16.06.2022, Ukraine, Lyssytschansk: Eine Frau reagiert nach einem russischen Luftangriff in Lyssytschansk. Foto: Efrem Lukatsky/AP/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

Ukraine is on a razor’s edge and we must turn the tide of the war in their favor.

The nuclear research facility “Neutron Source” in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has come under fire again, according to Ukrainian sources. The country’s nuclear regulatory authority said on Saturday that buildings and infrastructure such as ventilation ducts had been damaged. The part of the facility where the nuclear fuel is stored was not mentioned in the damage listing. No increased radiation was found.

Ukraine blamed Russia for the attack. But that could not be checked.

Staff are currently investigating the damage. But this is made more difficult because of the risk of new attacks, it said. In the event of a new shelling by Russian troops, it cannot be ruled out that nuclear safety could be impaired, the authority said.

The “neutron source” is listed in the database for research reactors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but according to the Society for Plant and Reactor Safety (GRS) in Cologne, it is not a classic reactor. The facility has come under repeated fire since the beginning of the war at the end of February. (dpa)

According to a media report, Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan expects Sweden to take binding steps to allay his country’s concerns about NATO’s northern expansion.

In a phone call with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, Erdogan called for “concrete and clear measures” in response to Turkey’s demands, reports the Anadolu news agency. Andersson later described the conversation with Erdogan on Twitter as good.

Sweden and Finland recently jointly submitted their membership applications to NATO. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, they want to join the western military alliance. However, NATO member Turkey is threatening to veto it. All members of the alliance must agree to join. A NATO meeting is planned for next week in Madrid. (Reuters)

The Ukraine war and the threat of famine are the focus of the G7 summit of the most important democratic industrial nations that begins on Sunday. At the invitation of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the heads of state and government will meet at Schloss Elmau in Upper Bavaria until Tuesday. Among other things, discussions are being held on how the approximately 20 million tons of grain stored in Ukrainian silos can be brought out of the war-torn country as soon as possible. Russia is currently blocking the Black Sea ports. Ukraine is one of the top grain exporters in the world. (epd)

After units of our troops withdrew, the enemy got stuck in Sieverodonetsk.

According to officials, a Russian shelling damaged a nuclear research facility in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. According to Ukraine’s state nuclear regulatory authority, some buildings and the plant’s infrastructure were damaged in the attack.

The area in which nuclear fuel is housed is not affected. The radiation values ​​were at a normal level. However, the probability of new damage that could directly affect security remains high due to the shelling by Russian troops. The information cannot be independently verified. (Reuters)

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, there has been no progress in the dispute over Sweden’s NATO membership. A phone call with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson was unsuccessful, the Turkish President’s Office said on Saturday, a few days before the start of the NATO summit in Madrid.

In the phone call, Erdogan reiterated that Sweden “must take action on issues as important as the fight against terrorism,” the presidential office said. He therefore called for “concrete and clear measures” in response to Turkey’s demands.

In May, under the impact of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Sweden and Finland gave up their decades-long military neutrality and both applied for NATO membership. All 30 member states must agree to a country joining NATO – Turkey is threatening to veto it.

After weeks of fighting, the strategically important city of Sieverodonetsk in eastern Ukraine is now completely in the hands of the Russian army, according to its mayor. The city is “completely occupied” by the Russian armed forces, Mayor Oleksandr Strjuk said on Ukrainian television on Saturday. On Friday, the Ukrainian authorities announced the withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from the city. (AFP)

In eastern Ukraine, troops loyal to the government have largely withdrawn from the heavily contested city of Sieverodonetsk. They have taken different positions, Mayor Oleksandr Strjuk said on Saturday, according to the Ukrainian news site 24tv. He did not give numbers or details. The troops had left the chemical plant “Azot”. There were still civilians there.

The Ukrainian army had ordered its withdrawal from the city on Friday. This should take a few days. Sievjerodonetsk has so far been one of the last parts of Luhansk that has not yet been conquered by Russian and pro-Russian fighters.

Several thousand people still live in the city today. According to the pro-Russian separatists, more than 800 civilians have now left the chemical plant. Recently, there have been different reports as to how many people have sought protection from the attacks in the factory. (dpa)