21:20 Putin gives Kim luxury car with parts from South Korea
During his state visit to North Korea, Russian leader Vladimir Putin presented North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un with an Aurus Limousine and drove him laughing through a park. Photos of Putin's joyride in a fake idyll in Pyongyang eight days ago circulated around the world. This is the second Aurus limousine Putin has given to Kim. However, Russian luxury cars were reportedly produced by a company that imported South Korean components worth millions of dollars, according to Reuters, citing customs data. Aurus imported South Korean parts worth at least 34 million dollars between 2018 and 2023. A representative of the South Korean industrial conglomerate Kyungki Industrial Co confirmed that the company supplied parts to Aurus and would continue to do so. The company is "not concerned about possible sanctions," the representative added. Kim refers to South Korea as the "main enemy" of his country.
20:45 Ukraine: Casualties after a rocket hit a building
At least one person was killed and nine were injured when a Russian rocket hit a building in the Ukrainian industrial city of Dnipro. Among the injured were a 27-year-old and a 30-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man, according to the military governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhij Lyssak, on his Telegram channel. Three of the injured were in critical condition. Two more people were believed to be trapped under the rubble. Photos show a heavily damaged entrance of a nine-story building in a densely populated residential area. The upper four floors were completely destroyed.
Dnipro has been hit by Russian rockets multiple times since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine. In one of the deadliest attacks on civilian targets during the war, at least 45 people were killed and about 80 were injured when a rocket hit a house in the city in early 2023. In response to the latest rocket attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the strengthening of air defense once again. Only the determination of the world can stop Russian terror, he wrote on social media.
20:24 Zelenskyy awards posthum Courage Medal to nurse Iryna Tsybukh
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Order of Courage of the IIIrd Class posthum to nurse Iryna Tsybukh. The Presidential Administration of Ukraine announced this on its website. Tsybukh was born in Lviv, Ukraine, in June 1998. She was a well-known public figure in Ukraine, a journalist, and the head of the regional broadcasting department of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine. When Russia attacked Ukraine, she joined the volunteer medical battalion Hospitaliers as a nurse. She was killed during a rotation towards Kharkiv on May 29.
With the same decree, journalist Andriy Topchiy was posthum awarded the Order of Courage of the IIIrd Class. He was also a nurse in an infantry battalion. Topchiy died on April 20 near Robotyno in the Zaporizhia region.
19:54 Putin announces resumption of production of formerly prohibited missilesRussian President Vladimir Putin announced the resumption of production of short- and medium-range missiles, which were prohibited under the now expired INF-Disarmament Treaty with the US. "It looks like we need to start producing these attack systems," Putin said, referring to missiles with a range between 500 and 5500 kilometers. After the production of the missiles, Moscow must "make decisions based on the real situation as to where we will station them," Putin added. Putin justified his statement by pointing to the fact that the US had begun using such missiles in exercises in Denmark. Russia must "respond," he said. Under the INF Treaty, the production of missiles with a range between 500 and 5500 kilometers had been prohibited for the contracting parties, the US and the Soviet Union. The US withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019, citing Russian non-compliance. Moscow declared at the time that it would continue to forgo the production of new missiles, as long as the US did not deploy them within range of Russian territory.
19:14 "Just Peace": Zelenskyy announces "comprehensive plan" for ending the warUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he is working on a "comprehensive plan" for ending the war against his country. It is "very important" for Kiev to present such a plan, "which is supported by the majority of the world," Zelenskyy said during a visit by Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar in Kiev. This is the "diplomatic way," Kiev is working, he added. "We don't want to prolong this war and we must come to a just peace as soon as possible," Zelenskyy also said. At the same time, he emphasized the need to expand Ukraine's military production. "Russia understands only strength and respects only the strong," he said. "There are two things in parallel: being strong on the battlefield and developing a clear and detailed plan that will be ready this year," the Ukrainian leader said. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory before possible peace talks, including from the 2014 annexed Crimean Peninsula.
