At 19:00, Ukraine raises electricity rates substantially due to Russian assaults.
Because of Russia's destructive attacks on Ukrainian power plants, the country has increased electricity prices by more than 60%. "The intention is to prevent being without electricity and maintain the system," stated Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko. Substantial funds are required for repairs at damaged power plants, substations, and high-voltage lines. "Unfortunately, it is obvious that the Russian artillery shelling of energy facilities will continue, so we must use all available resources," noted the minister.
18:31 Zelenskyy discusses increased number of conscripted soldiersAfter the new mobilization law took effect in Ukraine at the end of May, the number of conscripted soldiers has risen, declared President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference. The Ukrainian parliament had enacted an updated mobilization law in mid-April to streamline the conscription process during the ongoing war against Russia. The new law simplifies the identification process for suitable conscripts and imposes harsher penalties for draft dodgers. An additional law, signed by the president before the mobilization law, drops the minimum age for conscription from 27 to 25 years.
18:02 Russia claims to have captured 28 Ukrainian settlements in MayRussian military authorities claim that they have made considerable progress in their assault on Ukraine. According to their claims, 28 settlements were taken this month. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov made the announcement during an OSCE meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan. "Through our offensive actions, we have pushed back the enemy by eight to nine kilometers in several crucial locations in the Kharkiv region." Since the start of the year, Russia has captured 880 square kilometers of territory. If the information is reliable, the newly occupied area would be about the size of Berlin. However, this cannot be verified independently.
17:36 NATO Secretary General accuses China of providing Russia with advanced technologyNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has harshly rebuked China over its involvement in Russia's conflict with Ukraine. "Without China's support, Russia wouldn't be able to wage war on Ukraine," said Stoltenberg after consultations with the foreign ministers of NATO's 32 member states. China is furnishing Russia with considerable amounts of equipment suitable for both civilian and military use. This includes leading-edge technology and semiconductors. "Without these advanced high-end products, Russia wouldn't have been capable of producing the rockets, bombs, and aircraft it's been using against Ukraine," explained Stoltenberg. Ninety percent of the microelectronics imported by Russia last year originated in China.
17:11 Habeck: Ukraine needs to prevent Russian attacksHabenck contends that Ukraine must safeguard itself from Russian attacks. He emphasizes that the shelling of Kharkiv is stemming from Russian soil. "Ukraine lacks sufficient defensive weapons to protect its people," says Habeck. This is because Ukraine's allies have not provided or delivered enough support. "It's only logical that Ukraine defends itself by preventing attacks from Russia. Telling them not to would lead to more casualties."
16:45 Polish intelligence service examines falsified report of partial mobilizationFollowing a falsified report of a partial mobilization in Poland, the domestic intelligence service is investigating if the state news agency PAP has been targeted by a Russian cyberattack. "All indications suggest that we are dealing with a cyberattack directed from the Russian side," says Digitalization Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski. The objective of the attack was to disseminate misinformation prior to the European election. In the widely circulated, subsequently retracted false report, it asserted that Prime Minister Donald Tusk had ordered a partial mobilization on July 1. According to this, 200,000 Poles—both former soldiers and civilians—were to be sent to Ukraine.
16:22 Blinken: Situation at the Ukrainian front stabilizingThe recent military aid for Ukraine is proving effective, as per US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "Tens of thousands of artillery shells, thousands of anti-tank mines, and air defense systems are already making a difference," said the politician at a NATO foreign ministers' conference. Other NATO partners are also expediting their deliveries. Blinken mentioned that Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to provide additional air defense systems. "The eastern and northeastern Ukrainian front is becoming more stable, and Ukraine has made significant strides in the Black Sea by repelling the Russian navy."
15:53 Russia and Ukraine exchange 75 prisoners eachRussia and Ukraine have exchanged a combined total of 150 prisoners, as per their own statements. Each side released 75 prisoners. "75 more of our countrymen have returned to Ukraine," posted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media. "After a long negotiation period, 75 Russian soldiers were returned from the region governed by the Kiev regime," stated the Russian Defense Ministry.
