We’ll be closing this blog shortly but you can read all our Ukraine coverage here.
Poland arrests 18 alleged of planning hostile pro-Russian actions
Poland has arrested 18 people on allegations of pursuing pro-Russian and pro-Belarusian hostile actions, including a person alleged to have been involved in a plan to assassinate Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the interior minister said in a statement reported by Reuters.
Ten of those arrested since December were directly involved in planning various forms of sabotage across Poland, interior minister Tomasz Siemoniak told a news conference.
Polish authorities have linked some recent incidents of arson or attempted arson to Russian-sponsored agents. Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian nationals are among those arrested in recent months, according to the internal security agency.
A Polish man was arrested in April and is alleged to have been prepared to spy for Russian military intelligence in an alleged plot to assassinate Zelenskiy, Polish prosecutors said.
Siemoniak said that the alleged acts of sabotage were part of a broader plan including cyberattacks, directing migrants in Belarus to cross the border into Poland, and threatening Poland’s security.
“We have no doubt that on the bidding of a foreign country, Russia, there are some people active who are ready to threaten the life, health and property of the Polish citizens,” Siemoniak said.
Russian interference suspected after coffins draped with tricolour placed at Eiffel Tower
French police are investigating whether the placing of five full-sized coffins covered with the French tricolour at the Eiffel Tower at the weekend was another act of Russian interference.
Three men were formally put under investigation on Monday – the equivalent of being charged – in connection with the coffins, each of which was inscribed with “French soldiers in the Ukraine”.
French detectives are investigating links between one of the suspects and the vandalism of the Holocaust memorial in Paris a week ago; 35 red hands were painted on the monument, which honours individuals who saved Jews from persecution during the 1940-44 Nazi occupation of France.
On Saturday, security cameras showed a white van with Bulgarian number plates stopping near the Eiffel Tower and two men removing the coffins from the vehicle.
Read the full report here:
Updated
Some images from near the frontline in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
Russia announces fresh sanctions against multiple UK figures
Russia’s foreign ministry has added a number of British “establishment figures”, journalists and experts to its list of people banned from entering Russia, it has announced, saying it was doing so over their “hostile” actions.
The ministry said in a statement that it urged London to abandon its support of Ukraine. The UK has pledged £12.5bn in aid to Ukraine since February 2022. Of this total, £7.6bn is for military assistance, including £3bn for military assistance in 2024/25.
In a statement posted to its website, the ministry said that Moscow was imposing the sanctions amid the “provocative anti-Russian rhetoric of British officials” and the UK government’s role in aiding Ukraine’s military. It was not immediately clear how many individuals had been sanctioned in this round, but the statement said that local politicians and “experts covering important socio-political events in [Russia] in a negative and untrue way” were included in its “stop list”.
Moscow in April 2022 imposed sanctions on 287 MPs, banning them from the country, in response to sanctions levied by the UK following Russia’s full-scale invasion that February, and further retaliatory sanctions were announced in August 2023 against British politicians and journalists.
Updated
The Ukraine war continues to dominate the agenda in the upcoming European elections, and nowhere more so than in the Baltic states with their proximity to Russia.
My colleague Lili Bayer has been running today’s Europe blog with a focus on the election build-up in the region.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy will participate in the upcoming G7 summit in Italy either online or in person, his spokesman told state media Monday.
A key agenda item of the summit to be held in southern Italy from 13 to 15 June will be ways to use profits from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, I cannot confirm or deny that the President will physically participate in the G7 summit, but in any case, whether online or physically, there is no doubt that he will be there,” the president’s spokesman, Sergiy Nikiforov told Ukrainian television, according to AFP.
Zelenskiy has been ramping up support for a Ukraine peace summit on 15 and 16 June with visits to several European capitals and a trip to Singapore and the Philippines.
Three killed in Russian attacks on eastern Ukraine
Three people including a 12-year-old boy were killed in Russian attacks on eastern Ukraine, local authorities said on Monday.
Agence-France Presse reported that the head of the Donetsk region said two people were killed and another wounded by Russian attacks on the village of Mykhaylivka.
