Russian governor suggests that disputed Ukrainian areas might soon be declared a federal district.
Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories may soon become a new federal district, according to Yevhen Balizkyi, a Russian commander active in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region. In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea and parts of the Ukrainian Donbass region. The Russian offensive against Ukraine in February 2022 led to the occupation of additional areas, including Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
21:22: Ukrenergo shuts off power in Kyiv and thirteen regions
Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian power grid operator, is cutting electricity in Kyiv and several regions of Ukraine in the evening. According to a Facebook post by the company, private households and industrial enterprises in Volhynia, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Transcarpathia, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Odessa, Rivne, Kharkiv, and the city of Kyiv itself will face power restrictions.
20:47: Zelenskyy to likely address Germany's Bundestag on Tuesday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to travel to Berlin on Tuesday and speak in the German parliament. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that Zelenskyy will also attend a reconstruction conference for Ukraine in the German capital. Many speculated about a possible trip to Berlin, and it appears that this will happen on Tuesday, with Zelenskyy addressing the Bundestag for the first time in person. A special session would be needed for Zelenskyy's speech.
20:36: Macron confirms France's delivery of Mirage-2000 fighter jets to Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France has provided Mirage-2000 fighter jets to Ukraine. "These aircraft allow Ukraine to protect its land and airspace," Macron said in an interview with French television broadcasters in Caen. He also announced plans to train 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers.
20:01: Zelenskyy marks anniversary of dam break in southern Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commemorated the anniversary of a dam break in southern Ukraine, which occurred one year ago. "The Russian occupiers blew up the dam and the buildings of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant," Zelenskyy said on social media. He called the incident an ecological crime by Russian invaders and noted the devastating consequences, including the disruption of water supplies for hundreds of thousands of people and the impact on neighboring countries.
19:32: Russian court sentences teenagers and young man for sabotage
A court in Tatarstan sentenced two minors and a young man to long prison terms for sabotage. The individuals had allegedly tried to undermine Russia's defense capabilities and economic security in favor of Ukraine. The oldest defendant, a 20-year-old, received 17 years in prison, while the two minors were sentenced to five years each in a juvenile detention center. They are accused of setting fire to a railway switchboard, which is used to regulate train traffic.
19:07: Macron urges defense of freedom at D-Day anniversary ceremony
French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech at the D-Day commemoration in Normandy, stressing the importance of defending freedom around the world. Addressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Macron said, "We will not relent." He emphasized that Germany and its allies must remain strong in the face of those who attempt to change borders through violence or rewrite history. "June 6 is a day without end," Macron continued, reaffirming the need to fight for freedom, equality, and brotherhood.
US President Joe Biden stated that the weapons sent by his country to Ukraine cannot be used to assault Moscow or any targets within Russia. Rather, these weapons are only permitted to be utilized for attacks "right across the border" if Russian border areas are attacked, according to an interview with the American broadcaster ABC News. Attacking targets "200 miles (approximately 320 kilometers) inside Russia" or Moscow or the Kremlin is strictly forbidden, Biden underscored.
In other news, one individual lost their life, while four others were wounded in a Russian artillery attack on the Donetsk region. The village of Pivnichne experienced this assault. This village is part of the Bakhmut district and is situated mere kilometers from the front line. For two of the injured, they needed to be transported to a hospital for initial aid.
A former solider in Ukraine has been sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly providing military information to Russia. According to the Charkiv prosecutor's office, this unidentified soldier made contact with an FSB representative via the Signal online platform. He then provided the locations of soldiers and military equipment in Charkiv and Mykolajiw regions. Russia reportedly utilized this data to carry out targeted airstrikes against Ukrainian defenders, the prosecutor's office stated. He was arrested in the frontline city of Kupyansk. He "completely admitted his guilt," the prosecutor's office said.
In response to the increased conflict in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of children and their caregivers or parents from several cities and towns. Donetsk Governor Vadim Frolov made this declaration in a widely shared online post. These towns include Lyman, the village of Prohres, and others near the front. "The security situation in the region is worsening constantly and the intensity of shelling is increasing," Frolov remarked. The evacuation is a "crucial decision designed to save the lives of our children," Frolov noted. He stated that 217 people were evacuated on Tuesday, including 61 children.
