First, links to reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Moscow Times, the Associated Press, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally for today, links to two related commentaries from Consortium News and an Australian observer. — MCM
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African peace mission visits Ukrainian capital to sounds of air raid, by Pavel Polityuk and Olena Harmash | Reuters * African leaders arrive in Kyiv on peace mission * They hope to mediate between Ukraine and Russia * Russia launches air strike on Kyiv, officials say | KYIV — At least two explosions rocked Kyiv today and air raid sirens blared as African leaders began a peace mission, hoping to mediate between Ukraine and Russia. The peace delegation, including leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, the Comoros and Egypt . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine says downed 12 missiles including six hypersonic Kinzhals. From AFP. Ukraine said today it downed 12 Russian missiles, including six hypersonic Kinzhals, over Kyiv as a delegation of African leaders was set to hold talks as part of a peace mission. The Ukrainian Air Force said it destroyed six Kinzhals, six Kalibr cruise missiles and two reconnaissance drones. The chief of the Kyiv military administration Sergiy Popko said . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian general ‘almost certainly’ killed in Ukraine attack – UK intel. From the Moscow Times. A Russian general was “almost certainly” killed in a strike on a command post in southern Ukraine this week, the British Defense Ministry said today. Major General Sergei Goryachev would be . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian troops to get bonuses for destroying Western tanks. From Reuters Russian troops who have destroyed German-made Leopard tanks and U.S.-supplied armoured vehicles being used by Ukraine will receive bonus payments, the Defence Ministry said today. The ministry said . . . READ MORE . . .
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‘Highly likely’ Russia behind Ukraine dam collapse – international experts, by Anthony Deutsch | Reuters AMSTERDAM – It is “highly likely” that the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was caused by explosives planted by Russians, a team of legal experts assisting Ukraine’s prosecutors . . . READ MORE . . .
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U.S. says price caps on Russia’s oil are cutting revenue nearly in half and weakening its economy, by Fatima Hussein | AP WASHINGTON — A top Treasury Department official said Thursday that the cap on the price of Russia’s oil is severely curtailing its greatest source of revenue as it wages war in Ukraine. “In just six months . . . READ MORE . . .
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West far from shipping F-16s to Kiev, lot of work to be done – Pentagon. From Tass. BRUSSELS — Western states are far from implementation of plans to ship U.S.-made F-16 planes to Ukraine, and a lot of work is yet to be done for that, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said Thursday. “We are early in . . . READ MORE . . .
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NATO has gone into high gear as the war in Ukraine continues. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR As the war in Ukraine intensifies, NATO is stepping up training to increase readiness among its members, including maneuvers this month on NATO’s eastern flank in Romanis. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Suspended for providing balanced news on Ukraine, by Tony Kevin | Consortium News On June 9 The Guardian Australia website carried a news report, with a follow-up piece on Monday, whose implications for free speech are profoundly disturbing. They concern a Radio New Zealand, or RNZ, broadcasting employee who has been placed on leave while their professional conduct is investigated. This unnamed person in RNZ committed the cardinal sin of . . . READ MORE . . .
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Why propaganda works, by Caitlin Johnstone | caitlinjohnstone.com It’s not really deniable that western civilization is saturated with domestic propaganda geared toward manipulating the way the public thinks, acts, works, shops and votes. Mass media employees . . . READ MORE . . .