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Russia admits sending conscripts to Kyiv despite Putin’s denials

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Russian authorities have admitted sending conscripts to Ukraine, after Vladimir Putin denied conscription took place.

The military prosecutor of the Western District of Russia has said that about 600 conscripts were involved in the war in Ukraine, as reported by the Russian Interfax.

Speaking at the Federation Council, Artur Yegiyev added that as a result of the conscripts “about 12 officers” were punished.

The prosecutor’s office added that disciplinary measures were taken for all the violations, and a decision was made to dismiss “officials who committed these violations.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out a Kyiv battlefield stalemate with Russia and said the country aims to regain control of all its occupied territory.

“We have already lost too many people to simply cede our territory,” he said by video link at an event hosted by FT Live, in which he added that a stalemate was “not an option” for Kyiv.

“We have to achieve a full deoccupation of our entire territory,” Zelensky said.

Table of Contents

Key Points

  • Russian authorities admit sending conscripts to Ukraine

  • UK to send long-range missiles to Ukraine after Russia hits Kyiv

  • Zelensky says battlefield stalemate not an option for Ukraine

  • Ukraine must not be pressured into a bad peace deal, says Boris Johnson

  • Russian parliament votes to exit European Court of Human Rights

U.S. Treasury says all buying of Russian debt and equity banned under sanctions

16:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The U.S. Treasury Department has published advice to U.S. money managers that buying any Russian debt or stocks belonging to Russian firms is banned under Washington’s sanctions on Moscow, further tightening curbs on the country following its invasion of Ukraine.

“Consistent with our goal to deny Russia the financial resources it needs to continue its brutal war against Ukraine, Treasury has made clear that U.S. persons are prohibited from making new investments in the success of Russia, including through purchases on the secondary market,” a Treasury spokesperson said.

The Treasury in guidance published on Monday said executive orders imposing sanctions on Russia “prohibit U.S. persons from purchasing both new and existing debt and equity securities issued by an entity in the Russian Federation.”

Fresh shelling of Ukraine’s Kharkiv kills one -mayor

15:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Russian strike on Ukraine‘s second city Kharkiv killed one person and wounded three more on Tuesday, local mayor Ihor Terekhov said on television.

Russia “does not leave Kharkiv alone and constantly keeps people in fear”, Terekhov said.

Kharkiv, in Ukraine‘s east, experienced intense shelling in the first two months of the war as battles raged near its outskirts, but the situation in the city has calmed somewhat over the past weeks as Russian forces retreated in the region.

Kyiv theater reopens, plays sell out: ‘You continue living’

15:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A theater in Ukraine‘s capital has reopened over the weekend for the first time since Russian forces invaded the country, and tickets quickly sold out.

Theater on Podil was the latest cultural institution in Kyiv to resume operations.

Movie theaters and the National Opera opened their doors at the end of May.“We were wondering how it would be, whether spectators would come during the war, whether they think at all about theater,” said one of the actors, Yuriy Felipenko, on Sunday.

“And we were happy that the first three plays were sold out.”Filipenko said the theater was putting on plays with just a few actors.

His colleague Kostya Tomlyak had hesitated to perform in wartime.

But the influx of people returning to Kyiv since hostilities there have lessened persuaded him that it’s necessary “to learn how to live during the war, to live with theater, cinema, cafes. You continue living, although you don’t forget that there is the war.”

Russian forces withdrew from their offensive on the Ukrainian capital in early April, refocusing on the eastern region of the Donbas.“

The main question is how actors can be helpful,” Tomlyak said.

Russian parliament votes to scrap parallel import penalties

15:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s lower house of parliament has approved a bill in the first reading that removes legal liability for parallel imports of a range of goods and intellectual property after sanctions were imposed by the West over the war in Ukraine.

The bill is designed to protect Russian companies from liability if they import specific goods approved by the trade ministry as well as a range of intellectual property.

Russia legalised parallel import at the end of March this year. The move permits suppliers of foreign products to resell them in Russia without the permission of the trademark owner, said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

In early May, the Ministry of Industry and Trade approved a list of goods whose import does not require the consent of foreign copyright holders. The list includes goods from 56 different sectors, including cars, electronics, clothing and footwear, cosmetics, equipment, chemical products, and raw materials.

Foreign imports into Russia have been jeopardised after Russia deployed troops to Ukraine on February 24, in what it calls a “military special operation” with the aim of “demilitarization” and “denazification” of Ukraine.

The West responded with large-scale sanctions against Russia, and many foreign companies announced they were halting operations in the country.

Russian authorities admit sending conscripts to Ukraine

15:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The military prosecutor of the Western District of Russia has said that about 600 conscripts were involved in the war in Ukraine, as reported by the Russian Interfax.

Speaking at the Federation Council, Artur Yegiyev added that as a result of the conscripts “about 12 officers” were punished.

The prosecutor’s office added that disciplinary measures were taken for all the violations, and a decision was made to dismiss “officials who committed these violations.”

Earlier this year, Russian president Vladimir Putin said he would not be sending conscripts to Ukraine.

Russia’s Aeroflot to raise up to $3 billion via new share issue

15:09 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian state flagship Aeroflot airline, struggling from western sanctions which blocked it from most of the flights abroad, plans to raise up to 185.2 billion roubles ($3 billion) from new share issue, it said on Tuesday.

Aeroflot, controlled by the Russian state which promised to inject capital to cope with the sanctions, said that its annual shareholders meeting approved issuance of 5.42 billion of new shares which could be bought at a price of 34.29 roubles each under an open subscription.

For Aeroflot, which only started to recover from the two-year-long coronavirus pandemic, sanctions also meant inability to receive airplane parts and conduct maintenance, with the government promising to inject 107 billion roubles ($1.83 billion) in support.

The injection was to come from the National Wealth Fund (NWF), Russia‘s rainy-day fund initially tasked with supporting large-scale infrastructure projects on a refundable basis and to cover for the budget deficit.

In its statement on Tuesday, Aeroflot did not provide details how much of the new share issue the state may buy. Neither Aeroflot, nor the finance ministry replied to a Reuters request for a comment.

During the pandemic, the government bought Aeroflot shares worth 80 billion roubles using the NWF.

Russia suspends agreement with Japan on fishing near disputed islands

14:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s foreign ministry said it was suspending an agreement with Japan that allowed Japanese fishermen to fish near the disputed Southern Kuril islands, saying Tokyo had failed to make payments required under the deal.

“In the current situation, we are forced to suspend the implementation of the 1998 Agreement until the Japanese side fulfills all its financial obligations,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

A territorial dispute over the islands, known in Russia as the Kurils and in Japan as the Northern Territories, dates back to the end of World War Two when Soviet troops seized them from Japan. The row has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty.

UK calls for investigation into alleged Ukraine grain theft by Russia

14:42 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Allegations that Russia is stealing grain from a wide variety of areas in Ukraine are very serious and must be investigated immediately, British farming minister Victoria Prentis said on Tuesday.

World food prices have soared to record levels since Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering protests across developing countries.

Black Sea ports in Ukraine, the world’s fourth-largest grains exporter, have been blocked since the invasion, with some 20 million tonnes of grain stuck in the country at present.

Prentis, speaking at an International Grains Council (IGC) conference in London, said she had heard allegations of grain theft by Russia first-hand from sources in the Kherson region in south Ukraine.

Russia has previously denied allegations of stealing wheat from Ukraine

The United Nations is trying to broker a deal to enable Ukraine‘s grain to be shipped from Black Sea ports such as Odesa while Russia has said it wants Western sanctions lifted as part of a deal.

Ukraine and the West accuse Moscow of weaponising food supplies. Russia blames the situation on what it says are Ukrainian mines in Black Sea waters and on international sanctions against its own economy.

Ukraine last week said that Russia was shipping stolen grain to Turkey out of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. It also accused Russia of sending its ally Syria 100,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian wheat.

Putin orders new budget rules to boost Russia’s growth

14:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the government to draw up new budget rules by the end of July to boost growth and help protect the economy from a serious downturn.

“Work has already started on the federal budget for the next three years. A fundamental issue here is the construction of budget rules that not only ensure the stability of public finances, but also contribute to increasing the growth rate of the Russian economy,” Putin said in a televised meeting.

