22:08 USA: New NATO command for Ukraine comes to Germany
The NATO alliance will reportedly announce the establishment of a new command in Germany for Ukraine, according to US statements. This command will be led by a three-star general and will focus on the training and equipping of Ukrainian troops, says Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, at a conference on the defense industry organized by the US Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, a high-ranking NATO representative will be appointed to deepen Ukraine's relationship with the alliance in Kiev.
21:34 Pistorius Appeals to NATO: More Ukraine Aid Needed
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius calls on NATO partners for stronger military support for Ukraine. In budget plans, there is "no gap in that sense," but there is a smaller amount than this year, says the SPD politician on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. "It's a common task to help Ukraine with what it needs, but also with what we can afford," Pistorius says. "But that's also a plea to all other partners in Europe to do even more to help Ukraine get through this year and the next."
20:50 Russia's Behavior "Disgrace" for UN Security Council – Even China "Concerned"
Members of the UN Security Council sharply condemned Russia's actions following heavy Russian attacks in Ukraine with casualties at a children's clinic. "We're here today because Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council and the current president of the Security Council, attacked a children's hospital - and it chills me to my bones to even say that," says the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during an emergency session of the most powerful UN body in New York. Russia is scheduled to preside over the council in July. The British ambassador Barbara Woodward added, "Russia's behavior is a disgrace for the Security Council and especially for the presidency." France's representative Nicolas de Rivière spoke of "another entry and a list of war crimes" for which Russia must be held accountable. China's deputy ambassador Geng Shuang expressed himself more cautiously but also signaled to Russia: "The fighting has unfortunately not subsided but has intensified, and there have been frequent brutal attacks that caused heavy casualties. China is deeply concerned about this."
20:05 Indians Lured into Russian Army to be Discharged
A dispute between Moscow and New Delhi over allegedly false pretenses that led Indians into the Russian army appears to have been resolved. Indian citizens will be discharged, announces Foreign Minister Vinay Kwatra in Moscow. Previously, Indian Prime Minister Modi and Kremlin chief Putin met in Moscow. In March, the Indian investigative agency reported the dismantling of a network that lured people from the subcontinent with the promise of work in Russia. At least 35 Indian citizens were reportedly recruited in this way. The men were trained for military service and then sent to fight in the war in Ukraine against their will, where some of them were seriously injured.
19:16 NATO Circles: Russia can maintain war economy for another four years
According to a high-ranking NATO representative, Russia should be able to keep its war economy running for another three to four years. In addition, the Russian government in Moscow can continue to sustain heavy losses on the battlefield, the insider who wished to remain anonymous stated. The reason for this is that approximately 30,000 soldiers are being recruited every month. Putin still believes that "the time is on his side" and is willing to accept losses at "truly alarming" levels. The insider also accuses Russia of attempting to undermine Ukraine's support in Europe through acts of sabotage, arson, and terrorism.
18:36 Retired Colonel: Ceasefire in Ukraine predicted for 2025
What would happen if Donald Trump wins the election with Ukraine's support? And what role would NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg play in this? Military expert Ralph Thiele answers these and other questions.
17:58 Kremlin: Air Strike on Children's Clinic "Clearly a PR Stunt"
The Kremlin denies responsibility for the air strike on the Ochmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kiev. "This is clearly a PR stunt, in this case, a PR stunt based on blood," Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said in an interview with state propaganda television. The Ukrainians were so clumsy in the use of their air defense systems that one of these rockets hit the hospital, he claimed. Now, Kiev is trying to use this tragedy as a backdrop for President Zelensky's participation in the NATO summit. In contrast to Moscow's denials, the UN Human Rights Office holds Russia responsible for the attack. Russia often blames the Ukrainian military for causing the hits on civilian targets through the use of their air defense systems.
