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The destruction of latest jets uptick of downed Russian planes. Earlier Ukrainian shot down Russian Su-25 jet in Pokrovsk sector is a heavily armored ground-attack aircraft that provides close air support for Russian ground troops also had previously downed a Russian A-50 over the Azov Sea on Jan. 14. An Il-22 airborne control center was also reportedly damaged beyond repair in the same Ops Russia's total losses during the all-out war amount to about 685 aircraft — 359 planes & 326 helicopters, according to Ukraine's Staff.

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Trump threatened to cut off aid to Ukraine prior to taking the White House as president-elect. Since Trump didn't explicitly threaten to cut off aid but vaguely said he would "have it settled," the headline was updated for accuracy.

Former U.S. President and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump voiced strong criticism of U S. aid to Ukraine at a campaign rally in Detroit on June 15. Speaking at Turning Point USA event, Trump claimed he would "have that (U.S. aid to Ukraine) settled prior to taking the White House as president-elect."

Trump described President Volodymyr Zelensky as "the best salesman" for securing substantial financial support from the U.S.

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NEWS FEED,: Trump. said. "I think Zelensky is maybe the greatest salesman of any politician that's ever lived. Every time he comes to our country, he walks away with $60 billion," "Now, here's beauty. He just left 4 days ago with $60 billion, and he gets home & announces he needs another $60 billion. It never ends," he claimed. "I will have that settled prior to take the White House as president-elect."

Trump's statement contained inaccuracies about U.S. aid to Ukraine, as a foreign aid bill containing close to $61 billion for Ukraine was signed by U.S. President Joe Biden back in late April

Trump previously stated that he would withhold defense assistance to Ukraine if he won the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Trump has also claimed Russia would not have launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 had he won a second term in office.

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Ukraine "prepares ground" for attacks on Crimea after arrival of F-16 fighter jets − Western experts believe that if Ukraine wins the war with Russia, it will happen in temporarily occupied Crimea. Currently, the Ukrainian defence forces are successfully attacking Russian weapons on the peninsula and the Crimean (Kerch) Bridge to disrupt the logistics of the Russians. Frederik Mertens, an analyst at Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, believes that by targeting the peninsula, especially Russian ground-based air defence systems, Ukraine is "preparing the ground" for future air attacks after the arrival of F-16 fighters.

"Crimea is vulnerable. Russians have relatively limited manoeuvre space on peninsula. Putin has a lot to lose both politically & militarily. So, if a limited number of fighters can have a real impact, it is here – above Black Sea becomes fully accessible once GBAD [ground-based air defence] on Crimea is dealt with."Earlier, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Chief, reported that Russia had relocated its most modern S-500 air defence system to the peninsula.

At the same time, Maria Snegovaya, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, said that "Russia cannot afford to lose Crimea" because it will allow Ukraine to use "the threat of the status of Crimea as a bargaining chip in future negotiations".

Elina Beketova, a democracy expert @Center for Euro Policy Analysis, convinced that if Ukraine can control of Black Sea and reclaim peninsula or put enough pressure on these territories to threaten Putin, "it will mark the end of the war".

Business Insider recalls that at the beginning of the year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that the battle for Crimea and the Black Sea would play a central role in the coming months.

Olga Khvostunova, a researcher in the Eurasian program at Foreign Policy Research Institute, is convinced Russia's defeat in Crimea would be "not just a defeat, but a humiliation". Journalists recalled over past few weeks, Ukraine has carried out a number of successful attacks on the region, destroying several Russian air defence batteries & striking the Belbek airbase near Sevastopol.

Elina Beketova believes Ukrainian attacks on the peninsula "are proving successful due to thorough preparation & systemic work, better opportunities for defence forces, satellite and aerial intelligence provided to Ukraine by NATO allies".

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At the same time, Business Insider notes that Ukraine, which lost traditional navy during the annexation of Crimea, is attacking Russian Black Sea fleet with great success using naval drones.
These attacks allowed Ukraine to resume grain supplies across Black Sea, is crucial to its economy forcing the Russian Black Sea fleet to hide its ships away from Sevastopol in Crimea.

