Ukraine Watch

2️⃣5️⃣ June. Key updates:

▪️ The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Ukrainian troop losses over the past day amounted to up to 2,345 personnel.

▪️ Russian strikes destroyed two Ukrainian Armed Forces' supply depots and a P-18 radar detection system, according to the military department.

▪️ In the investigation of the Il-76 crash in the Belgorod Oblast in April, evidence confirming the involvement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been gathered, the Investigative Committee reported. The aircraft was hit by a Patriot missile, which detonated in front of the cockpit.

▪️ The import of radiochemical substances for disposal continues into Ukraine, with the main routes passing through Poland and Romania, stated Russian NBC Protection Troops chief Kirillov.

▪️ The hazardous materials being imported into Ukraine could be used for a false-flag "dirty bomb" provocation, noted the NBC Protection Troops chief.

▪️ Advisors to Trump have presented him with a plan to "push" Ukraine toward peace negotiations with Russia, Reuters reports. According to the plan, if Trump wins the election, Kiev will be informed that it will only receive more weapons from the U.S. if it engages in negotiations.

▪️ Macron stated that he would continue dialogue with Putin and does not rule out the possibility of future conversations on various topics.

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🇪🇺🇺🇦🇲🇩 The European Union has begun accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, two years after granting them "candidate country" status.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote today that it would be "a difficult path" but one that offers "immense opportunities" for both countries and the EU as well.

It is worth noting that Turkey was officially recognized as a "candidate country" in 1999, and it still holds the same status with no clear indication of when it might change.

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❗️ Ukraine will not receive an invitation to join NATO at the upcoming alliance summit, according to the White House.

Instead, an "institutional bridge" will be created for Ukraine to reach this goal, said a representative of the Biden administration.

And briefly, other news at this hour:

▪️ The White House stated that there is "absolutely no consensus" within the G7 on what to do with the main amount of frozen Russian assets;

▪️ The White House is working on lifting the de facto ban on deploying American military contractors in Ukraine, CNN reports, citing officials;

▪️ The MAKS Air Show has been canceled for 2024, according to a government directive;

▪️ The reaction of Western countries to the attack on Sevastopol indicates a lack of moral foundation, stated Sergey Ryabkov;

▪️ The main part of the work for Ukraine's accession to the EU will not take place before 2025, writes the Financial Times. The publication reports that EU officials expect substantive negotiations to begin during Poland's presidency of the bloc, which starts on January 1.

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⚡️ The White House is working on lifting the de facto ban on deploying American military contractors in Ukraine, according to TV reports citing officials.

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🖋 An American mercenary from the "foreign legion" has written an open letter to those considering going to Ukraine.

In a lengthy Reddit post, the mercenary warns potential "defenders of democracy" against making hasty decisions. According to him, going to Ukraine without prior preparation is signing your own death warrant because:

1️⃣ Training for new recruits in Ukraine "does not match the risk" faced by fighters on the front lines. The standards of physical training are "laughable."

2️⃣ Fighters are not prepared for "drone warfare," resulting in many deaths. The training has not adapted, and it is much easier to die than to survive. There are "a hell of a lot of drones."

3️⃣ The technical equipment provided to fighters in Ukraine cannot be relied upon. All drones, electronic warfare devices, jammers, and other equipment will have to be brought with you.

The mercenary particularly emphasizes that the narratives promoted online by Western bloggers do not reflect reality: Western users "like to write that Russians, not Ukrainians, are being killed. Don't let them deceive you into thinking that these deaths are one-sided."

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Il-76M February Crash: Investigation Confirms Involvement of Ukrainian Armed Forces

▪️The Investigative Committee has gathered evidence confirming the involvement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the crash of the Il-76 carrying Ukrainian prisoners in January near Belgorod.
▪️ Key points from the Investigative Committee's statement:
➖ The aircraft was hit by a Patriot missile, with the explosion occurring in front of the cockpit.
➖ The first missile struck at an altitude of 4,000 meters, while the second self-destructed.
➖ The leadership of the GUR (Main Intelligence Directorate) and the Ukrainian Armed Forces knew about the transportation of prisoners but still ordered the strike.
➖ The investigation has identified the Ukrainian Armed Forces units equipped with Patriot systems.
➖ Work continues to identify the responsible officials.

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