June 27, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Helen Regan, Andrew Raine, Sana Noor Haq, Hafsa Khalil, Aditi Sangal, Elise Hammond, Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 12:00 a.m. ET, June 28, 2022
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3:07 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

Another official in Russian-run Kherson targeted for assassination

From CNN's Tim Lister and Oleksandra Ochman

Another official collaborating with the Russian occupation of Kherson has been the target of an assassination attempt.

The Russian state news agency TASS said that a car belonging to Irina Makhneva had been blown up in the town of Kakhovka.

TASS said Makhneva is "in charge of education and culture issues in the new administration."

It said she was not hurt. 

"The explosive device went off earlier than planned, which saved her life," TASS said, quoting the regional police department in Kherson.

Assassination attempts: On Friday, Dmitry Savluchenko, head of the Kherson military-civilian administration’s family and youth department, was killed in a car blast. There have been several attempts in recent weeks to kill officials in the Russian-backed Kherson administration.

The region has been under the control of Russian forces since the early days of the invasion. 

A Ukrainian official, Serhii Khlan, confirmed the attempted assassination of Makhneva.

Khlan, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Kherson civil military administration, also said, "The occupiers continue to terrorize the population and put pressure on doctors and educators." 

The director of a school in Nova Kakhovka had been abducted on Sunday, he claimed.

"The appointment of random people to key positions continues," he said.

The Russians had opened their own bank and created a "tax office" he said. He also claimed that workers were being pressured to get a Russian passport and accept rubles in payment.

3:04 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

Russians press on with offensive against Lysychansk and heavy bombardment on other front lines, Ukraine says

From CNN's Tim Lister and Oleksandra Ochman

Damaged cars after shelling in the Nemyshlyanskyi district of Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, on June 26.
Damaged cars after shelling in the Nemyshlyanskyi district of Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, on June 26. (Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Russian forces continue to shell the city of Lysychansk and settlements to the south and west of the city as they try to cut off a main highway, according to Ukrainian officials.

Serhiy Hayday, head of the Luhansk regional military administration, said on Monday that Lysychansk was being attacked from the south and was heavily damaged.

Villages in the surrounding area were also being shelled, he said. Three settlements to the west and southwest of the city, close to the highway to Bakhmut, were under fire.

"The Russians do not stop destroying housing, industrial and administrative facilities. There is no hour when the enemy artillery calms down," Hayday said.
"They are trying to blockade the city from the south. We are defending Lysychansk."

Further west: Russian efforts to encircle the troops defending Lysychansk continued with artillery attacks and an attempted ground assault northwards towards Bakhmut, which the Ukrainian military's General Staff said had been repulsed.

Sloviansk: The General Staff said on Monday that heavy shelling persisted in many areas and the Russians had made minor advances north of the city of Sloviansk, a key target in their offensive operation.

It said that in the Sloviansk direction, the Russians were concentrating efforts on taking the village of Dolnya and were advancing toward another village in the area. This rural area near the Siverskyi Donets river has seen constant fighting for well over a month but the Russians have been unable to make a breakthrough towards Sloviansk.

Chernihiv: Elsewhere, cross-border shelling has continued in the Chernihiv region, according to the General Staff, and there has been an airstrike against Slavhorod in Sumy region.

Kharkiv: The Russians have used tanks, artillery and mortars to shell areas north of the city of Kharkiv, but an assault on the ground near the settlement of Dementiivka — 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Kharkiv — failed, the General Staff said.

1:20 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

Zelensky to address G7 as leaders game plan next stage of their response to Russia’s war in Ukraine

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

US President Joe Biden and fellow world leaders, huddled in the Bavarian Alps, will hear Monday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as they mull over the next phase of his country’s grinding war with Russia.

The conflict has been at the center of the Group of 7 summit.

Leaders have decided on new steps to isolate Russia’s economy, including a ban on new imports of Russian gold, and are pledging support for Zelensky as his country suffers setbacks in the east.

There are other important topics on the agenda, including a new effort to counter China’s infrastructure investments in the developing world that have extended Beijing’s influence across the globe.

But how much longer the Western front can remain united against Russia is the question looming over these talks.

Zelensky, who is also planning to address this week’s NATO summit in Madrid, has pressed the West for accelerated sanctions on Moscow and heavy artillery to beat back the Russian invaders.

Read the full story here.

1:00 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

It's 8 a.m. in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to virtually address the G7 Summit on Monday as he works to reinforce western support for his country over Russia’s grinding invasion.

Here are the latest headlines in the war on Ukraine:

  • Group of 7 summit: US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson formally announced the G7 countries will ban the import of Russian gold, the country's second-largest export after energy. Biden also remarked on the unity of the G7 and NATO on Ukraine, telling German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that the G7 and NATO will stay together and not "splinter."
  • Russia strikes Kyiv: Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital with a series of missile attacks on Sunday, as leaders of the G7 nations gathered in Germany. One person died and at least six were wounded in a Russian missile strike that hit a residential apartment block in Kyiv. A kindergarten was reportedly hit in the missile strike but no one was injured.
  • More US defense support: The US plans to announce as soon as this week that it has purchased an advanced, medium-to-long range surface-to-air missile defense system for Ukraine, a source familiar with the announcement told CNN. The military assistance includes additional artillery ammunition and counter-battery radars. Ukrainian officials have asked for the missile defense system, known as NASAMS, given the weapons can hit targets more than 100 miles away.
  • Russian victory 'catastrophic': Allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to succeed in his invasion would have "absolutely catastrophic" consequences for the world, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told CNN on Sunday. Johnson urged Americans, Britons and others in the West to maintain resolve in punishing Moscow, despite the effect the war has had on global oil prices.
  • Captive residents: Hundreds of residents are being held captive in Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian mayor of the Russian-occupied city, Dmytro Orlov. Many of them are “skilled workers of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," he wrote. “People are electrocuted, beaten, and held for weeks and sometimes months."
  • Belarus missiles: Russia will transfer nuclear-capable Iskander-M missile systems to Belarus over the coming months, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. On Saturday, Ukraine said it had been hit by attacks launched from Belarusian airspace for the first time.
1:05 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

Boris Johnson warns Russian victory in Ukraine would be "absolutely catastrophic"

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with CNN on Sunday June 26.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with CNN on Sunday June 26. (CNN)

Allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to succeed in his invasion of Ukraine would have "absolutely catastrophic" consequences for the world, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned in a CNN interview on Sunday.

