World in shock due to the massacre of civilians in a shopping center full of people in Kremenchuk, in central Ukraine, on the banks of the Dnipro River.
There were more than a thousand people shopping inside the Amstor when the mall was hit in full by two Russian missiles, which left at least 20 dead, 36 missing and over 50 injured , some of them in poor condition. very serious. A balance sheet that is necessarily provisional, given the difficulties in taming the fire following the bombing: many people remained under the rubble of the building of over 10 thousand square meters, now completely "destroyed", but none were recovered alive, as was confirmed in the evening.
According to the first reconstructions of the Kiev army, the attack was carried out with two long-range Kh-22 missiles fired from the Russian region of Kursk by Tu-22M3 bombers, which took off from the Shaykovka base.
The target hit did not constitute a "danger to the Russian army" and had "no strategic value", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced, according to whom the attack deliberately targeted "people's attempts to live a normal life, which angers the occupants so much ". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks of a " shameless terrorist act " and attacks: "The Russian state has become the largest terrorist organization in the world".
The Russian Defense Ministry denies and claims that it hit with a precision missile " a depot where weapons sent from the US and Europe were stored ", causing a fire that spread to the nearby shopping center, which " was closed " yesterday.
Unanimous condemnation also from the G7 meeting in Bavaria : Johnson speaks of Vladimir Putin's " cruelty and barbarism ". In a joint statement, the leaders of the G7 define the raid as a "brutal and abominable" attack, a " war crime ". " Cruel and atrocious " attack, thunders Joe Biden who assures his support of the Ukrainian people.
It is not the first time that Kremenchuk has been hit since the beginning of the conflict. But so far the strategic infrastructure of the industrial center, particularly the local refinery, had been targeted.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev returns to threaten the West. This time on Crimea: "Any attempt to invade it would amount to a declaration of war against Russia, if a NATO member state made such a move it would lead to total disaster, World War III ."
In Madrid, a new summit of the Atlantic Alliance , also present Joe Biden, welcomed by King Felipe : "A competition is underway - said the US president - between autocracies and democracies and we must be successful". The main news concerns the signing of a memorandum between NATO, Turkey, Finland and Sweden for the entry of the two countries into the alliance . Signed in the presence of General Secretaries Jens Stoltenberg, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finndese President Sauli Niinisto and Margaret Andersson, Prime Minister Swedish.
"NATO's open door policy is a success, we have shown that we know how to solve problems through negotiations, with the entry of Sweden and Finland into the alliance we will all be safer", said Stoltenberg, noting that the details of the memorandum will be signed soon.
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Here is the news by the hour.
Kiev army, over 130 missiles fired by the Russians in 4 days
In the last four days before today, Russia fired over 130 missiles on Ukraine. This was stated by the commander of the armed forces of Kiev, General Valerij Zaluzhny, quoted by local media. In particular, 53 rockets were launched on Friday, 26 on Saturday, 40 on Sunday and another 12 yesterday, including the one that caused the massacre in the Kremenchuk shopping center. Zaluzhny reported the figures to US Joint Chief of Staff General Mark Milley and British Chief of Defense Admiral Tony Radakin.
***
Zelensky to the UN: "Russia does not have the right to be in the Council"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again reiterated that Russia does not have the right to remain on the UN Security Council. "Anywhere else in the world an organization like Russia that targets civilians would be referred to as a terrorist," he said in a video conference at the meeting of the Fifteen, asking the members of the Council: "Who among you disagrees with the that Russia's targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure is terrorism? ".
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Kiev, no survivors in the mall rubble
There are no other survivors under the rubble of the Kremenchuk shopping center in central Ukraine, which was hit yesterday by a Russian missile attack. This was reported by the Interior Minister of Kiev, Denys Monastyrsky, quoted by Ukrinform. According to the latest official toll, the confirmed victims
they are at least 20.
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NATO Summit, Biden: "We must beat autocracies"
"There is a race between autocracies and democracies and we must be successful." This was stated by the President of the United States Joe Biden speaking alongside the King of Spain Felipe VI, who welcomed him to the royal palace, where it is held tonight. the opening gala dinner of the NATO summit.
