Himars strike destroys air defences inside Russia as Kremlin warns of ‘fatal consequences’
The aftermath of a Ukrainian Himars strike on a Russian air defence system in Belgorod
Ukrainian troops have used US-supplied Himars missiles to destroy an advanced air defence system inside Russia, as the Kremlin warned Washington it could suffer “fatal consequences” for backing the cross-border attacks.
Several missiles are understood to have hit an air defence installation in the Russian city of Belgorod that was equipped with S-300/400 surface-to-air missiles.
Photos of the aftermath of the attack, which is believed to have happened on Sunday, show vehicles on fire and billowing out smoke.
On Monday, Sergei Ryabkov, Moscow’s deputy foreign minister, said that the US would face “fatal consequences” if it allowed Ukraine to use American weapons for attacks inside Russia.
The US has so far allowed Kyiv to hit targets within Russia only if they pose an immediate threat to Ukrainian forces.
It’s not clear if the strike on Belgorod breaches the limits the US has imposed on the weapons, but Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, has requested permission to use US munitions for long-range strikes.
On Monday, those wishes were echoed by Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister, who told his Estonian counterpart that Ukraine was pressing its allies “on expanding the scope of its application”.
“It is not 100 per cent, you know, clearance. It comes with some rules that need to be followed,” he said at a press conference.
‘Don’t underestimate the rebuff’
Ukraine has argued that in not allowing it to fire long-range weapons into Russia, its allies are hamstringing its defence.
Mr Zelensky said: “So they have these weapons there and they do not remove them because they know that Ukraine cannot target them with Western weaponry even if they fire against us.”
Ukraine’s supporters fear striking inside Russia will drag them closer to direct conflict with Moscow.
Mr Ryabkov warned the US to take a more serious approach to conflict, risking miscalculation if they don’t.
“I urge these figures [in the US] ... to spend some of their time, which they apparently spend on some kind of video games, judging by the lightness of their approach, on studying what was said in detail by Putin,” Mr Ryabkov said.
“I would like to warn American leaders against miscalculations that could have fatal consequences. For unknown reasons, they underestimate the seriousness of the rebuff they may receive,” he added.
Vladimir Putin said the West would be directly involved in any use of its weapons by Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia, because such attacks would require its satellite, intelligence and military help.
Attacks over the border have stepped up dramatically in recent weeks after Russian forces launched a renewed ground offensive into Ukraine’s north-east.
Ukraine has responded with attacks of its own. Among the most recent was one with drones that destroyed a convoy of 15 Russian trucks, according to footage recorded by the brigades involved in the attack.
On Monday, Mr Kuleba said Russia was trying to dissuade countries from participating in a Ukraine peace summit to be held in Switzerland later this month.
He said Russia was aiming to discredit the summit publicly, convince countries not to participate and urge those intent on going to send low-level representatives.
04:25 PM BST
Today’s live coverage has ended
Today’s live coverage has ended. Here’s a round-up of the day’s events:
- Russia barred more British ‘establishment figures’ in latest round of sanctions.
- Images surfaced of a Ukrainian Himars strike within Belgorod, Russia.
- China denied pressuring countries not to attend Swiss peace summit.
- Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, landed in Guinea on a visit thought to be an attempt to increase Russian influence in Africa.
03:55 PM BST
Pictured: Ukraine’s foreign minister visits fallen soldier memorial with Estonian counterpart
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, speaks to Margus Tsahkna, his Estonian counterpart, after placing flowers at a memorial for fallen soldiers - Efrem Lukatsky/AP
03:26 PM BST
Pictured: Ukrainian medics provide treatment to wounded soldier
Medics provide treatment to injured Ukrainian serviceman Vitalii at a stabilisation point, June 2 - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
03:20 PM BST
Russia bars more British ‘establishment figures’ in latest sanctions
Russia has added a number of British “establishment figures” to its list of people banned from entering the country.
Though the names of those sanctioned have not been published, Russia’s foreign ministry said it included journalists, politicians and experts.
Moscow said the decision was made due to the individuals’ “hostile” actions, and urged Britain to stop its support for Ukraine.
02:39 PM BST
Ukraine kills 1 after shelling civilian areas in Belgorod, Russia says
The Ukrainian military shelled several towns and villages across the Belgorod region, killing one and injuring 13 others, according to the district’s governor.
“A munition detonated in the Korocha district, as a result of which one person was killed and three were injured,” Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Belgorod governor, said in a post on his Telegram channel.
