Today, there are a lot of important updates from Ukraine.

Here, as Ukraine ramps up its long-range strike capabilities, a breakthrough is taking shape, with German funding powering Ukraine’s first hypersonic missile launch. Backed by a five-billion-euro defense package, Ukraine’s Hrim-2 [thunder in Ukrainian] hypersonic missile is now entering serial production, marking a bold new chapter in Ukraine’s ability to hit deep behind Russian lines.

Ukraine has officially announced the development of its own domestically produced ballistic missile, the HRIM-2. After over a decade of delayed progress due to funding issues, the missile system is now entering serial production, accelerated by international military and financial support since the start of the full-scale war.

Notably, Germany has provided a new five-billion-euro defense package, which includes significant investments in the domestic production of Ukrainian long-range weapon systems, including the development and production of the new ballistic missile. This aid enabled the Ukrainians not only to develop the missile but also to initiate serial production of the Hrim-2 immediately after its development.

Notably, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also announced that they had already conducted a successful field test of the missile. Ukrainians shared footage of this strike, adding that it was used to destroy a Russian command post on the east bank of the Dnipro River delta. This means that the Hrim-2 system is combat-tested and fully operational, opening the possibility of an increased number of similar precision strikes against Russian military targets deep behind the frontline. 

The Hrim-2 is launched from a specialized ground vehicle that fires it into the air using a solid propellant rocket engine, before following a set ballistic trajectory towards a stationary target. The Hrim-2 has an operational range of 300 kilometers and can reach speeds of up to Mach 5.2, or nearly 1.8 kilometers per second, making it a hypersonic missile. 

The 400-kilogram warhead allows for the destruction of hardened bunkers, logistics hubs, airbases, and ammunition depots, especially because these are stationary targets that are easy to trace. The capability of Hrim-2 to carry a heavy warhead for strikes within a 300-kilometer range marks a major leap forward for the Ukrainian precision strike capabilities, as the warhead is twice as big as that of Atacms, which Ukrainians were previously dependent on for similar precision strikes. 

Interestingly, these capabilities bring it comparably close to the Russian Iskander ballistic missiles, which have a similar payload of around 400 kilograms, while the Ukrainian Hrim-2 might soon catch up with or even exceed the Russians’ range of 400 kilometers as development continues.

The fact that it is launched from a mobile transport vehicle gives Ukrainians the ability to quickly move to a firing position, fire the missile hundreds of kilometers away from the frontline, and pull back before the Russians can strike back. Its immense speed of 1.8  kilometers per second is nearly twice as fast as the Atacms, and allows it to strike at its maximum range in under 3 minutes.

Furthermore, while Russian air defenses like the S-300 and S-400 are able to intercept targets at this speed on paper, as a missile enters the hypersonic range, a successful interception becomes increasingly unlikely. 

The fact that the Hrim-2 ballistic missile is a completely domestic product of the Ukrainian military industry, without a reliance on foreign components, makes it possible to quickly produce and fire in large numbers, costing 3 million US dollars, or 2.6 million euros, a piece.

The 5 billion euro defense package also secured this funding for Ukraine’s long-range strike drones, FPV drones, and drone interceptors. Notably this will also allow Ukraine to massively increase the production of the Liyuti long-range strike drones with a range of 2 thousand kilometers, Bars missile-drones with a range of 800 kilometers, and Flamingo high-speed drone-interceptors, which are an extremely cost-effective way to intercept the hundreds of Shaheds that Russia launches toward Ukraine each day.

Overall, the Ukrainians are rapidly developing their precision deep-strike capabilities, enabled by massive German funding. Additional funding into the Ukrainian military industry will likely continue, as Germany and the rest of NATO witness the potential and effectiveness of Ukrainian long-range precision strikes. All the while, Ukraine has a massive new weapon ready, with the first missiles already rolling of the production line.

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.

Ukraine formally presented the United States with a comprehensive list of military equipment it seeks to purchase, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during a press briefing on 21 June.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko and Presidential Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak delivered the weapons package list to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during meetings in Canada, which covered both a mineral resources agreement and Ukraine’s defense procurement needs, Suspilne News reports.

“They handed Bessent the weapons package we need. We will await feedback,” Zelenskyy stated, describing the submission as involving “a very large sum.”

The requested equipment includes Patriot air defense systems to protect its critical civilian infrastructure, such as electrical grids, residential areas, hospitals, and schools, from increasingly intense Russian missile and drone attacks.

Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s financial commitment to the purchase, saying the country is “ready to find the money for this entire package.”

Zelenskyy outlined his diplomatic objectives, stating:

“We need greater certainty and stronger pressure from the world on Putin – this is necessary for diplomacy.” 

In April 2025, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced Ukraine’s readiness to spend $30 to $50 billion to purchase a comprehensive US defense package, primarily focused on vital air defense systems like the Patriot batteries, which he views as essential not only for ongoing protection during the war but also as a long-term security guarantee.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is not seeking free assistance but is prepared to pay for the equipment, offering flexible payment options, including direct payments or through funds tied to agreements on rare mineral resources.

The minerals deal involves the creation of a joint investment fund in April 2025 to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction through revenues generated from future extraction of critical minerals, oil, and gas, with the US ensuring it is first in line to access these resources before Ukraine offers them to other countries.

However, plans for discussing the matter of buying weapons with Trump during the G7 summit in Canada were disrupted when the US president departed the event early. Trump is also avoiding a meeting with Zelenskyy at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, focusing instead on other priorities like increasing defense spending and the Middle East tensions. 

The most recent US aid package of $500 million was announced in January under the Biden administration, with Ukraine reportedly receiving 90% of previously allocated weapons by March.

Ukraine will not participate in a leaders-level NATO Council meeting at next week’s summit in The Hague, reflecting the United States’ reluctance to emphasize the ongoing war that Trump had promised to resolve “quickly.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited only to 24 June’s opening dinner and will not take part in the summit’s main sessions, unnamed sources told Politico.

The exclusion represents “another concession” to the US, which wants to avoid highlighting the ongoing war that Trump pledged to end during his presidential campaign.

The decision contrasts with NATO’s official summit program, which shows a Ukraine-NATO Council working dinner scheduled for 24 June but at the foreign minister level, chaired by the alliance’s Deputy Secretary General rather than heads of state.

Trump also avoided meeting Zelenskyy at the recent G7 summit, signaling a cooling of direct US support for Ukraine at these high-profile events.

Zelenskyy’s attendance uncertain

President Zelenskyy said 21 June that he remained undecided about attending the summit, despite receiving an invitation from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. NATO officials have confirmed that “Ukraine will be with us in The Hague,” though the extent of Ukrainian participation now appears limited.

Earlier, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans revealed that he is actively working to secure Zelenskyy’s participation in the NATO summit scheduled for 24-25 June in The Hague. He said that the Netherlands welcomes him at every meeting, exploring alternative formats for his involvement. Brekelmans also reaffirmed that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership remains irreversible despite skepticism.

Europe defense spending increase takes priority

The restricted Ukrainian presence aligns with the Trump administration’s broader approach to the summit, which sources describe as focused primarily on securing increased defense spending commitments from European allies.

The 32-nation alliance plans to pledge dramatically higher defense expenditures, reaching 5% of gross domestic product split between 3.5 percent for direct military needs and 1.5% for broader defense-related efforts, according to Politico’s sources. This represents a significant jump from the current 2% target established in 2014.

“They would never have agreed to 5% without Trump,” an administration official told the outlet anonymously. “So he sees this as a major victory.”

Trump intends to deliver a speech on 25 June following the summit’s conclusion to highlight the new spending commitments and his role in achieving them. The focus on defense budgets reflects the president’s longstanding demands for European allies to shoulder more responsibility for their own security.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces have inflicted over $10 billion in damages on Russian territory through targeted drone strikes between January and May 2025, according to Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Ukrainian “DeepStrike” drone operations caused direct damages at $1.3 billion from destroyed oil refining facilities, energy infrastructure, logistics networks, and transport systems, Suspilne reports.

The larger portion of claimed losses—$9.5 billion—represents indirect economic impact from enterprise shutdowns, transportation network disruptions, and blocked logistics chains following the strikes.