Business Insider writes. The destruction of illegal Crimean Bridge, which connects mainland Russia with eastern coast of Crimea, would be "both a strategic and symbolic victory for Ukraine and a major blow to Putin". Quote: "Ukraine has already struck the bridge twice since start of Russia's full-scale invasion,  thusfar failed to destroy it. Earlier officials from Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence told Guardian, Ukraine would target the bridge for a third time b4 the year was up. Its destruction is 'inevitable'. There are already signs Russia, too, fears Ukraine may make another attack on the bridge," writes Business Insider.

Last week, UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia had installed eight barges on south side of the bridge to reduce "approach angles for Ukrainian unmanned vehicles". In addition, Russia has begun to take measures to reduce its dependence on Crimean Bridge; in particular, Russians are building a railway from Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia to Crimea.

Background: Earlier, the Institute for Study of War reported. Ukrainian forces have been making efforts to weaken Russian air defence systems. If successful, could allow Ukraine to effectively utilise manned aircraft in the long term.

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Crimea is defenceless...

https://youtu.be/vNQ2FgGBmVU?si=5hOm2sB0bgAXXzgS

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Ukraine gradually pushing Russian troops out of Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian military is gradually pushing Russian troops out of Kharkiv Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on June 17. Moscow launched a new offensive on May 10 in Kharkiv Oblast, where it managed to advance about 10 km (6 miles) b4 halted the advance at the first line of defense.

"Our forces are gradually pushing (Russian troops) out of Kharkiv Oblast. And I thank every warrior and every unit for this, who are clearly fulfilling their tasks, including those who are also replenishing our  (prisoner) 'exchange fund' with Russian soldiers," Zelensky said after receiving reports from the military command.

During a single month of the offensive in the northeastern oblast, Russian forces suffered around 4,000 troops killed or injured, according to the Ukrainian military. 

NEWS FEED, KHARKIV:  A screengrab taken from aerial video footage show smoke rises from the Ukranian boarder city of Vovchansk, in Chuhuiv Raion, Kharkiv Oblast, which is bombarded daily by heavy artillery in Vovchansk, Ukraine on May 17, 2024 as has been evacuating civilians from around Vovchansk as Russian forces advance in the area. (Libkos/Getty Images)




"Our forces are gradually pushing (Russian troops) out of Kharkiv Oblast. And I thank every warrior and every unit for this, who are clearly fulfilling their tasks, including those who are also replenishing our  (prisoner) 'exchange fund' with Russian soldiers," Zelensky said after receiving reports from the military command.

During a single month of offensive in the northeastern oblast, Russian forces suffered around 4,000 troops killed or injured, according to Ukrainian military reported. Heavy battles also continue in the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove,  Kupiansk, and Kramatorsk sectors in the east.

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-grad...nsky-says/

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NATO allies have failed to agree so far on a long-term financial pledge for Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Jun 14 after a two-day meeting of the alliance's defense ministers in Brussels. Stoltenburg has proposed NATO provides Ukraine with at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military support each year, "for as long as necessary."

"Many allies are very supportive of the idea that we need not only to have short-term pledges," Stoltenberg told reporters. "But if we have more long-term pledges, it will give the Ukrainians better planning assumptions, more predictability, and transparency.""Most importantly, it will send a message to Moscow that they cannot wait us out," Stoltenberg said.

NATO defense ministers however, agree on a plan to coordinate security assistance training for Ukraine, which will launched NATO summit in Washington on July 9-12.. "This will allow NATO leaders to launch effort at Washington summit in July, putting our support to Ukraine on a firmer footing for years to come," Stoltenberg said.

In preparation for Washington summit, NATO allies need to not only agree on a long-term financial pledge, but also on delivering immediate capabilities such as ammunition, as this is "the most urgent," also announcement NATO allies did not manage to agree on a long-term financial commitment after news that Hungary will not join NATO initiatives to support Ukraine, but will not obstruct them either said. Stoltenberg's.

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"Prime Minister Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not participate in these NATO efforts.