Russia has suspended a budget rule under which it was channeling extra oil and gas revenues into the National Wealth Fund (NWF) during the coronavirus pandemic two years ago.

The finance ministry planned to reinstate the rule, under which it also was also buying foreign currency for the NWF, this year but decided against it after the imposition of Western sanctions that have prevented Moscow from accessing around half its gold and forex reserves.

The sanctions were aimed at stopping what Russia calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. Instead of boosting the NWF, additional oil and gas revenues can now be spent on any purpose government may choose.

Putin did not provide details of new rules but said corporate and mortgage lending needed a boost, suggesting guidelines could be further relaxed to allow for more state funding to revive economic activity.

The existing rule puts a limit on how and where Russia‘s $198-billion NWF can be spent, as the government increasingly needs cash to meet Putin’s promises of higher pensions and social payments and support for large businesses.

In May alone, the NWF spent $4 billion to buy preferred shares of Russian Railways, the country’s biggest employer. Other state entities, including the flagship airline Aeroflot , are awaiting cash support to cope with sanctions.

Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk are ‘dead cities’ due to Russian bombing, says Zelensky

14:17 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk have been turned into “dead cities” by Russian bombing, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

The two Ukrainian cities in the Donbas region have been destroyed in recent weeks as Moscow’s soldiers attempt to take full control of eastern Ukraine.

The fiercest fighting in Luhansk and Donetsk provinces is taking place in and around the city of Sievierodonetsk, where the Ukrainian president said more than 10,000 civilians are trapped due to the street fighting.

“They outnumber us, they are more powerful,” Mr Zelenskiy said of the Russian forces there, adding that his country’s troops have “every chance” of regaining territory, Rory Sullivan writes.

Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk ‘dead cities’ due to Russian bombing

Zelensky says battlefield stalemate not an option for Ukraine

13:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Kyiv would not settle for a battlefield stalemate with Russia and that it aimed to regain control of all its territory occupied by Moscow.

“We have already lost too many people to simply cede our territory,” he said by video link at an event hosted by FT Live, in which he added that a stalemate was “not an option” for Kyiv.

“We have to achieve a full deoccupation of our entire territory,” Zelenskiy said.

Kyiv has previously said that Russian forces now occupy about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including swathes of its east and south.

“We are not going to humiliate anyone, we are going to respond in kind,” Zelenskiy said, when asked about French President Emmanuel Macron’s call not to “humiliate” Russia in order to keep the door open to a diplomatic solution.

Ukraine hopes that Western deliveries of longer-range weaponry, including U.S. HIMARS and Britain’s M270 artillery rocket systems, could help to push Russian troops back.

Ukraine must not be pressured into a bad peace deal, says Boris Johnson

13:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy must not be pressured by world powers into accepting a bad peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his top team of ministers on Tuesday.

At the cabinet meeting, British foreign minister Liz Truss also said London was readying further sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Johnson’s spokesman told reporters.

Johnson, who survived a confidence vote brought by his lawmakers on Monday, told his ministers Britain would “remain at the forefront” of support for Ukraine, the spokesman added.

“He said it was vital that President Zelenskiy was not pressured into accepting a bad peace, noting that bad peace deals do not last. He said the world must avoid any outcome where Putin’s unwarranted aggression appears to have paid off,” the spokesman said.

Russian parliament votes to exit European Court of Human Rights

13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Russian State Duma has passed a pair of bills ending the European Court of Human Rights’ jurisdiction in Russia, after Russia announced plans to exit the court amid the conflict in Ukraine.

The Russian parliament approved two bills, one removing the country from the court’s jurisdiction and a second setting March 16 as the cut-off point, with rulings against Russia made after that date not to be implemented.

Appeals to the ECHR had become a last resort for plaintiffs in several high-profile cases that had been rejected by Russian courts. In 2017, the court ordered Moscow to pay compensation to survivors of the 2004 Beslan school siege, who alleged failings on the part of the security services.

On March 15, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to expel Russia from the organisation, of which the ECHR is part, in response to Russia‘s deployment of troops to Ukraine in February.

Russia has said that it independently decided to leave the Council of Europe, with former President Dmitry Medvedev saying that Russia‘s exit from the organisation represented an opportunity to restore the death penalty, which the Council of European’s rules prohibit.

Ukraine ‘truly grateful’ for UK weapons but ‘needs more’, Ukrainian MP says

13:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Ukrainian MP has said her country is “truly grateful” for the UK’s donation of long-range missiles but said more air support is needed to compete with Russia.

The UK is to send its first long-range missiles to Ukraine after Russia struck the outskirts of Kyiv for the first time since April.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Britain will send an unspecified number of M270 launchers, which can fire precision-guided rockets up to 50 miles – a longer range than any missile technology currently in use in the war.

“That will actually make a difference on the battlefield,” Inna Sovsun, the deputy leader of the Holos Party, told the PA news agency.

“If it did come earlier we would have saved so much life and so much less damage would have been done.

“It’s a good start and we truly appreciate it, everybody in Ukraine knows about that and we are truly grateful for that actually happening.

“You have to realise that right now what is happening there is a battle of artillery, the one who has more artillery will win, and Ukraine unfortunately doesn’t have as much artillery to fight against the Russian artillery.

“Everybody speaks the same phrase to the bravery of the Ukrainian army, and we agree with that very much, but bravery doesn’t save you from the Russian missiles and artillery.

“Now, this is starting to make a difference, again we hope it comes in bigger numbers and we hope it comes as soon as possible.”

Ms Sovsun said Ukraine is still in need of fighter jets, adding “we don’t have the air support that we need”.

Sanctions prevent Moscow from retaining military capabilities -Germany’s Scholz

13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Moscow will not be able to retain its military capabilities due to tough Western sanctions imposed as a result of Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday.

“We have far reaching sanctions now that will set back the Russian economy by decades, that means it will not be able to participate in global economic and technological progress,” Scholz told reporters during a visit in Vilnius.

“We know from reports that this means that Russia will not even be able to retain its military capacities at the same level,” he said, adding Moscow had in the past abused imports of civilian goods for military purposes.

Ukraine’s president ‘very happy’ that Boris Johnson survived no-confidence vote

12:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine’s president says he is “very happy” that Boris Johnson survived the attempt by Tory MPs to remove him from power, in a boost for the prime minister.

Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Mr Johnson as “a true friend of Ukraine”, adding: “I am glad we have not lost a very important ally.”

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more:

Ukraine’s president ‘very happy’ that PM survived no-confidence vote

Japan, NATO step up ties amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

12:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Japanese and NATO officials agreed Tuesday to step up military cooperation and joint exercises as they shared concerns that Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine is causing a deterioration of the security environment in Europe and Asia.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said after meeting with NATO Military Committee chief Rob Bauer that Japan hopes to strengthen its ties with European countries and welcomes NATO’s expanded involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The security of Europe and Asia are closely intertwined, especially now with the international community facing serious challenges,” Kishi said.

Bauer’s visit in Tokyo comes as Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force is participating in NATO naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea.

Japan has been increasing its military capabilities and cooperation with Europe, in addition to its alliance with the United States and partnerships with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, in the face of China’s rise.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been invited to the NATO summit later this month, and is reportedly considering attending the meeting, which would make him the first Japanese leader to do so.

Germany’s Scholz pledges to boost military mission in Lithuania

12:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Germany is ready to ramp up its military mission in Lithuania in response to Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a visit to Vilnius on Tuesday.

“We are ready to strengthen our engagement and to develop it towards a robust combat brigade,” Scholz told reporters without giving details.

Berlin sent hundreds of additional troops to Lithuania in the immediate aftermath of Russia‘s invasion, described by Moscow as a “special military operation”, and has deployed some 1,000 troops there as part of a German-led NATO combat unit.

Asked about reports that Spain plans to send German-built Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine, Scholz said Berlin has not yet received an export request from the government in Madrid.

Any such request would be carefully assessed, he added.

Spain wants to supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft missiles and Leopard tanks, according to government sources cited by newspaper El Pais on Sunday.

Germany has so far refused to deliver Western tanks to Ukraine.

