A Russia-installed official, on Sunday (June 18) acknowledged that Ukrainian forces have recaptured Piatykhatky village in the southern Zapororizhzhia region, in what might be the second&nbsp;reported gains in the region since Kyiv began its counteroffensive, earlier this month. Meanwhile, both Ukrainian and Russian officials have reported a rise in the death toll after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.&nbsp;

<h2>Death toll due to Kakhovka dam breach rises</h2>

The death toll from the floods due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam rose to 16 in Ukraine, said the officials in Kyiv. Meanwhile, a Russia-installed official in the Moscow-occupied parts of the Kherson region, Andrei Alekseyenko, took to Telegram and said at least 29 people have lost their lives due to the flood, as of late Saturday.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian interior ministry, in a statement also said that more than 3,600 people have been evacuated from the flooded areas in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions and some 31 were still missing. Additionally, as of late Saturday, at least 1,300 were flooded, said the Ukrainian officials.&nbsp;

The destruction of the Soviet-era dam on the Dnipro River has prompted the evacuation of thousands of people after it unleashed a flood in several parts of southern Ukraine and in Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine.&nbsp;

While, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of destroying the dam, a team of international legal experts who are helping prosecutors in Kyiv with the investigation, in their preliminary findings on Friday said it was “highly likely” that the collapse of the Soviet-era dam was caused by explosives planted by Russians.

<h2>Ukrainian forces reportedly take over another village</h2>

In what might be the second gain&nbsp;for the Ukrainian forces along the southern Zaporizhzhia region front, a Russian-installed official Vladimir Rogov reported that Kyiv has taken over the settlement of Piatykhatky. Rogov took to Telegram and said Ukrainian forces have entrenched themselves there while coming under fire from Russian troops.&nbsp;

“The enemy’s ‘wave-like’ offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses,” said the Russian official, adding that heavy fighting continues in the area. The claim was not immediately confirmed by Kyiv. This also comes days after&nbsp;Ukraine said it regained&nbsp;control of&nbsp;Lobkove, a village adjacent to Piatykhatky in Zaporizhzhia region.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry, in a statement on Sunday said&nbsp;its forces had repelled a series of Ukrainian attacks across three sections of the front line with "most active actions" in&nbsp;Zaporizhzhia direction while also mentioning&nbsp;attempts to attack in the&nbsp;South-Donetsk and Donetsk directions. However, the ministry did not confirm the Russian-installed official's claim.&nbsp;

<h2>Ukraine claims to have destroyed ‘significant’ ammunition depot in Kherson</h2>

A spokesperson for the Odesa military administration, Serhiy Bratchuk, on Sunday, claimed that Ukrainian forces have destroyed a “significant” ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in Kherson. &nbsp;

In a video message, Bratchuk, said, “Our armed forces dealt a good blow in the morning - and a very loud one - in the village of Rykove, Henichesk district, in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region.” He added, “There was a very significant ammunition depot. It was destroyed.”

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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A Russia-installed official, on Sunday (June 18) acknowledged that Ukrainian forces have recaptured Piatykhatky village in the southern Zapororizhzhia region, in what might be the second reported gains in the region since Kyiv began its counteroffensive, earlier this month.

A Russia-installed official, on Sunday (June 18) acknowledged that Ukrainian forces have recaptured Piatykhatky village in the southern Zapororizhzhia region, in what might be the second reported gains in the region since Kyiv began its counteroffensive, earlier this month. Meanwhile, both Ukrainian and Russian officials have reported a rise in the death toll after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Death toll due to Kakhovka dam breach rises The death toll from the floods due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam rose to 16 in Ukraine, said the officials in Kyiv. Meanwhile, a Russia-installed official in the Moscow-occupied parts of the Kherson region, Andrei Alekseyenko, took to Telegram and said at least 29 people have lost their lives due to the flood, as of late Saturday. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian interior ministry, in a statement also said that more than 3,600 people have been evacuated from the flooded areas in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions and some 31 were still missing. Additionally, as of late Saturday, at least 1,300 were flooded, said the Ukrainian officials. The destruction of the Soviet-era dam on the Dnipro River has prompted the evacuation of thousands of people after it unleashed a flood in several parts of southern Ukraine and in Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine. While, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of destroying the dam, a team of international legal experts who are helping prosecutors in Kyiv with the investigation, in their preliminary findings on Friday said it was “highly likely” that the collapse of the Soviet-era dam was caused by explosives planted by Russians. Ukrainian forces reportedly take over another village In what might be the second gain for the Ukrainian forces along the southern Zaporizhzhia region front, a Russian-installed official Vladimir Rogov reported that Kyiv has taken over the settlement of Piatykhatky. Rogov took to Telegram and said Ukrainian forces have entrenched themselves there while coming under fire from Russian troops. “The enemy’s ‘wave-like’ offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses,” said the Russian official, adding that heavy fighting continues in the area. The claim was not immediately confirmed by Kyiv. This also comes days after Ukraine said it regained control of Lobkove, a village adjacent to Piatykhatky in Zaporizhzhia region. Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry, in a statement on Sunday said its forces had repelled a series of Ukrainian attacks across three sections of the front line with "most active actions" in Zaporizhzhia direction while also mentioning attempts to attack in the South-Donetsk and Donetsk directions. However, the ministry did not confirm the Russian-installed official's claim. Ukraine claims to have destroyed ‘significant’ ammunition depot in Kherson A spokesperson for the Odesa military administration, Serhiy Bratchuk, on Sunday, claimed that Ukrainian forces have destroyed a “significant” ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in Kherson. In a video message, Bratchuk, said, “Our armed forces dealt a good blow in the morning - and a very loud one - in the village of Rykove, Henichesk district, in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region.” He added, “There was a very significant ammunition depot. It was destroyed.” (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Death toll in Kakhovka dam collapse increases to 45; Ukraine recaptures another village

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) chief executive Paul Thompson has apologised for the public broadcaster's publishing of content he labelled "pro-Kremlin garbage". On Friday (June 9th), the publisher was alerted to several of its Ukraine war-related stories having been altered to support pro-Russian sentiments.

Following this discovery, an RNZ journalist has been placed on leave.&nbsp;

Here's what happened:

<h2>How did pro-Russian content make it to the RNZ website?</h2>

As per a report on the RNZ website, a digital journalist has been placed on leave after it was found that he had altered copies from news agencies like Reuters to reflect pro-Russian views.

When questioned, the journalist told RNZ Checkpoint that he had been subbing the stories that way for a number of years and "nobody had queried it".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-counter-offensive-kyiv-retakes-seven-villages-russia-launches-missile-strike-overnight-603707">Ukraine counter-offensive: Kyiv retakes seven villages, Russia launches missile strike overnight</a>

<h2>How is Radio New Zealand rectifying the situation?</h2>

As per RNZ head Paul Thompson, hundreds of stories have already been audited and more would be checked "with a fine-toothed comb".

21 stories have already been audited and edited to reflect "balanced" reports. They've been republished with corrections and editor's notes. Thousands more will be scrutinised.

<h2>What do RNZ executives have to say?</h2>

RNZ chief Paul Thompson has apologised to listeners, readers, staff and the Ukrainian community.

BBC reports that talking to RNZ's Nine to Noon, Thompson said: "It's so disappointing that this pro-Kremlin garbage has ended up in our stories."&nbsp;

"It's inexcusable," he added.

"It is so disappointing. I'm gutted. It's painful. It's shocking," he added.&nbsp;"We have to get to the bottom of how it happened."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-frances-macron-promises-more-military-aid-to-kyiv-as-counteroffensive-begins-603681">Ukraine war: France's Macron promises more military aid to Kyiv as counteroffensive begins</a>

Jim Mather, a board person, said that the revelations have eroded public trust and that it will take a lot of work to come back from this.

"We see ourselves as guardians of a taonga and that taonga being the 98 years of history that RNZ has in terms of trusted public media and high standards of excellent journalism and so it is fair to say we are extremely disappointed," he told RNZ Checkpoint.

"We need to demonstrate that we are prepared to review every aspect of what has occurred to actually start the restoration process in terms of confidence in RNZ."

<h2>The 'pro-Kremlin' coverage</h2>

As per BBC, the edited articles included claims like Russia had annexed Crimea after a referendum. However, the referendum and the Russian occupation of Crimea, which is part of Ukraine's southern peninsula, are not recognised by Kyiv or the wider international community.&nbsp;The United Nations has even passed a resolution, emphasising the illegitimacy of the referendum.&nbsp;

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Extraordinary that there is so little editorial oversight at Radio New Zealand that someone employed by/contracted to them was able to rewrite online content to reflect pro-Russia stance without senior staff noticing. Accountability? Expect better from public broadcaster. <a href="https://t.co/uEqdEnndAP">https://t.co/uEqdEnndAP</a>
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Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark took to Twitter to voice her displeasure and said that she expected&nbsp;better from the public broadcaster.&nbsp;"Extraordinary that there is so little editorial oversight at Radio New Zealand that someone employed by/contracted to them was able to rewrite online content to reflect pro-Russia stance without senior staff noticing," she wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Radio New Zealand (RNZ) chief executive Paul Thompson has apologised for the public broadcaster's publishing of content he labelled "pro-Kremlin garbage". On Friday (June 9th), the publisher was alerted to several of its Ukraine war-related stories having been altered to support pro-Russian sentiments.

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) chief executive Paul Thompson has apologised for the public broadcaster's publishing of content he labelled "pro-Kremlin garbage". On Friday (June 9th), the publisher was alerted to several of its Ukraine war-related stories having been altered to support pro-Russian sentiments. Following this discovery, an RNZ journalist has been placed on leave. Here's what happened: How did pro-Russian content make it to the RNZ website? As per a report on the RNZ website, a digital journalist has been placed on leave after it was found that he had altered copies from news agencies like Reuters to reflect pro-Russian views. When questioned, the journalist told RNZ Checkpoint that he had been subbing the stories that way for a number of years and "nobody had queried it". Also read | Ukraine counter-offensive: Kyiv retakes seven villages, Russia launches missile strike overnight How is Radio New Zealand rectifying the situation? As per RNZ head Paul Thompson, hundreds of stories have already been audited and more would be checked "with a fine-toothed comb". 21 stories have already been audited and edited to reflect "balanced" reports. They've been republished with corrections and editor's notes. Thousands more will be scrutinised. What do RNZ executives have to say? RNZ chief Paul Thompson has apologised to listeners, readers, staff and the Ukrainian community. BBC reports that talking to RNZ's Nine to Noon, Thompson said: "It's so disappointing that this pro-Kremlin garbage has ended up in our stories." "It's inexcusable," he added. "It is so disappointing. I'm gutted. It's painful. It's shocking," he added. "We have to get to the bottom of how it happened." Also read | Ukraine war: France's Macron promises more military aid to Kyiv as counteroffensive begins Jim Mather, a board person, said that the revelations have eroded public trust and that it will take a lot of work to come back from this. "We see ourselves as guardians of a taonga and that taonga being the 98 years of history that RNZ has in terms of trusted public media and high standards of excellent journalism and so it is fair to say we are extremely disappointed," he told RNZ Checkpoint. "We need to demonstrate that we are prepared to review every aspect of what has occurred to actually start the restoration process in terms of confidence in RNZ." The 'pro-Kremlin' coverage As per BBC, the edited articles included claims like Russia had annexed Crimea after a referendum. However, the referendum and the Russian occupation of Crimea, which is part of Ukraine's southern peninsula, are not recognised by Kyiv or the wider international community. The United Nations has even passed a resolution, emphasising the illegitimacy of the referendum. Extraordinary that there is so little editorial oversight at Radio New Zealand that someone employed by/contracted to them was able to rewrite online content to reflect pro-Russia stance without senior staff noticing. Accountability? Expect better from public broadcaster. https://t.co/uEqdEnndAP — Helen Clark (@HelenClarkNZ) June 10, 2023 × Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark took to Twitter to voice her displeasure and said that she expected better from the public broadcaster. "Extraordinary that there is so little editorial oversight at Radio New Zealand that someone employed by/contracted to them was able to rewrite online content to reflect pro-Russia stance without senior staff noticing," she wrote. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

New Zealand national broadcaster chief apologises for  'inexcusable' pro-Russia stories

The United Nations nuclear energy chief, on Tuesday (June 13), visited the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky before going to Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant days after&nbsp;the massive Kakhovka&nbsp;dam on the Dnipro River was breached.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Very concerned’ about nuclear power plant amid Ukraine’s counteroffensive: Grossi</h2>

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi also said that he is “very concerned” that the nuclear plant could be caught in Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive which aims to retake Russian-occupied territory.&nbsp;This comes as Kyiv has recently claimed gains in the early stages of its counteroffensive, earlier on Tuesday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-ukraine-deliberately-hit-kakhovka-dam-with-himars-rockets-604095">Putin says Ukraine deliberately hit Kakhovka dam with HIMARS rockets</a>

The IAEA chief also said there were no signs of Russian troops moving heavy military equipment to the&nbsp;Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)&nbsp;but can only be confirmed after his visit and said, “There shouldn’t be any military equipment or artillery or amounts of ammunition, an amount that could compromise the security of the plant.”

He added, “We do not have any indication at this point, but it could not be excluded.” Grossi, addressing the press in Kyiv,&nbsp;said he discussed the dangers facing the ZNPP with Zelensky.&nbsp;

Grossi also said that the largest nuclear power plant in Europe is witnessing a “relatively dangerous situation” after the collapse of the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-ukraine-war-nova-kakhovka-dam-attack-what-we-know-so-far-601391">Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine</a>

<h2>Why is Grossi in Kyiv, travelling to nuclear power plant?</h2>

The IAEA chief's&nbsp;trip to Ukraine comes after the UN agency, on Sunday, said that it needed to access the site near the plant to check the water levels after the dam’s reservoir which also provided water essential for cooling the six reactors at the ZNPP collapsed.&nbsp;

The nuclear power plant which has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire between Russia and Ukraine once again sparked concerns after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Meanwhile, both Kyiv and Moscow have blamed each for attacking the dam which led to dozens of deaths and prompted evacuation&nbsp;of thousands of people in southern Ukraine amid floods.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-frances-macron-promises-more-military-aid-to-kyiv-as-counteroffensive-begins-603681">Ukraine war: France's Macron promises more military aid to Kyiv as counteroffensive begins</a> 
 
The water in the cooling pond is used to keep the ZNPP’s six reactors from potentially disastrous overheating from the reservoir which is now destroyed. However, Ukraine’s nuclear energy company, Energoatom, on Tuesday said that the level of the pond was stable and that the water was enough.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Serious situation’ at ZNPP: IAEA chief</h2>

Speaking to journalists in Kyiv, Grossi said there was no immediate danger but that it was a “serious situation” due to the limited amount of water left. According to the Ukrainian energy company, as of Tuesday morning, the water level was at 16.67 metres which it said is “quite enough to meet the needs of the station”.&nbsp;

Grossi has also called the move a “step in the wrong direction.” He added, “If there was a break in the gates that contain this water or anything like this, you would really lose all your cooling capacity.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-fsb-arrests-former-defence-industry-workers-suspected-of-spying-for-ukraines-military-intelligence-603962">Russia's FSB arrests former defence industry workers suspected of spying for Ukraine's military intelligence</a>

Similarly, Ukrainian nuclear authorities have also said that the reservoir which was normally used to refill the pond cannot anymore because of its falling water level. However, the pond, which is separated from the reservoir, can be replenished using deep underground wells, the Ukrainian authorities added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The United Nations nuclear energy chief, on Tuesday (June 13), visited the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky before going to Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant days after the massive Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River was breached.

The United Nations nuclear energy chief, on Tuesday (June 13), visited the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky before going to Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant days after the massive Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River was breached. ‘Very concerned’ about nuclear power plant amid Ukraine’s counteroffensive: Grossi The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi also said that he is “very concerned” that the nuclear plant could be caught in Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive which aims to retake Russian-occupied territory. This comes as Kyiv has recently claimed gains in the early stages of its counteroffensive, earlier on Tuesday. ALSO READ | Putin says Ukraine deliberately hit Kakhovka dam with HIMARS rockets The IAEA chief also said there were no signs of Russian troops moving heavy military equipment to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) but can only be confirmed after his visit and said, “There shouldn’t be any military equipment or artillery or amounts of ammunition, an amount that could compromise the security of the plant.” He added, “We do not have any indication at this point, but it could not be excluded.” Grossi, addressing the press in Kyiv, said he discussed the dangers facing the ZNPP with Zelensky. Grossi also said that the largest nuclear power plant in Europe is witnessing a “relatively dangerous situation” after the collapse of the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine. ALSO READ | Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine Why is Grossi in Kyiv, travelling to nuclear power plant? The IAEA chief's trip to Ukraine comes after the UN agency, on Sunday, said that it needed to access the site near the plant to check the water levels after the dam’s reservoir which also provided water essential for cooling the six reactors at the ZNPP collapsed. The nuclear power plant which has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire between Russia and Ukraine once again sparked concerns after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Meanwhile, both Kyiv and Moscow have blamed each for attacking the dam which led to dozens of deaths and prompted evacuation of thousands of people in southern Ukraine amid floods. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: France's Macron promises more military aid to Kyiv as counteroffensive begins The water in the cooling pond is used to keep the ZNPP’s six reactors from potentially disastrous overheating from the reservoir which is now destroyed. However, Ukraine’s nuclear energy company, Energoatom, on Tuesday said that the level of the pond was stable and that the water was enough. ‘Serious situation’ at ZNPP: IAEA chief Speaking to journalists in Kyiv, Grossi said there was no immediate danger but that it was a “serious situation” due to the limited amount of water left. According to the Ukrainian energy company, as of Tuesday morning, the water level was at 16.67 metres which it said is “quite enough to meet the needs of the station”. Grossi has also called the move a “step in the wrong direction.” He added, “If there was a break in the gates that contain this water or anything like this, you would really lose all your cooling capacity.” ALSO READ | Russia's FSB arrests former defence industry workers suspected of spying for Ukraine's military intelligence Similarly, Ukrainian nuclear authorities have also said that the reservoir which was normally used to refill the pond cannot anymore because of its falling water level. However, the pond, which is separated from the reservoir, can be replenished using deep underground wells, the Ukrainian authorities added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Very concerned’: UN nuclear chief about Zaporizhzhia plant amid Ukraine’s counteroffensive

In what might be the first gains since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave the strongest indication yet that Kyiv’s long-awaited pushback of Russian troops has begun,&nbsp;Kyiv announced on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had retaken three villages in the eastern region of Donetsk. Ukraine, on Monday (June 12) also claimed that it&nbsp;recaptured a fourth village in a cluster of settlements in the country's&nbsp;southeast region.&nbsp;

“The settlements of Blahodatne and Makarivka were liberated,” Ukraine's deputy defence minister Hanna&nbsp;Maliar&nbsp;said in an&nbsp;update on Telegram.

A third village,&nbsp;Neskuchne, was also claimed by a Ukrainian army brigade on Sunday, though Kyiv defence leaders are yet to comment on the development. Russian military bloggers have&nbsp;made unofficial reports&nbsp;that Neskuchne has been recaptured by Ukraine's troops, reports CNN. 
 
Video footage posted online&nbsp;showed soldiers holding up the Ukrainian flag in&nbsp;Donetsk region's Storozheve with the defence minister thanking&nbsp;the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for regaining control of the village.

This comes after Zelensky said that the “relevant counter-offensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine,” on Saturday. “Neskuchne of the Donetsk region is under the Ukrainian flag again,” said the state border guard, along with a video of Ukrainian troops announcing the takeover.&nbsp;

Ukrainian soldiers were also seen shouting Kyiv’s traditional battle cries such as “Glory to Ukraine!” and reportedly derided Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-repel-attack-by-ukraine-on-black-sea-warship-603188">Russia claims to repel attack by Ukraine on Black Sea warship</a>

This was hours after Ukrainian Land Forces announced that soldiers of the 68th Separate Hunting Brigade had retaken the village of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-citizen-arrested-in-russia-over-drug-dealing-charges-603227">US citizen arrested in Russia over drug dealing charges</a>

The video showed soldiers hoisting a Ukrainian flag over a destroyed building. The Ukrainian government also has released a video for the third consecutive weekend that subtly acknowledges, without directly mentioning, the summer counteroffensive against Russia. &nbsp; 
 
The most recent video features Kyrylo Budanov, the head of military intelligence, sitting silently at his desk, gazing into the camera and after 20 seconds or so the words “More to Come” appear, which is followed by the slogan, “Plans Love Silence.” The recurring theme seems to point to the Kyiv government’s efforts symbolising the importance of maintaining silence.

<h2>Russia blows up another dam</h2>

Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing&nbsp;up another dam in the Zaporizhzhia region, following the destruction of the major Nova Kakhovka on Monday, which caused widespread flooding.

Ukraine says the dam was blown up by Russian forces, who have controlled it since February 2022.

Valeriy Shershen, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, said Moscow's forces had chosen to blow up a second dam near the village of Novodarivka, which "led to the flooding on both banks of the Mokri Yaly river", Kyiv Independent reported.&nbsp;

<h2>Russia, Ukraine prisoner&nbsp;swap</h2>

The Russian defence ministry, on Telegram, announced 94 Russian servicemen “who were in mortal danger” are being released after negotiations and will be taken to medical institutes for examination.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraines-counter-offensive-against-russia-under-way-603074">Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia under way</a>

Head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, said 95 Ukrainian troops had been returned by the Russians. The Ukrainian official also said that some of them were injured and among those who returned were also members of the national guard and border guards.&nbsp;

<h2>Is Russia taking control of Wagner?</h2>

Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia's Wagner mercenary, on Sunday, said his fighters would not sign any contract with the country’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-says-it-repels-many-attacks-by-ukraine-ukraine-claims-gains-in-bakhmut-603084">Russia says it repels many attacks by Ukraine; Ukraine claims gains in Bakhmut</a>

This comes after the Russian defence ministry on Saturday said Shoigu had ordered all “volunteer detachments” to sign contracts with his ministry by the end of the month. According to the defence ministry, it is in a bid to increase the effectiveness of the Russian army.&nbsp;

<h2>Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia underway</h2>

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While no particular group or forces were mentioned by the ministry, the move is being seen as an attempt to take direct control of Wagner. However, Prigozhin, in response to a request for comment on the matter said, “Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu,” adding that the order did not apply to Wagner.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-dam-collapse-zelensky-says-world-shamefully-indifferent-to-disaster-603032">Ukraine dam collapse: Zelensky says world ‘shamefully indifferent’ to disaster</a>

This comes as the Wagner chief has repeatedly criticised the Russian military brass for incompetence and deliberately undersupplying Wagner fighters in Ukraine. “Shoigu cannot properly manage military formation,” said Wagner chief.&nbsp;

He also went on to say that his group is well integrated with the Russian military and its effectiveness would be affected if they are required to report to the defence minister.