He not accept this position," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on June 12 after talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Budapest will not contribute any funds or personnel to these efforts. At same time, Stoltenberg said Orban assured him that "Hungary will not oppose these efforts, enabling other allies to move forward," Stoltenberg said.
Budapest has repeatedly opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO and EU, sanctions on Russia, undermined Western aid efforts for Ukraine, and continue to maintained close relations with Moscow throughout the full-scale war.

https://kyivindependent.com/nato-not-yet...r-ukraine/

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Russian President Putin arrives in Vietnam for state visit. HANOI: Russian Preside Putin arrived in Vietnam early on Thursday (Jun 20) for talks with the country's leaders after concluding a defence pact with North Korea for his final stop on a two-nation tour of Asia.

Putin's aircraft touched down at Hanoi's international airport, he was met on a red carpet by Vietnamese Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha, a Reuters witness. In an opinion piece timed for his visit, he applauded country for supporting "a pragmatic way to solve crisis" in Ukraine, in comments published in Vietnam's Communist Party newspaper.

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20 Jun 2024. HANOI: Putin's aircraft touched down at Hanoi's international airport, where he was met on a red carpet by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, according to a Reuters witness. For Kim tells Putin North Korea 'fully supports' Russia on Ukraine. Putin’s visit to Vietnam casts spotlight on Russia’s influence in Southeast Asia

Commentary: Will the Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin bromance last?

Vietnam, is officially pursues a neutral foreign policy calls "bamboo diplomacy" in relations with world powers, has abstained from condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, a stance Western countries view as too close to Kremlin. The Southeast Asian country will be third nation Putin has visited, after China and North Korea, since he was sworn in for a fifth term in May. Vietnam has been gearing up for a full state welcome for Putin, his first visit since 2017 and his fifth in total. As well as holding talks with Vietnam's top leaders, he will attend wreath-laying ceremonies at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, housing the embalmed corpse of Vietnam's founding leader. News CNA.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/rus...it-4422576

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US Arms Giant Northrop Grumman to Produce Medium Caliber Ammo in Ukraine
AMMUNITION: This is the first major American corporation to announce plans to manufacture arms in Ukraine. LATEST: Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 06-20-2024

LIVE: Ukraine Says EU Security Accord to Be Signed Soon.

Russian Troops Cut Off Ukrainian Serviceman’s Head. By Kyiv Post 10h ago.

He’s Afraid of Everything’ - Fighter Aircraft Escort Putin’s Russian FlightsPUTIN news: Major Reshuffles in Russian Defense Ministry: Shoigu’s Allies Out, Putin’s Relatives In...  

Zelensky Signs Law on EU Roaming Integration, But Hurdles Remain.

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US Northrop Grumman to Produce Medium Caliber Ammo in Ukraine. AMMUNITION: U.S.A. corporation to announce plans to manufacture arms in Ukraine. LATEST: Ukraine Breaking News Today Live 06-20-2024. LIVE: Ukraine Says EU Security Accord to Be Signed Soon.

Russian Troops Cut Off Ukrainian Serviceman’s Head. By Kyiv Post 10h ago. He’s Afraid of Everything’ - PUTIN news: Major Reshuffles in Russian Defense Ministry: Shoigu’s Allies Out, Putin’s Relatives In...  Zelensky Signs Law on EU Roaming Integration, But Hurdles Remain.

After a 'long lull,' Ukraine reports intensified Russian attacks, Ukraine's said its "intelligence, artillery, aviation, unmanned systems" were all working to repulse 5 attacks launched in Toretsk direction, Russian occupiers started 5 assaults at once in areas of Niu-York, Pivnichne, & Pivdene," they wrote. The Defense Forces of Ukraine control  situation & repel the aggressor." According to DeepState monitoring service, Russian forces were attacking in direction of villages of Pivnichne and Druzhba, just east of Toretsk. In comments to AFP, residents of Toretsk reported an increase in attacks on the town.

