Far from reaching an agreement for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian Army has once again carried out a massive attack on Friday, the largest in the war, on Ukrainian territory. Putin's troops have bombed Kiev, where at least three people have died, and several Ukrainian regions. In total, they have launched 452 drones and missiles.
"Numerous impacts" have also been reported in the region of Ternopil in western Ukraine and in the region of Volyn in northwestern Ukraine, where the regional capital, Lutsk, has suffered a "massive attack" with missiles and drones that have injured five people and damaged at least one multi-story residential building.
In the Ternopil region, Governor Viacheslav Negoda stated, without specifying the exact nature of the targets hit, that there were "numerous impacts" during the attack, the "most massive," he said, suffered by this province in western Ukraine during the war. In addition to Iranian-origin Shahed kamikaze drones, Russia used cruise missiles in the attack, as explained by Negoda, who reported five injured and damage to industrial infrastructure.
The Russian Catholic Church trusts Pope Leo XIV's mediating role for peace between Russia and Ukraine
The Russian Catholic Church trusts in the mediating role of Pope Leo XIV in achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine, Kiril Gorbunov, vicar of the Archdiocese of Moscow, told EFE.
"The Holy See has a diplomatic experience that is historically much greater than in most countries. Therefore, this is a unique opportunity for mediating and pacifying activity," Gorbunov pointed out during an interview at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Indeed, Leo XIV spoke this week for the first time with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to make "a gesture that favors peace" in Ukraine.
Zapatero: "The EU must present a peace plan in Ukraine, it is its historical responsibility"
The European Union (EU) must present "a peace plan for Ukraine" because it has "a huge historical responsibility" at a time when the two great powers of the 20th century, the US and Russia, "have lost their way," former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero told EFE in Rome.
"We cannot forget that the two worst wars in history took place on European soil, we have a huge responsibility," he explained in an interview at the historic Temple of Hadrian, where he participated on Thursday in the 'Festival of Ideas', a debate forum organized by the Roman Chamber of Commerce.
A convinced European, Zapatero states that when "war is back in our lives" and with the US and Russia adrift, the EU "should lead peaceful solutions both in Gaza and in Ukraine" because "at this moment in history, it has to be the main actor for peace."
Zelensky denounces Russia's destruction of the government building in Kherson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced on Thursday Russia's destruction of the State Administration building in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, reports Efe.
"Russian forces have completely destroyed it. Two air bomb attacks. Deliberate attacks, not by accident. Without any military logic. They are clearly destroying lives. They are completely disturbed creatures," Zelensky wrote on his X social media account. The Ukrainian president also posted pictures of the destroyed building.
Ukraine claims to have hit two military airfields in Russia
The Ukrainian General Staff stated on Friday that the Russian military airfields of Engels and Diagilevo were hit in the drone attack launched by Ukraine against the Russian Federation last night, reports Efe.
"During the night of June 6, the Engels airfield in the Saratov region was successfully attacked," reads the statement from the Kiev General Staff, attributing the operation against this airbase used by Russia for attacks on Ukrainian territory to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
At least three fuel and lubricant depots were hit in the attack on the Engels base, according to the statement.
France expects the EU to impose new sanctions against Russia by the end of June
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated on Friday in an interview with RTL radio that he expects the European Commission to present a new package of sanctions against Russia before the end of June, reports Reuters.
Russia shoots down 174 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 174 Ukrainian drones last night after days of low-intensity attacks, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported, according to Efe.
"During the night of June 5, between 8:00 pm and 4:20 am Moscow time on June 6, the air defense systems intercepted 174 unmanned aerial vehicles," the military report stated.
The drones were shot down in the Russian regions of Bryansk, Rostov, Saratov, Voronezh, Kaluga, Oryol, Ryazan, Tula, Belgorod, Tambov, and Moscow.
Kiev says Russia responds to the destruction of its aircraft by "attacking civilians"
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga accused Russia on Friday of responding to the Ukrainian operation last Sunday in which dozens of Russian combat aircraft were destroyed by "attacking civilians in Ukraine," reports Efe.
"Kiev, Lutsk, Lviv, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Kremenchuk, and other cities. Multi-story buildings hit. Energy infrastructure damaged. There are dead and injured throughout the country," Sibiga wrote on his social media after the Russian drone and missile attack this morning, after which the capital city's municipality reported the death of 4 people.
Russian attack in Kiev damages several roads and forces the rerouting of six trains
Last night's Russian attack on Ukraine damaged train tracks in the capital region, forcing the national train company, Ukrzaliznytsia, to reroute six trains, including the one covering the international route between the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine and the Polish city of Yelm, reports Efe.
"The bombing has damaged train tracks in Kiev. Several trains heading to Tripilia will use alternative routes," reads the Ukrzaliznytsia statement announcing the changes.
Other modified routes include those connecting the city of Dnipro with Lviv, the latter in western Ukraine near Poland, and the one linking Zaporizhia, near the front line, with Kiev.
Ukrainian attacks during the night in Russia injured three people in the western region of Tula. Additionally, Russian air defense forces shot down a drone heading towards Moscow, said the mayor of the capital.