Russia says it has destroyed artillery from the West

12:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Russian military says it has destroyed several artillery systems provided by the West in the latest series of strikes on Ukrainian targets.

Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday that the Russian artillery hit a howitzer supplied by Norway and two other artillery systems given to Ukraine by the United States.

He said that the Russian artillery barrage destroyed other Ukrainian equipment in the country’s east while the Russian air force hit Ukrainian troops and equipment concentrations and artillery positions.Konashenkov’s claims couldn’t be independently confirmed.

Kremlin says Ukraine must demine its coast for grain to be exported

11:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Ukraine needed to demine the approaches to its ports in order for ships to be cleared by the Russian military before they could export grain.

Russia has seized large parts of Ukraine‘s coast and is blockading its ports, but says the lack of grain shipments are due to Western sanctions and Kyiv itself.

“[President Vladimir] Putin has said: Ukraine must demine the approaches to its ports,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

“This will allow ships, once checked by our military, to enter the ports, load grain and with our help, proceed to international waters.”

Russia says Mariupol, Berdyansk ports ready to ship grain

11:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s defence minister said on Tuesday the Ukrainian ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol, seized by Russian forces, have been de-mined and are ready to resume grain shipments.

Sergei Shoigu also said in televised comments that 6,489 Ukrainian military personnel had surrendered to Russian forces since the start of what Russia calls its “special military operation”, including 126 in the past five days.

Russian superyacht to leave Fiji, court rules

11:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Fiji court has ruled a Russian-owned superyacht be removed from the Pacific island nation by the United States because it was a waste of money for Fiji to maintain the vessel amid legal wrangling over its seizure.

The U.S. Justice Department’s Taskforce KleptoCapture has focused on seizing yachts and other luxury assets of Russian oligarchs in a bid to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

The 106-metre (350-foot) Amadea arrived in Fiji on April 13, after an 18-day voyage from Mexico. It was seized by Fiji authorities after the country’s High Court granted a U.S. warrant last month that linked the yacht to sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.

The FBI has said the $300 million luxury vessel had running costs of $25 million to $30 million per year, and the United States would pay to maintain the vessel after it was seized.

However, the Fiji government has been footing the bill while an appeal by the vessel’s registered owner, Millemarin Investments, worked its way through Fiji’s courts.

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that public interest demands the yacht “sail out of Fiji waters”, because having it berthed in Fiji was “costing the Fijian Government dearly”, according to the judgement.

The vessel “sailed into Fiji waters without any permit and most probably to evade prosecution by the United States,” it added.

Russia’s ‘appetite is growing’, says Ukraine’s MFA spokesperson

11:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A spokesman for Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs has said Russia’s “appetitie is growing” after the Kremlin destroyed Ukraine’s second biggest grain terminal.

Bodies of some Ukrainian fighters from Mariupol handed over to families in Kyiv

10:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The bodies of some Ukrainian fighters killed defending the city of Mariupol from Russian forces at a vast steel works have been handed over to Kyiv, the families of Ukraine‘s Azov unit of the national guard said.

Ukrainian forces defending Mariupol were holed up in the Azovstal steelworks for weeks as Russian forces tried to capture the city. The Ukrainian soldiers eventually surrendered last month and were taken into custody by Russian forces.

There has been little information about the fate of the estimated 2,000 Azovstal defenders. Kyiv is seeking the handover of them all in a prisoner swap, but some Russian lawmakers want some of the soldiers put on trial.

It was not immediately clear how many bodies had arrived in Kyiv in this first such transfer. They appear to have been handed over as part of an exchange of 160 bodies between Russia and Ukraine that was announced last week by Ukraine‘s Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories.

“It’s important to note that a third of the bodies (handed over) were Azov fighters, the affiliation of the other fighters to different units is being clarified,” the families said in a statement released late on Monday.

Russia casts the Azov Regiment, which led the defence of the steel works at Mariupol, as a “Nazi” militia with radical far-right origins.

Ukraine denies that, saying the unit has been reformed and integrated into its armed forces and is outside politics.

Ukraine ministry of foreign affairs posts update on Russian losses

10:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs have posted an update charting losses of Russian armed forces in Ukraine on the war’s 104th day.

Belarusian army stages combat readiness training – ministry

10:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Belarusian armed forces have begun taking part in combat readiness training, the country’s defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Belarus is a close ally of Russia and allowed it to launch the northern prong of its Feb. 24 attack on Ukraine from Belarusian territory.

Ukraine slams planned IAEA mission to Russian-occupied nuclear plant

10:12 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine‘s state nuclear company Energoatom on Tuesday criticised an IAEA plan to send a delegation to a Russian-occupied nuclear plant in southern Ukraine, saying it “did not invite” such a visit.

“We consider this message from the head of the IAEA as another attempt to get to the (power plant) by any means in order to legitimise the presence of occupiers there and essentially condone all their actions,” Energoatom wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

On Monday, IAEA head Raphael Grossi said the organisation was working on sending an international mission of experts to the Russian-held nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, Europe’s largest.

US orders seizure of two of Roman Abramovich’s private planes

09:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A US judge has granted permission for the Biden administration to seize two private jets owned by the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich over sanctions breaches.

Valued at a combined total of more than $400m (£320m), the Gulfstream G650ER and Boeing 787 aircraft violated US export laws introduced after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine began in late February.

Under the legislation, US-manufactured planes require licences to fly to Russia from other countries. Neither jet received one before flying there in March, according to the US Department of Justice.

My colleague Rory Sullivan has more:

US orders seizure of two of Roman Abramovich’s private planes

Putin to pay 5 million rubles to families of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine

09:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree granting lump-sum payments of 5 million rubles ($81,000) to families of Russian National Guard members who die in Ukraine.

Guard members have taken part in such operations as the seizure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The lump sum is roughly six times the average annual Russian salary.

French president Macron sparks criticism following call to avoid humiliating Russia

09:11 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

French president Emmanuel Macron has been criticised following his call to avoid humiliating Russia in Ukraine.

Speaking to French media last week, he said: “We must not humiliate Russia so that the day when the fighting stops we can build an exit ramp through diplomatic means.”

However, Macron’s comments flag a difference in approach among the Western allies as Britain and the US continue to send weapons to Ukraine.

Dominic Raab says foreign office will ‘make representations’ for Brit fighter captured in Ukraine

08:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

When asked about Aiden Aslin, the British fighter in Ukraine who was captured by Russian forces in April and reportedly faces the death penalty, Dominic Raab said the Foreign Office will “make all the representations” on his behalf.

The deputy prime minister told LBC: “In relation to that case, I don’t know all the details, but of course we would expect the laws of armed conflict to be respected, and we will make sure that we will make all the representations.

“I know the Foreign Office will be looking at making sure all those representations are made.”

Gazprom says gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine remain steady

08:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian gas producer Gazprom said its supply of gas to Europe through Ukraine via the Sudzha entry point was seen at 40.9 million cubic metres (mcm) on Tuesday versus 40.1 mcm on Monday.

Bodies of Ukrainian fighters at Azovstal returned to Kyiv

08:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Dozens of Ukrainian fighters killed at the Azovstal steelworks have been returned to Ukraine by the Russians who now occupy the fortress-like plant in the destroyed city of Mariupol.

The dead taken from the ruins of the bombed-out mill have been transferred to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, where DNA testing is underway to identify the remains.

UK to supply high-precision long-range rocket launchers to Ukraine

08:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The UK is to boost Ukraine’s fightback against Russian invaders in the eastern Donbas region by supplying highly accurate long-range rocket launchers, defence secretary Ben Wallace has announced.

Mr Wallace’s decision to supply the cutting-edge M270 multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) was co-ordinated with US president Joe Biden’s gift to Ukraine last week of the similar High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

The M270 can strike targets up to 80km away with pinpoint accuracy, said the Ministry of Defence.

Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has more:

UK to supply high-precision long-range rocket launchers to Ukraine

ICYMI- Another Russian general killed in Ukraine, says Kyiv

07:54 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Another Russian general has been killed in Ukraine, Kyiv has claimed as the battle for the eastern Donbas region rumbles on.

