Weekly newsletter
Homecoming of heroes; Summit on Peace in Ukraine: Positives and Negatives; Celebration of Ivana Kupala and more in our Weekly Newsletter
Photo of the week
The National Museum of Folk Architecture and Open-Air Life of Ukraine held a large-scale celebration of Ivana Kupala. Authentic rituals, folk dances, and workshops were held on the museum's singing field. Visitors wove their own wreaths, lit the "Living Fire," and participated in the lighting of the Kupala bonfire.
Interviews:
Serhii Plokhii, history professor, director of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute
Professor Serhiy Plokhiy is one of the most renowned and celebrated Ukrainian-American historians, director of the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University. At the invitation of the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden, Mr Plokhii introduced his book "The Gates of Europe: a History of Ukraine", told the Swedes about our country, the Russo-Ukrainian war, and answered questions. The event took place at the Army Museum in Stockholm.
The importance of the Ukraine Peace Summit, what makes Ukraine strong, what can be considered our victory and Russia's defeat – Professor Plokhii revealed this all in an interview exclusive to Ukrinform
Publications:
Summit on Peace in Ukraine: Positives and Negatives as Experts See Them
What can be said, as of now, about the Summit on Peace in Ukraine that took place on June 15-16 in Switzerland with a representation of 92 countries and 8 international organizations? The vast majority of them supported the joint communique issued at the end of the summit. The document specifically mentions only three purely humanitarian issues that arose as a result of the defiant aggression against sovereign Ukraine by neo-imperialist Russia. But less than a day passed before some of the countries that initially signed the communique began disappearing from the list of signatories. Iraq, Jordan, Rwanda... Yes, there are not many of them, but the behavior of those countries’ leaders speaks volumes. This is not to mention those who did not show up at all. Enough has already been written about their motives. And there is something else we would like to highlight. The modern world is ultimately divided into those who strive to live by jointly agreed rules and principles of morality, and those for whom all this stuff is secondary. But this is how we are going to live. For a long time. The question is who, what and to whom will dictate the rules of this coexistence, albeit temporary.
Fact Checks
Russian propaganda spreading photo fake to discredit Ukrainian fans at Euro 2024
Pro-Kremlin media outlets and Telegram channels have shared the photo of an announcement for football fans that allegedly appeared in the sports bar Carambolage in Stuttgart. In connection with the European Football Championship, which is currently taking place in Germany, the administration of the establishment supposedly urged visitors to refrain from racist insults and discussing politics while watching games. The notice allegedly appeared in both German and Ukrainian, which, according to the propagandists, makes Ukrainians the direct recipients of this "request".
Fake about students building fortifications in Kyiv region
As "evidence," the authors of the posts added a photo of an announcement that was allegedly posted in a Kyiv-based university - Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA). It says that the management of the university allegedly obliges the students of the "KN-19" and "KN-18" groups to take with them everything they need, including shovels, and to arrive at the main building of the educational institution at 08:30 for community work at a defense fortification near Kyiv.
Photo and video fakes about Romanian fans at match with Ukraine
Russian and foreign media outlets and bots on the social media platforms X, TikTok and YouTube are spreading alleged photos of fans of the Romanian national team who hung the flag of the so-called "DNR" on the stands during a Euro 2024 match with Ukraine. After that, Russian bots on X began to distribute a video in which Romanian fans allegedly shouted the name of the Kremlin dictator during this match.
Top Videos:
Ukraine returns 90 defenders from Russian captivity
The video was provided by LIBKOS exclusively for Ukrinform
The 53rd exchange of prisoners of war took place today. It was possible to return 90 defenders of Ukraine to the Motherland.
The exchange took place through the mediation of the UAE.
Training took place in Vienna with the indomitable Yana Stepanenko
In the capital of Austria, a symbolic training session and a subsequent run were held with the indomitable Yana Stepanenko, a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl who lost both legs during the shelling of Kramatorsk by Russia two years ago, but did not give up, learned to walk again with prostheses and even run, covering five kilometers on Boston Marathon.
Celebration of Ivana Kupala in Pirogov
Folk dances, recreation of ancient rituals, workshops on weaving field wreaths and, of course, the lighting of the Kupala bonfire - this is how Ivana Kupala was celebrated at the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine.
News:
Human Rights
Russia systematically deprives Ukrainian POWs of right to fair trial - human rights activist
“I would call Russia's actions an attempt to shift its responsibility for the crimes committed, particularly in Mariupol, onto Ukrainian military, directly onto the defenders of Mariupol. Russia gave Mariupol defenders for the exchange the least. We also began to observe trials conducted against these individuals, during which allegations were made against them for the crimes committed by the Russians. Russia systematically deprives Ukrainian prisoners of war and detained civilians of the right to a fair trial. They cannot prove their innocence there. And these trials are aimed at creating war criminals out of Ukrainian servicepersons," said Olha Reshetylova, a human rights activist and the head of the Media Initiative for Human Rights.
Ukraine contacts over 2,000 children illegally removed by Russia - Commissioner
More than 600 children illegally deported by Russia were returned to the Ukrainian-controlled territory, and over 2,000 children were contacted.
International Relations
Indonesia not hiding its intention to work with Russia – Ukrainian ambassador
Indonesia is not hiding its intention to develop business and tourist contacts with Russia, because such ideological attitudes have been formed in the country for many years.
Ukraine's ambassador expects positive changes in relations with Indonesia after new government formed
"I like the composition of a new parliament - the political parties there, which actually have an anti-communist ideology, won more votes than in the last convocation. In principle, it will be possible to talk with them about things we understand. And, of course, I have hopes for a new government and for a constructive dialogue with it, supported by the specifics and state ideology of Ukraine and Indonesia," said Ukrainian Ambassador to Indonesia Vasyl Hamianin
Ukraine to take part in special ASEAN conference, in first - Ambassador
"An important event will be held in Jakarta on June 26 for the first time - a conference of ambassadors of countries that have joined the TAC (Treaty of Amity and Cooperation - ed.) in Southeast Asia," Hamianin said.
Politics
All three candidates for top PACE post vow support for Ukraine
Ukrainian MPs in the PACE insist that all three contenders for the position of secretary general of the assembly have proven their pro-Ukrainian stance, but they do not foresee a consolidated vote for a single candidate.
PACE to draft resolution following Peace Summit
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe intends to adopt a resolution that will confirm the decision of the inaugural Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Switzerland on June 15-16.
First decision on merits in ‘Ukraine v. Russia’ interstate case - Maliuska
Minister of Justice of Ukraine Denys Maliuska has said that today's decision by the European Court of Human Rights is historic, as it means that the ECHR has recognized numerous crimes committed by the Russian Federation since the beginning of February 2014, starting with the seizure of Crimea.
Economy
Lithuanian partners can prevent Russia from copying Ukrainian development of new drones – ambassador
"There is a very promising company in Lithuania - Tektonika, which is already manufacturing high-tech products. They are building a chip factory in cooperation with Taiwanese partners. In a few years, they will produce their own chips. And right now, they could start producing components for our drones, which would help solve the problem we need to deal with now: dependence on Chinese components," said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Petro Beshta.
Ukraine needs to take separate decision to ban Russian LPG imports – expert’s opinion
The embargo on Russian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports, coming into effect in the European Union from late 2024, will be unable to fully block the flow of such fuel imports to the Ukrainian market.
See you next Friday!