Ukraine ticker Threat from Russia: Von der Leyen sees additional need of 500 billion for EU defense

Protection against China and Russia: The EU Commission estimates the additional requirement for EU defense in the coming decade at around 500 billion euros. The developments in the ticker.

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11.55 pm

We finish the live ticker on Thursday

11.26 pm

Stoltenberg: Nato does not expect major Russian breakthroughs

According to its outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, NATO is not expecting "major breakthroughs" by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine. "They have tried again this spring and summer to launch an offensive - but have so far only achieved marginal success," Stoltenberg told the AFP news agency in Brussels.

"We have no indication or reason to believe that Russia has the capabilities or the strength to make major breakthroughs," Stoltenberg continued. According to the alliance, Moscow will continue to increase the pressure on Ukraine and continue its air strikes. So far, however, the Ukrainians have been able to "hold the front line", the Norwegian emphasized. They were "continuing to inflict heavy losses on the Russian attackers, both at the front and through low-flying attacks".

At the same time, Stoltenberg was convinced that the USA would remain a "strong NATO ally", as this was "in the security interests of the United States". This applies "regardless of the outcome of the US elections" at the beginning of November. Former US President Donald Trump is challenging incumbent Joe Biden.

Trump recently caused unrest by threatening to no longer support his allies in Europe if they did not spend enough on defense. He would then even encourage the Russians to do "whatever the hell they want" to them, Trump said.

"Former President Trump's criticism was not primarily directed at Nato," said Stoltenberg. "It was directed at Nato allies who don't spend enough, and that has now changed," the Norwegian emphasized.

10.07 p.m.

Election in France: Right-wing populist Bardella speaks out in favor of support for Ukraine

In a TV debate three days before the first round of the parliamentary elections in France, French right-wing populist Jordan Bardella, who is seeking the office of Prime Minister for his party Rassemblement National (RN) in the event of an absolute majority, spoke out in favor of continued support for Ukraine. "I will not allow Russian imperialism to absorb an allied state like Ukraine," said Bardella.

His position on this conflict is "very simple" and has "never changed", Bardella explained in the debate with acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Socialist leader Olivier Faure. "It's about supporting Ukraine and avoiding an escalation" with the nuclear power Russia.

With regard to President Emmanuel Macron's controversial refusal to rule out the deployment of French soldiers to Ukraine, Bardella said: "If I am Prime Minister tomorrow, no French soldiers will be sent to Ukraine." He was also against sending medium-range missiles to Ukraine that could hit Russian territory. "My compass is the interest of France and the French," said Bardella.

According to a poll, the RN continues to lead by a large margin with 36%. The left-green electoral alliance New Popular Front follows with 29 percent of the vote, while the government camp is far behind with 19.5 percent, according to an Ipsos survey published today (Thursday). According to the survey, voter turnout could rise from just under 48% in 2022 to up to 65%.

The first round of the election to the National Assembly will take place on Sunday, the second on July 7. Following the RN triumph and the defeat for the government camp in the European elections on 9 June, Macron had surprisingly called new elections to the National Assembly. Should the RN achieve an absolute majority, he could then be forced to enter into a forced political marriage with a right-wing populist head of government.

21:18

Georgia passes anti-LGBT law based on Russian model in first reading

Georgia's parliament has advanced a law banning so-called LGBTQ "propaganda", which is similar to Russian legislation restricting LGBTQ rights. In a vote boycotted by opposition parties, the ruling Georgian Dream party passed the bill with 78 votes in the first reading. The two further readings required for adoption are planned before the end of the year.

The English abbreviation LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. The legislation is about "restricting the propaganda of same-sex relationships and incest in educational institutions and television programs".

The vote follows the recent adoption of a law on "foreign influence" - despite weeks of mass protests and international criticism. Brussels warned the Georgian government that it would lose its way in the EU if it pushed ahead with proposals that ran counter to European values.

Russia had introduced similar laws more than a decade earlier, banning the promotion of "non-traditional" relationships with children. This legislation was condemned in the West for stigmatizing LGBTQ people, but ultra-conservative MPs praised it as a rejection of liberal Western values. In 2022, Moscow extended the legislation, essentially banning any public representation of LGBTQ people.

Having initially pursued a liberal, pro-Western political agenda after coming to power in 2012, the Georgian Dream party has intensified its anti-Western and anti-liberal rhetoric and stance over the past two years. Critics accuse the current government of wanting to bring the former Soviet republic closer to Moscow again and thus jeopardize its future membership of the EU. Georgia has been an official candidate for membership since December.

7.53 p.m.

Fierce fighting, especially around Pokrovsk

Russian and Ukrainian units have once again engaged in heavy fighting on various sections of the front in eastern Ukraine. "The enemy is looking for ways to break through our lines of defense," the Ukrainian General Staff in Kiev announced in its daily situation report this evening.

According to the report, more than half of the over 100 armed clashes reported during the day took place in the area around Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The course of the front remained unchanged everywhere.

Ukrainian military officials also reported heavy fighting around the settlement of Mirnoye, west of the large city of Zaporizhia, where a Russian brigade had lost around 95% of its soldiers in massive assaults, according to a statement published by the Ukrainian agency Unian. This information could not be independently verified.

7.32 p.m.

EU defense: Von der Leyen sees additional requirement of 500 billion

According to estimates by the European Commission, additional investment of around 500 billion euros will be needed over the next decade to efficiently protect the EU from threats from countries such as China and Russia. While China increased its defense spending by 600 percent between 1999 and 2021 and Russia by 300 percent, the increase in the EU was 20 percent, explained Commission President Ursula von der Leyen according to participants at the EU summit.

She put the share of Russia's military and defense spending in its gross domestic product at more than seven percent. In Germany and many other EU countries, this figure is currently only around two percent or even significantly lower.

According to von der Leyen, one option for financing the necessary investments via the EU in the medium term is a possible increase in national contributions to the EU budget or so-called own resources, which include customs duties on imports into the EU and the EU plastic tax.

If the member states wanted to make large investments in the short term, borrowing would also be possible, but would then also have to be repaid via national contributions and own resources. The decision would have to be made by the member states, said von der Leyen according to information from participant circles. The German government, among others, has so far strictly rejected joint borrowing for defense projects.

On the other side are countries such as Poland and the Baltic states. They can well imagine taking out EU loans to better secure their borders with Russia and Belarus, for example.

According to participants, von der Leyen basically said that security and defense are common public goods. The costs of ensuring security and defense are not greater than the benefits.

6.37 p.m.

Bulgaria's head of state Radev does not want to attend the NATO summit

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, who is considered to be Russia-friendly, does not want to take part in the upcoming NATO summit in Washington because of the government's Ukraine policy in Sofia. The press office of the presidential office justified Radev's refusal to lead the Bulgarian delegation at the NATO summit with his differences with the Bulgarian government over some of the country's positions for the NATO summit. According to the presidential office, this concerns obligations that Bulgaria is taking on in the war in Ukraine. However, Radev has strongly condemned Russian aggression from the very first day of the war, the statement emphasized.

