Two children among 18 dead after Russian missile strike on Odesa – governor
Two children are among 18 people killed by a missile strike in Odesa, according to the latest update from regional governor Maksym Marchenko.
He posted to Telegram to say:
As a result of a night missile strike by Tu-22 strategic aircraft from the Black Sea in the Belgorod-Dniester district of Odesa region, three X-22 missiles hit an apartment building and a recreation centre.
As of 9am, 18 victims were identified, including 2 children, and 31 people were hospitalised, including 4 children and a pregnant woman. Another 8 sought medical help. 8 people were rescued from the rubble, including 3 children. Rescue work continues.
Earlier, Ukrainian MP Roman Hryshchuk shared a video purportedly from the attack, saying “Just imagine: you wake up and realise that there is no way out. People were trapped in their own apartments after Russian missiles hit a residential high-rise in Odesa.”
The claims have not been independently verified.
The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in Ukraine has issued its military update for the day.
It claims that “at present, the DPR and Luhansk People’s Republic troops, with fire support from the Russian Federation armed forces, have liberated 240 settlements”. That is an increase of one on the 239 settlements that their briefing had been claiming for some days.
They claim that Ukrainian forces have shelled 16 settlements that are under DPR occupation, that seven people were injured, 34 housing constructions and 11 civil infrastructure facilities were damaged.
The claims have not been independently verified. Russia and Syria are the only two UN member states to recognise the DPR as a legitimate authority.
This is a selection of the latest images that have been sent to us of the aftermath of the missile attack on Odesa which, according to governor Maksym Marchenko, has claimed 18 lives and left more than 30 people in hospital.
Zelenskiy says Ukraine’s path to EU membership should ‘not take years or decades’
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Ukraine’s path to European Union membership should “not take years or decades” and vowed to make Ukraine’s part of the process “perfect”.
In response to events in Ukraine’s parliament this morning, where president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen addressed lawmakers by video, Ukraine’s president has posted to Telegram:
Today, together with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the prime minister, we are signing a joint statement, which is a signal of unity of all branches of government and evidence of our determination to achieve Ukraine’s strategic goal of full membership in the European Union. And signing this statement should mean the same as signing an application to join on the fifth day of the war.
We went to the candidacy for 115 days. And our path to membership should not take years or decades. We have to overcome this path quickly. Make our part of the job perfect. To enable our friends in the European Union to make another historic decision for us just as quickly and in a consolidated way.
This was the scene this morning as the European Union flag was brought into Ukraine’s parliament. Matti Maasikas, the EU’s ambassador to Ukraine, described it on Twitter as “moving to tears”.
Von der Leyen: Europe will be at Ukraine’s side ‘every step of the way’ to EU membership
Ursula von der Leyen has told Ukraine that there is “a long road ahead” for its bid to become a European Union member, but that “Europe will be at your side every step of the way”.
In a speech via video link to Ukraine’s parliament this morning, the president of the European Commission said:
Ukraine is a candidate country to join the European Union, something that seemed almost unimaginable just five months ago.
There is a long road ahead but Europe will be at your side every step of the way, for as long as it takes, from these dark days of war until the moment you cross the door that leads into our European Union.
The next steps are within your reach. But they will require hard work.
Reuters reports she listed among urgent required measures: the adoption of a media law, the implementation of new rules that reduce oligarchs’ excessive clout and the appointment of top anti-corruption officials.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, has tweeted his pride at the European Union flag being flown within it, after it was addressed on video by president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. He wrote:
A historic moment! The flag of the European Union now in the Ukrainian parliament. It was my dream. It came true. And I will add: the Verkhovna Rada deserves the EU flag both in colour and in meaning.
A historic moment! The flag of the European Union now in the Ukrainian Parliament 🇪🇺🇺🇦 It was my dream 💙💛 It came true. And I will add: the Verkhovna Rada deserves the EU flag both in color and in meaning pic.twitter.com/pQi6D1558u
— Ruslan Stefanchuk (@r_stefanchuk) July 1, 2022
Ukraine was accepted as a candidate country for European Union membership on 23 June.
