Ukraine War Live Updates: A Tactical Shift in Combat Techniques
Russia Appears to Employ Novel Combat Technology in Kupjansk at 14:02
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In a startling display of military innovation, Russia appears to be employing a new combat tactic in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region. According to the "Kyiv Post", this tactic involves attacks on Ukrainian positions by Russian forces on motorcycles, a method never before observed in the Ukraine war. The Ukrainian border guard service released a video, allegedly showing the attack, in which Russian forces were attempting to storm Ukrainian positions but were met with drone attacks that destroyed ten motorcycles and two off-road vehicles.
13:33 Update on Injuries in Kharkiv:In the large-scale Russian drone attack on the city of Kharkiv, the number of injured has risen to 51. Among the casualties is an 11-year-old child. Regional military administrator Oleh Synyehubov and Mayor Ihor Terechov reported on Telegram that Russia used 11 bombs and 52 drones of various types in the Kharkiv region. Preliminary findings suggest that 12 sites in four districts of the city were hit, and several fires were started.
13:09 Insight into Ground Troops Protection:After the deal on raw materials with the USA, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann explains why this move by Ukraine could be a significant step forward in the fight against Russia. She believes that if Putin attacks the areas where the Americans want to mine rare earths, they would indirectly attack the USA.
EconomyStrack-Zimmermann Explains Strategic MoveHow Ground Troops Can Protect Ukraine from Russians
12:40 Zelensky Warns Heads of State against Visiting Moscow's Victory Parade:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned heads of state and government not to attend the victory parade in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of Germany's surrender in World War II. He expressed concerns about potential aggression from Russia on that day. Kyiv cannot guarantee the safety of visitors to the event in the Russian capital, Zelensky added.
12:11 Casualty Report from Kupyansk:One person was killed in Russian air strikes in Kupyansk. Several residential buildings were destroyed. The human remains from the rubble of a house were recovered, with the possibility of another person buried underneath. Russian air strikes were also reported in Sumy, resulting in two injuries when two guided bombs hit.
11:37 Zelensky Praises Meeting with Trump in Vatican:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral in the Vatican last week as the best between the two leaders so far. In statements released by the presidential administration in Kyiv, Zelensky said that he and Trump agreed that a 30-day ceasefire with Russia would be the right first step towards peace in the Ukraine war. However, the topic of sanctions was not further discussed.
PoliticsZelensky and Trump Meet at Vatican - Zelensky Praises Progress
10:53 Russian Advance on Two Fronts:Russian troops have recently occupied new territory in the Donetsk and Saporishshia regions, according to the latest situation report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Military experts report that Russian units have advanced in the area around the city of Torezk and the vicinity of Orichiw.
10:25 Emergency Declaration in Russian Port City:The authorities of the Russian port city of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea have declared an emergency after a Ukrainian drone attack. The attack damaged residential buildings, with the number of injured rising to five, including two children. There has been no statement from the Ukrainian side so far.
09:49 UN Coordinator Condemns Attack on Kharkiv:The humanitarian coordinator of the United Nations (UN) for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, has sharply condemned Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including those in Kharkiv last night, as well as recent attacks on Saporishshia and Odessa. He emphasized the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law.
09:16 Ukraine Report: 183 Drone Attacks Overnight:According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with 183 drones and two ballistic missiles. 77 drones were shot down, and 73 others came down without causing damage.
08:42 Intent to Establish "Buffer Zone" in Sumy:The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that its forces will establish a "buffer zone" in the border areas of the northern Ukrainian region of Sumy. Sumy borders the Russian region of Kursk, where Russian forces recently recaptured territories. Meanwhile, Ukraine reports that its troops have gained a foothold in Kursk but is also concerned about a possible Russian advance on Sumy.
08:06 Russian Book Causes Controversy in Eastern Europe:A foreword by Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov in the monograph "The History of Lithuania" is sparking criticism in Eastern Europe. The book questions Lithuania's language and statehood and accuses the government of having a "pro-Nazi" ideology that maintains power through police measures and suppression of opinions. In his foreword, Lavrov accuses the Baltic states of fostering anti-Russian sentiments with "fabricated historical representations." The book is intended to counter this trend. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys described the monograph as a propaganda tool and compared it to Vladimir Putin's 2021 essay questioning Ukraine's sovereignty.
07:32 Russian Firefighters Injured in Eastern Ukraine:The governor of Russia's Krasnodar region, Benjamin Kondratyev, reports that Ukrainian drone attacks on his country's Black Sea coast have injured at least eight Russian firefighters. The men were en route to a fire-fighting mission near the village of Horlivka when they were attacked by combat drones.
06:52 Ukrainian Blogger Attack Suspect Arrested:Ukraine's SBU domestic security service has accused Russia's intelligence agency of orchestrating an assassination attempt on a prominent Ukrainian blogger. According to the SBU, a 45-year-old woman was responsible for the failed attack, firing several shots with a pistol, one of which hit the target, Serhii Sternenko, in the leg. Sternenko stated that his life was not in danger. The suspect's lawyer confirmed her involvement in the incident. The SBU has not specified which of Russia's intelligence agencies it believes was behind the attack.
06:15 Zelensky Calls for Stronger Air Defense:President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemns the Russian drone attacks on Kharkiv and appeals to Ukraine's allies to strengthen its air defense capabilities more effectively. He emphasized the need for real decisions from their partners—the United States, Europe, and all those who support peace—to protect Ukraine from ongoing nightly attacks that have claimed lives.
04:53 US State Department Approves F-16 Jet Sales to Ukraine:The US State Department has approved potential sales of training and maintenance equipment for F-16 jets to Ukraine at a cost of $310 million. The Pentagon announced this, marking another significant boost to Ukraine's military capabilities in its ongoing battle against Russia. The approved sale may include aircraft modifications, upgrades, flight training, maintenance, spare parts, repairs, ground handling equipment, classified software, and classified publications.