On Wednesday, the government in Sofia approved Bulgaria's framework positions for the NATO summit in Washington from July 9 to 11. The confidential document was not initially published. The 61-year-old former general used to be a fighter jet pilot and head of his country's air force. He sees no military solution to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. This is why he repeatedly criticizes the Bulgarian government's military support for Kiev.

6.10 p.m.

Estonia and Lithuania also conclude security agreement with Ukraine

In addition to the EU, Estonia and Lithuania have also concluded agreements with Ukraine on security cooperation and long-term support for the country attacked by Russia. On the margins of the EU summit in Brussels, the Estonian head of government Kaja Kallas and the Lithuanian head of state Gitanas Nauseda signed the bilateral agreements with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj. In these agreements, the two EU and NATO countries undertake to provide Ukraine with political, military and economic support for ten years. This means that all Baltic states have now made long-term security commitments to Ukraine. Latvia had already reached a similar agreement in April.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are among the biggest and most determined international advocates of Ukraine, which has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for almost two years.

3.17 p.m.

EU and Ukraine sign security agreement

The EU has reached an agreement with Ukraine on security cooperation and long-term support. Among other things, the agreement includes a new crisis mechanism. Should Russia use nuclear weapons during the current invasion or attack again after the end of the current war, for example, consultations will be held within 24 hours at the request of one of the two sides. The EU does not promise direct military assistance in the agreement.

Closer cooperation between the Ukrainian and EU arms industries and in the fight against cyber attacks and disinformation is also envisaged.

The document was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel on Thursday on the fringes of the EU summit in Brussels. As a political declaration of intent, the EU agreement is not legally binding.

During my visit to Brussels for a European Council meeting, I met @eucopresident Charles Michel.

The main topics of our meeting were the start of EU accession negotiations and support for Ukraine.

I thank @CharlesMichel and all EU leaders for supporting Ukraine’s EU accession… pic.twitter.com/LPyaUn0lal

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 27, 2024

1.18 p.m.

Volodymyr Selensky is at the EU summit in Brussels

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi intends to sign a security agreement between his country and the EU this Thursday. For the first time, this will enshrine the commitment of all 27 EU member states to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine, Selenskyj wrote on Platform X. "Every step we take brings us closer to our historic goal of peace and prosperity in our common European home."

The security agreement is to be signed at a summit meeting of EU heads of state and government this Thursday and Friday. It is the result of an initiative by the members of the G7 group of Western economic powers. On the fringes of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, last year, they agreed that individual states should conclude bilateral agreements with Ukraine in order to guarantee its security in the long term. The EU followed suit. Ukraine had previously signed such agreements with countries such as the UK, Germany and France and, since June, also with the USA.

Welcome back to #EUCO, President Zelenskyy. Our resolve to support Ukraine is as strong as ever. LIVE - statement ahead of Day One of the European Council together with @ZelenskyyUa #EUCO ↓ https://t.co/tyLLfrhmso

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 27, 2024

12.35 pm

Show of force: nuclear submarine surfaces off the coast of Norway

It is a "rare show of force", writes Business Insider: a US Navy nuclear submarine surfaced off the coast of Norway on June 25. Normally, these ships remain underwater after leaving their harbors to make pursuit more difficult.

Sending a message... rare for SSBN to surface while on operations.

🇺🇸 USS Normandy and ballistic missile submarine, USS Tennessee overflown by P-8A Poseidon and E-6B Mercury for PHOTEX in the Norwegian Sea 23/6/24. pic.twitter.com/RwmOszLSHO

— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) June 27, 2024

The submarine in question is the USS Tennessee, which was accompanied by the guided missile cruiser USS Normandy and two Navy aircraft, according to a statement from the 6th Fleet. In the air, a Boeing P-8A Poseidon, which is used for surveillance and sub-hunting, and an E-6B Mercury monitored the operation.

The E-6B is a combat control platform used in particular for the coordination of submarines with ballistic missiles. The USS Tennessee, on the other hand, belongs to the Ohio class and carries 24 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Rare (first?) nuclear command, control and communication aircraft operation out of Norwegian airport. E-6B TACAMO completing five-hour mission off Norwegian west coast. Arrived at Rygge airport 19 June. https://t.co/fQe1QuUxTp pic.twitter.com/Zw8oPxoY0z

— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) June 23, 2024

Nuclear expert Hands Christensen writes on X that the deployment of the E-6B suggests that the US Navy has stationed its nuclear submarines closer to Europe. The fact that the USS Tennessee has appeared off Norway is a "blunt signal" to Russia.

11 a.m.

Russia sends around 10,000 immigrants to the front line

The Russian authorities say they have already sent 10,000 naturalized men to fight in the war of aggression against Ukraine.

"We have already caught more than 30,000 [migrants] who received citizenship and did not want to register for military service, and have sent about 10,000 of them to the zone of special military operation," said the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, during an appearance at the St. Petersburg Lawyers' Forum.

Bastrykin was a fellow student of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and is considered a close confidant of his. The immigrants are mainly responsible for digging trenches and building fortifications. "You need really strong hands for that," said Bastrykin. In recent months, the security forces have repeatedly carried out raids on companies with migrant workers - primarily from the post-Soviet states in Central Asia.

Migrants who have already received a Russian passport are then often forcibly recruited, Russian media reported. Others are promised a simplified naturalization procedure if they are sent to the front. According to Putin, a total of 700,000 Russian soldiers are currently on the front line. Some of these are men who were recruited in a partial mobilization in autumn 2022.

As the measure was unpopular, the Kremlin wants to avoid further waves of mobilization and is looking for other ways to replenish the losses. Bastrykin saw another advantage in the forced recruitment of naturalized citizens: in this way, many migrants would leave Russia, he said.

6.10 a.m.

TASS: Russian guided missile cruiser practices drone defense in the Mediterranean

The Russian state news agency TASS reports, citing the Russian Navy, that the Russian guided missile cruiser "Varyag" is carrying out training maneuvers in the Mediterranean. The exercises focused on defending against a massive drone attack, according to the naval command, and also included simulated battles with an enemy ship and a submarine.

5.11 a.m.

Frontline states demand EU money for border protection with Russia and Belarus

In view of the threats posed by Russia and Belarus, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are calling for EU support for military and civilian border security. "We need a defense initiative to protect Europeans today and in the years to come," the heads of state and government of the countries wrote shortly before the EU summit this Thursday and Friday in a letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel.

As a concrete project, they mention the "development of a defense infrastructure system along the EU's external border with Russia and Belarus". This could address the urgent need to protect the EU from military and hybrid threats. Of the hybrid threats, instrumentalized migration in particular affects the security of the entire EU territory, the letter states. This refers to attempts to smuggle people from poor or conflict-ridden countries into the EU.

The authors of the letter believe that the scale and costs of the proposed defense initiative require political and financial EU support. However, planning and implementation should take place in coordination with NATO and its military requirements, according to the letter, which is available to Deutsche Presse-Agentur. It was signed by Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Kaja Kallas, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda and Latvia's Prime Minister Evika Silina.