<h2>Russia said it hit Leopard tanks, Bradley vehicles and Ukrainian fighter jet</h2>

Earlier, on Sunday, Russia claimed that it destroyed at least seven German-made Leopard tanks and five United States-made Bradley vehicles in the past 48 hours while repelling Ukrainian attacks.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-opposition-failing-to-unite-against-putin-heres-why-603145">Russian opposition leaders meet in Brussels, fail to unite against Putin. Here's why</a>

It also later claimed that it had successfully taken down a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet in the Kherson region. Russian forces have also repelled three Ukrainian attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region, the ministry said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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In what might be the first gains since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave the strongest indication yet that Kyiv’s long-awaited pushback of Russian troops has begun, Kyiv announced on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had retaken three villages in the eastern region of Donetsk.

In what might be the first gains since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave the strongest indication yet that Kyiv’s long-awaited pushback of Russian troops has begun, Kyiv announced on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had retaken three villages in the eastern region of Donetsk. Ukraine, on Monday (June 12) also claimed that it recaptured a fourth village in a cluster of settlements in the country's southeast region. “The settlements of Blahodatne and Makarivka were liberated,” Ukraine's deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said in an update on Telegram. A third village, Neskuchne, was also claimed by a Ukrainian army brigade on Sunday, though Kyiv defence leaders are yet to comment on the development. Russian military bloggers have made unofficial reports that Neskuchne has been recaptured by Ukraine's troops, reports CNN. Video footage posted online showed soldiers holding up the Ukrainian flag in Donetsk region's Storozheve with the defence minister thanking the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for regaining control of the village. This comes after Zelensky said that the “relevant counter-offensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine,” on Saturday. “Neskuchne of the Donetsk region is under the Ukrainian flag again,” said the state border guard, along with a video of Ukrainian troops announcing the takeover. Ukrainian soldiers were also seen shouting Kyiv’s traditional battle cries such as “Glory to Ukraine!” and reportedly derided Russian President Vladimir Putin. ALSO READ | Russia claims to repel attack by Ukraine on Black Sea warship This was hours after Ukrainian Land Forces announced that soldiers of the 68th Separate Hunting Brigade had retaken the village of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region. ALSO READ | US citizen arrested in Russia over drug dealing charges The video showed soldiers hoisting a Ukrainian flag over a destroyed building. The Ukrainian government also has released a video for the third consecutive weekend that subtly acknowledges, without directly mentioning, the summer counteroffensive against Russia. The most recent video features Kyrylo Budanov, the head of military intelligence, sitting silently at his desk, gazing into the camera and after 20 seconds or so the words “More to Come” appear, which is followed by the slogan, “Plans Love Silence.” The recurring theme seems to point to the Kyiv government’s efforts symbolising the importance of maintaining silence. Russia blows up another dam Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up another dam in the Zaporizhzhia region, following the destruction of the major Nova Kakhovka on Monday, which caused widespread flooding. Ukraine says the dam was blown up by Russian forces, who have controlled it since February 2022. Valeriy Shershen, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, said Moscow's forces had chosen to blow up a second dam near the village of Novodarivka, which "led to the flooding on both banks of the Mokri Yaly river", Kyiv Independent reported. Russia, Ukraine prisoner swap The Russian defence ministry, on Telegram, announced 94 Russian servicemen “who were in mortal danger” are being released after negotiations and will be taken to medical institutes for examination. ALSO WATCH | Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia under way Head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, said 95 Ukrainian troops had been returned by the Russians. The Ukrainian official also said that some of them were injured and among those who returned were also members of the national guard and border guards. Is Russia taking control of Wagner? Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia's Wagner mercenary, on Sunday, said his fighters would not sign any contract with the country’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. ALSO WATCH | Russia says it repels many attacks by Ukraine; Ukraine claims gains in Bakhmut This comes after the Russian defence ministry on Saturday said Shoigu had ordered all “volunteer detachments” to sign contracts with his ministry by the end of the month. According to the defence ministry, it is in a bid to increase the effectiveness of the Russian army. Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia underway While no particular group or forces were mentioned by the ministry, the move is being seen as an attempt to take direct control of Wagner. However, Prigozhin, in response to a request for comment on the matter said, “Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu,” adding that the order did not apply to Wagner. ALSO READ | Ukraine dam collapse: Zelensky says world ‘shamefully indifferent’ to disaster This comes as the Wagner chief has repeatedly criticised the Russian military brass for incompetence and deliberately undersupplying Wagner fighters in Ukraine. “Shoigu cannot properly manage military formation,” said Wagner chief. He also went on to say that his group is well integrated with the Russian military and its effectiveness would be affected if they are required to report to the defence minister. Russia said it hit Leopard tanks, Bradley vehicles and Ukrainian fighter jet Earlier, on Sunday, Russia claimed that it destroyed at least seven German-made Leopard tanks and five United States-made Bradley vehicles in the past 48 hours while repelling Ukrainian attacks. ALSO READ | Russian opposition leaders meet in Brussels, fail to unite against Putin. Here's why It also later claimed that it had successfully taken down a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet in the Kherson region. Russian forces have also repelled three Ukrainian attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region, the ministry said. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kyiv recaptures four villages in Donetsk as Ukraine's counter-offensive begins

Moscow, at the top United Nations court,&nbsp;denied accusations by Kyiv about backing pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine and discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea, on Thursday (June 8). Russia also went on to call Ukraine’s accusations “blatant lies,” days after Kyiv called Moscow a “terrorist state.”&nbsp;

The hearing about the 2014 case came amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and days after the attack on the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine for which both Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other.&nbsp;

<h2>What was the hearing about?</h2>

The hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was the first time Russian and Ukrainian lawyers faced each other since the beginning of what Moscow calls&nbsp;a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/terrorist-state-ukraine-slams-russia-at-international-court-of-justice-hearing-601468">‘Terrorist state’: Ukraine slams Russia at International Court of Justice hearing</a>

The legal teams from both countries comprised dozens of representatives and two days after Ukraine presented the allegations, Russia was allowed to respond before a panel of 16 judges at the ICJ on the second day of the hearings.&nbsp;

According to Kyiv, Moscow violated the UN conventions for financing terrorism and racial discrimination as it allegedly equipped and funded pro-Russian forces who shot down the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-launches-long-awaited-counteroffensive-to-reclaim-russian-occupied-territory-report-602192">Ukraine launches long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory: Reports</a>

Violence broke out in 2014 in Ukraine when at least 13,000 people were killed after pro-European Union protesters overthrew Kyiv’s Moscow-allied government. It was not soon after that Russia forcibly annexed Crimea.&nbsp;

Ukraine has also called on the Hague-based court to order Russia to stop discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea and claimed that after the region was annexed Moscow then “engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars".

<h2>How has Russia responded to the allegations?</h2>

Over the years, Russia has repeatedly denied these allegations. On Thursday, the Russian ambassador to the Netherlands, Alexander Shulgin told the ICJ, “Ukraine is constantly turning to blatant lies and false accusations levelled against the Russian Federation.” He added, “Nothing could be further removed from the truth.”&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/collapse-of-critical-ukrainian-dam-sparks-evacuations-602151">Collapse of critical Ukrainian dam sparks evacuations</a>

Russia also reiterated the denial of claims and rejected the “scandalous” decision by the Dutch court in November that convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17 and their role. The court also found Russia had “overall control” over the separatist forces.

Furthermore, Russia’s ambassador-at-large, Gennady Kuzmin told the ICJ, that the verdict was biased against separatist forces in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, adding that “At the end of the day, Ukraine’s MH17 case boils down to nonsense.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-ukraine-war-nova-kakhovka-dam-attack-what-we-know-so-far-601391">Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine</a>

This comes days after Ukrainian lawyers said that the Russian officials were “guilty of terrorism financing” as they supplied the missile knowing it would be used to shoot down an aircraft.&nbsp;

<h2>Russian lawyers on the Nova Kakhovka dam collapse, neo-Nazis in Ukraine</h2>

Russia reiterated claims made by the Kremlin following the incident and said Ukraine destroyed the key dam with artillery strikes and that the government in Kyiv was led by neo-Nazis.&nbsp;

“Ukraine has declared that Russia blew up the large dam at Nova Kakhovka. In fact, it’s Ukraine that did it,” said Shulgin, adding the “Kyiv regime not only launched massive artillery attacks against the dam…but it also deliberately raised the water level of the Kakhovka reservoir to a critical level.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-dead-due-to-flooding-from-kakhovka-dam-breach-600-sq-kms-of-kherson-oblast-under-water-602125">Three dead due to flooding from Kakhovka dam breach, 600 sq kms of Kherson Oblast under water</a>

This comes after a Ukrainian diplomat, reiterating&nbsp;statements from officials in Kyiv, on Tuesday, said “Just today, Russia blew up a major dam…causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”

The Russian lawyer also repeated President Vladimir Putin’s claim which he used to justify the war in Ukraine which is that Kyiv’s current government had “neo-Nazis” in key posts and accused them of “brutal repression” in the eastern Donbas region.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-visits-flood-hit-areas-medical-facility-after-nova-kakhovka-dam-collapse-602166">Zelensky visits flood-hit areas, medical facility after Nova Kakhovka dam collapse</a>

This comes after Putin said one of the goals of his “special military operation” was the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine. Representatives from Ukraine are expected to respond to these allegations next week.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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Moscow, at the top United Nations court, denied accusations by Kyiv about backing pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine and discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea, on Thursday (June 8).

Moscow, at the top United Nations court, denied accusations by Kyiv about backing pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine and discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea, on Thursday (June 8). Russia also went on to call Ukraine’s accusations “blatant lies,” days after Kyiv called Moscow a “terrorist state.” The hearing about the 2014 case came amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and days after the attack on the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine for which both Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other. What was the hearing about? The hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was the first time Russian and Ukrainian lawyers faced each other since the beginning of what Moscow calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine. ALSO READ | ‘Terrorist state’: Ukraine slams Russia at International Court of Justice hearing The legal teams from both countries comprised dozens of representatives and two days after Ukraine presented the allegations, Russia was allowed to respond before a panel of 16 judges at the ICJ on the second day of the hearings. According to Kyiv, Moscow violated the UN conventions for financing terrorism and racial discrimination as it allegedly equipped and funded pro-Russian forces who shot down the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine killing all 298 passengers and crew on board. ALSO READ | Ukraine launches long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory: Reports Violence broke out in 2014 in Ukraine when at least 13,000 people were killed after pro-European Union protesters overthrew Kyiv’s Moscow-allied government. It was not soon after that Russia forcibly annexed Crimea. Ukraine has also called on the Hague-based court to order Russia to stop discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea and claimed that after the region was annexed Moscow then “engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars". How has Russia responded to the allegations? Over the years, Russia has repeatedly denied these allegations. On Thursday, the Russian ambassador to the Netherlands, Alexander Shulgin told the ICJ, “Ukraine is constantly turning to blatant lies and false accusations levelled against the Russian Federation.” He added, “Nothing could be further removed from the truth.” ALSO WATCH | Collapse of critical Ukrainian dam sparks evacuations Russia also reiterated the denial of claims and rejected the “scandalous” decision by the Dutch court in November that convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17 and their role. The court also found Russia had “overall control” over the separatist forces. Furthermore, Russia’s ambassador-at-large, Gennady Kuzmin told the ICJ, that the verdict was biased against separatist forces in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, adding that “At the end of the day, Ukraine’s MH17 case boils down to nonsense.” ALSO READ | Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine This comes days after Ukrainian lawyers said that the Russian officials were “guilty of terrorism financing” as they supplied the missile knowing it would be used to shoot down an aircraft. Russian lawyers on the Nova Kakhovka dam collapse, neo-Nazis in Ukraine Russia reiterated claims made by the Kremlin following the incident and said Ukraine destroyed the key dam with artillery strikes and that the government in Kyiv was led by neo-Nazis. “Ukraine has declared that Russia blew up the large dam at Nova Kakhovka. In fact, it’s Ukraine that did it,” said Shulgin, adding the “Kyiv regime not only launched massive artillery attacks against the dam…but it also deliberately raised the water level of the Kakhovka reservoir to a critical level.” ALSO READ | Three dead due to flooding from Kakhovka dam breach, 600 sq kms of Kherson Oblast under water This comes after a Ukrainian diplomat, reiterating statements from officials in Kyiv, on Tuesday, said “Just today, Russia blew up a major dam…causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.” The Russian lawyer also repeated President Vladimir Putin’s claim which he used to justify the war in Ukraine which is that Kyiv’s current government had “neo-Nazis” in key posts and accused them of “brutal repression” in the eastern Donbas region. ALSO READ | Zelensky visits flood-hit areas, medical facility after Nova Kakhovka dam collapse This comes after Putin said one of the goals of his “special military operation” was the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine. Representatives from Ukraine are expected to respond to these allegations next week. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

MH17 crash: Russia calls Ukraine’s accusations 'blatant lies'; blames Kyiv for Kakhovka dam breach

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the flood-hit region in the country’s eastern region Kherson, on Thursday (June 8) after the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam. He also visited a medical facility and met people evacuated from the region and thanked the “heroic” staff for their work.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Kremlin&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;said that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have any plans to visit the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson affected by the flooding.

<h2>Situation in flood-hit Kherson</h2>

So far, at least three people have been killed due to the floods triggered by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent. On the other hand, Russian-installed authorities have said that at least five people were killed.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president visited Kherson to discuss emergency operations in the region. The destruction of the dam, for which both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other,&nbsp;has unleashed flood water from the Dnipro River and prompted the evacuation of thousands of people.&nbsp;

Ukrainian Governor Oleksandr Prokudin&nbsp;on Thursday said that 600 square kilometres of Kherson Oblast has been flooded, with some 68 per cent of the flooded land on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River and 32 per cent on the Ukrainian-controlled west bank.

<h2>Zelensky visits Kherson to oversee response to the flood-hit regions</h2>

Kherson lies some 60 kilometres downstream from the Nova Kakhovka dam. Zelensky&nbsp;took to social media and wrote, “Working trip to Kherson region. A coordination meeting on the liquidation of consequences of the Kakhovka HPP (Hydroelectric Power Plant)&nbsp;dam explosion.”&nbsp;

“Many important issues were discussed. The operational situation in the region as a result of the disaster, evacuation of the population from potential flood zones, elimination of the emergency caused by the dam explosion, organization of life support for the flooded areas,” said Zelensky, on Telegram along with a video of his visit.

He added, “Also, the prospects for restoring the region’s ecosystem and the operational military situation in the man-made disaster area.” In a separate post, he also said that he visited the road crossing where people were being evacuated.&nbsp;

“It is important to calculate the damage and allocate funds to compensate residents affected by the disaster and develop a programme to compensate for losses or relocate businesses within the Kherson region,” said Zelensky.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Ukrainian president says Kherson will be rebuilt</h2>

Zelensky also visited the medical facility where he met with the locals and assured them that Kherson will be rebuilt after the floods. He took to Twitter and posted a video of himself visiting the medical facility and wrote, “At the evacuation point at one of Kherson’s medical institutions, I talked to our people affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.” 
&nbsp;

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У пункті евакуації на базі одного з медзакладів Херсона поспілкувався з нашими людьми, які постраждали внаслідок руйнування Каховської ГЕС. 
 
Ми допоможемо, і все, що треба відновити, ми відбудуємо. Дякую вам і бажаю здоров’я. 
 
Хочу подякувати всьому персоналу медзакладу за роботу… <a href="https://t.co/8omzH8pVzy">pic.twitter.com/8omzH8pVzy</a>
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1666747862598799367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Addressing the locals he also said, “We will help you and rebuild everything that needs to be restored. I thank you and wish you good health.” Zelensky also went on to thank “all the staff of the medical institution for their work even under fire. You are heroic people".

Is Putin going to visit the Russian-occupied flood-hit areas? 
&nbsp; 
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin does not have any plans to visit the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson affected by the flooding and was monitoring the situation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the flood-hit region in the country’s eastern region Kherson, on Thursday (June 8) after the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the flood-hit region in the country’s eastern region Kherson, on Thursday (June 8) after the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam. He also visited a medical facility and met people evacuated from the region and thanked the “heroic” staff for their work. Meanwhile, the Kremlin on Thursday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have any plans to visit the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson affected by the flooding. Situation in flood-hit Kherson So far, at least three people have been killed due to the floods triggered by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent. On the other hand, Russian-installed authorities have said that at least five people were killed. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president visited Kherson to discuss emergency operations in the region. The destruction of the dam, for which both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other, has unleashed flood water from the Dnipro River and prompted the evacuation of thousands of people. Ukrainian Governor Oleksandr Prokudin on Thursday said that 600 square kilometres of Kherson Oblast has been flooded, with some 68 per cent of the flooded land on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River and 32 per cent on the Ukrainian-controlled west bank. Zelensky visits Kherson to oversee response to the flood-hit regions Kherson lies some 60 kilometres downstream from the Nova Kakhovka dam. Zelensky took to social media and wrote, “Working trip to Kherson region. A coordination meeting on the liquidation of consequences of the Kakhovka HPP (Hydroelectric Power Plant) dam explosion.” “Many important issues were discussed. The operational situation in the region as a result of the disaster, evacuation of the population from potential flood zones, elimination of the emergency caused by the dam explosion, organization of life support for the flooded areas,” said Zelensky, on Telegram along with a video of his visit. He added, “Also, the prospects for restoring the region’s ecosystem and the operational military situation in the man-made disaster area.” In a separate post, he also said that he visited the road crossing where people were being evacuated. “It is important to calculate the damage and allocate funds to compensate residents affected by the disaster and develop a programme to compensate for losses or relocate businesses within the Kherson region,” said Zelensky. Ukrainian president says Kherson will be rebuilt Zelensky also visited the medical facility where he met with the locals and assured them that Kherson will be rebuilt after the floods. He took to Twitter and posted a video of himself visiting the medical facility and wrote, “At the evacuation point at one of Kherson’s medical institutions, I talked to our people affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.” У пункті евакуації на базі одного з медзакладів Херсона поспілкувався з нашими людьми, які постраждали внаслідок руйнування Каховської ГЕС. Ми допоможемо, і все, що треба відновити, ми відбудуємо. Дякую вам і бажаю здоров’я. Хочу подякувати всьому персоналу медзакладу за роботу… pic.twitter.com/8omzH8pVzy — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 8, 2023 × Addressing the locals he also said, “We will help you and rebuild everything that needs to be restored. I thank you and wish you good health.” Zelensky also went on to thank “all the staff of the medical institution for their work even under fire. You are heroic people". Is Putin going to visit the Russian-occupied flood-hit areas? The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin does not have any plans to visit the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson affected by the flooding and was monitoring the situation. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Zelensky visits flood-hit areas, medical facility following Nova Kakhovka dam collapse

The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid&nbsp;the ongoing conflict. The partial destruction of the dam, as per both officials in Moscow and Kyiv has unleashed a torrent of water.&nbsp;

Officials in Ukraine,&nbsp;hours after the damage, confirmed that some two dozen settlements had been flooded and at least 17,000 people have since been evacuated. The Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in southern Ukraine is home to the dam that both sides have accused each other of attacking.&nbsp;

Kyiv has also called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)&nbsp;to hold an emergency meeting over what it has described as a&nbsp;“Russian terrorist act”.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dubbed the attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam as a “deliberate sabotage” by Ukraine. The UNSC has agreed to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam issue after both Moscow and Kyiv called for the meeting.&nbsp;

<h2>About the Nova Kakhovka dam</h2>

The Soviet-era dam, which is 98 feet tall and 3.2 kilometres long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River and holds significant amounts of water. The dam is a part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Russia-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.&nbsp;

According to Reuters, the water that the dam can hold amounts to that of the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah which is approximately 18 cubic kilometres. It is also one of the six dams that sit along the Dnipro River and is often referred to as the Kakhovka Sea as one cannot see the other bank in certain places, reported BBC.&nbsp;

The dam is also responsible for the water supply to southern Ukraine’s agricultural land, the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula and the Moscow-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The reservoir also feeds the Soviet-era North Crimean Canal which supplies around 85 per cent of Crimea’s water.&nbsp;

The dam’s reservoir also provides water&nbsp;essential for cooling the six reactors at the power plant. Additionally, farmers in the surrounding area&nbsp;also rely on the water from this dam to grow their crops and thousands are now set to face trouble in the region.&nbsp;

Notably, Geneva Conventions explicitly bans targeting dams during wars, due to the dangers posed to civilians by the destruction of such “works and installations containing dangerous forces”.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened at Nova Kakhovka dam?</h2>

Russia and Ukraine have both blamed each other for the supposed attack which has led to massive damage to the dam's structure. Kyiv, which was reportedly the first one to report the damage to the Nova Kakhovka dam, blamed Russia. On the other hand,&nbsp;there have been conflicting reports from the Russia-installed officials.

Images and videos from the scene show a massive breach in the dam with a large amount of water flowing downstream in the direction of the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Meanwhile, neither Kyiv nor Moscow have offered immediate public evidence to back up their claims.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Terrorist attack,’ ‘ecocide’: Ukraine about&nbsp;Nova Kakhovka dam&nbsp;incident</h2>

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused “Russian terrorists” of destroying the dam. He went on to allege that the Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station from the inside and must be held accountable for this “terrorist attack.”