01:44 Scores Injured in Kharkiv Drone Strike:At least 44 people have been injured in a massive drone strike on Kharkiv in the evening, according to Governor Oleh Synegubov on Telegram. Just hours earlier, 29 people were injured in Russian attacks on the southeastern city of Saporizhzhia. Ukrainian President Selenskyj states that Russia is not targeting military objectives; instead, civilian infrastructure is being hit in Kharkiv, including residential buildings, shops, and other essential facilities.
00:21 US Considering New Russia Sanctions:According to insiders, the US is preparing new economic sanctions against Russia in case President Trump decides to increase negotiating pressure on the Moscow government. The proposed measures would target the banking and energy sectors, potentially affecting energy giant Gazprom, according to an unnamed government official.
23:09 Kharkiv Drone Strikes - Dozens Injured:Russian forces have attacked the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine with combat drones. Explosions were reported in several districts, according to Regional Governor Oleh Synjehubov and Mayor Ihor Terechow. Emergency services are en route to the impact sites. The mayor reports that at least 35 people have been injured in the second-largest city of Ukraine, with a total of 17 impacts registered.
22:01 Zelensky: "All Our Partners Are Tired of Russian Manipulations"Fighting continues on the fronts in eastern Ukraine, especially around the Donbass, particularly in Pokrovsk, as Russian troops continue their attacks, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj in his evening video address. The situation on this front section was discussed during a military briefing, he adds without further details. Amid the ongoing fighting, Selenskyj accuses Russia of refusing to conclude a full and lasting peace. "All our partners are tired of these Russian manipulations."
21:18 British Foreign Secretary to Putin: "The World Is Losing Patience"British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has spoken with US Vice President JD Vance about peaceful solutions to end Russian aggression against Ukraine. Lammy shares this on X. "We reaffirmed our shared desire to end Russia's barbaric invasion and underscored our commitment to a lasting peace," Lammy writes. The British Foreign Secretary accuses Russian President Putin of blocking and hindering talks on a peaceful solution for too long: "The world is losing patience."
20:32 Moscow: Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian FirefightersAccording to Russian reports, at least eight Russian firefighters were injured in an attack by Ukrainian combat drones in eastern Ukraine. The men were en route to a fire-fighting mission near the village of Horlivka when they were attacked by combat drones, the state news agency TASS reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Civil Defense. The injured men later took cover in their fire truck. This report cannot be independently verified, and there is no comment from the Ukrainian side.
19:48 Kupyansk Under Attack:Russian air forces are shelling the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region. After several attacks, the body of a man killed was recovered from the rubble of a house. Rescue workers are still trying to rescue another man who may also be trapped under the rubble. According to the Kharkiv region's prosecutor's office, several air strikes were carried out on the city between 16:20 and 16:40. Several houses and outbuildings were damaged.
18:59 Students Lured into Russian Army Labeled Scholarships:Fighters from Togo who were fighting alongside the Russian army have been captured in Ukraine, according to the government of the West African country. They had participated in "military operations alongside Russian forces," the Togolese authorities said. Most of them, especially young students, had left Togo under the guise of "alleged scholarships" offered by structures supposedly based in Russia. The Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on citizens to "exercise the utmost vigilance."
Read all previous developments here.
Source: ntv.de, lve/lno/ino/dpa/rts/AFP
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Russia's Tactical Switches Across Battlefields
Russia has intensified its focus on drone warfare, with the use of hundreds of tactical drones for reconnaissance and precision strikes. The Russians are harnessing the power of Orlan-30 drones, with laser designators guiding Krasnopol smart shells, and Lancet loitering munitions that hover over targets providing real-time feedback before striking. Moscow has also deployed the "Stiletto" multipurpose drones in battle, testing their capability in late 2025. The drones carry 4 kg warheads and adapt to frontline communication challenges.
In an attempt to enhance their counter-battery capabilities, Russia has employed acoustic sensors and counterbattery radars, triangulating Ukrainian artillery positions. Integrated drone-radar networks reduce response times to minutes, forcing Ukrainian gunners to relocate as they come under Lancet surveillance.
New robotic platforms play a crucial role in supporting logistics and combat operations, including the "Veran" tracked UGVs and "Strannik" robotic systems, which transport supplies and lay mines. Russia is bolstering its precision munitions, such as Iskander-M ballistic missiles and glide bombs designed to target high-value rear-area assets. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to improve its abilities to mitigate Electronic Warfare (EW) threats, upgrading its drones and deploying advanced EW tools for Ukraine's local systems, approved by the Ukrainian government in April 2025.
These innovations underscore a shift towards modular, decentralized operations that combine mass-produced drones, AI-assisted targeting, and robotic logistics to offset personnel losses. Collaborative efforts among Russian military advisers, researchers, and private technology firms have culminated in some significant advancements, which are helping to keep Russia's conflict with Ukraine at a stalemate, despite Western pressure and support for Ukraine.
- Russia's tactical shift in Kupyansk includes a new combat technique employing motorcycles by Russian forces, a method not previously observed in the Ukraine war, as shown in a video released by the Ukrainian border guard service.
- In response to the large-scale Russian drone attack on Kharkiv, the number of injured has risen to 51, including an 11-year-old child, with findings suggesting that 12 sites in four districts of the city were hit, and several fires were started.
- The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is holding discussions with heads of state and government about a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war, as a potential first step towards peace, following a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the Vatican.
- In a controversial move, Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov has drafted a foreword for a monograph "The History of Lithuania," questioning Lithuania's language and statehood, and accusing the government of having a "pro-Nazi" ideology that maintains power through police measures and suppression of opinions.