Rodion Miroshnik, the ambassador to Russia for the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), has been active on Telegram this morning. Firstly he boasted that “even in the Ukrainian general staff there comes an epiphany that they will soon completely lose control over the territory of the LPR”.
He then went on to say: “it is decided that the boots of the Ukrainian Nazi will forever leave the territory of the LPR.”
He also posted a news story suggesting that an area in Moscow may be renamed after the LPR, possibly at the location of the western embassies in Russia’s capital city.
Miroshnik comments: “Personally, I like the British embassy on Luhansk People’s Republic Square. I think Liz Truss is very impressive. You can’t deprive her of such pleasure.”
Several countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden and Canada, have renamed streets near Russian embassies or consulates in honour of Ukraine.
The self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic was formed in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, and Russia and Syria are the only two UN member states that recognise it is as a legitimate authority.
Ukraine now has a “very clear European perspective” following the European Union’s decision to grant the country candidate status to join the bloc, European commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech to the Ukrainian parliament.
“Ukraine now has a very clear European perspective. And Ukraine is a candidate country to join the European Union, something that seemed almost unimaginable just five months ago,” Von der Leyen said in a speech by video-link to the assembly on Friday.
“So today is first and foremost. A moment to celebrate this historic milestone, a victory of determination and resolve and a victory for the whole movement that started eight years ago on the Maidan,” Reuters reports she added.
The north-eastern region of Sumy in Ukraine had a peaceful night, according to a status update from regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, but he reports on Telegram that shelling resumed in the morning on the Esman community. There are, he said, no casualties.
Two children among 18 dead after Russian missile strike on Odesa – governor
Two children are among 18 people killed by a missile strike in Odesa, according to the latest update from regional governor Maksym Marchenko.
He posted to Telegram to say:
As a result of a night missile strike by Tu-22 strategic aircraft from the Black Sea in the Belgorod-Dniester district of Odesa region, three X-22 missiles hit an apartment building and a recreation centre.
As of 9am, 18 victims were identified, including 2 children, and 31 people were hospitalised, including 4 children and a pregnant woman. Another 8 sought medical help. 8 people were rescued from the rubble, including 3 children. Rescue work continues.
Earlier, Ukrainian MP Roman Hryshchuk shared a video purportedly from the attack, saying “Just imagine: you wake up and realise that there is no way out. People were trapped in their own apartments after Russian missiles hit a residential high-rise in Odesa.”
The claims have not been independently verified.
A quick snap from Reuters here that Hungary will speed up its defence development programme, prime minister Viktor Orbán told state radio.
“We must radically increase our defence capabilities,” Orbán said. He reiterated that Hungary’s interest was for the war in neighbouring Ukraine to end as soon as possible.
The US has not seen China evade sanctions or provide military equipment to Russia, a senior US official said on Thursday.
The Commerce Department previously added five companies in China to a trade blacklist on Tuesday for allegedly supporting Russia’s military and defence industrial base.
Reuters reportS US officials have warned of consequences, including sanctions, should China offer material support for Russia’s war effort, but have consistently said they have yet to detect overt Chinese military and economic backing of Moscow.
China is not providing material support. This is normal course-of-business enforcement action against entities that have been backfilling for Russia,” a senior Biden administration official told Reuters, referring to the Commerce blacklist.
We have not seen the PRC (People’s Republic of China) engage in systematic evasion or provide military equipment to Russia,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Vitaliy Kim, the governor of Mykolaiv, has posted a status update for the last 24 hours in his region, detailing a list of areas which have been shelled. He claims that the port area of Mykolaiv was hit with “forbidden cluster shells”.
He did not list any people being killed or injured in the ten areas he said had come under fire, but there were some areas he said “victims and consequences” are being clarified.
The claims have not been independently verified.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the launching of power transmissions to Romania was the start of a process that could help Europe reduce its dependence on Russian hydrocarbons.
Zelenskiy’s comments in his nightly video message on Thursday followed an announcement by prime minister Denys Shmyhal that exports had started earlier in the day – with a volume of 100 megawatts – four months into Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The president said the start of exports was “another significant step in our movement toward the European Union”.
