Today, the biggest news comes from the Russian Federation. Russian oil revenue is collapsing faster than expected, with over a third evaporating as global energy prices drop and sanctions tighten. In response, the Kremlin has turned to offshore crypto schemes in a last-ditch effort to stay financially afloat—an unusual and revealing sign of just how unstable its financial position has become.

Russia’s oil revenues just dropped nearly 30% in June compared to the same month last year, bringing in just under $5.4 billion, with total oil and gas revenue falling by a third. This sharp decline stems from falling oil prices, Russia’s shrinking market share, and decreasing exports as shadow fleet routes face growing interference.

Budget deficit soars to $45 billion

These figures are not just technical; they expose the collapse of a revenue stream that once funded nearly half the Russian national budget. As a resource-exporting economy, or petrostate, Russia has long relied on oil and gas exports to support everything from social payments to military procurement. In wartime conditions, with sanctions increasing and operating costs surging, the Russian federal budget cannot absorb these losses for long. The annual deficit is now estimated to be over 2.5% of Russian GDP, roughly translating to $45 billion.

To close the gap, Moscow is burning through reserves and raising domestic borrowing, but cannot sustain these efforts for long. Unless replacement income is found, Russia’s ability to sustain high-intensity operations in Ukraine while also running the country will start to break down.

Kremlin pushes crypto to raise funds

To compensate, Russian authorities have launched a cryptocurrency project aimed at generating income and skirting sanctions. The A7A5 cryptocurrency, created in Kyrgyzstan, is reportedly backed by Promsvyazbank, Russia’s main defense-linked bank, and Ilan Shor, a fugitive oligarch known for Moldova’s billion-dollar fraud. The system generates income by selling tokens, charging transaction fees, and incentivizing activity to attract users. It mimics a functioning payment network, allowing the Kremlin to extract value from users or controlled intermediaries.

Russia uses crypto to dodge sanctions

Separately, it helps circumvent sanctions by hiding who is sending and receiving money. Crypto wallets don’t require verified identities, and payments can be routed through anonymous channels outside the SWIFT international banking system. This provides Russian entities with a way to acquire restricted goods or pay foreign actors while avoiding Western surveillance.

Although over $9 billion in transactions has been reported already, most of this volume is likely artificially inflated by moving funds between accounts run by the same person to simulate real usage, creating the illusion of popularity and large-scale adoption. Even if the platform works, it falls far short of what Russia needs. A single cryptocurrency cannot replace tens of billions of dollars in lost oil and gas revenue this year, nor can it match the reliability of formal trade routes.

Digital currency can’t plug oil gap

To make a real dent in its deficit, Russia would need significantly higher usage and trade partners willing to accept this currency at scale, all while avoiding legal consequences from Western regulators now scrutinizing suspicious crypto transactions. With no clear entrance into stable markets and nothing backing the currency, the project remains marginal in economic returns and politically radioactive due to the threat of secondary Western sanctions.

Moscow risks pariah status with crypto move

Unless Russia either expands this cryptocurrency drastically or builds multiple parallel networks to launder and move money—catering to underworld organizations—it will remain a fringe tool, not a lifeline. This would essentially make Russia act as a banker for arms traffickers, criminal syndicates, and terrorist networks already accustomed to moving money through untraceable systems.

That may keep the flow alive in the short term, but it also places Russia deeper into pariah status with its allies on the geopolitical stage.

Overall, Russia’s turn to cryptocurrency reflects improvisation and desperation, not strategy. The budget hole left by collapsing oil revenue is too large for a crypto scheme to fill, and while creative, it is built more for evasion than resilience. Unless Moscow finds a real alternative to its former energy income, the strain will spread—not just on the battlefield in Ukraine, but across the entire Russian war economy. What we are witnessing is not a new financial model, but a state trying to keep the lights on with tools made for evasion and black market trade, not endurance.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

The United States has resumed weapons shipments to Ukraine, delivering 155 mm artillery shells and guided missile systems, two US officials told Reuters. The deliveries come after a short pause in arms transfers by the Trump administration that raised concerns in Kyiv and Washington.

Diplomatic efforts remain frozen, while Russia escalates its attacks. On 9 July, Moscow launched the largest combined missile and drone assault of the war, firing over 740 projectiles at Ukrainian infrastructure. The barrage signals Russia’s hardened military posture and fuels fears the war could stretch on for years.

US sends artillery shells and GMLRS missiles

The resumed shipment includes 155 mm artillery shells and GMLRS (guided multiple launch rocket system) missiles—vital to Ukraine’s front-line operations. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the size of the shipment or confirm if deliveries were complete.

The pause, which occurred last week, was reportedly tied to Pentagon concerns over depleted US munitions reserves. The White House has not formally commented on the internal review.

Trump: “I don’t know who ordered the pause”

President Donald Trump told reporters he was unaware of who had ordered the temporary halt in arms deliveries. He added that the US would continue sending weapons to Ukraine, with an emphasis on defensive systems to counter advancing Russian forces.

It is unclear whether the resumed shipment reflects a broader shift in policy or a continuation of prior aid commitments.

Russia escalates with record drone and missile barrage

Ukraine reported over 740 drones and missiles launched by Russia in a single night—the most extensive aerial attack since the war began. Strikes targeted infrastructure across multiple regions.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by calling for tougher sanctions on Russian revenue sources, especially oil exports.

Ukraine expands military coordination with US

In a statement on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said he has ordered expanded coordination with the United States to secure urgent deliveries of air defense systems and other military aid. Kyiv continues to press Washington for faster and more consistent support amid ongoing attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Rome with Keith Kellogg, the special envoy on Ukraine for US President Donald Trump. The meeting took place during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where Kellogg led the American delegation.

Diplomatic progress remains stalled, even as Russia intensifies its assault. On 9 July, Moscow launched its largest combined missile and drone attack of the war, firing more than 740 projectiles at Ukrainian infrastructure. The barrage underscores Russia’s hardened stance and raises fears that the conflict could drag on for years.

“I thanked him for participating in the Conference, where General Kellogg is heading the US team,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “We discussed arms supplies and the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense. Amid intensified Russian attacks, this remains a top priority.”

Zelenskyy also noted discussions on procuring US weapons, joint defense production, and expanding military manufacturing inside Ukraine.

Sanctions on Russian oil under review

Zelenskyy said the meeting also covered efforts to ramp up sanctions on Russia—particularly in the energy sector.

“We understand the need to tighten restrictions on Russian energy, especially through secondary sanctions targeting buyers of Russian oil,” he said.

He expressed support for a bipartisan bill introduced in the US Congress by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal aimed at limiting Russia’s oil revenues.

“This would undoubtedly force Russia to take peace more seriously,” Zelenskyy added.

I had a substantive conversation with US Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg @generalkellogg. I thanked him for participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where the General leads the US delegation.

We discussed weapons supplies and strengthening air… pic.twitter.com/nIHPaPktrA

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2025

Trump: Patriots “very expensive,” Ukraine made a request

President Trump commented on reports that his administration is considering sending additional Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. Speaking to reporters after a Wall Street Journal article broke the news, Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s request.

“They’ve requested them. They’re very rare, you know, because a lot of systems have already been sent [to Ukraine],” Trump said. “We’ll have to see—they’re very expensive.”

When asked whether he had looked into the reported pause in US arms shipments, Trump replied, “I haven’t really thought about that. Right now we’re looking at Ukraine and ammunition. But I haven’t gone deep into it.”

He added, “If such a decision was made inside my administration, I would know. Most likely, I would have been the one to give that order—but I haven’t done that yet.”

Trump confirms new military aid as frustration with Putin grows

Despite the lack of clarity on earlier decisions, Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he had approved a new shipment of arms to Ukraine. The move comes amid his increasing criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the continuation of Russian strikes.

Reports: Pentagon paused some aid without White House approval

On 1 July, the US paused shipments of specific munitions to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles. CNN reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the decision without consulting the White House.

Later, both the Pentagon and State Department clarified that weapons deliveries had not been fully suspended.

A wave of covert explosions striking tankers tied to Russian energy exports appears to be the work of Ukrainian special forces, according to a detailed analysis by Tom Sharpe OBE in The Telegraph. While no official confirmation has been issued, the precision and pattern of the attacks strongly suggest a coordinated sabotage campaign.

“Someone – and bluntly, that someone is the Ukrainian special forces – is making highly effective use of these weapons,” Sharpe writes.

Sanctions, oil, and the shadow fleet

Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the West imposed sweeping sanctions and a $60-per-barrel oil price cap to choke off funding for the war. In response, Moscow has leaned on a vast and opaque “shadow fleet” of aging tankers operating under obscure ownership and dubious flags of convenience. These vessels now carry more than 60% of Russia’s crude exports, helping sustain the oil revenues that fund Putin’s war.

Despite sanctions, the fleet continues to operate, with the US, EU, and UK stepping up enforcement through ship sanctions, port bans, and insurance crackdowns—efforts that so far have had limited effect.

Limpet mines: Targeted maritime sabotage

Military analysts and investigators believe the attacks were carried out using limpet mines, specifically Russian-made BPM-1 or BPM-2 models. These mines are designed to be manually attached to ship hulls by divers or delivered via unmanned underwater systems—tools of precision sabotage, not broad sea denial.

Their use indicates a high level of operational expertise, likely involving rebreather diving, manual or sonar-based navigation, and possibly mini-submersible delivery systems.

Sixth incident: Eco Wizard explosion in Ust-Luga

The most recent incident occurred on 6 July, when the Eco Wizard tanker was rocked by two explosions while loading ammonia at the Russian port of Ust-Luga. Though not a direct gas shipment, Sharpe notes that “ammonia is made of natural gas,” making it, in effect, a form of energy export.

This marks the sixth such attack this year. Previous explosions targeted tankers near Libya, Italy, Türkiye, and again in Ust-Luga. Many of the affected vessels had previously anchored near Malta and Libya—regions frequently linked to Russia’s shadow fleet operations.

Legal constraints and the grey zone at sea

Western powers have struggled to interdict the shadow fleet due to legal protections under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which enshrines freedom of navigation. Efforts to board or inspect suspect vessels under environmental or flag-related pretexts have had only limited success.

Sharpe also notes that many of these tankers are now accompanied by Russian warships or warplanes, raising the stakes and making direct intervention politically risky.

Strategic shift in maritime warfare

The suspected use of limpet mines by Ukrainian forces signals a strategic escalation in the maritime dimension of the war. These covert, deniable strikes target the infrastructure sustaining Russia’s war economy—without crossing into open confrontation.