17:22 Naval Inspector: Russians are superior to us in many areas
The Inspector of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, warns of a significant build-up of Russian forces in the Baltic Sea. "It's a mistake to think that the Russian military forces in the maritime sector have weakened due to the Ukrainian war," he says at the Warnowwerft naval yard in Rostock. There are indeed losses for Russia in the Black Sea. "But we also see that the construction rates, the delivery of ships with high-potency weapons, have not decreased at all." In the past ten years, Russia has significantly invested in communication, navigation, and attack capabilities underwater. "They are superior to us in many areas," warns the Vice Admiral. Russian research vessels are also moving openly near the critical maritime infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The German Navy is therefore building an underwater command center in Rostock to counter potential threats. It should be operational by October 1.
16:48 Attempted NATO membership for Ukraine? "Putin would present success on a silver platter"
In Washington, NATO is discussing further support for Ukraine. The former head of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, warns against deviating from the course, as suggested by Viktor Orbán. An attempt to bring Ukraine into NATO could also backfire.
16:12 Faeser: Russia's attack on children's clinic is a war crime
German Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, condemns the Russian air raid on Kiev, which damaged a children's clinic, sharply. "The rocket attack on a children's clinic is a heinous war crime, which once again demonstrates the unfathomable inhumanity with which Putin conducts his war against Ukraine," she states in a press release. "Given that we witness this cruelty of war, it becomes clear how important it is that over 1.18 million people from Ukraine have found shelter in Germany from Putin's rockets and tanks," says the SPD politician. "We have saved many lives." Among the refugees are over 350,000 children and adolescents. "We will continue to protect them in Germany."
15:44 Criticism of Putin? Modi in Moscow: "The heart is pained when innocent children are murdered"
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for dialogue during his meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in Moscow to achieve peace. As a "friend," he told Putin that peace is of the utmost importance for the future of our next generation. "War cannot solve problems," says the Indian prime minister. "We must find a way to peace through dialogue." "When innocent children are murdered, when one sees them die, it pains the heart and this pain is unbearable," Modi says a day after devastating Russian air raids on Ukraine, during which the largest children's hospital in the country was hit. He and Putin spoke about the war in Ukraine during his visit to Moscow. As is customary among true friends, they sat together and discussed "a range of topics," said the Indian prime minister. He is "happy" that "we were able to openly and in detail present our views on Ukraine."
15:10 Expert: Russia's "barbarism is not collateral damage"
The two-day NATO summit of member states is getting underway in the United States. Security expert Frank Umbach outlines the signals the alliance should send to Putin, especially after the devastating air raid on a children's hospital in Ukraine.
14:37 Volkswagen ordered to pay millions in damages to GAZ in Russia
A Russian court has ordered Volkswagen to pay millions in damages to its former business partner GAZ. The judges set the compensation at 16.9 billion Rubles (approximately 180 million Euros), according to the Interfax news agency. GAZ had initially demanded 28.4 billion Rubles in damages for lost profits due to Volkswagen's exit from the Russian market. GAZ had acted as a contract manufacturer for Volkswagen and produced the cars of the Wolfsburg carmaker in its plant in Nizhny Novgorod. Volkswagen ended cooperation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
13:59: Damaged Modern Russian Jet? Ukraine Allegedly Successfully Attacked Targets in Russia
Ukraine reacted to the Russian rocket attack on Kiev and other places on the previous day with attacks on targets in Russia. According to a report from "Kyiv Independent," the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR) successfully targeted the military airport in Achtubinsk, a power station near Rostov-on-Don, and an oil depot in the Volgograd region in the past night. In the 450-kilometer distant Achtubinsk, two models of the latest Russian combat aircraft, the SU-57, are said to have been damaged. Russia has not confirmed the damage, but Russian authorities reported the launch of several Ukrainian drones.
13:26 Report: Germany's Budget for Arms Deliveries Exhausted for 2024
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, according to "Spiegel," sees a need for an additional 4 billion Euros for further arms deliveries to Ukraine for 2024. The approximately 7 billion Euros allocated in the current federal budget for supporting Kiev are largely used up or contractually bound. Only about 200,000 Euros are left for new deliveries in the second half of the year. Pistorius requested additional funds of 4 billion Euros from Finance Minister Christian Lindner. With the new money, Pistorius intends to deliver more ammunition, urgently needed spare parts, and possibly also Leopard 1A-Tanks to Ukraine. "We are currently working on freeing up additional funds to continue being active this year," said the SPD politician during a troop visit to Alaska.
