Air raid alerts were issued across Ukraine early Friday morning as the mayor of Kyiv reported explosions in the capital. On Thursday, three people were killed by falling debris in Kyiv during an attack, including a 9-year-old girl and her mother.
The Kremlin said attacks on Russia’s border region of Belgorod will not change the course of the so-called “special military operation,” which is the term President Vladimir Putin uses for the war in Ukraine.
Two Russian missiles struck a plant in an industrial area close to Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said. The mayor said the factory was “a civilian enterprise,” with no connection to the military.
NATO’s chief said all members agree “Ukraine will become a member,” as the defense alliance’s foreign ministers meet in Oslo.
Kyiv mayor reports explosions and incoming drones as air raid alerts issued for entire country
From CNN's Josh Pennington
The mayor of Kyiv reported explosions in the capital as air raid alerts were issued across Ukraine early Friday morning (local time).
A live map on the website of the Ministry of Digital Transformation shows all areas of Ukraine currently under an air raid alert.
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Russia has lost more than 200,000 troops since beginning of invasion, Ukraine's military claims
From CNN's Julia Kesaieva and Mitchell McCluskey
Ukrainian Armed Forces have claimed that Russia has lost about 208,000 troops since the beginning of the invasion, according to Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Cherevatyi noted this was more than the about 170,000 Russian forces he says were involved in the initial invasion in 2022.
CNN has not been able to independently confirm these numbers.
In eastern Ukraine: Russia shelled Ukraine’s position in Bakhmut at least 476 times on Thursday, according to Cherevatyi.
He added that Ukrainian forces destroyed several tanks and other military equipment in Bilohorivka and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk region.
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Top US general stresses importance of tanks for Ukraine, says F-16s are long-term effort
From CNN's Oren Liebermann
The top US general stressed the importance of modern battle tanks for Ukraine, especially with its counteroffensive looming against occupying Russian forces, but cautioned that F-16 fighter jets would be more of a long-term effort.
Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley said tanks provide the firepower and strength to play a major part in the highly anticipated counteroffensive and will play a critical role for Kyiv.
Approximately 400 Ukrainian troops recently began training on US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks, a process that is expected to last approximately 12 weeks. About half of the troops are learning to operate the tanks, while the other half will learn how to maintain the complex Western system.
The US committed to providing Ukraine with a total of 31 Abrams tanks. Other countries have already sent in UK-made Challenger 2 tanks and German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
Milley said the tanks will operate in a coordinated fashion with artillery, infantry and more when the counteroffensive begins, utilizing the training on military maneuvers the US has provided for Ukraine in Germany to attack entrenched Russian positions.
Milley also addressed the nascent effort to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets or other modern fighters, saying it is more of a long-term plan to equip Ukraine with a modern air force better capable of standing up to Russia’s vastly superior air power.
Russia’s has hundreds of fourth and fifth generation fighters and bombers, dwarfing the smaller, older Ukrainian fleet or military aircraft. Since the beginning of the war, instead of trying to compete with Russian air power by matching them plane-for-plane, the US and other countries provided Ukraine with ground-based aerial defense systems, Milley said.
“The fastest, cheapest, most effective way to do that was from the ground,” he said. The flow of aerial defense systems has been effective at forcing Russia’s air force to largely remain out of Ukrainian air space and prevent Russia from establishing aerial supremacy over Ukraine.
With an aerial defense system established across critical parts of Ukraine, the effort has now shifted to bolstering Ukraine’s air force with modern Western fighter jets.
But the plan will still take time, with open questions about who will provide the jets, training, and sustainment needed.
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Ukrainian drones shot down over Russia’s Kursk region, governor says
from CNN's Josh Pennington
Russia’s air defense system shot down several Ukrainian drones over the western Russian region of Kursk, according to Gov. Roman Starovoyt early Friday morning.
“We ask Kursk residents to remain calm, the city is under the reliable protection of our military,” Starovoyt said.
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3 civilians killed in Donetsk People’s Republic over the past 24 hours, authorities say
From CNN's Josh Pennington
At least three civilians have been killed in the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), according to the Mission of the DPR Joint Centre of Control and Coordination.
From midnight local time on Thursday to midnight Friday, the mission reported 84 instances of shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces. Three civilians have died, including two men in the Petrovsky district of the city of Donetsk and one in the Tsentralno-Miskyi district of the city of Horlivka.
The mission said four civilians, including children born in 2008 and 2013, were injured.
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3 people were killed in Kyiv trying to enter a bomb shelter that was closed. Here are the top headlines
From CNN staff
Emergency psychologists and paramedics support a woman, who identified the bodies of her daughter and granddaughter who were killed during a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday, June 1.
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Falling debris from downed Russian missiles caused damage to buildings and killed several civilians in Kyiv overnight, officials said.
Groups of Russian volunteers who oppose the current Kremlin leadership have again claimed to have entered Russian territory in the Belgorod region near the border. The Kremlin said they were repelled and did not violate the state border.
Here’s what to know:
Attack in Kyiv: Three people, including a 9-year-old girl, were killed and at least 12 others were injured in a missile strike on Kyiv overnight, according to Ukraine’s national police. Their deaths have sparked anger after reports emerged that they had tried to enter a bomb shelter that was closed. Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko said police will now patrol bomb shelters during nighttime air raid alarms to ensure they are open.
Belgorod border incursions: Dozens of strikes have occurred on Russia’s border region of Belgorod over the last day, according to the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. The Kremlin says the attacks will not change the course of its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine, which is the term President Vladimir Putin uses to refer to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Officials in Ukraine said it “does not have any responsibility” over the Russian dissident groups that have claimed to be fighting inside Russian territory and that they are “acting on their own.”
Pledged ally support: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has heard “powerful support” from allies at the European Political Community Summit in Moldova on countries supplying fighter jets to Kyiv to help repel Russian forces. He called on countries to send more Patriot missile defense systems until the fighter jets are delivered. The Dutch and Polish prime ministers also said their countries intend to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
Thinking beyond the war: NATO needs to make sure there are “credible arrangements” in place to guarantee Ukraine’s security after the war ends so that “history doesn’t repeat itself,” Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reaffirmed his country’s commitment to making sure Ukraine has what it needs for a successful counteroffensive, adding that Ukraine’s “rightful place” is in NATO.
Latest in Bakhmut: Wagner fighters are due to leave the Bakhmut area by June 5, being replaced by regular Russian forces. Prigozhin said Wagner units will relocate to rear camps in Donetsk and Luhansk regions for now, away from the line of contact.
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US will withhold info, won't facilitate inspections in response to Russia's New START suspension
From Jennifer Hansler
In response to Moscow’s “legally invalid” suspension of its participation in the New START Treaty, the United States is withholding key information that had been required under the nuclear arms control agreement and will not facilitate Russian inspections in the United States, the US State Department said Thursday.
The new “countermeasures” come months after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would suspend its participation in the only remaining agreement between the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals.
In the fact sheet released Thursday, the State Department said Russia’s “purported suspension of the New START Treaty is legally invalid.”
The State Department described their new “countermeasures” as “proportionate, reversible,” and said they “meet all other legal requirements.”
It noted that the US “had been prepared to facilitate Russian New START Treaty inspection activities on U.S. territory since June 2022, and repeatedly conveyed that readiness to Russia; however, Russia chose not to exercise its right to conduct inspection activities and has also denied the United States its right under the treaty to conduct inspection activities since August 2022, when it refused to accept a U.S. inspection.”
