[Korrespondent] 23:09 The death toll from the Russian missile attack on Kramatorsk has increased to 11, more than 60 people were injured, Zelensky said in an evening video message.
22:37 A possible alliance between Surovikin and PMC founder Wagner explains why Prigozhin is still alive, according to Western media sources. At the same time, Washington is now trying to find out whether the Russian general helped the Wagnerites. After the article was published in the American edition, the Kremlin reacted very quickly to this information. For more details, see the article Who was Prigozhin's accomplice .
22:31 After the shelling of the Chonharsky bridge, the Russians are trying to use the route through Armyansk, Natalya Gumenyuk, speaker of the OK Pivden, said: "But it is too close to the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and this makes the enemies nervous. They do not feel safe in using this logistical and transport route." Therefore, according to her, the Russian troops "see and understand" that the attempt to repair the bridge is futile.
22:06 Soldiers of the anti-aircraft missile artillery battalion of the 10th Edelweiss Special Guards Brigade reported that they had shot down a Russian Su-25 with the help of Igla MANPADS.
21:39 Zelensky said that he had met with the chief master sergeant of the 47th separate mechanized brigade Magura Valeriy Markus: "We discussed the changes, the introduction of which in the Ukrainian army would really help improve the service. He thanked Valeriy for the proposals on digitalization and the introduction of automated accounting systems, which will allow you to spend less time on paperwork and quickly receive the necessary information. We discussed the reform of the sergeant corps, including ensuring a decent level of wages for sergeants in accordance with their service experience."
20:37 Zaluzhny said that he had a telephone conversation with the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley: "We discussed the situation at the front. We managed to seize the strategic initiative, the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct offensive operations, there is progress. The enemy is putting up strong resistance, at the same time, it suffers heavy losses. It tries to hold its positions due to the continuous mining of the area. "
19:42 The Wall Street Journal writes that Prigozhin planned to capture Shoigu and Gerasimov during their visit to the southern regions of the Russian Federation, but the FSB found out about his plans two days before. Western intelligence also learned about them - thanks to wiretapping and satellite images. In their opinion, the original plan had a chance of success, but after the leak of information, Prigozhin had to improvise. This is probably why the rebellion failed.
19:25 At least 14 Russian soldiers from the Pskov region were killed during a raid by the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion in early June. Ten more were taken prisoner, said the governor of the Pskov region, Mikhail Vedernikov.
18:58 In a number of settlements of the occupied territory of the Kherson region, after the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station due to an outbreak of viral diseases, the Russians were forced to begin stabilizing the sanitary and epidemiological situation, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said. The occupiers attracted public utilities workers to clear the rubble and collect those who died as a result of the flood. As a result of search and restoration work, more than 60 bodies were found on June 24-25 alone. To hide the real number of victims, the command of the Russian troops decided to bury the dead in mass graves without taking DNA samples and establishing any marks at the burial site.
18:39 Biden believes that Putin "definitely" weakened after Prigozhin's attempted rebellion: "He is losing the war in his country. He has become an outcast in the whole world. And this is not only NATO, not only the EU, this is Japan." When asked again if Putin is weak today compared to last week, Biden replied: "I know that it is."
18:07 According to the materials of the SBU, the former head of the Nikolaev district prosecutor's office, who handed over the position of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Nikolaev region, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
17:46 Russia and Belarus have been expelled from the European Organization of Tax Administrations (IOTA) with the assistance of the Baltic countries, Poland and Denmark, People's Deputy Daniil Getmantsev said.
17:20 Zelensky does not believe that the transfer of Wagner mercenaries to Belarus can seriously threaten Ukraine: "There are Wagnerites throughout the occupied territory of Ukraine. They were in the Luhansk region. Many of them were destroyed by our Armed Forces. More than 20 thousand of them were destroyed. And the number that went to Moscow cannot be compared with how many we had ... Therefore, I cannot say how much they will threaten someone on the territory of Belarus, because I think that this contingent will not be very large ".
17:11 Ukraine at the July summit is waiting for a "surprise" on the issue of NATO membership, said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas: "I'm sure that the only security guarantee that really works is NATO ... But I don't want to spoil it in any way surprise of the summit in Vilnius".