Speaking to Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union" hours after Russian missiles hit Kyiv, Johnson urged Americans, Britons and others in the West to maintain resolve in punishing Moscow, despite the effect the war has had on global oil prices.

"I would just say to people in the United States that this is something that America historically does and has to do, and that is to step up for peace and freedom and democracy," Johnson said.
"And if we let Putin get away with it, and just annex, conquer sizable parts of a free, independent, sovereign country, which is what he is poised to do ... then the consequences for the world are absolutely catastrophic."

He earlier promised further financial support for Ukraine — including another $525 million in guarantees for World Bank lending later this year, according to Downing Street.

Johnson also cautioned against fatigue over the war, saying "Now is not the time to give up on Ukraine."

Read the full story here.

12:50 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

US to announce purchase of medium-to-long range surface-to-air missile defense system for Ukraine

From CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Natasha Bertrand and Phil Mattingly 

The US plans to announce as soon as this week that it has a purchased an advanced medium-to-long range surface-to-air missile defense system for Ukraine, a source familiar with the announcement told CNN. 

US President Joe Biden, who is currently meeting with G7 leaders in Germany for a summit primarily focused on Ukraine, announced earlier this month that the US would provide Kyiv with "more advanced rocket systems and munitions" as its war with Russia grinds on. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to virtually address Biden and other G7 leaders on Monday. 

What's being announced?

In response to requests by Ukrainian forces, other military assistance is also likely to be announced this week, including additional artillery ammunition and counter-battery radars.

Ukrainian officials have asked for the missile defense system, known as a NASAMS, given the weapons can hit targets more than 100 miles away, though the Ukrainian forces will likely need to be trained on the systems, a source said.

Read the full story here.

12:50 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

Zelensky tells Belarusians: “You are being drawn into a war”

From CNN's Mariya Knight in Atlanta 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed citizens of Belarus on Sunday June 26. 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed citizens of Belarus on Sunday June 26.  (Office of President of Ukraine)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed citizens of Belarus on Sunday, saying they are "being drawn into a war" by the Kremlin.

“I would like to separately address the citizens of Belarus today. To people — both civilians and in uniform," he said, speaking in Russian.
“You are being drawn into a war. And even more actively than it was in February and in the months of spring. The Kremlin has already decided everything for you — your lives are worth nothing to them. But you are not slaves or cannon fodder. You must not die. And it is in your power not to let anyone decide for you what is waiting on you next.” 

Zelensky suggested the Russian leadership “wants to drag all Belarusians into the war” and wants “to sow hatred” between them and Ukrainians. 

"A lot depends on the ordinary people of Belarus now," he said. 

Strikes on Ukraine from Belarus: Zelensky also addressed those who “ensure the launch of missiles at Ukraine,” saying they won't escape responsibility for the strikes. 

“When your missiles hit residential buildings, these are war crimes. Judgement is what awaits you all. And you will not be able to hide anywhere — neither on the shores of the Caspian Sea, over which your missiles are launched, nor in Belarus," he said.

Zelensky said 62 Russian missiles hit Ukrainian territory on Saturday alone. The strikes came as leaders were meeting for the G7 summit in Germany. Zelensky said it was “the Russian method: to escalate every time international events take place."

12:50 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

Hundreds of residents are held captive in Enerhodar, city mayor says

 From CNN`s Mariya Knight

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, in the Russian-controlled area of Enerhodar, Ukraine, is seen on April 27.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, in the Russian-controlled area of Enerhodar, Ukraine, is seen on April 27. (Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)

Hundreds of residents are being held captive in Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Dmytro Orlov, the Ukrainian mayor of the Russian-occupied city, claimed in a Telegram post on Sunday. 

“A significant portion of them are skilled workers of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," he wrote.

“People are electrocuted, beaten, and held for weeks and sometimes months," he said. "They [are made] to confess to ‘illegal activities,’ in particular participation in the city's self-defense, concealment of weapons, and to name the names of their ‘accomplices.’”

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, near to Enerhodar, was taken over by Russian forces in early March, CNN reported at the time.  

“Over the past two weeks, the situation in occupied Enerhodar has only worsened,” the mayor said.

12:50 a.m. ET, June 27, 2022

Russian missile strike in Kyiv kills one, kindergarten hit

From CNN's Julia Kesaieva

Police stand close to a damaged apartment building following an early morning missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 26.
Police stand close to a damaged apartment building following an early morning missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 26. (Sergei Chuzavkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images)

At least six people were injured and one was killed in a Russian missile strike that hit a residential apartment block in Kyiv on Sunday morning. 

Volodymyr Bondarenko, deputy mayor of Kyiv, said four of the injured were admitted to the hospital as search and rescue operations continue.

He said a kindergarten was also hit in the missile strike but no one was injured.

Video from Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs showed a large missile funnel in the backyard of the kindergarten.

Some context: Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital with a series of missile attacks on Sunday, as leaders of the G7 nations gather in Germany for the first day of their annual summit.

Read the full story here.