“Russia has not notified the United States of any intent to send a Russian inspection team to the United States since February 25, 2020,” the fact sheet said.
The US “will not be providing telemetric information on launches” of US intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMS) and submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMS).
The latest countermeasure builds on one from March, when the US did not exchange data on offensive weapons under the New START Treaty.
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NATO commits to preparing Ukraine for end of the war so “history doesn’t repeat itself”
From CNN’s Duarte Mendonca and Isa Soares
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference at the National Museum after an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers in Oslo, Norway on Thursday, June 1.
Stian Lysberg Solum/AFP/Getty Images
NATO will continue to support Ukraine to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself once the war is over, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
The secretary-general said that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a mistake by underestimating Ukraine and NATO – and the alliance continues to be committed to supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”
“It will be a big tragedy for Ukrainians if President Putin wins but it will also be dangerous for us because our message to him and all the alternative leaders including in Beijing, is that when they use force, they get what they want and that will make also us, NATO allies, United States, Europe, more vulnerable,” he said.
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UK pledges to make sure Ukraine has support for successful counteroffensive, prime minister says
From CNN’s Duarte Mendonca and Zahid Mahmood in London
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took part in a meeting of the European Political Community in Bulboaca, Moldova, on Thursday, June 1
Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged Thursday to continue to support Kyiv’s government and make sure it has what it needs for a successful counteroffensive, adding that Ukraine’s “rightful place” is in NATO.
Sunak pointed to the UK’s move to provide longer-range weapons to the country. Speaking at the European Political Summit in Moldova, he said the UK was “also the first country to provide battle tanks — I’m proud of that record.”
The prime minister said he wanted to put in place security for Ukraine for the long term so that a “very strong signal” is sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Some background: In May, the United Kingdom delivered multiple “Storm Shadow” cruise missiles to Ukraine, giving Kyiv a new long-range strike capability in advance of a highly anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces.
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Zelensky calls for more Patriot systems until fighter jets are delivered
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva
Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference at the European Political Community Summit in Bulboaca, Moldova, on Thursday, June 1.
Carl Court/Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is asking world leaders to provide more Patriot systems until fighter jets are delivered to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president, who is at the European Political Community Summit in Moldova, previously said he has heard “powerful support” from allies on providing fighter jets to Ukraine, as well as training Ukrainian pilots. But in the meantime, Zelensky called for a “patriot coalition” and more of the defense systems.
“We have a variety of different systems and I’m grateful to all the partners, but Patriots are Patriots,” he said.
In May, one of the two Patriot systems in Ukraine sustained minor damage, according to United States officials, during a Russian missile attack on Kyiv.
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United Nations expresses concern about slowdown of Black Sea grain exports
From CNN's Richard Roth and Yulia Kesaieva
A ship carrying grain under the UN's Black Sea Grain Initiative transits the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 12.
Yoruk Isik/Reuters/FILE
The United Nations expressed concern Thursday about a “continuous slowdown” in shipping traffic carrying grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports during April and May, despite the recent renewal of the grain initiative agreed upon by Ukraine and Russia.
Dujarric said that in the last week the number of inspection teams at the Joint Coordination Center, which clears ships for passage, has been reduced from three to two.
“The limited registrations and reduced inspection teams contributed to the drop of the average daily inspection rate to three.”
He called it a “serious situation,” and said that “global hunger hotspots are increasing and the spectre of food inflation and market volatility lurks in all countries.”
Ukrainian officials say Russia has blocked inbound traffic to the Black Sea and the Joint Coordination Centre was not able to formulate an inspection plan for Thursday.
Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said 50 ships were waiting to be cleared through the Bosphorus to be loaded with 2.4 million tons of food.
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Ukraine “does not have any responsibility” over groups claiming to fight inside Russia, official says
From CNN’s Eleni Giokos and Amy Cassidy
Ukraine said it “does not have any responsibility” over the Russian dissident groups that have claimed to be fighting inside Russian territory.
Those groups are “acting on their own and that’s why it’s difficult to reply,” Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk said.
Melnyk comments follow Thursday’s claims from The Russian Volunteer Corps, a military group of anti-Putin Russian nationals, that it had begun its “second phase” of fighting inside Russian territory. The Freedom for Russia Legion — a similar but separate group — also claimed Thursday to be “near the border” with Russia.
Although both groups are aligned with the Ukrainian defense forces, Kyiv has previously stated they act as “independent entities” when operating in Russia.
Melnyk said Ukraine “has a legitimate right to attack goals inside Russia,” but caveated they must “proceed with cautiousness.”
“We do not want to create any chance of Russia to accuse us of attacking them,” he said.
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Dozens of strikes have occurred against border districts inside Russia over last day, Belgorod governor says
From Yulia Kesaieva and Tim Lister
The attacks on Russia’s border region of Belgorod comprised largely of artillery and mortar, and they damaged roads, property and vehicles, the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said in an extensive update on the strikes on his Telegram channel.
Here are the other details he shared:
The only injuries reported were in the border town of Shebekino.
No deaths were reported.
Nearly three dozen properties had been damaged.
The border municipality of Graivoron documented 57 strikes — the most number of strikes witnessed by a town in the spate of attacks over the past day.
The village of Kozinka was shelled with 47 mortar shells, and power lines were damaged.
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Poland and the Netherlands will help train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 jets
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood and Catherine Nicholls in London
The Dutch and Polish prime ministers announced their countries’ intent to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
“We set up the schedule for those training. Poland will help Ukraine train the pilots of F-16 jets,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at the European Political Community Summit in Moldova.
Poland also has “few” Patriot systems, Morawiecki continued, urging other countries who do have them to share them with Ukraine “as soon as possible.” In March, Poland became the first NATO member to pledge MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in a move to assist Kyiv’s battle against Russia.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who also attended the summit, said Thursday the Netherlands would also start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 jets “as soon as possible.”
Countries at the summit are “part of the fighter jet coalition for Ukraine. I have called on other countries present to join the coalition,” he said on Twitter.
“This is an essential step in ensuring Ukraine can defend itself,” he added.
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Ukrainian President Zelensky says he's heard "powerful support" from allies on fighter jets
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood in London and Yulia Kesaieva
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference in Bulboaca, Moldova, on Thursday.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has heard “powerful support” from allies at the European Political Community Summit in Moldova on countries supplying fighter jets to Kyiv to help repel Russian forces.
“That’s why we do need to have a coalition of patriot [systems],” he said.
He said the leaders also discussed training Ukrainian pilots on those F-16 jets and other aircraft. In an official readout from Zelensky, the Ukrainian president said the parties with whom he discussed the training with “agreed to start this process in the near future.”
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Ukraine receives Romania's backing ahead of NATO summit
From Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he signed an agreement with his Romanian counterpart, Klaus Iohannis, reinforcing Bucharest’s support “for Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration.”
“This is an important step on the eve of the July NATO Summit in Vilnius,” Zelensky said.
The leaders met at the European Political Community Summit in Moldova and “also discussed further steps in Romania’s assistance to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
He thanked Romania for its help in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
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Kharkiv hit by Russian missiles, Ukrainian officials say
From Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv
Two Russian missiles have struck an industrial area close to the city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials say.
