- Moscow accuses Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro of “hostile action” after they blocked Russia’s foreign minister from reaching Serbia by closing their airspace to his jet.
- President Vladimir Putin warns Russia will strike new targets if the United States and Kyiv’s other Western allies send advanced rocket systems to Ukraine.
- The governor of eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk region says the situation in the strategically important city of Severodonetsk has “worsened” as fighting rages.
Here are the latest updates:
Russia to push Ukrainian forces back amid long-range weapons threat: Lavrov
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow will respond to Western deliveries of long-range weapons to Ukraine by pushing Ukrainian forces back, further away from Russia’s border.
“The longer the range of the systems that will be delivered, the further we will move back the Nazis from that line from which threats to Russian-speakers and the Russian Federation may come,” he told a news conference, citing Russia’s repeated description of authorities in Ukraine as neo-Nazis and nationalists – labels that Kyiv says are being used as propaganda to justify the conflict.
Lavrov also described as “unprecedented” the move by Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro to block his plane from travelling to Serbia, adding that he had yet to receive an explanation for their decision.
He said that he would instead invite his Serbian counterpart to visit him in Moscow. “The main thing is no one will be able to destroy our relations with Serbia,” Lavrov added.
Zelenskyy says UK PM confirmed new military aid package during call
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed a new package of military aid to Ukraine from the United Kingdom during a call between the two leaders.
Zelesnkyy added in a Twitter post that he and Johnson were “looking for ways to avoid the food crisis & unblock [Ukraine’s] ports,” referring to Russia’s naval blockade of Ukraine which has left the latter unable to export much of its agricultural produce.
His remarks came after the UK said earlier on Monday that the multiple-launch rocket systems it has pledged to Ukraine will provide “a significant boost in capability” for the country’s efforts to resist Russia’s invasion.
Talked with @BorisJohnson. Told about the situation on the front. Received confirmation of a new enhanced defense support package for 🇺🇦. Raised the issue of intensifying work on security guarantees. Jointly with 🇬🇧 we’re looking for ways to avoid the food crisis & unblock ports.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2022
Russia says nuclear talks with US necessary, but ‘unlikely’ at present
The Kremlin has said Russia is interested in talks with the United States over nuclear arms but cautioned that negotiations are unlikely to take place at this time.
“We are interested and believe that continued negotiations and discussions on this topic, given the tectonic shifts that we are seeing… the whole world needs these kinds of talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
IAEA chief working on deploying mission to Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the UN nuclear watchdog is “developing the modalities” for an international mission of experts it hopes to send to the Russian-held nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, Europe’s largest.
“We are developing the modalities to dispatch such a mission; other considerations should not prevent this essential international mission from taking place,” Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement to the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors, adding that Ukraine had requested the move and also indicated that it is concerned about the supply of spare parts to the facility.
“Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya NPP site remains under the control of the Russian forces there. I have repeatedly expressed my grave concern at the extremely stressful and challenging working conditions under which Ukrainian management and staff are operating the plant,” he said, noting the situation posed a “clear and present risk to the safety, security and safeguards” there.
Russia says airspace bans on foreign minister’s plane a ‘hostile action’
Moscow has denounced airspace closures by three eastern European countries which prevented Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov from travelling to Serbia as a “hostile action.”
Countries surrounding Serbia – Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro – closed their airspace to an official plane that would have carried Moscow’s top diplomat to Belgrade on Monday.
Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, told reporters such actions could cause problems with the timetabling of high-level diplomatic meetings. But they would not prevent Moscow from maintaining contacts with friendly countries, he added.
Weapons to Ukraine: Which countries have sent what?
Numerous countries have provided arms to Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24.
Click here for a round-up of the weapons supplies.
Ukrainian army says Russian forces attacking along entire front line in Donetsk
Ukraine’s army says Russian forces are attacking along the entire front line in the country’s southeastern Donetsk region as well as conducting offensive operations in the neighbouring region of Luhansk.
Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesman for Ukraine’s armed forces, said Moscow’s troops were continuing to press for full control of the city of Severodonetsk, in Luhansk, and were also attacking in Slovyansk and Lysychansk.
Shtupun also accused Russian forces of targeting civilian infrastructure in the regions of Chernihiv and Sumy, in Ukraine’s north and northeast respectively.
US ambassador to Russia says Moscow, Washington must keep embassies open
Russia and the US should keep their respective embassies in one another’s countries open despite the crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine because the world’s two biggest nuclear powers must continue to talk, the US ambassador to Moscow has been quoted as saying.
John Sullivan told Russia’s state-controlled TASS news agency that Washington and Moscow should not simply break off diplomatic relations.
“We must preserve the ability to speak to each other,” Sullivan said. His remarks were reported by TASS in Russian and translated into English by the Reuters news agency.
Russia’s Lavrov ‘forced to cancel Serbia visit’
A visit to Serbia by Lavrov has been cancelled after countries around the Balkan nation closed their airspace to his aircraft, according to media reports.
Read more here.
Explosions heard in southern Ukraine city of Mykolaiv: Mayor
Explosions have been heard in Ukraine’s southern Black Sea port city of Mykolaiv, its mayor says.
