Friday, June 2

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers drive across colorful fields on the way to frontline positions on the southern front line on May 23, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

Zelensky meets European leaders in Moldova, discusses EU, NATO integration process and further military support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has traveled to Moldova for a meeting with European leaders as part of the 2nd European Political Community Summit, held on June 1.

Zelensky meets ‘fighter jet coalition’ leaders at Moldova summit. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the leaders of the informal ‘fighter jet coalition’ during the 2nd European Political Community Summit in Moldova on June 1. The parties agreed to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in the near future and discussed the future supply of aircraft.

Zelensky: Military action in Transnistria impossible without Moldova’s consent. Ukraine’s President Zelensky has ruled out military action in Russia-controlled Transnistria without Chisinau’s consent, European Pravda reported on June 1. Zelensky said this in response to a query at a press conference at the 2nd European Political Community Summit in Moldova.

General Staff: Russia attacks Ukraine with 15 cruise missiles, 18 drones in June 2 overnight aerial attack. Russian attacked Kyiv overnight on June 2 with 15 cruise missiles and 18 Iranian-made Shahed drones in its latest attack on the capital, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook.

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Russia claims to thwart new cross-border incursion after explosions reported in Belgorod Oblast. Russian authorities claimed on June 1 to have repelled a new attack across the state border into Belgorod that allegedly included the shelling of settlements, Reuters reported with reference to Russian sources.

Zakarpattia Oblast votes to ban Moscow Patriarchate church in region. Zakarpattia Oblast Council voted on June 1 to prohibit all activities of religious organizations connected to Russia, citing national security needs.

Zelensky: Ukraine’s air defense able to shoot down any Russian missile type. Thanks to foreign partners, Ukraine’s air defense is capable of shooting down all types of Russian missiles, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference on June 1 as reported by Ukrinform.

Civilian deaths in Kyiv spark outrage over closed bomb shelters. The case of the three victims of the June 1 missile strike in Kyiv, who died while trying to enter a closed air defense shelter has sparked anger from Ukrainian officials and the public.

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On Ukraine’s southern front line, tension reigns before decisive counteroffensive

Anticipated for over half a year since Ukraine liberated Kherson and the rest of the occupied territory west of the Dnipro River, Kyiv’s next major push looks likely to be decisive for the future course of the war.

Photo: Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent

Judicial reform formally completed as second top judicial body is appointed

All 16 members of the High Qualification Commission, a judicial body that vets and nominates candidates for judicial jobs, have been appointed now.

Photo: Kaniuka Ruslan/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Update: Russian June 1 attack on Kyiv kills 3 people, including 1 child, says Kyiv police. Russian missile attack on Kyiv overnight on June 1 killed three civilians, including a child, and injured 11 more people, reported the Kyiv police.

General Staff: Russia has lost 208,370 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on June 1 that Russia had also lost 3,804 tanks, 7,478 armored fighting vehicles, 6,239 vehicles and fuel tanks, 3,474 artillery systems, 575 multiple launch rocket systems, 333 air defense systems, 313 airplanes, 298 helicopters, 3,131 drones, and 18 boats.

Ukraine war latest: Russian attack on Kyiv kills 3, including child; Zelensky meets European leaders in Moldova

A missile overnight attack on Kyiv killed three civilians, including a nine-year-old child, on June 1, according to the local police.

Photo: Prosecutor General’s Office/Telegram

Our readers’ questions about the war, answered. Vol. 3

What’s behind “Z” as a symbol? How systemic is the corruption of the legal system in Ukraine? We’re answering these questions, and more.

Photo: SERGEY SHESTAK/AFP via Getty Images

International response

European Parliament votes to increase ammunition production for Ukraine. The European Parliament supported a draft bill to increase European production of ammunition and missiles on June 1.

US to buy Gepard air defense system for Ukraine in $118 million contract.

The U.S. Department of Defense will buy Gepard self-propelled anti-air systems for Ukraine worth $118.3 million, the Pentagon announced in a press release on June 1.

Media: Pentagon, Musk’s SpaceX close deal to provide Starlink to Ukraine. Elon Musk’s SpaceX won a defense contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to provide Ukraine with Starlink satellite services, the Pentagon confirmed to the media on June 1.

Zelensky meets Azerbaijani president Aliyev, thanks him for reconstruction assistance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev at the 2nd European Political Community Summit in Moldova on June 1.

US stops sharing information with Russia on nuclear weapons. The U.S. announced on June 1 that it has stopped sharing some key information on nuclear weapons with Russia due to Moscow’s unilateral suspension of the New START Treaty.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Toma Istomina, Martin Fornusek, Kate Tsurkan, Teah Pelechaty, Dinara Khalilova, Lili Bivings, and Haley Zehrung.

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