15:36 Kremlin accuses new EU leadership of hostility towards Russia
The Kremlin sees poor prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels following the EU leaders' decision on the new leadership of the European Union. The designated new EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Kaja Kallas has not distinguished herself through diplomatic skill so far, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, reporting Russian news agencies. The Estonian prime minister is "well known to us for her absolutely unacceptable and sometimes even extreme Russophobic statements," Peskov said. Moscow accuses the West of Russophobia, or hatred towards Russians, time and again. Similarly, Peskov commented on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was nominated by the EU leaders with a large majority for a second term. "The prospects of the relationship between Moscow and Brussels are poor," Peskow said, adding that there is no normalization of relations to be expected.
15:13 Ukraine reports shooting down another Russian Su-25A Russian Su-25 fighter jet is reported to have been shot down in the contested area of Donetsk. The Ukrainian National Guard announced this in a post on Telegram. According to their report, the plane was hit by a "well-aimed shot" from a portable anti-aircraft missile system during its combat mission. A video published by the National Guard shows grainy footage of the shootdown, accompanied by triumphant cheers from the Ukrainian troops. However, there is no precise information available on when and where the incident occurred.
14:35 Russia attempts to take control of Rosdoliwka in Eastern UkraineAccording to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow, the Russian forces have taken control of the eastern Ukrainian village of Rosdoliwka. The military group South reportedly drove out the Ukrainian troops from Rosdoliwka and has now taken advantage of more favorable positions. The village is located in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, where the Russian troops have reportedly taken control of several villages in recent weeks. There is no comment from Ukraine on this matter. It is impossible to verify such claims about the fighting independently.
14:09 Kiev: Annual military aid commitments worth $60 billionUkraine can count on annual military aid commitments worth $60 billion, according to its own statements. Minister President Denys Schmyhal explained that these commitments are valid for the next four years. In its defense against Russia, Ukraine has signed a series of security agreements in recent days - among others, one on Thursday with the European Union.
13:38 "Poor for the relationship": Kremlin dissatisfied with EU leadership nominationsThe Kremlin criticizes the EU leaders' decision on the EU leadership posts. With Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President and Kaja Kallas as Foreign Affairs Commissioner, the prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels are "poor," according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov. It is not surprising that the decision for Kallas does not sit well with the Kremlin: The Estonian is fighting for a hard line against Russian President Vladimir Putin in the EU and is one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine.
13:06 Poland is about to sign a security agreement with Ukraine soon
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk believes that his country is very likely to sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine in the coming days. This document is expected to be signed nearly 100% before the NATO Summit, which begins on July 9 in Washington. The document is almost completed, only a few details and formulations need to be clarified. The EU Summit took place on Thursday in Brussels, and the EU had already signed a security agreement with Ukraine. Bilateral agreements were also signed between Ukraine and EU countries Latvia and Estonia. Many other EU countries have already signed such an agreement with Ukraine.
12:34 Expert Mölling: Trump is already gaining influence before the election
Security expert Christian Mölling is certain after the TV debate in the US: The influence of Donald Trump on international politics is already increasing. The Research Director of the German Institute for Foreign and Security Policy finds it plausible that Trump may have corrected his stance on Ukraine here and there, as he has received a briefing from the security agencies "on what's really going on." So, there will be no selling out of Ukraine, as such a move would also have negative consequences for US interests, Mölling says in the "Stern" podcast "Die Lage." Although presidents make the important decisions, there is always a machine that needs to implement them. More on US politics and its influence on the Ukraine policy can be found here:
12:12 Belarus announces strengthening of border with Ukraine
Belarus will further strengthen its border with Ukraine following an incident involving a Ukrainian surveillance drone. The border guard and the Defense Ministry announced this. The border guard also reported that a quadcopter, which they claim flew illegally from Ukraine over the border into Belarus to collect information about the infrastructure at the Belarusian border, was shot down on a Wednesday. At the beginning of the week, it was reported that hidden explosive materials were discovered in the same area. Additionally, it was known that a unit of pro-Ukrainian Russian fighters was stationed in a Ukrainian area near the border.