As Sharpe concludes, this is a clear demonstration of “highly effective” unconventional warfare, exploiting vulnerabilities the West has yet to fully address.

Pope Leo XIV has formally offered to host peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican, renewing the Holy See’s role as a potential mediator in the ongoing war. The offer was extended during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence.

Peace talks remain stalled as Russia escalates attacks

Diplomatic efforts remain frozen, even as Russia intensifies its military offensive. On 9 July, Moscow launched the largest drone and missile barrage of the war, deploying over 740 drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. The escalation underscores Russia’s resistance to peace negotiations and fuels growing concerns that the war could stretch on for years.

Vatican reaffirms commitment to peace

The Vatican confirmed the Pope’s willingness to bring together representatives from both nations, stressing the need for an “urgent search for just and lasting peace” and the essential role of direct dialogue in resolving the war.

Russia rejects vatican as venue

Despite the renewed offer, Russia had already signaled its opposition to holding peace talks at the Vatican when the idea was first floated earlier. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov questioned the appropriateness of a Catholic setting for negotiations between predominantly Orthodox nations, calling it “somewhat inelegant.”

This refusal comes in spite of the Vatican’s neutral stance and long-standing reputation as a credible venue for international diplomacy.

New pope continues Vatican’s diplomatic legacy

Pope Leo XIV, elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has continued the Vatican’s call for peace without directly condemning Russia. This measured approach mirrors that of his predecessor and appears aimed at keeping communication channels open with both sides.

President Zelenskyy, among the first global leaders to meet the new Pope, welcomed the Vatican’s ongoing efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Ukraine has spent nearly €1 billion on fortifications over the past year to halt Russian advances. But as Moscow’s forces capture ground at their fastest pace in months, serious concerns are mounting over whether the investment is delivering results where it’s needed most, Politico reports.

A shift in strategy to match Russian tactics

Facing a change in Russian tactics — smaller assault units backed by drones — Ukraine is rethinking how it fortifies its defenses. Instead of long, linear trench systems, the military is now building compact, concealed strongpoints better suited for modern warfare.

“The most effective position is a maximum of one detachment,” said Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

He describes how smaller trench groups and foxholes with anti-drone protection have replaced sprawling 2–5 km lines. These newer positions are typically 60–70 meters long and designed to avoid detection by surveillance drones.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov called the new system “an adaptive engineering approach” that considers enemy tactics and focuses on protecting soldiers.

€1 billion spent — but uneven results

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced earlier this year that the government allocated 46.2 billion hryvnia (€930 million) to build 3,000 defensive points, including in areas not yet under active assault.

Despite that investment, Ukrainian analysts and frontline troops say implementation is inconsistent and often delayed. In Dnipro, local governments and military units worked in sync to build three solid lines of defense. But in critical regions like Sumy and Kharkiv, the situation remains chaotic.

“What is happening in Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts is a mess,” said Roman Pohorilyi, co-founder of OSINT group DeepState. “Hardly anybody knows who is responsible for what.”

He cited examples of poorly placed trenches, unused dragon’s teeth, and incomplete barriers.

Troops still digging under fire

Even with the €1 billion spend, much of the dangerous work is still being done manually by frontline troops. “Ukrainian servicemen still have to dig the first line of trenches with shovels and during active fighting,” Syrskyi acknowledged.

And without enough personnel, even the best-designed fortifications are ineffective.

“If there are no servicemen in the fortification or their number is insufficient… it does not play its role,” Syrskyi said.

Delays that cost the front

Ukrainian forces operating in Russia’s Kursk Oblast say they bought time for defenses to be built in Sumy — but that time wasn’t used effectively.

“We gave time to prepare the border area… but they hardly used it with 100 percent efficiency,” said soldier Artem Kariakin.

Key infrastructure, such as anti-drone nets, was installed only in January, after months of drone attacks. Fortifications were constructed after Ukrainian troops began retreating, rendering many of them strategically obsolete.

Russia exploiting gaps as it advances

Russian forces are probing Ukraine’s lines for weak spots and concentrating their attacks where defenses are thin.

“Russians push everywhere, probe for weak and problematic places… and start piercing,” Pohorilyi said.

In June alone, Russia seized 500 square kilometers of territory — the fastest advance in months, according to DeepState.

Conclusion: Strategy sound, execution lagging

Ukraine’s updated fortification approach reflects modern battlefield realities. But the combination of understaffed trenches, disjointed planning, and delayed execution has blunted the impact of a €1 billion investment. As one soldier put it, success “all depends on the commander” — and too often, that leadership has come too late.

Russia’s war in Ukraine is beginning to resemble World War I trench warfare—both in scale and in tactics—according to Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former commander of the UK’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defence forces.

In an opinion piece for The Telegraph, de Bretton-Gordon highlights claims by the Dutch government that Russia has carried out thousands of chemical weapon attacks in Ukraine, using agents like chlorine and CS gas to try to break the battlefield deadlock.

“The war in Ukraine is now heartbreakingly similar to the trench warfare of WW1,” he writes. “The casualty rate is similar, and now the Russians are trying to break the stalemate with gas as the Germans did at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915.”

Chemical weapons on the frontline

The Russian military’s use of toxic industrial chemicals, while not as deadly as nerve agents, is nonetheless part of a strategy to force Ukrainian troops out of defensive positions. As in WWI, the initial lack of protective gear gave attackers the advantage—but UK-supplied masks are expected to arrive soon.

“The delivery of protective equipment to the frontline in WW1 nullified this dreadful weapon, as it should in Ukraine once British masks arrive in the coming weeks.”

7/7 and the threat of CBRN terror

De Bretton-Gordon reflects on these developments as the UK marks 20 years since the 7/7 bombings—coordinated suicide attacks on London’s public transport system that killed 52 people and injured hundreds on July 7, 2005. At the time, he was deployed in Iraq with British forces investigating a possible Al Qaeda biological weapons plot, which turned out to be a false alarm.

He warns that while the 7/7 attackers used conventional explosives, a chemical, biological, or radiological attack could have caused devastation on an entirely different scale.

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A global pattern—and a warning

Drawing on his experience in Iraq, Syria, and the Novichok attack in Salisbury, de Bretton-Gordon argues that both terror groups and rogue states continue to see chemical weapons as a powerful tool. Russia’s use of such weapons in Ukraine, he warns, has gone largely unchallenged.

“Tyrants like Putin may become emboldened to use more toxic and lethal substances or pathogens against us.”

He concludes with a call for greater investment in defence and intelligence:

“It won’t matter how good (or not) our other public services or our welfare system may be if our defences are inadequate.”

Ukraine’s use of drones and robots in live combat is directly shaping European military technology, as the European Defence Agency (EDA) launches its first joint trials of unmanned systems.

The exercise, held at the Montelibretti base near Rome, marks the launch of the Defence Innovation Operational Experimentation (OPEX) campaign — aimed at accelerating Europe’s battlefield readiness with robotic and aerial platforms.

“Ukrainian experts have helped us design scenarios for the use of the technology, and the EDA will create a blueprint to show armies how they can quickly integrate it,” André Denk, EDA’s chief executive, told Defense News.

Europe seeks to close the “valley of death” in military tech

The EDA’s goal is to address the long-standing gap between innovation and deployment — what officials call the “valley of death” where promising military technologies often stall before reaching the field.

“The war in Ukraine reshaped our understanding of defense innovation, compressing years of development into weeks,” said André Denk. “Accelerating innovation from the lab to the field is our ticket to operational relevance.”

Drones and robots simulate front-line logistics

The exercise brought together unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — better known as drones — and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), which are robotic land-based systems designed to operate without a human on board.

Over the three-week trial, UAVs were used to deliver supplies, which were then transferred to UGVs for the final stretch to simulated front-line positions — a logistics method already employed by Ukrainian forces in active combat.

The companies involved included:

• UAVs: Beyond Vision (Portugal), Altus LSA (Greece), Schiebel (Austria)
• UGVs: Alysis (Spain), Piap (Poland), Arx Robotics (Germany)

The robotic vehicles were put through their paces in rough terrain, including water-filled ditches, to evaluate how well they could perform under battlefield-like conditions.

NATO observers watch real-world scenarios

Military officials from Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, and Greece attended the trials, which ended on 3 July.

“We are missing a link between research and development and end users,” said an EDA official. “This exercise was a chance for militaries to see the technology in action and understand the possibilities for tactics and doctrine.”

What’s next: Nettuno trials and wider EU integration

Testing will continue at the Italian army’s Nettuno facility, where upcoming operational trials will explore how UAV and UGV systems can be integrated into standard military procedures across EU member states.

“We are now showing armies systems they don’t know about and increasing discussions and lessons for the first time,” the EDA official said.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for nearly an hour. The call focused on the war in Ukraine, stalled negotiations, and shifting international dynamics.

This was the sixth call between Trump and Putin since Trump returned to office on 20 January. Despite regular contact, the conversations have produced no concrete results, with Trump pushing to end the war and Putin refusing to shift on Russia’s goals.

After the call, Trump acknowledged the lack of progress:

“We also talked about the war with Ukraine, and I’m not happy about that … I didn’t make any progress with him today at all.”

Putin stands firm as talks stall

The Kremlin said Putin reiterated Russia’s commitment to its military goals in Ukraine, which he described as efforts to eliminate the “root causes” of the conflict.

“We will not abandon these objectives,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov quoted him as saying.

While Putin expressed openness to further negotiations with Ukraine, no new peace talks were discussed. A potential third round—previously suggested for Istanbul—was not mentioned in detail, according to Ushakov.

Trump reportedly began the call by touting the passage of his “Big and Beautiful Act,” a sweeping bill on tax, immigration, and energy reform. It passed the Senate and is awaiting final approval in the House.

Trump–Zelenskyy call set for 4 July

Trump is expected to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 4 July, according to Financial Times, Reuters, and AFP. The conversation comes as the US pauses key military aid to Ukraine, including Patriot missile interceptors and other critical supplies.

From Denmark, Zelenskyy confirmed the upcoming call and emphasized the need for continued US support—particularly PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

“Europe doesn’t yet have some of these capabilities,” he said.

He also commented on the Trump–Putin exchange, saying the two leaders have little in common and that progress will require direct talks with the Russian president.

“Everything in Russia is decided by him,” Zelenskyy said.

