Ukraine information from June 21: Lengthy-range precision weapons deployed after Berlin was criticised over its hesitation to ship subtle arms.
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These had been the updates on Tuesday, June 21:
21 Jun 2022 – 20:35 GMT
Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov can pay an official go to to Iran on Wednesday, the state-owned Tass information company has mentioned, citing Russia’s ambassador in Vienna. It didn’t give additional particulars.
Final month, Moscow mentioned Russia and Iran – that are each below Western sanctions and sit on a few of the world’s largest oil reserves – had mentioned swapping provides for oil and fuel in addition to establishing a logistics hub.
21 Jun 2022 – 20:34 GMT
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned the navy scenario within the jap area of Luhansk was very troublesome as Russia stepped up an effort to evict Ukrainian troops from key areas.
“That’s actually the hardest spot. The occupiers are urgent strongly,” Zelenskyy mentioned in a night video deal with.
21 Jun 2022 – 19:48 GMT
Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador to protest the violation of its nationwide airspace by a Russian helicopter on June 18, the Baltic nation’s international ministry mentioned in a press release.
“Estonia considers this a particularly critical and regrettable incident that undoubtedly causes extra tensions and is totally unacceptable,” the ministry mentioned, repeating requires Russian troops to depart Ukraine.
21 Jun 2022 – 18:54 GMT
Russian authorities haven’t offered the USA any extra particulars on the whereabouts of two Individuals captured in Ukraine, State Division Spokesperson Ned Value has mentioned.
Value informed reporters the US is pursuing each channel and each alternative to study extra and assist the households of Individuals lacking in Ukraine.
21 Jun 2022 – 18:53 GMT
No less than 15 civilians had been killed in Ukraine’s Kharkiv area by Russian shelling, regional governor Oleh Synegubov mentioned in a web-based posting.
After weeks of relative calm, Russians have intensified shelling of the area. Synegubov mentioned six individuals had died in and round Kharkiv and one other six in Chuhuiv, some 40km (25 miles) southeast of Kharkiv, whereas three had died in Zolochiv, 40km (25 miles) to the northwest of the town.
21 Jun 2022 – 18:51 GMT
The US has mentioned it stood firmly behind Lithuania and NATO commitments to defend it after Russia warned the EU member nation over restrictions on rail transit.
“We stand by our NATO allies and we stand by Lithuania,” State Division Spokesperson Ned Value informed reporters.
“Particularly our dedication to NATO’s Article 5 – the premise that an assault on one would represent an assault on all – that dedication on the a part of the USA is ironclad,” he mentioned.
21 Jun 2022 – 17:24 GMT
Putin is weaponising meals by blocking Ukraine grain exports and President Joe Biden is analyzing choices on find out how to get the grain out, the White Home has mentioned.
“President Putin is, no kidding, weaponising meals. Let’s simply name it what it’s, he’s weaponizing meals,” John Kirby, a White Home nationwide safety spokesperson, informed reporters.
21 Jun 2022 – 17:19 GMT
Prime Minister Mario Draghi mentioned Italy would proceed to assist Ukraine in its battle with Russia, showing to shrug off solutions from one among his coalition companions that Rome ought to halt arms exports to Kyiv.
Addressing parliament, Draghi mentioned stress needed to be placed on Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February, to make it cease preventing and search negotiations.
“Solely a peace that’s mutually agreed and never imposed can final,” he mentioned, including that European Union sanctions in opposition to Russia had been taking their toll.
“The Italian authorities along with the European Union and G7 companions intends to proceed to assist Ukraine as this parliament has informed us to do,” he added, referring to a vote in March the place legislators gave the go-ahead for arms shipments.
21 Jun 2022 – 17:17 GMT
Russian forces have captured a number of settlements close to the embattled cities of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk within the Luhansk area, the regional governor and Ukraine’s basic workers have mentioned.
Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai informed Ukraine’s nationwide broadcaster that Russian forces had captured the settlement of Toshkivka to the south of Severodonetsk, confirming earlier reviews.
“Sadly, the enemy threw at it enormous quantities of armaments and troopers and captured Toshkivka,” Haidai mentioned.
