22:00 Baerbock: Ukraine support is the best protection for sleeping peacefully
From the continuing support of Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion troops, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, peace and security in Germany are also at stake. "If Ukraine can no longer defend our peace, our freedom, because we no longer support it, then the question is how far Putin's troops will advance then," Baerbock said during a talk by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), NDR, and "Hannoverscher Allgemeine Zeitung". "That's why support for Ukraine is the best protection for our own peace and our own security." Baerbock referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Of course, one can discuss whether the billions in aid for Ukraine should be used differently, Baerbock said. But in this case, she had to say: "I don't know how long we can continue to sleep safely here in Brandenburg, right on the border with Poland." There are "light tests" along the entire EU border and the NATO external border. "Every reasonable person in the world, in Europe, and in Ukraine" wishes nothing more earnestly than peace in Ukraine. That depends on Putin. "He needs to withdraw his troops and finally end this killing." Instead, his response is "always more violence and terror."
21:20 Putin gives Kim a luxury car with parts from South Korea
During his state visit to North Korea, Russian leader Vladimir Putin gave North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un an Aurus limousine and drove him laughing through a park in Pyongyang eight days ago. Photos of the joyride in a fake idyll in Pyongyang have circulated around the world. This is the second Aurus limousine Putin has given Kim. However, Russian luxury cars are said to have been produced by a company that imported South Korean components worth millions of dollars, according to Reuters, citing customs data. Aurus is reported to have imported South Korean parts worth at least $34 million between 2018 and 2023. An employee of the South Korean industrial association Kyungki Industrial Co. confirmed that the company had supplied parts to Aurus and would continue to do so. The company is "not concerned about possible sanctions," the employee added. Kim considers South Korea to be the "main enemy" of his country.
20:45 Ukraine: Dead and injured after rocket hit on apartment building
The impact of a Russian rocket on a residential building in the Ukrainian industrial city of Dnipro has killed at least one person and injured nine. Among the injured were a 27-year-old and a 30-year-old woman, as well as 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 feared trapped under the rubble. Images show a severely damaged entrance to a nine-story building in a densely populated residential area. The upper floors are completely destroyed.
Dnipro has been hit by Russian missile attacks since the beginning of the war. In one of the most devastating attacks on civilian objects during the conflict, over 45 people were killed and approximately 80 were injured when a missile struck a residential building in the city at the beginning of 2023. Once again, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the strengthening of air defense in the face of the latest missile attack. He wrote on social media, "The resolve of the world is the only thing that can stop Russian terror."
20:24 Zelenskyy awards posthum Courage Medal to nurse Iryna Tsybukh
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posthum awards the Order for Courage of Class III to nurse Iryna Tsybukh. According to the Presidential Administration of Ukraine's website, Tsybukh was born in Lviv, Ukraine, in June 1998. She was a public figure in Ukraine, a journalist, and the head of the regional broadcasting department of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine. During Russia's attacks on Ukraine, she joined the voluntary medical battalion Hospitaliers as a nurse. She died on May 29 during a rotation heading towards Kharkiv.
With the same decree, journalist Andriy Topchiy was posthum awarded the Courage Order III. Class. He too was a nurse in an infantry battalion. Topchiy died on April 20 near Robotyno in the Zaporizhia region.
19:54 Putin urges production of formerly banned missiles
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for the production of short- and medium-range missiles, which were banned under the INF Treaty with the US until 2019. "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 actual situation about where we will station them for our security." Putin justifies his statement by saying that the US has begun using such missiles in exercises in Denmark. Russia must "respond." Under the INF Treaty, the production of missiles with a range between 500 and 5500 kilometers was forbidden for the treaty parties, the US and the Soviet Union. The US withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019 and justified this by saying that Russia was not fulfilling its obligations. Moscow declared at the time that it would continue to refrain from producing new missiles as long as the US did not deploy them in the range of Russian territory.
19:14 "Just Peace": Zelenskyy announces "comprehensive plan" to end the war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he is working on a "comprehensive plan" to end 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 noted. At the same time, he emphasized the development of Ukrainian military production. "Russia understands only strength and respects only the strong," the Ukrainian prime minister 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 head of state added. 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 economy
Russia's economy is growing significantly, according to President Vladimir Putin's statements to the Interfax news agency during a meeting with graduates. "We will see what the first half of the year brings, but something around five percent growth for the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)," Putin was quoted as saying. In the previous year, the GDP grew by 3.6 percent. In fact, Western sanctions have not been able to slow down the Russian economy. According to the statistics agency Rosstat, the GDP growth rate 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 labor shortage, wages are rising. However, according to economic experts, this trend cannot be continued.
