supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine, Fatto Quotidiano reports, citing government sources. PM Giorgia Meloni had already voiced opposition to such deliveries last summer.

⚠️ During talks in Istanbul, the Russian delegation told Ukrainian counterparts that Russia intends to take Sumy and Kharkiv regions, Financial Times reports. They add that Putin, while visiting Kursk, affirmed “Sumy should be Russian,” according to a Russian official.

❗️🇺🇸 Trump has not yet decided whether to send a representative to the upcoming talks in Istanbul, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“We hope Russia and Ukraine will engage in direct discussions next week, and we believe the meeting will take place,” she added.

🇷🇺 Russia has lost over 4,000 tanks since February 24, 2022, based on visual confirmations compiled by Oryx. Of the 4,029 total losses, 2,946 tanks were destroyed, 158 damaged, 392 abandoned, and 533 captured by Ukrainian forces.

A Russian “Grad” BM-21 rocket system was destroyed by the 414th Unmanned Systems Regiment “Magyar Birds,” a Ukrainian drone unit specializing in precision strikes.

🇺🇦🇺🇳 A UN Security Council meeting will take place this evening at Ukraine’s request, FM Andrii Sybiha announced.

Following recent Russian attacks on civilians, Ukraine expects strong statements reaffirming broad international consensus on pressuring Russia toward a full ceasefire as the basis for a meaningful peace process.

Good night, sleep well. See you tomorrow! SitRep tomorrow morning.