A woman had been rescued from the rubble with minor injuries after two S-300 missiles had struck the area, said Kharkiv city Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
The plant that was hit was “a civilian enterprise, which has no connection to the military activity or production,” Terekhov added.
Some background: Ukraine has recorded daily Russian shelling in the direction of Vovchansk, though the city itself has not been hit, he noted, adding that Russia also continued attacks with missiles and guided air-launched bombs against the areas around the cities of Kupyansk.
Terekhov also welcomed the activities of Russian volunteer groups in attacking Russia’s border region of Belgorod, “because the further Russian troops are located from the Ukrainian border — the more it guarantees safety for our citizens.”
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Explosion in Russian city of Belgorod appears to be caused by drone, governor says
From CNN's Uliana Pavlova, Tim Lister and Yulia Kesaieva
The governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that it appears a drone caused an explosion in the regional capital on Thursday.
“An unknown device exploded in Belgorod. According to preliminary data, the UAV fell on the roadway,” Gladkov said on Telegram.
He said two men had received light injuries, and one car was damaged.
Photographs and video from unofficial social media accounts show a plume of smoke rising in a downtown location. In one video, broken windows can be seen in a nearby high-rise building. One account said that a main street in the city had been blocked off, citing eyewitnesses.
More background: The city and its surroundings have seen drone attacks in the last few weeks. The latest incident occurred as border districts in the Belgorod region came under fire, apparently from mortars and artillery.
Moscow has denied claims by a volunteer group of Russians opposed to the Kremlin that they have again crossed into Russian territory.
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Wagner's next assignment could be defending Russian territory, chief says
From CNN's Katharina Krebs in London
The head of the Wagner private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has suggested that his fighters’ next role may be in defending Russian territory.
First, Wagner wants “at least one month of recovery” after fighting for months in the eastern city of Bakhmut, Prigozhin told Russian military reporters, adding that then there will be “next scuffles, I think, most likely this time on Russian territory.”
His comments come amid attacks on Russia’s border region of Belgorod, where groups of Russian volunteers who oppose the current Kremlin leadership have again claimed to have entered Russian territory. The Kremlin said they were repelled and did not violate the state border.
Wagner fighters are due to leave the Bakhmut area by June 5, being replaced by regular Russian forces. Prigozhin said Wagner units will relocate to rear camps in Donetsk and Luhansk regions for now, away from the line of contact.
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Belgorod attacks cannot change course of "special military operation" in Ukraine, Kremlin says
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
A drone image released by Freedom of Russia Legion shows what they claim is a destruction of Russian military targets near Shebekino in Russia's Belgorod region, in this image obtained from social media and released on June 1.
Freedom Of Russia Legion/Reuters
Kremlin says the attacks on Russia’s border region of Belgorod will not change the course of the so-called “special military operation,” which is the term President Vladimir Putin uses to refer to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“This cannot have any effect on the course of the special military operation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday, adding that Putin is continuously receiving updates on the situation from border guards, the military, rescuers, and local authorities.
“Regional authorities are working very actively and selflessly” in dealing with the attacks, Peskov said.
The main focus is to provide assistance to people, including by temporarily resettling those at risk, Peskov said. “This is also what Putin is very actively engaged in today.”
He also expressed disappointment over the lack of international condemnation of the attacks on residential buildings and social facilities, in which at least five people were injured, according to the region’s governor.
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NATO chief calls for "credible arrangements" to guarantee Ukraine's security after war ends
From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy in London
NATO needs to make sure there are “credible arrangements” in place to guarantee Ukraine’s security after the war ends, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.
Speaking during a news conference in Oslo, Norway, Stoltenberg said the focus of the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting was “bringing Ukraine closer to NATO, where it belongs.”
However, the NATO chief has previously said that he expects Ukraine will join the alliance when the war is over — effectively ruling out the country joining in the near future.
Latest developments: On Thursday, the ministers discussed updating the NATO Ukraine Commission to council status, which Stoltenberg said would be an “important step” in ensuring that Ukraine has a seat at the table “as equals.”
When asked by a journalist if changing status from a commission to a council will matter much to Ukrainians fighting a war, Stoltenberg reiterated that NATO’s focus remains on “stepping up” military aid so Ukraine can win the conflict.
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"Ukraine can anticipate a very robust package" of support at NATO Summit, top US diplomat says
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
Ukraine “can anticipate a very robust package of both political and practical support” from NATO when the US-led military alliance meets in Vilnius in July, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.
Discussions in Oslo were an opportunity to “compare notes” on support for Ukraine, posturing for Russian aggression and other challenges, to ensure that allies can move forward “united, together,” when they meet at the summit, the top US diplomat said.
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It’s mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here’s what you need to know
From CNN staff
Kyiv’s air defenses have proved remarkably resilient in recent weeks, despite Russia’s unrelenting bombardment of the city. Scarcely a day has passed in May without the sound of air raid warnings and explosions – but the vast majority of Russia’s missiles have been shot down, with deaths remaining low.
But on Thursday, three people, including a mother and her child, were killed in the latest Russian strike on Kyiv – after they had tried to enter a bomb shelter that was closed.
Here are the latest developments:
Kyiv airstrike deaths: A 9-year-old girl, her 34-year-old mother, and a 33-year-old woman were killed on Thursday in another missile strike on Kyiv, which injured 12 others. Kyiv’s air defenses destroyed all 10 Russian missiles launched overnight, but falling debris from the missiles caused damage to buildings and killed several civilians.
Bomb shelter checks: Their deaths have sparked anger in Kyiv after reports emerged that they had tried to enter a bomb shelter that was closed. Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said police will now patrol bomb shelters during nighttime air raid alarms to ensure they are open. Ukraine’s home affairs minister Ihor Klymenko said closed bomb shelters during the war are “not just indifference,” but “a crime.”
Belgorod border incursions: Russian officials have denied claims from a group of anti-Putin Russians aligned with Ukraine that they are “fighting again on Russian territory” in the Belgorod region. But the region was shelled overnight by Ukraine, injuring five civilians, according to the region’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Russia targets Moldova: The West is actively pushing Moldova to participate in the Ukraine war, the head of the FSB, Russia’s security service, said Thursday. But the government of Moldova, which is attempting to tread a path to EU accession, has accused Russia of trying to destabilize the country by stirring trouble in Transnistria – a self-proclaimed, unrecognized breakaway territory where Russia exerts political influence.
Zelensky’s NATO plea: Ukraine needs “clear” and “positive” decisions on its bid for joining NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday at a summit of European leaders in Moldova. NATO’s chief said all members of the defense alliance agree “Ukraine will become a member” – but Germany’s defense minister Annalena Baerbock urged caution, saying NATO can’t accept new members while they are at war.
International Children’s Day: At least 484 children have been killed and 992 injured since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General’s Office said Thursday as Ukraine marked International Children’s Day. More than 19,5000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia or temporarily occupied territories since the start of the war. The International Criminal Court previously issued a warrant for Vladimir Putin’s arrest for the alleged child deportation scheme.
Europe inflation falls: Inflation in Europe has fallen to its slowest pace since Russia invaded Ukraine, bolstering the case for the region’s central bank to bring interest rate hikes to an end soon. The war has caused food and energy prices on the continent to soar – but today’s figures show that inflation may finally be cooling.
