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.

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.

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

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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:

• Up to 500 Iskander-M ballistic missiles
• Up to 300 Iskander-K cruise missiles
• Up to 260 Kh-101 missiles (used by Tu-95, Tu-160 bombers)
• Up to 280 Kh-22/Kh-32 missiles (Tu-22M3 bombers)
• Over 400 Kalibr cruise missiles
• Up to 150 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles (MiG-31K)
• Up to 60 North Korean KN-23 missiles

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 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 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. 

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.

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. 

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.

The difference in attitudes toward Stalin serves as an X-ray of how far Ukraine and Russia have diverged, sociologists say.

Ukraine and Russia now have radically different attitudes toward the Soviet dictator, and this divide continues to grow. New sociological research published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and Russia’s Levada Center has released the evidence for this.

According to a poll conducted in April 2025, Stalin once again ranked first in Russia’s list of “the greatest figures of all time,” scoring even higher than in previous years.

“Joseph Stalin, a national hero for Russians, has again taken first place with an even better result than last time,” KIIS notes.

Sociologists emphasize that support for Stalin’s image in Russia is rising, while in Ukraine it is rapidly declining. In 2023, 63% of respondents in Russia viewed the dictator positively, compared to just 4% in Ukraine. This gap is only widening over the years.

“This chart clearly shows how far the two countries have diverged. Murderers have become national heroes in Russia,” Ukrainian sociologists point out.

He orchestrated genocide, killed millions, yet for the Russians, he remains an idol. This divide in collective memory reveals not only historical differences but also fundamental value gaps between the two neighboring states.

Recently, the Netherlands recognized the 1944 Soviet deportation of Crimean Tatars under Stalin as an act of genocide. They were transported roughly 3,200 kilometers to remote areas in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic and other parts of Central Asia, with thousands dying during the journey due to starvation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has killed a million Russians and marches “two million feet” to the slaughter. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has delivered a scathing rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent claim that “wherever the Russian soldier steps — that land is ours.”

Sybiha responded on the social media platform X, calling Putin “a mass murderer of his own people” who has already sent a million Russian soldiers to their deaths in his war against Ukraine.

“Putin does not care about Russian soldiers or their feet torn apart by Ukrainian drones. One million soldiers. Two million feet,” the Ukrainian foreign minister claimed. 

He added that Putin’s latest remarks demonstrate total contempt for peace initiatives from the West and the United States. 

“While the United States and the rest of the world have called for an immediate end to the killing, Russia’s top war criminal discusses plans to seize more Ukrainian territory and kill more Ukrainians,” he stressed. 

According to Sybiha, the Kremlin’s aggression is an attempt to distract Russians from the catastrophe of 25 years of Putin’s rule, a regime that has dragged the country into international isolation. 

Sybiha called for a strong international response to bring Moscow back to its senses. 

“The only way to force Russia into peace is to deprive it of its sense of impunity. Increase support for Ukraine’s defense and hit the Russian economy hard with devastating sanctions. Designate Russia as a terrorist state. Isolate it fully,” said the Ukrainian foreign minister. 

Putin’s speech at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum marked yet another return to his imperial narrative — the denial of Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign nation.

They returned from hell. On 20 June, a new group of severely wounded and seriously ill Ukrainian defenders was released from Russian captivity.

Four exchange waves took place between 9 and 14 June, with another one on 19 June. Most of those returned had been held by Russia since 2022, many of them defenders of Mariupol.

According to the Coordination Headquarters, the freed prisoners include soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Navy, the National Guard, the Territorial Defense Forces, the Air Assault Forces, the Drone Force, and the State Border Guard Service. All are either seriously wounded or suffer from chronic illnesses.

“Epilepsy, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, vision impairment, musculoskeletal issues, chronic gastrointestinal conditions, and hernias. Many suffer from extreme weight loss,” the Ukrainian official said in a statement.

The released defenders are being transferred to medical facilities for diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation. They will also have their documents restored and receive back pay for the entire period of captivity.

Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, noted that the oldest of the released is 60 years old. Some of the families had been appealing to his office for years, even sending letters to Moscow.

“Among them are those whose relatives contacted the Ombudsman’s Office. Our institution was engaged in defending their rights,” Lubinets said.

President Zelenskyy confirmed the return of defenders from Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv oblasts.

Earlier, the Ukrainian authorities said Russia slipped the bodies of its dead soldiers into Ukraine’s swap convoys. Kyiv has received over 6,060 bodies from Moscow under the Istanbul agreements on the exchange of war dead, but many of them are not Ukrainian.

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin openly voiced his imperial doctrine: Russia claims as its own any territory entered by its troops, UNIAN reports. 

“There’s an old rule: wherever the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours,” Putin said in response to a question about where the Russian army might stop in Ukraine.

He then called Ukrainians and Russians “one people” and stressing that, in that sense, “all of Ukraine is ours.”

Previously, Russia has listed its long-standing demands to Ukraine:

• to recognize Crimea as part of Russia,
• to acknowledge the annexation of the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts,
• and to withdraw Ukrainian forces from these territories, even though large areas of them remain under Ukrainian control.

Speaking at the forum, Putin insisted that Ukraine must become a non-aligned, non-nuclear, and neutral state, in other words, defenseless and exposed.

These statements confirm the Kremlin’s refusal to seek a just peace and expose the true goal of the war: Ukraine’s complete subjugation.

Kremlin officially confirms: Russia does not want an end to the fire. Moscow refuses to agree to a full ceasefire on the front lines as it plans to continue its offensive, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, told Sky News.

“Now we have a strategic advantage. Why should we lose it? We are not going to lose it. We are going further. We’re advancing and we’ll continue to advance,” Peskov said. 

Moscow has already stated that it cannot agree to a truce as long as Ukraine continues to receive military aid from Western partners, rearm, and regroup its forces.

“But America is not saying that ‘we’ll quit any supplies’. Britain is not saying that as well. France is not saying that as well. This is the problem,” Peskov emphasized.

When asked whether Russia could make similar commitments to halt support from Iran, China, or North Korea, Peskov ignored the question.

The Kremlin’s position once again demonstrates that Putin is not seeking peace, but rather trying to consolidate territorial gains and maintain pressure on Ukraine and the West.

Earlier, Russia conducted its biggest attack of the full-scale war on Kyiv, launching 500 weapons simultaneously, and killing 28 civilians. Moscow began its terror campaign against the population in 2022, burning 90% of Mariupol and Bakhmut and committing atrocities during the attacks on Bucha in Kyiv Oblast.

He ate his comrade, then died. Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) has intercepted another disturbing Russian radio transmission, revealing shocking details of cannibalism and mental collapse within the ranks of Russia’s occupying forces.

According to HUR, a commander of the Russian 68th Motorized Rifle Division reported that a soldier with the callsign Foma, previously listed as missing in action, was murdered and eaten over a period of two weeks by his fellow serviceperson known as Brelok.

Later, Brelok himself was also found dead.

“They say he was killed in action. Well, he ate his buddy, so… just something to think about,” the commander remarked in the intercepted exchange.

Both soldiers served in the 52nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of Russia’s 68th Division, operating near the villages of Zapadne and Lyman Pershyi in Ukraine’s Kupiansk sector.