Ukrainian officials assess the cost-effectiveness of their DeepStrike operations at a ratio of 1 to 15, meaning each dollar spent generates approximately $15 in Russian losses, according to military calculations. The program utilizes drones capable of autonomous operation across long distances while maintaining precision targeting capabilities.

Syrskyi indicated the deep-strike operations will continue with expanded scope.

“We will increase the scale and depth,” he told journalists, emphasizing that Ukrainian forces target “purely military objects” rather than civilians.

Ukraine dominates in FPV drones, Russia — fiber-optic drones

Syrskyi also acknowledged that while Ukraine maintains superiority in FPV (first-person view) drone quantities, Russia gained ground in fiber-optic controlled drones, which are connected to their operators via cable. 

“Unfortunately, they have an advantage here both in quantity and in the range of their application,” Syrskyi stated. “We have examples where fiber-optic drones fly distances up to 40 km (24 miles). We are currently catching up in this process.”

Syrskyi noted that Ukraine also develops its own fiber-optic capabilities, producing drones equipped with 20-km (12 miles) cables.

This cable-based connection makes fiber-optic drones immune to electronic warfare tactics such as jamming and signal interception, which commonly disrupt or take control of FPV drones.

However, fiber-optic drones require reinforced frames and upgraded motors to handle the weight and drag of the cable spool, and their maneuverability is somewhat limited due to the risk of the cable snagging on obstacles.

Fourteen political prisoners who were held in Belarus captivity were freed following a meeting between Belarus’s authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg.

The group included prominent opposition figures, journalists, and activists who had been imprisoned on charges ranging from organizing mass riots to extremist activities.

Trump administration secures release after Kellogg meets Lukashenko

The prisoner release came at the direct request of US President Donald Trump, according to Lukashenko’s spokesperson Natalia Eismont. John Cole, Kellogg’s deputy, also attributed the success to Trump’s “strong leadership.”

The breakthrough followed a six-and-a-half-hour meeting on 21 June between Lukashenko and Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, who became the highest-ranking American official to visit Belarus in years.

The last senior US official to visit Belarus was Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2020, with only lower-level diplomats traveling there since, including a February 2025 visit focused on prisoner releases. 

The negotiations in Minsk covered American and European sanctions against Belarus, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and Belarus’s relations with Russia and China, according to Eismont.

Reuters had previously reported that sources described Kellogg’s trip as potentially helping to restart peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after they have stalled in recent weeks, though the primary focus appeared to be securing the prisoner release.

Opposition couple reunites after five-year separation

The most prominent figure among those freed was Sergei Tikhanovsky, whose release reunited him with his wife Svetlana after five years of imprisonment. The couple’s story became central to Belarus’s 2020 pro-democracy movement, which emerged from the largest anti-government protests in the country’s history.

The 2020 protests were triggered by a presidential election in which Lukashenko sought a sixth term. After official results declared Lukashenko the winner, the opposition and much of the public rejected the results as falsified, with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claiming she had actually won 60-70% of the vote. The protests were met with violent crackdowns, mass arrests, torture, and documented abuse by human rights organizations.

Sergei Tikhanovsky, a YouTuber and video blogger, had become well-known for criticizing Lukashenko’s regime through grassroots activism. In May 2020, he announced his intention to run for president but was arrested days later in what was widely viewed as a politically motivated move to prevent his candidacy.

When authorities barred Sergei from running, Svetlana decided to campaign in his place. Despite Lukashenko’s dismissive remarks about a woman leading the country, she quickly became the main opposition candidate and symbol of the pro-democracy movement. Following the contested election and amid threats to her safety, she was forced into exile in Lithuania but continued leading the opposition from abroad.

Sergei was subsequently convicted on charges including organizing mass riots and sentenced to 18 years in a strict-regime colony.

Lukashenko’s spokesperson said his release was decided “for humanitarian reasons, to reunite the family,” though she described him as among those “convicted of extremist and terrorist activities.”

“Sergei is free. Next to me and the children. What our family has dreamed of for these 5 years and what we have all worked toward since his arrest has happened. Sergei’s release is a step toward the liberation of all political prisoners and all of Belarus,” Tikhanovskaya said.

Other released prisoners include journalists and activists, most — foreign nationals

Among 14 freed prisoners, six were Belarusians and others were foreign nationals — two Japanese citizens, three Polish citizens, two Latvian citizens, and citizens of Estonia, Sweden, and the US. The prisoners were met by Tikhanovskaya and her advisor Franak Viachorka, in Lithuania, an EU and NATO country located close to Belarus.

One of the released was Igor Korney, a journalist for the Belarusian broadcasting service of Radio Free Europe, imprisoned for his independent journalism work criticizing the government. 

An Italian teacher Natalia Dulina was detained in 2022 for her participation in protests against the regime and set free in 2025.  

According to Nasha Niva publication, other freed individuals include Belarusian activist Akihiro Gayevsky-Hanada, a Swedish-Belarusian citizen Galina Krasnyanskaya charged for supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and Kirill Balakhonov, who was convicted in the “Union of Belarusian National Shield” case.

In 2022, Belarusian security forces arrested five young men for forming and participating in the “Union of Belarusian National Shield,” which authorities classified as an “extremist organization.” The group’s social media presence emerged after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Members opposed Russian aggression against Ukraine, supported anti-government protests in Belarus, and backed the Kastus Kalinouski volunteer regiment, whose fighters defend Ukraine.

“You are free. I know it’s hard to get used to,” Tikhanovskaya told the released prisoners. “And then — whoever has the strength — we join in and continue working, because thousands of people are still there [in captivity].”

Russian forces conducted widespread attacks across Ukraine during the night of 22 June, launching 47 drones and three missiles that resulted in civilian casualties and significant property damage.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 18 drones with conventional weapons while electronic warfare systems neutralized another 10, according to the Air Force.

The deadliest attack occurred in Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, where a Russian airstrike destroyed a private residential house. Emergency workers recovered the body of a 17-year-old boy from the rubble, according to Donetsk Regional Military Administration head Vadym Filashkin.

The same strike wounded three additional people and damaged at least 32 private houses, two administrative buildings, four multi-story buildings, one industrial facility, and three vehicles.

In nearby Kramatorsk, Russian forces partially destroyed a four-story apartment building. Rescuers freed a man born in 1955 from the debris and evacuated a woman and girl born in 2010 from a blocked fourth-floor apartment, according to the State Emergency Service. Officials said people may still be trapped under the rubble as rescue operations continue.

In Odesa Oblast, Russian attacks sparked fires at an emergency medical station, a garage with a vehicle inside, and a nearby residential building. Local fire brigades and rescue teams extinguished the blazes without reported casualties.

Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted that Kyiv must recognize the results of referendums held in four Ukrainian regions in autumn 2022 to avoid risks of conflict resumption in the future.

The Russian leader warned that rejecting these results “means there are chances for the resumption of armed conflict,” according to his interview with Sky News Arabia reported by RBC.

Beyond territorial recognition, Putin outlined additional requirements for what he termed long-term regional stability. These include Ukraine adopting neutral status by renouncing membership in foreign military alliances and abandoning nuclear weapons development, but as of now, Ukraine does not have an active nuclear weapons program. 

 “Ukraine deserves a better fate than being an instrument in the hands of external forces working against Russia,” Putin stated, reiterating Russian propaganda narrative that Ukraine is a proxy of Western geopolitical interests rather than an independent actor.

Earlier, Russian President urged Ukraine to accept Moscow’s demands from previous Istanbul peace talks, warning that Ukraine’s situation will worsen if negotiations are delayed.

During Istanbul peace talks on 16 May, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky reportedly told the Ukrainian delegation that Russia is prepared to fight for “a year, two, three—however long it takes,” invoking Russia’s historical 21-year war with Sweden to emphasize its willingness for prolonged conflict.

Despite Russia’s claim of not wanting war, Medinsky warned that some participants might lose more loved ones and that Russia is ready to fight indefinitely.

During the 2 June negotiations in Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia exchanged position papers outlining their respective visions for ending the war.

Russian demands include: 

• Ukrainian military withdrawal from four occupied regions
• written guarantees from Western leaders to halt “NATO’s eastward expansion”, effectively excluding Ukraine, Georgia, and other former Soviet states from membership
• Ukraine adopting a neutral status and limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces
• partial lifting of Western sanctions
• resolution of frozen Russian assets abroad
• protections for Russian speakers in Ukraine
• holding of Ukrainian elections under terms favorable to Moscow. 