The Ukrainian president after an emergency meeting of senior officials said that the incident took place at around 2:50 am (local time) and an “internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP" occurred. "About 80 settlements are in the zone of flooding”.&nbsp;

Zelensky also said that the “world must react,” adding, “This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime,” and went on to accuse Moscow of committing an act of “ecocide.” “Russia is at war with life, with nature, with civilisation. Russia must leave Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror,” said the Ukrainian president.&nbsp;

A Ukrainian military spokesperson has also alleged that the dam was attacked to prevent Kyiv’s troops from crossing the Dnipro River to attack Russian troops occupying the area. The incident comes as Ukraine said Monday it was conducting “offensive action"&nbsp;on the front line amid speculation that the long-expected counteroffensive is underway.&nbsp;

<h2>From no attack to ‘deliberate sabotage’: What did Russia say about the&nbsp;accusations?</h2>

As per initial reports, a Russia-installed official in Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov said no attack had taken place and that the dam collapsed due to existing damage and the pressure of the water. It was not until&nbsp;later that the Kremlin spokesperson said that it was a Ukrainian attempt to stop the water&nbsp;supply to the Crimean peninsula which Russia had annexed back in 2014.&nbsp;

“We can state unequivocally that we are talking about deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side,” said the Kremlin spokesperson. He added, “All responsibility lies with the Kyiv regime.”&nbsp;

“Clearly one of the aims of this act of sabotage was to deprive Crimea of water - the water level in the reservoir is dropping and, accordingly, the water supply to the canal is being drastically reduced,” said Peskov.&nbsp;

However, Russia had taken steps to deal with the water supply issue in Crimea, he added. The Kremlin spokesperson also went on to say that this “sabotage is also connected with the fact that having started large-scale offensive actions two days ago”.&nbsp;

Moscow has also “decisively rejected” accusations by Kyiv and the West that Russian troops were behind a blast that caused damage to the dam. Meanwhile, the Russian-backed head of Crimea said there was no immediate threat to the peninsula’s water supply or flooding risk but warned of potential threats that the Northern Crimean Canal “will get more shallow,” said Sergei Aksyonov.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Completely destroyed’: What’s the damage at the dam?</h2>

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that 17,000 people were being evacuated from flooded areas and more than 40,000 people are in danger of being flooded. He also warned that some 25,000 more people should be evacuated on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River.&nbsp;

In an interview, Igor Syrota, head of Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company said that the Nova Kakhovka dam had been “completely destroyed” and the station “cannot be restored,” reported AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ukrainian officials have reported that some 150 tonnes of engine oil spilt in the Dnipro River due to the attack it has blamed on Russia, while Zelensky said there was “a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons".

Speaking about the environmental impact, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the floods have caused “long and irreversible harm” to the ecosystems and reported that animals at the Nova Kakhovka Zoo have "already died in the rising water".&nbsp;

Europe’s largest ZNPP, which is currently under Russian control, was reported not to be under “immediate risk” by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid the ongoing conflict.

The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid the ongoing conflict. The partial destruction of the dam, as per both officials in Moscow and Kyiv has unleashed a torrent of water. Officials in Ukraine, hours after the damage, confirmed that some two dozen settlements had been flooded and at least 17,000 people have since been evacuated. The Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in southern Ukraine is home to the dam that both sides have accused each other of attacking. Kyiv has also called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting over what it has described as a “Russian terrorist act”. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dubbed the attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam as a “deliberate sabotage” by Ukraine. The UNSC has agreed to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam issue after both Moscow and Kyiv called for the meeting. About the Nova Kakhovka dam The Soviet-era dam, which is 98 feet tall and 3.2 kilometres long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River and holds significant amounts of water. The dam is a part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Russia-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. According to Reuters, the water that the dam can hold amounts to that of the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah which is approximately 18 cubic kilometres. It is also one of the six dams that sit along the Dnipro River and is often referred to as the Kakhovka Sea as one cannot see the other bank in certain places, reported BBC. The dam is also responsible for the water supply to southern Ukraine’s agricultural land, the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula and the Moscow-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The reservoir also feeds the Soviet-era North Crimean Canal which supplies around 85 per cent of Crimea’s water. The dam’s reservoir also provides water essential for cooling the six reactors at the power plant. Additionally, farmers in the surrounding area also rely on the water from this dam to grow their crops and thousands are now set to face trouble in the region. Notably, Geneva Conventions explicitly bans targeting dams during wars, due to the dangers posed to civilians by the destruction of such “works and installations containing dangerous forces”. What happened at Nova Kakhovka dam? Russia and Ukraine have both blamed each other for the supposed attack which has led to massive damage to the dam's structure. Kyiv, which was reportedly the first one to report the damage to the Nova Kakhovka dam, blamed Russia. On the other hand, there have been conflicting reports from the Russia-installed officials. Images and videos from the scene show a massive breach in the dam with a large amount of water flowing downstream in the direction of the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Meanwhile, neither Kyiv nor Moscow have offered immediate public evidence to back up their claims. ‘Terrorist attack,’ ‘ecocide’: Ukraine about Nova Kakhovka dam incident Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused “Russian terrorists” of destroying the dam. He went on to allege that the Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station from the inside and must be held accountable for this “terrorist attack.” The Ukrainian president after an emergency meeting of senior officials said that the incident took place at around 2:50 am (local time) and an “internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP" occurred. "About 80 settlements are in the zone of flooding”. Zelensky also said that the “world must react,” adding, “This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime,” and went on to accuse Moscow of committing an act of “ecocide.” “Russia is at war with life, with nature, with civilisation. Russia must leave Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror,” said the Ukrainian president. A Ukrainian military spokesperson has also alleged that the dam was attacked to prevent Kyiv’s troops from crossing the Dnipro River to attack Russian troops occupying the area. The incident comes as Ukraine said Monday it was conducting “offensive action" on the front line amid speculation that the long-expected counteroffensive is underway. From no attack to ‘deliberate sabotage’: What did Russia say about the accusations? As per initial reports, a Russia-installed official in Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov said no attack had taken place and that the dam collapsed due to existing damage and the pressure of the water. It was not until later that the Kremlin spokesperson said that it was a Ukrainian attempt to stop the water supply to the Crimean peninsula which Russia had annexed back in 2014. “We can state unequivocally that we are talking about deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side,” said the Kremlin spokesperson. He added, “All responsibility lies with the Kyiv regime.” “Clearly one of the aims of this act of sabotage was to deprive Crimea of water - the water level in the reservoir is dropping and, accordingly, the water supply to the canal is being drastically reduced,” said Peskov. However, Russia had taken steps to deal with the water supply issue in Crimea, he added. The Kremlin spokesperson also went on to say that this “sabotage is also connected with the fact that having started large-scale offensive actions two days ago”. Moscow has also “decisively rejected” accusations by Kyiv and the West that Russian troops were behind a blast that caused damage to the dam. Meanwhile, the Russian-backed head of Crimea said there was no immediate threat to the peninsula’s water supply or flooding risk but warned of potential threats that the Northern Crimean Canal “will get more shallow,” said Sergei Aksyonov. ‘Completely destroyed’: What’s the damage at the dam? Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that 17,000 people were being evacuated from flooded areas and more than 40,000 people are in danger of being flooded. He also warned that some 25,000 more people should be evacuated on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River. In an interview, Igor Syrota, head of Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company said that the Nova Kakhovka dam had been “completely destroyed” and the station “cannot be restored,” reported AFP. Ukrainian officials have reported that some 150 tonnes of engine oil spilt in the Dnipro River due to the attack it has blamed on Russia, while Zelensky said there was “a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons". Speaking about the environmental impact, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the floods have caused “long and irreversible harm” to the ecosystems and reported that animals at the Nova Kakhovka Zoo have "already died in the rising water". Europe’s largest ZNPP, which is currently under Russian control, was reported not to be under “immediate risk” by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. 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Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine

Kyiv called Russia a “terrorist state,” on Tuesday (June 6), at the top United Nations court at the hearing of Moscow’s alleged backing of pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine which killed nearly 300 people.&nbsp;

The hearing about the 2014 case also came amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and hours after the attack on the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine with both Moscow and Kyiv blaming&nbsp;each other.&nbsp;

<h2>What was the hearing about?</h2>

Notably, the hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was the first time where Russian and Ukrainian lawyers faced each other since the beginning of what Moscow has called its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The case was filed by Kyiv in 2017 at the World Court against the&nbsp;Moscow-backed rebels and accused Russia of violating the UN anti-terrorism treaty. &nbsp;

The legal teams from both countries comprised&nbsp;dozens of representatives but on Tuesday only Ukraine presented arguments before a panel of 16 judges at the ICJ.&nbsp;Russia will get the opportunity to respond on Thursday. Ukraine will then respond on June 12 and Russia will present again two days later.&nbsp;

According to Kyiv, Moscow violated the UN conventions for financing terrorism and racial discrimination as it allegedly equipped and funded pro-Russian forces who shot down the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

The&nbsp;Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane&nbsp;was reportedly shot down by a Russian-made missile in July. Moscow&nbsp;has since denied these allegations. There was also violence that&nbsp;took place in 2014 in Ukraine when at least 13,000 people were killed when pro-European Union protesters overthrew Kyiv’s Moscow-allied government. It was not soon after that Russia had forcibly annexed Crimea.&nbsp;

<h2>Ukrainian representatives call Russia ‘terrorist state’</h2>

In his opening remarks, Ukrainian Ambassador-at-Large Anton Korynevych spoke about the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam which Kyiv has blamed Moscow for. “Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission,” said the Ukrainian diplomat.&nbsp;

“Russia’s actions are the actions of a terrorist state, an aggressor. But such actions did not appear out of the blue. They are the tragic but logical outcome of the situation we brought to this court’s attention back in 2017,”&nbsp;he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Ukrainian diplomat reiterating statements from officials in Kyiv, said, “Just today, Russia blew up a major dam…causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”

Ukraine has also called on the Hague-based court to order Russia to stop discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea. Korynevych also said that Russia’s “contempt for international law didn't start in 2022” but when it annexed Crimea in 2014, adding that Moscow then “engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.”&nbsp;

However, Russia is now “trying to wipe us from the map” with the ongoing invasion, said the Ukrainian lawyer. Moscow&nbsp;has denied the claims of systematic human rights abuses in the Ukrainian territory that it controls.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian lawyers also spoke about the Dutch court verdict in November that convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17 and their role. The court also found Russia had “overall control” over the separatist forces.&nbsp;

Ukrainian lawyers said that the Russian officials were “guilty of terrorism financing” as they supplied the missile knowing it would be used to shoot down an aircraft. Ukrainian lawyer Marney Cheek also said how Moscow also supplied rebels with rocket systems that were used in a “reign of terror” on civilians in 2015.&nbsp;

“What did Russia do to prevent and suppress this financing of terrorism? Nothing,” the lawyer added. 
 
Notably, Russia has previously tried to get the case filed by Ukraine&nbsp;thrown out saying that the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not have jurisdiction.&nbsp;

In 2022, after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv filed a separate case which accused Moscow of planning genocide. This led the ICJ to order a suspension of the invasion. The ICC also issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, on war crimes over forced deportations of Ukrainian children.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Kyiv called Russia a “terrorist state,” on Tuesday (June 6), at the top United Nations court at the hearing of Moscow’s alleged backing of pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine which killed nearly 300 people.

Kyiv called Russia a “terrorist state,” on Tuesday (June 6), at the top United Nations court at the hearing of Moscow’s alleged backing of pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine which killed nearly 300 people. The hearing about the 2014 case also came amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and hours after the attack on the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine with both Moscow and Kyiv blaming each other. What was the hearing about? Notably, the hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was the first time where Russian and Ukrainian lawyers faced each other since the beginning of what Moscow has called its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The case was filed by Kyiv in 2017 at the World Court against the Moscow-backed rebels and accused Russia of violating the UN anti-terrorism treaty. The legal teams from both countries comprised dozens of representatives but on Tuesday only Ukraine presented arguments before a panel of 16 judges at the ICJ. Russia will get the opportunity to respond on Thursday. Ukraine will then respond on June 12 and Russia will present again two days later. According to Kyiv, Moscow violated the UN conventions for financing terrorism and racial discrimination as it allegedly equipped and funded pro-Russian forces who shot down the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine killing all 298 passengers and crew on board. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane was reportedly shot down by a Russian-made missile in July. Moscow has since denied these allegations. There was also violence that took place in 2014 in Ukraine when at least 13,000 people were killed when pro-European Union protesters overthrew Kyiv’s Moscow-allied government. It was not soon after that Russia had forcibly annexed Crimea. Ukrainian representatives call Russia ‘terrorist state’ In his opening remarks, Ukrainian Ambassador-at-Large Anton Korynevych spoke about the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam which Kyiv has blamed Moscow for. “Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission,” said the Ukrainian diplomat. “Russia’s actions are the actions of a terrorist state, an aggressor. But such actions did not appear out of the blue. They are the tragic but logical outcome of the situation we brought to this court’s attention back in 2017,” he added. The Ukrainian diplomat reiterating statements from officials in Kyiv, said, “Just today, Russia blew up a major dam…causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.” Ukraine has also called on the Hague-based court to order Russia to stop discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea. Korynevych also said that Russia’s “contempt for international law didn't start in 2022” but when it annexed Crimea in 2014, adding that Moscow then “engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.” However, Russia is now “trying to wipe us from the map” with the ongoing invasion, said the Ukrainian lawyer. Moscow has denied the claims of systematic human rights abuses in the Ukrainian territory that it controls. The Ukrainian lawyers also spoke about the Dutch court verdict in November that convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17 and their role. The court also found Russia had “overall control” over the separatist forces. Ukrainian lawyers said that the Russian officials were “guilty of terrorism financing” as they supplied the missile knowing it would be used to shoot down an aircraft. Ukrainian lawyer Marney Cheek also said how Moscow also supplied rebels with rocket systems that were used in a “reign of terror” on civilians in 2015. “What did Russia do to prevent and suppress this financing of terrorism? Nothing,” the lawyer added. Notably, Russia has previously tried to get the case filed by Ukraine thrown out saying that the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not have jurisdiction. In 2022, after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv filed a separate case which accused Moscow of planning genocide. This led the ICJ to order a suspension of the invasion. The ICC also issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, on war crimes over forced deportations of Ukrainian children. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Terrorist state’: Ukraine slams Russia at International Court of Justice hearing

India is seeking key equipment support from Germany in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with a focus on acquiring fuel pumps for the K9 Vajra artillery system. The matter was raised during a meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in New Delhi. India hopes to establish a privileged partnership with Germany, like the ones Berlin has with Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.&nbsp;

In a statement, the Indian defence ministry highlighted that both ministers discussed bilateral defence cooperation and explored ways to enhance collaboration, particularly in defence industrial partnerships. India emphasised the opportunities in the defence production sector and invited German investments in the Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;

The Indian defence minister stressed the potential for a symbiotic relationship between India and Germany based on shared goals and strengths. India offers a skilled workforce and competitive costs, while Germany brings high technology and investment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indian side also advised Germany to avoid unreliable and challenging sources, urging them to invest in India. They provided a list of items for early approval of exports and suggested establishing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India. India cautioned Germany about Pakistan's untrustworthiness in handling Western defence equipment, warning that these technologies could end up being reverse-engineered and shared with Beijing.&nbsp;

During the discussions, the German side raised the proposal of submarines. India's Project 75 (India)-class submarines, or P-75I, aims to acquire six conventional diesel-electric attack submarines for the Indian Navy. New Delhi is looking for a foreign partner for the project.&nbsp;

India and Germany have had a Strategic Partnership since 2000, which has been further strengthened through Inter-Governmental Consultations since 2011 at the level of Heads of Government. Pistorius arrived in India on June 5 for a four-day visit. He is scheduled to visit the Headquarters of the Western Naval Command and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai on June 7.&nbsp;

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India is seeking key equipment support from Germany in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with a focus on acquiring fuel pumps for the K9 Vajra artillery system.

India is seeking key equipment support from Germany in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with a focus on acquiring fuel pumps for the K9 Vajra artillery system. The matter was raised during a meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in New Delhi. India hopes to establish a privileged partnership with Germany, like the ones Berlin has with Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. In a statement, the Indian defence ministry highlighted that both ministers discussed bilateral defence cooperation and explored ways to enhance collaboration, particularly in defence industrial partnerships. India emphasised the opportunities in the defence production sector and invited German investments in the Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Indian defence minister stressed the potential for a symbiotic relationship between India and Germany based on shared goals and strengths. India offers a skilled workforce and competitive costs, while Germany brings high technology and investment. The Indian side also advised Germany to avoid unreliable and challenging sources, urging them to invest in India. They provided a list of items for early approval of exports and suggested establishing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India. India cautioned Germany about Pakistan's untrustworthiness in handling Western defence equipment, warning that these technologies could end up being reverse-engineered and shared with Beijing. During the discussions, the German side raised the proposal of submarines. India's Project 75 (India)-class submarines, or P-75I, aims to acquire six conventional diesel-electric attack submarines for the Indian Navy. New Delhi is looking for a foreign partner for the project. India and Germany have had a Strategic Partnership since 2000, which has been further strengthened through Inter-Governmental Consultations since 2011 at the level of Heads of Government. Pistorius arrived in India on June 5 for a four-day visit. He is scheduled to visit the Headquarters of the Western Naval Command and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai on June 7. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India seeks key equipment support from Germany amid Russia-Ukraine conflict impact

A vast Soviet-era dam in the Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine was destroyed on Tuesday. According to both the Ukrainian and the Russian forces, the destruction has unleashed a flood of water across the war zone. The destruction of the major dam has flooded nearby regions, prompting Ukraine to evacuate&nbsp;16,000&nbsp;residents from the 'critical zone'.

The two sides have blamed each other for destroying the dam.

Unverified visuals on social media show the reservoir "emptying into the Dnipro" river after a series of intense explosions around the Kakhovka Dam. Other videos show water surging through the remains of the dam, with bystanders expressing their shock, sometimes in strong language.

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A multi-hundred foot chunk of the Nova Kakhovka dam is gone, the Kakhovka Reservoir is quickly emptying out into the Dnipro. <a href="https://t.co/265i1nbvAO">pic.twitter.com/265i1nbvAO</a>
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1665907948986458113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Ukraine's military claims that the Russian forces were behind the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

"The Kakhovka (dam) was blown up by the Russian occupying forces," said the South command of Ukraine's Armed Forces on its Facebook page.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-strategy-will-cause-significant-defeats-near-bakhmut-warns-wagner-boss-601035">Russian strategy will cause 'significant' defeats near Bakhmut, warns Wagner boss</a>

The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified."

However, Russian news agencies said that the dam was destroyed by shelling. The mayor of Russia-controlled Nova Kakhovka city, as per Reuters, has blamed "an act of terrorism"&nbsp;which apparently is a Russian code for a Ukrainian attack.

<h2>Nuclear danger</h2>

As per a report by Russia's TASS agency citing Moscow-backed officials in the Zaporizhzhia region, there was no "critical danger" to the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia facility.

However, the Russia-installed head of the Kherson region said that the water could reach critical levels in five hours and that evacuation has begun in nearby areas.

<h2>Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's emergency meeting&nbsp;</h2>

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold an emergency meeting over the Nova Kakhovka dam blast. The information was shared on Twitter by Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyiv-conducting-offensive-actions-russia-says-it-thwarts-major-attack-in-ukraine-601010">Kyiv conducting 'offensive' actions, Russia 'thwarts major attack' in Ukraine</a>

<h2>Significance of Nova Kakhovka dam</h2>

The dam, which is 30 metres tall and 3.2 kilometres (around two miles) long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River.

It holds significant amounts of water. As per Reuters, it holds water equivalent to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah.

The Nova Kakhovka Dam supplies water to Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014 and to Europe's largest nuclear plant, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A vast Soviet-era dam in the Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine was destroyed on Tuesday. According to both the Ukrainian and the Russian forces, the destruction has unleashed a flood of water across the war zone.

A vast Soviet-era dam in the Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine was destroyed on Tuesday. According to both the Ukrainian and the Russian forces, the destruction has unleashed a flood of water across the war zone. The destruction of the major dam has flooded nearby regions, prompting Ukraine to evacuate 16,000 residents from the 'critical zone'. The two sides have blamed each other for destroying the dam. Unverified visuals on social media show the reservoir "emptying into the Dnipro" river after a series of intense explosions around the Kakhovka Dam. Other videos show water surging through the remains of the dam, with bystanders expressing their shock, sometimes in strong language. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. A multi-hundred foot chunk of the Nova Kakhovka dam is gone, the Kakhovka Reservoir is quickly emptying out into the Dnipro. pic.twitter.com/265i1nbvAO — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 6, 2023 × Ukraine's military claims that the Russian forces were behind the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. "The Kakhovka (dam) was blown up by the Russian occupying forces," said the South command of Ukraine's Armed Forces on its Facebook page. Also read | Russian strategy will cause 'significant' defeats near Bakhmut, warns Wagner boss The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified." However, Russian news agencies said that the dam was destroyed by shelling. The mayor of Russia-controlled Nova Kakhovka city, as per Reuters, has blamed "an act of terrorism" which apparently is a Russian code for a Ukrainian attack. Nuclear danger As per a report by Russia's TASS agency citing Moscow-backed officials in the Zaporizhzhia region, there was no "critical danger" to the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia facility. However, the Russia-installed head of the Kherson region said that the water could reach critical levels in five hours and that evacuation has begun in nearby areas. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's emergency meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold an emergency meeting over the Nova Kakhovka dam blast. The information was shared on Twitter by Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council. Also read | Kyiv conducting 'offensive' actions, Russia 'thwarts major attack' in Ukraine Significance of Nova Kakhovka dam The dam, which is 30 metres tall and 3.2 kilometres (around two miles) long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River. It holds significant amounts of water. As per Reuters, it holds water equivalent to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah. The Nova Kakhovka Dam supplies water to Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014 and to Europe's largest nuclear plant, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine dam supplying nuke plant, Crimea breached in blast, thousands evacuate amid flooding fears

As the Ukraine war shows no signs of abetting and nears 500 days of conflict, the situation inside Russia remains stifling. In the latest move to stifle opposition, Russia arrested more than 100 supporters of opposition leader and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Sunday. The people, as per a protest monitoring group, had taken to the streets to mark the 47th birthday of their jailed leader.

<h2>The arrests</h2>

In its statement, the monitoring group OVD-Info said that people have been detained in 23 cities across Russia. The number of individuals arrested as of 10:42 pm Moscow time (1942 GMT) stood at 109.

Reuters reports that footage from Russia's two largest cities Moscow and St Petersburg shows police arresting individual protestors. In most cities, "only a handful" of individuals have been detained.

In one clip, a man could be seen holding up a protest sign briefly, before police usher him away, "bent over, as he groaned in pain".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-appeals-residents-to-evacuate-border-district-amid-ukraine-shelling-600363">New fighting on Russian side of Ukraine border, says governor</a>

Reportedly, another man in Moscow, who held up a sign that said "Free Navalny" in English, was also arrested among many others.

In St Petersburg, authorities arrested a woman who was accompanied by her "underage child". 
Talking to reporters, the woman said: "I'm against the war, that's why they detained me with my underage kid."

<h2>A repeating pattern?</h2>

Ever since the Russia-Ukraine war began with Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a "special military operation" on February 24th, 2022, authorities in Moscow have clamped down heavily on any signs of dissent.

Taking the crackdown on freedom to a new level, as per AFP, Russia has shut down independent media. Most key opposition figures are in exile or, like Alexei Navalny, are behind bars.