Thanks to Ukrainian electricity, a significant part of the Russian gas used by European consumers can be replaced. This is therefore not just a question of export earnings for us but a question of security for all of Europe.
Let me remind you that linking our country to the common EU energy system took place already after the war began. Ukraine is doing things now that once seemed impossible.”
Ukraine reached agreement in mid-March to join the European Network of Transmission System Operators (Entso-E) as an observer after its grid was linked to that of the EU.
The Entso-E said this week that preparations had been completed for the first exports from Ukraine, together with power from ex-Soviet state Moldova, starting on 30 June – using an interconnection with Romania.
Electricity trading on other interconnections between Ukraine and Slovakia and Ukraine and Hungary – as well as between Moldova and Romania would soon follow, it said.
The group said the total trade capacity would initially be set to 100MW in the first phase.
In his earlier announcement, Shmyhal said Ukraine’s electricity export potential towards Europe could reach 2.5 gigawatts.
Satellite images shows smoke rising from Snake Island, off the coast of Ukraine, on Thursday.
Ukrainian forces say they pushed Russian forces from the strategic Black Sea island.
Ukraine pushes Russian forces from Snake Island
Ukraine has pushed Russian forces from Snake Island, a strategic Black Sea island off the southern coast near the city of Odesa.
Russia portrayed the pullout from Snake Island off the port city of Odesa as a “goodwill gesture”. Ukraine’s military said the Russians fled the island in two speedboats after a barrage of Ukrainian artillery and missile strikes.
Ukraine’s win will weaken any plans Russia may have for a future land attack on that stretch of coastline, Ukrainian officials say.
Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the commander of Ukraine’s armed forces, said Ukrainian-made Bohdana howitzers had played an important role in routing Russian forces from Snake Island, and he thanked foreign partners for their support.
“KABOOM!” Tweeted Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration. “No more Russian troops on Snake Island.”
Russia’s ministry of defence stated that it had completed its assigned tasks and was tactically withdrawing to allow for grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. “In order to organise humanitarian grain corridors as part of the implementation of joint agreements reached with the participation of the UN, the Russian Federation decided to leave its positions on Zmiinyi Island,” the ministry said.
Yermak described Russia’s claim of goodwill as a lie.
Zelenskiy hails ‘significant’ Snake Island victory
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier hailed a victory over Russian forces occupying Snake Island, a strategic Black Sea island off the southern coast near the city of Odesa.
He said Zmiinyi Island – or Snake Island – was “free” after Russian forces withdrew from the strategic post.
Zmiinyi Island is a strategic point, and it significantly changes the situation in the Black Sea. It does not guarantee safety yet, it does not yet guarantee that the enemy will not return. But it already limits the actions of the occupiers significantly. Step by step, we will drive them out of our sea, our land, and our sky.”
Snake Island was made famous when Russia first captured it in February. A Ukrainian soldier posted on the island told an attacking Russian warship to “go fuck yourself”, which has become one of the most popular Ukrainian slogans of resistance since the invasion.
Russian missile strikes on Odesa kill 17, Ukraine says
At least 17 people have been killed after two Russian missiles struck a multi-storey apartment building and a recreation centre in the southern port city of Odesa in the early hours of Friday, Ukrainian officials have said.
Ukraine’s state emergency services (SES) said that as of 6am on Friday, 14 people had been killed and 30 injured – including three children – in the attack on the apartment building.
Three people – including a child – were killed in a seperate attack on a recreation centre, with one injured, said the SES.
The Guardian could not immediately confirm details of the incident.
Ukrainian MP, Roman Hryshchuk, shared a video purportedly from the attack.
“Just imagine: you wake up and realise that there is no way out. People were trapped in their own apartments after Russian missiles hit a residential high-rise in Odesa,” he wrote alongside the video.
Just imagine: you wake up and realize that there is no way out. People were trapped in their own apartments after russian missiles hit a residential high-rise in #Odesa
At least 10 people have been confirming dead
Rescue workers are working. pic.twitter.com/IELdbwicPQ— Roman Hryshchuk (@grishchukroma) July 1, 2022
Summary and welcome
Hello it’s Samantha Lock back with you as we unpack all the latest news from Ukraine this morning.
