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Combat Operations
Ukraine
Russia
United States
NATO
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Combat Operations

• Ukrainian Forces Endure Heavy Shelling In East As Readiness Check Ordered Over Potential Threat From Belarus RFE/RL 16 Jun 2022 -- Ukrainian officials say their troops are holding out against massive bombardment in the eastern city of Syevyerodonetsk as Russian forces target the city and nearby region with artillery and multiple rocket launcher.
• Kyiv, Moscow Are Both Racing Against Time In Ukraine, Says Former U.S. Defense Official RFE/RL 16 Jun 2022 -- As questions mount about the extent of European support for Ukraine, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and Romania met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a show of unity in Kyiv.
• Two U.S. Veterans Fighting In Ukraine Go Missing After Mission Near Kharkiv RFE/RL 16 Jun 2022 -- Two former members of the U.S. military who were reportedly fighting alongside Ukrainian armed forces in the war against Russia have gone missing in eastern Ukraine amid fears they have been captured by Russian troops.
• Donetsk May Decide on Execution of UK Mercenaries No Sooner Than in a Month - DPR Head Sputnik 16 Jun 2022 -- Late last week, the Donetsk People's Republic's (DPR) Supreme Court ruled that three mercenaries captured while fighting for the Ukrainian forces, UK citizens Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, as well as Moroccan Saadun Brahim, had all been sentenced to death.

Ukraine

• It was important to hear from the EU leaders that the end of the war and peace for Ukraine must be exactly as our people see them - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine 16 Jun 2022
• Granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership can be an important decision in the history of Europe - Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine 16 Jun 2022
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the leaders of Germany, France, Romania and Italy in Kyiv President of Ukraine 16 Jun 2022
• Ukraine asks for more weapons to halt Russian advances Press TV 16 Jun 2022 -- Ukraine has pleaded urgently for more weapons in a bid to resist Russian advances in the south and the east fronts, as European leaders are expected to travel to the capital, Kiev.

Russia

• Kremlin: Western arms 'absolutely' useless, will cause further damage to Ukraine Press TV 16 Jun 2022 -- Russia says Western-provided weapons in Ukraine are "useless" in fending off its advances, as leaders of Germany, France, and Italy visit Kiev.

United States

• U.S. Agriculture Secretary Adds Voice To Growing Concerns About Blockade Of Ukrainian Grain Exports RFE/RL 16 Jun 2022 -- The U.S. agriculture secretary has called on Russia to rapidly open Ukraine's ports to allow the export of millions of tons of stockpiled grain, while a U.S. satellite company says it has images of Russian ships delivering Ukrainian grain to Syria.
• U.S. to provide 1-bln-USD additional security assistance to Ukraine People's Daily 16 Jun 2022 -- U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that his country is providing Ukraine with a package of additional security assistance worth 1 billion U.S. dollars, as well as 225 million dollars' worth of humanitarian assistance.

NATO

United Nations

• Emergency in Ukraine - External Situation Report #15 WHO 16 Jun 2022
• UN Human Rights Chief: 'Tragedy of Mariupol Is Far From Over' VOA 16 Jun 2022 -- A top U.N. official said information about what transpired in Mariupol strongly suggests Russian armed forces committed serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in that besieged Ukrainian city.

