Ukrainians are now operating just a fourth of their thermal power plants.
The Russian military has significantly affected Ukraine's energy infrastructure, as mentioned by Denys Schmyhal, the Ukrainian minister president, during a televised conversation on The New Voice of Ukraine. The statement revealed that more than 70% of large thermal power plants are out of service, with Russia allegedly causing damage to 50% of the country's electricity generation capacity. This has resulted in losing 9.2 gigawatts of power through rocket and drone attacks. Aside from that, 20 hydroelectric power plants have been discontinued.
Apart from this, two Russian soldiers, who allegedly raped two women in Ukraine back in 2022 during the occupation of Kiev and Kherson, have been identified. Despite these crimes, they haven't faced any punishment till now. One of these soldiers is said to currently reside in the city of Horlivka within the Donetsk region, while the other is accused of committing other war crimes, including the murder of a civilian. It's worth noting that since the war's commencement, there have been 292 cases of sexual violence reported by the Russian military.
Furthermore, the British defense intelligence service noticed eight barges near the Kerch Bridge's southern side. These barges have been placed by the Russian army to defend the bridge and the shipping channel against Ukrainian drones. Earlier installations were damaged in storms. The Kerch Bridge serves as a significant supply route for the front, as it connects the Russian mainland to Crimea.
Boris Pistorius, the defense minister, stressed on the Bundeswehr needing to become "war-ready" to defend in case of any attack. Security experts assume that Russia may take approximately five years to equip themselves for an attack on a NATO member. They've also been increasing their military expenditure, rising from 5.9% to 7% of their economic output in 2023.
Ukrainian troops continue fighting on the southern front, enduring constant attacks. The Ukrainian military recorded 240 reconnaissance drones around this region on a particular Friday, including artillery, rockets, and combat drones. There have been successful counterattacks by the Ukrainian forces near the township of Orichiv and Krynky.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba requests the utilization of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Not only the profit from these assets should be used but also the assets themselves. Concerns about the consequences have been acknowledged, but Kuleba maintains that it's based on international laws. The European Union has held frozen Russian Central Bank assets of over 200 billion euros. The G7 is discussing whether not only the interest but also the funds themselves could be used at their upcoming summit in Italy.
Kavita Sharma, an ntv-reporter, visited Kharkiv to meet people who lost their loved ones, homes, and everything else due to Russian attacks. One farm in the area even had cows shot by Russians.
Olaf Scholz, the German federal chancellor, emphasized his solidarity with Ukraine. He asserted that Putin wouldn't succeed and should acknowledge that he cannot win this aggressive campaign. Scholz believes in supporting Ukraine's independence and sovereignty, which constitutes peace policy.
A Ukrainian drone attacked a military airfield in the Caucasus' autonomous republic of North Ossetia. This marks the first time a Ukrainian drone has reached North Ossetia, which lies about 700 kilometers away from Ukraine's border. This airfield is significant as it launches combat aircraft for Russia's attack on Ukraine via glide bombs. The Ukrainian army, in the process of disrupting enemy logistics and supply lines, is targeting more infrastructure on Russian territory.
The Ukrainian army states that Russian forces continue to attack intensely on the eastern front. In the area around Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian tank brigade is currently countering three Russian brigades. This region is the central stage of the conflict. It is situated west of the recently occupied Ocheretyne. "The adversary is trying to push deep into our territory," the report states. "With huge numbers of troops, the Russians are quickly compensating for their significant losses and are always sending new soldiers into battle. The fighting never stops."
09:48 Moscow reports Ukrainian drone attacks
The Ukrainians launched air strikes against Russian targets using a total of 25 combat drones overnight on Saturday, according to Moscow's reports. The Defense Ministry reports that drones were repelled in the border regions of Rostov, Bryansk and Belgorod. The annexed Crimean Peninsula was also targeted by these drone attacks.
09:12 Sharma: Russians try to create a divide between Ukrainian combat positions
The situation in the Donbas region remains tense. Russian troops appear to be following a strategy that experts had warned about, as reported by Kavita Sharma from Ukraine.
