22:59 Ten Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity
Ten Ukrainian civilians have returned from Russian captivity according to reports from Kiev, writes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in social media on Friday. Among the released are Nariman Djeljal, a leader of the Crimean Tatars, he adds. Zelenskyy thanks the Vatican for its role in the civilians' release. Djeljal was arrested in 2021, before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in the annexed Crimea, and later sentenced to 17 years in prison.
22:30 Lithuanian Foreign Minister: Kallas nomination acknowledges stance on RussiaLithuania has welcomed the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the new EU foreign policy chief. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis speaks of recognition of the position of the Baltic states and other countries at NATO's eastern flank, which have taken a firm stance against Russia and supported Ukraine until its victory. "She has never hidden her position, she has clearly and openly expressed her views on matters that are important to us," Landsbergis is quoted as saying by the BNS agency in Vilnius about Kallas. Kallas was appointed as the EU representative for external and security policy at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. The 47-year-old Liberal has been Estonia's first female prime minister in history and is known as a champion of a resolute Western stance towards Moscow.
22:00 Baerbock: Ukraine support is best protection for peaceful sleepingAccording to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, ongoing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion forces is also crucial for peace and security in Germany. "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 in a talk with RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), NDR and "Hannoverscher Allgemeine Zeitung". "That's why the support efforts for Ukraine are the best protection for our own peace and our own security." Baerbock referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Of course, one could 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 peacefully here in Brandenburg, directly on the border with Poland." There are "light tests" along the EU border and the NATO external border. "Every reasonable person in the world, in Europe and in Ukraine" wishes for peace in Ukraine. That depends on Putin. "He needs to withdraw his troops and finally end this killing." Instead, his answer is "always more violence and terror".
21:20 Putin gifts Kim a Luxury Car with Parts from South Korea
During his state visit to North Korea, Russian leader Vladimir Putin presents North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un with an Aurus Limousine and drives him laughing through a park. Photos of the 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 made 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 confirms that the company supplied parts to Aurus and will continue to do so. The company is "not concerned about possible sanctions," the representative adds. Kim refers to South Korea as the "principal enemy" of his country.
20:45 Ukraine: Casualties after a Rocket Strike on an Apartment Building
The impact of a Russian rocket on an apartment building in the Ukrainian industrial city of Dnipro leaves at least one person dead and nine injured. Among the injured are two women aged 27 and 30 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 are in critical condition. Additionally, two people are believed to be trapped under the rubble. Images show a heavily damaged entrance of a nine-story building in a densely populated residential area. The upper floors are completely destroyed.
Dnipro has been hit by Russian rockets multiple times since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine. In one of the deadliest attacks on civilian targets during the war, over 45 people were killed and approximately 80 were injured when a rocket struck a house in the city in early 2023. In response to the latest rocket attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again called for the strengthening of air defense. Only the determination of the world can stop Russian terror, he wrote on social media.
20:24 Zelenskyy awards posthum the Order of Courage to nurse Iryna Tsybukh
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awards the Order of Courage of the IIIrd Class posthum to nurse Iryna Tsybukh. The Presidential Administration of Ukraine announces this on its 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 the Russian attack on 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 was killed near Robotyno in the Saporischja region on April 20.
19:54 Putin announces production restart of formerly prohibited missiles under INF TreatyRussian President Vladimir Putin announced the production of short- and medium-range missiles that were previously prohibited under the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty with the USA. "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 then "decide, based on the real situation, where we will station them". Putin justified his statement by saying that the USA had begun using such missiles in Denmark for exercises. 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 USA and Soviet Union. The USA withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019, justifying it by stating that Russia was not complying with its obligations. Moscow declared at the time that it would continue to forgo the production of new missiles as long as the USA 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 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" that Kiev is working on. "We do not want to prolong this war and we must come to a just peace as soon as possible", added Zelenskyy. At the same time, he emphasized the development of Ukrainian military production. Russia understands "only strength and respects only the strong". "There are two things in parallel: being strong on the battlefield and developing a clear and detailed plan that will be ready this year", said the Ukrainian prime minister. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory before possible peace talks, including the 2014 annexed Crimean Peninsula.
