Live

Trump's hush money trial

Live

Russia's war in Ukraine

Live

Israel-Hamas war

June 1, 2023 Russia-Ukraine news

By Jessie Yeung, Christian Edwards, Schams Elwazer, Sarah Dean, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 1422 GMT (2222 HKT) June 2, 2023

37 Posts

Sort by

9:53 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

Wagner's next assignment could be defending Russian territory, chief says

From CNN's Katharina Krebs in London

The head of the Wagner private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has suggested that his fighters' next role may be in defending Russian territory.

First, Wagner wants "at least one month of recovery" after fighting for months in the eastern city of Bakhmut, Prigozhin told Russian military reporters, adding that then there will be "next scuffles, I think, most likely this time on Russian territory."

His comments come amid attacks on Russia’s border region of Belgorod, where groups of Russian volunteers who oppose the current Kremlin leadership have again claimed to have entered Russian territory. The Kremlin said they were repelled and did not violate the state border.

Wagner fighters are due to leave the Bakhmut area by June 5, being replaced by regular Russian forces. Prigozhin said Wagner units will relocate to rear camps in Donetsk and Luhansk regions for now, away from the line of contact.

9:59 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

Belgorod attacks cannot change course of "special military operation" in Ukraine, Kremlin says

From CNN’s Anna Chernova

A drone image released by Freedom of Russia Legion shows what they claim is a destruction of Russian military targets near Shebekino in Russia's Belgorod region, in this image obtained from social media and released on June 1. Freedom Of Russia Legion/Reuters

Kremlin says the attacks on Russia’s border region of Belgorod will not change the course of the so-called "special military operation," which is the term President Vladimir Putin uses to refer to Russia's war in Ukraine.

“This cannot have any effect on the course of the special military operation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday, adding that Putin is continuously receiving updates on the situation from border guards, the military, rescuers, and local authorities.

“Regional authorities are working very actively and selflessly" in dealing with the attacks, Peskov said.

The main focus is to provide assistance to people, including by temporarily resettling those at risk, Peskov said. "This is also what Putin is very actively engaged in today."

He also expressed disappointment over the lack of international condemnation of the attacks on residential buildings and social facilities, in which at least five people were injured, according to the region’s governor.

9:31 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

NATO chief calls for "credible arrangements" to guarantee Ukraine's security after war ends

From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy in London

NATO needs to make sure there are “credible arrangements” in place to guarantee Ukraine’s security after the war ends, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.

Speaking during a news conference in Oslo, Norway, Stoltenberg said the focus of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting was “bringing Ukraine closer to NATO, where it belongs.”

However, the NATO chief has previously said that he expects Ukraine will join the alliance when the war is over — effectively ruling out the country joining in the near future.

Latest developments: On Thursday, the ministers discussed updating the NATO Ukraine Commission to council status, which Stoltenberg said would be an “important step” in ensuring that Ukraine has a seat at the table “as equals.”

“We don’t know when the war ends, but we must make sure that when it does, we have credible arrangements to guarantee Ukraine’s security in the future,” Stoltenberg said.

When asked by a journalist if changing status from a commission to a council will matter much to Ukrainians fighting a war, Stoltenberg reiterated that NATO’s focus remains on “stepping up” military aid so Ukraine can win the conflict.

“If President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will make the world more dangerous, it will send the message that when authoritarian forces use military force, they get what they want,” Stoltenberg emphasized.

9:03 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

"Ukraine can anticipate a very robust package" of support at NATO Summit, top US diplomat says

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

Ukraine "can anticipate a very robust package of both political and practical support” from NATO when the US-led military alliance meets in Vilnius in July, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.

“Everyone here stands behind the Bucharest commitment. That hasn't changed. We’re focused intensely on what we can do to strengthen even more the relationship between Ukraine and NATO, and to continue to bring Ukraine up to NATO standards, interoperability,” Blinken said at a press conference in Oslo after a meeting of the NATO Foreign Ministers.

Discussions in Oslo were an opportunity to "compare notes" on support for Ukraine, posturing for Russian aggression and other challenges, to ensure that allies can move forward "united, together," when they meet at the summit, the top US diplomat said.

