14 minutes ago (00:42 GMT)
The leader of Belarus stands with Russia in the Ukraine campaign
The president of Belarus – the closest ally of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin – has said his former Soviet state is fully behind Russia in its military effort in Ukraine. Addressing a ceremony marking the anniversary of the liberation of Minsk from Soviet troops on Sunday, Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, said he had thrown his weight behind Putin’s campaign against Ukraine “from the very first day” in end of February. “Today, we are criticized for being the only country in the world that supports Russia in its fight against Nazism. We support and will continue to support Russia,” a video on state news agency BelTA showed Lukashenko telling the rally on Sunday. “And those who criticize us, don’t they know that we have such a close union with the Russian Federation?… That we have essentially a unified army. But you knew all that. We will stand together with brotherly Russia.” Zelensky said the Belarusian leader’s statement was a “signal,” with his actions being watched closely. Some Ukrainian officials argue that Belarus could soon become directly involved in the conflict. 1 hour ago (23:50 GMT)
Turkish customs seize Russian ship carrying Ukrainian grain: Ambassador in Kyiv
Turkish customs authorities have seized a Russian cargo ship carrying grain that Ukraine says is stolen, Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey said. “We have full cooperation. The ship is currently at the port entrance, it has been impounded by Turkish customs authorities,” Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told Ukrainian national television on Sunday. Bodnar said the ship’s fate would be decided by a meeting of investigators on Monday. Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing grain from territories occupied by Russian forces since its invasion began in late February. The Kremlin has denied that Russia has stolen any Ukrainian grain. 1 hour ago (23:49 GMT)
With brooms, nail guns and shovels, Kharkiv residents clean up after attack: Reuters
Armed with brooms, nail guns and shovels, residents in Kharkiv gathered to clean up after several Russian rockets were fired at 4 a.m. (01:00 GMT), Kharkiv regional military command chief Oleh Synyehubov said on Sunday. One of the rockets fell in the yard between a school and private houses. Residents were seen shoveling earth back into a large crater created by the attack, while others were sweeping up broken glass from floors inside the school and surrounding homes. On Sunday morning, locals were busy fixing roofs and sweeping soot from the facade of the local school. “The rocket explosion happened very early in the morning and in 15 minutes everyone was here.” Vita Kuzub, a school principal, told Reuters news agency. The raids, which began on Tuesday, June 21, were the worst in weeks in a region where normal life had returned since Ukraine pushed back Moscow’s forces in May. A residential area destroyed by Russian bombing in Kharkiv, Ukraine, May 15, 2022 [Ricardo Moraes/Reuters] 1 hour ago (23:39 GMT)
Russia bombed Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kharkiv Sunday: Zelensky
The Russian military bombarded the eastern cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk on Sunday, as well as the city of Kharkiv, with multiple rocket launchers as well as Soviet Smerch missiles, Zelenskyy said, adding that Russia has enough weapons to destroy any city in Ukraine. . “In Sloviansk alone, six people are on the dead list and about 20 are injured. A girl died, her name was Yeva. He would have turned 10 in August this year,” Zelensky said in his nightly speech. “Russia has enough Smerch, Uragan and Grad systems to destroy city after city in Ukraine. They have now concentrated their greatest firepower in Donbas,” he added. 1 hour ago (23:36 GMT)
Fighting remains on the outskirts of Lysychansk: Zelenskyy
Kiev forces are still fighting Russian troops on the outskirts of the town of Lysychansk “in a very difficult and dangerous situation”, Zelenskyy said after Ukraine withdrew its forces from Lysychansk and the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its army had seized the Luhansk region. “We cannot give you the final judgment. Lysychansk is still fighting,” Zelenskyy said at a news conference in Kyiv held alongside the visiting Australian prime minister. He noted that the ground can move quickly from one side to the other. Russian forces maintain an advantage in the region, he acknowledged, calling it a Ukrainian military “weak point.” Taking Lysychansk would give the Russians more ground from which to intensify attacks in the neighboring Donetsk region. In recent weeks, Russian forces were thought to hold about half of Donetsk, but it is unclear where things stand now. Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s ongoing coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read all the updates from Sunday 3rd July here.