21 Jun 2022 – 15:58 GMT
The US disagrees “vigorously” with the Russian place that the US residents captured in Ukraine should not coated by the Geneva Conventions, a senior Division of State official has mentioned, including that Washington has conveyed its stance on the problem to the Russian authorities.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, interviewed by the US tv community NBC information on Monday, mentioned two Individuals detained in Ukraine whereas preventing on the Ukrainian aspect of the battle had been mercenaries who endangered the lives of Russian servicemen and will face duty for his or her actions.
21 Jun 2022 – 15:50 GMT
Russia’s defence ministry will maintain talks with Turkey in regards to the attainable creation of a Black Sea hall for Ukrainian grain provides, the TASS information company reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Putin doesn’t plan to participate in these talks, Peskov was quoted as saying.
21 Jun 2022 – 14:47 GMT
US Legal professional Normal Merrick Garland has pledged throughout a go to to Ukraine to assist prosecute battle crimes dedicated because the Russian invasion in late February.
“I’m right here to precise the unwavering assist of the USA for the individuals of Ukraine within the midst of the unprovoked and unjust Russian invasion,” Garland informed reporters after assembly with Ukraine’s Prosecutor Normal Iryna Venediktova close to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
“I’m right here to proceed our discussions, myself and the prosecutor basic, of the actions that the USA is taking to help the Ukrainian authorities in holding accountable these liable for the atrocities or the battle crimes that the complete world has seen,” he mentioned in remarks broadcast on Fox Information.
“The US is sending an unmistakable message – there is no such thing as a place to cover,” Garland mentioned. “We and our companions will pursue each avenue out there to make sure that those that are liable for these atrocities are held accountable.”
21 Jun 2022 – 14:45 GMT
A Turkish navy delegation will journey to Russia this week to debate particulars of a attainable sea hall within the Black Sea for Ukrainian grain exports, Turkish broadcasters have mentioned, citing sources from Turkey’s presidency.
Broadcaster Haberturk mentioned a four-way assembly between Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations can be held in Istanbul inside 10 days, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres might be a part of the assembly.
The sources cited by Haberturk mentioned three corridors can be created below the plan at 4 separate ports in Ukraine’s Black Sea metropolis of Odesa, and that each Ukrainian and Russian meals merchandise can be shipped from there. They mentioned 30-35 million tonnes of grain had been anticipated to be shipped from there in 6-8 months.
21 Jun 2022 – 14:36 GMT
Ukraine has accused Russian power large Gazprom of illegally reducing pure fuel provides to European nations in a transfer that has seen EU member states scramble to fill the power shortfall.
“Gazprom has restricted fuel provides to Europe for far-fetched and unlawful causes, justifying this by saying Nord Stream 1 just isn’t working at full capability,” mentioned Yuriy Vitrenko, the pinnacle of Ukraine state power firm Naftogaz.
“That is unscrupulous behaviour on the a part of Gazprom,” he added.
21 Jun 2022 – 14:08 GMT
Ukraine mentioned it had “lastly” deployed a complicated German artillery system, within the newest supply of the long-range, precision weapons that it has been calling for.
“Panzerhaubitze 2000 are lastly a part of 155 mm howitzer arsenal of the Ukrainian artillery,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov wrote on social media, thanking his German counterpart Christine Lambrecht.
Germany mentioned final month it might ship seven self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, ramping up deliveries of heavy weapons to assist Kyiv battle Russia’s invasion.
21 Jun 2022 – 14:06 GMT
EU ministers have backed granting war-torn Ukraine “candidate standing” to hitch the bloc, upfront of a summit anticipated to formally greenlight the transfer later this week, France’s Europe minister mentioned.
Clement Beaune mentioned after a gathering together with his counterparts that there was “a complete consensus on transferring these points ahead, and particularly for Ukraine the opportunity of confirming candidate standing as quickly as attainable”.
21 Jun 2022 – 12:51 GMT
Moscow says the US residents captured in Ukraine are topic to courtroom choices and didn’t rule out that they might face the loss of life penalty.
“We will’t rule something out, as a result of these are courtroom choices. We don’t touch upon them and don’t have any proper to intervene,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters.
He mentioned the Kremlin didn’t know the place the lads had been now, after their households mentioned that they had not returned from a mission across the Kharkiv area.
