Newsletter 05/06/2024
Daily news digest
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Sullivan: Ukraine can expect announcements of new aid packages over coming weeks
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said that in the coming weeks Ukraine can expect additional military assistance packages to strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the battlefield.
Ukraine, China hold political consultations
First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Sun Weidong held political consultations. Sybiha also met with Li Hui, the Chinese government's special representative for Eurasia, and Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee
Ukraine investigating killing of 61 Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces
Twenty-seven criminal proceedings are being investigated based on the facts of the execution of 61 Ukrainian prisoners of war. In these proceedings, we have already notified four Russian service members of suspicion, referred two cases to court, and already have the first verdict. Of course, this is difficult work, especially in terms of identifying those who commit these crimes.
EBRD to provide EUR 300M in support of Ukraine’s energy sector – PM Shmyhal
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will allocate EUR 300 million for Ukraine to ensure stable and uninterrupted electricity supplies across the country.
War
Border guards repel invaders' assault in the Bakhmut direction
Source: Facebook page of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
About 50 invaders, supported by armored vehicles and tanks, were moving toward the positions of the Phoenix unit near Kurdyumivka in Donetsk region. Three enemy APCS-82s exploded due to remote mining, and attack UAVs destroyed damaged armored personnel carriers. The fighters stopped and later destroyed a T-80 tank with an FPV drone. The anti-tank gunners of the "Revenge" brigade used the "Corsair" anti-tank missile system to hit a T-90M ("Breakthrough") tank, which was also finished off by drone operators.
During the failed assault attempt, 7 occupants were killed and 13 others were wounded. Part of the enemy's equipment and infantry was destroyed by the brothers from the 28th Brigade named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign.
Ukraine’s air defenses shot down 22 of 27 Shahed UAVs overnight
On the night of June 5, 2024, the Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 27 Shahed-131/136 strike UAVs from the areas of Russia’s Kursk and Crimea’s Cape Chauda.
Defense
Ukraine seeks to strengthen defense industrial cooperation with Türkiye – MoD
"Now we are exploring new opportunities to strengthen cooperation. We expect that running procurement procedures in line with NATO's best practices will contribute to increasing interest on the part of suppliers to participate more actively in the supply of everything our military needs," said the Deputy Minister of Defense.
Politics
Based on Ukrainian think tank’s report, Taiwan tightens export control of raw material for explosives
The Ministry of Economy of Taiwan, based on an investigation run by the Center for Defense Reform exposing Russia’s effort to get critical components for ammunition production from abroad, added nitrocellulose products to the list of goods banned for export to Russia and Belarus.
The decision will come into force on June 14. Since the country has only one producer of nitrocellulose with a nitrogen content under 12.2%, and the main exporting countries are the United States and Japan, the impact of the new restriction will be negligible, the report reads.
The Department of International Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, after banning on Macrh 8 the export to Russia and Belarus of 77 types of tools and machines, including electrical discharge machines, added nitrocellulose products to the list of goods prohibited for export to these two countries.
U.S. Treasury calls on allies to be more active in undermining Russia’s effort to pace up defense production
U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo urged allies to be proactive in thwarting Russia's plans to ramp up defense production, as the Kremlin makes significant efforts to secure microelectronics and microchips for Russian missiles and drones, while Russian intelligence around the world keeps hunting for critical components.
Economy
Mykolaiv farmers export 70% of niche crops produced by them
Mykolaiv farmers export 70% of niche crops produced by them, such as flax, coriander, mustard and millet, towards EU and neighboring countries. 11% of the land bank (more than 5,000 hectares) was allocated for them. 70% of the harvest produced is exported towards Moldova, Poland, Bulgaria, Belgium, Italy, and other countries. We are planning to expand exports towards Asian countries.
Iceland to contribute EUR 667,000 to Ukraine Energy Support Fund
Iceland will make a second contribution of EUR 667,000 to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy.
Society
ROC assists in Russification of abducted Ukrainian children to destroy their identity - ISW
DOXA found out that from the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian officials deported Ukrainian children from orphanages and boarding schools in the occupied Donetsk region to the Rostov region of Russia, where they were visited by Metropolitan Mercury (Igor Ivanov) of Rostov and Novocherkassk. He told them about the Russian Orthodox Church and seemed to encourage them to consider baptism into the ROC.
ROC clerics also encouraged deported Ukrainian children to be baptised into the ROC and reportedly encouraged them to join various 'military-patriotic' youth organisations in Russia.
DOXA and Kidmapping also found that deported children from the temporarily occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions were held in ROC shelters in Voronezh Oblast, where ROC clergy and associated officials hold "military-patriotic" events for deported children to encourage pro-Russian sentiment and cut children off from their Ukrainian identity.
Krakow police on hunt for Ukrainian flag abuse
The police in Krakow are now searching for a group of individuals involved in the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the Kosciuszko Burial Mound. Law enforcement are collecting evidence in the case, intending to hand it over to prosecutors.
Moscow police detain tourist sporting sweatshirt with Ukrainian symbols
The 30-year-old tourist was taken to the Kytay-gorod Police Department, where he was charged with "discrediting" the Russian army. The administrative case was forwarded to a court in Moscow.
In the capital of Canada, a temporary memorial was created in memory of Ukrainian children killed by Russia
Ottawa hosted an event dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of Children killed by Russia's armed aggression. Activists created a temporary memorial on the lawn near the Canadian Parliament with the names and ages of more than five hundred children killed by Russia. In addition, the organizers announced the name and age of each minor victim of Russian aggression over a loudspeaker.
Publication
Sweden to provide two Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft to Ukraine
On May 29, 2024, the Swedish government unveiled its 16th and largest military aid package for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. This comprehensive package, valued at SEK 13.3 billion
($1.2 billion), includes, for the first time, two Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft (otherwise known as ASC 890), which, experts say, will significantly improve Ukraine’s capability to spot long-range threats on the ground, at sea, and in the air.
This article provides an insight into what these "birds" are capable of and in what way they can contribute to Ukraine’s capability to defend itself.