For today, links to eleven reports from Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, the Anadolu Agency, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, Tass, National Public Radio, and The Hill; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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Wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia kills 1. From AFP. Russia’s Defense Ministery said today its air defense forces downed 114 drones launched overnight by Ukraine, with at least one person killed in the mass wave of attacks. “Russian anti-aerial defense systems intercepted and destroyed . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kyiv says its drones struck Russian kamikaze drone training center, 3 oil refineries. From Kyiv Post. The Ukrainian military and intelligence reported that they struck three Russian oil refineries and a training ground for the Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones with their own attack drones in the early morning hours of today. An intelligence source said the drone training ground hit was at Russia’s 167th Training Center in Yeisk, in . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.
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Japan imposes fresh sanctions on Russia over Ukraine war. From Anadolu Agency. ANKARA — Japan has slapped fresh sanctions on Russia, including freezing the assets of the country’s dozens of financial institutions and individuals for being “directly” involved in or supporting Moscow’s war against Kyiv. Tokyo said it . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine’s emergency blackouts return after Russia pounds infrastructure, by Illia Novikov | AP KYIV — Ukraine, including Kyiv, is struggling to cope with a new wave of rolling blackouts after relentless Russian attacks took out half the country’s power generation capacity. Residents and businesses . . . READ MORE . . .
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Putin’s peace initiative is Russia’s fourth proposal on Ukraine, says top diplomat. From Tass. ALMATY, Kazakhstan — The peace initiative that Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined on June 14 is Moscow’s fourth proposal on settling the Ukraine conflict, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today. Had an agreement on the political settlement not been disrupted in February 2014, Ukraine would have now been within the 1991 boundaries that “it dreams so sweetly now,” Lavrov said. READ MORE . . .
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Medvedev cites facts of Zelensky usurping power. From Tass. MOSCOW — Vladimir Zelensky has been usurping power long before his presidential authority expired on May 21 of this year by committing a number of political crimes, according to Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev. “The talentless buffoon and his . . . READ MORE . . .
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EU nations agree to start membership negotiations next week with Ukraine and Moldova. From AP. BRUSSELS — The European Union agreed toay to start membership negotiations with embattled Ukraine and Moldova, another step in the nations’ long journey to move closer to the West and mute Russia’s influence. . . . READ MORE . . .
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Zelensky hails start of EU membership talks next week. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today welcomed the launch of accession talks with the EU next week, a step that will formally mark the start of Kyiv’s path towards joining the bloc. “Millions of Ukrainians,” he said, “and indeed generations of our people, are realising their European dream . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM JUNE 20 Newly-secured U.S. military assistance flows into Ukraine amid Russian advance. Reported by Tom Bowman and Joanna Kakissis | NPR The White House said it’s fast-tracking the delivery of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. That sense of urgency fits the state of the battlefield, as a new Russian advance tests Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM JUNE 20 Graham, Blumenthal unveil bill declaring Russia a state sponsor of terror, by Yash Roy | The Hill U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced a bill on Thursday to declare Russia a state sponsor of terror. The bill would require the State Department to classify Russia as a state sponsor of terror, unlocking a new set of sanctions, restrict any U.S.-based foreign aid, and . . . READ MORE . . .