On Monday, the Kremlin mentioned that the 2 Individuals detained in Ukraine had been mercenaries not coated by the Geneva Conventions and will face penalties for his or her actions
21 Jun 2022 – 12:44 GMT
UK International Secretary Liz Truss says the British authorities is decided to impose additional sanctions on Russia.
“We’re decided to supply extra weapons, impose extra sanctions and again Ukraine in pushing Russia out of their territory,” Truss informed parliament.
21 Jun 2022 – 12:10 GMT
Russia’s defence ministry says its missiles struck an airfield close to the Ukrainian port metropolis of Odesa, Russian information companies reported.
It mentioned it had carried out the assaults in response to a Ukrainian assault on fuel manufacturing platforms within the Black Sea.
The Russian-installed chief of Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, mentioned on Monday that Kyiv had struck Black Sea drilling platforms owned by a Crimean oil firm.
21 Jun 2022 – 12:07 GMT
In a public show of drive, Russia’s latest heavy long-range missile blasted off on Wednesday from a take a look at silo in Plesetsk, western Russia. Russian media mentioned it flew almost 6,000km (3,700 miles) earlier than hitting targets in Kamchatka on the opposite aspect of the huge nation.
The Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, or ICBM, has been in improvement for years and is designed to exchange the older Soviet legacy S-18 missiles. These ICBMs had been meant to fly across the planet showering strategic targets with a number of nuclear weapons in a nuclear battle that nobody wished to struggle.
Each the USA and the Soviet Union constructed these missiles within the hope that in the event that they every had them then neither can be tempted to make use of them. This counter-intuitive logic was given impetus by the findings of scientists world wide who informed their governments that any such battle would imply the eradication of all human life on Earth.
These strategic missiles protected in silos and bunkers in each Russia and the US have sat there, fortunately silent and motionless. A long time-old, they want changing if this deterrent is to stay credible, so the pondering goes. Each nations have launched into modernisation drives to develop methods to defeat the more and more potent missile defences their adversaries are growing.
Learn extra right here.
21 Jun 2022 – 12:02 GMT
FIFA says it’s extending the correct of international gamers and coaches to droop contracts with golf equipment in Russia and Ukraine till June subsequent yr.
The world soccer governing physique mentioned following a choice by its ruling council, that it gave “gamers and coaches the chance to coach, play and obtain a wage, whereas defending Ukrainian golf equipment and facilitating the departure of international gamers and coaches from Russia”.
The particular rule was launched on March 7, inside two weeks of Russia invading Ukraine, initially to June 30 this yr earlier than being prolonged.
FIFA and European soccer ruling physique UEFA have banned Russian groups from all worldwide competitions.
21 Jun 2022 – 11:28 GMT
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow will additional strengthen its armed forces.
“We’ll proceed to develop and strengthen our armed forces, making an allowance for potential navy threats and dangers,” Putin mentioned in televised feedback.
He added that Russia’s newly examined Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, able to carrying 10 or extra nuclear warheads and decoys, can be deployed for responsibility by the top of the yr.
21 Jun 2022 – 10:23 GMT
Moscow says it would reply shortly to Lithuania’s ban of sure items transiting from mainland Russia to its Kaliningrad exclave, the Interfax information company reported citing Safety Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev.
“Russia will definitely reply to such hostile actions. Related measures are being labored out within the interdepartmental format and can be taken within the close to future,” Interfax cited Patrushev as saying.
He mentioned that the countermeasures would have a critical damaging impact on the Lithuanian inhabitants.
Lithuania has shut a rail hall from Russia to its exclave to sure primary items together with building supplies, metals and coal in response to new EU sanctions that got here into drive on Saturday.
21 Jun 2022 – 10:09 GMT
The European Union ambassador to Russia says a blockade of Russia’s Kaliningrad area is out of the query because the transit of non-sanctioned items there continues.
Markus Ederer was summoned by the Russian international ministry after Lithuania shut a rail hall from Russia to its exclave for primary items together with building supplies, metals and coal in response to new EU sanctions that got here into drive on Saturday.
Ederer mentioned after a gathering on the ministry that he had requested Russia to resolve the problem by way of diplomatic means.
21 Jun 2022 – 10:04 GMT
Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane reporting from the German capital Berlin says Moscow sees Lithuania’s ban on transit good to Kaliningrad as unlawful and will retaliate.
