11:30 AM London Time: Russia Secures Village Near Avdiivka

11:30 London Time: Russia Seizes Village Close to Avdiivka

Russian forces are presumed to have seized control over Novooleksandrivka, a village approximately 20km north of Avdiivka. The Russian military is reportedly making headway towards the T0504 highway, a significant logistics route for Ukraine.

At 10:48, Putin and Kim Jong Un are planning extensive cooperation, with intentions to pen a treaty during Putin's visit to Pyongyang. The Kremlin has approved the Foreign Ministry's draft treaty, and it is expected to be signed by Putin and Kim Jong Un at a high-ranking level. Details surrounding the treaty's contents have yet to be disclosed.

China has reproached NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg for his criticism of China's stance on the Ukraine conflict. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian advises NATO to avoid accusations, disruptive behavior, and fueling the fire. Instead, NATO should take decisive actions towards resolving the crisis. Stoltenberg had previously criticized China's involvement in the Russian aggression against Ukraine during a visit to Washington. China maintains that it stays impartial, as per Stoltenberg, in order to avoid sanctions and continue trade.

In Moscow, a Ukrainian woman has been sentenced to twelve years in prison for broadcasting anti-war messages and the Ukrainian national anthem from her apartment window. Alongside playing the anthem, she released white-blue-white balloons, a symbol of dissent against Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The Russian Navy commenced submarine warfare exercises in the Pacific Ocean, ahead of Putin's state visit to North Korea. Approximately 40 ships and boats, as well as around 20 aircraft and helicopters, are participating in the exercises, which are scheduled to last until June 28 and take place in the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese Sea, and the Ochotsk Sea. The exercises focus on combating submarines and defense against air attacks.

Putin's portrait adorns the streets of Pyongyang's capital, as the city prepares for Putin's visit. In addition to the numerous Russian flags hanging, Putin's image can be found throughout the city.

Russian President Putin is visiting North Korea today and tomorrow, with Munz, an NTV Russia correspondent, suggesting that Putin arrives equipped with an array of weapons. Diplomatic support is also expected to play a significant role during the visit.

Rwanda has rescinded its signature from the Ukraine Peace Summit closing declaration, as reported by Ukrainian media outlets. The Swiss government website no longer lists Rwanda among the signatories as of Monday. Currently, 77 states and 5 organizations support the declaration.

Ukrainian military analyst Petro Chernyk asserts that Russia faces shortages of explosives for artillery shells, and is transitioning from self-propelled to towed artillery systems. However, they are encountering challenges with these systems as well. Russia appears incapable of producing more self-propelled systems, with only five to six such machines in their possession.

The Ukrainian Air Force claims to have destroyed all ten Russian drones used during night operations over the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk, as per a statement on Telegram.

Russia has confirmed the destruction of a rare Russian reconnaissance aircraft of the A-50 type over the Azov Sea in February, resulting in the deaths of ten crew members. The Ukrainian military intelligence and Ukrainian Air Force had previously claimed responsibility for the downing. The aircraft is essential for identifying air defense systems and missile guidance, as well as coordinating targets for Russian combat jets. Russia is believed to have fewer than ten of these aircraft, with an estimated cost of around 350 million dollars.

An oil refinery in the Russian city of Asov caught fire following a Ukrainian drone attack, according to the city's governor. The initial reports indicate that there were no casualties. Firefighters are working to control the fires.

05:40 Kremlin: Negotiating a possible swap of prisoners with the US, featuring Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter in custody
As stated by Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Russia is engaging in discussions with the US regarding a potential exchange of prisoners, including Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old journalist for the "Wall Street Journal." According to comments from President Vladimir Putin, these discussions began in early June. Peskov noted that these talks are continuing, but no announcements, statements, or information about the matter can be shared. Gershkovich was apprehended by the Russian domestic security service FSB in Yekaterinburg, in the Ural region, on March 29, 2023, and is charged with espionage.

