LIVE – War in Ukraine: a “massive” Russian bombardment on the city of Sloviansk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the role of Greek companies in the export of Russian oil, seeing it as a situation which “does not correspond to the interests of Europe”.

While many shipping or oil companies in Europe and the United States have stopped trading with Russia, Greek shipowners, who control the majority of the European Union fleet, continue to transport Russian crude oil.

The president of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) defended the continuation of these exchanges in early June, assuring that “Greek shipping is not doing anything illegal” and “has not violated any embargo”. In May, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reminded shipowners of their “conscience” when it comes to oil transport.

The city ​​of Slovianskthe next target of Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, is undergoing a “massive” bombardment, announced its mayor, calling on residents to take shelter.

“Sloviansk! Massive bombardment of the city. The center, the north. Everyone remains sheltered”, indicated on Facebook Vadim Liakh, the mayor of this city of some 100,000 inhabitants before the war.

Russia, through its Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, affirmed that military equipment delivered by Western countries to Ukraine was now present on the black arms market as well as in the Middle East, without however provide proof.

Sergei Shoigu accused Western countries of having so far delivered more than 28,000 tons of weapons to Ukraine “in the hope of prolonging the conflict” and bleeding Russia.

• The Dnipropetrovsk region hit by Russian missiles. “The Russian army launched seven missiles at Dnipropetrovsk,” the region’s administration said in a message on Telegram. Ukrainian forces shot down six, while one hit the town of Pokrov.

• NATO launches ratification for the accessions of Sweden and Finland. The thirty member countries of NATO have launched the process of ratification for the accessions of Sweden and Finland, announced the secretary general of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg. “The signing of the accession protocols launches the process of ratification in each of the member countries”, he explained.

• Russia is making “substantial progress” in its goal of “liberating” the Donbass. The British Ministry of Defense explains that Russian troops are advancing and repelling Ukrainian forces.

• Meeting in Lugano, Ukraine and its allies lay down the principles for reconstruction. The Lugano declaration states that the signatories are “fully committed to supporting Ukraine along its journey” and to linking it to its status as an EU candidate country and recognizes that Ukraine itself should be in charge of reconstruction.

Dozens of officials from the main allies of Ukraine in its resistance against Moscow, international institutions and the private sector have been meeting since Monday in Lugano in the south of the Alpine country, to reiterate their solidarity with the country invaded by Moscow. and lay the groundwork for reconstruction, which in the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be a “colossal” task.

Denys Chmygal, its Prime Minister who came to Lugano at the head of a large delegation estimated on Monday that it will take at least 750 billion dollars to raise the country from ruins.

The Lugano declaration states that the signatories are “fully committed to supporting Ukraine along its journey” and to linking it to its status as an EU candidate country and recognizes that Ukraine itself should be in charge of reconstruction.

Luhansk region governor Serhiy Haidai said on Telegram on Tuesday that Russian forces would now concentrate on the cities of Sloviansk and Bakhmut, located east of the Donetsk region.

This area borders the Lugansk region, which the Russians said they had completely conquered this weekend.

“Their number one target is the Donetsk region. Sloviansk and Bakhmut are going to be attacked. Bakhmut is already under heavy shelling,” Serhiy Haidai said.

The British Ministry of Defense explains that Russian troops are advancing and repelling Ukrainian forces.

“The relatively quick setting of Lysychansk by Russia extends its control over almost the entire Luhansk region, which allows it to claim substantial progress in relation to the goal of ‘liberating’ Donbass”, he explains. in his daily point.

The ministry also adds that “Ukrainian forces will now be able to withdraw to a more easily defensible front line”.

Russia plans to launch a rail link between the Rostov region in western Russia and the Donetsk and Luhansk areas it occupies in eastern Ukraine, the news agency reported. Cup.

When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, it had that same priority and rushed to build transport links.

The thirty member countries of NATO have launched the process of ratification for the accessions of Sweden and Finland, announced the secretary general of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg.

“The signing of the accession protocols launches the process of ratification in each of the member countries”, he explained before the ambassadors of the countries of the Alliance initialed these protocols.

One country, Turkey, made its ratification conditional on compliance with the commitments made by the two Nordic countries at the Madrid summit on the fight against terrorism.

Russia has said it is investigating alleged torture of Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces and released in a prisoner swap with Ukraine.

The two countries have carried out several exchanges of prisoners of war since the Russian offensive. The latest dates back to June 29 and involved 144 Ukrainians and as many on the Russian side.

Some of the Russians released on this occasion reported “numerous acts of violence they had suffered” during their detention, according to the press release, referring to beatings, torture with electricity or deprivation of water or of food.

In a tweet, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urges the international community to reduce Russia’s access to maritime transport.

“Russia’s export-oriented economy is heavily dependent on maritime transport provided by foreign fleets. I urge partners to restrict Russia’s access to their services and wear down Putin’s war machine. After everything, what Russia really exports to the world today is death, crisis and lies,” he wrote.

Ukrainian officials reported Russian missile attacks on the Dnipropetrovsk regionin the center-east of the country on Tuesday.

“The Russian army launched seven missiles at Dnipropetrovsk,” the region’s administration said in a message on Telegram.

Ukrainian forces shot down six of them, while one hit the city of Pokrov, damaging several houses. No casualties were reported.

Sergey Eliseyev, a Russian official from the powerful security services (FSB), took over as head of the government of the Ukrainian region of Khersonoccupied by Russian forces.

“Russia is here forever,” he said.

Since the capture of Kherson, Moscow has been pursuing a policy of Russification: the ruble has been introduced, Russian passports issued, a first Russian bank opened there at the end of June, critical voices are repressed and economic activity is largely under control of the occupation administration.

On Tuesday, the UK introduced new economic and trade sanctions against Belarus over its support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These include import and export bans.

“The Belarusian regime actively facilitated Putin’s invasion, letting Russia use its territory to take Ukraine in a pincer movement – sending troops and missiles from their border and smuggling Russian planes into their airspace,” the UK government said in a statement.

Visiting kyiv and its suburbs on Monday, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson called for increased European support for Ukraine and for new sanctions against Russia, whose army is advancing in eastern Ukrainian territory.

“Russia must not be allowed to make gains through its violation of international law and other fundamental principles,” Magdalena Anderson said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“The best way to win this war is to build support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia through new sanctions,” she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz continued their “close coordination on the response to the war in Ukraine” during a working dinner on Monday evening in Paris.

The two leaders thus met a week after a private dinner, on June 25, on the occasion of the G7 summit in the Bavarian Alps.

They also traveled with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi to kyiv on 16th June to mark their support for Ukraine and this country’s candidacy for membership of the European Union.