Tuesday, June 18

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Oleksandr Tymchyk and Artem Dovbyk of Ukraine look dejected as they react after defeat to Romania during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Romania and Ukraine at Munich Football Arena on June 17, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Destruction of Kerch Bridge won’t be as effective anymore, military says. The bridge accounts for less than a quarter of the total transiting cargo, and for the rest, Russia uses a ferry crossing in Kerch, which the Ukrainian military struck in late May, Pletenchuk said.

Magura naval drones can now operate anti-aircraft missiles. One of the Magura drones has already been equipped with these missiles, creating a serious challenge for the Russian Air Force operating in the region, the commander of the military intelligence Group 13 unit said in an interview with journalist Maksym Krapyvnyi.

Putin to visit North Korea, Vietnam this week. Despite the increasingly strong alliance between Russia and North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not visited the country since 2000, when he met with previous North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.

Ukrainian newest naval drone Stalker presented in Odesa. The Stalker 5.0 drone can reportedly accelerate up to 75 km/h and has a cruise speed of 55 km/h. It has an estimated price tag of around 60,000 euros ($64,000).

Ukraine’s energy supplier: Ukrainians may have electricity for 6-7 hours per day in winter. Ukrainians may have electricity for 6-7 hours per day in the upcoming winter if the electricity deficit remains at 35%, Serhiy Kovalenko, the CEO of energy supplier Yasno (DTEK), said on June 17 on national television.

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Air raids last 16 hours per day on average in Kharkiv Oblast obstructing business operations, governor says. Nearly 50,000 residents of Kharkiv Oblast are without electricity supply due to the destruction caused by the Russian attacks, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

70% of Ukrainians think Zelensky must remain president until end of martial law, survey shows. From 65% to 74% of Ukrainians, depending on the region of their residence, agreed that Zelensky must remain in power until the end of martial law. This means most Ukrainians do not question the president’s legitimacy, sociologists said.

Ukraine hits 15 Russian air defense systems in occupied Crimea over past 2 months, military says. According to the statement, the Ukrainian military recently hit several S-300, S-350, and S-400 air defense systems. Ukraine also struck more than 15 radar stations and over 10 control centers stationed in the Russian-occupied peninsula.

Ukraine’s security council secretary doesn’t rule out Russia using nuclear arms if facing ‘catastrophic defeat.’ Nothing can be ruled out if Russia finds itself on the verge “of a catastrophic defeat,” including the use of tactical nuclear weapons by Moscow, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, the National Security and Defense Council secretary, said in an interview with The Times published on June 16.

Ukrainian drones attack metallurgical plant, other facilities in 3 Russian regions, source says. Ukrainian “kamikaze” drones attacked a metallurgical plant and other facilities used for military purposes in Russia’s Belgorod, Voronezh, and Lipetsk oblasts overnight on June 17, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) source told the Kyiv Independent.

Azov reports advances in Serebryansky forest, releases video of ‘nastiest weapon.’ In a comment to the Kyiv Independent on June 17, the brigade said further results of the operation, which began on April 21, could not be reported at this time to protect the “safety and success of operations.”

Read our exclusives

Ukraine’s Peace Summit is over — what were its highs and lows?

Ukraine’s peace summit wrapped up on June 16 at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland after two days of discussions on three major aspects of Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan: nuclear safety, food security, and prisoner swaps. Over 90 took part in the summit.

Photo: Michael Buholzer/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Peace summit ‘smart’ way to combat Russian propaganda, Australian representative says

The Kyiv Independent sat down with Australian Government Services Minister Bill Shorten, to discuss key points of the peace summit in Switzerland. Shorten has been in politics for eight years and was a trade union representative for 15 years before that.

Photo: Urs Flueeler /POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones target industrial facilities in 3 Russian regions

Ukrainian “kamikaze” drones attacked a metallurgical plant and other facilities used for military purposes in Russia’s Belgorod, Voronezh, and Lipetsk oblasts overnight on June 17, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) source told the Kyiv Independent.

Photo: Oleksandr Magula/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Updated: Russian strike against Poltava injures 22, including children. Russia attacked Poltava Oblast on June 17, hitting a civilian infrastructure site, Governor Filip Pronin reported.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 1, injure 15 over past day. Russia targeted a total of nine Ukrainian oblasts — Chernihiv, Poltava, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. Casualties were reported in the latter three regions.

At least 12,000 civilians confirmed to have been killed since beginning of full-scale war, Prosecutor General says. Earlier in June, Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said that over 800 Ukrainian children have been killed since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014.

Rescued man dies in hospital following Russian strike on Poltava Oblast, governor says. The Russian military struck the Myrhorod district in Poltava Oblast on June 10, injuring the man and damaging nearly 10 houses, Governor Filip Pronin said.

Ukraine This Week: Su-57s, foreign mercenaries, and an internet rumor

International response

Japan allocates $188 million for grant projects for Ukrainian businesses. “This project opens up opportunities for businesses to receive a grant of up to $10 million, and the total project budget is $188 million,” the statement said.

More than 20 NATO members to hit 2% defense spending target in 2024, says Stoltenberg. “This is good for Europe and good for America, especially since much of this extra money is spent here in the United States,” Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on June 17.

Telegraph: NATO in talks to put more nuclear weapons on standby, Stoltenberg says. NATO countries are in discussions to deploy more nuclear weapons on standby, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the Telegraph on June 16 as Russia continues to threaten the use of nuclear weapons.

Time will play in Ukraine’s favor once F-16s and more Western aid arrive, Syrskyi says. With the gradual arrival of military aid, including the first batch of F-16 fighter jets, time will favor Ukraine, while Russia’s chances of success will decrease, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on June 17.

Denmark developing plans to curb Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers. “On the Danish side, we have assembled a circle of countries that will look at the possibilities for further measures against the shadow fleet,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said in an interview.

Latvia sent first batch of drones to Ukraine, preparing second one. Latvia has already dispatched the first batch of drones to Ukraine and is preparing a second one, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said in an interview with ArmyInform published on June 17.

Switzerland wants to discuss peace summit results with Russia, China, other non-participants. The Swiss government intends to discuss the outcomes of the global peace summit with countries that have not attended, including Russia and China, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on June 16.

In other news

Euro 2024: Romania crushes Ukraine 0:3 in first game at tournament. Nicolae Stanciu opened the score on the 29th minute followed by goals by Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus on the 53rd and 57th minutes.

Trial for US journalist Gershkovich jailed in Russia set to begin later in June. The trial is planned to occur behind closed doors.

At least 4 hospitalized after bus with 57 Ukrainians on board crashes in Romania. According to the U.N., more than 80,000 Ukrainian refugees were registered in Romania as of early June. Almost 170,000 Ukrainians have received temporary protected status in the country.

Putin appoints relative to defense ministry post in yet another shake-up. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sacked four deputy defense ministers and appointed a relative to fill one of the resulting vacancies in the latest shake-up of the ministry.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Katya Denisova, Nate Ostiller, Chris York, Kateryna Hodunova, Oleksiy Sorokin, Rachel Amran, and Olena Goncharova.

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