Saturday, June 22

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Oleksandr, a 7-year-old child, undergoes rehabilitation at the Superhumans Rehabilitation Centre on June 21, 2024 in Lviv after a Russian shell on Jan. 17 in Kharkiv Oblast took off his leg. (Libkos/Getty Images)

EU Council confirms accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova to start on June 25. The announcement follows an agreement by EU ambassadors from last week. Officials in both Kyiv and Brussels were pushing for the June starting date before Hungary takes over from Belgium in chairing the EU.

Ukraine wants to hold another peace summit by end of year, official says. Ukraine wants to hold a second global peace summit before the end of 2024, Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Presidential Office, said in an interview with Interfax Ukraine on June 21.

Netherlands to supply Patriot system to Ukraine together with another country.

Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced that the Netherlands will supply another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine together with another country, Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP) reported on June 21.

Ukraine to start talks on security agreement with Ireland, Presidential Office says. Ukraine will soon start negotiations on security guarantees with Ireland, and is ready to sign the bilateral agreements with Estonia and Lithuania, Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Presidential Office, said in an interview with Interfax Ukraine on June 21.

EU to start transfer of profits from frozen Russian assets ‘before summer break,’ EU official says. Ukraine will receive the first payment of 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) from the profits of Russian assets frozen in the EU “before the summer break,” EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on June 21.

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Israel, Ukraine to suspend visa-free regime. Israel will soon impose new travel restrictions on Ukrainians, leading Ukraine to impose similar requirements in response, Ukraine’s Embassy in Israel announced on June 20.

Russia attacking Chasiv Yar from Toretsk direction, military says. The Ukrainian military reported on June 18 an increase in Russian attacks near the town of Toretsk after a “long lull” in fighting in the area.

Ukrainian forces stall Russian advance in direction of Kharkiv Oblast’s Borova, military says. The Ukrainian military has stalled Russian advances in the direction of Borova in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov reported on June 21.

Ukraine attacks 4 refineries, Shahed drone storage sites in Russia, military says. Ukrainian drones attacked four oil refineries in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai and Astrakhan Oblast as well as the sites where Russian Shahed-type drones are stored overnight on June 21, Ukraine’s General Staff reported.

SBU behind attacks on Russian oil refineries, military airfield, source says. A source in security and defense forces confirmed for the Kyiv Independent that drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) targeted the 167th training center at the Yeysk military airfield, where Shahed drones were stored.

Read our exclusives

‘It really is insane:’ Ex-defense minister on Slovakia’s pro-Russian turn

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, neighboring Slovakia, with its own experience of decades of Russian occupation in the 20th century, became one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine.

Photo: Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images

Generation of fighters: An intimate look at Ukraine’s fearless youth (Photos)

In the midst of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the resilience of the Ukrainian people shines in the photographer Brett Lloyd’s photo essay, “Ukraine Today.”

Photo: Brett Lloyd/Vogue Ukraine

Human cost of war

Russian guided bomb attack on Donetsk Oblast town kills 2, injures 3. The residential area of Selydove came under Russia’s attack, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. Six houses, five high-rise buildings, and a car were damaged, he added.

Russian drone attack kills postal worker delivering pensions in Kharkiv Oblast. A Russian drone hit an Ukrposhta postal vehicle in the community of Vovchansk in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast, killing the driver and injuring another, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on June 22.

International response

Trump implies Biden’s alleged support for Ukraine’s NATO accession led to full-scale invasion. Speaking on a podcast hosted by David Sacks, an entrepreneur and regular critic of U.S. policy toward Ukraine, Former U.S. President Donald Trump said, “For 20 years, I heard that if Ukraine goes into NATO, it’s a real problem for Russia.”

Duo of leading bipartisan US senators introduce law to declare Russia state sponsor of terror. Displaying a picture of Putin and Kim standing together in Pyongyang, Senator Richard Blumenthal characterized them as “two of the most autocratic, atrocity-committing leaders in the world.”

US bans Kaspersky antivirus software due to ‘national security risk.’ The Biden administration announced a ban on Kaspersky antivirus software on June 21, citing national security concerns due to the company’s links with Russia.

Japan sanctions China-based companies, other entities over support for Russia’s aggression. Japan on June 21 for the first time announced sanctions against China-based companies over their support for Russian aggression.

Media: South Korea’s level of arms supplies to Ukraine will depend on Russia’s actions, official says. “There are various options for providing weapons, and our position on the recent developments between Russia and North Korea depends on how Russia approaches the situation going forward,” the unnamed presidential official told Yonhap.

Norwegian ships reportedly helped Russian fishing company transport cargo, Norwegian broadcaster reports. The Dutch government ruled in May to end exemptions that allowed Russian fishing companies to offload their products in the Netherlands, which has typically been one of Europe’s largest importers of Russian seafood.

Russia, China found workarounds for payments despite sanctions, Reuters reports. After Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, specially authorized smaller banks in border regions have enabled Russian entities to set up non-resident accounts with Chinese banks, Reuters wrote.

3 people arrested in Germany for allegedly spying on person from Ukraine.

Three men were arrested in Germany on suspicion of cooperating with a foreign secret service, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office reported on June 21.

Revisiting Battle of Kyiv with Illia Ponomarenko

In other news

Euro 2024: Ukraine beats Slovakia 2:1, earning first win. Ukraine’s first goal at the tournament was scored by Mykola Shaparenko, followed by a strike from Roman Yaremchuk.

Russia claims more than 100 drones used in attack on Crimea, Krasnodar Krai.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said that 70 drones had been shot down over occupied Crimea, 43 over Krasnodar Krai, and one over Volgograd Oblast. Another six naval drones were reportedly destroyed in the northwestern area of the Black Sea, the ministry said.

Helicopter crashes in Russia’s Far East. A Robinson R-66 helicopter crashed in Amur Oblast with a pilot and three passengers on board, the Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on June 21, citing authorities.

Saint Petersburg woman sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly setting fire to military enlistment office. At least 11 military enlistment offices were set on fire in Russia following the beginning of the mobilization campaign in September 2022.

Ukraine suspects 2 Kazakhs in assassination attempt on compatriot opposition activist in Kyiv. Two residents of Kazakhstan, Altai Zhakanbayev and Meiram Karatayev, crossed the border into Moldova on June 18 and were put on an international wanted list, Ukraine’s National Police said.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Dmytro Basmat, Teah Pelechaty, Kateryna Hodunova, Nate Ostiller, Martin Fornusek, Elsa Court, and Kateryna Denisova.

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