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2:36 PM

Russian forces shell Kherson amid evacuation efforts.

Kherson is under Russian shelling on June 8 amid the ongoing evacuation of residents from the flooded areas, according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground.

1:29 PM

Media: Explosions heard in Russian-occupied Luhansk.

An explosion was heard in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk in Ukraine’s east on the morning of June 8, Ukrainian news outlet Suspilne reported citing residents. Smoke is rising in several areas of the city, in particular, over the Luhansk locomotive plant, as well as a food factory, Suspilne wrote.

12:17 PM

3 killed, including child, 8 injured in Russian attacks over past day.

In Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast, Russia shelled the town of Ukrainsk late on June 7, killing a family — grandfather, his son, and a 4-year-old grandson, the Prosecutor General's Office wrote.

11:43 AM

Zelensky travels to Kherson Oblast amid Kahkovka dam disaster.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Kherson Oblast on the morning of June 8 to coordinate efforts to mitigate the consequences of the Kakhovka dam destruction.

10:18 AM

Governor: 600 square kilometers of Kherson Oblast under water.

According to Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin, 68% of the flooded land is on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River, and 32% is on the Ukrainian-controlled west bank.

9:15 AM

General Staff: Russian soldiers didn't prepare for Kakhovka dam destruction, suffered losses on Dnipro River's east bank.

Russian troops occupying the east bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast were not ready for the effects of the Kakhovka dam destruction, resulting in losses in personnel and military equipment, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on June 8.

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8:24 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 212,760 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

Ukraine's General Staff reported on June 8 that Russia had also lost 3,891 tanks, 7,576 armored fighting vehicles, 6,384 vehicles and fuel tanks, 3,668 artillery systems, 595 multiple launch rocket systems, 355 air defense systems, 314 airplanes, 299 helicopters, 3,234 drones, and 18 boats.

7:27 AM

ISW: Destruction of Kakhovka dam 'significantly changing' Kherson front line.

The flooding caused by the dam's destruction has "heavily disrupted" Russian defensive positions on the east bank of the Dnipro River, especially Russian first-line positions in Hola Prystan and Oleshky, the Institute of the Study of War said in its latest update.

6:51 AM

IAEA says work ongoing to ensure Zaporizhzhia cooling pond has maximum amount of water after dam destruction.

The reservoir's level of water is continuing to drop following Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on June 6, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement published on its website.

5:33 AM

White House says it is still assessing origin of Kakhovka dam destruction, but Russia ultimately to blame.

"Russia has no business to be (in Ukraine) in the first place. This dam was under Russia’s control, and they bear responsibility for the destruction caused by this war," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said during a briefing on June 7.

5:00 AM

Official: It will take at least 5 years, $1 billion to build new power station after destruction of Kakhovka dam.

Building a new dam and hydroelectric station at the site of destroyed Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant will take at least five years and require at least $1 billion, head of Ukraine's state-owned energy company Ukrhydroenergo Ihor Syrota said on June 7.

3:40 AM

Guardian: Some NATO members may consider sending troops to Ukraine, warns former alliance chief.

Some NATO countries may decide to put troops on the ground in Ukraine if its member states fail to provide Kyiv with meaningful security guarantees at the alliance's summit in Vilnius, former NATO security general Anders Rasmussen said on June 7.

2:40 AM

Museum and home of famous Ukrainian painter flooded.

The home of famed Ukrainian painter Polina Raiko is under water as a result of the Kakhovka dam destruction, the project manager of the Polina Raiko Kherson Oblast Charitable Foundation Semen Khramtsov reported on Facebook.

1:30 AM

War crimes

'They are destroying us.' People plea to escape flooded Russian-occupied areas

12:26 AM

Zelensky: International organizations must join rescue efforts in occupied parts of Kherson Oblast.

International organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, must begin rescue efforts in the occupied parts of flooded Kherson Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 7.

12:10 AM

War update

Ukraine war latest: 30 settlements flooded after Kakhovka dam destruction; 10,000 hectares of farmland expected to submerge

12:05 AM

US State Department: 20,000 people must be resettled due to destruction of Kakhovka dam.

Around 20,000 people will have to be resettled because of the floods caused by the Kakhovka dam destruction, U.S. State Department official Vedant Patel said at a June 7 press briefing.

11:28 PM

Ukraine wants to produce NATO-standard 155 mm shells.

Ukraine's state-owned military enterprise Ukroboronprom is attempting to begin production of the 155 mm artillery shells, the company's spokesperson Natalia Sad said.

10:53 PM

Exiled mayor: 3 dead due to floods in Kherson Oblast.

Yevhen Ryshchuk, the exiled mayor of the Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, reported on the first victims of the Kakhovka dam disaster on June 7. According to the latest information, three people drowned.

9:50 PM

Governor: Floods hit Mykolaiv Oblast, 13 settlements under threat.

The floods caused by the Kakhovka dam destruction have reached Mykolaiv Oblast with at least 13 settlements under threat, Governor Vitalii Kim said on June 7.

9:06 PM

Governor: Lviv airport may reopen for humanitarian purposes.

The Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport may resume operations for humanitarian purposes, Lviv Oblast Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said on June 6.

9:02 PM

World Bank decreases Ukraine's GDP growth forecast for 2023.

In its June report, the World Bank set Ukraine's GDP forecast for the following year at 2%, compared to 3.3% in January. The forecast reportedly worsened due to Russia's attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure at the end of 2022 and the departure of a significant part of the country's working demographic abroad.

8:11 PM

State Emergency Service: Water level in Kherson rises by 5.5 meters.

The water level in Kherson has already reached 5.51 meters, Ukrinform reported on June 7, citing the State Emergency Service. The city was partially flooded after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam the day before.

7:54 PM

Ukraine, OECD sign 4-year reconstruction, reform agreement.

Kyiv and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) signed a four-year partnership agreement to support reform, recovery, and reconstruction in Ukraine, the OECD announced on June 7.

7:48 PM

Health Ministry: Thousands of fish have died in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Tens of thousands of fish have died in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast after Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka dam the day before, the Health Ministry reported on June 7.

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Summit planned for countries that will send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine

by The Kyiv Independent news desk February 8, 2023 7:38 PM 1 min read

This audio is created with AI assistance

A "tank summit" to be held next week will bring together representatives of Germany, Poland, and Ukraine to discuss the provision of Western-made tanks to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced during his visit to Warsaw on Feb. 8.

Other allied countries, who have expressed interest in providing German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, will be invited to attend. According to Pistorius, a firm coalition of countries that will send Leopards to Ukraine has yet to form. He hopes to get as many countries involved in the coalition as possible.

Germany said it would send 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks to start, while Poland promised to provide the 2A4 models. Canada is also providing four Leopard 2s. Other countries in Europe, including the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway have talked about sending theirs but have yet to make a definitive commitment.

Germany and allies will also provide at least 100 older Leopard 1 models to Ukraine.

The first of the advanced German tanks are expected to arrive in Ukraine by the end of March.

Earlier on Feb. 8, Bloomberg reported, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter, that Germany was pushing European allies to provide Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia is expected to push forward with a major offensive in eastern Ukraine before that happens.

The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.

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