“The Russian authorities has referred to as in representatives of the EU but in addition of Lithuania to protest at what it believes is the denial of its capability to keep up contact through rail between Kalinigarad – which isn’t bodily a part of mainland Russia – and the remainder of the Russian Federation,” Kane mentioned.
“From the Lithuanian and EU views what’s been finished by the Lithuanian authorities just isn’t some form of a unilateral motion in opposition to Russia and Russian pursuits, fairly it’s the determination to implement the sanctions at an EU stage that the EU determined to impose on sure Russian gadgets. The Russian authorities disagrees and is especially indignant about it,” Kane added.
21 Jun 2022 – 09:17 GMT
The web site of British newspaper The Telegraph has been blocked in Russia, knowledge from state regulator Roskomnadzor reveals.
The transfer follows a request from Russia’s prosecutor basic.
Since sending troops into Ukraine in February, Russia has cracked down on media protection of the battle, introducing 15-year jail sentences for journalists who unfold deliberately “pretend” information about what it calls its “particular navy operation” in Ukraine.
21 Jun 2022 – 08:54 GMT
Luxembourg’s international affairs minister Jean Asselborn says European nations are united of their assist for granting Ukraine the standing of European Union member candidate.
“We’re working in direction of the purpose the place we inform Putin that Ukraine belongs to Europe, that we are going to additionally defend the values that Ukraine defends,” Asselborn informed reporters earlier than a gathering with different EU ministers.
21 Jun 2022 – 08:32 GMT
Nikolai Patrushev, a detailed ally of President Vladimir Putin, has arrived within the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to debate nationwide safety, state information company RIA reviews.
The journey comes amid a dispute between Russia and NATO member Lithuania, which stopped the transit of European Union-sanctioned items to the Russian territory.
Patrushev, the highly effective secretary of Russia’s Safety Council, will chair a gathering about safety in Russia’s northwest in Kaliningrad, RIA mentioned.
RIA mentioned the journey – which included a dialogue about transport – was deliberate earlier than Vilnius banned the transit of products sanctioned by the EU by way of Lithuanian territory to and from the exclave, citing EU sanction guidelines.
21 Jun 2022 – 08:13 GMT
Two Individuals who had been captured in Ukraine are at the moment situated within the Russian-backed Ukrainian area of Donetsk, the Interfax information company reported citing a supply.
On Monday, the Kremlin mentioned that two Individuals imprisoned in Ukraine had been mercenaries not coated by the Geneva conference who ought to face duty for his or her actions.
21 Jun 2022 – 08:06 GMT
Sweden’s power company says it has activated step one of a three-stage emergency fuel provide plan for western and southern components of the nation to arrange for attainable disruptions of pure fuel from Russia.
The transfer was made after neighbouring Denmark, which provides Sweden with piped fuel, issued an analogous warning on Monday.
21 Jun 2022 – 08:02 GMT
The Polish soccer affiliation (PZPN) says it won’t take into account defender Maciej Rybus for the World Cup in Qatar after he signed a brand new contract with a Russian membership.
The left-back, who has 66 caps to his identify, has spent the previous 5 years in Russia with Lokomotiv Moscow and moved to their metropolis rivals – Spartak Moscow – on a free switch on June 11.
“The coach knowledgeable the participant that as a consequence of his present membership scenario, he wouldn’t be referred to as up for the September coaching camp of the nationwide staff and wouldn’t be thought of for the staff that might go to the World Cup in Qatar,” PZPN mentioned in a press release.
Learn extra right here.
21 Jun 2022 – 07:48 GMT
Moscow says Russian tv is now broadcasting in Ukraine’s southern Kherson area, an space the place Russia already launched the rouble and commenced distributing its passports.
Russia’s military mentioned its forces have “reconfigured the final of the seven tv towers within the Kherson area to broadcast Russian tv channels” free of charge.
Bordering the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, the Kherson area was occupied by Russian forces within the days following the Kremlin’s offensive in late February.
On Tuesday, one of many pro-Moscow officers within the area, Kirill Stremousov, mentioned that the territory might be a part of Russia “earlier than the top of the yr”.
21 Jun 2022 – 07:28 GMT
The British Navy Intelligence says Ukrainian forces final week claimed their first profitable use of Western-donated Harpoon anti-ship missiles to have interaction Russian forces.