18:51 Putin announces strong growth for Russia's economyDespite western sanctions against the country, Russia's economy is growing significantly, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We will see what the first half of the year brings, but something around five percent growth for the country's GDP (Gross Domestic Product)," Putin told the Interfax news agency during a meeting with university graduates. In the previous year, the GDP had grown by 3.6 percent. In reality, western sanctions have not been able to slow down the Russian economy. According to the statistics agency Rosstat, the GDP growth in the first quarter was 5.4 percent. Foreign experts attribute this mainly to the significantly increased state expenditures for defense and military. Soldiers' salaries and compensation for injured or killed soldiers provide many Russian families with more money. Due to the shortage of labor, wages are rising. Economic experts cannot sustain this trend, however.
18:25 Ukraine: Russian units refuse to attack in the Charkiw region
Because they have lost their commanders, Russian units in the Charkiw region refuse to carry out combat engagements. This was reported by the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" by the spokesperson of the Ukrainian military unit "Chortyzja", Nasar Woloschyn, on Espreso.TV, a private television station in Ukraine. There have been six engagements in the area of Charkiw, during which the Ukrainian forces killed approximately 120 Russians. There is information about numerous cases where Russian forces refused to engage in combat, says Woloschyn and mentions as an example the assault unit of the 153. Tank regiment of the 47. Tank division of the Russian forces.
17:49 US drones over the Black Sea: Russia warns NATO of "confrontation"
Russia has warned NATO countries of a "direct confrontation" due to increased US drone flights over the Black Sea. "These flights increase the likelihood of encounters with aircraft of the Russian air and space forces, raising the risk of a direct confrontation between the Alliance and Russia," the Russian Defense Ministry explained. The increased number of US drone flights demonstrates "the growing involvement of the United States and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine," it is stated from Moscow further. Washington uses the flights to spy on Russian targets for the precision weapons provided by its Western partners to the Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry added. Defense Minister Andrey Belousov ordered the General Staff to "prepare proposals for operational responses to provocations." The regular US drone flights over the Black Sea take place in neutral airspace and in accordance with international law, according to Washington.
17:22 Belarus reinforces troops on Ukrainian border
Belarus, according to the Defense Ministry, has reinforced its troops along the northern border with Ukraine. At an unspecified section of the 1084-kilometer-long border, multiple rocket launchers have been deployed, it is stated. Authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko maintains close relations with Russia and allowed Moscow to use his country as a staging ground for the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
17:05 Russians destroy important heating power plant completely in western Ukraine
In Russian attacks in western Ukraine, a crucial heating power plant for supply has been completely destroyed. "It has been clear for some time that the Burschtyn heating power plant cannot be rebuilt," says the governor of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, Switlana Onyshchuk, in a local radio broadcast. It is too severely damaged. There have been over a dozen Russian attacks on the power plant, which is about 130 kilometers from the Polish border. The residents of the region will be supplied with heating oil tanks and central heating in the coming winter. Since mid-March, the Russian military has deliberately damaged heating and water power plants with drones and rockets. According to official reports, more than 9000 Megawatt of power plant capacity has been destroyed. Alone, the Burschtyn heating power plant had a capacity of 2400 Megawatt.
16:23 Russian space communication center on Crimea destroyed
The Ukrainian military, according to the Defense Ministry in Kiev, has destroyed the Russian space communication center on the annexed Crimean Peninsula. This concerns a valuable military component in the satellite communication and navigation system of the Russian troops, explains the ministry. On Monday, there were reports of explosions near the village of Vito-Pilniy on the Crimean Peninsula, where the center is located, in local social media chats. These reports cannot be independently verified. Russia annexed the Crimea in 2014, which is not internationally recognized.
16:04 Casualties in Russian bombing raids in Donetsk region
At least four civilians have been killed and three others injured in Russian bombing raids in the settlement of New York (Nyzhne) in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. The prosecutor's office of the Donesk region reports this. The attackers used, among other things, a bomb with a mass of 250 kilograms, which damaged several residential buildings. In the frontline area near the city of Toretsk, Russian troops had intensified their attacks and made small territorial gains. According to the regional administration, at least three people were killed and almost 20 were injured by Russian shelling the previous day in Kurakhove and in the area of Toretsk. More than 30 residential buildings were damaged.