Oleksandr Senkevych reported the blasts in a Telegram post. There was no further information immediately available.
Ukraine says its position has ‘worsened a little’ in Severodonetsk
The position of Ukrainian forces fighting in Severodonetsk has “worsened a little”, the governor of the Luhansk region has said.
“Our defenders managed to undertake a counterattack for a certain time; they liberated almost half of the city. But now the situation has worsened a little for us again,” Serhiy Haidai said in televised remarks.
Governor says Russia’s Kursk region shelled
The governor of Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, says the village of Tetkino was shelled on Monday morning.
“There were no wounded or dead. The main blow was inflicted on the local bridge,” Roman Starovoit said on Telegram.
The governors of several of Russia’s border regions have repeatedly accused Ukraine of firing on their settlements.
Ukraine: More than 31,000 Russian soldiers killed
Ukraine’s military says 31,250 Russian soldiers have been killed since the beginning of its invasion on February 24.
The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces also said Russia had also lost 1,386 tanks, 3,400 armoured personnel vehicles, 690 artillery systems, 209 multiple-launch rocket systems, 551 cruise missiles, 96 air defence systems, 211 aircraft, 176 helicopters, and 13 ships and boats.
Al Jazeera could not independently verify the figures provided.
Втрати ворога в інфографіці 👇@armyinformcomua pic.twitter.com/Jedp4IxFwU
— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 6, 2022
Shelling injured six people in Kharkiv region: Governor
Russian forces continued to shell Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region on Sunday, wounding six people, the governor has said.
Oleh Synyehubov said Russian shelling injured a 52-year-old man in the town of Chuhuiv, two people in the villages of Korobochkyne and Chkalovske, two others in the village of Malinovka and an elderly woman in the town of Balakliya.
Woman wounded, nearly 30 homes damaged in Luhansk: Governor
Russian shelling in Luhansk wounded one woman and damaged more than 27 houses, the governor has said.
Serhiy Haidai also said it was unclear how much damage has been done in Severodonetsk, as street fights there are continuing.
Haidai said a bakery in Lysychansk had caught fire and was extinguished by firefighters.
Russia’s Snake Island defences contribute to Ukraine’s ports blockade: UK
Russia has likely moved air defence systems to Snake Island in the Black Sea, contributing to its blockade of the Ukrainian coast and hindering grain exports, the UK’s defence ministry says.
“Russian forces have likely moved multiple air defence assets to Snake Island in the western Black Sea including SA-15 and SA-22 systems,” the ministry said in its latest intelligence briefing, adding that the weapons are likely to provide air defence for Russian ships operating around the island.
The ministry also said that heavy fighting was continuing in Severodonetsk and that Russian forces continued to push towards Sloviansk “as part of their attempted encirclement of Ukrainian forces”.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 6 June 2022
Find out more about the UK government’s response: https://t.co/7sDt8fXMK3
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/BwzT24DRlM
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 6, 2022
Russia’s Rusal files suit against Rio Tinto linked to Australia’s Moscow sanctions: Reuters
Russian aluminium producer Rusal has filed a lawsuit against global miner Rio Tinto, seeking to regain access to its 20 percent share of alumina produced at a jointly owned refiner in Australia.
Rio Tinto took sole control of Queensland Alumina Ltd (QAL) in April, sidelining Rusal. Rio owns 80 percent of the refinery, while Rusal owns 20 percent.
Australia banned the export of alumina and aluminium ores to Russia following its Ukraine invasion. Rusal was not directly targeted by Australian sanctions, but Rio Tinto’s actions were triggered by sanctions on oligarchs Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, who own 25.6 percent and 8 percent of Rusal respectively.
Rusal’s Australian unit Alumina and Bauxite Company (ABC) said in an Australian Federal Court filing that the circumstances required for Rio to step in to take control did not exist and amounted to a breach of obligations, according to the court documents reviewed by Reuters.
Russian ministry website appears hacked: Reuters
The website of Russia’s Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities appears to have been hacked, with an internet search for the site leading to a “Glory to Ukraine” sign in Ukrainian, the Reuters news agency reported.
Russia’s state news agency RIA late on Sunday quoted a ministry representative as saying that the site was down but users’ personal data was safe. RIA said other media had reported that hackers were demanding a ransom to prevent the release of users’ data. Reuters was not able to ascertain which media outlets were being cited by RIA.
Many Russian state-owned companies and news organisations have suffered sporadic hacking attempts since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
UK to send Ukraine M270 rocket launchers
The UK says it will supply Ukraine with multiple-launch rocket systems that can attack targets up to 80km (50 miles) away, in a move coordinated with the US.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said UK support for Ukraine would change as Russia’s tactics evolved, explaining the gift of the M270 multiple-launch systems, which are similar to the systems the US is sending, the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
The UK said Ukrainian troops would be trained on how to use the new launchers in Britain after it previously announced it would train Ukrainian personnel to use armoured vehicles.