<h2>Navalny from behind the bars</h2>

Citing the Kremlin critic, AFP reports that Navalny on Sunday professed that despite tougher prison conditions and yet another spell of solitary confinement, he is "in a good mood". Navalny is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence on embezzlement and other charges. He will soon go on trial in a new "extremism" case in which he&nbsp;faces a further 35 years in prison.&nbsp;

Alexei Navalny&nbsp;is convinced that the authorities are trying to keep him imprisoned for the rest of his life.

"On the morning of your birthday you have to be honest with yourself, so I ask myself the question: am I really in a good mood, or do force myself to feel that way?

"My answer is: I really am. Let's face it, of course I wish I didn't have to wake up in this hellhole and instead have breakfast with my family, receive kisses on the cheek from my children, unwrap presents..."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/navalny-says-he-faces-30-more-years-in-prison-in-absurd-terrorism-case-586380">Navalny says he faces 30 more years in prison in 'absurd' terrorism case</a>

"But life works in such a way that social progress and a better future can only be achieved if a certain number of people are willing to pay the price for their right to have beliefs."

In his message, the opposition leader Alexei Navalny expressed hope that "the day will come when speaking the truth and advocating for justice will become something commonplace and not at all dangerous in Russia."

(With inputs from agencies)

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As the Ukraine war shows no signs of abetting and nears 500 days of conflict, the situation inside Russia remains stifling. In the latest move to stifle opposition, Russia arrested more than 100 supporters of opposition leader and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Sunday.

As the Ukraine war shows no signs of abetting and nears 500 days of conflict, the situation inside Russia remains stifling. In the latest move to stifle opposition, Russia arrested more than 100 supporters of opposition leader and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Sunday. The people, as per a protest monitoring group, had taken to the streets to mark the 47th birthday of their jailed leader. The arrests In its statement, the monitoring group OVD-Info said that people have been detained in 23 cities across Russia. The number of individuals arrested as of 10:42 pm Moscow time (1942 GMT) stood at 109. Reuters reports that footage from Russia's two largest cities Moscow and St Petersburg shows police arresting individual protestors. In most cities, "only a handful" of individuals have been detained. In one clip, a man could be seen holding up a protest sign briefly, before police usher him away, "bent over, as he groaned in pain". Also read | New fighting on Russian side of Ukraine border, says governor Reportedly, another man in Moscow, who held up a sign that said "Free Navalny" in English, was also arrested among many others. In St Petersburg, authorities arrested a woman who was accompanied by her "underage child". Talking to reporters, the woman said: "I'm against the war, that's why they detained me with my underage kid." A repeating pattern? Ever since the Russia-Ukraine war began with Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a "special military operation" on February 24th, 2022, authorities in Moscow have clamped down heavily on any signs of dissent. Taking the crackdown on freedom to a new level, as per AFP, Russia has shut down independent media. Most key opposition figures are in exile or, like Alexei Navalny, are behind bars. Navalny from behind the bars Citing the Kremlin critic, AFP reports that Navalny on Sunday professed that despite tougher prison conditions and yet another spell of solitary confinement, he is "in a good mood". Navalny is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence on embezzlement and other charges. He will soon go on trial in a new "extremism" case in which he faces a further 35 years in prison. Alexei Navalny is convinced that the authorities are trying to keep him imprisoned for the rest of his life. "On the morning of your birthday you have to be honest with yourself, so I ask myself the question: am I really in a good mood, or do force myself to feel that way? "My answer is: I really am. Let's face it, of course I wish I didn't have to wake up in this hellhole and instead have breakfast with my family, receive kisses on the cheek from my children, unwrap presents..." Also read | Navalny says he faces 30 more years in prison in 'absurd' terrorism case "But life works in such a way that social progress and a better future can only be achieved if a certain number of people are willing to pay the price for their right to have beliefs." In his message, the opposition leader Alexei Navalny expressed hope that "the day will come when speaking the truth and advocating for justice will become something commonplace and not at all dangerous in Russia." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's 109 supporters, including underage child arrested by Russian police

Nikki Haley, a Republican candidate in the race for the US White House, has criticised her two contenders, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for their stance on Ukraine's conflict with Russia.&nbsp;

Haley, who previously served as the UN ambassador under Trump, took issue with their refusal to express a clear position on whether they want Ukraine to succeed in its war against Russia.&nbsp;

<h2>What is their stand?</h2>

In a recent statement, Trump stated that he wanted the war to end and that he would assist in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

DeSantis too has expressed his support for a settlement to the war and said he hoped for an end to the fighting by the time he becomes the president in January 2025.&nbsp;

Haley, during a CNN town hall event in Iowa, criticized DeSantis for referring to the conflict as a "territorial dispute," a statement he has since retracted.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-defence-minister-says-war-with-us-would-be-unbearable-disaster-seeks-dialogue-600646">Chinese defence minister says war with US would be 'unbearable disaster', seeks dialogue</a>

"For them to sit there and say that this is a territorial dispute - that's just not the case, or to say that we should stay neutral," she told voters.

She argued that it is in the best interest of national security for Ukraine to win the conflict. The issue of Ukraine tends to divide Republicans due to varying positions on isolationism among primary voters.&nbsp;

<h2>Republican contenders</h2>

In the upcoming elections the number of Republican contenders will this week reach double digits, reports Reuters.

Despite being among the Republican contenders, Haley faces strong competition from Trump, who leads the field with 49 per cent support, and DeSantis, who follows with 19 per cent support in Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll conducted in May.&nbsp;

<h2>The race for White House</h2>

As per Reuters, Haley and other candidates polling in the single digits are attempting to differentiate themselves from DeSantis in the hopes that he stumbles, allowing them to emerge as the primary alternative to Trump.&nbsp;

Some candidates, including Haley, have also started criticising Trump directly, a departure from their previous reluctance to do so out of fear of alienating his loyal supporters.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/109-navalny-supporters-including-underage-child-arrested-by-russian-police-600624">Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's 109 supporters, including underage child arrested by Russian police</a>

Haley also reportedly criticised Trump for congratulating North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after the country was elected to the executive board of the World Health Organization, calling Kim a "thug" and expressing opposition to congratulating dictators.&nbsp;

DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence also criticised Trump for congratulating Kim during separate events in Iowa.

Nikki Haley, a Republican candidate in the race for the US White House, has criticised her two contenders, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for their stance on Ukraine's conflict with Russia.

Nikki Haley, a Republican candidate in the race for the US White House, has criticised her two contenders, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for their stance on Ukraine's conflict with Russia. Haley, who previously served as the UN ambassador under Trump, took issue with their refusal to express a clear position on whether they want Ukraine to succeed in its war against Russia. What is their stand? In a recent statement, Trump stated that he wanted the war to end and that he would assist in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. DeSantis too has expressed his support for a settlement to the war and said he hoped for an end to the fighting by the time he becomes the president in January 2025. Haley, during a CNN town hall event in Iowa, criticized DeSantis for referring to the conflict as a "territorial dispute," a statement he has since retracted. Also read | Chinese defence minister says war with US would be 'unbearable disaster', seeks dialogue "For them to sit there and say that this is a territorial dispute - that's just not the case, or to say that we should stay neutral," she told voters. She argued that it is in the best interest of national security for Ukraine to win the conflict. The issue of Ukraine tends to divide Republicans due to varying positions on isolationism among primary voters. Republican contenders In the upcoming elections the number of Republican contenders will this week reach double digits, reports Reuters. Despite being among the Republican contenders, Haley faces strong competition from Trump, who leads the field with 49 per cent support, and DeSantis, who follows with 19 per cent support in Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll conducted in May. The race for White House As per Reuters, Haley and other candidates polling in the single digits are attempting to differentiate themselves from DeSantis in the hopes that he stumbles, allowing them to emerge as the primary alternative to Trump. Some candidates, including Haley, have also started criticising Trump directly, a departure from their previous reluctance to do so out of fear of alienating his loyal supporters. Also read | Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's 109 supporters, including underage child arrested by Russian police Haley also reportedly criticised Trump for congratulating North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after the country was elected to the executive board of the World Health Organization, calling Kim a "thug" and expressing opposition to congratulating dictators. DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence also criticised Trump for congratulating Kim during separate events in Iowa.

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticises fellow Republicans Trump and DeSantis over Ukraine war

A Russian-installed official claimed on Sunday (June 4), that five&nbsp;drones were shot down in Dzhankoi in annexed Crimea and caused damage to some infrastructure. Meanwhile, at least 22&nbsp;people, including five children, were injured and a&nbsp;two-year-old girl was killed&nbsp;after an explosion near the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Saturday the regional governor said in an update on Sunday.&nbsp;

A drone attack in Crimea? 
 
Russian-installed official&nbsp;Sergei Aksyonov&nbsp;took to Telegram and said five&nbsp;drones were shot down and four others were jammed but did not hit targets,&nbsp;in Crimea's Dzhankoi which is also reported to be near a Moscow military air base. 
 
"There is damage to windows in several houses in a residential district," said Kryuchkov about the overnight incident, adding, "All services are working. Official information - in the morning." However, the Russian official said that an&nbsp;unexploded drone was found near&nbsp;a residential house which forced the evacuation of some 50 people.&nbsp;

Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, whose city Dzhankoi is said to be home to Moscow’s largest military base in the region, as per Ukrainian officials. This also comes a day after the regional official of Russia's Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, claimed that an unprecedented Ukrainian shelling killed two people in the border region.&nbsp;

"Since this morning, the district of Shebekino has been under shelling of the Ukrainian armed forces," said Gladkov, adding that an "elderly woman" was killed in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka and another woman succumbed to her wounds in the village of Bezlyudovka. &nbsp;

What happened in Dnipro? 
 
An explosion near the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, on Saturday, in a two-storey residential building has injured at least 20 people, said Ukrainian regional governor, Serhiy Lysak. He also claimed that three of the children were in serious condition, while a total of 17 people were being treated at the hospital.&nbsp;

The incident was reported in the Pidhorodnenska community where, as per local media reports four people were later pulled out of the rubble but Lysak said another child was likely still trapped in the debris. The strike which is said to be caused by a Russian missile, has also reportedly hit an emergency services building.

However, hours later, in an update of the incident, he said that a total of 22 people were injured and a&nbsp;two-year-old girl was killed. The regional governor also said that 10 homes,&nbsp;a shop and a gas pipeline were also hit during the strike.&nbsp;

After the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to Telegram and wrote, "Unfortunately, there are people under the rubble. Once again, Russia proves it is a terrorist state. The Russians will bear responsibility for everything committed against our state and people."

The two-year-old girl's&nbsp;body was pulled from the wreckage after the missile strike on Saturday, said the Ukrainian official.&nbsp;"At night, a girl's body was retrieved from under the rubble of a house in the Pidhorodnenska community," said&nbsp;Lysak, on Telegram, adding that she had just turned two.&nbsp;

Russian air attack repelled: Ukraine

Early Sunday, Ukrainian officials said that Russia launched a wave of air attacks on Kyiv and they were able to repel all missiles and drones on their approach to the capital city using air defence systems. Around this time, the entire country was under air raid alert for nearly three hours.&nbsp;

The head of the military administration took to Telegram, on Sunday and wrote, "According to preliminary information, not a single air target reached the capital."&nbsp;

He added, "Air defence destroyed everything that was heading towards the city already at their distant approaches." According to a report by Reuters, witnesses heard several blasts in the Kyiv region but not in the city. Additionally, the blasts were also said to be likely from the air defence systems hitting targets.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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A Russian-installed official claimed on Sunday (June 4), that five drones were shot down in Dzhankoi in annexed Crimea and caused damage to some infrastructure. Meanwhile, at least 22 people, including five children, were injured and a two-year-old girl was killed after an explosion near the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Saturday the regional governor said in an update on Sunday.

A Russian-installed official claimed on Sunday (June 4), that five drones were shot down in Dzhankoi in annexed Crimea and caused damage to some infrastructure. Meanwhile, at least 22 people, including five children, were injured and a two-year-old girl was killed after an explosion near the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Saturday the regional governor said in an update on Sunday. A drone attack in Crimea? Russian-installed official Sergei Aksyonov took to Telegram and said five drones were shot down and four others were jammed but did not hit targets, in Crimea's Dzhankoi which is also reported to be near a Moscow military air base. "There is damage to windows in several houses in a residential district," said Kryuchkov about the overnight incident, adding, "All services are working. Official information - in the morning." However, the Russian official said that an unexploded drone was found near a residential house which forced the evacuation of some 50 people. Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, whose city Dzhankoi is said to be home to Moscow’s largest military base in the region, as per Ukrainian officials. This also comes a day after the regional official of Russia's Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, claimed that an unprecedented Ukrainian shelling killed two people in the border region. "Since this morning, the district of Shebekino has been under shelling of the Ukrainian armed forces," said Gladkov, adding that an "elderly woman" was killed in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka and another woman succumbed to her wounds in the village of Bezlyudovka. What happened in Dnipro? An explosion near the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, on Saturday, in a two-storey residential building has injured at least 20 people, said Ukrainian regional governor, Serhiy Lysak. He also claimed that three of the children were in serious condition, while a total of 17 people were being treated at the hospital. The incident was reported in the Pidhorodnenska community where, as per local media reports four people were later pulled out of the rubble but Lysak said another child was likely still trapped in the debris. The strike which is said to be caused by a Russian missile, has also reportedly hit an emergency services building. However, hours later, in an update of the incident, he said that a total of 22 people were injured and a two-year-old girl was killed. The regional governor also said that 10 homes, a shop and a gas pipeline were also hit during the strike. After the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to Telegram and wrote, "Unfortunately, there are people under the rubble. Once again, Russia proves it is a terrorist state. The Russians will bear responsibility for everything committed against our state and people." The two-year-old girl's body was pulled from the wreckage after the missile strike on Saturday, said the Ukrainian official. "At night, a girl's body was retrieved from under the rubble of a house in the Pidhorodnenska community," said Lysak, on Telegram, adding that she had just turned two. Russian air attack repelled: Ukraine Early Sunday, Ukrainian officials said that Russia launched a wave of air attacks on Kyiv and they were able to repel all missiles and drones on their approach to the capital city using air defence systems. Around this time, the entire country was under air raid alert for nearly three hours. The head of the military administration took to Telegram, on Sunday and wrote, "According to preliminary information, not a single air target reached the capital." He added, "Air defence destroyed everything that was heading towards the city already at their distant approaches." According to a report by Reuters, witnesses heard several blasts in the Kyiv region but not in the city. Additionally, the blasts were also said to be likely from the air defence systems hitting targets. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russian official says 5 drones shot down in Crimea; two-year-old killed after blast in Ukraine’s Dnipro

The head of the Wagner mercenary group, on Saturday (June 3), said that his fighters would be ready to defend the Russian border region of Belgorod which has recently witnessed a number of attacks. This comes as the group’s founder and chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has criticised the Russian military brass for not being able to defend Belgorod.

<h2>What did Prigozhin say about Belgorod?</h2>

The Wagner chief said that he would not wait for an “invitation” to deploy his fighters in the Russian border region. “If the defence ministry, in the near future, does not stop what is happening in the Belgorod region…then of course we will come to defend Russian land,” said&nbsp;Prigozhin.&nbsp;

He added, “The civilian population is dying in Belgorod.”&nbsp;So far, thousands have been evacuated from southwestern Belgorod days after an incursion from Ukraine.&nbsp;

Prigozhin, who founded the Wagner mercenary group and&nbsp;whose fighters&nbsp;have spearheaded battles in Ukraine, particularly in Bakhmut has&nbsp;gained widespread notoriety since the war in Ukraine began over a year ago.&nbsp;

<h2>What is happening in Belgorod?</h2>

On Saturday,&nbsp;Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that an unprecedented Ukrainian shelling killed two people in the border region. “Since this morning, the district of Shebekino has been under shelling of the Ukrainian armed forces,” said the Russian official.&nbsp;

Among those killed were two women, one “elderly woman” was killed in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka while the other succumbed to her wounds in the village of Bezlyudovka. Last week, Russia claimed that it repelled an attempted incursion along its border with Ukraine from what it calls pro-Ukrainian militants.

According to Gladkov, the region has been hit by 500 attacks on Friday which included artillery and rocket fire and five people lost their lives during these attacks.

The reported incursion with a suspected drone attack and heavy shelling also prompted a partial evacuation of civilians from the area. The Russian defence ministry said that it repelled three cross-border attacks on Thursday.&nbsp;

It was said to be a joint effort by the Russian army units, border guards and units of the Federal Security Service which repelled the attack which involved five tanks and four armoured vehicles and some 70 fighters who&nbsp;tried to enter the entire border near Novaya Tavolzhanka and Shebekino.

The defence ministry claimed over 50 Ukrainian fighters were killed and four armoured vehicles were destroyed.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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The head of the Wagner mercenary group, on Saturday (June 3), said that his fighters would be ready to defend the Russian border region of Belgorod which has recently witnessed a number of attacks.

The head of the Wagner mercenary group, on Saturday (June 3), said that his fighters would be ready to defend the Russian border region of Belgorod which has recently witnessed a number of attacks. This comes as the group’s founder and chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has criticised the Russian military brass for not being able to defend Belgorod. What did Prigozhin say about Belgorod? The Wagner chief said that he would not wait for an “invitation” to deploy his fighters in the Russian border region. “If the defence ministry, in the near future, does not stop what is happening in the Belgorod region…then of course we will come to defend Russian land,” said Prigozhin. He added, “The civilian population is dying in Belgorod.” So far, thousands have been evacuated from southwestern Belgorod days after an incursion from Ukraine. Prigozhin, who founded the Wagner mercenary group and whose fighters have spearheaded battles in Ukraine, particularly in Bakhmut has gained widespread notoriety since the war in Ukraine began over a year ago. What is happening in Belgorod? On Saturday, Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that an unprecedented Ukrainian shelling killed two people in the border region. “Since this morning, the district of Shebekino has been under shelling of the Ukrainian armed forces,” said the Russian official. Among those killed were two women, one “elderly woman” was killed in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka while the other succumbed to her wounds in the village of Bezlyudovka. Last week, Russia claimed that it repelled an attempted incursion along its border with Ukraine from what it calls pro-Ukrainian militants. According to Gladkov, the region has been hit by 500 attacks on Friday which included artillery and rocket fire and five people lost their lives during these attacks. The reported incursion with a suspected drone attack and heavy shelling also prompted a partial evacuation of civilians from the area. The Russian defence ministry said that it repelled three cross-border attacks on Thursday. It was said to be a joint effort by the Russian army units, border guards and units of the Federal Security Service which repelled the attack which involved five tanks and four armoured vehicles and some 70 fighters who tried to enter the entire border near Novaya Tavolzhanka and Shebekino. The defence ministry claimed over 50 Ukrainian fighters were killed and four armoured vehicles were destroyed. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wagner mercenary group ready to defend Russian border region of Belgorod: Yevgeny Prigozhin

A Russian official said that two civilians were killed on Friday (June 2) in shelling on the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine.&nbsp;

Ukraine has intensified shelling over the past few days, which forced thousands of residents to flee villages near Russia's southwestern border.&nbsp;

Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram that shelling had struck a section of road in the town of Maslova Pristan, which is some 15 kilometres from Ukraine's northern Kharkiv region.&nbsp;

"Two women were travelling in one of them. They died from their injuries on the spot," he said, also stating that shell fragments had struck passing cars.&nbsp;

In another post later in the day, Gladkov said two more people had been injured and an industrial facility had caught fire after shelling in the town of Shebekino.&nbsp;

While speaking to the news agency AFP, Belgorod mayor Valentin Demidov said that a total of 5,000 people had transited through the temporary shelters and registered in recent days, with many then going to stay with relatives.

He said, "We are trying to re-settle people as quickly as possible. We hope they will not have to be there (in temporary accommodation) for long but we have to prepare for anything."&nbsp;

In another message posted later on the day, Gladkov said residents from the town of Shebekino have poured into the region's main city, also called Belgorod.&nbsp;

Shebekino has been hit hard as Russian officials said it suffered heavy bombardment on Thursday as well as a cross-border incursion. According to Gladkov, more than 2,500 people were being evacuated from the Shebekino area.&nbsp;

Four homes have been damaged by shelling in the Bryansk region, which is north of Belgorod, said the governor. Meanwhile, the head of the neighbouring Kursk region said some buildings had been damaged in an overnight drone attack.&nbsp;

Similar reports emerged from the Smolensk region as long-range drones hit two towns overnight, the local governor there said. The head of Russia's Kaluga region said a blast had been reported in a forest.&nbsp;

<h2>Ukraine claims it destroyed&nbsp;missiles</h2>

Russia has intensified air strikes on several Ukrainian regions in over the past few days. On Friday, Ukraine said it had destroyed all 15 missiles and 21 drones from a new wave of overnight attacks that left two people wounded in Kyiv.&nbsp;

The chief of the capital's city administration, Sergiy Popko, said on Telegram: "In the last six days, (Russians) have already carried out six attacks on the city!"&nbsp;

Local authorities said that three people including a nine-year-old child were killed in Kyiv on Thursday after rocket fragments fell when Russia launched ballistic and cruise missiles on Kyiv.&nbsp;

<h2>Estonian President in Ukraine&nbsp;</h2>

As Estonian President Alar Karis visited Ukraine on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he knew it would be "impossible" for Ukraine to join NATO while Russia was waging war on his country.&nbsp;

In a joint briefing in the Ukrainian capital with Estonian President Alar Karis, he said joining the alliance was still the best security guarantee for Kyiv.

"But we are adequate people and understand that we will not pull any NATO country into a war. And that's why we understand that we won't be a member of NATO while this war is ongoing. Not because we don't want to, because it's impossible," Zelensky said.

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I welcome President of Estonia <a href="https://twitter.com/AlarKaris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlarKaris</a> to Kyiv. 
 
Estonia is among those whose assistance to our defense is the fastest and the largest, if you look at the ratio of aid to the country's GDP. Thank you for all your support! 
 
🇺🇦🇪🇪 <a href="https://t.co/hOQwm6sbMz">pic.twitter.com/hOQwm6sbMz</a>
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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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A Russian official said that two civilians were killed on Friday (June 2) in shelling on the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine. Ukraine has intensified shelling over the past few days, which forced thousands of residents to flee villages near Russia's southwestern border.

