The UK’s Defense Ministry reports in its intelligence update a dramatic increase in the number of artificial limbs issued in Russia, suggesting rising battlefield injuries and growing strain on the country’s medical services.

Massive rise in prosthetics issued across Russia

Open-source data cited by the Ministry’s 17 June update points to a 53% increase in artificial limbs issued in Russia in 2024 compared to the previous year. The figures, reportedly sourced from Russia’s Ministry of Labor, indicate that around 152,500 prosthetic limbs were provided to individuals with disabilities last year. Notably, arm prosthetics saw a 75% surge in issuance. During the same period, wheelchair distribution also climbed by 18%, reflecting a broader rise in mobility-related disability cases.

Independent reports expose systemic treatment delays

The update referred to earlier reporting by the independent Russian media outlet Verstka. According to that report, Russian soldiers with amputated limbs had been left waiting for extended periods before receiving necessary prosthetics.

UK intelligence points to medical system strain

UK Defense Intelligence assessed that Russia is “almost certainly failing to provide necessary combat medical treatment at the front line.” The update noted that this failure contributes to “a greater number of serious long-term injuries amongst Russian soldiers.” It also stated that the significant rise in the number of Russian men with disabilities, along with other wounded personnel, “will almost certainly have a detrimental long-term impact on both medical and social services in Russia.”

Russia has handed Kyiv the bodies of its own soldiers mixed in with those of Ukrainian soldiers during recent repatriation of the fallen, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on June 16.

Klymenko's statement follows the completion of an exchange between Ukraine and Russia of the remains of soldiers killed in action earlier the same day, under agreements reached during recent peace talks in Istanbul.

Kyiv returned a total of 6,057 bodies. Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin and member of the Russian delegation at the Istanbul talks, claimed that Russia received the bodies of 78 deceased servicemen.

According to Klymenko, the identification process has been significantly complicated by the condition in which Russia returned the bodies.

"Parts of the bodies (of fallen soldiers) are in different bags. There are cases when the remains of one person are returned even during different stages of repatriation," the minister said.

Klymenko said that Russia may have included the bodies of its own soldiers in the transfer to Ukraine either on purpose or by accident.

"This could have been done by the Russians on purpose to increase the number of bodies transferred and to load our (forensic) experts with work, adding to all this cynical information pressure. Or it could be their usual negligent attitude toward their own people. In any case, we also identify these bodies," Klymenko said.

The June 2 negotiations in Istanbul resulted in the most expansive prisoner and body exchange agreement of the full-scale war, although no ceasefire was reached.

The deal followed the largest-ever POW swap in late May, when 1,000 prisoners were exchanged on each side. Additional exchanges last week included severely wounded and sick soldiers.

Russia accused Ukraine on June 7 of rejecting a proposed body return, publishing footage allegedly showing Ukrainian corpses stored in refrigeration units. Kyiv dismissed the claims, saying the footage was filmed inside Russia and not at a designated exchange location.

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported on June 16 that Russia is preparing to escalate a disinformation campaign related to ongoing POW exchanges next week, aiming to provoke public outrage in Ukrainian society.

From buffer zone to new front: Russia pushes deeper into Sumy Oblast

In March 2025, as Ukrainian forces made their final retreat from Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, new grey spots began to appear on open-source maps on the other side of the state border, in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast. For the first time since 2022, when Moscow’s forces retreated

The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Ukrainian actor Yuriy Felipenko, who worked with Kyiv Independent reporters, was killed at the frontline, his wife Kateryna Motrych wrote on social media on June 15.

Felipenko was well known for his role in the 2024 television series “A Promise to God” before joining the Achilles Strike Drone Battalion, then part of Ukraine’s 92nd Assault Brigade, in April 2024.

Having since been upgraded to a separate regiment and one of the founding units of the Line of Drones initiative, Achilles is one of the most effective drone units in the country.

“Yura was killed. Yura was, without exaggeration, my world, my soul, my light. It is impossible to convey this loss. I feel like I have been destroyed,” Motrych wrote on her Instagram page, accompanied by a photo of Felipenko.