13:07 US Correspondent: Doubts about Further Ukraine Support Grow
12:39 Intelligence and UN: Kinderkrankenhaus Directly Hit by Russian Rocket - Moscow Denies
After a projectile hit a children's hospital in Kiev, Russia and Ukraine are disputing the ownership. The Ukrainian domestic intelligence service SBU claims, according to its own statements, to have new evidence that the children's hospital was directly hit by a Russian rocket of the Kh-101 Kalibr type. The analysis of the flight path and the type of damage indicate a direct hit. The SBU presented images of a rocket engine fragment that was allegedly found at the impact site. The United Nations (UN) shares this assessment: "The analysis of the video material and an on-site assessment indicate a high likelihood that the children's hospital suffered a direct hit and was not damaged by an intercepted weapon system," explains the head of the UN Human Rights Observation Mission in Ukraine. At the time of the attack, there were approximately 670 children being treated in the clinic and about 1,000 employees were present. Moscow, however, claims that a Ukrainian ground-to-air missile defense system of the NASAMS type was responsible. This system was developed by the USA and Norway. Even if the Russian statement is correct: The Ukrainians use these Western air defense systems to defend against permanent Russian air attacks on civilian targets.
11:50 "Friend of India": Modi courts Putin in Moscow
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the relationship between his country and Russia and praised President Vladimir Putin. The bilateral relationship is based on "mutual trust and mutual respect", Modi said during a visit to Moscow. At the same time, he highlighted Putin's leadership qualities. "Every Indian considers Russia as a friend of India in good and bad times," Modi added. India imports oil, gas, and military equipment from Russia. Several western countries had urged Modi to distance India more from Russia. However, trade between the two countries continues to grow. On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had stated regarding the Russian missile attacks on Kiev: "It's a great disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts that the leader of the largest democracy in the world embraces the bloodiest war criminal in the world on such a day in Moscow."
11:15 Ukraine could lose F16 fighter jets before first use
10:48 Moscow to closely watch NATO summit
Russia intends to closely monitor the NATO summit, according to Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who also noted that Russia considers NATO in Ukraine to be fully involved. Speaking to journalists, Peskov stated that the transatlantic alliance had declared Russia an enemy and that it was necessary to defeat it. The heads of state and government of the 32 NATO countries are meeting today in Washington for a three-day summit. Support for Ukraine in its defense against the Russian aggression war is a key issue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected in the US capital.
10:39 Not enough military: Expert sees Europe unprepared for Trump re-election
10:05 Poland to receive $2 billion loan for US weapons purchases
Poland, one of the most important political and military allies of Ukraine and a NATO frontline state, shares thousands of kilometers of border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and the Russian vassal state of Belarus. According to the US government, Poland is receiving a $2 billion special credit to support its modernization program. With this, the government in Warsaw plans to purchase F-35 fighter jets, Patriot air defense systems, and Abrams combat tanks. The US government assumes responsibility for up to $60 million of the interest payments. In this way, the US government supports the large orders of the Polish defense industry.
08:42 Kiev attack: Body of a boy recovered, number of killed children rising
Rescue workers have recovered the body of a boy in the ruins of a house in Kiev. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported this to "Kyiv Independent". With this, the number of people killed in Kiev on Monday due to the Russian air raid has risen to 27, including now four children. 117 more people were injured. According to Ministry information, rescue teams are still in action at three locations in the capital.
08:30 Ukrainian Partisans report successful sabotage of Russian railway track
The Ukrainian partisan group Atesh claims to have disrupted an important railway connection between Russia and the occupied Ukrainian territories. A switchboard was reportedly destroyed, according to the group's Telegram channel. A video is also visible, showing a burning box next to a railway track. The sabotage action is said to have taken place near the Russian town of Schachty. The railway lines reportedly lead from Rostov am Don towards the occupied Mariupol. These railway lines are crucial for the supply of new equipment to the Russian troops. Both the Ukrainian army and Ukrainian partisans have therefore been targeting railway lines regularly. Atesh claims to be active not only in the Russian-occupied territories but also within Russia.
