Medvedev gives warning to the West: Nuclear weapon use may not be a mere threat

Medvedev alerts the West, stating that nuclear weapon usage isn't a mere bluff.

Russia hints at using nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict once more with the easing of limitations on the usage of Western weapons. Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, cautioned against employing tactical nuclear weapons, which are intended for battlefield use and not intended to totally obliterate the opposition. This war might grow into an all-out conflict, according to Vladimir Putin's confidant. Additionally, a leading Russian legislator threatened the Western world with an unconventional war. Medvedev's statements were made after Western nations adjusted their approach regarding the application of Western weapons in Ukraine. Previously, it was thought that these guns couldn't be utilized against Russian targets. According to US government sources, Joe Biden has now authorized the use of US weapons against targets in Russia that contribute to the Russian offensive on the northeastern Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv. The American devices might include aircraft launching rockets on Kharkiv from inside Russia. Additionally, the German government is granting Ukraine the freedom to defend Kharkiv.

12:18 ntv-Correspondent Sharma on US weapons: "Permitted military targets in Russian territory"

With the United States permitting Ukraine to use American weapons under specific circumstances against objectives on Russian land, there is an ongoing debate among NATO states. ntv reporter Kavita Sharma reports from Kharkiv.

12:01 Pistorius: No new debate on Taurus missiles for Ukraine

The German government's decision to allow the usage of German weapons for military targets in Russia is justified by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius as a "strategic adaptation to evolving circumstances." According to the SPD politician, his party has consistently allowed this approach since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, Pistorius opted against a resumption of the discussion about whether Germany should supply Ukraine with the long-range Taurus missiles. Any debate on long-range weapons would once more involve missiles spanning several hundred kilometers, he remarked. "And the border is still the same, even after the statements of our partners and ourselves."

11:46 Strack-Zimmermann Still Hopes for Taurus

While the outgoing chairwoman of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, still hopes for a revival of talks on whether Germany should provide the Ukraine with Taurus missiles, her optimism on this matter is restricted, according to the FDP candidate for the European election in Berlin. Regarding the shifting Russian attacks on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, she added that the "situation is continuously changing."

11:32 Munz: Atomic Threat - "Kremlin in a Dilemma"

Since the onset of the war, Putin has threatened Europe and NATO. Despite these threats, Western nations continue to support Ukraine. Munz asserts that Putin's only option left is a highly unfavorable one.

11:19 Zelenskyy: Russian soldiers mock Ukrainians and hunt them down

In an interview with the British paper "Guardian," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the delay in Joe Biden's decision to use Western weapons against targets in Russia resulted in Russian soldiers mocking the Ukrainians and "hunting" them down. According to Zelenskyy, the excuses from the White House had cost human lives. Like they're playing a game where they know we can see them but can't touch them, he said. "It's like they're having fun while we're being hunted."

11:08 Orban: NATO Is Tipping Toward War Every Week

Based on his assessment, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban believes that the NATO is inching closer to war each week as the military alliance plans to step up its involvement in the Ukraine conflict. The prospect of a NATO intervention in Ukraine puts the world at risk of an all-out war, according to Orban. He has maintained friendly ties with the Russian government and has disagreed with Western nations on supporting Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told attendees at a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers in Prague that it was time for members to reconsider some restrictions on the utilization of weapons provided to Ukraine.

10:51 Berlin Approves Ukraine's Usage of German Weapons against Russian Targets

In Berlin, the German government has authorized Ukraine to use the weapons provided by Germany against military targets in Russia. Spokesman Steffen Hebestreit confirmed this.

The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is set to attend a security conference in Singapore this weekend. One of the key topics at the event, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, will be support for Ukraine. US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun will also be in attendance. Ukraine is attempting to secure participation in a Switzerland-organized international conference aimed at bringing an end to the war. Zelenskyy claims Russia is working to prevent other countries from participating.

China is advocating for a peace conference involving both Russia and Ukraine. Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, emphasizes that these demands are fair and impartial, not targeting any specific party. Reuters reported that China won't take part in the Ukraine peace conference scheduled for mid-June in Switzerland. It's being held at Ukraine's request, but Russia won't attend and hasn't been invited. Mao mentions that China has been cooperating with Switzerland since the beginning of the year on the matter. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed that China host a peace conference instead.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov states that Ukrainian forces have withdrawn 8-9 kilometers in key areas in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine. In May, Russian troops seized control of over 28 settlements in Ukraine. This year, Russian forces have captured a total area of 880 square kilometers.

Energy facilities in Kyiv have been damaged by a Russian rocket attack. DTEK, the Ukrainian energy company, reports that a power plant has been destroyed, and the power grid in the Holosiyivskyi district has been impacted, leaving some private homes without power. The Russian military used drones and ballistic short-range missiles, specifically Iskander missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The Ukrainian General Staff reports that they attacked an oil depot in the Russian Black Sea port of Kavkaz overnight. The port is located on the island of Tuzla, near the city of Kerch on the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula, which Russia has occupied. Drones and missiles of Ukrainian origin, known as Neptune missiles, were used in the attack. Details on the extent of the damage are still unclear. Ukrainian forces also assaulted two ferries near the Kerch Strait Bridge.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg contends that there's no escalation risk from allowing limited attacks on Russian targets by Ukraine. "Russia escalates by attacking another country," Stoltenberg remarked at the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Prague. He further emphasized the need for other countries, such as Germany, to enable Ukraine to use weapons they've provided for self-defense, including attacking legitimate military targets in Russia.