16:45 Russia calls on countries not to participate in the Ukrainian Peace Summit, as it allegedly "is of a provocative nature," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
16:33 Zelensky, in his speech in the Rada, said that Ukraine would never agree to any of the options for a frozen conflict. According to him, the Ukrainian victory is "the restoration of territorial integrity for Moldova, a historical chance for the integrity of Georgia, a new strength for the entire South Caucasus, freedom and peace for Belarus." The president also stressed that Ukraine's GDP over the next ten years should grow to $1 trillion.
In addition, Zelensky said that the political and military leadership of Russia should not escape justice due to the fact that they allegedly have immunity as leaders of the state: "They are not leaders of the state - they are bandits who have seized control of the state institutions of Russia."
16:19 In Naked Pristan, Kherson region, in confiscated houses, the occupiers have equipped warehouses for storing looted property and points for dismantling stolen cars for spare parts for their further sale on the territory of the Russian Federation, said Anna Malyar.
15:56 Switzerland has joined the 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia, the country's government announced.
15:52 Zelensky proposed a new doctrine of Ukraine, which will define the main issues for the future of the country. "As the Constitution lays the foundations, we need a doctrine for our state. A clear, unblurred, bold doctrine. For a Ukraine that is marching towards victory. And for a victorious Ukraine," the president said. According to him, this doctrine should answer all fundamental questions about Ukraine and the future of Ukrainians.
Zelensky proposed five guidelines for Ukraine's doctrine: the philosophy of Ukraine's victory, the global nature of Ukrainian security, the politics of heroes, the politics of justice, and the transformation of Ukraine in ten years.
15:43 Zelensky called on the parliament to legalize medical cannabis in Ukraine. He explained this by the need for affordable mental and physical rehabilitation, in particular for soldiers and veterans: “So that all our citizens, Ukrainian women and Ukrainians, do not have to endure the pain, stress and trauma of the war, we must finally legalize honestly for everyone who needs it, cannabis based drugs.
15:26 The Rada voted in general for the law on additional payments to the military. According to the document, from 30 to 100 thousand hryvnias will be received by fighters performing combat missions; instructors in military units - from 15 to 30 thousand; the wounded put at the disposal of the commander - 20,100 hryvnias; conscripts - 6000 hryvnia; cadets - 2350 hryvnia. Leave for the military has been increased to 30 days and another ten for family reasons.
15:21 Zelensky, during his speech in the Rada, said that Russia itself should ask for Ukraine to be taken into NATO: "Because NATO members defend themselves, not destroy. They protect, but do not rush at their neighbors. Russia, which is entering the era of rebellions and systemic weakness, more than anyone is interested in security on its internationally recognized borders. This means that Russia is also interested in Ukraine in NATO."
14:57 Switzerland has rejected a request to sell about 100 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine. The government said that such a sale would be contrary to law and would entail an adjustment to Switzerland's neutrality policy.
14:45 Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived on an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Constitution Day. He plans to hold talks with Zelensky on the situation at the front, threats at the ZNPP, and also discuss preparations for the NATO summit.
14:38 Less than ten allies have a "cautious position" on Ukraine's membership in NATO, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna told Radio Liberty. "But even in the cautious position of these countries, we see a certain positive evolution, and I think it will have good results in two weeks," she added. Stefanyshina repeated that Ukraine expects to receive a political invitation to the Alliance in Vilnius, as it will launch a "great process."
14:22 On the evening of June 27, Russia launched a missile attack on the center of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, the missile hit a restaurant where there were a lot of people. Read more about this tragedy in the material Impact on children in a cafe .
13:46 Peskov, commenting on the missile attack on Kramatorsk, said that Russia "does not hit civilian infrastructure."
13:42 Papal envoy Cardinal Zuppi has arrived in Moscow, Putin's aide Yury Ushakov will negotiate with him, Peskov said. According to him, the Kremlin welcomes the desire of the Vatican to contribute to the "Ukrainian settlement."