15:36 The Kremlin accuses new EU leadership of Russophobia
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 policy chief Kaja Kallas, for instance, has not distinguished herself diplomatically, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, reporting Russian news agencies. The Estonian prime minister is "well known to us for her unacceptable and sometimes even extreme anti-Russian statements," Peskov said. Moscow accuses the West of Russophobia, or anti-Russian sentiment or hatred. Similarly, Peskov commented on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom the EU leaders nominated for a second term with a large majority. "The prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels are poor," Peskow said. No normalization of relations is expected.
15:13 Ukraine reports shooting down another Russian Su-25
Another 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. The jet was allegedly hit by a "well-aimed shot" from a portable air defense 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 definitive information on when or where the incident occurred.
14:35 Russia claims to have taken control of Rosdoliwka in eastern Ukraine
The Russian military has reportedly taken control of the eastern Ukrainian village of Rosdoliwka, according to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. The military group South allegedly drove out 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 Russian forces 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 military situation independently.
14:09 Kiev: Annual military aid commitments worth $60 billion
Ukraine can count on annual military aid commitments worth $60 billion, according to its own figures. Minister President Denys Schmyhal explained this in a statement. In its defense against Russia, Ukraine has signed a series of security agreements in recent weeks - among others, one on Thursday with the European Union.
13:38 "Poor for relationship": Kremlin unhappy with EU leadership nominations
The Kremlin criticizes the EU leaders' decision on the EU leadership positions. With Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President and Kaja Kallas as Foreign Policy Chief, the prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels are "poor," according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. It is hardly surprising that the Kremlin is not pleased with Kallas: The Estonian fights 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 almost 100% before the NATO Summit, which begins on July 9 in Washington. The document is almost finished, 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 duel in the USA: The influence of Donald Trump on international politics is already increasing. The Research Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations finds it plausible that Trump may adjust his line on Ukraine here and there, as he has already received a briefing from the security authorities "about 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, says Mölling in the "Stern" podcast "The Situation". 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 had allegedly flown illegally from Ukraine over the border into Belarus to collect information about the infrastructure at the Belarusian border, had been shot down on a Wednesday. At the beginning of the week, it was reported that hidden explosive materials had been discovered in the same area. It was also 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 denunciations against Russian citizens were filed between February 2022 and May 2024. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as the portal Meduza reports. "The war and the subsequent repressive policies of Russian authorities against their own population led ... to an increase in denunciations that were not only related to anti-war declarations, but also to LGBTQ+ content, 'Russophobia‘, drugs, and other topics." As an example, the portal cites 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 appeared on social media to revoke Baratov's Russian citizenship. A criminal investigation was launched 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 Drones
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 responding quickly to "provocations," according to his ministry. Russia has detected increased activity of US drones in the region. They were conducting military reconnaissance and gathering target information, which Ukraine used to attack Russian facilities with weapons supplied from the West, the ministry stated. This shows the growing involvement of the USA and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine. Such drone flights increased the likelihood of incidents in the airspace with Russian aircraft, raising the risk of a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. The NATO would be responsible for such incidents, the Defense Ministry emphasized.
10:34 Trump vs. Putin: Scene from TV Debate Remains Hidden in Russia
The US presidential election is being followed in Russia, just as the TV debate between the candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump is. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz observes which topics 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 home country. The Belarus Foreign Ministry only confirmed his death hours later, 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 outlets, operating in exile abroad, 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. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko had recalled Sidorenko, who had advocated for good relations with the EU, from Germany. A former emigre Belarusian diplomat reported that Sidorenko had become a problem for the power apparatus in Minsk.
09:30 Ukraine releases numbers on Russian losses
The Ukrainian General Staff has released new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost approximately 540,500 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In a 24-hour period alone, the number of losses amounts to 1,170. The report from Kiev also states that 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 give 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 in 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 intercepted in the border region alone.
