12:19: A NATO General Advocates for Countermeasures Against Current Hypersonic Arms Technology
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- Hypersonic Threat: NATO General Christian Badia emphasizes the urgency of fortifying defense against rapid Hypersonic weapons. Efficient deterrence entails both robust defense measures and the ability to respond, Badia suggested during a conference in Berlin. It was reported at the meeting that Russia might already be deploying these weapon systems against Ukraine, with the warning time potentially reducing to a mere two minutes. Markus Ziegler from the German Aerospace Industries Association comments, "Distance Moscow-Berlin: If you're fast, it's five minutes from there to here. Even Beijing-Berlin, where they say Beijing is infinitely far away, it's 20 minutes."
- Ukraine Fuel Depot Attack: An attack on a Russian fuel depot in the port of Asow during the night is likely the activity of the Ukrainian domestic intelligence service, a Ukrainian Security Service source claims to The Kyiv Independent. The fire supposedly engulfed around 3200 square meters, requiring over 200 firefighters to control it.
- Russia Advancement near Avdiivka: British intelligence indicates that Russian troops might have seized control of the village of Novooleksandrivka, about 20 kilometers north of Avdiivka. This movement brings the Russian army closer to the T0504 highway, one of Ukraine's primary supply lines.
- Putin-Kim Jong Un Agreement: Russia and North Korea plan to sign a treaty on comprehensive cooperation during Putin's visit to Pyongyang. The document is expected to be signed by Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but no details about its content were provided.
- Stoltenberg-China Disagreement: The Chinese government dismisses NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's criticism of China's stance on the Ukraine conflict. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian recommends that NATO "stop assigning blame to others, not to sow discord, and not to pour oil on the fire." Instead, NATO should take effective steps for resolving the crisis.
- Anti-War Activist Imprisonment in Russia: A Ukrainian woman is sentenced to twelve years in prison for expressing anti-war sentiments from her apartment window in Moscow, playing an anti-war declaration and the Ukrainian national anthem, along with releasing white-blue-white balloons, a symbol of protest against Russia's aggression towards Ukraine.
- Russian Navy Exercises: The Russian Navy starts exercises in the Pacific Ocean prior to Putin's state visit to North Korea. These maneuvers involve approximately 40 ships, boats, 20 aircraft and helicopters, and span the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk until June 28. The exercises cover skirmishes against submarines and air defense.
- Putin's Portrait in Pyongyang: Putin's visit to North Korea is marked by a string of Russian flags lining the streets in Pyongyang and large portraits of Putin.
- Arms Focus during Putin's Visit to North Korea: Russian President Putin is visiting North Korea today and tomorrow. According to NTV-Russia correspondent Rainer Munz, he might be bringing weapons with him, while diplomatic support is also crucial.
- Rwanda Withdraws Signature from Peace Summit Declaration: Rwanda has withdrawn its signature from the final declaration of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. According to the Swiss government's website, Rwanda no longer appears in the list of signatories as of Monday. Now, 77 states and 5 organizations support the declaration.
- Ukrainian Military Analyst on Russia's Artillery Shortage: According to Ukrainian military analyst Petro Chernyk, Russia is experiencing shortages of explosives for artillery shells, and is also reportedly transitioning from self-propelled to towed artillery systems. However, Russia is allegedly facing problems with these newer artillery systems as well, and cannot produce more self-propelled systems.
- Destruction of Russian Drones: The Ukrainian Air Force claims to have destroyed all ten Russian drones launched at night over Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
- Destroyed Reconnaissance Aircraft Confirmation: Russian authorities have confirmed that the Ukrainian Air Force shot down a rare Russian Early Warning and Control Aircraft of the type A-50 over the Azov Sea in February, resulting in the deaths of ten crew members. This aircraft is known for detecting air defense systems and missiles, as well as coordinating targets for Russian fighter jets. Russia is said to have fewer than ten of these aircraft, whose estimated price is around 350 million dollars.
06:02 Fires Erupt at Prisons in Asow, RussiaAccording to the governor of Asow, a city in the Rostov region near the Ukrainian border, several prisons have caught fire following an attack by a Ukrainian drone. The governor, Vasili Golubev, confirmed via Telegram that no casualties have been reported. Efforts are being made by local firefighters to extinguish the fires, and investigations are ongoing.