"They started shooting in the morning, it was going on all day long," Over the last few weeks, attention has been focused on Russia's stalled offensive in Kharkiv, but Russian troops have been steadily advancing country's easternmost Donbas region remains Moscow's primary target, moving west from ruins of 2 occupied Donets cities – Bakhmut & Avdiivka. Russian troops have overrun several small villages closeer to Chasiv Yar and a strategic highway south of the town. Elsewhere, troops are intensifying attacks on border areas of Luhansk Oblast with aim of capturing village of Borova in neighboring Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade said on June 18.

Ukrainian brigade said Moscow's forces are using tanks, FPV (first-point-view) drones, anti-aircraft missiles in an effort to advance, also claimed they had deployed chemical weapons, without providing further details. The front line… in Kharkiv bordering Luhansk, is today one of most intense areas of the enemy's offensive," the immediate task of the occupiers is to get to villages of  Cherneshchyna (and) Pershotravneve, with the subsequent seizure of Borova." DeepState monitoring service said Russia has amassed 10,000 troops as part of a "shock fist" to capture the village. Borova had been occupied by Russian forces in March 2022 but was liberated later that year during Ukraine's sweeping counteroffensive in Kharkiv.

https://kyivindependent.com/after-a-lull...sk-oblast/

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Even Sneaking Through Water Pipes Isn’t Helping Russian Troops Capture Chasiv Yar. After 10 weeks, the Russian assault on the town has ground to a halt. The U.S. has told Ukraine it can use American-supplied weapons to hit any Russian forces attacking from across the border — not just those in the region near Kharkiv, according to U.S. officials.

A shift in messaging — U.S. insist no changes in policy — weeks since U.S. quietly gave Kyiv okay green light, strike inside Russia in response to cross-border assault city of Kharkiv. U.S. stressed policy was not limited to Kharkiv region, or other restrictions. U.S. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS. Ukraine can firing weapons into Russia extends to “anywhere Russian forces are coming across border on the side into Ukrainian. As Putin try taking Ukrainian territory.”

Russia said, soon moving on northeastern city of Sumy, near Russian border. If that happens, U.S. policy apply there as well, Sullivan said.

“This's not geography, is about common sense. If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory, it only makes sense to allow Ukraine to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border,” Sullivan said.

U.S. weapons counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them.” The policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia “hasq not changed,” the official stressed.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/20...e-00164261

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US Northrop Grumman to Produce Medium Caliber Ammo in Ukraine. AMMUNITION: U.S.A. corporation to announce plans to manufacture arms in Ukraine. This is  Latest. News. Overall, on the night June 20-21, 70 Ukrainian drones attacked targets on the Crimean Peninsula, while another 43 attacked targets in Russia’s southwestern Krasnodar Krai region, with at least two drones flying hitting a Volgograd oil refinery, hundreds of kilometers to the east

A shift in messaging — U.S. insist no changes in policy — weeks since U.S. quietly gave Kyiv okay green light, strike inside Russia in response to cross-border assault city of Kharkiv. U.S. stressed policy was not limited to Kharkiv region, or other restrictions. U.S. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS. Ukraine can firing weapons into Russia extends to “anywhere Russian forces are coming across border on the side into Ukrainian and small nation like Lithuania and Moldova, all is  original borders demarcated by Soviet Union.

As "Putin trying, taking more land and also Ukrainian territory plus neighbour.”

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When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, neighboring Slovakia, with its own experience of decades of Russian occupation in the 20th century, became one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine.

Under the guidance of then-Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad, Bratislava became the first country to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine, handing over its MiG-29s to a badly depleted Ukrainian Air Force, along with a much-needed S-300 air defense system.

But in September 2023, Slovakia made a 180-degree turn when a coalition led by pro-Russian populist Robert Fico won the country’s parliamentary elections. With public rhetoric openly blaming the West for Russia’s war and vowing never to supply any military aid to Kyiv, Slovakia embarked on a path very similar to its southern neighbor Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Russia-friendly leadership has been a consistent thorn in the side of EU and NATO unity regarding Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent spoke with Nad about Slovakia’s turn away from Ukraine, political processes inside the country, and the future of pro-Russian political advances across Europe.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, neighboring Slovakia, with its own experience of decades of Russian occupation in the 20th century, became one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine.

