Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said that Moscow's belligerent rhetoric and a possible real reaction to the country's restriction on the transit of goods to Kaliningrad should be separated. Quote. “In this case, I think that all these intimidations are more related to propaganda and disinformation,” Anusauskas said. Context. On the night of June 18, Lithuanian railways stopped the transit of goods subject to EU sanctions.

Several British newspapers at once, including The Guardian, The Independent and Daily Record, reported that, according to "Western officials", mass mobilization is "about to begin" in Russia. As follows from the publications, they were written after a briefing for journalists. Since the materials appeared only in British newspapers, it can be concluded that the briefing was conducted by the British authorities. Details.

Russia is conducting military exercises during which it simulates a missile attack on Estonia. This was announced by the Estonian Ministry of Defense after a Russian military helicopter violated the airspace of the Baltic country. Details. No other details of the exercises were given in the message of the department. It is only known that the helicopter entered the airspace in the south-east of the country near the village of Koidula on June 18 and stayed in it for about two minutes.

Ukraine may need about $1.1 trillion in foreign aid to repair the damage caused by the war. This was announced by the head of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer at a press briefing in Frankfurt. Quote. “I said a trillion because I saw numbers in the public space that I consider completely unrealistic when I look at the level of destruction in Ukraine,” Hoyer said. He stressed that Europe "will have to play a major role" in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, during a visit to Kaliningrad, instructed the security forces to "increase the effectiveness of suppressing protest moods." Quote. “Law enforcement and security agencies need to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of suppressing the activities of unfriendly countries aimed at stimulating negative social processes in Russian society, protest moods, exacerbating interethnic and interfaith conflicts,” the official said.

The encirclement of Severodonetsk continues, there are shelling casualties in the Kharkiv region, guerrilla resistance is growing in Berdyansk, and Russia is experiencing difficulties in the Black Sea. Battle for Severodonetsk. The coming week will be decisive in the battle for Severodonetsk.

The Russian army in the battles in eastern Ukraine is likely to use old artillery ammunition that has been poorly maintained. The New York Times writes about this with reference to military expert Stephen Biddle, who analyzed satellite images that show explosion craters. Details. Based on satellite imagery, most of the shells explode on contact with the ground.

Daria Navalnaya, the daughter of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, gave an interview to CNN and said that in the strict regime colony in Melehovo, conditions were created for her father that completely deprived him of communication and the opportunity to receive information. Quote. “They fenced off a separate barrack on the territory to really create a prison within the prison, so that he could not speak in public and to isolate him from any information.

Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with the American channel MSNBC, said that the crisis due to the war in Ukraine would be protracted. Quote. “If we talk about the problem of security, continental security and global security, then yes, it will be a long crisis,” Peskov said, answering the question whether the world is waiting for a long conflict.

The head of the Accounts Chamber, Alexei Kudrin, warned President Vladimir Putin of the dire consequences that await Russia after the war in Ukraine, two familiar officials told the Agency. According to their information, others close to the head of state did not dare to say anything like the president. Although there are dissatisfied among the heads of key state structures, and among the military.