On 1 July, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with both Putin and Zelenskyy, marking his first direct contact with the Russian leader since 2022.

The war in Ukraine has underscored the US Army’s need to close a critical gap in its long-range and short-range fires capabilities, Defense One reports. According to Gen. James Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army, the service is now turning to drones and loitering munitions to fill the “delta” in mid-range firepower.

“We’re imagining a future where instead of it just being all tube,” Mingus said during a discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Wednesday.

The future force structure, he added, will pair traditional cannon artillery with new drone technologies and loitering munitions.

Integrating drones into traditional artillery formations

The 25th Infantry Division is currently testing a hybrid artillery model, integrating first-person view (FPV) attack drones alongside conventional systems like the M777 howitzer and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

Under the envisioned configuration, the division would include:

• One HIMARS battalion
• One M777 howitzer battalion
• A third battalion blending mortars, 105 mm systems, FPV drones, loitering munitions, and other launched effects.

The US Army has begun simulating these force structures at both the division and corps level to test operational effectiveness in live battlefield scenarios.

Preparing for the arrival of precision strike missile

The Army is also modeling how its forthcoming long-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) will reshape future battlefields. This next-generation missile is expected to replace the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), extending the strike range from 300 kilometers to nearly 1,000.

“Think about the difference there,” Mingus said. “How does that change the battlefield architecture and geometry for our war fighters?”

Although the PrSM won’t enter service for another few years, the Army is already training for its integration using live, but surrogate, systems.

Production сhallenges: From Ukraine to the Red Sea

Increased global demand for munitions—from Ukraine to the Red Sea—has exposed the fragility of the US military’s ammunition stockpiles. Mingus acknowledged that production rates and price points are now a major concern for critical systems.

“Our magazine depth right now is not where it needs to be,” he warned, citing depletion from conflicts in Israel, Iran, and Ukraine.

This includes missiles for the Patriot air defense system and Tomahawk cruise missiles used by the Navy in recent strikes against Houthi targets.

Scaling up munitions production: Speed is critical

To meet surge demands during future conflicts, the Army may need to rapidly increase production—from producing 500 Patriot missiles a year to as many as 10,000—and do so within days rather than months.

“We can’t afford to wait that amount of time,” Mingus said.

The only solution, he argued, lies in aggressive automation and robotics to bypass human labor bottlenecks.

“A robot doesn’t care whether it’s working 24 hours a day or 12,” Mingus added.

A Ukrainian missile strike on 2 July reportedly killed Major General Mikhail Gudkov, Russia’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, in Kursk Oblast, near the Ukrainian border. The strike targeted the forward command post of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade in the village of Korenevo, according to an obituary posted by a Russian marine veterans group.

The Typhoon veterans organization claimed four missiles struck the site, killing over 10 Russian officers, including several senior commanders. Russia’s Ministry of Defense later confirmed Gudkov’s death, stating only that he died during “combat work” in a border district.

Senior Navy general confirmed dead

Gudkov’s death was also announced by Primorsky Krai governor Oleg Kozhemyako, who said the general died “fulfilling his duty as an officer” and had continued personally visiting frontline marine positions even after his promotion.

The Defense Ministry did not specify the circumstances of his death but confirmed the date—2 July.

Key role in Mariupol siege

Before his promotion in March 2025, Gudkov commanded the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, which played a central role in Russia’s siege and assault on Mariupol in 2022. The months-long operation devastated the Ukrainian port city, leaving large portions in ruins. To this day, the true number of civilian casualties remains unknown, though estimates suggest thousands may have died.

Gudkov’s leadership in Mariupol earned him direct praise from President Vladimir Putin, who awarded him the title Hero of Russia and said his performance should be a model for other units.

Heavy losses in the 155th brigade

The 155th Brigade, considered an elite unit, has suffered extensive casualties during the war. A BBC report from December 2023 confirmed at least 234 soldiers killed, with total losses—including the wounded and missing—likely exceeding 1,450.

The brigade also reportedly suffered heavy losses in Sudzha, a border area in Kursk Oblast that saw fighting during a Ukrainian cross-border incursion in August 2024. Though Russian forces later regained control, the clashes revealed gaps in border security and inflicted serious casualties on elite units, including the 155th Brigade.

Gudkov becomes 11th Russian general killed

Gudkov is the 11th confirmed Russian general to die since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Other notable deaths include:

• Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, killed in an April 2025 car bombing near Moscow.
• Maj. Gen. Sergei Goryachev and Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov, killed by missile strikes during Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive.
• Maj. Gen. Vladimir Zavadsky, killed by a landmine in late 2023.
• Gen. Pavel Klimenko, who died in a motorcycle crash in November 2024, possibly while evading a drone.
• Gen. Igor Kirillov, Russia’s top chemical and biological defense officer, assassinated in Moscow in December 2024 by a scooter bomb. Ukraine’s SBU claimed responsibility.

Early in the war, Russian generals were frequently present near frontline positions to speed up battlefield decision-making—a practice that has continued to result in high-ranking casualties.

A new armoured combat suit developed by Ukraine’s Major Oleh Shyriaiev is designed to protect soldiers from the growing threat of drone-dropped explosives and shrapnel. The lightweight overalls, made from Kevlar and other impact-absorbing materials, offer full-body coverage and reinforced protection in key areas, The Telegraph reports.

The move to integrate armour into clothing reflects the static nature of the war in Ukraine. Troops often remain in fixed positions for extended periods, where drone and artillery attacks pose a far greater risk than small arms fire.

“The idea of these armoured overalls was my initiative and is something that hasn’t existed before,” said Shyriaiev, recently awarded the title Hero of Ukraine, the country’s highest honour.

Built for shrapnel, not bullets

The suit uses Kevlar, a heat-resistant synthetic fibre originally developed to replace steel in racing tyres, along with other materials that can absorb explosive impact. While Kevlar is less effective than ceramic plates against bullets, it is much lighter and offers strong protection against shrapnel, now the main battlefield threat.

“When a drone drops a grenade or explosive device, there is shrapnel and ballistic powder flying around, which have different starting velocities and weight,” Shyriaiev said.

Reinforced elbows, knees, and ankles

The suit includes extra protection at vulnerable joints, such as the elbows, knees, and ankles—areas commonly injured during ground movement or shelling. It is designed to be worn alongside standard body armour and helmets, extending protective coverage without severely compromising mobility.

Shyriaiev’s team is also exploring the development of blast-resistant insoles for military boots, to guard against foot injuries from ground-level explosions.

Tech can’t replace infantry

Although drones have transformed modern warfare, Shyriaiev emphasized that human soldiers remain essential to combat operations.

“Without infantry, war is impossible,” he said. “There is no way a drone can replace a soldier. A soldier guides a drone, makes decisions, opens fire and observes with a human eye.”

The Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone—rebranded by Russia as the Geran-2—has become a central weapon in Moscow’s drone campaign against Ukraine, Forbes reports. Its low cost, long range, and substantial payload have made it a cornerstone of Russia’s evolving military strategy.

While Ukraine initially grew increasingly effective at countering these drones, Russia has recently scaled up production of upgraded Shahed variants, posing a growing threat to Ukrainian air defenses. Analysts warn that if these new drones overwhelm existing systems, the remnants of civilian life in Ukrainian cities could face renewed devastation.

Ukraine’s early success against Shahed drones

Ukraine’s air defense strategy initially kept Shahed drones largely at bay. On 25 January 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting all 61 drones launched in a single wave—15 jammed, 46 shot down.

The success stemmed from a layered system: electronic warfare systems jammed low-flying drones, MiG-29 jets and Mi-24 helicopters intercepted at higher altitudes, and mobile machine-gun teams engaged drones nearing urban areas.

Russia enhances the Shahed: Tougher and more lethal

Russia’s recent drone modifications have made the Shahed a tougher adversary. As Forbes defense correspondent Vikram Mittal reports, engine compartments are now armored, and fuel tanks have been moved from the wings into the drone’s core, reducing the likelihood of a single hit disabling the craft.

Some drones now deploy submunitions mid-flight, extending their damage radius and lowering the need for precise targeting.

One Ukrainian commander, quoted on social media, said: “You don’t even hear them fall, and then 20 minutes after the flight, an explosion occurs.”

Evolving tactics: Dual-altitude launches and lancet support

Beyond hardware, Russia has changed how Shaheds are used. Launching drones in dual-altitude pairs—one low, one high—allows the lower drone to mask the other from radar detection, improving strike success.

Meanwhile, Russia is pairing Shaheds with Lancet drones, which act as loitering munitions targeting Ukraine’s counter-drone teams. By knocking out interceptors first, Shaheds are more likely to reach their destinations.

25 June attack reveals shift in momentum

On 25 June 2025, Ukraine reported that only 52 of 71 drones were intercepted—32 shot down, 20 jammed. The remaining 19 drones hit their targets, a sharp increase compared to earlier in the year.

“This trend… reflects a shift in both technology and tactics,” Mittal wrote in Forbes, suggesting Russia’s changes are beginning to erode Ukraine’s defensive edge.

Ukraine responds with countermeasures and counterstrikes

In response, Ukrainian forces are upgrading radar systems to detect paired drones more effectively. Field units may also receive heavier-caliber rifles and vehicle armor to withstand Lancet attacks.

In a more offensive move, Ukraine recently targeted a Shahed production facility, aiming to slow the flow of drones at its source.

Drone warfare: The iterative arms race

As Vikram Mittal of Forbes writes, the Shahed drone’s evolution reflects the dynamic nature of this conflict: “Ukraine will adjust its defenses, Russia will continue to evolve its drones and tactics in turn.”

The drone war now embodies a larger arms race—not just in firepower, but in adaptation. Each new modification, tactic, or countermeasure feeds a rapid cycle of innovation on both sides of the front line.

On the night of June 27–28, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) carried out a drone strike on the Kirovske military airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea.

According to an official statement, the strike destroyed several Russian helicopters — including Mi-8, Mi-26, and Mi-28 — as well as a Pantsir-S1 self-propelled air defense system. Additional damage was reported to ammunition depots, air defense infrastructure, and drone facilities.

“The occupiers must understand: their expensive equipment is not safe anywhere — not on the front line, not in occupied territory, not in the rear,” the statement said.

Secondary explosions and ongoing strikes

Secondary detonations continued throughout the night, suggesting munitions storage sites were hit. This marked the second consecutive day the SBU reported destroying Russian military assets in Crimea.