Under the guidance of then-Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad, Bratislava became the first country to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine, handing over its MiG-29s to a badly depleted Ukrainian Air Force, along with a much-needed S-300 air defense system.

But in September 2023, Slovakia made a 180-degree turn when a coalition led by pro-Russian populist Robert Fico won the country’s parliamentary elections. With public rhetoric openly blaming the West for Russia’s war and vowing never to supply any military aid to Kyiv, Slovakia embarked on a path very similar to its southern neighbor Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Russia-friendly leadership has been a consistent thorn in the side of EU and NATO unity regarding Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent spoke with Nad about Slovakia’s turn away from Ukraine, political processes inside the country, and the future of pro-Russian political advances across Europe.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reacts during a conference with Baden-Wuerttemberg's State Premier in the New Castle in Stuttgart, south-western Germany, on June 19, 2024, ahead of attending the Germany and Hungary meet.

Kyiv Independent: I wanted to start with the recent news about you and your govt being accused of treason b'cos of a very simple & very obvious decision, the transfer old, Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, a neighboring country fighting for survival against Russia, who knew how to use those jets already. To an outside observer, this news seems absurd to put it lightly. What was their reaction, were you surprised?

Jaroslav Nad: I wasn't surprised because the current ruling government in Slovakia consists of three political parties, and all three of those parties claimed even before the election that they consider any military help to Ukraine to be treason, and that they would like to sue us. They had submitted their proposal for us to be accused of treason and for mismanagement of state property several times already. 

Even every time in past it was dismissed, I hope that justice still exists in Slovakia, there'll be the same result again. 

Honestly, if somebody accuses me officially of treason for providing Ukraine with MiG-29s or the S-300 defense system, they probably the only case in world where somebody be prosecuted for helping Ukraine militarily. 

It really is insane, if I still believe even though there is a lot of pressure from the govt on police and prosecutors to find any way to accuse us officially, I don't think this will happen.

Kyiv Independent: How can this in any way be rationally explained? Given Slovakia's history in the 20th century, who could they possibly expect to be defending against? How do these leaders explain and sell this to their electorate?

https://kyivindependent.com/former-defen...sian-turn/

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After a 'long lull,' Ukraine reports intensified Russian attacks, Ukraine's said its "intelligence, artillery, aviation, unmanned systems" were all working to repulse 5 attacks launched in Toretsk direction, Russian occupiers started 5 assaults at once in areas of Niu-York, Pivnichne, & Pivdene," they wrote. The Defense Forces of Ukraine control  situation & repel the aggressor." According to DeepState monitoring service, Russian forces were attacking in direction of villages of Pivnichne and Druzhba, just east of Toretsk. In comments to AFP, residents of Toretsk reported an increase in attacks on the town.

"They started shooting in the morning, it was going on all day long," Over the last few weeks, attention has been focused on Russia's stalled offensive in Kharkiv,

Ukrainian brigade said Moscow's forces are using tanks, FPV (first-point-view) drones, anti-aircraft missiles in an effort to advance, also claimed they had deployed chemical weapons, without providing further details. The front line… in Kharkiv bordering Luhansk, is today one of most intense areas of the enemy's offensive," the immediate task of the occupiers is to get to villages of  Cherneshchyna (and) Pershotravneve, with the subsequent seizure of Borova." DeepState monitoring service said Russia has amassed 10,000 troops as part of a "shock fist" to capture the village. Borova had been occupied by Russian forces in March 2022 but was liberated later that year during Ukraine's sweeping counteroffensive in Kharkiv.

https://kyivindependent.com/after-a-lull...sk-oblast/

But Russian troops have been steadily been stop be4 advancing easternmost Donbas region. It remains Moscow's primary target, (moving) west from ruins of 2 occupied Donets cities – Bakhmut & Avdiivka. Russian troops have overrun several small villages closeer to Chasiv Yar and a strategic highway south of the town. Elsewhere, troops are intensifying attacks on border areas of Luhansk aiming of capturing village of Borova in neighboring Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade said on June 18. But about four hundred is trapped Russian soldiers been encircle were, some is captured, some try to run, while more is killed by Ukrainian U.S. genuine bombs , as the Russians are detected from main forces. 
Since U.S. gave Kyiv the green light to strike into Russia federation in response to Putin cross-border aggressive war that go into the 3rd years.

https://youtu.be/JlR9XNw44ck?si=FbW2TMd91R1dstyB

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30 Ukrainian Pilots Grounded and Worse: The Sad Truth About Ukrainian F-16s....stuck in NATO grounded....  by U.S. President Joe.