08:33 ISW: Russians trying to advance at Toretsk gradually
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 quick, decisive victory," the latest ISW report states. In addition, 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 take Toretsk, advancing beyond the settlement would be difficult, if not even more so, given the open terrain and the large water areas 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, and 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 Warsaw before NATO summit, says Polish PM
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will come to Warsaw before the NATO summit in Washington in July, according to the Polish government. "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 Poles have known since the start 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: The Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has declared 2024 as the "Year of the Family," and he calls the Russian family the "backbone" of Russia. Now, it seems that the family ideal is to be propagated even more strongly. According to the Institute for the Study of War, the deputy Russian Justice Minister Vasily Vukolov has announced that Duma deputies are preparing a bill to ban the so-called "child-free ideology." This ideology is considered "extremist," as 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 overall 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 reportedly 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 carrying out a cyber attack on multiple institutions on the Crimea peninsula, which is under Russian occupation. This is reported by "Kyiv Independent" and refers to a source within 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 registration and control system for traffic on the Crimean Bridge. "Within an hour, the traffic jam increased sixfold, and in the morning, approximately 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 Donezk region. The frontline has remained unchanged everywhere. Ukrainian military personnel also report heavy fighting around the settlement of Mirnoje west of the city of Saporischschja. A Russian brigade is said to have lost over 95 percent of its soldiers in massed storm 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 military campaign in Ukraine and calls on Europe to give more money to Kiev. If the US had a "real President" who respected Putin, this would not have happened in Ukraine, Trump says during the presidential debate in Atlanta. Biden even encouraged Putin, Trump claims. He again threatened to end the war if re-elected. This would happen even before his inauguration in January, the 78-year-old continued. He did not, however, reveal how he would accomplish this.
03:18 French right-wing populist Bardella calls for continued support for Ukraine
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, expresses his support for 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 troops 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, which could hit Russian territory.
01:30 Farmer 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 "FAZ" interview that Ukraine's accession was a "threat to the survival of European agriculture," as large agricultural businesses there could produce much cheaper than farmers in the EU. Instead, import restrictions against Ukrainian agricultural products were "urgently necessary." Schäfer accuses Rukwied of fanning the anti-Ukraine sentiment with his "martial language" and suggesting that the Russian-occupied land posed only a threat to EU farmers. Moreover, the accession talks were still in their infancy and offered "an opportunity and a reason for fundamental, future-oriented reforms in the Common Agricultural Policy."
23:34 Ukrainian Railways Receives License for Cargo Traffic from Poland
The state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia has received a license from the Polish railway regulatory authority, allowing it to enter the European railway cargo market, the company announced. The Ukrainian airspace has been closed since February 2022 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 period from January to March 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 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 a Prague-led initiative, according to the Czech Press Agency (CTK). Czech Defense Minister Jana Černohová announced the delivery. In February, Czech President Petr Pavel said 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 funding was secured. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced Tuesday that Ukraine had received the first delivery of artillery grenades "some time ago." Prague worked with Germany on the delivery, CTK reported. According to the Defense Ministry, the 50,000 grenades were 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, using 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 on 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 drop from greater distances, beyond the range of Ukrainian air defense systems.
20:21 Patriot systems to be delivered from Israel to Ukraine via the USAccording to the "Financial Times," the US, Israel, and Ukraine are in negotiations 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, which would mark a turning point in Israel's relations with Moscow, was reportedly discussed between ministers and high-ranking officials of the three countries. "The details of the agreement, which would represent a significant shift in Israel's relations with Moscow, were discussed between ministers and senior officials of the three countries," five people familiar with the negotiations told the "Financial Times."
You can read about all previous developments here.
- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for strengthening Ukraine's air defense to counter Russian terror, following an attack on a building in Dnipro that resulted in casualties.
- In response to Russian attacks on Ukraine, the Ukrainian military has reportedly shot down another Russian Su-25 fighter jet during a combat mission.
- In the politics surrounding the Ukraine conflict, NATO has been closely monitoring Russian military operations and has warned of the potential for a direct confrontation due to increased US drone flights over the Black Sea.
- In light of the Russian attack on Ukraine, cybersecurity experts have expressed concerns about the possibility of a cyberwar, with reports of Ukraine being targeted by Russian hackers and experiencing significant data breaches.
- In an attempt to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, several European countries, including Poland, have signed security agreements committing billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine for its defense.