Ukrainian air defense units shot down four Russian Shahed attack drones and one Iskander-K cruise missile in the past night, claims the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleschtschuk, on Telegram. The drones were intercepted in the regions of Kiev, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk, and the Iskander-K missile was intercepted in the Kiev region.

After a Russian rocket attack on a residential building in Kharkiv, the death toll has risen to four and 25 more individuals sustained injuries. Governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, confirmed the update via Telegram. Unfortunately, another body was discovered in the debris.

FAQs

What is Zelenskyy expected to attend in Singapore this weekend?
- A security conference known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, where support for Ukraine will be one of the main topics.
Did China announce they won't take part in the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland?
- Yes, China won't participate in the Ukraine peace conference in mid-June in Switzerland.
How much area has Russia captured in Ukraine this year?
- A total area of 880 square kilometers has been captured by Russian troops in Ukraine.
Is China considering hosting a peace conference involving Russia and Ukraine?
- Yes, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that China could potentially host a peace conference.
How many Russian soldiers have been killed or incapacitated in a day?
- Almost 1400 Russian soldiers have been killed or rendered incapacitated in a day, according to the Ukrainian Defense.

The number of casualties on Russia's side is reportedly high according to official statistics from Kiev: Within a day, 1390 Russian soldiers have either died or are unable to fight. As mentioned by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, since February 2022, a total of 507,650 Russian soldiers have been "eliminated." Likewise, the Ministry's daily updates on Russian losses show that the enemy has lost 18 more tanks (7,728). Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine claims almost 15,000 armored vehicles and approximately 10,500 drones that are no longer in the possession of the Russian military or have been destroyed. These figures cannot be independently verified. Interestingly, Moscow stays silent about its own losses in Ukraine.

7:14 Incident in Krasnodar: Two injured in Ukrainian air raid on oil facilities

An air raid on oil facilities in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar had resulted in two people getting injured. Local authorities, led by Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev, reported this on Telegram, noting that the infrastructure of an oil depot in the Temrjuk district had been damaged due to falling debris from shot-down drones. The resulting fire was later extinguished. The Russian Defense Ministry, however, reported that air defense had destroyed five rockets and 29 drones launched by Ukraine in the Krasnodar region that morning. Further drone attacks were also reported in Voronezh, Belgorod, and Tambov regions.

6:48 Explosions reported in Russian-occupied Crimea

In the Russian-occupied Crimea, there were reports of a series of explosions overnight. This was reported by the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, relayed by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. "Residents of Kertsch have heard eight to ten explosions," the post says. It was reported that there was a fire at an oil depot in the port. Previously, reports came in about a large fire in the port. Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also reported that two ferries from Kertsch were struck by ATACMS missiles.

6:17 Debris analysis confirms Russian use of North Korean rockets in Ukraine

Judging from a debris analysis conducted by the US military, Russia appears to be using North Korean rockets in Ukraine. "The analysis confirms that Russia has employed North Korean-made ballistic missiles in its fight against Ukraine. Remnants of North Korean missiles have been spotted all over Ukraine," said the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in a statement.

4:34 China's support for Russia seen as a threat to European security by the US government

China's backing for Russia is considered a threat to European security, views shared by the US government and its G7 partners. The statement made by deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, Vedant Patel, branded the Chinese leadership's support of Russia not only as jeopardizing Ukraine but also posing dangers to European safety. The US government threatened additional sanctions in response. "If China fails to limit its support for Russia's arms industry, the US is prepared to enact more measures," Vedant Patel said during a press conference.

2:50 Explosion in Kharkiv: 3 civilians killed in rocket strike

Russian forces bombarded Kharkiv with rockets from Belgorod during the night. According to local authorities, five hits were detected in the city area, with one rocket striking a five-story residential building. An estimated 20 residential buildings were damaged in the attack. Tragically, three people died in the rocket attack, while 16 others were wounded. It was reported that children were among the injured.

1:46 SPD politician calls for lifting restrictions against using Western weapons against Russian targets

SPD foreign policy spokesperson Nils Schmid supports allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against military targets in Russia. "I believe that lifting this restriction for targets on Russian territory is a logical decision that should be made together by NATO allies," Nils Schmid said in conversation with the Funke Media Group newspapers.

Midnight: Scholz rules out deployment of German soldiers in Ukraine, participation in no-fly zone

Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejects the deployment of German soldiers in Ukraine and their participation in a no-fly zone. "We don't want our soldiers there," he stated during a meeting with readers of the Thuringian Allgemeine in Erfurt. He also dismissed the idea of a no-fly zone, explaining that it would imply shooting down Russian planes with one's own aircraft. "This would mean you're at war," said Scholz. He firmly believes that it's essential to prevent a war between NATO and Russia. This position is also shared by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The U.S. is permitting Ukraine to deploy American-made weapons against Russia, specifically in the region of Kharkiv, a source has revealed. This contradicts previous statements from U.S. President Joe Biden, who had refused to supply arms for offensives within Russia. The stipulation that Ukraine avoid utilizing its own long-range rockets and munitions for attacks within Russia still stands, as confirmed in government circles.

22:06 Ukrainian assault brigade displays Vovchansk street combat footage

The Liut Brigade, part of Ukraine's military forces, is currently defending the city of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv border area alongside other troops. The unit has released a video that purportedly captures street fighting within the city. According to the brigade, the footage portrays the Storm Regiment Tsunami thwarting Russian soldiers from taking over a building.

For more background information, check out these previous updates.