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People in front of a destroyed building in Lysychansk
Photo:
OLEKSANDR RATUSHNIAK v EPO
This article will be continuously updated.
Russia blocks website of British newspaper Telegraph
12:00 p.m .:
The website of the British newspaper The Telegraph has been blocked in Russia.
This was done at the request of the Attorney General, according to data from the telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor.
Russia has cracked down on media coverage of the invasion since the start of the war against Ukraine, including ordering closures and barricades.
The government has also enacted a law providing for prison sentences of up to 15 years for journalists who, according to the leadership in Moscow, spread false news about the invasion of Ukraine, which it describes as a military special operation.
Oil rig in the Black Sea reportedly continues to burn
11.30 a.m .:
According to Russian information, a fire on a gas production platform in the Black Sea hit by Ukrainian rockets has spread further.
"The fire approached the borehole during the night," the Interfax news agency quoted Russian Senator Olga Kowitidi as saying on Tuesday.
The seven missing people would continue to be searched for with planes.
Three injured were being treated in hospitals.
The damage on two other platforms hit was less.
Three oil rigs were attacked with rockets on Monday.
A total of 109 people are said to have been on the platforms.
The originally Ukrainian facilities were occupied by Russia in March 2014 as part of the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.
At the end of February this year, Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
The sea area of the Black Sea around the Snake Island conquered by Russia is also affected by fighting.
"Catastrophic destruction" in the city of Lysychansk
11:15 a.m .:
The situation in the embattled city of Lysychansk in eastern Ukraine continues to deteriorate.
The governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Hajday, said on Tuesday in the messenger service Telegram that there was "catastrophic destruction" from Russian shelling in the strategically important neighboring city of Sievjerodonetsk.
In addition, fighting continued in the Sieverodonetsk industrial zone.
The "last 24 hours have been difficult" for the Ukrainian army, as Hajdaj further reported.
He described Tuesday night as “the calm before the storm”.
Russia wants to completely capture the Luhansk region “before June 26”.
"But they won't do it in five days," the governor added.
Luxembourg Prime Minister visits Ukraine
10.25 a.m .:
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel traveled to Ukraine at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
This was announced by the government in Luxembourg on Tuesday.
After his arrival in Kyiv, Bettel said he wanted to visit "cities affected by Russian aggression."
Details of his visit program and the length of his stay were not given.
A series of bilateral political talks is also planned.
On June 2, Selenskyj addressed the Luxembourg Parliament with a video address and invited Bettel to visit the country.
Ukrainians allegedly prevent Russian control of the sea
10.10 a.m .:
According to British intelligence services, the Ukrainian resistance has so far successfully prevented Russia from taking control of the sea area bordering Ukraine.
This has undermined the original concept of the Russian invasion, the British Ministry of Defense said in an update on Tuesday.
Moscow originally intended to attack the region around the important port of Odessa from the Black Sea.
On June 17, Ukrainian forces succeeded for the first time in using anti-ship missiles from the west to attack a Russian ship that was most likely trying to bring weapons and personnel to the strategically important Snake Island in the north-west of the Black Sea, the British said.
The island is occupied by Russian troops.
The destruction of the tug shows how difficult it is for Moscow to bring supplies to the island.
Entire Kherson region switched to Russian television
9.07 a.m .:
In the region around the occupied southern Ukrainian city of Cherson, Russian instead of Ukrainian television channels are now broadcast everywhere.
According to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, specialists from the Russian army had "reconfigured the last of the seven television transmission masts in the Kherson region to broadcast Russian channels".
Around a million residents in the area can now watch the most important Russian broadcasters “free of charge”, including in particular those of the state broadcasting group VGTRK.
The Russian army had already taken the area around Cherson, which borders on the annexed Crimean Peninsula, shortly after beginning its Ukraine offensive at the end of February.
Since then, the area has been brought closer and closer to Russia.
A week and a half ago, Russia began issuing Russian passports, and the Russian ruble was introduced as a means of payment.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov: "Will never trust the West again"
6:56 a.m .:
Four months after the attack on Ukraine, Russia has described relations with the West as long-term damaged.
"Yes, it will be a long crisis," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in an interview with US television channel MSNBC.
»We will never trust the West again.« Since the beginning of its war against Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly raised accusations against Western states – for example because of military support for the country under attack.
Peskov also commented on the case of the two US soldiers who fought in the Ukrainian army and were recently captured by troops loyal to Moscow.
These are mercenaries and therefore do not fall under the protection of the Geneva Convention, said Peskow.
The Kremlin spokesman left open whether the two men were captured by Russian soldiers or by pro-Russian separatists.
This is also relevant in that the self-proclaimed People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk have introduced the death penalty, while Russia has suspended it.
