Ukraine has launched a “mass” drone assault on Russian infrastructure and navy targets within the Black Sea, Crimea and southern Russia, officers and Kyiv’s navy mentioned.
Ukraine’s navy mentioned its drones struck 4 oil refineries, radar stations and different navy objects in Russia on Friday morning, as Russian officers reported a “mass” drone assault in Krasnodar and claimed to have shot down 70 drones over the Black Sea and Crimea.
It got here as South Korea summoned Russia’s ambassador over the brand new pact signed by Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in the course of the latter’s go to to North Korea this week, which the Russian president mentioned included a mutual defence clause.
Departing Pyongyang, Mr Putin claimed that Russia supplying weapons to nuclear-armed North Korea will mirror how the West is arming Ukraine.
However with the transfer having angered Seoul, Mr Putin concurrently warned South Korea towards making a “large mistake” if it decides to assist Ukraine with arms, threatening a “painful” response.
Key factors
Ukraine could hearth US-provided missiles deeper into Russia in self-defense, Pentagon says
Ukraine’s navy is allowed to make use of longer-range missiles offered by the U.S. to strike targets inside Russia throughout extra than simply the entrance traces close to Kharkiv if Kyiv is appearing in self-defense, the Pentagon mentioned.
President Joe Biden initially loosened the restrictions on how Ukraine may use U.S.-provided munitions to provide it another choice to raised defend the jap metropolis of Kharkiv from a relentless barrage of Russian missiles.
Because the starting of Russia’s 2022 invasion, the U.S. had maintained a coverage of not permitting Ukraine to make use of the weapons it offered to hit targets inside Russia for worry of additional escalating the struggle.
Alexander Butler21 June 2024 17:00
Russian politician says regulation wanted to guard society from convicts who fought in Ukraine
A member of Russia’s decrease home of parliament mentioned regulation enforcement authorities have to do extra to guard civilians from ex-convicts who’ve returned residence from combating in Ukraine.
Nina Ostanina, a Communist Occasion deputy who has been sanctioned by Western international locations over Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, advised the gazeta.ru newspaper in an interview that violent crimes involving decommissioned troopers “will likely be much more quite a few” if authorities don’t act.
Experiences of Russian troopers committing severe crimes together with homicide and rape after coming back from Ukraine are widespread and have posed issues for the Kremlin, which portrays these combating in its “particular navy operation” as heroes.
Alexander Butler21 June 2024 16:00
Putin says Russia will develop its nuclear arsenal to ‘protect world steadiness of energy’
President Vladimir Putin mentioned Russia would preserve growing its arsenal of nuclear weapons, the world’s largest, as a deterrent and would provide the military combating in Ukraine with the newest weaponry and drones.
Putin was talking within the Kremlin at a ceremony attended by graduates of navy, police and intelligence service academies.
“We plan to additional develop the nuclear triad as a assure of strategic deterrence and to protect the steadiness of energy on the planet,” mentioned Putin.
Alexander Butler21 June 2024 15:29
Russian-American ballerina who was arrested on treason fees after $51 Ukraine donation faces closed-doors trial
Tom Watling21 June 2024 15:00
Russian glide bombs are obliterating front-line Ukraine cities. There’s extra to come back
Tom Watling21 June 2024 14:30
Ukrainian followers watch on as their nation performs
![A fan of Ukraine, seen wearing a floral headband and national flag of Ukraine, poses for a photo prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovakia and Ukraine in Dusseldorf](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/21/13/SEI209757168.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/21/13/SEI209757168.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w)
![A Ukraine fan attends the UEFA Euro 2024 Group E football match between Slovakia and Ukraine at the Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/21/13/SEI209757094.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/21/13/SEI209757094.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w)
Tom Watling21 June 2024 14:00
Ukraine warms up for second Euros match in Duesseldorf
![Ukraine players including Ukraine’s forward Vladyslav Vanat warm up prior to the UEFA Euro 2024 Group E football match between Slovakia and Ukraine at the Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf, Germany](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/21/13/SEI209757520.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/21/13/SEI209757520.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w)
Tom Watling21 June 2024 13:33
A Ukrainian creator turned soldier has a stark warning for the West: ‘Be ready for struggle with Russia’
Tom Watling21 June 2024 13:00
Ukraine captures Russian ‘barn’ tank modified towards drone menace
The Ukrainians name it a “barn” tank, a bizarre-looking Russian battlefield automobile captured by Kyiv’s forces that exhibits how troops try to adapt to the fixed menace of drone assaults.
The automobile, constructed from a ramshackle, rusted T-62 tank, was modified to have a boxy metallic shell as its exterior, a cage at its rear and digital warfare gadgets connected to it, troopers advised Reuters after it was captured this week.
They are saying it was used to shuttle round meals, ammunition and troops. Its cover appeared geared toward defending towards drone assaults, significantly cheaply produced FPV (First-Individual-View) drones, that are strapped with a munition and flown to their goal by a pilot watching on a display.
“It was created to defend from FPV drones and (drone bomb) drops. It’s an empty taxi for personnel with digital warfare as its solely defence,” Serhiy Misiura, a lieutenant colonel, mentioned on an official Ukrainian military tv station.
Practically 28 months since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, the usage of drones by each side has turn into ubiquitous on the battlefield, making it tough to advance or function safely.
“They clearly didn’t work arduous on it. They rapidly put it on and despatched the tank to the frontline,” mentioned Dmytro, a Ukrainian soldier who spoke to Reuters in regards to the automobile within the Donetsk area.
They mentioned the automobile was captured close to Klishchiivka, a village gripped by combating for months on finish close to the Russian-occupied metropolis of Bakhmut.
Dmytro mentioned getting out and in carrying gear was tough via its tiny hatch. Visibility was very restricted and the stench inside was overwhelming.
Aerial drone footage shot by the Ukrainian navy and printed on June 17 confirmed the tank being captured in a wooded space together with a Russian crew. Kyiv’s forces then planted a Ukrainian flag on prime of it.
![A Ukrainian serviceman of the 22nd Separate Mechanised Brigade stands next to a Russian T-62 Soviet main battle tank crafted with anti-drone protection that was recently captured by his unit at an undisclosed location in Donetsk region,](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/21/11/SEI209565846.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/21/11/SEI209565846.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w)
Tom Watling21 June 2024 12:45
Russian guided bomb kills two in jap Ukraine, prosecutors say
A Russian guided bomb killed two individuals and wounded three in a residential space of the jap Ukrainian city of Selydove on Friday, regional prosecutors mentioned.
5 five-storey buildings and 6 personal houses have been broken by the UMPB D-30 bomb in Selydove, about 14 km (9 miles) from the entrance line, the Donetsk area prosecutors mentioned on the Telegram messaging app.
Russia, which started its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has dropped over 10,000 guided bombs for the reason that begin of the yr, together with over 3,200 in Could alone, Ukrainian navy spokesman Nazar Voloshyn mentioned.
Tom Watling21 June 2024 12:30