1. Ukraine hits Russian mercenary HQ
Ukrainian artillery hit the headquarters of Russia’s notorious Wagner Group of mercenaries in japanese Ukraine, say studies.
The assault came about within the Russian-occupied the town of Popasna at a base utilized by Wagner’s paid infantrymen to level their operations in Ukraine.
Details stay sketchy and there’s no indication of casualties, even though it’s been reported that the army web site used to be struck by means of US-supplied HIMARS missiles.
Serhiy Haidai, the top of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, stated in a Facebook put up: “The Armed Forces of Ukraine again successfully struck the enemy’s headquarters. This time in Popasna, where a base of PMC Wagner was destroyed.”
British army intelligence says 1,000 mercenaries from the Wagner Group were deployed in Ukraine.
Over the previous 8 years, the troops for rent were accused of human rights abuses and warfare crimes in Ukraine, Syria and international locations in Africa.
They had been first deployed in Crimea in 2014, which Kremlin-backed forces seized from Ukraine in what some imagine the start of the rustic’s warfare with Russia.
Wagner mercenaries have performed an energetic function within the preventing in Donbas, ceaselessly deployed as infantry to advance on cities from which Ukrainian forces have withdrawn.
The shadowy team, which used to be reportedly began by means of a Russian military veteran of the Chechen wars, is related to Yevgeny Prigozhin, referred to as Putin’s chef as a result of he rose from being a caterer for the Kremlin.
Russia denies any connection to the Wagner team.
2. Germany to omit NATO spending goal—suppose tank
An financial suppose tank warned on Monday that Germany will fall in need of its defence spending goal.
Europe’s biggest economic system faces a nearly €18 billion shortfall in defence spending subsequent yr regardless of a up to date spice up spurred on by means of the Ukraine warfare, in line with the German Economic Institute.
Germany pledged to spend 2% of its GDP on its not noted militia consistent with NATO objectives and has arrange a €100 billion particular fund to pork them up.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated it used to be vital to “invest significantly more in the security of our country in order to protect our freedom and our democracy”.
In its record, the Cologne-based institute stated that Berlin won’t hit the two% purpose, noting that not more money has been promised this yr.
Next yr there will probably be a close to €18 billion shortfall regardless of an building up in outlays.
The UK, which recently spends round 2% of GDP on defence, has stated it’ll up spending to two.5% of GDP, at the side of a number of different NATO allies.
Under present projections, the Insitute stated Germany won’t get close to its goal till 2027.
By then, the €100 billion put aside may well be used up, and defence spending will fall again to round 1.2% of GDP.
The devoted fund used to be created to avoid Germany’s constitutionally enshrined debt brake.
However, the German Economic Insitute claims that political commitments — which rule out elevating taxes or reducing spending (at the side of the debt brake) — save you Germany from assembly its defence spending commitments.
3. Putin and Kim Jong Un in diplomatic love-in
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean chief Kim Jong Un swapped letters on Monday indicating they had been pushing for more potent bilateral family members, in line with North Korean state media.
In his letter, Kim stated to Putin that Russian-North Korean cooperation used to be at “a new high stage in the common front for frustrating the hostile forces’ military threat and provocation”.
Pyongyang makes use of the time period “hostile forces” to discuss with the United States and its allies.
Putin advised Kim that Moscow would “proceed to amplify the excellent and positive bilateral family members” it has with Pyongyang, reported the North Korean news agency KCNA.
The letters follow Pyongyang’s recognition of Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and its reported preparedness to send workers to help their reconstruction.
This move was condemned by Ukraine, which promptly cut ties with North Korea.
Putin’s message comes on the anniversary of the end of Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula — marked as Liberation Day by North Korea.
Kim gave a nod to this history in his letter, saying that the Russia-North Korea friendship was “cast within the anti-Japanese warfare” and had “consolidated and evolved century after century”.
Both countries fought against Japan in World War II, and the Soviet Union was once a major ally of North Korea, engaging in economic and cultural exchange.
The Kremlin has not yet commented on Putin’s reported letter to Kim.
North Korea last month became the third state after Russia and Syria to recognise the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics that have broken away from Ukraine.
4. Brittney Griner: Defence team appeals conviction
Jailed US basketball hotshot Brittney Griner has appealed against her conviction for drug charges, her lawyer told Reuters on Monday.
Griner, widely considered one of the best basketball stars in the world, was jailed for nine years in Russia on charges of possession and trafficking of illegal substances.
Her lawyer Maria Blagovolina confirmed that an appeal of this verdict was taking place, without specifying on what grounds.
Griner’s sentencing is seen as paving the way for a prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington, with US President Joe Biden under pressure to bring her home.
Up for trade is Viktor Bout a Russian arms dealer imprisoned in the US, who is nicknamed the “service provider of dying”. His colourful life inspired the film Lord of War, which depicts a cynical arms dealer.
Russian officials have said that all legal avenues must be exhausted before a potential exchange can be discussed.
Over the weekend, Moscow admitted for the first time that political negotiations were taking place between Russia and the US, who are experiencing mounting tensions over Ukraine.
Griner, who once played for a Russian club, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after cannabis-infused vape cartridges were found in her luggage.
She pleaded guilty to the charges but said she had made an “truthful mistake” by entering Russia with cannabis oil, which is illegal in the country.
The US government says Griner was wrongfully detained.
5. New Zealand pitches in to Ukraine training effort
New Zealand is sending its armed forces to Britain to help get Ukrainian troops combat-ready.
Wellington said on Monday it would send 120 military personnel to assist the UK’s effort to train Ukrainian soldiers.
The deployment of two infantry training teams will equip Ukrainian personnel with the core skills to be effective in combat, including weapon handling, first aid, operational law and other skills, according to New Zealand’s government.
Some 800 Ukrainian soldiers will be trained, at one of four locations in Britain, which itself is delivering extensive training support to the Ukrainian army.
New Zealand defence staff will not travel to Ukraine, the government said in a statement.
“We were transparent {that a} blatant assault on a rustic’s sovereignty and the following lack of blameless lives is flawed and insupportable,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a news conference to announce the deployment.
“Our condemnation will proceed to increase past phrases and come with crucial give a boost to,” she added.
Ardern wired that New Zealand troops have now not and would now not interact in fight in Ukraine.
Thirty New Zealand defence team of workers finished a deployment in May to coach Ukrainian army team of workers in running artillery.
These deployments are a part of a broader bundle of measures by means of Wellington to give a boost to Ukraine, together with greater than NZ$40 million (€25.05 million) in monetary give a boost to and the sanctioning of 840 Russian other people and companies.