The Inspector General of the Air Force, Ingo Gerhartz, will face a simple disciplinary measure following the intercepted conversation about the Taurus missile by Russia. Gerhartz, a General Lieutenant, will have to pay a disciplinary fine, which will conclude the situation, as stated by the German Press Agency in Berlin. According to the regulations, further sanctions are not possible. The Defense Committee was updated about this decision yesterday. The Russian intelligence service captured a web conference between four senior Air Force officers, including Gerhartz, discussing potential scenarios for Taurus missile utilization if it were supplied to Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made it a condition for his support for former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's NATO secretary-general candidacy. Firstly, Rutte must apologize for "insulting remarks" he made against Hungary as Prime Minister, Orban said in an interview with the government-funded portal "Mandiner." Secondly, the person who seeks to become NATO secretary-general must sign an agreement with Budapest specifying that Hungary will not take part in any NATO military operations against Russia in Ukraine. However, a NATO military operation against Russia is not being requested, planned, or organized by anyone. Military actions by individual NATO members outside the NATO region are not binding for all members.
In preparation for the commemorations marking the Allied landings in Normandy, Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for increased European defense efforts. "For me, it's evident: Europe will assume more responsibility in the future," Scholz penned in an article for the French newspaper "Ouest-France." A strong Europe financially, militarily, and socially is necessary to maintain peace, he stated, alluding to Russia. "To work for this Europe, which is the legacy of June 6, 1944," he added, referencing the so-called D-Day. For Germany and its allies, it is recognized that "cruel Russian imperialism" should not prevail. "And it will not prevail because we will keep on supporting Ukraine in its brave defense efforts while it is essential," Scholz asserted.
President Joe Biden highlighted the continued threat to democracy in remarks made during a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France. He emphasized that democracies are more endangered today than since the end of World War II. "Here we showed that the forces of freedom are stronger than the forces of conquest," Biden said, reflecting on the pivotal World War II event that took place on June 6, 1944, which helped the Allies eventually defeat Nazi Germany. Additionally, the importance of alliances was stressed, with the reference to NATO. D-Day demonstrated the significance of alliances. "Isolationism was not an answer then and isn't an answer now," the president noted.
The conflict in the city of Vovchansk, situated near the Russian-Ukrainian border, is carrying on. The Ukrainian army is attempting to inflict as many casualties as possible on the Russian forces, prevent their advances, and reclaim territory, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) based on statements from Ukrainian Chief of Staff Oleksandr Syrskyj. Russian military bloggers, based on the report, suggest that the Ukrainian forces have stepped up their counterattacks in and around Vovchansk on Wednesday. The leader of Vovchansk's military administration, Tamaz Gambaraschwili, also stated that the Ukrainian armed forces have recently regained certain territories within the city.
10:52 Ukrainian Military Intelligence destroys Russian ship in the Black Sea
According to Ukrainian Military Intelligence's own claims, they have destroyed a Russian ship in the Black Sea. "Kyiv Independent" reported this information based on statements from the HUR spokesman Andrij Jussow. Apparently, the ship in question was a tugboat near the Russian-occupied Crimea. "Kyiv Independent" quoted the spokesperson on Ukrainian television as saying, "Another enemy ship was destroyed in the Black Sea last night. The sea raid by Special Forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) was successful and resulted in 'minus one' enemy ship."
10:23 Ukrainian writer Serhij Schadan joins the army
Famous Ukrainian writer and recipient of the German Book Trade Peace Prize, Serhij Schadan, has enlisted in the Ukrainian army. "I have joined the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, Chartia," Schadan wrote in online media. Along with this news, the 49-year-old shared a picture of him in camouflage clothing, holding an automatic rifle.
09:57 Scholz defends weapon supply for Ukrainian attacks on Russia
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Ukraine can use the weapons they receive from Germany and their other allies to attack Russian positions, both in Ukraine and in Russia itself. Scholz explained in a government statement in the Bundestag that Ukraine has a legal right to defend itself against attacks on its land, cities, and citizens. "This also applies to attacks like in the Kharkiv region, which Russia is launching from positions on the directly adjacent Russian border," he added. "To counter such attacks, Ukraine can use the weapons we and our allies provide - always in compliance with international legal obligations."
09:26 Munz: "Putin tries to put pressure on Germany"
For the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin spoke to international journalists and issued threats against the West. Munz, ntv's correspondent, put these statements in context.
08:56 Russia: 13 Ukrainian drones shot down over Crimea
Russian authorities claim that they have shot down 13 Ukrainian drones over Crimea in the past night. Additionally, six other objects were destroyed over Belgorod and an anti-ship missile over Rostov, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. These statements cannot be independently verified. The Ukraine also claims to have shot down Russian drones in the past night (see entry at 06:54).