With regard to the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko, the heads of state and government wrote that they had little doubt that their intentions would become increasingly hostile if they were not restrained. "Russia has not changed its strategic goals, which include the restoration of buffer zones and spheres of influence of the past, and this poses an existential threat to Europe and the transatlantic community," they warn. "We live in the shadow of war and our countries feel what it means to be the frontline states of the EU."

Independently of EU support for border security, Poland, together with Greece, is also calling for joint EU funding for the expansion of European air defense. A new concept paper on the initiative called "Shield and Spear" states: "As the air threats at European borders evolve, (...) a new structured and comprehensive approach to air defense on our continent becomes indispensable." Threats ranged from advanced drones and electronic warfare to long-range missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles or fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

Thursday, June 27, 2024, 5:01 a.m.

Zelensky expected in Brussels for agreement with EU

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is expected to attend political talks in Brussels this Thursday. Several EU officials told the German press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur that an agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the EU is also to be signed. The text for this was approved by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the EU Member States on Monday evening and then formally adopted.

It is possible that Zelensky will also attend the summit meeting of the heads of state and government of the 27 EU member states on Thursday as a temporary guest. There was initially no confirmation of this. Ukraine is a candidate for EU membership and hopes to be accepted quickly.

Ukrainian media also report that Zelensky is expected in Brussels. The agreement on security agreements is the result of an initiative by the members of the G7 group of Western economic powers. On the fringes of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, last year, they agreed that individual states should conclude bilateral agreements with Ukraine in order to guarantee its security in the long term. The EU followed suit.

23:55

We end the ticker on Wednesday, June 26, 2024

22:58

Russian glide bomb causes severe damage in Selydowe

Before a joint troop visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and army chief Olexander Syrsky to the Donetsk region, the Russian armed forces dropped a glide bomb on the town of Selydove. This caused extensive damage to 37 houses, six multi-storey buildings and administrative infrastructure, as reported by the regional authorities. They did not initially mention any casualties.

Regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported that within 24 hours, the Russian military had shelled 20 settlements in the region, killing one person and injuring at least nine. According to official figures, around 250 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Donetsk region since Tuesday.

21:17

Selenskyj thanks national team after European Championship exit

Following Ukraine's preliminary round exit from the European Football Championship, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has thanked the team for their performance. "Despite the disappointing result, you fought for our country," the head of state wrote on Telegram. He also appealed to the cohesion of the Ukrainians. A "strong nation" is one that always supports each other, "both in defeat and in victory".

The great victories still lay ahead of the country, he wrote, alluding to Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. "And until then, we will withstand the blow, get up again and carry on to become stronger in the future," Selenskyj shared.

The Ukrainian national team finished last in Group E in Stuttgart after a 0-0 draw against Belgium. Although group rivals Romania, Belgium and Slovakia had only collected four points, Ukraine had the worst goal difference.

20:20

Selenskyj visits the frontline region of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has traveled to the frontline region of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. "I started this day in the Donetsk region, together with our soldiers, together with Commander-in-Chief (Oleksandr) Syrsky and the new commander of the united forces, General (Andriy) Gnatov," said Zelenskyi in a video published on the online service Telegram. In it, he stands in front of the town sign of Pokrovsk.

Gnatov is a young man, but "his knowledge of the front line and his experience are exactly what we need", added Zelensky. He had appointed Gnatov after his predecessor Yuri Sodol had been accused of incompetence, which is said to have led to the deaths of soldiers and setbacks at the front.

Zelensky also spoke about aid for the affected communities in the region, which has borne the brunt of the fighting in recent months. He also took a swipe at government representatives. These should be in the places near the front, Selenskyj said - where "people need immediate solutions".

"I was surprised that some relevant government officials have not been here for six months or more," he said. "I will draw appropriate conclusions about them."

According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian army is currently attacking particularly heavily in the Pokrovsk region. Russia had declared the Ukrainian region of Donetsk annexed along with three other partially occupied regions at the end of 2022. The industrial region of Donetsk was already partially controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists from 2014.

Zelensky is expected to attend the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. According to information from Paris, the head of state will be present at the start of the meeting of heads of state and government. According to EU diplomats, an agreement on security guarantees for Kiev, on which the EU member states had agreed in advance, will then be signed.

7.15 p.m.

Talks between representatives of Russia and Ukraine on prisoner exchange

Representatives of both countries met for direct talks during the latest prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. Representatives of the Russian human rights commissioner were present for the first time at the exchange mediated by the United Arab Emirates, explained Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinez in the online service Telegram. Representatives of the commissioners of both states then questioned the freed prisoners of war.

Lubinez went on to explain that the meeting between the representatives had been initiated by Ukraine, to which the Russian side had "agreed for the first time". Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova confirmed the meeting on Telegram. Both sides had discussed "possible options for the return of civilians currently in detention centers".

On Tuesday, Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 90 prisoners. The last major prisoner exchange between the two warring parties took place in February, when one hundred prisoners were returned to each side. Since the beginning of the war in February 2024, both countries have already exchanged hundreds of prisoners. The mortal remains of killed soldiers are also regularly handed over to the other country.

6.09 pm

Scholz: Putin does not want peace and remains "fully committed to war"

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected calls for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the present time. "Putin is still fully committed to war and rearmament, no one can ignore that," he said in the Bundestag. This can be seen "most clearly in his supposed ceasefire offer". This demands that Ukraine cede territories not yet occupied by Russia and renounce any military assistance in the future.

Anyone who believes "that this will lead to lasting peace in Europe must be watching a lot of Russia Today", said Scholz, referring to the Moscow-controlled TV channel. "Unfortunately, Russia does not want peace." Ukraine, on the other hand, wants "a just peace without subjugation and fear of new aggression".

That is why initiatives such as the recent peace conference in Switzerland are important, said Scholz. The meeting, which Russia did not attend, was "only a tender seedling", but could be a first step. However, it was clear to him that the road to peace would be "long and difficult", Scholz said in his government statement on the upcoming EU and NATO summits. Putin must first realize that he cannot achieve the goal of subjugating Ukraine on the battlefield.

3.10 p.m.

Espionage trial against US reporter Gershkovich begins in Russia

In Russia, the trial against US reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned for more than a year for alleged espionage, has begun in Yekaterinburg on the Urals.

According to Russian agencies, the first session took place on Wednesday in camera. The media were only allowed to photograph the defendant in a glass cage in the hearing room at the start of the trial.

The hearing lasted several hours and the second session was postponed until August 13. The remaining days of the trial will also take place behind closed doors.

According to the Russian General Prosecutor's Office, Gershkovich is alleged to have collected secret information on behalf of the US secret service CIA. It was about the production and repair of armaments at the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil. Gershkovich had followed all the rules of conspiracy in his illegal activities, it was said. Gershkovich, who was arrested in March 2023 during a research trip, and his employer, the Wall Street Journal, have denied the allegations.