Ukraine’s intelligence services described the incident as more than an isolated atrocity. It’s a symbol of moral and psychological disintegration within the Russian army.

“Cannibalism is yet another sign of the deep moral and psychological collapse of Russia’s occupation forces. These troops have lost even the most basic respect for human life, including their own,” the HUR states. 

This incident, grim as it is, reflects a wider pattern of escalating chaos, trauma, and degradation in Russian units facing mounting losses, isolation, and lack of leadership on the front lines.

The world lines up for Patriot air defense systems. Euractiv reports that the demand for the systems has reached historic levels, pushing American defense giant Raytheon, the world’s second-largest arms manufacturer, to significantly increase its European production.

In recent years, orders for Patriot systems have surged as European countries strengthen their defenses and replenish platforms sent to Ukraine. In response, Raytheon is exploring deeper industrial partnerships within the EU to meet demand.

Ukraine strikes first at Russian launchers which carry 800-kg explosive missiles prepared to hit Kyiv after Operation Spiderweb

This means the producer could double its Patriot missile production by 2028 or 2030. 

Despite some European discussions around moving away from US-made defense products, the Patriot system remains unrivaled in popularity. Recent large-scale orders from countries like Germany and Switzerland are contributing to delivery queues stretching years ahead.

European customers have already placed orders for over 1,000 additional Patriot interceptor missiles. Raytheon currently operates Patriot maintenance centers in Europe and co-produces NASAMS air defense systems with Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg.

However, the production boom isn’t without obstacles. Raytheon faces challenges sourcing critical components, especially for the GEM-T variant of Patriot missiles and their warheads.

Still, the company has resumed production of Stinger anti-tank systems due to overwhelming demand, and will continue even as a new short-range missile, NGSRI, enters service.

Raytheon is also eyeing long-term business opportunities in Ukraine, where officials are seeking faster deliveries and exploring joint production ventures with the US defense company.

The key question in negotiations remains how to get systems to Ukraine as quickly as possible.

Thousands of Russian suicide drones advance. Russian Shahed drone attacks have intensified in recent weeks, with Moscow increasing both the volume and changing tactics of its aerial assaults, making Ukraine’s defense more challenging, reports Defense Express.

Russian strikes are now more concentrated, with Shahed drones flying at higher altitudes, beyond the reach of conventional small arms fire. Additionally, Russia has ramped up production of Shahed drones to about 2,700 units per month. Decoy drones have become almost indistinguishable from combat ones.

Ukrainian air-defense drones have already proven effective against Russian unmanned aerial vehicles, which conduct reconnaissance. Ukraine can produce these drones en masse—they are significantly cheaper than Shaheds, which cost around $193,000 each, though more expensive than typical FPV drones.

Analysts emphasize that air-defense drones require upgrades to better counter Shaheds: installing night-vision cameras and new control systems to reduce operator skill dependence.

Improving targeting systems is critical, potentially using radio-command guidance, semi-active lasers, acoustic sensors, or visual detection.

Challenges remain around activation time, flight duration, speed, altitude, and weather conditions, as Shaheds can attack even in rain, snow, or fog.

A key advancement is shifting to a remote, rather than contact-based, target destruction system.

As a result, upgraded Shahed interceptors will be more complex and costly than FPV drones but remain far more affordable than traditional surface-to-air missiles.

Read also: 

• Three Ukrainian companies make top 100 list of unmanned systems innovators
• How to annihilate 500 drones in one night when gunpowder runs low — Ukraine finds revolutionary way

Ukrainian companies are among the world’s top 100 in drone development. Analysts from The Defense Post have published a list of the top 100 global companies specializing in drone development for air, land, and sea applications.

Ukrainian companies TAF Drones, Ukrspecsystems, and Airlogix made the list, highlighting Ukraine’s innovation, influence, and leadership in the global defense industry.

The Defense Post described this list as a distinctive recognition based on an independent evaluation of unmanned systems manufacturers, taking into account revenue, research and development investments, growth dynamics, and technological prospects.

Importantly, the ranking excludes companies with more than 50% state ownership, as well as those connected to the Russian government or subject to sanctions, Militarnyi reports.

Among the leaders is the Turkish company Aselsan, owned by the Turkish Armed Forces fund but operating with high independence in drone development and international trade.

Ukrainian company TAF Drones ranked 22nd. It specializes in FPV drones, reconnaissance UAVs, and electronic warfare systems. In 2024, it planned to produce 350,000 drones.

Ukrspecsystems, a manufacturer of military drones and electronics, took the 65th position.

Airlogix ranked 84th with its unmanned aviation system, HOR, designed for reconnaissance and artillery spotting. The UAV flies for 2–2.5 hours, has a range of 150 km, and supports communication at distances of 30–40 km.

Russia slips the bodies of its dead soldiers into Ukraine’s swap convoys. Kyiv has received over 6,060 bodies from Moscow under the Istanbul agreements on the exchange of war dead, but many of them are not Ukrainian. Instead, Moscow is mixing in the remains of its own fallen troops, says Artur Dobroserdov, Ukraine’s Commissioner for Missing Persons, ArmyInform reports. 

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has called the practice a stark reminder of how little human life means to the Russian state.

“Or maybe it’s just a way to avoid paying death benefits,” Klymenko claims.

The bodies are often severely mutilated, complicating identification. The process typically lasts for 13–14 months or more. If a body is visually intact, Ukraine sometimes accesses databases to identify Russian soldiers and return them to Moscow. 

One particularly egregious example was Body No. 192/25, which arrived in Russian military fatigues and carried a full set of Russian documents, including a military ID, internal passport, soldier’s service ticket, and a tag marked: VS ROSSII MT-146004.

Ukrainian officials later confirmed the remains were those of Aleksandr Viktorovych Bugayev, a soldier from the 1st Battalion of Russia’s 39th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade. He had gone missing near Novomykhailivka, Donetsk Oblast, in late March. His family had been searching for him for months.

Ukraine returns the bodies of Russian soldiers back to Russia.

Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia says Russia has successfully used the Istanbul negotiations to stall the adoption of new US sanctions, Suspilne reports. 

According to the official, this diplomatic maneuvering came as the Middle East crisis pushed global oil prices sharply higher.

“Sanctions must be strengthened and designed to make it impossible for Russia to finance its war,” Kyslytsia emphasizes. 

He also stresses the need to target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” and lower the oil price cap. Additional sanctions should also hit Russia’s financial sector, specifically by cutting more Russian banks off from the SWIFT system.

Another critical issue, he notes, is the presence of foreign components in Russian weapons used against Ukraine. While the impact of sanctions is often delayed, Kyslytsia warns that a stop-and-go approach to sanctions only benefits the Kremlin.

“The fact that sanctions are adopted slowly and in waves does not help us,” he states.

Kyslytsia also points to the fallout from Israel’s strike on Iran, which sent oil prices soaring by 13–14% in the first few hours, a windfall for Moscow’s war economy.

“Whether this will have a lasting impact remains unclear. Everything now depends on de-escalation in the Middle East,” he adds. 

Meanwhile, Ukraine is facing the broader geopolitical challenge posed not only by Russia but also by its key international backers, Iran, China, and North Korea.