13:35 Minister of Trade of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin admitted that dual-use goods were supplied from his country to Russia. According to him, from the beginning of the introduction of sanctions against Russia, representatives of the EU and the United States handed over to the authorities of Kazakhstan a list of 7,000 sanctioned goods that the country supplied to the Russian Federation. Now there are 104 types of sanctioned goods left. "We are working on this," Zhumangarin said and assured that companies that transport items such as microcircuits are under increased control. There are over a hundred such companies.
13:23 In the settlements of Gornostaevka, Cairo, Zavodovka, Kherson region, the occupiers have strictly forbidden to provide free medical care to Ukrainians who have not received a Russian passport or have not applied for it, Anna Malyar said.
13:18 The Russians fired at the Volchansky community of the Chuguevsky district of the Kharkiv region, three people were killed, the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov said.
13:06 Zelensky submitted a bill to the Rada, which proposes to change the dates of three holidays: Christmas - December 25 instead of January 7, Day of Ukrainian Statehood - July 15 instead of July 28, Day of Defenders of Ukraine - October 1 instead of October 14.
12:55 The Croatian Parliament recognized the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide of the Ukrainian people, Kuleba said.
12:32 The death toll from the Russian strike on a cafe in Kramatorsk has risen to ten, 61 people were injured , the National Police reported. As of 11:30 am, three dead children and one injured infant are known. According to updated data, Russian troops hit Kramatorsk with Iskander missiles. Among the dead are a 17-year-old girl and 14-year-old sisters. An eight-month-old baby was wounded, there is no threat to his life.
12:23 SBU counterintelligence detained in hot pursuit an agent of the special services of the Russian Federation, who corrected the Russian missile attack on a cafe in the center of Kramatorsk on June 27, said the head of the Security Service Vasily Malyuk. The criminal turned out to be a "reactivated" GRU agent, who on June 27 was given the task of finding out if this cafe was open and recording the presence of visitors there. According to the investigation, the enemy agent is a resident of Kramatorsk, an employee of a local gas transportation company.
11:50 On the Kurdyumovskaya dam, soldiers of the 28th separate mechanized brigade set the Ukrainian flag .
11:27 Lithuania will also transfer ten M113 armored personnel carriers and ammunition to Ukraine, the country's Defense Ministry said. As for NASAMS, the department noted that these are updated systems that can be immediately integrated into the Ukrainian air defense system. The estimated timeframe for the transfer of the two launchers is three months.
11:02 As a result of the Russian strike on Kramatorsk on June 27, three Colombian citizens were injured. Also on the spot were citizens of the Netherlands and foreign journalists. The establishment hit by the Russian missile was popular with citizens, foreigners, volunteers and the military, BBC News reports. The injured citizens of Colombia are the founder of the organization Aquanta Ucraina, deputy Sergio Jaramillo, writer Hector Abad and journalist Catalina Gomez.
Also, journalists from the UK and the Netherlands publish information about being in a pizzeria in Kramatorsk during the shelling. So, two citizens of the Netherlands, Frankie van Hintum and Coen van Oosten, were having lunch at the establishment when a rocket hit it. Flemish journalist Arno De Decker was also at the restaurant, but left ten minutes before the attack. Also, shortly before the explosion, a journalist from Britain, Colin Freeman, was in the institution with his translator. The Ria Lounge is one of the few places that is still open after almost a year and a half of the war, he said.
10:35 The Cabinet of Ministers agreed on the appointment of German Smetanin as the new head of Ukroboronprom, Minister of Strategic Industry Oleksandr Kamyshin said. Three main tasks were set before him - to increase the production of ammunition and military equipment, build an effective anti-corruption infrastructure and transform the concern.
10:29 Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda arrived on an unannounced visit to Kiev , where he will meet with Zelensky and take part in events on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine.
09:58 Kiev received an invitation to take part in the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, but not in the Alliance summit itself, which will be held in July, Kuleba said in an interview with CNN. The Minister also noted that among the NATO member countries there is no unambiguous position on the admission of Ukraine to the Alliance. Kuleba explained that there are all conditions for inviting Ukraine to NATO, but some countries do not support such a step because they fear escalation.