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Kiev: 9 dead in Russian raids on Kharkiv
The toll from yesterday's Russian raids on the north-eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv has risen to nine dead and 29 injured, including 5 children. This was reported by the head of the investigative department of the regional police, Serhiy Bolvinov, quoted by Ukrinform. Until yesterday evening, 4 victims had been confirmed.
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US sanctions on gold and the Russian defense sector
As anticipated in recent days, the US Treasury Department has announced a ban on gold from Russia and sanctions against 70 Russian entities in the defense sector, including the Rostec company. It can be read in a press release published on the site. Measures also against 29 people.
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Russian raids on Dnipro and Mykolaiv: "Do not leave the shelters"
Russian air and artillery raids are underway in Dnipro in central Ukraine along the banks of the Dnieper River and in Mykolaiv in the south, where residents have reported several explosions. The alarm was confirmed by the mayor of Dnipro, Boris Fitalov, according to UNIAN. "We do not leave the shelters. We do not publish photos or videos," he said in a message to citizens.
***
Kremlin: "It is not Draghi who decides if Putin will go to the G20"
Russia confirms that Putin's invitation to participate in the G20 in Indonesia has been received. This was announced by the Kremlin, adding that it is not Draghi who decides whether Putin will participate or not. Tass reports it.
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Putin, first trip since 24 February
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived today in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, for his first visit abroad since the invasion of Ukraine. Putin, Tass reports, is planning talks with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, which will cover bilateral and international affairs, including the situation in neighboring Afghanistan. Tomorrow Putin will leave for Ashgabad, the capital of Turkmenistan.
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Lavrov: "The more weapons the West gives to Kiev the longer its agony will last"
"The more weapons Westerners send to Ukraine, the longer the conflict will last and the agony of the Nazi regime will continue." This was stated by the Russian Foreign Minister, Serghei Lavrov, at a press conference in Ashgabad. "The line followed by the West is absolutely counterproductive," added Lavrov, quoted by the Interfax agency.
***
The mayor of Kherson is arrested by the Russians
The mayor of Kherson, Ihor Kolykhaiev, was arrested today by Russian forces. This was announced by an adviser to the mayor, Galina Lyashevskaya. "They took Igor Kolykhaev," wrote Lyashevskaya. on Facebook. The Guardian reports it.
***
Draghi: "There is concern about the constant progress of the Russians"
There is "concern" about the "steady progress" of Russian forces on the ground in Ukraine in the past two weeks. But that "does not mean that our support for Kiev will not continue". Prime Minister Mario Draghi said this at the press conference at the end of the G7 summit in Elmau.
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Draghi: "Things did not go as Putin would have liked"
"From the NATO summit we expect the reaffirmation of this sense of unity and firmness of the G7 and then probably an extension of NATO to Sweden and Finland. The effects of this war are unpredictable, we find ourselves with a more united EU, a more united NATO and probably bigger ": the countries" seek protection and rearmament. Things did not go as Putin would have liked ". Thus Prime Minister Mario Draghi at the end of the G7 in Elmau.
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Draghi: “Putin in attendance at the G20? I exclude it "
"As for President Putin's presence at the G20, the Indonesian president excludes him, he was categorical, he won't come. A remote intervention could happen, we'll see ...". Thus Prime Minister Mario Draghi at the end of the G7 in Elmau.
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Draghi: "We accelerate on the roof at the price of gas"
"Immediately the unlocking of the ports". Furthermore, “all the leaders agree on the need to limit funding to Putin, but also to remove the cause of inflation. We urgently mandated ministers on how to apply a price cap on gas and oil. The EU will accelerate its work on the gas price ceiling, a decision that we welcome, ”said Draghi on the sidelines of the G7.
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Draghi: "G7 a great success"
"This G7 was truly a success, our countries reaffirmed full and great cohesion, great unity of views in particular regarding the war in Ukraine and its consequences". Thus the Prime Minister Mario Draghi at a press conference in Elmau at the end of the G7.
"We have reaffirmed our commitment on the sanctions front, which is essential to bring Russia back to the negotiating table", he added, specifying that the G7 countries are ready to support Kiev "as long as necessary".