“The goal of the assault was virtually definitely the Russian naval tug Spasatel Vasily Bekh, which was delivering weapons and personnel to Snake Island within the north-western Black Sea,” the defence ministry mentioned in its each day Twitter replace.
The battle has entered a brutal attritional section in current weeks, with Russian forces concentrating on Ukrainian-controlled components of the Donbas, which Russia claims on behalf of separatists.
21 Jun 2022 – 06:46 GMT
Lithuania is aggravating the worldwide meals disaster by banning the rail transit of European Union-sanctioned items by way of its territory to Kaliningrad, the spokesman for Russia’s international ministry has mentioned.
“These should not solely deliveries from Russia to the territory of EU nations. These are transit deliveries by way of the territory of the European Union … together with to ports that then served numerous areas of the world,” Maria Zakharova mentioned on the Soloviev LIVE programme on Tuesday.
“That’s, a rustic of the collective West, a rustic that may be a member of NATO, a rustic that may be a member of all Euro-Atlantic ties in the present day creates extra difficulties in opposition to the background of the truth that this neighborhood blames a rustic that has nothing to do with meals safety issues,” Zakharova mentioned.
Sandwiched between EU and NATO members Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad receives provides from Russia through rail and fuel pipelines by way of Lithuania.
21 Jun 2022 – 06:17 GMT
Russian forces in a single day shelled and destroyed a faculty within the city of Adviivka within the Donetsk area, the governor has mentioned.
“That is the third college destroyed by the Russians in Avdiivka,” Pavlo Kyrylenko mentioned on Telegram.
“In whole, the invaders destroyed about 200 faculties within the Donetsk area,” he added.
21 Jun 2022 – 05:56 GMT
Ukraine’s coastal defences have largely neutralised Russia’s capability to determine management within the northwestern Black Sea, the UK’s defence ministry has mentioned.
Ukraine’s forces reportedly destroyed a Russian naval tug delivering weapons and personnel to Snake Island with Western Harpoon anti-ship missiles final week, the primary profitable use of the weapons, the ministry mentioned.
“The destruction of the Russian vessel on a resupply mission demonstrates the problem Russia faces when trying to assist their forces occupying Snake Island,” it mentioned.
Ukraine’s capability to defend its coast “has undermined the viability of Russia’s authentic operational design for the invasion, which concerned holding the Odesa area in danger from the ocean”, the ministry added.
Newest Defence Intelligence replace on the scenario in Ukraine – 21 June 2022
Discover out extra in regards to the UK authorities’s response: https://t.co/caMOn7mcGv
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/0HsqaxnVVy
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 21, 2022
21 Jun 2022 – 05:44 GMT
Russian forces relentlessly shelled the jap city of Lysychansk all through Sunday evening and Monday day, however Monday evening, relative to 2 “heavy” nights that got here earlier than, was fairly quiet, Luhansk’s governor has mentioned.
“From what I perceive they merely exhausted themselves and have stopped to regroup,” Serhiy Haidai mentioned on tv. He mentioned there was no info but about casualties as there had been no break within the shelling to soundly enter the city.
Within the metropolis of Severodonetsk, throughout the river, Haidai mentioned “fierce preventing” was persevering with within the industrial zone. All crucial infrastructure within the metropolis has been destroyed, and there’s no centralised water, electrical energy or fuel, he mentioned.
He mentioned 568 civilians remained within the few bomb shelters of the Azot chemical plant – largely workers of the manufacturing facility – together with 38 youngsters. All of them refuse to evacuate, he mentioned.
21 Jun 2022 – 03:31 GMT
The Russian military is making ready for a renewed assault on the area and metropolis of Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned.
“Now the Russian military is attempting to assemble forces to assault Kharkiv once more. We de-occupied this area. And so they wish to do it once more, and we see it,” Zelenskyy mentioned in a digital speech on the opening of the ISPI World Coverage Discussion board in Italy.
He was talking on World Refugee Day in regards to the circumstances Russian forces created which he mentioned displaced roughly 12 million Ukrainians, of which almost 5 million needed to flee the nation. Russia withdrew from Kharkiv in mid-Might after weeks of heavy bombardment.