Ukraine’s military confrontation remains primarily with Russian forces on the frontlines. However, these allied states provide critical economic, military, and diplomatic support to Moscow, indirectly intensifying the war. 

A potential US strike on a major Iranian nuclear facility may force Moscow to reconsider its approach to the war in Ukraine, says Herman Pirchner, president of the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC), UkrInform reports. 

Pirchner emphasizes that such a decision could impact Moscow’s calculus, as they have yet to see a firm response from the Trump administration. 

According to the expert, if Washington demonstrates resolve in the Middle East, the Kremlin may begin to worry that “a similar response could eventually be applied to Russia’s war against Ukraine.”

Pirchner also expresses confidence that a new sanctions bill targeting Russia, one with significantly tougher measures, will eventually be passed by the US Congress. He notes that over 80 senators already support the legislation. The main hurdle, he says, lies in the House of Representatives, where progress depends on Speaker Mike Johnson.

“I believe that if the bill passes the Senate, it will pass the House as well,” Pirchner continues.

Despite uncertainty in US foreign policy and reluctance from parts of Europe, Pirchner remains optimistic: Ukraine still has enough weaponry to hold the line. But the true turning point, he suggests, may come when internal instability begins to erode Russia from within.

The Ukrainians are watching US President Donald Trump’s ultimatums to Iran with frustration as the US refuses to apply the same pressure to Russia.

This disappointment peaked when the G7 declined to issue a joint statement condemning the war, reportedly over US concerns it might complicate negotiations with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

A planned meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump at the summit was also canceled after Trump abruptly left the summit a day early. Ukraine intended to use the meeting to discuss the purchase of American weapons, including crucial air defenses.

Quiet summit, loud attack

At a moment of diplomatic failure in the West, Russia has seized the opportunity to fully display its destructive power, Texty reports. 

Altogether, Russia deployed:

• 440 Shahed-type kamikaze drones
• 72 various decoy unmanned aerial vehicles
• Two hypersonic Kinzhal missiles
• 16 Kh-101 cruise missiles
• Four Kalibr cruise missiles
• Nine aviation Kh-59/69 missiles
• One anti-radar Kh-31P missile

“Russia struck Ukraine deliberately to demonstrate that G7 leaders are weak,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Indeed, the G7 failed to release a joint statement on Russia’s war, which handed the Kremlin a diplomatic victory.

The scale of the assault has sparked fears in Ukraine about whether its air defenses can withstand repeated attacks of this volume. Of particular concern was the 18 June debut of a new variant of the Shahed drone, equipped with a built-in camera, machine-vision AI module, and direct radio control from Russian territory.

Kremlin speaks through firestorm

Electronic warfare expert Serhii Beskrestnov, known as Flash, has explained that the radio modem installed in the drone allows real-time remote control from up to 150 kilometers inside Russia or from the front line. If airborne relays are used inside Ukrainian airspace, the range is even greater, NV reports. 

The latest models are resistant to Ukrainian electronic warfare. No longer reliant on GPS, these drones instead use onboard AI and operate via Ukrainian mobile internet networks.

Beskrestnov has warned that Ukraine could become exceptionally vulnerable to Russia’s growing drone swarm unless it rapidly develops its own drone interceptors. Moscow has already scaled up mass production of strike drones and continues to expand its capabilities.

War of attrition becomes war of precision

As the US support falters, Ukraine is doubling down on technological innovation.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), explains that Russia’s expanding drone production is about quantity, but Ukraine is focused on quality.

“If our partners aren’t applying pressure, the Russians keep fighting. Our job is to hit hard, everywhere we can, and strip the Russians of their capabilities,” he says.

He continues: “This Kremlin collective is not eternal, just like the old Soviet politburo with its aging general secretaries who started dying off like cockroaches in the ’80s. The Ayatollah regime in Iran won’t last forever either, if its dismantling is approached surgically.”

Ukrainian engineers are rapidly advancing FPV interceptors and AI-based defense systems to overtake Russia’s tech leap. Kovalenko says dozens of drones in Ukraine are already guided simultaneously by autonomous algorithms.

Ukraine holds its first battle without soldiers

Kovalenko says the future lies in unmanned aerial and ground platforms, AI, and real-time battlefield intelligence. By the 2030s, the traditional role of infantry will be fundamentally transformed.

“A combat operation has already taken place in this war without any participation from classical infantry. It was carried out by one of our brigades,” he reveals.

In tomorrow’s warfare, sensor networks, AI, and data analysis will replace the need for human presence in front-line reconnaissance and strike coordination.

“The soldier of the future is an operator, an engineer, an analyst. Today’s infantry will become the brain of the battlefield machine,” he explains.

Simply put, the key to victory will be the speed and precision of mission planning, the intelligence of the algorithm, and the quality of equipment, not the number of soldiers on the battlefield.

Kovalenko also describes the coming technological arms race: “The Russian sheer quantity will be nullified. AI will evolve with evasion algorithms, drones, and weapons trying to dodge interception. But interception algorithms will evolve in turn.”

This, he added, is the real AI arms race between China and the West.

Europe’s defense goes quantum — and Kyiv’s plugged into future

To illustrate the global progress in military tech, Kovalenko cites Sweden’s successful combat trials of the unmanned Gripen E fighter jet equipped with the Centaur AI system.

“Over the Baltic Sea, this AI system engaged in a full-scale dogfight against a piloted aircraft, executing complex maneuvers, identifying targets, and determining the timing of the attack,” he says.

Centaur has undergone flight simulations equivalent to 50 years of operation and demonstrated combat readiness after just three real missions.

“The Beyond project, developed by Saab and German defense startup Helsing, is setting a new benchmark for next-generation air power,” Kovalenko adds.

Both of these tech giants are already linked with Ukraine. In May 2025, Saab held talks with Kyiv on modernizing Soviet-era aircraft and the potential transfer of advanced Swedish combat platforms.

The same year, Helsing announced that it was producing 6,000 HX-2 attack drones with artificial intelligence for delivery to Ukraine. The HX-2 is an electrically-powered, high-precision X-wing strike drone with a range of up to 100 kilometers. It is enhanced with onboard artificial intelligence that provides full immunity to electronic warfare.

While Trump walks out of the summit, even Spotify co-founders Daniel Ek and Shakil Khan have invested €600 million into Helsing, according to the Financial Times. The funding has boosted Helsing’s valuation to €12 billion, making it one of Europe’s five most valuable defense tech companies.

Daniel Ek, who chairs Helsing’s board, acknowledged that defense investments can be controversial but said he is “100% convinced” he made the right decision for Europe.

Shaheds vs. interceptors: race to save millions of lives

At a special G7 leaders’ session on 17 June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the urgent need for new drone interceptors, not just for Ukraine, but for Europe, the Indo-Pacific, Japan, Canada, and the US.

“We’re working on developing and deploying interceptors to protect our cities from Shaheds, our cities, and therefore yours. We need additional funding to produce them,” Zelenskyy said.

In the face of diplomatic retreat and Russian technological escalation, Ukraine is leaning on its own innovation and European allies, developing revolutionary military technologies that could redefine the very nature of modern warfare.

A Russian terror attack on 17 June was the largest of the full-scale war, says military expert Ivan Kyrychevskyi. Russia deliberately targeted residential buildings with missiles with cluster munitions to kill as many civilians as possible, Espreso reports. 