07:55 Ukraine reports over 1200 soldiers killed in a day
In his daily reports, the Ukrainian General Staff reports that the invaders suffered a loss of 1220 soldiers. Additionally, seven Russian tanks, 19 armored personnel carriers, 49 artillery pieces, 29 drones, and 36 missile launchers were destroyed from Russia. These figures cannot be verified. However, the number of 553,410 Russian military personnel killed, wounded, or rendered ineffective is significantly higher than the more cautious estimates of Western services and think tanks.
07:37 Russia reports four deaths after Ukrainian attacks
According to official reports, at least four people were killed in Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border region of Belgorod within 24 hours. Additionally, 20 people were injured, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov on the Telegram online service. The past 24 hours were described as "restless" and "difficult." Of the injured, 17 required hospitalization, two of whom were seriously injured, Gladkov added. Attacks from Ukrainian forces were also reported in other western Russian regions, including Kursk and Volgograd.
07:22 Over 2000 children seek refuge from Russian attacks in Kiev's subway
During the massive rocket attacks on Kiev on Monday, according to city administration reports, 32,000 people sought shelter in the low-lying U-Bahn tunnels. Among them, there were reportedly almost 2200 children. Kiev is regularly attacked by Russia. In the past few months, more rockets have penetrated the city as western air defense systems have only limited ammunition and are increasingly being bypassed successfully.
06:50 "Dirty Bastards": At least two dead after attack on children's hospital in Kiev
The shelling of a children's hospital in Kiev during a Russian rocket attack reportedly resulted in 16 injuries, including seven children. Two of the injured reportedly died. According to Health Minister Viktor Lyashko, departments for dialysis, cancer treatment, operating rooms, and intensive care units were damaged at the hospital on Monday. Hundreds of residents helped rescue workers clear debris and search for victims. "Little cancer and dialysis patients are sitting on the sidewalk with their mothers," reported German Ambassador Martin Jäger on X from a visit to the hospital.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed rocket attacks, allegedly targeting Ukrainian weapons factories and military airfields. Many videos from Kiev showed damages caused by a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile, according to reports without evidence. The Moscow Military dismissed the Ukrainian reaction to the attack as "hysteria of the Kiev regime." Ukrainian reports stated that another hospital in the capital was damaged on the other side of the Dnipro.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Russian claims that the attacks were caused by Ukrainian anti-air defense systems. "What cynicism the scoundrels in the Kreml are displaying, claiming that it was the Ukrainian anti-air defense and not a targeted rocket strike that caused this," Zelenskyy said at a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. Zelenskyy thanked everyone who posted videos online, "where it is clearly visible that it is not just a part of one or another rocket, but a direct rocket strike that killed and injured many people."
06:19 Germany provides Ukraine with additional ammunition and air defense systems
The German government has made additional military supplies available to Ukraine for its defense against the Russian aggression. According to the updated list of delivered military equipment, the promised third air defense system Patriot has arrived. New on the list are also additional ammunition for the 50 Leopard 1 tanks provided together with Denmark, 11,000 additional rounds of ammunition for the 52 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, and two air surveillance radars of the TRML-4D type.
05:43 Attack on Russia: Fire in power plant in Rostov-on-Don
In the southern Russian region of Rostov, according to Russian reports, a fire broke out in a power plant due to a Ukrainian drone attack. "Two transformers have caught fire," Rostov Governor Vasili Golubev reported via the Telegram messaging service. The Russian air defense shot down "numerous" Ukrainian drones. Golubev did not mention the exact number of drones used or intercepted. The border region has been a target of attacks in the past.
04:31 FDP politician Faber defends defense budget
FDP politician and new chairman of the Defense Committee, Marcus Faber, defended the modest increase in the defense budget for 2025 against criticism. "One should not forget that the Defense Ministry budget, unlike most other ministries, has actually increased," Faber told the "Augsburger Allgemeine." Considering the special fund of 100 billion Euro and further investments in the troops, the total amount amounts to 140 billion Euro. "That can be seen, even if one could wish for more."
