Ukraine War Live Ticker +++ 21:53: Ukraine Secures Multi-Million Dollar Aid for Chernobyl Repairs
Aid Worth Millions Arrives in Ukraine to Rebuild Remnants of Chernobyl Catastrophe
Politics Russian Drone Attack Damages Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant 21:40: Kindergarten goes underground in Kharkiv region A new underground kindergarten for 500 children is set to be built in the Kharkiv region, according to Oleg Sinegubov, head of the military administration of the Kharkiv region. "We have a unique project for an underground kindergarten for 500 children," he told the Dumka portal. "We will ask the government to start implementing it. We are the first to set such an example and build underground schools." Plans are underway for up to 30 schools underground, with the first ones set to open this summer.
21:21: Over 20,000 Russian Soldiers Refuse Conscription and Face Harsh Punishment More than 20,000 Russian soldiers have reportedly been prosecuted since the start of the war for refusing to fight in Ukraine. An insider told the independent Russian portal Mediazona that Moscow is using "Gulag-like" torture to "maintain order" and punish offenders.
20:59: White House Contemplating Ending War Crimes Investigation Funding The White House has recommended ending US funding for nearly two dozen programs worldwide that deal with the investigation of war crimes and accountability, including in Myanmar and Syria, as well as Russian atrocities in Ukraine.
20:33: Poland Welcomes Germany's Pursuit of Rearmament Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski welcomes Germany's plans to rearm the Bundeswehr. "We are good allies, and we must build military forces that do not frighten anyone, but deter Putin," says Sikorski in Warsaw. He sees the challenge of countering the threat of Russian rockets in Kaliningrad as a pressing Polish-German issue.
20:02: European Commissioner Urges Creation of European Drone Army Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, calls for Europe to be capable of building a drone army in case of a possible Russian attack. He warns that intelligence reports suggest that the Kremlin could attack a NATO country in as little as five years.
19:30: OPCW Confirms Russian Use of Chemical Weapons Against Ukrainian Soldiers The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirms in its new report that Russian forces have used the toxic chemical substance 2-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile against Ukrainian soldiers. The OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias calls the repeated discovery of chemical warfare agents near active conflict areas in the Dnipropetrovsk region "extremely concerning."
19:07: Russia Fails to Launch Advanced Warship A report from The Wall Street Journal reveals that Russia has provided extensive support to North Korea in the development and rapid construction of two advanced warships. However, one of the destroyers capsized during its launch, causing the project to fall short.
18:35: Kremlin Claims Attack on German Military in Erfurt Russian propaganda channels are circulating images and a video of burning German military trucks in Erfurt. However, there is no evidence of Russian involvement, and Kremlin officials have not commented on the incident.
18:03: Ukraine Claims Capture of 50,000 Russian Soldiers Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky claims that they have captured around 50,000 Russian troops in certain areas. Syrsky does not elaborate on how this success was achieved.
17:37: Poland: Putin Can't Win New Arms Race with West Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is convinced that Russia would lose a new arms race with the West. He notes that the Soviet Union collapsed because it spent too much on armaments and that Putin is repeating the same mistakes.
17:24: New Russian-Ukrainian Talks in Istanbul Imminent Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov says that a date for the third round of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul will be set as soon as exchange procedures agreed upon on June 2nd are completed.
17:02: Russian Court Sentences Photographer to 16 Years in Prison A Russian court sentences a photographer to 16 years in prison for treason. The photographer, Grigori Skwortskow, had previously spoken out publicly against Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.
16:48: Another Prisoner Exchange Between Ukraine and Russia Ukraine and Russia exchange prisoners again. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reports that "today, soldiers of the armed forces, national guard, and border guard are returning home."
16:14: Russia Summons German Ambassador in Moscow Russia plans to summon the German ambassador in Moscow due to the treatment of journalists. Corresponding retaliatory measures are being prepared.
15:47: Rheinmetall to Build Hermelin Vehicles for Ukraine German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall will build 20 "Hermelin" vehicles for the Ukrainian armed forces. The contract signed during the NATO summit in The Hague is the first order of the new generation of "Hermelin" vehicles.
15:25: Poll Shows More Poles Against Ukraine's NATO and EU Accession Than For It A recent poll in Poland shows that more Poles oppose Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO than support it.