Ukraine rejected these demands, insisting on its sovereign right to choose alliances and strong Western security guarantees.

In contrast, Ukraine presented its own ceasefire proposals, including: 

• complete cessation of hostilities 
• return of deported children and prisoner exchanges
• security assurances
• rejection of any forced neutrality or restrictions on its military capabilities and alliances, including NATO membership
• maintaining Ukrainian sovereignty. 

US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on 21 June, marking the most senior American diplomatic engagement with Belarus in recent years.

The meeting took place at the Palace of Independence, with propaganda media showing the two officials shaking hands and embracing. Lukashenko told Kellogg his visit had generated significant international attention, according to the presidential administration’s account.

During their encounter, Lukashenko emphasized the need for direct communication.

“I very much hope that our conversation will be very sincere and open. Otherwise, what’s the point of meeting,” he stated, adding that attempts at deception would prevent meaningful results.

The Belarusian leader assured Kellogg of his safety during the visit and indicated no escalation would occur while he remained in the country.

Kellogg reportedly expressed gratitude for the hospitality and highlighted the precarious global situation, stating that current crises could escalate rapidly without wise and fair approaches.

The delegations met at Minsk’s Palace of Independence and discussed global developments, regional matters, and bilateral relations between Belarus and the United States.

Reuters previously reported, citing sources, that Kellogg privately characterized the Belarus visit as a potential step toward restarting peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia as they have stalled recently despite the attempts of Trump administration to broker ceasefire.

One US official also told Reuters that the Trump administration has internally explored ways to reduce Moscow’s influence over Minsk, though Western diplomats remain skeptical about such efforts given Belarus’s strong economic and political ties to Russia.

The last senior US official to visit Belarus was Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2020, with only lower-level diplomats traveling there since, including a February 2025 visit focused on prisoner releases. 

US President Donald Trump declared that America should not be held to the same defense spending standards he expects from NATO allies, according to his remarks made to journalists on 20 June.

When pressed about his previous calls for NATO members to spend 5% of GDP on defense, Trump drew a clear distinction between American and allied obligations.

“I don’t think we should, but I think they [NATO countries] should,” he stated, arguing that the US has “supported NATO for so long” and previously “covered almost 100% of the costs.”

The president specifically targeted Spain and Canada for their defense contributions. Spain announced this week it would not commit to the 5% spending target, prompting Trump to say that “NATO will have to deal with Spain” and describing the country as “very low payer.”

“Spain has to pay what others have to pay,” Trump added.

However, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez explicitly rejected the 5% target in communications with NATO head Rutte, arguing such spending levels contradict principles of general welfare.

Trump was equally critical of Canada, which he claimed “paid the least” among allies, suggesting Canadian officials reasoned that paying was unnecessary since “the United States protects us for free.”

Earlier, the Alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed a framework requiring allies to spend 3.5% of GDP on core defense by 2032, plus an additional 1.5% on related areas like cybersecurity and defense infrastructure.

Several Eastern European nations have already embraced higher spending levels. 

Lithuania plans to allocate between 5 and 6% of GDP to defense from 2025 through 2030, doubling its current spending, while Estonia will increase its spending from 3.7% to 5%. Both countries emphasize that this increase is not solely due to US pressure but is existential for maintaining real war-fighting capabilities against the threat posed by Russia.

Poland also plans to reach 4.7% this year, currently NATO’s highest rate.

The Juliusz Słowacki Theater in Krakow, Poland, relocated its Ukrainian flag from the building’s exterior to inside the venue after facing mounting physical threats, according to the theater’s Facebook page.

Director Krzysztof Głuchowski announced the decision with what he described as “great sorrow,” citing safety considerations for staff.

“I am doing this with pain and shame, but in the face of increasing attacks on the theater, in the face of threats to punish us, in the interests of staff safety, their health and lives, and in the face of potential threats to destroy property, I cannot make any other decision,” Głuchowski stated.

The flag had been displayed on the theater’s facade since February 2022 as a symbol of Polish solidarity with Ukraine. Głuchowski explained that the flag represented support for Ukrainians “who are giving their blood and lives in the fight for freedom and independence and who are also fighting and dying for us and all of free Europe.”

The theater has now positioned the Ukrainian flag alongside the Polish flag in the building’s interior. Głuchowski characterized the demands to remove the Ukrainian flag as “an attack on freedom and solidarity,” though he did not identify the specific sources of the threats.

The decision follows a recent incident in which a supporter of far-right Polish deputy Grzegorz Braun physically removed the Ukrainian flag from the Juliusz Słowacki theater. The same individual allegedly threatened the theater director while demanding the flag’s removal.

Hundreds of federal employees at Voice of America received termination notices on 20 June, reducing the news organization’s staff to fewer than 200 workers from approximately 1,400 at the start of 2025.

The layoffs place affected journalists and support staff on paid leave until their official termination date of 1 September, according to the New York Times.

In March, Trump criticized Voice of America for allegedly spreading what he characterized as “anti-American” and partisan “propaganda,” referring to the organization as “the voice of radical America.”

The executive order effectively mandated the dismantling of the news agency and placed nearly all Voice of America reporters on paid leave, halting news operations for the first time since the organization’s 1942 founding.

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration in April to restore Voice of America and other government-funded news agencies so they could “serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news” globally. However, government officials appealed the decision. On 1 May, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia temporarily halted previous court rulings that had sought to lift the freeze on funds in order to consider emergency requests from the Justice Department.

Kari Lake, a senior adviser at the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, informed Congress earlier this month of plans to eliminate most positions at the news organization. Her correspondence identified fewer than 20 employees who must remain at the media organization under laws passed by Congress to establish and fund it. 

Lake defended her actions, describing Voice of America as “a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy” and attributing the termination of 639 employees at her agency to efforts to eliminate “dysfunction, bias and waste.”

She stated: “I’m proud to carry out President Trump’s executive order and deliver results that put America first.”

Patsy Widakuswara, a former Voice of America White House bureau chief who received a termination notice, stated that Lake’s decision “spells the death of 83 years of independent journalism that upholds US ideals of democracy and freedom around the world.” Widakuswara is leading a lawsuit against Lake and the US Agency for Global Media.

She called on Congress to intervene and support Voice of America, which was established to counter Nazi propaganda and has reported from countries that restrict independent journalism and free speech.

“Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and extremist groups are flooding the global information space with anti-America propaganda,” Widakuswara said. “Do not cede this ground by silencing America’s voice.”

The European Union shelved proposals to lower the price cap on Russian oil exports from $60 to $45 per barrel, citing concerns that escalating conflict between Israel and Iran could drive up global oil prices and undermine the effectiveness of the sanctions mechanism.

Two diplomats confirmed to POLITICO that the plan, originally scheduled for discussion among EU foreign ministers on Monday in Brussels, is no longer viable given current market volatility.

“The idea of lowering the price cap is probably not going to fly because of the international situation in the Middle East and the volatility,” one diplomat told POLITICO.

At the recent G7 summit in Canada, member countries reached consensus on postponing the decision. “At the G7 meeting this week, it was agreed by all the countries they would prefer not to take the decision right now,” the diplomat explained, noting that while oil prices were previously close to the current cap, recent fluctuations have made timing problematic.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the complexity of the situation at the G7 summit, stating that existing measures “had little effect” previously. However, she noted that with recent oil price increases, “the cap in place does serve its function,” indicating there is currently “little pressure on lowering the oil price cap.”

US blocked efforts to lower price cap on Russian oil

The current price ceiling mechanism was established by G7 countries in December 2022, setting the maximum price for Russian crude oil at $60 per barrel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized this initial limit as “weak,” arguing that such pricing remained “quite comfortable for the terrorist state’s budget.”

The sanctions framework was expanded in February 2023 to include petroleum products, with caps set at $100 per barrel for premium products like diesel fuel and $45 per barrel for discounted products such as fuel oil. These price ceilings have remained unchanged since their introduction.

In January 2025, Nordic and Baltic countries—Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—called on the European Commission to further reduce the Russian oil price cap, highlighting the need for more aggressive economic pressure on Moscow.