A Russian official said that two civilians were killed on Friday (June 2) in shelling on the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine. Ukraine has intensified shelling over the past few days, which forced thousands of residents to flee villages near Russia's southwestern border. Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram that shelling had struck a section of road in the town of Maslova Pristan, which is some 15 kilometres from Ukraine's northern Kharkiv region. "Two women were travelling in one of them. They died from their injuries on the spot," he said, also stating that shell fragments had struck passing cars. In another post later in the day, Gladkov said two more people had been injured and an industrial facility had caught fire after shelling in the town of Shebekino. While speaking to the news agency AFP, Belgorod mayor Valentin Demidov said that a total of 5,000 people had transited through the temporary shelters and registered in recent days, with many then going to stay with relatives. He said, "We are trying to re-settle people as quickly as possible. We hope they will not have to be there (in temporary accommodation) for long but we have to prepare for anything." In another message posted later on the day, Gladkov said residents from the town of Shebekino have poured into the region's main city, also called Belgorod. Shebekino has been hit hard as Russian officials said it suffered heavy bombardment on Thursday as well as a cross-border incursion. According to Gladkov, more than 2,500 people were being evacuated from the Shebekino area. Four homes have been damaged by shelling in the Bryansk region, which is north of Belgorod, said the governor. Meanwhile, the head of the neighbouring Kursk region said some buildings had been damaged in an overnight drone attack. Similar reports emerged from the Smolensk region as long-range drones hit two towns overnight, the local governor there said. The head of Russia's Kaluga region said a blast had been reported in a forest. Ukraine claims it destroyed missiles Russia has intensified air strikes on several Ukrainian regions in over the past few days. On Friday, Ukraine said it had destroyed all 15 missiles and 21 drones from a new wave of overnight attacks that left two people wounded in Kyiv. The chief of the capital's city administration, Sergiy Popko, said on Telegram: "In the last six days, (Russians) have already carried out six attacks on the city!" Local authorities said that three people including a nine-year-old child were killed in Kyiv on Thursday after rocket fragments fell when Russia launched ballistic and cruise missiles on Kyiv. Estonian President in Ukraine As Estonian President Alar Karis visited Ukraine on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he knew it would be "impossible" for Ukraine to join NATO while Russia was waging war on his country. In a joint briefing in the Ukrainian capital with Estonian President Alar Karis, he said joining the alliance was still the best security guarantee for Kyiv. "But we are adequate people and understand that we will not pull any NATO country into a war. And that's why we understand that we won't be a member of NATO while this war is ongoing. Not because we don't want to, because it's impossible," Zelensky said. I welcome President of Estonia @AlarKaris to Kyiv. Estonia is among those whose assistance to our defense is the fastest and the largest, if you look at the ratio of aid to the country's GDP. Thank you for all your support! 🇺🇦🇪🇪 pic.twitter.com/hOQwm6sbMz — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 2, 2023 × Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow claims two killed as Ukraine shells border regions

South Africa will soon host the heads of state of BRICS nations, a summit which, as per reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin might attend. Overshadowing everything else is one question: Will Putin be arrested?

Here's all you need to know.

<h2>BRICS summit</h2>

BRICS is a five-nation geopolitical bloc that consists of regional economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.&nbsp;

From August 22-24, the bloc will gather for its 15th summit in South Africa's Johannesburg.

<h2>Warrant for Vladimir Putin's arrest</h2>

Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently facing an international arrest warrant.

The warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the Russian president's role in the alleged forced deportation of Ukrainian kids. Reports claim that amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has "stolen" thousands of Ukrainian children and has subjected them to "Russification".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-enacts-law-to-tackle-loneliness-and-social-isolation-599527">Japan enacts law to tackle loneliness and social isolation</a>

According to Kyiv, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the start of Moscow's offensive in February 2022. The war-torn nation has alleged that many of these children have reportedly been placed in institutions and foster homes.

Russia has vehemently denied these allegations. Additionally, given that Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country has dismissed the validity of the arrest warrant&nbsp;and called it "void".

<h2>How does South Africa figure in&nbsp;this?</h2>

Unlike Russia, South Africa is a signatory of the ICC and, in theory, it would be duty-bound to arrest Putin if the leader steps foot on the nation's ground. Additionally, as a nation with strong trade and economic relations with the United States and Europe, South Africa would be expected to arrest him if he sets foot in the country.

However, the International Criminal Court does not have any authority to make any country enforce an arrest warrant.

<h2>Immunities and other privileges</h2>

The South African foreign ministry recently announced that as per its "standard" practice, it is granting immunity to BRICS meeting participants.

As per Clayson Monyela, spokesperson of South Africa's international relations department, "These immunities do not override any warrant that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-retaliates-to-icc-arrest-warrant-against-putin-puts-its-prosecutor-karim-khan-on-wanted-list-594264">Russia retaliates to ICC arrest warrant against Putin, puts its prosecutor Karim Khan on wanted list</a>

Speaking at the sidelines of the&nbsp;foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town on Thursday (June 1st), South Africa's foreign minister Naledi Pandor said her country was mulling options.

"Our government is currently looking at what the legal options are with respect to this matter and I've indicated ... that it is something the president will be the best person to speak about (this) once it has reached a conclusion," said Pandor while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town.

<h2>What is diplomatic immunity?</h2>

Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law. Traditionally, diplomats representing their country abroad enjoy immunity, which protects them against prosecution in the receiving state for the entire period in which they hold their diplomatic post.

<h2>Similar cases with international warrants and diplomatic immunity</h2>

- In 1998, former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet, who at the time had an Interpol Red Notice against him was arrested at a London hospital on a request from Spain. Pinochet presided over a 17-year reign of terror and allegedly ordered foreign assassinations. The warrant alleged that between 1973 and 1983 he committed atrocities against Spanish citizens.&nbsp;

- The former president of Yugoslavia, Boron Milosevic, had arrest warrants issued against him for crimes committed in Kosovo. The warrants were issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in May 1999. In 2000, he was ousted from power and soon after, Serbia’s new Prime Minister opposition leader Zoran Djindjić authorised Milošević’s transfer to The Hague. In June 2001, he was transferred into the custody of the UN Detention Unit in The Hague.

- As per Politico, in 2015 the then Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was allowed to leave South Africa after he visited Pretoria for an African Union Summit. The leader had two pending ICC warrants against him — for alleged genocide and war crimes in Darfur.

While Putin's attendance at the BRICS summit is not confirmed yet, if he does decide to attend, one of these three scenarios might play out.

As per South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, invitations have been issued to all heads of state from the five BRICS nations for the August 22-24 summit in Johannesburg.

The Kremlin is yet to confirm if the Russian president, who has for a large part avoided international travel since the start of the Ukraine war, will attend the summit in person.&nbsp;

However, as per Russian state newswire Ria Novosti, on Tuesday (May 30th), Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the country would "take part in this summit at the proper level".

South Africa will soon host the heads of state of BRICS nations, a summit which, as per reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin might attend. Overshadowing everything else is one question: Will Putin be arrested?

South Africa will soon host the heads of state of BRICS nations, a summit which, as per reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin might attend. Overshadowing everything else is one question: Will Putin be arrested? Here's all you need to know. BRICS summit BRICS is a five-nation geopolitical bloc that consists of regional economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. From August 22-24, the bloc will gather for its 15th summit in South Africa's Johannesburg. Warrant for Vladimir Putin's arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently facing an international arrest warrant. The warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the Russian president's role in the alleged forced deportation of Ukrainian kids. Reports claim that amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has "stolen" thousands of Ukrainian children and has subjected them to "Russification". Also read | Japan enacts law to tackle loneliness and social isolation According to Kyiv, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the start of Moscow's offensive in February 2022. The war-torn nation has alleged that many of these children have reportedly been placed in institutions and foster homes. Russia has vehemently denied these allegations. Additionally, given that Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country has dismissed the validity of the arrest warrant and called it "void". How does South Africa figure in this? Unlike Russia, South Africa is a signatory of the ICC and, in theory, it would be duty-bound to arrest Putin if the leader steps foot on the nation's ground. Additionally, as a nation with strong trade and economic relations with the United States and Europe, South Africa would be expected to arrest him if he sets foot in the country. However, the International Criminal Court does not have any authority to make any country enforce an arrest warrant. Immunities and other privileges The South African foreign ministry recently announced that as per its "standard" practice, it is granting immunity to BRICS meeting participants. As per Clayson Monyela, spokesperson of South Africa's international relations department, "These immunities do not override any warrant that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference." Also read | Russia retaliates to ICC arrest warrant against Putin, puts its prosecutor Karim Khan on wanted list Speaking at the sidelines of the foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town on Thursday (June 1st), South Africa's foreign minister Naledi Pandor said her country was mulling options. "Our government is currently looking at what the legal options are with respect to this matter and I've indicated ... that it is something the president will be the best person to speak about (this) once it has reached a conclusion," said Pandor while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town. What is diplomatic immunity? Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law. Traditionally, diplomats representing their country abroad enjoy immunity, which protects them against prosecution in the receiving state for the entire period in which they hold their diplomatic post. Similar cases with international warrants and diplomatic immunity - In 1998, former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet, who at the time had an Interpol Red Notice against him was arrested at a London hospital on a request from Spain. Pinochet presided over a 17-year reign of terror and allegedly ordered foreign assassinations. The warrant alleged that between 1973 and 1983 he committed atrocities against Spanish citizens. - The former president of Yugoslavia, Boron Milosevic, had arrest warrants issued against him for crimes committed in Kosovo. The warrants were issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in May 1999. In 2000, he was ousted from power and soon after, Serbia’s new Prime Minister opposition leader Zoran Djindjić authorised Milošević’s transfer to The Hague. In June 2001, he was transferred into the custody of the UN Detention Unit in The Hague. - As per Politico, in 2015 the then Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was allowed to leave South Africa after he visited Pretoria for an African Union Summit. The leader had two pending ICC warrants against him — for alleged genocide and war crimes in Darfur. While Putin's attendance at the BRICS summit is not confirmed yet, if he does decide to attend, one of these three scenarios might play out. As per South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, invitations have been issued to all heads of state from the five BRICS nations for the August 22-24 summit in Johannesburg. The Kremlin is yet to confirm if the Russian president, who has for a large part avoided international travel since the start of the Ukraine war, will attend the summit in person. However, as per Russian state newswire Ria Novosti, on Tuesday (May 30th), Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the country would "take part in this summit at the proper level".

Explained: Will Putin be arrested? Here's what happens to the ICC arrest warrant

Following the issuance of an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March, Russian authorities have added ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to their "wanted" list.&nbsp;

As per AFP, Khan's photo appeared in the Russian interior ministry's database on Friday. The notice reportedly identifies Khan as "a man born on March 30, 1970, in Edinburgh, Scotland" but fails to specify his offence.

<h2>Was Karim Khan investigated?</h2>

In March, Russia's Investigative Committee, which is responsible for investigating major crimes, stated that Khan was under investigation for the "criminal prosecution of a person known to be innocent" and for allegedly planning "an attack on a representative of a foreign state enjoying international protection."

Reuters reports that Moscow opened cases against Khan and three ICC judges on March 20 — just days after the ICC order for Putin's arrest.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/31-children-that-russia-stole-return-home-to-ukraine-580540">31 children that Russia 'stole' return home to Ukraine</a>

<h2>Why did the ICC issue an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin?</h2>

As per AFP, the ICC's arrest warrant against Putin was issued for alleged war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.&nbsp;

In addition to Putin's arrest warrant, the international court had also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights.

<h2>Can Putin actually be arrested?</h2>

Since Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country has dismissed the validity of the arrest warrants and said they were "void".

Nevertheless, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the ICC's decision as a "historic" one&nbsp;that initiates historic accountability. US President Joe Biden too supported the arrest warrant for Putin, stating that it was "justified".

<h2>How many children has Russia 'stolen'?</h2>

According to Kyiv, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the start of Moscow's offensive in February 2022. The war-torn nation has alleged that many of these children have reportedly been placed in institutions and foster homes.

Russia and Putin&nbsp;have denied that any war crimes have been committed during the invasion of Ukraine. Instead, they allege that they are victims of Western aggression and lies.&nbsp;The nation also claims that it has saved Ukrainian children from the horrors of the war.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-explains-the-ultimate-yet-hard-to-prove-war-crime-called-genocide-471644">WION explains: The ultimate, yet hard to prove war crime called 'genocide'</a>

However, last month, in a resolution adopted by its parliamentary assembly, the Council of Europe too condemned&nbsp;Russia's forced transfer of Ukrainian children and declared that&nbsp;it constitutes genocide.

The resolution highlighted that there is evidence indicating that the deported children were subjected to a process of "russification" through re-education in Russian language, culture, and history and&nbsp;emphasised that these transfers of Ukrainian children were clearly part of a systematic state policy, with the intention of eradicating any connection to their Ukrainian identity and eliminating their Ukrainian cultural characteristics.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) also called for the United Nations and the Red Cross to be granted access, enabling them to collect information about the affected children. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Following the issuance of an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March, Russian authorities have added ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to their "wanted" list.

Following the issuance of an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March, Russian authorities have added ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to their "wanted" list. As per AFP, Khan's photo appeared in the Russian interior ministry's database on Friday. The notice reportedly identifies Khan as "a man born on March 30, 1970, in Edinburgh, Scotland" but fails to specify his offence. Was Karim Khan investigated? In March, Russia's Investigative Committee, which is responsible for investigating major crimes, stated that Khan was under investigation for the "criminal prosecution of a person known to be innocent" and for allegedly planning "an attack on a representative of a foreign state enjoying international protection." Reuters reports that Moscow opened cases against Khan and three ICC judges on March 20 — just days after the ICC order for Putin's arrest. Also read | 31 children that Russia 'stole' return home to Ukraine Why did the ICC issue an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin? As per AFP, the ICC's arrest warrant against Putin was issued for alleged war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. In addition to Putin's arrest warrant, the international court had also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights. Can Putin actually be arrested? Since Russia is not a member of the ICC, the country has dismissed the validity of the arrest warrants and said they were "void". Nevertheless, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the ICC's decision as a "historic" one that initiates historic accountability. US President Joe Biden too supported the arrest warrant for Putin, stating that it was "justified". How many children has Russia 'stolen'? According to Kyiv, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the start of Moscow's offensive in February 2022. The war-torn nation has alleged that many of these children have reportedly been placed in institutions and foster homes. Russia and Putin have denied that any war crimes have been committed during the invasion of Ukraine. Instead, they allege that they are victims of Western aggression and lies. The nation also claims that it has saved Ukrainian children from the horrors of the war. Also read | WION explains: The ultimate, yet hard to prove war crime called 'genocide' However, last month, in a resolution adopted by its parliamentary assembly, the Council of Europe too condemned Russia's forced transfer of Ukrainian children and declared that it constitutes genocide. The resolution highlighted that there is evidence indicating that the deported children were subjected to a process of "russification" through re-education in Russian language, culture, and history and emphasised that these transfers of Ukrainian children were clearly part of a systematic state policy, with the intention of eradicating any connection to their Ukrainian identity and eliminating their Ukrainian cultural characteristics. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) also called for the United Nations and the Red Cross to be granted access, enabling them to collect information about the affected children. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia retaliates to ICC arrest warrant against Putin, puts its prosecutor Karim Khan on wanted list

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is in the midst of a visit to Africa, on Tuesday (May 30) accused the West of “supporting genocide” in Kyiv over its backing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan. Lavrov claims that because of it, “everything Russian” would be destroyed in east Ukraine and Crimea.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, top Ukrainian presidential aid in a recent interview said Kyiv is&nbsp;no longer interested in a ceasefire and&nbsp;Zelensky’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war.

<h2>What did Lavrov say?</h2>

The Russian foreign minister during a press conference with his Burundian counterpart said, “The conclusion is very simple - the West directly supports genocide.” This comes as Moscow has long accused the West of what it calls Ukrainian persecution of Russian language speakers in the eastern Donbas region and elsewhere.

The peace plan proposed&nbsp;by Zelensky late last year calls for the withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory including the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow&nbsp;annexed in 2014. In the context of the recent drone attacks in Moscow, Lavrov also accused the West of directly helping Kyiv conduct such “terrorist” strikes by providing it with military equipment.&nbsp;

“The statement of the West that the weapons it is supplying (to Ukraine) must not be used against the territory of the Russian Federation is just another lie,” said the Russian foreign minister. Notably, Moscow has also claimed that US-provided armoured vehicles were used during the border incursion in Russia’s Belgorod&nbsp;earlier this month.&nbsp;

US Army General Mark Milley, addressing Moscow’s accusations of pro-Ukrainian militia using armoured vehicles to carry out the border incursion, said Washington has long asked Kyiv not to use US-provided military equipment for attacks inside Russian territory.&nbsp;

<h2>Russia blames the West for Kyiv's 'reckless'&nbsp;drone attacks on Moscow</h2>

The Russian foreign ministry in a statement, on Tuesday, blamed Western support of&nbsp;Ukraine and said that it was “pushing” Kyiv towards “increasingly reckless” behaviour in reference to the recent drone attacks in Moscow. They also went on to say that these attacks are designed to spread “panic”.&nbsp;

“Western support for the Kyiv regime is pushing the Ukrainian leadership towards increasingly reckless acts, including terrorism”. Russia has also said that it intercepted all eight of the Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow and said there were no deaths but two injuries were reported. Moscow said that it has launched a probe into the incident.&nbsp;

Russian lawmaker Maxim Ivanov called it the most serious assault on Moscow since the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid “the new reality”. Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv’s involvement in the attack.&nbsp;

<h2>Ukraine’s peace plan the only way to end conflict: Zelensky’s aide</h2>

In an interview with Reuters, chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva said that Ukraine is no longer interested in a ceasefire and said that Zelensky’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war. Zhovkva also said that the time for mediation efforts has passed.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian presidential aid also pushed back on multiple peace plans pitched by China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa over the past couple of months and told Reuters, “There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine”.&nbsp;

He also spoke about how Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan received an extremely positive reaction&nbsp;at the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Japan, earlier this month, which was also attended by Zelensky. “Not a single formula (point) had any concerns from the (G7) countries,” said Zhovkva, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

The presidential aide also said Ukraine wants G7 leaders to help bring as many Global South leaders as possible to a Ukraine-proposed ‘peace summit’ this summer. Japan, which currently holds the G7 presidency&nbsp;also invited leaders from the so-called Global South to Hiroshima for talks including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is in the midst of a visit to Africa, on Tuesday (May 30) accused the West of “supporting genocide” in Kyiv over its backing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is in the midst of a visit to Africa, on Tuesday (May 30) accused the West of “supporting genocide” in Kyiv over its backing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan. Lavrov claims that because of it, “everything Russian” would be destroyed in east Ukraine and Crimea. Meanwhile, top Ukrainian presidential aid in a recent interview said Kyiv is no longer interested in a ceasefire and Zelensky’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war. What did Lavrov say? The Russian foreign minister during a press conference with his Burundian counterpart said, “The conclusion is very simple - the West directly supports genocide.” This comes as Moscow has long accused the West of what it calls Ukrainian persecution of Russian language speakers in the eastern Donbas region and elsewhere. The peace plan proposed by Zelensky late last year calls for the withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory including the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. In the context of the recent drone attacks in Moscow, Lavrov also accused the West of directly helping Kyiv conduct such “terrorist” strikes by providing it with military equipment. “The statement of the West that the weapons it is supplying (to Ukraine) must not be used against the territory of the Russian Federation is just another lie,” said the Russian foreign minister. Notably, Moscow has also claimed that US-provided armoured vehicles were used during the border incursion in Russia’s Belgorod earlier this month. US Army General Mark Milley, addressing Moscow’s accusations of pro-Ukrainian militia using armoured vehicles to carry out the border incursion, said Washington has long asked Kyiv not to use US-provided military equipment for attacks inside Russian territory. Russia blames the West for Kyiv's 'reckless' drone attacks on Moscow The Russian foreign ministry in a statement, on Tuesday, blamed Western support of Ukraine and said that it was “pushing” Kyiv towards “increasingly reckless” behaviour in reference to the recent drone attacks in Moscow. They also went on to say that these attacks are designed to spread “panic”. “Western support for the Kyiv regime is pushing the Ukrainian leadership towards increasingly reckless acts, including terrorism”. Russia has also said that it intercepted all eight of the Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow and said there were no deaths but two injuries were reported. Moscow said that it has launched a probe into the incident. Russian lawmaker Maxim Ivanov called it the most serious assault on Moscow since the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid “the new reality”. Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv’s involvement in the attack. Ukraine’s peace plan the only way to end conflict: Zelensky’s aide In an interview with Reuters, chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva said that Ukraine is no longer interested in a ceasefire and said that Zelensky’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war. Zhovkva also said that the time for mediation efforts has passed. The Ukrainian presidential aid also pushed back on multiple peace plans pitched by China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa over the past couple of months and told Reuters, “There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine”. He also spoke about how Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan received an extremely positive reaction at the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Japan, earlier this month, which was also attended by Zelensky. “Not a single formula (point) had any concerns from the (G7) countries,” said Zhovkva, as per Reuters. The presidential aide also said Ukraine wants G7 leaders to help bring as many Global South leaders as possible to a Ukraine-proposed ‘peace summit’ this summer. Japan, which currently holds the G7 presidency also invited leaders from the so-called Global South to Hiroshima for talks including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘West directly supports genocide’ in Ukraine: Russia's Lavrov on Zelensky's peace plan

A top Ukrainian war chief has revealed that the war-torn nation is ready to launch its much-anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, revealed in an interview with the BBC that the assault to reclaim territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin at any time, be it "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week".&nbsp;

A key figure in President Volodymyr Zelensky's de facto war cabinet, Danilov also confirmed that some Wagner mercenary forces were withdrawing from the city of Bakhmut — which has been the site of intense battle. However, he cautioned they were "regrouping to another three locations" and would continue their fight against Ukraine.

Responding to reports about the looming threat of nuclear weapons, Danilov said that he was "absolutely calm" about the deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus by Russia and that it was not news to Ukraine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moscow-schools-us-for-criticising-deployment-of-nuclear-weapons-in-belarus-597125">Moscow schools US for criticising deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus</a>

<h2>Why did Ukraine wait so long to launch counter-offensive?</h2>

The country, as per reports, has been meticulously planning its counter-offensive for months, utilising the time to train troops and receive military equipment from Western allies.&nbsp;However, Russian forces have also been fortifying their defences in preparation for the upcoming counter-offensive.

For Ukraine, the stakes are high. The nation needs to show&nbsp;its citizens and Western allies it can break through Russian lines, overcome the military deadlock, and reclaim its sovereign territory.&nbsp;

Danilov emphasised the importance of avoiding mistakes and warned that the Ukraine government had "no right to make a mistake" as he believes this is a historic opportunity that Ukraine cannot afford to miss.

<h2>Is&nbsp;Ukraine ready for&nbsp;a counter-offensive?</h2>

When questioned about the readiness of Ukrainian forces for the offensive, Danilov stressed the troops'&nbsp;constant state of readiness, noting that their commitment to defending their country does not depend on time.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bill-gates-alleged-russian-lover-was-in-contact-with-kremlin-spy-report-597064">Bill Gates’ alleged Russian lover was in contact with a Kremlin spy: Report</a>

"We are always ready. The same as we were ready to defend our country at any time. And it is not a question of time," he said.