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Since U.S. gave Kyiv the green light to strike into Russia federation in response to Putin cross-border aggressive war that go into the 3rd years.

Ukraine Says Missile Strike Destroyed Kamikaze Drones and Iranian Instructors.

Media reports say modified Ukrainian anti-ship missiles of the same type that sank the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship Moskva hit a secret drone facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

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Since U.S. gave Kyiv the green light to strike into Russia federation in response to Putin cross-border aggressive war that go into the 3rd years.

Ukraine Says Missile Strike Destroyed Kamikaze Drones and Iranian Instructors.

Media reports say modified Ukrainian anti-ship missiles of the same type that sank the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship Moskva hit a secret drone facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

Ukraine Says Missile Strike Destroyed Kamikaze Drones and Iranian Instructors.

https://www.kyivpost.com/

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Ukraine Says Missile Strike Destroyed Kamikaze Drones and Iranian Instructors.

https://www.kyivpost.com/

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/34843

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ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Russia’s Shoigu and Gerasimov

On Monday, June 24, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov for alleged international crimes committed in Ukraine.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/34846

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The AFP noted that “the ban will restrict people inside of Russia from accessing the outlets’ online resources and broadcasting materials, the foreign ministry said, without providing details.

European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova called the ban “nonsense retaliation.”

"No, propaganda outlets funded by Russia to spread disinformation as part of Russia's military doctrine are not the same as independent media," she wrote on Twitter. Italy, whose state broadcaster RAI was included, condemned the move as “unjustified.”

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/34858

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Biden admin moves toward allowing American military contractors to deploy to Ukraine.

CNN - The Biden administration is moving toward lifting a de facto ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine, four US officials familiar with the matter told CNN, to help the country’s military maintain and repair US-provided weapons systems.

Updated Tue June 25, 2024 - US Army MIM-104 Patriots, surface-to-air missile (SAM) system 
Biden admin is moving toward lifting a de facto ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine, four US officials familiar with the matter told CNN, to help the country’s military maintain and repair US-provided weapons systems.

The change would mark another significant shift in the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy, as the US looks for ways to give Ukraine’s military an upper hand against Russia. The policy is still being worked on by administration officials and has not received final sign-off yet from President Joe Biden, officials said.

“We have not made any decisions and any discussion of this is premature,” said one administration official. “The president is absolutely firm that he will not be sending US troops to Ukraine.”Once approved, the change would likely be enacted this year, officials said, and would allow Pentagon to provide contracts to American companies for work inside Ukraine for the first time since Russia invaded in 2022. Officials said they hope it will speed up the maintenance and repairs of weapons systems being used by the Ukrainian military.

Over the last two years, Biden has insisted that all Americans, and particularly US troops, stay far away from the Ukrainian frontlines. The White House has been determined to limit both the danger to Americans and the perception, particularly by Russia, that the US military is engaged in combat there. The State Department has explicitly warned Americans against traveling to Ukraine since 2022.

Allowing experienced, US govt-funded American contractors to maintain a presence in Ukraine means they will be able to help fix damaged, high-value equipment much faster, officials said. One advanced system that officials say will likely require regular maintenance is the F-16 fighter jet, which Ukraine is set to receive later this year.

Companies bidding for contracts would required to develop robust risk mitigation plans to mitigate threats to their employees, an official said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/25/polit...index.html

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Even Sneaking Through Water Pipes Isn’t Helping Russian Troops Capture Chasiv Yar. After 10 weeks, the Russian assault on the town has ground to a halt. The U.S. has told Ukraine it can use American-supplied weapons to hit any Russian forces attacking from across the border — not just those in the region near Kharkiv, according to U.S. officials.

