Russian attacks kill at least five in Ukraine's east, officials say
June 2 (Reuters) - Russian shelling killed at least five people on Monday in different frontline areas of eastern Ukraine, officials said.
Vadym Filashkin, governor of Donetsk region, the focal point of the Russian military's slow westward advance, said one person was killed and two injured in the city of Kramatorsk.
The city would be a key Russian target if its forces make further progress through Donetsk region.
Filashkin said two more people were killed and three injured further south in the town of Illinivka.
In Kharkiv region, farther to the north, prosecutors said two women were killed in a village south of Kupiansk, which has come under heavy Russian attack for months. The mayor of Kupiansk last month said his city was 90% destroyed.
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
Who are Iran's allies — and will any help after the US strikes?
Iran's foreign minister will hold a 'serious consultation' with President Putin in Moscow on Monday after US strikes on its nuclear facilities. Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the American attacks were 'outrageous and will have everlasting consequences'. Russia has described them as a violation of international law. Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, accused President Trump of starting 'another war' and said the prospect of a US ground operation is now 'looming on the horizon'. 'And now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons will continue,' he said. 'A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads.'The US launched co-ordinated airstrikes overnight against three Iranian nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — in what Trump described as a 'very successful attack'. The strikes, widely anticipated after days of mounting tension, came after repeated warnings from Moscow that any direct US action on Iranian soil would amount to a dangerous escalation. Putin is yet to comment publicly on the strikes but despite fiery rhetoric from members of his government, there has been no signal that Russia is preparing a military response. Since Israel began attacking Iran on June 13 in an operation dubbed 'Rising Lion', Russian action has been limited to condemnation and an offer to mediate between the two last week's St Petersburg economic forum, Putin reiterated that Iran had not asked Russia for any military assistance and emphasised that mutual co-operation did not include defence obligations. The 20‑year strategic co-operation deal signed last year between Moscow and Tehran excluded a mutual defence clause. Iran's other allies and its neighbours were quick to condemn the US action, warning that it could precipitate all-out war in the Middle East, but they also stopped short of offering any concrete support. China 'strongly condemned' the attack on Iran, saying it violated 'the purposes and principles of the UN charter and international law', and called for a ceasefire. Lebanon's Hezbollah, once Iran's most powerful proxy, said on Sunday that it had no immediate plans to retaliate. The militants, themselves decimated after a year and a half of war with Israel, have not launched a single attack since the operation Houthis, in Yemen, offered the strongest pledge of action, saying they supported a previous statement from their armed wing, which threatened US naval vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity. Specific details of what Iran will request from Russia during the forthcoming talks have not been officially disclosed by either government, but Araghchi could seek to secure the Kremlin's political or diplomatic backing. Experts said that with resources tied up with the war in Ukraine, Russia is unlikely to be preparing to come to Tehran's rescue. Putin did little to stop the advance of rebels in Syria in December last year who toppled a key Russian ally, Bashar al-Assad, from power. 'Putin will of course fire out a lot of aggressive rhetoric … but he can't do much, ' said Ian Garner, a historian and academic focused on Russian culture and war propaganda. 'It will likely be a case that Putin's bark is very loud but his bite is about as toothless as it gets.' Fyodor Lukyanov, head of Russia's council on foreign and defence policy, which advises the Kremlin, said that Putin's statements in recent days show he is extremely cautious. 'He has never expressed any assessment of one side or the other, only about the need for negotiations and a peaceful solution,' he said. 'Iran may have expected more. It has supplied the Kremlin with thousands of drones and missiles used in the war against Ukraine.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
US warns it WILL strike again and world ‘should listen to Trump' as Iran leaders jet to meet Putin after nuke bomb blitz
THE US has warned it will strike again and that the world "should listen to Trump" after unleashing an unprecedented blitz on three nuclear facilities. It comes imminently after the Iranian foreign minister revealed he is to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and warned the West of "unprecedented danger". 4 4 4 4 US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Midnight Hammer was 'an incredible and overwhelming success' that took months and weeks of planning. He added Trump has been clear that "any retaliation by Iran" against the US would be "met with force far greater" than what was seen on Saturday night. Hegseth said: 'Iran would be smart to heed those words. He's said it before, and he means it.' The Defence Secretary went on to praise the US leader, calling it "bold and brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back". He urged: "When this President speaks, the world should listen." Iran's foreign minister Abbas Arghchi has said he is going to Russia today to meet mad leader Putin. He revealed: 'I'm going to Moscow this afternoon, and I have a meeting with President Putin tomorrow morning.' Arghchi called Moscow a 'friend of Iran,' adding 'we always consult with each other'. Fears loom that the conflict could spiral into a world war, with Putin puppet Dmitry Medvedev making a veiled threat to supply Iran with nuclear weapons. He said: "A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their nuclear weapons." After declaring the US strikes as being a success, Trump warned that further action could be taken if Tehran doesn't agree to an adequate peace deal. He said in a nationally televised speech at the White House: " Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier." "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days." 