"We have to understand that that historic opportunity that is given to us – by God – to our country, we cannot lose, so we can truly become an independent, big European country," he added.

Dismissing speculations that the counter-offensive had already begun, the war chief clarified the Ukrainian armed forces have been engaged in demolishing Russian control centres and military equipment since February 24th 2022 — the start of Russia's invasion.&nbsp;

Emphasising the responsibility they have, he said that naming specific dates for the start of the offensive would be imprudent.

"It could happen tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week."

"It would be weird if I were to name dates of the start of that or those events. That cannot be done…. We have a very responsible task before our country. And we understand that we have no right to make a mistake," he remarked.

Bakhmut, a key region in the ongoing conflict, has been the location of huge amounts of carnage and casualties.

Defending Ukraine's military's decision to fight for an extended period in Bakhmut, despite the heavy casualties, he said "Bakhmut is our land, our territory, and we must defend it."&nbsp;

"If we start leaving every settlement, that could get us to our western border, as Putin wanted from the first days of the war."&nbsp;Acknowledging that Ukraine currently controls only a small part of the city, Danilov&nbsp;emphasised the significant role Bakhmut has played in the war.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A top Ukrainian war chief has revealed that the war-torn nation is ready to launch its much-anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, revealed in an interview with the BBC that the assault to reclaim territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin at any time, be it "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week".

A top Ukrainian war chief has revealed that the war-torn nation is ready to launch its much-anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, revealed in an interview with the BBC that the assault to reclaim territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin at any time, be it "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week". A key figure in President Volodymyr Zelensky's de facto war cabinet, Danilov also confirmed that some Wagner mercenary forces were withdrawing from the city of Bakhmut — which has been the site of intense battle. However, he cautioned they were "regrouping to another three locations" and would continue their fight against Ukraine. Responding to reports about the looming threat of nuclear weapons, Danilov said that he was "absolutely calm" about the deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus by Russia and that it was not news to Ukraine. Also read | Moscow schools US for criticising deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus Why did Ukraine wait so long to launch counter-offensive? The country, as per reports, has been meticulously planning its counter-offensive for months, utilising the time to train troops and receive military equipment from Western allies. However, Russian forces have also been fortifying their defences in preparation for the upcoming counter-offensive. For Ukraine, the stakes are high. The nation needs to show its citizens and Western allies it can break through Russian lines, overcome the military deadlock, and reclaim its sovereign territory. Danilov emphasised the importance of avoiding mistakes and warned that the Ukraine government had "no right to make a mistake" as he believes this is a historic opportunity that Ukraine cannot afford to miss. Is Ukraine ready for a counter-offensive? When questioned about the readiness of Ukrainian forces for the offensive, Danilov stressed the troops' constant state of readiness, noting that their commitment to defending their country does not depend on time. Also read | Bill Gates’ alleged Russian lover was in contact with a Kremlin spy: Report "We are always ready. The same as we were ready to defend our country at any time. And it is not a question of time," he said. "We have to understand that that historic opportunity that is given to us – by God – to our country, we cannot lose, so we can truly become an independent, big European country," he added. Dismissing speculations that the counter-offensive had already begun, the war chief clarified the Ukrainian armed forces have been engaged in demolishing Russian control centres and military equipment since February 24th 2022 — the start of Russia's invasion. Emphasising the responsibility they have, he said that naming specific dates for the start of the offensive would be imprudent. "It could happen tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week." "It would be weird if I were to name dates of the start of that or those events. That cannot be done…. We have a very responsible task before our country. And we understand that we have no right to make a mistake," he remarked. Bakhmut, a key region in the ongoing conflict, has been the location of huge amounts of carnage and casualties. Defending Ukraine's military's decision to fight for an extended period in Bakhmut, despite the heavy casualties, he said "Bakhmut is our land, our territory, and we must defend it." "If we start leaving every settlement, that could get us to our western border, as Putin wanted from the first days of the war." Acknowledging that Ukraine currently controls only a small part of the city, Danilov emphasised the significant role Bakhmut has played in the war. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kyiv's much-awaited counter-offensive can begin 'tomorrow, day after or in a week': Top Ukraine war chief

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Sunday stated that he was convinced that senior officials in the Kremlin had prohibited any coverage of him on state media. He warned that this misleading strategy of withholding information would ultimately end up in a backlash, causing resentment among the Russian people in a matter of months.

<h2>Wagner chief and the&nbsp;taboos of Putin's Russia</h2>

Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group and a well-known figure in President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, has gained significant notoriety during the 15-month conflict in Ukraine. He has come up with&nbsp;infamous outbursts on several occasions, supposedly&nbsp;breaking&nbsp;the strict rules put in place by&nbsp;Putin.&nbsp;

In doing so, Prigozhin supposedly broke the taboos of Putin's Russia, and this is reflected by the fact that Russian state television ignored the fall of Bakhmut for 20 hours and downplayed Prigozhin's role in the significant victory while refraining from airing his victory speech.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-explains-from-hotdog-seller-to-putins-chef-all-you-need-to-know-about-wagner-chief-yevgeny-prigozhin-589373">Explained | From hotdog seller to Putin's chef, all you need to know about Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin</a>

<h2>Why would Russia blank someone from Putin's inner circle?</h2>

In recent months, 'Putin's chef' has gained notoriety for the brutal discipline of his mercenaries and his use of obscene language and prison slang directed at top military figures, including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

As per reports, because of this bad blood, after Prigozhin declared victory in Bakhmut, it took the Kremlin 10 hours to issue a brief statement congratulating Wagner and other armed forces units for "liberating" Artyomovsk, the Soviet-era name for Bakhmut used by Russia. However, even then the statement did not mention the Wagner chief by name.

What does the Wagner chief think about this ban?

Reuters reports that when questioned about the apparent ban on his coverage, Prigozhin humorously used a series of Russian proverbs to poke fun at those behind this purported ban and said: "What is forbidden is always sweeter."

He emphasised that Wagner, his mercenary group, was not something that could be easily concealed or dismissed by bureaucrats.

"Wagner is not a piece of slippery soap which the bureaucrats have got used to shoving all over the place; Wagner is an awl, a stiletto that you cannot hide," he said.&nbsp;

"I am absolutely convinced they have forbidden (coverage)."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-chief-vows-his-forces-will-leave-bakhmut-by-june-1-595235">Russia-Ukraine | Wagner chief vows his forces will handover Bakhmut to Russian army by June 1</a>

He warned that attempts to silence the discussion of Wagner would only provoke a strong reaction from the Russian people.

"That high-level bureaucrats, those very towers of the Kremlin, who are trying to shut the mouths of everyone so that they don't speak about Wagner, will only give another shove to the people."

Prigozhin predicted that within a couple of months, the people would respond to the suppression of information by those in power.&nbsp;

"In the long term - long term is two or three months - they will receive a finger-slap from the people for trying to shut everyone's mouths and ears," said the Wagner mercenary group founder.

Reuters reports that till now both the Kremlin and the defence ministry have chosen to ignore Prigozhin's outbursts, despite their apparent violation of the tightly controlled political system established by Putin since he assumed the presidency.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Sunday stated that he was convinced that senior officials in the Kremlin had prohibited any coverage of him on state media. He warned that this misleading strategy of withholding information would ultimately end up in a backlash, causing resentment among the Russian people in a matter of months.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Sunday stated that he was convinced that senior officials in the Kremlin had prohibited any coverage of him on state media. He warned that this misleading strategy of withholding information would ultimately end up in a backlash, causing resentment among the Russian people in a matter of months. Wagner chief and the taboos of Putin's Russia Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group and a well-known figure in President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, has gained significant notoriety during the 15-month conflict in Ukraine. He has come up with infamous outbursts on several occasions, supposedly breaking the strict rules put in place by Putin. In doing so, Prigozhin supposedly broke the taboos of Putin's Russia, and this is reflected by the fact that Russian state television ignored the fall of Bakhmut for 20 hours and downplayed Prigozhin's role in the significant victory while refraining from airing his victory speech. Also read | Explained | From hotdog seller to Putin's chef, all you need to know about Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin Why would Russia blank someone from Putin's inner circle? In recent months, 'Putin's chef' has gained notoriety for the brutal discipline of his mercenaries and his use of obscene language and prison slang directed at top military figures, including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. As per reports, because of this bad blood, after Prigozhin declared victory in Bakhmut, it took the Kremlin 10 hours to issue a brief statement congratulating Wagner and other armed forces units for "liberating" Artyomovsk, the Soviet-era name for Bakhmut used by Russia. However, even then the statement did not mention the Wagner chief by name. What does the Wagner chief think about this ban? Reuters reports that when questioned about the apparent ban on his coverage, Prigozhin humorously used a series of Russian proverbs to poke fun at those behind this purported ban and said: "What is forbidden is always sweeter." He emphasised that Wagner, his mercenary group, was not something that could be easily concealed or dismissed by bureaucrats. "Wagner is not a piece of slippery soap which the bureaucrats have got used to shoving all over the place; Wagner is an awl, a stiletto that you cannot hide," he said. "I am absolutely convinced they have forbidden (coverage)." Also read | Russia-Ukraine | Wagner chief vows his forces will handover Bakhmut to Russian army by June 1 He warned that attempts to silence the discussion of Wagner would only provoke a strong reaction from the Russian people. "That high-level bureaucrats, those very towers of the Kremlin, who are trying to shut the mouths of everyone so that they don't speak about Wagner, will only give another shove to the people." Prigozhin predicted that within a couple of months, the people would respond to the suppression of information by those in power. "In the long term - long term is two or three months - they will receive a finger-slap from the people for trying to shut everyone's mouths and ears," said the Wagner mercenary group founder. Reuters reports that till now both the Kremlin and the defence ministry have chosen to ignore Prigozhin's outbursts, despite their apparent violation of the tightly controlled political system established by Putin since he assumed the presidency. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wagner chief warns Kremlin, says blanking him out on state media will provoke backlash

Kyiv has secured the release of more than 100 of its captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday (May 25), said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff. Meanwhile, Russia’s Wagner mercenary group said they would send back the bodies of two United States and Turkey citizens from Ukraine.&nbsp;

Speaking about the conflict, US Army General Mark Milley said Russia will not achieve military victory in Ukraine but also warned Kyiv that it is unlikely to force out all of Moscow’s troops anytime soon.&nbsp;

<h2>Russia to release over 100 Ukrainian soldiers: Kyiv&nbsp;</h2>

The Ukrainian president Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak said that Kyiv has secured the release of 106 soldiers, of whom eight were captured fighting in the city of Bakhmut, which has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict. “Every one of them is a hero of our state,” said Yermak.&nbsp;

He added, “Many of the ones we are returning from captivity were considered missing. The relatives of these people have gone through a difficult time.”

While, Russia’s human rights ombudsman, Tatiana Moskalkova, confirmed that Russia’s mercenary group Wagner which earlier Thursday began withdrawing from Bakhmut, took part in an exchange of fighters, no further details were given.&nbsp;

According to Ukrainian officials, so far, at least 2,430 Ukrainians have been freed in prisoner swaps out of which nearly 140 were civilians.&nbsp;

<h2>Wagner send back bodies of US, Turkish citizens</h2>

The head of the Wagner group Yevgeny Prigozhin, on Thursday, said that they&nbsp;are sending back the bodies of a US citizen who was killed in fighting in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and the body of a Turkish citizen who was found dead in a building that was blown up.&nbsp;

“We are returning the body of an American and the body of a citizen of Turkey along with prisoners,” said Prigozhin. The announcement was made by him in a video clip which showed two wooden coffins one of which was draped with the US flag and the other with the flag of Turkey.&nbsp;

Prigozhin said that the US citizen died while fighting in some part of Bakhmut which is referred to as the “nest.” According to Wagner, the American citizen was Nicholas Maimer, a former US special forces soldier.&nbsp;

While the Turkish citizen was found dead along with a Turkish woman in a building supposedly blown by Ukrainian forces, said the head of the Wagner group. However, the Turkish woman’s body could not be recovered, said Prigozhin.&nbsp;

<h2>US top officer about Russia-Ukraine</h2>

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, on Thursday, Milley said, “This war, militarily, is not going to be won by Russia. It’s just not.” The press conference took place after a virtual meeting of dozens of countries that support Ukraine.&nbsp;

He also said that while Moscow’s original strategic objectives which supposedly included overthrowing the government in Kyiv, “are not achievable militarily, they’re not going to be done,” said the US army general.&nbsp;

While Kyiv’s objective of recapturing all of its territory is also unlikely, said the US officer, adding that there are hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers across Ukraine, at the time so it will not happen “in the near term”.&nbsp;

“That means fighting is going to continue, it's going to be bloody, it's going to be hard. And at some point, both sides will either negotiate a settlement or they'll come to a military conclusion.” 
 
This comes amid talks that the war in Ukraine is set to go on for a while considering neither countries are in a position to secure a clear-cut victory and there are no ongoing peace talks or negotiations.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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Kyiv has secured the release of more than 100 of its captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday (May 25), said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff.

Kyiv has secured the release of more than 100 of its captured soldiers in a prisoner exchange with Russia on Thursday (May 25), said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff. Meanwhile, Russia’s Wagner mercenary group said they would send back the bodies of two United States and Turkey citizens from Ukraine. Speaking about the conflict, US Army General Mark Milley said Russia will not achieve military victory in Ukraine but also warned Kyiv that it is unlikely to force out all of Moscow’s troops anytime soon. Russia to release over 100 Ukrainian soldiers: Kyiv The Ukrainian president Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak said that Kyiv has secured the release of 106 soldiers, of whom eight were captured fighting in the city of Bakhmut, which has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict. “Every one of them is a hero of our state,” said Yermak. He added, “Many of the ones we are returning from captivity were considered missing. The relatives of these people have gone through a difficult time.” While, Russia’s human rights ombudsman, Tatiana Moskalkova, confirmed that Russia’s mercenary group Wagner which earlier Thursday began withdrawing from Bakhmut, took part in an exchange of fighters, no further details were given. According to Ukrainian officials, so far, at least 2,430 Ukrainians have been freed in prisoner swaps out of which nearly 140 were civilians. Wagner send back bodies of US, Turkish citizens The head of the Wagner group Yevgeny Prigozhin, on Thursday, said that they are sending back the bodies of a US citizen who was killed in fighting in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and the body of a Turkish citizen who was found dead in a building that was blown up. “We are returning the body of an American and the body of a citizen of Turkey along with prisoners,” said Prigozhin. The announcement was made by him in a video clip which showed two wooden coffins one of which was draped with the US flag and the other with the flag of Turkey. Prigozhin said that the US citizen died while fighting in some part of Bakhmut which is referred to as the “nest.” According to Wagner, the American citizen was Nicholas Maimer, a former US special forces soldier. While the Turkish citizen was found dead along with a Turkish woman in a building supposedly blown by Ukrainian forces, said the head of the Wagner group. However, the Turkish woman’s body could not be recovered, said Prigozhin. US top officer about Russia-Ukraine Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, on Thursday, Milley said, “This war, militarily, is not going to be won by Russia. It’s just not.” The press conference took place after a virtual meeting of dozens of countries that support Ukraine. He also said that while Moscow’s original strategic objectives which supposedly included overthrowing the government in Kyiv, “are not achievable militarily, they’re not going to be done,” said the US army general. While Kyiv’s objective of recapturing all of its territory is also unlikely, said the US officer, adding that there are hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers across Ukraine, at the time so it will not happen “in the near term”. “That means fighting is going to continue, it's going to be bloody, it's going to be hard. And at some point, both sides will either negotiate a settlement or they'll come to a military conclusion.” This comes amid talks that the war in Ukraine is set to go on for a while considering neither countries are in a position to secure a clear-cut victory and there are no ongoing peace talks or negotiations. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine secures release of more than 100 soldiers in swap with Russia

Gazprom, the Russian energy behemoth, has experienced a significant decline in its net profit. On Tuesday, the company said that its profits have fallen by 41 per cent in the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict. This is primarily due to a tax hike.&nbsp;The company's financial report for 2022 reveals a profit of 1.2 trillion rubles ($15 billion), a substantial decrease from the 2.1 trillion rubles recorded in the previous year.

As per a statement by the company, due to the drop in profit, the board has recommended the withholding of dividend payouts.

<h2>What is behind the profit drop?</h2>

The company in a statement carried by Russian news agencies, revealed that the increase in tax payments during the second half of the year had a direct impact on profit margins.&nbsp;

"Profit margins were impacted by an increase in tax payments in the second half of the year," it said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-100-us-and-eu-lawmakers-push-to-remove-sultan-al-jaber-as-cop28-head-595699">More than 100 US and EU lawmakers push to remove Sultan Al Jaber as COP28 head</a>

Gazprom's operations have been severely affected by Western sanctions, which have targeted the state-owned enterprise led by Alexei Miller, a close associate of President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

As a result, European imports of pipeline natural gas from Russia plunged by 55 per cent in 2022, according to the Gas Exporting Country Forum's report released this month.

<h2>How did Gazprom deal with the sanctions?</h2>

To counterbalance the limitations imposed by the European market, except for liquefied natural gas purchases, Gazprom as per the news agency AFP has strategically sought to pivot towards Asia. In this, China, in particular, has emerged as a crucial economic partner for Russia, especially since the West implemented unprecedented sanctions following Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine.

Gazprom announced in March that it had achieved a record in daily gas volumes supplied to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline. Furthermore, the total deliveries through the pipeline reached an all-time high of 15.5 billion cubic metres in the previous year.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-extends-wsj-journalist-evan-gershkovichs-detention-us-calls-for-immediate-release-595697">Russia extends WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich’s detention, US calls for immediate release</a>

However, redirecting gas exports to new markets necessitates the construction of expensive infrastructure, a process that takes considerable time. As per the report, Gazprom anticipates commencing the construction of the 'Power of Siberia 2' pipeline in 2024. Gazprom which happens to own the largest gas reserves in the world, employs approximately half a million employees and thus remains a significant driving force behind Russia's economic growth.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Gazprom, the Russian energy behemoth, has experienced a significant decline in its net profit. On Tuesday, the company said that its profits have fallen by 41 per cent in the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict.

Gazprom, the Russian energy behemoth, has experienced a significant decline in its net profit. On Tuesday, the company said that its profits have fallen by 41 per cent in the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict. This is primarily due to a tax hike. The company's financial report for 2022 reveals a profit of 1.2 trillion rubles ($15 billion), a substantial decrease from the 2.1 trillion rubles recorded in the previous year. As per a statement by the company, due to the drop in profit, the board has recommended the withholding of dividend payouts. What is behind the profit drop? The company in a statement carried by Russian news agencies, revealed that the increase in tax payments during the second half of the year had a direct impact on profit margins. "Profit margins were impacted by an increase in tax payments in the second half of the year," it said. Also read | More than 100 US and EU lawmakers push to remove Sultan Al Jaber as COP28 head Gazprom's operations have been severely affected by Western sanctions, which have targeted the state-owned enterprise led by Alexei Miller, a close associate of President Vladimir Putin. As a result, European imports of pipeline natural gas from Russia plunged by 55 per cent in 2022, according to the Gas Exporting Country Forum's report released this month. How did Gazprom deal with the sanctions? To counterbalance the limitations imposed by the European market, except for liquefied natural gas purchases, Gazprom as per the news agency AFP has strategically sought to pivot towards Asia. In this, China, in particular, has emerged as a crucial economic partner for Russia, especially since the West implemented unprecedented sanctions following Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine. Gazprom announced in March that it had achieved a record in daily gas volumes supplied to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline. Furthermore, the total deliveries through the pipeline reached an all-time high of 15.5 billion cubic metres in the previous year. Also read | Russia extends WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich’s detention, US calls for immediate release However, redirecting gas exports to new markets necessitates the construction of expensive infrastructure, a process that takes considerable time. As per the report, Gazprom anticipates commencing the construction of the 'Power of Siberia 2' pipeline in 2024. Gazprom which happens to own the largest gas reserves in the world, employs approximately half a million employees and thus remains a significant driving force behind Russia's economic growth. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war affects Russian energy giant Gazprom's profits; net profit down by 41.4% in 2022

The Russian military, on Tuesday (May 23) said that it had crushed the cross-border attack from Ukraine after deploying jets and artillery to destroy an armed group a day after they attacked the border region with armoured vehicles. Moscow also claimed that it killed over 70 “Ukrainian nationalists” and destroyed four of their armoured vehicles.&nbsp;

As per media reports, in what might be one of the biggest incursions from Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion over a year ago, two purported anti-Kremlin armed groups have claimed responsibility for the attack on Russia’s Belgorod region. While authorities in Moscow blamed Ukrainian officials for the attack, Kyiv has denied any involvement.&nbsp;

Ukrainian officials after the incident said that they are watching the situation as it develops but “has nothing to do with it”. Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhaylo Podolyak suggested that Russian “guerrilla groups” might&nbsp;be responsible for the Monday attack.&nbsp;

<h2>Russia responds to the incursion&nbsp;</h2>

The Russian military said it had deployed jets and artillery to destroy the armed group in what Moscow has described as a “counter-terrorist operation”. 
 
According to Russia-installed officials, at least 12 civilians were injured after what Moscow called a “sabotage” group incursion from Ukraine and introduced an “anti-terror regime” in the region of Belgorod.&nbsp;

Notably, the “anti-terror regime” grants special powers to security services while also imposing a number of restrictions and measures which include more security and communications surveillance in a region.&nbsp;

“In the course of the counter-terrorist operation, the nationalist formations were blocked and destroyed by air strikes and artillery fire,” said the Russian defence ministry in a statement. It also said that Russia killed more than 70 Ukrainian fighters and destroyed four armoured vehicles and five pick-up trucks.&nbsp;

It added, “The remnants of the nationalists were pushed back to Ukrainian territory, where they continued to be hit by gunfire until they were completely eliminated.” Earlier, local authorities had said the Belgorod region in Russia had come under sustained artillery and mortar fire by a group it claimed had crossed from Ukraine.&nbsp; 
 
Following the incident, Belgorod’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that civilians from nine border villages had been evacuated. However, they haven't yet been asked to return. In response to the alleged attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “What happened yesterday is a cause for deep concern and once again confirms that Ukrainian militants continue their activities against our country.”&nbsp; 
 
Gladkov also took to Telegram, on Tuesday, to report one death due to the incursion&nbsp;and said "To our great regret, we do have casualties. A peaceful civilian -&nbsp;a resident of the settlement of Kozinka, died at the hands of Ukrainian forces. Our most sincere condolences go to all their relatives and loved ones."&nbsp;

<h2>Two ‘anti-Kremlin’ groups claim responsibility</h2>

There are two groups which have claimed responsibility for the incursion – the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and the Freedom of Russia Legion, reported Reuters. The RVC is reportedly founded by Moscow-born Denis Kapustin, also known as Denis Nikitin, who has described himself as a nationalist fighting for a Russia that belongs to ethnic Russians, as per the news agency.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Freedom of Russia Legion is said to be a Ukraine-based Russian militia group which is reportedly led by Russian opposition figure Ilya Ponomarev. The group is working inside Russia to supposedly overthrow Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

A video released by a Telegram channel, seen by the news agency AFP, claims to represent one of the anti-Kremlin groups which shows a camouflaged spokesman, surrounded by armed men in fatigues. The footage in question was released on Monday, in which&nbsp;the person said “Russia will be free!” a slogan frequently used by the Russian opposition.&nbsp;

<h2>Ukrainian President&nbsp;visits&nbsp;eastern&nbsp;frontline</h2>

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday, visited the Marines on the eastern front line and also presented awards to the commanders of several&nbsp;units. “Happy Marines Day, especially to such strong people who are in one of the hottest but also one of the strongest… sectors – the Vuhledar-Marinka direction,” said the Ukrainian president, in a video posted on social media.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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The Russian military, on Tuesday (May 23) said that it had crushed the cross-border attack from Ukraine after deploying jets and artillery to destroy an armed group a day after they attacked the border region with armoured vehicles.

