Russian soldiers trapped in Vovchansk as intense battles rage. Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, has reported a critical situation in Vovchansk. Several Russian military personnel are trapped at an industrial facility, struggling to break through and suffering heavy losses. “Several dozen Russian soldiers were blocked out at an industrial enterprise in Vovchansk. The Russians are attempting to break through but are continuously incurring significant losses in this direction,” Syniehubov stated confidently. He described the situation in Vovchansk as “volatile,” with intense street battles raging in the city. “Our military’s mission is clear: inflict maximum damage in the Lypetsk and Vovchansk sectors. We are focused on destroying as much enemy personnel, military equipment, and weaponry as possible, and this effort is relentless, happening around the clock,” Syniehubov asserted.
Satellite images reportedly showed fire traces at Cape Chauda’s Russian military training ground. Ukrainian channel Krym.Realii, a subdivision of Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, reported that from the Tavrida highway, a cloud of heavy smoke from a significant fire can be seen in the area of Cape Chauda, where the Russian military objects are located. A map created by the journalists of Krym.Realii shows that there are several Russian military facilities, including a training ground, situated in the vicinity of Cape Chauda. The Telegram monitoring group Crimean Wind reported that Russia had been using its Aerospace Forces’ maritime training ground and a hangar-laboratory for the 2nd testing centre of the Russian Ministry of Defense at Cape Chauda since 2016. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces are using this training ground to deploy Shahed drones targeting cities in mainland Ukraine.
Spain delivers more military aid to Ukraine. Spanish newspaper El Mundo confirmed that according to its sources, the second batch of long-range Patriot anti-aircraft missiles from Spain arrived in Ukraine last Friday, supplementing the initial shipment delivered at the end of April. These Patriots are part of a ‘significant’ shipment dispatched in June, as announced by Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles on May 25 during the ministerial meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and her Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov. In addition to the Patriots, the shipment comprised a second batch of Leopard tanks, various types of ammunition, including 155mm artillery shells, anti-drone systems, optoelectronic surveillance and tracking systems, and remote weapon turrets. El Mundo noted that just two days after the Robles’ announcement, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a security agreement in Madrid, reaffirming Spain’s commitment to providing military support to Ukraine. This support, totalling 1 billion euros in 2024, aims to bolster Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
Trump’s campaign says he’ll push for swift negotiations. Donald Trump’s campaign has outlined his strategy for ending the Ukraine war if he is re-elected. Emphasising a swift resolution, Trump’s approach prioritises negotiations while calling for European nations to shoulder more of the financial responsibility. Trump argues that the United States has borne a disproportionate burden in the conflict compared to its European allies. The campaign reiterates Trump’s belief that the war would not have started under his leadership and underscores his plans to restore global peace and strengthen America’s position. The strategy includes using ongoing military aid to encourage Ukraine to engage in talks with Russia while also signalling increased US support for Ukraine if Russia rejects negotiations, according to Voice of America.
Biden administration considers allowing US military contractors in Ukraine. The Biden administration is considering lifting a de facto ban on American military contractors working in Ukraine to assist with maintaining and repairing US-provided weapons systems. This policy shift would allow the Pentagon to contract American companies to work directly inside Ukraine for the first time since the Russian invasion in 2022. The change, which is still under discussion and has not yet been approved by President Biden, aims to speed up the repair and maintenance of critical military equipment, including the advanced F-16 fighter jets that Ukraine is set to receive later this year. The move comes as US officials reassess restrictions in light of ongoing Russian advances and delays in congressional funding for Ukraine. The presence of American contractors in Ukraine would mark a significant escalation in US involvement, although it would not involve deploying US troops, according to CNN.
International arrest warrants for Russia’s Shoigu and Gerasimov. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Russia’s former defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. The ICC judges believe that Shoigu and Gerasimov are individually responsible for missile strikes on civilian targets, particularly Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure, between October 2022 and March 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the ICC’s decision, calling it a clear step towards justice for Russian crimes against Ukrainians. Russia has dismissed the warrants as part of a broader hybrid war against Moscow. The ICC’s actions, although symbolically significant, are limited by its inability to enforce arrests within non-member countries, including Russia, as reported by the BBC.
