A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The Russian defense ministry announced that its forces had destroyed the “last warship” of the Ukrainian Navy, the Yuri Olefirenko (U401), a Polnocny class landing ship.
Russia’s Aerospace Forces this week took delivery of a new batch of Su-34 strike aircraft, manufacturer United Aircraft Corporation announced on Thursday.
Over the weekend, a German official confirmed that Ukraine had requested to acquire the Taurus cruise missile system, which carries a range of up to 500 kilometers. Berlin has not yet made a decision on the request.
Washington announced a new military aid package to Ukraine worth about $300 million on Wednesday. According to a statement, the assistance includes Patriot munitions, AIM-7 missiles, Avenger and Stinger air defense systems, HIMARS ammunition, howitzer artillery rounds, “precision aerial munitions,” AT-4 anti-tank weapons, and other equipment.
Italian media sources reported during the week that Rome is also preparing to deliver a new arms package to Ukraine, likely including SAMP/T missile systems.
Ukraine’s partners in the West continue to explore supporting the Ukrainian Air Force’s combat jet pilots. Sweden’s Defense Minister, Pål Jonsson, told Swedish TV that the country could permit Ukrainian pilots to train on its JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets.
On the diplomatic front, NATO foreign ministers met in Oslo this week ahead of a July summit in Vilnius. Reuters reported that one of the key issues under discussion is the subject of Ukrainian accession to the Alliance.
Canada is donating 43 AIM-9 air-to-air missiles to Ukraine to ” help Ukraine to secure its skies in the face of ongoing Russian attacks.”
Russia launched an air attack on Kyiv on Saturday using Iranian-made Shahed loitering munitions. Air defense systems reportedly shot down more than 40 drones during an attack that lasted over five hours. At least one person was killed.
Around 200 Ukrainian soldiers have started training on Abrams tanks in Germany. The training is being conducted by the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General found that prepositioned stocks of equipment being donated to Ukraine suffered multiple maintenance deficiencies, meaning the equipment was not mission ready and could have even posed a danger to soldiers in the field.
Sources are saying that Ukraine has lost nearly its entire inventory of Bayraktar TB2 unmanned air vehicles. The UAVs have been lost through a combination of mechanical problems and hostile action.
Russia is accusing Ukraine of conducting drone attacks on Moscow. Russian officials said that local air defense units engaged these threats.
Russia has fired another 10 Iskander (SS-26 Stone) theater ballistic missiles at Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. This attack took place during the night of May 31-June 1. The Ukrainian air defense force claimed it intercepted all 10 missiles.
Ukraine is claiming it downed 90 percent of all Russian missiles and attack drones used during May. Russia fired at least 563 missiles and Iranian-manufactured attack drones during that month.
The United States has issued a contract to purchase Gepard air defense systems from Jordan. Originally, the Netherlands had purchased the Gepards, but then sold these vehicles to Jordan after their retirement. The contract is worth $118.4 million. The Gepards will be transferred to Ukraine.
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