“Mykolaiv is consistently being bombed, with virtually half 1,000,000 inhabitants. They wish to seize and utterly destroy Sloviansk – there have been 100,000 inhabitants earlier than the battle,” Zelenskyy added after itemizing different destroyed cities corresponding to Mariupol and Severodonetsk.
21 Jun 2022 – 02:38 GMT
Moscow is holding greater than 1,500 Ukrainian civilians in Russian prisons, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister has mentioned, in accordance with Ukrinform.
“They’re in Rostov, Kursk, they’re in jail, they’re being held as prisoners of battle, though they shouldn’t be,” Iryna Vereshchuk informed journalists.
Imprisoned civilians included volunteers, activists, journalists, monks, deputies of native councils and heads of native authorities companies, she mentioned.
21 Jun 2022 – 02:24 GMT
A United States citizen was killed in fight in Ukraine final month, in accordance with an obituary and the State Division, after he joined hundreds of international fighters who’ve volunteered to assist Ukraine fend off Russian forces.
Stephen Zabielski, 52, was killed in preventing on Might 15, in accordance with an obituary printed in The Recorder, an upstate New York newspaper, earlier this month. Media reviews of his loss of life circulated on Monday.
In a press release, a State Division spokesperson confirmed Zabielski’s loss of life in Ukraine and mentioned the company has been in contact together with his household and offered “all attainable consular help”.
The spokesperson’s assertion repeated earlier warnings that US residents mustn’t journey to Ukraine due to the battle and the potential for the Russian authorities to single them out. It added that any residents in Ukraine ought to depart instantly.
21 Jun 2022 – 02:19 GMT
A referendum on Ukraine’s occupied area of Kherson changing into part of Russia can be held this autumn, the Moscow-backed self-proclaimed authorities of the area have mentioned, in accordance with Russia’s RIA state information company.
“We’re making ready for the referendum … After the referendum, we’ll turn out to be a totally fledged topic of the Russian Federation,” RIA quoted Kirill Stremousov, the deputy head of the self-proclaimed military-civilian administration of the area, as having mentioned.
“Earlier than too lengthy we can really feel ourselves as absolutely fledged residents of the nice nation of Russia,” Stremousov added.
He didn’t give additional particulars on the timing. Autumn in Russia runs from September to November.
21 Jun 2022 – 01:52 GMT
The approaching week is to be decisive for Russian efforts to take the jap metropolis of Severodonetsk, the Institute for the Research of Conflict has cited Ukrainian officers as saying.
Deputy Ukrainian Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has mentioned that Russian management set a June 26 deadline for its forces to achieve the Luhansk area’s administrative border, “which is able to seemingly end in intensified efforts to take full management of Severodonetsk and transfer westward in direction of the border,” the ISW mentioned.
The institute additionally mentioned that the Luhansk governor’s reviews that Russians managed all of Severodonetsk except for the commercial zone had been “the primary specific Ukrainian affirmation that Russian forces management all of Severodonetsk apart from the Azot plant”.
“Russian forces will seemingly proceed efforts to clear the Azot plant and full encirclement operations south of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk by driving up the T1302 Bakhmut-Lysychansk freeway,” the ISW mentioned.
Ukrainian officers are emphasizing that this week can be decisive for Russian efforts to take Severodonetsk, the place Russian forces will seemingly try and clear the Azot plant & full encirclement operations by driving up the T1302 freeway. Full report: https://t.co/b8LJ4lcYtf pic.twitter.com/EWbU5j3BOj
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) June 20, 2022
21 Jun 2022 – 01:25 GMT
A civil society group has sharply criticised the Kimberley Course of (KP), a coalition created to forestall the usage of gems to fund battle, for resisting efforts to debate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as this week’s worldwide battle diamond assembly started in Botswana.
Within the run-up to the assembly, Ukraine, the European Union, Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA and civil society teams had been pushing to put Russia on the agenda, in addition to to broaden the KP’s definition of battle diamonds to incorporate state actors utilizing the stones to fund acts of aggression. Russia’s partly state-owned firm Alrosa is the world’s largest producer of tough diamonds.
Russia, backed by Belarus, Mali, Central African Republic and Kyrgyzstan, objected to the proposals, dashing any hopes of motion by the KP, which makes choices by consensus.
