- Russia marks on Wednesday the day Nazi Germany’s forces invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, with President Vladimir Putin as a result of lay flowers to honour the lifeless.
- An investigation by Reporters With out Borders has discovered that Ukrainian photojournalist Maks Levin and serviceman Oleksiy Chernyshov who had been discovered lifeless close to Kyiv on April 1 had been “coldly executed”.
- Indonesian President Joko Widodo will go to each Ukraine and Russia subsequent week to satisfy his counterparts and push for a peaceable decision to the battle, his international minister says.
- Russian shelling killed not less than 15 civilians within the Kharkiv area on Tuesday, together with 5 within the metropolis of Kharkiv, the regional governor states, as Russia steps up assaults within the area.
These are the most recent updates:
Russian troops received’t push by means of the Luhansk area any time quickly: Governor
Luhansk’s governor says that Russian forces is not going to get by means of the area any time quickly.
Ukraine’s deputy defence minister Anna Malyar stated on Monday that Russia had plans for its troops to succeed in the executive borders of the Luhansk area by June 26.
Luhansk is like “bone within the throat” for the troops, Serhiy Haidai stated on tv, including that it was a stronghold squashing Russian troopers in its grip.
He stated it will be not possible for them to succeed in the area’s administrative borders in 4 days.
Ukraine journalist, soldier ‘coldly executed’: Press group
A Ukrainian photojournalist and a soldier who was accompanying him after they had been killed within the first weeks of Russia’s invasion seem to have been “coldly executed”, Reporters With out Borders has stated, after an investigation into their deaths.
The press freedom group stated it went again to the spot the place the our bodies of Maks Levin and serviceman Oleksiy Chernyshov had been discovered April 1 in woods north of the capital, Kyiv. It counted 14 bullet holes within the burned hulk of their automotive nonetheless on the scene.
The group stated disused Russian positions, one in all them nonetheless booby-trapped, had been discovered shut by. Additionally discovered had been the stays of meals rations, cigarette packets and different litter seemingly left by Russian troopers. A jerrycan for petrol was additionally discovered near the place Chernyshov’s burned physique had been recovered, it stated.
A Ukrainian group with metallic detectors uncovered a bullet buried within the soil the place Levin’s physique had lain, it stated. The group stated that discovering suggests “he was in all probability killed with one, maybe two bullets fired at shut vary when he was already on the bottom”.
Maks has coated the occasions on the Maidan and Russia’s aggression in opposition to Ukraine since 2014. His pictures mirror the heroism and steadfastness of Ukrainian defenders. pic.twitter.com/tuxUeVlb0t
— Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament (@ua_parliament) June 21, 2022
Russia getting ready to deploy giant variety of reserves to the Donbas: UK
Russia is very probably getting ready to deploy numerous reserves to the entrance strains of the Donbas, the UK’s defence ministry has stated, as heavy shelling continues within the east, across the Severodonetsk space.
Though Moscow hasn’t launched its army casualty numbers, the self-declared Donetsk Folks’s Republic (DPR) publishes such figures for the DPR forces, the UK stated.
“As of 16 June, the DPR acknowledged 2128 army personnel killed in motion, and 8897 wounded, for the reason that begin of 2022,” which is equal to round 55 per cent of its unique power, the ministry stated, including this highlighted the extraordinary attrition numbers of Russia’s forces.
“It’s extremely probably that DPR forces are geared up with outdated weapons and gear. On either side, the power to generate and deploy reserve models to the entrance is probably going changing into more and more crucial to the end result of the battle,” the ministry stated.
Newest Defence Intelligence replace on the state of affairs in Ukraine – 22 June 2022
Discover out extra concerning the UK authorities’s response: https://t.co/LUl6WpSQZM
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/BHKjjj6Csk
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 22, 2022
Russia’s envoy to US says his workplace wasn’t contacted about captured People
Russia’s ambassador to the USA, Anatoly Antonov, says his workplace hasn’t acquired any requests from Washington concerning the two People captured in Ukraine, Moscow’s state TASS information company experiences.
Antonov’s feedback got here after US State Division spokesman Ned Worth stated that Washington had been in contact with Russian authorities concerning the two US residents, who had been reportedly being held within the self-proclaimed Donetsk Folks’s Republic.
“The embassy didn’t contact us. I don’t verify the receipt of any such contact from the People,” Antonov stated, in accordance with TASS.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier stated that demise sentences for the 2 males couldn’t be dominated out.
Indonesia president to push for peace with Ukraine, Russia visits: Minister
Indonesian President Joko Widodo will go to each Ukraine and Russia subsequent week to satisfy his counterparts and push for a peaceable decision to the persevering with battle, his international minister has stated.
Retno Marsudi confirmed throughout a information convention the intention of Jokowi, because the Indonesian president is thought, to go to Kyiv along with Moscow, which had been reported in Indonesian and Russian state media.
