For today, links to 12 reports from the Associated Press, Tass, the Moscow Times, Reuters, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, and the Kyiv Independent, and to commentary from the Berkshire Eagle; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.)— MCM
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Putin signs deals with Vietnam in bid to shore up ties in Asia to offset Moscow’s growing isolation, by Aniruddha Ghosal | AP HANOI — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed at least a dozen deals with his Vietnamese counterpart today and offered to supply fossil fuels including natural gas to Vietnam for the long term during a state visit that . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE to a report from Tass.
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South Korea will consider supplying arms to Ukraine after Russia and North Korea sign strategic pact, by Kim Tong-Hyung | AP SEOUL — South Korea said today it would consider sending arms to Ukraine, a major policy change suggested after Russia and North Korea rattled the region and beyond by signing a pact to come to each other’s defense in the event of war. The comments from a senior presidential official . . . READ MORE . . .
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Overnight Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia kill 1, set oil depots ablaze. From the Moscow Times. An overnight Ukrainian drone attack in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region has killed a woman, local authorities said early today, as other drone strikes across the country set several oil depots ablaze. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defense systems . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian air strike causes more damage to Ukraine’s power grid, by Anastasiia Malenko and Tom Balmforth | Reuters KYIV — Russia launched a new barrage of missiles and drones at Ukraine in today’s early hours, causing “significant” damage to a thermal power plant and maintaining pressure on the electricity grid, Ukrainian officials said. The attack on energy infrastructure in four regions . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AFP.
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Russia obliterates Ukraine’s frontline towns faster with hacked bombs and expanded airbase network, by Lori Hinnant, Vasilisa Stepanenko and Hanna Arhirova | AP KHARKIV, Ukraine — Investigators are hoping to trace the supply chain for the latest generation of retrofitted Russian “glide bombs” that are laying waste to eastern Ukraine. The Soviet-era bombs are adapted . . . READ MORE . . .
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Leaders of Russia and North Korea sign pact — indicating a deeper cooperation. Reported by Anthony Kuhn and Leila Fadel | NPR Russia and North Korea have signed a new treaty upgrading their relationship and pledging military assistance in case either one is attacked. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Putin arrives in Vietnam after signing defense pact with North Korea. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Vietnamese counterpart today as he began a state visit to the Southeast Asian country’s capital Hanoi, a day after signing a mutual defense pact with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. READ MORE . . .
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Romania to send Patriol missile system to Ukraine. From AFP. NATO member Romania announced today it would send a Patriot missile system to Ukraine, which Kyiv has requested to help its fight against Russia’s invasion. “Considering . . . READ MORE . . .
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Single Ukrainian Magura drone hit 4 Russian patrol boats at once, Kyiv claims, by Chris York | The Kyiv Independent A single Ukrainian kamikaze naval drone destroyed or damaged four Russian patrol boats in an operation last month, Kyiv’s military intelligence said today. READ MORE . . .
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EU targets Russia’s LNG sector in new sanctions package. From AFP. EU member states today signed off on a fresh package of sanctions against Russia targeting its lucrative liquefied natural gas sector for the first time, officials said. The new measures — which should be formally adopted on Monday — are . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM JUNE 11 Gazprom, Russia’s cash cow for the Putin era, is ailing, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle Overlooked by the world media, two fires broke out last week at the Russian end of the $13 billion TurkStream pipeline. The powerful Russkaya compressors pump Russian gas 578 miles across the Black Sea to Turkey and on to Central Europe. READ MORE . . .