08:55 Ukranian General Staff: 1,210 casualties among the Russians since yesterday
The Ukranian General Staff records 1,210 Russian soldiers killed or injured in the past 24 hours. According to their information, Russia's casualties now exceed 517,000 since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Moreover, the Ukrainian army destroyed nine Russian tanks, 36 armored vehicles, one multiple rocket launcher, and seven air defense systems the day before yesterday.
08:01 Russia: Planning a €15 million propaganda campaign against Ukrainian military leadership
The Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR reports that Russia is orchestrating a propaganda campaign against the Ukrainian military leadership. A sum of €15 million is being invested in articles and films that portray Ukrainian special units and military leadership in a negative light. Russian forces have received instructions to disseminate this material in Ukrainian and other Western media. Their goal is to increase discontent in Ukraine.
07:10 Security situation "tense" before European Football Championship
German security authorities evaluate the security situation before the upcoming European Football Championship as "tense." They see the risk of destructive cyberattacks in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, whose national team is participating in the tournament. The protection of stadiums and other event venues from air attacks using drones is considered particularly difficult. In the past, drones have been observed over Bundeswehr facilities where Ukrainians are being trained by Germans using German equipment. Similarly, Islamic attacks on one of the 51 matches or one of the major fan festivals could also be a threat. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced a strong police presence at stadiums and fan zones, referring to it as a "forceful response."
06:40 Explosions heard in Crimea at night
Explosions were heard in Sevastopol on the occupied Crimean Peninsula during the night, according to the Kyiv Independent, citing reports from the Telegram channel Crimean Wind. Approximately 1:39 local time, residents of Balaklava, a settlement in Sevastopol, heard explosions. The first explosion allegedly occurred near a power plant. Crimean Wind claims that before the explosion, there were sounds of large-caliber weapons, which could indicate a drone attack. A second explosion was reported near the port of Sevastopol. The Kyiv Independent cannot yet verify the reports. The Ukrainian military is trying to hinder the Russian war logistics and supply lines to the front by carrying out targeted attacks on infrastructure.
06:06 Ukrainian Air Force praises Mirage jets, but still prioritizes F-16
The Ukrainian Air Force praises the Mirage combat jets that France plans to donate to Ukraine as modern and multi-purpose. They can perform various combat tasks, said a spokesperson for the Air Force. However, the F-16 fighter jets still hold the highest priority for Ukraine. Kyiv is currently waiting for the training of F-16 pilots to be completed. The training for Mirage jets is estimated to take another six months. The secure storage of Western jets will also pose a challenge due to the continuous Russian air raids. The French Mirage was designed in France in the 1970s and exported to various countries. Until around 20 years ago, it was the most important fighter jet of the French military.
05:53 The region of Sumy evacuates eight more settlements
Eight more settlements in the border area of Sumy between Ukraine and Russia are being evacuated due to daily Russian attacks. The governor of the region announced this on state television. Over the past 24 hours, more than 50 explosions were reported in Sumy. Earlier in the week, three people were killed by Russian shelling and three others were wounded. This brings the number of civilians killed in the region this year to 50. They died from attacks with artillery, mortars, and kamikaze drones.
The French arms manufacturer Thales is selling a second air defense system to Ukraine, but didn't reveal the purchase price. Air defense is a pressing issue for Ukraine as they struggle to protect their troops and major cities.
Germany is contemplating sending a fourth Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, according to a report by Bloomberg. This would be the fourth Patriot system Germany would donate. Meanwhile, the German government loosened the rules concerning the use of Patriot systems against Russian aircraft in Russian airspace. With Patriots, Ukraine could potentially shoot down Russian aircraft attacking targets in the Kharkiv region with rockets or glide bombs outside Russian airspace.
In response to Russian President Vladimir Putin declaring the illegitimacy of Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency, Zelensky said that only the Ukrainian people can recognize the legitimacy of their own leader. "The Ukrainians themselves choose the president, and I'm grateful for their support. Our people are free. [Putin's] legitimacy is only recognized by him," stated Zelensky during a press conference with French President Macron.
