Russian strikes across Ukrainian regions killed at least four civilians and injured at least 23 over the past day, regional authorities reported on June 22.
Russia launched two Iskander-M or North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, an S-300 anti-aircraft missile, and 47 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, primarily targeting Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine's Air Force said.
Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down 18 drones, while 10 disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare. Seven hits by Russian aerial weapons were recorded overnight in Chernihiv, Sumy, and Odesa oblasts.
In Chernihiv Oblast, a civilian was killed in a Russian drone attack against the Nizhyn district, Governor Viacheslav Chaus reported.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian drone and artillery attacks against the Nikopol district injured seven people and damaged multiple houses and civilian infrastructure, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. A 63-year-old man has been hospitalized and is in moderate condition.
Russian attacks across Donetsk Oblast killed two people and injured 13, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. This included a civilian killed and three injured in Sloviansk, and another killed and two injured in Kostiantynivka.
In Kharkiv Oblast, a Russian attack killed a 77-year-old man in the village of Staryi Saltiv, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast wounded three civilians, said the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin. Five multi-story apartment buildings and 11 houses were damaged.
Russia has lost 1,011,490 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on June 22.
The number includes 1,100 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,964 tanks, 22,867 armored fighting vehicles, 52,734 vehicles and fuel tanks, 29,432 artillery systems, 1,421 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,188 air defense systems, 416 airplanes, 337 helicopters, 41,579 drones, 3,376 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
There were 171 combat engagements between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian troops over the past day. The enemy launched the most attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, with increased activity also recorded in the Lyman sector.
The total combat losses of Russian forces in manpower from February 24, 2022, to June 22, 2025, have reached approximately 1,011,490 personnel, with 1,100 invaders eliminated in the past 24 hours alone.
Ukraine's security service (SBU) is teaching teenagers how to avoid recruitment by Russian intelligence online, the New York Times (NYT) reported on June 21.
"Maybe not all of these special operations are reported in the media — but believe me, the enemy is not sleeping... They are working actively and carrying out illegal activities, as strange as it may sound, directly inside your phones," SBU spokesperson Roksolana Yavorska-Isaienko told students.
Approximately 22% of Ukrainians recruited by Russian intelligence to conduct sabotage or terrorist attacks are minors, Artem Dekhtiarenko, SBU spokesperson, said on April 2.
Russian intelligence attempts to recruit Ukrainian civilians online, offering easy money in return for sharing sensitive data or preparing sabotage or terrorist acts.
Russian intelligence finds its recruits using social platforms, including Telegram, Discord, and TikTok.
Unsuspecting teenagers are often offered hundreds or even thousands of dollars to conduct simpler tasks such as delivering packages or taking photos of energy sites, the NYT reports.
More serious tasks are commonly assigned to teenagers once they have been blackmailed for conducting less serious operations beforehand or when their phones are hacked to reveal compromising photos.
Russian intelligence is actively attempting to recruit Ukrainian nationals for illegal operations across the EU, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said on June 2.
"The recruitment of Ukrainians for hostile operations in Europe is yet another tool of hybrid aggression that the Russian Federation is waging against Ukraine and the entire European community," HUR said.
The SBU caught a Russian agent as he was filming a military airfield in preparation for a Russian strike, the agency reported on June 15.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) recruited the unemployed 24-year-old via the Telegram messaging app to collect coordinates for air attacks on airfields and logistic depots, the SBU said.
The Russian FSB allegedly offered "easy money" and instructed the recruit to find military facilities and carry out reconnaissance on the ground.
The first official regional FPV drone racing championship took place in Kyiv region — an event that combined a technical showcase, modern innovations, and a spirit of competition.
In Donetsk region, a 17-year-old boy was killed and four people were injured as a result of Russian strikes. Apartment buildings and over 30 private homes were also damaged.
The President of the United States has announced the destruction of key nuclear sites in Iran, located in the complexes at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and warned of further strikes if Tehran does not agree to peace.
Hungary's national consultation on Ukraine's accession to the EU had the lowest ever turnout at such a poll, Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar said on June 21.
"The... government propaganda campaign is a total failure. Based on information we received from multiple sources within Magyar Posta (Hungarian Post), only 3-7% of the sent 'ballots' were returned," Magyar said in a post to social media.
The poll was announced by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in early March and officially launched on April 19 with ballot papers sent to Hungarian citizens. Many ballot papers explicitly encouraged voters to reject Ukraine’s EU bid.
Orban, on April 22, said he voted against Ukraine's accession to the EU in the national consultation, publicly sharing photos of himself marking "against" on the poll ballot.
