Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
The United States conducted air strikes on nuclear sites in Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post to Truth Social on June 21.
"We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air airspace," Trump said.
Israel and Iran have exchanged strikes in recent days as Israel voices concern over Tehran's continued development of nuclear weapons.
The White House has backed Israel, remaining cautious in escalating its role in the conflict. The strikes mark U.S. military involvement in the conflict.
"A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors," Trump said.
Trump has called for Iran to negotiate an end to the conflict amid strikes between Israel and Tehran.
Later, Trump shared a separate post that said, "Fordow is gone."
"Iran must now agree to end this war," Trump then said in another post to social media.
Trump later held a live address where he reiterated calls for Iran to join negotiations on its nuclear program.
"This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left," Trump said.
The U.S. president hopes that the strikes will push Iran to the negotiating table, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, adding that the U.S. is not planning additional military actions in Iran.
Israel asked the U.S. to join military operations targeting Iran’s nuclear program, including a strike on the fortified Fordow uranium enrichment site, Axios reported on June 14, citing two Israeli officials.
Trump suggested in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would consider joining the operation if needed, an Israeli official told Axios.
A White House official denied that claim on June 13. Another U.S. official confirmed that Israel had urged the U.S. to take part, but said Washington is not currently considering involvement.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter told Fox News on June 13 that "the entire operation… really has to be completed with the elimination of Fordow."
Russia and Iran have cooperated to develop their own nuclear programs and weapons as both countries face Western sanctions.
Russia supplied Iran with the Middle East's first nuclear power plant despite objections from the West.
Iran has assisted Russia in its war against Ukraine, providing drones and missiles. Iran has helped Moscow develop weapons of its own. Russia's Geran drone is modelled after the Iranian Shahed drone.
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
Over 45 Ukrainians forcibly deported by Russia from Ukraine's occupied territories are being held in a basement at Russia's border with Georgia without food, water, and basic healthcare, independent media outlet Astra reported on June 21.
"We are in a basement without utilities: there is no shower or toilet, they don't feed us. Volunteers bring humanitarian aid, but it lasts for a couple of days and not for everyone," one of the held Ukrainians told Astra.
A decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Ukrainians still living in occupied territories to leave unless they "regulate their legal status," namely, obtaining Russian citizenship.
"We emphasize that these systematic deportations and persecutions are part of Russia's genocide policy against the Ukrainian people," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on March 21.
At least 45 Ukrainians have been held at the Verkhniy Lars border checkpoint between Georgia and Russia for several days.
One of the deported Ukrainians has been hospitalized as they await passage out of Russia and into Georgia.
"There were 8 of us, 3 days ago. Every day, more people are brought here and the number is growing. Now there are 45 people, some have been here for a month. There are disabled people and people with serious illnesses," one of the held Ukrainians said.
The basement facility has since 2023 held deported Ukrainians barred from entering the Russian Federation and the Ukrainian territories it occupies.
The held Ukrainians were denied entry into Georgia. Most did not have the necessary travel documents, but 16 Ukrainians with passports were denied entry as well, Astra reported, citing the non-profit organization Tbilisi Volunteers Organization.
"The basement is damp, there are drops of water on the ceiling, (it's hard) to breathe, everyone smokes, they don't let us outside. We sleep for four hours, taking turns. Some sleep on the floor," one of the deported Ukrainians said.
The basement only houses 17 sleeping spaces, but another 100 deported Ukrainians are expected to arrive at the facility, a volunteer told Astra.
Following a pause in deportations to Georgia in 2024, Russia has resumed deportations as Georgia prepares new immigration legislation, the Tbilisi Volunteers Organization says.
Serhiy Serdiuk, a resident of occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, was deported and banned from re-entering Russia and Ukraine's occupied territories for 40 years, the Guardian reported on June 21.
Russian authorities pressed Serdiuk, an educator, to continue work under Russia's imposed school curriculum.
Serdiuk and other staff at a school in Zaporizhzhia Oblast's Komysh-Zoria town refused and were met with threats.
Serdiuk was similarly deported to Georgia, from where he flew to Moldova and crossed back into Ukraine.
Due to Russia's illegal and unrecognized annexation of Ukraine's occupied territories, Ukrainian citizens are pressured to obtain Russian citizenship or face deportation and entry bans.
The Kyiv IndependentLinda Hourani
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Ukraine’s 60-year-old Leopard tank switched from sniper mode—and Russian troops never saw it coming. They’re old. But Ukraine’s Leopard 1A5 tanks are back in the fight—because when you’re defending a place like Kostyantynivka, you use whatever still shoots straight. |
Kremlin concentrates 23% of its assaults in Ukraine on Sumy front to sell its victory and dodge US sanctions. Out of 695,000 Russian soldiers currently deployed in Ukraine, 52,000 are concentrated on the Sumy axis.
Frontline report: Drones become Ukraine’s top killer in modern warfare outpacing artillery in lethality. The shift toward drone-dominated warfare hasn’t eliminated artillery’s battlefield importance as Ukraine’s most effective units integrate both systems into coordinated kill chains.
Ukraine’s defense gets $4 billion boost to accelerate mass production of drone interceptors. Ukrainian forces shot down dozens of Russian drones on 20 June using new domestically developed interceptors. With G7 support, Kyiv is ramping up production to counter Russia’s rapidly escalating drone warfare.