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Anti-Putin Russian fighters claim to destroy Russian ammunition and rocket launchers in Belgorod
From CNN's Sarah Dean, Eve Brennan in London and Olga Voitovych
A still image from drone footage released by Freedom of Russia Legion shows, what they claim, is a destruction of Russian military targets, near Novaya Tavolzhanka, Belgorod Region, Russia, in this image obtained from social media released on June 1.
Freedom Of Russia Legion/Reuters
The Freedom for Russia Legion on Thursday posted two videos featuring explosions geolocated by CNN inside Russia’s Belgorod border region, claiming they had hit military targets.
The group of anti-Putin dissident fighters claimed one video shows the “detonation of ammunition and mortar of the enemy after a precise artillery work on them.”
CNN has geolocated the video of an explosion to Shebekinsky District in Belgorod, but cannot verify the claim of a successful strike.
A second video posted by the legion said, “We continue to share the clear work of artillery: a column of Grad MLRS (BM-21) was destroyed on the march.”
“Together with brothers from RVC [Russian Volunteer Corps] we continue to demilitarize Putin’s army,” it said, using the term (demilitarization) that the Kremlin has stated as one of its goals in the invasion of Ukraine.
Smoke is visible from the apparent point of impact in the video, but it is not clear if any Russian military hardware was hit.
The Freedom for Russia Legion said earlier Thursday it was near the border with Russia and the Russian Volunteer Corps claimed it was “fighting on Russian territory.”
The Russian Defense Ministry said it had repelled three attacks by “Ukrainian terrorist groups” on Thursday.
Remember: In the past, the Ukrainian government has distanced itself from the Russian fighters, saying they are operating independently in Russia.
CNN’s Rob Picheta and Nathan Hodge have contributed to this post.
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Zelensky and EU chief "condemn illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children" in joint statement
From CNN's James Frater and Lauren Kent in London
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, second right, meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova, on June 1.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement on International Children’s Day to highlight the “plight of Ukrainian children,” saying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is depriving children of their right to be “free, protected and kept safe.”
Noting that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for perpetrators of war crimes, Zelensky and von der Leyen said “time will come” to bring them to justice.
In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova for an alleged scheme to deport Ukrainian children to Russia.
The Kremlin labeled the ICC’s actions as “outrageous and unacceptable” and said Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court.
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Ukraine needs “clear” and “positive” decisions on NATO and EU accession, Zelensky says
From CNN's Radina Gigova in London
President of Moldova Maia Sandu, right, welcomes President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the European Political Community (EPC) Summit on June 1, near Chisinau, Moldova.
(Carl Court/Getty Images)
Ukraine needs “clear” and “positive” decisions on its bid for joining both NATO and the European Union, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday at a summit of European leaders in Moldova’s capital Chisinau.
“This year is for decisions,” Zelensky said.
“Positive decisions for Ukraine will be positive decisions for everyone,” he added.
Zelensky also restated his calls to not allow the war in Ukraine to become a frozen conflict.
Zelensky also said coalitions of Patriot air defenses and fighter jets would “accelerate peace,” and that “every step in air defense enforcement is literally saving lives.”
Moldova is hosting a summit of the EU’s 27 member states and 20 other European countries at a castle deep in Moldova’s wine region just 12 miles (20 km) from Ukrainian territory, according to Reuters.
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How Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has impacted tennis
From CNN’s George Ramsay
Aryna Sabalenka walks past opponent Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine during a changeover in her first round match on Day One of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 28, in Paris, France.
Robert Prange/Getty Images
Every sport in Europe – from soccer to fencing to UFC – has had to grapple with the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tennis is no exception.
Since the start of the war, Russian and Belarusian players have continued to play at tournaments and grand slams but must do so as neutrals without their flag or country displayed.
The only exception has been Wimbledon, which banned players from those two countries last year – though the ATP and WTA Tours responded by stripping the tournament of ranking points.
The governing bodies of the men’s and women’s tours both said that they oppose “discrimination” against players based on nationality.
Tensions are bubbling on and off the court. For some Ukrainian players, having to face opponents from Russia and Belarus has been a point of frustration.
World No. 39 Marta Kostyuk, who is from Kyiv, said at the start of the year that she would not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players while the war rages in her country.
She was booed at the French Open when she refused to meet Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka at the net, while Sabalenka condemned the booing and said she understands why Ukrainian players won’t shake her hand.
“How can we support the war? Normal people will never support it.”
Belgorod border incursion attempt was prevented, Russian Ministry of Defense says
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
The Russian defense ministry claimed Thursday that, together with the Federal Security Service (FSB), it had prevented an incursion across its border by Ukrainian forces, saying tanks and two motorized infantry companies attempted to enter the Belgorod region.
The attempted incursion began at around 3 a.m. Moscow time (8 p.m. ET), spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said.
The Russian military repelled three attacks by Ukrainian terrorist groups, Konashenkov said, adding that “terrorists of the Kyiv regime were pushed back, suffering significant losses.”
“Violations of the state border were not allowed,” he said.
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Inflation in Europe drops to lowest level since Russian invasion of Ukraine
From CNN's Hanna Ziady
People shop on Ossenreyer Street in Stralsund, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, on May 20.
Stefan Sauer/picture alliance/Getty Images
Inflation in Europe has fallen to its slowest pace since Russia invaded Ukraine, bolstering the case for the region’s central bank to bring interest rate hikes to an end soon.
Consumer prices in the 20 countries that use the euro rose 6.1% last month compared with a year ago, easing from 7% in April, according to an initial estimate Thursday from the European Union’s statistics agency.
That’s the lowest rate of inflation since February 2022, when Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor, sending global energy prices soaring.
The pace of food price rises eased for the second month running in May, while energy prices actually fell. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, slowed to 5.3% — a four-month low.
Inflation has fallen sharply in Germany, France, Italy and Spain, national data published Wednesday showed. Price rises eased across a broad range of product categories in Europe’s biggest economies.
That could give the European Central Bank reason to pause interest rate hikes soon, although ECB President Christine Lagarde said Thursday that policymakers still had “ground to cover to bring interest rates to sufficiently restrictive levels.”
“Today, inflation is too high and it is set to remain so for too long,” Lagarde said at a banking conference in Germany.
Why this matters: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has profoundly altered Europe’s economy, causing food and energy prices to spike dramatically. In an attempt to slow inflation, the ECB has hiked interest rates several times.
Before the war, Europe imported vast quantities of natural gas and oil from Russia. Weaning itself off this cheap supply of energy was a painful and initially sluggish process for many European countries.
While there was a huge outpouring of sympathy for Ukraine in the early months of the war, some analysts feared that European support might dwindle as the conflict dragged on and inflicted heavy costs on consumers – especially during winter, when high energy costs were expected to bite hardest.
But, due both to Europe’s ability to replenish its gas reserves during the more temperate months and to a raft of support measures implemented by governments, consumers did not have to shoulder costs as severe as first feared.
Today’s news of falling inflation will come as welcome relief to governments and consumers across the continent.
Governor of Russia's Belgorod region denies latest border incursion claims
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has denied the latest border incursion claims by a group of anti-Putin Russian nationals.
“There is massive shelling. Of course the lives of civilians, the population is under threat. Mainly in Shebekino and in the surrounding villages,” he added.
