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Putin’s war has seen up to 250,000 Russians killed since February 2022, according to a Washington-based think tank
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The Ukrainian military says it has begun pushing back Russian troops in the northeastern Sumy region, where it is preparing a counteroffensive following advances by Moscow.
Fighting has intensified despite a return to direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in recent months. Russian forces have carved out a 200 square kilometre (77.22 square miles) chunk of Ukraine’s Sumy region and first entered the Dnipropetrovsk region last month.
“Our troops maintain defenses along the designated border, conduct preparation and counter-offensive measures to repel the enemy,” the Ukrainian military’s General Staff said on Facebook.
“Yes, as a result of the successful actions of Ukrainian soldiers, the settlement of Andriyivka was liberated. In addition, our units advanced in the area of Oleksíivka, pushing the opponent away from Sumy.”
The General Staff also claimed on Monday that Russia has lost more than one million troops during its invasion of Ukraine after losing more than 1,000 in the past day alone.
The figures from Kyiv have not been verified by independent sources – but the Center for Strategic & International Studies reported earlier this month that up to 250,000 soldiers have been killed with up to 950,000 casualties.
Russian forces have reportedly seized their first village in Ukraine’s east-central Dnipropetrovsk region, according to Russian state media and war bloggers, marking a new advance in the ongoing conflict.
There has been no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian sources or the Russian Defence Ministry regarding the claim.
This reported advance comes as Moscow’s forces have gained significant ground in recent months, seizing approximately 950 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory over the past two months.
This includes a 200 square kilometre chunk of the Sumy region and an earlier entry into Dnipropetrovsk last month, even as both sides discuss potential peace.
Read more here:
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday it had summoned Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Moscow over what it described as Baku’s “unfriendly actions” and the “illegal detention” of Russian journalists working in the country.
Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan rose earlier on Monday after the Kremlin said it disagreed with a decision by Azerbaijan to cancel Russian cultural events in response to the arrest in Russia of a group of ethnic Azerbaijanis suspected of serious crimes.
Ukraine’s military has said it is has began pushing back Russian forces in the Sumy region as it prepares a counteroffensive after Russia has seized hundreds of square kilometres.
Here is what the military’s General Staff posted on Facebook, according to Ukrainska Pravda:
Currently, the situation is stabilized, the advancement of the enemy has been stopped along the line of Junakivka – Yablunivka – Novomikolaivka – Oleksiyivka – Kindrativka – Border of the Russian Federation – Placdarm on the territory of the Russian Federation in the Glushkov district of the Kursk region.
Our troops maintain defenses along the designated border, conduct preparation and counter-offensive measures to repel the enemy. Yes, as a result of the successful actions of Ukrainian soldiers, the settlement of Andriyivka was liberated. In addition, our units advanced in the area of Oleksíivka, pushing the opponent away from Sumy.
Germany will explore “every possible path” to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems as Russia launches increasingly intense missile and drone attacks, foreign minister Johann Wadephul said.
Speaking during a press conference, Mr Wadephul said Germany is working with its defense industry, European allies and the US ensure Kyiv is provided with more systems.
“We are going down every path available,” Mr Wadephul said according to RBK-Ukraine. “The German defense industry is trying to expand its capacity. We’re speaking with our European partners, and I believe we must also move forward with the United States.”
Ukraine’s Ministry of National Unity, which aimed to establish engagement with Ukrainians abroad, may be dissolved, according to a report.
The ministry was headed by deputy prime minister Oleksii Chernyshov, Ukrainska Pravda reports that part of the reason it was initially created was to give Mr Chernyshov a role in government.
“It was a kind of ‘craft’ ministry. We gave it a try – it didn’t work,” said a source within the governing Servant of the People party.
“Maybe it’s not worth dragging it along any further. So far, there’s no final certainty that anything will change. The president and Yermak [Head of President’s Office – ed.] have returned from their NATO and EU summits, and everything’s gone quiet. No one’s being pushed. We’ll see”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that he had signed a decree to pull Kyiv out of a treaty restricting the use of anti-personnel landmines.
First signed in December 1997 the treaty to eliminate the use of the landmines, but during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces have reportedly been the first signatories to use them in combat.
Mr Zelensky said Kyiv would pull out of the treaty because Russia – which has not signed to the so-called Ottowa Treaty – has used anti-personnel mines extensively in parts of Ukraine during the 40-month-old war.
All the European countries bordering Russia, apart from Norway, have now announced plans to quit the global treaty, citing the increasing threat of direct conflict with Moscow.
Norway only has a 200km border with Russia in the remote Arctic far north, and says it is important to maintain stigma around the weapons. Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have all withdrawn or indicated that they will do so.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres in mid-June raised grave concerns about recent withdrawal announcements, and urged all states to adhere to existing treaties and immediately halt any steps towards their withdrawal.
Read more about Ukraine’s landmine crisis here.
Foreign secretary David Lammy is set to discuss the Ukraine conflict with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan during his first bilateral visit to Ankara.
The trip comes as talks on a new free trade agreement between the UK and Turkey get under way.
The UK and Turkey are also in talks to export Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey.
Mr Lammy said: “In an increasingly volatile world, the UK and Turkey remain the closest of friends and partners as we work together to find peaceful solutions to conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“Ours is a relationship which delivers directly for Turkish and British citizens at home – trade between our nations is responsible for thousands of jobs, while our security and defence links help keep our people safe.”
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Ukraine war live: Kyiv claims advances in Sumy region ahead of counteroffensive – The Independent