15:29 Green Group Leader: Ukraine has the right to self-defense
The leader of the Green party, Britta Haßelmann, has underscored the right of Ukraine to self-defense in light of Russia's unprovoked aggression. She points to the German government's decision to permit the utilization of German arms against military targets in Russia, mentioning, "Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's brutal, international law-violating attack war for two years, and it has the right to self-defense."
In other news...
15:02 Zelensky suggests Ukraine's imminent attack with Western weapons. President Volodymyr Zelensky expects that Ukraine will deploy Western weapons on Russian soil before long. At a Stockholm press conference, he stated, "I believe that any use of any weapon, irrespective of its kind, a Western weapon, on Russian soil is only a matter of time."
14:35 Steven Seagal Gets Putin's Special Designation
Steven Seagal, the American actor who possesses Russian citizenship, has been named as Moscow's special envoy for relations with the United States. They exchanged handshakes and grins while cameras captured the moment.
14:16 German Military hasn't Misplaced a Single IRIS-T Missile
The German Defense Ministry refutes a media report that alleges one of their IRIS-T missiles has gone missing. "We're not missing any missile," clarified a spokesperson and added, "At no time has a weapon been missing." IRIS-T is a German air defense system exported to Ukraine. Business Insider published a report claiming that one of these missiles was missing from Germany's military.
13:56 Russia and Ukraine Exchange 150 Prisoners
Russia and Ukraine have successfully exchanged battlefield captives, marking the first such exchange in months. "75 Russian soldiers have been returned because their lives were in dire peril," the Russian Defense Ministry reported from Moscow. In response, 75 Ukrainian prisoners were handed over to their military. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the event on his Telegram channel. He claimed that these individuals, ranging from regular soldiers to National Guard and Border Guard members, along with four civilians, were returned to Ukraine. The previous major prisoner exchange took place in February.
13:41 China Hesitates to Participate in Ukraine Peace Conference
China is hesitating to join the Switzerland-organized peace conference on Ukraine, as it perceives significant discrepancies between the conference's design and China's and the rest of the world's expectations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning explained this from Beijing. There appear to be three issues that make it challenging for China to participate: the conference's acceptance by both Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties involved, and the thorough examination of all conflict resolution options.
13:21 Chancellor Scholz Stresses Caution: "We must avert the great war"
Olaf Scholz, Germany's Chancellor, defended his policy in the wake of the decision to allow Ukraine to use German arms against Russian targets. Speaking at a Catholic Day gathering in Erfurt, he said, "We must avert the great war - the war between Russia and NATO. It's essential to ensure Ukraine can maintain its independence and sovereignty. An escalation can't be averted without caution." He warned against rushing decisions that could worsen the situation, emphasizing the need to carefully assess the consequences and coordinate with allies.
13:07 Russian Court Maintains Detention for U.S. Journalist Kurmasheva
A Russian court has rejected an appeal to release detained American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who works for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Despite pleas from her legal team to allow her to be released on house arrest, the district court in Kazan refused. This marks the first anniversary of Kurmasheva's arrest, and she has been prevented from leaving Russia for one year. Since October, she has been incarcerated. Her employer, RFE/RL, presented this as a retaliation against her journalistic endeavors.
Russia hints at utilizing atomic bombs once more in the ongoing Ukraine war as restrictions on employing Western weapons are relaxed. The warning comes from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who highlighted the possibility of smaller nuclear weapons intended for deploying in battle. These nuclear weapons are not meant to entirely obliterate the opposition. The severity of the conflict may intensify as it escalates into an all-out war, a warning issued by Medvedev, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. Also, a prominent Russian representative threatened the Western powers with an asymmetrical warfare. Medvedev's comments follow an alteration in the Western stance on how and when Ukraine can utilize Western weapons. Previously, it was prohibited to use these weapons against Russian targets. Summarizing recent developments, the US administration has reportedly given the green light for using US weapons against military targets that contribute to the Russian offensive against the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. This could include aircraft that launch rockets on Kharkiv from Russian territory. Germany is also granting Ukraine unfettered permission to defend Kharkiv.