04:50 US soldier detained in Russia, Gordon Black, partially admits to stealing
In a Russian court in Vladivostok, Gordon Black, a US soldier being held captive in Russia for multiple offenses like theft, has partly confessed to the crime. According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Black admitted that he was "partially responsible" for the theft, but he didn't commit it intentionally. He denied making any threats to kill his girlfriend. Several other US citizens are being held in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former soldier Paul Whelan, both accused of espionage.

03:50 Fine imposed on Gascade for publishing flawed data about Nord Stream 2
The German Federal Network Agency has fined Gascade, the operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, €75,000 for disseminating incorrect data concerning the contentious German-Russian gas pipeline. The agency stated that Gascade published inaccurate figures in 2021 due to IT issues, which suggested that the pipeline's commissioning was imminent, causing the market to react and assume that the pipeline's activation was about to happen, leading to a significant drop in prices.

02:58 Putin thanks North Korea for military assistance in Ukraine
Before visiting North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Pyongyang for their military aid in Ukraine in an article published by the North Korean state news agency KCNA. "We greatly appreciate the fact that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) has actively supported Russia's military operation in Ukraine," Putin wrote on Tuesday. The article stated that both countries are growing their multifaceted partnership.

01:57 Russian forces repel heavy Ukrainian attacks in Kharkiv
In sections of the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, Russian sources indicate that intense fighting has occurred. "The enemy is sending reinforcements and attempting to launch a counter-offensive, but is facing strong resistance from our troops," says the pro-Russian governor of the Russian-controlled territories in the Kharkiv region, Vitali Ganchev. Russian troops are reportedly fending off the latest Ukrainian counter-attacks near Vovchansk, just 5 kilometers behind the border. Russian forces took parts of the Kharkiv region a month ago and have allegedly captured around a dozen villages according to official statements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirms that the Ukrainian forces will gradually push out Russian forces from the contested area.

00:55 DIW President criticizes cuts to Ukrainian refugee benefits as populist
Marcel Fratzscher, an economist, criticizes calls for reducing social benefits for Ukrainian refugees as "empty populism." "No one will gain anything, no one will even have an extra Euro if Germany treats refugees poorly and cuts their benefits," says the President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "The German government doesn't need to spend less money on refugees, but make greater efforts for faster and better integration of refugees into the job market and society," Fratzscher demands.

23:55 Large majority of Ukrainians view Zelenskyy as a legitimate president
Despite extended terms during wartime, a significant majority of Ukrainians believe that State Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains a legitimate president. According to a survey by the International Sociological Institute in Kiev, 70 percent of the 2011 interviewed Ukrainians support Zelenskyy remaining in office until the end of the war. Only 22 percent oppose this. The Ukrainians contradict Moscow's assertions that Zelenskyy's term has expired, and he is no longer the legitimate president of Ukraine.

22:55 European Parliament voice concern over Finland's deportation plans for migrants from Russia
The European Parliament has expressed worry over the Finnish government's proposals to return migrants from Russia, whom Helsinki claims were deliberately sent across the shared border by Moscow. The Human Rights Commissioner of the European Parliament, Michael O'Flaherty, wrote a letter to Finnish Parliament President Jussi Halla-aho, urging them to reject the draft law. The current Finnish center-right government plans to implement stricter immigration laws, which include a bill that would authorize border guards to turn away refugees.

Moscow's been vocal about the disappointing outcomes of the Swiss Peace Conference for Ukraine, held in Moscow. As per Dmitri Peskov, the personal spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, the summit failed to yield results without Russia's involvement. "When discussing the outcomes of this gathering, they obviously aim for nothing," Peskow stated. Moscow remains unfazed by the fact that a string of countries friendly towards Russia, such as Serbia, Turkey, or Hungary, endorsed the final declaration. "Naturally, we'll consider the standpoint of these nations. It's crucial for us. We'll carry on explaining our reasoning to them," Peskov continued. The Foreign Affairs Ministry in Moscow deemed the conference a " total disaster," as reported by the Tass news agency, according to a statement by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

You can catch up on previous happenings here.