Weekend update: Ukraine's prisoner exchange and liberated towns

Russia's war against Ukraine

June 10 news:

• Russian forces prohibit Ukrainians from evacuating flooded towns;
• Russia attacks an airfield in the Poltava region, causing infrastructure damage and equipment loss;
• Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully break through Russia's first line of defense in certain areas.

June 11 news:

• Russia reports the downing of a drone in the Kaluga region, Russia;
• Sabotage incidents increase in the Russian army, deserters sent for "meat storming cannon fodder assault";
• Russians drop two aerial bombs on the Kherson region, one near a kindergarten;
• Ukrainian Armed Forces reveal details of the liberation operation in Blahodatne;
• Partisans in the Zaporizhzhia region eliminate a group of occupiers.

Ukrainian Armed Forces liberate three towns

Yesterday, on June 11, the Ukrainian Ground Forces officially confirmed the liberation of the town of Blahodatne from Russian occupiers.

Valeriy Shershen, the spokesperson for the Defense Forces of the Tavria direction, stated that the de-occupation operation in the town was successful, thanks to the cooperation with other units. The deputy commander of the brigade participated in the first assault group, which aimed to seize the village club.

Later, the 7th Separate Battalion of the AREY UDA announced the liberation of the neighboring town of Neskuchne.

In the evening, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar reported that Ukrainian forces had liberated the town of Makarivka in the Donetsk region from Russian occupiers.

Ukraine conducts prisoner exchange with Russia

On June 11, Ukraine returned home 95 defenders as part of the prisoner exchange with Russia. Among them were 93 privates and sergeants, as well as two officers.

The coordination headquarters stated that they managed to repatriate the detainees who were held captive in the Wagner PMC and the Akhmat unit.

Johnson resigns from the British Parliament

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, is resigning from his position as a Member of Parliament due to the report by the Partygate Committee.

The Privileges Committee of the House of Commons accused the ex-Prime Minister of being aware of parties during the COVID lockdown on Downing Street and intentionally misleading the Parliament. Boris Johnson believes that the report's authors failed to provide any evidence to support these claims.

Hungary prepares provocative press conference with prisoners of war

Hungary is preparing a press conference with Ukrainian prisoners of war where they are expected to criticize Ukraine and thank the Russian Orthodox Church, claiming that it assisted in their transfer to the Hungarian side.

According to one of RBC-Ukraine's sources, making public statements of this nature was a mandatory condition for their extraction from Russia.

Canadian prime minister, Trudeau, announces new military aid package for Ukraine

The Canadian government will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth 500 million Canadian dollars, equivalent to over 370 million US dollars. Additionally, Ottawa will participate in the aviation coalition.

Ukrainian Railways implements changes to several routes

A section of the railway track near Nikopol has subsided. Suburban trains will be canceled for several days.

"The impact of the dam destroyed by the Russians extends far beyond the Kherson region. Today, a significant section of railway track near Nikopol subsided," the company reported.

Swimming and fishing banned in the Kherson region

Due to water contamination in the Kherson region, swimming and fishing in open water bodies have been prohibited.

"The danger is real and tangible. This is our water. But, unfortunately, it is dangerous at the moment. The concentration of harmful substances in the water samples exceeds the permissible norm by tens of times," said Olexandr Prokudin, the head of the regional administration.

Occupiers shell boat with civilians in the Kherson region

Russian military forces attacked a boat evacuating civilians from the left bank of the Kherson region. Six people were injured as a result of the shelling.

"The Russian armed forces attacked a boat with civilians who were evacuating from the left bank of the Kherson region. They opened fire on civilians from behind," said Andriy Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President.

Romania recalls its ambassador to Kenya over a racist scandal

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania has recalled its ambassador to Kenya, Dragos Tigau, due to a racist scandal and has offered apologies for his comparison of Africans to monkeys.

During a meeting at the UN building in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on April 26, the Romanian ambassador, upon seeing a monkey outside the window, said, "The African group has joined us."