Earlier, Reuters reported that most G7 countries had been prepared to independently lower the price ceiling on Russian oil, even if US President Donald Trump opposed the measure. However, the current geopolitical volatility has shifted calculations.

Russian forces conducted a massive combined attack on Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure and civilian areas, with the most damage reported in Poltava and Kherson oblasts.

The attack on 21 June involved 272 drones and 8 missiles against Ukraine, with Ukrainian defenders neutralizing 260 Russian aerial targets, according to the Air Force of the Armes Forces of Ukraine.

Russia targets energy infrastructure in Poltava

The missile and drone attack on Poltava resulted in direct hits and falling debris on energy facilities and open territory, according to acting head of Poltava Oblast Military Administration Volodymyr Kohut.

One person sustained moderate injuries in the strikes, while rescue teams continue working to address the aftermath.

Both private homes and apartment buildings were damaged, with windows blown out and window frames destroyed. The shelling also damaged residents’ vehicles throughout the area.

Poltava Oblast police warned that cluster munition elements have been discovered across the targeted area following the overnight bombardment. These metallic spheres, measuring approximately 10 centimeters in diameter, pose lethal risks to both adults and children due to their resemblance to toys or balls.

Civilians suffer from daily attacks on Kherson close to frontline

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 20 settlements over a 24-hour period, according to regional administration head Oleksandr Prokudin.

The Kherson attacks damaged two high-rise buildings, 14 private houses, utility structures, a garage, and civilian vehicles. Seven people were wounded in the regional strikes.

Among the casualties was an 85-year-old woman injured during shelling of Kherson’s Central district. The woman suffered a concussion, blast injuries, closed traumatic brain injury, and leg trauma, requiring hospitalization.

Mariupol residents line up with “HOMELESS BUMS” signs, begging Vladimir Putin for help on camera. Three years after Russia “liberated” their city.

The irony cuts deep. Russian propagandists claimed they brought liberation to Mariupol when they seized the southeastern Ukrainian city in May 2022 after a devastating three-month siege. More than 8,000 civilians died in the bombardment, according to Human Rights Watch, though the real figure is likely much higher.

Russia achieved its “objective” and returned what “belongs to them,” as propagandists love to emphasize. But the survivors now accuse their liberators of theft.

Russian TV cameras focus on newly erected apartment buildings, presenting an image of normalcy. Zoom out, and the broader picture reveals the burnt and bombed schools, hospitals, and homes that surround these showcase developments—a city of ruins with fresh paint on select corners.

This angle on Mariupol would not show President Putin in favorable light, the hardened leader of Russia for over 20 years, so the Russians are fed with pompous news of renovations, reconstructions and opportunities.

The residents who survived the siege tell a different story. In video after video, they hold signs reading “HOMELESS BUMS” and “RETURN OUR HOMES,” accusing Russian authorities of seizing their properties and transferring valuable land to Russian developers at prices locals cannot afford.

Property rights vanish as occupation authorities declare homes “ownerless” and transfer them to state control for resale to newly-arriving Russians. The very people Russia claimed to liberate now beg their liberators to stop stealing from them.

Russian independent news agency Astra spoke to residents who feel betrayed and abandoned by a government that ignores their complaints. These are their stories.

Russia simply ignores appeals for justice

The most recent video appeals coincided with the so-called “birthday” of the “DNR,” a Russian puppet state, on 11 May, when Mariupol residents voiced their frustration, stating they have no “festive mood” as the occupying authorities continue to seize their homes and property and focus on building mortgage housing for incoming Russians.

“To our great regret, the residents of Mariupol have found themselves in the role of the captured and enslaved,” one local woman emphasized in a video appeal.

The woman stated that the “DNR” Constitution was written with reference to the Constitution of Russia, however, it also includes a lot of regulations, decrees and other bylaws that “not only contradict both Constitutions but grossly violate them.”

“The ‘DNR’ authorities have taken away and continue to take away our apartments and houses. Almost all small businesses have been raided. Multiple appeals to law enforcement agencies have not yielded any results,” she added.

Residents of two apartment buildings on Kuprina Street addressed the Russian parliament directly, declaring: “Over the past three years, everything that has happened in Mariupol is a raider seizure of our property.”

Desperate for solutions, residents have organized protests, filed lawsuits, and submitted collective appeals to various Russian officials. According to Astra, 453 people signed one appeal to Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee. Residents went even to the extreme measures writing to Russian President, Prime Minister and Human Rights Commissioner — all to no avail.

According to Radio Liberty Ukraine, such appeals are recorded several times a month, but Russian authorities and state media consistently ignore them. When seeking assistance from Russian officials, one woman was reportedly told:

“Russian Federation laws don’t apply to you, you have DNR laws. Go to Kyiv and make your claims there. Russia doesn’t owe you anything.”

The reality of life in the puppet republic seems less idyllic than propaganda portrays. People in the freshly seized areas live in an unrecognized state, overseen and supported by Russia but not fully integrated into the country, while they remain legally part of Ukraine.

Your house survives bombing. Bureaucracy finishes the job.

The systematic appropriation of property operates through multiple interconnected legal mechanisms designed to ensure displacement appears administrative rather than punitive.

The foundation was laid immediately after occupation when, on 8 July 2022, authorities declared invalid all real estate documents issued by Ukrainian notaries and government offices between 11 May 2014 and 19 February 2022. This single decree stripped property rights from anyone who had purchased, inherited, or transferred property during Ukraine’s period of control — essentially invalidating eight years of legal ownership.

A resident from Uzbekistan told Radio Liberty Ukraine how this affected her family:

“My husband and I bought a house in 2015, and we also ended up without a house, according to their laws. Not only can we not get there with our Ukrainian passports, but because the house was purchased in 2015, this agreement is now considered invalid.”

Building on this foundation, occupation authorities compile lists of properties they designate as “ownerless” and publish them publicly.

From that moment, property owners have exactly 30 days to appear in person at the local administration, prove they are alive, and demonstrate continued ownership of their homes. Miss that window, and the property transfers permanently to municipal control through what authorities term “nationalization.”

The catch: these apartments aren’t actually ownerless. Their owners are Ukrainian citizens who fled the war or heirs of deceased Mariupol residents—people who cannot safely return.

The scale reveals the system’s true purpose. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, “DNR Prime Minister” Evgeny Solntsev boasted of identifying “20-30 thousand ownerless apartments and private houses” in Mariupol alone. This represents a staggering portion of the city’s housing stock, considering only about a quarter of the original 425,000 residents remains.

“Our land has somehow passed into municipal ownership,” one resident told Astra. “Our Azovstalskaya street was renamed to ‘Tulsky Avenue,’ without considering the opinion of Mariupol residents, thus leaving us without registration, as well as opening the road for themselves for mortgage construction on the site of our demolished houses!”

This manipulation serves a dual purpose: it provides legal cover for property seizures while creating additional barriers for any future attempts to reclaim homes. When the fundamental identifying information for a property changes, proving historical ownership becomes exponentially more difficult.

To keep your home, risk your life—and you have 30 days

The 30-day requirement might seem reasonable until examining the barriers preventing compliance. For displaced residents, returning to Mariupol requires an arduous journey through Moscow, where Russian security services conduct what one former resident described as “the harshest filtration”—intensive questioning combined with thorough examination of social media accounts and personal histories, with demands to obtain a Russian passport on top of it all. Any pro-Ukrainian content means jail.

Elena Popova, a former English teacher now living in Britain, explained the impossibility of her situation: “My entire social media feed is patriotic, anti-Putin, and I have no chance.”

She had tried to protect her two-room apartment in the Primorsky district by arranging an electronic power of attorney through the Russian Embassy in London, paying 220 pounds sterling ($297), but the re-registration process remains incomplete and she cannot safely return.

Even for those without obvious political content, the journey carries enormous risks and costs approximately 450 euros per person—nearly 2,000 euros for a family of four. For people who were left with nothing due to the war, such expenses are prohibitive.

The bureaucratic maze deepens with document requirements. Since 16 October 2022, Russian registration authorities stopped accepting applications from residents holding Ukrainian passports. More recently, since mid-April 2025, authorities began rejecting power of attorney arrangements, demanding only personal presence of property owners. This effectively eliminates any possibility for displaced residents to maintain their property rights through representatives.

