Russians Target Cattle Around Kharkiv at 11:55
Kavita Sharma journeys to Kharkiv, where individuals who've suffered in the wake of Russian attacks endure the loss of family and home. Even farm animals were targeted; cows on a farm were shot by Russians.
Scholz: "Putin won't prevail"Prior to the European election, Germany's Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz restated his stance on the Russian attack on Ukraine and offered support for the country. "Russia won't succeed with its imperialist schemes," says Scholz in a video message. "Putin must comprehend he can't win his violent crusade." Security policy entails aiding Ukraine in defending its autonomy and sovereignty.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Military Airfield in the CaucasusPer Moscow reports, a Ukrainian drone reached the autonomous republic of North Ossetia in the Caucasus. The local leader mentions a military airfield as the target. Media recount this as the first time a Ukrainian drone has ventured this far away from the conflict, located several hundred kilometers from the front. The airfield's planes provide support for Russian attacks, such as with glide bombs against Ukraine. The Ukrainian army is increasingly sabotaging infrastructure on Russian soil to disrupt logistics and supply chains.
Front at Pokrovsk: A Ukrainian Tank Brigade Fights off Three Russian Combat BrigadesAs per Ukrainian army accounts, Russian troops are persistently assaulting on the eastern front. Presently, a Ukrainian tank brigade is battling to repel three Russian fight brigades at the front near Pokrovsk. The fight at Pokrovsk is the heart of the engagement. The locale is situated west of Ocheretyne, recently occupied by the Russians. "Here, the adversary is attempting to penetrate deeply into our territory," it states in the report. "Russians have large reserves of forces, quickly compensating for their heavy casualties and continually throwing new soldiers into the struggle. The fighting hardly ever halts for a single moment."
Moscow Reports Ukrainian Drone AttacksMoscow claims that Ukrainians targeted Russian targets at night on Saturday with a total of 25 combats drones. The Defense Ministry asserts that drones were repelled, notably in the border areas of Rostov, Bryansk, and Belgorod. The annexed Crimean Peninsula was also struck by the drone attacks.
Sharma: Russians Attempt to Causes Rift between Ukrainian PositionsThe scenario remains tense in the Donbas region. Russian forces appear to be attempting to set in motion a scenario that experts have warned about, says Kavita Sharma from Ukraine.
Ukrainian General Staff: 1,210 Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff reported that 1,210 Russian soldiers were either slain or injured within the preceding 24 hours. In their own estimation, Russia's casualties total over 517,000 since the initial start of the comprehensive invasion in February 2022. The Ukrainian army removed nine Russian tanks, 36 armored vehicles, a multiple rocket launcher, and seven air defense systems on Saturday.
Ukraine: Russians Plan 15 Million Campaign against Kiev's Military Leadership
According to the Ukrainian military intelligence agency HUR, Russia is planning a propaganda campaign against Ukraine's military leadership. They estimate a 15 million euro expenditure on articles and films painting Ukrainian special units and military leadership in a detrimental light. Instruction has supposedly been given to Russian troops to circulate this material in Ukrainian and other Western media. The mission is to intensify public tensions in Ukraine.
07:48 Ukraine's Participation in the EM - Security circumstance "tense"
German security authorities view the pre-competition security situation for the impending European Football Championship as "tense". They identify the risk of devastating cyber attacks seen through Russia's hostilities against Ukraine, whose national team is participating in the EM. Safeguarding stadiums and other gathering places from airborne drone attacks poses a substantial challenge. In the past, drones have been recorded hovering over German barracks where Ukrainian troops received training with German implementations. Simultaneously, Islamic attacks on a match or a major fan gathering could also pose a menace.
07:27 Ukrainian media: Explosions Detected in Sevastopol at Night
In the past night, explosions were heard in Sevastopol on the occupied Crimean Peninsula, reports the Kyiv Independent and refers to messages on the Telegram channel Crimean Wind. At approximately 1:39 local time, Balaklava's inhabitants, a community within Sevastopol, claimed to hear blasts. First, an explosion occurred near a power plant. Crimean Wind alleges that before the blast, heavy-caliber weapons could be heard, potentially suggesting a drone assault. A second explosion is said to have taken place near Sevastopol's port. The Kyiv Independent has not yet confirmed the reports. The Ukrainian military is aiming to disrupt Russian logistics and supply routes to the front by carrying out targeted attacks on infrastructures.