Ukraine’s engine may power Turkish Baykar drone in international sixth-gen fighter jet project. Kyiv’s partnership in the GCAP program and local production of drone engines shows its growing integration into global military aviation innovation.
Intelligence: Russia does not rely on Iran anymore, prepares to unleash “swarms of death” on Ukraine. Ukraine urgently needs more air defense and AI-powered Interceptor drones to counter the growing aerial threat.
Ukraine may receive state-of-art NATO technologies, capable of destroying Russian glide bombs and drone swarms. The glide or guided bombs have been one of the main weapons of war.
Expert: Ukraine only in first episode of war of drones. Ukraine must innovate its drones against drones tactics to stay ahead in the rapidly changing war.
Kim Jong Un announces “leap forward” in defense industry with its new largest 5-hectare plant to boost arms exports to Russia. Russia refuses ceasefire with Ukraine while Pyongyang ramps up defense manufacturing and military involvement.
Zelenskyy: Russia using prisoner exchanges to delay sanctions, weaken US-Ukraine ties. President Zelenskyy warns that Moscow is exploiting humanitarian gestures like POW swaps to create an illusion of diplomacy, aiming to distract the West.
Zelenskyy: Sanction loopholes allow Russia to continue producing its “Oreshnik” intercontinental ballistic missiles with Western tech. He calls for urgent action to block the supply chain behind the Kremlin’s nuclear ambitions.
Not just monastery: Kremlin uses Orthodox nuns in Estonia to spread imperial ideology. Abbess appointed by Patriarch Kirill accused of echoing Russian state propaganda on European religious persecution.
“Come see eyes of those whose children were killed”: Ukraine’s UN envoy urges Security Council to witness Russia’s terror firsthand. Ukraine’s envoy to the UN warned the Security Council that millions of lives, including his own family’s, are now hanging by a thread.
US special envoy for Ukraine meets Belarus leader, Russia’s key ally. Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking American official to visit Belarus in years after the country became nearly totally isolated internationally since the violent suppression of mass protests following the 2020 disputed presidential election.
Trump says US shouldn’t match NATO 5% defense spending he demands from allies. The US president cited decades of US financial support that he claims “covered almost 100% of the costs” for the military alliance and singled out Spain and Canada for low NATO defense contributions.
Polish theater moves Ukrainian flag indoors following threats and attacks. The move follows an incident where a supporter of far-right politician physically tore down the flag and allegedly threatened the director.
US slashes independent news Voice of America staff to under 200 — gift to authoritarian regimes. Eliminating VOA allows “Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and extremist groups” to dominate global information without American counter-narratives.
Politico: Middle East tensions derail EU plan to slash Russian oil price cap aimed at squeezing war funding. The proposed reduction from $60 to $45 per barrel was originally included in the EU’s 18th sanctions package expected for adoption in June but abandoned after G7 countries agreed the timing was inappropriate as “the situation is too volatile.”
Russia hits Ukraine’s energy grid, injures civilians and leaves deadly cluster bombs. Russian forces launched both drones and missiles on central Poltava Oblast, damaging energy infrastructure and residential buildings.
Russia tricks Central Asian workers into Ukraine war with fake job promises. Two Uzbek and Tajik migrants born in 1984 are among the latest foreign nationals killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Russian recruited with promises of quick money
Putin demands Ukraine recognizes annexed territories as Russian if Kyiv wants to prevent future conflict. In 2022, Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions, some parts of which are not even occupied fully, via sham referendums under military control, making them illegal under international law.
Ukraine calls Putin “mass murderer of his people” after he claims Russia owns all land where its soldiers step. Kyiv says Russia won’t stop unless the world makes it pay.
The idol, the butcher: Expanding gap in attitudes toward Stalin reflects Ukraine and Russia’s diverging identities. Attitudes toward Stalin have become a powerful symbol of the deep divide between the two countries.
Man detained in Finland for illegally crossing the border with Russia. Border guards in Southeast Finland arrested a Finnish man Friday following his suspected illegal crossing into Russia and back, marking another incident in the region’s series of recent border violations.
Read our earlier daily review here.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a significant statement in which she clearly distinguished Russia’s war against Ukraine from Israel’s strikes on Iran, Deutsche Welle reports.
Russia has called for an end to the war against Iran, strongly urging de-escalation. Tehran has been helping Moscow since 2022 to wage a war against Ukraine by supplying thousands of kamikaze drones. Both Iran and Russia use terror against civilians as the central part of their military campaigns.
According to her, Russia’s full-scale invasion constitutes a blatant violation of the international order, whereas Israel’s actions are of a different nature.
“I don’t fully agree that Israel is violating international law. When a country’s existence is being questioned by Iran or Hamas, it’s not so easy to respond strictly within the framework of international law,” the ex-German chancellor says.
Merkel emphasizes that in Israel’s case, it is about the right to self-defense in the face of threats to the state’s very existence. At the same time, she pointed out clearly that Ukraine posed no such threat.
“Ukraine never threatened Russia — and yet it was attacked,” adds Merkel, underscoring Russia’s breach of international law.
Earlier, Herman Pirchner, president of the American Foreign Policy Council, said a potential US strike on a major Iranian nuclear program may force Moscow to reconsider its approach to the war in Ukraine.
US strike on Iran could force Moscow to imagine what real strength feels like, says expert
Such a decision could impact Moscow’s calculus, as they have yet to see a firm response from the US President Donald Trump administration, as America has not yet responded strongly to any of the Russian attacks, which have only intensified amid peace efforts.