18:51 Putin announces strong growth for Russia's economy despite Western sanctionsAccording to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia's economy is growing significantly despite Western sanctions against the country. "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, the 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 armaments 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. However, economists cannot sustain this trend.
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 Charkiw region, 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 names as an example the assault unit of the 153rd Tank Regiment of the 47th 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 between 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 shows "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 Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry explained. Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has 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 power plant for heating 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 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, over 9000 Megawatt of power plant capacity has been destroyed. The Burschtyn heating power plant alone had a capacity of 2400 Megawatt.
16:23 Russian space communication center on Crimea destroyed
The Ukrainian military, according to the Defense Ministry in Kyiv, 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, explains the Ministry. On Monday, there were reports of explosions in the vicinity of the village of Vito-Pilne on the Crimean Peninsula, where the center is located. These reports cannot be independently verified. Russia annexed the Crimea in 2014, an action not recognized internationally.
16:04 Casualties in Russian bombing in Donetsk region
At least four civilians have been killed and three others injured in Russian bombardments 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 250-kilogramme glide bomb that 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 through Russian shelling in Kurakhove and the area around Toretsk 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 choose 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 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 has long accused the West of Russophobia, or anti-Russian sentiment. Similarly, Peskov commented on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom the EU heads of state and government nominated with a large majority for a second term. "The prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels are poor," Peskow said. Normalization of relations is not to be expected.
15:13 Ukraine reports downing of another Russian Su-25
Another Russian Su-25 fighter jet has been shot down in the contested area of Donetsk, according to a posting by the Ukrainian National Guard on Telegram. The jet was hit by a "well-aimed shot" from a portable air defense system during combat operations, the posting states. A video published by the National Guard shows grainy footage of the missile launch, accompanied by triumphant cheers from 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 taken control of the eastern Ukrainian town of Rosdoliwka, according to the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. The Southern Military District reportedly drove out Ukrainian troops from Rosdoliwka and seized more advantageous positions. The town is located in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have claimed several village captures in recent weeks. The Ukrainian side has not commented on the matter. It is impossible to independently verify such reports regarding the combat situation.
14:09 Kiev: Annual military aid commitments worth $60 billion
Ukraine can count on annual military aid totaling $60 billion, according to its own statements. Minister President Denys Schmyhal explained that these commitments cover the next four years. In its defense against Russia, Ukraine has recently signed a series of security agreements - among them one on Thursday with the European Union.
13:38 "Poor for relationship": Kremlin dissatisfied with EU leadership nominations
The Kremlin criticizes the EU leadership appointments made at the EU summit. 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. The fact that the Kremlin is unhappy with Kallas' nomination is not surprising: The Estonian has been advocating a hard line against Russian President Vladimir Putin in the EU and is one of Ukraine's strongest supporters.
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 on Thursday in Brussels 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
After the TV duel in the US, security expert Christian Mölling is certain: 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 stance on Ukraine here and there, as he has received a briefing from the security agencies "about what's really going on." So there won't be a sell-out of Ukraine, because such a move would also have negative consequences for US interests, Mölling says in the "Stern" podcast "Die Lage". 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 the Ukraine policy can be found here:
12:12 Belarus announces strengthening of border with Ukraine
Belarus will 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 was allegedly flying illegally from Ukraine over the border to Belarus to collect information about the infrastructure at the Belarusian border, was shot down on a Wednesday. At the beginning of the week, it was reported that hidden explosive materials for bomb making 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 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 only related to anti-war declarations, but also to LGBTQ+ content, 'Russophobia‘, drugs, and other topics." An example given by the portal is 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 has since been launched against him on charges of "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 military general staff to develop proposals for quick responses to "provocations," according to his office. Russia has detected increased activity of US drones in the region. They are reportedly conducting military reconnaissance and gathering target information, which Ukraine allegedly uses to attack Russian facilities with weapons supplied from the West, the ministry states. 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, the Defense Ministry emphasizes.
