Newsletter 04/06/2024
Daily news digest
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The Russian occupiers launched three missile attacks on Ukrainian troops' positions and populated areas using 8 missiles, 62 air strikes, including 56 guided aerial bombs, carried out 2,200 attacks, including 128 with the use of multiple launch rocket systems
Ukrainian missiles hit ferry crossing in Crimea, oil terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar Territory - General Staff
Ukrainian missile forces successfully engaged a ferry crossing in the temporarily occupied Crimea and an oil terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar Territory.
Russians deploy S-300 air defense systems between residential buildings in occupied Crimea’s Sevastopol
As Ukraine keeps degrading Russia’s air defense potential in temporarily occupied Crimea with long-range precision strikes, the invaders apparently decided to apply human shield tactics, deploying S-300 systems in populated areas.
Ukraine’s ombudsman appeals to Russian counterpart over abuse of Ukrainian POWs by invaders
The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, officially appealed to the Russian Ombudsperson, Tatyana Moskalkova, to initiate criminal proceedings against Russian soldiers who abused Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Kharkiv region’s warzone.
Government endorses Reform Matrix, recommendations from partners included
The Matrix is a huge plan of changes that systematizes reforms and includes officially approved recommendations and documents of the European Commission, IMF structural beacons, the Ukraine Facility Plan, and the World Bank conditions.
According to the Prime Minister, it is called the Reform Matrix, because there is a clear prioritization, sequencing and assessment of the impact of each reform on Ukraine’s economic growth and recovery.
War
Missile attack on Dnipro: Injury toll rises to seven, including two children
On the morning of June 4, Ukraine’s air defenses shot down two Russian missiles in Dnipro.
Falling missile debris damaged civilian infrastructure and caused a fire. 7 people were reported injured, including a 1-month-old infant and a 17-year-old boy.
Zelensky holds Supreme CinC Staff meeting to discuss battlefield situation, UAVs, air defense deployment
After returning to Kyiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky chaired a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to discuss changes on the battlefield, the fight against Russian drones, and the priority areas for the deployment of expected air defense systems.
Russian occupiers damaged school No. 6 in Dnipro, which survived the Second World War
School No. 6 in Dnipro survived the Second World War, but was damaged by a rocket attack by Russian invaders on 4 June at 5.00 am. 85 windows were smashed and 250 square metres of the ceiling collapsed. School No. 6 was heavily damaged as a result of the nighttime missile attack on Dnipro. "School 6, which survived even after the Second World War, unfortunately lost 85 windows today, and 250 square metres of the ceiling fell," the statement said. Work has already begun to eliminate the consequences of the attack. "We will restore everything, but the indescribable pain in the heart of every graduate of this school will be etched in their memory forever. After all, school is a second home, memories and dreams, childhood and the best years of youth!
On 4 June, the enemy attacked Dnipro. The air defence forces shot down two Iskander-K missiles, but the debris caused a lot of damage.
Currently, most windows are covered with chipboard and the glass has been removed.
SOF unit hunts down Russia’s famed Kasta-2E2 radar
Fighters from Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces located and engaged a Russian Kasta-2E2 mobile radar, hitting it with the latest model of a one-way attack that was just recently accepted for service. VIDEO
Fragments of downed Russian drones found in Vinnytsia region
Wreckage of enemy drones, shot down by the Defense Forces during a night attack, was found in the Khmilnyk and Zhmerynka districts.
Defense
UK, Latvia launch industry competition to provide thousands of drones for Ukraine
This competition is open to industry from any nation in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
The competition aims to produce these drones "at scale and at an affordable price point, leveraging the strength of Western industry."
Companies have until 28 June 2024 to submit their proposals, which will then be considered by the Drone Capability Coalition members and evaluated. Successful companies will receive orders to supply drones to Ukraine and, upon receipt of positive operational feedback, the intent is to place larger, follow up orders for FPV drones. Additional FPV competitions are expected to take place through 2024, building on the lessons learned from this first competition.
Politics
China's “peaceful” position explained by waiting out to see winner in war - Kuleba
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy noted that China is very poorly understood in Ukraine, adding that he himself never pretends he has such full understanding either. At the same time, Kuleba notes, China is in no rush for one simple reason – it is critical for them to see how the war between Russia and Ukraine ends.
"Because if it ends with Ukraine’s victory, China's further actions will be constrained. But if this war ends not even with Russia’s victory, but with them imposing their strategic initiative, that is, when they will be encroaching little by little for years, and we will be fighting back little by little despite all the assistance we receive, then, on the contrary, it will free China's hands,” Kuleba noted.
Economy
South Korea could provide $2.1B loan to Ukraine - PM Shmyhal
The Cabinet of Ministers forwarded to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on the ratification of the intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of Korea, which will allow for receiving a loan of up to $2.1 billion.
Publication
(Un)Holy war. How Putin destroyed freedom of religion in Russia and is trying to repeat it in Ukraine
“Religious persecution in Ukraine” is one of Russian propaganda’s favourite topics. With particular persistence, Moscow broadcasts this narrative to Western audiences, presenting as “evidence” the facts of “persecution” at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP), allegedly carried out by the “Kyiv regime”.