"This means that realistically, a maximum of 500,000 people may have 'voted' on paper... the Prime Minister’s Office revealed... that the number of online submissions was negligible compared to the paper-based ones," Magyar said.
"This aligns with information received from government sources — indicating that despite the propaganda lies, the total number of 'voters' could be at most 600,000," he added.
Despite the government's resistance, polling shows public support for Ukraine's accession to the bloc. According to Magyar's opposition party, Tisza's "Voice of the Nation" initiative, which received over 1.1 million responses, 58.18% of participants supported Ukraine's EU bid.
Magyar claims that the national poll garnered around 600,000 responses would mean that the opposition party's own polling received more responses than the government poll.
"This is the lowest number in the 'glorious' history of (national consultations). And this was only achieved over several months, with total mobilization and the burning of tens of billions in public funds. A total failure," Magyar said.
Hungarian officials have repeatedly threatened to undermine Ukraine's EU candidacy and EU support for Ukraine. Hungary has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU aid packages for Kyiv.
"(T)he failed, corrupt regime doesn’t care about people's real problems, and doesn’t dare to look people in the eye. They only send them letters," Magyar said.
Comrades, be proud of lying about two million pen pals, funded by 10 billion forints ($29 million) in state propaganda," he added, addressing Hungary's ruling government.
European officials have denounced Hungary for aligning with Russia. European officials, including Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, have suggested stripping Hungary of its voting power within the bloc.
Hungary maintains positive relations with Russia in contrast with other EU members. On March 26, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto visited Moscow to discuss continued economic cooperation between the two countries.
At least 45 Ukrainians, whom Russia has decided to deport, are being held in a basement without food or water at the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on the border with Georgia.
Serhiy Dobrovolsky, a soldier born in the town of Zdolbuniv in Rivne region, who was released from Russian captivity as part of an exchange that took place at the end of May, has died.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
The United States conducted air strikes on nuclear sites in Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 21, calling the attacks a "spectacular success."
"We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air airspace," Trump said.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the U.S. attacks and warned they will have "everlasting consequences," with Tehran requesting an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting.
Israel and Iran have exchanged strikes in recent days as Israel voices concern over Tehran's continued development of nuclear weapons.
The White House has backed Israel, remaining cautious in escalating its role in the conflict. The strikes mark U.S. military involvement in the conflict.
"A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors," Trump said.
The U.S. president shared a separate post with a screenshot that said, "Fordow is gone."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had detected no increase in radiation at the targeted sites, while the Iranian state media and officials sought to downplay the damage.
"Iran must now agree to end this war," Trump then said in another post on social media.
Trump later held a live address where he reiterated calls for Iran to join negotiations as the U.S. and Israel demand that Iran abandon its nuclear program.
"This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left," Trump said.
Trump has called for Tehran to negotiate an end to the conflict as Israel and Iran exchange strikes.
The U.S. president hopes that the strikes will push Iran to the negotiating table, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, adding that the U.S. is not planning additional military actions in Iran.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has condemned Trump's decision to conduct air strikes without congressional approval.
"President Trump must provide the American people and Congress clear answers on the actions taken tonight and their implications for the safety of Americans," Schumer said.
Israel asked the U.S. to join military operations targeting Iran’s nuclear program, including a strike on the fortified Fordow uranium enrichment site, Axios reported on June 14, citing two Israeli officials.
Trump suggested in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would consider joining the operation if needed, an Israeli official told Axios.
A White House official denied that claim on June 13. Another U.S. official confirmed that Israel had urged the U.S. to take part, but said Washington is not currently considering involvement.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter told Fox News on June 13 that "the entire operation… really has to be completed with the elimination of Fordow."
Russia and Iran have cooperated to develop their own nuclear programs and weapons as both countries face Western sanctions.
Russia supplied Iran with the Middle East's first nuclear power plant despite objections from the West.
Iran has assisted Russia in its war against Ukraine, providing drones and missiles. Tehran has helped Moscow develop weapons of its own. Russia's Geran drone is modelled after the Iranian Shahed drone.
Over 45 Ukrainians forcibly deported by Russia from Ukraine's occupied territories are being held in a basement at Russia's border with Georgia without food, water, and basic healthcare, independent media outlet Astra reported on June 21.
"We are in a basement without utilities: there is no shower or toilet, they don't feed us. Volunteers bring humanitarian aid, but it lasts for a couple of days and not for everyone," one of the held Ukrainians told Astra.
A decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Ukrainians still living in occupied territories to leave unless they "regulate their legal status," namely, obtaining Russian citizenship.
"We emphasize that these systematic deportations and persecutions are part of Russia's genocide policy against the Ukrainian people," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on March 21.
At least 45 Ukrainians have been held at the Verkhniy Lars border checkpoint between Georgia and Russia for several days.
One of the deported Ukrainians has been hospitalized as they await passage out of Russia and into Georgia.
"There were 8 of us, 3 days ago. Every day, more people are brought here and the number is growing. Now there are 45 people, some have been here for a month. There are disabled people and people with serious illnesses," one of the held Ukrainians said.
The basement facility has since 2023 held deported Ukrainians barred from entering the Russian Federation and the Ukrainian territories it occupies.
The held Ukrainians were denied entry into Georgia. Most did not have the necessary travel documents, but 16 Ukrainians with passports were denied entry as well, Astra reported, citing the non-profit organization Tbilisi Volunteers Organization.
"The basement is damp, there are drops of water on the ceiling, (it's hard) to breathe, everyone smokes, they don't let us outside. We sleep for four hours, taking turns. Some sleep on the floor," one of the deported Ukrainians said.
The basement only houses 17 sleeping spaces, but another 100 deported Ukrainians are expected to arrive at the facility, a volunteer told Astra.
Following a pause in deportations to Georgia in 2024, Russia has resumed deportations as Georgia prepares new immigration legislation, the Tbilisi Volunteers Organization says.
Serhiy Serdiuk, a resident of occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, was deported and banned from re-entering Russia and Ukraine's occupied territories for 40 years, the Guardian reported on June 21.
Russian authorities pressed Serdiuk, an educator, to continue work under Russia's imposed school curriculum.
Serdiuk and other staff at a school in Zaporizhzhia Oblast's Komysh-Zoria town refused and were met with threats.
Serdiuk was similarly deported to Georgia, from where he flew to Moldova and crossed back into Ukraine.
Due to Russia's illegal and unrecognized annexation of Ukraine's occupied territories, Ukrainian citizens are pressured to obtain Russian citizenship or face deportation and entry bans.
The Kyiv community has handed over more than 2,300 FPV drones, 50 electronic warfare (EW) systems, three reconnaissance UAVs, and communications equipment to Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
US special envoy for Ukraine meets Belarus leader, Russia’s key ally. Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking American official to visit Belarus in years after the country became nearly totally isolated internationally since the violent suppression of mass protests following the 2020 disputed presidential election.
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Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a significant statement in which she clearly distinguished Russia’s war against Ukraine from Israel’s strikes on Iran, Deutsche Welle reports.
Russia has called for an end to the war against Iran, strongly urging de-escalation. Tehran has been helping Moscow since 2022 to wage a war against Ukraine by supplying thousands of kamikaze drones. Both Iran and Russia use terror against civilians as the central part of their military campaigns.
According to her, Russia’s full-scale invasion constitutes a blatant violation of the international order, whereas Israel’s actions are of a different nature.
“I don’t fully agree that Israel is violating international law. When a country’s existence is being questioned by Iran or Hamas, it’s not so easy to respond strictly within the framework of international law,” the ex-German chancellor says.
Merkel emphasizes that in Israel’s case, it is about the right to self-defense in the face of threats to the state’s very existence. At the same time, she pointed out clearly that Ukraine posed no such threat.
“Ukraine never threatened Russia — and yet it was attacked,” adds Merkel, underscoring Russia’s breach of international law.
Earlier, Herman Pirchner, president of the American Foreign Policy Council, said a potential US strike on a major Iranian nuclear program may force Moscow to reconsider its approach to the war in Ukraine.
Such a decision could impact Moscow’s calculus, as they have yet to see a firm response from the US President Donald Trump administration, as America has not yet responded strongly to any of the Russian attacks, which have only intensified amid peace efforts.
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The narrowed focus of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague — which will have only a single session devoted to defense spending — is designed to appease U.S. President Donald Trump, Politico reported on June 21, citing European defense officials.
NATO leaders will convene in The Hague June 24-25 to discuss raising the alliance's defense spending target to 5% of the GDP — a proposal the U.S. has championed but from whcih it considers itself exempt.
"(Trump) has to get credit for the 5% — that's why we're having the summit," one unnamed European defense official told Politico.
"Everything else is being streamlined to minimize risk."
The organizers of the summit have shortened the meeting from the typical two-day schedule to 24 hours in the hopes of keeping the focus on Trump and deliver a victory to the U.S. president. Trump plans to give an speech at the end of the summit celebrating the new spending benchmark and his own contributions to the pledge.