Major developments overnight include a victory over Snake Island where Ukrainian forces pushed Russian troops from the strategic Black Sea outpost off the southern coast near the city of Odesa.
Russia portrayed the pullout from Snake Island as a “goodwill gesture”. Ukraine’s military said the Russians fled the island in two speedboats after a barrage of Ukrainian artillery and missile strikes.
And in the early hours of this morning, two Russian missiles reportedly struck a multi-storey apartment building and a recreation centre in Odesa.
At least 17 people were killed, Ukrainian officials have said.
Here are all the latest lines as of 8am in Kyiv.
- Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, says a new “iron curtain” is descending between Russia and the west, and that Moscow would not trust Washington and Brussels “from now on”. The process “has begun”, Lavrov said after talks with his counterpart from Belarus. “As far as an iron curtain is concerned, essentially it is already descending.”
- Ukrainian forces say they have pushed Russian forces from Snake Island, a strategic Black Sea outpost off the southern coast. Russia portrayed the pullout from the island as a “goodwill gesture”. Ukraine’s military said the Russians fled the island in two speedboats following a barrage of Ukrainian artillery and missile strikes.
- A Russian missile struck a multi-story apartment building in Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa early on Friday, killing at least 10 people, a local official said.
“The number of dead as a result of a strike on a multi-story apartment building has now risen to 10,” Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesman for the Odesa regional administration said on his Telegram channel.
- The situation in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk is “extremely difficult” as Russian forces’ continuous shelling makes it impossible for civilians to evacuate, officials say. “There is a lot of shelling and from multiple directions. The Russian army is approaching from different directions towards Lysychansk,” Luhansk’s regional governor, Serhiy Haidai said, adding that Russian forces remained on the city outskirts, where there was currently no street fighting.
- A cargo ship left the Russian-occupied Ukrainian port of Berdiansk for the first time since the city was seized by Moscow’s troops, according to a pro-Russia official. Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of the pro-Russia administration, was cited by Russian state media as saying the first cargo ship to leave Berdiansk was carrying 7,000 tonnes of grain to “friendly countries”, without saying what cargo the ship was carrying.
- Turkey’s president has warned that Ankara could still block Finland and Sweden’s accession to Nato if the two countries fail to fully meet his expectations. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that if the two Nordic countries reneged on their promises, including to extradite terror suspects with links to outlawed Kurdish groups, Turkey’s parliament could refuse to ratify the deal reached on Tuesday.
- Estonian and Latvian defence ministers signed a letter of intent on Thursday at the Nato summit in Madrid for joint procurement of medium-range anti-aircraft systems.“The aggression of Russia in Ukraine clearly shows the need for air defence systems,” the Latvian defence minister, Artis Pabriks, said in a statement.
- The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said France would deliver six Caesar howitzers and a “significant number” of armoured vehicles to Ukraine. He added that the Nato allies meeting in Madrid “unanimously decided” to boost humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.
- Russia’s foreign ministry said it had summoned the British ambassador in Moscow, Deborah Bronnert, to protest against Boris Johnson’s “offensive” remarks regarding Russia and Vladimir Putin. A strong protest was expressed to the ambassador over “the frankly boorish statements of the British leadership regarding Russia, its leader and official representatives of the authorities, as well as the Russian people”, it said in a statement.
- Norway’s foreign minister, Anniken Huitfeldt, has said her nation is not blocking Russian access to Svalbard. On Wednesday, Russia accused Norway of disrupting the delivery of critical supplies and threatened retaliation. Huitfeldt said Norway was not blocking Russian access to the Arctic archipelago, only applying international sanctions, and that Russia had other means to reach its settlements.
- The Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, arrived in Moscow, where he will urge Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire and seek ways to allow the export of grain from Ukraine. Widodo also met with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on Wednesday during a visit he described as a “manifestation of the Indonesian people’s concern for the situation in Ukraine”.