15:43 Access to Soviet archives denied: Human rights court condemns Russia
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled against Russia for denying access to archives regarding human rights violations during the Soviet era to the human rights organization Memorial and other organizations. "The search for historical truth is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression," the Strasbourg Court declared. The refusal constitutes an interference with the right to information and therefore violates the European Convention on Human Rights.
15:03: Slovakia expresses support for Rutte as new NATO Chief - The Slovak government has expressed its readiness to support Mark Rutte as the new NATO Secretary-General. "After a final discussion with Mark Rutte and consultations with the Slovak government, the Slovak Republic can present Mark Rutte as the NATO Chief," Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said. However, the official support of Hungary and Romania is still missing. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced in March that he was also running for the top position. The incumbent NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has already extended his tenure several times. The Norwegian intends to step down from the helm of the military alliance in October after a decade. The NATO Secretary-General is appointed through the consensus procedure and therefore requires the support of all 32 members. Many countries have already expressed their support for the outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Rutte.
14:26: Bern's Federal Prosecutor investigates alleged Russian agents - Swiss authorities suspect, according to a media report, that a Russian diplomat attempted to acquire weapons and dangerous substances. The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Bern confirmed that it had requested authorization from the government to pursue a political crime. The Federal Prosecutor and the police had already carried out searches as part of "preventive measures," the authority announced. Previously, the "Tages-Anzeiger" reported that a diplomat was under investigation, who was accredited to the Russian embassy in Bern. The alleged agent was detected a few weeks before the Ukraine summit, which took place in Switzerland without Russian participation over the past weekend. The man reportedly built contacts in Switzerland for his procurement activities. To investigate the case, the Federal Prosecutor also requested the lifting of immunity.
13:47: Italy reportedly plans to supply Ukraine with Storm Shadows - According to a report in "Il Fatto Quotidiano," Italy plans to supply Ukraine with Storm-Shadow cruise missiles in a further military aid package. The state Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported this, citing the Italian daily. The Italian Defense Ministry is said to present the ninth military aid package to parliament at the end of June, according to the report, without specifying the number.
13:02: A professor in Estonia sentenced for espionage for Russia
The Russian political scientist Viacheslav Morozov has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison in Estonia for espionage. This was reported by the Russian opposition medium Meduza, citing the Estonian public-service broadcaster. Morozov reportedly worked for the university in Tartu, Estonia, until his arrest in January, and shared his knowledge about the political situation in Estonia and its relations with the EU with Russian intelligence services.
12:19: NATO General calls for response to modern hypersonic weapons
NATO General Christian Badia considers intensive efforts for defense against modern hypersonic weapons necessary. In Berlin at a conference, he stated that both defense and the ability to attack must be set for a credible deterrence. Russia is already deploying these weapons systems against Ukraine. The warning time could shrink to only about two minutes, it was reported at the meeting. Markus Ziegler from the German Aerospace Industries Association said: "Distance Moscow-Berlin: If you're fast, five minutes from there to here. Even Beijing-Berlin, where they say Beijing is infinitely far away, 20 minutes."
11:57: Arson at Russian fuel depot likely caused by intelligence
The nighttime attack on a fuel depot in the Russian city of Asow is believed to be the work of the Ukrainian domestic intelligence service, according to a source in the agency speaking to The Kyiv Independent. According to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, the fire covered approximately 3200 square meters. Over 200 firefighters were reportedly on the scene to extinguish the fire.
11:30: London: Russia takes village near Avdiivka
British intelligence estimates that Russian troops have likely taken the village of Novooleksandrivka, about 20 kilometers north of Avdiivka. This would bring the Russian army closer to the T0504 highway, one of Ukraine's main supply lines.
10:48: Putin and Kim Jong Un plan comprehensive cooperation
Russia and North Korea plan to sign a treaty on comprehensive cooperation during Putin's visit to Pyongyang. Putin has approved the draft of the agreement from the Foreign Ministry, the Kremlin announced. The document should be signed at the highest level, that is, by Putin and the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. No details about the contents of the agreement were provided.