The narrowed focus of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague — which will have only a single session devoted to defense spending — is designed to appease U.S. President Donald Trump, Politico reported on June 21, citing European defense officials.
NATO leaders will convene in The Hague June 24-25 to discuss raising the alliance's defense spending target to 5% of the GDP — a proposal the U.S. has championed but from whcih it considers itself exempt.
"(Trump) has to get credit for the 5% — that's why we're having the summit," one unnamed European defense official told Politico.
"Everything else is being streamlined to minimize risk."
The organizers of the summit have shortened the meeting from the typical two-day schedule to 24 hours in the hopes of keeping the focus on Trump and deliver a victory to the U.S. president. Trump plans to give an speech at the end of the summit celebrating the new spending benchmark and his own contributions to the pledge.
There will be no meeting of NATO's Ukraine council at the summit.
The European Council confirmed on June 20 that President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit in The Hague, despite media reports that Zelensky was considering skipping the event altogether. The reports followed Zelensky's disappointing venture at the G7 summit in Canada.
While Zelensky hoped to reset relations with the U.S. in a third face-to-face meeting with Trump, he never got the chance. Trump abruptly left the G7 summit, claiming he had to focus on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
The Ukraine council's absence from the upcoming summit represents another concession to Trump, whose attention has shifted to the Middle East and who continues to refuse to impose sanctions on Russia.
Trump has also been unable to fulfill his promises to end the war in Ukraine. Six months of U.S. peacekeeping efforts under the Trump administration have brought a ceasefire no closer, as Russia escalates attacks and the civilian death toll climbs.
Convening NATO's Ukraine council could draw attention to Trump's ongoing failure, Politico reported.
"The priority is really to announce success in The Hague," a European official said. "The longer-term perspective is less important."
Trump's "America First" doctrine has repeatedly cast doubt on Washington's commitment to transatlantic alliances, especially NATO. In recent years, Trump has alarmed member states by questioning whether the U.S. should defend alliance members that do not meet military spending benchmarks.
Trump has also signaled that the U.S. will no longer be Ukraine's main ally in its defense against Russia and has called on European countries to shoulder the burden of supporting Ukraine.
While NATO summits in recent years have focused heavily on Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, this year's joint communique may exclude references to the war altogether. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on June 9 admitted that the language may not be included in the statement, but insisted the alliance remained committed to Ukraine's future membership.
"The irreversible path of Ukraine into NATO is there, and it is my assumption that it is still there after the summit," Rutte said. "Whether it is again in the communique or not, I think that's not relevant, because all the language we previously agreed on is there — until we decide it is no longer there."
The Kyiv IndependentLinda Hourani
For Russia, it is important to sever America’s support for Ukraine and stop the aid. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reveals the Kremlin’s scheme, which cleverly uses prisoner exchanges as a tool to delay the negotiation process with Ukraine, Suspilne reports.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia aims to distract the US and other partners by showing diplomatic gestures, allowing it to postpone the introduction of new sanctions.
“If you look at the exchanges, which were already happening without agreements but were not so massive, we understand that, on a global scale, it was needed by the ‘Russians.’ For the ‘Russians,’ it was important to cut America off from Ukraine, to stop the aid,” explains the president.
He emphasizes that for Russia, it is important to hold several meetings with the Ukrainian side, preferably without US participation, to show Washington a “diplomatic process.”
“How can you end a meeting positively? With exchanges. For that, a corresponding number of exchanges is needed,” Zelenskyy adds.
The Ukrainian president also warns that Moscow plans to “drag out the Istanbul talks — to delay sanctions and so on.” Ukraine faces a difficult choice: “to continue like this or to take another path.”
Earlier, Zelenskyy said Russia continues to manufacture its Oreshnik, nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, involving dozens of companies, most of which remain unsanctioned. He highlighted this as a glaring loophole in the international pressure on Russia’s military-industrial complex.
This missile can be intercepted only with advanced systems such as THAAD or Arrow 3.
Zelenskyy: Sanction loopholes allow Russia to continue producing its “Oreshnik” intercontinental ballistic missiles with Western tech
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Russia's weapons arsenal includes over 1,950 strategic missiles and thousands of drones, the news outlet RBC-Ukraine reported on June 21, citing a statement from Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).
According to HUR, the figures reflect Russia's stockpiles as of June 15.
Throughout May and June, Russia has launched a series of mass missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities — including a large-scale strike against Kyiv on June 17 that left 30 dead and over 170 injured. Russia has repeatedly shattered its own drone record in attacks on Ukraine in the past month.
Russia's missile stocks include up to 500 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, HUR told RBC-Ukraine, as well as up to 150 hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. Moscow also has up to 60 North Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missiles.
In addition to ballistics, Russia possesses up to 300 Iskander-K cruise missiles, up to 260 Kh-101 cruise missiles, up to 280 Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles, and over 400 Kalibr cruise missiles.
Russia produces up to 195 missiles per month, HUR said.
Moscow also aims to ramp up drone production from 170 to 190 units per day, according to HUR. As of June 15, Russia had over 6,000 Shahed-type attack drones and over 6,000 Gerberas, a cheap decoy version that imitates the Shahed.
Russia's arsenal highlights Ukraine's urgent need for additional air defense systems, something President Volodymyr Zelensky has been continuously lobbying Western partners to provide.
