LIVE UPDATES - Russian Forces Wipe Out Ukrainian Artillery Ammo Depots by Precision Weapons

©Russian Defense Ministry's Press Office

Russian forces delivered strikes by seaborne precision weapons, wiping out Ukrainian artillery ammunition depots, including sites with foreign-made ammunition over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Monday.

"Last night, Russian forces delivered multiple strikes by seaborne long-range precision weapons against artillery ammunition depots, including sites with ammunition delivered to Ukraine from Western countries. The goals of the strikes were achieved. All the designated targets were destroyed," the spokesman said.

Ukrainian troops attempting to advance in three directions

Ukrainian troops are attempting to advance in three directions, Konashenkov said.

"During the last 24-hour period, Ukrainian troops continued offensive attempts in the Donetsk, Krasny Liman and south Donetsk directions," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminate 30 Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces eliminated roughly 30 Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, operational/tactical and army aircraft and artillery of the western battlegroup struck the Ukrainian army’s manpower and equipment in areas near the settlements of Novomlynsk and Timkovka in the Kharkov Region and Artyomovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic. Over 30 Ukrainian personnel, two motor vehicles and two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems were destroyed," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminate over 90 Ukrainian troops in Krasny Liman area over past day

Russian forces eliminated over 90 Ukrainian troops and neutralized two enemy subversive groups in the Krasny Liman area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, forces of the battlegroup Center, air strikes, artillery and heavy flamethrower fires inflicted damage on the units of the Ukrainian army’s 21st and 63rd mechanized brigades in areas near the settlements of Nevskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Terny and Torskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Near the settlement of Kuzmino in the Lugansk People’s Republic, the activity of two Ukrainian subversive and reconnaissance groups was thwarted," the spokesman said.

In all, over 90 Ukrainian personnel, three armored combat vehicles, five pickup trucks, an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery gun and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed in that direction in the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces destroy 195 Ukrainian troops in Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces destroyed roughly 195 Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, two enemy attacks were successfully repelled in the area of the settlement of Spornoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic by skilled and courageous actions of defending units from the southern battlegroup. The Ukrainian military’s losses during the battles amounted to 195 personnel," the spokesman said.

Russian forces also destroyed two Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles and two US-made Paladin motorized artillery systems in that direction in the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces repulse four Ukrainian attacks at Vremevka bulge in DPR

Russian forces repulsed four Ukrainian attacks at the Vremevka bulge in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the south Donetsk direction, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the battlegroup East repulsed four enemy attacks near the settlement of Rovnopol in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminate over 150 Ukrainian troops in south Donetsk, Zaporozhye areas

Russian forces eliminated over 150 Ukrainian troops in the south Donetsk and Zaporozhye areas in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"The enemy’s total losses in those directions in the past 24 hours amounted to over 150 Ukrainian personnel, three armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks and also Msta-B and D-20 howitzers," the spokesman said.

Russian forces repel Ukrainian attack in Zaporozhye area over past day

Russian forces repulsed a Ukrainian army attack in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces repelled an attack by units of the Ukrainian army’s 47th mechanized brigade near the settlement of Rabotino in the Zaporozhye Region," the spokesman said.

In addition, Russian forces thwarted the activity of a Ukrainian subversive and reconnaissance group near the settlement of Mirnoye in the Zaporozhye Region, the general reported.

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian ammo depot in Kherson area

Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army in the Kherson Region over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the area of the settlement of Kazatskoye in the Kherson Region, an ammunition depot of the 126th territorial defense brigade was destroyed," the spokesman said.

In all, Russian forces destroyed roughly 35 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles and two Msta-B howitzers in the Kherson direction in the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian army’s signal center in DPR

Russian forces destroyed a signal center of the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Near the settlement of Ivanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a signal center of the Ukrainian army’s 25th air assault brigade was destroyed. Near the settlement of Novoyakovlevka in the Zaporozhye Region, the base for the repair and recovery of armaments, military and special hardware belonging to the Ukrainian army’s 128th mountain assault brigade was destroyed," the spokesman said.

During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical and army aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces struck 83 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 104 areas, the general reported.

