Russia will continue improving its air defense system, Kremlin says
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said Wednesday Russia will continue improving its air defense system following the Tuesday drone attack on Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday the city's air defenses worked normally but there was still “work to be done to make it better.”
Asked to clarify the Russian President’s remarks, Peskov said, “The system worked effectively, but there is room for improvement. Work will continue to improve the air defense system.”
Peskov added the Kremlin had noted the reaction from London and Washington to the Moscow drone attacks but “would prefer to hear at least some words of condemnation.”
“It is clear what they [those who carried out the attack] want to provoke us... We will calmly and consistently think about how to deal with this,” Peskov said, adding that Russia will continue its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Some context: Peskov's words come after a drone attack was launched on Russia's Bryansk region, state news agency RIA Novosti said Wednesday.
About 10 drones tried to attack the Klimovsky district overnight, RIA reported, citing emergency services.
7:23 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023
Russia steps up production of weapons and equipment
From CNN's Radina Gigova
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is pictured during the Victory Day events in Moscow, Russia, on May 9. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Russian defense enterprises "have multiplied" their production of weapons and other military equipment needed for what Moscow euphemistically calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Wednesday, according to state news agency TASS.
"The defense-industrial complex is now operating under maximum pressure," Mishustin said in a video address to the participants of board meeting of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. "In parallel with meeting the production targets, weapons and equipment continue to be improved nonstop," Mishustin added.
Russia has also introduced a temporary ban on the export of cartridges for civilian and service rifles, as well as cartridge cases and cartridges for rifled firearms of certain calibers, according to a statement released by the Russian government on Wednesday.
The decree, signed by Mishustin, takes effect on May 31 and states that the ban does not apply to the export of cartridges and cartridge cases meant for the activities of Russia's Armed Forces, "other troops" and "military formations," according to the statement.
"The decision is aimed at ensuring the protection of the interests of the state," the statement reads.
The decree was prepared as part of the execution of a Presidential Decree “On the Application of Special Economic Measures in the Sphere of Foreign Economic Activity to Ensure the Security of the Russian Federation," according to the statement.
The ban will remain in effect until the end of the year.
7:07 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023
"Situation is rather alarming" as shelling continues in Belgorod, Kremlin spokesperson says
From CNN's Anna Chernova
A view shows ammunition casing in a damaged street following purported shelling by Ukrainian forces in the town of Shebekino, Belgorod region, in this image released by the region's governor, on May 31. Handout/Governor of Russia's Belgorod Region Vyacheslav Gladkov via Telegram/Reuters
The Kremlin is concerned about the situation in Belgorod, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN in a regular call with journalists on Wednesday.
“We are indeed concerned about this situation, shelling of civilian objects continues there,” Peskov said. “In this case, too, by the way, we have not heard a single word of condemnation from any one from the collective West, so far. The situation is rather alarming. Measures are being taken.”
Some context: His comments come after the town of Shebekino in Russia's Belgorod region was hit by a "massive strike," injuring four people, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram Wednesday.
Eight apartment buildings, four private homes, a school and two administrative buildings were all damaged in the shelling, according to Gladkov.
Gladkov also said that children will be evacuated out of Shebekino and Grayvoron, with the first 300 taken today to Voronezh.
6:12 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023
Multiple drones shot down in Russia's Bryansk region, state media reports
From CNN's Anna Chernova
A drone attack was launched on Russia's Bryansk region, state news agency RIA Novosti said Wednesday.
About 10 drones tried to attack the Klimovsky district overnight, RIA reported, citing emergency services.
RIA did not report any damage and said some of the drones were shot down, while others were intercepted by electronic warfare.
Bryansk is on the border with Ukraine and has seen previous attacks blamed on Kyiv.
Remember: Earlier this month, there were unconfirmed reports that four of Russia's aircraft were shot down inside Bryansk.
One Russian media outlet says that at least two combat aircraft – an Su-34 and an Su-35 – and two Mi-8 helicopters crashed.
Ukraine did not confirm its air defenses were involved in the reported downing of the Russian aircraft, but said the aircraft “ran into some trouble.”
6:27 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023
Alleged "Russian spy whale" enters Swedish waters
From CNN’s James Frater and Catherine Nicholls
The beluga whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir, is widely speculated to be an alleged Russian “spy.” Jorgen Ree Wiig/Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries/Sea Surveillance Service
A beluga whale known internationally as an alleged Russian "spy" has entered Swedish waters, an organization set up to track the whale announced Monday.
The whale, nicknamed Hvaldimir, garnered international fame in 2019 after it was spotted wearing a specially made harness with mounts for a camera, leading experts to believe that it may have been trained by the Russian military.