The “ownerless” system was already comprehensive, but the self-proclaimed chairman of the pro-Russian “Donetsk People’s Republic” Denis Pushilin proposed expanding it further through Law No. 141. This legislation would allow authorities to confiscate properties from people who obtained Russian citizenship and housing documents but currently reside in any of the 47 nations on Russia’s “unfriendly” list, including Ukraine itself.

This expansion would affect an estimated 100,000 Mariupol residents currently living abroad, plus similar numbers residing in Ukrainian-controlled territories. The proposed law represents a significant escalation because it would strip property rights from people who actually complied with occupation authorities’ requirements but made the “mistake” of living in the wrong countries.

As displaced residents noted in their collective appeals to Russian authorities, “most of this housing is not ownerless. People simply cannot return to Mariupol now for objective reasons. Some due to health reasons, some due to lack of finances.” Many elderly residents “are simply unable to overcome the journey, which now, taking into account downtime and checks at borders, on average takes about 5 days in a sitting position.”

Prime real estate, perfect for seizure

The pattern of property seizures also reveals strategic geographic targeting. Authorities particularly focus on the prestigious Primorsky district, near the sea and parks, where “there were always expensive apartments.” These prime locations offer the greatest potential for profitable redevelopment, suggesting economic rather than administrative motivations behind the “ownerless” designations.

The “House with Clocks,” a Stalin-era building considered a Mariupol landmark, exemplifies the situation. Tatyana, the former head of the building’s board, shared that the structure was damaged on 16 March 2022—the same day a Russian bomb destroyed the Mariupol Drama Theater.

Despite Tatyana’s efforts to preserve the building, which she argued had minimal structural damage, it was demolished and replaced with a new seven-story complex. By early 2024, all apartments had been sold—none to original residents.

“[Local authorities] said not to panic, to wait – ‘and you will get an apartment in the same place,'” Tatyana explained to Astra. “But as a result, they tell us that since the house was demolished, we’ve lost our property rights.”

She noted with particular bitterness that the historically significant building “was built by German prisoners as a symbol of victory over fascism” and represented cultural heritage now lost. Russia meanwhile claims it fights “fascism” in Ukraine.

Similar forced demolitions occurred throughout the city, often with explicit threats. Residents of apartment building #77 on Metallurgov Avenue reported being forcibly evicted after their partially repaired building was suddenly slated for demolition in April 2023, despite earlier restoration work and promises it would be repaired.

“They didn’t show any documentation—the developer just needed the land for mortgage construction. People were thrown out,” resident Anna told Astra. She claims residents were threatened with the words: “If you don’t move out, we’ll demolish the house with you in it.”

War compensation designed to price out locals

Occupation authorities frame these seizures as necessary administrative measures, claiming they’re simply managing genuinely abandoned properties. However, the evidence suggests a deliberate strategy to permanently alter Mariupol’s demographic composition.

Russians paint a beautiful picture of offering monetary compensation for people affected by the war, however the mechanism is designed in a way to permanently price out original residents while subsidizing luxury housing for Russian buyers.

Residents whose homes were destroyed receive 45,000 rubles ($574) per square meter, with a maximum allocation of 33 square meters per person—yielding roughly 1.4 million rubles total ($17 862). This figure might sound substantial until compared to the cost of replacement housing in the same locations.

New apartments built on the sites of destroyed homes start at 5 million rubles ($63 795) for a one-room unit, while two-room apartments cost 8.5 million rubles ($108 451). The mortgage down payment alone requires 3 million rubles ($38 277)—more than double the maximum compensation any resident can receive.

Anna, who lost her three-room apartment, illustrates this cruel arithmetic. Despite having invested $30,000 in renovations before the war, because only her husband was registered at the address, the family receives compensation for one person—1.5 million rubles.

“What can we buy with that? A doghouse? In our house, a square meter costs 100-130 thousand. A two-room apartment costs 9 million rubles,” she said.

Maxim, a former worker at the Ilyich Plant, expressed similar frustration: “A one-room apartment will cost around 5 million. And they’re offering us 1.3 million. Is this compensation for my three-room apartment? This is mockery.”

The compensation gap becomes even more insurmountable when considering local earning capacity. Official salaries in Mariupol range from 20,000 to 22,000 rubles monthly—barely enough for basic survival, let alone mortgage payments on million-ruble properties. Maxim’s salary at the plant was 21,000 rubles, typical for the few jobs available to locals.

The mortgage system itself creates additional barriers, as banks require substantial monthly incomes to qualify for loans, but local salaries make such qualifications impossible. Moreover, “in Mariupol there’s hardly any work. They don’t hire locals for construction,” residents report, excluding them from employment in rebuilding their own city.

“It would be better if they [the Russians] finished us off completely, so we wouldn’t have to see and feel how they turned us into rightless homeless people,” one resident commented in despair.

Housing built for Russians, not locals

While local residents struggle with inadequate compensation, evidence suggests the new housing targets a very different demographic—Russians from other regions who are promised administrative jobs and move to occupied territories for benefits and social advancement.

The “Leningrad Quarter” residential complex, built on the site of demolished homes, markets itself with a website translated into English, Georgian, and Latvian—languages irrelevant to displaced Mariupol residents but useful for attracting international Russian buyers.

“Our housing is listed on many Russian websites—both in St. Petersburg and in other cities. Apparently, Russians are buying,” observed Olha, whose building was demolished for the development. Properties throughout the new Mariupol appear on real estate platforms across Russia, suggesting a coordinated effort to attract outside buyers.

The financial infrastructure supports this interpretation. Promsvyazbank, the primary lender for Mariupol reconstruction, has issued over 200 loans totaling $12.7 million for apartment purchases in the city. However, these “preferential mortgages” remain priced far above local affordability while being attractive to Russian buyers with higher incomes.

This system creates a perverse economic cycle: the more valuable the destroyed property, the greater the profit potential. Consequently, authorities have focused new development on the most desirable locations—beachfront areas, the historic city center, and neighborhoods with sea views. Original residents from these prime locations face the largest gaps between compensation and replacement costs.

One resident bitterly said the compensation “can buy perhaps only a doghouse or a place in the cemetery.”

When local residents do receive replacement housing, they’re systematically relocated away from valuable areas. Those lucky enough to obtain new apartments through waiting lists receive them “on the outskirts” rather than in their original neighborhoods. The economic mechanism thus achieves geographic segregation without explicitly discriminatory policies.

In the aforementioned House with Clocks near the beach that was demolished and replaced with a seven-story complex marketed as luxury housing, all apartments had been sold—none to former residents of the original building. The new development’s website promotes its proximity to the Drama Theater and describes the “majestic style of Stalinist architecture” while pricing units far beyond local reach.

Oksana’s tragedy compounds the housing crisis with personal loss. She lost both her husband and home during the Russian invasion, and as the property owner was her deceased husband, she still cannot obtain inheritance rights to apply for compensation. Now alone with four children, she faces eviction from a rented house that was recently sold.  The occupying authorities offered her a place in a dormitory instead.

“The dormitory offered by the administration doesn’t have conditions for three children of different genders and an infant. And renting an apartment is very expensive, I don’t have such funds!” she said.

“Mariupol has fallen into a terrible fairy tale”

The systematic displacement of Mariupol residents through property seizures represents more than wartime destruction—it constitutes a deliberate demographic transformation disguised as administrative necessity.

The process is not just about property; it is part of a broader strategy to “Russify” Mariupol and other occupied areas. This includes pressuring Ukrainians to accept Russian passports, renaming streets, building new military facilities, and replacing the local population with individuals loyal to Russia. The confiscation of property is also accompanied by widespread reports of corruption, fraud, and profiteering.

However, what happens in Mariupol matters far beyond Ukraine’s borders.

This property seizure system creates a replicable blueprint for any future territorial occupation. The mechanisms—declaring documents invalid, imposing impossible compliance requirements, targeting prime real estate, pricing out locals through inadequate compensation—can be deployed anywhere. International observers are watching whether this systematic theft faces consequences or becomes a normalized tool of territorial conquest.