Felipenko's drone team was featured in a report by the Kyiv Independent on Ukraine's use of first-person view (FPV) drones against Russian infantry assaults in December 2024 as they defended the area around Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast.

Details of Felipenko’s funeral will be announced later, Motrych said.

Russia has killed numerous actors, artists, and writers since the start of the full-scale invasion. Many have fallen on the battlefield while others were killed during attacks on civilian areas.

Ukrainian opera tenor and volunteer killed in Sumy Oblast

Vladyslav Horai, a renowned tenor and soloist of the Odesa National Opera, was killed in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast while on a volunteer mission, the opera house reported on June 8.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Ukraine recovered another 1,200 bodies following the latest round of repatriation efforts, following agreements with Russia in Istanbul, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on June 15.

The last repatriation took place on June 14 when the bodies of 1,200 fallen Ukrainians were given back. Before that, 2,412 bodies were returned on June 13 and June 11 respectively, following the talks in Istanbul on June 2.

Law enforcement investigations and institutions from Ukraine’s Interior Ministry will examine and identify the bodies in the near future, the coordination headquarters said. The bodies reportedly include military personnel.

The repatriation operation was coordinated by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War alongside the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ombudsman’s Office, the Armed Forces, the Interior Ministry, and other government and defense bodies. The International Committee of the Red Cross also provided assistance during the process.

While the Istanbul talks failed to foster a ceasefire, both sides agreed to new POW exchanges. Ukraine has long pushed for an "all-for-all"prisoner exchange to bring home all Ukrainian captives, but Moscow has resisted such a comprehensive deal.

After the talks, Russia said it would transfer 6,000 bodies to Ukraine, including soldiers and officers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would need to check the bodies that Russia is willing to return, as only 15% of the 6,000 have been identified.

"We had instances when they returned bodies that later were identified as their own," Zelensky said on June 2.

Russia transfers 50 Ukrainian children to so-called ‘rehab camp’ in Kalmykia, Kyiv says

Russia has transferred 50 children from the occupied Antratsyt district of Luhansk Oblast to a so-called rehabilitation camp in Kalmykia, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation reported on June 14.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

As part of a painful but vital repatriation process, Ukraine has reportedly received another 1,200 bodies of fallen soldiers from Russia, part of an agreement brokered in Istanbul, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (CHTPW) announces. 

This exchange follows two earlier repatriations on 13 June and 11 June, during which 1,200 and 1,212 bodies, respectively, were returned to Ukraine.

According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, this exchange symbolizes a necessary step toward restoring dignity to fallen defenders.

“An agreement was reached to return 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers in exchange for 6,000,” he explains.

In the coming days, Ukrainian law enforcement, forensic teams from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other agencies will conduct examinations and procedures to return names to those unidentified.

Ukraine conducted another prisoner swap with Russia, returning home dozens of wounded, ill, and young defenders, many of whom had been held since 2022. Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and POW HQ did not specify the exact number of POWs returned in this exchange. One of the photos shows at least 41 people.

Fourth exchange in one week

On 14 June 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on his official Telegram channel that Ukraine had carried out the fourth prisoner exchange in a single week.

“We continue to bring our people back from Russian captivity,” Zelenskyy wrote.

He added that many of those released had been in Russian hands since 2022 and included servicemen from the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service.

“We must free everyone and we’re working toward this so that no one is left to the enemy,” Zelenskyy stated, thanking all those contributing to the process.

Wounded, seriously ill, and young defenders returned

According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, this latest exchange was part of a broader deal focusing on releasing those who are wounded or seriously ill. It was carried out under agreements previously reached with Russia in Istanbul.

The returned soldiers include members of the Armed Forces, Air Assault Forces, Navy, Territorial Defense Forces, State Border Guard Service, National Guard, and the State Special Transport Service. The Coordination Headquarters emphasized that the majority had been in captivity since 2022, with many captured during the defense of Mariupol.

