Early on the morning of February 24th, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on state television that Russia will carry out a 'special military operation' in eastern Ukraine.
Moscow claims the 'operation' is aimed at 'denazification and demilitarization' of Ukrainian territory at the request of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk 'people's republics', and is based on the right to self-defence. Russia also says that it does not attack the civilian population.
But, the fact is, Russian armed forces have killed innocent people, including children and the elderly. Russia deliberately targets civilian infrastructure and falsely claims that it is Ukraine's army that puts people's lives at risk.
Suspilne, the largest independent news media outlet in Ukraine, and a number of English-speaking volunteers launch this live updates page to let the world know what is really happening on the ground. Tune in for hourly news bulletins from all Ukrainian regions.
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Read the previous online here - Russia invades Ukraine — live updates from Suspilne
Our news at 14:14
Russia controls more than 90% of the Luhansk region and is likely to gain full control in the next two weeks, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. These tactical successes on the hundredth day of the war were achieved with significant losses on the Russian side, as well as due to the concentration of force and fire on one part of the general campaign.
As of the morning of June 3, the total combat losses of Russia since the beginning of the full-scale offensive against Ukraine amounted to 30,950 servicemen, the General Staff reports. During the past day, Russians lost about 100 people. The biggest losses were suffered in the Bakhmut direction.
Fighting continues in the central part of Severodonetsk. Russian forces are preparing for the offensive in the Slobozhansk direction. Russian invaders continue shelling along the entire front line in the Donetsk direction. Russian units in the Popasna suffered significant losses: at least 50% of personnel, weapons, and equipment according to the General Staff.
The Ukrainian counter-offensive in the Kherson region has likely pushed Russian troops to the eastern bank of Inhulets. This was reported by the U.S. Institute for the Study of War.
Ukrainian troops made "some progress" in battles in Severodonetsk, Luhansk Oblast, but the situation in the temporarily occupied territories remains catastrophic and for this "Russia bears full responsibility," said Volodymyr Zelensky.
On Thursday the U.S. added 71 Russian and Belarusian trade companies to the blacklist for international trade, several aircraft factories, shipbuilding, and research institutes among them.
During the entire war, Russia took 100,000 tons of grain stolen from Ukrainian storage facilities in the temporarily occupied territories to Syria, writes Reuters. Its estimated cost exceeds $40 million.
Moscow has pressed Beijing at least twice to offer new forms of economic support, writes The Washington Post with reference to Chinese officials. The sources claim that President Xi Jinping instructed his advisors to find ways to provide financial aid to Russia, but without violating the sanctions.
Fifty diplomatic missions have resumed their work in Kyiv.
The sixth package of sanctions, MLRS M270 from Britain, Belarus is mining the roads. The war. The main news of June 2
The EU has approved the sixth package of sanctions, the Pentagon has released a list of weapons for Ukraine, Britain will hand over M270 multiple rocket launchers, the State Bureau of Investigations has completed an investigation into the betrayal of Viktor Medvedchuk, Ireland has declared Russia's war genocide. Suspilne gathered the main news of the 99th day of the full-scale war.
The EU has approved the sixth package of sanctions against Russia. Among other things, it bans oil imports from Russia by sea, disconnects Sberbank and several other banks from the Swift system, sanctions against security and military personnel, industrial and technological organizations, oligarchs, propagandists and members of their families. However, Russian Patriarch Kirill was removed from the list of sanctions. At the same time, Bloomberg estimates that despite sanctions and the refusal of some countries to purchase Russian energy, Russia's oil and gas revenues in 2022 will amount to about $ 285 billion.
The Pentagon has released a list of weapons provided by a new package of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $ 700 million. It includes, among other things, highly mobile artillery missile systems, anti-artillery radars, 1,000 Javelins, 15,000 155-mm artillery shells, and four Mi-17 helicopters. Also, the United Kingdom will hand over to Ukraine American M270 multiple rocket launchers capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 80 kilometers. Sweden will provide anti-ship missiles, anti-tank weapons and 12.7-mm rifles, including ammunition. The total amount of financial assistance is over 95 million euros.
The Armed Forces of Belarues are mining roads and bridges on the territories bordering Ukraine, the General Staff reports. In the Donbas — fighting and shelling of Russians along the front line. In the Bakhmut direction, the Russian army is trying to advance in the areas of Komyshuvakha, Mykolaivka, Vrubivka, Berestovo and Bilohorivka. In the direction of Lyman — the areas of Studenok, Sosnovy and Yarova are assaulted. In the Luhansk region — battles around Lysychansk and Severodonetsk. Also, Russian troops are trying to avoid the need to fight for the Seversky Donets river in the direction of Severodonetsk, the Institute for the Study of War states, and because of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region, Russia is trying to strengthen its position there in rush.