Russian air defenses down 19 Ukrainian combat drones over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 19 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"During the last 24-hour period, 19 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in areas near the settlements of Privolye, Rubezhnoye, Zaliman and Belogorovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Vladimirovka and Spornoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Mirnoye and Ocheretovatoye in the Zaporozhye Region and Proletarka in the Kherson Region," the spokesman said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 444 Ukrainian warplanes, 240 helicopters, 4,798 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 surface-to-air missile systems, 10,356 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,131 multiple rocket launchers, 5,238 field artillery guns and mortars and 11,197 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

Lavrov Calls Western Media's Coverage of Events Around Prigozhin Wishful Thinking

©Sputnik / Russian Foreign Ministry

Western media apparently indulged in "wishful thinking," covering the events around the situation with the aborted mutiny attempt by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of private military company (PMC) Wagner, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

Lavrov referred to US media reports claiming that that the US had allegedly been informed in advance of Prigozhin's upcoming rebellion but decided not to tell anyone about it.

"This was probably wishful thinking, there is such a way to convey what our Western colleagues experienced yesterday and Saturday evening. I got acquainted with how events in Russia are covered," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian media.

On French Policy Stance

The recent remark of French President Emmanuel Macron about the events around Wagner group, indicate that he clearly saw a chance to realize the threat of the West inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, Lavrov added.

On Saturday, Macron said that Paris was closely watching the situation in Russia, but remained focused on supporting Ukraine.

"I think ... [everyone] will understand the position advocated by Macron, who clearly sees in the current development of events as a chance to realize the threat, like a mantra repeated by NATO leaders, that Ukraine inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. Naturally, not Ukraine, but the entire Western camp," Lavrov said

On US Policy Stance

Sergey Lavrov stressed that US ambassador Lynne Tracy claimed that the situation around Wagner group is the internal affair of Russia.

"When US ambassador Tracy spoke with Russian representatives [regarding the situation with Prigozhin] yesterday, she conveyed signals. These signals were, first of all, that the United States had nothing to do with it, that the United States very much hopes that nuclear weapons will be fine, that American diplomats will not suffer, and it was especially emphasized: the United States proceeds from the fact that everything that happens is an internal affair of Russia," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian media.

Lavrov Says Confrontation With West Opens New Cooperation Opportunities for Russia

Confrontation with Western countries has opened up new opportunities for Russia's cooperation with states in other regions such as Asia, Africa and Latin America, especially given their increasing role in the international arena, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

"Confrontation with unfriendly states has opened up new opportunities for cooperation outside the historical West, with partners in the near abroad, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America," Lavrov told a session of the ruling party's commission on international cooperation and support of compatriots abroad, adding that "it is natural that these areas are given priority attention" due to their role in international affairs.

Moscow will develop its own foreign policy agenda and is not going to be integrated into systems and mechanisms that are aimed at "serving other people's interests," the Russian foreign minister also said.

Lavrov added that Russia would also be guided by its own priorities in its work in the international arena, while respecting universally recognized norms of international law set out in the UN Charter.

US backs coup attempts whenever it can benefit – Lavrov

The US is an enthusiastic supporter of regime change whenever it can benefit from the process, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told RT. If a coup targets a government more pliant to American interests, Washington will inevitably reject it, the diplomat added.

There have been numerous attempts at regime change around the world in recent years and they were “met with a different response on the part of the US, depending on who was in power and who was trying to carry out the coup,” Lavrov said in an interview on Monday.

“Where the West is happy with the current government, in such situations no protest can be legitimate. But where the government doesn’t reflect the interests of the hegemon and is pursuing the national interests, in those cases we see various unlawful forces are being stimulated [to attack the authorities],” the diplomat added.

Russian MoD releases VIDEO showing troops getting the drop on entrenched Ukrainians

The Russian Defense Ministry has published a video that it says shows the moment Ukrainian frontline soldiers surrendered to a Russian airborne unit, which took its opponent by surprise in the trenches.

According to the ministry, the footage was taken in the Lugansk People’s Republic near the city of Kremennaya. It shows Russian troops advancing on Ukrainian positions under the cover of artillery fire before using a bold maneuver to take defending soldiers by surprise from multiple directions, forcing their surrender. The statement on Monday noted that Ukrainians who refused to lay down arms were killed.