The Russian military, on Tuesday (May 23) said that it had crushed the cross-border attack from Ukraine after deploying jets and artillery to destroy an armed group a day after they attacked the border region with armoured vehicles. Moscow also claimed that it killed over 70 “Ukrainian nationalists” and destroyed four of their armoured vehicles. As per media reports, in what might be one of the biggest incursions from Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion over a year ago, two purported anti-Kremlin armed groups have claimed responsibility for the attack on Russia’s Belgorod region. While authorities in Moscow blamed Ukrainian officials for the attack, Kyiv has denied any involvement. Ukrainian officials after the incident said that they are watching the situation as it develops but “has nothing to do with it”. Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhaylo Podolyak suggested that Russian “guerrilla groups” might be responsible for the Monday attack. Russia responds to the incursion The Russian military said it had deployed jets and artillery to destroy the armed group in what Moscow has described as a “counter-terrorist operation”. According to Russia-installed officials, at least 12 civilians were injured after what Moscow called a “sabotage” group incursion from Ukraine and introduced an “anti-terror regime” in the region of Belgorod. Notably, the “anti-terror regime” grants special powers to security services while also imposing a number of restrictions and measures which include more security and communications surveillance in a region. “In the course of the counter-terrorist operation, the nationalist formations were blocked and destroyed by air strikes and artillery fire,” said the Russian defence ministry in a statement. It also said that Russia killed more than 70 Ukrainian fighters and destroyed four armoured vehicles and five pick-up trucks. It added, “The remnants of the nationalists were pushed back to Ukrainian territory, where they continued to be hit by gunfire until they were completely eliminated.” Earlier, local authorities had said the Belgorod region in Russia had come under sustained artillery and mortar fire by a group it claimed had crossed from Ukraine. Following the incident, Belgorod’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that civilians from nine border villages had been evacuated. However, they haven't yet been asked to return. In response to the alleged attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “What happened yesterday is a cause for deep concern and once again confirms that Ukrainian militants continue their activities against our country.” Gladkov also took to Telegram, on Tuesday, to report one death due to the incursion and said "To our great regret, we do have casualties. A peaceful civilian - a resident of the settlement of Kozinka, died at the hands of Ukrainian forces. Our most sincere condolences go to all their relatives and loved ones." Two ‘anti-Kremlin’ groups claim responsibility There are two groups which have claimed responsibility for the incursion – the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and the Freedom of Russia Legion, reported Reuters. The RVC is reportedly founded by Moscow-born Denis Kapustin, also known as Denis Nikitin, who has described himself as a nationalist fighting for a Russia that belongs to ethnic Russians, as per the news agency. Meanwhile, the Freedom of Russia Legion is said to be a Ukraine-based Russian militia group which is reportedly led by Russian opposition figure Ilya Ponomarev. The group is working inside Russia to supposedly overthrow Russian President Vladimir Putin. A video released by a Telegram channel, seen by the news agency AFP, claims to represent one of the anti-Kremlin groups which shows a camouflaged spokesman, surrounded by armed men in fatigues. The footage in question was released on Monday, in which the person said “Russia will be free!” a slogan frequently used by the Russian opposition. Ukrainian President visits eastern frontline Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday, visited the Marines on the eastern front line and also presented awards to the commanders of several units. “Happy Marines Day, especially to such strong people who are in one of the hottest but also one of the strongest… sectors – the Vuhledar-Marinka direction,” said the Ukrainian president, in a video posted on social media. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Air Force, artillery used to push back border attackers, 70 ‘Ukrainian nationalists’ killed, says Russia

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia's Wagner Group, on Monday (May 22nd) vowed that his troops will leave Bakhmut, handing over the control of the prized city to Russian forces from approximately&nbsp;around May 25 until June 1. The city, as per the Wagner chief's claims, was successfully taken over on Saturday (May 20th) after a months-long battle. However, Kyiv remains steadfast in its counter-claim that the battle for Bakhmut is still on.

Prigozhin said that "Wagner will leave Artemovsk from 25 May to 1 June". Bakhmut was previously known as Artemovsk. It was renamed by Ukraine.&nbsp;

As per an AFP report, he previously said that Wagner forces would pull out by May 25.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kiss-biden-on-top-of-his-head-wagner-chief-announces-russian-capture-of-bakhmut-kyiv-denies-594526">'Kiss Biden on top of his head', Wagner chief announces Russian capture of Bakhmut; Kyiv denies</a>

In an audio recording on Telegram, Wagner founder Prigozhin said that ahead of the transfer, Wagner has set up "defence lines" west of the city.

However, as per Ukraine, its troops are still advancing on the outskirts of Bakhmut. It said that its forces still controlled a corner of the eastern Ukrainian city and that the battles are ongoing.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Wagner and the Russian army on the alleged conquest.

"The fighting continues," said Ukraine's deputy defence minister Ganna Malyar. A day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated that Bakhmut was "not occupied" by enemy Russia.&nbsp;

Malyar claimed that Kyiv's troops still retain control of the "Airplane" district of Bakhmut.&nbsp;

"The battle for the dominant heights on the flanks — north and south of the suburbs — continues," she added as per AFP.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shelling-briefly-knocks-out-power-at-ukraines-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-station-disaster-averted-595125">Shelling briefly knocks out power at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear station, disaster averted</a>

Zelensky reiterated that Russia has "not occupied" Bakhmut.

Both Russia and Ukraine have suffered huge losses in the battle for Bakhmut, which is considered the longest and bloodiest battle in Moscow's offensive on its neighbour.

The news agency reported&nbsp;that the Wagner chief in the audio clip on Telegram also remarked that if the Russian "ministry of defence does not have enough personnel, we have thousands of generals."

In recent months, Prigozhin has been embroiled in an increasingly public spat with the Russian military leadership. He has poured scathing criticism over Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.&nbsp;

The Wagner chief has accused the army chiefs of being incompetent and causing Moscow large-scale losses in the conflict in Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia's Wagner Group, on Monday (May 22nd) vowed that his troops will leave Bakhmut, handing over the control of the prized city to Russian forces from approximately around May 25 until June 1.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia's Wagner Group, on Monday (May 22nd) vowed that his troops will leave Bakhmut, handing over the control of the prized city to Russian forces from approximately around May 25 until June 1. The city, as per the Wagner chief's claims, was successfully taken over on Saturday (May 20th) after a months-long battle. However, Kyiv remains steadfast in its counter-claim that the battle for Bakhmut is still on. Prigozhin said that "Wagner will leave Artemovsk from 25 May to 1 June". Bakhmut was previously known as Artemovsk. It was renamed by Ukraine. As per an AFP report, he previously said that Wagner forces would pull out by May 25. Also read | 'Kiss Biden on top of his head', Wagner chief announces Russian capture of Bakhmut; Kyiv denies In an audio recording on Telegram, Wagner founder Prigozhin said that ahead of the transfer, Wagner has set up "defence lines" west of the city. However, as per Ukraine, its troops are still advancing on the outskirts of Bakhmut. It said that its forces still controlled a corner of the eastern Ukrainian city and that the battles are ongoing. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Wagner and the Russian army on the alleged conquest. "The fighting continues," said Ukraine's deputy defence minister Ganna Malyar. A day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated that Bakhmut was "not occupied" by enemy Russia. Malyar claimed that Kyiv's troops still retain control of the "Airplane" district of Bakhmut. "The battle for the dominant heights on the flanks — north and south of the suburbs — continues," she added as per AFP. Also read | Shelling briefly knocks out power at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear station, disaster averted Zelensky reiterated that Russia has "not occupied" Bakhmut. Both Russia and Ukraine have suffered huge losses in the battle for Bakhmut, which is considered the longest and bloodiest battle in Moscow's offensive on its neighbour. The news agency reported that the Wagner chief in the audio clip on Telegram also remarked that if the Russian "ministry of defence does not have enough personnel, we have thousands of generals." In recent months, Prigozhin has been embroiled in an increasingly public spat with the Russian military leadership. He has poured scathing criticism over Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov. The Wagner chief has accused the army chiefs of being incompetent and causing Moscow large-scale losses in the conflict in Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia-Ukraine | Wagner chief vows his forces will handover Bakhmut to Russian army by June 1

Bakhmut, which had come to represent the gruelling protracted war in Ukraine more than any other city, was reported to have been captured by Russia in various reports till Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's spokesperson issues a denial and a clarification.

Bakhmut, which had come to represent the gruelling protracted war in Ukraine more than any other city, was reported to have been captured by Russia in various reports till Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's spokesperson issues a denial and a clarification. On Saturday, (May 20th) Russia's Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed that his mercenary fighters along with Russian troops had completed the capture of Bakhmut. He said, "Today, at 12 noon, Bakhmut was completely taken." "We completely took the whole city, from house to house," added Prigozhin. The claim, however, was promptly rejected by Ukraine, whose military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters news agency: "This is not true. Our units are fighting in Bakhmut." Here's all you need to know about Bakhmut's importance in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war: The city has been relentlessly attacked by Russia for around eight months now, leaving it as a burnt-out ghost town. The Wagner group, a private militia owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with ties to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, has been dispatching a barrage of soldiers and mercenaries from Moscow in an effort to attack Ukrainian strongholds, suffering significant losses in the process. Ukraine has also lost more than 1,100 soldiers fighting along the Bakhmut section of the front line, said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. “In less than a week, starting from the 6th March, we managed to kill more than 1,100 enemy soldiers in the Bakhmut sector alone, Russia’s irreversible loss, right there, near Bakhmut,” Zelensky said in a video address to the nation. The city occasionally looked as though it were about to succumb as Russian forces inched closer. Yet, Ukrainian combatants have maintained their position on ground. Russia wants Bakhmut eagerly. But why? The city of Bakhmut is located in the eastern part of Donetsk, more than 400 miles southeast of Kyiv, and 10 miles from the Luhansk region's border. With a pre-war population of about 71,000, the industrial city was popular because of its salt and gypsum mines. The battle for Bakhmut can be seen as a targeted attack by Russia, owing to the recent logistical challenges observed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Inadequate preparation, poor logistics, and unrealistic planning are some of the reasons for the failure of Russia's rapid invasion of Ukraine, according to the Swedish Defence University. With the capture of Bakhmut, Russia is in a way trying to cut down all supply routes headed towards Lysychansk, which is where it plans to place a block, said Padmashree Anandhan, research associate, National Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, who spoke to WION. “This would weaken Ukraine’s position on the ground,” she added. Bakhmut was “not a particularly symbolically or strategically important city” originally, said Karolina Hird, Russia analyst at ISW, who spoke to the Washington Post. “Bakhmut has become a tussle for pride,” said Anandhan. It can be seen as a political goal to tell Europe that Russia does have the ability to push back Ukraine. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday described Bakhmut as “an important defence node for Ukrainian forces” in the east. “Taking it under control will make it possible to conduct further offensives deep into the Ukrainian armed forces’ defences,” he said in a statement. For Ukrainians, Bakhmut is not just a supply route but an open point to any future fight in Donetsk, keeping in view the geographical location of the city. The defeat of Bakhmut might compel Ukraine to consider how long the conflict might last and how it can employ new weaponry to advance in Donetsk, said Anandhan. Additionally, Bakhmut is an industrial region, rich in mining reserves. Losing hold of the city can have economic ramifications for Ukraine. Hence, Ukraine might not really want to give up on Bakhmut that easily, added Anandhan. What does Ukraine look like on a map, one year into the war? Russian ground forces entered the country fast and took over a sizable portion of Ukraine within a few weeks. They had reached the outskirts of Kyiv and were in complete control of Sumy and the majority of the country's northeast, as per the ISW. Russian soldiers were engulfing the port city of Mariupol while shelling Kharkiv and seizing land as far as Kherson in the east and south. However, they encountered fierce Ukrainian resistance nearly everywhere and encountered significant logistical challenges due to an acute shortage of food, water, and ammunition, as reported by the BBC. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas Plus: Explained: The Battle for Bakhmut The NLAW anti-tank system, which was quickly deployed by Ukrainian forces and proved to be quite effective against the Russian assault, was one of the weapons delivered by the West. With the influx of more western ammunition, the situation changed for Ukraine. Russia had entirely withdrawn from the north after failing to capture Kyiv, reported the BBC. As Russia was forced to retreat from Kharkiv, Ukraine achieved its first significant victory and launched a counterattack near Kherson. Ukraine has the authority of Kherson and has mostly stopped the Russian push in the east for the time being after the invasion one year ago. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data lab | In maps: Strategic significance of Bakhmut in Russia-Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order simplifying the process for acquiring Russian citizenship for foreigners who serve in his military while the war in Ukraine is ongoing.

It applies to foreigners&nbsp;who enlist into one-year contracts with the Russian army during the war in Ukraine, which the Kremlin refers to as a "special military operation." According to the order, those individuals&nbsp;and their family members will be allowed to apply for Russian citizenship more easily—without the necessity for a residence&nbsp;permit, Newsweek reported.

The decree expands on legislation put into law by Russia's president in September 2022, which contained a condition that applicants be part in hostilities in Ukraine for at least six months. This demand is not included in the latest version.

The move comes ahead of Ukraine's widely-anticipated counteroffensive, and Russia's loss tally is expected to approach 200,000, according to Ukrainian military estimations.&nbsp;

Putin has issued a series of regulations aimed at increasing troop numbers in Russia's war against Ukraine.

Against the backdrop of massive deaths in Ukraine, Russia's parliament adopted legislation in May that abolished the maximum age restriction for contractual duty in the Russian armed services.

In August 2022, Putin approved legislation increasing the strength of his army from 1.9 million to 2.04 million troops. This took effect on January 1.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Ukraine Supreme Court chief dismissed after being detained in bribery case

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In March, Putin approved an order reducing the upper age restriction for Russian National Guard personnel operating in areas of Ukraine controlled by Russian forces.

According to the decision, age limitations for Russian nationals serving in the Federal Service of the Russian Federation's National Guard Troops in the affected regions have been dissolved until January 1, 2026.

Putin illegally seized the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, in the autumn of 2022, following referendums branded as a "sham" by US President Joe Biden. Russia does not have complete authority over any of the territories, and international nations, notably the United States, have condemned the action as illegal.

The decree says&nbsp;Russian citizens serving in annexed regions will instead be tested by a military medical examination conducted in absentia, which will establish their fitness to serve.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Ukraine employs modified UAVs in combat; Kakrut reveals a game-changing tactic

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As per&nbsp;Western calculations, Ukrainian losses in the battle have also been significant. According to a US Defence Intelligence Agency report released in April, Ukraine lost 124,500-131,000 casualties, including 15,500-17,500 killed and 109,000-113,500 injured.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order simplifying the process for acquiring Russian citizenship for foreigners who serve in his military while the war in Ukraine is ongoing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order simplifying the process for acquiring Russian citizenship for foreigners who serve in his military while the war in Ukraine is ongoing. It applies to foreigners who enlist into one-year contracts with the Russian army during the war in Ukraine, which the Kremlin refers to as a "special military operation." According to the order, those individuals and their family members will be allowed to apply for Russian citizenship more easily—without the necessity for a residence permit, Newsweek reported. The decree expands on legislation put into law by Russia's president in September 2022, which contained a condition that applicants be part in hostilities in Ukraine for at least six months. This demand is not included in the latest version. The move comes ahead of Ukraine's widely-anticipated counteroffensive, and Russia's loss tally is expected to approach 200,000, according to Ukrainian military estimations. Putin has issued a series of regulations aimed at increasing troop numbers in Russia's war against Ukraine. Against the backdrop of massive deaths in Ukraine, Russia's parliament adopted legislation in May that abolished the maximum age restriction for contractual duty in the Russian armed services. In August 2022, Putin approved legislation increasing the strength of his army from 1.9 million to 2.04 million troops. This took effect on January 1. ALSO WATCH | Ukraine Supreme Court chief dismissed after being detained in bribery case In March, Putin approved an order reducing the upper age restriction for Russian National Guard personnel operating in areas of Ukraine controlled by Russian forces. According to the decision, age limitations for Russian nationals serving in the Federal Service of the Russian Federation's National Guard Troops in the affected regions have been dissolved until January 1, 2026. Putin illegally seized the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, in the autumn of 2022, following referendums branded as a "sham" by US President Joe Biden. Russia does not have complete authority over any of the territories, and international nations, notably the United States, have condemned the action as illegal. The decree says Russian citizens serving in annexed regions will instead be tested by a military medical examination conducted in absentia, which will establish their fitness to serve. ALSO WATCH | Ukraine employs modified UAVs in combat; Kakrut reveals a game-changing tactic As per Western calculations, Ukrainian losses in the battle have also been significant. According to a US Defence Intelligence Agency report released in April, Ukraine lost 124,500-131,000 casualties, including 15,500-17,500 killed and 109,000-113,500 injured. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Putin eases citizenship process for foreigners fighting for Russia in Ukraine

The Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down at least six Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles in an overnight missile barrage of nearly 20 missiles and drones, a weapon which Moscow has previously touted as all but unstoppable. Meanwhile, Russia said it hit “all assigned targets” in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar, on Tuesday, said that their military has reclaimed about 20 square kilometres of territory from the Russian forces in the past few days around Bakhmut. This comes amid speculations that Kyiv has begun its long-promised spring counter-offensive to take back the Russian-controlled regions.&nbsp;

Overnight barrage of missiles

Air raid sirens were sounded across Ukraine, early Tuesday, for over three hours. After which Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov took to Twitter and wrote, “Another unbelievable success for the Ukrainian Air Forces! Last night, our sky defenders shot down SIX russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and 12 other missiles.”

It was also said that some 18 missiles were launched at Ukraine overnight where flashes and raining debris were seen in Kyiv, as per Reuters. Out of the 18 projectiles, six were Kinzhals hypersonic missiles, while others were ballistic missiles which travel at up to 10 times the speed of sound, as per media reports.&nbsp;

According to Ukrainian officials, all of the 18 missiles and nine drones launched by Russia overnight were destroyed. This also comes weeks after Kyiv had said it downed its first Kinzhal missile after receiving its first US Patriot air defence system in April. However, this time around Ukrainian officials did not specify which weapons were used to counter the attack on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Ukrainian city officials in Kyiv also reported that three people were injured by the falling debris. “It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time,” said the head of Kyiv’s city military administration, Serhiy Popko, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

The Commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, also confirmed that all missiles had been successfully intercepted, adding that six Kinzhals were launched from aircraft, nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskanders fired from land.&nbsp;

Russia hits targets in Ukraine

After the missile barrage, the Russian defence ministry released a statement and said that they used long-range precision-strike missiles to target storage facilities hosting “ammunition, weapons and military equipment supplied by Western countries.” It added that “all assigned targets have been hit”.&nbsp;

According to a report by the Zvezda military news outlet, the Russian defence minister also said that it destroyed the US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile defence system with a Kinzhal missile.&nbsp;

Ukraine makes gains around Bakhmut

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar while announcing the reclamation of 20 square kilometres of territory also reiterated that Ukrainian advances around Bakhmut are not part of a broader counteroffensive planned by Kyiv and these developments should not be “taken out of context”.&nbsp;

“For example, within a few days, our troops liberated about 20 square kilometers from the enemy in the north and south of the suburbs of Bakhmut,” Maliar wrote on Telegram. She added that at the same time, Russia is “advancing somewhat in Bakhmut itself, completely destroying the city with artillery”.&nbsp;

This also comes after Moscow acknowledged that some of its forces had fallen back from the north of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut following a new Ukrainian offensive. However, Maliar also said that Russia is sending new paratroopers while “heavy battles continue with different results”.&nbsp;

Attacks in Ukraine’s Kherson

Ukrainian official and head of regional administration in Kherson, Oleksandr Prokudin, as per Reuters, said Russia launched at least 80 artillery attacks on the region including artillery attacks on the city of Kherson. At least six people, including a child, were injured when a residential area was hit.&nbsp;

 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down at least six Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles in an overnight missile barrage of nearly 20 missiles and drones, a weapon which Moscow has previously touted as all but unstoppable.

The Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down at least six Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles in an overnight missile barrage of nearly 20 missiles and drones, a weapon which Moscow has previously touted as all but unstoppable. Meanwhile, Russia said it hit “all assigned targets” in Ukraine. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar, on Tuesday, said that their military has reclaimed about 20 square kilometres of territory from the Russian forces in the past few days around Bakhmut. This comes amid speculations that Kyiv has begun its long-promised spring counter-offensive to take back the Russian-controlled regions. Overnight barrage of missiles Air raid sirens were sounded across Ukraine, early Tuesday, for over three hours. After which Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov took to Twitter and wrote, “Another unbelievable success for the Ukrainian Air Forces! Last night, our sky defenders shot down SIX russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and 12 other missiles.” It was also said that some 18 missiles were launched at Ukraine overnight where flashes and raining debris were seen in Kyiv, as per Reuters. Out of the 18 projectiles, six were Kinzhals hypersonic missiles, while others were ballistic missiles which travel at up to 10 times the speed of sound, as per media reports. According to Ukrainian officials, all of the 18 missiles and nine drones launched by Russia overnight were destroyed. This also comes weeks after Kyiv had said it downed its first Kinzhal missile after receiving its first US Patriot air defence system in April. However, this time around Ukrainian officials did not specify which weapons were used to counter the attack on Tuesday. Ukrainian city officials in Kyiv also reported that three people were injured by the falling debris. “It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time,” said the head of Kyiv’s city military administration, Serhiy Popko, as quoted by Reuters. The Commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, also confirmed that all missiles had been successfully intercepted, adding that six Kinzhals were launched from aircraft, nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskanders fired from land. Russia hits targets in Ukraine After the missile barrage, the Russian defence ministry released a statement and said that they used long-range precision-strike missiles to target storage facilities hosting “ammunition, weapons and military equipment supplied by Western countries.” It added that “all assigned targets have been hit”. According to a report by the Zvezda military news outlet, the Russian defence minister also said that it destroyed the US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile defence system with a Kinzhal missile. Ukraine makes gains around Bakhmut Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar while announcing the reclamation of 20 square kilometres of territory also reiterated that Ukrainian advances around Bakhmut are not part of a broader counteroffensive planned by Kyiv and these developments should not be “taken out of context”. “For example, within a few days, our troops liberated about 20 square kilometers from the enemy in the north and south of the suburbs of Bakhmut,” Maliar wrote on Telegram. She added that at the same time, Russia is “advancing somewhat in Bakhmut itself, completely destroying the city with artillery”. This also comes after Moscow acknowledged that some of its forces had fallen back from the north of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut following a new Ukrainian offensive. However, Maliar also said that Russia is sending new paratroopers while “heavy battles continue with different results”. Attacks in Ukraine’s Kherson Ukrainian official and head of regional administration in Kherson, Oleksandr Prokudin, as per Reuters, said Russia launched at least 80 artillery attacks on the region including artillery attacks on the city of Kherson. At least six people, including a child, were injured when a residential area was hit. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine claims gains in Bakhmut, shooting down Russian missiles and drones amid overnight barrage

Russia launched an "exceptionally intense" air attack on Ukraine's capital city Kyiv early Tuesday (May 16) using drones, cruise, and probably ballistic missiles, according to city officials. This was the eighth air raid in Kyiv this month. Air raid sirens were heard across nearly all of Ukraine. They blared over Kyiv and nearby regions for more than three hours, according to a report in the news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Taking to Telegram, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, said, "It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time."&nbsp;

ALSO READ <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-president-zelensky-eyes-jets-coalition-during-meeting-with-uk-pm-sunak-592677">| Ukraine President Zelensky eyes 'jets coalition' during meeting with UK PM Sunak</a>

Citing preliminary information, Popko said the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed. It is not yet known how many objects were shot down over Kyiv and if any of them managed to hit their target.

Officials said that falling debris was reported in Kyiv's Obolonskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Solomyanskyi and Darnytskyi districts. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the debris set several cars afire and damaged a building in the Solomyanskyi.&nbsp;In Boryspil, a city just southeast of Kyiv, &nbsp;Klitschko said that air defence systems were repelling a drone attack.&nbsp;

The military administration, meanwhile, pointed out that damage in other districts was not significant and there was no immediate information on potential casualties there.&nbsp;

This air attack in Kyiv comes a day after the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said that Russian forces were no longer capable of large-scale offensive action and are mainly on the defensive- but Moscow could sustain the current rate of missile attacks.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-kyiv-used-missiles-from-uk-to-attack-luhansk-says-russia-592157">Ukraine war: Kyiv used missiles from UK to attack Luhansk, claims Russia</a>

Speaking to Ukrainian television on Monday, Defence Intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said that Russia was on the defensive when it came to discussing "the entire front line" and they were without the resources "to repeat large-scale offensive actions," CNN reported.&nbsp;

"They have been preparing for defence all this time, and this is a serious factor that the Ukrainian command certainly takes into account when preparing for the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories," Yusov added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russia launched an "exceptionally intense" air attack on Ukraine's capital city Kyiv early Tuesday (May 16) using drones, cruise, and probably ballistic missiles, according to city officials.

Russia launched an "exceptionally intense" air attack on Ukraine's capital city Kyiv early Tuesday (May 16) using drones, cruise, and probably ballistic missiles, according to city officials. This was the eighth air raid in Kyiv this month. Air raid sirens were heard across nearly all of Ukraine. They blared over Kyiv and nearby regions for more than three hours, according to a report in the news agency Reuters. Taking to Telegram, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, said, "It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time." ALSO READ | Ukraine President Zelensky eyes 'jets coalition' during meeting with UK PM Sunak Citing preliminary information, Popko said the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed. It is not yet known how many objects were shot down over Kyiv and if any of them managed to hit their target. Officials said that falling debris was reported in Kyiv's Obolonskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Solomyanskyi and Darnytskyi districts. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the debris set several cars afire and damaged a building in the Solomyanskyi. In Boryspil, a city just southeast of Kyiv, Klitschko said that air defence systems were repelling a drone attack. The military administration, meanwhile, pointed out that damage in other districts was not significant and there was no immediate information on potential casualties there. This air attack in Kyiv comes a day after the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said that Russian forces were no longer capable of large-scale offensive action and are mainly on the defensive- but Moscow could sustain the current rate of missile attacks. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: Kyiv used missiles from UK to attack Luhansk, claims Russia Speaking to Ukrainian television on Monday, Defence Intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said that Russia was on the defensive when it came to discussing "the entire front line" and they were without the resources "to repeat large-scale offensive actions," CNN reported. "They have been preparing for defence all this time, and this is a serious factor that the Ukrainian command certainly takes into account when preparing for the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories," Yusov added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war: Russia launches 'exceptionally intense' air attack on Kyiv, 8th this month

The Russian defence ministry, on Monday (May 15) said that it had scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet over the Baltic Sea after one German and one French aircraft attempted to “violate” its air space after it detected them flying towards Moscow. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military hailed its recent advances around Bakhmut after its first successful counterattack against Russian forces.&nbsp;

Russia says it scrambled jets

In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said that the two aircraft had attempted to “violate” its airspace. It added, “After turning the foreign military planes away from the Russian Federation state border, the Russian fighter returned safely to its airbase.”&nbsp;

The two aircraft in question were a P-3C Orion German patrol plane, and French Navy’s anti-submarine patrol aircraft Atlantique 2. However, France and Germany, confirming the incident, said their planes were conducting their regular flights as part of a NATO exercise and acted in accordance with international law.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-president-zelensky-eyes-jets-coalition-during-meeting-with-uk-pm-sunak-592677">Ukraine President Zelensky eyes 'jets coalition' during meeting with UK PM Sunak</a>

Germany said that its aircraft was on a “surveillance mission over the Baltic Sea” and “flying as per standard” towards Kaliningrad, which is a Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania. It added, “There was never any intention to enter Russian airspace, these aircraft always keep a safe distance. These flights are routine, and we don't do anything to cause a provocation.”&nbsp;

While France also said that their approach in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea was “professional and controlled.”

Ukraine hails success in Bakhmut

The Ukrainian military hailed its first successful counterattack amid the ongoing conflict against Russia but said that the situation there remains “difficult”. It also cautioned that Moscow has not changed its plan to capture the city and is sending troops to the outskirts of the city.&nbsp;

“The Russians have not changed their goals. They are sending assault troops to the outskirts of Bakhmut,” said Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar.&nbsp;

“The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction is the first success of offensive actions in the defence of Bakhmut,” said Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of Ground Forces, on messaging app Telegram. He added, “The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions.”&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-kyivs-forces-retake-key-territory-near-bakhmut-592348">Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv's forces retake key territory near Bakhmut</a>

This comes as the Ukrainian military said last week it had started to push Russian forces back in and around Bakhmut which has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles on the frontlines. Furthermore, Russia later acknowledged that its forces had fallen back from the north of the city.&nbsp;

Russia claims downing UK storm shadow missile

The Russian defence ministry for the first time also claimed to have downed a long-range Storm Shadow missile fired by Ukrainian forces which they have procured from the United Kingdom. “Air defence systems intercepted seven HARM anti-radar missiles, one Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile,” as well as 10 projectiles fired by HIMARS, said Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov during a press briefing as per AFP.&nbsp;

Russian official, teen among seven others injured after blast in Russia-controlled Luhansk

According to the head of the Russian-backed head of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), at least seven people including a Russian-installed senior official and a teenager were wounded after an explosion took place at the centre of the Russian-controlled Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, on Monday.&nbsp;

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“As a result of an explosion in the center of Luhansk, seven people were injured,” said Leonid Pasechnik, the head of LNR, on his social media. He also said how the head of the local Interior Ministry, Igor Kornet, the 17-year-old teenager, and four others were in a “serious condition.” Preliminary information suggested that the blast took place during rush hour.&nbsp;

WHO announces closure of Moscow office over the conflict&nbsp;

The World Health Organization’s European office said that they are shutting a specialised WHO office in Moscow and moving its functions to Denmark. This comes after a meeting held on Monday which took place when a group of 30 member states requested a special session back in April.&nbsp;

“Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases,” in Moscow with its function will be relocated to Denmark, no later than January 1, 2024, said the health body. The letter sent in April which sought the meeting also noted that the “immediate and long-term health impacts in Ukraine and beyond” due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine remain a “matter of utmost concern”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The Russian defence ministry, on Monday (May 15) said that it had scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet over the Baltic Sea after one German and one French aircraft attempted to “violate” its air space after it detected them flying towards Moscow.

The Russian defence ministry, on Monday (May 15) said that it had scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet over the Baltic Sea after one German and one French aircraft attempted to “violate” its air space after it detected them flying towards Moscow. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military hailed its recent advances around Bakhmut after its first successful counterattack against Russian forces. Russia says it scrambled jets In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said that the two aircraft had attempted to “violate” its airspace. It added, “After turning the foreign military planes away from the Russian Federation state border, the Russian fighter returned safely to its airbase.” The two aircraft in question were a P-3C Orion German patrol plane, and French Navy’s anti-submarine patrol aircraft Atlantique 2. However, France and Germany, confirming the incident, said their planes were conducting their regular flights as part of a NATO exercise and acted in accordance with international law. ALSO READ | Ukraine President Zelensky eyes 'jets coalition' during meeting with UK PM Sunak Germany said that its aircraft was on a “surveillance mission over the Baltic Sea” and “flying as per standard” towards Kaliningrad, which is a Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania. It added, “There was never any intention to enter Russian airspace, these aircraft always keep a safe distance. These flights are routine, and we don't do anything to cause a provocation.” While France also said that their approach in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea was “professional and controlled.” Ukraine hails success in Bakhmut The Ukrainian military hailed its first successful counterattack amid the ongoing conflict against Russia but said that the situation there remains “difficult”. It also cautioned that Moscow has not changed its plan to capture the city and is sending troops to the outskirts of the city. “The Russians have not changed their goals. They are sending assault troops to the outskirts of Bakhmut,” said Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar. “The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction is the first success of offensive actions in the defence of Bakhmut,” said Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of Ground Forces, on messaging app Telegram. He added, “The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions.” ALSO WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv's forces retake key territory near Bakhmut This comes as the Ukrainian military said last week it had started to push Russian forces back in and around Bakhmut which has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles on the frontlines. Furthermore, Russia later acknowledged that its forces had fallen back from the north of the city. Russia claims downing UK storm shadow missile The Russian defence ministry for the first time also claimed to have downed a long-range Storm Shadow missile fired by Ukrainian forces which they have procured from the United Kingdom. “Air defence systems intercepted seven HARM anti-radar missiles, one Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile,” as well as 10 projectiles fired by HIMARS, said Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov during a press briefing as per AFP. Russian official, teen among seven others injured after blast in Russia-controlled Luhansk According to the head of the Russian-backed head of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), at least seven people including a Russian-installed senior official and a teenager were wounded after an explosion took place at the centre of the Russian-controlled Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, on Monday. ALSO READ | US says Iran and Russia expanding their 'unprecedented defence' partnership “As a result of an explosion in the center of Luhansk, seven people were injured,” said Leonid Pasechnik, the head of LNR, on his social media. He also said how the head of the local Interior Ministry, Igor Kornet, the 17-year-old teenager, and four others were in a “serious condition.” Preliminary information suggested that the blast took place during rush hour. WHO announces closure of Moscow office over the conflict The World Health Organization’s European office said that they are shutting a specialised WHO office in Moscow and moving its functions to Denmark. This comes after a meeting held on Monday which took place when a group of 30 member states requested a special session back in April. “Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases,” in Moscow with its function will be relocated to Denmark, no later than January 1, 2024, said the health body. The letter sent in April which sought the meeting also noted that the “immediate and long-term health impacts in Ukraine and beyond” due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine remain a “matter of utmost concern”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia intercepts NATO jets over Baltic Sea; Ukraine hails first offensive success in Bakhmut

In a rare announcement of its losses on the battlefield, Russia on Sunday said&nbsp;that two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.&nbsp;The nation also disclosed&nbsp;that its&nbsp;forces have&nbsp;struck Western arm depots and Ukrainian troops in the western&nbsp;city of Ternopil and the eastern town of Petropavlivka, reports AFP.

As per a Russian defence ministry statement published&nbsp;by the nation's news agencies, Russia's armed forces "delivered a strike with high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons at the points of deployment of the Ukrainian armed forces."

"Places of storage of ammunition, weapons and military equipment received from Western countries," were also struck, it said.

<h2>Battlefield losses</h2>

The Russian defence ministry in a statement announced that Vyacheslav Makarov, the commander of the 4th motorised rifle brigade, and Yevgeny Brovko, deputy commander of the Army Corps for military-political work, had been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-hails-germany-a-true-friend-and-reliable-ally-in-ukraines-war-against-russia-592309">Zelensky hails Germany a 'true friend and reliable ally' in Ukraine's war against Russia</a>

The military commanders were reportedly killed during clashes for control of Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk. The first, Colonel Makarov, died while his brigade was warding off attacks from Ukrainian troops in the south of Krasne. As the third attack was being repelled, he was seriously wounded and died while being evacuated from the battlefield.

"Two attacks of the enemy have been repelled," said the Russian ministry in a statement.&nbsp;

"As a third attack was being repelled, the brigade commander was seriously wounded and died during the evacuation from the battlefield."

The second commander, Brovko, died while repelling attacks by Ukrainian troops elsewhere. The ministry stated that he "died heroically, having received multiple shrapnel wounds"

Moscow also said that "assault detachments" — which, as per AFP, was a reference to the Wagner mercenary group — with the help of airborne forces, continued to fight for control of the western regions of Bakhmut.&nbsp;

The ministry said that all attacks by Ukrainian forces have been repelled. Referring to Bakhmut by its Russian name, it said: "Over the past day the enemy has made massive attempts to break through the defence of our troops to the north and south of Artemovsk."&nbsp;

Russia has remained tight-lipped about its losses in the ongoing Ukraine war. Last year, the nation's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, in an equally rare announcement, stated that 5,937 Russian soldiers had been killed in Ukraine. However, analysts claim that the actual figures are higher than those reported by Moscow.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a rare announcement of its losses on the battlefield, Russia on Sunday said that two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

In a rare announcement of its losses on the battlefield, Russia on Sunday said that two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The nation also disclosed that its forces have struck Western arm depots and Ukrainian troops in the western city of Ternopil and the eastern town of Petropavlivka, reports AFP. As per a Russian defence ministry statement published by the nation's news agencies, Russia's armed forces "delivered a strike with high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons at the points of deployment of the Ukrainian armed forces." "Places of storage of ammunition, weapons and military equipment received from Western countries," were also struck, it said. Battlefield losses The Russian defence ministry in a statement announced that Vyacheslav Makarov, the commander of the 4th motorised rifle brigade, and Yevgeny Brovko, deputy commander of the Army Corps for military-political work, had been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine. Also read | Zelensky hails Germany a 'true friend and reliable ally' in Ukraine's war against Russia The military commanders were reportedly killed during clashes for control of Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk. The first, Colonel Makarov, died while his brigade was warding off attacks from Ukrainian troops in the south of Krasne. As the third attack was being repelled, he was seriously wounded and died while being evacuated from the battlefield. "Two attacks of the enemy have been repelled," said the Russian ministry in a statement. "As a third attack was being repelled, the brigade commander was seriously wounded and died during the evacuation from the battlefield." The second commander, Brovko, died while repelling attacks by Ukrainian troops elsewhere. The ministry stated that he "died heroically, having received multiple shrapnel wounds" Moscow also said that "assault detachments" — which, as per AFP, was a reference to the Wagner mercenary group — with the help of airborne forces, continued to fight for control of the western regions of Bakhmut. The ministry said that all attacks by Ukrainian forces have been repelled. Referring to Bakhmut by its Russian name, it said: "Over the past day the enemy has made massive attempts to break through the defence of our troops to the north and south of Artemovsk." Russia has remained tight-lipped about its losses in the ongoing Ukraine war. Last year, the nation's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, in an equally rare announcement, stated that 5,937 Russian soldiers had been killed in Ukraine. However, analysts claim that the actual figures are higher than those reported by Moscow. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia's rare announcement of battlefield losses: Two commanders killed in Ukraine's Bakhmut

As per a report by the Russian news outlet Kommersant, four Russian military aircraft, including two fighter jets and two military helicopters, were shot down near the Ukrainian border on Saturday. The incident reportedly occurred in the Bryansk region, close to northeast Ukraine, and, if confirmed, would be a significant victory for Kyiv.

As per the report published on the Kommersant website, the raiding party reportedly comprised a Su-34 fighter bomber, a Su-35 fighter, and two Mi-8 helicopters.&nbsp;

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The aircraft were&nbsp;reportedly "shot down almost simultaneously" in the ambush. The fighter jets were allegedly intended to deliver a missile and bomb attack on targets in Ukraine's Chernihiv region, with the helicopters providing backup support and recovery for the fighter jet crews.

Kommersant claims that&nbsp;all four crews were killed in the incident.

"According to preliminary data ... the fighters were supposed to deliver a missile and bomb attack on targets in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, and the helicopters were there to back them up - among other things to pick up the 'Su' crews if they were shot down."

Although Kommersant did not provide any evidence for the downing of four aircraft, other pro-war military bloggers have also made similar claims.&nbsp;

The Russian defence ministry is yet to make a statement about the crash or the alleged ambush.

However, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that a Russian Su-34 warplane has crashed in the Bryansk region. The report did not mention the cause of the crash.

Citing emergency services, TASS also reported that a helicopter had crashed near Klintsy — about 40km (25 miles) from the border — due to an engine fire. It made no mention of a second helicopter or the Su-35.&nbsp;

However, as per Reuters, a video posted on the Russian pro-war Telegram channel Voyenniy Osvedomitel appeared to show a helicopter exploding in mid-air, being thrown off course, and then plunging towards the ground in flames. The video's comment section reportedly suggest that the helicopter, a Mi-8, was shot down by a missile, which led to its crash.

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The Russian pro-war Telegram channel Voyenniy Osvedomitel suggested that an ambush with air defences had been staged, and the downed helicopters were Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare craft, which can jam enemy radio and target signals.

"Most likely, the enemy staged an ambush with air defences previously transferred to a border zone close enough to hit our group," it said.

No official response from Ukraine has been made, but Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the incident "Justice ... and instant karma" in a tweet.

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An air group of two SU fighter jets (34 and 35) and two support helicopters flew over the Bryansk region to launch a "missile-bomb attack" (officially) on the civilian population of Chernihiv region in Ukraine. The air group was destroyed by "unidentified persons." Justice, as it…
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"An air group of two SU fighter jets (34 and 35) and two support helicopters flew over the Bryansk region to launch a "missile-bomb attack" (officially) on the civilian population of Chernihiv region in Ukraine. The air group was destroyed by "unidentified persons." Justice, as it is, and instant karma... "Killers on wings" were destroyed BEFORE the next crime would be committed...," he wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As per a report by the Russian news outlet Kommersant, four Russian military aircraft, including two fighter jets and two military helicopters, were shot down near the Ukrainian border on Saturday.

As per a report by the Russian news outlet Kommersant, four Russian military aircraft, including two fighter jets and two military helicopters, were shot down near the Ukrainian border on Saturday. The incident reportedly occurred in the Bryansk region, close to northeast Ukraine, and, if confirmed, would be a significant victory for Kyiv. As per the report published on the Kommersant website, the raiding party reportedly comprised a Su-34 fighter bomber, a Su-35 fighter, and two Mi-8 helicopters. Also read | 'Moscow bound to lose', says Kyiv after Germany announces biggest arms package The aircraft were reportedly "shot down almost simultaneously" in the ambush. The fighter jets were allegedly intended to deliver a missile and bomb attack on targets in Ukraine's Chernihiv region, with the helicopters providing backup support and recovery for the fighter jet crews. Kommersant claims that all four crews were killed in the incident. "According to preliminary data ... the fighters were supposed to deliver a missile and bomb attack on targets in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, and the helicopters were there to back them up - among other things to pick up the 'Su' crews if they were shot down." Although Kommersant did not provide any evidence for the downing of four aircraft, other pro-war military bloggers have also made similar claims. The Russian defence ministry is yet to make a statement about the crash or the alleged ambush. However, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that a Russian Su-34 warplane has crashed in the Bryansk region. The report did not mention the cause of the crash. Citing emergency services, TASS also reported that a helicopter had crashed near Klintsy — about 40km (25 miles) from the border — due to an engine fire. It made no mention of a second helicopter or the Su-35. However, as per Reuters, a video posted on the Russian pro-war Telegram channel Voyenniy Osvedomitel appeared to show a helicopter exploding in mid-air, being thrown off course, and then plunging towards the ground in flames. The video's comment section reportedly suggest that the helicopter, a Mi-8, was shot down by a missile, which led to its crash. Also read | Zelensky asks Pope Francis to 'join' Kyiv's peace plan as Italy reiterates its support The Russian pro-war Telegram channel Voyenniy Osvedomitel suggested that an ambush with air defences had been staged, and the downed helicopters were Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare craft, which can jam enemy radio and target signals. "Most likely, the enemy staged an ambush with air defences previously transferred to a border zone close enough to hit our group," it said. No official response from Ukraine has been made, but Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the incident "Justice ... and instant karma" in a tweet. An air group of two SU fighter jets (34 and 35) and two support helicopters flew over the Bryansk region to launch a "missile-bomb attack" (officially) on the civilian population of Chernihiv region in Ukraine. The air group was destroyed by "unidentified persons." Justice, as it… — Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) May 13, 2023 × "An air group of two SU fighter jets (34 and 35) and two support helicopters flew over the Bryansk region to launch a "missile-bomb attack" (officially) on the civilian population of Chernihiv region in Ukraine. The air group was destroyed by "unidentified persons." Justice, as it is, and instant karma... "Killers on wings" were destroyed BEFORE the next crime would be committed...," he wrote. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Four Russian aircraft on their way to bomb Ukraine's Chernihiv shot down, allegedly by Kyiv