It comes after the Russian Volunteer Corps, a group of anti-Putin Russian nationals aligned with the Ukrainian army, claimed Thursday that its members were fighting on Russian territory but did not provide any evidence.
In a separate Telegram post, Gladkov said he had reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation at the border.
“It was decided that schoolchildren from the Shebekino urban district will not take exams,” Gladkov added.
Belgorod incursions: Last week, two groups of pro-Ukrainian Russian nationals – the Freedom for Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps – launched a cross-border raid on their motherland, in the neighboring Belgorod region.
One civilian from the village of Kozinka died as a result of the fighting, Gladkov said at the time. He added that six districts of the Belgorod region, as well as the city itself, were targeted, and that a counter-terror operation was launched in response.
Belgorod has also been targeted by a number of drone strikes in recent weeks, as fighting intensified around Ukraine’s eastern border.
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Kyiv mayor says police will patrol bomb shelters to ensure they are open after 3 killed outside closed shelter
From CNN's Olga Voitovych in Kyiv
Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko, center, sits with others in a school's shelter during an air raid alert on June 1, in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Roman Pilipey/Getty Images
Kyiv’s Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said police will now patrol bomb shelters in the city during night time air raid alarms to ensure they are open.
An investigation has been launched after three people, including a 9-year-old girl, were killed on Thursday after trying to enter a closed bomb shelter, according to Ukraine’s internal affairs minister.
In a Telegram post, Klitschko said a missile fragment fell near the entrance to a clinic in the Desnianskyi district of the capital,“4 minutes after the air raid alarm was announced. People were running to the shelter”.
“I gave a separate order to the heads of the capital’s districts to immediately check all bomb shelters,” he added.
Klitchko said he has asked for the head of the Desnianskyi district to be removed from his duties while the investigation into the shelter at the clinic is underway, adding that the head of the medical institution should also be removed.
“In total, 19 people were affected by the night shelling of the capital. Three of them were killed, including 1 child. 16 people were injured,” he said.
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West pushing Moldova into Ukraine conflict, says Russia’s security service
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov attends the Victory Day celebrations in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on May 9.
Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The West is actively pushing Moldova to participate in the Ukraine conflict, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) – the successor to the Soviet Union’s KGB – said Thursday.
Ukraine has become a springboard for the war against Russia and subversive activities against Belarus, Alexander Bortnikov said at a meeting of security chiefs of the CIS Member States.
Secret documents uncovered in March revealed the FSB had a detailed plan for destabilizing Moldova and preventing it from joining NATO by supporting pro-Russian groups in the former Soviet republic and controlling supplies of natural gas.
Some background: Earlier this year, tensions began mounting in Moldova, a small country on Ukraine’s southwestern border, where Russia has been accused of laying the groundwork for a coup that could drag the nation into the Kremlin’s war
The flashpoint is in Transnistria – a self-proclaimed, unrecognized territory bordering southwestern Ukraine with a predominantly Russian-speaking population that broke away from Moldova in 1990 – where Russia maintains a military presence and exerts political influence.
Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, accused Russia in February of using “saboteurs” disguised as civilians to stoke unrest amid a period of political instability, echoing similar warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has meanwhile baselessly accused Kyiv of planning its own assault on the pro-Russian territory in Moldova where Moscow has a military foothold, heightening fears that he is creating a pretext for a Crimea-style annexation.
Moldova has provided huge support for Ukraine since the start of the war – taking in more Ukrainian refugees per capita than any other country – and last year was granted European Union candidate status.
On Thursday, Moldova hosted a summit of the EU’s 27 member states and 20 other European countries at a castle deep in Moldova’s wine region just 12 miles (20 km) from Ukrainian territory near Transnistria, according to Reuters.
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484 children killed in Ukraine and 992 injured since war began, says Ukraine prosecutor general’s office
From Olga Voitovych in Kyiv and Sarah Dean in London
Relatives and friends attend the funeral service of Valeriia Hlodan, her three-month-old baby girl Kira and her mother Liudmyla Yavkina at Transfiguration Cathedral, Odesa, southern Ukraine, on April 27, 2022. The women and an infant were killed after one of the Russian cruise missiles launched against Odesa hit an apartment block.
At least 484 children have been killed and 992 injured since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General’s Office said Thursday as Ukraine marked International Children’s Day.
Ukraine and most other eastern European post-Communist countries mark June 1 as International Children’s Day. Towns, schools and community groups often organize children-focused events like sports days and fun fairs.
Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska tweeted Thursday: “Children’s Day has to be about safe childhood, summer, life… But today it is about new crimes of [Russian Federation] against Ukrainian children. A 9-year-old girl was killed in the shelling of Kyiv, and another is now in hospital.”
More than 2,500 educational institutions were damaged, including 256 completely destroyed, the Prosecutor General’s Office also said in its Thursday statement.
It added that more than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia or temporarily occupied territories. “But these are only the cases that are officially registered,” it said, warning the number could be higher.
War crimes: In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova for an alleged scheme to deport Ukrainian children to Russia.
The ICC charges, which relate to an alleged practice that CNN and others have reported on, were the first to be formally lodged against officials in Moscow since it began its unprovoked attack on Ukraine last year.
ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmanski told CNN in March that all signatory countries are “obliged to execute arrest warrants issued by the court,” meaning that “there are 123 states – two thirds of the states in the world – in which he (Putin) will not be saved.”
The Kremlin labeled the ICC’s actions as “outrageous and unacceptable” and said Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court.
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Three people killed in strikes on Kyiv tried to enter closed bomb shelter, says Ukraine’s internal affairs minister
From Olga Voitovych in Kyiv and Sarah Dean in London
A child, her mother and another woman were killed in a Russian missile strike on Kyiv after trying to enter a bomb shelter that was closed, Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs Ihor Klymenko said in a statement.
Klymenko said Kyiv police have launched an investigation into the incident regarding “negligence that caused grave consequences.”
Ukraine’s national police said earlier that a 9-year-old girl, her 34-year-old mother, and a 33-year-old woman were killed in Kyiv on Thursday after missiles that targeted the capital were shot down. Twelve others were injured.
The husband of one of the women told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspline that when they heard the air raid alarm, people ran to the shelter but found it locked.
“I just ran to the other side, calling for them to open. And just at that moment everything happened, at that moment something flew - I don’t know, fragments or something,” he added.
Another eyewitness named Kateryna Didukh said: “They ran here to hide but unfortunately it was closed. This is the largest bomb shelter. They were all standing at the entrance. There is a polyclinic and a kindergarten here, and it fell right between them.”
Klymenko said that after “the 16th month of full-scale war,” he believes “responsible officials should have identified and fixed all the flaws in the issue of people’s safety. The enemy continues large-scale shelling of cities. But some shelters still remain closed during the air raid alarm.”
“As part of the investigation, we will find and bring to justice all those responsible. In addition, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, together with the National Police, will regularly inspect the accessibility and condition of bomb shelters in all settlements of the country,” he said.
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German foreign minister says NATO can't accept new members while they are at war
From CNN’s Nadine Schmidt
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrives at Oslo City Hall during NATO's informal meeting of foreign ministers in Oslo, Norway, on June 1.
Hanna Johre/NTB/Reuters
NATO cannot accept new members that are currently embroiled in war, Germany’s foreign minister said Thursday, as foreign ministers from member nations of the military alliance meet in Oslo.