High number of officers and young servicemen among released

Most of the freed defenders reportedly were officers, while some were under the age of 25. They had fought on multiple fronts, including the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kursk directions. Their release marks a significant development in Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to bring its soldiers home.

The Coordination Headquarters confirmed that all released defenders will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and receive physical and psychological rehabilitation. They will also be granted the full financial compensation due for the duration of their captivity.

2022 Mariupol Defense

The defense of Mariupol in 2022 resulted in heavy losses for Ukraine, with hundreds of servicemen captured after the fall of the Azovstal plant. Since then, Ukraine has conducted multiple prisoner swaps, often focusing on those with severe injuries or health conditions, facilitated through international negotiations.

Following recent repatriation efforts, Ukraine has brought home the bodies of 1,200 fallen soldiers, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

“According to the Russian side, the remains belong to Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel. The repatriation was carried out in line with the agreements reached in Istanbul,” the Coordination Headquarters stated.

• What happens next:
  The bodies will undergo forensic examination and identification by Ukrainian investigators and Interior Ministry experts
• This process will restore the names of the fallen heroes and allow families to be notified

On 2 June, during negotiations in Istanbul, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, announced that both parties had agreed to exchange 6,000 fallen soldiers’ remains in a 6,000-for-6,000 swap. 

Earlier, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said to the Ukrainian delegation during recent peace talks in Istanbul that Russia is prepared to fight forever. 

Russia conditioned a ceasefire on Ukraine withdrawing all forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—regions claimed by Moscow since 2022 but only partially occupied. Ukrainian diplomatic sources said Russia also threatened to seize Kharkiv and Sumy, expanding its territorial demands.

“Maybe more of your loved ones will die”: Russia’s threat at Ukraine peace talks revealed

Ukraine returned a group of severely wounded and seriously ill military personnel from Russian captivity as part of an ongoing major prisoner exchange program negotiated during Istanbul talks on 2 June.

Among the freed prisoners are defenders of Mariupol who spent more than three years in Russian captivity. All released individuals are male enlisted personnel and sergeants, with some previously classified as missing in action.

The returned personnel include service members from multiple branches of Ukraine’s armed forces, including the Airborne Assault Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces, and Territorial Defense Forces, as well as personnel from the State Border Guard Service and National Guard, according to the Coordination Headquarters for Treatment of Prisoners of War.

“All need treatment, and they will definitely receive the necessary assistance,” Zelenskyy stated. “We continue working to bring everyone back from Russian captivity.”

The ages of the returned prisoners range from 22 to 59 years old, according to Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. All freed personnel will undergo medical examinations and receive physical and psychological rehabilitation services, along with compensation payments for their time in captivity.

In a previous recent swap on 9 June, Ukraine returned captured defenders under 25 years of age, followed by wounded and ill military personnel the next day.

On 11 June, Ukraine repatriated the bodies of 1,212 fallen service members for forensic identification and return to families.

Mykhailo Drapatyi said on June 11 that he had concluded his six-month tenure as commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, summarizing his accomplishments and stating that he is leaving with "a clear conscience."

Drapatyi submitted his resignation on June 1, following a deadly Russian missile strike that killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers at a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, saying the victims were young recruits who "should have learned, lived, and fought — not died."

President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed him as commander of the Joint Forces on June 3, two days after the incident. The Ground Forces said the same day that an investigation was underway and pledged accountability if negligence or misconduct is found.

In his statement, Drapatyi described the state of the Ground Forces at the time of his appointment on Nov. 29, 2024 as mired in "managerial stagnation," defined by fear, lack of initiative, and detachment from frontline units.

"Systemic abuse, personnel decisions based on connections, low internal organization," he wrote. "The command is gradually shifting from a culture of fear to a culture of responsibility."

Drapatyi said he had replaced over half of the Ground Forces' leadership in key functions and had begun reforms aimed at decentralization, accountability, and professionalism.

Under his leadership, the military launched a revamp of recruitment centers, aiming to eliminate corruption and increase transparency in mobilization.