“After four years of swimming south down the coast of Norway, Hvaldimir — known worldwide as the 'Russian spy' beluga whale — is now in Swedish waters,” the organization OneWhale said in a statement.
Hvaldimir was recently spotted in Norway’s capital Oslo, prompting concerns for the whale’s safety given the heavy boat traffic in the area.
“But the famous beluga skirted around the dangerous waters of Oslo for Sweden,” OneWhale’s statement said. "We are impressed by Sweden's show of care for Hvaldimir. They immediately contacted us upon his arrival, and even closed a bridge to protect him."
President of OneWhale, Rich German, said, "Hvaldimir's situation remains an extremely vulnerable one as Sweden is a highly populated country, but we are very grateful Swedish authorities have quickly taken action to care for the whale."
South Africa moves to allow Putin to attend summit despite ICC arrest warrant
From CNN’s Eve Brennan
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a BRICS virtual session from Moscow, Russia, in June 2022. Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/AFP/Getty Images
South Africa has issued diplomatic immunity to all officials attending a summit in August, meaning Russian President Vladimir Putin might be able to travel to the country despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his arrest.
South African officials, which announced the controversial decision on Monday in a government gazette notice, insisted that it may not override the ICC arrest warrant. As a signatory to the ICC, South Africa may be legally obligated to arrest Putin. The court issued a warrant for his arrest in March over the alleged deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.
South Africa is hosting a meeting of the BRICS group of developing nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- in August.
"This is a standard conferment of immunities that we do for all international conferences and summits held in South Africa irrespective of the level of participation,” South Africa's foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said this was routine protocol to protect the conference and its attendees, not for specific individuals, adding that "these immunities do not override any warrant that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference."
South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said in a statement Tuesday that it had launched a court application to request the government detain Putin and surrender him to the ICC, if he were to visit the country. The DA said their application outlines precise steps to be taken should a request for Putin’s arrest be made by the ICC, so that there is "no legal ambiguity relating to the procedure to be followed, and the obligations placed upon the state."
While South African leadership has repeatedly stated that they are neutral in the conflict and have frequently called for a negotiated settlement, their actions have come under increasing scrutiny from Western powers. Earlier this month, the US ambassador to South Africa accused the South African government of delivering arms and ammunition to a sanctioned Russian cargo vessel late last year.
Previous reporting from CNN's David McKenzie
4:11 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023
Drone crashes at oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, officials say
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Authorities in southern Russia said a drone crashed at an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region early on Wednesday, an incident that followed reports of a fire due to a possible drone attack at another nearby fuel depot.
In a statement on Telegram, Krasnodar's operational headquarters said no casualties were reported in the 4 a.m. attack at the Ilsky oil refinery.
“As a result of the fall, the apparatus crashed, the plant's infrastructure was not damaged, and there was no fire,” the statement said.
In a separate incident Wednesday, reports emerged of a possible drone attack on the Afipsky oil refinery, also located in Krasnodar, that caused a fire but no casualties.
The two facilities are located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) apart.
4:10 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023
Russian dissident fighters launch drone pilot recruitment drive
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
Men are seen on the roof of a damaged multi-story apartment block following a drone attack in Moscow on May 30. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
Anti-Putin Russians fighting to free Ukraine and topple the Kremlin have launched an "additional" recruitment drive for drone pilots, a day after a drone attack brought the war to the Russian capital.
“Graduates of the course will have the opportunity to practice their skills,” the dissident Freedom for Russia Legion said in a post on messaging app Telegram on Tuesday.
The post comes after drone attack on Moscow Tuesday that the Kremlin blamed on Ukraine, which denied any direct involvement.
Eight drones were involved in the attack, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the capital's air defenses worked normally, also suggesting the attacks had been in response to recent Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure.
"Kyiv chose the path of intimidation of Russian citizens and attacks on residential buildings," Putin said.
Freedom for Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, which both fall under the command of the Ukrainian security forces, last week claimed responsibility for an incursion inside the Russian border region of Belgorod.
A Ukrainian official acknowledged last week that the units had carried out an operation in the area but insisted they were acting independently.
2:54 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023
Ukrainian shelling kills 5 in occupied Luhansk, Russia-backed official says
From CNN's Clare Sebastian and Olga Voitovych
Leonid Pasechnik speaks during a forum in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 16, 2022. Stringer/Getty Images
Five people were killed and 19 others injured in Ukrainian shelling of Luhansk, according to the Moscow-installed head of the occupied region in eastern Ukraine.
Leonid Pasechnik, acting head of the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic, said on Telegram that two of those injured in the shelling of Karpaty village, Perevalsk district, are in serious condition in hospital.
