Weekly newsletter
This is a newsletter of exclusive materials of Ukrinform for a week
Photo of the week
One of the books of the Kharkiv publishing house destroyed by Russia during the missile attack, presented at the 12th International Book Arsenal Festival, Kyiv, May 30, 2024.
Interviews and publications:
International politics
Michael Carpenter, Senior Director for Europe at U.S. National Security Council
The United States is constantly looking for opportunities to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including in the wake of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv sector. The same applies to President Biden's decision to actually change the U.S. position on Ukraine's use of U.S.-provided weapons against targets inside Russia near the border. At the same time, Ukraine can count on more support in the process of integration into NATO, as well as in enhancing its military capabilities in the future to firmly resist any potential aggression. Michael Carpenter, Senior Director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, spoke about this and other issues in an interview with Ukrinform in Washington.
Politics
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration
This week in Brussels has seen a multiplicity of events relating to European security. This theme was debated during two separate meetings of the EU Council of Ministers attended by ministers for foreign affairs and defense, as well as during the Schuman Forum on Security and Defense. On Tuesday, May 28, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky and Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo signed a bilateral agreement on security and long-term support, and Ukraine inked similar deals with Portugal and Spain a few days earlier.
Finally, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council was held at the NATO headquarters, attended by the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna among others. During post-meeting conversations with the media, Ms Stefanishyna answered questions from Ukrinform, which turned into an unplanned blitz interview.
Demining
Clear of mines: how sappers prepare the site for the construction of a hospital
Since the beginning of April, sappers have been inspecting 5 hectares of land in the recreational area of Kyiv region for possible explosive objects. The goal is to remove this area from the list of mined territories by the end of May and hand it over to contractors for the construction of a modular hospital on the basis of a mental health center, which will specialize in the rehabilitation of our defenders.
In 2022, Russian occupiers stayed here in the Bucha community for 35 days. Remnants of rockets for Grad systems were found nearby. So, inspecting the territory was definitely necessary.
The journalists of Ukrinform spoke to people involved in demining. We also observed the operation of the innovative GCS-200 mine-clearing machine, which is the first to enter potentially dangerous areas and is capable of safely disarming mines.
Manipulations
(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”.
Defense
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 aircraft is designed for missions similar to the ones of esteemed airplane such as US Air Force Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS, except that it has a non-movable PS-890 AESA radar. It offers lower drag, but has a dead zone directly behind and in front of the plane, with a 120 degree zone of scan on either side of the airframe. But, experts say, that’s not a problem.
Incidentally, the aggressor country, the Russian Federation has long had this type of aircraft in its inventory. This is about the A-50, three of which have been destroyed by the Ukrainian military - two in the air and one in a hangar. However, according to experts, the Swedish machines are superior in many aspects to their Russian counterparts.
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.
Top Videos:
World
In the capital of Canada, a temporary memorial was created in memory of Ukrainian children killed by Russia
An action dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of the children who died as a result of Russia's armed aggression took place in Ottawa. Activists created a temporary memorial on the lawn near the Canadian Parliament with the names and ages of more than half a thousand children killed by Russia. In addition, the organizers announced the name and age of each minor victim of Russian aggression over a loudspeaker.
Video report
Get ready, fire! How "Azov" conducts training for all those who are willing
110 Ukrainians came to study at "Azov". Instead of a weekend, there are trainings in takmed, fire training, tactics, and sapper work. Mostly young people aged 19 to 25 gathered for this training. Someone came for knowledge for themselves, and someone is preparing for mobilization. Read more in the report of Ukrinform journalists who visited the training school for civilians from the legendary "Azov".
Farewell
In Kyiv, Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh was led to her last journey to the singing of Ukrainian songs
On Sunday, June 2, in Kyiv, thousands of people said goodbye to Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh, the fallen military medic of the "Hospitaliers" volunteer battalion. She died on May 29 during a rotation in the Kharkiv direction.
The memorial service was held in Mykhailivskyi Zolotoverkhi Cathedral, and the commemorative event was held on the Independence Square. During the farewell, brothers, sisters and everyone who cared sang ten meaningful Ukrainian songs that the military woman chose for her farewell ceremony during her lifetime.
News that may affect events in the country:
Own manufacturing
Three to four window glass plants required for Ukraine’s reconstruction – expert’s opinion
According to President of the All-Ukrainian Union of Manufacturers of Building Materials Kostiantyn Salii, there is no modern (float) glass production in Ukraine at all. Prior to the war, Ukraine imported 85% of such products from Belarus and Russia.
“On the glass market, there was mayhem: it was massively imported from such countries as Kyrgyzstan or Azerbaijan. Moreover, even those products that had been made under the standards inferior to the Soviet-era GOST were imported, alleging that Ukraine would take anything,” the expert told.
In his words, Gomel-based glass plant in Belarus is still making attempts to sell its products to Ukraine. Sadly, some companies continue purchasing and importing such products without feeling any responsibility, Salii added.
Society
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.
Recovery
eVidnovlennia program: About UAH 13M in compensation transferred in Vinnytsia region
A decision was endorsed to award compensation for the damaged property under 138 requests across the Vinnytsia region, using the public service eVidnovlennia. The total amount of compensation payments will be UAH 12.93 million
Border Blockade
Polish farmers renew cargo traffic blockade at Rava-Ruska - Hrebenne checkpoint on Ukraine border
On the morning of June 4, Polish farmers started blocking the cross-border movement of trucks at the Rava-Ruska - Hrebenne checkpoint.
Culture
Ukraine’s museums fall short of 2M items due to war
Since 2014, nearly 1.1 million items from the museum fund have been lost, and now from 2022 to 2024, it was another 700,000. In total, up to 2 million objects are gone.
Mariana Tomyn, chief of the Cultural Heritage Department at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, says Russia stole almost 35,000 museum items from eight museums across five regions of Ukraine that were under temporary occupation.
See you next Friday!