“Before 17 June, the maximum was 200–300 aerial weapons launched at once. This time, the Russians used nearly 500, most of them kamikaze drones,” Kyrychevskyi explains.

The UN has also noted that this attack on Kyiv may be the deadliest in nearly a year. The main impact hit densely populated neighborhoods, not military targets.

“X-101 missiles with cluster warheads can’t break through fortifications, but they kill people. That’s why they were used deliberately against civilians,” Kyrychevskyi says.

No one believes anymore that the strikes on Ukrainian hospitals and children’s centers are a “mistake.” After the attack on Kyiv’s Ohmatdyt children’s hospital in 2024, Western governments have stopped buying into the narrative of “accidental strikes,” adds the expert. 

Russia began its full-scale terror campaign against the Ukrainian civilian population in 2022, burning 90% of Mariupol and Bakhmut and committing atrocities during the attacks on Bucha in Kyiv Oblast.

“Better to leave than to face the truth.” This is how former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko explains US President Donald Trump’s behavior at the G7 summit on Ukraine, Hromadske reports.

“He has nothing to say to Zelenskyy. He can’t find a single argument to justify his defense of Putin. This is one of those situations where it’s easier to just leave,” the diplomat explains.

According to Ohryzko, all Ukraine can expect from Trump right now is weapons sales and intelligence sharing. Genuine support must come from Europe, but only if European leaders stop “being afraid of their own shadow.”

What happened in Ukraine today is yet another reproach to our European partners, he says.

“We need French or German fighter jets to shoot down missiles over Ukraine — just like the US shoots down Iranian missiles over Israel,” the diplomat adds.

He emphasizes that such action would not drag NATO into the war, as it would be an act of defense, not aggression.

“There isn’t a Russian sitting on every missile. These are aerial weapons flying into the territory of a country friendly to France, so they should be shot down,” he says.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must raise this issue directly with allies during his visit to Canada, in his view.

“The question must be put bluntly. I believe Zelenskyy has to do it today, in Canada,” he concludes.

On 17 June, Ukraine’s capital and other cities were subjected to sheer terror. Russia deployed its every available aerial weapon to strike Kyiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, Kalibrs, cruise and ballistic missiles, and Shahed drones.

Read more: 

• How Ukraine can win, p.4: Just repeat what Putin says
• Russia bombs Kyiv and Iran targets Israel, Trump wants ceasefire — but only from Ukraine

The capital and other Ukrainian cities were subjected to sheer terror. On 17 June, Russia deployed every available aerial weapon to strike Kyiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, Kalibrs, cruise and ballistic missiles, and Shahed drones.

The Russian terrorist attack damaged residential buildings and killed 20 civilians. The number of casualties is not final as Ukraine continues to remove rubble from destroyed buildings. 

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense has cynically declared that its attacks’ objectives have been achieved. The missile struck so deep it pierced all concrete floors down to the basement.

All nine stories collapsed, leaving behind a two-story concrete ruin.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy states that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin continues the war simply because he is allowed to.

“It’s a tragedy when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye. It’s the terrorists who should feel the pain, not ordinary, peaceful people,” he emphasize.

At the same time, Poland, which currently chairs the Council of the European Union, has declared its support for Ukraine and expressed condolences to those who became victims of Russia’s carpet bombings. This is the same tactic Moscow used in Chechnya and Syria, and now applied to Kyiv, UkrInform reports. 

Iran mirrors the same strategy, indiscriminately targeting Israeli cities. At the same time, US President Donald Trump has called for a peace agreement with Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Yet, when it comes to Iran, he takes a hardline stance: demanding not a ceasefire, but a total abandonment of the nuclear program, per CBS News. 

Warsaw is pushing for the adoption of the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, particularly the introduction of a price cap on Russian oil.

This package specifically targets oil, the fuel source that powers Russia’s war machine. This is critically important for Ukraine, as high oil prices have risen after the start of Israeli strikes on Iran, allowing Russia to earn enormous profits that are immediately funneled into weapons procurement.

Many experts and politicians believe that Moscow could be preparing a staging ground for launching a new war directly in Europe, especially in light of the Trump administration’s isolationist policies.

European leaders have expressed condolences and condemned Russian terror. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Kyiv remains silent.

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Ukraine’s new bike unit mirrors Russia’s dumbest suicidal tactic — and that’s a strategic problem. Ukraine’s new bike unit adopts a Russian-style tactic: fast, deadly, and often doomed. It’s a gamble Kyiv may not be able to afford.

Military

60 Sumy border settlements completely abandoned amid intensified Russian attacks and offensive threat. More than 400 people evacuated from Ukrainian border communities in a single week, with 26 children among those forced to leave their homes.

UK intel: North Korea sent 11,000 troops to help Russia in Kursk—over half never came back. Kim Jong-un sent troops to back Putin in Kursk. UK intel says over 6,000 didn’t return.

Ukrainian actor-turned-soldier killed in combat. He traded stage for battlefield to defend Ukraine. Yurii Felipenko was known for theater work at Kyiv Academic Drama Theater and television appearances spanning a decade before he became a drone operator when Russia’s full-scale invasion started.

Intelligence and Technology

Ukrainian drone veterans train Estonia’s Defense League in battlefield tactics. Estonia’s Defense League volunteers are learning drone warfare from Ukrainian operators who spend up to 29 days at a time on the front lines, where drones serve as the “eyes of God” in modern combat.

German Vector and Twister drones already help Ukraine track targets. Soon, they’ll come armed with power to hear artillery before it hits. They will be linked to neural networks are being developed to automatically identify weapons — and guide counterstrikes.

Diplomacy can wait, but weapons can’t. Kyiv is ready to spend cash on American equipment. The Ukrainian president reveals plans to negotiate a new defense deal with Trump

International

Russia still cashing in: EU’s $ 231 bn fuel bill exposes nuclear blind spot. Brussels faces a $278 bn investment bill to wean the EU off Russian nuclear technology by the 2030s, as the bloc’s 101 nuclear reactors depend on Moscow for up to 25% of their uranium supply chain.

Ukraine’s people have bridged historic divides—up to 90% now stand united behind NATO and EU membership. Once split by language and geopolitics, Ukrainian society has been fundamentally reshaped.

Politico: Baltic hospitals go underground as NATO’s eastern flank braces for Russian threat. Three years into Russia’s war in Ukraine, hospitals across NATO’s eastern flank are moving operations underground, stockpiling tourniquets by the thousands, and asking medical staff to sign pledges promising they won’t flee if war arrives at their borders.

Canada’s uranium could replace Russia’s resources, choking off Kremlin money, say expert. Beyond oil and gas, Canada’s uranium production offers the West a rare chance to break nuclear dependency on Russia and Kazakhstan, says expert John Kirton.

Axios: Trump and Zelenskyy to meet at G7 summit in Canada first time since April. The last time the two leaders met in April before Pope Francis’ funeral.

Humanitarian and Social Impact

Umerov: Ukraine managed to return over 6,000 bodies of the dead, the fight for prisoners is ahead. Over 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers returned home following the completion of Istanbul agreement implementation, marking the end of this repatriation stage and the beginning of prisoner exchange efforts, according to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

What three years of Russian captivity did to Ukrainian soldier. Mariupol defender Oleksandr was captured in 2022 and returned home in a recent prisoner exchange.

