Friday, June 30

Russia’s war against Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky meets the members of the International Working Group on the Environmental Consequences of War in Ukraine, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, Swedish ex-minister Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Parliament Heidi Gautala, and former Irish President Mary Robinson, June 29, 2023. Photo credit: President’s Office

BBC: Wagner continues to recruit in Russia. The Wagner Group continues to recruit new members in Russian cities despite the recent uprising, the BBC reported on June 29.

Pentagon not ready to talk about providing ATACMS to Ukraine. The U.S. Ministry of Defense refused to provide further information about the planned decision on the provision of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine in a press conference on June 29.

Ukraine, other countries file lawsuit against Iran over downed airliner. Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, and the U.K. are filing a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice over the downing of a Ukrainian airliner in January 2020, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry announced on June 29.

Germany deploys Patriots in Vilnius ahead of NATO summit. Germany’s military is deploying Patriot air defense systems in Vilnius, Lithuania, to strengthen the security of the upcoming NATO summit, the Lithuanian Armed Forces informed on June 29.

WSJ: US close to approving ATACMS for Ukraine. The U.S. is close to approving the supply of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) wrote on June 29, citing U.S. and European officials.

Media: Russian general Surovikin interrogated over Wagner rebellion, not in prison. Russian General Sergei Surovikin was interrogated by military prosecutors over his links to the Wagner Group’s founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, Bloomberg reported on June 29, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter.

Military intelligence: ‘War between FSB and Russian Defense Ministry in active phase.’ The conflict between the Federal Security Service and Russia’s Defense Ministry is entering an active phase after the Wagner Group’s rebellion, military intelligence representative Andrii Cherniak told RBC Ukraine on June 29.

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Eco-activist Greta Thunberg visits Ukraine, meets Zelensky. Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Ukraine to discuss the ecological consequences of the Kakhovka dam destruction with President Volodymyr Zelensky, the President’s Office informed on June 29.

SBU charges managers of wanted oligarch’s company with embezzlement. The Security Service of Ukraine reported on June 29 that it charged six people over embezzling Hr 400 million ($10.9 million) at the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant.

Ukrainian authorities start training to prepare for possible Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Large-scale special exercises have begun in Ukraine to prepare for a potential Russian attack at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the state nuclear energy agency Energoatom reported on June 29.

Official: Ukrainian forces make gains in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Ukraine’s military has advanced 1,300 meters toward Russian-occupied Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported on June 29. Ukrainian forces also advanced 1,200-1,500 meters in the directions of Klishchiivka and Kurdiumivka south of Bakhmut.

Media: US presidential candidate Mike Pence makes surprise visit to Ukraine. Former U.S. vice president and presidential candidate Mike Pence met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in an announced visit to Kyiv on June 29, NBC News reported.

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Ukraine war latest: Budanov says Wagner will no longer fight; Ukrainian forces make gains

Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, told Ukrainska Pravda on June 29 that Russia’s Wagner mercenary group will no longer play an active role in the war against Ukraine.

Photo: Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images

Human cost of war

PEN Ukraine: Writer Victoria Amelina hospitalized after Kramatorsk strike. The writers’ association PEN Ukraine confirmed on June 29 that the Ukrainian writer and war crimes researcher Victoria Amelina was injured and hospitalized after the June 27 Russian missile strike in Kramatorsk.

Governor: Russia hits relief center in Kherson, killing 2 civilians. Russian troops struck a relief center in Kherson on June 29, killing two civilians and injuring two more, according to Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. The attack occurred when residents came to the place, known as the “invincibility center,” to receive humanitarian aid, Prokudin said.

Poll: Most Ukrainians have relatives or friends injured or killed in Russia’s war. Seventy-eight percent of Ukrainians have close relatives or friends who were wounded or killed due to the full-scale Russian invasion, according to a recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

5 killed, 9 injured in Russian attacks over past day. Russian attacks in Ukraine’s east and south killed five civilians and wounded nine more in the past day, according to the regional authorities.

International response

Estonian PM: Ukraine will not get ‘any discounts’ regarding fulfillment of EU candidate criteria. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Ukraine would not get “any discounts” on its way to EU membership and must fully implement all the requirements to start the accession talks.

FT: EU prepares security commitments for Ukraine, faces opposition. A France-led initiative in the EU is preparing long-term security commitments for Kyiv to help safeguard Ukraine from future Russian aggression, the Financial Times wrote on June 29.

EU to support reconstruction of Ukrainian cities. The EU will help Ukraine with the reconstruction of its cities during and after the war, Ukrinform cited European Commissioner Elisa Ferreira.

Spanish Prime Minister to visit Ukraine. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will visit Ukraine on July 1 at President Volodymyr Zelensky’s invitation, the President’s Office announced on June 29. The trip will take place on the first day of Spain’s presidency of the EU Council.

IMF to release $890 million tranche for Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund completed the first review of the extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility for Ukraine, allowing the release of $890 million, the IMF informed on June 29.

Opinion: What the West got wrong about Ukraine

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