16:18 Putin thanks North Korea for support against Ukraine ahead of state visit
Before his visit to North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Pyongyang for its decisive support of Russia's military operation in Ukraine. "We highly value the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)'s resolution to support the Russian military special operation in Ukraine," Putin wrote in a guest article published by the state North Korean news agency KCNA and the newspaper Rodong Sinmun. Meanwhile, South Korea reported a brief border crossing by North Korean soldiers.
15:43 Access to Soviet Archives Denied: European Court of Human Rights Condemns Russia
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has condemned Russia for its refusal to grant access to archives to the human rights organization Memorial and other organizations regarding repressions during the Soviet era. "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 Supports Rutte as New NATO Chief
Slovakia has expressed its readiness to support Mark Rutte of the Netherlands as the new NATO Secretary-General. "After a final discussion with Mark Rutte and consultations with the Slovak government, Slovakia can imagine Mark Rutte as NATO Secretary-General," Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said. However, the official support of Hungary and Romania, whose President Klaus Iohannis announced in March that he was also running for the top position, is still lacking. The incumbent NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has already had his tenure extended multiple times. The Norwegian is set to step down from his post in the NATO in October after a decade at its helm. The NATO Secretary-General is appointed through the consensus procedure and therefore requires the support of all 32 members. Numerous countries have already expressed their support for the departing Dutch Minister President Rutte.
14:26 Bern Federal Prosecutor Investigates Alleged Russian Agents
Swiss authorities suspect, according to a media report, a Russian diplomat of attempting to procure weapons and dangerous substances. The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Bern confirmed that it had requested permission from the government to pursue a political crime in this matter. The Federal Prosecutor's Office and the police had already carried out "preventive measures," the agency announced. Previously, the Tages-Anzeiger had reported that a diplomat at the Russian embassy in Bern was under investigation, who had been accredited as a diplomat. The alleged agent had surfaced a few weeks before the Ukraine summit, which took place in Switzerland without Russian participation over the past weekend. For the investigation to proceed, the Federal Prosecutor's Office has also requested the lifting of immunity.
13:47 Italy reportedly to supply Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles in next military package
According to a report from "Il Fatto Quotidiano," Italy plans to supply the Ukraine, in the next military package, among other things, Storm-Shadow-Cruise missiles. The state Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported this, citing the Italian daily. The Italian Defense Ministry is expected to present the ninth military package to parliament at the end of June, according to the report, without specifying the number.
13:02 Russian professor sentenced to six years and three months in prison in Estonia for spying for Russia
The Russian political scientist Viacheslav Morozov has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison in Estonia for spying for Russia. This was reported by the Russian opposition medium Meduza, citing the Estonian public broadcaster. Morozov had been working at the University in Tartu, Estonia, before 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 the defense against modern Hypersonic weapons necessary. For a credible deterrence, both defense and the ability to attack must be set, Badia said in Berlin at a conference. Russia is already using 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 Fire at Russian fuel depot apparently caused by intelligence service
The nighttime attack on a fuel depot in the Russian city of Asow is reportedly the work of the Ukrainian Security Service, according to a source in the agency speaking to The Kyiv Independent. According to the Russian Emergency Services, the fire covered approximately 3200 square meters. Over 200 firefighters were reportedly on the scene to extinguish the fire.
11:30 London: Russia takes control of village near Avdiivka
According to British intelligence, Russian troops have reportedly taken control of 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 is expected to be signed at the highest level, that is, by Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. No details about the contents of the agreement were provided.
10:20 China rebuffs NATO Chief Stoltenberg's sharp criticism
The Chinese government has rejected NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's criticism of Beijing's stance on the Ukraine War. "We advise (NATO) to cease the attribution of blame to others, not to sow discord, and not to pour oil on the fire," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian. Instead, NATO should take concrete steps "for the political resolution of the crisis." Stoltenberg criticized China's actions regarding the Russian aggression in his visit to Washington yesterday. The People's Republic is pretending to be neutral, Stoltenberg speculated, to "avoid sanctions and keep trade going." However, the reality is that China is heating up the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II while maintaining good relations with the West.
