Day 853 of the war began with a drone attack on the cities of Nikopol and Marhanets in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Several buildings and local infrastructure were damaged, and a 71-year-old woman was injured.
After a few hours, a neighborhood in the city of Kharkiv was hit by aerial bombs. Several blocks were damaged, but there is no information about possible casualties.
A 67-year-old woman was killed and four others were injured in a Russian attack in the Donetsk region this morning. Russian troops also attacked a neighborhood in the city of Kherson, injuring a 72-year-old man.
Ukraine's main goal at the moment is the Donetsk region and supplying the Ukrainian military with everything they need, President Volodymyr Zelensky conveyed in a message to the people on Monday evening.
On the other side of the border, a nighttime attack with 30 Ukrainian drones targeted the Voronezh and Belgorod regions in Russia. According to local authorities, a woman was killed. And the Ukrainian Army Intelligence Service (GUR) announced that it set fire to and blew up an ammunition depot in the Voronezh region on Tuesday.
Russia announced on Tuesday the blocking of access to its territory for 81 European media outlets as "reprisals" for the EU's decision in May to ban access to three Russian state media outlets. The list includes three Romanian television stations as well as their websites.
The first batch of ammunition from the Czech initiative has arrived in Ukraine, announced Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Meanwhile, Denmark will halt the training program for Ukrainian F-16 pilots at the end of this year as it transitions to F-35 aircraft, Danish Defense Minister stated.
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Turkish President Recep Erdogan is likely to meet with Vladimir Putin in July at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated.
If he wins the US presidential elections, Donald Trump could come up with a plan to compel Kiev and Moscow to engage in peace negotiations. Kiev's response came hours later through the voice of presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak, who emphasized that Ukraine seeks a fair peace based on international law.
Frontline Situation
- Nikopol Attack - Several Russian drones struck the cities of Nikopol and Marhanets in the Dnipropetrovsk region this morning, announced Ershii Lisak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk administration, on Telegram. The attacks destroyed two houses, caused damage to infrastructure, and destroyed a car. Additionally, a 71-year-old woman was injured and hospitalized in stable condition.
- Bombardment in Kharkiv - The Russians targeted the civilian infrastructure of the city of Kharkiv on Tuesday. Local media cited by Nexta reported that several columns of smoke rose after a KAB aerial bomb attack. The Mayor of Kharkiv announced that one of the largest neighborhoods in the city was hit. Several apartment blocks were damaged, but initial reports indicate no casualties.
- Casualties in Donetsk and Kherson - A 67-year-old woman was killed this morning in a Russian attack on the towns of Toretk and Zolota in the Donetsk region. Four other people were injured, announced Vadim Filashkin, head of the regional military administration, on Telegram. Russian troops also attacked a neighborhood in the city of Kherson. A high-rise apartment building was hit, and a 72-year-old resident was injured and hospitalized.
- Ukraine's Main Objective - Volodymyr Zelensky stated in Monday evening's address to the nation that the main goal is currently the Donetsk region and supplying the Ukrainian forces with everything they need. He added that he had a meeting with the Supreme Commander, the Chief of the General Staff, and the Defense Minister. "We discussed the situation in key areas, with the current focus on the Donetsk region and supplying our forces with everything they need. We also discussed personnel issues within the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Zelensky said. A report on the consequences of Russian missile attacks on Pokrovsk was also presented. "Dozens of people were injured, including three children. Four people were killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. We will certainly respond to this Russian attack, and our response will be completely appropriate," the Ukrainian President further stated.
- Russians Launched Over 2,000 Drones - Since the beginning of this year, Russian forces have launched 2,277 Shahed attack drones, and the Ukrainian Air Defense has destroyed approximately 86%, announced Lt. General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Forces, on Telegram. Over 80% of intercepted drones were shot down by mobile groups of Ukrainian defense forces. The result was achieved through increased combat capabilities, with thousands of soldiers targeting Russian drones every night with all available weapons, Oleshchuk specified. Over 80% of intercepted drones were shot down by mobile groups of Ukrainian defense forces.
Developments in Russia
- Massive Drone Attack in Belgorod - The Russian Army announced on Tuesday that it had destroyed 30 Ukrainian drones overnight in the border regions of Voronezh and Belgorod, where, according to local authorities, a woman was killed. "During the night, in an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist drone attacks on Russian territory, anti-aircraft defense systems intercepted and destroyed 29 drones in the Belgorod region and one drone in the Voronezh region," the Defense Ministry stated on Telegram. "Unfortunately (…), a civilian resident was killed in the village of Belovskoye in the Belgorod region," announced Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, specifying that it was an elderly woman whose house was directly targeted by a drone. Six other people were injured in the region, and dozens of homes and vehicles were damaged, the official added.