Retno didn’t elaborate on what Jokowi, as president of the G20 this yr, would focus on with the 2 leaders.
Swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk wins bronze in world championships
Elite Ukrainian swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk received the bronze within the males’s 800-metre freestyle race on the swimming world championships on Tuesday in Budapest, Hungary.
He stated his medal proved “that Ukrainians will struggle to the top, it doesn’t matter what the state of affairs”.
Romanchuk, whose father is combating within the fierce battles within the east of Ukraine, stated it was exhausting for him to concentrate on swimming.
“Particularly at first after I moved to Germany to affix the group. It was exhausting as a result of mentally you might be within the battle and you might be sleeping simply three or 4 hours since you are all the time studying the information,” Romanchuk stated. “It was so exhausting at first, however then you definately perceive that every one you are able to do is to swim, to coach, to symbolize your nation.”
Luxembourg’s PM visits Kyiv
The prime minister of Luxembourg visited Kyiv on Tuesday and toured the close by cities of Bucha and Borodyanka, telling Ukraine: “Luxembourg stands by your aspect.”
“No phrases to explain the unimaginable human tragedy of Bucha. You possibly can depend on Luxembourg to help the investigations of nationwide and worldwide actors into these battle crimes, and to make sure that these answerable for these atrocities are recognized, prosecuted and punished,” Xavier Bettel stated on Twitter.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Bettel was a “nice good friend of our state” and that Luxembourg’s help to Ukraine made up 15 p.c of its defence price range.
“Each the greatness and the the Aristocracy of the state are instantly felt,” Zelenskyy stated of Bettel’s go to and Luxembourg’s help. “I’m grateful to him for his honest understanding of our individuals and for Luxembourg’s readiness to participate within the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.”
4 months after the beginning of the battle, I’m right here as we speak to indicate Luxembourg’s help for Ukraine. My message to you, President @ZelenskyyUa, and to the Ukrainian individuals, right here in Ukraine and to all these looking for refuge on this planet, may be very clear: Luxembourg stands by your aspect. pic.twitter.com/iCwISlyZMP
— Xavier Bettel (@Xavier_Bettel) June 21, 2022
Russia on Wednesday to mark anniversary of Germany’s WW2 invasion of USSR
Russia on Wednesday marks the anniversary of the day Nazi Germany’s forces invaded the Soviet Union in World Conflict Two, with President Vladimir Putin as a result of lay flowers to honour the lifeless.
Germany’s shock assault, underneath Operation Barbarossa, was launched on June 22, 1941. The “Day of Remembrance and Sorrow” can be commemorated in Ukraine and Belarus, then a part of the Soviet Union, because the assaults focused the cities of Kyiv, Moscow and Brest (previously Brest Fortress). However it’s unclear whether or not Ukraine will commemorate this present day because it has previously.
To mark the anniversary, the Russian defence ministry launched paperwork relationship again to the beginning of the battle purporting to indicate Germany supposed to say the Soviet military was bombing church buildings and cemeteries to justify its invasion.
“Simply as these days, in 1941, the Nazis ready provocations upfront to discredit our state,” Russia’s defence ministry stated.
⚔️On the morning of June 22, 1️⃣9️⃣4️⃣1️⃣, Yury #Levitan, dubbed the📣 ‘voice of the battle’, made the radio announcement that Nazi Germany forces had attacked the borders of the #USSR. The Nice Patriotic Conflict started #OTD 8⃣1⃣ years in the past. pic.twitter.com/zTWSg9XNT5
— Russian Embassy in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) June 21, 2022
Former US commander predicts Ukraine to ship ‘knockout blow’ to Russia
A former commander of US floor forces in Europe has described the battles in Ukraine’s east and southeast as a “heavyweight boxing match” by which “there has not but been a knockout blow”.
Severodonetsk, Popasna, Dibrivne (close to Izyum), Rubizhne and Zaporizhia “have all seen this punch-counterpunch motion,” retired Lieutenant Normal, Mark Hertling, wrote on Twitter.
“It’s a heavyweight boxing match. In 2 months of combating, there has not but been a knockout blow. It’s going to come, as RU forces grow to be extra depleted,” he stated.
Sievierodonetsk, Popasna, Dibrivne (close to Izyum), Rubizhne, Zaporizhzyha have all seen this punch-counterpunch motion.
It is a heavyweight boxing match. In 2 months of combating, there has not but been a knockout blow.
It’s going to come, as RU forces grow to be extra depleted. 14/
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) June 21, 2022
Moscow legislator dealing with 10 years for opposing Russia’s Ukraine actions
A court docket within the Russian capital has prolonged the arrest of a municipal legislator charged with discrediting the nation’s army after his criticism of Russia’s army motion in Ukraine.
Moscow’s Meshchansky District Court docket ordered Alexei Gorinov to be stored in custody pending his trial. Gorinov, a municipal council member of Moscow’s Krasnoselsky District, has remained in jail since he was arrested in April after talking out in opposition to Russia’s invasion in the course of the council’s session in March.