There will be no meeting of NATO's Ukraine council at the summit.
The European Council confirmed on June 20 that President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit in The Hague, despite media reports that Zelensky was considering skipping the event altogether. The reports followed Zelensky's disappointing venture at the G7 summit in Canada.
While Zelensky hoped to reset relations with the U.S. in a third face-to-face meeting with Trump, he never got the chance. Trump abruptly left the G7 summit, claiming he had to focus on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
The Ukraine council's absence from the upcoming summit represents another concession to Trump, whose attention has shifted to the Middle East and who continues to refuse to impose sanctions on Russia.
Trump has also been unable to fulfill his promises to end the war in Ukraine. Six months of U.S. peacekeeping efforts under the Trump administration have brought a ceasefire no closer, as Russia escalates attacks and the civilian death toll climbs.
Convening NATO's Ukraine council could draw attention to Trump's ongoing failure, Politico reported.
"The priority is really to announce success in The Hague," a European official said. "The longer-term perspective is less important."
Trump's "America First" doctrine has repeatedly cast doubt on Washington's commitment to transatlantic alliances, especially NATO. In recent years, Trump has alarmed member states by questioning whether the U.S. should defend alliance members that do not meet military spending benchmarks.
Trump has also signaled that the U.S. will no longer be Ukraine's main ally in its defense against Russia and has called on European countries to shoulder the burden of supporting Ukraine.
While NATO summits in recent years have focused heavily on Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, this year's joint communique may exclude references to the war altogether. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on June 9 admitted that the language may not be included in the statement, but insisted the alliance remained committed to Ukraine's future membership.
"The irreversible path of Ukraine into NATO is there, and it is my assumption that it is still there after the summit," Rutte said. "Whether it is again in the communique or not, I think that's not relevant, because all the language we previously agreed on is there — until we decide it is no longer there."
For Russia, it is important to sever America’s support for Ukraine and stop the aid. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reveals the Kremlin’s scheme, which cleverly uses prisoner exchanges as a tool to delay the negotiation process with Ukraine, Suspilne reports.
On 2 June, the last of the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul ended without agreement on a ceasefire or peace deal. Recently, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has called Ukraine and Russia “one people,” while his spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has claimed directly that Russia does not want a ceasefire and plans to advance. Meanwhile, the US has not taken new measures to compel Russia to stop its attacks.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia aims to distract the US and other partners by showing diplomatic gestures, allowing it to postpone the introduction of new sanctions.
“If you look at the exchanges, which were already happening without agreements but were not so massive, we understand that, on a global scale, it was needed by the ‘Russians.’ For the ‘Russians,’ it was important to cut America off from Ukraine, to stop the aid,” explains the president.
He emphasizes that for Russia, it is important to hold several meetings with the Ukrainian side, preferably without US participation, to show Washington a “diplomatic process.”
“How can you end a meeting positively? With exchanges. For that, a corresponding number of exchanges is needed,” Zelenskyy adds.
The Ukrainian president also warns that Moscow plans to “drag out the Istanbul talks — to delay sanctions and so on.” Ukraine faces a difficult choice: “to continue like this or to take another path.”
Earlier, Zelenskyy said Russia continues to manufacture its Oreshnik, nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, involving dozens of companies, most of which remain unsanctioned. He highlighted this as a glaring loophole in the international pressure on Russia’s military-industrial complex.
This missile can be intercepted only with advanced systems such as THAAD or Arrow 3.
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In the Nikopol district of the Dnipropetrovsk region, six of the seven men who were injured by Russian shelling were police officers on duty on the highway.
Ukrainians are marking the summer solstice with Ivana Kupala, a traditional midsummer celebration rooted in pre-Christian Slavic rituals honoring nature, fertility and renewal
Russia's weapons arsenal includes over 1,950 strategic missiles and thousands of drones, the news outlet RBC-Ukraine reported on June 21, citing a statement from Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).
According to HUR, the figures reflect Russia's stockpiles as of June 15.
Throughout May and June, Russia has launched a series of mass missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities — including a large-scale strike against Kyiv on June 17 that left 30 dead and over 170 injured. Russia has repeatedly shattered its own drone record in attacks on Ukraine in the past month.
Russia's missile stocks include up to 500 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, HUR told RBC-Ukraine, as well as up to 150 hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. Moscow also has up to 60 North Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missiles.
In addition to ballistics, Russia possesses up to 300 Iskander-K cruise missiles, up to 260 Kh-101 cruise missiles, up to 280 Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles, and over 400 Kalibr cruise missiles.