Drapatyi also oversaw a partial overhaul of the army's training and staffing systems. New leadership was introduced in the drone, cyber, and electronic warfare units amid a wave of broader reforms.

"Decisions are made not on the basis of status or loyalty, but on the basis of analysis, results, and respect for subordinates," Drapatyi said. "Grassroots initiatives ceased to be a threat and began to become a resource."

Zelensky said on June 3 that Drapatyi's new role would focus "exclusively on combat issues."

Ukraine’s SBU releases fresh video of Operation Spiderweb, teases ‘new surprises’

“The SBU is hitting and will hit (Russia) where it considers itself unreachable!” SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said. “We are working on new surprises, no less painful than the Operation Spiderweb.”

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

“Unfortunately, this is a real photo.” A doctor caring for prisoners of war could not bear what he saw on the body of his patient, a Ukrainian soldier, who returned from Russian captivity, according to UkrInform. 

The photo showing a Ukrainian soldier with the “Glory to Russia” inscription burned into his body has shocked the Ukrainian community. It is an image of a soldier who was returned to Ukraine during previous exchanges.

Representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Andrii Yusov, has confirmed the authenticity of the shocking image.

“Unfortunately, this is a real photo. During an examination at one of the regional centers where the guys undergo rehabilitation, the doctor simply couldn’t bear what he saw, photographed and posted it,” Yusov says.

Some 90% of Ukrainian military personnel who were freed from Russian captivity reveal violations of detention conditions in one form or another, he adds.

“Violations of detention conditions, necessary nutrition standards, medical care – this is a very common phenomenon in Russian captivity. It is something that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the entire international community must work on and pressure,” Yusov claims.

Ukraine carefully documents all such facts. Yusov notes that critical weight loss by prisoners is regularly recorded during exchanges.

“This is very visually apparent, and there’s a difference in what condition the occupiers return to the so-called Russian Federation and in what condition Ukrainian defenders return,” the HUR representative emphasizes.

This information becomes part of the work of the Ukrainian investigation and justice, as well as Ukraine’s work on international legal platforms.

On 7 June 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot that direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia remain essential for ending the war, according to a readout from the US Department of State.

Rubio brings up direct talks in phone call with Barrot

The US State Department reported that Rubio and Barrot spoke about global security developments. According to the official readout,

“Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of continued direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a lasting peace.”

In the same 7 June call, Rubio and Barrot “reaffirmed their shared commitment to preventing Iran from developing or obtaining a nuclear weapon.” They also discussed support for Israel and emphasized the need to free hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. However, the focus on Ukraine again highlighted Washington’s ongoing strategy of promoting negotiations with Russia.

Zelenskyy rejects Trump’s comparison of war to “two little kids fighting.” He says Putin is murderer who kills these kids

Diplomatic pressure unchanged despite lack of results

Despite all the diplomatic efforts, Russia continues to demand Kyiv’s de facto capitulation, repeating its initial full-scale invasion objectives from 2022.

Rubio’s message comes days after a 2 June meeting in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian low-level representatives, where both sides agreed to a new exchange of prisoners and fallen soldiers.

ISW: Ukraine denies Russian claims on alleged blocking of POW and KIA body exchange

However, Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsya said that Russia again rejected an unconditional ceasefire. 

Ukraine has denied Russian claims that it had delayed a planned exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) and the bodies of fallen soldiers, reportedly scheduled for June 7-8.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations agreed to conduct a major swap, which would include severely injured prisoners and young people aged 18 to 25, during their second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul on June 2.

After the talks, Russia also pledged to transfer 6,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and officers to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that preparations for exchanging the bodies would begin after the POW swap.

On June 7, however, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation in peace talks, claimed that the contact group of the Russian Defense Ministry was reportedly stationed at the border with Ukraine, but the Ukrainian side "unexpectedly postponed both the transfer of bodies and the POW exchange indefinitely."

Ukraine's Defense Ministry dismissed the claim as false, saying it was an attempt by Russia to avoid returning Ukrainian POWs from captivity and take their POWs back to Russia.