09:36 A Ukrainian woman gets 12 years in prison for anti-war symbols in Russia
A Military Court in Moscow has sentenced a Ukrainian woman to 12 years in prison because she played an anti-war declaration and the Ukrainian national anthem from her apartment window in Moscow. Ukrainska Pravda reports this based on the Russian opposition media Mediazona. The 35-year-old woman also allegedly released white-blue-white balloons, a protest symbol against Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
09:00 Russian Navy trains for combat against submarines
The Russian Navy has started exercises in the Pacific Ocean directly before Putin's state visit to North Korea. According to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow, around 40 ships and boats, as well as about 20 planes and helicopters, are involved in the maneuvers. The exercises are reportedly taking place from June 25 to July 28 in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk. During the exercise, the combat against submarines and the defense against air attacks are to be trained.
08:28 Putin's portrait lines P'yongyang's streets
Putin's visit to North Korea is noticeable in the capital P'yongyang: The streets are not only lined with numerous Russian flags but also with Putin's portrait. This can be seen in videos, for example from the Russian state news agency TASS, on social media.
08:01 Munz: Putin's North Korea visit is primarily about weapons
Russian President Putin is visiting North Korea today and tomorrow. Munz, an NTV-Russia correspondent, believes that Putin likely has weapons in his luggage. 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 declaration's list of signatories on the Swiss government's website. Now, 77 states and 5 organizations support the declaration.
07:22 Ukrainian military analyst testifies to Russia's problems with artillery production
According to the estimation of Ukrainian military analyst Petro Chernyk, Russia is facing shortages of explosives for artillery shells, as reported by the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Moreover, Russia is reportedly gradually shifting from self-propelled to towed artillery systems, but it also allegedly encounters problems with these. However, Russia cannot produce more self-propelled systems as it only possesses five to six corresponding machines.
06:54 Ukraine reports destruction of all ten Russian drones in the night
The Ukrainian Air Force claims to have destroyed all ten Russian drones deployed in the night over the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk, according to their own statements on Telegram.
06:28 Russia confirms shooting down of rare Russian reconnaissance aircraft
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 death of ten crew members. The Kyiv Independent reported this. The Ukrainian Military Intelligence and the Ukrainian Air Force had claimed responsibility for the shootdown at the time. The aircraft was reportedly crucial for detecting air defense systems and guiding missiles as well as coordinating targets for Russian combat jets. Russia is believed to have fewer than ten of these aircraft, whose cost is estimated at around 350 million dollars.
06:02 Oil depots in Russian Asow are on fire
According to the statements of the governor of the region, the Russian city of Asov in the Rostov region near the Ukrainian border has oil depots on fire following a Ukrainian drone attack. "There are no casualties reported so far," the governor of the southern region, Vasily Golubev, announced on Telegram. The investigations are ongoing, and the local fire department is working to bring the fires under control.
05:40 Kremlin: Holding talks with the USA over exchange of Gershkovich
Russia confirms, according to statements by Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, contacts with the USA over a possible prisoner exchange of the detained US reporter Evan Gershkovich. He referred to Putin's statements at the beginning of June, who had expressed a desire for such contacts. "They are continuing, but they should continue in complete silence," Peskov emphasized. "Therefore, no announcements, declarations, or information on this matter can be given." The 32-year-old reporter for the "Wall Street Journal" was arrested by the Russian domestic security service FSB in Yekaterinburg in the Urals on March 29, 2023. He is accused of espionage.
04:50 Arrested US Soldier Gordon Black partially confesses
The US soldier arrested in Russia, among other things, for suspected theft, Gordon Black, confessed partially to his crime in a court in Vladivostok, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. He reportedly admitted to being "partially responsible" for the theft, but not premeditatedly. He denied threatening his girlfriend with death. Several other US citizens are already imprisoned in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and the former soldier Paul Whelan, both accused of espionage.
