Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit, Hiroshima, Japan, May 21, 2023
Sunday’s Coverage: Kyiv Repels Russia’s Attacks But Killings in Northeast and South
Map: Institute for the Study of War
UPDATE 1235 GMT:
At least two civilians were killed and least 16 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine on Sunday.
One person was slain and five wounded in the Donetsk region in the east.
A farm worker was killed and another person injured in the Sumy region in the north. Equipment at a high-voltage facility was damaged.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region in south-central Ukraine, an 89-year-old woman was injured during drone and artillery attacks. A recreation center, power lines, gas pipelines, and houses were damaged.
In the Kherson region in the south, nine people were injured. A critical infrastructure facility, a school, a printing house, high-rise buildings, houses, and other property were damaged.
UPDATE 1148 GMT:
Mysterious buyers suspected of links to Russia are purchasing dozens of vessels capable of carrying liquified natural gas, say officials.
The sources suggested that Moscow is expecting its “ghost fleet” of largely uninsured oil tankers to avoid Western sanctions and the $60 per barrel price cap imposed by the G7 countries in December 2022.
In June, the European Union sanctioned the Russian gas industry with a ban on LNG transshipment for the first time.
Using methods that built up the Russian shadow fleet of oil tankers, a group of mysterious companies, mostly registered in the UAE, have been buying out LNG vessels over the past year.
More than 50 ships have changed ownership to UAE-based firms since the second quarter of 2023, according to risk consultancy company Windward.
In May, Russia overtook the US as the leading LNG supplier to Europe for the first time in two years.
However, the UK, Latvia, and Lithuania have stopped buying LNG from Russia, and Finland announced in January that it will ban Russian LNG from 2025.
UPDATE 0907 GMT:
US Commerce Department data indicates semiconductors and other restricted goods shipped through China and Hong Kong for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine fell by about 20% between January and May.
Smuggling through Hong Kong dropped 28% and through mainland China 19%.
A US official said, “I think there’s some cause for being at least optimistic that we have been able to slow down some of this trade. China is still our number one concern.”
UPDATE 0617 GMT:
A US plan to boost Japanese production of Patriot air defense missiles is being delayed by a shortage of seekers units.
The units, made by Boeing, guide the missiles in the final stages of flight.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries makes around 30 PAC-3 missiles each year under license from the US firm Lockheed Martin and can increase production to around 60. The US hopes to increase annual production from around 500 to more than 750 globally as soon as possible.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskiy has thanked US counterpart Joe Biden for his “unwavering support” during Russia’s 29-month invasion.
Through a letter posted on social media, Biden announced on Sunday that he is withdrawing from the 2024 US Presidential campaign.
Zelenskiy tweeted, “We respect today’s tough but strong decision.”
He supported our country during the most dramatic moment in history, assisted us in preventing Putin from occupying our country, and has continued to support us throughout this terrible war.
Zelenskiy looked forward to the contest between the replacement Democratic candidate, likely to be President Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump, who has threatened to cut off US aid to Ukraine:
The current situation in Ukraine and all of Europe is no less challenging, and we sincerely hope that America’s continued strong leadership will prevent Russian evil from succeeding or making its aggression pay off.
Zelenskiy spoke with Trump last Friday, saying that the two men agreed to arrange a face-to-face meeting on “what steps can make peace fair and truly lasting”.
Ukraine is grateful to President Biden for his unwavering support for Ukraine's fight for freedom, which, along with strong bipartisan support in the United States, has been and continues to be critical.
Many strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 21, 2024