Zelensky announced on June 20 that Ukraine is boosting production of interceptor drones to combat the growing numbers of Shahed UAVs launched by Russia each night. Ukraine is also producing its own missiles and recently announced that its domestically produced Sapsan ballistic missile had entered serial production.
The president hopes to secure additional funding for defense production from allies at the upcoming NATO summit.
Russia has paired its intensifying nightly attacks with escalated rhetoric about its territorial ambitions in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 20 declared that "all of Ukraine" belongs to Russia, suggesting the Kremlin is looking to expand its illegal occupation .
Russian forces currently occupy five Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan
Russia continues to manufacture its Oreshnik, nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, involving dozens of companies, most of which remain unsanctioned. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlights this as a glaring loophole in the international pressure on Russia’s military-industrial complex, UkrInform reports.
“Thirty-nine companies in Russia’s defense industry are involved in the production of the Oreshnik missile. What’s crucial: 21 of these 39 companies are not under any sanctions,” the president states.
According to Zelenskyy, these missiles cannot be produced without critical imported components, making comprehensive sanctions on all 39 companies urgently necessary.
“It’s completely unclear why these companies have not yet been sanctioned. Sanctions would definitely be effective, because as we’ve seen, Oreshnik is being produced slowly and with difficulty,” Zelenskyy claims.
He urges Ukraine’s partners to swiftly close this sanctions gap to limit the Kremlin’s ability to continue manufacturing strategic weapons systems that pose a threat not only to Ukraine but to the entire West.
On 20 June, during a massive aerial attack, Ukrainian forces shot down dozens of Russian drones due to new interceptors developed by Ukrainian companies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that this tool is no longer a rarity and is now actively used in the country’s defense, UkrInform reports.
Russia has ramped up its production capabilities and can now launch up to 500 drones per day, including up to 300 strike drones such as the Geran-2 or Shahed-136 and Garpia-A1, and up to 200 decoy drones, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.
Four companies in Ukraine are working on interceptor production, two of which are showing significant success. Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine has reached agreements with international partners, Germany and Canada, to fund large-scale production.
According to the president, the G7 summit approved an increase in funding from $2 billion to $4 billion. This will accelerate the launch of mass production of advanced interceptors.
In addition, Ukraine has already signed contracts for record quantities of artillery systems and various types of drones. Zelenskyy stressed that the war demands a simultaneous buildup of both artillery and drones.
Earlier, the Ukrainian defense intelligence agency stated that Russia stockpiled over 6,000 strike drones and another 6,000 decoys, and its daily production rate is increasing, from 170 drones per day today to 190 drones per day by the end of 2025.
Crucially, Moscow no longer relies on Iran: it has established a closed-loop production cycle for drones on Russian territory.
Ukraine may join the development of a sixth-generation fighter jet through the international Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), Defense Express reports.
GCAP is an international alliance between the UK, Japan, and Italy working to create a piloted stealth fighter. The program started in 2022 and aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2 by 2035.
Importantly, GCAP covers not only the aircraft itself but also supporting systems, including drones. The Turkish Baykar Kızılelma drone is considered an escort drone, a multi-purpose aerial vehicle capable of carrying up to 1,500 kg of weapons: air-to-ground missiles, air-to-air missiles, and bombs.
Particular attention is drawn to the engine for this unmanned aerial vehicle— the fourth prototype of the Kızılelma is equipped with a Ukrainian AI-322F engine from SE Ivchenko-Progress.
Previously, AI-25TLT engines were used. Additionally, Baykar is building a factory in Ukraine, where production of the Kızılelma is planned.
This cooperation opens new opportunities for Ukraine in modern military technologies, aviation industry development, and integration into leading global defense programs.
Earlier, a report emerged saying Ukraine may receive cutting-edge technologies from NATO by the end of 2025. The Alliance has completed testing systems designed to counter Russian guided bombs and strike drones like the Shahed and is considering its delivery to Ukraine.
Ukraine may receive cutting-edge technologies from NATO by the end of 2025. The Alliance has completed testing systems designed to counter Russian guided bombs and strike drones like the Shahed and is considering its delivery to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the Sumy axis has become one of the most intense battle zones, with 23% of all Russian attacks now concentrated there, UNIAN reports.
Russia’s goal is to occupy Sumy Oblast and move as close to its main city to strike it with tube artillery and then occupy it. The situation is the same in Kharkiv Oblast. Meanwhile, it has doubled its attacks on Ukrainian civilians amid US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, which mostly consist of pressuring Kyiv. Since the start of his presidency in 2025, no new aid has been approved for Ukraine.
According to him, Russia is pushing in this region to fabricate the illusion of success, which the Kremlin hopes to use as leverage to influence the US policy.
“The Russians want to ‘sell’ success in Sumy and Kharkiv. They desperately need victories on the front. Because without them, we believe President Trump is more likely to pressure them with sanctions,” Zelenskyy says.
The president reported that over 695,000 Russian soldiers are currently deployed in Ukraine, with additional forces massed along the Kursk and Belgorod axes, directly across from Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts.
“That means another contingent on the Sumy axis, about 52,000 troops,” he continues.
Russia is increasingly using guided aerial bombs and North Korean missiles in an attempt to break through Ukrainian defenses. Yet, Zelenskyy noted that Russian advances remain minimal.
“This week, they advanced 200 meters toward Sumy, but we pushed them back by 200 to 400 meters,” he claims.