On 26 June, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) announced that its Prymary (Ghosts) unit carried out a separate drone strike on five key components of Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense system. Targets included two multifunction radars, two detection radars, and one missile launcher.

Russia acknowledges drone activity

Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed a drone attack over Crimea, claiming that nine Ukrainian UAVs were intercepted.

While independent visual confirmation is still pending, local Telegram channels reported explosions in the Kirovske area. The monitoring group Crimean Wind documented five to six explosions between 2:50 and 3:02 AM, following drone activity. Russian air defenses reportedly fired in the Dzhankoi district around 1:30 AM.

Fires detected by satellite

According to Crimean Wind, citing NASA FIRMS satellite data, large fires were detected at the airfield. The group published annotated imagery showing multiple heat sources, including on or near helicopter pads.

At least one helicopter was reportedly seen burning, and air defense positions and depots appear to have been hit.

At approximately 11:30 AM local time, a loud explosion shook the suburbs of Dnipro, a major city in central Ukraine.

The blast, caused by Ukrainian air defense operations, was reportedly the result of intercepting a new Russian long-range bomb-missile — a development that could signal Moscow’s expanding ability to strike targets deep inside Ukraine.

Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Administration, confirmed the incident and praised the air defense forces:

“Thanks to our sky defenders for shooting down the newest Grom-1 bomb-missile,” Lysak wrote on Telegram.

Missile launched from Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the missile was launched from a Russian tactical aircraft operating over temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. It traveled more than 100 kilometers before being shot down just outside Dnipro.

“The type of the air target will be determined after examining debris at the crash site,” the military stated.

Brief air raid alert issued

A localized air raid alert was declared in Dnipro at 11:27 AM and lifted just seven minutes later, at 11:34 AM. During that short window, residents heard a loud explosion, which coincided with the interception of the missile.

Experimental long-range bomb suspected

Sources in Ukraine’s air defense told Suspilne the weapon may have been an experimental guided bomb (KAB) fitted with a jet engine — a modification designed to extend its range far beyond standard specifications.

“Standard KABs had a range of about 70 km. Now, with jet engines, they’re constantly trying to push that farther,” one Ukrainian Air Force source told the outlet.

While officials have not confirmed the exact model, Grom-1 appears to refer to a new-generation Russian weapon that may combine features of both guided bombs and cruise missiles.

The Russian government has not commented on the incident.

Growing threat to civilian cities

If confirmed, the deployment of a long-range KAB-type weapon could mark a shift in Russia’s airstrike strategy — allowing it to hit civilian and infrastructure targets well behind the front lines.

Cities like Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia already endure frequent KAB attacks, making daily life increasingly dangerous for residents.

While Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has largely avoided frontline combat, Russian forces are advancing from Donetsk, and several villages in the region have already begun evacuations.

Glide bombs like the KAB are difficult to shoot down because they travel at high speeds and low altitudes, leaving little time for air defense systems to respond.

Dnipro: Strategic and symbolic target

Dnipro is one of Ukraine’s largest cities and serves as a key cultural, industrial, and logistical hub. The use of advanced long-range weaponry against the city suggests a broadening of the war’s geographic scope, and highlights the ongoing challenge Ukraine faces in defending population centers far from the immediate front.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia continues to rely on foreign-made components, including from Western countries, to build weapons used in its war against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy’s remarks come as Russia intensifies drone and missile strikes across Ukraine. This week alone, Ukrainian officials report that at least 21 civilians were killed in Dnipro, 9 in Kyiv, and 2 in Odesa.

Speaking at the Fair Play conference, Zelenskyy said the Kremlin’s ability to sustain its military effort hinges on ongoing access to global trade networks and imported technology.

“Without those ties, this war simply wouldn’t exist,” Zelenskyy said. “Russian missiles and drones are made of dozens of critical components brought in from other countries through various schemes.”

Russian weapons built with foreign machinery

Zelenskyy said that over the past year, Russian military factories have received advanced machinery from 12 countries, including China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Türkiye, and the United States.

“Russia’s weapons production directly depends on access to modern machinery,” he said. “Even today, Western countries are still supplying Russia with critical components.”

He added that some supply contracts have already been signed through 2026.

Surge in dual-use goods to Russia’s neighbors

According to an investigation by Sky News, exports of dual-use goods — items with civilian and military applications — to Russia’s neighboring countries have risen by 9% over the past nine months compared to the same period from 2022 to mid-2023.

The volume of these exports is now 111% higher than pre-invasion levels.

Update 1: Teacher and husband killed in direct hit

Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov confirmed that a teacher and her husband were killed in last night’s Russian drone strike on the city.

“A person of the world’s most peaceful profession has died,” Trukhanov wrote on Telegram. “Kateryna Borsynska, a social pedagogue at the Mykhailivskyi Lyceum, and her husband, Valentyn, were killed.”

Update 2: 17 wounded, including children as young as 3

The Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that 17 people were injured in the overnight drone strike on the city. Among the wounded are three boys aged 3, 7, and 14.

Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack on a residential high-rise in Odesa, local authorities confirmed. Emergency responders discovered the bodies of a married couple whose apartment took a direct hit, according to Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.

The attack in Odesa is part of a broader escalation in Russian aerial assaults. Ukrainian officials report that, this week alone, drone and missile strikes have killed at least 21 civilians in Dnipro and 9 in Kyiv, as Russia intensifies its bombardments of urban centers.

Fire and rescue efforts

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) reported that the drone struck a 21-story building, triggering fires on the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors. Several residents were trapped in their apartments due to heavy smoke and debris. Emergency crews evacuated five people, including a young child.

“Preliminary reports indicate two fatalities and at least four people injured,” the SES said.

A Russian drone strike hit a high-rise in Odesa, killing 2 and injuring 9.

A direct hit on the 9th floor set the building ablaze.

A rescuer carries out a smoke-inhaled 3-year-old as his mother runs behind.

“The blast wave threw us. Our neighbor was covered in blood.” pic.twitter.com/VSzbApM2po

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) June 28, 2025

Six injured, including two young children

The Odesa Regional Administration initially reported six people injured: four adults and two children, ages seven and three. Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that the 7-year-old boy is in moderate condition, while the 3-year-old suffered from smoke inhalation. All four adults were also hospitalized in moderate condition.

Police: Nine injured in total

Ukrainian police later updated the casualty count, stating that at least nine people were injured, including the two children. The drone made a direct hit on the 9th floor, severely damaging that level. The blast wave also impacted the 8th and 10th floors, with other parts of the building sustaining collateral damage.

Eyewitness: “We were thrown by the blast wave’

A resident of the damaged building shared her account with local outlet Dumska:

“There was an air raid alert. I heard a Shahed drone approaching—it was getting louder. I managed to reach the hallway just in time. The blast wave threw my husband and me. Fortunately, we weren’t seriously hurt. I saw fires on the lower floors. Our neighbor was badly injured—covered in blood—his wife was screaming. While my husband helped him, I gathered our documents. Together with our neighbors, we carried him outside on a blanket and evacuated.”

Ongoing emergency response

Emergency crews continue working at the scene, and local authorities are assessing structural damage and providing aid to affected residents.

Ukraine and the Council of Europe have signed a formal agreement to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, marking a step toward legal accountability for Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The signing ceremony, held in Strasbourg, was broadcast live on the Council of Europe’s official website. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Alain Berset, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, formalized the agreement.

“Every war criminal must know: justice will prevail — and that includes Russia,” said Zelenskyy.

Tribunal to target senior Russian leadership — with limits

The tribunal is designed to prosecute high-level political and military figures responsible for launching the war against Ukraine. However, under current international law, sitting officials such as President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov enjoy legal immunity.

This means they cannot be prosecuted while in office. Trials can only begin once they leave power.

“This was a necessary compromise,” international law scholar Gleb Bogush of the University of Cologne told the BBC. “The G7 — especially the US — insisted on maintaining immunity for top officials. It sets a troubling precedent.”

Tribunal can still try other Russian and Belarusian officials

Despite immunity for top leaders, the tribunal will be empowered to investigate and try other senior Russian and Belarusian officials, potentially even in absentia. Legal experts believe this still sends a strong message about international accountability.

Bogush noted that the tribunal’s presence serves as a “persistent reminder” of the crime of aggression and the obligation to prosecute it under international law.

Questions raised over independence of investigations

The tribunal’s prosecutorial independence has already sparked debate. The agreement gives the Ukrainian Prosecutor General the sole authority to submit names and evidence to initiate cases. The tribunal’s prosecutor cannot act independently of Ukraine’s referral.

“This raises serious concerns about impartiality,” said Bogush. “The tribunal’s ability to act freely is significantly limited.”

Filling the legal gap left by the International Criminal Court

The Special Tribunal is being created to fill a jurisdictional gap in international law. The International Criminal Court (ICC) can investigate war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, but not the crime of aggression unless both states involved have ratified the Rome Statute.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine had ratified the statute when the war began. Ukraine formally ratified it in August 2024, and cooperation between the ICC and the new tribunal is expected going forward.

Structure, location, and next steps

The tribunal’s statute was approved by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on 24 June. It will consist of 15 judges, appointed by a committee made up of representatives from participating states.

While the location has not been confirmed, The Hague remains a likely option. The agreement is open to Council of Europe members and other interested countries.

Zelenskyy’s visit follows NATO summit

President Zelenskyy traveled to Strasbourg following his participation in the NATO summit in The Hague. He is also expected to address the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers later in the day.

Russia formally withdrew from the Council of Europe in 2022 after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its membership had been suspended prior to the withdrawal.

Why they say it’s a win — even if Putin walks for now

• First international court effort aimed at prosecuting Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
• Builds legal pressure on Russian officials for launching the invasion.
• Highlights how Putin and other top leaders remain protected by legal immunity while in office.
• Shows the trade-offs behind creating global justice mechanisms through political compromise.
• Supports Ukraine’s broader strategy to seek legal accountability after the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil in person, the Kremlin confirmed. Instead, he will participate via video conference during the July 6–7 meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov directly attributed Putin’s virtual attendance to Brazil’s membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, charging him with the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories—charges stemming from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“This is related to certain complications in the context of the ICC’s requirements. The Brazilian government could not take a clear position that would allow our president to participate in person,” Ushakov told Interfax.

Lavrov to attend in Putin’s place

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is not under any ICC indictment, will represent Russia on-site at the summit.