Addressing the court docket on Tuesday, Gorinov rejected the costs and insisted that he was merely expressing his political opinions, noting that “what I stated was my private opinion and perception”.
He might face a high-quality or a jail time period of as much as 10 years if convicted.
Italy’s FM quits get together he says undermines Ukraine help
Italy’s International Minister Luigi Di Maio has stated he was leaving the 5-Star Motion to kind a brand new parliamentary group backing the federal government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Di Maio’s transfer comes after he accused 5-Star chief and former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of undermining authorities efforts to help Ukraine and weakening Rome’s standing inside the European Union.
“At present’s is a tough determination I by no means imagined I must take … however as we speak me and many different colleagues and pals are leaving the 5-Star Motion,” Di Maio, himself a former 5-Star chief, informed a information convention on Tuesday.
Russia solely exists by attacking others: Kyiv adviser
Russia is expansionist and exists solely by attacking different states, Zelenskyy’s adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has stated.
“It assaults in varied methods, utilizing its power assets, its army, migration, utilizing meals as a weapon. Ukraine can by no means signal a cope with Russia on this context,” Podolyak informed Al Jazeera in an interview.
After being requested about ceding land to Russia to forestall additional demise and destruction, Podolyak stated: “any give up of Ukrainian territory would imply the battle would proceed with larger depth and even larger scale”.
“We wish to end this battle the appropriate manner and which means liberating our territories in full and reestablishing our sovereignty inside internationally recognised borders.”
Russian forces seize front-line Donbas village: Ukrainian official
Russian forces have pushed deeper into the Donbas area, with Ukrainian officers asserting the autumn of a front-line village close to the strategically essential cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.
Roman Vlasenko, head of the Severodonetsk district army administration, stated on Tuesday that the settlement of Toshkivka is now “managed solely by the Russians”.
Toshkivka had a pre-war inhabitants of about 5,000 individuals and is roughly 25km (16 miles) south of Severodonetsk in japanese Ukraine’s Luhansk area.
Learn extra right here.
Hearth tears by means of gasworks in Kharkiv area after missile raid
A big hearth remained uncontrolled at a gasoline processing manufacturing facility on Tuesday within the Izyum district in japanese Ukraine, after it was hit by a number of Russian missile assaults final week.
Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synehubov confirmed on Saturday that Russian assaults had focused the power.
On the Telegram messaging app, he stated that another buildings had additionally been broken.
On Tuesday, the fireplace was nonetheless blazing and a big plume of smoke could possibly be seen from a distance.
Ukraine’s defenders maintain positions at Azot plant: Governor
Russia laid down a curtain of fireplace in Luhansk Tuesday, the place pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full army management of the area.
“At present all the pieces that may burn is on hearth,” Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk area, informed The Related Press information company.
Within the metropolis of Severodonetsk, Ukrainian defenders held on to the Azot chemical plant within the industrial outskirts. He stated Russian forces had been turning the world “into ruins”.
“It’s a sheer disaster,” Haidai informed the AP in written feedback concerning the plant. “Our positions are being fired at from howitzers, a number of rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, missile strikes.”
Haidai stated on tv that 568 civilians had been sheltering on the plant, together with 38 youngsters. Moscow controls roughly 95 p.c of the Luhansk area.
Luhansk ‘hardest space proper now’: Zelenskyy
The Luhansk area, the place combating is raging in the important thing metropolis of Severodonetsk and surrounding areas, is “the hardest space proper now”, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated.
“With the assistance of tactical strikes, the Ukrainian military is strengthening its defence within the Luhansk area, which is actually the hardest space proper now,” Zelenskyy stated in his nighttime deal with, including Russians had been additionally placing “critical stress” on Donetsk.
“Within the Kharkiv area there’s brutal and cynical Russian artillery shelling. It is not going to give something to the occupiers, however the Russian military is deaf to any rationality. It merely destroys, merely kills – on this manner it reveals its command that it isn’t standing nonetheless,” Zelenskyy added.
No less than 15 killed in Kharkiv area: Governor
No less than 15 civilians had been killed within the Kharkiv area by Russian shelling on Tuesday, the regional governor has stated.
5 individuals had been killed within the metropolis of Kharkiv itself and 11 wounded, Oleh Synehubov stated on Telegram, including that among the many lifeless was an eight-year-old woman.
One other six individuals died in Chuhuiv some 40km (25 miles) southeast of Kharkiv and three had died in Zolochiv, 40km (25 miles) to the northwest of town, he stated.
Russian forces had been attempting to strategy Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis, which skilled intense shelling earlier within the battle, and switch it right into a “frontline metropolis,” a Ukrainian inside ministry official stated earlier this month. Native police accused Russia of utilizing Uragan a number of rocket launchers.
Learn all updates on June 21 right here.