When asked if he could guarantee that the two US citizens would not face the same fate as three foreigners recently sentenced to death in Donetsk, Peskov said: "I can't guarantee anything.
That depends on the investigation.” Ukraine and the United Nations had heavily criticized the separatists' handling of the two Britons and the Moroccan.
The UN human rights office in Geneva spoke of prisoners of war who were entitled to protection.
Coal power extension: RWE adjusts personnel planning
5:37 a.m .:
For the additional use of coal power planned by the Federal Ministry of Economics, the energy company RWE wants to delay the early retirement of certain employees.
"The foreseeable higher need for personnel will be covered by the fact that employees can only retire later than previously planned via the so-called adjustment allowance," said an RWE spokeswoman for the "Rheinische Post".
"Furthermore, the need for personnel is to be covered by hiring trained people and from the external labor market." This changed personnel planning in power plants and opencast mines includes several hundred jobs.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to reduce the use of gas for power generation and industry in view of reduced Russian deliveries.
More coal-fired power plants are to be used for this.
They are intended to replace electricity generation from power plants fired with natural gas as far as possible.
The filling of the gas storage tanks is to be promoted.
That happened in the night
5:00 a.m.:
Civilians were injured and killed in eastern Ukraine.
President Zelenskyj already sees his country as part of the European value system.
And: Moscow apparently wants to summon the EU ambassador.
The overview.
Tafel criticize insufficient help for Ukraine refugees
4:07 a.m .:
The boards in Germany accuse the authorities of sometimes giving too little direct support to Ukrainian war refugees.
"It is unacceptable that the authorities are still referring refugees to the boards in the fourth month of the war instead of being able to help themselves," said the chairman of the Germany board, Jochen Brühl, to the dpa news agency.
Some social welfare offices sent refugees directly to the food banks without prior consultation, said Brühl.
Others would help people directly until the social benefits to which they are entitled were paid – for example with money or food vouchers.
The panels themselves could only provide »bridging and supplementary« support.
“We help to the best of our ability in crisis situations, but we cannot be the first and only point of contact,” emphasized Brühl.
If the authorities refer people directly to the food banks, then the misunderstanding arises that they are responsible for providing people affected by poverty with food.
However, panels are a voluntary additional offer, not a state institution.
On request, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs also called the panels a “supplementary, charitable offer from civil society to people with financial problems”.
This also applies to refugees from Ukraine.
Since June 1, they have had access to the minimum income according to Book II of the Social Code.
That is why a project by the Tafeln is also being supported, in which the employees are to be trained for discussions.
According to the ministry, you should talk to people who ask for food.
The employees should thus be better able to inform those affected about social benefit entitlements and to support them.
"The actual use of existing social benefit entitlements ultimately also helps to relieve the food banks,"
according to the ministry spokeswoman.
Many food banks have recently experienced a high level of demand nationwide due to the war in Ukraine, rising food prices and higher energy costs.
A number of them have already imposed freezes on admissions.
US citizens fallen in Ukraine
4:01 a.m .:
A US citizen has died in Ukraine, according to the US State Department.
The 52-year-old from New York was killed in fighting on May 15, according to an obituary published in The Recorder newspaper earlier this month.
A State Department spokesman confirmed the death and stated that US citizens should not travel to Ukraine because of the war.
Volunteers from the US and other countries have enlisted to fight alongside Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
Russian journalist Muratov auctions off Nobel Prize medal for Ukrainian children
2:31 a.m .:
The Russian journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov has auctioned off his Nobel Prize medal for $ 103.5 million (98.4 million euros).
The proceeds from the auction in New York are intended to benefit refugee Ukrainian children.
A previously anonymous bidder secured the award for the medal by telephone.
According to the auction house Heritage Auctions, the proceeds of the auction will go to the aid program for refugee Ukrainian children of the UN children's fund UNICEF.
Muratov is the editor-in-chief of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.
At the end of March, she had to stop appearing after being repeatedly warned by the authorities for her reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year together with the Filipino journalist Maria Ressa for his services to freedom of expression.
In April, while on a train in Russia, Muratov was attacked with a mixture of oil paint and acetone, which he said caused "terrible" burning in his eyes.
Since 2000, a total of six journalists from »Novaya Gazeta« have been killed in connection with their work – including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya in 2006.
According to Treasury Secretary Yellen, the US is negotiating with allies over an oil price ceiling
2:04 a.m .:
According to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the United States is currently negotiating with friendly countries a price cap for oil in order to limit Russia’s oil export revenues.
Washington is in talks with "partners and allies around the world" about how to "constrain Russia's energy revenues further" and "prevent negative impacts on the global economy," Yellen said during a visit to Canada.