Major General Roman Kutuzov died in Mykolaivka village, which is located to the south of the fiercely-contested city of Sievierodonetsk, the Ukrainian defence ministry said.

This part of Luhansk province, which, along with Donetsk, forms the Donbas, has been the epicentre of the war in recent weeks.

Russian troops have made territorial gains in the area, but have been set back by “localised but successful counterattacks” from the Ukrainian army, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank.

My colleague Rory Sullivan has more:

Another Russian general killed in Ukraine, says Kyiv

Eastern front under constant shelling

07:41 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine‘s defence ministry said Russia was also throwing troops and equipment into its drive to capture the largest remaining Ukrainian-held city in Luhansk.

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai said earlier on Monday the situation had worsened after Ukrainian defenders had pushed back the Russians over the weekend as they seemed close to victory.

In its nightly update, the Ukrainian military said two civilians were killed in Russian shelling in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on Monday and that Russian forces had fired at more than 20 communities.

In addition to artillery shelling, the enemy fired from planes and helicopters in the Donetsk region, Ukraine‘s general staff said on Tuesday.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports. Russia denies targeting civilians in the conflict.

Moscow ambassador walks out of UN

07:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Moscow’s UN ambassador walked out of the Security Council after the EU accused Russia of using food supplies as “a stealth missile against developing countries” and blamed the Kremlin for the looming global food crisis.

European Council President Charles Miche addressed Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia directly at the council meeting, saying he saw millions of tons of grain and wheat stuck in containers and ships at the Ukrainian port of Odessa a few weeks ago.

That was “because of Russian warships in the Black Sea,” and Moscow’s attacks on transport infrastructure and grain storage facilities, and its tanks, bombs and mines that are preventing Ukraine from planting and harvesting, he said.

“This is driving up food prices, pushing people into poverty, and destabilising entire regions,” Mr Michel said.

“Russia is solely responsible for this looming food crisis. Russia alone.”

He also accused Russian forces of stealing grain from areas it has occupied “while shifting the blame of others”, calling this “cowardly” and “propaganda, pure and simple”.

Mr Nebenzia walked out during the briefing, giving Russia‘s seat to another diplomat.

Russia‘s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky tweeted later on Telegram’s Russian channel that Mr Michel’s comments were “so rude” that the Russian ambassador left the Security Council chamber.

The Security Council meeting was supposed to focus on sexual violence during the war in Ukraine but Russia‘s invasion and the consequences, especially on global food shortages and rising prices, were also raised.

Mr Michel gave strong backing to efforts by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to get a package agreement that would allow grain exports from Ukraine and ensure that Russian food and fertiliser have unrestricted access to global markets.

Russia’s progress has stalled over the last week, says UK

07:09 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia’s progress made through May on the southern Popasna axis has stalled over the last week, the British defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Reports of heavy shelling near Izium suggest that Russia is preparing to make a renewed effort on the northern axis, the ministry said in its daily bulletin.

“Russia will almost certainly need to achieve a breakthrough on at least one of these axes to translate tactical gains to operational level success and progress towards its political objective of controlling all of Donetsk Oblast,” the ministry added.

‘Several thousand’ dolphins may have died during war, scientists warn

06:54 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Scientists studying the Black Sea claim “several thousand” dolphins have died in the region during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, sparking concerns about the effect of the war on marine ecosystems.

Ivan Rusev, research director at Ukraine’s Tuzla Estuaries National Nature Park, said in a Facebook post that the marine mammals were washing up on the coastline of the Black Sea bordering several countries, including Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania.

Pictures shared by Dr Rusev showed dolphins washed up ashore with what he claims are war-related injuries, including burn marks from bombs.

Vishwam Sankaran reports.

Russia’s war on Ukraine has already killed several thousand dolphins, scientists say

Russia seeks another key city in southeast

06:38 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian troops intend to capture Zaporizhzhia, a large city in the country’s southeast, which would allow the Russian military to advance closer to the centre of the country.

The war-time president on Monday said that peace talks with Russia stood at “level zero,” and in the meantime “the most threatening situation” has developed in the Zaporizhzhia region, parts of which have already been taken by Russia.

“The enemy wants to … occupy the city of Zaporizhzhia,” Zelenskyy said.

In the south of Ukraine, Russia has already seized the large Ukrainian cities of Kherson and Mariupol. The Zaporizhzhia region, with a population of 1.6 million, is one of the biggest industrial hubs of Ukraine’s southeast. The city itself has 722,000 people.

Read more here.

Ukraine’s leader: Russia seeks another key city in southeast

Zelensky awards soldiers at frontline

06:01 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky awarded soldiers at the frontline of battle in Lysychansk city of Luhansk region.

Earlier, Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai said the Ukrainian military has regained control of half of Sievierodonetsk – an eastern Ukrainian city that is key to Moscow’s goal of completing the capture of the industrial Donbas region

Russia begins returning bodies from Azovstal

05:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Dozens of Ukrainian fighters killed at the besieged Azovstal steelworks in the port city of Mariupol have been returned to Ukraine by the Russian occupiers.

The dead taken from the ruins of the bombed-out mill were transferred to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, where DNA testing is underway to identify the remains, The Associated Press reported.

The Azov regiment was among the Ukrainian units that defended the steelworks for nearly three months before surrendering in May under relentless Russian attacks from the ground, sea and air.

Meanwhile, president Volodymyr Zelensky said there may be more than 2,500 prisoners from the steel plant now held prisoners in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine.

“But it is the 103rd day, and the Ukrainian Donbas stands. It stands firmly,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address to the nation.

Two dead in Russian shelling of Donbas

05:21 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Two civilians were killed and 12 injured in Donbas due to incessant Russian shelling, the Ukrainian defence forces said on Monday.

Ukraine’s Joint Forces Operation said that they repelled 10 Russian attacks, destroying one tank, three artillery systems, two armoured combat vehicles, one vehicle, and two ammunition depots.

It alleged that Vladimir Putin’s forces fired on over 20 settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, destroying 48 civilian infrastructure, including 42 residential buildings.

Nadine Dorries incorrectly says UK is ‘at war with Ukraine’

05:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

British culture secretary Nadine Dorries has incorrectly told Sky News that the UK is “at war with Ukraine”.

Ms Dorries was defending prime minister Boris Johnson as he faces a no-confidence vote from Tory MPs.

A staunch supporter of the prime minister, Ms Dorries was criticising former Conservative cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt, who today urged his party to “vote for change”.

Dorries claimed the “potential leadership candidate” was wrong to say he would not issue a leadership challenge “while we’re at war with Ukraine”, then later issue that challenge.

Nadine Dorries incorrectly says UK is ‘at war with Ukraine’

Russia imposes retaliatory sanctions

05:09 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia has imposed sanctions on 61 United States officials, including treasury secretary Janet Yellen and energy secretary Jennifer Granholm and the heads of leading defence and media companies.

The personal sanctions, which ban those named from entering Russia, were imposed in retaliation for “constantly expanding US sanctions against Russian political and public figures, as well as representatives of domestic business”.

Russian foreign ministry said that the individuals were the heads of leading military-industrial corporations, media platforms, rating agencies and aircraft and shipbuilding companies, as well as individual US state department officials “involved in fake reports about ‘malicious’ Russian cyber attacks”.

Cyber attacks targeting Ukrainian officials’ mobile phones, Kyiv says

04:19 , Andy Gregory

Ukrainian officials’ phones have been targeted by hackers, the deputy head of Ukraine’s State Special Communications Service has claimed.

“We see a lot of attempts to hack Ukrainian officials’ phones, mainly with the spreading of malware,” Victor Zhora told journalists at an online news conference meant to mark the 100 days since Russian forces poured across the border.

Mr Zhora said his service had, so far, not seen any evidence that Ukrainian devices had been compromised.

The ability to remotely and invisibly hack into such devices using sophisticated spy software – sometimes called a “zero click” hack because it requires no interaction from the victim – is particularly feared, with top European Commission officials having reportedly been targeted with such software recently.

Mr Zhora said he and his colleagues were aware of the threat of zero-click intrusions but declined to comment on whether they knew of any such attempts against their own devices, adding: “We continue monitoring this.”

