Here is an update for Sunday, June 1:
Fighting
- Seven people are confirmed dead and 30 are injured following a train derailment in the Bryansk region of Russia, close to the Ukrainian border. According to Moscow Railway, the accident was caused by “illegal interference in transport operations,” while Ukraine’s military has yet to comment.
- A Russian attack in the Ukrainian village of Dolynka in Zaporizhia claimed the life of a child and wounded another person, as reported by the region’s governor.
- In Ukraine’s Kherson region, Russian shelling resulted in the death of a man, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
- On Friday and into the night, the Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russian forces launched approximately 109 drones and five missiles across Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces managing to destroy 42 of these drones.
- Russia’s military has announced the capture of the Ukrainian villages of Vodolahy in the Sumy region and Novopil in the Donetsk region.
- Following this, Ukraine ordered the evacuation of 11 more villages in the Sumy region, citing a large Russian troop presence.
Politics and diplomacy
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed doubt about Russia’s intentions, stating that Moscow has provided “no clear information” on their goals for upcoming peace talks in Istanbul, Turkiye. He did not confirm Ukraine’s participation in the talks.
- China has criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for drawing a parallel between defending Ukraine and protecting Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, arguing that these are fundamentally different issues.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Russia’s war on Ukraine will be a priority in his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House.
- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced new rules to regulate foreign ships crossing Swedish territorial waters starting July 1, citing a growing number of incidents involving Russia’s so-called Shadow Fleet.
Weapons
- British Defence Secretary John Healey has announced plans to establish at least six new factories for the production of weapons and explosives, emphasizing the importance of a strong industrial base to support military strength in light of Russia’s ongoing actions in Ukraine.
