Vladimir Solovyov, a prominent Russian propagandist and TV presenter, has urged the Russian military to sink British ships and argued in favor of a devastating strike against Europe. He said Russia will be forced to erase Europe off the face of the Earth with nuclear weapons. Solovyov previously declared that Russia doesn't need to act through proxies and should strike Britain itself. The official Russian government response to these statements has not been disclosed.
Solovyov also praised Iran's approach amid the war with the US and Israel, saying Iran is behaving the right way. He suggested that Russia should act more like Iran and act harshly against its adversaries.
In response to regional tensions, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK is ready to act to board and detain Russian shadow fleet ships in British waters. The specific actions the UK has taken or will take to board and detain these ships remain unclear. Separately, the UK Ministry of Defence reported that RAF Regiment gunners successfully downed multiple Iranian drones overnight in a high threat area, though the exact location has not been specified.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, UK Typhoons, F-35 jets, and Wildcat helicopters continued defensive missions over Cyprus, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain overnight. This ongoing activity underscores the UK's military presence in the Middle East amid heightened security concerns.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent global oil prices skyrocketing. Around a fifth of the world's oil and gas is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. The current status of the Strait of Hormuz blockade and its impact on global oil supply are not fully known, but the price surge reflects market anxieties.
Domestically, fuel duty is frozen until September, with the increase scheduled for then under review due to high prices. The timeline for potential fuel duty changes is under evaluation. Additionally, average household energy bills are predicted to rise when Ofgem's current price cap expires at the end of June, though the exact extent and timing of increases are still uncertain.