Also, Zelenskyy emphasizes that Russia is focused on severing US-Ukrainian ties. To achieve this, Moscow is pretending to pursue peace, hoping to delay sanctions and undermine American support. The aid is especially needed for Kyiv amid Russia’s summer offensive in the south, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and potentially Chernihiv oblasts.
“They want to cut America off from Ukraine and stop the aid,” the Ukrainian president stresses.
Meanwhile, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Vladimir Putin delivered his most aggressive rhetoric in months, claiming that Ukrainians and Russians are “one people” and that all of Ukraine belongs to Russia. His press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, officially confirmed that Russia does not want a ceasefire.
The Kremlin is showing no intention of retreating, neither on the battlefield nor in negotiations. Russia’s position, Zelenskyy warns, makes it clear: the Kremlin isn’t seeking peace, only territorial expansion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 21 responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent statements on Ukraine, saying that Ukraine intends to defend itself and that the government had made several decisions to bolster security in light of the Kremlin's threats.
Putin said "all of Ukraine" belongs to Russia in a speech on June 20 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, pointing to Moscow's maximalist territorial ambitions in Ukraine.
"Wherever the foot of a Russian soldier steps is Russian land," he said.
In his evening address on June 21, Zelensky described Putin's speech as a "performance" but said Ukraine was taking the threats seriously.
"But when a murderer says he wants to kill, we take it seriously and will respond together with our partners," Zelensky said.
"I hope with all our partners," he added, likely referring to the United States' diminishing support for Ukraine under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Zelensky said he held meetings with Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha about how to bolster Ukraine's defense and international support.
"Of course, we will find Ukrainian drones for the foot of every Russian soldier," he said. "Of course, Ukraine will defend itself."
The Ukrainian government has made several decisions in light of Russia's overt threats, Zelensky said. These include a complete diplomatic overhaul and transformation of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, intensified efforts to coordinate international sanctions, and more funding for drone development.
Kyiv's instructions for the SBU remain confidential, Zelensky said.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Kyiv is preparing to overhaul its Foreign Ministry and diplomatic corps in order to strengthen international support for Ukraine as the all-out war with Russia enters its fourth year, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on June 21.
The announcement is part of "a number of new decisions" Ukraine has made in response to Russia's stated aim to conquer all of Ukraine, Zelensky said in his evening address.
"(W)e will make changes to certain staff positions, including within the Ukrainian diplomatic corps and institutional management, to increase Ukraine's potential both in relations with partners and in internal Ukrainian resilience," Zelensky said.
The president said that all of Ukraine's ambassadors will hold a meeting and that results of the diplomatic transformation should be apparent in a month.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, confirmed that the president had already made decisions regarding some diplomatic personnel and that the ambassadors' meeting was scheduled for July.
"The geopolitical situation requires the diplomatic service to find new arguments and approaches adapted to realities," Sybiha said in a television broadcast on June 21.
"Therefore, the president has already made certain personnel decisions regarding the heads of some foreign institutions, because the criterion is very simple: results."
According to Sybiha, expected results include military aid packages, humanitarian and financial assistance, and support for Ukrainians living abroad.
Sybiha described the coming month as a "month of full diplomatic mobilization to bring about a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine."
The announcement comes after the disappointing outcome of the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders' Summit in Canada and before the June 24-25 NATO summit in The Hague, where Zelensky will once again advocate for international support for Ukraine.
At the G7 summit, Zelensky hoped to reset relations with Washington during a face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and potentially win an agreement to purchase weapons from the United States.
Trump's abrupt departure from the summit quashed those hopes, and Zelensky himself left the conference early. The G7 summit produced no unified statement on Ukraine and Trump reportedly objected to other leaders' call for stronger sanctions against Russia.
Zelensky told G7 leaders that "diplomacy is now in a state of crisis."
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Russia has ramped up its production capabilities and can now launch up to 500 drones per day, including up to 300 strike drones such as the Geran-2 or Shahed-136 and Garpia-A1, and up to 200 decoy drones, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) told RBK-Ukraine.
According to HUR, Russia has already stockpiled over 6,000 strike drones and another 6,000 decoys, and its daily production rate is increasing, from 170 drones per day today to 190 drones per day by the end of 2025.
Crucially, Moscow no longer relies on Iran: it has established a closed-loop production cycle for drones on Russian territory.
Meanwhile, the Russian arsenal also includes more than 1,950 strategic missiles, including:
The HUR reports that Russia manufactures up to 195 new missiles every month, posing a constant threat to Ukrainian infrastructure, defense, and civilians.
To counter this threat, Ukraine urgently needs more air defense systems, particularly the Patriot, which is among the few capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. However, even the most advanced air defenses may struggle against a mass swarm of drones launched simultaneously.
That’s why experts stress the need for autonomous AI-powered interceptor drones capable of operating independently from human control. This would allow for faster, scalable, and more resilient protection against UAV saturation attacks.
The Kremlin is using the nuns of Estonia’s Pühtitsa Convent of the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool of hybrid warfare against the West, according to Estonia’s Ministry of the Interior, The Telegraph reports.
The Russian Orthodox Church is increasingly suspected by Europeans and the US of operating as an espionage network for the Kremlin in various countries. This involves using churches and priests as cover for intelligence gathering and to advance Russian foreign policy interests.
The convent, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, has refused to sever ties with Patriarch Kirill, citing canonical law as justification.