08:23 Ukraine: Russian loses reach 515,000 soldiers
The Ukrainian forces report that Russian losses in their invasion of Ukraine have risen to 515,000 soldiers. In the last 24 hours, casualties among the Russian attackers increased by 1,300 soldiers, according to the Ukrainian General Staff via X. Additionally, 22 tanks and 48 artillery systems were destroyed. The list of losses includes a missile defense system and 40 armored personnel carriers. These figures cannot be independently verified.
07:55 Ukraine: Russian refinery in Novoshakhtinsk disrupted by drone attack
In southern Russia, reports indicate that work at a refinery was disrupted following a Ukrainian drone attack. Governor of the affected region, Rostov, Vasily Golubev, announced a fire at the refinery in Novoshakhtinsk due to the drone strike. Work at the refinery has been suspended, and no casualties have been reported. The Novoshakhtinsk refinery is a significant oil refinery in southern Russia, located only about ten kilometers east of the border and frequently targeted by Ukrainian attacks.
07:22 KNDS: Procuring spare parts for Ukraine difficult
Regarding the damaged tanks in Russia's attack on Ukraine, KNDS's defense chief, Ralf Ketzel, noted that it was not foreseeable that the situation in Ukraine would require years of maintenance. "We also don't know how large the maintenance issues on-site are, and 80-90 percent of repairs are not performed by us, but at the front," explained Ketzel. "It's not easy to procure spare parts for heavy military equipment." "KNDS" also mentioned that this is a topic worth considering if the government wants to be prepared for battle.
06:54 Ukraine downs 17 Russian drones in various regions
Ukrainian forces managed to repel a Russian drone attack by shooting down 17 out of 18 Shahed drones in the regions of Mykolaiv, Kherson, Saporischschja, and Khmelnytskyi at night, as mentioned by the Ukrainian General Staff. Additionally, the region of Dnipro was targeted with two Iskander missiles, but it's unclear if they were also shot down.
06:25 Putin warns of deploying high-tech long-range missiles
If the West allows Ukraine to use long-range weapons in Russia, then Russia might respond by deploying high-tech long-range missiles. This was stated by Putin to foreign journalists in St. Petersburg, who also mentioned that similar high-tech long-range missiles could potentially be stationed near countries permitting Ukraine to use certain weapons on Russian territory. The location for these Russian missiles hasn't been determined yet.
05:52 German arms manufacturer feels unable to provide quick deliveries to Ukraine
The CEO of KNDS, a German arms manufacturer, Ralf Ketzel, shared that his company can't provide Ukraine with additional resources swiftly. He claims they've reached their limit in terms of quick deliveries. "We used to be able to supply them immediately. But those days are over," says Ketzel in an interview with German news website web.de. The dire situation was caused by not foreseeing that the war would continue for so long and planning accordingly.
04:22 Putin wants to strengthen relations with the Taliban
During a meeting with international journalists in St. Petersburg, Putin expressed the desire to develop ties with the Taliban, who are currently in power in Afghanistan. He reasoned that Russia "has always had to deal with reality." Despite the Taliban previously being on a terrorist list since 2003, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had earlier this month announced plans to remove them.
03:32 Nawalny's widow hopes for freedom of speech to thwart propaganda
Speaking at the Deutsche Welle Freedom Prize award ceremony, Julia Nawalnaya and the Nawalny Foundation acknowledged their commitment to continuing the work started by the murdered Kremlin critic, Alexei Nawalny. She emphasized that "freedom of speech will defeat the poison of propaganda" and urged vigilance against Russian disinformation and fake experts in the European Union prior to the European election. She criticized Putin for trying to advance his agenda and urged perseverance in upholding freedom of expression.
02:44 Russian oil refinery experiences a fire and possible drone attack
Reports indicate a fire in an oil refinery in the Russian city of Novotsyshinsk, with preceding explosions and a possible drone attack. The governor of the Rostov region bordering Ukraine has acknowledged the incident and sent rescue services to the area. This is the second time the refinery has been attacked by drones, having also been targeted in March.
01:24 USA anticipates Russian military exercises in the Caribbean
According to U.S. government representatives, the U.S. expects Russia to execute more intense naval and air force exercises in the Caribbean this summer. These activities would be categorized as routine naval activities and not pose an immediate threat to the United States, but they demonstrate that Russia can still exert global influence.
00:04 Putin resubmits Russian support for German far-right party, AfD
At a meeting with prominent international news agencies in St. Petersburg, Putin supported collaborating with anyone who wants to cooperate with Russia. When discussing the German far-right party, AfD, he claimed, "We don't see any signs of neo-Nazism in their actions." While he stressed there are no "systemic relations" with the AfD, he would support anyone advocating for normal relations with Russia.
