Russia launches Iskander ballistic missiles on Kyiv again. Zelenskyi calls for a coalition of Patriot systems, F-16 fighters at the European Political Community summit in Moldova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overnight on June 1, Russia launched another barrage of Iskander ground-based missiles on Kyiv. \u201c[Russian forces] launched a total of 10 Iskander ballistic and cruise missiles from Bryansk region in Russia,\u201d the Ukrainian Air Force Command said in a statement. Ukraine\u2019s air defenses \u201cintercepted all 10 missiles, including seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles and three Iskander-K cruise missiles,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Falling missile fragments left three people dead, including a nine-year-old girl, and 11 others wounded. Apartment buildings, non-residential buildings, cars and a medical facility were damaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
People were killed as they waited to enter a locked shelter in Desnyanskyi district of the capital. Officials ordered an investigation into what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was only about six minutes\u2019 warning before the missiles struck. Russia uses Iskander tactical missile systems stationed in Bryansk region, just 300 kilometers away from the capital, to conduct strikes on Kyiv, leaving minutes to react, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said on television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf missiles are fired from the Caspian Sea or the Black Sea, there is about an hour to react and get to a shelter. In this case, there are only a few minutes. The enemy wants to catch [the air defense] off guard,\u201d Ihnat explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kyiv has been under constant night-time drone and missile attacks since early May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the European Political Community summit in Moldova on Thursday, June 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi made a series of statements on security-related matters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coalition of Patriot systems.<\/strong> Thanks to the support of allies, Ukraine\u2019s air defenses are capable of intercepting Russian missiles of all types. Still, Kyiv needs more Patriot systems until F-16 fighter jets are delivered to Ukraine, Zelenskyi told journalists at the summit. \u201cWhy the Patriots? Because they are able to shoot down any type of Russian rockets,\u201d the President said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In his address to the summit, President Zelenskyi said: \u201cThere are two decisive components now: a coalition of \u2018Patriots\u2019 that will put an end to Russian blackmail by ballistic missiles, and a coalition of modern fighter jets that will prove that terror against our cities has no chance.\u201d If created fast, the coalitions will literally accelerate peace, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fighter jet coalition.<\/strong> On the margins of the summit, Zelenskyi held an informal meeting with European leaders who had vowed support for a coalition to supply fighter jets to Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After upcoming consultations with the U.S., they agreed they will continue work to officially establish the coalition (Ukraine\u2019s Sky Shield) at the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Zelenskyi\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a joint statement issued Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyi \u201cconfirmed the readiness to develop the framework to start the training of Ukrainian combat aircraft pilots when appropriate for the Ukrainian Air Force,\u201d a move pre-agreed at the latest Ramstein meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NATO membership, security guarantees.<\/strong> Ukraine needs to have its security backed by guarantees until it joins NATO, the Ukrainian President told a news conference at the summit. \u201cNATO membership is the best security guarantee,\u201d Zelenskyi said when asked whether security guarantees outside NATO were acceptable. \u201cWe would like to have NATO guarantees. Until we are in NATO, we want to have security guarantees and a clear signal that they will stay until Ukraine joins NATO,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine\u2019s security situation to affect Moldova.<\/strong> Moldova will get back its territory known as Transnistria after Ukraine wins the war with Russia, President Zelenskyi told a news conference at the European Political Community summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe all need a unified Moldovan society and a unified Moldova. Our wish for you is peace achieved without bombs, artillery, and deaths on your territory. (\u2026) I am convinced that after we win \u2014 and I am confident we will win \u2014 you will also have a unified country, without missiles and without Russia,\u201d Zelenskyi said when asked if Ukraine is ready to help Moldova solve the \u201cproblem of Transnistria\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s behind China\u2019s peacekeeping mission? Ukraine in Flames #448\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n