Anti-Russian militia claims to have overrun Russian border settlement; northern European countries meet to discuss strengthening defences
Anti-Kremlin militia claim to have overrun a Russian border settlement in Belgorod. Fighting broke out along the Russian border with Ukraine after self-described Russian partisan forces launched a cross-border raid, claiming to have overrun a border settlement for the first time in the war. Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the town also came under Ukrainian artillery fire. He said eight people were wounded and most residents had left the area, but the situation remained “tense”.
Twelve northern European countries met to discuss stepping up deterrence and security on Nato’s eastern flank and strengthening Ukraine’s defences. Defence ministers from the Northern Group met in Poland on Monday where talks described as “very good” by the Polish defence minister were focused on coordinating ways of providing security to countries in the group.
At least eight people were wounded and scores of buildings were damaged in a Russian air attack on Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukraine’s air force said on Telegram, “The attack was carried out by 16 different types of missiles and 20 Shahed-136/131 strike drones,” adding that air defences brought down 20 Russian drones and four cruise missiles.
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer both reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in the UK’s House of Commons on Monday. The Labour leader also noted that Labour “[welcomes] the decision by our partners on F-16 fighter jets” and said “whichever party is in power in the UK, there will be no letup in Britain’s resolve. We will continue to support Ukraine’s military and its people in its quest for freedom, peace and justice.”
The US State Department on Monday said Russia’s Wagner Group is trying to obscure the mercenary group’s efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, adding that Washington has been informed that Wagner is seeking to move those acquisitions through Mali to aid Russia in its war.
The United Nations expressed concern on Monday that Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Pivdennyi had not received any ships since 2 May under a deal allowing the safe wartime export of grain and fertiliser. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric did not say who was to blame for the lack of ships travelling to the port, near Odesa.
Russia’s ambassador to the US appears to have warned Washington that any strike on Crimea could be considered a strike on Russian territory by Nato after the US president, Joe Biden, said he would support training for Ukrainian pilots on US F-16 fighter jets.
The EU’s top diplomat will propose further sanctions against Russia, following a promise by G7 leaders to intensify western restrictions on Vladimir Putin’s ability to wage war on Ukraine. Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, said he hoped to soon present “concrete proposals to implement the decision of the G7 on new kinds of sanctions against Russia”.
