11:07 a.m.: Two civilians killed in shelling of Russia's Belgorod region, according to the governor of that territory
Two civilians were killed and two wounded in a Ukrainian bombardment of the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, said the governor of this territory subjected to repeated strikes in recent days.
"Shrapnel hit passing cars. In one of them, two women [...] died on the spot from their injuries," Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the region, said on Telegram. He said the shooting hit a road in the village of Maslova Pristan, located a few kilometers from the town of Chebekino, bordering Ukraine and hit by heavy fire this week.
"In a second car, there were two injuries. One man wounded by shrapnel in the chest and a second wounded by shrapnel in the lower limbs," Gladkov said, adding that they were hospitalized in serious condition.
According to the governor, other localities in the region were hit by Ukrainian fire that caused material damage but no casualties.
On Thursday, the Russian army claimed to have repelled with the help of artillery and aviation a new Ukrainian ground attack on this region. Faced with the intensification of the shooting, the inhabitants of the bombed areas fled and were welcomed in temporary reception centres.
10:01 a.m.: Ukraine says it has intercepted "all" Russian missiles and drones that targeted Kiev overnight
Ukraine claimed to have intercepted "all" Russian missiles and drones that targeted Kiev overnight, wounding at least two people, the sixth attack in as many days on the capital.
"All fifteen cruise missiles and twenty-one attack drones were destroyed by air defense," the Ukrainian Air Force said on the social network Telegram.
According to the head of the local military administration, Sergei Popko, Russia has used X-101/555 missiles and Shahed explosive drones.
"The terror on Kiev with air attacks continues," he lamented on Telegram. "In the last six days, the [Russians] have already carried out their sixth airstrike on the city," he lashed out as the Ukrainian capital is again targeted by the Russian military after a lull in recent months.
7:50 a.m.: In Finland, anti-Russian sentiment exacerbated by war in Ukraine
In Finland, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken begins a two-day visit after attending a NATO meeting in Oslo. Finland shares 1,300 kilometres of border with Russia and has been the 4st member of the Atlantic Alliance since 31th April. With the war in Ukraine, anti-Russian sentiment is very strong among the Finnish population. Our special envoys Julien Sauvaget and Clovis Casali report.
02:27
In Finland, anti-Russian sentiment exacerbated by war in Ukraine © FRANCE 24
4:21 a.m.: Ukraine says it shot down about thirty projectiles over Kiev
Air defense systems shot down more than 30 missiles and drones fired by Russia against Kiev on Thursday night, authorities in the Ukrainian capital said. Warning sirens have been triggered in Kiev, as well as in much of the country, as Moscow ramps up nighttime air attacks.
In a statement, the military administration of the Ukrainian capital said Russia had launched both missiles and drones. "According to preliminary information, more than 30 air targets of various types were detected and destroyed in the airspace above and around Kiev."
Via Telegram messenger, the city's mayor, Vitaly Klitschko, who had earlier reported two separate salvos of attacks, said that rescue services had not been called for the time being.
2:30 a.m.: Air defense systems in action in Kiev
Air defense systems were in action in the night from Thursday to Friday in Kiev to repel Russian attacks, said the authorities of the Ukrainian capital, against which Moscow multiplies night air offensives.
Via Telegram messaging, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported that explosions had occurred in the city and that a new salvo of Russian drones was approaching.
1:56 a.m.: Ukrainian drones shot down near Kursk, Russian region's governor says
Several Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defenses near Kursk, a city near the border with Ukraine, the governor of the region announced early Friday morning.
"Last night, several Ukrainian drones were shot down by an air defense system near Kursk," Roman Starovoyt said on Telegram. "We ask the residents of Kursk to remain calm, the city is under the reliable protection of our army," the governor added.
1:28 a.m.: Swiss lower house against transfer of domestically manufactured weapons to Ukraine
The lower house of the Swiss parliament on Thursday rejected a proposal to allow the transfer of Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine.
The vote took place on the same day that President Alain Berset met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Moldova. The two leaders discussed this subject.
The National Council voted against this proposal presented by a parliamentary committee.
0:18 a.m.: U.S. will no longer give certain nuclear weapons data to Russia
The United States said Thursday it was stopping providing Russia with certain notifications required under the New START treaty, including location data for its missiles and launchers, in retaliation for Moscow's "violations" of the strategic arms control agreement.
In a document published on its website, the US State Department also said it would no longer transmit to Moscow telemetry data on US launches of intercontinental missiles and ballistic missiles launched from submarines.
June 1 Essentials
Russia launched an airstrike on Kiev early Thursday, killing at least three people, including a child, and spreading terror in the Ukrainian capital after a week of strikes.
In Moldova, at the EPC summit, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine was ready to join NATO.
With AFP and Reuters
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