A building in Kyiv, Ukraine damaged by debris from a downed Russian drone, June 1, 2023 (Alex Babenko/AP)
Monday’s Coverage: Russia Blew Up Nova Kakhovka Dam and Then Blocked Humanitarian Aid — Reports
Map: Institute for Study of War
UPDATE 1349 GMT:
A Russian attack has killed one person and injured seven as they cleared mud in the flooded Kherson region in southern Ukraine.
Six of the wounded are in serious condition.
UPDATE 0800 GMT:
The Ukraine military has issued an update on this morning’s Russian attacks.
Air defenses downed 32 of 35 Iranian-made drones. Most were fired on the Kyiv region, where non-residential structures and several private houses were damaged by debris.
In Lviv in western Ukraine, a “critically important object” was set afire by three strikes.
Seven S-300 missiles were fired on the city of Zaporizhzhia and its suburbs, damageing agricultural property and equipment and a recreational area.
There were no casualties from any of the attacks.
UPDATE 0749 GMT:
Ukraine says Hungary has barred access to 11 prisoners of war handed over by Russia.
Earlier this month the Russian Orthodox Church said the POWs — all of Hungarian origin with roots in Transcarpathia, a region in western Ukraine — had been transferred to Budapest.
But on Monday, Ukraine Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said, “All attempts by Ukrainian diplomats over the past few days to establish direct contact with Ukrainian citizens have not been successful. Essentially they are being kept in isolation.”
Nikolenko said the released men communicated with relatives in the presence of third parties.
UPDATE 0719 GMT:
Russia’s Defense Ministry is recruiting convicts, including men serving long sentences for murder, for the invasion of Ukraine.
The independent Russian outlet Verstka identified numerous convicts serving in the Ministry’s Storm Z unit, including a rapist reportedly sentenced to 26 years in prison for murdering a 91-year-old woman.
The mercenary Wagner Group has recruited much of its force from prisons, but some of those accepted by the Ministry would have been disqualified by the mercenaries because of the seriousness of their offenses.
The rapist-murderer, Pavel Alyokhin, is deputy commander of the 71st Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment. He said that of 373 prisoners who wanted to enlist, 127 were accepted.
Alyokhin said he was given a pardon, a six-month service contract, a “Defense Ministry employee salary” and a chance to win “national awards”.
Oleg Panchurin, another deputy commander of the 71st Regiment, praised the former convicts, “Their mindset is more militarized than that of draftees.” They have the “fog of killers in their eyes” and are “more pleasant to work with”.
UPDATE 0630 GMT:
The European Commission is preparing a financial assistance package of €50 billion ($54.7 billion) for Ukraine, according to “sources familiar with the plan”.
The package would succeed the €18 billion authorized for 2023.
The aid for 2024-2027 will help finance running costs of the Zelenskiy Government, including public sector salaries and pensions, as well as emergency recovery.
The Commission plans to raise the funds through contributions from European Union member states, rather than borrowing in the markets.
The condition for the allocation of the money will be implementation of judicial reform and anti-corruption measures, which are also needed to start talk on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
During Russia’s invasion, EU countries have provided almost €30 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Facing a Ukrainian counter-offensive which could defeat Vladimir Putin’s invasion, Russia launched drone attacks across the country overnight.
Kyiv’s military administration said air defenses detected and destroyed about two-dozen Iranian-made Shahed drones. It did not report any casualties.
In Lviv in western Ukraine, a unit of “critical infrastructure” was set on fire. There were no casualties.
Air raid sirens sounded in Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine. The city, near the frontline of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, has been intensely shelled in recent days.
City council head Anatoly Kurtev said the situation is “stable”. No damage or injuries were reported, and all utility systems are working normally.
Wagner Mercenaries Seek Drone Operators
Continuing its pursuit of influence despite heavy losses in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries are seeking drone specialists.
The group is advertising on social media for recruits, aged 21 to 35, with a “gaming background”.
Russian opposition outlet Verstka said the recruits need no previous military experience.
From November, Wagner led the “human wave” assaults that finally claimed the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine last month. However, leader Yevgeny Prigozhin acknowledged that 20,000 fighters were killed, and the group immediately faced Ukrainian counter-attackers reclaiming territory around Bakhmut.
Ukraine intelligence, citing an audio intercept of a Russian soldier, says Wagner is seeking recruits with the promises of training with well-prepared instructors, health and life insurance, modern equipment, and guarantees that all payments will be made.
