Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy speaks of military presence in Russia's Belgorod region for first time
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said for the first time Monday that Ukrainian forces were operating in Russia's Belgorod region, where Moscow reported attacks in March. Belgorod is regularly the target of Ukrainian air attacks and is close to Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been desperately trying to hang on to territory since launching a surprise incursion last year. Zelenskyy said in his daily address that General Oleksandr Syrsky had reported on 'our presence in Kursk region and our presence in Belgorod region'. He added: 'We continue to conduct active operations in the border areas on the enemy's territory, and this is absolutely right – the war must return to where it came from.' It is the first time since the full-scale invasion began that Zelenskyy has explicitly mentioned a Ukrainian presence in Belgorod, a border region with a population of about 1.5 million people. The Russian military acknowledged facing Ukrainian land attacks in the region in March. According to the DeepState military blog, which is considered close to Ukraine's army, Ukrainian troops have occupied a 13 sq km (five square mile) area in the Russian region, near the border village of Demidovka. Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have said the incursion into Kursk and other Russian territory is to divert Russian forces attacking the Ukrainian regions of Sumy and Kharkiv.
Anger and outrage gripped Zelenskyy's home town on Monday as it held funerals for some of the 20 people, including nine children, killed by a Russian missile that struck apartment buildings and a playground. More than 70 were wounded in the attack on Kryvyi Rih last Friday evening. The children were playing on swings and in a sandbox in a tree-lined park at the time. Bodies were strewn across the grass. 'We are not asking for pity,' Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city administration, wrote on Telegram as Kryvyi Rih mourned. 'We demand the world's outrage.' The UN Human Rights Office in Ukraine said it was the deadliest single verified strike harming children since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. It was also one of the deadliest attacks so far this year.
Teacher Iryna Kholod remembered Arina and Radyslav, both 7 years old and killed in Friday's strike, as being 'like little suns in the classroom'. Radyslav, she said, was proud to be part of a school campaign collecting pet food for stray animals. 'He held the bag like it was treasure. He wanted to help,' she told the Associated Press. After Friday evening, 'two desks in my classroom were empty forever,' Kholod said, adding that she still has unopened birthday gifts for them.
'How do I tell parents to return their textbooks? How do I teach without them?' she asked.
Donald Trump has accused Russia of 'bombing like crazy right now' even as the US president claimed the parties were 'sort of close' on a deal. On Monday he reiterated his opposition to Russia's bombing of Ukraine as his administration participates in talks seeking an end to the fighting. 'I'm not happy about what's going on', he told reporters in the White House. 'So we're meeting with Russia, we're meeting with Ukraine, and we're getting sort of close, but I'm not happy with all the bombing that's going in the last week or so,' he said. 'It's a horrible thing.'
Trump's Monday remarks came hours after the Kremlin said it supported the idea of a truce in Ukraine but had many 'questions' about how such a deal would work, pushing back at US and European suggestions that it was playing for time. Russia has kept up its strikes on Ukraine unabated despite the US president's promise to bring peace within '24 hours' of returning to the White House in January.
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The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Cammy Day complaints raises safe-guarding council issues, report says
The investigation focused on how the Council handled any allegations made, the policy and procedures in place to deal with similar types of allegations and what improvements could be made to safeguard against any inappropriate behaviour in future. The report makes a series of recommendations around the council's complaints procedures and whistleblowing policy with a focus on the safeguarding of victims. It comes after former City of Edinburgh Council leader resigned at the end of last year after two Ukrainian refugees who had settled in the city told a newspaper he repeatedly sent them inappropriate messages on a dating app. Since then, other complaints about Mr Day were revealed by the press. However, the former council leader has since been cleared of criminality in a separate Police Scotland investigation and has claimed he has been subject to a political plot against him. The inquiry published today by the council, however, found there is "no doubt" there is a "significant perceived power imbalance" around the complaints being made to Edinburgh City Council about the "alleged unwanted behaviour" of the former council leader. READ MORE: Cammy Day's conspiracy claims 'really wrong' says ex-Labour colleague Cammy Day probe widened to include all historic complaints The inquiry involved a detailed review of council policies, reports and other documents, webcasts of council meetings and 35 structured interviews. In his report, the author, Mr Dunion, who was appointed to the task in February, writes: "There which have apparently been reported up the management chain, such as alleged unwanted advances being made to junior staff but being treated as gossip, or concerns about a social relationship with a young member of staff being formed, but a procedural response taken, based around the narrow legal requirement for safeguarding." As part of its