3:07 PM Dnipropetrovsk: Casualties Resulting From Fresh Russian Attacks
Ukraine War Live Updates: +++ 15:07 Dnipropetrovsk: Dead, Injured from Russian Attacks
The city of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, is reeling from a deadly night, as Russian drone and artillery assaults resulted in the death of a 59-year-old man. The tragic incident, confirmed by regional military governor Serhiy Lysak on Telegram, also left four others, including an eleven-year-old boy, injured. Lysak shared heart-wrenching photos of the damaged buildings following the attacks.
14:29 Prisoner Exchange: Russia and Ukraine Trade Captives Again
Following their latest prisoner exchange, both Russia and Ukraine are breathing a sigh of relief as their people return from Russian captivity. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced the release of severely ill and injured soldiers. The number of freed prisoners remains undisclosed on both sides. Russian Defense Ministry issued photos of soldiers waving Russian flags as they celebrated their return, while Zelenskyy shared similar images of grinning, tearful Ukrainian soldiers, many of whom have been captive since 2022.
14:00 Recalcitrant Russian Soldiers Choose Prison Over Desertion
With the difficult task of fleeing the country, some Russian deserters looking to avoid going back to the war in Ukraine have taken a unique approach—self-imprisonment. Their lawyers work diligently to ensure convictions resulting in prison sentences rather than suspended sentences, as a return to the front can be a death sentence. An example of this was a soldier named Vladimir, who expressed relief upon learning his sentence, stating, "Better this way than ending up under a bush somewhere in Ukraine." According to independent magazine iStories, at least 49,000 Russian soldiers have deserted to date, making this an increasingly common method of evasion.
13:09 Ukraine Unconditionally Accepted US Ceasefire Proposal, But Russia Keeps Bombing
As it reaches the 100-day mark, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha penned a scathing statement, demanding international pressure on Moscow to end the war. According to Sybiha, Ukraine has adhered to the US's unilateral 30-day ceasefire proposal during negotiations in Jeddah on March 11, but Russia has not only rejected this offer but also heightened its attacks on Ukrainian cities. Sybiha lamented the lost opportunities to end the war during the past 100 days, during which Moscow has intensified terror against Ukraine rather than ceasing it.
12:43 Finland Leaves Ottawa Convention, Citing Russian Threat
Following the lead of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, Finland has decided to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines. A parliamentary vote, resulting in a clear majority of 157 to 18 in favor of withdrawal, took place, with the move expected to go into effect six months after Finland notifies the United Nations. The country's military believes that anti-personnel mines are essential to defend the country against the growing threat from the east, represented by Russia.
12:11 Rutte Streamlines NATO, Cuts Jobs
A comprehensive restructuring underway within NATO, led by newly-appointed Secretary-General Mark Rutte, aims to cut jobs and reduce the number of international departments from eight to six. The affected departments include the Public Diplomacy Division (NATO's press service) and the Executive Management Division (NATO's personnel department). Their responsibilities are slated to be taken over by other departments, with dozens of jobs set to be cut.
11:26 Argentina Uncovers Russian Propaganda Ring
Argentine authorities have exposed a Russian intelligence operation aimed at disseminating Kremlin-friendly disinformation and manipulating public opinion. Dubbed "La Compañía" and allegedly linked to the Kremlin's Lakhta project, the operation was led by Russian citizen Lev Konstantinovich Andriashev and his wife Irina Yakovenko. The couple stands accused of soliciting local employees and finances to carry out pro-Russian influence campaigns, focusing on benefiting Moscow's geopolitical interests.
10:52 German Politician Skeptical of Putin's Negotiation Willingness
German parliamentary business manager Dirk Wiese, the SPD Bundestag faction, expressed openness to dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin but cautioned that he has doubts about Putin's genuine commitment to engaging in constructive dialogue. Despite Putin's agreement to a meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz if triggered by the latter, Wiese considers Putin's press conferences as mere staged events. Wiese pointed out that numerous attempts to communicate with Putin have proved futile, as the Russian leader has never demonstrated a willingness to seriously negotiate.
10:15 How Seriously Should Germany Take Putin's Threat?
