⚡Putin gifted Kim Russian-made luxury car made by company that uses South Korean parts, Reuters says.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a luxury Russian-made car that was produced by a company that imports millions of dollars of South Korean components, Reuters said on June 28.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a luxury Russian-made car that was produced by a company that imports millions of dollars of South Korean components, Reuters said on June 28.
⚡Belarus says it is reinforcing security at Ukrainian border after claims of 'security incidents.'
The Belarusian Defense Ministry said on June 28 that it was beefing up security at the border with Ukraine after a series of alleged incidents.
The Belarusian border service claimed earlier in the day that border police had intercepted a drone that had crossed into the country from Ukraine in order to obtain information about Belarusian border infrastructure.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry said on June 28 that it was beefing up security at the border with Ukraine after a series of alleged incidents.
The Belarusian border service claimed earlier in the day that border police had intercepted a drone that had crossed into the country from Ukraine in order to obtain information about Belarusian border infrastructure.
⚡️Ukrainian partisans claim they located air defense system protecting Putin's dacha in Sochi.
Ukrainian partisans claimed on June 27 that they had located an air defense system covering the skies above Russian President Vladimir Putin's luxury dacha in Sochi.
Ukrainian partisans claimed on June 27 that they had located an air defense system covering the skies above Russian President Vladimir Putin's luxury dacha in Sochi.
Belarus Weekly: US designates Belarus as State Sponsor of Human Trafficking
Belarus signals willingness for border security talks as Poland mulls full border closure and turns to China for solutions amid intensified migration crisis.
The U.S. designates Belarus as State Sponsor of Human Trafficking in a 2024 report, highlighting forced labor, complicity in abduction of Ukrainian children, and worsening migration crisis at the EU border.
Read this week's full report here.
Photo: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images
Belarus signals willingness for border security talks as Poland mulls full border closure and turns to China for solutions amid intensified migration crisis.
The U.S. designates Belarus as State Sponsor of Human Trafficking in a 2024 report, highlighting forced labor, complicity in abduction of Ukrainian children, and worsening migration crisis at the EU border.
Read this week's full report here.
Photo: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images
⚡Spotify removes music by pro-war Russian singers.
Spotify has removed the music and profiles of several well-known pro-war Russian singers.
The company confirmed to the Moscow Times on June 27 that the artists had "met the threshold for removal" for violating Spotify's content policies.
Spotify has removed the music and profiles of several well-known pro-war Russian singers.
The company confirmed to the Moscow Times on June 27 that the artists had "met the threshold for removal" for violating Spotify's content policies.
⚡Vienna has become 'Russia's new espionage hub,' intelligence officials tell WSJ.
Vienna has become the "base for Russian clandestine operations," the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on June 28, citing unnamed Austrian, European, and U.S. intelligence officials.
Vienna has become the "base for Russian clandestine operations," the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on June 28, citing unnamed Austrian, European, and U.S. intelligence officials.
⚡️ Russian missile attack hits residential house in Dnipro, casualties reported
Russian troops carried out a missile attack on the city of Dnipro on June 28, damaging a nine-story building, Governor Serhii Lysak said.
The governor said that according to preliminary information, there are people injured. He shared a photo showing several destroyed floors.
Russian troops carried out a missile attack on the city of Dnipro on June 28, damaging a nine-story building, Governor Serhii Lysak said.
The governor said that according to preliminary information, there are people injured. He shared a photo showing several destroyed floors.
⚡️Update: At least 3 people were injured in Russia's attack on Dnipro, Zelensky says
Russian missile destroyed four floors of the residential house. President Volodymyr Zelensky urged partners to provide Ukraine with more air defenses.
"That is why we constantly remind all our partners: only sufficient quantity and quality of air defense systems, only sufficient determination of the world can stop Russian terror," he added.
Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky
Russian missile destroyed four floors of the residential house. President Volodymyr Zelensky urged partners to provide Ukraine with more air defenses.
"That is why we constantly remind all our partners: only sufficient quantity and quality of air defense systems, only sufficient determination of the world can stop Russian terror," he added.
Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky
⚡Lithuanian customs discover scheme to violate sanctions, export cars to Russia.
Lithuanian customs authorities discovered a scheme to violate sanctions by exporting cars to Russia and Belarus, the LRT media outlet reported on June 28, citing the customs service.
Lithuanian customs authorities discovered a scheme to violate sanctions by exporting cars to Russia and Belarus, the LRT media outlet reported on June 28, citing the customs service.
⚡️1 killed, 5 injured in Russia's attack on residential building in Dnipro
Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro on June 28 killed at least one person and injured five other, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The number of casualties can increase as the rescue operation is ongoing.
Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro on June 28 killed at least one person and injured five other, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The number of casualties can increase as the rescue operation is ongoing.
Ukraine war latest: Kremlin claims 'provocations' from US drones over Black Sea, prepares potential response
In a statement on June 28, the Russian Defense Ministry said the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were being used to conduct reconnaissance and find targets for "high-precision weapons supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Western states."
"This indicates the increasing involvement of the U.S. and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime," the statement added.
Photo: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP
In a statement on June 28, the Russian Defense Ministry said the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were being used to conduct reconnaissance and find targets for "high-precision weapons supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Western states."