“A 12-year-old boy is among the dead,” the official, Vadim Filashkin, announced on social media, describing two aerial attacks 30 minutes apart that left several homes damaged.
Separately, one person was killed and two wounded in a Russian rocket attack in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, where Moscow’s forces have recently captured several villages, the governor said.
Kharkiv borders Russia and has been under persistent shelling since the Kremlin ordered its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian forces launched a renewed ground offensive there last month.
Russia targeted Slobozhanske, southeast of the region’s main city, also called Kharkiv, around midnight local time, Governor Oleg Synegubov said.
“Houses were damaged. One man died. Another man and a woman were wounded,” Synegubov said on social media.
Washington last week gave Ukraine limited permission to use western-supplied weapons to strike some military targets on Russian territory as part of Kyiv’s efforts to fend off attacks on Kharkiv.
Summary
As the time approaches 3pm in Kyiv, here’s a quick summary of events to get you up to speed.
China has hit back at Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s accusation that Russia and China are trying to weaken his planned global peace summit. A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry has said Beijing has never “fanned fire or fuelled the flames” of the Russia-Ukraine war.
After US president Joe Biden on Thursday gave Kyiv the green light to use its weapons to counter-strike Russian targets near the border with Kharkiv, Russia’s foreign ministry has warned the United States against making “mistakes that may have fatal consequences”.
Following a report by the Financial Times that a deal between Russia and China for a major gas pipeline, the Power of Siberia-2, has stalled, both Moscow and Beijing have issued statements in support of the project. Beijing offered a statement on cooperation while the Kremlin said “there is no doubt the agreements will be reached”. Here’s a quick look at why the deal appears to be deadlocked, according to the FT’s sources close to the issue.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with the Philippine president to call on regional leaders to attend a global peace summit on the Russia-Ukraine war that he accuses Russia and China of attempting to thwart. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr pledged that his country would take part in the peace summit.
The Ukrainian army is bettering its position in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian news agency quotes a commander as saying. Yurii Fedorenko, the commander of the 92nd mechanised brigade’s drone company, said that Ukraine’s position had begun to get better in the region, while the agency reports that ammunition from the United States is being used to attack enemy positions in the Russian Belgorod region.
Updated
Ukraine troops 'improving positions' in Kharkiv
Ukrainian frontline units are beginning to improve their position in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian news agency quotes a commander as saying.
Soldiers are using the ammunition received from the United States to attack enemy positions in the Russian Belgorod region, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
Speaking during a national telethon, Yurii Fedorenko, the commander of the 92nd mechanised brigade’s drone company, said that Ukraine’s position had begun to get better in the Kharkiv region.
“We are improving our position. Work is underway to knock the enemy out of occupied positions. In addition, to destroy its reserves, equipment, and other means with which it is trying to operate. In particular, on the territory of the Russian Federation,” Fedorenko said.
President Joe Biden on Thursday moved to allow Kyiv to use US weapons in counter-fire efforts within Russia near the border with the Kharkiv region.
Updated
Poland will spend over 3 billion zlotys ($760m) to bolster cybersecurity, its digitalisation minister has said, after state news agency PAP was hit by what authorities describe as a probable Russian cyberattack.
A false article about military mobilisation appeared on PAP on Friday, escalating fears of Russian interference in the European parliament elections, which will be held in Poland on Sunday. Russia denies the accusations – in Warsaw on Friday said it had no knowledge of the cyberattack.
“We want to allocate over 3 billion zlotys for a ‘cyber shield’,” Reuters reports that Krzysztof Gawkowski told a news conference. “Today, Poland is on the frontline of the cyber fight against Russia. Poland has the most attacks.”
Gawkowski said that on Sunday and Monday Poland had blocked several cyber attacks on critical infrastructure. “The Russian Federation has one goal - to destabilise the situation and ensure that the forces supporting the breakup of the EU can benefit,” he said.
Updated
Has the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline deal stalled?
Here’s a bit of detail from the Financial Times’ report that the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline project has run into trouble. Spokespeople for both Beijing and Moscow issued statements in relation to reports that the project is deadlocked – so in case you’ve not read the FT’s report, this is what that’s all about.