A shift in messaging — U.S. insist no changes in policy —

Russia said, soon moving on northeastern city of Sumy, near Russian border. If that happens, U.S. policy apply there as well, Sullivan said.

“This's not geography, is about common sense. If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory, it only makes sense to allow Ukraine to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border,” Sullivan said.

U.S. weapons counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them.” The policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia “hasq not changed,” the official stressed.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/20...e-00164261

Weeks after U.S. quietly gave Kyiv okay green light, strike inside Russia in response to cross-border assault city of Kharkiv. U.S. stressed policy was not limited to Kharkiv region, or other restrictions. U.S. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS. 

Ukraine can firing weapons into Russia extends to “anywhere Russian forces are coming across border into Ukrainian. As Putin try taking Ukraine more territory.”




https://youtu.be/76QMqwW-HIM?si=8jXEDxcpTfpSqlj-

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Putin then hopelessness of targeting must have become clear to the Russian leadership. While the Soviet Union once vied with U.S. the arch-enemy to loft sophisticated missile-tracking satellites into orbit, under Putin massive official corruption stretches from Kremlin to its cosmodromes - now fields less than 200 satellites - compared with more than 6000 launched by SpaceX alone.

As Russia is behind U.S. and other NATO nations, even Ukraine, when it comes to integrating space technology into its military operations, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey said. Putin’s strategists “did not prepare for extended conflict against an adversary access to more overhead info than they did,” Professor Moltz told me in an interview. Russian military still seems to be facing an info gap, due to limits constellations. & lack access to Western commercial imagery.”
Despite successful assault on Viasat’s ground terminals, Russia has failed to achieve its top objective - denying Ukrainian military access to space-derived info. “Russia clearly not anticipate cooperation Ukraine would receive from Western countries commercial services,” says Professor Moltz, who has written a series of captivating books on competition between the great space powers around the world, including “Asia’s Space Race” and “The Politics of Space Security”.

While issuing a barrage of threats to hit Western satellites coming to Ukraine’s aid - which would likely target SpaceX, Planet and Maxar - Putin’s inner circle of defense chiefs likely came to the conclusion that “destroying one or two Western satellites with the ASAT weapon it tested in November 2021” virtually nothing to reverse Russia’s falling far behind US space power.
Aiming its missiles at SpaceX spacecraft, Moscow has instead launched them against Starlink stations scattered across Ukraine, and against Dnipro, the space center long called Ukraine’s “Rocket City.”

Professor Moltz says Dnipro has been pummelled by Russian rockets over the last two years, with its Yuzhmash spacecraft skunkworks directly targeted in a series of strikes. A professor at the Naval War College, says in "Early lessons from Russia-Ukraine war as a space conflict,”Professor Moltz agrees: “Yes, this is the first two-sided space war, and Ukraine is ahead because of its partners.”This Space War 1, he predicts, could be a precursor to technologically sophisticated space clashes of the future between the superpowers.

If any sizeable missile battles erupt in these projected celestial conflicts, he adds, low Earth orbit could be rendered uninhabitable for human explorers.Yet that is exactly the future envisaged by some of Russia’s leading space commissars.

The CNA space scholars quote Colonel General V. B. Zarudnitsky, who heads Russian military’s General Staff Academy, as forecasting that times ahead will hold “new forms of warfare in outer space, in particular, anti-satellite combat, systemic military operations to destroy state infrastructure facilities, orbital satellite battle, [and] anti-space operations.”

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Russian official calls for total destruction of 'everything Ukrainian'

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, a Russian official head heading the Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, said on June 27 that it is "time to burn everything Ukrainian down to the root" so that "there is no trace left."

Rogozin's comments were the latest in a long series of genocidal comments directed at Ukraine made by Russian officials and propagandists, a trend that has only increased since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The genocidal intent of Russia's aggression toward Ukraine has manifested in war crimes and indiscriminate violence directed at Ukrainian civilians, but also in the denial and distortion of history, attempts to erase Ukrainian culture, and the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children. He who serves as the "senator" of occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, also referenced the need to destroy Ukrainian literature and history in his comments. 