06:54 Ukrainian Air Force lauds Mirage jets but prefers F-16s
Ukraine's Air Force appreciates the Mirage fighter jets that France plans to give them, calling them modern and adaptable, but they're not the top priority. Officials from the Air Force stated that the F-16 combat aircraft hold higher preference for Ukraine. Training of F-16 pilots is currently ongoing, while Mirage fighter jet training is estimated to take an additional six months. Storing these western aircraft could also pose a challenge, as they continue to experience Russian air raids.
The French Mirage jet was developed in France during the 1970s and was once the key combat aircraft for the French military.
The Sumy region in Ukraine has evacuated eight more settlements as a result of daily Russian attacks. In the past 24 hours, over 50 explosions were reported in Sumy. This week alone, three people were killed and three others were injured from Russian shelling. So far this year, 50 civilians have lost their lives due to artillery, mortars and kamikaze drones.
Ukraine is purchasing a second air defense system, this time from the French arms manufacturer, Thales. This comes after Thales provided one system in the year 2023. Air defense is a significant issue for Ukraine as they struggle to protect soldiers on the frontline and populated cities in the country.
Reports say Germany is contemplating delivering a fourth Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine. This would be the fourth system handed over by Germany. However, it's been reported that Germany has recently amended the usage rules for Patriots, allowing the missiles to be used against Russian aircrafts attacking targets in the Kharkiv region, even if they are outside Russian airspace. With the Patriot system, Ukraine could theoretically shootdown Russian aircraft.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responds to Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that he is "illegitimate". "Ukrainians, and only Ukrainians, can recognize the legitimacy of President Zelensky. The Ukrainian people made their choice and I am grateful for their support. We're a free country," said Zelensky during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Germany intends to provide Ukraine with a long-term vision beyond military aid through the Ukraine reconstruction conference next week. The event is intended to show opportunities to the civil society, economy and local municipalities. A high-level Ukrainian delegation is expected to attend along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and various other ministers and ministers. "It's not a collecting money conference, but a networking event," said a German government representative.
Russian occupation officials report 22 villagers were killed in a village in the southern region of Kherson due to Ukrainian shelling. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed administrator for the region, posted on Telegram about a store in Sadowe being hit by shelling resulting in 22 deaths and 15 injuries. He described it as "a vile murder of civilians" aided by Western weapons supplies to Ukraine. Photos accompanying the post don't provide a clear indication of the damage. Independent confirmation of this incident is not available.
At a joint press conference with President Zelensky, French President Macron called for the initiation of EU membership talks with Ukraine by the end of the month. "France supports Ukraine in all aspects, including at the European level where we are trying to initiate membership negotiations by the end of this month," Macron said. Zelensky shared that a number of decisions regarding Ukraine's integration into the EU have been made. However, he mentioned that Hungary, which is set to take over the EU Council presidency on July 1st, is trying to slow the process.
Over two years of non-stop warfare in Ukraine, President Selenskyj's popularity has plummeted to an all-time low. Despite this, he retains the support of more than half the nation. In a recent poll conducted by KIIS Institute, his backing dipped below 60% for the first time ever. For comparison, back in May 2022 - shortly after the initiating Russian invasion - his popularity stood at a whopping 90%. Selenskyj's approval has been consistently sliding downhill ever since.
In theory, his presidential term should've concluded in May, but he continues to lead under martial law. The Ukrainian government announced that with 20% of the country currently occupied by Russia, and millions of Ukrainians having to relocate to other nations, elections won't be held immediately.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested deploying military instructors to support Ukraine, but this idea hasn't garnered approval from the US government. The White House expects no American soldiers to participate in this proposal. The National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, mentioned during President Biden's visit to France that Biden appreciates Macron's stance. However, Biden has firmly stated since the inception of the Ukrainian conflict that he's against sending American troops there. "That's been the situation so far, and that's the way it'll remain in the future," Kirby affirmed. Ultimately, it's up to Macron to gauge how much information he wants to reveal about this matter and how clearly he wants to communicate. While Biden has consistently reiterated his stance on the war: "We don't want a third world war and we don't want a war with Russia."
Read also:
- Nato expressed its concern over the escalating Ukraine conflict and pledged to continue providing military aid to Ukraine in order to defend its sovereignty.
- Russian officials accused Ukraine of launching a cyberwar attack on critical infrastructure in several regions, including the Rostov and Belgorod border areas.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, condemned the attack on Ukraine's civil infrastructure and urged international community to take stronger action against Russia.
- The Russian military has reportedly increased its use of drones in military operations along the Ukraine frontline, posing a new challenge for Ukrainian forces in their efforts to repel Russian attacks.