Citing three people close to the matter, the FT reported that the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline project has stalled over demands made by Beijing on price and supply levels.
While Russia insists it is certain that a deal on Power of Siberia 2 will come “in the near future”, sources say an agreement remains distant, while Russian gas sales have plummeted. On Monday, a spokesperson for the Kremlin said that gas talks will continue and “there is no doubt the agreements will be reached”, according to Reuters.
What is Beijing asking for? It concerns both prices and supply, according to the FT’s sources. The people familiar with the matter told the newspaper that China wants to pay little more than Russia’s heavily subsidised domestic prices and would only commit to buying a small proportion of the pipeline’s planned annual capacity.
What does this mean? It shows how Beijing has the upper hand in this deal – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left president Vladimir Putin increasingly dependent on China as Gazprom suffers heavy losses.
What is the Kremlin asking for? When Putin and Xi met last month in Beijing, Putin made three key requests, according to the people familiar with the matter. A deal on the pipeline; more Chinese bank activity in Russia; and for China to decline to attend a peace conference being organised by Ukraine.
Updated
The Philippines to attend Ukraine peace summit
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has met with the Philippine president to call on regional leaders to attend a global peace summit on the Russia-Ukraine war that he accuses Russia and China of attempting to thwart.
In a rare surprise trip to Asia, Zelenskiy arrived in Manila late on Sunday after speaking over the weekend at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore, where both leaders spoke critically of China.
The Associated Press reports that he met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who pledged that his country would take part in the peace summit, Philippine press secretary Cheloy Garafil said. “I’m happy to hear today from you that you’ll participate in our peace steps,” Zelenskiy told Marcos. “It’s a very strong signal.”
Marcos welcomed a decision by Ukraine to open an embassy in Manila this year which would hasten efforts to deliver assistance.
“We have ourselves been trying to promote the continuing adherence to international law in our part of the world,” Marcos said amid ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region as both the US and China vie for influence.
“The issues that you are facing are similar and in parallel to ours and, therefore, the position the Philippines takes is always to promote peace.”
Updated
China is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia on the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline project, its foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said amid reports that it had stalled.
Asked about whether the project has been paused, Russian state news agency Tass quotes Mao as telling a briefing: “The search for mutually beneficial common points, deepened integration of interests, achievement of mutual success is a consensus that has been reached by heads of the two countries. We are ready to cooperate with Russia for implementation of this important consensus.”
Beijing means “to permanently deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in all directions,” Mao added.
The comments come amid reports that progress on the building of the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline has stalled. The Financial Times has reported that the project was deadlocked over China’s requirements on prices and volumes of energy supplies.
Russia hopes the pipeline, which would supply China with Russian gas, can help to address its declining gas exports, which have plummeted since its invasion of Ukraine, leading to record losses for Gazprom.
Updated
Russian airport imposes flight restrictions
The Russian city of Kazan’s airport has introduced temporary flight restrictions for safety reasons, Reuters cites Russia’s aviation body as saying.
These restrictions are often implemented because of expected or live Ukrainian drone attacks.
Updated
Russian minister warns US that 'mistakes have consequences'
We have a bit more detail on the comments made earlier by Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, who issued a warning to the US against making “mistakes that may have fatal consequences” by allowing Ukraine to strike targets on Russian soil.
The decision by the US to soften its red line means Kyiv can use US weapons in counter-fire efforts near the border with the Kharkiv region.
“I would like to warn American leaders against miscalculations that could have fatal consequences. For unknown reasons, they underestimate the seriousness of the rebuff they may receive,” state news agency RIA quoted Ryabkov as saying.
“I urge these figures (in the U.S.) ... to spend some of their time, which they apparently spend on some kind of video games, judging by the lightness of their approach, on studying what was said in detail by Putin,” Ryabkov said, referring to comments made last week by Russian president Vladimir Putin, who warned that Nato countries were risking a serious escalation in the conflict.
Updated
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Guinea on Monday, his ministry said, in his first trip to the country in over a decade as Moscow tries to bolster its reach within Africa.