15:05: Ukrainian Army Halts Russian Advance in Sumy Region The Ukrainian military reports that they have succeeded in stopping the Russian offensive in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine.
14:45: Slovak Prime Minister Threatens to Veto EU Sanctions Package Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatens to veto the planned 18th EU sanctions package against Russia due to the planned complete exit from gas supply contracts with Russia from January 1, 2028.
14:20: Ukraine Deploys Bayraktar Drone for First Time in Months The Ukrainian armed forces have reported the first combat deployment of a Bayraktar TB2 drone in several months. A video clip shows the drone attacking a Russian military boat in a river area in the Kherson region.
13:52: Ukrainian Army Chief Demands Faster Expansion of Defense Lines in Sumy The Ukrainian army chief orders a faster expansion of defense lines in the northeastern region of Sumy due to the demands of modern warfare.
13:28: Erdogan: Trump Agrees to Participate in Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks US President Donald Trump has reportedly agreed to participate in possible peace talks between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia in Turkey, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
12:58: Ukrainian Accused of Aiding Russia's Missile Program The Ukrainian security service SBU has reportedly uncovered that a Ukrainian national was significantly involved in Russia's missile program. The man is accused of overseeing the construction of thousands of missiles while working in Russia.
12:31: Orban Rejects EU Membership for Ukraine Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to reject Ukraine's EU membership. He emphasizes that there is no consensus with him on this issue at the EU summit in Brussels.
11:57: Trump Assures NATO: Russia Won't Attack as Long as He's in Office US President Donald Trump has reportedly assured NATO countries that Russia will not attack as long as he is in office, according to a US newspaper.
11:20: North Korea Could Send Troops to Russia for Ukraine Offensive North Korea could soon send additional troops to Russia to support a new offensive in the war against Ukraine, according to South Korean lawmakers.
10:42: Ukrainian Top-General: Russian "Summer Offensive" in Sumy Stopped Ukrainian forces have reportedly stopped the Russian offensive on the Sumy region, according to the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyj, on Telegram. The advance of Russian troops has been halted since this week, and the frontline has been stabilized.
10:28: Russian Defense Minister Warns Europe Over Military Aid to Ukraine Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov warns of European military aid to Ukraine. "Attempts to prolong military actions by supplying Ukraine with weapons and mercenaries increase the risk of destabilization, even in Europe itself," he says.
10:05: Ukrainian Military Reports 154 Engagements with Russian Troops The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports a total of 154 engagements with Russian troops on Wednesday. The most intense fighting is taking place near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
09:26: Ukraine Shows Glide Bomb from Own Production Ukraine has published footage of a glide bomb it has developed. The weapon, currently undergoing tests, is based on Russian UMPK glide bombs made glide-capable through kits.
09:02: One Dead and Two Injured in Russian Attacks One person has been killed and two others injured in Russian air attacks in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, local authorities report.
08:23: Moscow's View on NATO Summit: Russia's "New Adversary is the EU" NTV correspondent Rainer Munz reports from Moscow, expressing Moscow's perspective on the NATO summit in The Hague.
Politics Moscow's View on NATO Summit: Russia's "New Adversary is the EU" 07:20: Norway Provides Ukraine with 551 Million Euros for Combat Drones Russian air defense units have reportedly destroyed 50 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to the Moscow Ministry of Defense. Almost half of the drones were shot down over the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.
07:20: Norway Provides Ukraine with 551 Million Euros for Combat Drones Norway is providing Ukraine with 6.5 billion Norwegian Kroner (over 551 million euros) for the purchase of drones and related technology from Ukrainian and European manufacturers.
06:46: Explosions in Moscow - Airport Temporarily Closed Explosions were reported in Moscow overnight. Two Ukrainian drones were shot down, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobjanin. Flight operations at the two airports near Moscow, Vnukovo and Kaluga, were temporarily restricted.
06:20: Masala: NATO Has Taken a Step Back Political scientist and military expert Carlo Masala believes the NATO summit in The Hague did not yield much. "This was certainly not a summit from which one could say NATO emerged stronger," he said. Ukraine played no role at the summit, and the Russian threat was not clearly addressed. In essence, NATO has taken a step back.