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Kremenchuk, 20 victims
At least 20 people were killed in the missile attack on the Kremenchuk shopping center. "The deputy head of the presidential office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said during a briefing, updating the death toll. 59 injured, including 25 hospitalized , he added, specifying that there are also over 40 reports of "missing persons who may have been in the shopping center during the bombings." Hundreds of rescuers - he said according to reports from Ukraine Pravda - are at work to search under the rubble. .
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General Gb: "We must be ready to fight"
The UK and its allies "must be unequivocally ready to fight" if Russia attacks any NATO member country. General Patrick Sanders, the new commander of the British army within the armed forces of Her Majesty, said today, reiterating concepts already expressed in a letter to the personnel placed under his command during a speech held today at a forum organized by Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), a London-based think tank, on war scenarios in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: an invasion that Sanders branded as the gravest threat to the West since that of Nazi Germany.
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Russia: "If Kiev surrenders, the war ends today"
The war in Ukraine can end "before the end of today" if Kiev orders its "nationalist units to lay down their arms". This was stated by the spokesman of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, after yesterday President Volodymyr Zelensky had called for a cessation of hostilities before the end of this year. Tass reports it.
The Russian defense ministry continues to work on plans to strengthen western borders over news of "new dangers" from NATO, Peskov added. The Alliance's advance towards Russian borders "has been going on for two decades and is continuing, and Moscow is aware of this," Peskov added.
***
Zelensky asks NATO for missiles
"I had a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg", underlining "the importance of a powerful missile defense system for Ukraine to prevent Russian terrorist attacks". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky writes on Twitter, who should also link up on video with the Alliance summit that will open tonight in Madrid for two days of work that will end on 30 June.
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G7: "Russia unlock ports"
Russia "unconditionally end the blockade of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea" and stop "destroying port transport infrastructures, terminals and grain silos" and "illegally appropriating Ukrainian agricultural products and equipment". This is what is stated in the final declaration of the G7 on the issue of global food security. "We strongly support Ukraine in resuming its agricultural exports to world markets - it says - as well as the efforts of the United Nations to unblock a safe maritime corridor across the Black Sea".
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"Russophobes", Moscow sanctions Biden's wife and daughter
Russia has imposed sanctions that include a ban on entry to its territory on the wife and daughter of US President Joe Biden and 23 others. The motivation is their "russophobic line". This was announced by the Foreign Ministry quoted by Tass.
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Moscow denies: "A weapons depot hit in Kremenchuk"
The Russian Defense Ministry denied the bombing of a shopping mall in Kremenchuk, Ukraine. The ministry, quoted by the Moscow agencies, said instead that a "precision missile" hit a warehouse where weapons sent by the US and Europe were stored, causing a fire that then spread to the nearby shopping center, which yesterday "It was closed".
***
Shopping center, 36 missing
A total of 36 people are reported missing after the Russian missile attack on the Amstor shopping center in Kremenchuk, in the Poltava region of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform, while rescue operations continue. The Ukrainian agency quotes the head of the Poltava regional military administration Dmytro Lunin. "Unfortunately, at the moment - he stated on Telegram - 18 people were killed in the Russian missile attack. A total of 36 people were missing. Over a thousand rescuers, working all night. As many civilians in the mall at the time of the attack. .
***
18 dead in the mall
The death toll from yesterday's Russian attack on a shopping center in Kremenchuk, Ukraine has risen to 18. This was reported by the local authorities, who had so far recorded 16 dead and 59 injured, of which 25 were hospitalized.
"Rescuers continue to work," Poltava regional administration chief Dmitry Lunin said this morning of the attack in Kremenchuk, a city 330 km south-east of Kyiv, and more than 200 km from the front.
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Moscow: "US weapons in Kiev favor escalation"
"The continuous deliveries of arms from Washington to Kiev do nothing but exacerbate the spiral of the conflict and increase the threat of further aggravation with unpredictable consequences": said the Russian ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov, according to reports
the Tass. "The reckless and unresponsive flood of weapons in Ukraine only tightens the spiral of the conflict and increases the threat of further escalation with unpredictable consequences," said the Telegram channel of the Russian embassy.
(Unioneonline)