8:30 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

It’s mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here’s what you need to know

From CNN staff

Kyiv’s air defenses have proved remarkably resilient in recent weeks, despite Russia’s unrelenting bombardment of the city. Scarcely a day has passed in May without the sound of air raid warnings and explosions – but the vast majority of Russia’s missiles have been shot down, with deaths remaining low.

But on Thursday, three people, including a mother and her child, were killed in the latest Russian strike on Kyiv – after they had tried to enter a bomb shelter that was closed.

Here are the latest developments:

Kyiv airstrike deaths: A 9-year-old girl, her 34-year-old mother, and a 33-year-old woman were killed on Thursday in another missile strike on Kyiv, which injured 12 others. Kyiv’s air defenses destroyed all 10 Russian missiles launched overnight, but falling debris from the missiles caused damage to buildings and killed several civilians.
Bomb shelter checks: Their deaths have sparked anger in Kyiv after reports emerged that they had tried to enter a bomb shelter that was closed. Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said police will now patrol bomb shelters during nighttime air raid alarms to ensure they are open. Ukraine’s home affairs minister Ihor Klymenko said closed bomb shelters during the war are “not just indifference,” but “a crime.”
Belgorod border incursions: Russian officials have denied claims from a group of anti-Putin Russians aligned with Ukraine that they are “fighting again on Russian territory” in the Belgorod region. But the region was shelled overnight by Ukraine, injuring five civilians, according to the region’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Russia targets Moldova: The West is actively pushing Moldova to participate in the Ukraine war, the head of the FSB, Russia’s security service, said Thursday. But the government of Moldova, which is attempting to tread a path to EU accession, has accused Russia of trying to destabilize the country by stirring trouble in Transnistria – a self-proclaimed, unrecognized breakaway territory where Russia exerts political influence.
Zelensky’s NATO plea: Ukraine needs “clear” and “positive” decisions on its bid for joining NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday at a summit of European leaders in Moldova. NATO’s chief said all members of the defense alliance agree “Ukraine will become a member” – but Germany’s defense minister Annalena Baerbock urged caution, saying NATO can’t accept new members while they are at war.
International Children’s Day: At least 484 children have been killed and 992 injured since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General’s Office said Thursday as Ukraine marked International Children’s Day. More than 19,5000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia or temporarily occupied territories since the start of the war. The International Criminal Court previously issued a warrant for Vladimir Putin’s arrest for the alleged child deportation scheme.
Europe inflation falls: Inflation in Europe has fallen to its slowest pace since Russia invaded Ukraine, bolstering the case for the region's central bank to bring interest rate hikes to an end soon. The war has caused food and energy prices on the continent to soar – but today’s figures show that inflation may finally be cooling.

8:14 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

Anti-Putin Russian fighters claim to destroy Russian ammunition and rocket launchers in Belgorod

From CNN's Sarah Dean, Eve Brennan in London and Olga Voitovych

A still image from drone footage released by Freedom of Russia Legion shows, what they claim, is a destruction of Russian military targets, near Novaya Tavolzhanka, Belgorod Region, Russia, in this image obtained from social media released on June 1. Freedom Of Russia Legion/Reuters

The Freedom for Russia Legion on Thursday posted two videos featuring explosions geolocated by CNN inside Russia's Belgorod border region, claiming they had hit military targets.

The group of anti-Putin dissident fighters claimed one video shows the "detonation of ammunition and mortar of the enemy after a precise artillery work on them."

CNN has geolocated the video of an explosion to Shebekinsky District in Belgorod, but cannot verify the claim of a successful strike.

A second video posted by the legion said, "We continue to share the clear work of artillery: a column of Grad MLRS (BM-21) was destroyed on the march."

"Together with brothers from RVC [Russian Volunteer Corps] we continue to demilitarize Putin's army," it said, using the term (demilitarization) that the Kremlin has stated as one of its goals in the invasion of Ukraine.

Smoke is visible from the apparent point of impact in the video, but it is not clear if any Russian military hardware was hit.