Foreign Reactions

• EU Leaders Visit Kyiv Amid Rising Divisions, Tensions VOA 16 Jun 2022 -- Thursday's visit to Ukraine by four European Union leaders comes ahead of a key decision on Kyiv's EU candidacy, expected next week — and as tensions grow over Europe's long-term commitment to the war.
• French, German, Italian, Romanian Leaders Visit Kyiv VOA 16 Jun 2022 -- French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and President Klaus Iohannis of Romania visited Kyiv on Thursday in a show of support for Ukraine amid its battle to fend off Russia's invasion.
• French, German and Italian Leaders Visit Kyiv VOA 16 Jun 2022 -- French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi visited Kyiv on Thursday in a show of support to Ukraine amid its battle to fend off Russia's invasion.
• Negotiations needed to bring ceasefire in Ukraine: France's Macron People's Daily 16 Jun 2022 -- The Ukrainian president will have to negotiate with Russia, and the Europeans will also be present at the negotiating table, bringing security guarantees, visiting French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday at a NATO base in southeastern Romania.
• Germany, France, Italy, Romania back EU 'candidate status' for Ukraine Press TV 16 Jun 2022 -- Germany, France, Italy, and Romania say they back Ukraine's candidacy for membership in the European Union, despite Russia's strict opposition to the prospect.
• European Leaders, During Visit To Kyiv, Back 'Immediate' EU Candidate Status For Ukraine RFE/RL 16 Jun 2022 -- All four European leaders who visited Ukraine on June 16 support "immediate" EU candidate status for Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
• EU Leaders Stop In Kyiv Suburb Left In Ruins After Russian Withdrawal RFE/RL 16 Jun 2022 -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have toured a Kyiv suburb to witness firsthand the massive destruction wrought on the area by Russian forces who invaded and then withdrew after encountering stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces.
• Disinformation: Commission welcomes the new stronger and more comprehensive Code of Practice on disinformation European Commission 16 Jun 2022 -- Today, Commission welcomes the publication of the strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation. The 34 signatories, such as platforms, tech companies and civil society followed the 2021 Commission Guidance and took into account the lessons learnt from the COVID19 crisis and Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.
• Questions and Answers: Strengthened Code of Practice on disinformation European Commission 16 Jun 2022 -- Since the first Code was published in 2018, the often complex and sophisticated phenomenon of disinformation has continued to evolve rapidly, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
• Secretary General's report on the human rights situation in Crimea: Committee of Ministers gravely concerned Council of Europe 16 Jun 2022 -- In a decision adopted in the light of a report by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Committee of Ministers has condemned human rights violations committed by the Russian occupying authorities, against ethnic Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars and other residents of temporarily occupied Crimea.
• OSCE-supported platform highlights environmental risks stemming from war in Ukraine OSCE 16 Jun 2022 -- Data and analysis on nearly 5000 incidents of war-related damages in Ukraine show that 92 industrial facilities in the high or very high environmental risk category were affected.
• Federal Chancellor Scholz in Kyiv - "Ukraine belongs in the European family" Germany - Federal Government 16 Jun 2022 -- Federal Chancellor Scholz met Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kyiv and stressed his continued support for the country in its defensive struggle against Russia. In addition, he said, he would push for Ukraine to be given the status of an EU candidate country. Visiting the suburb of Irpin, Federal Chancellor Scholz expressed his shock at the destruction he saw there.
• AIVD disrupts activities of Russian intelligence officer targeting the International Criminal Court AIVD 16 Jun 2022 -- The AIVD prevented a Russian intelligence officer from gaining access as an intern to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The person in question works for the Russian Military Intelligence Service GRU, but he used a Brazilian cover identity to travel from Brazil to the Netherlands.
• Russia's war on Ukraine: Foreign Secretary's statement, 16 June 2022 UK FCDO 16 Jun 2022 -- Foreign Secretary Liz Truss updated the House of Commons on the Government's support for Ukraine.
• UK sanctions Russian linked to forced transfers and adoptions UK FCDO 16 Jun 2022 -- The UK announced a new wave of sanctions, including on the Russian Chidren's Rights Commissioner involved in the barbaric treatment of children in Ukraine.
• UN Human Rights Council 50: UK statement on Mariupol UK FCDO 16 Jun 2022 -- Ambassador Simon Manley, UK Permament Representative to the UN in Geneva, delivered the UK statement during the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner's oral update on the situation in Mariupol.
• The devastating impact of Putin's war on the most vulnerable in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE UK FCDO 16 Jun 2022 -- Ambassador Bush highlights the impact of the deteriorating humanitarian situation on the most excluded and vulnerable groups in Ukraine.
• Negotiations needed to bring ceasefire in Ukraine: France's Macron People's Daily 16 Jun 2022 -- The Ukrainian president will have to negotiate with Russia, and the Europeans will also be present at the negotiating table, bringing security guarantees, visiting French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday at a NATO base in southeastern Romania.
• Facts about Russia-Ukraine conflict: Canada, U.S. to provide further military aid for Ukraine People's Daily 16 Jun 2022 -- The following are the latest developments in the Ukraine crisis:
• China balancing close ties with Russia and distance from Ukraine war: analysts Radio Free Asia 16 Jun 2022 -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping is struggling to balance his country's geopolitical interests with his support for Russia in the wake of president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, analysts said following a call between the two leaders.

News Reports

• Military Strategist Warns Not To 'Underestimate Russia's Might' Despite More Commitments From West RFE/RL 16 Jun 2022 -- As the war nears the 17-week mark, a prominent U.S. military scholar and strategist says Moscow seems determined to plow troops into Ukraine as "cannon fodder" for a brutal campaign that has encouraged Kyiv to seek total victory and made the West "more and more committed to a favorable outcome."
• HRW Calls On Russia To Halt Use Of Banned Landmines In Ukraine RFE/RL 16 Jun 2022 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Russia is causing casualties and suffering among civilians in its war against Ukraine by using antipersonnel landmines that have been banned internationally.