At least nine people were killed and 29 injured, including five children, when Russian missiles struck an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukraine's air force reported shooting down over two dozen air targets, including cruise missiles, a Kinzhal ballistic missile, and Shahed drones launched by Russia across Ukraine. The attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region injured three people and damaged nine homes, while in the Kyiv region, over 100 personnel worked to extinguish a fire caused by the strike.
In a retaliatory move, Ukraine's military targeted three Russian surface-to-air missile systems near Belbek and Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea. The governor of Sevastopol claimed the air defenses successfully repelled the attack without causing any damage.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin disclosed that President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting with Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, General Valery Gerasimov, and commanders from Russia's military districts. They presented plans to sustain ongoing hostilities.
Politics and Diplomacy
The United States significantly expanded sanctions on Russia, targeting over 300 individuals and entities across Russia, Asia, Europe, and Africa. This also included Chinese companies allegedly selling semiconductors to Moscow. The US Treasury raised the threat of secondary sanctions for foreign financial institutions dealing with Russia's war economy, potentially blocking their access to the US financial system.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that President Joe Biden and President Zelenskyy would sign a bilateral security agreement during the G7 summit in Italy.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to provide up to £242 million ($309.7 million) in bilateral assistance to Ukraine at the summit. This support aims to address Ukraine's immediate humanitarian, energy, and stabilization needs.
President Zelenskyy made an impromptu visit to Saudi Arabia, where he held "productive and energetic" discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They focused on preparations for the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland on June 15-16 and bilateral relations. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia's support but did not confirm whether the crown prince would attend the summit, which expects around 90 delegations.
In a domestic development, Ukrainian lawmakers introduced a bill allowing businesses to exempt employees from military service by paying $500 per month for each exempted worker.
The developments mark a critical juncture in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting the ongoing military actions, international diplomacy, and humanitarian efforts amidst escalating tensions.
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