Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»: 19.06 – 25.06

Ukrainian defense forces launch an offensive on several fronts simultaneously in the east

Ukrainian defense forces in eastern Ukraine on Saturday launched an offensive on several fronts simultaneously.

The eastern grouping of troops today launched an offensive in several directions simultaneously.

They are advancing CNN: US intelligence knew Prigozhin was planning a coup in Russia

US intelligence believes that the head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been planning to challenge Russia's military leadership for quite some time.

According to the informed persons, the ultimate goal of Prigozhin's plans was unclear. This was reported by CNN, citing sources.

According to the two interlocutors, earlier this week, US intelligence officials informed congressional leaders, known as the Gang of Eight, about the Wagner's movements and equipment buildup near Russia.

U.S. and Western intelligence officials saw signs that Prigozhin was preparing for such a move, including by amassing weapons and ammunition.

  

towards Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Bohdanivka, Yahidne, Klishchiyivka, and Kurdyumivka. There is progress in all directions".

This was reported by Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar on Telegram .

Also, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the counteroffensive of Ukrainian forces will take place in the same way as in the fall when at first it seemed that the process had slowed down, and then the Armed Forces began to advance rapidly.

 

EU Council approves 11th package of sanctions against Russia for war

The Council of the European Union has approved the 11th package of economic and personal sanctions against Russia, the main purpose of which is to strengthen the previously imposed restrictions and combat sanctions circumvention.

To combat sanctions circumvention, the EU is stepping up bilateral and multilateral cooperation with third countries and technical assistance. In situations where cooperation fails to achieve results, the EU plans «swift, proportionate and targeted action... in the form of appropriate individual measures in response to the involvement of third-country operators in sanctions circumvention.»

The new sanctions package bans the transit through Russia of more goods and technologies that can be used for military purposes, aviation or space industry, and aviation and rocket fuel for goods transported from the EU to third countries.

 

Le Monde: France now supports Ukraine's membership in NATO

The French authorities have decided to support Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, following the example of Poland and the Baltic states, abandoning a more cautious stance to increase pressure on Russia.

This was reported by Le Monde.

According to the newspaper, at a recent meeting of the Defense Council at the Elysee Palace on June 12, the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO "as an independent guarantee of security" was considered.

«This could deter Russia from continuing the war or, in the event of a conflict, prevent any further aggression,» Le Monde explains the logic of the French authorities.

 

Bloomberg: EU to offer 50 billion euros in financial aid to Ukraine

The European Union is ready to offer a financial aid package worth about 50 billion euros to support Ukraine.

This was reported to Bloomberg  by sources familiar with the preparation of the plan.

According to the agency's interlocutors, the European Commission's proposal will help finance the Ukrainian government's current expenses and pay for urgent reconstruction priorities.

According to the agency, the financial assistance will be announced on Tuesday before a conference in London where donors will discuss Ukraine's recovery.

The European Commission wants to avoid a burdensome instrument for Ukraine, given the war, and will offer assistance in the form of grants, soft loans, and guarantees, the sources said.

According to one of the anonymous sources, unlike previous financial packages for Ukraine, the plan will be financed by contributions from member states rather than market loans.

 

The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» and the charity organization Global Empowerment Mission in English for readers from other countries to tell the stories of people who survived the horrors of the Russian occupation.

Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» та благодійною організацією Global Empowerment Mission на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти історії людей, які пережили жахи російської окупації.