West will continue to support Ukraine out of respect for D-Day soldiers, US military chief says

03:40 , Andy Gregory

The United States and its allies will keep providing “significant” support to Ukraine out of respect for the legacy of D-Day soldiers, whose victory over the Nazis helped lead to a new world order and a “better peace,” the US chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has said.

In an interview with The Associated Press overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy, Army General Mark Milley said Russia’s war on Ukraine undermines the rules established by Allied countries after the end of World War II. He spoke on the 78th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Allied troops onto the beaches of France, which led to the overthrow of Nazi Germany’s occupation.

One fundamental rule of the “global rules-based order” is that “countries cannot attack other countries with their military forces in acts of aggression unless it’s an act of pure self-defense,” he stressed. “But that’s not what’s happened here in Ukraine. What’s happened here is an open, unambiguous act of aggression.”

“I think that the United States and the allied countries are providing a significant amount of support to Ukraine, and that will continue,” he said.

Mark Milley speaks at the American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer (AP Photo/ Jeremias Gonzalez)

Mark Milley speaks at the American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer (AP Photo/ Jeremias Gonzalez)

Washington and Kremlin row over media freedoms

02:35 , Andy Gregory

The US State Department has accused the Kremlin of a “full assault” on media freedom.

Citing three sources with knowledge of the matter, Reuters reported today that Russia had warned United States news organisations they risked being stripped of their accreditation unless the treatment of Russian journalists in the US improves.

But in a rebuttal, the State Department later said that Washington continues to issue visas to qualified Russian journalists and has not revoked the foreign press credentials of any Russian journalists working in the US.

“Suffice it to say the Russians continue to make a false equivalency,” spokesperson Ned Price told reporters. “The Russian government fundamentally and willfully disregards what it means to have a free press, as evidenced by them blocking or banning nearly every independent Russian outlet seeking to report inside their country.”

Ukraine de-occupying Kharkiv region of Russian invaders ‘step by step’, Zelensky says

01:25 , Andy Gregory

In Ukraine’s northern Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian army “step by step de-occupies our lands” from Russian invaders, Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed.

Russian defence ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov claimed that Russian warplanes had fired long-range missiles in the region to destroy a plant on the edge of the town of Lozova which was repairing armoured vehicles.

Mr Konashenkov claimed that Russian aircraft hit 73 areas of concentration of Ukrainian troops and equipment, while Russian artillery struck 431 military targets. His claims could not be independently verified.

Estonian PM warns against ‘premature calls for peace’

Tuesday 7 June 2022 00:32 , Andy Gregory

Estonia’s prime minister has warned against “premature calls for peace” with Russia.

“Before premature calls for peace, remember: for half of Europe, peace after WWII didn’t mean the end of atrocities but more repressions,” Kaja Kallas tweeted in a summary of a speech to the Policy Exchange think-tank in London, following a meeting in Downing Street with Boris Johnson.

“This is being repeated in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine – children deported en masse to Russia, women raped, men imprisoned. There should be no fear of a bad relationship or a non-existent relationship with war criminals.

“We must isolate Russia politically and economically to make sure Russian troops run out of equipment and the Kremlin runs out of money. This must be our long-term policy.

“We must deliver accountability for war criminals and justice for victims. The aggressor must also pay reparations. Victims must be compensated. A fund for victims could be one way, using Russian assets and central bank reserves frozen by sanctions.

“If we fail here, the international rules-based order is at stake and no nation can feel safe. We don’t think about freedom and world order until they’re gone. Let’s make our best efforts so that nobody has to experience it.”

Estonian PM accuses Russia of seeking to ‘wipe Ukraine off the world map’

Monday 6 June 2022 23:47 , Andy Gregory

Estonia’s prime minister Kaja Kallas has accused Russia of perpetrating “state-orchestrated calls for genocide” against the Ukrainian people.

Summarising a speech she had just given to the Policy Exchange think-tank in London, Ms Kallas claimed Russia’s aim is to “dehumanise Ukrainians and wipe Ukraine off the world map”, adding: “A ‘Nazi’ is simply any Ukrainian who resists. Putin and all those who have committed atrocities must know that their judgment day will come.

“To hold perpetrators accountable, Ukraine must win back its territories and Russia must fail. We must do all we can to help push back the Russian invasion and end massive war crimes on our doorstep. Otherwise, worse will follow. This is what Estonian history teaches us.”

Bosnian Serb leader Dodik says Ukraine war has delayed secession plan

Monday 6 June 2022 23:06 , Reuters

Russia’s war in Ukraine has forced Bosnian Serb nationalists to delay plans to pull their region out of Bosnia’s national institutions, their leader Milorad Dodik has said.

In December, the parliament of Bosnia’s autonomous Serb Republic voted to start work on severing ties with Bosnia’s armed forces, judiciary and tax system, in a non-binding motion meant to pave the way for secession.

Mr Dodik – the driving force behind a plan that sparked Bosnia’s worst political crisis since the end of its 1990s war and triggered sanctions against him from London and Washington and warnings from the EU – had said it would be implemented by a deadline that expires this week.

But changed political conditions caused by the war in Ukraine had caused a delay, said Mr Dodik, whose plan is supported by Moscow.

The secessionist plan was not scrapped, just delayed, Mr Dodik said during the parliament session he called to rally support against Bosnia imposing sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

“That is why we halted the realisation of our conclusions relating to the withdrawal [of Bosnian Serbs from] … state authorities,” Dodik said.

Mr Dodik said the Bosnian Serb Republic wanted to “maintain neutrality” when it came to Russia and Ukraine and was against sanctions against Russia, echoing the stance of its sponsor Serbia, the only European country that has refused to impose sanctions.

No change in US Embassy posture in Kyiv following recent bombings, State Department says

Monday 6 June 2022 22:29 , Reuters

There has been no change in US Embassy posture in Kyiv, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters, after Russian missiles hit Kyiv on Sunday, for the first time in more than a month.

The US Embassy in Kyiv resumed operations last month, nearly three months after removing its diplomats and suspending work there over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Charles Michel accuses Russia of ‘cowardly’ assault on grain supplies

Monday 6 June 2022 21:54 , Andy Gregory

Here are more details from European Council president Charles Michel’s speech to the UN Security Council, which saw Russia’s ambassador storm out of the chamber.

Mr Michel accused Russia of using food supplies as “a stealth missile against developing countries” and blamed the Kremlin for the looming global food crisis.

Addressing Moscow’s Vassily Nebenzia directly, Mr Michel said he had seen millions of tons of grain and wheat stuck in containers and ships at the Ukrainian port of Odessa a few weeks ago “because of Russian warships in the Black Sea.”

Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine’s transport infrastructure and grain storage facilities, and its tanks, airstrikes and mines are preventing Ukraine from planting and harvesting, Mr Michel said.

“This is driving up food prices, pushing people into poverty and destabilising entire regions,” he added. “Russia is solely responsible for this looming food crisis. Russia alone.”

Michel accused Russian forces of stealing grain from areas in Ukraine that it has occupied “while shifting the blame of others,” calling this “cowardly” and “propaganda, pure and simple.”

Mr Nebenzia walked out, giving Russia’s seat to another diplomat. Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky said later that Mr Michel’s comments were “so rude” that the Russian ambassador left the chamber.

Police share footage of aftermath of Russian shelling in Lysychansk

Monday 6 June 2022 21:18 , Andy Gregory

Ukrainian police shared footage yesterday showing the aftermath of Russian shelling in the city of Lysychansk, in the Luhansk region, my colleague Oliver Browning reports.

Russian forces continued their push to take ground in eastern Ukraine over the weekend, with missile and airstrikes carried out on cities and villages.

Damaged administrative buildings, residential buildings and roads can be seen in footage shared by the national police, who say they have been documenting the damage in the area.

A police statement claims the headquarters for distributing humanitarian aid had been burnt to the ground.

Russian ambassador rages at ‘lies’ as he storms out of UN Security Council meeting

Monday 6 June 2022 20:41 , Andy Gregory

Russia’s UN ambassador stormed out of a UN Security Council meeting on Monday as the 15-member body was told Russia was fuelling a global food crisis and committing war crimes in Ukraine.