"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian side is once again facing attempts to retroactively revise agreements. If the Russian side is now backing away from what was promised in Istanbul, it raises serious questions about the reliability and capability of their negotiating team," the ministry wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs also refuted Russia's claim, saying that "instead of constructive dialogue, Ukraine once again faced manipulations and attempts to exploit sensitive humanitarian issues for information purposes."

According to the headquarters, Ukraine submitted lists of POWs "formed according to clearly defined categories agreed upon during the negotiations in Istanbul," while the Russian side "provided different lists that do not correspond to the agreed approach."

The headquarters also added that an agreement on the repatriation of bodies of fallen soldiers was made, but the date was not set.

"Instead of consistently implementing the agreed procedure, the Russian side took unilateral actions that were not coordinated within the joint process," the statement reads.

"Unfortunately, instead of constructive dialogue, we are once again faced with manipulations and attempts to exploit sensitive humanitarian issues for information purposes. We remain committed to a real outcome — the return of our prisoners and the bodies of the fallen — and are ready to continue working within the agreed framework."

The latest direct Russia-Ukraine talks, hosted by Turkish officials, followed the first round of negotiations on May 16. The initial meeting ended with an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange of the war, but without any tangible progress toward a peace deal.

Ukraine has returned over 5,000 prisoners via exchanges with Russia since March 2022, according to officials. Kyiv has repeatedly pressed Moscow to agree to an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange, but Russia has rejected the proposal.

‘It’s okay, Mom, I’m home’ —Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap of the war

Editor’s note: The article incorrectly said that only soldiers were brought back to Ukraine as part of the exchange. Ukraine has brought back home 290 soldiers and 120 civilians. Their eyes fill with tears as they hear people shouting, ‘Thank you!’ and ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ The soldiers have just arrived

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Mykhailo Drapatyi has been appointed Commander of the Joint Forces after submitting his resignation as Ground Forces Commander, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 3.

Drapatyi resigned from his previous role on June 1 following a deadly Russian missile strike that killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers at a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast earlier that day.

He was then summoned to a meeting with Zelensky on June 3.

"I explained to the president the reasons for my decision (to resign). The president heard me, supported me, and suggested that we focus on the main issues — the war, the front line, and victory," Drapatyi wrote on Telegram.

The commander also emphasized the need to change the culture of commanders' attitudes toward their soldiers, the performance of their duties, and the value of the life of every Ukrainian soldier.

"I received a task from the president. I am staying in the ranks, on the front line. Where I have to be, where I can do the most," Drapatyi said.

During his evening address, Zelensky said that Drapatyi would be appointed Commander of the Joint Forces and focus "exclusively on combat issues."

The Russian strike in question hit the 239th Polygon, a Ground Forces training ground north of the city of Dnipro, on June 1. Drapatyi, confirming the location and when announcing his resignation, said the victims were mostly young recruits who "should have learned, lived, and fought — not died."

The attack killed 12 people and injured more than 60 others, according to the Ground Forces press office.

The Ground Forces said that if the investigation finds negligence or misconduct contributed to the casualties, those responsible will face strict accountability.

Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian training sites have intensified in recent months. The 239th Polygon was also struck by an Iskander missile in March.

Russia had previously attacked Ukrainian training grounds several times when Ukrainian soldiers were lining up to be awarded for their service.

The attacks, which resulted in heavy casualties, provoked criticism of the top military leadership, which allowed negligence at military facilities.

As Ukraine’s fate hangs in the balance, ‘Soviet’ command culture damages war effort

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include the official response to the Kyiv Independent from Ukraine’s General Staff, which came a few days after initial publication. Last February, a Ukrainian company commander going by his callsign Veter was ordered to send his people to reinforce another unit’s

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Today, there are a lot of interesting updates from the Kupiansk direction. Here, along the Oskil River near Kupiansk, Ukrainian special forces just carried out one of the boldest operations of the war.