10:34 Trump vs. Putin's Plan: TV Debate Scene Hidden from Russian Viewers
The US presidential election is being followed in Russia as well as the TV debate between the candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump. ntv correspondent Rainer Munz reports on what 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 in his hometown Belarus at the age of 48. The Belarus Foreign Ministry only confirmed his death after reports from these media outlets, stating that the "beloved colleague, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Belarus in Germany (2016-2024)", had passed away. No cause of death was given. Several independent Belarusian media, working in exile outside the country, report that Sidorenko, a father, took his own life by jumping out of a window of a high-rise building in Minsk on June 24th. An official confirmation of suicide is not available. Belarusian leader 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 published new loss figures for the Russian troops 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 loss count was 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, Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 8,066 tanks, 14,423 artillery systems, and 360 aircraft. Western estimates give lower loss numbers, with the caveat that these are minimum values.
09:05 Multiple drones over Russia again
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 intercepted in the border region.
08:33 ISW: Russians attempting 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 could, however, be planning to carry out continuous offensive operations in this area to achieve incremental 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 rapid, clear-cut victory," the latest ISW report states. Additionally, there is a brigade of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and a regiment of Russian territorial troops fighting 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 difficult, if not even more so, given the open terrain and the large bodies of water 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. The cause is reportedly a Ukrainian drone attack, according to regional governor Maxim Yegorov on Telegram. 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, according to Polish govt
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to come to Warsaw before the NATO summit in July in Washington, according to the Polish government. "President Zelenskyy and I have arranged a meeting in Warsaw before the NATO summit," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on Twitter. "The EU has understood what the Poles have 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": Russian Duma preparing bill against "child-free ideology"
Despite the unclear family relationships of leading Russian politicians: 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, Russian Deputy Justice Minister Vsevolod Vukolov announced that Duma deputies are preparing a bill to ban the so-called "child-free ideology." This ideology, he said, represents the "extremist" idea that women "do not have to bear children" and "can renounce them." A draft for a presidential decree is also 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 following a drone attack. This was 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 its impact.
06:07 Kertsch Bridge apparently affected: Ukrainian intelligence service reports cyber attacks on Crimea servers
The military intelligence service of Ukraine (HUR) is carrying out a cyber attack on several institutions on the Crimea peninsula, which is under Russian control. This is reported by "Kyiv Independent" and relies on a source from 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 system for registering and controlling traffic 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 breach our defense lines. Of the more than 100 reported armed clashes of the day, more than half are said to be in the area around Pokrovsk in the Donezk region. The front line has remained unchanged everywhere. Ukrainian soldiers 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 Vladimir Putin, this would never have happened in Ukraine, Trump says during the presidential debate in Atlanta. Biden even encouraged Putin, Trump claims. He renewed his promise to end the war, which he could do even before his inauguration in January. He did not, however, specify how he would achieve 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 become Prime Minister of his National Rally (RN) party in the event 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 soldiers 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 propaganda helper" with his one-sided remarks. The letter was obtained by "Der Spiegel." Rukwied had warned in an "FAZ" interview that Ukraine's membership 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 fueling the anti-Ukraine sentiment with his "martial language" and suggesting that the Russian-occupied land posed only a threat to EU farmers. In addition, 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
The 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 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% in First Quarter
Weapons production in Ukraine increased by an average of 25.4% in the first quarter of 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. In February, production increased by 29%, and in March, production decreased; 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 as soon as 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 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 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 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 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 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. "Sources familiar with the negotiations" told the Financial Times.
You can read about previous developments here.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expresses gratitude towards the Vatican for its role in the release of ten Ukrainian civilians, including Nariman Djeljal, who was arrested before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and later sentenced to 17 years in prison.
- Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis of Lithuania praises the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the new EU foreign policy chief, acknowledging her firm stance against Russia and support for Ukraine.
- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasizes the importance of ongoing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion forces, stating that the lack thereof could potentially lead to further Russian advances.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense following a Russian rocket strike on an apartment building in Dnipro, which resulted in casualties.
- Russia responds to increased US drone flights over the Black Sea by warning NATO nations of a "direct confrontation," with Defense Minister Andrey Belousov ordering the General Staff to "prepare proposals for operational responses to provocations."