A visibly angered Vassily Nebenzia left the chamber during a statement by the European Council president, telling Reuters that he “couldn’t stay” because of “the lies that Charles Michel came here to distribute”.

In his accusations of Russian war crimes, Mr Michel specifically cited reports of sexual violence – the focus of the Security Council meeting – and described it as “a tactic of torture, terror and repression”.

During his own statement earlier in the meeting, Mr Nebenzia had “categorically refuted” any accusations of sexual violence by Russian soldiers.

Speaking directly to Mr Nebenzia as he walked out, Mr Michel said: “You may leave the room, maybe it’s easier not to listen to the truth.”

He had urged the ambassador to “be honest” that “the Kremlin is using food supplies as a stealth missile against developing countries”, adding: “Russia is solely responsible for this food crisis.”

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres is trying to broker what he calls a “package deal” to resume Ukrainian food exports and Russian food and fertiliser exports. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Turkey on Wednesday to discuss unlocking grain exports from Ukraine.

Russia has set sights on capture of Zaporizhzhia, Zelensky warns

Monday 6 June 2022 20:10 , Andy Gregory

Russian troops intend to capture the city of Zaporizhzhia, Voldymyr Zelensky has warned.

The Ukrainian president told a news conference that peace talks with Russia stood at “level zero,” and in the meantime “the most threatening situation” has developed in the Zaporizhzhia region, parts of which have already been taken by Russia.

“The enemy wants to … occupy the city of Zaporizhzhia,” Zelensky said. Such a move would allow the Russian military to advance closer to the centre of Ukraine.

In the south of Ukraine, Russia has already seized the large Ukrainian cities of Kherson and Mariupol. The Zaporizhzhia region, with the population of 1.6 million, is one of the biggest industrial hubs of Ukraine’s southeast. The city itself has 722,000 people.

Russia imposes personal sanctions against scores of US officials

Monday 6 June 2022 19:42 , Andy Gregory

Russia’s foreign ministry has announced new sanctions on scores of US officials, including Treasury secretary Janet Yellen and energy secretary Jennifer Granholm.

The Kremlin said it had imposed personal sanctions, which ban those named from entering Russia, in retaliation for “constantly expanding US sanctions against Russian political and public figures, as well as representatives of domestic business”.

It said the individuals were the heads of leading military-industrial corporations, media platforms, rating agencies and aircraft and shipbuilding companies, as well as individual US State Department officials “involved in fake reports about ‘malicious’ Russian cyber attacks”.

Among those named on the list were Delta Air Lines chief executive Edward Bastian, US trade representative Katherine Tai, New York Stock Exchange chair Jeffrey Sprecher, and the head of the State Department Office of Sanctions Coordination, James O’Brien.

Ukraine war turning into ‘a human trafficking crisis’, UN envoy warns

Monday 6 June 2022 19:15 , AP

The UN envoy on sexual violence in conflict has warned that sexual violence in Ukraine especially against women and girls remains prevalent and underreported, and the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country is turning into “a human trafficking crisis.”

Pramila Patten told the UN Security Council on Monday that there is a gap between its resolutions aimed at preventing rape and other sexual attacks during conflicts and the reality on the ground for the most vulnerable – women and children.

As of 3 June, she said, the UN human rights office had received 124 allegations of conflict-related sexual violence – 97 against women and girls, 19 against men, seven against boys and one gender unknown. Verification of these cases is ongoing, she said.

Ms Patten said Ukraine’s prosecutor general informed her during a visit in May that a national hot line reported the following forms of conflict-related sexual violence between 24 February and 12 April: “rape, gang rape, pregnancy following rape, attempted rape, threats of rape, coercion to watch an act of sexual violence committed against a partner or a child, and forced nudity.”

Zelensky pleads for secure corridor to export grain

Monday 6 June 2022 18:52 , Andy Gregory

Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded for a secure corridor for Ukrainian vessels to be able to ship out grain and prevent food shortages in Africa and Asia.

Ukraine’s president said today that Kyiv is in talks with countries like the UK and Turkey about security guaranties for Ukrainian ships, warning that “if now we have 22-25 million tons blocked there, in the autumn we might have 75”.

The issue of blocked grain will be on the agenda on Wednesday during Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Turkey. Ankara is involved in efforts by the UN to reach an agreement for the shipment of Ukrainian grain amid an escalating food crisis.

Mr Zelensky said Kyiv hasn’t been invited, possibly because Turkey wants to get security guarantees from Russia for its own ships first.

While Kyiv has been in talks with Poland and the Baltic nations, Mr Zelensky said, he warned that Ukraine is unable to export large shipments of grain via railways because of long delivery times.

A sticky end? Kyiv cafe names puff pastry cake after Boris Johnson

Monday 6 June 2022 18:30 , Andy Gregory

As he battles for his political survival in the UK, Boris Johnson has been honoured in Kyiv by having a cake named after him.

Zavertailo Cafe, one of Kyiv’s top bakeries, came up with the idea to thank him for the UK’s military donations to Ukraine – creating a puff pastry confection designed to resemble the British prime minister’s hairstyle, which is depicted in cascading meringue.

The cake, whose filling contains apple and cinnamon, costs the equivalent of £2.60.

My colleague Rory Sullivan has more details here:

A sticky end? Kyiv cafe names cake after Boris Johnson as he fights for survival

US charges Roman Abramovich with violating sanctions

Monday 6 June 2022 18:05 , Andy Gregory

Former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich has been charged with exporting two US-origin planes to Russia without a licence, as required under Washington’s new sanctions against Moscow.

Reuters reports that the US Department of Commerce said in a charging letter that, in February, Mr Abramovich named his Russian children the beneficiaries of the “shell entities” which owned the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Gulfstream G650 ER aircraft, but that he continued to control them.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are now seeking to seize the two aircraft, court papers show.

Another Russian general killed in Ukraine, says Kyiv

Monday 6 June 2022 17:46 , Andy Gregory

Kyiv has claimed that another Russian general has been killed in Ukraine, my colleague Rory Sullivan reports.

Major General Roman Kutuzov died in Mykolaivka village, which is located to the south of the fiercely-contested city of Sievierodonetsk, the Ukrainian defence ministry said.

Kutuzov is believed to have been killed while leading an assault to the south of Sievierodonetsk, with news of his death spread by the Russian state television reporter Alexander Sladkov.

“The general had led soldiers into attack, as if there are not enough colonels,” Mr Sladkov wrote on Telegram, adding: “On the other hand, Roman was the same commander as everyone else, albeit a higher rank.”

The senior Russian officer commanded the Donetsk People’s Republic 1st Army Corps, according to Dmitry Ivanov, a Ukrainian naval infantry officer.

Kyiv claims that at least 12 of the Kremlin’s generals have been killed in the war so far. However, Russian state media has only reported the deaths of three, including Andrei Sukhovetsky, the commanding general of the Russian 7th Airborne Division, who was killed in March.

Another Russian general killed in Ukraine, says Kyiv

Putin orders £65,000 payment to families of National Guards who die in Ukraine

Monday 6 June 2022 17:20 , Reuters

Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ordering the payment of 5 million roubles (£65,000) to the families of Russian National Guard members who have died in Ukraine and Syria.

The decree amounted to official recognition that members of the guard, known as Rosgvardia, are among the casualties of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The force, which answers directly to Putin, was created in 2016 to fight terrorism and organised crime, and has been used domestically to crack down on peaceful anti-government protests.

Western analysts have interpreted its deployment from the early stages of the war in Ukraine as a sign of misplaced confidence that Russia would quickly seize major cities, including the capital Kyiv, where Rosgvardia could then be used to maintain order.

In fact, Russian forces were beaten back from both Kyiv and Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, and are now focused on heavy fighting in the eastern Donbas region.

Putin had already announced compensation schemes for the families of dead and wounded soldiers. Russia has not updated its casualty figures since 25 March, when it said 1,351 servicemen had been killed and 3,825 wounded. Ukraine and Western governments say its toll by now is many times higher.

Russia puts investigative journalist on wanted list

Monday 6 June 2022 16:55 , Andy Gregory

Russian authorities have placed an investigative journalist – known for his coverage of Russian security agencies – on a wanted list and frozen his bank accounts.

