June 5th: Ukraine received CA1 Cheetah anti-aircraft guns, previously part of the Netherlands' inventory, marking another step in bolstering the country’s defensive capabilities. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials appealed to the United States and other countries to increase the number of training sessions for F-16 pilots, arguing that current programs are insufficient to meet operational needs. Formal requests have been submitted for training to be conducted at the Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona. By the end of 2024, only half of the 40 required pilots will have completed training, which could delay the formation of a full squadron until the end of 2025. At the same time, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized President Joe Biden's administration for imposing restrictions on the use of supplied weapons, announcing talks with the White House to ensure Ukraine is granted greater operational freedom.

European Commission spokesman Tim McPhie announced that the EU is intensively cooperating with Ukraine to rebuild its energy system. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal declared plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which will allocate €300 million to stabilize electricity supplies. Ukrainian authorities are preparing lists of urgent needs, with EU member states and industry representatives responding to provide necessary support.

Ukrainian intelligence conducted a large-scale DDoS attack on Russian government websites, including the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Finance, causing a "paralysis" of many sites. Electronic services of key Russian ministries were rendered unavailable, underscoring the growing intensity of the informational and cyber warfare in the conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that 6,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war are in Russian custody, while Ukraine holds 1,348 Russians. Ukrainian intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov dismissed these figures as Russian propaganda, adding that Ukraine does not disclose the exact number of captured Russian soldiers.

June 6th: Ukrainian reconnaissance drones sank a Russian tugboat from the Black Sea Fleet on Lake Panske in northwestern Crimea. Overnight, a series of explosions and a fire occurred at an oil refinery in Novoshakhtinsk in the Rostov region, which Governor Vasily Golubev attributed to a drone attack. Another drone attack targeted an oil depot in the Stary Oskol district of the Belgorod region, highlighting the increasing effectiveness of Ukrainian operations beyond its borders.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the transfer of an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian pilots by the end of 2024. Additionally, France committed to training and equipping 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers. Japan also supported Ukraine by delivering 101 military vehicles, including tracked engineering vehicles, Mitsubishi Type 73 Kogata utility vehicles, and Toyota trucks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, reiterated Russia's narrative, blaming the West and Ukraine for starting the conflict. He claimed that the war began with a "coup" in Ukraine, aligning with Russian propaganda aimed at shifting the blame for aggression onto other countries.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved an agreement with the European Union for macro-financial support totaling $54 billion until 2027. The program includes $36 billion in loans and $18 billion in grants, which will be disbursed if the Ukrainian government implements the required reforms. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that under this program, Ukraine will receive €16 billion in 2024.

Illustrative photo. Generated by AI