A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet crashed on a frontline mission while intercepting Russian airborne targets, Ukraine's air force announced on Wednesday. The pilot ejected safely and was taken for medical treatment. Experts are examining the crash site. Ukraine has received F-16s from Nato countries including the Netherlands and Denmark.
Russian Drone Chief Wounded
Andrei Cherezov, head of the Russian Air Transport Laboratory and developer of the "Ovod" combat drones, was shot and wounded early on Wednesday in Tula, about 150km south of Moscow, according to Russia's Izvestia newspaper. An unknown assailant attacked him as he returned home from work at about 1am. Prosecutors described the incident as an attempted murder.
Oil Refineries Struck
Ukrainian forces hit two of Russia's biggest oil refineries over Tuesday night: a Lukoil refinery in the Perm region, more than 1,500km from Ukraine, and a refinery in Ryazan, about 400km from the border. Ukraine's security service and military general staff announced the strikes. The refineries have a combined annual production capacity of around 220m barrels of oil, according to Ukraine.
Wildberries Evacuates; Sberbank Restructures Loans
Russian online retailer Wildberries, recently targeted by Ukraine, evacuated employees from a facility in Ryazan. Russia's largest lender, Sberbank, is scrambling to restructure loans and cover lending losses due to Ukrainian drone attacks on the e-commerce company. About 300 companies are seeking to restructure loans, Sberbank said. Sberbank lends to both Wildberries and rival Ozon, whose facilities have not been targeted.
Rouble Weakens; Vessels Struck
The Russian rouble weakened by 1.9% against the US dollar on Wednesday to its lowest since 3 April, market data showed. It has fallen by 14% against the dollar since 20 May, and also fallen against the Chinese yuan. Over the past three weeks, Ukrainian units have struck 201 Russian vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, a senior military official said, not including vessels hit by Ukraine's security service. Ukrainian forces also struck a naval base used by Russia's Black Sea fleet, a radar station in Russia's Bryansk region, and a drone launch site and a road bridge in occupied parts of Donetsk.
Kharkiv and Kherson Hit
Russian glide bombs struck Kharkiv and 17 other places in the region over 24 hours, wounding 11 people, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the regional military administration. In Ukraine's Kherson, a man was killed and three others injured in a Russian drone attack, local authorities said.
Pavel Durov Charged; Journalist Sentenced
Russian officials charged Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, with aiding terrorism. The FSB accuses Telegram of failing to remove channels used by Ukrainian agencies. Russian journalist Darya Shipacheva pleaded guilty to treason and was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony, Interfax reported, stemming from an alleged money transfer to Ukraine. According to Mediazona, she specialized in science and medical journalism. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 29 journalists are imprisoned in Russia.
France Orders Russian Commentator to Leave
France ordered Russian media commentator Xenia Fedorova to leave the country, accusing her of Kremlin propaganda. Fedorova, who ran the French arm of RT, appears on CNews, Europe 1, and writes for Le Journal du Dimanche. Liberation cited an expulsion order accusing her of acting as a conduit for disinformation campaigns. Her lawyer Emmanuel Piwnica said she would file an appeal. Canal+ and Lagardere said diversity of opinion is important. Members of the centrist Renew group in the European parliament called for EU sanctions on Fedorova.
Ukraine Appeals IOC Decision
Ukraine said it appealed against the International Olympic Committee's decision to ease restrictions on Russian athletes, arguing it violated the Olympic Charter. The IOC lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and scrapped restrictions on athletes introduced after the 2022 invasion.