The pattern also reveals how modern occupations operate through bureaucratic warfare rather than explicit ethnic cleansing. By creating administrative barriers instead of outright prohibitions, occupying forces can claim legitimacy while achieving the same demographic outcomes that would trigger international intervention if implemented through direct force.

These appeals for justice continue despite systematic official indifference. Most recently, residents of the destroyed building at 101 Nakhimov Avenue recorded yet another video appeal, accusing local authorities of arbitrariness and deliberate ignorance of their rights.

According to the former residents, there was not enough space in the new building constructed on the site of their old home for all displaced owners.

“It seems that city officials erased this house from the face of the earth along with the apartment owners,” they stated in their video.

The displaced residents claim that the decision to transfer the site to developers was made behind closed doors, without genuine consideration of property owners’ opinions, leaving them “still wandering from apartment to apartment” while officials have already reported successful “resettlement”—essentially erasing them from all programs and lists as if the problem were solved. They have filed official complaints with the prosecutor’s office and demand construction be frozen until their rights are restored.

Meanwhile, their properties enrich Russian developers and new settlers in a city that bears their name but no longer welcomes their presence.

“Mariupol has fallen into a terrible fairy tale where there are no laws, no country, only a gang of thieves that squeezes even the last ruins from the dispossessed,” commented Mariupol resident who survived the siege and remains in the city.

Ukraine and Russia conducted another prisoner exchange on 19 June, focusing on seriously ill and wounded captives, some of which were held in Russian captivity for over three years. 

The exchange returned Ukrainian defenders from multiple military branches to their homeland, including personnel from the Armed Forces, Naval Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard, and State Border Service. Officials did not disclose the exact number of prisoners released.

According to the Coordination Staff for Treatment of Prisoners of War, all returned defenders suffered from significant health complications.

“Every Defender released today has serious medical diagnoses and illnesses as a result of injuries and being in captivity,” the coordination staff reported. “Many have significant weight loss, dystrophy, ulcers, vision problems, musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular diseases and digestive problems.”

The oldest released prisoner was 63 years old, while one defender celebrated his 45th birthday upon returning home, according to according to Ukraine’s human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.

Since the Istanbul talks on 2 June, Ukraine has conducted multiple exchanges: 9 June saw the return of prisoners under 25 years old, 10 June brought back seriously wounded and ill personnel, 12 June returned another group of seriously wounded and ill defenders, and 14 June marked the fourth exchange within a week, including seriously ill, wounded, and young prisoners.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Ukraine to accelerate peace negotiations and accept Moscow’s terms from previous Istanbul talks, warning that Ukraine’s position would deteriorate if talks are postponed.

The Russian leader indicated Moscow is ready to resume peace discussions in Istanbul after 22 June, noting that negotiating teams from both countries maintain ongoing contact, according to Russian state-funded news agency RIA Novosti.

During Istanbul peace talks on 16 May, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky reportedly told the Ukrainian delegation that Russia is prepared to fight for “a year, two, three—however long it takes,” invoking Russia’s historical 21-year war with Sweden to emphasize its willingness for prolonged conflict.

Despite Russia’s claim of not wanting war, Medinsky warned that some participants might lose more loved ones and that Russia is ready to fight indefinitely.

Independent estimates as of mid-May 2025 indicate Russia suffered heavy military losses, including over 10,800 tanks and nearly 1 million casualties, which contrasts with Medinsky’s “forever war” rhetoric.

During the June negotiations, Ukraine and Russia exchanged position papers outlining their respective visions for ending the war.

Russian demands include: 

• Ukrainian military withdrawal from four occupied regions (some parts of which are not even occupied fully) – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
• written guarantees from Western leaders to halt “NATO’s eastward expansion”, effectively excluding Ukraine, Georgia, and other former Soviet states from membership
• Ukraine adopting a neutral status and limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces.
• partial lifting of Western sanctions
• resolution of frozen Russian assets abroad
• protections for Russian speakers in Ukraine
• holding of Ukrainian elections under terms favorable to Moscow.

Ukraine rejected these demands, insisting on its sovereign right to choose alliances and strong Western security guarantees.

In contrast, Ukraine presented its own ceasefire proposals, including: 

• complete cessation of hostilities 
• return of deported children and prisoner exchanges
• security assurances
• rejection of any forced neutrality or restrictions on its military capabilities and alliances, including NATO membership
• direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin
• maintaining Ukrainian sovereignty. 

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) concluded that any peace agreement modeled on the 2022 Istanbul protocols would equate to Ukraine’s capitulation to Russia’s strategic objectives.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha declared that Russia’s rhetoric in 2025 intensified to 2022 levels and aims to weaken Ukraine militarily and politically to eventually destroy the state and exploit its resources.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while simultaneously bringing up the Russian narrative of Zelenskyy’s “illegitimacy” as the president.  

Putin indicated that a meeting with Zelenskyy would only occur during the final phase of peace negotiations to finalize any agreement, according to a state-funded news agency TASS.

The Russian president framed the encounter as a concluding formality rather than a substantive negotiating session, telling journalists he would meet with Zelenskyy only to “put a period” on completed talks.

The legitimacy question forms the central obstacle in Putin’s framework for potential discussions.

“From a propaganda standpoint, one can say anything about the legitimacy of the current government in Ukraine. But for us, when resolving serious issues, the legal component is what’s important,” Putin stated.

Putin argued that any peace documents must be signed by representatives he considers legitimate Ukrainian authorities, claiming that agreements signed by illegitimate officials would “end up in the trash later.”

Russia uses “Illegitimacy” narrative to undermine peace talks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s five-year presidential term officially ended on 20 May 2024, as he was elected in 2019. However, he continues to serve as president because Ukraine is under martial law due to the ongoing Russian invasion, which legally prohibits holding elections during this period for security reasons.

The United Nations and Ukraine’s key international allies recognize Zelenskyy as the legitimate head of state, emphasizing his democratic election in 2019.

However, questions about his legitimacy have emerged primarily from Russian propaganda efforts and have been echoed by some Western critics, including former US President Donald Trump, who have claimed his term expired and that he avoids elections to retain power.

Earlier, Trump labeled Zelenskyy as a “dictator” and blamed Ukraine for “provoking” Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. These claims echo Russian propaganda and have raised concerns among US allies about Trump’s stance potentially benefiting Moscow.

Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War assesses that the Kremlin is intensifying efforts to delegitimize the Ukrainian government as part of a broader strategy to undermine Ukraine as a negotiating partner. This campaign includes demands for “regime” change and “demilitarization”, while Moscow insists on Ukraine’s capitulation and control over extensive territories, tying any ceasefire to the lifting of Western sanctions.

Ukrainians and Americans organized an emergency demonstration at Times Square demanding more US action against Russia following a massive Russian attack on Ukraine that killed more than two dozen people on 17 June.

The rally took place on the evening of 17 June, with demonstrators carrying Ukrainian flags and signs reading “Google Kyiv today,” “‘Ceasefire’ – they said,” and “Sanctions against Russia – now,” according to protest participants Vsevolod Myrnyi and Marichka Hlyten.

Myrnyi called on participants to contact their elected officials.

“Call your representatives and senators. Tell them: ‘We demand more sanctions against Russia. We demand air defense systems for Ukraine. We demand more military aid – weapons that help save lives,'” he wrote.

He emphasized that Ukraine is defending itself while Russia targets civilian buildings, and noted that while Congress already has many supporters for Ukraine, constituent voices help drive action.

The demonstration responded to a Russian assault on the night of 17 June that targeted Kyiv and multiple Ukrainian oblasts. Russian forces launched 440 drones and 32 missiles against Ukraine, striking Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv.

Ukrainian air defenses destroyed most of the incoming targets, but hits were recorded in 10 locations, with debris from downed objects falling in 34 locations. In Kyiv, 28 people died and 134 were injured, with the death toll from a missile strike on a 9-story residential building reaching 23 people.

In Odesa, a 60-year-old woman was killed and 17 people wounded, with damage to residential buildings, an inclusive center, a preschool, and garages.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told G7 leaders that Russia intensified its nightly drone attacks as “the only real change” since Trump returned to the White House, with Moscow now routinely deploying 100 drones per night compared to what would have been shocking levels a year ago.