However, Estonian government official Martin Tulit states this is merely a cover.
“The convent should be seen not simply as a religious institution, but also as a symbol of the Russki Mir ideology on Estonian soil – an ideology promoted by the Russian state and the Moscow Patriarchate that blends religion, nationalism, and imperial nostalgia,” says Martin Tulit, a senior Estonian government official.
The head of the convent, Abbess Filareta Kalatšova, was personally appointed by Patriarch Kirill in 2011. Since then, she has actively promoted narratives aligned with the Kremlin’s interpretation of Estonian and Western history.
The monastery spreads the idea that Orthodox believers are allegedly persecuted in Europe and labels Estonia’s new law, which requires churches to cut ties with aggressor states, a violation of religious freedom.
The Estonian Interior Ministry also dismissed claims that the law is intended to shut down the convent. Earlier, the agency said that the Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox Church, which is subordinate to Russia and the Kremlin, is the biggest lever of influence in Estonia.
Ukraine is asking partner countries to allocate 0.25% of their GDP to boosting Kyiv's defense production, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 20 at a press briefing attended by the Kyiv Independent.
The president's comments come less than a week before the NATO summit in The Hague, where Zelensky will have another opportunity to discuss Ukraine's security needs with world leaders.
"Ukraine is part of Europe's security, and we want 0.25% of the GDP of a particular partner country to be allocated to our defense industry and domestic production," Zelensky said at the briefing.
Ukraine is currently in talks with Denmark, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania on weapons development partnerships, Zelensky said.
The proposed spending target comes as Ukraine faces intensified aerial bombardments, dwindling U.S. support, and new Russian offensives. Moscow has doubled down on its maximalist ambitions in Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin insisting "all of Ukraine is ours" in remarks on June 20.
At the same time, Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to strike back at the aggressor state using its own domestically produced weapons. Operation Spiderweb, a mass attack on four key military airfields in Russia, was carried out entirely with Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine has been ramping up its defense production since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Support from Western allies has been critical to that effort, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production.
Denmark pioneered a new model of defense support when it became the first country to offer donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry. Zelensky has said he wants other NATO members to purchase weapons from Ukraine under the Danish model.
Increased defense spending is the main item on the agenda at the upcoming NATO summit. The United States has backed a proposal to raise the spending target from the current 2% to 5% GDP.
While thus far only Spain has rejected the proposal outright, most NATO members have remained noncommittal. Poland, the Netherlands, and Sweden have expressed willingness to consider the 5% target.
The Kyiv IndependentLinda Hourani
Ukraine may receive cutting-edge technologies from NATO by the end of 2025. The Alliance has completed testing systems designed to counter Russian guided bombs and strike drones like the Shahed, reports Defense Express.
Western startups Alta Ares, Atreyd, and Tytan carried out the developments, which created a multilayered air defense system.
Alta Ares demonstrated a unique system for detecting and predicting the flight trajectory of guided bombs, while Atreyd and Tytan developed anti-air drones and swarms of interceptor drones.
The tests were conducted under the supervision of NATO’s Joint Command, as well as representatives from France and Ukraine.
“Decisions are needed urgently — this will save lives and strengthen our defense,” military experts emphasize.
In 2025, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi officially confirmed that electronic warfare (EW) systems were successfully used to disrupt Russian guided bombs.
EW systems do not physically destroy the bombs, but disable their targeting by jamming the satellite navigation used for guidance. As a result, the bomb loses orientation and misses its target.
Russia has tried to counter this by upgrading its UMPK with advanced Kometa-M antennas, increasing the number of signal receivers from 4 to 12. However, these enhancements have not produced significant improvements in accuracy.
Ukraine is only in the first episode of the first season of the drone war, warns Mariia Berlinska, head of the Center for Aerial Reconnaissance Support, Texty reports.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are focusing on eliminating Ukrainian drone operators at critical moments, when approaching or leaving positions. Moscow’s troops also set deadly drone ambushes at road intersections that explode as soon as our troops get close.
“UAV crews are everything to us. They cover the infantry. They cause up to 90% of enemy losses,” explains Mariia Berlinska.
She adds that “priority should be given to destroying what destroys you best.”
Countering Moscow’s attacks is complicated by the lack of a unified tactic, but one approach is drones against drones – Ukrainian ground robots damage enemy fiber optic cables, causing a loss of control over enemy drones. Also, “Maviks” drop grenades or nets on enemy drones, while FPV drones can crash into foes like kamikazes.
Berlinska emphasizes: “Before sending soldiers anywhere, you must always check everything with drones and destroy Russian unmanned aerial vehicles to avoid human losses.”
Earlier, The Defense Post published a top 100 global companies specializing in drone development for air, land, and sea applications. Three Ukrainian companies made it to the list.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry has officially approved the new domestically produced unmanned ground vehicle, known as the Termit, for front-line use, the ministry announced on June 21.
The tracked robot is a next-generation version of Ukraine's existing ground-based unmanned systems already deployed across the front. These systems have supported operations by transporting supplies, conducting reconnaissance, and carrying explosives in contested areas.
Termit, the newest model in the series, features improved mobility and modularity. The drone can carry up to 300 kilograms and operates on various terrains thanks to its low profile, tracked design, and improved weight distribution.
Its traction battery system allows for several hours of continuous movement over dozens of kilometers. According to the Defense Ministry, Termit drones can be equipped with combat modules, used for medical evacuations, or for transporting specialized equipment as needed.