09:40 Deputy commander of the Russian troops Sergei Surovikin knew about Prigozhin's plans to organize a rebellion against the country's military leadership, writes The New York Times, citing American officials familiar with intelligence. US intelligence is trying to find out if Surovikin helped organize a riot. There are indications that other Russian generals could also support Prigozhin's idea to forcefully change the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry.
09:06 Lithuania has acquired two NASAMS systems that will be transferred to Ukraine , President Gitanas NausÄ—da said.
09:04 Ukrainian troops are successful in the offensive in the Bakhmut direction, spokesman of the General Staff Andrei Kovalev said. According to him, the Defense Forces continue the offensive operation in the Melitopol, Berdyansk and Bakhmut directions. At the same time, Ukrainian troops continue to hold back the advance of the Russians in the Limansky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions.
Ukrainian troops conducted offensive operations in the Bakhmut direction in the areas of the settlements of Razdolovka, north of Soledar, south of Paraskoveevka, Zheleznyansky, Berkhovka, Kleshcheevka, Kurdyumovka. They have been successful, and are fixing themselves on the achieved frontiers.
08:59 Ukraine has not yet used the main reserves in the counteroffensive, and some successes are not yet reported so as not to harm the troops, Reznikov said in an interview with the Financial Times. According to the minister, the liberation of a number of settlements in recent weeks "was not the main event" in the planned offensive. "When it happens, you will see it all," he added.
08:53 In the Kherson region over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, three people were injured. In the Zaporozhye region, one person died and nine were injured, according to the IVA.
08:35 At night, two strike drones were destroyed in the Cherkasy region, two more fell into an empty warehouse in the Cherkasy region, the head of the IVA, Igor Taburets, said. Rescuers quickly extinguished a minor fire, people were not injured.
08:22 As of 7:00 am on June 28, the bodies of eight dead, including three children, were released from the rubble of the destroyed cafe building in Kramatorsk. 56 people were injured, including one child. Three people were rescued, the State Emergency Service said. The rubble is being cleared, there may be more people under them.
At the same time, the head of the Donetsk OVA, Pavel Kirilenko, said that nine people had died over the past day (eight in Kramatorsk and one in Minkovka), and another 46 people were injured in the region over the past day.
08:01 At night, air defense forces destroyed six Shahed-136/131 drones, with which the Russians attacked from the southeast direction, the command of the Air Force reported.
07:57 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of June 28.
- personnel - about 227,100 (+930) people liquidated,
- tanks - 4036 (+0),
- armored combat vehicles - 7847 (+13),
- artillery systems - 4089 (+6),
- MLRS - 627 (+1),
- air defense systems - 387 (+1),
- aircraft - 314 (+0),
- helicopters - 308 (+0),
- UAV operational-tactical level - 3499 (+7),
- cruise missiles - 1261 (+0),
- ships/boats - 18 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tankers - 6774 (+2),
- special equipment - 563 (+0).
07:20 The Russian army is concentrating its main efforts on the Limansky, Bakhmutsky and Maryinsky directions, there are heavy battles. More than 30 clashes took place during the day, the General Staff said in the morning summary.
In the village of Gornostaevka, Kherson region, the occupiers are taking away housing from local residents who left for the controlled territory of Ukraine or died as a result of hostilities. Housing is marked with signs "property of the Russian Federation".
05:03 PMC Wagner mercenaries are still on the territory of Ukraine, said Pentagon Speaker Patrick Ryder. However, he did not specify the specific location.
04:14 Stoltenberg said that a clear signal was sent to Moscow and Minsk that "NATO is ready to protect every ally, every inch of NATO territory." "If the military company Wagner deploys its serial killers in Belarus, all neighboring countries will face an even greater risk of instability," the Secretary General said.
00:07 The United States has imposed sanctions against companies that may be associated with PMC Wagner. The list includes diamond trading company Diamville (CAR), mining company Midas Resources (CAR), trading company Industrial Resources General Trading (UAE), LLC DM (RF), Andrey Ivanov, whom the US associates with Prigozhin.