Doctors began removing “Glory to Russia” words carved on Ukrainian POW body. The propaganda inscription was discovered when the wounded serviceman regained consciousness after surgery in Russian custody.

Political and Legal Developments

Moscow quietly rushes to reinforce its nuclear sites just 300 km from Sweden. Meanwhile, Russia’s revised policy allows nukes in response attacks supported by NATO members.

Latvian MP faces 20 years in prison after shouting in Russian at parliament. Latvia’s State Security Service detained former parliamentarian Aleksejs Rosļikovs after he shouted “There are more of us, our language is Russian!” during a 5 June parliamentary session.

Russia planned to destroy Mariupol before 2022 — first public evidence emerges. From official plans to ash and silence — Mariupol’s fate was sealed in Kremlin documents.

Russia expands nuclear facilities near European borders, satellite images reveal. Russia knows that these threats cause panic in the Western world and exploits this fear strategically, according to a former NATO nuclear policy expert.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Surveys show that Ukraine has fundamentally changed. Today, up to 90% of citizens in every region, including the south and east, support Euro-Atlantic integration, says Anton Hrushetskyi, Executive Director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), UkrInform reports. 

After years of war with Russia, Ukrainian society has overcome longstanding geopolitical divisions.

“We have bridged the main divides. Issues that once split us, NATO, the EU, language, and attitudes toward Russia, now unite us,” the sociologist notes.

Key findings from KIIS:

• Support for NATO and the EU has surged to 80–90% across all regions
• There is a broad consensus that Russia is the aggressor
• Ukrainian remains the sole state language, though one-third still favor optional study of Russian

Researchers emphasize that this is not a fleeting trend but a lasting transformation rooted in 2022. However, they caution that “the work is far from complete,” as some politicians continue to exploit language issues for electoral advantage.

“Society is evolving — Russian is no longer part of our identity but is perceived as just another foreign language,” Hrushetskyi adds.

Earlier, a poll showed that a large majority of Ukrainians, 84%, believe there is no systematic discrimination or restriction of rights against Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine. Among Russian-speaking Ukrainians themselves, 81% share this view.

The poll’s findings reject Russian propaganda that has systematically fabricated claims of discrimination against Russian speakers in Ukraine to justify its aggression. 

Moscow is lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons and strengthening its infrastructure less than 300 km from Sweden’s border, EurActiv.com reports. 

Russia has significantly intensified the construction and modernization of nuclear facilities near Sweden, particularly in Kaliningrad, Belarus, and the Arctic, according to new satellite imagery.

“We are closely monitoring Russian capabilities in this area. It is about both Russian investments in nuclear weapons capability and the development of a new doctrine,” said Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson.

Key developments include:

• Kaliningrad base – new fencing, communications systems, and up to 100 tactical nuclear weapons
• Asipovichy, Belarus – reinforced storage facilities and improved transport logistics
• Kola Peninsula and Novaya Zemlya – new underground storage for sea-launched missiles

In November 2024, the Kremlin revised its nuclear doctrine to permit the use of nuclear weapons not only in response to a nuclear strike, but also in cases of any “critical threat,” including conventional attacks supported by NATO countries. Such strikes can now be interpreted as “joint aggression” against Russia or Belarus.

These changes, along with Russia’s withdrawal from key arms control treaties, are creating a dangerous precedent, with Moscow increasingly using nuclear rhetoric to intimidate the West.

“Russia has lowered the threshold for threatening to use nuclear weapons, and we have seen since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that it has done so more than 200 times at different political levels,” Jonson emphasized.

Earlier, expert Oleksii Izhak said that Russia was creating a risk for its nuclear force with its own hands. By deploying elements of its nuclear triad in the war against Ukraine, it is turning its strategic delivery systems into legitimate military targets, including strategic aviation. 

The battle for air superiority is no longer just about seeing — it’s also about hearing. In 2025, Germany plans to launch combat drones equipped with acoustic sensors that can detect the origin of enemy artillery fire, Army Inform reports. 

According to Hartpunkt, German company Quantum-Systems, in collaboration with Polish firm Weles Acoustics, is integrating advanced acoustic detectors into reconnaissance UAVs. These sensors capture sound waves from artillery and mortar fire, allowing for rapid identification of enemy firing positions.

Weighing under 50 grams, the sensors operate in the 20 Hz to 10 kHz range and can detect shots from up to 15 km away. Directional accuracy reaches 5° at a 5 km distance. Integration with neural networks enables the system to automatically identify weapon types, distinguishing, for example, a howitzer from a mortar.

In the initial phase, the operator receives a signal and visually confirms the target. In the future, machine vision algorithms will handle targeting automatically.

The technology is designed to:

• Reduce the time needed to locate enemy batteries
• Improve counter-battery effectiveness
• Minimize losses among Ukraine’s defense forces

Defense Express notes that a major challenge is filtering out noise from drone rotors and wind. Still, field test results have been convincing, and serial production is planned for late 2025.

Earlier, experts reported that Russia likely used a new jet-powered attack drone, the Geran-3, in a recent missile and drone strike on Kyiv. This model marks a significant upgrade over the slower Shahed-136 (Geran-2), boasting reported speeds of 550–600 km/h and a range of up to 2,500 km, compared to the Shahed-136’s 185 km/h.

Residents of Kyiv reported hearing a distinct whistling sound during the strike, consistent with a jet-powered drone and unlike the quieter propeller-driven models previously used. 

It is time to say no to Russian resources. The G7 countries should completely stop purchasing energy from Russia, replacing it with Canadian alternatives, said John Kirton. He is the head of the G7 research group at the University of Toronto, UkrInform reports.

“It is necessary for the G7 to continue pressuring India to stop purchasing Russian oil,” the expert says.

But it is equally important for the G7 countries to completely abandon imports of Russian energy resources, such as oil, coal, gas, and uranium.

“Canada, which holds the fifth-largest oil reserves in the world and is among the top three uranium producers, can help,” Kirton continues.

He emphasizes that Canada “can supply the US with all necessary isotopes so they do not depend on Russia or even Kazakhstan.”

“Although Kazakhstan may ultimately be closer to us than to Russia,” the expert believes.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to meet during the G7 summit. This meeting will be their first encounter since April, when they had a 15-minute conversation before Pope Francis’ funeral.

After that meeting, Trump stated that Russia had no justification for recent attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas and suggested that the Russian leader might not want to end the war. Following the meeting, there were talks about imposing new sanctions on Russia, but the US did not enact them.

After their conversation, Moscow launched the largest attack on Ukraine’s city of Kremenchuk, targeting an oil refinery and the thermal power plant. Witnesses say the skies over the town turned red during 30 strikes. Ukraine extinguished the fire for at least eight hours.

Putin calls to congratulate Trump on his birthday — then launches hypersonic missiles on small Ukrainian city in one of largest attacks of war

There is no peace because Russia refuses to end the war. On 16 June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of derailing all global efforts to achieve peace, speaking at a press conference in Vienna following talks with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, UNIAN reports. 

Zelenskyy emphasized that Kyiv remains open to diplomacy, but the Kremlin blocks every initiative.