Mr Gladgov added that residential buildings and infrastructure sites were damaged during the strike.
02:05 PM BST
Pictured: Ukrainian veterans compete to join Invictus Games
Ukrainian veterans on wheelchairs sing national anthem prior to the qualifying competition to join the national basketball team for the Invictus Games - ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP
Ukrainian veterans compete to join their national basketball team for the Invictus Games - ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP
01:49 PM BST
Russian strike in Donetsk kills 2, including 12-year-old boy
A double Russian strike killed two people, including a 12-year-old boy, in the village of Mykhailivka in Donetsk, the region’s governor reported.
“Tomorrow, Ukraine will commemorate the Day of Remembrance of Children who died due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and today another name was added to this sad list,” Vadym Filashkin, the regional governor, said.
According to Ukrainian media, the Russian military hit the town early on Monday with a guided aerial bomb before repeating the strike an hour and a half later. At least five buildings were reported to have been damaged.
01:35 PM BST
Pictured: A woman passes by an exhibition in Kyiv showing destroyed Russian vehicles
A woman passes by an exhibition displaying destroyed Russian military vehicles in central Kyiv, June 3, 2024 - Gleb Garanich/REUTERS
12:50 PM BST
Pictured: Destruction in Vovchansk after heavy fighting
Drone footage shows ruined city of Vovchansk after heavy fighting - United Assault Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine "Lyut"/REUTERS
12:48 PM BST
Pictured: Himars strike on air defence system in Belgorod, Russia
Aftermath of a Himars strike on a Russian air defence system in Belgorod
Vehicles on fire after Himars strike in Belgorod
11:39 AM BST
Russian FM in Guinea to boost Moscow’s influence in Africa
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has arrived in Guinea as Moscow continues to try to boost its influence in Africa.
TASS, the Russian state-run news agency, reported that Guinea would be the first stop as part of a larger African tour, but did not specify which other countries Lavrov intends to visit.
In July, Vladimir Putin invited African leaders to a summit in St Petersburg where he said they agreed to promote a multipolar world.
Russia has expanded its reach in central African countries in recent years, particularly in the Sahel region, and is understood to be now looking to coastal nations such as Guinea.
11:14 AM BST
Zelensky says Trump risks being ‘loser president’
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Donald Trump risks being a “loser president” if he wins the next US election and gives Ukraine a bad peace deal.
The Ukrainian president said that he had not yet developed a strategy for what to do if Mr Trump retakes the White House. However, in an interview with the Guardian, he revealed that Boris Johnson had offered to approach Trump on his behalf.
Should Trump win, he is expected to cut off or reduce military support to Kyiv.
09:46 AM BST
‘1.5 million men’ register with Ukrainian conscription office
1.5 million military-age Ukrainian men have registered their personal data for potential conscription, Ukraine’s defence ministry said.
The announcement came after a new mobilisation law was enacted in May that gave draft-eligible men 60 days to update their personal data so that the military could find them.
The ministry also said that 14,000 Ukrainian men living abroad had registered for service.
Ukraine suspended consular services for military-aged Ukrainian men living abroad in April. However, draft-eligible men are now able to apply for the services if they provide a document confirming that they are registered with the military.
09:32 AM BST
Zelensky will attend G7 summit
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, will attend the upcoming G7 summit in Italy, his spokesman said.
On the agenda for the summit is the issue of using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.
Sergiy Nikiforov, the president’s spokesman, could not confirm whether Mr Zelensky would attend in person or online but said that “there is no doubt that he will be there”.
09:16 AM BST
China denies pressuring countries not to attend Swiss peace summit
China has denied Volodymyr Zelensky’s accusation that it was acting as an “instrument” of Russia by pressuring other countries not to attend a Swiss-organised peace summit on the war in Ukraine.
“China’s position is open and transparent, and there is absolutely no instance of us putting pressure on other countries,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian president said “Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit”.
The conference is scheduled to be held in Switzerland in mid-June. Swiss authorities had hoped China would attend, but China said it would not do so without Russia being present.
08:43 AM BST
Civilian killed in Russian missile strike in Kharkiv
An overnight Russian missile strike in the Kharkiv district of Ukraine killed one and injured two, the region’s governor said.
According to the official, the strike hit the town of Zmiiv, which is located around 26 miles south of the city of Kharkiv.
Kharkiv and the surrounding area has come under increased bombardment in recent weeks after Russia launched a new offensive in the area in early May.
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