Yellen added that these are "price caps" or a "price exemption" that would have several effects: They would "amplify" Western sanctions on Russian energy sources, pushing down the price of Russian oil and thus reducing revenues for the Russian government - while allowing more oil to enter the international market.
A price cap would also prevent "side effects on low-income and developing countries," which are currently struggling with high food and energy prices.
Yellen announced the negotiations during a visit to her Canadian counterpart and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Among other things, the meeting discussed strategies for dealing with the effects of the war in Ukraine, high inflation and problems in global supply chains.
German-Slovak ring exchange for tank delivery to Ukraine is allegedly delayed
1:29 a.m .:
A German-Slovak ring exchange for arms deliveries to Ukraine, which has been planned for two months, has been delayed, according to a report by the Business Insider portal, because Berlin is not offering enough tanks.
According to the exchange, Slovakia would deliver 30 Soviet-made 7-72 main battle tanks to Ukraine – and in return receive more modern German tanks as replacements.
According to »Business Insider«, Bratislava rejected the exchange last week because Germany offered 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks.
From Slovakia's point of view, this is too small a replacement for the 30 T-72 tanks to be delivered to Ukraine.
According to the report, a spokeswoman for Slovakia's defense ministry said 15 Leopard main battle tanks "could not be a solution for us as we need 30 main battle tanks for a tank battalion".
Hollywood star Ben Stiller visits Ukraine
0.57 a.m .:
Hollywood star Ben Stiller paid a solidarity visit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev.
"It's a great honor for me, you are my hero," said Stiller Zelenskyj in the Ukrainian capital.
Referring to Zelenskyj's speeches in front of audiences in different countries, Stiller told the Ukrainian President that it was "really inspiring" how he was mobilizing "his country and the whole world".
The US actor Stiller visited Zelenskyj on the occasion of World Refugee Day.
Zelenskyy's presidential office published pictures of the meeting.
Stiller had previously visited the Kiev suburb of Irpin, where fierce fighting was taking place at the beginning of the Russian war of aggression.
"I feel that what's happening here is difficult to understand if you weren't there," the 56-year-old told the President.
It is "something different" to see it on the spot and talk to people about it.
Zelenskyy thanked Stiller in English for his visit and told him that it was "very important" to keep reminding people of what is happening in Ukraine.
"It's not interesting to talk about the war every day," said Zelenskyy.
"But it's very important for us." Stiller and Selenskyj also talked about their respective acting careers.
Zelenskyy was best known in Ukraine before his election as president in 2019 for his role in the satirical TV series Servant of the People, in which he played a school teacher who unexpectedly becomes president.
"You gave up a great acting career," said Stiller, who has become famous primarily as a comedy actor in recent decades.
"Not as big as yours," Zelenskyy replied, and they both laughed.
Selenskyj sees Ukraine as part of the European value system
12:30 a.m.:
Shortly before the decision on the country's EU candidate status, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that he believes Ukraine already belongs to Europe.
The country attacked by Russia proves every day that it is already part of a united European space of values, Zelenskyy said in a video speech.
Russia is very nervous about Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU.
Against the shelling and "brutal" attacks in the east and south of Ukraine one can only take action on the battlefield, Zelenskyj said.
The European Commission recommended on Friday that Ukraine and Moldova should be nominated as candidates for accession to the European Union.
The heads of state and government of the 27 EU countries must now make the decision at their summit on Thursday.
Zelenskyy thanked the Ukrainian parliament, which on Monday ratified the so-called Istanbul Convention - a convention of the Council of Europe to combat violence against women.
"I am grateful to all people's deputies who have supported our European integration," said Zelenskyj.
Russia and Ukraine were both originally members of the Council of Europe.
On February 25, Russia's membership was initially suspended in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
After the Kremlin declared the withdrawal of the Russian Federation on March 15, the country was finally excluded from the Council of Europe.
According to Zelensky, defending against the Russian invaders is also about drawing attention to the suffering of the Ukrainians and thus mobilizing international aid.
But the longer the war lasts, the more difficult it becomes "to compete for the attention of hundreds of millions of people in different countries," Zelensky said.
»But I will do everything to ensure that the attention for Ukraine does not wane.«
More than 200,000 refugees from Ukraine in Germany looking for a job
12:01 a.m .:
Of the approximately 800,000 Ukrainians who fled to Germany before the war, more than 200,000 have so far registered in job centers.
This was reported by the editorial network Germany (RND) from a request to the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
According to this, Bavaria has the most registrations with a good 42,000 refugees.
North Rhine-Westphalia (32,000) and Baden-Württemberg (27,000) follow.
In Berlin, almost 13,000 Ukrainians have registered at a job center to find work.
The data includes all persons aged 15 and over.
as /col/AFP/dpa/Reuters