'Remember there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. 'But if peace does not come quickly we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. 'Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. There's no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight." And shortly after speaking on-camera, he posted to Truth Social: "This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. "Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. "But if peace does not come quickly we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill." Meanwhile Iran's foreign minister Abbas Arghchi dubbed the strikes "outrageous and will have everlasting consequences". He also called the military action "a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations". Today, 15:46 By Annabel Bate Iran says UK foreign sec 'expressed regret' over US strikes UK foreign secretary David Lammy had a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. According to the readout in Tehran, the two discussed "the latest developments related to the United States' aggression against our country's peaceful nuclear facilities". It added: "In this telephone conversation, our country's foreign minister strongly condemned the aggressive act of the United States and considered it a gross violation of international law. "The British foreign secretary, expressing regret over this act, rejected any role or cooperation of his country and called for the continuation of diplomacy." A readout from the UK side has not yet been released. Today, 15:30 By Annabel Bate Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant after US strikes Today, 15:27 By Annabel Bate Underground damage at Iran's Fordow site is 'unclear' While it's clear that US airstrikes overnight hit Iran's enrichment site at Fordow, it is not yet possible to assess the damage done underground there, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told CNN on Sunday. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency that Grossi leads have not been able to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities since the first strikes on them by Israel on June 13, and Grossi said he hoped they would be able to return to Fordow and other sites as soon as possible. Today, 15:21 By Jack Newman US warns Iran not to retaliate US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cautioned Iran against seeking retribution for the devastating blitz. He warned retaliation would be "the worst mistake they've ever made". It echoes comments by Donald Trump and his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth who threatened to strike Iran again if they tried to fight back. Today, 15:18 By Jack Newman Iran votes to close Strait of Hormuz In a dramatic escalation, Iran has retaliated to the US bombardment by voting to close the Strait of Hormuz. The passage is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, with 20 per cent of global oil and gas transported through the waters. Its closure could send oil and gas prices skyrocketing internationally and wreak havoc for trade and international shipping. The final decision to close the Strait will be taken by the Supreme National Security Council. Today, 14:13 By Annabel Bate Close-up view of craters after US strikes on Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant Today, 14:08 By Annabel Bate Middle East conflict is 'highly volatile' says Canadian PM Canada's prime minister Mark Carney has warned that the conflict in the Middle East is 'highly volatile'. He said on X: "Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security, and Canada has been consistently clear that Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. "While U.S. military action taken last night was designed to alleviate that threat, the situation in the Middle East remains highly volatile. "Stability in the region is a priority. Canada calls on parties to return immediately to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis. "As G7 leaders agreed in Kananaskis, the resolution of the Iranian crisis should lead to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza." Today, 14:05 By Annabel Bate Iran says nuclear know-how 'cannot be destroyed' Iran said its knowledge in the nuclear field "cannot be destroyed" after the United States carried out a series of strikes Sunday on atomic facilities in the Islamic republic. "They should know that this industry has roots in our country and the roots of this national industry cannot be destroyed," said Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, according to Tasnim news agency. "Of course, we have suffered damage, but this is not the first time that the industry has suffered damage." Today, 13:49 By Annabel Bate US sending 'public and private messages to Iran' US defence secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that there were "both public and private messages being directly delivered to the Iranians". He added that they were being delivered "in multiple channels". Hegseth added: "Iran understands precisely what the American position is, precisely what steps they can take to allow for peace." Today, 13:47 By Nick Parker Operation named 'Midnight Hammer' Chairman of the US join chiefs of staff Dan Caine revealed the operation was named Midnight Hammer. Caine said that at midnight on Friday, a gargantuan B-2 strike package of bombers launched from the US but - to stay under the radar - some flew west into the Pacific. This was dubbed as a "deception effort". Caine explained: "It was planned and executed across multiple domains and theatres with coordination that reflects our ability to project power globally with speed and precision at the time and place of our nation's choosing." Today, 13:39 By Nick Parker Watch: The Sun's Foreign Editor reports from Israel The Sun reports from inside as Israel as tensions flare following US air strikes