11:40 Spycraft in Bloom: Thousands of Russians Reportedly Ratting Out Their Fellow Citizens
The spycraft tradition runs deep in Russia – and it seems to be in bloom once more. According to independent Russian-language media, at least 3,500 reports against Russian citizens have been filed between February 2022 and May 2024. This is just the minimum estimate, as reported by the portal Meduza. "The war and the subsequent repressive policies of Russian authorities against their own population led ... to an increase in denunciations, which were not limited to anti-war declarations but also encompassed LGBTQ+ content, 'Russophobia’, drugs, and other topics." An example of this is the case of Usman Baratov, a resident of Moscow. Last year, when egg prices were particularly high, he posted a picture of a hen with the caption: "No eggs for you! Bring the roosters back from the front." Within a month, calls to revoke Baratov's Russian citizenship were circulating on social media. A criminal investigation was initiated against him for "incitement to hatred and enmity" and he has been in pre-trial detention for five months. He faces up to six years in prison.
11:03 "Provocations": Moscow Threatens Action Against Alleged US Drone Activity
Russia is threatening action against alleged US reconnaissance drones over the Black Sea. Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has ordered the General Staff of the Army to prepare proposals for swift responses to "provocations," according to his office. Russia has detected heightened activity from US drones in the region. They are reportedly conducting military reconnaissance and gathering target information, which Ukraine allegedly uses to attack Russian facilities with weapons supplied from the West. This demonstrates the growing involvement of the USA and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine. Such drone flights increase the likelihood of incidents in the airspace between Russia and NATO, raising the risk of a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. The NATO would be responsible for such incidents, according to the Defense Ministry.
10:34 Trump vs. Putin: Scene from TV Debate Suppressed in Russia
The US presidential election is being closely followed in Russia, as is the TV debate between the candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump. NTV correspondent Rainer Munz reports on what the Russian media cover and which details are left out. The Kremlin, meanwhile, issues further threats.
09:58 Window fall after KGB interrogation? Former Belarus ambassador dead at 48
According to reports from independent Belarusian media, the former Belarusian ambassador to Germany, Denis Sidorenko, has died at the age of 48 in his hometown of Minsk. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry only confirmed his death after reports from these media outlets, stating that the "beloved colleague, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Belarus in Germany (2016-2024)" had passed away. No cause of death was given. Multiple independent Belarusian media, operating in exile outside the country, report that Sidorenko, a father of a family, committed suicide by jumping out of a window of a high-rise building in Minsk on June 24. An official confirmation of the suicide is not available. Alexander Lukashenko, the ruling authority, had recalled Sidorenko, who had advocated for good relations with the EU, from Germany. According to an exiled former Belarusian diplomat, Sidorenko had become a problem for the power apparatus in Minsk.
09:30 Ukraine releases numbers on Russian losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has published new loss figures for the Russian troops in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost approximately 540,500 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In a single day, the losses amounted to 1,170. The report from Kiev states that, among other things, 24 tanks, 60 artillery systems, and an aircraft were destroyed. Since the beginning of the large-scale attack, Russia is said to have lost 8,066 tanks, 14,423 artillery systems, and 360 aircraft according to Ukraine. Western estimates mention lower loss figures, which are, however, only minimum values.
09:05 Numerous drones over Russia again
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russia intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones during the night. However, it did not mention the incident in Tambov, where a fuel depot caught fire during a drone attack (see entry 08:02). The Russian Telegram channel Two Majors reports of 32 Ukrainian drones that were intercepted in the border region.
08:33 ISW: Russians trying to advance slowly at Toretsk
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) considers a quick tactical victory for the Russians at Toretsk unlikely at present. The Russian military forces may, however, intend to carry out continuous offensive operations in this area to achieve creeping tactical gains, according to the US think tank. "The limited forces available for this operation suggest that the Russians prefer to make gradual progress through persistent attacks rather than a rapid, clear-cut victory," the latest ISW report states. Additionally, a brigade of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and a regiment of Russian territorial troops were fighting in the area. These were less combat-effective than conventional troops or earlier Russian elite units. "Even if the Russian forces manage to capture Toretsk, advancing beyond the settlement would be difficult, if not even more so, given the open terrain and the large water expanses to the north and northwest," the think tank further states.
08:02 Fuel storage facility in Central Russia on fire
Once again, a fuel storage facility in Russia is on fire - this time in the central Russian region of Tambov. Regional Governor Maxim Yegorov writes on Telegram that the cause is a Ukrainian drone attack. No casualties have been reported, the fire department is on the scene. The city of Tambov is approximately 460 kilometers south-east of Moscow.
07:39 Selenskyj to come to NATO summit in Warsaw before going to Washington
According to Polish government announcements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will come to Warsaw before the NATO summit in Washington in July. "President Zelenskyy and I have arranged a meeting in Warsaw before the NATO summit," writes Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Twitter. "The EU has understood what Poland has known since the beginning of the war: The defense of Ukraine is the defense of Europe." Poland is one of the most active political and military supporters of Ukraine. It also plays an important role as a hub for Western military aid to Kiev. In addition, Poland has taken in nearly a million refugees from its neighboring country.