In a surprise helicopter raid deep behind Russian lines, they landed undetected and tore through dugouts, safe houses, and staging zones, shattering Russian preparations before their offensive could even begin.

Hidden danger of Kharkiv Oblast town

The Russian forces in this area maintain a very thin bridgehead on the west bank of the Oskil River, where the control of the town of Dvorichna allows them to accumulate and deploy forces across the river.

Russians plan to use this bridgehead to tactically outflank Ukrainian forces in Kupiansk from the north, as well as to use it as a launching pad to link up with their other offensive in Kharkiv.

The Ukrainians understand that the Dvorichna bridgehead will be a key staging ground for the Russian summer offensive in Kharkiv, and know that they must act quickly to undermine any future Russian effort here.

The flaw in the river

The primary Russian weakness here is that their forces must cross the Oskil River by boat to reach their bridgehead on the western bank, which significantly complicates their logistics. This prevents them from deploying large numbers of heavy weapons such as anti-tank guided missiles or MANPADS.

The lack of man-portable air defenses makes the Russian bridgehead highly vulnerable to any aerial operations that the Ukrainians could conduct.

Subsequently, the Ukrainian special operations forces command devised a daring and unconventional plan, to conduct the first air assault operation in the war in over three years.

They planned to fly over Russian lines and deploy several teams of special forces in the rear of the enemy, where they would conduct raids, gather intelligence, and direct fire onto concealed Russian deployment points.

Ghosts in the trees

The Ukrainian Special Forces involved in this operation were deployed using American UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, flying low to avoid being detected by the Russians.

Penetrating deep behind Russian lines, the helicopters were able to land and dismount several dozen Ukrainian operators before returning safely to friendly territory.

Once on the ground, the Ukrainian troops moved quickly and with purpose. After reaching their targets, they launched a series of highly effective and deadly raids against Russian forces. They cleared forest belts and residential areas of enemy soldiers who had been preparing to cross the river.

Russian troops were caught completely off guard, never expecting an attack from their rear. Several dugouts were quickly encircled, and numerous Russian soldiers were captured in the confusion.

Taking full advantage of surprise and terrain, Ukrainian operators concealed themselves in forested areas, waiting for small Russian infantry groups that were either sent to find them, or were moving to new positions completely unaware.

These ambushes were swift and lethal, as the Ukrainians eliminated enemy soldiers at point-blank range using small arms, all while remaining undetected in the dense cover of the forest.

The escape corridor

The high level of coordination and preparation of the Ukrainian forces included several armored vehicles, meant to arrive near a designated exfil point to quickly evacuate the operators. This point was chosen carefully, as it had the least amount of frontline activity, and no Russian bridgehead, making it the safest route for the job.

The Ukrainians moved through the dense forests behind the Dvorichna bridgehead and avoided areas with larger concentrations of Russian soldiers.

The Ukrainian special operators, with intelligence gained from captured Russians, enabled the Ukrainian drone operators to identify large Russian strongholds standing in the way of the Ukrainian exfiltration.

Artillery crews and heavy drone bombers were deployed, leading to the decimation of these Russian troops.

This focused fire established a corridor for the Ukrainian special forces to safely traverse the forests and reach the western bank of the river, where MaxPro armored vehicles awaited to exfiltrate them back to safety.

Operators left behind: the shadow war begins

Overall, the Ukrainians achieved the impossible, carrying out the war’s first air assault operation in over three years, allowing them to strike deep into Russian-held territory, inflict serious losses, and gather critical intelligence.

Notably, it is highly likely that not all Ukrainian operators exfiltrated from behind Russian lines.

According to special forces doctrine, these operators will be able to gather intelligence, set up and train further resistance networks, and conduct a deadly guerrilla warfare with sabotage and liquidations of top Russian commanders.

Russia is going to go all-in this summer, and the Ukrainians are positioning themselves to take every advantage they can to repulse it.

In our daily 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.

President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Russia’s proposal for a 2–3-day local ceasefire to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers, speaking during a June 2 online press conference attended by the Kyiv Independent.

