TOP HEADLINES

• Russia bombards the Ukrainian capital with a wave of drone attacks just as Kyiv is preparing to celebrate the anniversary of its founding. READ MORE BELOW

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Western nations are attempting to 'weaken Russia' and are 'playing with fire' by agreeing to provide Kyiv with US-made F-16 fighter jets, describing the move as 'an unacceptable escalation' of the conflict.

• President Vladimir Putin calls for more robust border security to ensure "fast" Russian military and civilian movement into Ukrainian regions now under Moscow's control. Drone strikes inside Russian territory have intensified over recent weeks.

• Russian authorities say they 'neutralized' multiple drones approaching the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region near the Black Sea. The refinery, which has a capacity of around 6.6 million tonnes per year, has been attacked several times this month.

• Russia's Defense Ministry says it intercepted two long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied to Ukraine by Britain. There was no clarification on where the missiles were intercepted.

• Kyiv officials say Russian forces have eased their attacks on the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut in an effort to reground and strengthen their capabilities. The city has been the site of the longest and bloodiest battle of the war so far.

• South Africa launches an investigation into U.S. allegations that one of its naval bases near Cape Town was used by a Russian ship to transport weapons to Moscow last year. The allegation has stirred a diplomatic row between Washington and Cape Town. President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a panel to investigate the claims.

• Germany will remove more than 100 employees working at its missions in Russia after Moscow imposed limits on the numbers allowed to work in the country, a German foreign ministry source said. Those affected include staff at the Goethe Institute, teachers and other school employees.

IN DETAIL

Ukraine hit by wave of Russian drones

Russia has bombarded the Ukrainian capital with a wave of air strikes, which officials say are the the largest drone attacks since the conflict started.

The strikes come as Kyiv is preparing to celebrate the anniversary of its founding on Sunday.

Ukraine's Air Force said it downed 52 out of the 54 Russia-launched drones, calling it a record attack with the Iranian-made 'kamikaze' drones. It was not immediately clear how many of the drones were shot over Kyiv.

In what also appears to be the first deadly attack on Kyiv in May and the 14th assault this month, falling debris killed a 41-year-old man, according to the city's mayor.

The pre-dawn attacks came on the last Sunday of May when the capital celebrates Kyiv Day, the anniversary of its official founding 1,541 years ago. The day is typically marked by street fairs, live concerts and special museum exhibitions - plans for which have been made this year too, but on a smaller scale.

With a Ukrainian counter-offensive looming 15 months into the conflict, Moscow has intensified air strikes after a lull of nearly two months, targeting chiefly military sites and supplies. Waves of attacks now come several times a week.

Sunday's attacks came after Kyiv said combat clashes  eased around the besieged city of Bakhmut in southeastern Ukraine, the site of the war's longest battle.

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Source(s): Reuters