11:07 Mangott: Putin aims to "deliberately foster uncertainty" at the Baltic Sea

Putin seeks to "intentionally cause unrest" at the Baltic Sea: Mangott (11:07)

The Russian Ministry of Defense's plan to expand its territorial waters in the Baltic Sea has raised concerns among defense policy stakeholders. The Moscow Times suggests that Russia is considering this move.

In other news, Russian troops reportedly launched two Iskander missiles at Kharkiv overnight. Iskander-M is a missile system with a range of 500 kilometers that can also carry nuclear warheads. The flexible trajectory of the missile makes it difficult to intercept. The missiles damaged a school and a residential building.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg supports the use of Western weapons against Russian military targets. In an interview with "The Economist," he argued that self-defense is legal and legitimate under the United Nations Charter. Stoltenberg believes that the allies must consider lifting some restrictions on the use of weapons for Ukraine during the ongoing fighting in Kharkiv near the border.

Ukrainian drones allegedly attacked an important Russian radar station in Krasnodar. The radar station is part of Russia's early warning system for ballistic missile launches and launches of missiles equipped with nuclear weapons. Independent military experts from OSINT estimate that the radar station has the capability to control an area up to 6000 kilometers.

US experts warn against a ceasefire, stating that it would be risky for Ukraine. If a ceasefire were to happen, Russia could prepare for more offensive operations and attempt to change the Ukrainian government. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia may also speculate that a ceasefire would cause a lack of urgency to support Ukraine.

CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter suggested that the German government declare a budget emergency due to the war in Ukraine. The war's financial burden requires debt, and Kiesewetter believes it is inexplicable why the pandemic was classified as an emergency, allowing the government to allocate 200 billion euros for an electricity and gas price freeze but not the war. However, the FDP has opposed this proposal in the coalition government.

The Ukrainian General Staff has calculated that Russia has lost roughly 500,000 soldiers since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. The Ukrainians report that 1140 losses have occurred in the past day and that Russia is applying immense pressure on Ukrainian defense. In addition, the Ukrainian General Staff lists 15 destroyed Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, an air defense system, and two multiple rocket launchers.

The first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots has completed their training in the US and will now move on to Europe for further training. The US Air Force stated that the training of pilots and ground personnel took approximately a year; they should be prepared to engage in combat missions against the Russian air forces by summer. The Ukrainian air force will receive more than 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. These countries, along with the US, UK, Romania, France, and Bulgaria, have contributed personnel, aircraft, and ground facilities to train the Ukrainians in flying and maintaining the fighter jets.

06:33 American munitions rendered ineffective due to Russian interference

Ukraine has stopped utilizing certain types of American weaponry due to a significant decline in their accuracy. A recent article from the "Washington Post" stated that GPS-controlled weapons, such as Excalibur artillery shells and HIMARS systems, are being disrupted by Russian jammers. The Excalibur shells' success rate has reportedly plummeted, with fewer than 10% hitting their target. As a result, the US ceased delivering these munitions. To conduct successful HIMARS attacks, Russian jammers must be neutralized, which can be achieved through tactics like deploying cluster munitions.

04:34 Stoltenberg: China's pivotal role in aiding Russia in the Ukraine conflict

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized China's role as a deciding factor in the current Ukraine conflict. During an interview with Welt am Sonntag, he stated, "China says it wants to maintain good relations with the West. However, by providing support to Moscow in its aggressive actions, Beijing is undermining these efforts." Although it is not confirmed, China is believed to be selling machine parts, microelectronics, and other technology to Russia, which the latter is utilizing to manufacture missiles, tanks, and planes for use against Ukraine.

03:06 Hofreiter: Ukraine should be authorized to use Western weapons on Russian soil

The Green Party's foreign policy expert, Anton Hofreiter, advocated for relaxing restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons on Russian territory. In an interview with Funke Mediengruppe, he advocated for allowing Ukraine to use the provided weapons to resist Russian fighter jets in Russian airspace. He also stated that international law allows an attacked state to target military targets within the aggressor's country.