- Ammunition Depot Blown Up - The Ukrainian Army Intelligence Service (GUR) announced that it set fire to and blew up an ammunition depot in the Voronezh region on Tuesday, located 10 km from the border with the Ukrainian Lugansk region. According to sources cited by Kyiv Independent, the fire spread over an area of 3,500 meters.
- Moscow Bans EU Media - Russia announced on Tuesday the blocking of access to its territory for 81 European media outlets as "reprisals" for the EU's decision in May to ban access to three Russian state media outlets. The list includes, among others, the French news agency France Presse, the Spanish EFE, the French newspapers Le Monde and Liberation, the German publications Die Zeit and Der Spiegel, Radio France, the Italian RAI, the French LC1 and Arte, the Austrian ORF, and the Dutch Nos, etc. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, the restrictions also target Pro TV International (stirileprotv.ro, protv.ro), Digi24 (digi24.ro), and B1TV (b1tv.ro). The Russian Foreign Ministry's announcement coincides with the entry into force of the EU Council's decision on March 17, imposing broadcasting restrictions on three Russian state media, namely the RIA Novosti agency and the Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspapers. Previously, other Russian media outlets were banned in the EU, including Russia Today, after the bloc accused Moscow of using such media for "propaganda dissemination and disinformation campaigns."
- Effects of European Banks Departure - European banks leaving Russia will harm both Western and Russian companies, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday. "Don't forget that many Western businesses operate in the Russian economy, they continue to work here. They have massive, billion-dollar investments and have not left this market; they are still present. So, they use banking services. If these stop, companies will be affected as much as our companies," Peskov said. Most Russian banks are affected by Western sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but foreign banks, including the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International and the Italian UniCredit, have become key financial bridges with the West, increasing their profits during this time. The ECB supervision authority has requested all banks with significant exposure to Russia to accelerate their risk reduction efforts, establishing a clear roadmap for reducing activity and exiting the Russian market.
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Other Relevant Information
- The ammunition sent by the Czech Republic has arrived - The first batch of ammunition from the Czech initiative has reached Ukraine, announced Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on X. "We are doing what is necessary," he further wrote. In February, Czech President Petr Pavel said he found 800,000 shells in countries outside the EU and NATO, including 122 and 155 mm caliber ammunition, which could be supplied to Ukraine. The Czech initiative could provide the Ukrainian armed forces with between 50,000 and 100,000 shells per month.
- Denmark will no longer train Ukrainian pilots - Denmark will stop its program to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots by the end of this year as it transitions to F-35 aircraft, announced Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen on Monday, according to The Kyiv Independent. The first F-16 aircraft provided by Denmark is scheduled to arrive in Ukraine this summer. Copenhagen will send 19 such fighter aircraft as well as equipment for their operation. Kiev will also receive F-16 aircraft from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway. Denmark will receive 27 new F-35 aircraft from the United States, with the first one being received in September 2023.
- Ukraine and Moldova begin EU accession negotiations - The European Union, on one side, and Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, on the other side, officially launch negotiations on Tuesday in Luxembourg to allow the two countries to become full-fledged EU members one day. Details HERE.
- Erdogan to meet Putin - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is likely to meet Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which will take place on July 3-4 in Astana, Kazakhstan, stated Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan quoted by AFP. The last meeting between the two leaders took place in September 2023 in Russia, in Sochi. Erdogan was ready to host Putin in Turkey in February, but the visit of the Russian president was canceled. The President of Turkey hosted Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul in March.
- Arrest warrants issued for Shoigu and Gerasimov - The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Tuesday against former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian army, General Valery Gerasimov, for alleged crimes committed by the Russian army against civilians during the invasion of Ukraine. Details HERE.
- Trump's plan - If he returns to the White House, Donald Trump could halt support to Ukraine if Kiev does not engage in negotiations with Russia, according to a plan drafted by two advisors of the former American president, as reported by Reuters. At the same time, the Kremlin will be warned that any refusal to negotiate with Kiev will lead to increased American support for Ukraine. According to the sources cited, Trump does not agree with all provisions of the plan, and his spokesperson stated that only statements made by him or authorized members of his campaign team can be considered official.
- Kiev seeks a fair peace - Ukraine maintains that any plan to end the war with Russia should be based on international law, and peace should be fair, stated Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak on Tuesday, commenting on a peace plan for Ukraine presented by two advisors of former American President Donald Trump. The official from Kiev also said that the war cannot end without holding Russia accountable. Podoliak also reiterated Ukraine's position, rejecting the ceasefire terms announced by Putin as absurd. Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will end the war in Ukraine only if Kiev agrees to cede four regions claimed by Moscow.
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