Russia–Ukraine relations

The European Union has stated that Ukraine's recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region is considered a "legitimate military action of self-defense." A spokesperson for Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy and security chief, emphasized that Ukraine has the right to defend itself, including striking enemy forces within Russian territory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, has firmly stated that Russia has no intention of halting its military operations in Ukraine at this stage.

Overnight, Ukrainian sources reported a series of new attacks in Russian-occupied Crimea, where there were at least eight explosions and a fire across different settlements. According to Russian authorities, these incidents resulted in six fatalities and over 120 injuries from Ukrainian missile and drone strikes the previous day.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) looks at papers as he attends a plenary session at the Summit on peace in Ukraine, at the luxury Burgenstock resort, near Lucerne, on June 16, 2024

Ukrainian media have reported that Ukraine used American weapons to target Belgorod, marking the first time strikes were conducted on Russian territory. The Ukrainian Telegram channel "Spy Dossier," run by a blogger claiming ties to Ukrainian special services, stated that the attack occurred on June 1 or 2, using the HIMARS launcher.

Russian volunteers belonging to the "Freedom of Russia Legion" dispatched military equipment to Ukraine, funded by voluntary donations from Russian citizens and ethnic Russians residing in Bulgaria. Demonstrating their commitment, the volunteers showcased six jeeps earmarked for the front line in front of the St. Alexander Nevsky cathedral in Sofia.

Russian volunteers will hand over military equipment to the "Freedom of Russia Legion" in Sofia

On May 28 (Tuesday) at 11:00 a.m. in the square in front of the St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church, a solemn handover of a formed column of military equipment to representatives of the "Freedom of Russia Legion" will take place.

The Russian army has announced the capture of two more villages in Ukraine, claiming control over Ivanivka in the Kharkiv region and Netailove in the Donetsk region. However, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian forces had repelled an attack near Ivanivka, located east of the city of Kupiansk.

In 2023, Russia had relocated most of its Black Sea Fleet vessels from Crimea to Novorossiysk following a series of Ukrainian strikes, including a major missile attack on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol

Moscow and Kyiv have been negotiating with Turkey for months on an agreement to ensure maritime security in the Black Sea, according to sources