The video appears to have been shot from a drone and shows soldiers moving in a trench near some dead trees. At one point, they raise their hands, while one throws away his firearm, apparently following an order.

The ministry stated that the successful capture was based on the foundation of a lengthy training course, during which the Russian airborne fighters learned the skill they used in the operation.

Russian forces control 'difficult' situation on flanks near Artyomovsk — acting DPR Head

The situation on the flanks near Artyomovsk (Ukrainian name: Bakhmut) remains difficult, but the Russian forces have everything under control, Acting Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin said.

"The situation remains difficult, but everything is under control both in the city itself and on the flanks," he said during a Rossiya-24 TV broadcast, answering a question about the situation near Artyomovsk.

Pushilin pointed out that the Ukrainian servicemen continue to fire indiscriminately into the city, which prevents the start of demining. According to him, the Ukrainian forces also regularly make unsuccessful attempts to probe the positions of Russian units on the flanks. "Our units are holding absolutely everything and trying to use the situation to improve their positions," he added.

Artyomovsk is located in the north of the Donetsk People’s Republic. It was an important transport hub for supplying the Ukrainian forces in Donbass, as well as a powerful Ukrainian outpost. Fighting for the city began on August 1, 2022 and ended on May 20, 2023. The battle became one of the largest battles during the liberation of Donbass since 2014. Prior to the start of the fighting, the city was home to about 72,000 people.

Menko Airlangga Pasang Target Jumlah Pengusaha Indonesia Naik 5 Persen

Menteri Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian Airlangga Hartarto hadir dalam acara Indonesia Net-Zero Summit (INZS) 2023 yang diadakan oleh Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) di Jakarta, Sabtu (24/6/2023).

Jumlah pengusaha muda ditargetkan bisa meningkat seiring bonus demografi yang ada di Indonesia.

Menteri Koordinator (Menko) Bidang Perekonomian Airlangga Hartarto menargetkan jumlah pengusaha di Indonesia meningkat menjadi lima persen dari total penduduk guna memaksimalkan bonus demografi.

Catatan Menko Perekonomian Airlangga Hartarto, saat ini jumlah entrepreneur masih di angka 3 persen dari total jumlah penduduk di Indonesia. Jumlah tersebut ditargetkan meningkat hingga 5 persen dari jumlah penduduk.

"Kita ini negara yang ingin menjadi negara maju, tetapi jumlah entrepreneur hanya 3 persen. Kita harus naikkan menjadi lima persen," kata Airlangga dalam keterangan tertulisnya, Senin, 26/06/2023.

Hal senada juga disampaikan saat Airlangga hadir dalam acara Indonesia Net-Zero Summit (INZS) 2023 di Jakarta, hari Sabtu, 24/06/2023.

"Namun, di samping itu, kita ingin mendorong entrepreneur kita tumbuh. Kita ini negara yang ingin menjadi negara maju, tetapi jumlah entrepreneur kita hanya 3 persen, kita harus naikkan menjadi lima persen," kata Menko Airlangga seperti dilansir dari Antara, hari Sabtu, 24/06/2023.

Airlangga mengatakan, Indonesia membutuhkan SDM yang berpendidikan, sehat, dan memiliki inovasi. Hal ini untuk menunjang visi Indonesia Emas 2050.

Selain syarat SDM mumpuni, visi Indonesia Emas juga harus dibarengi dengan sektor keberlanjutan atau sustainability. Masyarakat dan pemerintah perlu menyiapkan pengelolaan ekonomi biru serta ekonomi hijau.

"Indonesia sudah komitmen 2060 net zero emission, dan ke depan dalam 10 tahun kita akan kembangkan energi berbasis hijau," tutur Airlangga.

Salah satu upaya mewujudkan ekonomi hijau itu yakni adanya kerja sama bidang proyek tenaga air atau hydropower di Kalimantan Utara sebagai implementasi perjanjian pendanaan transisi energi Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) saat gelaran Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi (KTT) G20 di Bali 2022.

Menko Perekonomian mengatakan, JETP berkomitmen untuk menyediakan dana himunan sebesar 20 miliar dolar AS selama tiga hingga lima tahun mendatang untuk Indonesia.