10:20: China responds sharply to Stoltenberg
The Chinese government has rejected the criticism of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg regarding China's stance on the Ukraine conflict. "We advise (NATO) to stop assigning blame to others, not to sow discord, and not to pour oil on the fire," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian. Instead, NATO should take concrete steps "for the political resolution of the crisis." Stoltenberg had criticized China's actions regarding the Russian attack war in his visit to Washington the previous day. China presents itself as neutral, but according to Stoltenberg, it is "heating up the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II while maintaining good relations with the West."
09:36 A woman from Moscow has been sentenced to twelve years in prison by a military court in Russia for playing an anti-war declaration and the Ukrainian national anthem from her apartment window in Moscow. This was reported by Ukrainska Pravda, citing the Russian opposition media outlet Mediazona. The woman, aged 35, is also said to have released white-blue-white balloons, a symbol of protest against Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.
09:00 The Russian Navy is training for anti-submarine warfare in the Pacific The Russian Navy has started exercises in the Pacific Ocean directly before Putin's state visit to North Korea. Approximately 40 ships and boats, as well as about 20 planes and helicopters, are participating in the maneuvers, according to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. The exercises are reportedly taking place in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk until June 28. During the training, the Navy is said to be focusing on anti-submarine warfare and air defense.
08:28 Putin's portrait lines the streets of Pyongyang Putin's visit to North Korea is noticeable in the capital Pyongyang: not only are there numerous Russian flags lining the streets, but also portraits of the Russian president. This can be seen in videos, including those from the Russian state news agency TASS, on social media.
08:01 Munz: Weapons are the main focus of Putin's North Korea visit Russian President Putin is visiting North Korea today and tomorrow. According to NTV-Russia correspondent Rainer Munz, weapons are likely the main focus of Putin's visit. However, diplomatic support is also important.
07:48 Rwanda withdraws signature from peace summit declaration Rwanda has withdrawn its signature from the closing declaration of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, according to Ukrainian media. Ruanda's name no longer appears on the list of signatories on the Swiss government's website. Currently, 77 states and 5 organizations are supporting the declaration.
07:22 Ukrainian military analyst assesses problems with Russian artillery production According to Ukrainian military analyst Petro Chernyk, assessed by the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia is experiencing shortages of explosives for artillery shells. Russia is also reportedly transitioning from self-propelled to towed artillery systems, but is allegedly encountering problems with these as well. However, Russia is unable to produce more self-propelled systems.
06:54 Ukrainian Air Force reports destruction of all ten Russian drones launched at night The Ukrainian Air Force claims to have destroyed all ten drones launched by Russia at night over the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk. The Air Force announced this on Telegram.
06:28 Russia confirms shooting down of rare Russian reconnaissance aircraftRussian 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 was reported by The Kyiv Independent. The Ukrainian Military Intelligence and the Ukrainian Air Force claimed the shoot down at the time. The aircraft was reportedly important for detecting air defense systems and missiles, as well as coordinating targets for Russian fighter jets. Russia reportedly has fewer than ten of these aircraft, with an estimated price of around 350 million dollars.
06:02 Oil storage facilities in Russian Asow on fireAccording to the governor of the Russian city of Asow in the Rostov region near the Ukrainian border, oil storage facilities have caught fire following a Ukrainian drone attack. "There are no casualties reported so far," the governor, Vasili Golubev, announced on Telegram. The investigation is ongoing, and the local fire department is working to bring the blazes under control.
05:40 Kremlin: Holding talks with the USA over potential exchange of GershkovichRussia has confirmed, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, that negotiations are ongoing with the USA regarding a potential prisoner exchange for the detained US reporter Evan Gershkovich. Peskov referred to statements by President Vladimir Putin, who expressed a desire for such talks earlier in June. "They are continuing, but they should continue in complete silence," Peskov emphasized. "Therefore, no announcements, declarations, or information can be given about this matter." The 32-year-old reporter for the "Wall Street Journal" was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Yekaterinburg, in the Ural region, on March 29, 2023. He is accused of espionage.
04:50 Detained US soldier pleads partial guiltThe detained US soldier Gordon Black has partially confessed to the charges against him in a Russian court in Vladivostok. According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Black admitted to being "partially responsible" for the theft but denied having committed it intentionally. He also denied threatening to kill his girlfriend. Several other US citizens are already detained in Russia, including the journalist Evan Gershkovich and the former soldier Paul Whelan, who are both accused of espionage.