A reporter from ntv, Kavita Sharma, highlighted the change in policy regarding the usage of Western weapons. The policy shift is being discussed among NATO countries, raising concerns. According to Sharma, the US is permitting Ukraine to use American weapons in limited quantities on Russia's soil against military targets. However, the idea of providing long-range German missiles to Ukraine, a topic of debate earlier, will not be revisited, claimed Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. He justified the German government's decision to allow the use of German weapons against military targets situated in Russia as a strategic adjustment in the face of evolving circumstances. The outgoing chairperson of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, still hopes for a potential re-discussion about the provision of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
The headlines displayed cover various aspects of the events:
- 12:18 ntv-reporter Sharma discusses US weapons: "Targets in Russian hinterland have legitimate military targets"
- 12:01 Pistorius: No New Debate on Taurus Rockets for Ukraine
- 11:46 -Strack-Zimmermann still hopes for Taurus
- 11:32 Munz: Nuclear Threat - "Kremlin is in a dilemma"
- 11:19 Selenskyj: Russian Troops Laugh at Ukrainians and "Hunt" Them
- 11:08 Orban: NATO is getting closer to war every week
- 10:51 Berlin allows Ukraine to use German weapons against targets in Russia
12:18 NTV Reporter Kavitha Shama on US Weapons: "Targets in Russian hinterland have legitimate military targets"
Kavitha Sharma, an NTV reporter, from Kharkiv shared insights into the reactions in Ukraine concerning the decision to allow Ukraine to use American weapons under certain conditions against Russian targets.
12:01 Pistorius: No New Debate on Taurus Rockets for Ukraine
Boris Pistorius, Defense Minister, emphasized the German government's permission for using German weapons against military targets in Russia as a "strategic adaptation to changing situation pictures." He added, "This decision is right. It is what we have been doing since the beginning of the war Putin is waging against Ukraine. We have always adapted to the situation, adjusted our strategy." The minister refused to re-visit the debate about sending long-range German missiles of the Taurus type to Ukraine.
11:46 Strack-Zimmermann Continues to Hope for Taurus
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the outgoing chairwoman of the Bundestag Defense Committee, still holds optimism for renewing the discussion about whether Germany should provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles. Nevertheless, her faith in achieving that remains bleak. The fast-evolving, desperate situation has prompted her to think "in these times, one cannot be predictable."
11:32 Tense Threat: Munz Discusses Russia's Nuclear Dilemma
Despite threats from the Kremlin, Russia's Putin has been receiving aid from the West. In the ongoing debate on the use of Western weapons, the Kremlin chief warns. "Despite all the warnings, countries are still providing aid to Ukraine. Putin's only remaining option is what ntv correspondent Rainer Munz calls his last resort - the nuclear threat," Munz stated.
11:19 Zelensky: Russian Attacks on Kharkiv Expose Hesitation from the West
During an interview with the British newspaper "Guardian," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky implied that the delay in a decision to use Western weapons against Russians has led to the latter mocking the Ukrainians and "hunting" them. Zelensky believes that the lives lost due to this procrastination are unjustifiable. "I find it absolutely illogical that we have weapons and the murderers, the terrorists who kill us, are on the Russian side. I believe that sometimes they just laugh at this situation. It's like they're on a hunt for people. They know we can see them, but we can't reach them," Zelensky shared.