Ground drones such as Termit are being used more frequently to minimize soldier exposure to front-line risks. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Kyiv has prioritized the development of unmanned systems across all domains — air, sea, and land.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the production of at least 30,000 long-range drones in 2025, alongside expanded investment in strike-capable hybrids such as the Palianytsia and Peklo missile-drone platforms.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted that Kyiv must recognize the results of referendums held in four Ukrainian regions in autumn 2022 to avoid risks of conflict resumption in the future.
The Russian leader warned that rejecting these results “means there are chances for the resumption of armed conflict,” according to his interview with Sky News Arabia reported by RBC.
Beyond territorial recognition, Putin outlined additional requirements for what he termed long-term regional stability. These include Ukraine adopting neutral status by renouncing membership in foreign military alliances and abandoning nuclear weapons development, but as of now, Ukraine does not have an active nuclear weapons program.
“Ukraine deserves a better fate than being an instrument in the hands of external forces working against Russia,” Putin stated, reiterating Russian propaganda narrative that Ukraine is a proxy of Western geopolitical interests rather than an independent actor.
Earlier, Russian President urged Ukraine to accept Moscow’s demands from previous Istanbul peace talks, warning that Ukraine’s situation will worsen if negotiations are delayed.
During Istanbul peace talks on 16 May, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky reportedly told the Ukrainian delegation that Russia is prepared to fight for “a year, two, three—however long it takes,” invoking Russia’s historical 21-year war with Sweden to emphasize its willingness for prolonged conflict.
Despite Russia’s claim of not wanting war, Medinsky warned that some participants might lose more loved ones and that Russia is ready to fight indefinitely.
During the 2 June negotiations in Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia exchanged position papers outlining their respective visions for ending the war.
Russian demands include:
Ukraine rejected these demands, insisting on its sovereign right to choose alliances and strong Western security guarantees.
In contrast, Ukraine presented its own ceasefire proposals, including:
The country has begun construction of its biggest military plant, covering more than 5 hectares. According to leader Kim Jong Un, this will enable a “leap forward in the defense industry” and allow production of modern, high-tech machinery, NK Pro reports.
Analysts emphasize that the new facility could become a tool for significantly increasing North Korea’s military equipment exports, especially to Russia. This will strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and impact the global arms market.
The factory will produce domestically made Ryonha machine tools, which can replace imported counterparts and provide greater self-sufficiency for North Korea’s defense industry.
Construction started shortly after Kim Jong Un visited the site last month. State media released an artistic rendering of the future plant, which will surpass in size the main production workshop of Huichon Ryonha in Chagang Province.
Earlier, captured North Korean soldiers in Ukraine revealed that Pyongyang operates a military training base designed to resemble Seoul and other major South Korean cities.
The 3.5 km by 1.5 km facility includes a 40-hectare mock city divided into four sections for urban warfare training. Most structures are simple, single-story buildings, with a handful of two-story models.
Editor's note: This item has been expanded with additional details.
Belarusian opposition leader and political prisoner Siarhei Tsikhanouski was released on June 21, shortly after dictator Alexander Lukashenko met in Minsk with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
Tsikhanouski , a popular blogger who planned to challenge Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, was arrested shortly before the vote and later sentenced to 18 years in prison on politically motivated charges. Amnesty International recognized Tsikhanouski as a prisoner of conscience.
His wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, stepped in and became the main opposition candidate against Lukashenko.
At least 13 political detainees, including prominent blogger Ihar Losik, were also released on June 21, Belarusian independent outlet Nasha Niva reported.
The other released prisoners include three Polish citizens, two Latvian citizens, one Estonian citizen, a Swedish citizen, a U.S. citizen, and two Japanese citizens, according to Lukashenko's press secretary.
In a post on social media, Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the news but highlighted that "1,150 political prisoners remain behind bars."
My husband Siarhei is free! It’s hard to describe the joy in my heart.
— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) June 21, 2025
Thank you, 🇺🇸 @POTUS, @SPE_Kellogg, @JohnPCoale, DAS Christopher W. Smith, @StateDept & our 🇪🇺 allies, for all your efforts.
We’re not done. 1150 political prisoners remain behind bars. All must be released. pic.twitter.com/MhngqBHFq3
Kellogg's deputy, John Coale, said the released political prisoners had been transferred to Vilnius and expressed gratitude to the Lithuanian government for facilitating their relocation.
"President Trump's strong leadership led to the release of 14 prisoners from Belarus today. Thanks to the Lithuanian government for its cooperation and assistance — they remain a true friend and ally," Coale wrote on X.
According to official results of the 2020 election, Lukashenko won with 80% of the vote, while Tsikhanouskaya received just 10%. Evidence indicates that the election was heavily rigged, and Tsikhanouskaya could have realistically won the vote.
As a result, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Belarus in 2020 to demand a fair election. Thousands were arrested, and many were beaten and tortured. At least seven demonstrators were killed during the protests.
Minsk has faced repeated Western sanctions since the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
Lukashenko, in power since 1994, is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory for military operations against Ukraine.
"You have caused quite a stir in the world with your arrival," Lukashenko told Kellogg during their meeting at the Palace of Independence, according to state-run outlet Belta.
"But I wonder why. Can't we have a normal dialogue and talk about our affairs – about relations between Belarus and the United States of America?"
