Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited a command post for Russian forces in Ukraine, state media reported Monday, marking his first TV appearance since the failed paramilitary uprising. Wagner. The Wagner mercenaries returned to their base on Sunday after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow their leader to avoid treason charges and accept exile in neighboring Belarus. Read our liveblog for the latest developments in the war in Ukraine. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
9:39am: ‘Many cracks’ show in Russian propaganda, says German foreign minister
Recent events in Russia show “many cracks” within Russia’s political sphere, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday, adding that Germany would not participate in what she called “internal political matters”.
“We see many cracks in the Russian propaganda”, said Baerbock before going to a meeting with the EU, adding that the Western allies will continue to support Ukraine in the war.
9:21am: Ukraine’s grain exports reached 48.4 tons in 2022/23 season
Ukraine’s grain exports for the 2022/23 July-June period stood at 48.4 million tons on June 26, four days before the end of the marketing year, agriculture ministry data showed on Monday.
The ministry said that Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February last year, exported the same amount of grain as of June 29, 2022.
A major grower and exporter of grain, Ukraine’s grain production dropped to about 53 million tons of clean weight in the 2022 calendar year from a record 86 million in 2021.
8:53am: The Wagner crisis shows that the war in Ukraine is ‘cracking Russia’s power’, says the EU chief
Wagner’s halted uprising shows that Moscow’s war in Ukraine is eroding Russian power, and the instability of the nuclear-armed power “is not a good thing”, the EU’s top diplomat said Monday.
“What happened this weekend shows that the war against Ukraine has cracked Russia’s power and affected its political system,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at a meeting. of foreign ministers of the bloc.
8.52am: Wagner’s failed coup means ‘dramatic fall from grace’ for leader Prigozhin
The failed uprising of the Wagner group means “a dramatic fall from grace” for the group’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, says FRANCE 24’s Leela Jacinto.
Prigozhin may be hoping that President Vladimir Putin will side with him against the Russian military brass, which Prigozhin has criticized throughout the war in Ukraine. “That won’t happen, of course, Putin called him a traitor and now he’s in exile in Belarus,” Jacinto said.
8:13am: Moscow mayor cancels anti-terror security measures imposed for Wagner ‘mutiny’
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said he had canceled the anti-terrorism regime imposed on the Russian capital during what authorities on Saturday called an armed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group.
Sobyanin made the announcement in a statement posted on the Telegram messaging application on Monday.
Separately, Russia’s National Anti-terrorism Committee said the situation in the country was “stable”.
7:25am: Ukraine reclaims 130 square km along southern front line, deputy defense minister says
Ukraine has retaken about 130 square kilometers (50 square miles) from Russian forces on the southern front line since the start of the counteroffensive, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Monday.
“The situation in the south has not changed much in the last week,” Maliar told the national broadcaster.
He added that along the eastern part of the front line, which includes the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Maryinka directions, about 250 combat engagements took place last week.
6:59am: Russian defense minister visits troops after Wagner revolt
Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu visited Russian troops involved in the military operation in Ukraine, the RIA news agency reported on Monday, his first TV appearance since the weekend uprising in paramilitary group in Wagner.
Shoigu, the target of fierce criticism by the head of the mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin, went to a command post for Russian forces in Ukraine and held a meeting there with the leader of one of the units, according to sources. image shown by the broadcaster.
During the meeting, the minister highlighted what he described as “great efficiency in detection and destruction” of weapons systems and Ukrainian soldiers, the defense ministry said in a press release.
The footage shows Shoigu listening to a report presented on the military situation in the area, studying maps and riding a helicopter to check Russian positions.
4:30am: Australia to provide $74 million aid package to Ukraine
The Australian Government will provide a new A$110 million ($73.54 million) package to Ukraine to defend against a Russian invasion, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday.
The package includes 70 military vehicles, including 28 armored vehicles, 14 special operations vehicles, 28 medium trucks and 14 trailers.
“Australia is unwavering in our determination to condemn and oppose Russia’s actions and to help Ukraine achieve victory,” Albanese said.
4:20am: Russia suffers legal setback at Australian embassy
Russia’s bid to build a new embassy near Australia’s parliament suffered a legal blow on Monday, when the country’s highest court rejected a request for temporary protection against deportation.
Australia blocked Russia from building a new embassy in the capital Canberra – a stone’s throw from Parliament House – after intelligence agencies warned that it could be used as a base to spy on lawmakers.
The Russian embassy last week launched a last-minute order to temporarily hold the land, while sending a mysterious diplomat to squat on the site while the legal battle plays out.
Australia’s high court ruled on Monday morning that Russia should temporarily leave the site until the case returns to court for more detailed legal arguments, local media reported.
The Russian embassy said it had “no comments” on the decision.
3:04am: Wagner’s withdrawal brings ‘relief’ to Moscow
There was a sense of relief in Moscow as it was announced early Sunday that Wagner’s troops had halted their advance towards the city.
As news of the uprising unfolded, Russian soldiers took up positions outside Moscow and residents south of the capital were told to stay at home and travel only if necessary.
“We were very scared. We are starting to think about where we are going, and what we are taking with us,” one resident told FRANCE 24.
1:15am: 17,000 Ukrainian army recruits trained by Britain and allies
More than 17,000 Ukrainian recruits were trained by Britain and other allies last year to help Kyiv fight Russian aggression, the UK Ministry of Defense said Monday.
The recruits, from many different walks of life, all went through a “harrowing” five-week program that the ministry said transformed them “from civilians to soldiers”.
Britain and nine partner countries – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania and the Netherlands – opened the initiative for new volunteer recruits of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in June last year.
The UK-led training programme, called Operation Interflex, teaches recruits, with little or no previous military experience, a range of skills including weapons handling, combat first aid and patrol tactics.
“The determination and resilience of Ukrainian recruits who come to British soil, from all walks of life, to train to fight alongside our British and international forces, is humbling to witness,” said by UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.
Key developments from Sunday, June 25:
The Russian paramilitary Wagner Group has pulled its fighters out of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, where they seized military headquarters, the region’s governor said on Sunday.
Wagner’s head Yevgeny Prigozhin halted the advance of his troops in Moscow on Saturday and said he would leave Belarus to avoid facing charges.
The feud between Prigozhin and Russia’s military brass reached a crisis on Saturday when Wagner’s forces captured an army headquarters in southern Russia before heading north to threaten the capital. .
Read yesterday’s liveblog to see how all of the day’s events unfolded.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