23:29 Putin rejects accusations of threatening NATO territory
In a conversation with major international news agency staff, Putin dismissed Western countries' concerns about a potential Russian invasion on NATO territory as "crazy" and "stupid." He also denied having ever mentioned the idea of using an "atomic bomb." "You guys made up that one."
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has declared his intentions to investigate the occurrence surrounding the death of AFP reporter Arman Soldin. He emphasized, "We're willing to do anything possible," during a discussion with journalists from global media organizations in Saint Petersburg (see 21:25, 20:58, and 20:18). Notwithstanding, he wasn't certain how the inquiry would play out practicality-wise as Soldin perished in a war region. A short while ago, the Kremlin mentioned that Russia couldn't probe into the Soldin incident due to the fact that he was in Ukrainian-controlled territory. The video journalist, Soldin, lost his life on May 9, 2023 at the age of 32, hit by a rocket attack near the strife-torn Ukrainian city of Bachmut. At the time, he was documenting Ukrainian troops near the turf.
21:51: Lavrov seeks new partners in Africa
Based on Russian media reports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Moscow will send extra military gear and educators to Burkina Faso to reinforce the defensive capabilities of the West African nation. Since Russia attacked Ukraine, Lavrov is on his ninth trip to Africa. This endeavor stems from the Kremlin's diplomatic push: Russia is pursuing fresh relationships. Quoting the Russian news agency TASS, Lavrov said, "Since our first interactions following the coup in 2022, Russia and Burkina Faso have cooperated closely in all domains, including military and military-technical facets." Russia is obtaining a relationship that doesn't endorse the conflict but also doesn't badmouth it.
21:25: Putin predicts no significant alteration in the US approach toward Russia after the election
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, anticipates no substantial shift in the US approach toward Russia after the American presidential election. "For us, the election outcome holds no major consequence," Putin disclosed in a confab with journalists during a media gathering in St. Petersburg (see 20:58 and 20:18). Russia will maintain dealings with the victor chosen by the American people. Previously, Putin remarked that he'd prefer the re-election of President Joe Biden, since the president is more foreseeable. Putin also denounces the legal action against previous President Donald Trump, who's been contesting Biden on November 5.
20:58: Putin suggests there are over 6,000 Ukrainians in Russian captivity
Vladimir Putin has estimated the number of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia, following nearly two years of invasion in the neighboring nation, at roughly 6,000. This count is greater than the quantity of Russian soldiers and officers in Ukrainian captivity, according to the Russian President during a meeting with major international news agency reps in St. Petersburg (see 20:18).
The Ukraine claims 1,348 Russians are in their custody, while Russia possesses 6,365 prisoners from the neighboring country. These figures couldn't be confirmed independently. Putin, in response to an inquiry about the Russian casualties in the war, said that neither bos sides offer unambiguous details about the losses. Nonetheless, the figures regarding prisoners are in an equivalent proportion. He further contends that the Ukraine suffers far higher losses in the war than Russia. On the contrary, the Ukrainian party emphasizes that there are significantly more Russian than their soldiers who have fallen in the war.
20:18: Putin cautions against Ukrainian military using German weaponry against targets in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning against Ukrainian forces employing German weaponry against targets on Russian soil. He declared, "This would be a hazardous step," at a gathering with journalistic representatives from prominent international news agencies in St. Petersburg. The delivery of German tanks to Ukraine last year caused a stir in Russia. Regarding potential missile strikes against Russian facilities, Putin remarked, "This would entirely annihilate Russian-German relations." The media soiree at the Lachta Center of the gas colossus Gazprom is a part of the 27th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum. This is the premier international gathering since the inception of Putin's war against Ukraine.
Refer to the previous chronicles for more details. [[link|here]]
Read also:
- The Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia, could be declared a federal district, following suggestions from Russian commander Yevhen Balizkyi.
- Russia's military operations in Ukraine have led to the occupation of additional regions, such as Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, according to reports from 2022.
- In response to the Ukrainian conflict, military operations by NATO members are not binding for all members, according to German Prime Minister Viktor Orban's conditions for supporting former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's NATO secretary-general candidacy.
- The Ukrainian military, under the leadership of Oleksandr Syrskyj, is conducting military operations in the city of Vovchansk, near the Russian-Ukrainian border, aiming to inflict casualties on Russian forces and reclaim territory.