Kellogg is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Belarus in recent years, following former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's 2020 trip under Trump's first term.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Lukashenko's regime has played a key logistical role in supporting Moscow's campaign, offering its territory for troop deployments and weapons stockpiles.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Andrii Melnyk, has called the UN Security Council representatives to visit Ukraine to speak with Russian war victims and look into the eyes of mothers who have lost their children, UkrInform reports.
Moscow has doubled its attacks on Ukrainian civilians amid US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, which mostly consist of pressuring Ukraine into concessions. Since the start of his 2025 presidency, no new aid has been approved for Ukraine, and no new sanctions have been imposed by Washington.
On 20 June, Melnyk urged the UN Security Council to apply every single option it has to put an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“This war is being waged in bedrooms, in kitchens, on children’s playgrounds… This madness must stop,” Melnyk emphasized.
In an emotional appeal, Melnyk said he was speaking not only as Ukraine’s representative, a victim of Russia’s war of extermination, but also as a citizen whose family in Kyiv is hanging by a thread.
He shared how his mother-in-law sleeps in the bathroom to shield herself from missile attacks, just like millions of other Ukrainians.
Melnyk underscored that Russia’s actions constitute terror against the civilian population, driven by Moscow’s inability to achieve victory on the battlefield.
The diplomat sharply criticized statements by Russia’s UN envoy Nebenzya, who denies targeting civilians. With biting sarcasm, Melnyk asked whether it might be “aliens, Martians, or the Tooth Fairy” who are dropping bombs instead of coins.
Recently, drones have overtaken artillery as the leading cause of Russian casualties in Ukraine. However, the king of the battlefield has not been replaced, as Ukrainians have completely innovated how drones function in modern war.
In May, drones were responsible for over 75% of Russian battlefield casualties, compared to an estimated 20% by artillery and 5% from small arms. Ukraine struck more than 89,000 targets with drones in May, which includes manpower, equipment, and vehicles, a 7.2% increase from 83,000 in April.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that drones have now caught up with artillery in terms of hit percentage. Much of this is driven by the widespread adoption of fiber-optic drones with a twenty-kilometer range, which are immune to jamming and increasingly available across the front. These figures underline a new reality: drones are no longer a secondary force but the main source of pain for Russian troops.
By contrast, artillery, once the dominant killer, now causes just a fifth of Russian injuries. Artillery still fires vast volumes, but its effectiveness is declining. The wear and tear on barrels, many of which have fired well beyond their service life, is making precision increasingly difficult.
At the same time, Russia has hardened many of its positions, reducing the lethality of inaccurate or delayed strikes. While artillery crews are well-trained, they rely on stable spotting networks and undisturbed logistics, both of which have come under pressure. Recent numbers show that artillery still hits targets, but in terms of lethal effect, its effectiveness is declining.
The explanation lies in the trajectories of these systems. Artillery is degrading while drones are improving. Drone operators are becoming better trained, coordination with unit-level tactics is improving, and technology is always evolving. Many modern drones are not just flying grenades; they can operate in contested environments, evade electronic warfare, and hunt in swarms, with some even featuring integrated autonomous targeting software.
Some drones are equipped with thermobaric charges for higher lethality, while others use fiber-optic guidance systems that render electronic warfare useless. Direct strike FPV’s are often paired with reconnaissance drones, turning the process almost into a continuous production line of kamikaze strikes. This increase in usage and tactics is matched by coordination, with notably Ukrainian drone units now operating with leaderboards tracking confirmed kills, pushing crews to innovate faster.
Still, artillery remains an essential part of the Ukrainian system. Its function on the modern battlefield has shifted but not disappeared. Mortars and howitzers are unmatched when it comes to area denial and suppressive fire. These are tasks drones do poorly, especially in bad weather conditions or when continuous fire is necessary.
A drone may kill a soldier in a trench, but a battery of Mortars can prevent a platoon from moving through that trench in the first place, or allow a Ukrainian assault group to advance to the position uncontested. In high-intensity combined arms warfare, the need to suppress, disrupt, or channel enemy movement is still best handled by traditional artillery. Mortars, in particular, remain indispensable in close-range engagements where portability and fast reaction matter more than pinpoint accuracy or larger explosions.
That is why drones have not replaced anything; they have supplemented and, in some contexts, outperformed conventional systems. The most effective Ukrainian units, like Magyar’s Birds, are those that combine the two. Drones scout enemy positions, drop munitions, and then feed coordinates to mortar and artillery crews. Or, drones disable vehicles, which are then finished off by artillery once stationary.
Even low-cost FPV drones now serve as spotters, finishers, or gap fillers for artillery teams, targeting vehicles that artillery damaged but did not destroy, or chasing down retreating troops. In some sectors, Ukrainian teams are now using drones and mortars together, creating a kill chain that is fast, inexpensive, and difficult to counter. The combination of both systems is where the real advantage lies for the Ukrainians.
Overall, the drone surge is reshaping how Ukraine fights. It is not about one system replacing another but about new layers being added to the battlefield. Drones now inflict the most pain, but artillery still shapes the battlefield. The Ukrainian military has managed to merge both systems into a flexible and deadly toolkit. As long as drone production continues to scale and artillery remains operational, Ukraine will retain the edge in tactical innovation, and Russia will keep paying the price.
In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Zelenskyy claims that an Israeli citizen was among the deceased received by Ukraine
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