remit, his report considered whether the safeguards in the Council are sufficient to prevent behaviour such as that alleged in relation to Councillor Day occurring. Mr Dunion states: "The question has been posed in my remit as to whether the safeguards in the Council are sufficient to prevent behaviour such as that alleged in relation to Councillor Day occurring. "In short, the answer is no." Kevin Dunion (Image: supplied) He recommends further consideration of councillors' conduct, their interactions with staff and the appropriateness of some social events in the City Chambers. His comments come as in his review, he notes: "Several councillors and staff interviewed have commented adversely on this prevalent culture of hospitality, which can be taken to excess and have suggested that this practice cease completely." The report also includes a review of a 2018 complaint which involved a 15 year-old boy who was alleged to have been groomed online via email by the council leader and invited to his flat with "sexual intent" in 2010. Even in 2018, the complainant said he remained "fearful" of retaliation if the councillor concerned was made aware he was the complainant, according to the report. As is stated in the report, the complaint was not shared with the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer. Commenting on the council's handling of this, Mr Dunion states: "There are some inadequacies in the handling of this complaint. "The seriousness of the claim of potentially criminal behaviour by a councillor, who might be the Deputy Leader, is such that the emails should have been shared by the Council Leader with the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer. "They would then have been in a position to decide whether to contact the police or been able to respond to enquiries from them, had the complainant contacted the police as advised by the Business Manager." Mr Dunion also goes on to point out that the email containing the complaint mentioned the 15-year-old had previously suffered sexual abuse. The investigator states: "This was information which should have been provided to the Council, to decide whether to conduct its own enquiries." He adds: "An unintended and unexpected consequence of not sharing the complaints with the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, and retaining the email exchanges only in the individual mailboxes of the recipient, meant that they became vulnerable to loss, and thus significantly diminished the quality of evidence once a report was made to the police." Later on in his recommendations, Mr Dunion highlights the need to properly record complaints. Mr Dunion does, however, find that a complaint made to the Chief Executive in relation to Councillor Day in December 2023 regarding a Ukrainian refugee was "properly considered and investigated in line with the Council's policies and procedures." He also notes that the handling of the two whistleblowing disclosures made in 2023 were "well-handled and properly considered in line with the Council's policies". Recommended measures to improve the complaint system include improved awareness by councillors and staff of what constitutes bullying and harassment and a need for clear routes of the complaint, with expectations as to line management response. Mr Dunion also recommends greater emphasis on providing HR support for staff experiencing poor behaviour from councillors and better record keeping of complaints, informal as well as formal, so that patterns of poor behaviour may be recognised. He also suggests there should be a review of the whistleblowing policy and role of Whistleblowing Sub- Committee. Responding to the review, Chief Executive Paul Lawrence said: 'I want to thank Kevin Dunion for leading this sensitive review and for his report, not least given the complexity of the brief and tight timescales. 'I know this must have been challenging and a difficult experience for many people and I particularly want to thank those who came forward to be interviewed or provided information to the review. Your input is very much appreciated." Subject to approval by councillors next Thursday, the council is expected to bring a further report in August outlining their "proposed actions" in response to Mr Dunion's recommendations Mr Day led the city council's minority administration from 2022 and was deputy council leader for the five-year term preceding that. Concerns surrounding his behaviour had been raised twice through the council's external whistleblowing service, and directly with his former senior coalition partner, the SNP's Adam Nols-McVey. Following this, councillors unanimously agreed to commission a review of how all complaints were handled. Police also opened an investigation into an allegation of inappropriate behaviour against the 50-year-old. However, the police have since said their enquiries uncovered no criminality. Following the allegations, Mr Day claimed to have been the victim of a 'political attack' co-ordinated by his opponents in the City Chambers. Asked if she shared Mr Day's view the allegations that led to his resignation were part of a political plot, Council leader Jane Meagher told The Herald she was unable to comment, however, she did say there were people who want to "undermine" others. Ms Meagher said: 'I don't feel I've got enough information about that. 'I think that inevitably in politics there are people who work away to undermine, but I don't want to make any comment about that. What I want to say is that I am really looking forward to having the former council leader back in the party. 'He's been cleared by the police. I am so looking forward to welcoming him back because he's a very experienced and committed councillor." Pressed on whether she had concerns about the behaviour alleged in various press reports, the Scottish Labour council leader said she "prefer[s] to go with facts rather than allegations.'