11:08 Orban: NATO Ascending Towards War with Every Week
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, shared the view that NATO's involvement in the conflict raises the risk of a world war every week. He criticized the actions of the military alliance saying it was "absurd." Orban has had close ties with the Russian government and persistently clashed with the Western nations for their support of Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for the member states to reconsider certain limitations in supplying weapons to Ukraine during a recent meeting of NATO foreign ministers. EU leaders agreed to support the war-ravaged nation by sending more military aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is anticipated to attend a security summit in Singapore this weekend, where support for Ukraine will reportedly be a significant point of discussion. This gathering, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, is regarded as Asia's most crucial yearly security conference. American Defense Minister Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun are also slated to attend. Ukraine has been working on requesting participation in a peace conference, which Switzerland is organizing. However, Russia is said to be attempting to hinder other countries from taking part.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has insisted that China's demands for a peace conference involving both Russia and Ukraine are reasonable and unbiased. Mao assured that these demands are not directed against any specific party. The report by Reuters indicated that China would not partake in the Switzerland-organized Ukraine peace conclave slated for the middle of June. Russia has declined to partake in the conference and has, in turn, not been invited. Mao acknowledged that China is closely involved with Switzerland and all involved parties since the start of the year.
Andrej Belousov, Russian Defense Minister, has shared that Ukrainian troops have retreated approximately 8 to 9 kilometers in vital territories of the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine. In May, Russia had taken control of over 28 cities in Ukraine, which spanned 880 square kilometers throughout the year.
Kiev's energy plants have been harmed in a Russian rocket attack, as communicated by the energy company DTEK. A power plant was annihilated and the power network in the Holosiyivskyi area was damaged. Some personal residences remain without power. The Russian military employed drones and ballistic short-range missiles, i.e., the Iskander type, as stated by the Ukrainian Air Force.
The Ukrainian General Staff has disclosed that an oil depot in the Russian Black Sea port of Kavkaz was attacked overnight by Ukrainian forces. This information was supplied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces general staff. Eyewitnesses had previously shared images and videos of explosions and a considerable fire in the port of Kavkaz on social media. The port is located on the Tuzla Island near the city of Kerch on the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula, which has been occupied by Russia.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, expresses the view that the US decision to permit the Ukraine to conduct limited strikes on Russian targets entails no escalation risk. Stoltenberg added that Russia is the party escalating the situation with its assaults on another country, specifically in the Kharkiv region near the border. Furthermore, he urged Germany and other countries to allow their weapons to be used against Russian targets. "Ukraine has the right to self-defense, and that means the right to target legitimate military targets in Russia," the Secretary General confirmed.
Mykola Oleschtschuk, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, has divulged that Ukrainian air defense units have shot down four Russian Shahed and one Iskander attack drone overnight. This was communicated through Telegram. Four Shahed drones were downed in the regions of Kiev, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk, and one Iskander cruise missile in the Kiev region.
Unfortunately, the number of civilian casualties arising from Russian rocket attacks on Kharkiv has increased to four, with 25 additional individuals sustaining injuries, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of the Kharkiv region. He relayed this information via Telegram, as detailed by the state news agency Ukrinform. It was revealed that another body was discovered amid the ruined building. The death toll reached four at this juncture.
7:31 Kiev: A whopping 1400 Russian troops wiped out in a day
Russian casualties in Kiev are rising rapidly, as per official records from Ukraine; an estimated 1390 Russian soldiers lost their lives or have become incapable of fighting within a single day. The Ministry of Defense in Ukraine has stated that since the beginning of the war in February 2022, a staggering 507,650 Russian soldiers have been "neutralized." According to the ministry's daily reports on Russian fatalities, 18 more tanks (7728) have been taken out as well. From the onset of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has recorded close to 15,000 armored vehicles and around 10,500 drones that are no longer in Russian control or have been destroyed. Unfortunately, these figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow continues to maintain complete silence about their own losses in Ukraine.
7:14 Russia: Two people injured in Ukrainian air attack in Krasnodar
An air assault on oil facilities in the southern Russian province of Krasnodar saw two individuals sustaining injuries, as per local authorities. Governor of Krasnodar, Veniamin Kondratyev, reported the event via Telegram, stating that the infrastructure of an oil depot in the Temryuk district was affected. The ensuing inferno was extinguished. The Russian Defense Ministry records the air defense taking down five rockets and 29 drones Ukraine fired at Krasnodar early in the morning. In addition, drones were downed in Voronezh, Belgorod, and Tambov regions.