03:50 Bundesnetzagentur imposes fine for incorrect Nord Stream 2 dataThe German Federal Network Agency has imposed a fine of 75,000 euros on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline operator Gascade. The agency in Bonn reports that Gascade published incorrect data in 2021 due to IT problems, which suggested that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was about to be commissioned. The market reacted to the false information and assumed that the pipeline's commissioning was imminent, leading to significantly lower prices.
02:58 Putin thanks North Korea for military support in Ukraine
In the lead-up to his visit to North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Pyongyang for its support of Russia's offensive in Ukraine in an article published by the state North Korean news agency KCNA. "We highly value the fact that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) has resolutely supported the Russian military operation in Ukraine," Putin wrote in the article published on Tuesday. The text further stated that both countries are working on "actively developing the multifaceted partnership."
01:57 Russia reports heavy Ukrainian attacks in Kharkiv
According to Russian reports, fierce fighting has broken out in parts of the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. "The enemy is sending reinforcements and trying to launch a counterattack, but is encountering fierce resistance from our troops," said the pro-Russian governor of the occupied territories in the Kharkiv region, Vitali Ganchev. Russian troops reportedly repelled the latest Ukrainian counterattacks near Vovchansk, five kilometers behind the border. Russian forces had reportedly entered parts of the Kharkiv region a month ago and had taken control of around a dozen villages according to official statements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kiev's forces would gradually expel the Russian troops from the contested area.
00:55 DIW President: Cutting social benefits for Ukrainians is populist
Marcel Fratzscher, the head of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), criticizes demands for a reduction of social benefits for Ukrainian refugees as "bare populism." "No one will be better off, and no one will even have an extra euro if Germany treats refugees badly and cuts their benefits," Fratzscher told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "The German state does not need to spend less money on refugees, but rather make more efforts for a faster and better integration of refugees into the labor market and society," Fratzscher demanded.
23:55 Most Ukrainians see Zelenskyy as legitimate president
A large majority of Ukrainians view President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite the extended term in office during wartime, as the legitimate president. According to a survey by the International Sociological Institute in Kiev, 70% of the 2011 interviewees believe that Zelenskyy should remain in office until the end of the war. Only 22% are against it. This contradicts the position of Moscow, which argues that Zelenskyy's term of office has long since expired and that he is no longer the legitimate president of Ukraine.
22:55 European Parliament concerned about Finland's deportation plans
The European Parliament expresses concern over the Finnish government's plan to return migrants from Russia, as reportedly arranged by Moscow and sent across the common border. The draft law must be rejected, urges European Human Rights Commissioner Michael O'Flaherty in a letter to Finnish Parliament President Jussi Halla-aho. The current Finnish Centre-Right government aims to significantly toughen immigration laws. For instance, they submitted a bill at the end of May that would allow border guards to turn away asylum seekers.
22:15 Peskov: Peace conference results "strive for zero"
The Kremlin continues to criticize the outcomes of the Swiss peace conference for Ukraine. According to Dmitri Peskov, spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, the conference could not have produced results without Russian participation. "When speaking about the results of this meeting, they naturally strive for zero," Peskov stated. Moscow is not disturbed by the fact that Russia-friendly countries like Serbia, Turkey, or Hungary supported the final declaration. "We will certainly take into account their stance. It is important for us. We will continue to explain our position to them," Peskov added. The Russian Foreign Ministry labeled the conference a "complete failure," as quoted by Tass news agency from a statement by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
You can read about previous developments here.
- The President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, announced the Slovak government's readiness to support Mark Rutte as the new NATO Secretary-General, but the official support of Hungary and Romania is still missing.
- The Swiss authorities suspect a Russian diplomat attempted to acquire weapons and dangerous substances, and the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Bern confirmed it had requested authorization to pursue a political crime.
- Italy is reportedly planning to supply Ukraine with Storm-Shadow cruise missiles in a further military aid package.
- A Russian political scientist, Viacheslav Morozov, was sentenced to six years and three months in prison in Estonia for espionage after sharing his knowledge about the political situation in Estonia and its relations with the EU with Russian intelligence services.
- NATO General Christian Badia considers intensive efforts for defense against modern hypersonic weapons necessary, stating that both defense and the ability to attack is needed for a credible deterrence. Russia is already deploying these weapons systems against Ukraine.
