The Ukraine war has been raging on for 491 days. Warsaw has decided to reinforce its border with Belarus over the relocation of the mercenary Wagner Group to the country, the death toll in the Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk has risen to 12, while a paediatrician from Russia’s Far East has reported that she is now facing a “terrorism justification” criminal case over a comment about the death of Vladlen Tatarsky, a Russian military blogger killed earlier this year. Acute food poisoning is reported in a Russian children’s camp in the Amur region, 70 kids are affected, eight of them are taken to hospital.

Read our top headlines about the events that unfolded overnight on 29 June in Novaya Gazeta Europe’s round-up

Poland moves to reinforce border over Wagner Group’s redeployment to Belarus

The Polish authorities have decided to strengthen its border protection after Wagner Group mercenaries arrived in Belarus, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński is quoted as saying by Wprost.

He labelled the Wagner mercenaries’ appearance in Belarus as a “potentially new situation”.

“Based on the data we currently have, we believe that it’ll be around 8,000 soldiers. This is a factor of danger for Ukraine… It is potentially dangerous for Lithuania and can be dangerous for Poland. It can mean a new phase of the hybrid war, much more complicated that the one we have been facing until now. Therefore, the decisions were made to boost our defences on the eastern border,” Kaczyński noted.

According to the official, the number of troops permanently deployed to the border as well as the “various barriers and fortifications that will serve to protect the border in case of an attack” will be increased.

He explained that this decision had to be made because politics “is focused on the darkest of scenarios”.

Rescue services complete rubble clearance mission following Russian missile attack on Kramatorsk. Death toll rises to 12

According to Ukraine’s national emergencies service, one more body was recovered from under the rubble in Kramatorsk. The rescue mission is completed.

The death toll now stands at 12, including three children. Moreover, 60 people are injured, including a child. The rescue mission saved 11 people in total.

Russian paediatrician facing terrorism justification criminal case over comment about Russian military blogger’s assassination

Paediatrician from Russia’s Blagoveshchensk Maria Mekhedova, 34, has been slapped with a criminal case on the charge of justifying terrorism over her online comments about the assassination of Vladlen Tatarsky, a pro-Kremlin military blogger, the woman told Siberia.Realities.

“FSB officers arrived at Mekhedova’s home in May and seized her and her husband’s phones. It was then said that the doctor is facing an administrative case for ‘army discreditation’,” the journalists note.

The Blagoveshchensk No. 1 Telegram channel writes that the case was launched over her Instagram comments. According to unverified reports, Mekhedova reacted to a Tatarsky death post with “I would have never thought that I would be happy about this. Forgive me, God, for it” and “Earth is cleansing itself of bad people”.

In December 2022, the doctor was fined 30,000 rubles (€316) for “discrediting the Russian army”.

Following the ruling, Mekhedova told SOTA that she was targeted by a bullying campaign and threats from the parents of her patients.

While searching her home in May, law enforcers said that she managed to pay off the fine with the help of the Alexey Navalny team.

70 kids get acute food poisoning in a Russian children’s camp

Seventy children have been diagnosed with acute food poisoning in the Belye Gory camp, the Amur region, eight of them have been taken to hospital, the regional consumer watchdog’s office reported.

“Cases of acute intestinal infection in children have been registered. After the information was received, an epidemiological investigation was immediately launched,” the agency noted.

The probe identified violations of health and safety regulations at the children’s food service facility and “cases of failing to report the disease outbreak among children”.

In total, 275 kids were staying at the camp. The facility is now shut down, the children will be taken to their homes.