More than 1,000 Russian government entities and 1,200 private companies are involved in the economy of occupied Mariupol, a major southeastern city occupied by Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to a research paper published on May 14.
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
The government has approved "reform roadmaps in the rule of law, public administration, and democratic institutions, as well as Ukraine’s negotiation position," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
The statement did not name the ex-official by name, but details of the case indicate it relates to Oleh Hladkovsky, a former deputy secretary of Ukraine's top security body who has been wanted since mid-April.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva claimed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had appealed to his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to ask Putin if he was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
"Trump needs to believe that Putin actually lies," Zelensky told journalists in Kyiv. "And we should do our part. Sensibly approach this issue, to show that it’s not us that is slowing down the process."
The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine's State Border Guard's statement.
Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin chooses to attend the talks there.
Russian attack with the anti-tank guided missile on a civilian car in Kharkiv Oblast killed two volunteers. (Photo: Interior Ministry)
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed five civilians and injured eight more, including two children, over the past 24 hours, the regional authorities reported on June 18.
Russia targeted nine out of 25 Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts.
Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported that the Russian attacks killed two civilians and injured three, including a child.
The eastern region is experiencing the most severe fighting during Russia’s war. The Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine has killed 1,565 civilians and injured 3,705 more in the region since Feb. 24, 2022, according to the report.
The casualties count is not final, as it is impossible to establish the death toll in Mariupol and Volnovakha, which are occupied by Russia.
Russian attacks killed one civilian and injured four, including a child, in Kherson Oblast as Russia hit the region 68 times with artillery, mortars, multiple rocket launchers, drones, and air strikes, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on June 18.
The southern region is subjected to daily Russian attacks, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, since Ukrainian forces liberated the regional capital and the west bank of the Dnipro River in November last year.
Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on June 18 that Russian forces hit a civilian car with an unidentified anti-tank guided missile, killing two people.
The deliberate killing of civilians at any time and in any place breaches the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime.
Over the past day, Russian forces hit four communities in the northeastern region, damaging houses, gas facilities, power lines, a park, and a root cellar, according to the report.
In the early morning of June 18, Russian forces hit the residential area in the Kupiansk community, damaging a house. No casualties were reported, the governor said.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Yurii Malashko reported that Russian forces attacked 20 settlements in the region over the past day, injuring one civilian in the front-line town of Orikhiv.
Russia hit Chernihiv Oblast 16 times with mortars over the border, the Northern Command reported.
Russian forces also hit bordering communities in the neighboring Symy Oblast 45 times with mortars, according to the military.
On June 18, Russian forces attacked the northern region 12 times, damaging houses, Sumy Oblast Military administration reported.
No casualties were reported in Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts.
Both northern regions are subjected to daily Russian attacks over the border.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported two Russian loitering drone overnight attacks. Iranian-made Shakhed kamikaze drones were downed, according to the report.
No casualties were reported in the eastern region.
Russian forces attacked southern Mykolaiv Oblast with loitering munition and artillery, causing no casualties or damage, Governor Vitalii Kim reported on June 18.
Russian forces attacked four settlements in Luhansk Oblast as they try to fully occupy the easternmost, Governor Artem Lysohor reported on June 18.
Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent. He covers Ukraine’s foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country’s military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.
Alexander Khrebet