In response to Putin's veiled threat during a St. Petersburg International Economic Forum press conference, ntv correspondent Rainer Munz discussed the level of concern Germany should have regarding Putin's warning in relation to the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
10:01 Many Civilian Casualties in Kyiv - Putin Refutes Accusations of Targeting Residential Areas
Russian President Vladimir Putin denied targeting residential areas in Ukraine during a press conference with foreign journalists, despite reports of civilian casualties and the targeting of Kyiv with missile strikes resulting in the deaths of 28 people and the injury of over 140 civilians. Putin claimed that the representatives of the Associated Press, who posed the question about a reported missile strike on a residential building, probably "wouldn't have survived" had they been present to witness the alleged strike. He maintained that Russian attacks are aimed at military targets, specifically defense industrial complexes and factories producing military equipment.
10:00 Russian Drones Assault Ukraine, Killing 28 Civilians
In the past 24 hours, Russian drone and artillery attacks have resulted in the death of at least 28 civilians across several regions in Ukraine, according to regional officials. Ukrainian air force data indicates that Russian forces launched 104 Shahed drones and unmanned decoy bodies (UAVs), with 40 drones intercepted, 48 unaccounted for, and lost to radar or electronic warfare.
09:38 Putin Nurtures Western Media at St. Petersburg Economic Forum
In addition to disseminating optimism among its own population, the Kremlin seeks to use the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to place its propaganda in Western media. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov stated that President Putin will meet with journalists from countries deemed "unfriendly" during the event, with the objective of conveying the Russian perspective to Western audiences.
07:39 High Number of Russian Military Casualties in the Past 24 Hours
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, over 1,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded over the past 24 hours. In addition, four tanks and over 60 Russian artillery systems and drones were destroyed. These figures are difficult to verify, but the independent military intelligence portal Oryx, based in the Netherlands, only counts losses based on photos or videos.
07:02 Using Economic Forum to Friendly Bolster Morale and Manage Information
The upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum from June 18 to 21 will be utilized by the Kremlin to help manage the domestic informational landscape and boost morale. The event may be used to proclaim solutions to various social and economic problems, organize events to decrease the visibility of international criticism against Russian actions in Ukraine, and potentially impose internet restrictions around the event to better control the information space.
06:22 Putin Indicates Openness for Further Discussions with Zelenskyy
In comments to foreign journalists, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled his willingness to continue negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting that a meeting could take place in the final stage of negotiations. However, Putin emphasized that it is crucial for whoever signs official agreements on behalf of Ukraine not to negate such agreements following changes of leadership.
05:45 Multiple Injuries in Russian Attacks on Kherson
Authorities in Kherson reported that at least eight civilians have been injured during recent Russian attacks on the Kherson Oblast, with attacks targeting several settlements using artillery and drones. Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, including private homes, have also been damaged in the attacks.
04:45 Taurus Missile Delivery Warnings from Putin to German Government
Amidst threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Germany's plans to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, Putin told the German Press Agency that the move would "completely ruin" German-Russian relations and have "no impact" on Moscow's offensive against Kyiv. Putin expressed similar sentiments earlier during his conversation with representatives of foreign media in St. Petersburg.
03:48 Data Storage on Russian Servers Required by Moscow for Return of Foreign Companies
Following a meeting with the Association of European Businesses, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov announced that Moscow is insisting on the storage of all company data on Russian servers as a condition for permitting the return of foreign companies to Russia.
02:43 Putin Unconcerned About NATO's Defense Spending Increase
Despite NATO's decision to increase defense spending in response to the situation in Ukraine, Putin expressed confidence that Russia has the capability to ensure its own security without needing to worry about NATO's mobilization.
01:25 EU Nations Agree on 1.5 Billion Euro Defense Spending Program
In a move to boost security and support defense spending, the European Union has reached an agreement on the creation of a 1.5 billion Euro program to support potential defense initiatives among its member countries. Diplomats expect the new funding to grow in the future, with the European Parliament expected to pass the initiative in the coming days.
For continuous updates, please follow our live blog on the Ukraine War.
Source: ntv.de, als/hul/mau/dpa/rts/AFP
- Ukraine Conflict
- Ukraine
- Military
- Prisoner Exchange
- Russia
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- Cyber War
- Attack on Ukraine
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Vladimir Putin
- Wars and Conflicts
- War Crimes
- The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, gripped by war-and-conflicts and politics, has seen a recent escalation, with Dnipropetrovsk falling victim to Russian attacks, resulting in the death of a 59-year-old man and the injury of several others, including an eleven-year-old boy.
- Amidst the general-news of prisoner exchange agreements between Russia and Ukraine, some Russian deserters have opted for self-imprisonment, choosing prison sentences over returning to the war front, in an attempt to evade being sent back to the battlefield.