Although Putin has previously visited ICC member countries such as Mongolia without facing arrest, the Kremlin is treating the situation in Brazil differently due to the perceived legal and diplomatic uncertainties.

Xi Jinping also expected to miss BRICS summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to skip the BRICS summit, according to Bloomberg, with Premier Li Qiang representing China instead. This would mark Xi’s first absence from a BRICS summit since taking power.

Sources cited by the South China Morning Post said “scheduling conflicts” were officially cited, but noted that Xi has already met frequently with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Beijing generally avoids sending Xi to the same country two years in a row, with Russia being the exception, according to sources.

Modi to attend in person; India eyes state visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to attend the summit in person and may stay on for a state visit to Brazil afterward, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Details of the trip are still being finalized.

Xi’s absence, contrasted with Modi’s high-profile visit, could create unfavorable optics for Beijing, as China and India cautiously improve bilateral ties.

BRICS expands amid global power shifts

Formed in 2006, BRICS—originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. The group aims to serve as a counterbalance to Western-dominated institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Xi’s decision not to attend could also delay diplomatic engagement with Iran, which joined BRICS in 2024 amid ongoing tensions with Israel. The summit would have marked Xi’s first direct meeting with Iranian officials since the conflict began.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a 50-minute meeting during the NATO summit in The Hague — their first formal talks in months, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing pressure on the West to boost support.

Trump called the meeting “couldn’t have been nicer,” acknowledging “rough times” in US–Ukraine relations.

“We’ve had some rough times… I’m going to see if we can end the war,” Trump told reporters.

Zelenskyy called the conversation productive and constructive.

“We covered all the truly important issues,” he wrote on Telegram, adding that they discussed peace efforts, a potential ceasefire, and civilian protection.

Trump, however, later gave a different account:

“We didn’t talk about a ceasefire. I just wanted to know how he was doing.”

A Notable change in presentation

In a symbolic departure from his usual wartime attire, Zelenskyy arrived at the NATO summit in a dark suit-style jacket and collared shirt — a look he had avoided throughout the war. It was the first time in over three years that Ukraine’s president opted for formal civilian clothing at a major diplomatic gathering.

The change was widely noted in both Western and Ukrainian media. While Zelenskyy did not wear a tie, the choice of jacket contrasted sharply with his signature olive drab shirts and combat-style gear. Observers saw it as a calculated shift — a gesture toward diplomatic normalcy and renewed appeal for support from allies.

The moment also carried personal resonance. After a tense meeting in the Oval Office earlier this year, Trump had reportedly made a dismissive comment about Zelenskyy’s attire. Asked then whether he’d consider wearing a suit again, Zelenskyy responded wryly:

“When the war is over.”

Patriot missile systems: Critical to Ukraine’s defense

Asked about supplying more Patriot missile systems, Trump was cautious:

“They do want the Patriots. We are going to see if we can make some available. They are very hard to get and we need them too. We were supplying them to Israel, they are very effective,”

Patriots are critical to Ukraine’s air defense, capable of intercepting Russian ballistic and cruise missiles, which continue to strike Ukrainian cities on a near-daily basis.

Closed-door concern: “Totally out of control”

Bloomberg reported that in a private session with NATO leaders, Trump warned the war in Ukraine is “totally out of control” and that urgent action is needed. He also told leaders he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he did not specify when or under what conditions.

Publicly, Trump referred to “thousands” of battlefield casualties last week, later clarifying the figure included losses on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides.

Ukraine losing ground, under daily fire

Despite continued Western backing, Ukraine is losing territory and enduring heavy casualties. Russian forces are intensifying drone and missile attacks across multiple regions.

This week alone, Ukrainian officials reported that strikes killed at least 19 civilians in Dnipro and 9 in Kyiv.

Meanwhile, a new Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast has opened another front in the north, pushing toward the regional capital and placing additional strain on Ukrainian defenses.

Ukraine’s air defense systems are overstretched, with limited capacity to intercept the growing volume of attacks. Civilians face daily threats.

Western military aid falls short

While the EU has announced €35 billion in financial aid, military support remains limited and slow. With US backing uncertain, European partners have failed to deliver long-range missiles, Western fighter jets, and modern tanks in meaningful numbers.

Ukraine operates with a handful of Western aircraft, aging tanks, and almost no long-range strike capability.

Symbolic support at NATO

At the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned:

“Russia produces in three months what NATO does in a year — with an economy 25 times smaller.”

Zelenskyy also met with top EU officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who offered public reassurance:

“Volodymyr, you are among friends.”

Despite public solidarity, no new binding military commitments were announced during the summit.

Background: Tense history

The meeting in The Hague marked the first substantive conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy since a contentious Oval Office session in February, which ended with the Ukrainian delegation walking out over a disagreement on natural resource agreements.

A planned meeting during the June G7 summit was also canceled, as both leaders departed early due to separate international crises.

Their only other encounter this year was a brief exchange at Pope Francis’s funeral in April.

From junk food packaging to deep-strike drone raids, Ukraine is turning everyday materials into weapons—and using them to fight one of the largest militaries in the world, Defense News reports.

In early 2024, near the front lines of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian drone operator Vadim Adamov reached for an empty Pringles can. Out of standard metal casings for explosives, he packed the can with sulphate and plastic explosive, hooked it to a DJI Mavic drone, and sent it flying.

“I don’t need your f***ing American shells,” Adamov said, launching the makeshift bomb at a Russian armored vehicle. It worked.

The can cost $1.50. The drone, a few thousand. The destroyed target? Likely worth hundreds of thousands.

Ukraine’s low-cost drones are delivering high-value results

Ukraine’s improvised weapons strategy—born from necessity—is now at the core of its military doctrine. Drones, especially first-person view (FPV) types, are being used for surveillance, direct attacks, and long-range sabotage.

In 2024 alone, Ukraine produced 2.2 million drones. Officials expect that number to more than double to 5 million in 2025.

Much of this production happens in basements, garages, and converted print shops, where parts like motors and cameras are assembled by hobbyists and technicians—many of them self-taught or under 25 years old.

Operation Spiderweb was a warning shot

The June 2024 Operation Spiderweb made headlines when hundreds of Ukrainian drones were smuggled into Russia and used to destroy strategic bombers and spy planes.

But experts say the surprise wasn’t the technology—it was the scale.

“These are the same basic tactics we’ve seen since the start of the war,” a Ukrainian defense official told Defense News. “Spiderweb just showed how far they can go.”

Frontline pilots, gamified warfare

At drone units near Lyman in eastern Ukraine, operators watch footage of confirmed hits, train on obstacle courses, and even earn digital medals and bonuses for successful strikes.

“The best thing to do if you hear one is to play dead,” one pilot said. “But if it gets that close, you’re probably dead already.”

This war now includes leaderboards, ranking systems, and financial incentives for drone kills. It’s war fought with joysticks and VR goggles—sometimes by soldiers barely out of their teens.

Russia responds, and Ukraine counters again

The drone war is now a back-and-forth tech race. Ukrainian forces began using signal jammers to break drone communications. Russia responded by adding ultra-thin fiber-optic spools to their drones, making them resistant to jamming.

Ukraine’s latest move: physical netting over trenches and roads to intercept incoming drones.

The battlefield is evolving daily—this is a “digital trench war,” with each side pushing the limits of adaptation.

More than air power: Ground and sea drones on the rise

At the BraveOne defense-tech conference in Kyiv (February 2025), Kharkiv-based engineer Sasha Rubina unveiled a prototype unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to deliver food and ammunition to the front.

“The idea is that the person controlling it is in a safe place,” Rubina said. “The fewer people exposed, the more lives we save.”

Ukraine’s strategy now includes land, air, and sea drones, and many of these platforms are produced domestically and deployed within weeks.

Why this matters: Cheap can beat powerful

Ukraine’s military is stretched thin. Since the failed 2023 counteroffensive, the army has faced manpower shortages and frontline fatigue. With negotiations stalled and traditional weapons in limited supply, drones offer a scalable alternative.

As Kipling wrote in Arithmetic on the Frontier:
“Two thousand pounds of education falls to a ten-rupee jezail.”

The line, originally about British officers being killed by cheaply armed fighters in colonial wars, underscores a core truth of asymmetric warfare: expensive training and hardware can still fall to low-cost, clever resistance.

In 2025, it’s a $100 drone destroying a $100,000 tank.

“The odds,” Kipling added, “are on the cheaper man.”

Ukraine has significantly weakened Russia’s artillery advantage, but now faces a growing threat from drones. As Forbes tech correspondent David Hambling reports, both sides are turning to drones for faster, more precise strikes—reshaping how the war is fought.

Ukrainian drone teams use radar systems like the US-made AN/TPQ-36 and locally produced acoustic sensors to detect firing positions. But drones are critical for pinpointing exact targets.

“Drones are essential for confirming the exact location of artillery,” said ‘Michael,’ commander of Ukraine’s Typhoon drone unit.

Precision strikes and rapid response

Visual observation with powerful zoom cameras is often the most effective way to locate Russian guns—especially while they’re firing.

“Muzzle flashes, smoke, or movement make them visible,” Michael explained.

Once a gun is confirmed, drones strike quickly—often faster than artillery. Though a drone travels at 100 mph, it can hit faster than a 700-mph shell because it homes in directly on the moving target. “With FPV drones… the first strike often hits,” said Michael. “With artillery, it often takes several rounds.”

Self-propelled guns are vulnerable when on the move, but even towed guns—though harder to destroy—can be taken out with precision hits to specific parts like the breech or towing vehicle. Videos from units like Birds of Magyar show drones hovering inches from targets before detonating.

Russian drones on the rise

Despite still having large artillery stockpiles, Russia is also rapidly expanding drone use.

“We’re observing several hundred FPV strikes per day,” said Michael.

Russia plans to produce 2 million FPV drones in 2025—nearly matching artillery shell output. Recon drones remain ever-present. “There’s no sign of a shortage,” Michael noted.

What’s notable is that drones were once seen as a Ukrainian fallback due to limited artillery. Now, even Russia—despite its superior stocks—is leaning heavily on drones for precision strikes.

A new kind of war

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi recently stated that Russia’s long-range firepower has been halved. But the transition from heavy artillery to high-precision drone warfare is redefining how the war is fought.

As Hambling writes: “The days of massed firepower will have passed. But the era of massed precision drone strikes will just be beginning.”