As of June 2, 2022, about 20% of Ukraine's territory is under temporary occupation by Russian troops, and the battles have spread over the front for more than a thousand kilometers, said Volodymyr Zelensky.
In the temporarily occupied Berdiansk on June 2, powerful explosions took place near the seaport. The Russian occupiers explained this by saying that they were allegedly conducting demining.
Ireland has recognized Russia's war against Ukraine as genocide. This was previously done by Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Canada.
Saudi Arabia is ready to increase oil production if production in Russia is significantly reduced due to sanctions. The position of the kingdom has changed after the visit to Riyadh of American officials, according to the Financial Times.
Taiwan has banned the export of modern chips to Russia and Belarus.
At least 721 children were injured in Ukraine as a result of armed aggression by the Russian Federation. As of the morning of June 2, 2022, 261 children were killed and more than 460 injured. Data — the Prosecutor General's Office.
The State Bureau of Investigations has completed the investigation into the case of treason against Viktor Medvedchuk. The indictment will now be sent to court. The politician faces up to 15 years in prison.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbok stated that she supports granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union.
As of February 24, police have registered 9,030 missing persons reports, with 6,793 still wanted, according to the National Police.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, day 99. Online updates.
Fighting continues in Donbas. The Ukrainian armed forces repulsed 13 Russian attacks in one day.
The Donetsk front line was fired at with mortars, barrel and jet artillery.
In the Lyman direction, Russian troops fought in the direction of the settlement of Raigorodok, suffered losses and withdrew. The Russian army is also carrying out assault operations in Severodonetsk. In the Bakhmut direction, the Russian military stormed Komyshuvakha to take control of the city, had partial success, and fighting continued.
Overnight, the Russian army did not succeed in Severodonetsk: the Ukrainian military is conducting counterattacks and pushing them on certain streets, said the head of the regional administration Gaidai.
In the evening of June 1, the Russian Federation did launch a missile strike on the Lvkiv region. Four cruise missiles damaged the railway infrastructure, said Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv Regional Administration. 5 people were injured. Trains through the Lviv region are delayed. On the night of June 2, Russian troops fired again on the Dnipropetrovsk region on the border with the Kherson region. The Russian army also fired missiles at Sumy region: at least three people were injured. The Russians also fired on Kharkiv. As a result, the school and library burned down. During firefighting rescuers found the body of a woman, rescued four people.
The Armed Forces sank a pair of high-speed landing craft hidden by the occupiers in the Dnipro-Bug estuary in order to suddenly commit sabotage and reconnaissance operations, according to the Operational Command "Pivden".
Due to a powerful counterattack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russians were forced to defend themselves on the borders of the Kherson and Mykolayiv regions. The Ukrainian army is interrupting the occupiers' main supply route in the region, according to a report by the American Institute for War Studies (ISW). It is noted that the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region has attracted the attention of Russian forces in the region, and the Russians are hastily trying to defend a critical ground line of communication, the capture of which threatens the advance of the Armed Forces.
Reconstruction of residential buildings damaged by Russian shelling has begun in Kyiv, the Kyiv City State Administration reports. The works are planned to be completed closer to the middle of autumn, so that the citizens can return to their homes before the start of the heating season.
In total, almost 390 buildings need renovation, including more than 220 residential buildings. Others are objects of social infrastructure: medical institutions, kindergartens, schools, social protection institutions, administrative buildings.
The most popular sources of information for Ukrainians in the last two months of the full-scale war are social networks, mostly Telegram, YouTube and Facebook, but the most credible is television. This was reported by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology commissioned by the OPORA Civic Network.
Ukraine has signed a contract with Slovakia for the supply of Zuzana 2 howitzers. Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nagy said that eight howitzers would be delivered to Ukraine under the contract. Production of the Zuzana ACS in Slovakia was established in the 1990s. It can strike up to 40 km.
On June 1, the Pentagon published a list of weapons of the 11th package of military assistance to Ukraine. Among them, twelve HIMARS M142 systems are a highly mobile artillery missile fire system. They will have a range of up to 70 kilometers.
The video shows the operation of the HIMARS missile system.
Following the United States, the United Kingdom will hand over to Ukraine American multiple rocket launchers capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 80 kilometers. These are American multiple rocket launchers based on the M270 MLRS.
The decision was agreed with the United States.
Ukraine defeated Scotland (3: 1) and reached the play-off finals for the 2022 FIFA World Cup! Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk scored goals for Ukraine! How did Ukrainian defenders they watch the Ukraine-Scotland match at the positions of the defense near Kharkiv. Reaction of “Achilles” and “Hutsul” group fighters to the goal scored by Ukrainian team.