10.26 am

Rutte becomes new Nato Secretary General

Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been officially appointed as the next Secretary General of NATO. The 57-year-old is to succeed the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg at the beginning of October, as the defense alliance announced on Wednesday after a meeting of the permanent representatives of the 32 NATO states.

6.15 a.m.

Nato wants to officially appoint Dutchman Rutte as new Secretary General

Nato wants to officially appoint the outgoing Dutch head of government Mark Rutte as the new Secretary General. According to diplomatic circles in Brussels, the ambassadors of the 32 member states will make the nomination at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council. The 57-year-old Rutte is then expected to take over from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on October 1.

Only last week, Romania's President Klaus Iohannis had cleared the way for Rutte to become head of NATO by withdrawing his candidacy.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 4.30 a.m.

Russian ammunition depot on fire

Following a Ukrainian drone attack, the ammunition depot in the Russian region of Voronezh is on fire, as reported by the "Kyiv Independent" with reference to satellite images. This is consistent with local reports that two drones attacked the ammunition depot in the Olkhovatsky district during the night. The Ukrainian secret service HUR claimed responsibility for the attack and posted a video showing plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

⚡️Satellite image shows fire at ammunition depot in Russia's Voronezh region.

Satellite imagery obtained by RFE/RL shows at least two pockets of fire, consistent with local accounts of drones attacking the ammunition depot on June 25.https://t.co/OOPe5sYvEt

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) June 26, 2024

The depot is located around 70 kilometers from the border with the Ukrainian Luhansk Oblast.

24:00

We end the ticker on Tuesday, June 25, 2024

21:52

US Secretary of Defense speaks with Russian counterpart

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has spoken to his Russian counterpart in a rare exchange following threats from Moscow. During the conversation with Andrei Beloussov, Austin emphasized the importance of maintaining communication in light of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said on Tuesday. He did not give any further details about the phone call.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday night that both sides had exchanged views on the war in Ukraine. Beloussov pointed out the increasing danger of an escalation of the situation in the country in connection with the ongoing US arms deliveries to Ukraine. Other issues were also discussed. The ministry in Moscow did not provide any details.

According to the Pentagon and the Russian ministry, the initiative for the talks came from Austin. According to Ryder, the last time Austin spoke to his Russian counterpart was on March 15, 2023. At that time, Sergei Shoigu was still Russian Defense Minister.

Moscow had threatened Washington on Monday following a Ukrainian missile attack on the city of Sevastopol on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia has annexed since 2014. "It goes without saying that the direct involvement of the US in combat operations that result in the deaths of Russian civilians cannot remain without consequences," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The Russian Foreign Ministry also summoned the US ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, and handed her a note of protest.

⚡️Pentagon chief, new Russian defense minister talk for the first time.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a phone call with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov on June 25, Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said at a briefing. This is the first time Austin spoke to…

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) June 25, 2024

21.44 hrs

Moscow: 90 prisoners exchanged between Russia and Ukraine

According to Moscow, Russia and Ukraine have each exchanged 90 prisoners under the mediation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 90 Russian military personnel "in life-threatening captivity" were "repatriated from the area controlled by the Kiev regime", the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday in the online service Telegram. "In return, 90 prisoners of war were handed over to the Ukrainian army," it continued.

According to the ministry, the prisoner exchange took place under the mediation of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is also mediating in the repatriation of Ukrainian children from Russia to their home country.

Tears of joy. pic.twitter.com/19LvlLeOWw

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) June 25, 2024

21.02 hrs

Four civilians injured in Russian attack on Kharkiv oblast

Four people have been injured in a Russian aerial bomb attack on the Kharkiv oblast. According to the Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform, citing Governor Oleh Syniehubov, Russian troops attacked the village of Bobrivka in the Kharkiv district, injuring four people.

⚡️Russian guided bomb attack on Kharkiv Oblast injures 4.

Russian troops attacked the village of Bobrivka in the Kharkiv district with guided aerial bombs on June 25, injuring four people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) June 25, 2024

19.17 hrs

Trial against US reporter Trial against US reporter Gershkovich for espionage begins

The trial against US reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned for more than a year for alleged espionage, is due to begin in Russia this Wednesday. The trial against the correspondent for the "Wall Street Journal" newspaper is scheduled to take place in Yekaterinburg in the Urals. The 32-year-old reporter has denied the accusation during questioning.

A spokesman for the Russian Prosecutor General's Office said that, according to the investigation, Gershkovich had collected secret information on behalf of the US secret service CIA. It concerned the production and repair of armaments at the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil. It was said that Gershkovich had followed all the rules of conspiracy in his illegal activities.

The US government reacted to the unproven accusations with clear words. "The accusation has no basis whatsoever," said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller in Washington.

16.32 hrs

EU begins accession negotiations with Ukraine

A decade after the annexation of Crimea by Russia in violation of international law, the European Union has begun accession negotiations with Ukraine. The accession negotiations were launched on Tuesday at a so-called intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg. It could take years for Ukraine to join the EU.

In his opening speech, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who joined the conference via video, spoke of a "historic day" that heralded "a new chapter" in his country's relations with the EU.

15:47

Russia increases deployment near Ukrainian city of Chassiv Yar

Russian troops are keeping up the pressure on the Ukrainian defenders of the strategically important town of Chassiv Yar. The relentless attacks disrupted the replacement of exhausted troops with fresh forces and supplies, soldiers in the area said.

The invading forces are trying to exploit their advantages in troop strength and weaponry before the Ukrainian forces are reinforced by promised new Western military aid, according to analysts. Russian ground and air strikes have left the Ukrainian soldiers defending the area with little respite after more than two years of war.

"We are working, you could say, without a break," a platoon leader, who would only give his first name Oleksandr, told the AP news agency on Monday. "So no two days are the same. You always have to be ready, day and night." His platoon is part of Ukraine's 43rd Artillery Brigade. It rushes to positions and fires a Soviet-designed self-propelled howitzer at Russian positions without delay before it can be targeted itself.

15:44

Russia blocks access to 81 European media outlets

In response to the ban on broadcasting several Russian media in Europe, Russia has blacklisted 81 European media companies. Broadcasting of the programs and access to the media's websites will be blocked, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on its website on Tuesday. Among the German media, "Der Spiegel", "Die Zeit" and the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" are affected. In Austria, the public broadcaster ORF and the Austrian media group were affected.

The Franco-German broadcaster Arte is also on the ban list. With a total of nine listed companies, France is the EU country most heavily sanctioned by Moscow.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has banned more than 80 European newspapers and websites in Russia:

▪️ French - Agence France-Presse (AFP), Le Monde, Liberation, LCI, La Croix, Lexpress, Radio France, CNews, Arte;

▪️ Italian - LA7 and RAI TV, La Stampa, La Repubblica;… pic.twitter.com/E5yhjY7bYg

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 25, 2024

2.49 pm

Ukraine receives first delivery from Czech grenade initiative

A Czech initiative to supply artillery shells to Ukraine is showing initial results. "Some time ago, the first delivery of ammunition arrived in Ukraine as part of our initiative," wrote Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Tuesday on the online platform X. "We are doing what is necessary," added the liberal-conservative politician. A lack of ammunition is considered one of Ukraine's biggest problems in its defensive battle against Russia.