Russia produces up to 195 missiles per month, HUR said.
Moscow also aims to ramp up drone production from 170 to 190 units per day, according to HUR. As of June 15, Russia had over 6,000 Shahed-type attack drones and over 6,000 Gerberas, a cheap decoy version that imitates the Shahed.
Russia's arsenal highlights Ukraine's urgent need for additional air defense systems, something President Volodymyr Zelensky has been continuously lobbying Western partners to provide.
Zelensky announced on June 20 that Ukraine is boosting production of interceptor drones to combat the growing numbers of Shahed UAVs launched by Russia each night. Ukraine is also producing its own missiles and recently announced that its domestically produced Sapsan ballistic missile had entered serial production.
The president hopes to secure additional funding for defense production from allies at the upcoming NATO summit.
Russia has paired its intensifying nightly attacks with escalated rhetoric about its territorial ambitions in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 20 declared that "all of Ukraine" belongs to Russia, suggesting the Kremlin is looking to expand its illegal occupation .
Russia continues to manufacture its Oreshnik, nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, involving dozens of companies, most of which remain unsanctioned. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlights this as a glaring loophole in the international pressure on Russia’s military-industrial complex, UkrInform reports.
The Oreshnik is a variant of the heavy solid-fuel RS-26 Rubezh missile, capable of splitting into six independently targeted warheads. Last year, Russia used a ballistic missile, likely from the Kedr missile complex, to strike Ukraine’s city of Dnipro. The consequences of the impact remain unknown, while local residents describe it as “the worst thing they have experienced during the war.”
“Thirty-nine companies in Russia’s defense industry are involved in the production of the Oreshnik missile. What’s crucial: 21 of these 39 companies are not under any sanctions,” the president states.
According to Zelenskyy, these missiles cannot be produced without critical imported components, making comprehensive sanctions on all 39 companies urgently necessary.
“It’s completely unclear why these companies have not yet been sanctioned. Sanctions would definitely be effective, because as we’ve seen, Oreshnik is being produced slowly and with difficulty,” Zelenskyy claims.
He urges Ukraine’s partners to swiftly close this sanctions gap to limit the Kremlin’s ability to continue manufacturing strategic weapons systems that pose a threat not only to Ukraine but to the entire West.
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On 20 June, during a massive aerial attack, Ukrainian forces shot down dozens of Russian drones due to new interceptors developed by Ukrainian companies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that this tool is no longer a rarity and is now actively used in the country’s defense, UkrInform reports.
Russia has ramped up its production capabilities and can now launch up to 500 drones per day, including up to 300 strike drones such as the Geran-2 or Shahed-136 and Garpia-A1, and up to 200 decoy drones, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.
Four companies in Ukraine are working on interceptor production, two of which are showing significant success. Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine has reached agreements with international partners, Germany and Canada, to fund large-scale production.
According to the president, the G7 summit approved an increase in funding from $2 billion to $4 billion. This will accelerate the launch of mass production of advanced interceptors.
In addition, Ukraine has already signed contracts for record quantities of artillery systems and various types of drones. Zelenskyy stressed that the war demands a simultaneous buildup of both artillery and drones.
Earlier, the Ukrainian defense intelligence agency stated that Russia stockpiled over 6,000 strike drones and another 6,000 decoys, and its daily production rate is increasing, from 170 drones per day today to 190 drones per day by the end of 2025.
Crucially, Moscow no longer relies on Iran: it has established a closed-loop production cycle for drones on Russian territory.
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Ukraine may join the development of a sixth-generation fighter jet through the international Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), Defense Express reports.
GCAP is an international alliance between the UK, Japan, and Italy working to create a piloted stealth fighter. The program started in 2022 and aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2 by 2035.
Importantly, GCAP covers not only the aircraft itself but also supporting systems, including drones. The Turkish Baykar Kızılelma drone is considered an escort drone, a multi-purpose aerial vehicle capable of carrying up to 1,500 kg of weapons: air-to-ground missiles, air-to-air missiles, and bombs.
Particular attention is drawn to the engine for this unmanned aerial vehicle— the fourth prototype of the Kızılelma is equipped with a Ukrainian AI-322F engine from SE Ivchenko-Progress.
Previously, AI-25TLT engines were used. Additionally, Baykar is building a factory in Ukraine, where production of the Kızılelma is planned.
This cooperation opens new opportunities for Ukraine in modern military technologies, aviation industry development, and integration into leading global defense programs.