He previously was the CEO of the state-run space corporation Roscosmos, a deputy prime minister, and the ambassador to NATO.

https://kyivindependent.com/russian-offi...ukrainian/

[Tee tiong huat]

Ukraine May Have Hit Russia's $600 Million S-500 SAM System With ATACMS. Rumors began to circulate on social media on Friday that, a Ukrainian ATACMS strike had destroyed elements of the S-500 battery in an unidentified location mear to CRIMEA.

Ukraine May Have Hit Russia's $600 Million S-500 SAM System With ATACMS. S-500 77P6 anti-missile launch vehicles. Russian Ministry of Defence

Posts began to appear on pro-Ukraine Telegram and X accounts on afternoon of Friday, June 28 that an S-500 anti-missile complex had been hit with cluster-munition filled ATACMS missiles.

The bloggers couldn’t agree whether one or more elements of the system such as its missiles, a launcher an associated radar were hit. A
adviser to mayor of Mariupol, reported the destruction on Telegram, he prefaced his comments by saying “We are waiting pictures from the satellite...because certain parts of the S-500 or S-400 are similar. But, even if it's the S-400, it's also awesome!”

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/35042

[Tee tiong huat]

Weeks after U.S. quietly gave Kyiv okay green light, strike inside Russia in response to cross-border assault city of Kharkiv. U.S. stressed policy was not limited to Kharkiv region, or other restrictions. U.S. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS. 

Ukraine can firing weapons into Russia extends to “anywhere Russian forces are coming across border into Ukrainian. As Putin try taking Ukraine more territory.”




https://youtu.be/76QMqwW-HIM?si=8jXEDxcpTfpSqlj-

Near to CRIMEA. That"s What Ukraine Hit Russia's $600 mil S-500 SAM System w/ATACMS. anti-missile launch vehicles. Ukraine Defence Said.
WATCH: Ukrainian MiG-29 ‘Toss Bombs’ Russian Target with AASM Hammer. First video of a Ukrainian pilot using French AASM Hammer precision-guided munitions, which were delivered in January 2024, has been released on X.

Undated, unverified video has emerged on X/Twitter that shows a low-flying Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft delivering two projectiles against a target using a “toss bombing” technique. The post says the weapons are French-made Hammer precision-guided bombs although they could be Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) glide bombs.

The video is edited to show both the moment the aircraft releases the two projectiles and them striking their target. The “blue ticked” milblogger Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) posting on X says the incident has been geo-located with the coordinates: 50.341803,36.293120 which places it close to the Nekhoteevka border crossing which is about 35 kilometers southwest of the city of Belgorod. Russia federation territory.

Footage reportedly: It showing Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet firing French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer guided bombs at a target in Belgorod Oblast Russia. Notice the very low altitude from which the munitions are being launched. Geolocated impact point: Nekhoteevka border crossing,… Show more...

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/35032

[Tee tiong huat]

Near to CRIMEA. That"s What Ukraine Hit Russia's $600 mil S-500 SAM System w/ATACMS. anti-missile launch vehicles. Ukraine Defence Said.
WATCH: Ukrainian MiG-29 ‘Toss Bombs’ Russian Target with AASM Hammer. First video of a Ukrainian pilot using French AASM Hammer precision-guided munitions, which were delivered in January 2024, has been released on X.

Undated, unverified video has emerged on X/Twitter that shows a low-flying Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft delivering two projectiles against a target using a “toss bombing” technique. The post says the weapons are French-made Hammer precision-guided bombs although they could be Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) glide bombs.

The video is edited to show both the moment the aircraft releases the two projectiles and them striking their target. The “blue ticked” milblogger Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) posting on X says the incident has been geo-located with the coordinates: 50.341803,36.293120 which places it close to the Nekhoteevka border crossing which is about 35 kilometers southwest of the city of Belgorod. Russia federation territory.

Footage reportedly: It showing Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet firing French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer guided bombs at a target in Belgorod Oblast Russia. Notice the very low altitude from which the munitions are being launched. Geolocated impact point: Nekhoteevka border crossing,… Show more...

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/35032

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/35032