Andrei Soldatov, who co-founded the Agentura.ru website, wrote on Twitter: “My Monday: my accounts in Russian banks are under arrest, plus I’m placed on Russia’s wanted list.”

The Russian Interior Ministry’s website listed Mr Soldatov, who could not be reached by phone, as wanted under an unspecified article of the criminal code.

In a separate post on Telegram, Mr Soldatov wrote that the case against him had been filed in a manner similar to that of two journalists accused of spreading “fake information” about Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine. He added: “We are clarifying the details.”

Days after invading Ukraine, Russia passed a law enabling jail terms of up to 15 years for those convicted of intentionally spreading “fake” news about its war, which the Kremlin insisted should be termed only a “special military operation”.

Russia begins to hand over bodies of Azovstal fighters, former Avoz leader says

Monday 6 June 2022 16:36 , Andy Gregory

Russia has started to return the bodies of Ukrainian fighters who died at Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks, a former leader of the Azov Regiment has said.

Dozens of fighters’ bodies recovered from the ruins of the bombed-out plant – now held by Russian – have been transferred to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, where DNA testing is underway to identify the remains, Maksym Zhorin told the Associated Press.

Mariupol’s Azovstal steel works, pictured on 15 May (REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko)

Mariupol’s Azovstal steel works, pictured on 15 May (REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko)

Italy summons Russian ambassador over criticism of Ukraine war news coverage

Monday 6 June 2022 16:07 , Andy Gregory

Italy has summoned Russia’s ambassador over Moscow’s criticism of Italian media coverage of its invasion of Ukraine.

The Italian foreign ministry said it “rejected insinuations concerning the alleged involvement of our country’s media in an anti-Russian campaign”, and “firmly rejected accusations of amorality” levelled at certain unnamed Italian officials and journalists by the Russian foreign ministry.

Describing a meeting between ambassador Sergey Razov and the secretary general of Italy’s foreign ministry, the Russian embassy in Rome wrote on Facebook: “He pointed out that the propaganda line that is dominating in the Italian media can hardly be qualified otherwise than as hostile.”

But Russia’s complaints over Italian media coverage stands at odds with domestic criticism within Italy of perceived pro-Russian bias by some influential news programmes.

An Italian parliamentary committee, which oversees the intelligence services, last month opened an investigation into allegations of “foreign interference and disinformation activity” on television following the frequent appearance of Russian guests on the country’s news shows.

Spain ‘to send tanks and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine’

Monday 6 June 2022 15:46 , Andy Gregory

Spain could soon send Leopard tanks and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, El Pais has reported.

Citing government sources, the Spanish newspaper claimed that Madrid could also train the Ukrainian military on how to use the tanks, first in Latvia – where hundreds of Spanish soldiers are currently based – and later in Spain.

The tanks are German-built, meaning Germany would need to approve a move to re-export them to Ukraine, according to Politico.

Moscow court fines US-backed broadcaster over Ukraine war coverage

Monday 6 June 2022 15:24 , Andy Gregory

A Moscow court has fined US-backed broadcaster Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe 20 million roubles (£259,000) over “fake” content about Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, the Interfax news agency has reported.

Shortly after launching what it termed its “special military operation”, Russia had banned media outlets from referring to its attack on Ukraine as an “invasion” or “war”, and its Russia’s communications watchdog blocked the websites of various outlets.

Estonian PM thanks Boris Johnson for ‘great leadership’ on Ukraine

Monday 6 June 2022 15:07 , Andy Gregory

Estonia’s prime minister has thanked Boris Johnson for his “great leadership” on the world stage against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As he prepares for a looming confidence vote in his leadership, the British prime minister welcomed Kaja Kallas at Downing Street to discuss the war. But he failed to greet her outside at the door, where reporters waited to press him on his domestic strife.

Upon her exit from No 10, Ms Kallas told the PA news agency that Mr Johnson seemed in “good” spirits ahead of the vote, adding: “We have been great allies in Nato and we are very grateful for the British troops in Estonia, and also that you have doubled them while the war took place.

“I also thank you for the great leadership in fighting with Ukraine and giving them all the help they need. I think the UK has been a very leading voice on the world stage so that the moral compass would be correct in this regard, so thank you for that.”

Boris Johnson hosts Kaja Kallas at Downing Street on Monday (EPA/Jason Alden/Pool)

Boris Johnson hosts Kaja Kallas at Downing Street on Monday (EPA/Jason Alden/Pool)

Ukraine war no excuse to prolong reliance on fossil fuels, US climate envoy John Kerry says

Monday 6 June 2022 14:47 , Andy Gregory

US climate envoy John Kerry has warned European leaders the war in Ukraine must not prolong dependence on coal and countries must move “much more quickly” to ditch fossil fuels, our environment correspondent Harry Cockburn reports.

Ahead of climate talks opening this week in Bonn, Germany, Mr Kerry strongly criticised countries for failing to meet the goals they set at the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow last year, and said the war should not halt efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

The UK and other nations have looked to expand fossil fuel projects in response to the energy crisis fuelled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Kerry said further dependence on coal – the most polluting fossil fuel – would mean “we are cooked”.

Ukraine war no excuse to prolong reliance on coal, US climate envoy John Kerry says

Ukraine has ‘every chance’ in Sievierodonetsk, Zelensky says

Monday 6 June 2022 14:14 , Andy Gregory

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that while Russian forces have the numerical advantage in the battle for the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine’s forces have “every chance” of fighting back.

The Ukrainian president told reporters at a briefing in Kyiv that the situation would become very difficult for Ukraine if Russia breaks through in the eastern region of Donbas.

Yesterday, Mr Zelensksy made a daring trip to the front lines of the battle against the Russians in Ukraine’s east.

Ukraine has enough forces to repel ongoing Russian attacks in Sievierodonetsk, mayor claims

Monday 6 June 2022 13:53 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine has concentrated enough forces to repel Russian attacks in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, the city’s mayor Oleksandr Stryuk has said.

“[We] have focused enough forces and resources there to beat back attacks on the city,” Mr Stryuk told a local broadcaster.

But he warned that neither side is preparing to withdraw and street fighting continues to rage.

In separate comments, Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said Moscow was not sparing troops or equipment in its push to capture Sievierodonetsk, the largest remaining Ukrainian-controlled city in the Luhansk region.

Opinion | Our food was under threat before Putin invaded Ukraine – now it’s getting worse

Monday 6 June 2022 13:35 , Andy Gregory

In his latest piece, our climate columnist Donnachadh McCarthy notes that “the UN is warning that the climate emergency threatens the collapse of civilisation, but it is not rising sea levels or hurricanes that will topple us first – it’s destruction of food crops”.

Pointing to examples of instances this year where extreme weather is already causing crop failures, he writes: “A recent report by UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) found that since 2000, the number and duration of droughts has risen nearly by a third. The latest IPCC report warned that up to 700 million people could be displaced by drought by 2030.

“Martin Frick, director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Berlin, told me that the climate crisis was definitely a contributor to this year’s global food cost inflation. He warned that climate related food shortages could lead to political instability, failed states and millions of refugees moving in desperation to survive.

“He said it was important to note that 60 per cent of the recent food price inflation occurred before Putin invaded Ukraine. The climate crisis was lurking behind almost every food emergency that the WFP is dealing with.”

You can read his analysis in full here:

Opinion: Our food was under threat before Putin – now it’s getting worse

Situation in Sievierodonetsk ‘worsening’ for Ukraine, governor warns

Monday 6 June 2022 13:18 , Andy Gregory

The situation in the key eastern city of Sievierodonetsk “has worsened” for Ukraine, the regional governor has warned – with Moscow having amassed “an enormous amount of equipment and personnel”.

Serhiy Haidai said that fierce fighting was continuing in the city of Sievierodonetsk – the epicenter of the Russian offensive – and described the situation as “quite dynamic”.

“Our defenders managed to conduct counteroffensive and free nearly half of the city, but the situation has worsened again now,” Mr Haidai told the Associated Press. “Our guys are defending the positions in the industrial zone on the outskirts of the city.”