Earlier, a report emerged saying Ukraine may receive cutting-edge technologies from NATO by the end of 2025. The Alliance has completed testing systems designed to counter Russian guided bombs and strike drones like the Shahed and is considering its delivery to Ukraine.
Ukraine may receive cutting-edge technologies from NATO by the end of 2025. The Alliance has completed testing systems designed to counter Russian guided bombs and strike drones like the Shahed and is considering its delivery to Ukraine.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the Sumy axis has become one of the most intense battle zones, with 23% of all Russian attacks now concentrated there, UNIAN reports.
Russia’s goal is to occupy Sumy Oblast and move as close to its main city to strike it with tube artillery and then occupy it. The situation is the same in Kharkiv Oblast. Meanwhile, it has doubled its attacks on Ukrainian civilians amid US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, which mostly consist of pressuring Kyiv. Since the start of his presidency in 2025, no new aid has been approved for Ukraine.
According to him, Russia is pushing in this region to fabricate the illusion of success, which the Kremlin hopes to use as leverage to influence the US policy.
“The Russians want to ‘sell’ success in Sumy and Kharkiv. They desperately need victories on the front. Because without them, we believe President Trump is more likely to pressure them with sanctions,” Zelenskyy says.
The president reported that over 695,000 Russian soldiers are currently deployed in Ukraine, with additional forces massed along the Kursk and Belgorod axes, directly across from Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts.
“That means another contingent on the Sumy axis, about 52,000 troops,” he continues.
Russia is increasingly using guided aerial bombs and North Korean missiles in an attempt to break through Ukrainian defenses. Yet, Zelenskyy noted that Russian advances remain minimal.
“This week, they advanced 200 meters toward Sumy, but we pushed them back by 200 to 400 meters,” he claims.
Also, Zelenskyy emphasizes that Russia is focused on severing US-Ukrainian ties. To achieve this, Moscow is pretending to pursue peace, hoping to delay sanctions and undermine American support. The aid is especially needed for Kyiv amid Russia’s summer offensive in the south, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and potentially Chernihiv oblasts.
“They want to cut America off from Ukraine and stop the aid,” the Ukrainian president stresses.
Meanwhile, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Vladimir Putin delivered his most aggressive rhetoric in months, claiming that Ukrainians and Russians are “one people” and that all of Ukraine belongs to Russia. His press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, officially confirmed that Russia does not want a ceasefire.
The Kremlin is showing no intention of retreating, neither on the battlefield nor in negotiations. Russia’s position, Zelenskyy warns, makes it clear: the Kremlin isn’t seeking peace, only territorial expansion.
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The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Great Britain, Andrii Sybiha and David Lammy, discussed the current situation on the battlefield and agreed on their positions ahead of important international events, in particular the NATO summit in The Hague.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 21 responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent statements on Ukraine, saying that Ukraine intends to defend itself and that the government had made several decisions to bolster security in light of the Kremlin's threats.
Putin said "all of Ukraine" belongs to Russia in a speech on June 20 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, pointing to Moscow's maximalist territorial ambitions in Ukraine.
"Wherever the foot of a Russian soldier steps is Russian land," he said.
In his evening address on June 21, Zelensky described Putin's speech as a "performance" but said Ukraine was taking the threats seriously.
"But when a murderer says he wants to kill, we take it seriously and will respond together with our partners," Zelensky said.
"I hope with all our partners," he added, likely referring to the United States' diminishing support for Ukraine under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Zelensky said he held meetings with Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha about how to bolster Ukraine's defense and international support.
"Of course, we will find Ukrainian drones for the foot of every Russian soldier," he said. "Of course, Ukraine will defend itself."
The Ukrainian government has made several decisions in light of Russia's overt threats, Zelensky said. These include a complete diplomatic overhaul and transformation of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, intensified efforts to coordinate international sanctions, and more funding for drone development.
Kyiv's instructions for the SBU remain confidential, Zelensky said.
Seven men were injured in the Nikopol district of the Dnipropetrovsk region as a result of Russian shelling, and they were provided with the necessary medical assistance.
Kyiv is preparing to overhaul its Foreign Ministry and diplomatic corps in order to strengthen international support for Ukraine as the all-out war with Russia enters its fourth year, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on June 21.
The announcement is part of "a number of new decisions" Ukraine has made in response to Russia's stated aim to conquer all of Ukraine, Zelensky said in his evening address.
"(W)e will make changes to certain staff positions, including within the Ukrainian diplomatic corps and institutional management, to increase Ukraine's potential both in relations with partners and in internal Ukrainian resilience," Zelensky said.
