Russia controls more than 90% of Luhansk, but no original goal has been achieved: UK Ministry of Defense
On the 100th day of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which the Kremlin still calls its “special military operation”, Russian forces achieved significant territorial gains in the country’s eastern Donbas, which now control more than 90 percent of Luhansk.
“Russia is now achieving tactical successes in the Donbass. Russian forces have generated and maintained momentum and now appear to have the initiative in the face of the Ukrainian opposition,” the UK Defense Ministry wrote in its daily intelligence update. On Twitter.
This has come at a significant cost in terms of resources, as their forces have been overwhelmingly concentrated in one part of the campaign, the publication said.
“Russia has not been able to generate maneuvers or movements on other fronts or axes, all of which have gone on the defensive,” the ministry said. none of the strategic objectives “. Among these goals was the goal of seizing government centers in Kyiv and Ukraine.
“For Russia to achieve any form of success will require a large continued investment in labor and equipment, and is likely to take much longer,” the publication added.
– Natasha Turak
OPEC + will increase production faster than expected in July and August
OPEC + has agreed to increase oil production by 648,000 barrels per day in July and August, a larger amount than expected, as the Ukrainian war is wreaking havoc on world energy markets.
Ian Tuttle | Bloomberg | Getty Images
OPEC + has agreed to increase oil production by 648,000 barrels per day in July and August, a larger-than-expected increase as the Ukrainian war wreaks havoc on global energy markets.
The increase will put an end to the end of the historic production cuts of the alliance administered during the pandemic.
Governments around the world, including the Biden administration, have called on producers to increase production to reduce oil prices. However, although in theory production will be higher in the future, OPEC + has been struggling to meet production quotas.
The additional barrels will not offset Russia’s potential loss of more than 1 million barrels per day, as the country is hit by growing global sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine.
– Chelsea Ong, Weizhen Tan, Pippa Stevens
Russia begins one-week drills in the Pacific Ocean with more than 40 ships
Russian at a shipyard for maintenance and repair work on May 20, 2022. Russia is conducting a series of one-week exercises in the Pacific Ocean that include more than 40 ships and up to 20 aircraft, citing Reuters to Russian news agencies citing the defense ministry.
Semen Vasiliev | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Russia is conducting a series of one-week exercises in the Pacific Ocean involving more than 40 ships and up to 20 planes, according to a Reuters report citing Russian news agencies.
The exercises, which begin on Friday and end on June 10, would include “groups of ships along with naval aviation involved in (enemy) submarine search operations,” Reuters was quoted as saying by a Defense Ministry statement. .
Ukraine is thousands of miles away from where the exercises take place in the Pacific Ocean.
– Chelsea Ong
UN humanitarian chief to meet with Russian officials amid pressure to restart agricultural exports
The UN humanitarian chief was due to meet with Russian officials as part of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ efforts to allow Ukrainian and Russian agricultural exports across the Black Sea in the midst of a global food crisis.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths met with officials on Wednesday and would continue their meetings on Thursday.
Guterres said there had been no resolution since Wednesday, but the UN is engaged in a serious dialogue with all relevant parties “in order to find a joint pact”.
Dujarric noted that Griffiths’ visit to Moscow was followed on Monday in the Russian capital by Rebeca Grynspan, the secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development known as UNCTAD. Grynspan is focusing on bringing big Russians to global markets. He later went to Washington.
“We’ve seen a lot of positive statements from various capitals,” Dujarric said. “We are also very grateful for the role that Turkey is playing in all this. If we have something concrete to announce, we will do it.”
– Associated press
Russia limits exports of noble gases, a key ingredient in making chips
Russia, affected by the sanctions, has limited exports of noble gases such as neon, a key ingredient in making chips, until the end of 2022 to strengthen its market position, its trade ministry said.
– Reuters