07:07 "Extremist": Duma preparing bill against "child-free ideology"
Despite the unclear family relationships of leading Russian politicians: Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has declared 2024 as the "Year of the Family," and he calls the Russian family the "backbone" of Russia. It seems that the family model will now be propagated even more strongly. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russian Deputy Justice Minister Vsevolod Vukolov announces that Duma deputies are preparing a bill to ban the so-called "child-free ideology." This ideology is considered "extremist" because it holds the view that "women do not have to bear children" and "can renounce them." In addition, a draft for a presidential decree is being prepared, which will add the term "traditional values" to the official "normative dictionary" of the Russian language. The demographic situation in Russia is generally tense. According to the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, between January and April of the previous year, 3.1 percent fewer children were born than in the same period of the previous year - a record low. The massive losses in the war contribute to further deterioration of the demographic situation.
06:42 Governor: Administrative building in Bryansk damaged by Ukrainian drone
In the Russian city of Bryansk, it appears that an administrative building has been damaged by a drone attack. This is reported by the governor of the region, Alexander Bogomaz, on Telegram. "The city of Bryansk was attacked by Ukrainian terrorists with drones. There are no casualties." The drone was repelled, and at the time of its fall, the administrative building was damaged.
06:07 Kertsch Bridge apparently affected: Ukrainian intelligence service speaks of cyber attacks on Crimean servers
The military intelligence service of Ukraine (HUR) is conducting a cyber attack on multiple institutions on the Crimean peninsula, which is under Russian control. This is reported by "Kyiv Independent" and relies on a source from the service. The targets of the attacks on Thursday are reportedly the largest Russian internet providers on the peninsula, the servers of propaganda media, and the system for registering and controlling traffic on the Crimean Bridge. "Within an hour, the traffic jam increased sixfold, and in the morning, about 300 cars were in the queue," according to the source from the HUR. The Ukrainian intelligence service is said to have conducted several cyber attacks on the Crimea in the past few months.
05:01 Heavy fighting around Pokrovsk in the east
At various frontlines in the east of Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in heavy fighting on Thursday. The Ukrainian General Staff in Kiev reports in its daily situation report that the enemy is trying to breach our defense lines. Of the over 100 reported armed clashes of the day, more than half are said to be in the area around Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The frontline has remained unchanged everywhere. Ukrainian military also report heavy fighting around the settlement of Mirnoje west of the city of Zaporizhzhia. A Russian brigade is said to have lost over 95 percent of its soldiers in massed storming attacks there, according to a statement from the Ukrainian agency Unian.
04:20 Trump: Could end war in Ukraine before inauguration if elected
The former US President Donald Trump holds Joe Biden responsible for the Russian attack war in Ukraine and calls on Europe to give more money to Kiev. If the US had a "real President" who respected Vladimir Putin, this would never have happened in Ukraine, Trump said during the presidential debate in Atlanta. Biden even encouraged Putin, Trump added. He repeated his promise to end the war again if re-elected. This would still happen before his inauguration in January, the 78-year-old continued. He didn't, however, explain how he would do it.
03:18 French right-wing populist Bardella speaks out in favor of Ukraine support
During a TV debate three days before the first round of the French parliamentary elections, the French right-wing populist Jordan Bardella, who aspires to be the Prime Minister of his National Rally (RN) party in case of an absolute majority, speaks out in favor of continued support for Ukraine. "I will not allow Russian imperialism to absorb a linked state like Ukraine," Bardella says. His position on this conflict is "very simple" and has "never changed," Bardella explains. "It's about supporting Ukraine and preventing an escalation" with the nuclear power Russia. Regarding a possible deployment of French soldiers to Ukraine, Bardella says: "If I am prime minister tomorrow, no French soldiers will be sent to Ukraine." He is also against sending medium-range missiles to Ukraine that could hit Russian territory.