Her remarks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that his country is ready to join the defense alliance.
Baerbock said the meeting in Oslo is another step ahead of the NATO leaders’ summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, scheduled for July, which aims to foster agreement on how to strengthen relations with Kyiv.
Baerbock also said NATO expects to welcome Sweden as a new member at the Vilnius summit. Sweden’s application for membership, though supported by most NATO members, has been so far been held up by Turkey and Hungary.
Sweden’s membership will be a key topic at the foreign ministers meeting this week, the UK foreign secretary said earlier Thursday.
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NATO's "extraordinary" solidarity a main reason Ukraine has been able to fend off Russia, says Blinken
From CNN's Radina Gigova
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg give a doorstep statement during an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers at The Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway on June 1.
Hanna Johre/NTB/AFP/Getty Images
The “extraordinary” solidarity of NATO members is one of the main reasons for Ukraine’s success in pushing back Russian aggression, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.
Blinken spoke as he arrived in Oslo for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, standing beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
He added that support for Ukraine, as well as strengthening the NATO alliance further, would be the focus of the meetings.
NATO membership: Part of Russia’s premise for its invasion of Ukraine was to fend off NATO from expanding close to its borders.
Stoltenberg said Thursday that it is not for Moscow to decide when the alliance expands, adding that NATO allies and Ukraine will decide “when the time is right” for Ukraine to join. Last month, he had said he expects Ukraine will join the alliance when the war is over.
Zelensky, who is in Modolva attending another summit of European leaders, said on Thursday that Ukraine “is ready to be in NATO.”
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Ukraine is ready to join NATO, Zelensky says at European leaders' summit in Moldova
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
Zelensky arrives at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova, on Thursday.
Vladislav Culiomza/Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that his country is ready to join NATO as he arrived in Moldova for the European Political Community summit.
Dozens of leaders from across Europe are gathering for the meeting, where they will discuss security issues and areas of cooperation across the continent.
Earlier Thursday, NATO’s chief said all members of the defense alliance agree “Ukraine will become a member,” as NATO foreign ministers meet in Oslo to discuss the war.
Moldovan leader Sandu also expressed support for Kyiv and for Zelensky’s proposed peace formula, saying: “Ukraine keeps Moldova safe today, and we’re very, very grateful for that.”
She also said she supported creating a special international tribunal to handle those “committing crimes of aggression in Ukraine.”
The summit: The first meeting of the European Political Community was held in October 2022, with the leaders primarily discussing the war in Ukraine and global energy crisis.
“We are developing a coalition of fighter jets and offering a coalition of Patriots. EU, NATO, peace formula. Everything to protect our future,” Zelensky said Thursday in a Telegram post.
This post has been updated with additional reporting.
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Sweden's foreign minister to send "clear message" that it has met all commitments to join NATO
From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said he will send a “clear message” at Thursday’s NATO meeting that Sweden has fulfilled all the commitments needed to join the alliance, with the country’s membership so far blocked by opposition from Hungary and Turkey.
Speaking to journalists on his way to the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo, Billström highlighted new Swedish terrorism legislation which recently came into effect as an example of the commitments met.
When asked if he was disappointed that his Turkish counterpart will not attend Thursday’s meeting, Billström said it was “quite natural” given the recent Turkish elections.
He stressed that the “more important” event will be the trilateral meeting between Finnish, Swedish and Turkish representatives of the joint mechanism established at last year’s NATO summit in Madrid.
Billström also played down concerns over the delay in approving Sweden’s membership bid, saying: “This was never a sprint; it’s a marathon and we now see the end of it.”
Also on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he would visit Turkey at an unspecified time to discuss Sweden’s membership — which Billström said was “something positive.”
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NATO meetings will discuss Sweden's membership and Ukraine war, says UK foreign secretary
From CNN's Radina Gigova
The war in Ukraine and Sweden’s NATO membership will be key topics during informal meetings between NATO foreign ministers this week in Oslo, said UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Thursday.
The meeting will be chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said on Thursday that all the bloc’s allies agree Ukraine will become a member — and that he would travel to Turkey to discuss Sweden’s application for membership, which remains in limbo.
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All NATO allies agree "Ukraine will become a member," says head of military alliance
From CNN’s Jake Kwon and Radina Gigova
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is seen at Oslo City Hall in Norway on Thursday.
Hanna Johre/NTB/Reuters
All NATO allies agree that “Ukraine will become a member of the alliance,” its chief Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.
Part of Russia’s premise for its invasion of Ukraine was to fend off NATO from expanding close to its borders.
Even though Ukraine is not a member of the alliance, and NATO has insisted that it is not a party to the conflict, the bloc has played a critical role in supporting Kyiv, donating billions in military aid and other support.
On Thursday, Stoltenberg said NATO’s most important task was to ensure that Ukraine prevails in the war against Russia — and to prevent the conflict from spilling over beyond Ukraine’s borders. “That’s the reason why we have increased our major presence in Eastern lines on NATO territory,” he said.
New faces at NATO: Finland’s accession to the alliance earlier this month marked a major shift in the security landscape in northeastern Europe, more than doubling NATO’s frontier with Russia.
Finnish public support for accession snowballed following the invasion of Ukraine, and also reignited calls from Kyiv to join.
Sweden also applied to join the bloc shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion began, with the support of an overwhelming majority of NATO members — but its membership has so far been held up by Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey has accused Sweden of harboring members of terrorist groups, which Stockholm denies, while Hungary has claimed Sweden behaved hostilely toward its government.
Stoltenberg said Thursday he would soon travel to the Turkish capital of Ankara to discuss Sweden’s NATO membership, though did not specify the timing.
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Russian dissidents claim they are "fighting on Russian territory," deny harming civilians
From CNN's Olga Voitovych and Sarah Dean
The Russian Volunteer Corps, a group of anti-Putin Russian nationals aligned with the Ukrainian army, has denied shelling civilians as it claimed its “second phase” inside Russia had begun on Thursday.
In a video message, a fighter from the Russian Volunteer Corps said they were “once again fighting on Russian territory.”
“Very soon the outskirts of Shebekino will appear,” the group said, referring to a village in Russia’s border region of Belgorod.
The message comes amid an uptick in cross-border mortar and artillery in Shebekino and other border districts in recent days. Belgorod’s governor said five people were injured by shelling early Thursday.
A day earlier, the governor said children will be evacuated from Shebekino and the nearby town of Grayvoron.
The Russian Volunteer Corps on Telegram accused “Putin’s army” of hitting “Russian villages and hamlets.”
Anti-Putin Russians: The Russian Volunteer Corps and another anti-Putin Russian group, the Freedom for Russia Legion, last week claimed responsibility for an attack in Belgorod.
The legion also posted a video message Thursday claiming they were “near the border of our homeland.”
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Russian ambassador slams new $300 million US aid package for Ukraine
From CNN's Clare Sebastian
Anatoly Antonov, Russian ambassador to the United States, departs after a meeting at the US State Department in March.
Patrick Semansky/AP/FILE
Moscow’s ambassador to the United States on Wednesday accused Washington of aiming to deliver “strategic defeat on Russia” after the White House announced a new military aid package for Ukraine.
The Biden administration said Wednesday that it will send an estimated $300 million worth of additional weaponry and equipment to Kyiv, focusing the latest military aid package on air defense systems to help Ukraine fend off Russian aerial attacks.
