Drone footage shows the scale of destruction in Odesa after the Russian attack
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Russian forces are suffering from a shortage of tanks, the nation’s defense minister has admitted during a visit to a military factory in western Siberia.
Sergei Shoigu has called for more tanks to be manufactured “to meet the needs of Russian forces” in Ukraine, with Kiev launching a counter-offensive with Western tanks and weapons.
Shoigu said it was necessary to “maintain the increase in tank production” and better safety features in armored vehicles, the defense ministry said in a statement about the visit.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Saturday that Kiev’s forces were making progress, or had “recorded tactical successes,” as she called it, in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a group of African leaders who traveled to Russia on a so-called “peace mission” after a trip to Ukraine on Friday.
Seven African leaders – the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as the prime minister of Egypt and the top envoys of the Republic of Congo and Uganda – have traveled to St Petersburg to meet Putin.
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Supply of Russian tanks
Russian forces are suffering from a shortage of tanks, the nation’s defense minister has admitted, during a visit to a military factory in western Siberia. Sergei Shoigu has called for more tanks to be manufactured “to meet the needs of Russian forces” in Ukraine, with Kiev launching a counter-offensive with Western tanks and weapons.
Shoigu said it was necessary to “maintain the increase in tank production” and better safety features in armored vehicles, the defense ministry said in a statement about the visit.
Chris StevensonJune 17, 2023 1:40 p.m
Ramaphosa in Saint Petersburg
South Africa’s president has arrived in St Petersburg, Russia, as part of an African delegation pushing for talks between Kiev and Moscow.
The arrival of President Cyril Ramaphosa in the country “follows constructive discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky”, the South African presidency said.
“This conflict is negatively affecting Africa,” South Africa’s Ramaphosa told a news conference alongside Zelensky and four other African leaders after the talks on Friday.
Chris StevensonJune 17, 2023 3:45 p.m
Assault with Russian missiles
Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov on Saturday revised the death toll from a Russian missile attack on a small eastern Ukrainian village to two.
Mr Synehubov initially told the Telegram messaging app that four people were killed when a Russian anti-tank guided missile hit a car driving towards the village of Huriyv Kozachok, near the border with Russia.
He later gave an update, saying two volunteers — a 42-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman — were killed.
Ukraine liberated many towns and cities in the Kharkiv region last fall, but the Russian military has since frequently bombed the area.
Chris StevensonJune 17, 2023 3:16 p.m
The future of NATO
Jens Stoltenberg is expected to stay on as NATO secretary general for another year, according to a source familiar with the discussions and a US official, as the alliance has struggled to decide on a successor ahead of a summit in mid-July in Lithuania. .
The mandate of Mr. Stoltenberg has already been extended three times and is due to step down in September after nine years as secretary general of the military alliance.
The Norwegian has broad support among the alliance and remains an effective leader, the source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“The [Biden] The administration is considering Stoltenberg staying on for another year,” said the US official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
“At this time there does not appear to be consensus within the alliance on his replacement.”
Chris StevensonJune 17, 2023 2:55 p.m
Zelensky has invited African leaders to the world peace summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that he has invited African leaders to participate in a global peace summit where “Ukraine will be heard around the world.”
He said on social media: “Today has been a long day, with many events and many news. Long discussions… The peace formula, security issues, our joint capabilities to protect the principles and goals of the Charter of the United Nations, to protect nations from aggression.
“I called on the leaders and states of Africa to participate in the Global Peace Summit that we are preparing. Ukraine will be heard around the world and we will involve the whole world in the implementation of the Peace Formula.”
Chris StevensonJune 17, 2023 2:29 p.m
How important is the recovery of the first Ukrainian peoples of Russia?
Ukraine has celebrated the first territorial gains of its long-running counteroffensive against invading Russian forces.
Unverified photos and videos that emerged on Sunday and Monday morning showed Ukrainian soldiers with their country’s blue and yellow flag marching in the eastern Donetsk villages of Storozheve, Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka, suggesting they had been recovered from the occupying enemy troops.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar posted one of Storozheve’s photos and thanked the 35th Separate Marine Brigade for freeing her.
Since then, he said Ukraine has retaken three more villages in Zaporizhzhia – Lobkove, Levadne and Novodarivk – and advanced 250 meters near Bakhmut, 200 meters on the Toretsk front in eastern Ukraine and at least another 500 meters in near the port city of Berdyansk.
Chris StevensonJune 17, 2023 2:00 p.m
Russian missile kills two in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region -Gov
Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov on Saturday revised the death toll from a Russian missile attack on a small eastern Ukrainian village to two.
Synehubov initially told the Telegram messaging app that four people were killed when a Russian anti-tank guided missile hit a car driving towards the village of Huriyv Kozachok, near the border with Russia.
He later gave an update, saying two volunteers — a 42-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman — were killed.
Ukraine liberated many towns and cities in the Kharkiv region last fall, but since then the Russian military has frequently bombed the area, destroying critical infrastructure and injuring and killing residents.
Martha MchardyJune 17, 2023 1:17 p.m
SUMMARY: Damage caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in pictures
A church is surrounded by water in a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine
(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
A flooded area is seen in water in Kherson, Ukraine
(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Houses are seen under water and contaminated by oil in a flooded neighborhood of Kherson
(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Tara CobhamJune 17, 2023 12:30 p.m
Why did Russia invade Ukraine?
Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine has been wreaking havoc for a year now, as the conflict continues to take a devastating toll and force the mass displacement of millions of innocent Ukrainians.
Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming that Russia’s neighbor needed to be “demilitarized and de-Nazified,” a baseless pretext for launching a land grab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine has fought bravely against Putin’s warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by fending off Russian attacks with Western military aid.
Thomas Kingsley i Joe Sommerlad report:
Tara CobhamJune 17, 2023 11:30 am
Ukrainians rescued from flood zones controlled by Russia in Kherson
Watch the dramatic moment Ukrainian civilians are rescued from flood-hit areas on the Russian-occupied eastern bank.
Rescue boats carrying volunteers and officials crossed from Ukrainian-held areas on the west bank to evacuate desperate civilians trapped on rooftops.
Drone footage obtained by the AP shows severe flooding from the June 6 destruction of the Kakhovka Dam along the lower Dnieper River in Kherson.
Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of destroying the dam.
Ukrainians rescued from flood zones controlled by Russia in Kherson
Watch the dramatic moment Ukrainian civilians are rescued from flood-hit areas on the Russian-occupied eastern bank. Rescue boats carrying volunteers and officials crossed from Ukrainian-held areas on the west bank to evacuate desperate civilians trapped on rooftops. Drone footage obtained by the AP shows severe flooding from the June 6 destruction of the Kakhovka Dam along the lower Dnieper River in Kherson. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of destroying the dam.
Martha MchardyJune 17, 2023 10:39 am