Residents of Tucson, a city in southern Arizona near the US-Mexico border, were startled earlier this week when a group of helicopters, including a rare Russian-designed Mi-17 “Hip,” conducted low-flying nighttime maneuvers as part of a previously undisclosed US military training operation.

While domestic urban training is not uncommon for US forces, this incident stood out for its secrecy and the presence of unusual aircraft.

Social media captures mysterious choppers

Videos began circulating on Instagram the night of 17 June, showing a gray-painted Mi-17 flying in formation with three Bell 407 helicopters just outside Tucson. One clip was filmed near an abandoned school, later confirmed by local authorities as the training site.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the helicopters were affiliated with the US military. However, Sheriff Chris Nanos admitted to KOLD News 13 that his office was not notified in advance.

“The only thing I knew was that there was a lot of noise, flash bangs, helicopters, personnel, lights, sirens, that type of stuff,” Nanos said.

Links to elite army aviation unit suspected

A report by The War Zone (TWZ) suggests the Mi-17 spotted over Tucson strongly resembles helicopters operated by the Aviation Technology Office (ATO) — a highly secretive US Army aviation unit based at Felker Army Airfield in Virginia. ATO is believed to specialize in clandestine support and cutting-edge aircraft testing.

The Mi-17’s configuration — including armor plating, advanced sensors, and radar — matches aircraft previously attributed to ATO. The unit also operates Bell 407s, which have been seen flying alongside ATO Mi-17s in earlier covert operations, including an emergency landing in North Carolina in 2021.

Local officials apologize for lack of notice

KOLD reported that the sheriff’s SWAT team helped coordinate the use of the school as a training site weeks in advance, but communication with the public fell short.

“This was on us,” Sheriff Nanos said. “We could easily have said, use our location [elsewhere] at 10 p.m. I don’t understand what the thinking was there.”

Nanos pledged better coordination in the future and apologized for the confusion caused.

US use of Mi-17s not new

While seeing a Russian-designed helicopter over a US city may seem strange, Mi-17s have been used for years by the US military and intelligence agencies. The CIA and Department of Defense have employed the type for training, logistics, and covert missions, especially in regions like Afghanistan, where the platform is common among local forces.

The Mi-17’s global footprint makes it a valuable platform for realistic training, even when those missions remain officially unacknowledged.

A major scandal is unfolding within the Ukrainian government. Under normal circumstances, it might be framed as a political crisis — but amid martial law and suspended elections, politics in Ukraine has largely ground to a halt. What remains is power without electoral accountability.

At the center of the growing controversy is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov, who has been abroad for over a week and has yet to return. His absence coincides with a widening criminal investigation that has already ensnared several of his former subordinates.

Journalist raises alarm over Chernyshov’s disappearance

Mykhailo Tkach, an investigative journalist with Ukrainska Pravda, was the first to draw public attention to Chernyshov’s absence. His reporting has tracked a network of arrests involving individuals who previously worked under Chernyshov — first in government, then at Naftogaz, Ukraine’s powerful state-owned oil and gas company.

“NABU and SAPO have detained two of Chernyshov’s close associates — Maksym Horbatiuk and Vasyl Volodin. Both worked with him in the Ministry and later at Naftogaz. Horbatiuk was detained at the border as he attempted to go on vacation. Chernyshov remains abroad, reportedly on an official trip,” Tkach reported.

What are NABU and SAPO?

The investigation is being led by two key Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies:

• NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) is an independent law enforcement agency responsible for investigating high-level corruption among state officials and public institutions.
• SAPO (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office) works alongside NABU, overseeing legal procedures and prosecutions related to their investigations.

Together, these agencies form the backbone of Ukraine’s efforts to combat elite corruption — a mission made even more urgent during wartime, when oversight is weakened.

What is Naftogaz?

Naftogaz of Ukraine is the country’s largest and most strategically important state-owned enterprise. It manages the production, transport, and distribution of oil and natural gas, and plays a central role in Ukraine’s economy and national security — especially amid wartime infrastructure attacks and energy shortages.

Chernyshov was appointed CEO of Naftogaz in November 2022, and later took on an additional cabinet role in government.

A new ministry with familiar faces

In December 2024, Ukraine created the Ministry of National Unity by reorganizing the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories. Chernyshov was appointed to lead it while retaining his position at Naftogaz.

Although rebranded, the ministry retained much of its original staff and leadership — including individuals now under investigation.

The Ministry’s formal mandate includes overseeing the rights and support of over 700,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 7 million Ukrainian refugees. In practice, however, its activities remain vague and poorly documented.

“Some MPs now joke that Chernyshov has become an IDP himself — one of the very people his ministry is supposed to help. Others note that the man tasked with encouraging Ukrainians to return appears reluctant to return himself,” Tkach observed.

High-level arrests and a multi-million dollar construction scheme

On 13 June, NABU and SAPO revealed a large-scale corruption scheme in the construction sector, allegedly involving officials closely associated with Chernyshov.

The charges include:

• Abuse of official position
• Receiving and facilitating large-scale bribes
• Deliberate undervaluation of state-owned assets during wartime.

Kyiv land deals and massive state losses

Prosecutors allege that:

• A developer, in coordination with ministry insiders, illegally acquired land in Kyiv for a residential development.
• Senior officials ensured the land was transferred to a state enterprise under their influence.
• That enterprise signed investment contracts with a pre-approved construction company.
• The value of the land and existing buildings was intentionally underestimated by nearly five times, dramatically reducing the share of housing the state would receive.

As a result, the state stood to lose over ₴1 billion — equivalent to approximately $25 million— in public assets.

“To reward their role in the scheme, top officials and their associates allegedly received significant discounts on apartments in newly built complexes,” prosecutors stated.

Officials travel freely, while ordinary men are barred

The scandal has reignited public anger over Ukraine’s wartime travel restrictions. Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are banned from leaving the country under martial law, except in rare cases. In contrast, high-ranking officials — even those under investigation — can travel freely, often citing “official duties.”

The Ministry of National Unity told Suspilne that Chernyshov is on a planned EU business trip, and that it is proceeding “in normal working mode.” His meetings, they said, are being documented on his official social media pages.

Timed departures raise suspicions

Soon after Chernyshov left Ukraine, Maksym Horbatiuk, a longtime associate, tried to cross into Poland and was detained. He had previously served as an unpaid adviser in Chernyshov’s ministry and later became a commercial director at a Naftogaz subsidiary.

Another former aide, Vasyl Volodin, was also arrested. He had served as State Secretary during Chernyshov’s ministry tenure and was later appointed to the Naftogaz board.

Authorities reportedly acted quickly out of concern the men would flee or destroy evidence. Their arrests appear to have been both urgent and strategic.

“The timing suggests law enforcement acted quickly, once Chernyshov was out of the country. From abroad, he is reportedly watching anti-corruption court hearings about his former subordinates — and likely hearing a lot about himself,” Tkach wrote.

Key questions remain unanswered

Was Chernyshov tipped off before his departure?
Was Horbatiuk fleeing or simply vacationing?
Would Volodin have escaped if not detained?

These questions remain unanswered — but the timing, proximity of roles, and overlapping appointments suggest a tightly knit circle of influence that is now unraveling under pressure.

Update

On 21 June, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told parliament that he had authorized Chernyshov’s foreign trip through the end of the week (June 16–22). The statement came during a government Q&A session in the Verkhovna Rada.

Ukrainian investigative journalist Denys Bihus, founder of Bihus.Info, has confirmed he serves as a non-staff operative for Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). The admission followed allegations from MP Oleksiy Honcharenko, who published documents he claims show Bihus is a registered public operative of the SBU’s operational unit, including a signed agreement and receipt.

Bihus insists the cooperation is informal, unpaid, and unrelated to his editorial work. Still, the revelation has raised concerns about the independence and transparency of journalists with any degree of affiliation to state security services.

The disclosure

In a video statement, Bihus explained that he works with the SBU’s Military Counterintelligence Department, describing the cooperation as unpaid and informal, with no salary, mobilization deferment, or official benefits.

“It gives me absolutely nothing — just the ability to occasionally assist with operations or access certain locations when needed,” Bihus said.

He added that he was discharged from military service in November 2023 due to his role in the Patrol Police, after which he registered with a military recruitment office. He emphasized that he is not on any reserve list, has no deferment, and receives no compensation for his cooperation with the SBU.

His relatively straightforward discharge has drawn public attention, highlighting frustrations among Ukrainian soldiers and families who face significant barriers to leaving military service, as the country still lacks a clear demobilization framework.

Rejecting surveillance allegations

Bihus also addressed speculation that his cooperation with the SBU resulted from a past incident in which Bihus.Info journalists were allegedly surveilled and caught using drugs. He clarified that he works with the Military Counterintelligence Department, which supports frontline operations, and not the SBU’s Internal Security Directorate, the unit responsible for the surveillance.

“I’m assisting military counterintelligence during wartime. That’s not scandalous — it’s service,” he said. “And when the SBU messes up, our newsroom reports on it.”

Honcharenko’s counterattack

MP Honcharenko responded with sarcasm, framing Bihus’s statement as a reluctant admission:

“More than a day later, Denys Bihus finally pulled himself together and recorded a video about his work for the SBU. He made a coming out,” he wrote on Telegram.

Honcharenko questioned the ease of Bihus’s discharge, suggesting most Ukrainian soldiers are not afforded the same privilege:

“It’s unfortunate others can’t just walk away from the army whenever they want. The recruitment office hasn’t seen this ‘unique combat veteran’ for over a year and a half.”

He also criticized Bihus’s silence on abuses by military recruitment offices, which have faced growing scrutiny over forced conscription and civilian mistreatment.

The broader conflict

The clash between Bihus and Honcharenko follows a Bihus.Info investigation that accused the MP of self-promotion through his nationwide Honcharenko Centers. In response, Honcharenko demanded that the outlet disclose its financial backing — a move Bihus described as political pressure on independent journalism.

Bihus.Info has since filed complaints with both the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech and the Parliamentary Ethics Committee, citing improper attempts to interfere with its work.

North Korea is reportedly considering sending 25,000 workers to a drone manufacturing facility in Russia in exchange for training in drone operation, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.

The move underscores deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. In June 2023, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, pledging mutual military assistance in the event of unforeseen threats. Soon after, North Korea began deploying troops to Russia.

According to UK intelligence, around 11,000 North Korean troops—mainly combat engineers and infantry—have been sent to Russia’s Kursk Oblast to support defensive operations near the Ukrainian border. Over 6,000 of them have reportedly been killed, wounded, or gone missing in heavy frontline fighting. The deployment, approved by Kim Jong Un and acknowledged by Russian officials, highlights a growing exchange of manpower for weapons and military training.