The aim of the initiative is therefore to procure up to 800,000 artillery shells for Kiev from countries outside the EU. According to the latest information from Prague, a total of 18 partner states have pledged financial support of around 1.6 billion euros for the project. According to earlier information from the German government, Germany intends to contribute a three-digit million euro sum. Other donor countries include the Netherlands, Denmark and Lithuania. The Czech Republic is one of the staunch supporters of Ukraine in its defensive struggle against the Russian invasion.

1.10 p.m.

ICC issues arrest warrant against Shoigu and Gerasimov

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. They are accused of attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, the ICC announced on Tuesday.

12.48 pm

Human rights: Russia condemned over Crimea

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has condemned Russia for human rights violations in Crimea following the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula. The judges made this decision today in Strasbourg, upholding an application by Ukraine. Russia does not recognize the Court's rulings.

12.40 pm

"Entire columns destroyed": Kiev attacks Russians during deployment

Since the Ukrainian armed forces were given the green light to attack the enemy with Western weapons in their own country, they have been inflicting heavy damage on the Russian army, according to their own statements.

"The Himars have not been quiet all day," an artillery commander with the combat name Hefastus told the AP news agency. "Since the first days, the Ukrainian army has destroyed entire columns of troops on the border who were waiting for the order to march into Ukraine."

Russians decided to have a command post in Belgorod.

So, Ukraine blew it up. pic.twitter.com/nS8mTcOdUw

— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) June 24, 2024

This is no comparison to before: "Before, we couldn't target them," said Hefastus. "It was quite complicated. All the warehouses with ammunition and other material are 20 kilometers behind the point we could hit."

Ukrainian politician Yehor Cherniev is now calling for the restrictions on the use of ATACMS missiles to be dropped as well. "Unfortunately, we can't reach the airfields and their fighter jets, for example. That is the problem."

"Business Insider" adds that there have already been Himars missions against targets in Russia. This "new reality" is having a "major impact" on the battlefield. George Barros also sees a "positive difference".

On June 22, Ukraine used HIMARS for the first time in an attack on Russia's Kursk region, targeting the villages of Mirnyi and Dolgiye Budy, according to Russian channel ASTRA. Both projectiles were reportedly intercepted, but shrapnel would have partially destroyed the FSB… pic.twitter.com/UnT4E5TEyC

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) June 24, 2024

"They have actually helped to strike at the heart of the Russian offensive," says the Russia expert from the Institute for the Study of War. This is the only reason why Kiev is able to carry out "small tactical counterattacks".

11.14 am

Escape helpers collect thousands to get Ukrainians out of the country

Ukrainian security forces have prevented 100 men in the Odessa region in the south of the country from illegally fleeing the war-torn country. Last Friday, a group of 47 men in four minibuses were stopped on their way to the border, the state investigation office announced today. A further 53 men were stopped on their way to a "meeting point".

They were to be driven to a border bypassing checkpoints and crossing it on foot. The Odessa region borders on the Republic of Moldova. The Danube forms the border with neighboring Romania. All those over the age of 25 who could be conscripted for the war have been transferred to the local district army replacement office.

The escape helpers reportedly collected the equivalent of between 4,600 and over 17,000 euros from each man. The escapees were sought via social networks. These two groups are said to have received the equivalent of over 900,000 euros in total. The escape helpers, including a police officer, have been provisionally arrested. They face up to nine years in prison.

Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over two years. Mobilization was ordered with the outbreak of war. Men of military age between 18 and 60 can only leave the country in exceptional circumstances. According to the authorities, dozens are still trying to flee the war-torn country every day.

Due to high casualties, a stricter draft registration for men fit for military service has also been in force since mid-May. Since then, there have been increasing reports of escape attempts and forced recruitment, sometimes using brutal means.

A man who paid $10,000 to leave Ukraine drowned in the Dniester river, - State Border Service

Border guards saw the men on the shore. They ran to the water, trying to swim to the boat with the carrier, but it began to move towards Moldova. Three men returned to the shore, while… pic.twitter.com/FOIHbFP72v

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 25, 2024

10.23 a.m.

Ukrainian naval drone damages four Russian ships

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is Volodymyr Zelenskyi's domestic intelligence service - and it has once again caused serious damage to the Russian Black Sea fleet: Under Brigadier General Ivan Lukashevych, Ukrainians have enabled naval drones to lay mines.

"Sea drones were previously mainly used for surveillance and logistics," Lukashevych is quoted as saying. "We do many things that no one in the world has ever done before."

According to media reports, his unit has modified a Sea Baby drone so that it can set plastic mines weighing 182 kilograms, which sink into the mud in shallow water and are difficult to detect. The mine also has acoustic and electromagnetic sensors for use in deeper water.

The team then tracked the routes of Russian ships and initially laid two mines. The first success came on September 14, when one of the naval explosives damaged the Russian corvette Samum, which has been in dry dock ever since.

In the following weeks, the Sea Baby drone covered more than 4800 kilometers and laid another 15 mines. On October 11, the patrol boat Pawel Derschawin was hit, which struck another mine two days later.

A tugboat that rushed to help also hit a mine - and a minesweeper was also reportedly damaged.

9.30 a.m.

"If Trump loses the election, Putin's calculation is finished"

Harold James compares Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler: "In 1938, the British tried to make a deal with Hitler," the British historian tells the NZZ. "The British Prime Minister came back from Germany and said: I have a paper with Mr. Hitler's signature, we have peace in Europe."

This reminds him of the power monger from the Kremlin: "It doesn't work like that. Of course Russia must be involved, but not under this government." Putin is speculating that a "candidate he likes will become president of the USA", but if that fails, even a ceasefire is possible.

"If Trump loses the election, Putin's calculation is at an end. That is the moment when peace can come," believes the Priceton University professor.

9.18 am

Moscow and Tehran want to conclude new pact "in the very near future"

Moscow will soon conclude new bilateral agreements with Iran. The Russian deputy foreign minister told national news agencies.

"We expect this agreement to be signed in the very near future, because work on the text is nearing completion," Andrei Rudenko is quoted as saying. "All the necessary terms have been found."

Tehran and the Kremlin signed a strategic cooperation agreement in 2001 that was valid for 20 years. The pact was automatically extended by five years in 2021. It covered cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy, industry, technology and security.

It is unclear what the new agreement will entail.

9 a.m.

Zurich High Court sentences Gazprombank employees

The Zurich High Court has sentenced four employees of Gazprombank Switzerland to conditional fines for lack of due diligence in financial transactions. It thus essentially confirmed the guilty verdicts of the Zurich District Court from the previous year.

The bank employees' investigations into Sergei Roldugin's accounts were inadequate, said the presiding judge at the sentencing hearing on Tuesday morning in Zurich. The cellist and conductor Roldugin is considered a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He opened several accounts with Gazprombank Switzerland (GPBS) in 2014, through which millions of euros subsequently flowed.