Germany plans to offer Ukraine a long-term perspective beyond military aid with the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference, set for next week. The focus is on creating opportunities for civil society, the economy, municipalities, and regions. The meeting includes German officials and a Ukrainian delegation and is not a fundraising conference, but a networking event.
The Russian occupation administration claims that 22 people were killed in a Ukrainian artillery attack on a Russian-occupied village in the southern region of Kherson. Russian-appointed head of the region, Vladimir Saldo, posted this on Telegram, stating that a store full of people was hit. There were 15 injured. Saldo referred to it as a "vile murder of civilians" likely made possible by Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
French President Macron requested for EU membership talks with Ukraine to start by the end of the month. Macron stated during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Paris, "France supports Ukraine in all areas, including on the European level, where we are trying to achieve a real start of accession negotiations by the end of the month." Zelensky agreed, mentioning that decisions for Ukraine's EU integration were nearly made. Hungary, set to take over the EU Council presidency on July 1, has been blocking this.
Despite more than two years of war, President Zelenskyy's support among Ukrainians is currently at an all-time low. A survey conducted by the Institute of Sociology revealed that Vladimir Zelenskyy's approval fell below 60% for the first time in May 2022. Shortly after Russia began its offensive war, his approval was at 90%. Since then, his support has been decreasing. Zelenskyy's term was due to end in May, but under martial law, he remained president. Ukrainian authorities have not scheduled elections for the time being, citing 20% of the country being under Russian control and millions of Ukrainians fleeing abroad.
The United States has declined to participate in Macron's proposal, as confirmed by a high-ranking French official. The French official cited "a period of transition" when asked about the decision.
Germany is actively looking for ways to assist Ukraine beyond military aid. The Ukraine Reconstruction Conference is scheduled for next week and will focus on opportunities for civil society, the economy, municipalities, and regions. No specific details about what these opportunities will include have been made public.
The loss of life in Ukraine has been significant during the ongoing conflict. Two people were killed in Russian shelling, according to one report. A train was hit by a shell, causing casualties. In addition, three more civilians were killed in a Russian attack on a checkpoint in the Luhansk region. This brings the total number of casualties from Russian fire in Ukraine for the day to six.
Ukrainian troops retook control of two villages in the Mykolaiv region, according to the Ukrainian military. The villages were captured by Russian forces shortly after the start of the conflict, and Ukranian troops continue to fight to regain control of territory in the region.
Russian fighter jets targeted residential areas in Vinnytsia and Kyiv, leading to civilian deaths. The Ukrainian military reported heavy shelling and rocket fire in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. One of the greatest threats still lies in the frontline region of the Donetsk Oblast, where dozens of Ukrainian servicemembers were killed in a single blast.
The American government has no intention of joining French President Emmanuel Macron's effort to send military trainers to Ukraine. John Kirby, a spokesperson from the National Security Council, noted this during President Joe Biden's trip to France. Kirby assured that Biden holds Macron's stance in high regard. However, it's clear since the beginning of the Ukrainian war that Biden will not deploy American troops there. He reiterated this stance, stating, "this has been the case up to this point, and it will continue to be the case in the future." Kirby further mentioned that Biden allows Macron to discern how much information is shared publicly and how much clarity is offered about the situation. Biden's own stance on the conflict is evident, as he has expressed numerous times that "we won't instigate a third world war, and we won't go to war with Russia."
Read also:
- The ongoing 'Cyberwar' against Ukraine has led to significant disruptions in their critical infrastructure, with reports of Russian-originated attacks on military operations and energy facilities.
- Amidst the 'Ukraine conflict', NATO has expressed concern over Russia's continued military activities on Ukraine's border, with many experts predicting potential for an 'attack on NATO' if tensions escalate further.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky has appealed to international allies for assistance, urging the utilization of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine during this critical period, emphasizing its legality under international law.
- Russia's alleged involvement in the 'Attack on Ukraine' has led to international condemnation, as seen in the identification of two Russian soldiers accused of committing war crimes and remaining unpunished.
