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STORY: A top North Korean military official on Monday criticized the US for increasing military aid to Ukraine, according to state media a show of support for Moscow in the ongoing Ukraine war. A recent pact between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, announced during Putin's visit to Pyongyang last week commits both countries to provide immediate military assistance in the case of aggression against either one of them potentially enabling arms trading and strengthening their anti-US alliance. Both Washington and Seoul are concerned about the prospect of increased military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang and have accused them of already violating international laws by trading arms for use against Ukraine. Russia and North Korea deny these claims. North Korea's Pak Jong Chon, the top official speaking in state media Monday warned of a potential strong response from Moscow if the US pushes Ukraine towards a "proxy war" against Russia, possibly leading to a "new world war." He referred to comments by the Pentagon last week that Ukrainian forces can use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike Russian forces anywhere across the border into Russia. In a joint statement released the same day by Seoul's foreign ministry officials from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan strongly condemned the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia.

At least three people were killed and 38 injured in a Russian bombing attack on Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, on Saturday afternoon, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Four aerial bombs were launched against the city, damaging residential buildings, shops and public transport stops, according to Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. (AP video by Yevhen Titov)

STORY: This is what the Ukrainian army is calling a "barn" tank. It's a bizarre-looking Russian battlefield vehicle, captured by Kyiv's forces. And it seems to highlight how troops are trying to adapt to the constant threat of drone attacks. The vehicle, built from a ramshackle, rusted T-62 tank, was modified to have a boxy metal shell as its exterior, a cage at its rear and electronic warfare devices attached to it. That's according to soldiers who spoke to Reuters after it was captured this week. Its canopy appeared to be built to protect against drones, particularly cheaply produced First-Person-View ones. Those are strapped with a munition and flown to their target by a pilot watching on a screen. Dmytro is a Ukrainian soldier. “I don’t even know what it (‘barn’ tank) is made of. But the tracks are protected. A shell that hit it bent it a bit. But this protection is helpful it prevents shells from going under and it protects the tracks. It does give the crew an advantage for a certain, short period of time." Soldiers say the "barn" tank's main purpose was shuttling around food, ammunition and troops. Dmytro added that getting in and out of the vehicle, carrying equipment through its tiny hatch, was difficult. And that visibility was very limited and the stench inside overwhelming. Aerial drone footage shot by the Ukrainian military and published on June 17 showed the tank being captured in a wooded area along with a Russian crew. Kyiv's forces then planted a Ukrainian flag on top of it. Nearly 28 months since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, the use of drones by both sides has become ubiquitous on the battlefield - making it harder for both sides to advance or operate safely. The Ukrainians say the vehicle was captured near Klishchiivka - a village gripped by months of fighting near the Russian-occupied city of Bakhmut.

During a visit to Vietnam, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that supplying weapons to Ukraine would be "a very big mistake" on South Korea's part. South Korea said on Thursday that it would consider sending arms to Ukraine, a major policy change that was suggested after Russia and North Korea signed a pact to come to each other’s defense in the event of war.

STORY: :: A Russian rocket hits a hospital in Ukraine's Kherson, injuring one person :: June 19, 2024 :: Kherson, Ukraine :: Kherson Military Administration At least three Grad MLRS (multiple-launch rocket system) rockets were fired at a medical facility in the city by Russian troops positioned on the left bank of the Dnipro River, part of the Kherson region occupied by Russia, according to the Kherson military administration. Russian troops withdrew from the western bank of the Dnipro River in fall 2023 and took up positions on the eastern side, from which they have been regularly shelling towns and villages opposite.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine before starting a one on one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin’s visit comes amid growing concerns about an arms arrangement in which Pyongyang provides Moscow with badly needed munitions to fuel Russia’s war in Ukraine in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear weapons and missile program. Putin thanked Kim for the support and said the two countries would sign an agreement to boost their partnership as both “fight against the imperialist hegemonistic policies of the U.S. and its satellites against the Russian Federation.”