02:01 Ukrainian General Staff reports Russian airstrikes and partial successes near Kupiansk

The Ukrainian General Staff has reported that the Russian army has resumed air attacks on the city of Vovchansk, where eight guided bombs struck. The Ukrainian forces successfully defended against ten Russian assaults on the city and its surroundings. Partial successes were reported by the Ukrainians near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region and in the Pokrovsk sector of the Donetsk region.

01:30 Plans for more evacuations in the Kharkiv area

According to the "Kyiv Independent", 123 children from the northeastern Kharkiv region will be evacuated. Initially, they will be taken to Kharkiv and then to the Volhynia region to the northwest. Over 11,000 civilians have been relocated from the region since the initiation of the new Russian offensive.

23:23 Zelenskyy: Regaining control of the eastern Kharkiv border region

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that the Ukrainian military has recovered control of the border sector in the eastern Kharkiv area where Russian forces have penetratated. He addressed this during his evening address on a video stream, following a visit to Kharkiv. Two weeks ago, the Russian army launched a ground offensive in this region and occupied several Ukrainian villages.

22:22 Ukrainian report: Over 400 Ukrainian women held captive by Russia

"Ukrinform" reports that at present, 403 Ukrainian women are being held by Russia. Numerous civilians are among the detainees, and many women who vanished in 2014 remain unaccounted for. The Russian authorities are said to have disregarded repeated pleas for their release.

22:02 Kuleba: Putin concerned about Ukraine peace conference success

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded to rumors of Putin's willingness for peace negotiations (see entries 19:55 and 12:22) by stating that the Russian President fears the upcoming Ukraine peace summit's success. "Putin is ramping up efforts to ensure the failure of the peace conference in Switzerland on June 15 and 16," the minister said on Twitter. He believes Putin is not truly interested in ending the ongoing Russian aggression completely.

Nightfall and the Arctic Setting: NATO Plans for a "Drone Wall"

As Lithuania informs BNS Agency, six nations bordering Russia within NATO have the intention to create a "drone wall" to shield against provocations. This encompassing border stretches from Norway to Poland, with the goal being to utilize drone technology and other means to fortify our borders, as Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite announced after conferencing with representatives of Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, and Poland. Bilotaite further elaborated that the project's purpose encompasses not only repelling hostile countries but also addressing the issue of smuggling. Drones will be employed for surveillance and anti-drone systems would be incorporated as well. She referred to the undertaking as "a completely new thing." No definitive timeline was provided. The rationale behind the border strengthening lies in the security concernsthat manifested due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US Offers Military Support for the Challenge of Ukraine

The United States promised additional military assistance to Ukraine to confront the Russian assault. Informing the American populace, the State Department revealed this new package, totalling $275 million, will include ammunition for the HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, 155 and 105 millimeter artillery ammunition. This constitutes the fifth package approved by President Biden since the US allocated $61 billion for Kiev in late April. These earlier supplies have already arrived at the frontlines, according to detailled accounts. The company expressed their commitment to expediting the delivery process to equip the Ukrainian military, enabling them to defend their nation and shelter its citizens. Since the initiation of Russia's invasion against Ukraine, the US has furnished more than $50 billion in military aid to Kiev, as per the Pentagon's account.

An Aged Legacy: Russia Imposes Military Training on Its Youths

The educational system in Russia has amended its curriculum to include the seemingly innocuous subject of "Fundamentals of Life Safety." However, a closer examination of the subject reveals that it encompasses basic military training including firearm manipulation and the ability to dress wounds.

Putin Establishes Terms for Ukrainian Negotiations

While over two years have passed since Russia's hostile invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his alleged willingness to engage in dialogue. Speaking during a visit to neighboring ally Belarus, Putin stated, "People speak of the need to resume negotiations." He then specified the negotiations should occur "without being guided by the aspirations of a single side, but on the basis of the realities that have taken shape on the ground." Russia launched an open military operation against Ukraine in February 2022 and still occupies approximately one-fifth of its territory. Ukraine regularly underscores the necessity for Russian troops to depart their soil as a prerequisite for long-lasting peace. More in-depth coverage of broader context can be found here.