The Ukrainian leader argued this escalation proves supporters of stronger sanctions are “absolutely right.” While Trump told reporters at the G7 summit he would not approve new sanctions against Russia, citing costs to the US, Zelenskyy called for a $30 per barrel price cap on Russian oil and $40 billion in annual budget support for Ukraine.

The US is currently blocking European efforts to lower the existing $60 per barrel price cap to $45, despite EU and UK pressure to reduce Moscow’s war funding, with Zelenskyy arguing that “Russia blocked all efforts” at ceasefire negotiations and continues military operations without adequate consequences.

US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg is planning to visit Belarus in the coming days to meet with President Alexander Lukashenko, according to Reuters citing four sources briefed on the matter.

If the visit occurs, Kellogg would become the highest-ranking American official to visit Belarus in years. Two sources told Reuters that Kellogg has privately described the trip as a step that could help restart peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The meeting’s precise agenda remains unclear and planning for such visits requires careful negotiation. The trip could potentially be canceled or modified at the last minute, the sources indicated.

The last high-level US official visit to Belarus was in 2020 when then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled there. Since then, visits have been limited to lower-ranking officials, such as the February 2025 trip by Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher W. Smith, aimed at securing the release of political prisoners.

The potential visit represents a shift in US-Belarus relations. The US suspended operations at its embassy in Belarus in 2022 after it became clear that Minsk would support Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration had distanced itself from Belarus following the 2020 election, which international observers condemned as neither free nor fair, and the subsequent crackdown on street protests.

One US official told Reuters that the Trump administration has internally discussed ways to pull Minsk away from Moscow’s influence, even if only marginally. However, Western diplomats have expressed skepticism about US efforts to court Belarus, which maintains strong alignment and economic ties with Russia.

Kellogg’s visit comes after two recent Istanbul meetings between Ukrainian and Russian delegations that were focused on trying to find an end to the war. Both of the resulted mainly in massive prisoner exchanges but little progress on a ceasefire.

During Istanbul talks on 2 June, Russia presented Ukraine with a memorandum outlining its conditions for peaceful settlement. These demands include: 

• Ukrainian military withdrawal from four occupied regions (some parts of which are not even occupied fully).
• written guarantees from Western leaders to halt “NATO’s eastward expansion”, effectively excluding Ukraine, Georgia, and other former Soviet states from membership
• Ukraine adopting a neutral status and limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces.
• partial lifting of Western sanctions
• resolution of frozen Russian assets abroad
• protections for Russian speakers in Ukraine.

Ukraine rejected these demands, insisting on its sovereign right to choose alliances and strong Western security guarantees.

In contrast, Ukraine presented its own ceasefire proposals, as reported by Financial Times journalist Christopher Miller.

These include:

• complete cessation of hostilities 
• confidence-building measures such as the return of deported children and prisoner exchanges
• security assurances
• direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin
• international community involvement while maintaining Ukrainian sovereignty. 

Speaking at the G7 summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued that Russia intensified its nightly aerial campaigns as the primary tactical adjustment since Donald Trump returned to the White House, with drone swarms becoming routine rather than exceptional.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia now routinely deploys 100 drones per night against Ukrainian targets, a scale that would have been shocking a year ago.

“If last year the use of 100 ‘Shaheds’ in one night caused real shock, now it already seems unusual if fewer than 100 drones are used in one attack,” the Ukrainian leader stated.

The president characterized this intensification as “the only real change in Russia’s behavior after the change of US president,” suggesting Moscow has adapted its military strategy to the new political landscape in Washington.

“And it proves that those who support new and stronger sanctions against Russia are absolutely right,” Zelenskyy added.

Meanwhile, during the G7 leaders meeting in Canada, Trump told reporters he would not approve new sanctions against Russia, citing them as costly for the US and still expressing hope for a potential peace deal.

The Ukrainian president, however, addressed stalled diplomatic efforts, noting that while the US and President Trump had proposed ceasefires and negotiations, “Russia blocked all efforts.” He urged continued pressure on Trump to leverage his influence with Putin to end the war.

Zelenskyy argued that Russia continues its military operations without facing adequate consequences, making the case for stronger international sanctions.

He specifically called on G7 members to work with the United States to implement a $30 per barrel price cap on Russian oil and to maintain $40 billion in annual budget support for Ukraine.

“Together, we must make this painful for Russia. The EU’s 18th round of sanctions should also hit Russia’s energy and banking sectors,” Zelenskyy said.

The United States, however, is blocking European efforts to lower the G7 price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, despite EU and UK pressure to reduce Moscow’s war funding. The proposed reduction is part of Europe’s latest sanctions package aimed at cutting deeper into Russian oil profits used to finance the Ukraine invasion, but the final decision rests with President Trump, who has shown no flexibility on the issue.

The number of fatalities from Russia’s 17 June massive attack on Kyiv has climbed to 26 people, with rescue teams continuing to recover bodies from the debris of a destroyed residential building.

Search and rescue operations have been ongoing since the early morning hours on 18 June at a nine-story apartment complex in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district struck by a Russian ballistic missile, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

Rescue crews worked through the night to extract victims from the rubble. The casualty count increased throughout the day as emergency workers made additional recoveries, with the latest update on death toll being 19 people killed in one single building. Five more civilians died on other sites affected by the Russian attack.

[update] As of 1 p.m. on 18 June, the State Emergency Service reported that the number of killed people retrieved from the destroyed building in Solomianskyi district has risen to 21, moving the total death toll up to 26 people.

Among the victims was a 31-year-old man whose parents had waited all day at the strike site hoping for his rescue. He did not survive.

Dmytro Isaenko was a first-year master’s student at Drahomanov University’s Faculty of Physical Education, Sports and Health, who was studying physical culture and sport with a focus on human health and physical recreation.

“This is the young man whose fate the whole country was following. The one whose parents stood by the ruins of the destroyed house and waited for their son, prayed and did not leave,” the university wrote on its Facebook page. “We all prayed with them. Their photos flew around the world, became a symbol of pain and hope. But no miracle happened.”

According to his social media posts, he enjoyed hiking in the mountains and had tried his hand at stand-up comedy.

The missile strike caused extensive damage to the residential structure, with the projectile penetrating deep enough to break through concrete floors into the basement level. The building housed multiple families across its nine floors.

Beyond the fatalities, the State Emergency Service documented 134 people injured across the capital. Rescue operations remain active in Kyiv as teams continue searching for potential survivors and victims in the damaged structures.

In response to the devastation, Kyiv authorities declared a day of mourning on 18 June, with flags lowered, entertainment events canceled, and the city honoring the victims.

US Embassy in Kyiv announced its participation in the city’s day of mourning for the 26 people killed in Kyiv, including one American citizen. The Embassy also characterized the 17 June Russian strike as contradicting President Trump’s calls to end the war and stop the killing.

The attack on Kyiv was part of a broader Russian assault on Ukraine that also targeted Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, and Mykolaiv oblasts. On the night of 16-17 June, Russian forces launched a total of 440 drones and 32 missiles, including cruise and ballistic types.

In Odesa, the assault killed a 60-year-old woman and injured 17 people, including a pregnant woman and a 17-year-old girl, while also damaging civilian infrastructure including residential buildings, a preschool facility, and garages.

On 18 June, Russia again attacked Ukraine overnight, launching a widespread drone assault that targeted civilian and infrastructure facilities, resulting in deaths, dozens of wounded, and extensive property destruction.

According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian forces deployed 58 drones in their overnight assault. 

Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted 30 of the incoming drones by 08:30 local time. The Air Force reports that defenders used multiple methods to neutralize the threats: 12 drones were destroyed by conventional fire weapons, while 18 were either locationally lost or suppressed through electronic warfare systems.

The remaining 28 drones reached their targets, with Russian weapons striking nine separate locations across the country’s east, south, and north. The primary targets of the assault were Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, areas that have experienced sustained attacks throughout the war.

Zaporizhzhia postal facility destroyed as 13 Russian drones target civilian infrastructure

Regional military administration head Ivan Fedorov reported that 13 drones specifically targeted Zaporizhzhia during the night assault. The attacks caused widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, with apartment building windows shattered and multiple vehicles destroyed by fire. No one was reported killed or injured.

City council secretary Rehina Kharchenko confirmed that a Nova Poshta postal service branch was completely destroyed in the bombardment.