The bank closed the accounts in fall 2016. "There were circumstances that indicated that this could be straw man financing," said the judge. Those responsible at the bank had not followed up on these indications.

In the court's opinion, the necessary investigations should also have included clarifying how Roldugin obtained the stake in a Russian media company, presumably worth more than CHF 100 million. Around five to seven million francs flowed annually from this shareholding via Roldugin's accounts at GPBS.

The suspects are the CEO and two other employees of GPBS, which has been in liquidation since fall 2022. The three men are Russian nationals who have been living in Switzerland for some time. A Swiss national who no longer works for the bank was also charged.

The court sentenced them to conditional fines of 110 daily rates each. The bank's CEO received the highest sentence: he must pay 110 daily rates of CHF 3,000 each. The daily rates of the other convicted persons are between 350 and 500 francs. The judgment of the Zurich High Court is not yet final. It can be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court.

7 a.m.

Map shows Russian bases within ATACMS range

The Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War has published a map showing which Russian military bases are within range of Ukrainian munitions.

A distinction is made between GMLRS projectiles and ATACMS missiles of different ranges. In total, the map shows 16 military airfields and dozens of military objects of the Russian armed forces.

However, there are no major Russian bases in the range of GMLRS ammunition - and to what extent Kiev has the green light to use ATACMS missiles against Russian territory.

4.18 p.m.

Historic day: EU launches accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova

The EU begins accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova this Tuesday. The talks are being organized on the fringes of an EU ministerial meeting in Luxembourg after the so-called negotiating frameworks were agreed last week. These set out the guidelines and principles for the negotiations. However, it remains to be seen how long it could take for EU accession once the talks have started.

European Minister of State Anna Lührmann (Greens) said: "Today is a historic day for Europe! We are opening the EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova." She was impressed by her visit to Ukraine and Moldova last week. "Both countries have made great progress despite the Russian bombs, the disinformation campaigns and the attempts at destabilization," she said.

For the people of Ukraine, the opening of EU accession negotiations is above all an important sign that it is worth continuing the defensive struggle against Russia. However, it remains to be seen how long it could take to join the EU once talks have started.

Theoretically, a candidate country could never become a member. In the case of Ukraine, it is currently considered impossible that it will become an EU member before the end of the Russian war of aggression. This is because Kiev could then call for military assistance under Article 42, paragraph 7 of the EU Treaty - and the EU would be a party to the war.

3.40 a.m.

USA: Russian ATACMS launch killed civilians in Crimea

According to the USA, Ukraine did not target civilians during its attack on Crimea at the weekend. Russia apparently intercepted an ATACMS missile that was intended to disable a missile launch pad, says a US official. Debris from the missile fell on a beach.

According to Russian reports, at least four people, including two children, were killed in the Ukrainian attack with ATACMS missiles at the weekend. 151 people were injured. Russia holds the USA partly responsible for the attack. The US government stated that Ukraine makes its own decisions on targets and military operations.

1.02 p.m.

Orban "not in agreement" with EU accession process for Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has expressed his criticism of the European Union's accession talks with Ukraine, which will begin this Tuesday in Luxembourg. Orban told the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers: "Hungary does not agree with this accession process, but we are not blocking it and support the start of the negotiations." The talks are "a purely politically motivated process".

It was not a question of yes or no to EU membership. "But we would first have to examine what the consequences would be if we accepted a country at war whose borders have not been clarified in practice," said Orban, whose country takes over the EU Council presidency on July 1. He also asked about the consequences of the accession of such a huge country for EU agriculture. "Now we are starting negotiations without clarity, that is not good."

Accession negotiations with Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia, begin on the sidelines of an EU ministerial meeting in Luxembourg alongside similar talks with Moldova, a small country neighboring Ukraine. Last week, the negotiating framework was agreed, setting out guidelines and principles. The start of accession talks had already been agreed in principle at an EU summit in December.

How long it could take to join the EU after the start of talks is completely open. The process could take many years. Theoretically, a candidate country can never become a member. For example, it is currently considered impossible for Ukraine to become an EU member before the end of the Russian war of aggression. This is because Kiev could then call for military assistance under Article 42, paragraph 7 of the EU Treaty - and the EU would be a party to the war.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 0.10 a.m.

At least eight dead in fire in office building near Moscow

At least eight people have died in a fire in an office building near Moscow. Among the dead were two people who jumped down in panic to save themselves from the flames, the authorities said. The governor of the Moscow region, Andrey Vorobyev, wrote on Telegram that oxygen tanks stored in the building had exploded, causing some ceilings to collapse. According to a media report by the state news agency Tass, the fire in the suburb of Fryazino, around 25 kilometers northeast of the capital, was caused by a faulty electrical system.

Videos shared on social media showed thick clouds of smoke rising from the windows of the multi-storey building. Governor Vorobyev explained that the building had been rented by 30 different companies, including the Platan Research Institute, which produces military electronics among other things.

10 p.m.

We end the ticker on Monday, June 24, 2024

21:13

USA wants to supply Ukraine with additional ammunition

According to government sources, the USA wants to supply Ukraine with additional ammunition worth 150 million dollars. According to two US government representatives, who wish to remain anonymous, the decision is expected to be officially announced today, Tuesday. The forthcoming delivery is also expected to include ammunition for the Himars multiple rocket launchers provided by the USA, which can also be used to fire Atacms missiles. Following Ukrainian Atamcs attacks on Crimea, Moscow declared that the USA was now a party to the war.

The continued supply of US ammunition from existing stocks is intended to help the Ukrainian military fend off the intensified Russian attacks.

8:43 p.m.

Zelensky replaces commander of military unit

Following reports of high casualties in the Ukrainian armed forces, Kiev President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Lieutenant General Yuri Sodol from the post of commander of the United Forces. Brigadier General Andriy Hnatov will now lead this unit of the Ukrainian armed forces, the head of state said in his video message broadcast in Kiev on Monday evening. He did not give any reasons for the dismissal. However, the chief of staff of the controversial Azov Brigade, Bohdan Krotevych, had previously filed charges against Sodol, according to the media. He accused the commander of negligent orders that had led to major casualties.

"He has killed more Ukrainian soldiers than any Russian general," wrote Krotevych on Facebook, without mentioning Sodol's name. At the same time, he demanded that the lieutenant general be investigated for possible collaboration with Russia.

According to the media, there were accusations against Sodol, not least in the Supreme Rada, the parliament in Kiev, that he had poorly prepared Ukrainian soldiers for missions - for example in the embattled Kharkiv region. The presidential office in Kiev published a decree by Zelensky on the change of personnel in the United Forces.

18:48

Russia dismisses new EU sanctions as ineffective

Moscow has dismissed the new punitive measures in the EU's 14th sanctions package against Russia as ineffective. In fact, the EU is once again harming itself, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow announced on Monday. The West is not looking at the consequences for its own economy or for the prosperity of people in the EU, said Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko in Moscow. Russia expects economic growth of over three percent this year, more than ten times higher than in Germany, for example.

