A bridge linking annexed Crimea and a region of southern Ukraine partially occupied by Russian forces was damaged by a Ukrainian strike, Russian local authorities said on Thursday (June 22nd). “During the night, a strike hit the bridge of Tchongar. There are no victims”, said the Russian governor of Crimea. This bridge connects Crimea annexed by Moscow in 2014 to an area of the Ukrainian region of Kherson occupied by Russian forces. Follow our live.
Prigozhin accuses the Russian army. The leader of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused the Russian military hierarchy of “hide” the difficulties encountered in the face of the Ukrainian counter-offensive. “The enemy is occupying Piatykhaty, northern Robotyne, and Urojaine, which means that large swaths of territory have been losts” by the Russians, he denounced on Telegram.
The counter-offensive not as fast as hoped. According to the Institute for the Study of War, the slower-than-expected overall pace of the Ukrainian counteroffensive “is not representative of Ukraine’s wider attacking potential”, specify the center on Twitter. “Ukrainian forces are likely setting the conditions for a major future effort, despite initial setbacks.”
New financial aid for Kyiv. EU countries will donate another 3.5 billion euros to the fund for the European Peace Facility, used to finance their arms supplies to Ukraine and military missions abroad. The initial endowment of 5.7 billion, allocated for 7 years, melted in just one year.
New sanctions for Russia. EU member states also agreed on an 11th package of restrictive measures against Russia, intended in particular to avoid the circumvention of the sanctions already in place. He “includes measures aimed at combating the circumvention of sanctions and individual sanctions”, said Sweden, which holds the rotating EU Council Presidency.
Large-scale operation for mine clearance in Ukraine. Ukraine’s mine clearance will be comparable to that put in place in Europe after World War II to remove explosive devices, the UN said. It will take some 274 million euros per year for five years to clear the territory. So far, only $35 million has been received this year to fund the program.