03:50 Netzagentur imposes fine for incorrect values regarding Nord Stream 2
The German Federal Network Agency has imposed a fine of 75,000 Euros on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline operator Gascade. The agency in Bonn announced that Gascade published incorrect values in 2021 due to IT problems, which suggested the activation of Nord Stream 2 was imminent. The market reacted to the false report and assumed the pipeline's activation was imminent, leading to significantly lower prices.
02:58 Putin thanks North Korea for military support in Ukraine
In advance of his visit to North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Pyongyang for their military support in Ukraine in an article published by the state North Korean news agency KCNA. "We greatly appreciate the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) for its resolute support of Russia's military operation in Ukraine," Putin wrote. Furthermore, it was stated there that both countries are working to "actively develop the multifaceted partnership."
01:57 Russia reports heavy fighting in Charkiw
According to Russian reports, intense fighting has broken out in parts of the northeastern Ukrainian region of Charkiw. "The enemy is sending reinforcements and attempting to launch a counter-attack, but is facing strong resistance from our troops," says the governor of the Russian-controlled territories in the Charkiw region, Vitali Gantschew. Russian troops reportedly repelled the latest Ukrainian counter-attacks near Vovchansk, five kilometers behind the border. Russian forces had entered parts of the Charkiw region in the previous month and had reportedly taken control of over a dozen villages. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kiev's forces would gradually expel the Russian troops from the contested territory.
00:55 DIW President: Cutting social benefits for Ukrainian refugees is populist
Marcel Fratzscher, economist and President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), criticizes demands for reducing 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 poorly and cuts them off from benefits," Fratzscher told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "The German state should not 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 demands.
23:55 A significant majority of Ukrainians consider Volodymyr Zelenskyy legitimate presidents, despite the extended term in office during wartime. According to a survey by the International Sociological Institute in Kiev, 70 percent of the 2011 interviewees believe that Zelenskyy should remain in office until the end of the conflict. Only 22 percent are against it. This goes against the view represented by Moscow that Zelenskyy's term has long expired and he is no longer the legitimate president of Ukraine.
22:55 The European Parliament expresses concern over Finland's deportation plansThe European Parliament expresses concern over Finland's plans to return migrants from Russia, as reportedly instigated by Moscow and sent across the common border. The draft law must be rejected, urges the European Human Rights Commissioner of the European Parliament, Michael O'Flaherty, in a letter to Finland's Parliament President Jussi Halla-aho. The current Finnish center-right government intends to significantly tighten immigration laws. For instance, they presented a bill at the end of May that would allow border guards to turn back asylum seekers.
22:15 Peskov: Peace conference results "strive for zero"The Kremlin continues to criticize the results of the Swiss peace conference for Ukraine. Without Russian participation, the summit could not produce results, stated Dmitri Peskov, spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow. "When speaking about the results of this meeting, they naturally strive for zero," said Peskov. The fact that several Russia-friendly countries like Serbia, Turkey, or Hungary supported the final declaration does not bother Moscow. "We will certainly take into account the positions these countries have taken. That is important to us. We will continue to explain our position to them," said Peskov. The Russian Foreign Ministry deemed the conference a "complete failure," as reported by the TASS news agency from a statement by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
You can read about previous developments here.
- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has condemned Russia for its refusal to grant access to archives regarding repressions during the Soviet era, stating that this refusal constitutes an interference with the right to information and violates the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Slovakia has expressed its readiness to support Mark Rutte of the Netherlands as the new NATO Secretary-General, with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini stating that Slovakia can imagine Mark Rutte as NATO Secretary-General after final discussions and consultations with the Slovak government.
- Swiss authorities suspect a Russian diplomat of attempting to procure weapons and dangerous substances, with the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Bern having requested permission from the government to pursue a political crime in this matter.
- Italy plans to supply Ukraine, in the next military package, among other things, Storm-Shadow-Cruise missiles, according to a report from "Il Fatto Quotidiano."
- Viacheslav Morozov, a Russian political scientist working at the University in Tartu, Estonia, has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison in Estonia for spying for Russia, sharing his knowledge about the political situation in Estonia and its relations with the EU with Russian intelligence services.
