Selenski hopes for new support at the reconstruction conference – counter-offensive so far with no prospect of a breakthrough

Kyiv Two weeks after the start of Ukraine’s offensive, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed progress on the front lines. “We’re moving forward in the South,” he said in his daily video address on Wednesday. He admitted heavy fighting, but everywhere – including in the east, where the Ukrainian troops are on the defensive – the enemy is being destroyed, he said. Only a short time before, the Ukrainian head of state had dampened public expectations of the offensive.

In a BBC interview broadcast on Wednesday, he admitted that the offensive was progressing “slower than desired”. Selenski also attributed the small area gains to the extensive mining of the area by Russian troops. Therefore, a careful approach is necessary in order not to endanger the lives of the soldiers unnecessarily.

In his evening video message, however, Selenski announced mainly positive news. In addition to the unspecified progress on the front, the President also addressed the reconstruction conference for Ukraine in London and the new EU sanctions package against Russia. At the conference, Ukraine not only received state aid, but also commitments from the private sector to participate in the development of the country.

Zelensky praised the EU sanctions package as important to further isolate Russia “as long as Russia’s main export commodity is evil and death”. The main thing now is to cut off ways to circumvent the previous sanctions.

Kiev secret service admits Russian attack on own headquarters

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR confirmed reports of a Russian missile attack on its headquarters. The attacks took place at the end of May, but “neither achieved the desired nor the announced goal,” said the agency’s spokesman Andriy Yusov on Ukrainian television on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others, reported on the rocket attack.

The Russian leadership has repeatedly threatened to strike at Ukraine’s “decision centers”. The first information about an attack on the HUR headquarters appeared on May 29th. There was no official statement from Kiev at the time. Jussow declined to comment further on the consequences of the attack. He will only do that after the war.

The number of victims after the flood disaster in southern Ukraine has risen to over 60

At least 62 people died in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam around two weeks ago. Russian occupation authorities spoke on Telegram on Wednesday of 41 deaths on the Russian-occupied southern bank of the Dnieper. Ukrainian authorities put the number of dead across the river at at least 21. It is assumed that the actual number of victims is higher.

Von der Leyen: Russian assets should benefit Ukraine

The EU wants to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. The EU Commission will present a plan for this before the summer break, said EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at a reconstruction conference for Ukraine on Wednesday in London. She added, “The perpetrator must be held accountable.”

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a similar statement on the sidelines of the conference. For the reconstruction of Ukraine it is essential that Moscow is held accountable in the medium term, said the minister. Russia caused the damage in Ukraine.

Putin reaffirms expansion of Russia’s nuclear forces

Russia, meanwhile, shows no signs of backing down in the conflict. On the contrary: Around 16 months after the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine, President Putin confirmed the planned strengthening of his own nuclear forces. According to the Interfax news agency, at an event with graduates from the armed forces’ universities on Wednesday, Putin once again announced that the new Sarmat-type ICBM, which can be equipped with nuclear warheads, will soon be put into service. Originally, however, this was planned for 2022.

This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the Ukraine war:

Since the invasion of Ukraine he ordered on February 24, 2022, Putin has repeatedly provoked international criticism with nuclear threats. His announcement that tactical nuclear weapons would be stationed in neighboring Belarus, for example, caused particular outrage. According to the Kremlin, the transfer should be completed by the end of the year.

What will be important on Thursday

In addition to the reconstruction conference, the Ukrainian offensive to liberate the territories occupied by Russia continues. Despite the progress announced by Zelenskyy, no breakthrough is in sight for Kiev. The Russian defense lines on the 815-kilometer front are considered to be solidly secured.

More: All developments in the Ukraine war in our news blog