Russia proposed a temporary two- to three-day ceasefire in specific areas of the front line to allow for the retrieval of fallen soldiers' bodies, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said on June 2. Medinsky, who heads Moscow’s delegation to the peace talks in Istanbul, made the statement during a press conference following the second round of negotiations with Ukraine.

"They just don’t see a ceasefire as such at the moment," Zelensky said of Russia's proposal. "As they said regarding a ceasefire, they are ready for a 2–3-day ceasefire to retrieve the dead from the battlefield. I think they’re idiots, because, fundamentally, a ceasefire is meant so that there are no dead."

"You can see their attitude. For them, this is just a brief pause in the war," the president added.

"That’s why we really want our American partners to push a sanctions package through the Senate with decisive steps — to pressure the Russians into a ceasefire with strong sanctions. They don’t understand any other way for now."

U.S. President Donald Trump Trump said on May 28 that the U.S. would soon know whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about ending the war. If not, he warned, Washington would "respond a little bit differently."

The U.S. president said he had not yet imposed new sanctions on Russia because he believed a peace deal might be within reach. "If I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that," he said, but added he is prepared to act if Moscow stalls further.

Ukraine's official proposal, obtained by the Kyiv Independent on June 2, suggests that some existing sanctions against Russia could be lifted in the event of a full ceasefire. However, the plan includes a key condition: sanctions would be automatically reinstated if Russia violates the ceasefire terms.

Operation Spiderweb — everything we know about Ukraine’s ‘audacious’ attack on Russia’s heavy bombers

Ukraine was jubilant on June 1 as news filtered through of a stunning drone attack targeting Russian heavy bombers, that simultaneously targeted four air bases, two of them thousands of miles inside Russia. “Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia — this is the result of a special operation

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

6,000 for 6,000: Kyiv and Moscow have agreed on the largest exchange of fallen soldiers since the full-scale war began in the latest meeting in Istanbul. 

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who leads the Ukrainian delegation, has announced that the parties agreed on a new large-scale swap at the negotiations. 

“We have agreed on exchanges. We will soon provide details,” he said after the talks.

According to the minister, the focus was on three key categories:

• Severely wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war,
• Young soldiers aged 18 to 25,
• Bodies of fallen soldiers.

The sides have agreed on an “all-for-all” exchange principle for each category. This includes exchanging 6,000 bodies of fallen soldiers for the same number from the Russian side.

In addition, the Ukrainian side handed over to Russia a list of several hundred kidnapped Ukrainian children who were illegally deported to Russia. Ukraine insists on their immediate return.

The negotiations ended following Ukraine’s biggest Spiderweb operation, which damaged or destroyed 40 Russian aircraft. Many military experts and officials have praised the strikes, calling them the future of modern warfare. 

“An army where no one is held accountable for losses dies from within.” With these words, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi, has announced he is resigning after a Russian attack on the Kyiv forces’ military training base. 

Drapatyi announced his decision via social media. 

“This is a conscious step, driven by my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy at the 239th training ground… This is my responsibility,” he wrote on Telegram. 

The general emphasized that impunity and complicity are toxic for the army and admitted that his efforts to change the system were not enough.

“We have no right to live in a system that doesn’t learn… Without personal responsibility, there is no victory,” he claimed. 

Drapatyi said he had initiated a full review of the incident, including the commanders’ actions, the condition of the shelters, and the effectiveness of the alert system.

Ukraine’s military command reported that a commission and internal investigation had been launched into the strike, and promised that those responsible would be held strictly accountable.

During the war, Mykhailo Drapatyi rose through the ranks from battalion commander to Deputy Chief of the General Staff. In his previous roles, Drapatyi was responsible for planning military operations.

From the early days of Russia’s aggression in 2014, he led the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 72nd Brigade, which took part in the liberation of Mariupol in May of that year.