Today, 13:15 By Annabel Bate Hegseth boasts strikes on nuke facilities were 'incredible and overwhelming success' US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday that US military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities were "an incredible and overwhelming success" which took months and weeks of positioning to carry out. Hegseth said the strikes did not target Iranian troops or people, but they did obliterate Iran's nuclear ambitions. "The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. "When this President speaks, the world should listen," Hegseth said. By Martina Bet Comment: Starmer is 'trying to have it both ways' Sir Keir Starmer says he's focused on 'de-escalation' but it's clear the UK wasn't in the driving seat when America launched its dramatic overnight strikes on Iran. He insists the Government was 'given due notice' but that's just diplomatic code for we were told, not asked. Britain played no part in the military action, didn't offer its bases, and wasn't in the room when the trigger was pulled. For a country that calls the US its closest ally, it's a humbling moment. While the PM has backed the goal - stopping Iran from building a bomb - he's skating carefully around the method. He won't say if the strikes were legal. He won't say what it would take for Britain to get involved. He's trying to have it both ways: supporting Washington while staying out of the firing line. So far, it's a delicate balancing act, but one that gets harder by the hour. If Iran strikes back, especially at US or Israeli targets, pressure on Britain to act will skyrocket. Meanwhile, the opposition is flexing its muscles. Priti Patel says the strikes were 'absolutely essential' and questions whether the UK even offered help. She's urging the government to move faster, act tougher, and stop hiding behind process. And she's not wrong to ask: if Britain has the capability to help stop a nuclear Iran, why didn't we step up? The PM of course, wants to sound strong, act calm, and avoid war. But when your closest ally goes in hard, and you're stuck on the sidelines, questions start piling up. Today, 12:42 By Annabel Bate Revolutionary Guard warns of using options 'beyond understanding' The Revolutionary Guard said it would 'use options beyond the understanding' of the US and Israel that 'must expect regrettable responses'. It described retaliation as 'its legitimate right to self-defence'. 'The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is well aware of the terrain of this combined and full-scale imposed war and will never be intimidated by the clamor of Trump and the criminal gang ruling the White House and Tel Aviv,' a Revolutionary Guard statement said. Today, 12:34 By Annabel Bate Air defences activated in parts of Iran - state media Air defences have been activated in parts of eastern Tehran, Iranian state media reports. It reportedly happened in the eastern Tehran province and the Yazd province. Today, 12:19 By Annabel Bate Trump pictured with national security team in Situation Room of the White House on Saturday
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Five reasons why we may not see anything more than rhetoric from Russia after US attacks Iran
On the surface, at least, Moscow is fuming. Russia's foreign ministry said it "strongly condemns" the US airstrikes on Iran, which it labelled a "dangerous escalation". Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's powerful security council, accused Donald Trump of starting "a new war", and others have called for Moscow to step in. "It's time for us to help Tehran," said Konstantin Malofeyev, a sanctioned Russian businessman who is close to Vladimir Putin. But this was to be expected. Iran has been a vital ally in recent years, selling weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, and the two nations signed a strategic partnership deal in January. So a robust verbal riposte was predictable. But the response so far feels more show than substance and if things don't escalate further, I doubt we'll see anything more than rhetoric from Russia. 0:54 There are several reasons why. Firstly, the strategic partnership deal doesn't contain a mutual defence clause. The pact does seek to deepen their defence cooperation, but neither country is obliged to provide military support to the other in the event of an attack. Secondly, if Moscow did want to join the conflict or even supply weapons to Tehran, it would be hard pushed to. Resources are focused on the war in Ukraine. Thirdly, Russia doesn't want to damage its warming relations with the US. Any kind of aid to Iran would likely jeopardise the tentative rapprochement. Fourthly, the Israel-Iran conflict is a helpful distraction from the Kremlin's war against Ukraine. With all eyes on the Middle East, any pressure there was from Washington on Moscow to reach a peace deal seems to have evaporated. Lastly, it's not Vladimir Putin who's spoken out, but the usual attack dogs. 2:02 Dmitry Medvedev, for example, is a senior figure but his fiery rhetoric is generally considered to be part of a Kremlin comms strategy rather than actual policy expression. Having said all that, though, Russia won't want the situation to escalate any further. Its regional influence took a battering when the Assad regime in Syria was toppled in December, and that influence would practically disappear if another Moscow-friendly regime in Iran were to fall. So for now, the Kremlin is frantically trying to find a diplomatic solution. Last week, Vladimir Putin held conversations with the leaders of Israel, Iran, America, China and the UAE, and those efforts continue on Monday when he'll meet Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow. If the reports are true - that the US forewarned Tehran of the bombings and signalled they'd be a one-off - there's a good chance Moscow had prior knowledge too. Either way, Vladimir Putin's aim here is to play peacemaker, and to turn the situation to his advantage. If he can persuade Mr Araghchi to limit Iran's response to a symbolic one, and to then return to the negotiating table with America, he will have Donald Trump in his debt. The obvious place he'd want that repaid is Ukraine, in the form of withdrawing US support.