6:48 Crimea: Extensive explosions in the Russian-occupied region
A string of explosions took place in Russian-occupied Crimea, as confirmed by eye-witness reports. Criminal Wind, a Telegram channel, reports these events, having been quoted by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, "There are once again explosions in Port Kavkaz, people in Kerch hear eight to ten explosions." It mentions a fire erupting in an oil depot in the port. A previous report thereby hinted at a fire already raging in the port. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, two ferries in Kerch have been hit by ATACMS missiles.
6:17 USA: Russian tanks now equipped with North Korean missiles
Recent debris analysis by the US military suggests that North Korean rockets are being employed in Ukraine by Russia. "The assessment reveals that Russia has deployed missiles from North Korea in its battle against Ukraine," announced the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in a public statement.
4:34 USA: Chinese support for Russia poses a risk to Europe
The US government believes that China's backing of Russia endangers European security. The US, joined by its G7 partners and other European countries, pointed out that China's staunch support for Russia's offensive in Ukraine "not only jeopardizes Ukraine but also European security," expressed the US State Department's deputy spokesperson, Vedant Patel, at a press conference. The US issued a warning of further western sanctions against China if it continued to aid the Russian arms industry.
2:50 Three civilians perish in Kharkiv's rocket attack
At midnight, Russia launched rockets from Belgorod towards Kharkiv, resulting in five strikes in the city area. This included a five-story residential building. Up to 20 civilian residential buildings were damaged, as shared by Ukrainska Pravda, who published images. Tragically, three people lost their lives in the rocket attack, and 16 others were hurt. Two of the wounded were children.
1:46 German SPD politician advocates for using Western weaponry against Russian military targets
SPD's foreign policy politician Nils Schmid supports allowing the use of Western weapons against military targets in Russia by Ukraine. "Lifting the restriction for targets on Russian territory sounds reasonable," remarks the foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group to the Funke Media Group's newspapers. "The NATO allies have to make this decision together."
0:06 Chancellor Scholz against deploying German soldiers in Ukraine or imposing no-fly zone
Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that there will be no German soldiers deployed in Ukraine and no-fly zones will not be established. Speaking at a reader's meeting with the Thuringian Allgemeine in Erfurt, he said, "We don't want to send our soldiers there." This also applies to "the irresponsible suggestion of a no-fly zone." Deeming it a declaration of war, he added that the German government aims to prevent NATO and Russia from finding themselves in a full-blown war. This sentiment was in line with US President Joe Biden's and French President Emmanuel Macron's standpoints.
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10:25 PM Source: Biden Allows Utilization of US Weapons in Russia - Limited
The United States reportedly permits Ukraine, as per a credible source, to employ US weapons against Russia, but solely in the Kharkiv area. This new stance is attributed to an American government representative. This is in contrast to US President Joe Biden's previous stance, denying Ukraine access to US-provided weapons for Russian operations. It is alleged from US government quarters that the restriction on utilizing these weapons for Russian offensives remains unaltered.
6:06 PM Ukrainian Storm Brigade Unveils Footage of Urban Combat in Vovchansk
The Liut Brigade, a police unit of the Ukrainian military, is battling alongside other troops to defend the city of Vovchansk in the border region of Kharkiv. Recently, the unit has disclosed a video purported to depict skirmishes within the city. According to the brigade, the video showcases soldiers of the Storm Regiment Tsunami halting Russian soldiers from seizing a building.
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Read also:
- Due to the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, the Ukrainian government is considering deploying Western weapons against Russian targets on Ukrainian soil, as suggested by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- The recent increase in electricity rates in Ukraine is a direct result of the destructive military operations carried out by Russia, leading to substantial damage to power plants, substations, and high-voltage lines.
- According to a report by the German Defense Ministry, Russia has not misplaced any IRIS-T missiles, a type of air defense system provided to Ukraine, contradicting earlier media claims of their disappearance.
- In response to Russia's unprovoked aggression and its violation of international law, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has reiterated that Ukraine has the right to self-defense and defend itself against attacks from Russia.