Moscow drone attack: Antonov also accused the US of being indifferent to a drone attack on the Russian capital on Tuesday, which Moscow has blamed on Kyiv. Ukraine has denied direct involvement.
The White House reiterated on Wednesday that US officials have told Ukraine they do not support attacks on Russian territory, especially not with US-provided equipment. However, two US officials said there is no evidence right now that the drones used in Moscow were provided by the US.
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Anti-Putin Russian dissident fighters say they will soon advance into their homeland
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
Service members with the Freedom of Russia Legion under the Ukrainian Army are seen at their positions near a front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 21, 2023.
Alex Babenko/Reuters/FILE
The dissident Freedom for Russia Legion, an anti-Putin formation dedicated to ending the war in Ukraine and to toppling President Vladimir Putin, claim they are near the Russian border and will soon advance into the country.
The legion, which is made up of a few hundred Russian citizens who are fighting in Ukraine under the command of the Ukrainian security forces, last week claimed responsibility for an incursion inside the Russian border region of Belgorod.
Belgorod attacks: When speaking to CNN last week, a spokesperson for the legion codenamed “Caesar” said the dissident fighters used US-made armored vehicles — a claim that provoked minor consternation in Washington, which has insisted that Ukraine not use weapons it receives from members of the NATO security alliance inside Russia.
After the Belgorod attack, Ukrainian officials confirmed it had been carried out “by Russian citizens,” but insisted they were acting independently.
Girl, 9, among those killed in Kyiv missile strikes
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
A 9-year-old girl and her mother were among three people killed following Russian strikes on Kyiv early Thursday, Ukrainian officials said, as a clearer picture emerged of the victims and the damage.
In an update, Ukraine’s national police said the girl, her mother, 34, and a 33-year-old woman died. Twelve others were injured, the police said.
Air defenses destroyed all 10 Russian missiles launched at the Ukrainian capital overnight, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said earlier
Falling debris from the missiles damaged a children’s clinic, two schools and a police station, according to the Kyiv city military administration. A residential building was also damaged from the blast wave.
The administration had originally stated that two children were among the three people killed.
Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the girl’s mother’s age. She was 34.
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At least 5 injured in early morning strikes in Russia’s Belgorod, governor says
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
At least five people were injured in the town of Shebekino in Russia’s Belgorod region early Thursday morning by Ukrainian shelling, said Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov on Telegram.
Three people have been hospitalized, one woman was treated at the scene, and “there is information about a man who is unconscious with multiple shrapnel wounds,” Gladkov said, adding the man was being taken to hospital.
Gladkov earlier reported that two people were injured in the shelling, including a man who was in critical condition after having an arm amputated.
Residential and administrative buildings were also damaged, according to Gladkov.
Attacks inside Russian: Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, has seen a rise in shelling in recent days following an incursion last week by anti-Putin Russians aligned with the Ukrainian military. Gladkov said Wednesday that children will be evacuated out of Shebekino and the nearby town of Grayvoron. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has called the situation there “alarming.”
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Kyiv's air defenses shot down all 10 missiles fired by Russia overnight, military says
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
Ukraine’s air force destroyed all 10 missiles launched at Kyiv overnight, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said on Thursday.
Russian forces had targeted “civilian and critical infrastructure” with Iskander short-range missiles, the General Staff said.
Falling debris from the missiles damaged a children’s clinic, two schools and a police station, according to the Kyiv city military administration in a Telegram post. A residential building was also damaged from the blast wave.
At least three people, including two children — ages 5 or 6 and 12 or 13 — were killed by falling debris, officials said.
Earlier Thursday, the head of Kyiv’s military administration said the strikes were from ground-based tactical missile systems and did not come from planes.
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Children killed in Kyiv strikes as Russia evacuates kids from border region. Here's what to know
From CNN staff
A residential building damaged by a Russian missile strike in Kyiv on Thursday.
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Russia resumed its overnight bombardment of Kyiv early Thursday, launching missile strikes on Ukraine’s capital that killed at least three people, including two children.
Meanwhile, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said at least two people were injured by Ukrainian shelling there early on Thursday.
The war has taken a new turn this week amid increased shelling and drone strikes inside Russia’s border, including Moscow. Ukraine has denied involvement in drone attacks on the Russian capital Tuesday, even as one top official made it clear that Russia was getting a taste of its own medicine after months of bombarding Ukrainian cities.
Here’s what to know:
Russian civilians relocated: Further evacuations of women and children are set to take place this week as the Russian border experiences shelling, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the “situation is rather alarming” in Belgorod. Several other areas in Russia near the border with Ukraine have also come under more persistent mortar and artillery fire in recent days.
Western allies on attacks in Russia: The US has “been clear, privately and publicly, with the Ukrainians that we don’t support attacks on Russian soil,” the White House said, adding that Kyiv officials have assured them they will not use US equipment to strike inside Russia. A German government spokesperson said Ukraine has a “legitimate” right to defend itself against Russian attacks under international law. The UK foreign minister also said Ukraine has the right to “project force” beyond its own borders for self-defense.
US aid for Ukraine: The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will send an estimated $300 million worth of additional weaponry and equipment to Ukraine, focusing the latest military aid package on air defense systems to help Kyiv fend off Russian aerial attacks.
Russian air defenses: Russia has pledged to improve its air defense system after Tuesday’s drone attack on Moscow. President Vladimir Putin said the city’s air defenses worked normally, but there was still “work to be done to make it better.” Russia is also ramping up the production of weapons and other military equipment, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Wednesday, according to state news agency TASS.
Fighting in Bakhmut: There has been a significant drop in hostilities on the ground around the eastern Ukrainian city as Russian forces rotate in and out of the area, but shelling continues incessantly, Ukrainian officials say. Wagner mercenary units are still being replaced with Russian regular forces, a spokesperson for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian military said.
Eyes on nuclear plant: The head of the UN nuclear watchdog said he believes Russia and Ukraine are “committing” to the organization’s five principles for averting a nuclear accident at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhianuclear power plant. The principles include “no attacks of any kind from or against the plant,” and a commitment against using it as a storage base for heavy weaponry, Rafael Grossi said.
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Kyiv targeted with ground-launched missiles overnight, Ukrainian military says
From CNN's Josh Pennington
Russian forces used ground-based tactical missile systems to target Kyiv in early Thursday morning strikes, according to a Ukrainian military official.
Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv city military administration, said the missiles were not fired from planes. Preliminary information showed cruise and ballistic missiles were used, he added.
All identified air targets were shot down by Ukrainian forces, but falling debris resulted in casualties and damage, according to Popko, with three people — including two children — killed and at least 10 people injured.
Earlier, Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 14 people were injured in the strikes.
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2 children are among the dead after Russian airstrikes hit Kyiv early Thursday
From CNN's Josh Pennington and Olga Voitovych
At least three people, including two children, have died, and at least 14 others were injured in Kyiv’s Desnianskyi and Dniprovskyi districts as airstrikes hit the city early Thursday morning, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
Nine people were hospitalized and five were treated on site, Klitschko said.
Debris from the strikes hit a health care clinic in Desnianskyi and the windows of a multi-story residential building were also blown out, according to the Kyiv city military administration.
Debris also fell onto the roadway in Dniprovskyi and a car was burning on one of Desnianskyi’s streets, Klitschko said.