“The shelling of Sievierodonetsk has intensified, [the Russians] are destroying everything in line with their scorched earth tactics,” he alleged.

Haidai said that the Russians have also continued the intensive bombardment of nearby Lysychansk, warning that Moscow “have an enormous amount of equipment and personnel, they have pulled up a lot of reserves”.

He claimed Russia had shelled a humanitarian center in Lysychansk and destroyed a bakery, and that 98 people had left the town over the past 24 hours.

While a key highway between Bakhmut and Lysychansk has been under constant shelling, it remains in Ukrainian hands, Mr Haidai said.

Long-range weapon deliveries will see Russia push Ukrainian forces further from its borders, Lavrov claims

Monday 6 June 2022 13:00 , Andy Gregory

Moscow has said it will respond to Western deliveries of long-range weapons to Ukraine by pushing Kyiv’s forces further from Russia’s border.

“The longer the range of the systems that will be delivered, the further we will move back the Nazis from that line from which threats to Russian-speakers and the Russian Federation may come,” foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters.

Since the start of its invasion, Russia has said it aims to clear Ukraine of Nazis, a line rejected by Kyiv and the West as baseless war propaganda.

UK ‘unwavering’ in support for Ukraine, Boris Johnson says

Monday 6 June 2022 12:34 , Andy Gregory

With a vote of confidence in his leadership just hours away, Boris Johnson has shared a picture of himself on the phone to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

The third social media post shared from the prime minister’s account since the confidence vote was announced said that Mr Zelensky had “just updated me on the ongoing battle against Russian aggression in the Donbas”.

It added: “It’s clear the Ukrainian people will not bow to Russian brutality. We’re unwavering in our mission of ensuring Ukraine is defended and supported for the long-term.”

Russia calls Lavrov flight bans ‘hostile action’

Monday 6 June 2022 11:57 , Zoe Tidman

The Kremlin has said airspace closures by three eastern European countries which prevented its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, from travelling to Serbia were a “hostile action.”

Countries surrounding Serbia – Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro – closed their airspace to an official plane that would have carried Moscow’s top diplomat to Belgrade on Monday.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters such actions could cause problems with the timetabling of high-level diplomatic meetings. But they would not prevent Moscow from maintaining contacts with friendly countries, he said.

Russia’s foreign minister was forced to cancel a trip to Serbia due to flight bans (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia’s foreign minister was forced to cancel a trip to Serbia due to flight bans (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Reuters

Full story: Zelensky trip to frontline

Monday 6 June 2022 11:47 , Zoe Tidman

Volodymyr Zelensky made a daring trip to the frontline on Sunday as the battle for eastern Ukraine continued to rage, Rory Sullivan reports.

The Ukrainian president met soldiers in Lysychansk and Soledar, cities located close to Sievierodonetsk, the main focus of Russia’s assault in the Donbas, an area which comprises the provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk.

More here:

‘We cannot trust Putin,’ Ukrainian minister says

Monday 6 June 2022 11:30 , Zoe Tidman

Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs has warned against trusting Vladimir Putin’s promise on Odesa:

Nuclear watchdog wants to send experts to Ukraine plant

Monday 6 June 2022 11:12 , Zoe Tidman

The UN nuclear watchdog is “developing the modalities” for an international mission of experts it hopes to send to the Russian-held nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine.

The plant was attacked in the first weeks of the war. Tom Batchelor reported at the time:

Everything we know about the nuclear power plant seized by Russia

Concerns over war’s impact on marine ecosystem

Monday 6 June 2022 10:55 , Zoe Tidman

Scientists studying the Black Sea claim “several thousand” dolphins have died in the region amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vishwam Sankaran reports.

Russia’s war on Ukraine has already killed several thousand dolphins, scientists say

Boris Johnson on UK arms to Ukraine

Monday 6 June 2022 09:46 , Zoe Tidman

Boris Johnson has tweeted about the UK rocket systems going to Ukraine:

Putin threatens new targets in Ukraine

Monday 6 June 2022 09:07 , Zoe Tidman

Vladimir Putin hass issued a new warning to the West against sending longer-range rocket systems to Ukraine.

“We will strike at those targets which we have not yet been hitting,” he said.

Full story here:

Putin warns West against sending arms; Kyiv hit by missiles

Situation worse in Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine official says

Monday 6 June 2022 07:48 , Zoe Tidman

The governor of Luhansk has said the situation as worsened a little for Ukraine in Sievierodonetsk.

He said intense street fighting has been raging in the southeastern city.

Joe Middleton has more on the battle for Sievierdonetsk:

Ukraine forces pushing back Russia in Sievierodonetsk

Russia may be moving air defence to Snake Island in western Black Sea

Monday 6 June 2022 07:01 , Arpan Rai

The British defence ministry has said that Russian forces may have moved their multiple air defence assets to Snake Island to bolster their air security for Moscow’s naval vessels in the area.

“At sea, following the loss of the cruiser Moskva in April, Russian forces have likely moved multiple air defence assets to Snake Island in the western Black Sea, including SA-15 and SA-22 systems,” the ministry said in its latest intelligence update.

“It is likely these weapons are intended to provide air defence for Russian naval vessels operating around Snake Island.”\

Russia’s activity on Snake Island, the ministry said, is adding to its blockade of the Ukrainian coast and hinders the resumption of maritime trade, including exports of Ukrainian grain.

On the military offence front, the British MoD said: “In the early hours of 5 June, Russian Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles struck rail infrastructure in Kyiv, likely in an attempt to disrupt the supply of western military equipment to frontline Ukrainian units.”

“In Donbas, heavy fighting continues in the contested town of Sieverodonetsk and Russian forces continue to push towards Sloviansk as part of their attempted encirclement of Ukrainian forces,” the ministry said.

Russian foreign minister’s visit to Serbia cancelled

Monday 6 June 2022 06:36 , Arpan Rai

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was forced to cancel his visit to Serbia after three of its neighbours sealed off their airspace to the top Moscow leader.

The three nations that denied access to Russian aircraft carrying Moscow’s top diplomat to Belgrade include Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

Mr Lavrov’s visit to Serbia was slated for 6 June and 7 June, but the Russian foreign ministry confirmed that it has now been cancelled.

A close Russian ally, Serbia has not severed its ties or enforced any sanctions in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

UK to send long-range missiles to Ukraine after Russia hits Kyiv

Monday 6 June 2022 05:34 , Arpan Rai

Defence secretary Ben Wallace has announced that the UK will dispatch its first long-range missiles to Ukraine for the first time since April ater Russia struck capital Kyiv on Sunday.

An unspecified number of M270 launchers, which can fire precision-guided rockets up to 50 miles – a longer range than any missile technology currently in use in the war – will be sent o Kyiv, Mr Wallace said.

“The UK stands with Ukraine in this fight and is taking a leading role in supplying its heroic troops with the vital weapons they need to defend their country from unprovoked invasion,” Mr Wallace said in a statement released by the British defence ministry.

Read the full story here:

Britain to send long-range missiles to Ukraine after Russia hits Kyiv

Russian ministry website hacked with ‘Glory to Ukraine’ message

Monday 6 June 2022 05:10 , Arpan Rai

The Russian ministry of construction, housing and utilities appeared to have been hacked on Sunday as a web search for the ministry showed a message reading “Glory to Ukraine” in Ukrainian.

A ministry representative said the site was down and users’ personal data was protected, reported Russian state news agency RIA late on Sunday.

Zelensky meets war-hit families from Mariupol: ‘Most without men’

Monday 6 June 2022 04:51 , Arpan Rai

Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the families who fled the battered port city Mariupol, still reeling from the aftermath of the Russian siege that eventually captured the city.

“Met with Mariupol residents, who managed to leave the city alive and with children. Here they were met by [the people of] Khortytsia, humanely and warmly. Conditions – I saw – are temporary, but not bad. Understood their difficult questions. I think we will solve them,” Mr Zelensky said in a statement.

He added that each family in the territory has its own story. “Most were without men. Someone’s husband went to war, someone’s is in captivity, someone’s, unfortunately, died. A tragedy. No home, no loved one. But we must live for the children. True heroes – they are among us.”

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