"This indicates the increasing involvement of the U.S. and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime," the statement added.
Photo: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP
Opinion: Key takeaways from the European Parliament elections for Kyiv
The results of the 2024 European Parliament elections demand close attention from Kyiv, as they will play crucial roles in the organization’s future enlargement and assistance for Ukraine.
"While right-wing forces gained ground and liberals lost significantly, there was no major 'right turn' in the EU. The landslide victory of the European People's Party (EPP) suggests a stable centrist political course for Europe," writes Dmytro Tuzhanskyi of the Institute for Central European Strategy.
Photo: John Thys/AFP
The results of the 2024 European Parliament elections demand close attention from Kyiv, as they will play crucial roles in the organization’s future enlargement and assistance for Ukraine.
"While right-wing forces gained ground and liberals lost significantly, there was no major 'right turn' in the EU. The landslide victory of the European People's Party (EPP) suggests a stable centrist political course for Europe," writes Dmytro Tuzhanskyi of the Institute for Central European Strategy.
Photo: John Thys/AFP
⚡️Ukrainians, Crimean Tatar activist kept in Russian captivity for years, freed in prisoner swap
Ukraine has brought back 10 people from Russian captivity, including Crimean Tatar activist Nariman Dzhelial, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 28.
Dzhelial served as the first deputy chairman of the Mejlis, a representative body of the Crimean Tatar people. On Sept. 4, 2021, he was arrested in Crimea and sentenced by Russian court to 17 years in prison.
Ukraine has brought back 10 people from Russian captivity, including Crimean Tatar activist Nariman Dzhelial, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 28.
Dzhelial served as the first deputy chairman of the Mejlis, a representative body of the Crimean Tatar people. On Sept. 4, 2021, he was arrested in Crimea and sentenced by Russian court to 17 years in prison.
⚡️Ukraine hits Russian space communications center in occupied Crimea, military says
Ukrainian defense forces destroyed a Russian space surveillance and communications center in occupied Crimea this week, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on June 28.
"(The center) is an important military component in the Russian satellite communications and navigation system," the ministry said.
Ukrainian defense forces destroyed a Russian space surveillance and communications center in occupied Crimea this week, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on June 28.
"(The center) is an important military component in the Russian satellite communications and navigation system," the ministry said.
⚡️IMF approves $2.2 billion in funding for Ukraine through Extended Fund Facility.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the disbursement of $2.2 billion in funding through the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to assist Ukraine with budgetary support, the IMF announced on June 28.
"Ukraine’s performance remains strong under the EFF despite challenging conditions," a news release from the IMF read. "All quantitative performance criteria for end-March were met, and all structural benchmarks through end-June were implemented on time or with a short delay."
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the disbursement of $2.2 billion in funding through the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to assist Ukraine with budgetary support, the IMF announced on June 28.
"Ukraine’s performance remains strong under the EFF despite challenging conditions," a news release from the IMF read. "All quantitative performance criteria for end-March were met, and all structural benchmarks through end-June were implemented on time or with a short delay."
With aid on the line, Kyiv pays close attention to US presidential debate
Although there was little focus on foreign policy, Kyiv closely watched the two presumptive nominees' takes on Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
While the remarks on Ukraine and its war effort were "more or less adequate," the overall debate was "very depressing," said Oleksandr Kraiev, an expert on North American policy at the foreign policy think tank Ukrainian Prism.
Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Although there was little focus on foreign policy, Kyiv closely watched the two presumptive nominees' takes on Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
While the remarks on Ukraine and its war effort were "more or less adequate," the overall debate was "very depressing," said Oleksandr Kraiev, an expert on North American policy at the foreign policy think tank Ukrainian Prism.
Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
⚡️Ukraine working to secure 'guaranteed' military funding agreement from NATO allies, Deputy PM says.
Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine is focused on establishing a "guaranteed" military funding commitment from NATO allies, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said on June 28.
"At the NATO summit, we are working to secure a guaranteed financial commitment for military aid, so that we are not dependent on the political processes in the U.S. or any other allied country," Stefanishyna said on Ukrainian television.
Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine is focused on establishing a "guaranteed" military funding commitment from NATO allies, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said on June 28.
"At the NATO summit, we are working to secure a guaranteed financial commitment for military aid, so that we are not dependent on the political processes in the U.S. or any other allied country," Stefanishyna said on Ukrainian television.
⚡️Updated: US to announce $150 million military aid package to Ukraine, including air defense missiles, Reuters reports.
According to Reuters, sources familiar with the matter said that HAWK air defense intercept missiles will be also included in the aid package that is now expected to be unveiled on July 1.
According to Reuters, sources familiar with the matter said that HAWK air defense intercept missiles will be also included in the aid package that is now expected to be unveiled on July 1.
⚡️Czechia, Ukraine to sign bilateral security agreement on July 18.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X that the country will sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine during the European Political Community summit in London on July 18.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X that the country will sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine during the European Political Community summit in London on July 18.
⚡️Putin calls to resume production of intermediate-range missiles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the country to resume production of short and intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles on June 28, in response to what Putin says is the United States deploying mid-range missiles around the world.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the country to resume production of short and intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles on June 28, in response to what Putin says is the United States deploying mid-range missiles around the world.