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2 people injured by Ukrainian shelling of Russia's Belgorod region, governor says
From CNN's Josh Pennington
At least two people were injured early Thursday in the town of Shebekino in Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, a top official said.
Shelling by Ukrainian forces lasted an hour, according to Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov.
One of the injured men is in critical condition after having his left arm amputated. The other suffered a concussion and went to the hospital and is in stable condition, according to the governor.
Some background: On Wednesday, a “massive” shelling attack injured four people in Shebekino, Russian officials said. Eight apartment buildings, four homes, a school and two administrative buildings were damaged during the shelling, they said.
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Heavy artillery fire around Bakhmut as on-the-ground clashes ease, Ukrainian officials say
From CNN's Julia Kesaieva
There has been a significant drop in hostilities on the ground around the city of Bakhmut as Russian forces rotate in and out of the area, but shelling continues incessantly, Ukrainian officials say.
Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian military, said Wednesday there had been only two or three clashes in the area over the past two days. But he said the Russians were covering their rotation of forces with artillery fire, and Ukrainian positions had been shelled 343 times Wednesday. In turn, Ukrainian fire killed 78 Russians and destroyed a variety of weapons and ammunition dumps, he said.
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told Ukrainian television the southwestern outskirts of Bakhmut remain under the control of the Ukrainians.
“In fact, the enemy’s offensive activity in the Bakhmut sector has been stopped. [But] the enemy has increased the number of artillery attacks … The number of attacks today is equal to the times of the heaviest battles for Bakhmut,” Maliar said.
Maliar said Ukrainian troops, for now, were not trying to advance on the Russians’ flanks but said “the fight for this direction continues.”
One soldier in the Bakhmut area, Yurii Syrotiuk of the 5th separate assault brigade, said heavy thunderstorms had interrupted airstrikes but “enemy artillery is actively working,” as were mortars and rockets.
Syrotiuk said Russian forces tried to counterattack in recent days, but were unsuccessful.
“The famous Donbas mud does not allow the movement of people nor equipment,” he said, adding that this was impeding the Ukrainians’ own efforts to push forward.
He also drew a distinction between the Wagner fighters and Russian regular units, which he said “do not fight like Wagnerites, as they are not being sent as cannon fodder under the threat of execution. So they make very languid attempts of attacks, which we repel and then the enemy artillery starts working.”
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More evacuations from Russian border region to take place this week, governor says
From CNN's Josh Pennington
Further evacuations of women and children are set to take place this week as the Russian border experiences shelling, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, some 300 children were evacuated from Belgorod to the Voronezh area.
Gladkov added that 200 people, including mothers with small children and grandmothers, would be evacuated to the Penza region on Thursday.
On Saturday, 300 children will be sent from the Grayvoron district to the city of Yaroslavl and 300 from Shebekino district will be sent to the Kaluga region, Gladkov said.
Gladkov also said he spoke with the governors of the Lipetsk and Tomsk regions, who agreed to take 200 evacuees each, consisting of families with small children.
Increased shelling: Gladkov reported more shelling late Wednesday by Ukrainian forces, saying an industrial plant close to the town of Shebekino had been struck.
“The situation in Shebekino is not getting better,” Gladkov said in a live broadcast. “There is shelling of Shebekino, there is a fire at one of the industrial enterprises.”
Gladkov gave no details of casualties.
Shebekino and other border districts have seen an increase in cross-border mortar and artillery fire in recent days.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the “situation is rather alarming” in Belgorod. At least one person was killed and six injured in strikes on the Russian territory, officials said.
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Video shows Patriot missiles were used against recent Russian missile attacks in Kyiv
From CNN's Vasco Cotovio and Tim Lister
Video shot earlier this week in Kyiv shows the remnants of a US-made Patriot PAC-3 missile, indicating the air defense system was in use Monday when Russian forces fired 11 cruise and ballistic missiles at the Ukrainian capital.
Weapons experts contacted by CNN confirmed that the wreckage — minus a warhead — appeared to be that of the missile type supplied to Ukraine for the recently donated Patriot batteries.
Earlier this month, Russia claimed to have destroyed a Patriot battery in the Kyiv area. US officials said the complex’s launcher had suffered minor damage.
The arrival of the Patriot batteries has enabled Ukraine to intercept ballistic missiles and faster cruise missiles.
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US announces new $300 million security package for Ukraine
From CNN's Natasha Bertrand, Yulia Kesaieva and Oren Liebermann
The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will send an estimated $300 million worth of additional weaponry and equipment to Ukraine, focusing the latest military aid package on air defense systems to help Kyiv fend off Russian aerial attacks.
The package includes radar-guided, air-to-air AIM-7 missiles for the first time. It’s unclear if the older air-to-air missiles have been adapted to Ukraine’s Soviet-era fighter jets or if they will be used in conjunction with a ground-based system.
The package will also include munitions for unmanned aerial systems, which a US official described as mortar-like ammunition that can be dropped from drones. Ukraine has used smaller commercial drones to drop grenades and mortar rounds on Russian troops and positions from above, often posting videos of such jerry-rigged attacks on social media.
Attacks in Russia: The additional drone ammunition comes amid a spate of drone attacks on Russian targets in recent days, including against residential buildings in Moscow and two Russian oil refineries in southern Russia. US officials have not determined who launched those attacks, but US intelligence officials believe Ukrainians were behind a drone attack on the Kremlin earlier this month, CNN has reported.
The White House reiterated Wednesday that US officials have told Ukraine the US does not support attacks on Russian territory, especially with US-provided equipment. Two US officials said there is no evidence right now, though, that the drones were provided by the US.
The US will also be providing Ukraine with additional missiles for Patriot air defense systems, one of which was damaged by a Russian hypersonic missile earlier this month, as well as Avenger air defense systems and additional stinger anti-aircraft systems.
The new package marks the 39th time since August 2021 that the administration has taken equipment directly from DoD inventories to provide to Ukraine, the Pentagon said in a press release. To date, the US has provided more than $37.6 billion in military aid since the start of the war in Ukraine.
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Shelling and drone strikes hit inside Russia's border as Ukraine war takes a new turn
From CNN's Rob Picheta and Anna Chernova
Russia saw the effects of its war on Ukraine dramatically reverberate back onto its own territory on Wednesday, after a “massive” shelling attack injured four people in a southwestern border region and preliminary information indicated a drone crashed and sparked a fire at an oil refinery further south.
Eight apartment buildings, four homes, a school and two administrative buildings were damaged during the shelling in Shebekino, a village near the Ukraine border in the region of Belgorod, its governor said, as the oblast increasingly becomes a hotbed of straying violence.
Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said there was more shelling of a border area later on Wednesday, which he blamed on Ukrainian forces.
Earlier on Tuesday night, Gladkov said one person was killed and two were injured in an attack on a temporary accommodation center.
And a drone crashed at the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, east of the annexed territory of Crimea, starting a fire in the early hours of Wednesday morning, local officials there said. The blaze was put out soon after.
The incidents come one day after a drone attack on Moscow, for which Russia has blamed Ukraine. All eight aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles launched at the Russian capital were destroyed, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Kyiv has not yet commented on the drone attack or on Wednesday’s incidents in Belgorod and Krasnodar. The Ukrainian government generally does not confirm or deny strikes inside Russian territory.