18:25 Ukraine: Russian units refuse to attack in the Charkiw region
Russian units refuse to engage in combat in the Charkiw region due to the loss of their commanders, according to a report by the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform" from the spokesman of the Ukrainian military unit "Chortyzja," Nasar Voloshyn, on Espreso.TV, a private television station in Ukraine. There have been six battles in the Charkiw region, in which the Ukrainian forces killed approximately 120 Russians. There is information about numerous cases where Russian forces refused to engage in combat, Voloshyn said, citing as an example the assault unit of the 153rd Tank Regiment of the 47th Tank Division of the Russian armed forces.
17:49 US Drones over 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, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. "These flights increase the likelihood of encounters between Russian air and space forces, raising the risk of a direct confrontation between the alliance and Russia," the ministry stated. The increased number of US drone flights demonstrates "the growing involvement of the United States and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine," Moscow added. The US uses these flights to spy on Russian targets for precision weapons provided by Western Ukraine partners, the ministry explained. Defense Minister Andrey Bolusov has ordered the General Staff to prepare "proposals for operational responses to provocations."
The regular US drone flights over the Black Sea, according to Washington, take place in neutral airspace and in accordance with international law.
17:22 Belarus reinforces troops along Ukrainian border
Belarus, according to its Defense Ministry, has reinforced its troops along its northern border with Ukraine. Multiple rocket launchers have been deployed at an unspecified section of the 1,084-kilometer-long border, it was reported. Authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko maintains close ties with Russia and allowed Moscow to use his country as a staging ground for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
17:05 Russians destroy crucial western Ukrainian power plant completely
A crucial power plant for heating in western Ukraine has been completely destroyed by Russian attacks, according to the governor of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, Switlana Onyshchuk, in a local radio broadcast. "It's clear that the Burshtyn power plant cannot be rebuilt," she said. The plant, located about 130 kilometers from the Polish border, has suffered more than a dozen Russian attacks. Residents of the region will be supplied with heating from transported boilers and central heating systems. Since mid-March, Russian military has intentionally damaged heating and water power plants with drones and rockets. According to official reports, over 9,000 megawatts of power plant capacity have been destroyed. The Burshtyn plant had a capacity of 2,400 megawatts.
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 is a valuable military component in the satellite communication and navigation system of the Russian troops, the ministry explained. On Monday, there were reports of explosions near the village of Vityazevo on the Crimean peninsula, where the center is located. These reports cannot be independently verified. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, an action not recognized internationally.
16:04 Injured civilians in Russian bombing raids in Donetsk region
At least four civilians have been killed and three more injured in the settlement New York (New York) in eastern Ukraine due to Russian bombardments, as the Donezk region prosecutor's office reports. The attackers reportedly used a 250-kilogramme glide bomb that damaged several residential buildings. Russian forces have intensified their attacks in the area near the city of Torezk, where they have reportedly made small territorial gains. According to the regional administration, at least three people were killed and almost 20 were injured through Russian shelling in Kurachowe and around Torezk the previous day. Over 30 residential buildings were damaged.
15:36 Kremlin accuses new EU leadership of Russophobia
The Kremlin sees poor prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels following the decision of EU heads of state and government to appoint a new European Union leadership. The designated new EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, for instance, has not distinguished herself diplomatically, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov, as reported by Russian news agencies. The Estonian prime minister is "well known to us for her utterly unacceptable and sometimes even extreme anti-Russian statements," Peskov said. Moscow frequently accuses the West of Russophobia, or anti-Russian sentiment or hatred. Similarly, Peskov commented on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was nominated for a second term by the heads of state and government of the 27 EU countries 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 said to have been shot down in the contested Donetsk region, according to a post by the Ukrainian National Guard on Telegram. The jet was hit by a "well-aimed shot" from a portable anti-aircraft missile system during its combat mission, the National Guard claims. A video published by the National Guard shows grainy footage of the shoot-down, accompanied by triumphant cheers from the Ukrainian troops. However, there is no precise information available about 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 Southern Military District reportedly drove out Ukrainian troops from Rosdoliwka and took 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. The Ukrainian side has not issued a statement on the matter. It is impossible to independently verify such reports about the fighting.