“The truth that the KP is unable to even talk about whether or not it ought to proceed certifying Russian diamonds as conflict-free, reaffirms what we’ve got been denouncing for years: That the world’s battle diamond scheme is not match for objective,” the coordinator of the Kimberley Course of Civil Society Coalition, Michel Yoboué, mentioned in a speech on the gathering.
21 Jun 2022 – 00:49 GMT
The Russian co-winner of final yr’s Nobel Peace Prize, journalist Dmitry Muratov, has bought his prize medal for $103.5m at an public sale to boost cash for displaced youngsters affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The total buy worth of Muratov’s medal will profit UNICEF’s humanitarian response for Ukraine’s displaced youngsters, Heritage Auctions, which carried out the public sale, mentioned in a press release.
Muratov, editor of the Novaya Gazeta newspaper and fierce critic of the Kremlin, gained the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines.
Novaya Gazeta, one among Russia’s final remaining impartial information shops, mentioned on the finish of March that it might droop operations till the top of the battle in Ukraine after it obtained a second warning from the state censor for allegedly violating the nation’s “international agent” legislation.
20 Jun 2022 – 23:44 GMT
Actor Ben Stiller visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday, telling him: “You’re my hero.”
“What you’ve finished and the best way that you just’ve rallied the nation and for the world, it’s actually inspiring,” Stiller informed Zelenskyy.
Stiller’s go to included a cease in Irpin, the scene of heavy preventing early within the Russian invasion.
“It’s one factor to see this destruction on TV or on social networks. One other factor is to see all of it with your individual eyes. That’s much more stunning,” Stiller mentioned in accordance with a press release from Zelenskyy’s workplace.
It was an honour to fulfill President @ZelenskyyUa on #WorldRefugeeDay as a part of my go to with UNHCR @Refugees to face in solidarity with individuals pressured to flee in Ukraine and worldwide, and convey extra consideration to the humanitarian scenario. @Refugees #WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/zpNpva233j
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 20, 2022
20 Jun 2022 – 23:32 GMT
Russia’s international ministry will on Tuesday summon the European Union’s ambassador to Moscow over Lithuania’s ban on the transit of products below EU sanctions by way of Kaliningrad, the governor of Kaliningrad mentioned on Monday.
“That is, in fact, a scenario, that may be resolved by diplomatic means,” Anton Alikhanov informed Russian tv.
“So far as I do know, tomorrow Marcus Ederer, the European Union ambassador to Russia, can be summoned to the international ministry … and he can be informed of the suitable circumstances concerned right here.”
Vilnius banned the transit of products below EU sanctions by way of Lithuanian territory to and from the Russian exclave sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, citing EU sanction guidelines.
20 Jun 2022 – 23:27 GMT
Two key cities in jap Ukraine are witnessing the “most troublesome” preventing, Zelenskyy has mentioned, as Russian forces intensified stress within the space and captured territory alongside a front-line river.
“We’re defending Lysychansk, Severodonetsk, this complete space, probably the most troublesome one. Now we have probably the most troublesome preventing there,” Zelenskyy mentioned throughout a night deal with, after predicting Moscow would escalate assaults forward of an EU summit anticipated to welcome Kyiv’s bid to hitch the bloc.
Moscow’s separatist proxies claimed to have captured Toshkivka, a city on the largely Ukrainian-held western financial institution of the Siverskyi Donets river, south of Severodonetsk, which has turn out to be the primary battlefield metropolis in current weeks.
Zelenskyy additionally mentioned shelling in Kharkiv and Odesa continued, and described Russia’s offensive in Donbas, the place forces have been concentrating their overwhelming artillery firepower, as “brutal”.
20 Jun 2022 – 19:40 GMT
Russian troops have entered the commercial a part of the closely besieged metropolis of Severodonetsk, in accordance with Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haidai.
“It’s simply hell there. Every part is engulfed in fireplace, the shelling doesn’t cease even for an hour,” Haidai mentioned on Telegram.
The Azot chemical plant is the one a part of the realm not but taken by Russian troops, Haidai mentioned. The villages close by are additionally below fixed fireplace. About 300 civilians are sheltering within the Azot plant, in accordance with Ukrainian deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk, although the scenario is consistently altering.
Haidai additionally mentioned the street connecting Severodonetsk and its sister metropolis Lysychansk to the town of Bakhmut was below fixed shell fireplace.
Learn all updates for June 20 right here.
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