Ukraine claimed on Friday, June 16, to have shot down 12 Russian missiles, including six hypersonic Kinjal during the attack targeting kyiv in the morning. Last month, the country had already twice announced the destruction of Kinjal hypersonic missiles. However, Moscow has always declared that these weapons are unstoppable – or almost – by anti-aircraft defense systems, because of their velocity. This new announcement could not be independently confirmed. Follow our live.
Russia half-heartedly admits backing down in southern Ukraine. The Russian army acknowledged on Friday that fighting was underway for control of the localities of Rivnopil and Ourojaine, on the southern front in Ukraine, admitting half-word for the first time to have ceded territories. The day before, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar claimed a “gradual but sure progress” of his troops, despite the “powerful resistance” of the Russian army. She assured that her soldiers had progressed from “more than three kilometers” in the Bakhmout region.
An African mediation for peace. Four African heads of state, a prime minister and a special envoy are due to start talks with Volodymyr Zelensky and then Vladimir Putin. “In times of escalating conflict, the search for a peaceful solution must be accelerated at the same time”justified the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Situation stabilized in Zaporijjia. Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Agency for atomic energyestimated that the nuclear power plant had “enough water” to cool its reactors. His visit was intended in particular to assess the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.