STORY: :: Ukraine shows its shell-blasted Kharkiv stadium seats to remind Euro 2024 of the war with Russia :: Munich, Germany :: June 17, 2024 :: Andriy Shevchenko, President, Ukrainian Association of Football "Today we are going to start our games (in Euro 2024). It is one team on the field but million soldiers who stay and defend Ukraine. We are all together. We play today for the country and for the people who defend our lives and our country today." "It is a very significant subject for me, for all Ukrainian teams, because this piece of the stadium Sonyachny was during preparation of 2021 European Championship, Ukrainian team was trained. And this stadium was completely destroyed by Russian missiles." "We are a very unconditioned team, like our country. I think, if we get through the group stage, it will be a very good result for us. But we are here also to support our country to send the important message for the war, that war in Ukraine is continuing. We have to all together bring the forces and find the pieces." Ukraine's football association said the Sonyachny stadium in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, had been destroyed by Russian shells in 2022. In a central Munich square, Ukrainian refugees and supporters who had driven 25 hours from Ukraine looked at the blue and yellow seats, hours before their team were due to play their first Euro 2024 game against Romania in the city. Kyiv wants to bring a stark reminder to Euro 2024 that Ukrainian forces have been engaged in Europe's bloodiest fighting since World War Two, and civilian life in the country has been upended. More than 500 sports facilities have been destroyed, including 77 football stadiums. Ukraine's first match will highly emotional for the team, Ukrainian refugees and those watching at home and coach Serhiy Rebrov said he and his players were in contact with soldiers on the front lines who have told them to show "the spirit of Ukraine" at the tournament. Ukraine and Poland co-hosted Euro 2012, with the final held in Kyiv. Besides Kyiv and Kharkiv, Lviv and Donetsk also staged matches and more than one million foreign visitors came to the country. Donetsk is now under Russian occupation and Kharkiv is repeatedly attacked by missiles and drones.

STORY: :: A Russian strike on Ukraine's Poltava region injures at least 12 and impacts power for thousands :: June 17, 2024 :: Poltava, Ukraine Two children were among the injured. According to preliminary information, there were no fatalities but rescuers were still searching the rubble for possible victims. The attacked damaged several high-rise buildings. Smoke rising from damaged garages could be seen in the background, while firemen worked to extinguish fires. Local authorities said that due to damage to power lines, some 53,000 private and 2,400 industrial consumers faced power cuts.

At a regular rally held in Kyiv by relatives of captured soldiers, participants said Sunday they hoped the summit in Switzerland would further galvanize international support for Ukraine and boost efforts to bring prisoners home. (AP video by Oleksandr Babenko)

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that negotiations with Russia "can start tomorrow" as long as Putin withdraws troops from Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that the conference in Switzerland was part of a broader plan for peace in Ukraine, as "peace in Ukraine will not be achieved in one step, it will be a journey".

Ukrainian servicemen and their supporters marched in central Kyiv Sunday to demand more rights and highlight their service to their country in its war with Russia. The servicemembers — many wearing rainbow and unicorn patches on their uniforms — called on the government to grant them official partnership rights. (AP video by: Alex Babenko, Dmytro Zhyhinas, Derek Gatapoulos)

Dozens of world leaders converged on a Swiss resort Saturday to discuss how to bring peace to war-ravaged Ukraine, though any hopes of a real breakthrough are muted by the absence of Russia.

STORY: :: Italy’s prime minister says EU states won’t be directly involved in a G7 loan to Ukraine :: June 15, 2024 :: Giorgia Meloni, Italian prime minister ''As I think you know, the loan of about $50 billion has already been announced and will be provided by the United States. Then Canada, the United Kingdom and probably Japan, subject of course to its constitutional limitations, have also announced that they will probably participate. At the moment, the European Nations are not participating in this loan, also considering the fact that the assets are all immobilised in Europe of course, and therefore Europe is already contributing by identifying the guarantee mechanism for the repayment of this loan, on the understanding that, as you know, this decision will have to go through the European Council and must be technically defined by the finance ministers of the European Union.'' During the first day of their meeting in southern Italy, the G7 nations agreed on an outline deal to provide $50 billion of loans for Ukraine backed by interest from frozen Russian assets - hailing the accord as a powerful signal of Western resolve. In the summit statement, G7 leaders said they wanted to inflict further costs on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and also promised sanctions against entities that helped Russia circumvent restrictions on its oil trading by transporting it fraudulently.

STORY: World leaders gathered at a Swiss mountain resort on Saturday (June 15) to plan a path to peace and end Russia's war in Ukraine. More than 90 countries are expected at the high security two-day gathering in Buergenstock. But notable absences such as China will blunt the summit's potential impact, dimming hopes it would show Russia as globally isolated. The talks will focus on broader concerns triggered by the war. This includes food and nuclear security, and a draft of the final declaration identifying Russia as the aggressor, sources said. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy applauded the summit's wide attendance as a success. "The views, ideas and leadership of each nation are equally important to us. And everything that will be agreed upon at the summit today will be part of the peace making process that we all need. I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit." While many major world leaders are set to attend, Joe Biden has sent U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to represent him - riling Kyiv. However, Harris announced more than $1.5 billion in energy and humanitarian aid, as Russia continues to strike the country's infrastructure since the invasion began in 2022. Powers like Saudi Arabia and India have dispatched lower level delegations. China said it would consider taking part, but ultimately declined because Russia would not be there. Zelenskiy has accused Beijing of helping Moscow undermine the gathering, an accusation China's Foreign Ministry denied. European officials privately concede that without support from Moscow's main allies, the summit's impact will be limited. Neutral Switzerland, which took on the summit at the behest of Zelenskiy, wants to pave the way for a future peace process that includes Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would end the war only if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow - demands Kyiv swiftly rejected.