Weekend update: Denmark's F-16 for Ukraine and the scandal with the French TV

Russia's war against Ukraine

June 17:

• Ukrainian artillery destroyed a modified boat and an observation post of the Russians in the south of Ukraine;
• Russia shelled a civilian car in the Kharkiv region, killing four people;
• New Russian fortifications spotted in Crimea on satellite imagery;
• An armed confrontation occurred in the occupied city of Melitopol involving Russian military, the Federal Security Service, and the "police."

June 18:

• Russian forces in the Luhansk region are searching for deserters among the mobilized troops;
• Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down an enemy drone over the Kherson region;
• British intelligence reports that the Russian army is experiencing the highest casualties since the peak of the Battle of Bahmut;
• The EU condemns Russia's plans to hold "elections" in the occupied territories;
• Restaurants and entertainment establishments in Odessa are banned from operating at night.

Denmark to Transfer Fighter Jets to Ukraine

Denmark will support the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine. However, this will only happen with the support of the United States, which manufactures the F-16s.

"I cannot imagine not supporting this. Ukraine needs these aircraft more than ever if they want to win their fight. This also applies to Danish F-16 fighters," said Denmark's Acting Minister of Defense, Troels Lund Poulsen.

French TV channel scandal

French television finds itself in another scandal. TF1 channel aired a report from Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russians.

On June 15, French television channel TF1 published a report on its YouTube channel from the positions of Russian military in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

As of June 17, the report has already gotten 132,000 views. The video shows the road to Russian positions, the bunkers of the occupiers, who commented on the situation with ammunition and drones, and explained how they use them against the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

All Odessa beaches declared unfit for swimming after the Kakhovka HPP explosion

All beaches in Odessa have been declared unfit for swimming due to a significant deterioration in the water quality. Swimming is prohibited.

This concerns the condition of the water in open water bodies, particularly the Black Sea and the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Estuary.

Volunteer beaten up by transport operators in Kherson

A volunteer providing free evacuation services was beaten up by local transport operators in Kherson.

According to Olexandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional State Administration, the attackers have been identified. They earn a living through passenger transportation, while the assaulted volunteer was evacuating people from the Kherson region for free.

Russian occupiers plan to transport 300 children from Zaporizhzhia region to Chuvashia

The Russians continue to illegally transport Ukrainian children to Russian territory. The occupiers plan to deport 300 children from the Zaporizhzhia region to the Chuvash Republic.

"Russian media reported the departure of 48 children, while others are being prepared for transportation in several trips," said Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol.

English language to receive special status in Ukraine

English will be granted international status in Ukraine. The government is working on facilitating the learning of the language in society.

African leaders hold talks with Putin

A delegation of African leaders visited Russia and held negotiations with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. According to Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, this visit followed constructive talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.