05:40 Russia in Talks with USA for Gershkovich ExchangeThe Kremlin confirms talks with the USA regarding a potential prisoner exchange for Evan Gershkovich, a US reporter currently detained in Russia. President Vladimir Putin has showed interest in engaging in such talks, and according to Dmitry Peskov, the talks are continuing in complete silence, with no announcements or declarations. Gershkovich, who works for the "Wall Street Journal," was arrested by the Russian domestic security service FSB on March 29, 2023, and is accused of espionage.
04:50 US Soldier Partial Confession in Theft CaseUS soldier Gordon Black, currently detained in Russia for allegedly committing theft, has partially confessed to his crime in court in Vladivostok. Black admitted to being "partially responsible" for the theft but denied having committed it intentionally. He also denied threatening to harm his girlfriend. Several other US citizens are in Russian custody, including Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, both of whom are accused of espionage.
03:50 Fine Imposed on Gascade for Nord Stream 2 Values ErrorThe German Federal Network Agency has fined pipeline operator Gascade €75,000 for publishing incorrect values in 2021 relating to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The agency in Bonn claims that Gascade published false information due to IT problems, which led the market to believe that the pipeline's commissioning was imminent. This caused significantly lower prices.
02:58 Putin Thanks North Korea for Military Support in UkraineIn anticipation of his visit to North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Pyongyang for its military support for Russia's offensive in Ukraine. Putin stated that both countries are working to "actively develop the multifaceted partnership."
01:57 Heavy Ukrainian Attacks Reported in KharkivFierce fighting has broken out in parts of the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, according to Russian reports. Governor Vitali Ganchev, appointed by Russia, stated that the Ukrainian troops are attempting a counter-attack, but are encountering heavy resistance from the Russian forces. Russian troops have reportedly repelled the latest Ukrainian counter-attacks near Vovchansk, five kilometers behind the border. Russian forces entered parts of the region Kharkiv a month ago and are said to have taken control of around a dozen villages.
00:55 DIW President: Cutting Social Benefits for Ukrainians is PopulismMarcel Fratzscher, economist at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), criticizes demands for a reduction of social benefits for Ukrainian refugees as "bare populism." He emphasizes that measures should focus on better integrating refugees into the labor market and society, rather than reducing social spending.
23:55 Majority of Ukrainians Support Zelenskyy as PresidentAccording to a survey by the International Sociological Institute, a large majority of Ukrainians believe that State Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy should remain in office until the end of the conflict. Only 22% oppose this. This contradicts the position of Moscow, which argues that Zelenskyy's term of office has expired and that he is no longer the legitimate president of Ukraine.
22:55 European Parliament Worried about Finland's Deportation PlansThe European Parliament shows concern over Finland's plans to return migrants from Russia, who, according to Helsinki's statements, have been deliberately sent across the common border by Moscow. European Human Rights Commissioner of the European Parliament, Michael O'Flaherty, urged Finland's Parliamentary Speaker Jussi Halla-aho to reject the draft law, which would allow Finland's border guards to turn back refugees. The center-right Finnish government, in office since last year, intends to significantly tighten migration law.
The Kremlin keeps criticizing the outcomes of the Moscow-held Swiss Peace Conference concerning Ukraine. In the absence of Russian involvement, the summit failed to deliver any significant results, as stated by Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin. "When evaluating the results of this gathering, they aim for nothing," he remarked. The Kremlin remains unfazed by the support shown by Russia-leaning nations like Serbia, Turkey, or Hungary for the summit's closing statement. "We'll definitely consider the standpoint of these countries. It matters to us. We'll proceed to clarify our stance to them," Peskov added. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow deemed the conference an "absolute flop," as per Maria Zakharova, the Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman's statement, reported by Tass.
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Read also:
- The ongoing Ukraine conflict has seen an escalation in military operations, with Russia allegedly utilizing hypersonic weapons against Ukraine, reducing warning times to as little as two minutes, as reported by NATO General Christian Badia.
- Amidst the strained relations between Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian military has reportedly successfully destroyed ten Russian drones launched over Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, presenting a countermeasure against Russia's cyberwar tactics.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President, has called on NATO for further support in protecting against Russia's military advancements, urging the alliance to enhance its countermeasures against Russia's hypersonic weapons technology.
- Russia's aggressive stance towards Ukraine has led to international condemnation, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg criticizing China's support for Russia in the conflict, stating that China should instead take "effective steps for resolving the crisis" rather than sowing discord.
