'Main goal' of Russian attacks is to 'kill Ukrainians', energy minister says
Europe
12:32
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12:32 min
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In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko accused Russia of launching "the biggest attacks" since the start of the war, with the "main goal" being "just to kill Ukrainians". He urged the West to react swiftly with stronger sanctions, saying Russia is "not looking for peace", and warned of a potential "Fukushima scenario" at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
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Euronews
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Russian troop losses in Ukraine surpass the 1 million mark, Kyiv says
Russia has lost more than 1 million troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Thursday. The figure — which reportedly comes out to 1,000,340 — includes killed, wounded or incapacitated Russian troops. According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,933 tanks, 22,786 armored fighting vehicles, 51,579 vehicles and fuel tanks, 29,063 artillery systems, 1,413 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,184 air defense systems, 416 airplanes, 337 helicopters, 40,435 drones, 3,337 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine. 'The overall losses of the Russian occupying forces in manpower since the beginning of the full-scale invasion have reached 1 million,' Ukraine's General Staff stated. 'More than 628,000 occurred in just the past year and a half.' Releasing the report on Thursday, Ukraine's General Staff said that the one-million mark is not just a statistic but a symbol of resistance and resilience. 'One million. That's how much the enemy's offensive potential has diminished,' the General Staff wrote. '1 million who could have destroyed us, but whom we destroyed instead.' The statement went on to highlight the symbolic meaning behind this figure, referencing the sites of Moscow's defeats and losses in Ukraine, "in the Red Forest near Chernobyl, in the waters of the Dnipro near Antonivsky Bridge, in Donbas and Kharkiv region. And the the bottom of the Black Sea, where the cruiser Moskva sank." 'This million neutralised occupiers is our response. Our memory of Bucha, Irpin, Kupyansk, Kherson... About the bombed-out maternity hospital in Mariupol and the Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv destroyed by a Russian missile. About the tears of children, civilians shot dead, and destroyed homes.' Kyiv also expressed gratitude to every Ukrainian soldier who contributed to the fight, reaffirming that "every eliminated occupier is another step toward a just peace." 'Today, we've taken more than a million such steps.' the General Staff concluded. Ukraine started publicly tracking and publishing Russian losses on 1 March 2022, when the count stood at 5,710 killed and 200 captured. Ever since, the losses have been increasing every year. In 2022, Russia lost 106,720 troops, averaging 340 per day, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. In 2023, the losses more than doubled to an average of 693 per day and 253,290 troops. In 2024, daily losses crossed the 1,000 threshold and totalled at 430,790 troops. This year, Russia has been losing on average 1,286 troops per day. Ukraine's General Staff numbers are in line with the estimates of Ukraine's western allies. 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But above all, we need long-term guarantees that these can never happen again," he emphasised. The summit, attended by Ukraine, Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia, brought together countries, some of which have already been targeted by Moscow's hybrid warfare. Moldova's President Maia Sandu has warned of the dangers of hybrid warfare aimed at influencing the country's parliamentary elections scheduled for this fall. 'We do learn everyday by new attempts and new ways through which Russia tries to interfere with our internal political processes, democratic processes," Sandu said. "It is going to be tough, but we do want Moldovans to decide for Moldova at the parliamentary elections, and not the Kremlin." Through its actions, the Kremlin is threatening peace across the continent, while sabotaging efforts to reach a lasting peace in Ukraine, participants pointed out. 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Every night, people are woken up by airstrikes and the long sound of sirens. The most terrifying, people say, is the noise of drones or missiles overhead. Kateryna, 32, witnessed the bombings in recent nights. The apartment she lives in, together with her mother, was hit by drones launched by the Russians. Everything was reduced to ashes. "This is the first time our home was bombed. My mother was sleeping in my room, and when the first Shahed drone came, she ran away and hid in the basement. The first strike was right in the room she ran from," Kateryna told Euronews. Earlier this week, at least two people died and 9 were injured in a missile and drone attack that also struck a maternity hospital and another medical facility, and the city's film studio and zoo. Odesa is of strategic importance to Ukraine, serving as one of the primary logistical channels for both the export and import of goods needed by the country, which has been affected by Russia's ongoing full-scale aggression.
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Zelenskyy: Russia aims to take Odesa and threaten Moldova and Romania
Russia's plan in its ongoing all-out war on Ukraine is to take Odesa and continue to Moldova and Romania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told southeastern European leaders at a summit in the Black Sea port city on Wednesday. 'Russia's war plans target this region, Odesa. Then they are targeting the borders with Moldova and Romania. Of course, we need protection now. But above all, we need long-term guarantees that these can never happen again," he emphasised. The summit, attended by Ukraine, Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia, brought together countries, some of which have already been targeted by Moscow's hybrid warfare. Moldova's President Maia Sandu has warned of the dangers of hybrid warfare aimed at influencing the country's parliamentary elections scheduled for this fall. 'We do learn everyday by new attempts and new ways through which Russia tries to interfere with our internal political processes, democratic processes," Sandu said. "It is going to be tough, but we do want Moldovans to decide for Moldova at the parliamentary elections, and not the Kremlin." Through its actions, the Kremlin is threatening peace across the continent, while sabotaging efforts to reach a lasting peace in Ukraine, participants pointed out. 'Russia constantly rejects any constructive initiative and strives to undermine the path to peace," Romanian President Nicușor Dan, who was on his first official visit to Ukraine after winning the dramatic elections in May, said at the summit. "Russia proposes unreasonable demands, knowing that they cannot be accepted. The only language Russia understands is the language of force and we must do our utmost to help Ukraine negotiate from a position of strength.' Both Dan and Sandu have recently been targeted by disinformation campaigns on pro-Russian Telegram channels, as revealed by Euronews and Euroverify. Meanwhile, Odesa was again in the Russian forces' crosshairs in the run-up to the summit. Euronews Romania journalists have visited the Black Sea port city districts destroyed by Moscow's massive bombing in recent days. The extent of the destruction is significant: buildings in ruins, burned cars and people who no longer have a home. Every night, people are woken up by airstrikes and the long sound of sirens. The most terrifying, people say, is the noise of drones or missiles overhead. Kateryna, 32, witnessed the bombings in recent nights. The apartment she lives in, together with her mother, was hit by drones launched by the Russians. Everything was reduced to ashes. "This is the first time our home was bombed. My mother was sleeping in my room, and when the first Shahed drone came, she ran away and hid in the basement. 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The US impose 50% tariffs on EU steel and aluminium, 25% on cars and 10% on all EU imports. For its part, the EU has prepared countermeasures targeting around €115 billion worth of US products. These measures are either suspended until July or still awaiting approval by EU member states.