"The purpose of the sanctions was to strangle the Russian economy and destroy the cohesion of society. The EU has achieved the opposite," said Grushko. Russia also warned of a renewed rise in energy prices in the EU.

18.21 hrs

Selenskyj expected in Brussels to conclude agreement with EU

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend political talks in Brussels in the middle of the week. As several EU officials told the German press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur on Monday, an agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the EU is also to be signed. The text for this has been in the works for months. It is possible that Zelenskyi will also attend the summit meeting of the heads of state and government of the 27 EU states on Thursday as a guest. There was initially no confirmation of this.

16.20 hrs

Zelensky cleans up his bodyguard after assassination attempt

Volodymyr Zelensky is on a confrontational course with his bodyguard. After a foiled assassination attempt, the Ukrainian president dismissed the head of his bodyguards. Selensky has now demanded that the new chief, Colonel Oleksiy Morozov, remove all individuals from the State Guard, as reported by the Reuters news agency.

Morozov's main task is to ensure that only those who see their future connected to Ukraine serve in the Guard. "And, of course, the State Guard must be cleansed of anyone who does not choose Ukraine or discredits the State Security Service," Selensky is said to have written on Telegram, according to Reuters.

The remarks were Volodymyr Zelensky's first comment since the arrest of two bodyguards by the State Security Service (SBU) last month. They are accused of working with Russia to plan assassinations of the Ukrainian president and other high-ranking members of the government and officials.

14:54

Kremlin places spy boats off Kiel - because of Israel's latest submarine

Russia has placed two spy ships in the Baltic Sea near Kiel: The Sibiryakov and the Vasily Tatishchev are to take a close look at the latest Israeli submarine, reports "Naval News".

🚨 Israel's latest submarine, INS Drakon, will be on sea trials following its construction in Kiel, Germany. Two Russian spy ships, the Sibiryakov and the Wassili Tatischtschew, have arrived on the scene... 🇮🇱🇷🇺
Story by @CovertShores https://t.co/9MgESsGcGP

— Naval News (@navalnewscom) June 24, 2024

It is the INS Drakon, which was launched at ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and is soon to be tested in the Baltic Sea. It is a submarine of the Dolphin 2 class, which in turn was developed from the German submarine classes 209 and 212 A.

According to Naval News, the Israeli boat is believed to have vertical launchers for strategic missiles and will become part of Jerusalem's nuclear deterrent. Details or the armament of the boat are classified.

14:14

Kiev calls Crimean tourists "civilian occupiers"

Following the devastating explosion of a Ukrainian rocket over a beach on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea annexed by Russia, the government in Kiev has described the victims as "civilian occupiers". "There are not and cannot be any 'beaches', 'tourist zones' or other fictitious signs of 'peaceful life' in Crimea," wrote Mychajlo Podoljak, advisor in the presidential office, on Telegram today.

Crimea is a territory occupied by Russia with hundreds of military targets where combat operations are taking place. The Kremlin is trying to cover these targets with its own civilians, who in turn would become civilian occupiers. The day before, a Ukrainian rocket exploded over a public beach near the Sevastopol naval base.

According to local authorities, at least four people were killed and more than 150 injured. According to initial Russian reports, the missile was intercepted and exploded. Moscow later claimed that it had been direct fire. Moscow accused Kiev of using US missiles with cluster munitions.

13:38

EU launches military aid for Ukraine

Against the will of the Hungarian government, the EU is launching around 1.4 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine. The planned procedure was approved today at a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, several diplomats confirmed to the German Press Agency.

This provides that Hungary cannot veto the decision because it is classified as a decision that can be taken by majority vote. Budapest has been blocking the disbursement of EU funds for military aid to Ukraine for months. The government in Budapest justifies this with doubts about the efficiency of support for the attacked country and concerns about a further escalation of the conflict.

In Brussels, however, it is assumed that it is also concerned with freeing up EU funds for Hungary that have been frozen due to concerns about the rule of law. The approximately 1.4 billion euros now at stake are interest income from frozen assets of the Russian central bank in the EU. The EU had already agreed in principle several weeks ago to use this money for Ukraine.

However, due to Hungary's veto policy, it was initially unclear when they could be used. The procedure that has now been chosen provides for the money to flow to countries such as Germany or the Czech Republic, which will then promptly provide Ukraine with equipment for air defense or artillery shells.

According to the Commission, around 210 billion euros from the Russian central bank have been frozen in the EU. The Brussels-based financial institution Euroclear recently announced that it had collected around 4.4 billion euros in interest in 2023.

The proposal for the indirect use of Russian funds for Ukraine was submitted to the governments of the EU member states by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell in March. It stipulates that 90 percent of the usable interest income from the custody of Russian central bank funds should be channeled into the EU fund for the financing of military equipment and training. The remaining ten percent is to be used for direct financial aid to Ukraine

12.30 pm

Moscow threatens Washington after missile attack

The Kremlin has threatened the USA with consequences following the Ukrainian missile attack on the port city of Sevastopol in Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia since 2014.

"It goes without saying that the direct involvement of the US in combat operations that result in the deaths of Russian civilians cannot remain without consequences," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the state news agency Tass today. Moscow knew exactly who was behind the "barbaric attack".

It was not the Ukrainians who controlled such technically complex missiles, he added. He did not want to name any specific consequences for the USA. Only time will tell, said Peskov, referring to statements made by President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Asia last week.

There, the Kremlin leader had threatened to respond to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine with the transfer of Russian weapons and technology to forces hostile to the West. He made the statement against the backdrop of his trip to North Korea, where ruler Kim Jong-un is developing nuclear weapons.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also summoned the US ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, because of the missile attack that left 150 people injured. According to an official statement, Washington was just as responsible for these acts as Ukraine, not only because of its arms deliveries to Kiev, but also because US specialists were controlling these missiles.

Hello, morons and pro-russian freaks who are whining about Ukraine attacking Sevastopol today. I'd like to introduce you to Article 58 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions.

Ukraine attacked a legitimate military target in Sevastopol - most likely Belbek airfield.… pic.twitter.com/t2l1k5g09I

— Clare Fella (@clarenafo) June 23, 2024

Peskov also complained that the Kremlin had not received any telegrams of condolence from the countries classified as "unfriendly states" in Moscow after the attacks in the Caucasus - including EU countries as well as the USA. However, according to Peskov, Putin will not be making a statement on the attacks or the missile attack on Sevastopol.

Putin did not personally express his condolences to the bereaved, but only through his press spokesman.

12.21 p.m.

Kiev attacks communications center in Crimea

The Ukrainian armed forces have attacked a Russian communications center in Vitino in Crimea. Satellite data and video images show that eight missiles triggered heavy fires. The NIP-16 facility is used for space surveillance and was built in the 1960s.

11.25 a.m.