Salah satunya untuk proyek hydropower di Kalimantan Utara ini juga sebagai persiapan Indonesia mencapai net zero emission pada 2060. Proyek hydropower ini memiliki kapasitas 10 ribu megawatt.

“Setiap gigawatt yang dihasilkan dari Kalimantan itu ditukar dengan pembangkit berbasis batu bara,” tutup Airlangga.

Airlangga Bocorkan Persiapan Pemerintah Capai Net Zero Emission di 2060

Menteri Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian Airlangga Hartarto mengatakan pemerintah telah melakukan sejumlah persiapan dalam rangka mencapai target emisi nol bersih atau net zero emission pada 2060.

Dia menyampaikan, salah satu program yang mendukung komitmen tersebut adalah pengembangan hydropower di Kalimantan Utara yang berkapasitas 10.000 megawatt.

“Setiap gigawatt yang dihasilkan dari Kalimantan itu ditukar dengan pembangkit berbasis batu bara,” kata Airlangga dalam acara Indonesia Net Zero Summit 2023 di Djakarta Theater, Sabtu, 24/06/2023.

Airlangga menyampaikan, komitmen dari Amerika Serikat dan Uni Eropa pada saat G20 di November 2022 senilai total US$600 miliar dalam mendukung net zero emission, di mana US$300 miliar dari Uni Eropa digunakan untuk ekonomi hijau.

Sementara, komitmen pendanaan transisi energi yang disampaikan pakta iklim yang tergabung dalam kemitraan Just Energy Transition Partnership atau JETP itu berjanji untuk menyediakan dana himpunan US$20 miliar dari publik dan swasta selama 3 hingga 5 tahun mendatang untuk pemerintah Indonesia.

Sebagaimana diketahui, Indonesia mengumumkan akan mencapai net zero emission maksimal pada 2060.

Airlangga sebelumnya menyebut, Indonesia telah mendeklarasikan target penurunan emisi, di mana dalam dokumen Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) terbaru, Indonesia menaikkan target pengurangan emisi menjadi 31,89 persen di 2030 mendatang dengan target dukungan internasional sebesar 43,20 persen.

Selain itu, pemerintah juga telah menyiapkan sejumlah skema untuk mengurangi intensitas karbon dan memberi manfaat bagi setiap rumah tangga, termasuk di bidang carbon pricing dan carbon trading.

Bidang lain yang sedang gencar digalakkan pemerintah adalah penggunaan kendaraan listrik (electric vehicle/EV). “Kita ingin memimpin dengan memberi contoh. Untuk itu, Indonesia terus mempromosikan ekosistem EV karena kebijakan ini diharapkan akan menjadi kunci revolusi masa depan,” ujarnya.

Sri Sultan beri penghargaan pada Putri Ariani

ANTARA FOTO/Andreas Fitri Atmoko/foc.

Gubernur Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) Sri Sultan HB X memberikan penghargaan kepada penyanyi difabel Putri Ariani (tengah) di Gedhong Wilis, Kepatihan Pemda D.I Yogyakarta, hari Senin , 26/06/2023. Selain penghargaan, Sri Sultan juga memberikan penghargaan dan uang pembinaan senilai Rp 50 juta kepada Putri Ariani, pelajar SMKN 2 Kasihan, Bantul peraih Golden Buzzer pada America's Got Tallent 2023.

Apresiasi terhadap Putri Ariani yang diberikan Gubernur DIY Sri Sultan HB X sebagai bentuk penghargaan atas dedikasinya dalam memberikan teladan sebagai generasi muda yang berprestasi bidang seni dan budaya di tingkat interasional.

Sultan menyampaikan apresiasi prestasi yang telah ditorehkan Putri dalam ajang internasional tersebut, juga menyampaikan pesan agar Putri tetap fokus pada pendidikannya selagi mengikuti audisi AGT 2023.

"Dia punya cita-cita untuk melanjutkan sekolah di Amerika. Tapi juga harapan saya dia mengerjakan, dengan kemenangan dia, mengerjakan untuk menyanyi di Amerika kira kira 2-3 bulan ya," katanya di Gedhong Wilis Kompleks Kepatihan, Senin, 26/06/2023.