The president said that all of Ukraine's ambassadors will hold a meeting and that results of the diplomatic transformation should be apparent in a month.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, confirmed that the president had already made decisions regarding some diplomatic personnel and that the ambassadors' meeting was scheduled for July.
"The geopolitical situation requires the diplomatic service to find new arguments and approaches adapted to realities," Sybiha said in a television broadcast on June 21.
"Therefore, the president has already made certain personnel decisions regarding the heads of some foreign institutions, because the criterion is very simple: results."
According to Sybiha, expected results include military aid packages, humanitarian and financial assistance, and support for Ukrainians living abroad.
Sybiha described the coming month as a "month of full diplomatic mobilization to bring about a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine."
The announcement comes after the disappointing outcome of the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders' Summit in Canada and before the June 24-25 NATO summit in The Hague, where Zelensky will once again advocate for international support for Ukraine.
At the G7 summit, Zelensky hoped to reset relations with Washington during a face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and potentially win an agreement to purchase weapons from the United States.
Trump's abrupt departure from the summit quashed those hopes, and Zelensky himself left the conference early. The G7 summit produced no unified statement on Ukraine and Trump reportedly objected to other leaders' call for stronger sanctions against Russia.
Zelensky told G7 leaders that "diplomacy is now in a state of crisis."
Russia has ramped up its production capabilities and can now launch up to 500 drones per day, including up to 300 strike drones such as the Geran-2 or Shahed-136 and Garpia-A1, and up to 200 decoy drones, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) told RBK-Ukraine.
Drone warfare innovations have become a defining feature of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Ukraine’s allies are also pushing forward their own drone development efforts to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving domain.
According to HUR, Russia has already stockpiled over 6,000 strike drones and another 6,000 decoys, and its daily production rate is increasing, from 170 drones per day today to 190 drones per day by the end of 2025.
Crucially, Moscow no longer relies on Iran: it has established a closed-loop production cycle for drones on Russian territory.
Meanwhile, the Russian arsenal also includes more than 1,950 strategic missiles, including:
Up to 500 Iskander-M ballistic missiles
Up to 300 Iskander-K cruise missiles
Up to 260 Kh-101 missiles (used by Tu-95, Tu-160 bombers)
Up to 280 Kh-22/Kh-32 missiles (Tu-22M3 bombers)
Over 400 Kalibr cruise missiles
Up to 150 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles (MiG-31K)
Up to 60 North Korean KN-23 missiles
The HUR reports that Russia manufactures up to 195 new missiles every month, posing a constant threat to Ukrainian infrastructure, defense, and civilians.
To counter this threat, Ukraine urgently needs more air defense systems, particularly the Patriot, which is among the few capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. However, even the most advanced air defenses may struggle against a mass swarm of drones launched simultaneously.
That’s why experts stress the need for autonomous AI-powered interceptor drones capable of operating independently from human control. This would allow for faster, scalable, and more resilient protection against UAV saturation attacks.
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The Kremlin is using the nuns of Estonia’s Pühtitsa Convent of the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool of hybrid warfare against the West, according to Estonia’s Ministry of the Interior, The Telegraph reports.
The Russian Orthodox Church is increasingly suspected by Europeans and the US of operating as an espionage network for the Kremlin in various countries. This involves using churches and priests as cover for intelligence gathering and to advance Russian foreign policy interests.
The convent, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, has refused to sever ties with Patriarch Kirill, citing canonical law as justification.
However, Estonian government official Martin Tulit states this is merely a cover.
“The convent should be seen not simply as a religious institution, but also as a symbol of the Russki Mir ideology on Estonian soil – an ideology promoted by the Russian state and the Moscow Patriarchate that blends religion, nationalism, and imperial nostalgia,” says Martin Tulit, a senior Estonian government official.
The head of the convent, Abbess Filareta Kalatšova, was personally appointed by Patriarch Kirill in 2011. Since then, she has actively promoted narratives aligned with the Kremlin’s interpretation of Estonian and Western history.
The monastery spreads the idea that Orthodox believers are allegedly persecuted in Europe and labels Estonia’s new law, which requires churches to cut ties with aggressor states, a violation of religious freedom.
The Estonian Interior Ministry also dismissed claims that the law is intended to shut down the convent. Earlier, the agency said that the Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox Church, which is subordinate to Russia and the Kremlin, is the biggest lever of influence in Estonia.
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Ukraine is asking partner countries to allocate 0.25% of their GDP to boosting Kyiv's defense production, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 20 at a press briefing attended by the Kyiv Independent.