14:09 Kiev: Annual Military Statements Worth 60 Billion Dollars
The Ukraine can count on annual military aid in the amount of 60 billion dollars according to its own statements after the conclusion of 20 security agreements. These agreements are valid for the next four years, explained Minister President Denys Schmyhal. In its defense against Russia, Ukraine has signed a series of security agreements in recent times - among others, one on Thursday with the European Union.
13:38 "Poor for Relations": Kremlin dissatisfied with EU-Leadership Nominations
The Kreml criticizes the EU summit decision to fill EU leadership positions. With Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President and Kaja Kallas as Foreign Affairs Representative, the prospects for relations between Moscow and Brussels are "poor," said Kreml spokesman Dmitri Peskow. The fact that Kallas' nomination does not sit well with the Kreml is hardly surprising: 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 to soon sign Security Agreements with Ukraine
German Chancellor von der Leyen, who is standing for a second term, is not in favor of a "normalization of relations between the European Union and Russia," added he. The Latvian Kallas is known for her "russophobic" statements. Polish Minister President Donald Tusk believes that his country is very likely to sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine in the coming days. This document is almost finished, he said. Only a few details and formulations need to be clarified. The NATO summit begins on July 9 in Washington. The EU summit on Thursday had already concluded a security agreement with Ukraine. Bilateral agreements were also signed between Ukraine and EU states Lithuania and Estonia. Many other EU states have already signed such an agreement with Ukraine.
12:34 Expert Mölling: Trump is already gaining influence before the election
After the TV duel in the US, security expert Christian Mölling is certain: The influence of Donald Trump on international politics is already growing. The Research Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations considers it plausible that Trump may adjust his line on Ukraine here and there, as he has already received a briefing from the security agencies "on what it's really about." So, there will probably 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." Even if presidents make the important decisions, there is always a machine that needs to implement them. More on US politics and its influence on Ukraine policy can be found here: link
12:12 Belarus Announces Reinforcement of Border with UkraineBelarus will strengthen its border with Ukraine following an incident involving a Ukrainian surveillance drone. The border guard and the Defense Ministry made the announcement. The border guard also reported that a quadcopter was shot down on a Wednesday, allegedly having flown illegally from Ukraine into Belarus to gather information about the infrastructure at the Belarusian border. At the beginning of the week, it was reported that hidden explosive materials had been discovered in the same area. Additionally, it is known that a pro-Ukrainian Russian fighter unit is stationed in a Ukrainian area near the border.
11:40 Spycraft in Full Bloom: Thousands of Russians Reportedly Ratting Out Their Fellow CitizensThe spy game has a long tradition in Russia – and it seems to be in full bloom. According to independent Russian-language media, at least 3,500 reports were filed against Russian citizens between February 2022 and May 2024. However, this is just an estimate, as Meduza reports. "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 covered LGBTQ+ content, 'Russophobia,' drugs, and other topics." As an example, the portal cites the case of Usman Baratov, a Moscow resident. Last year, when egg prices were particularly high, he posted a picture of a hen with the caption "No eggs for you! Bring the hens back from the front." Within a month, calls appeared on social media to revoke Baratov's Russian citizenship. A criminal investigation was initiated against him for "incitement to hatred and enmity" five months ago, and he has been in pre-trial detention since then. He faces up to six years in prison.
11:03 "Provocations": Russia Threatens Action Against Alleged US DronesRussia is threatening action against alleged US reconnaissance drones over the Black Sea. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov ordered the military general staff to prepare proposals for quick responses to "provocations," according to his office. Russia has detected increased activity from US drones in the region. They are reportedly conducting military reconnaissance and collecting target information, which Ukraine allegedly uses to attack Russian facilities with weapons supplied from the West. This shows 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 with Russian aircraft, 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's Plan: Scene from TV Debate Remains Hidden in RussiaThe US presidential election is also being followed in Russia, along with the TV debate between the candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz observes which details Russian media report and which 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 in Belarus. 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, operating in exile abroad, report that Sidorenko, a father of a family, took his own life by jumping out of a window of a high-rise building in Minsk on June 24, following interrogations by the KGB. No official confirmation of suicide has been provided. Authorities, led by Alexander Lukashenko, 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 released new figures on losses suffered by Russian troops in Ukraine. According to the report from Kiev, Russia has lost approximately 540,500 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In a 24-hour period alone, the losses amounted to 1,170. The report also indicates that 24 tanks, 60 artillery systems, and an aircraft were destroyed. Since the beginning of the large-scale attack, Russia has allegedly lost 8,066 tanks, 14,423 artillery systems, and 360 aircraft, according to Ukraine. Western estimates suggest lower loss figures, which are nonetheless considered minimum values.
