Meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and the presidents of six African countries who were in Kiev yesterday. The Russian leader assures: “Open to dialogue with anyone who asks for peace.” From the US, Biden condemns the use of nuclear weapons in Belarus
Kiev, 240 Ukrainian children taken from their families in the EU
“At least 240 Ukrainian children have been taken away from their families in EU countries under the Guardianship Law,” said Iryna Suslova, representative of the Ukrainian Ombudsman for Children, in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, quoted by the Kyiv Independent. Suslova said, “Ukraine needs to step up efforts to inform families about specific guardianship laws abroad.” One such example, Suslova said, is when a mother decides to stay in Ukraine for work while a grandmother goes abroad with a child goes. “Because of the different legislations in European countries it happens, so to speak, that a child is removed from the people with whom it lives. To date, 240 such cases have been registered – explained Suslova -. There may be stories that a mother in Ukraine was forced to stay at work and sent her grandmother with her child to evacuate. The grandmother has no power of representation and is not considered a relative of this child under European law. That way social services can call in the police and remove the child from the family.”
Kiev, “two Russian helicopters shot down in 48 hours”
“Defense forces shot down two Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters and twelve enemy drones in the last 48 hours,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said, according to Ukrainska Pravda
Putin creates group to ‘give new impetus and ideas to the operation’
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the creation of a working group tasked with coming up with “new ideas” to use in the “special military operation” underway in Ukraine and to “rejuvenate” stocks. It is necessary, Putin said in a television interview, to identify “the most modern technical-military means” and “to collect information”. The Kremlin chief then wanted to thank the volunteers involved in the conflict in Ukraine and the military, praising “their motivation and will to defend our great common fatherland”.
Kiev: “Russian attacks in Donbass continue, 17 military clashes”
“Russian invaders continue to advance in four directions in Donbass. Today there were 17 military clashes.” Rbc-Ukraine reported this on Facebook, citing the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “The enemy continues to kill the civilian population of Ukraine, use terrorist tactics and attack the military and civilian population,” we read. During the day the enemy launched more than 40 airstrikes and carried out 60 bombardments with multiple rocket launchers against our troops and settlements. Regrettably, there are civilian deaths and injuries, including children, critical infrastructure has been damaged, more than 20 residential buildings, a school and other civilian infrastructure have been destroyed and damaged. According to the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, “the probability of missile and air strikes throughout Ukraine remains high.” On the front, the Russians “continue to focus their main efforts on the Limansky, Bachmutsky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions,” where “heavy fighting continues.” During the day there were 17 military clashes.”
Kiev, “two Russian helicopters shot down in 48 hours”
“Defense forces shot down two Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters and twelve enemy drones in the last 48 hours,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said, according to Ukrainska Pravda
Pro-Russian village in Zaporizhia under Kiev control
Ukrainian forces have managed to take control of Pyatikhatki, a village in the Zaporizhia region. This was stated by the pro-Russian governor Vladimir Rogov in a message via telegram, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. According to Rogov, “despite the colossal losses, the enemy’s ‘wave’ attacks had their result” and could now open the way for the Ukrainian army towards the town of Sherebyanka.
GB, heavy Russian casualties, highest from Bakhmut battle
Russia and Ukraine are suffering heavy military casualties as Ukraine struggles to drive Kremlin forces out of the occupied territories in the early stages of its counteroffensive. Russian casualties are likely to be the highest since the Battle of Bakhmut peaked in March, British military officials said in their daily update. According to British intelligence, the fiercest fighting was concentrated in the southeastern province of Zaporizhia, around Bakhmut and further west in the eastern Ukrainian province of Donetsk. The update reported that Ukraine was on the offensive in those areas and had “made little progress,” while Russian forces were conducting “relatively effective defensive operations” in southern Ukraine.
Kiev, Russian ammunition depot in the Kherson region destroyed
Ukrainian forces have destroyed a “very important” ammunition depot near the Russian-held port city of Henichesk in neighboring Kherson province. This was stated by Serhiy Brachuk, spokesman for the regional government of the southwestern province of Odessa. “Our armed forces dealt a heavy blow in the morning,” Bratschuk said in a video message posted on his Telegram channel on Sunday morning.
Moscow, 2 killed in Kiev attack on Zaporizhia region
Two people were killed in an airstrike by Ukrainian forces on a Moscow-controlled village in the Zaporizhia region. This was reported by the local emergency services, citing the news agencies Tass and Ria Novosti. Among the injured is a child from a village in Zelenopol.
CNN, at least 45 dead in total in Kakhovka Dam collapse
The death toll from a major dam collapse in Russian-held Ukraine has now reached at least 45 people, according to authorities from both sides provided updates. CNN reports on this, adding up the 16 missing people reported by Ukrainian authorities and the 29 dead reported by pro-Russian authorities. Ukraine also claims that 31 people are also missing due to the flooding and that 3,614 people have been evacuated from the flooded areas, “including 474 children and 80 people with reduced mobility”.
Putin, “Kiev Zaluzhny Commander of Armed Forces Abroad”
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny may be abroad. This is what Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with military correspondents. “It seems to me that he is abroad, but I could be wrong,” Putin replied to a question about the whereabouts of the head of the Ukrainian armed forces. In recent weeks, the Russian media had been circulating rumors that Zaluzhny had been wounded in a missile attack, but the commander later appeared in a video to deny those rumors by denouncing Russian propaganda.