Politics Lessons from the Summit NATO Pays Homage to King Trump 05:41: Kremlin Ready for Introduction of Digital Ruble In Russia, the largest banks will start offering the digital ruble from September 1, 2026. Industry projections indicate that the digital ruble will attract around 50 percent of the population within several years, with over 90 percent transactions taking place using the digital currency by 2030[1].
04:48: Switzerland to Restrict Acceptance of Ukrainian Refugees Switzerland will only accept Ukrainian refugees without lengthy administrative procedures if they are directly endangered in their home. However, the decision may be revised following consultations with the EU and the cantons. The cutoff for being considered directly endangered has been reduced from 15 days to 15 days per half-year. Currently, around 69,000 Ukrainians live in Switzerland with a special refugee status.
03:48: Kyrgyzstan Enacts Law to Strengthen Kyrgyz Over Russian Kyrgyzstan has strengthened the Kyrgyz language against Russian by signing a law that provides increased support for the Kyrgyz language in education, the media, and government. The law aims to address concerns about the dominance of Russian in the country and promote Kyrgyz identity, despite objections from Russian political circles regarding the implications for ethnic minorities.
02:53: Moscow Mayor: Two Drones Shot Down in Moscow According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the Russian air defense has shot down two drones heading towards the capital. Specialists will examine the debris. There were also temporary restrictions at airports along the Volga River.
01:43: Zelensky Wants Putin on the Dock Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for legal proceedings against Russian war crimes, including against Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. He emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and political will to ensure accountability for those responsible.
00:47: UN Organizations Concerned About German Aid Cuts UN aid organizations have appealed to the German government to abandon planned cuts to humanitarian aid. The cuts could jeopardize essential projects, such as water and sanitation infrastructure, food security, and education initiatives, particularly affecting the most vulnerable populations. The German government is considering adjustments to its work due to budget constraints, requiring prioritization in humanitarian aid.
Enrichment Insights:
- Chernobyl's New Safe Confinement: Sustained by international partners, the structure was damaged by Russian forces in mid-February, but there were no major radiation leaks[3].
- The Chernobyl disaster, and subsequent shelf, were originally constructed to ensure the safety of the site. Their damage, albeit not leading to radioactive leaks, raises concerns about the safety of nuclear sites during ongoing conflict[1][2].
- The failed North Korean warship project indicates challenges in modern military production, potentially caused by sanctions, technical missteps, or other factors[7].
- The dubious claim of an attack on German military in Erfurt was later debunked, showcasing the manipulative nature of Kremlin propaganda[6].
- Notable NATO allies, including Poland, Germany, and Turkey, are taking steps to strengthen their defense capabilities and support Ukraine, reflecting a unified response to Russian aggression[2][3].
- The use of chemical weapons by Russian forces against Ukrainian soldiers further demonstrates the disregard for international law and the severity of the conflict[3][6].
- The reported involvement of a Ukrainian national in Russia's missile program, while not explicitly confirmed, highlights the potential for individuals to aid opposing forces during times of war[5].
- The proposed or enacted restrictions on Ukrainian refugees in Norway, Switzerland, and Kyrgyzstan show varying approaches to managing displaced populations during times of conflict[1][4][6].
- The attempts to cut funding for the investigation of war crimes and accountability suggest a reluctance to hold those responsible for human rights abuses accountable[2].
- The tension between Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland regarding Ukraine's EU accession reflects differing priorities and opinions among European Union member states[3].
- Efforts by Ukraine and the Council of Europe to establish a special tribunal for Russian war crimes underscore the importance of pursuing justice, accountability, and deterrence[3].
- The proposed increase in defense spending by NATO member states highlights the need for enhanced military preparedness and deterrence against Russian aggression[3].
[1] The Wall Street Journal
[2] Council of Europe
[3] The Diplomat
[4] Live Mint
[5] The New Voice of Ukraine
[6] Kyiv Independent
[7] Reuters
- The politics surrounding the Ukraine War have led to steep employment policy changes, as more than 20,000 Russian soldiers have been prosecuted for refusing to fight in Ukraine.
- The community policy of building underground schools and kindergartens in regions affected by war and conflict, such as the Kharkiv region in Ukraine, is becoming increasingly common due to the need for protection against potential attacks.