“We’re doing everything we can to end this war… but there’s no ceasefire, no honest diplomacy, no lasting security. And that’s only because of Russia,” he said.

He called for increased pressure on Moscow to stop the bloodshed and destruction, adding that this was a key focus of his discussions in Vienna.

Zelenskyy urged the EU to adopt a strong 18th sanctions package and maintain existing restrictions, including the freeze on Russian assets.

According to the Ukrainian leader, President Van der Bellen expressed readiness to support peace efforts and provide “credible mediation” in any potential talks with Russia.

Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of preserving transatlantic unity.

“We all want the US–Europe alliance to stay strong. If it collapses, Europe will have to rapidly build up its defense industry, which takes big money and very little time,” he warned.

Finally, Zelenskyy announced plans to speak with US President Donald Trump about a new defense package Ukraine is ready to purchase.

Russia deliberately destroyed Mariupol. The Center for the Study of Occupation has released the first direct evidence that Moscow was preparing to seize the Ukrainian city long before the full-scale invasion began.

According to Petro Andriushchenko, the head of the organization, in 2019, Russia officially developed and published a project for a “transport and transit hub” on the territory of Mariupol.

This confirms that the occupation and destruction of the city were not a chaotic result of warfare, but part of a premeditated plan.

The project in question already listed Mariupol as part of the Russian-controlled illegal entity located in Donetsk Oblast territory. The documentation outlined the creation of an infrastructure hub in the Zhovtnevyi and Prymorskyi districts, south of the historic center, with specific geographic boundaries: from Pushkin and Kotovsky streets to the shoreline of the Taganrog Bay.

Two Russian institutions, the Arena Institute and the Unified Institute for Spatial Planning of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for urban policy in occupied territories, prepared the project.

“This is the first public proof of preparations for the complete destruction of Mariupol prior to the full-scale invasion,” Andriushchenko emphasizes.

Earlier, Zaur Gurtsiyev, deputy mayor of Stavropol and former commander of the air operation over Mariupol, was killed in a grenade explosion that occurred overnight on 29 May. The explosion reportedly occurred in southern Russia’s Stavropol city near a residential building.

He was awarded multiple Russian state honors, including an order for his role in the occupation of Mariupol.

Grenade explosion kills Russian commander behind 2022 Mariupol deadly airstrikes

Read also: 

• Putin calls to congratulate Trump on his birthday — then launches hypersonic missiles on small Ukrainian city in one of largest attacks of war
• War diary: “Terrified of what He saw, God has left Mariupol, my neighbor said”

The sky turned red from the explosions. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated US President Donald Trump on his birthday on 14 June, and almost immediately launched a strike on the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. 

Russia was likely to target critical infrastructure, particularly the Kremenchuk Thermal Power Plant and oil refinery, which are both essential to Ukraine’s energy system and defense. The city lies on the Dnipro River and has important railway connections and major logistics hubs.

It is reported that energy and agricultural infrastructure facilities in six locations in Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast were hit. Fires broke out due to direct strikes and falling debris, Liga.net reports. 

The attack rocked the Ukrainian city hours after Putin called Trump on his birthday to offer congratulations and discuss the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine. Their conversation lasted approximately one hour, according to Ukrainska Pravda. 

Destruction of Iran’s nuclear program means Trump has no reason to offer Putin concessions on Ukraine in exchange for Tehran’s pressure, says expert

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 194 aerial weapons — 167 were neutralized: 119 were shot down, and 48 are considered lost over Ukrainian territory.

Among the downed targets were:

• 111 drones,
• Two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles,
• Three Iskander-K cruise missiles
• Three Kalibr cruise missiles.

The Ukrainian air defense regularly intercepts Russian aerial targets, but debris still scatters over the homes and apartments of civilians. No casualties have been reported after the aerial assault. 

That’s about four times more drones than Iran launched at Israel in attacks beginning on 13 June, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty writes. At the same time, US troops assisted Jerusalem in repelling Tehran’s assault.

Israel’s recent strike on Iran has triggered a rise in oil prices, which could help Russian President Vladimir Putin improve Russia’s economy. Ukrainian investment banker Serhii Fursa says the current price of oil is about $74 per barrel, which is roughly $10 higher than before, 24 Channel reports. 

Fursa notes that oil prices could soar to as much as $120 in a worst-case scenario. He foresees a prolonged, intense war between Iran and Israel. A major concern would be if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, which would impact about 20% of the world’s oil supply.

“If that happens and lasts more than a day, it will create enormous stress on the oil market. This is exactly what economists around the world fear, as we will see oil prices much higher than they are now,” the investment banker says.

He adds that Israel’s strikes were highly effective.

“If the Iranians strike back against the Americans and this pulls the US into the war, then we may see even more radical moves from Iran, including blocking the Strait of Hormuz,” Fursa emphasizes.

According to him, if that happens, the situation would be addressed by both diplomatic and military means. Additionally, countries have stockpiled oil reserves that would likely be released in such a crisis. Still, in any case, it would cause massive economic stress, including for the US.

Alexander Motyl, a political science professor at Rutgers University-Newark, says the crisis in Los Angeles is overblown, as 90% of the protests were peaceful, Espreso reports. 

There were protests, some involving violence. Groups of anarchists threw stones and set cars on fire. But 90% of the protests were peaceful demonstrations by peaceful people. There was no real crisis, the expert explains. 

“The most important thing is that Trump and his advisors consider this an uprising and believe they have the right to involve the military, calling it an invasion,” Motyl continues.

They refer to a law allowing the US president to deploy the military in case of such an invasion. The expert believes Trump did this intentionally because he wanted to remove the government from California. 

“He hates not only Kamala Harris but also the governor of the state. He hates California because its liberalism represents everything Trump opposes,” Motyl emphasizes. 

Motyl also reports that 1,800 anti-Trump protests were planned across the country today under the slogan “No Kings”.

“People are protesting, and this is very positive. Americans are showing that they are fed up,” he concludes. 

At the same time, two armed attacks on Democratic politicians occurred in the US, resulting in two deaths and two severe injuries, ABC News reports, citing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, where the attacks took place. According to him, Melissa Hortman, a Democratic member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and her husband were shot in what is likely a “politically motivated murder.”

Earlier, Konstantin Blokhin, a political scientist with the Russian Academy of Sciences, advised Trump to suppress the California protests by force.

A Russian official, Alexei Pushkov, chair of the Russian Federation Council’s Commission on Information Policy, claimed that the US is “the top candidate for disintegration” due to the protests in Los Angeles.

Estonia continues to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, this time by delivering a new batch of artillery ammunition. The exact number of shells in the latest shipment was not disclosed.

The announcement was made by the Estonian Ministry of Defence on the X platform on 13 June.

“Estonia has delivered more artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Ukraine’s security is European and transatlantic security. We must keep supporting Ukraine, so it can defend itself and achieve a just, lasting peace,” says Estonia’s Defense Ministry. 

Previously, Estonia had provided Ukraine with 10,000 artillery shells and 750,000 food kits for soldiers, Slovo ta Dilo reports. It also delivered equipment and machinery to Ukrainian rescue services. In March, Estonia announced plans to purchase military equipment and gear worth €100 million for Ukraine.