Sri Sultan HB memberikan penghargaan kepada Putri Ariani, di Gedhong Wilis Kompleks Kepatihan, Senin (26/6/2023). - Harian Jogja/Stefani Yulindriani

Putri didaulat untuk melantunkan lagu. Dan Putri memilih dua buah lagu yakni Loneliness ciptaannya, serta Lir-ilir di hadapan Sultan. Lagu Lir-Ilir sendiri sengaja di persembahan Putri untuk Sri Sultan.

"Jadi ini spontanitas dari dia [menyanyikan lagu Lir-ilir], kita terima kasih. Ini kan anak dari Jogja juga," katanya.

Dalam pertemuan tersebut, Putri menyampaikan lagu Lir-ilir dipilihnya karena mengandung banyak pesan dan merupakan tembang berbahasa Jawa.

“Karena lagu ini adalah lagu yang memiliki banyak pesan dan dikenal lagu bahasa Jawa. Lir ilir tu pesan dari leluhur,” katanya.

Lagu Lir-ilir sendiri merupakan lagu yang diciptakan Sunan Kalijaga untuk menyebarkan agama Islam pada awal abad ke 16.

Pada kesempatan itu juga, Putri menyampaikan jika dirinya dalam waktu dekat akan kembali ke AS untuk menjalankan tahap selanjutnya dalam AGT 2023.

"Jadi nanti Putri kembali lagi ke Amerika sekitar bulan Agustus akhir. Dan itu nanti Insyaallah di Amerika akan lebih lama. Dan tentu Putri butuh dukungan dari rakyat Indonesia," ucap Putri. .

Dalam kesempatan tersebut Sri Sultan memberikan piagam penghargaan dan uang bantuan senilai Rp50 juta.

Russian Forces Attack Three Ukrainian Assault Groups in Artemovsk Area

©Sputnik/ Konstantin Mihalchevskiy / Go to the mediabank

Russian forces have prevented the advance of three assault groups of Ukrainian troops north of Artemovsk and dispersed them with mortar fire, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.

Artemovsk is also known as Bakhmut.

The spokesperson added that the assault actions of the Ukrainian military were also stopped near six other villages.

"Subdivisions of the Yug Group of Forces have discovered the advance of three enemy assault groups in the direction of [Berkhovka]. Mortar fire dispersed the advancing enemy forces," the spokesperson said.

The Russian military also targeted Ukrainian infantry using a "Solntsepek" (Blazing Sun) thermobaric rocket launcher in the Bakhmut area.

Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations.

In response to Russia’s operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine.

On September 30, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, signed agreements on the accession of these territories to Russia, following referendums that showed that an overwhelming majority of the local population supported becoming part of Russia.

The situation involving the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) and its head Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia will not affect the progress of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.

Air Raid Sirens Sound in Kiev, Parts of Ukraine

Air raid warnings were issued in several regions of Ukraine late on Sunday night, including the capital city of Kiev, according to air raid data from the country’s Ministry of Digital Transformation.

Air raid sirens went off in the Ukrainian regions of Dnepropetrovsk, Cherkassy, Chernigov and Kiev, as well as the city of Kiev and the Kiev-controlled parts of Zaporozhye region, shortly before midnight, the ministry’s online map showed.

Ukrainian media reported that explosions were heard in the Ukraine-controlled Zaporozhye and Kherson, as well as the regions of Cherkassy and Poltava, on Sunday night. Blasts were also reported in the Kiev region.

Later in the night, air raid alerts were issued in the regions of Kharkov, Kirovograd, Nikolaev and Odessa. Precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure have been carried out by Russia since October 10 (two days after the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge).

In February, the head of Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo said that direct damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure caused by Russian strikes may amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, with economic losses ranging in billions.

Russia says its forces suppressed 30 Ukrainian artillery positions near Krasny Liman

Artillery units of the battlegroup Center have suppressed about 30 Ukrainian artillery positions and more than 20 mortar crews near Krasny Liman, Alexander Savchuk, a spokesman for the battlegroup, has told TASS.

"Near Krasny Liman, artillery units of the battlegroup Center, using the means of artillery reconnaissance, have detected and suppressed about 30 artillery positions and more than 20 mortar crews of Ukrainian forces," he said.

