It’s Day 110 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia continues to make incremental advances in Luhansk, with Russian troops moving closer to encircling Sievierdonetsk. Over the weekend, Russian forces destroyed two of three bridges connecting Sieveriedonetsk with neighboring Lysychansk, closing evacuation routes for fleeing civilians.
In the southeast, Russian troops are slowly advancing from Izium in the Kharkiv region towards Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, according to the latest report by the American Institute for War Research (ISW).
Ukrainian authorities have appealed to western allies to expedite the delivery of long-range weapons systems to help counter the barrage of Russian shelling in the Donbas.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, nytimes.com
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has cautioned that “it will be a challenge” for EU member countries to strike a common position on Ukraine’s entry to the bloc.
Von der Leyen made her remarks on her way back from Ukraine after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv over the weekend.
In comments to reporters, von der Leyen claimed Ukraine had “achieved a lot in the past ten years, and there is much still to do. Our assessment will reflect that.”
So far, the EU is divided on whether to admit Ukraine. The countries of central and eastern Europe, including Poland, would like to see Ukraine in the bloc, as would the likes of Finland, Italy, Spain, and Greece.
According to reports from the Polish Press Agency, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, and Portugal remain “skeptical” of the proposal, with Germany and France also expressing reservations.
EU officials said they would seek a compromise on the issue, with the European Commission expected to give its opinion by June 17.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP, Reuters
Russian nationals living in Poland rallied against Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine, with demonstrations taking place on Sunday in Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław.
Dozens of protestors in Warsaw commemorated “Russia’s day of freedom from Putinism” by marching peacefully from Warsaw’s Constitution Square to the Russian embassy. The march also stopped at the Ukrainian embassy to sing the Ukrainian national anthem.
In Kraków, a small group of demonstrators gathered near the monument to Adam Mickiewicz, where speakers gave personal testimonies in opposition to the war, sang popular Ukrainian songs, and chanted “Victory for Ukraine” and “Freedom for Russia.”
Protesters at both demonstrations spoke of the need for solidarity among eastern European nations while calling for the democratization of Russia and Belarus and the end of the war in Ukraine.
Demonstrators carried placards emblazoned with such slogans as “No to war,” “Putler kaput,” and “Free Russia,” as well as the white-blue-white flags of the Free Russia movement. Members of other nationalities, including several Poles, Ukrainians, and Belarusians, were also in attendance.
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk
In Moscow, more than fifty people who had previously participated in anti-war actions were detained in the Moscow metro on Sunday, according to reports by Radio Swoboda.
The detainees included political activists, journalists, and other citizens who had previously participated in protests against Russian aggression in Ukraine. Russian police reportedly identified and tracked them on the subway using facial recognition technology.
Most detainees were given an “illegal activity warning” and then released. However, a few detainees were held at police stations for four to five hours, then photographed and fingerprinted.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Road closures and traffic changes due to construction along ul. Kartuska in Gdańsk may cause significant delays for drivers and passengers on public transit.
Starting today, two lanes between ul. Otomińska and ul. Nowatorów will be closed in the northbound direction of Żukowo. Traffic will be diverted to the southbound lanes of Kartuska street in the direction of Gdańsk, with a speed limit of 30 km / h in the construction zone.
The “Inżynierska” bus stop will be moved south before the intersection with ul. Nowa Inżynierska and the “Kokoszki” stop will be moved to the southbound side of Kartuska, in front of the pedestrian crossing.
The changes in traffic are due to the ongoing expansion of the intersection of ul. Kartuska and ul. Nowatorów, which is scheduled to last for at least another month.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy, with a good chance of rain during the day and a strong breeze coming in from the northwest. Temperatures will peak around a high of 17°C, or 63°F, dropping to an overnight low of 11°C or 52°F. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for warmer temps and more sun returning on Wednesday.
Elizabeth Peck/pb
