Ukraine live briefing: Damaged Patriot system in Kyiv has been fixed, U.S. says

Since Tuesday, Ukrainian officials have steadfastly rejected Russia’s claims that it had destroyed one of the billion-dollar Patriot systems donated by the West.

Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe.

Key developments

• The missile attack on Kyiv caused damage in the Desnyansky and Darnytskyi districts, the head of the city’s military administration said in a Telegram post, counting it as the ninth air attack on the capital this month.
• Ukraine’s air force said it destroyed 29 of 30 missiles and four drones during the overnight strikes. Elsewhere, a young boy was killed by Russian shelling in the southern Kherson region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address. He said the child, whom he referred to only by the name Vsevolod, would have turned 6 in July.
• Russia agreed to a two-month extension of the Black Sea grain deal, a day ahead of its expiration on Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced. The deal allows the flow of grain from Ukraine to countries around the world, helping alleviate a global food crisis. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the deal was extended for two months but added: “Its fate is still in the hands of those with whom the U.N. must agree on the Russian part of the arrangements.”
• Ukraine claims to have taken back territory in the fiercely contested eastern city of Bakhmut. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian troops have liberated about eight square miles in the suburbs over the past few days, although battles continue in the city. The Washington Post could not verify the claims.
• After a meeting of Ukraine’s military cabinet, Zelensky said, “the offensive brigades are doing a good job, we are preparing, no details.” He also said in his Thursday nightly address that the defense brigades “fulfilled the main strategic tasks.”

Global impact:

• Russia called a U.N. Security Council meeting to denounce what it called “uncontrolled” arms proliferation by Western governments shipping weapons to Kyiv. Labeling donor nations “accomplices to war crimes,” Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya specifically noted Britain’s delivery of cruise missiles to Ukraine and “discussions to deliver military aircraft — fighter jets and bombers.” Albania’s deputy U.N. representative responded with accusations of hypocrisy, saying it wanted to “remind” the group that Russia had violating international law by invading Ukraine. Several members noted that, while their shipments of weapons to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity is legal under the U.N. charter, Russia is also violating international law by receiving arms transfers from Iran and North Korea, both of which are subject to international sanctions.
• Russia on Thursday expressed objections to a move by the Czech Republic to begin collecting rent on land granted to Russia for diplomatic use under Soviet-era agreements: “The Czech Republic’s ex post facto demands for land rent for Russian diplomatic missions resemble extortion and violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
• Russia has frozen the bank accounts of the Finnish diplomatic mission in Russia, according to Pekka Haavisto, Finland’s foreign minister. “We keep saying that we cannot allow unfriendly actions to go unanswered — and we will not let them slide,” Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told reporters. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in a statement that the restrictions “are a symmetric response” to Finnish restrictions on Russian diplomats.
• China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, met with Zelensky and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during his visit to Ukraine, China’s Foreign Ministry said. Beijing is willing to promote efforts to restore peace based on its 12-point proposal and will “continue to provide Ukraine with assistance within its capacity,” according to a ministry statement. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said separately that Kuleba emphasized Kyiv “does not accept any proposals that would involve the loss of its territories or the freezing of the conflict.”
• The International Rescue Committee welcomed the extension of the grain deal, which it said would help reduce pressure on food prices when exports through the mechanism reach the countries most in need in East Africa and elsewhere.
• Ukraine’s Western allies are at odds over whether to send fighter jets to Ukraine. The United Kingdom is willing to help other countries send the jets and other military equipment as part of a joint effort with the Netherlands, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said. The United States has so far resisted the push.

From our correspondents

Russian scientists, experts in hypersonic technology, arrested and charged with treason: Russian scientists are protesting the arrest for high treason of several academics who work on hypersonic missile technology, Francesca Ebel reports.

“All of them are known for their brilliant scientific results. … [They have devoted] their lives to serving Russian science. Our colleagues have always remained true to the interests of the country,” said an open letter published Monday by the scientists.

Meaghan Tobin contributed to this report.