**Ukraine Faces Record-Breaking Bombardment as Russia’s War Efforts Intensify**
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has experienced its most extensive bombardment since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The devastating attack on June 7 resulted in the deaths of three civilians, including a 1.5-month-old baby and a 14-year-old girl, with dozens more injured.
The assault also saw significant damage to Russian industrial infrastructure, with simultaneous fires reported at two separate facilities in different oblasts. Emergency crews were deployed to combat the blazes, which consumed a bitumen production facility near a major Lukoil refinery and a fuel storage depot outside Moscow.
**Retaliatory Strikes and International Reactions**
In response to Ukraine’s recent drone strike on Russian airfields, Russia unleashed a retaliatory attack that killed four civilians and injured dozens more. US President Donald Trump justified the bombardment by claiming it was a response to Ukraine’s secret drone arsenal, which was allegedly transported by Russian truck drivers who were unaware of their cargo.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered that these drivers had no idea they were carrying concealed weapons systems and believed they were hauling mobile houses. The incident has sparked mass paranoia among civilians in Russia, with widespread arrests targeting alleged collaborators in the drone strike.
**International Support and Pressure**
In a show of solidarity, Canada has pledged $35 million in military aid to Ukraine, which includes Coyote armoured vehicles and anti-jamming systems. France is also set to produce military drones in Ukraine, partnering with a French carmaker and defense firm.
Poland’s newly elected president, Karol Nawrocki, however expressed opposition to Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, citing unresolved bilateral issues. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo warned against weakening Russia sanctions, emphasizing that Europe must prevent the war from spreading westward like in the 1930s.
The Baltic states issued a joint statement supporting Ukraine’s NATO and EU membership, while Czech President Petr Pavel warned that the war showed similar warning signs to those leading up to WWII. The Netherlands has ordered 1,000 Ukrainian war refugees to leave the country by September, ending their temporary protection that began in 2022.
**Humanitarian Crisis Deepens**
A horrific incident in Belgium saw a Ukrainian mother and daughter stabbed to death, with their refugee housing set on fire. The woman’s husband remains fighting on the front lines while her 16-year-old son was at school during the attack.
As the war continues to escalate, the humanitarian crisis deepens, with civilians caught in the crossfire and refugees struggling to find safety abroad. The international community must come together to support Ukraine and put pressure on Russia to end this devastating conflict.
**Key Developments**
* Three civilians killed, dozens injured in Kharkiv’s most extensive bombardment since full-scale invasion began
* Russian industrial infrastructure faces dual fire crisis affecting 28,100 square meters in total
* Canada sends $35 million military aid to Ukraine, including Coyote armoured vehicles and anti-jamming systems
* France to produce military drones in Ukraine through partnership with French carmaker and defense firm
* Poland’s president-elect opposes Ukraine’s EU membership, citing unresolved bilateral issues
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