Russia’s mobilization reserve may include as many as 25 million people — those with military obligations or past service — from its total population of 145 million. However, only about 3 million of them are considered properly trained and combat-capable, according to the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, the country has mobilized 1.3 million people, while sustaining nearly one million casualties in killed and wounded, said Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service chief Oleh Ivashchenko in an interview with Ukrinform.

“Russia has approximately 145 million inhabitants. The mobilization resource consists of 25 million people. These are those who have relevant military registration or related specialties. And these are the labor resources that drive the economy. But only 3 million are actually trained,” Ivashchenko said.

Ivashchenko also detailed significant constraints in Russia’s defense production capabilities.

“They are trying to reach maximum output, but it’s difficult for them. They need investments, machine tools, components, and there are problems with this. Electronics and specialized chemistry are particularly challenging,” Ivashchenko stated.

The Foreign Intelligence head also revealed that 80% of Russia’s current military equipment consists of older systems with reduced capabilities, retrieved from storage facilities, repaired, and deployed to combat zone, while only 20% represents modern military systems.

Regarding ammunition production, Russia manufactures approximately 3 million artillery shells of 122mm and 152mm caliber annually. The country supplements this domestic production with 2.5 to 3 million additional shells from North Korea each year.

Ivashchenko reported that Russia has acquired 6 million shells from North Korea since the full-scale war began. North Korea has also provided military hardware including 120 units of 170mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems and 120 units of M1991 240mm multiple rocket launcher systems.

Earlier, Dutch military intelligence warned that Russia is producing significantly more artillery than needed for its war in Ukraine, with support from other countries, and is moving new military units toward NATO borders, especially in the Baltic states and Finland. Dutch officials stressed that, while an immediate attack is not expected, Europe must prepare for the possibility of future Russian aggression.

Recently, US intelligence also indicated that Russian President Putin is prepared to continue the war against Ukraine through at least the end of 2025, viewing the conflict as central to his personal legacy and the future of his regime.

Despite significant losses and international sanctions, Putin is determined to achieve his objectives in Ukraine and shows no signs of willingness to negotiate a meaningful peace. The Kremlin is mobilizing resources and adapting its strategy to sustain military operations, while also intensifying efforts to undermine Western support for Ukraine through propaganda, cyberattacks, and political interference.

Ukrainian forces captured 971 Russian servicemen during the Kursk operation, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces launched a surprise cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast in August 2024, initially capturing significant territory and hundreds of prisoners before Russian counterattacks and overwhelming force led to a Ukrainian withdrawal by March 2025. The operation aimed to divert Russian resources, inflict military damage, and gain leverage for negotiations, but reportedly failed to sustain a long-term foothold in Russian territory.

“Defense Forces continuously fill the ‘exchange fund’ with Russian soldiers and officers to free our people from enemy dungeons,” the General Staff reported.

The Kursk offensive operation proved most effective for prisoner captures. Ukrainian defenders took 971 Russian military personnel captive between 6 August 2024, and 25 May 2025, the General Staff stated.

Defense Forces of Ukraine continue active operations in Kursk Oblast, according to the statement.

The General Staff described the Kursk campaign as an unexpected asymmetric move. “A quantitatively superior enemy can only be defeated by unconventional decisions, and the Kursk campaign became exactly such an unexpected and asymmetric move, the success of which is recognized by the world,” officials said.

The announcement comes after Ukraine and Russia completed a major prisoner exchange. The countries conducted their first part of a 1000-for-1000 agreement on 23 May. Ukraine returned 390 people, including 270 military personnel and 120 civilians.

Russia returned 307 Ukrainian defenders on 24 May. All were male enlisted personnel and sergeants.

On 25 May, Ukraine and Russia conducted the third part of the 1000-for-1000 exchange. Another 303 Ukrainian defenders returned home.

However, the three-day exchange did not include certain groups. Colonel Denis Prokopenko, commander of the Azov National Guard brigade, said no Azov fighters were exchanged during the three days.

Writer and former Kremlin political prisoner Stanislav Aseyev said that none of the civilians released in the 1000-for-1000 format had been in Russian captivity for eight years.