Earlier, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated that Prague plans to supply Ukraine with even more ammunition in 2025 and continue its support in 2026. 

Meanwhile, Russia continues to receive military support from Iran and North Korea, and other states that do not support Western sanctions. 

The confrontation between Israel and Iran is gaining momentum. These developments will have a direct impact on the Russia-Ukraine war. The coming weeks will show how intensely the situation in the Middle East will escalate, Ukrainian diplomat and former Ambassador to the US Valery Chalyi told Channel 24.

In the short term, Chalyi believes the events in the Middle East will not significantly affect Ukraine. However, global risks are very real.

“It is important that Russia loses money. That would be possible if oil prices dropped,” Chalyi explains.

Bloomberg: US blocks EU and UK push to cut Russian oil price cap to $45

But if Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices skyrocket, the Kremlin would receive additional profits to fund the war.

Another threat is the West’s shifting focus. In the event of a major war, the US might choose to prioritize arms supplies to Israel over Ukraine, Chalyi warns.

However, there is also an opportunity: if Israel destroys Iran’s ballistic missiles and Shahed drones, that would directly reduce Russia’s ability to strike Ukrainian cities.

“Although the Russians are manufacturing drones, they’re doing it using Iranian technology. The Iranians are helping them tremendously,” the diplomat notes.

According to Chalyi, a prolonged Israel-Iran war would clearly work against Ukraine. The Kremlin could attempt to exploit the situation to negotiate with the West. 

Chalyi emphasizes that Iran is an enemy of Ukraine. In 2020, its military shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board. Today, Iran supplies Russia with drones, and possibly missiles.

Iran’s downed Ukrainian airliner trial lacks impartiality and transparency

“If Israel destroys the rockets and Shaheds that could kill Ukrainians—maybe that’s karma,” Chalyi suggests.

He adds that Ukraine is now a global player with one of the strongest armies in the world. Therefore, it must act strategically in cooperation with the EU and the US to prevent a drawn-out war in the Middle East while simultaneously securing victory on its own front.

Countries are losing trust in Washington. Retired US Army General Ben Hodges told Ukrinform that recent military operations by Ukraine and Israel against enemy targets reflect a growing distrust in the US by both countries.

Hodges says he believes the Israelis also do not trust the Trump administration because they did not ask permission or inform the Trump administration directly before the operation. Similarly, Ukrainian forces did not do this immediately before Operation Spiderweb. 

He emphasizes that this is a negative result for the US, but he does not blame Israel for its decision.

At the same time, the general hopes that Washington will support Jerusalem and help “finish the job,” which could lead to the elimination of the nuclear threat from Iran.

Another important lesson from Israel’s strikes is that Russia “did nothing” to assist Iran, once again proving its unreliability. He added that although Iran provided military assistance to Russia, it is currently unknown whether this continues and to what extent.

When asked about the possibility of US troop withdrawal from Europe, the general didn’t rule it out, but believes it is unlikely to happen in the near term.

In an interview with the American TV channel Newsmax, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia has consistently supported Iran.

“Will the Russians help Iran? I think they always have. The question is whether they will openly support Iran,” Zelenskyy said.

He stressed that everything depends on a strong US position, backed by European support. Without it, Russia will understand that it can openly assist Iran, triggering a new wave of conflict in the Middle East.

The Ukrainian president also highlighted that a strong stance by Donald Trump could stop Russia’s plans to seize Ukraine.

“Trump can stop him. For that, Putin must lose money. Only then will he be unable to increase spending on his army,” he emphasized.

He added that tough sanctions are necessary.

“He is the president of the US. He must influence any aggressor in the world. Undoubtedly, Putin is one of the most dangerous,” the Ukrainian leader concluded.

Earlier, the US attempted to block European efforts to cut the G7 price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, frustrating EU and UK attempts to ramp up pressure on Moscow’s war financing. 

Once dreaming of living by the sea, now mass-selling apartments and fleeing back. Russians who moved to Crimea after the occupation are disappointed by the heat, lack of jobs, air raid alarms, and Russian military bases, OBOZ reports. 

Real estate agents in Crimea confirm: more than half of new property owners are trying to sell or rent out their apartments.

“Residents from Siberia, the Urals, even Moscow suburbs increasingly contact us asking to sell or rent out their property,” says Kseniia, a Crimean realtor speaking anonymously.

When you start working with them, it turns out they have lived here for a year or two, some even five years, but concluded Crimea is not for them. The reasons vary, from the climate not suiting them to military actions, she continues.

Many Russians came here to live peacefully by the sea, enjoying the fruits and beaches, but reality turned out differently.

Constant air raid alarms, explosions, military equipment on the streets, and frequent inspections create an atmosphere of ongoing tension.

“Neither they nor their children can endure constant air raid alarms, let alone explosions. Some told me their children start to panic. They are irritated by the military bases literally scattered across the Southern Coast of Crimea,” Kseniia adds.

Besides military issues, Crimea lacks decent jobs with reasonable salaries. The tourism business has shrunk due to the war, and most office workers and managers simply cannot find work here.

“If you’re a plumber, electrician, mechanic, builder, or air conditioner technician, you can find work here. But salaries will be Crimean, not Moscow level,” says Mykola, a resident of Yalta.

Infrastructure and healthcare problems also do not contribute to comfortable living. Crimea lacks international chain stores, and medical services are often expensive and inaccessible.

“Corruption thrives in medicine, nobody pays attention to medical insurance here, and you have to buy medicine and even bandages out of pocket,” reads the report.

Local Crimeans also have a negative attitude toward the newly arrived Russians, blaming them for price hikes, pollution, and uncivilized behavior. The Russians, in turn, call locals rude and backward.

Add to this the harsh Crimean climate, with intense heat in summer, cold, rainy winters, mud everywhere, and sea storms, and it becomes clear why many hurry to return home.

For now, Crimea remains a place for summer vacation for most Russians, and their dream of a peaceful life by the sea has yet to come true.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy states that current communication between the US and Russia resembles a “warm conversation,” which only reinforces the Russian ruler’s confidence, Newsmax reports. 

“I don’t think this can stop Putin. On the contrary, he enjoys it. I believe the tone must change. Putin must clearly understand that America will continue to support Ukraine, with sanctions and military assistance,” Zelenskyy emphasizes.

According to him, Putin is currently trying to deceive Donald Trump by pretending to show a willingness for peace, not to end the war, but to avoid new sanctions.

“Putin doesn’t want to end the war. But he needs to show Trump something positive to dodge sanctions,” the Ukrainian president continues.

Zelenskyy also stresses that Russian society has become radicalized by propaganda and that Russia’s military-industrial complex receives around $300 billion annually.

“It’s like a high-speed train with no one at the controls,” he compares.

He acknowledges that even if Trump manages to bring Putin to the negotiating table, it would only be a partial victory. The aggression, he warns, may return in another form.

“Either it will come back later, or the target of aggression will change,” the Ukrainian president adds.

Earlier, the US attempted to block European efforts to cut the G7 price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, frustrating EU and UK attempts to ramp up pressure on Moscow’s war financing. 

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.

Russia is already at Estonia’s gates. Tallinn may become the next target for Russia’s aggressive war because the Russians have several convenient pretexts for it, The Economist reports. 