The Freedom for Russia Legion said earlier Thursday it was near the border with Russia and the Russian Volunteer Corps claimed it was "fighting on Russian territory."

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had repelled three attacks by "Ukrainian terrorist groups" on Thursday.

Remember: In the past, the Ukrainian government has distanced itself from the Russian fighters, saying they are operating independently in Russia.

CNN's Rob Picheta and Nathan Hodge have contributed to this post.

8:17 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

Zelensky and EU chief "condemn illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children" in joint statement

From CNN's James Frater and Lauren Kent in London

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, second right, meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova, on June 1. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement on International Children's Day to highlight the "plight of Ukrainian children," saying Russia's invasion of Ukraine is depriving children of their right to be "free, protected and kept safe."

"We vehemently condemn illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children, adding to the list of Russia's war crimes," the statement said. "We urgently call upon Russia to immediately stop these deportations, to put an end to the practice of so-called ‘expedited adoptions' and return these children."
"We are committed to do all that is needed to establish the whereabouts of deported Ukrainian children, facilitate their safe return, and provide them with essential social, medical, and educational support upon their return," the joint statement continued.

Noting that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for perpetrators of war crimes, Zelensky and von der Leyen said "time will come" to bring them to justice.

In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova for an alleged scheme to deport Ukrainian children to Russia.

The Kremlin labeled the ICC’s actions as “outrageous and unacceptable” and said Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court.

7:32 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

Ukraine needs “clear” and “positive” decisions on NATO and EU accession, Zelensky says

From CNN's Radina Gigova in London

President of Moldova Maia Sandu, right, welcomes President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the European Political Community (EPC) Summit on June 1, near Chisinau, Moldova. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Ukraine needs “clear” and “positive” decisions on its bid for joining both NATO and the European Union, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday at a summit of European leaders in Moldova’s capital Chisinau.

“This year is for decisions,” Zelensky said.

“In [the] summer in Vilnius at the NATO summit, a clear invitation for membership of Ukraine is needed and the security guarantees on the way to NATO membership are needed,” he said.

"Positive decisions for Ukraine will be positive decisions for everyone," he added.

Zelensky also restated his calls to not allow the war in Ukraine to become a frozen conflict.

“There should be no place for any frozen conflict and cold war on our continent," Zelensky said, adding "when there are no security guarantees, there are only war guarantees."

Zelensky also said coalitions of Patriot air defenses and fighter jets would "accelerate peace," and that "every step in air defense enforcement is literally saving lives.”

Moldova is hosting a summit of the EU’s 27 member states and 20 other European countries at a castle deep in Moldova’s wine region just 12 miles (20 km) from Ukrainian territory, according to Reuters.

7:06 a.m. ET, June 1, 2023

How Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has impacted tennis

From CNN’s George Ramsay

Aryna Sabalenka walks past opponent Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine during a changeover in her first round match on Day One of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 28, in Paris, France. Robert Prange/Getty Images

Every sport in Europe – from soccer to fencing to UFC – has had to grapple with the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tennis is no exception.

Since the start of the war, Russian and Belarusian players have continued to play at tournaments and grand slams but must do so as neutrals without their flag or country displayed.

The only exception has been Wimbledon, which banned players from those two countries last year – though the ATP and WTA Tours responded by stripping the tournament of ranking points.

The governing bodies of the men’s and women’s tours both said that they oppose “discrimination” against players based on nationality.

Tensions are bubbling on and off the court. For some Ukrainian players, having to face opponents from Russia and Belarus has been a point of frustration.

World No. 39 Marta Kostyuk, who is from Kyiv, said at the start of the year that she would not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players while the war rages in her country.

She was booed at the French Open when she refused to meet Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka at the net, while Sabalenka condemned the booing and said she understands why Ukrainian players won’t shake her hand.

“About the war situation, I said it many, many times, nobody in this world – Russian athletes, Belarusian athletes – supports the war, nobody,” Sabalenka said after her first-round victory against Kostyuk.

“How can we support the war? Normal people will never support it.”

Read more here.