01:30 Farmers' President under Fire for Ukraine Remarks
The President of the Farmers' Association is facing sharp criticism for his statements regarding Ukraine's EU membership. Green security politician Sebastian Schäfer accused Joachim Rukwied in a letter of becoming "Putin's propaganda helper" with his one-sided remarks. The letter was obtained by "Der Spiegel." Rukwied had warned in an interview with "FAZ" that Ukraine's accession was a "threat to the survival of European agriculture," as large agricultural businesses there could produce much cheaper than European farmers. Instead, import restrictions against Ukrainian agricultural products were "urgently necessary." Schäfer accuses Rukwied of fueling the anti-Ukraine sentiment with his "martial language" and suggesting that the Russian-occupied land poses only a threat to EU farmers. Moreover, the accession talks are still in their infancy and represent "an opportunity and a chance for fundamental, future-oriented reforms in the Common Agricultural Policy."
23:34 Ukrainian Railways Granted License for Freight Traffic by Poland
The state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia has received a license from the Polish railway regulatory authority, allowing it to enter the European railway freight market, according to the company's statement. Since February 2022, the Ukrainian airspace has been closed due to the Russian invasion, making rail transport a crucial role in transporting goods and passengers to and from the country. Ukrzaliznytsia transported over two million passengers to Europe in the previous year and reported a record cargo volume of 14 million tons in November 2023.
22:17 Ukraine Increases Weapons Production by 25.4% in the First Quarter
The weapons production in Ukraine increased by an average of 25.4% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to data from the Ukrainian State Statistics Service. In January 2024, Ukraine produced 26.6% more weapons and ammunition than in January of the previous year. The increase was 29% in February, but the production rate decreased in March; Ukraine produced 18.8% more weapons than in 2023.
21:32 Czech Republic Sends First 50,000 Grenades to Kiev - Financed by Germany
The Czech Republic has delivered the first 50,000 grenades to Ukraine as part of the Czech-led initiative, according to the Czech Press Agency (CTK). Czech Defense Minister Jana Černohová announced that Prague had identified 500,000 155-mm grenades and 300,000 122-mm grenades outside Europe that could be bought and sent to Ukraine once the necessary funds for the initiative were secured. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated Tuesday that Ukraine had received the first delivery of artillery grenades "some time ago." Prague worked with Germany on the delivery, according to CTK. According to the Defense Ministry, the 50,000 grenades represent the first batch of 180,000 rounds of ammunition financed by Germany.
20:53 Russia attacks Charkiw for the first time with FAB-500 bomb - four injuredRussian troops have attacked the city of Charkiw for the first time since the beginning of the war with a FAB-500 bomb equipped with a glide mechanism, according to Oleksandr Filchakov, head of the regional prosecutor's office. At least four people were injured, two others suffered a shock, reports the governor of the Charkiw region, Oleh Syniehubov. Russian troops dropped the bomb over the village of Maysky in the Russian oblast Belgorod onto the Kyivskyi-District of Kharkiv, says Filchakov. The FAB-500 is a 500-kilogram bomb developed by the Soviet Union with a high-explosive warhead that is dropped from the air. These inexpensive and widely used bombs are equipped with glide kits that improve their accuracy, but also enable their launch from greater distances, beyond the range of Ukrainian air defense systems.
20:21 Patriot systems to be delivered from Israel to Ukraine via the USAAccording to the "Financial Times," the USA, Israel, and Ukraine are in talks to supply up to eight Patriot air defense systems to Kiev, in order to significantly improve Ukraine's ability to repel Russian air raids. The agreement is not yet finalized, but would likely mean that the Patriot systems would first be delivered from Israel to the USA and then to Ukraine. The basic outlines of the deal, which would mark a significant shift in Israel's relations with Moscow, were discussed between ministers and high-ranking officials of the three countries, according to five people familiar with the negotiations.
You can read about all previous developments here.
- The Kremlin's dissatisfaction with EU leaders' decisions extends to the nominations of Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President and Kaja Kallas as Foreign Affairs Commissioner, as these choices are seen as poor prospects for improving relations with Moscow due to their perceived hardline stance against Russia and support for Ukraine.
- In the context of the Ukraine conflict, reports emerge of the Ukrainian military successfully shooting down a Russian Su-25A fighter jet in the contested area of Donetsk, further straining tensions between the two nations.
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov criticizes EU leaders for their decision to nominate Volodymyr Selensky, a Ukrainian President known for his pro-Western stance, to lead his country, as this is seen as a continued provocation against Russia.
- Amidst the ongoing political tensions and military operations between Ukraine and Russia, NATO and its member states, including Poland, are increasing their military aid commitments to Ukraine to help it defend against Russian aggression.
- Russian military operations in Ukraine continue, with reports of attempts to take control of specific locations such as Rosdoliwka in Eastern Ukraine, leading to calls from Ukrainian leaders for increased international support and condemnation from the West.