For several years, Russia has been conducting a covert campaign of intimidation and destabilization against Estonia, using cyberattacks, undercover agents, sabotage, and legions of disinformation bots on social media.

NATO recognizes these risks and has been increasing its military presence in the region: currently, over 2,000 troops from allied countries are stationed in Estonia.

However, amid the reduction of American forces in Europe, Estonia could become the place where Russia first attempts to test the reliability of NATO’s Article 5 on collective defense. 

Between the 1950s and 1980s, the Kremlin resettled hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians to Estonia, and today they make up one-fifth of the country’s 1.4 million population. The largest number of them are living in the city of Narva, located right on the border with Russia. Nearly the entire population there is descended from Russian settlers.

More than 30 years later, Russians have shifted from a politically dominant group to a lower-class minority, though many in Narva still feel attached to the Soviet version of history.

Since the war in Ukraine began, Russian destabilizing efforts have intensified throughout Estonia. Last year, a sociology professor who seemed liberal was exposed as a Russian agent. In 2023, vandals damaged the cars of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the editor of a Russian-language news website.

At the same time, Russian attempts to recruit Russian speakers for minor sabotage through social media have found little support.

Russia recruits elderly in covert sabotage campaign across Ukraine and Europe

The war in Ukraine has united Estonians but divided the Russians living there. Some feel sympathy for their homeland, where many have relatives; some resent Estonian nationalism. Some are Putin supporters or simply wish for a brotherly alliance like in the old days. Others, especially younger people, warmly welcome Ukrainian refugees into their schools and communities.

Since 2022, the Estonian government has taken steps to isolate Estonia from Russia. It stopped issuing visas to Russian citizens, restricted Russian business activities, banned Russian TV channels from cable packages, and removed Soviet-era monuments. This year, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania disconnected their electricity grids from Russia.

Most of the well-known and most controversial Estonian residents holding Russian passports, who previously could vote in municipal elections, will no longer be able to do so after this year’s elections.

The war in the Middle East could decide the fate of Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Israeli “strikes have led to a sharp rise in oil prices,” which is a negative factor. According to him, “the Russians are strengthening due to higher revenues from oil exports,” UNIAN reports. 

“If there are price caps, the price will be limited, so probably the risks will decrease. Although someone will circumvent even that. That is, you cannot completely avoid the risks,” the president explains.

He claims that Ukraine will increase proposals to the American side for the introduction of price caps and sanctions against Russia’s energy sector.

“I will soon be in contact with the American side, probably with the president, and we will raise this issue,” Zelenskyy states.

At the same time, he draws attention to the military aspect.

“If we say that Iran is an ally of the Russians in supplying weapons, then have serious strikes been inflicted on the production of Shaheds and rockets, and other capabilities? We hope that it will decrease,” he says. 

Furthermore, he notes that the escalation in the Middle East leads to increased aid to Israel from the US.

“No one challenges the relationship between America and Israel, but we would like the aid to Ukraine not to decrease because of this,” the Ukrainian president stressed and recalled that previous tensions “slowed down aid to Ukraine.”

Earlier, expert Abbas Galliamov said that the Kremlin is losing one of its key bargaining chips in negotiations with Donald Trump amid Israel’s strikes on Iran. Up to 13 June, there was a kind of trade-off: “Ukraine in exchange for Iran.”

According to him, Trump would offer Putin not to put too much pressure on him over Ukraine for now, but in return, he counted on the Russian president’s support in negotiations with Tehran on its nuclear program. 

Every new Russian shelling of Kharkiv results in thousands of broken windows and damage, says Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, UkrInform reports. 

“Currently, the need for windows exceeds 50,000. Every strike increases this number by another thousand, one and a half, two. The record was more than five thousand in one attack,” the mayor reveals.

Municipal services promptly seal off the building envelopes to preserve heat and ensure residents’ safety. Some construction materials are provided by charitable organizations, but, according to Terekhov, the volumes are significantly less than in previous years of the war.

“We are receiving very little now from the funds. The assistance is shrinking, probably due to a lack of financial resources. And it’s not getting easier for us,” the mayor continues.

Volunteers actively help municipal workers eliminate the consequences of the strikes, especially in hard-to-reach buildings.

For example, in a 24-story building in the Saltivka district damaged during the night shelling on 12 June, construction materials had to be carried up manually because the elevators were without power.

The mayor also emphasizes that after each attack, Kharkiv residents unite and support the municipal and emergency services. He recalls an incident when, during a morning shelling on Hymnaziyna Embankment, a local resident brought sandwiches to workers clearing the damage.

“We don’t know if an exchange of nuclear strikes will begin.” Nuclear conflict risk between Iran and Israel threatens not only the Middle East but also Ukraine, says former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko, Radio NV reports. 

The West might shift its focus to a new crisis, while Russia could financially benefit from rising oil prices.

“If, after all these events, Iran reduces its support to Russia, that would be in our interests,” the diplomat notes.

At the same time, he warned that Israel’s actions might have a dangerous effect: “Who has power is right, and Iran will certainly respond to that.”

Ohryzko emphasizes that Tehran has already declared a strong response, using not only drones but also cruise and ballistic missiles.

“We don’t know what else is stored in Iran’s other sites, whether there are already ready nuclear warheads,” he adds. 

According to the expert, Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons is almost an objective reality. Therefore, the risk of nuclear escalation becomes not hypothetical but an extremely realistic scenario.

“So, we don’t know if at some point an exchange of nuclear strikes will begin, and that would be not just dangerous, but horrific,” Ohryzko stresses.

Besides the military threat, there is another consequence — rising energy prices.

“There are reports that oil prices jumped by 12%. That means Russia will profit from this,” the former minister notes. 

In such a situation, Ukraine risks losing part of the West’s attention while simultaneously facing the economic strengthening of its main enemy.

Czechia plans to supply Ukraine with even more ammunition in 2025 and continue its support in 2026, UkrInform reports. 

Czechia intends to deliver more large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine this year than in 2024, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Prague.

“We want to supply more large-caliber ammunition this year than in 2024, and continue this initiative in 2026,” Lipavský states.

According to him, Czechia’s participation in the Coalition of the Willing and the expansion of the Ammunition Initiative demonstrate long-term solidarity. He emphasized that the intensity of contacts between Kyiv and Prague shows that Czechia is a key partner of Ukraine.

Sybiha, in turn, thanked Czechia for its systematic support, especially in defense and weapons supplies. He also highlighted humanitarian efforts, assistance to internally displaced persons, hospital reconstruction, provision of 3D printers, and drones.

“I was impressed by the volume of help provided by Czech society, volunteer and non-governmental organizations that assist Ukraine every day,” said Sybiha.

Czechs raise € 8.15 mn for Ukraine military drones

Among the projects Czechia is implementing in Ukraine is the restoration of six hospitals. Both sides also see great prospects in developing defense-industrial cooperation.

“With Czechia, we have reached the highest level of bilateral dialogue. Czechia is one of the few countries with which Ukraine has established strategic relations during the war,” emphasized Sybiha.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to receive military support from Iran and North Korea, and other states that do not support Western sanctions. Thus, while Czechia and its allies actively assist Ukraine with ammunition and equipment, Russia receives support from countries, complicating the frontline situation and prolonging the war.