Russia’s foreign ministry announced the visit on the Telegram app. It is Lavrov’s first trip to the West African country since 2013. Russian state news agency Tass said Guinea would be part of a tour of African countries but did state which other nations Lavrov would visit.
Russia has worked to boost its influence in Africa in recent years, after its relations with the West nosedived after it invaded Ukraine in 2022. Last July, Russian president Vladimir Putin invited African leaders to a summit in Saint Petersburg where he said they agreed to back a multipolar world order and to fight neocolonialism.
He had hailed the “commitment of all our states to the formation of a just and democratic multipolar world order” during a statement to the media following the summit. But the Kremlin also blamed a low turnout in 2023 – just 17 heads of states attended the conference - on “interventions” by western powers.
Updated
China hits back over Zelenskiy's peace summit claims
China has never “fanned fire or fuelled the flames” of the Russia-Ukraine war, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry has said.
The country believes all efforts should be recognised in supporting peace measures in the Russia-Ukraine war, spokesperson Mao Ning said, addressing a question on an upcoming peace summit in Switzerland in mid-June.
The remarks follow an accusation by the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Russia and China are trying to weaken his planned global peace summit.
Zelenskiy had on Sunday accused China of backing efforts to deter leaders from participating. “Regrettably, Russia, using Chinese influence on the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit. It is unfortunate that such a big, independent, powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of Putin,” he said.
China attaches great importance to its relations with Ukraine and remains its largest trading partner, Mao said on Monday, adding that China’s position on the peace conference is very “open and transparent”. “We believe that we can get the understanding and support of all parties,” Mao said.
Updated
Russia’s foreign ministry has warned the United States against making “mistakes that may have fatal consequences” in relation to permitting Ukraine to strike targets on Russian soil, Reuters reports citing the Interfax news agency.
Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Ukrainian attempts to attack Russian early-warning radar systems would be foiled and that Moscow may respond asymmetrically to such efforts.
The remarks follow a major shift in which president Joe Biden on Thursday moved to allow Kyiv to use US weapons in counter-fire efforts within Russia near the border with the Kharkiv region. The decision followed days of mounting pressure on Biden from western allies and the Ukrainian president, Volodomyr Zelenskiy, who argued that the delay in the use of western weapons had cost lives.
Ukraine is planning record electricity imports from European countries following a wave of Russian strikes that caused significant energy infrastructure damage over the weekend, its energy ministry said.
Imports are expected to rise to 27,178 megawatt hours (Mwh), Reuters reports.
Ukrainians in all but three regions of the country suffered outages, with the state-owned power grid operator Ukrenergo saying shutdowns impacted both industrial and household consumers.
The shutdowns follow Russia’s barrage of drone and missile attacks on energy targets that injured at least 19 people on Saturday.
Updated
Welcome to today’s Ukraine blog. The time in Kyiv is approaching 11am.
The speaker of Georgia’s parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, has signed the “foreign agents” bill into law, Reuters reports, citing Russia’s TASS news agency. Critics of the legislation have dubbed it the “Russian law” as they argue it is modelled on a 2012 Russian bill used to suppress pro-western organisations and there are concerns that Georgia could move closer to Russia.
The law – which means organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad must register as agents of foreign influence – has sparked mass street protests.
Here is a brief run-through of the latest developments on day 831 of the Russia-Ukraine war. We’ll bring you the latest updates as we get them throughout the day.
Almost 1,000 mourners gathered in central Kyiv on Sunday for the funeral of a high-profile journalist and volunteer combat medic who was killed in action last week.
Donald Trump risks being a “loser president” if he wins November’s election and imposes a bad peace deal on Ukraine, Zelenskiy told the Guardian, saying it would mean the end of the US as a global “player”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged world leaders to come to a peace conference in Switzerland this month, and accused China of discouraging attendance at the meeting. “Regrettably, Russia, using Chinese influence on the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit. It is unfortunate that such a big, independent, powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of Putin,” he said.
Ukraine imposed emergency power shutdowns in most of the country on Sunday, a day after Russia unleashed large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure.