This is how many weapons Moscow produces

The pro-Kremlin Russian daily "Izvestia" comments on the promises of increased European arms deliveries to Ukraine and predicts an arms race:

"European arms manufacturers have made big new announcements without their promise to supply Kiev with 'one million rounds by March 2024'. France and Germany have declared that they will multiply the production of ammunition by 2026. The capacity to manufacture heavy weapons is also set to increase by then.

It is estimated that it will take Europe up to ten years to restore its military armaments capacities after decades of underfunding. Against this background, the defense sector in Russia has already increased the production of ammunition and many types of military technology many times over and continues to work proactively.

As far as Germany is concerned, Rheinmetall intends to utilize the capacities of its plant under construction in Unterlüss, Lower Saxony, in the future. The weapons giant estimates the army's ammunition requirements at around 40 billion euros in view of the fact that current stocks are at a record low after many years of underfunding.

Rheinmetall plans to produce up to 700,000 artillery shells per year by 2025, instead of the 400,000 to 500,000 it currently produces. Until the conflict in Ukraine, the company produced no more than 70,000 shells a year.

While the arms industry in Europe is only slowly gaining momentum, the sector in Russia has shown stable growth since 2021 and throughout the special military operation, stated Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with industry representatives on 25 May.

According to him, the production of missiles and artillery has grown more than 22-fold, radio and reconnaissance equipment 15-fold, ammunition 14-fold, vehicles 7-fold, individual protection equipment 6-fold, aircraft technology and drones 4-fold and armored weapons almost 3.5-fold."

10.32 am

EU adopts new sanctions against Russia

The European Union is imposing new sanctions due to the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The foreign ministers of the 27 EU states formally adopted the 14th package of punitive measures in Luxembourg today.

In particular, it is intended to make it more difficult to circumvent existing sanctions. Violations of the current rules mean, for example, that Russia's arms industry can still use Western technology to manufacture weapons for the war against Ukraine.

In addition to measures against the circumvention of sanctions, the package also provides for the imposition of tough EU sanctions against Russia's multi-billion dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) business for the first time. This will prohibit ports such as the one in Zeebrugge, Belgium, from being used to ship Russian LNG to third countries.

Ideally, this will mean that Russia will be able to sell less liquefied natural gas due to a lack of transport capacity and invest less money in its war of aggression. The new package also includes sanctions against dozens of other companies that are accused of contributing to Russia's military and technological strengthening or to the development of its defense and security sector.

In future, no more goods and technologies with military applications may be sold to them from the EU. According to the EU, some of these companies are based in third countries such as China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. An agreement on the new sanctions package was reached last Thursday by the permanent representatives of the EU states in Brussels after tough negotiations.

9.20 a.m.

At least 15 dead in terrorist attack in Dagestan

The authorities have lifted the state of alert imposed after a series of attacks in the Russian republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus. "Because the threat to the life and limb of citizens has been eliminated, the decision was made to end the anti-terrorist operation in accordance with the law 'On Combating Terrorism'", a statement from the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said today.

According to information from the governor of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, more than 15 police officers were killed in the clashes with the attackers during the night. There are also civilians dead. However, Melikov did not specify the exact number. The previous evening, assassins had attacked synagogues and churches in Dagestan's regional capital Makhachkala and the large city of Derbent, 100 kilometers to the south.

The synagogue in Derbent went up in flames. It took hours to extinguish the fire. An Orthodox priest was killed in a church. The security forces were also targeted. For example, the attackers fired on a police station.

The authorities immediately launched a manhunt and blocked the exits from Makhachkala. They later succeeded in blocking the terrorists, it was reported. According to official information, five assassins were killed; the media had previously reported six. However, there were also other police casualties in the exchange of fire.

There is still no information about the exact background to the attacks, although Melikov has stated that they were directed from abroad. Some politicians in Dagestan and Moscow have already blamed Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. According to media reports, three of the assassins are the sons and nephews of a high-ranking official in the region.

The man has already been questioned during the night. Three days of mourning have been declared in Dagestan because of the series of attacks.

6.50 a.m.

Attacks on Kharkiv leave one injured and one dead

Russia has once again fired on the large city of Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine. At least one person was killed and around a dozen injured in the glide bomb attack.

Two of the injured were minors, announced Kharkiv's military governor Oleh Synjehubov on Telegram. The deceased is said to be a 73-year-old man. According to Synjehubow, there were three strikes in several densely populated areas of the city. The damage was enormous and several high-rise buildings were severely damaged.

Kharkiv yesterday 💔

This has to end!!

🤬🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/DajpdjLTin

— D.Radka, #NAFO 🇨🇿🤝🇺🇦 (@DakdaR22) June 23, 2024

On Monday night, several explosions rocked the suburbs of Kharkiv, as reported by Ukrainian television. No further details were initially available.

6.40 a.m.

Many injured in attack on Sevastopol

Yesterday, Sunday, the port city of Sevastopol was attacked with ATACMS missiles. A missile intercepted by Russian air defense exploded over one of the city's beaches. Four people were killed in the explosion, including two children. According to official Russian figures, the number of injured had risen to 151 by the evening.

4/4
It is also loud in Sevastopol, Chornomorskyi, Saki, and Novofedorivka. It also rained 3-5 times in the area of ​​Chernomorsky and Mezhvodny

After the attack, the Russian public reported that about 20 UAVs were flying in their direction again.

- During the attack in the… pic.twitter.com/byovuVefKR

— Lew Anno Suport#Israel #Ukraine 24/2-22 (@anno1540) June 24, 2024

There was talk in Moscow of a targeted terrorist attack. The Russian Ministry of Defense, which had initially claimed that all Ukrainian missiles had been fired and explained the explosion on the beach as the result of a missile changing course due to air defence, later retracted this statement.

Instead, only four of the five missiles had been intercepted and the fifth had been deliberately detonated by the Ukrainians over the beach. The military in Moscow announced retaliation.

6.30 a.m.

Update: Ten dead in Dagestan

Series of attacks in the Caucasus: It took several hours for the police in the Islamic Russian republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus to eliminate the attackers, who had attacked synagogues, churches and a police station. "The emergency services and security forces reacted quickly, but unfortunately it was not without casualties," said the mayor of Makhachkala, Yusup Umavov.

BREAKING:

Islamist terror attack in Dagestan, Russia against a synagogue and a church.

At least 5 police officers k*lled and 1 priest beheaded.

The bearded terrorists are all dressed in black and are shouting “Allahu Akbar” pic.twitter.com/m8TsDOymsq

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 23, 2024

According to the authorities, the terrorists killed a total of ten people, including eight police officers. A further 16 people had to be hospitalized. At least six attackers were killed, Russian media reported, citing the police.

In the evening, parallel attacks were reported in the southern Russian city of Derbent and in Dagestan's regional capital Makhachkala. Synagogues were attacked in both cities, according to the Russian Jewish Congress. The synagogue in Derbent was severely damaged by fire. Two Orthodox churches were also attacked, where a priest and a security guard were killed. Another target of the attackers was a police station in Makhachkala.

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