The president's comments come less than a week before the NATO summit in The Hague, where Zelensky will have another opportunity to discuss Ukraine's security needs with world leaders.
"Ukraine is part of Europe's security, and we want 0.25% of the GDP of a particular partner country to be allocated to our defense industry and domestic production," Zelensky said at the briefing.
Ukraine is currently in talks with Denmark, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania on weapons development partnerships, Zelensky said.
The proposed spending target comes as Ukraine faces intensified aerial bombardments, dwindling U.S. support, and new Russian offensives. Moscow has doubled down on its maximalist ambitions in Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin insisting "all of Ukraine is ours" in remarks on June 20.
At the same time, Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to strike back at the aggressor state using its own domestically produced weapons. Operation Spiderweb, a mass attack on four key military airfields in Russia, was carried out entirely with Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine has been ramping up its defense production since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Support from Western allies has been critical to that effort, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production.
Denmark pioneered a new model of defense support when it became the first country to offer donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry. Zelensky has said he wants other NATO members to purchase weapons from Ukraine under the Danish model.
Increased defense spending is the main item on the agenda at the upcoming NATO summit. The United States has backed a proposal to raise the spending target from the current 2% to 5% GDP.
While thus far only Spain has rejected the proposal outright, most NATO members have remained noncommittal. Poland, the Netherlands, and Sweden have expressed willingness to consider the 5% target.
Ukraine may receive cutting-edge technologies from NATO by the end of 2025. The Alliance has completed testing systems designed to counter Russian guided bombs and strike drones like the Shahed, reports Defense Express.
Iussia has extensively used guided bombs, especially the KAB-500 variant, often fitted with the Unified Gliding and Correction Modules (UMPK) glide kit. This kit adds pop-out wings and satellite guidance, turning old “dumb” bombs into glide capable of striking targets up to 60–70 kilometers away with high precision. These glide bombs allow Russian aircraft to launch strikes from outside the effective range of Ukrainian air defenses.
Western startups Alta Ares, Atreyd, and Tytan carried out the developments, which created a multilayered air defense system.
Alta Ares demonstrated a unique system for detecting and predicting the flight trajectory of guided bombs, while Atreyd and Tytan developed anti-air drones and swarms of interceptor drones.
The tests were conducted under the supervision of NATO’s Joint Command, as well as representatives from France and Ukraine.
In the first three months of 2025 alone, Russia dropped over 10,577 guided aerial bombs on Ukraine, marking an increase from previous months.
“Decisions are needed urgently — this will save lives and strengthen our defense,” military experts emphasize.
In 2025, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi officially confirmed that electronic warfare (EW) systems were successfully used to disrupt Russian guided bombs.
EW systems do not physically destroy the bombs, but disable their targeting by jamming the satellite navigation used for guidance. As a result, the bomb loses orientation and misses its target.
Russia has tried to counter this by upgrading its UMPK with advanced Kometa-M antennas, increasing the number of signal receivers from 4 to 12. However, these enhancements have not produced significant improvements in accuracy.
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Since the beginning of the day, 77 combat clashes have been recorded between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian troops, with fighting still ongoing in seven frontline sectors. The most intense hostilities are taking place in the Pokrovsk direction.
Ukraine is only in the first episode of the first season of the drone war, warns Mariia Berlinska, head of the Center for Aerial Reconnaissance Support, Texty reports.
Drone warfare innovations have become a defining feature of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Ukraine’s allies are also pushing forward their own drone development efforts to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving domain.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are focusing on eliminating Ukrainian drone operators at critical moments, when approaching or leaving positions. Moscow’s troops also set deadly drone ambushes at road intersections that explode as soon as our troops get close.
“UAV crews are everything to us. They cover the infantry. They cause up to 90% of enemy losses,” explains Mariia Berlinska.
She adds that “priority should be given to destroying what destroys you best.”
Countering Moscow’s attacks is complicated by the lack of a unified tactic, but one approach is drones against drones – Ukrainian ground robots damage enemy fiber optic cables, causing a loss of control over enemy drones. Also, “Maviks” drop grenades or nets on enemy drones, while FPV drones can crash into foes like kamikazes.
Berlinska emphasizes: “Before sending soldiers anywhere, you must always check everything with drones and destroy Russian unmanned aerial vehicles to avoid human losses.”
Earlier, The Defense Post published a top 100 global companies specializing in drone development for air, land, and sea applications. Three Ukrainian companies made it to the list.
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We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
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Connexion
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