Russian general killed in Ukraine: State media
A Russian general was killed in eastern Ukraine, a Russian state media journalist said on Sunday, adding to the string of high-ranking military casualties sustained by Moscow.
The report, published on the Telegram messaging app by state television reporter Alexander Sladkov, did not say precisely when and where Major General Roman Kutuzov was killed.
There was no immediate comment from the Russian defence ministry, which classifies military deaths as state secrets even in peacetime and has not updated its official casualty figures in Ukraine since March 25, when it said 1,351 Russian soldiers had been killed since the start of its invasion.
Missiles kill three and injure two in Donetsk: Governor
Russian missile attacks have killed three people and injured another two in the Donetsk region on Sunday, the governor said.
Two people were killed in the town of Avdiivka and one in the town of Druzhkivka, Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram.
He added it was impossible to establish the exact number of victims in the occupied city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha.
Nearly 100 evacuated from Lysychansk: Governor
Evacuations have resumed from the Ukrainian-held part of Luhansk province on Sunday, and 98 people had managed to escape the town of Lysychansk, the governor said.
However, Serhiy Haidai said that “evacuation from Severodonetsk is currently impossible”, and about 15,000 people remained in the city.
Russian forces have been trying for weeks to cut off the main road out of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk to encircle Ukrainian troops there, and evacuations were halted last week after a journalist was killed in the shelling.
Russia looking to Africa to sell stolen Ukrainian grain: NYT
In May, the US sent an alert to 14 countries, mostly in Africa, that Russian cargo vessels were leaving ports near Ukraine carrying what the state department called “stolen Ukrainian grain”, the New York Times reported, adding that Russia has been trying to sell the stolen grain to African countries.
Ukraine says Russia has stolen up to 500,000 tonnes of wheat worth $100m since it invaded in February. Most of it was taken to ports in Russia-controlled Crimea and put on ships, including some under Western sanctions, Ukrainian officials say.
On Friday, Vladimir Putin met with the African Union head, Senegal’s President Macky Sall, who tried to find a solution to the grain problem. African countries are acutely affected by the grain shortage crisis driven in large part by Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports, which has sent prices of grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertiliser soaring.
Zelenskyy visits towns near front in eastern Ukraine
Zelenskyy says he visited two towns near the front line of battles against the Russian army after meeting troops in the Zaporizhia region.
“After that, I went with the head of [my] office to the east. We were in Lysychansk and Soledar,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video.
Lysychansk is in the Luhansk region and Soledar is in the Donetsk region. Both regions make up the Donbas, which is the focus of Russia’s campaign in eastern Ukraine.
Russia hits Kyiv with missiles
Russia took aim at Western military supplies for Ukraine on Sunday, launching air raids on Kyiv that it claimed destroyed donated tanks.
Ukraine said missiles aimed at the capital hit a train repair shop. At least one person was hospitalised but no deaths had been reported, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Before the morning attack, Kyiv had not faced any such Russian air raids since the April 28 visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Read more here.
We will ‘use our means of destruction’ over arms supplies: Putin
Putin has lashed out at Western deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, saying they aim to prolong the conflict.
He insisted such supplies were unlikely to change the military situation for Ukraine’s government.
If Kyiv gets longer-range rockets, he added, Moscow will “draw appropriate conclusions and use our means of destruction, which we have plenty of, in order to strike at those objects that we haven’t yet struck”.
Read more here.
Russia using proxy forces to limit its own casualties: UK
The UK defence ministry says Ukrainian counterattacks in Severodonetsk were “likely blunting the operational momentum Russian forces previously gained through concentrating combat units and firepower”.
Russian forces previously made a string of advances in the city, but Ukrainian fighters have pushed back in recent days. The ministry’s intelligence brief also said Russia’s military was partly relying on reserve forces of Luhansk separatists.
“These troops are poorly equipped and trained, and lack heavy equipment in comparison to regular Russian units,” it said, adding the use of these troops likely “indicates a desire to limit casualties suffered by regular Russian forces”.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 5 June 2022
Find out more about the UK government’s response: https://t.co/8afxKwSwSn
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Sy8NG76Fa8
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 5, 2022
Ukraine loses 1-0 to Wales in World Cup qualifier match
It was an agonising end to Ukraine’s mission to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar while under invasion by Russia.
The Ukrainian players appeared heartbroken following the defeat; their coach Oleksandr Petrakov said he could not utter a word of criticism of his players.
“I think we did everything we could but I want the people of Ukraine to remember our team, our efforts. I want to say sorry we didn’t score. But that is sport, that happens.”
Read more here.
Ukraine says it controls ‘half’ of Severodonetsk
Ukraine says its forces have retaken control of half of the strategic eastern city of Severodonetsk as a counterattack drove back Russian troops in the critical battle for the Luhansk region.
But Luhansk’s governor Serhiy Haidai said they expect a major counterattack from Russian forces in the coming days.
“Our armed forces have cleaned half” of the industrial hub of Russian forces, Haidai said on his official social media channels. “In the next five days, there will be a large increase in the number of shellings from heavy artillery.”
Welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Read all the updates from Sunday, June 5 here.
Reference-www.aljazeera.com