09:05 Numerous drones over Russia
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 32 Ukrainian drones that were intercepted in the border region.
08:33 ISW: Russians attempting to make progress 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 might be planning to conduct continuous offensive operations in this area to achieve creeping tactical gains, according to the US think tank. The latest ISW report states, "The limited forces available for these operations suggest that the Russians prefer to make incremental progress through persistent attacks rather than a swift, decisive victory." Additionally, a brigade of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and a regiment of Russian territorial troops were engaged in combat in the region. These forces are 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 challenging, if not even more so, due to the open terrain and the large water bodies in the north and northwest," the think tank concludes.
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 was a Ukrainian drone attack. No casualties have been reported, the fire department is on the scene. The city of Tambov is located approximately 460 kilometers southeast of Moscow.
07:39 Selenskyj to come to Warsaw before NATO summit - Polish gov't
According to Polish government statements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will come to Warsaw before the NATO summit in July in Washington. "President Zelenskyy and I have arranged a meeting in Warsaw before the NATO summit," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk writes 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 declared 2024 as the "Year of the Family," calling 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, deputy Russian Justice Minister Vsevolod Vukolov has announced that Duma deputies are preparing a draft law for the prohibition of the so-called "child-free ideology." This ideology is considered "extremist," as it holds the "extremist" 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. 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 reportedly repelled, and the administrative building was damaged upon impact.
06:07 Kertsch Bridge apparently affected: Ukrainian intelligence service reports cyber attacks on Crimean servers
The military intelligence service of Ukraine (HUR) is conducting a cyber attack on multiple institutions on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. 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 traffic registration and control system 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 were engaged in heavy fighting on Thursday. The Ukrainian General Staff in Kiev reports in its daily situation report that the enemy is trying to break through our defense lines. Of the over 100 reported armed clashes of the day, more than half are said to have taken place 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 Zaporizhzhia. 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 taking office
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 repeated his promise to end the war, which he could do if re-elected. This would happen even before his inauguration in January. Trump did not specify how he intended to do 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, French right-wing populist Jordan Bardella, who aspires to the position of Prime Minister for his party Rassemblement National (RN), 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 that 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 propagandistic 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 in Ukraine could produce much cheaper than farmers in the EU. 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 posed only a threat to EU farmers. Furthermore, the accession talks were still in their infancy and represented "an opportunity and a reason for fundamental, future-oriented reforms in the Common Agricultural Policy."
23:34 Ukrainian Railways Granted License for Freight Traffic by Poland
The Ukrainian state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia has received a license from the Polish railway regulatory authority, allowing it to enter the European railway freight 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 in and out of the country. Ukrzaliznytsia transported over two million passengers to Europe in the previous year and reported a record cargo turnover 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 of the previous year. The increase was 29% in February and 18.8% in March.
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 Czech-led initiative, according to the Czech Press Agency (CTK). Czech Defense Minister Jana Černohová announced the delivery. In February, Czech President Petr Pavel stated 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 available. 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 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 Oleh Syniehubov, governor of the Charkiw region. Moscow 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 allow for a launch from greater distance, 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 negotiations to supply up to eight Patriot air defense systems to Kiev, in order to significantly improve the country'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.
- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reiterated that ongoing support for Ukraine is crucial for maintaining peace and security in Germany, as Russian invasion troops continue to pose a threat.
- Amidst discussions on whether the billions in aid for Ukraine should be utilized differently, Baerbock emphasized that the security of Germany's eastern borders relies on Ukraine's ability to defend itself.
- In the context of the ongoing Ukraine conflict and military operations, Baerbock called for increased international pressure on Russia, urging President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops and end the violence.
- In the midst of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Cyberwar concerns have risen, as Ukraine has reported numerous cyberattacks, which have affected critical infrastructure.
- As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing conflict, NATO has enhanced its border security, including along the Polish border, to prevent further aggression and protect its member states.