In addition, the group's aviation conducted more than 40 sorties, carrying out missile and bomb strikes on strongholds, temporary deployment bases, the clusters of enemy equipment, troops and firepower.

According to Savchuk, the movement of Ukrainian troops, supported by infantry fighting vehicles of the 42nd, 63rd and 67th mechanized brigades, has been detected in the Serebryansky Forestry District.

"As a result of a fire attack by artillery and army aviation of the battlegroup Center, armored combat vehicles and two pickup trucks were destroyed and significant losses were achieved among the personnel of the nationalists," he said.

Hajj underway as millions of pilgrims arrive in Makkah

Millions of pilgrims arrived at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Sunday to perform Tawaf Al-Qudum as Hajj 2023 began. (@ReasahAlharmain)

Jeddah - Millions of pilgrims arrived at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Sunday to perform Tawaf Al-Qudum (Tawaf of Arrival) as the biggest annual pilgrimage in several years began.

It is the first tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba) that pilgrims undertake after assuming the state of ihram, a sacred state of ritual consecration. This tawaf signifies the pilgrims’ arrival in Makkah, the spiritual center of Islam and the focal point of the Hajj pilgrimage.

On Sunday night, pilgrims will start moving to Mina — a tent city located approximately 5 km east of Makkah that is renowned as the largest of its kind in the world — ahead of the Hajj’s climax at Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon.

On the eighth of Dul Hijjah, which is known as the Day of Tarwiyah, pilgrims embark on the journey to Mina and spend an entire day and night, utilizing this time to prepare themselves mentally and physically for the profound spiritual experience that awaits them at Mount Arafat.

Moving forward to the ninth of Dul Hijjah, the pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat, which marks the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage. It is in this sacred place that they engage in duaa (prayers) asking Allah for forgiveness and mercy.

Additionally, during their time at Mount Arafat, the pilgrims perform afternoon prayers at Namirah Mosque, reinforcing their connection with Allah and taking part in the collective worship that unites millions of pilgrims from around the world.

During the evening of Dul Hijjah 9, pilgrims embark on a journey to Muzdalifah, a significant location situated between Arafat and Mina. Pilgrims spend the night in Muzdalifah and collect small stones, which hold a special purpose for the upcoming ritual of stoning Satan at the Jamarat pillars in Mina. After throwing Jamarat Al-Aqaba with the collected pebbles, the pilgrims proceed to the Grand Mosque to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah. This ritual can be carried out at any time between Dul Hijjah 10 and 12.

Once this sacred act is completed, pilgrims are no longer restricted by the regulations of the ihram and are free to engage in all permissible activities. However, it is important to note that they must return to Mina to continue with the remaining rituals of Hajj.

During the days of Tashreeq, which fall on Dul Hijjah 11, 12 and 13, it is essential for pilgrims to remain in Mina and engage in two additional rami rituals. On the afternoon of Dul Hijjah 11, pilgrims collect 21 pebbles and proceed to cast them at the three Jamarat. The stoning begins with Jamarat Al-Ula, followed by Jamarat Al-Wusta, and finally Jamarat Al-Aqaba.

Furthermore, before departing from Makkah, pilgrims are required to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida, also known as the farewell Tawaf. This ritual holds great significance in the Hajj pilgrimage and is obligatory for all pilgrims.

This year’s Hajj is set to be the largest gathering of pilgrims since 2019, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, approximately 2.5 million individuals took part in the Hajj, marking a significant turnout. However, due to the global outbreak, only a mere 10,000 individuals were allowed to partake in the pilgrimage in 2020. The number of participants increased to nearly 59,000 in 2021.

According to the General Authority for Statistics, there were a total of 899,353 pilgrims in 2022, consisting of 779,919 individuals from outside Saudi Arabia and 119,434 individuals from within the Kingdom. This remained substantially down on the pre-pandemic figures.

However, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that this year’s Hajj will welcome a staggering 2 million pilgrims, including 200,000 from within the Kingdom. This notable increase in the number of participants indicates a gradual return to normalcy and the resumption of the Hajj experience for a greater number of individuals.