06/22/2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:58 Pope Francis and Brazilian President Lula discuss prospects for peace +++
According to the Vatican, Pope Francis and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also exchanged views on the topic of peace at their meeting. Although the Vatican did not specifically mention Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lula made it clear before the meeting that finding an end to the war was a priority. There had been a positive exchange of views on issues of common concern, such as promoting peace and reconciliation, is it[called in a brief statement from the Vatican. Ahead of the meeting, Lula told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: “Both [Russland und die Ukraine] believe they can win militarily. I do not agree. I think too few people talk about peace.”
+++ 06:18 German companies get export credit guarantees for Ukraine more easily +++
In order to support Ukraine economically, German export credit guarantees for the country will now be granted in a more uncomplicated manner according to a decision by the federal government. Instead of a strict individual assessment, the federal government should in future decide on the guarantees based on general rules, the Federal Ministry of Economics announced in Berlin. Bank securities are also no longer necessary if the risk is acceptable.
+++ 05:04 number of victims after Kachowka flood increased to over 60 +++
At least 62 people died in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam around two weeks ago. Russian occupation authorities spoke on Telegram of 41 dead on the Russian-occupied southern bank of the Dnieper. Ukrainian authorities put the number of dead across the river at at least 21. It is assumed that the actual number of victims is higher.
+++ 04:32 federal government facilitates export credits for Ukraine +++
In order to support Ukraine economically, German export credit guarantees for the country will now be granted in a more uncomplicated manner according to a decision by the federal government. Instead of a strict individual assessment, the federal government should in future decide on the guarantees based on general rules, the Federal Ministry of Economics announced in Berlin. Bank securities are also no longer necessary if the risk is acceptable.
+++ 01:46 UN: demining costs Ukraine 300 million dollars per year +++
The UN has compared the upcoming demining in Ukraine to the demining in Europe after World War II. “What we are facing in Ukraine is very similar to what Europe was facing at the end of World War II,” says Paul Heslop, head of the UN mine action programme. Clearing the landmines that are slowing Ukraine’s economy the most, Heslop estimated it will cost up to $300 million a year over the next five years. The UN wants to help Kiev to cope with this task.
+++ 23:35 Selenskyj speaks of progress at the front +++
Two weeks after the start of the Ukrainian offensive, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy praised progress at the front. “We’re moving forward in the South,” he says in his daily video address. He concedes heavy fighting, but he says the enemy is being crushed everywhere – including in the east, where Ukrainian troops are on the defensive.
+++ 22:14 Zaporizhia nuclear plant wants to pump water from the damaged reservoir again +++
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant wants to pump water from the damaged reservoir of the destroyed Kakhovka dam again to cool the reactors. This is reported by the International Energy Agency IAEA. For the past two weeks, the nuclear power plant had received its cooling water from the reserves of a nearby thermal power plant. Last week, the UN agency announced that it was unclear whether the nuclear power plant would be able to pump water out of the damaged reservoir again.
+++ 21:39 Ukrainian secret service confirms Russian attack on headquarters +++
The Ukrainian military intelligence agency HUR has confirmed reports of a Russian missile strike against its headquarters. The attacks took place at the end of May, but “neither achieved the desired goal nor the announced goal,” said the authority’s spokesman on Ukrainian television. Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others, reported on the rocket attack. The first information about an attack on the HUR headquarters appeared on May 29th. The spokesman declined to comment on the aftermath of the attack. He said he would only do that after the war.
+++ 21:05 Von der Leyen: Russian assets should benefit Ukraine +++
The EU wants to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. The EU Commission will present a plan for this before the summer break, said EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at a reconstruction conference for Ukraine in London. She added: “The perpetrator must be held accountable”. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a similar statement on the sidelines of the conference. For the reconstruction of Ukraine it is essential that Moscow is held accountable in the medium term, the minister told journalists.
All events from the previous day can be found here.