03:25 UN Human Rights Commissioner condemns attack on hospital in KievUN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk condemns attacks on a children's clinic in the Ukrainian capital Kiev as "despicable." The attacks had "severely damaged" the Intensive Care, surgical, and oncological departments of the Ochmatdyt Children's Hospital, Turk stated. The Dialysis department of the clinic was "destroyed." "Among the victims were the sickest children of Ukraine," he added.
02:05 Biden announces support for Kiev at NATO summitUS President Joe Biden announces new measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defense following attacks with Russian rockets that killed 36 people. The US and its allies will announce this new support at a NATO summit in Washington this week, Biden stated. He described the rocket attacks on Ukraine as a "horrifying reminder of Russia's brutality" in the war that began in February 2022.
01:05 Kiesewetter: Defense Ministry disappointed for soldiersIn the debate over defense budgets, CDU defense expert Roderich Kiesewetter calls for a new definition of prosperity. "It's bitter and a disappointment for the soldiers that the federal government can't prioritize the Bundeswehr in budget planning," Kiesewetter told Funke Media Group newspapers. This shows that "the turning point in the Chancellor's mindset" has not yet arrived, and Olaf Scholz refuses to "pour pure wine in the face of the population in the face of the threat situation." "It's also necessary to define prosperity anew - away from an individual interpretation, towards social resilience and readiness to defend," Kiesewetter added. Previously, the defense budget accounted for five or six percent of the country's economic power. "It's possible to prioritize if the political will is there," he said. A sustained defense budget should amount to three percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
00:01 Greens and FDP announce increase in Pistorius FundLooking at the budget negotiations in the German Parliament, Green budget politician Sebastian Schäfer, who is also the deputy head of the Bundestag committee for the Special Fund for the Bundeswehr, announces corrections to the defense budget. "The coalition leadership of the Traffic Light [coalition] provides a good basis for the budget negotiations in parliament," Schäfer told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "There will be numerous and significant adjustments. In security and defense policy, there are great needs that we will consider in the parliamentary procedure," the Green added. Defense policy spokesperson for the FDP, Alexander Müller, also shows readiness for further adjustments in favor of the defense budget.
22:16 Debris falls on clinic - seven deadA debris piece from a rocket fell on a hospital in Kiev, killing five doctors and two patients. According to "Ukrainska Pravda," this happened at the ADONIS Clinic in the Dniprowskyi district. A Russian rocket attack also shattered windows in a private maternity clinic in the same building.
22:10 Insider: Scholz to deliver clear message at NATO summit
According to German government sources, the NATO summit from Tuesday to Thursday will send "a very clear message" in support of Ukraine. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will make it clear in the circle of the 32 NATO state and government heads that Germany is a reliable partner in the transatlantic alliance and will remain so, said the government representative.
21:56 Schmyhal: Looking for alternate location for hospital
The Ukrainian government is looking for an alternate location for the attacked children's hospital. Premier Minister Denys Schmyhal shared this information. The attack will be a topic at the next cabinet meeting. "We hope our international partners will draw their own conclusions," he was quoted as saying by "Kyiv Independent." "We need effective responses to Russian terror."
You can read about previous developments here.
- In response to the NATO summit, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius calls on NATO partners for stronger military support for Ukraine, stating that there is a need for more aid to help Ukraine get through this year and the next.
- The US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, announces that NATO will establish a new command in Germany for Ukraine, which will be led by a three-star general with a focus on training and equipping Ukrainian troops.
- Members of the UN Security Council sharply condemn Russia's actions following heavy Russian attacks in Ukraine, with the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stating that Russia's attack on a children's hospital is "a disgrace for the Security Council."
- A high-ranking NATO representative suggests that Russia should be able to keep its war economy running for another three to four years, citing that approximately 30,000 soldiers are being recruited every month.
- According to reports, Russia denies responsibility for an air strike on a children's clinic in Kiev, claiming that the Ukrainians were so "clumsy" in the use of their air defense systems that one of their own rockets hit the hospital.