Kyiv: “Moscow continues to pull forces towards Zaporizhia”
Russian forces continue to move troops towards Zaporizhia, passing through Melitopol, which, along with the rest of the region, remains an important logistics center for the Russians. The Moscow Armed Forces also use nearby settlements as military bases. Ivan Fedorov, exiled mayor of Melitopol, writes this in Telegram. “Local residents register the movement of military equipment and personnel of the occupiers through Melitopol from the Kherson region to Zaporizhia” and “about twenty helicopters are stationed at the Berdyansk airfield,” Fedorov informs.
Zelenskyy: “Every father at the front can go home soon”
“May every Ukrainian father who fights at the front return home soon.” That’s a wish expressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy via social media on Father’s Day, which is celebrated in most parts of the world on the third Sunday in June bring. ”Father. This word is heard millions of times every day and each time it means protection, strength and boundless love. On this Father’s Day, I wish that as many Ukrainian men as possible hear this word – dad! May our fathers live long and healthy lives. And may every father on the front lines come home! “Thanks to every Ukrainian father,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Kiev: “Moscow reduces the number of ships operating in the Black Sea”
Russia has reduced the number of ships engaged in combat operations in the Black Sea to five, one of them carrying Kalibr cruise missiles. This is what the Armed Forces of Ukraine write on Facebook. “As of 12:00 on June 18, 2023, five enemy ships were engaged in combat in the Black Sea, including one ship carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, with a total salvo of eight missiles,” the report reads. One Russian ship also remains in the Sea of Azov, while Moscow keeps eight combat ships in the Mediterranean, including one with Kalibr cruise missiles, with a total salvo of 16 missiles.
“Drone attack on substation in Russia’s Bryansk region”
During the night, some drones attacked a substation in the Russian region of Bryansk on the border with Ukraine. This was reported by the independent Russian media Baza, according to which it would be the Maritskaya substation near Sevsk. The first drone dropped a bomb around 11 p.m., and the explosion damaged the power cable. An hour later, another drone reportedly attacked the facility again, leaving the city of Sevsk and nine other settlements without power.
NYT: “Moscow Destroyed Kakhovka Dam, There Is Evidence”
As Ukraine and Russia backfire on who brought down the Kakhovka Dam, The New York Times says that while “several explanations are theoretically possible,” the evidence clearly indicates that the dam collapsed was paralyzed by an explosion caused by the party that controls it: Russia.” . The US media interviewed engineers and explosives experts, claiming the dam had “an Achilles’ heel” and that since it was “built in Soviet times, Moscow had every page of engineering drawings and knew where it was”. The dam, they explain, “was built with a huge concrete block at the base” and is traversed by “a small passage accessible from the engine room”: It is here that “the evidence”, “the prosecution” establishes that destroyed the dam”.
Kiev: Since the beginning of the war, almost 220,000 Russians have been killed
Ukraine’s armed forces killed an estimated 219,820 Russians between February 24, 2022 and June 18, 2023, including 650 in the past day alone. This was announced by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a post on Facebook. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have also destroyed 3,984 enemy tanks, 7,729 armored fighting vehicles, 3,847 artillery systems, 610 multiple rocket launchers, 364 air defense systems, 314 combat aircraft, 304 helicopters, 3,371 tactical unmanned aerial systems, 1,211 cruise missiles, 18 warships/cutters, 6,571 since the beginning of the war trucks and tankers as well 52 units of special equipment.
Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is grossly irresponsible
Russian nuclear rhetoric is “highly irresponsible,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Dalton said during the briefing aboard Air Force One, commenting on Vladimir Putin’s announcement of the delivery of the first nuclear warheads to Belarus. The US, he added, had made no adjustments to its nuclear stance, but reiterated its commitment to NATO countries’ mutual defense.
Dnipropetrovsk: Two Russian kamikaze drones destroyed in the night
Ukrainian Air Defense Forces destroyed two Russian Shahed kamikaze drones over the Dnipropetrovsk region overnight. This was stated by the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region Serhii Lysak in a post on Telegram, reports Ukrinform. “
“During the night, the attacker launched two Shahed drones in the Dnipropetrovsk region. However, they were destroyed by our Air Command East sky defenders,” the post reads. No further attacks on the region were registered.
From the UK 30 million euros for cybersecurity Kiev
The British government will allocate £25 million (almost 30 million euros) over the next two years to strengthen cybersecurity in Ukraine, the British Prime Minister’s Office said yesterday, also quoted by the Russian news agency Tass.
The funding will help protect Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and essential services by strengthening Ukraine’s cybersecurity capabilities, enabling it to detect and respond to potential cyber threats from Russia. According to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Moscow would have tried to attack Ukraine’s IT infrastructure, which performs basic functions ranging from banking to energy supply.
The US condemns the use of nuclear weapons in Belarus
Meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and the presidents of six African countries who were in Kiev yesterday. The Russian leader affirms: “Open to dialogue with anyone who asks for peace.” Ukraine threw a peace deal into the dustbin of history in March 2022, he says. From the US, Biden condemns the use of nuclear weapons in Belarus. For Kiev to join NATO, “they have to meet the same standards, so we’re not making it easier,” comments the US President.
Kremlin achieves demilitarization goal
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s goal of “demilitarizing” Ukraine had been largely achieved. Speaking to Russian media, a Peskov offshoot said Ukraine had been “highly militarized” at the start of the war, was now using “less and less of its own weapons” and was increasingly dependent on weapons supplied by the West.
Kiev: 2 helicopters and 4 drones shot down
Between yesterday and today, the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces destroyed two Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters and four Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 attack drones.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force, according to reports from Ukrinform.
Ukrainian forces also destroyed seven unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.
View at ilsole24ore.com