NHK reports that the civilian workers under discussion would be sent to the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, home to key drone production facilities.

The initiative appears designed to help Russia scale up drone output amid its ongoing war in Ukraine, while enabling North Korea to gain advanced UAV expertise and bolster its own military capabilities.

Vladimir Putin is facing deepening strategic isolation as Israel’s military offensive against Iran threatens to unravel a key alliance underpinning Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, writes Con Coughlin, Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor at The Telegraph.

In a sharply worded column, Coughlin argues that “Putin’s primary concern… will be the impact that Israel’s continuing assault on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure will have on Tehran’s ability to continue its support for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.”

Since last week, Israeli forces have launched targeted strikes against Iranian missile and drone production sites — the same systems that have been regularly supplied to Russia since the summer of 2022. According to Coughlin, the Israeli campaign “appears to have paid dividends,” with a notable drop in attacks originating from Iran.

A strategic blow to Moscow

The deepening Russia-Iran relationship, sealed in January with a 20-year strategic pact, has been critical to sustaining Russia’s campaign in Ukraine. In exchange for military hardware from Tehran, Moscow had promised to boost Iran’s air defenses and air force capabilities. But Coughlin notes that this “has clearly failed to deter Israel from launching its military offensive.”

As Iranian military capacity is degraded, Putin risks losing a crucial source of support. “If the Iranians are unable to provide sufficient weaponry for their own military campaign against Israel,” Coughlin writes, “they will be in no position to support Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.”

Regional influence under threat

The ramifications extend beyond Ukraine. With Syria’s Assad regime reportedly collapsed and now “languishing in exile in Moscow,” Russia’s Middle East strategy appears to be unraveling. Coughlin suggests Putin’s broader effort to project power in the region is now in jeopardy.

The article also highlights the precariousness of Russia’s position within the informal alliance of authoritarian states — Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia — warning that Israel’s attacks could weaken their interconnected military and economic interests.

Coughlin concludes: “Putin’s standing in the region is in danger of precipitous collapse.”

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen confirmed that the European Union will not resume imports of Russian natural gas—even if a peace agreement is reached in Ukraine.

Russia supplied about 45% of EU gas in 2021, a figure expected to fall to 13% by 2025. Despite progress, the EU imported record volumes of Russian LNG in 2024.

“This is a ban that we introduce because Russia has weaponised energy against us, because Russia has blackmailed member states in the EU, and therefore they are not a trading partner that can be trusted,” Jørgensen said.

“That also means that, irrespectively of whether there is a peace or not—which we all hope there will be, of course—this ban will still stand.”

EU plans full phase-out of Russian fossil fuels by 2028

The gas ban is part of a broader EU strategy to end reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2028. The proposed legislation would prohibit EU companies from importing Russian pipeline gas or providing services to Russian clients at liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. Importers must also declare the source of their fuel to prevent Russian gas from being disguised as coming from another country.

Any new contracts signed after the plan is adopted must end by 1 January 2026. Existing contracts must be terminated by 1 January 2028.

Austria walks back vomments on Russian gas

Austria’s junior energy minister, Elisabeth Zehetner, caused a stir earlier this week by suggesting the EU should remain open to reconsidering Russian gas imports in the event of a peace deal. However, her office later clarified Austria’s position, stating that the country “strongly condemns” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supports the proposed gas ban.

“The allegation that Austria wants to import Russian gas again after the war, let alone now, is simply false,” the statement read.

Austrian Green MEP Lena Schilling called the initial suggestion “shortsighted and morally irresponsible,” asking, “Have we learned nothing from bombed hospitals, abducted children and a war of aggression in the heart of Europe?”

Austria previously relied heavily on Russian gas, but supplies were halted in 2023 due to a contractual dispute. Deliveries via Ukraine ended the same year.

Hungary and Slovakia maintain opposition

Hungary and Slovakia continue to oppose the EU’s fossil fuel phase-out. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szíjjártó claimed Hungarian consumers could face utility bills four times higher. He also posted a dramatic video on social media to criticize the plan. EU officials have rejected those claims, saying there’s no evidence prices would spike.

The current gas legislation does not affect an existing exemption from the EU’s oil embargo. Hungary and Slovakia were granted a carve-out in 2023 allowing continued imports via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline—a provision that falls under a separate legal framework.

Russian oil also in the crosshairs

The EU is also targeting Russian oil, aiming to end imports entirely by 2028. Russian oil made up 27% of EU imports in 2021 but has already dropped to around 3%. The oil ban, like the gas proposal, is part of the EU’s broader strategy to cut energy ties with Moscow and boost long-term energy security.

Emergency crews have completed search and rescue operations at a residential building in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district, where a Russian missile strike on 17 June caused extensive destruction.

The strike was part of a large-scale, coordinated Russian attack on Ukraine that night. One missile directly hit the nine-story residential building, destroying an entire section.

Rescue efforts end after 39 hours

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that the operation lasted over 39 hours. At 7:20 PM on 18 June, first responders officially concluded search efforts at the site.

“Sadly, 23 lives were lost at this site alone,” Klymenko said. “Across the capital, 28 people died and over 140 were injured as a result of the strike.”

Although search operations have ended, crews continue to dismantle damaged structures and clear debris.

Emergency response faced harsh conditions

The rescue effort was one of the most intensive in recent months and involved:

• Over 400 personnel from the State Emergency Service (SES)
• More than 200 units of specialized equipment
• Drones, search dogs, and heavy engineering machinery

Two people were rescued from beneath the rubble. Around 50 others were evacuated from apartments and stairwells during the response.

Stairwell collapse in nearby damaged building

Later the same day, Kyiv officials reported an internal collapse in a nearby five-story residential building also damaged in the strike. A stairwell between the upper floors gave way, but no injuries were reported. Five residents were safely evacuated.

City in mourning as recovery continues

Kyiv declared 18 June a day of mourning to honor the victims of the attack. More than 2,000 emergency workers have been deployed across the capital to assist with ongoing recovery operations.

Next week’s Nato summit in The Hague will be significantly shortened to accommodate President Donald Trump’s short attention span — and a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be carefully avoided, The Times reports.

Nato format cut to single session

The 25 July summit will consist of just one 2.5-hour session, a major departure from NATO’s usual multi-session format. According to The Times, diplomats hope the streamlined event will reduce the risk of tension or unpredictability.

“It is about keeping the summit focused, short and sweet,” a diplomat told the paper. “Trump can be impatient and has — [he has] said it himself — a short attention span. The shorter the better.”

There will be no joint press conference between Trump and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and the summit’s final communiqué will be just five paragraphs, printed on a single sheet of paper.

Zelenskyy excluded from main talks

President Zelenskyy will be present in The Hague only for a leaders’ dinner on 24 June. He has not been invited to the main summit session, and no meeting of the NATO–Ukraine Council at the heads-of-state level is scheduled. Instead, he is expected to speak at a Defense Industry Forum on the sidelines.

Diplomatic sources suggest the decision aims to prevent any direct confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy. While Euractiv and ANSA reported the US opposed Zelenskyy’s formal invitation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied that claim.

Ukraine dropped from final statement

Despite Ukraine’s long-standing bid to join the alliance, the country will neither be invited to join nor even mentioned in the final NATO communiqué, diplomatic sources told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The statement will label Russia as a “direct threat”, but omit any language about Ukraine’s future in the alliance.

Ukraine’s desire for NATO membership dates back to 2008, and its constitution enshrines the goal of joining. Yet even after three years of full-scale war against Russia, no formal steps toward membership are expected in The Hague.

“This issue is definitely not on NATO’s agenda, and there have been no expectations of an invitation in The Hague,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys told LRT.

Defence spending target to please Trump

The summit’s main goal will be agreement on a new defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2032, with a review in 2029. The proposal includes 3.5% for core military budgets and 1.5% for defense-related spending.

The decision will be framed as a personal win for Trump, who has long demanded more spending from European allies.

“Keeping unity in the alliance is as much a priority as spending more on defence,” said EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas.

Trump left G7 early, skipped meeting with Zelenskyy

The decision to avoid a Trump–Zelenskyy encounter at the NATO summit follows a similar scene just days earlier. Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada, skipping a planned meeting with Zelenskyy.

According to The Guardian, Trump exited early, “citing the Israel‑Iran conflict.” Reuters reported that Zelenskyy was denied a meeting with his most powerful ally, leaving the Ukrainian side frustrated and empty-handed after the gathering.

US President Donald Trump says he declined an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate rising tensions with Iran, stating that unresolved issues between Washington and Moscow should be addressed first.

“I spoke with him yesterday. He actually offered to help with mediation. I said, ‘Do me a favor—let’s mediate Russia first,’” Trump told reporters, according to Russian news outlet RBC.

Trump calls Russia and Ukraine “foolish”

President Trump also took aim at both Russia and Ukraine, calling them “foolish” during his remarks and once again asserting that the Ukraine war would not have happened had he been in office at the time of its outbreak.

Trump-Putin call on 14 June — the President’s birthday

Although the Kremlin did not officially confirm the exchange, both Moscow and Washington acknowledged a 14 June phone call between the two leaders. The conversation reportedly lasted nearly an hour and focused largely on Middle East tensions, particularly involving Iran.

“The call was substantive, candid, and, most importantly, very useful,” said Yury Ushakov, a senior aide to Putin.

On Truth Social, President Trump revealed that Putin called to wish him a happy birthday and discuss Iran—a country Trump said Putin “knows very well.” He added that Ukraine was only “briefly” discussed.

Ukraine peace talks still in deadlock

President Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a central focus of his second term. He’s pushing for renewed peace talks and a 30-day ceasefire. While limited humanitarian efforts, such as prisoner exchanges, have occurred, no formal peace deal has been reached.

Sticking points remain over territorial control and long-term security guarantees.

Trump has faced criticism from lawmakers and allies for appearing to pressure Ukraine more than Russia, and for his calls to end all US military aid to Kyiv—a stance that has raised concerns about America’s global commitments and Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

Ukraine will neither be invited to join NATO nor mentioned in the final communiqué of next week’s NATO leaders’ summit in The Hague, according to diplomatic sources.

Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has made NATO membership a central pillar of its national security strategy. The country’s constitution enshrines this goal, and public support remains strong. NATO first declared in 2008 that Ukraine “will become a member,” and in recent years, Western leaders have repeatedly referred to Ukraine’s “irreversible path” toward the Alliance.

Yet despite three years of full-scale war fought under the banner of Euro-Atlantic integration—and multiple high-level assurances—Ukraine has not been invited to join. Now, it won’t even be mentioned in NATO’s top-level statement.

NATO membership not on the table

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys confirmed that Ukrainian membership is not up for discussion.

“This issue is definitely not on NATO’s agenda, and there have been no expectations of an invitation in The Hague,” Budrys told LRT. “We haven’t heard this from the Ukrainians either.”

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the final communiqué is expected to be unusually brief—likely a single page. While it will identify Russia as a long-term threat, it is not expected to reference Ukraine at all.

Allies push for higher defense spending

Member states are expected to commit to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2032, with a review in 2029. That timeline aligns with the end of a potential second term for Donald Trump, who has supported higher military spending but has questioned NATO’s direction and further expansion.

Zelenskyy’s limited role at the summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend a leaders’ working dinner on 24 June, where Trump is also expected. However, he will not participate in the main summit session, and no meeting of the NATO–Ukraine Council at the heads-of-state level is scheduled. Zelenskyy is instead expected to speak at a Defense Industry Forum held on the sidelines.

On 2 June, Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine had been invited to the summit in some capacity, but the format and prominence of his involvement remain unclear.

On 15 May, Euractiv reported that, for the first time in three years, Zelenskyy would not be invited to participate in NATO’s main discussions—allegedly to avoid provoking Donald Trump. Around the same time, ANSA reported that the US was reportedly opposed to his formal invitation. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later denied these claims, saying the United States had no objection to Zelenskyy’s participation.

More than 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed, wounded, or gone missing while fighting alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, according to a new report from UK intelligence.

The British Ministry of Defence, in its 15 June intelligence update, states that around half of the estimated 11,000 North Korean troops deployed to the area have become casualties.

A costly campaign tied to Ukraine’s cross-border offensive

In August 2024, Ukraine launched a rare cross-border operation into Kursk, briefly capturing territory and forcing Russia to redeploy troops. While initially successful, the campaign was eventually reversed. By March 2025, Ukrainian forces had withdrawn, ending the offensive without holding ground. However, Kyiv claims the operation disrupted Russian logistics and diverted enemy forces from other fronts.

High casualty rates from brutal ground combat

“Significant D​PRK casualty rates have almost certainly been sustained primarily through large, highly attritional dismounted assaults,” the report said, pointing to intense and costly infantry engagements on the ground.

UK intelligence analysts believe these tactics are leading to unsustainable losses for North Korean units involved in front-line fighting.

Shoigu holds talks with Kim Jong-un

On 4 June, Russia’s Security Council Secretary and former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea for the second time in three months. He met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, signaling deepening military coordination between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Shoigu is believed to be the Kremlin’s lead negotiator managing North Korea’s military support for Russia’s war effort against Ukraine.

North Korean involvement confined to Kursk—for now

As of mid-June, North Korea’s military activity remains limited to the Kursk direction. According to UK intelligence, any expansion beyond Russian borders—particularly into internationally recognized Ukrainian territory—would almost certainly require joint authorization from both Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.

Casualty estimates reflect rising toll

In April, a South Korean lawmaker citing intelligence sources reported that about 600 North Koreans had died in the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in January, estimated that 4,000 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded.

Later, on 25 April, Ukraine’s General Staff announced that more than 4,500 North Korean troops had been neutralized since the launch of the Kursk offensive.

The United States is ending military aid to Ukraine, shifting responsibility for Kyiv’s defense onto Europe — which has so far failed to match its rhetoric with real support. That’s the conclusion drawn by journalist and war analyst Owen Matthews in a recent Telegraph opinion piece.

Speaking at Congressional hearings on the 2026 US defense budget, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the Trump administration has a “very different view” of the war than its predecessor, favoring a “negotiated peaceful settlement.” The move brings an end to the Biden-era policy that sent $74 billion in US military aid to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

That aid included critical systems like Patriot missile defenses, HIMARS, tanks, and long-range artillery—support Kyiv now stands to lose.

Europe promises more than it pays

With the US stepping back, Europe is expected to take the lead. But Matthews points out that Europe’s follow-through has been inconsistent at best.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s widely publicized ReArm Europe plan suggested €800 billion in defense spending—but the figure relied on easing borrowing rules, not actual funds. A proposed €40 billion EU arms package for Ukraine was blocked by member states, including Hungary and Italy. Only €1 billion, pulled from frozen Russian assets, has so far materialized.

Meanwhile, Europe is projected to spend over €20 billion on Russian oil, gas, coal, and uranium in 2025—more than it is expected to spend on Ukraine’s defense.

“As long as Europe continues to spend more on financing Putin’s war machine than it does on Ukraine’s, its promises… ring rather hollow,” Matthews writes.

Ukraine ramps up but faces gaps

Despite limited external support, Ukraine is expanding domestic arms production. Local output now meets up to 50% of military needs, including howitzers, drones, and electronic warfare tools. Matthews notes that Ukraine’s Limma jamming system outperforms Western and Russian equivalents.

Still, Ukraine remains vulnerable: shortages in ammunition, spare parts, and trained soldiers persist. Reports of forced conscription have triggered online backlash.

Russia, meanwhile, is set to spend $160 billion on defense this year—double Ukraine’s—and benefits from lower production costs.

With US aid gone and European promises still falling short, Matthews argues Kyiv is now fighting for survival with diminishing resources and uncertain allies.

At least five Ukrainian citizens, including three children, were killed when an Iranian missile struck a residential apartment building in Bat Yam, a suburb of Tel Aviv, on the night of 14 June. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the deaths, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The missile impact caused the collapse of the multi-story building. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with dozens injured and at least 20 residents believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. Israeli authorities report that 61 buildings were damaged in Bat Yam, six of which are considered beyond repair.

Strike follows Israeli air operation across Iran

The Iranian missile attack was a direct response to an Israeli air campaign launched a day earlier, on 13 June. As part of Operation “Rising Lion,” the Israel Defense Forces deployed approximately 200 fighter jets and carried out strikes on more than 100 targets across Iran. The IDF described the operation as a series of “precise preemptive strikes” targeting nuclear infrastructure, missile production sites, and military leadership facilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the operation was to degrade Iran’s capacity to develop nuclear weapons, claiming Iran possessed enough enriched uranium to produce up to nine nuclear warheads.

Nationwide toll: Civilian casualties and widespread damage

Iran’s retaliatory strike, which included ballistic missiles and drones, targeted multiple cities across Israel overnight between June 14 and 15. According to The Times of Israel and emergency service Magen David Adom, at least 10 people were killed and more than 245 were injured. Six remain in critical condition.

Among the victims were four members of a single family in the northern Israeli city of Tamra, a predominantly Arab Muslim community, killed in a separate missile strike.

As of 15 June, Israeli authorities warn that the death toll could rise as search and recovery efforts continue.

On Sunday, Ukrainian drones targeted the city of Yelabuga in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, according to reports from Russian Telegram channels. The outlet Baza stated that one person was killed and 13 others were injured.

Tatarstan’s regional head, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed the attack. He said the deceased was a factory worker, and one of the injured remains in critical condition. Debris from the downed drones reportedly struck a checkpoint building at a local car factory.

Fires and flight disruptions follow impact

Following the impact, a fire broke out near the Aurus and Sollers automotive plant buildings, Mediazona reported. In response, Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, temporarily restricted flights at airports in Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, and Izhevsk.

Repeated targeting of drone production zone

Yelabuga has been hit by drone attacks multiple times in recent months. In April 2024, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate claimed responsibility for a strike on the city. In 2025 alone, attacks have occurred in April, May, and June.

The nearby Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts drone production facilities reportedly involved in strikes against Ukraine. Ukrainian drones have previously targeted the site.

So far, Ukrainian military officials have not commented on the latest strike. Yelabuga is located more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

A building used by Boeing in Ukraine’s capital was severely damaged during a massive Russian airstrike on 9 June, in what multiple sources say appeared to be a deliberate strike on the prominent US aerospace company.

The incident was first reported by the Financial Times, which cited six sources — including Boeing employees, Ukrainian officials, and the head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (ACC). Photos verified by the FT and released by Ukraine’s state emergency service show fire crews responding to heavy damage at the site.

Targeted strike on US aerospace operations

Russia launched a barrage of 315 drones, two ballistic missiles, and five cruise missiles, hitting Kyiv, Odesa, and other Ukrainian cities. The Boeing facility was among the confirmed targets.

“No operational disruption,” said Andriy Koryagin, deputy general director of Boeing Ukraine, confirming no employees were harmed.

Boeing has operated in Ukraine for years, focusing on engineering and technical support, and had largely remained operational despite Russia’s full-scale invasion beginning in 2022.

Boeing’s deepening role in Ukraine’s defense sector

Boeing maintains a close relationship with Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov, known for its heavy transport and military-capable aircraft. In 2023, Boeing and Antonov signed a memorandum of understanding to explore joint defense-related projects.

In early 2025, Boeing executives met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss collaboration on ammunition manufacturing and unmanned aerial systems.

The company was still expanding its Ukraine operations as recently as 2 June, when it posted a job opening in Kyiv for an aircraft interior design and certification engineering manager.

A Boeing spokesperson told the FT the company remains focused on employee safety and praised staff for their resilience under “difficult and dangerous circumstances.”

Strike highlights Russia’s shift toward Western defense-linked firms

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the attack on Boeing highlights a growing pattern.

“Russian strikes on American companies in Ukraine are yet another example of Putin’s disregard for US peace efforts,” he told the FT.

Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) have warned of increasing Russian sabotage and subversion targeting Western-linked firms involved in weapons production or aid to Ukraine.

US businesses in Ukraine suffer broad impact

Boeing is not alone in being affected. According to ACC President Andy Hunder, 32% of the chamber’s nearly 700 member companies have lost employees in Russian attacks since 2022. Nearly half reported damage to offices, factories, or facilities.

A Coca-Cola plant in Kyiv Oblast was occupied and destroyed early in the war. Hunder noted that Russian soldiers who found a stash of Jack Daniel’s whiskey inside drank it, which unexpectedly slowed their advance toward the capital.

“This is part of a wider Russian campaign to degrade Ukraine’s defense production capacity,” a Ukrainian official told the FT.