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sick 'pimping websites' given four-word warning as MPs demand new laws
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips says tough new laws will give courts the power to suspend adult service sites behind sexual exploitation as MPs demand paying for sex is made illegal Vile "pimping websites" have been warned "we're coming for you" by a government minister. Jess Phillips said it was "sickening" that traffickers are making huge profits from selling exploited women for sex online. The Safeguarding Minister said new laws will give authorities the power to ban adult services sites that facilitate sex trafficking. But she stopped short of pledging to make it illegal to pay for sex despite growing calls from MPs. The Government is under pressure to change the law to target buyers and those who profit from exploiting others - while ripping up existing prostitution offences. Ms Phillips told MPs it is "utterly dispicable" that men post online reviews of women who are coerced into having sex. She said: "These men disgust me with their attitude towards women generally and also the suggestion that they should be able to pay for somebody's horror and then give a bad review." Brits should learn to speak Russian if defence spending isn't ramped up, NATO chief warns And Ms Phillips continued: "These sites - we know what they are - we're coming for you." She said legslation going through Parliament will allow courts to suspend websites behind sexual exploitation. And she said the Government will be publishing its strategy for tackling violence against women and girls later this year. The remarks came after Labour backbencher Tracy Gilbert read out a number of sickening reviews posted about women online. Under current law it is legal to pay for sex and adult services websites - branded " supermarkets of the vulnerable" by ctitics - are not breaking the law. Ms Gilbert told MPs that those who pay for sex must face prosecution. She said: "Sex buyers rely on being unseen while they ruin lives leaving us as a society and the individual women left to pick up the pieces of the carnage they cause. "The demand from men who pay for sex fuel a brutal prostitution and sex trafficking trade. It's funding predatory websites which make millions of pounds using women for sexual exploitation every day." And the Labour MP added: "The law must accept that prostitution is is violence against women." It comes after Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi tabled amendments to the landmark Crime and Policing Bill calling for those who pay for sex - predominently men - to face prosecution. Her proposals, backed by more than 50 MPs, would also tear up prostitution offences, which campaigners say trap exploited women from escaping their abusers.
Rhyl Journal
6 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Deadly Russian drone and missile attack ‘one of the biggest' in Ukraine war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack on Kyiv 'one of the biggest' in the war that has raged for over three years. He said that Moscow's forces had fired more than 315 drones, mostly Shaheds, and seven missiles at Ukraine overnight. 'Russian missile and Shahed strikes are louder than the efforts of the United States and others around the world to force Russia into peace,' Mr Zelensky wrote, as he urged 'concrete action' from the US and Europe in response to the attack. Russian missile and Shahed strikes drown out the efforts of the United States and others around the world to force Russia into peace. For yet another night, instead of a ceasefire, there were massive strikes with Shahed drones, cruise and ballistic missiles. Today was one of the… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 10, 2025 A maternity hospital and residential buildings in the centre of the southern port city of Odesa were also damaged in the attack, regional head Oleh Kiper said. Two people were killed and nine injured in the city, according to a statement from the regional prosecutor's office. Four people were injured in the attack on the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Associated Press journalists heard explosions and the buzzing of drones around the city for hours. The fresh attacks came a day after Moscow launched almost 500 drones at Ukraine in the biggest overnight drone bombardment in the three-year war. Ukrainian and Western officials have been anticipating a Russian response to Ukraine's audacious June 1 drone attack on distant Russian air bases. Russia has been launching a record-breaking number of drones and missiles targeting Ukraine while the two countries continue to swap prisoners of war, the only tangible outcome of recent direct peace talks held in Istanbul on June 2. Both sides traded memoranda during the meeting setting out conditions for a potential ceasefire in the more than three-year-old war – but the inclusion of clauses that both sides see as non-starters make any quick deal unlikely. A ceasefire, long sought by Kyiv, remains elusive. In Kyiv, fires broke out in at least four districts after debris from shot down drones fell on the roofs of residential buildings and warehouses, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration. The Russian attack sparked 19 fires across Ukraine, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on Telegram. 'Russia must answer for every crime it commits. Until there is justice, there will be no security. For Ukraine. And for the world,' he said. The death tolls from previous Russian strikes also continued to rise on Tuesday. In Kharkiv, rescuers found the body of a person trapped under the rubble of a building that was hit in a drone-and-missile attack Saturday, city mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram. The discovery brings the number of casualties to five, with five more people potentially still trapped under the debris, Terekhov said. Meanwhile, in the northern city of Sumy, a 17-year-old boy died in the hospital on Tuesday morning after being injured in a Russian strike on June 3, acting mayor Artem Kobzar wrote on Telegram. It brings the number killed in the attack to six. Elsewhere, the Russian defence ministry reported downing 102 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The drones were downed both over regions on the border with Ukraine and deeper inside Russia, including central Moscow and Leningrad regions, according to the statement. Because of the drone attack, flights were temporarily restricted in and out of multiple airports across Russia, including all four airports in Moscow and the Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg, the country's second largest city.
