Russia's losses since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 are likely to reach 500,000 killed and wounded, with losses averaging more than 1,200 a day in May, the highest since the invasion began.
Russia probably canceled the annual International Army Games and "tank biathlon" competitions to avoid criticism over the diversion of military efforts from the war in Ukraine and the potential reduction in other countries ' participation.
Russia's Ministry of Defense has published a political training manual called “Politruk” for military personnel, which, based on Soviet-era propaganda, justifies the invasion of Ukraine by portraying Ukrainians as Nazis and questioning Ukrainian statehood.
Following the resignation of Sergei Shoigu as defense minister, several high-ranking Russian military officials, including the deputy chief of the Russian general staff, were arrested on suspicion of corruption, indicating that corruption in the Russian defense establishment is deeply entrenched.
Russia has deployed units from its "African Corps" to join regular Russian troops and mercenaries in an offensive against Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.
Beijing denies UK accusations of supplying lethal aid to Russia for the war in Ukraine, denouncing the allegations as baseless slander and emphasizing its position on peace and dialogue to resolve the conflict.
After Ukraine's attack on the Cyclone corvette in Sevastopol, russia may have lost one of the few remaining Kalibr cruise missile carriers of the Karakurt project in the Black Sea.
The United Kingdom is sending Ukraine a military aid package worth more than €217 million to strengthen its air and sea defenses, including air defense radars, radar decoys, electronic warfare systems, small boats, and reconnaissance drones.
British Defense Secretary Grant Sheps accused China of providing or preparing to provide lethal assistance to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, citing US and British intelligence data.
The Russian president will not be able to fully transfer the Russian economy to war mode due to the lack of labor, which makes it impossible to wage a long-term war.
Due to the labor shortage caused by the war in Ukraine, Russia is considering amending its labor laws to allow temporary relocation of workers to labor shortage areas with their consent.
The UK has announced that it has sent a new military aid package to Ukraine, including 1 million rounds of ammunition, 80 air defense missiles, and 20 armored landing vehicles.
Andrei Belousov, an economist with no military experience, has replaced Sergei Shoigu as Russia's defense minister, but British intelligence does not expect this change to significantly affect Russia's approach to the war in Ukraine.
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps called it a "desperate" move by Russia to expel the British Defense Attaché from moscow, arguing that the russian attaché in the UK was acting as a spy, while the British attaché was merely representing the UK's support for Ukraine against russia's illegal invasion.
According to a British intelligence report, Ukraine's economy remains resilient, with real economic growth projected at 3% in 2024, despite Russia's invasion and attacks on energy infrastructure.
Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine continues to cause serious damage to Ukraine's historical and cultural heritage: according to British intelligence, as of early May 2024, 1,987 cultural institutions had suffered damage and 1,062 heritage sites had been destroyed or damaged.
A newly formed northern group of Russian troops attacked Ukraine's Kharkiv region, taking control of several villages and targeting the border town of Vovchansk in an attempt to divert Ukrainian resources and threaten Kharkiv.
russian troops in Ukraine are increasingly using light civilian vehicles, such as off-roaders and motorcycles, to transport personnel, attack Ukrainian positions, and conduct reconnaissance due to their high mobility, but these vehicles are vulnerable to Ukrainian weapons systems.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and deteriorating relations with the West have severely constrained Gazprom's operations, resulting in the largest annual losses in 25 years and limiting its profits until at least 2030.
The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with the largest military aid package worth 500 million pounds, including 4 million rounds of ammunition, more than 1,600 missiles and 400 vehicles, including 160 Husky armored vehicles.
British intelligence named the reasons for the bombs being "dropped" by Russian aviation on its own territory, pointing out that it underscored Russia's inability to use its munitions on target.
The war in Ukraine has resulted in significant losses of russian labor: more than half a million russian soldiers have been killed, and the strategically important oil and gas industry is short about 40,000 workers, jeopardizing its normal functioning.
Land Forces Commander Oleksandr Pavliuk is convinced that the loss of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region by Ukrainian troops will not be decisive.
The absence of heavy military equipment, including battle tanks and modern aircraft, at the "parade" in Moscow indicates large-scale losses of the russian federation in the war in Ukraine.
Over the past month, Russian troops have significantly increased the pace of ground attacks in eastern Ukraine, likely to consolidate their positions before Western military aid arrives to help Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 76 combat engagements along the frontline over the last day, with the enemy conducting most of its attacks in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka sectors, trying to improve its tactical position with the support of aviation, but suffering heavy losses.
The British Ministry of Defense says that despite intensified russian attacks on the outskirts of Chasovy Yar, since April 2024, russian troops have achieved only minor tactical victories and suffered heavy losses.
According to British intelligence, Russia has modified its X-101 air-launched cruise missile, equipping it with a second warhead, which increased its lethality but halved its range.
A large-scale data breach at the UK Ministry of Defense has led to the leakage of confidential personal and financial data of military personnel, which could potentially be linked to a cyberattack from China.
The leaders of 8 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Guinea-Bissau, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Cuba, Kazakhstan and Belarus, will take part in the Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9.
