Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered tactical nuclear weapon drills as part of a military exercise to "deter" the West. It comes as Russian forces continue to make incremental gains on the ground, capturing two villages in Kharkiv and the Donetsk region, as well as the village of Soloviove in eastern Ukraine.

Soloviove

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Russia has launched tactical nuclear weapon drills as directed by President Vladimir Putin. These exercises are part of a broader military strategy aimed at deterring Western involvement. Concurrently, Russian forces are achieving new territorial gains in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, capturing two villages in the Kharkiv region, another in Donetsk, and the village of Soloviove in Eastern Ukraine.

On the ground, the human impact of these advances is stark. Ukrainian police units are engaged in the evacuation of residents from areas heavily affected by the fighting in the east of the country. Civilians, sometimes injured, are being forced to leave their homes with little notice and limited belongings amid the constant backdrop of conflict. The situation has escalated since the beginning of May, with continuous Russian bombardment destroying many homes and disrupting communications, rendering some residents unable to contact loved ones for evacuation coordination.

Recent progress by Russian forces includes the capture of frontline villages in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, illustrating a pattern of modest but consistent territorial expansion. These gains come as Ukraine struggles with a severe shortage of weapons and ammunition. A significant delay in military aid from Washington has heightened these challenges, with Ukraine eagerly awaiting the arrival of a promised $61 billion aid package from the US to strengthen its defense on the frontline.



Russia advances in Ukraine's east, announces nuclear drills

The frontline is inching closer, and villages nearby are trapped in a deluge of Russian fire. This Ukrainian police unit is in charge of evacuating residents in the east of the country. They're forced to flee at a moment's notice with minimal belongings, with often the injured to carry. The car is outside, we need to hurry, but stay calm. Just five kilometres from the frontline, the sound of fighting is incessant. Little remains of this village, where many houses have been bombarded and abandoned. Since the 1st of May it's worse than hell, it just doesn't stop. This Ukrainian woman is awaiting instructions from her daughter, who's trying to organise her evacuation. I can't talk to her, there's no network with all that bombing. Moscow says it's captured more frontline villages in Kharkiv in the northeast, as well as several villages in Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, modest but steady advances. Russia has made a string of gains in recent months, as Ukraine deals with severe weapons and ammunition shortages, with a prolonged hold-up in Washington leaving them struggle to hold the frontline. For Kiev, the 61 billion dollar aid from the US couldn't arrive on the battlefield soon enough.

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel-Gaza War

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Council of the City of Sydney

Police officer stabbed in Sydney CBD

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Kharkiv

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Handlová

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Ukraine Invasion