Finnish President Sauli Niinisto has said Russia is using “weapons of mass destruction” in its war against Ukraine. Speaking Monday, the Finnish leader said both sides in the war in Ukraine were using heavier weapons, including Russia’s thermobaric bombs. “We support Ukraine with more and more heavy weapons. “On the other hand, Russia has also begun to use very powerful weapons, thermobaric bombs, which are in fact weapons of mass destruction,” Mr Ninisto said during security policy talks. It comes as Amnesty International has accused Russia of repeatedly using illegal cluster munitions and unguided missiles in “shocking” attacks on Ukrainians. The investigation found evidence that Russian forces repeatedly use weapons that are subject to international sanctions because of their indiscriminate effects. “People were killed in their homes and on the streets, in playgrounds and in cemeteries, while queuing for humanitarian aid or shopping for food and medicine,” said Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s senior crisis adviser.
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All bridges to Sievierodonetsk destroyed, says regional governor
All bridges to the city of Sievierodonetsk, on Ukraine’s eastern front, have been destroyed, making it impossible to evacuate the remaining civilians, the local governor said on Monday, adding that some “access” to the city remained. Governor Serhiy Gaidai wrote in the Telegram application that Russia had not taken full control of the city and that “a part” of it remained under Ukrainian control, but that it was no longer possible to transport humanitarian cargo there. Gaidai also told the Ukrainian RFE / RL service that although 70% of the city is now controlled by Russia, the situation for Ukrainian troops there was “difficult but under control”. Joe Middleton 13 June 2022 18:26 1655139820
“Once Upon a Time in Londongrad” explores mysterious deaths in the city
Fourteen strange deaths in London share one thing in common: a relationship with the Russian state. James Rampton spoke to the creators of a new documentary series that investigates what happened. Joe Middleton 13 June 2022 18:03 1655137706
Police are investigating the killing of 12,000 Ukrainians in the war
Police opened criminal investigations into the murders of more than 12,000 Ukrainians at national level during the Russian war and authorities in the Kiev region near Bucca reported on Monday that they discovered the corpses of many victims whose hands were tied behind it their backs. “Shots on our knees tell us that people were tortured,” said Andriy Nebitov, head of the Kyiv regional police. “Hands tied behind their backs with tape say that the people were held (hostage) for a long time and (enemy forces) tried to get any information from them.” Since the withdrawal of Russian troops from the area in late March, authorities say they have uncovered the bodies of 1,316 people. A website seen by reporters Monday was a mass grave in a forest near Bukha, where the horrors of war shook the world after a regional withdrawal by Russia earlier in the war. Journalists on Monday saw a mass grave just behind a ditch dug for a military vehicle. Joe Middleton 13 June 2022 17:28 1655135601
Chemical plant housing Russian-hit civilians in Sheverodonetsk
Chemical plant housing Russian-hit civilians in Sheverodonetsk Joe Middleton 13 June 2022 16:53 1655134236
Britain’s defense minister ‘does not know’ how many UK veterans are fighting in Ukraine
UK Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace has said he does not know how many British veterans are fighting in Ukraine. Labor Party Shadow Secretary of Defense John Healy asked: “How many former British troops are fighting in Ukraine?” Mr Wallace said: “The simple fact is that we do not know how many ex-combatants are fighting in Ukraine. “As for the people who decided of their own free will to go and fight separately from the United Kingdom, or indeed separately from any of the United Kingdom service personnel, we do not know the total number. “There are estimates, but we ignore them.” Mr Healey said: “Did he even ask the question when he was in Ukraine last week? Four weeks ago, ministers said, “We are working with the Ukrainian government to find out how many there are.” “And it is time for the Secretary of Defense to answer that question.” Mr Wallace said: “I raised it with my Ukrainian counterpart. We have asked many times. “It’s up to the Ukrainians, of course, to answer and find these details, but I have some sympathy with the Ukrainians – they are at war and not one or two or three of their citizens on this front, tens of thousands of these citizens.” Joe Middleton June 13, 2022 4:30 p.m. 1655132576
The British ambassador tastes the “Boris Johnson” croissant.
A bakery in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was named after a croissant named after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week. Cafe Zavertailo announced on Instagram that: “Boris Johnson is not just a prime minister but is now a croissant.” British Ambassador Melinda Simmons posted on social media that she tried the now famous croissant, emphasizing the popularity of the prime minister in the country. Thomas Kingsley 13 June 2022 16:02 1655131483
Russia uses “weapons of mass destruction”, says Finland
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Monday that both sides in the war in Ukraine were using heavier weapons, including Russian thermobaric bombs. “We support Ukraine with more and more heavy weapons. “On the other hand, Russia has also started using very powerful weapons, thermobaric bombs, which are in fact weapons of mass destruction,” Mr Ninisto said during security policy talks at his summer residence in Naantali, Finland. Ukraine and NATO countries have also accused Russia of using thermobaric bombs, also known as vacuum bombs, which are far more destructive than conventional explosives. Thomas Kingsley 13 June 2022 15:44 1655129729
NATO chief says Sweden has taken “significant steps” to meet Turkey’s demands
Sweden has taken significant steps to meet Turkey’s demands for approval of Stockholm’s application for NATO membership, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday during a visit to Sweden. “I welcome the fact that Sweden has already begun to change its anti-terrorism legislation and that Sweden will ensure that the legal framework for arms exports reflects its future status as a NATO member with new commitments to its allies,” Stoltenberg said. during a press conference. with the Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson. “These are two important steps in addressing the concerns raised by Turkey.” Thomas Kingsley13 June 2022 15:15 1655128829
Wikipedia fights Russian mandate to remove war information on Ukraine
The Wikimedia Foundation, which owns Wikipedia, has filed an appeal against a Moscow court ruling seeking to remove information related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, arguing that people have a right to know the facts of the war. A Moscow court has fined the Wikimedia Foundation 5 million rubles ($ 88,000) for refusing to remove what it called misinformation from Russian Wikipedia articles about the war, including “Russian invasion of Ukraine,” “War crimes against Russia.” Ukraine “and” Massacre in Bukha “. “This decision suggests that a good source, verified knowledge on Wikipedia that is not in line with the Russian government’s accounts is misinformation,” said Stephen LaPorte, Deputy General Counsel at the Wikimedia Foundation. Wikipedia, which says it offers “the second draft of history,” is one of the few remaining significant sources of Russian-language information that has been checked for Russians following a media crackdown in Moscow. Thomas Kingsley 13 June 2022 15:00 1655127629
Lithuania seeks disconnection from Russian electricity grid a year earlier
Lithuania is seeking to be disconnected from Russia’s electricity grid in 2024, a year ahead of schedule, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday.
“Let us not allow the attacker to use energy as a tool of political manipulation,” Nauseda was quoted as saying in a statement issued after meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson in Vilnius. “The fastest possible coupling to the European electricity grid would increase the energy security of the Baltic states and the European Union as a whole,” Nauseda added. Thomas Kingsley13 June 2022 14:40