The daily death toll, HIMARS MLRS, Turkey attacks Syria. The war. Key news on June 1
Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the number of Ukrainian soldiers dying on the front line every day. The United States approved a new package of aid to Ukraine. Russian forces seized the eastern part of Severodonetsk. Turkey began an offensive on two settlements in Syria. Ukrainians support possession of weapons. Suspilne gathered the main news of the 98th day of the full-scale war.
Every day, 60-100 Ukrainian soldiers die at the front line, and another 500 are injured, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The United States will provide Ukraine with a new $700 million military aid package that will include HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The General Staff reports that the Russian army has established control over most of Severodonetsk and is preparing to advance in three directions: Slobozhansk, Slovyansk, and Lyman. In the afternoon, Russian military aircraft fired six missiles at Shalyhin community in Shostka district.
Kremlin does not rule out Putin's meeting with Zelensky but insists that it must have grounds. This was stated by the official representative of the Kremlin, Dmytro Peskov. He also added that the only purpose of such the meeting would be to "finalize some document", but the work on it "has stopped a long time ago and has not been resumed since."
In the Russian Ivanovo region, missile troops are trained to use strategic Yars missiles with nuclear warheads.
The Turkish army launched an operation to "liberate" the Syrian cities of Tal Rifaat and Manbij from terrorists.
Germany will provide Ukraine with the most modern air defence system it has — IRIS-T which has a range of 40 km and can protect an entire city. However, it may take months to transfer these systems, said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, more than 234,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken to Russia, the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas or to Belarus, said the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation Darya Herasymchuk.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported that Ukraine is working on an international operation to safely export goods by the Black Sea, which will be led by the UN.
On June 1, a public survey about the preferred option for possession of weapons has finished in Diia (Ukrainian e-governance app). 19.43% supported possession for special needs, 58.75% — for personal protection, and 21.82% of respondents were against the right to own weapons.
On May 31, Ukraine called the UN to strip Russia of its UNESCO membership as Russians are destroying Ukrainian cultural heritage. The corresponding resolution was supported by the Verkhovna Rada. However, UNESCO refused to exclude Russia from the organisation.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, day 98. Online updates.
Russia is conducting military exercises with nuclear weapons: missile forces are conducting maneuvers using strategic complexes "Yars" in the Ivanovo region. This was reported by "Interfax" with reference to the Russian Defense Ministry.
From 60 to100 Ukrainian servicemen die and another 500 are wounded in battles at the front every day, President Zelensky said.
The Russian army is conducting offensive battles in the Donbas. "The enemy is firing along the front line using mortars, artillery and multiple rocket launchers," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement.
Part of the Ukrainian troops withdrew from Severodonetsk to pre-prepared and more advantageous positions, the other part - remains in the city and continue fighting, said the head of the Luhansk regional administration Haidai. According to him, Russian militaries control 70% of the city.
On the night of June 1, Russian troops once again shelled the Zelenodolsk community in the Dnipropetrovsk region, people were not injured, said the head of the regional administration Reznichenko. There were attacks both in the Kharkiv region, and also in the Mykolaiv region some settlements are shelled by Russians from the occupied territories of the Kherson region.
Russia's concentration on the capture of Severodonetsk and the Donbas in general creates vulnerabilities for Russia in the important Kherson region, where a counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces continues, according to the American Institute for War Studies (ISW). The Kherson region is a critically important territory, as it is the only region of Ukraine where Russian forces hold positions on the west bank of the Dnieper.
More than 689 children got hurt in Ukraine as a result of full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation. As of the morning of June 1, the official number of killed children has not changed - 243.
The Russians began to deploy missile systems on the Zmiyiny island in the Odesa region. This may indicate that they want to protect their ships from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and plan to use weapons along the coast of Odesa. This was reported on June 1 in the operational command "South".
Utility service dismantled fortifications in the center of Odesa, said the mayor of Odesa Hennadii Trukhanov. "Dismantling of fortifications is not the abolition, but a change in the format of the defense of Odesa. As well as the restoration of the necessary activities," he explained. In the same way, the secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council Anatolii Kurtev denied rumors that the city was being prepared to be handed over to the Russian military. This information was spread because the street lighting in the dark is on and the number of Czech hedgehogs reduced on the roads.
The Russian occupation administration is preparing to demolish houses destroyed during the shelling of Mariupol and relocate people from the saved apartments. The adviser to the mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriushchenko reported about it.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that Ukraine ia working to organize an international operation on the safe export of grain by the Black Sea, headed by the United Nations.
US President Joe Biden has approved the transfer of missile systems and ammunition to Ukraine, which will allow more accurately hit key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine. Biden wrote about this in an article for The New York Times. In his opinion, the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be stopped with the help of diplomacy, but until then the US task is to provide Ukraine with a significant amount of weapons and ammunition so that Ukraine has maximum influence at the negotiating table.