“Instead of the building – burned structures, broken glass, melted plastic,” Kharchenko described the scene.

The regional emergency services department documented additional damage, reporting that 47 vehicles burned in an open parking area while fires erupted in three industrial buildings spanning a total of 800 square meters. The assessment revealed damage to nine apartment buildings and six non-residential structures from the drone strikes.

Medical personnel wounded in targeted drone strike on Kherson ambulance

Russian forces conducted extensive shelling operations in southern Kherson Oblast throughout 17 June , resulting in two civilian deaths and 34 wounded across the region, according to Kherson Regional Military Administration head Oleksandr Prokudin.

The attacks affected 36 settlements throughout Kherson Oblast, including the regional capital. Russian forces targeted both social infrastructure and residential neighborhoods, damaging 12 private homes along with outbuildings, garages, and private vehicles.

The attacks extended to medical personnel, with Russian forces using a drone to target an ambulance in Kherson’s Korabelny district around midnight. The regional military administration confirmed that both a paramedic and emergency medical technician sustained injuries in the attack, suffering concussions, blast injuries, and closed traumatic brain injuries.

The global trend of nuclear disarmament that began after the Cold War is reversing, with nearly all nine nuclear-armed states pursuing intensive modernization programs in 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The historical pattern of gradual dismantlement outpacing new deployments is ending, according to SIRPI. The institute notes that the global nuclear inventory will likely grow in coming years.

“The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the Cold War, is coming to an end,” said Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Program. “Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements.”

China’s nuclear expansion continues at the fastest pace globally. SIPRI estimates China now possesses at least 600 warheads, representing growth of approximately 100 warheads annually since 2023.

The country completed or neared completion of around 350 new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos across six regions – three desert areas in northern China and three mountainous zones in the east – by January 2025.

China could potentially match Russian or American ICBM numbers by decade’s end, though SIPRI projects China’s maximum 1,500 warheads by 2035 would still represent only one-third of current Russian and American stockpiles, which control approximately 90% of all nuclear weapons.

China currently holds third place globally in nuclear warhead stockpiles.

Current global nuclear distribution shows Russia leading with 5,459 warheads, followed by the United States with 5,177. Britain possesses 225 warheads, France 290, India 180, Pakistan 170, North Korea 50, and Israel 90.

The United Kingdom plans to increase its warhead ceiling following the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh. The Labour government elected in July 2024 committed to building four new nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and delivering nuclear arsenal upgrades, despite facing operational and financial challenges.

France continued developing third-generation submarines and new air-launched cruise missiles in 2024, while upgrading existing systems including improved ballistic missiles with new warhead modifications.

India slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal and developed new delivery systems in 2024, according to SIPRI. The country’s new canisterized missiles may carry nuclear warheads during peacetime and potentially multiple warheads per missile once operational. Pakistan also developed new delivery systems and accumulated fissile material, suggesting potential arsenal expansion over the coming decade.

SIPRI Director Dan Smith warned that artificial intelligence and other technologies accelerate crisis decision-making processes, potentially increasing the likelihood of nuclear conflicts arising from miscommunication, misunderstandings, or technical failures.

Smith argued that technological complexity makes determining arms race leadership more elusive than previously. “The old largely numerical formulas of arms control will no longer suffice,” he said.

Photos showing the stark physical transformation of a Ukrainian soldier after three years in Russian captivity have been circulating online, documenting the inhumane conditions faced by Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The comparative images of Oleksandr Strafun, a reserve officer who defended Mariupol, were published by volunteer Olena Zolotariova from the NGO “Power of People.” The photos show Oleksandr with his wife Olena before and after his captivity period. Both of them consented to have their photos appear online. This is how Russia’s full-scale aggression that began in February 2022 changed their lives forever. 

Oleksandr and Olena had lived for each other before the full-scale war. Though he had not participated in the fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and worked at the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works, he felt compelled to serve when Russia invaded explicitly.

On 21 February 2022, Oleksandr contacted military recruitment offices to offer assistance. “He always knew that if something suddenly started, he had no right to stay home,” Olena recalled, according to her interview with 0629 news outlet about Mariupol. When he suggested she evacuate, she refused, citing her two cats and the need to help his parents.

Oleksandr enlisted in territorial defense forces on 25 February, finding the recruitment office nearly empty except for a guard directing volunteers to territorial defense units. The following morning, 26 February, he called from territorial defense headquarters with news that would define their separation:

“He said he wouldn’t return home anymore. I asked, when should I expect you? And he answered: ‘I’ll return after victory.'”

Their final direct communication occurred on 1 March 2022, when Oleksandr requested personal items including soap and socks. Olena was unable to deliver these supplies before contact ceased entirely.

During the siege, Olena remained in blockaded Mariupol despite knowing about the garrison’s order to surrender and the final stand of Ukrainian soldiers at Azovstal. She suspected Oleksandr might not answer calls from unfamiliar numbers, while her own phone had been stolen by Kadyrov forces.

After reaching safety, Olena connected with families of other prisoners through support networks. Through these contacts, she learned Oleksandr had been seen at the notorious Olenivka detention facility in occupied Donetsk Oblast and managed to pass along her new phone number through another prisoner’s wife.

On the night of 29 July 2022, an explosion struck a barracks at the Olenivka prison colony, killing about 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), mostly defenders of Mariupol including members of the Azov Regiment, and injuring over 70 others.

Both Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the attack: Russia claimed Ukraine used a HIMARS missile to strike the prison, while Ukraine accused Russian forces of deliberately shelling the facility to cover up torture and executions of POWs.

The day before the documented attack, Oleksandr called Olena and described unusual activity at the facility.

“He said something strange was happening in the colony, some constant movements. Some people were being taken away, others relocated. He thought, maybe this is already an exchange?” Olena recounted.

She went to sleep hopeful but woke up to the news of the explosion and casualties, not knowing if her husband remained alive. Oleksandr survived because he had been transferred to another facility prior to the incident.

He managed to call her, promising an exchange was coming and telling her to wait. That conversation marked the beginning of an extended silence lasting for years.

In 2025, Oleksandr was returned home to Ukraine in one of the prisoner exchanges that resulted from Istanbul peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, that, however, failed to reach a ceasefire agreement.

All released soldiers undergo rehabilitation, including urgent medical care and psychological support. Ukrainian authorities also provide financial compensation for their time in captivity, as part of the reintegration process after often prolonged and brutal detention in Russia.

Satellite imagery obtained by Swedish broadcaster SVT shows Russia has upgraded at least four nuclear weapons bases in proximity to NATO countries over recent years.

Russia has been threatening the West with nuclear weapons explicitly since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a way to deter military support for Ukraine and prevent potential NATO involvement in the war. Since 2022, Russian officials have made nuclear threats more than 200 times across various political levels.

The images, captured by Planet Labs in May 2025 and published by SVT on 16 June, document infrastructure improvements at multiple sites across Russia’s western regions.

The satellite evidence shows four key areas of expansion. In Kaliningrad, positioned 43 km (27 miles) from Swedish territory, the base has received new buildings, triple fencing, and communication infrastructure. The Polish government estimates approximately 100 tactical nuclear weapons are stored at this location.

At the Asipovitchy base in Belarus, Russia upgraded a Soviet-era nuclear storage facility with enhanced security features including three layers of fencing, according to nuclear weapons researchers at the Federation of American Scientists. The site now includes a new loading platform for rail transport and air defense systems.

The Novaya Zemlya facility, which experts describe as Russia’s most important base for nuclear weapons testing and trials, has seen construction of extensive new buildings. Novaya Zemlya is an archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean with closest proximity to Norway or Finland. The base has a history of military use, including being a major Soviet nuclear test site during the Cold War.

On the Kola Peninsula near the Norwegian border, approximately 50 storage bunkers have been built for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, alongside a new dock for missile loading operations.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson confirmed his government’s awareness of the developments, stating that officials have monitored the expansion for an extended period.

William Alberque, a senior researcher at Pacific Forum and former NATO nuclear policy specialist, argues that Russia deliberately uses Western concerns about nuclear escalation as a strategic tool.

“Russia knows that these threats cause panic in the Western world and therefore they have experimented with escalating nuclear threats for 25 years,” Alberque told SVT.

The developments occur amid broader concerns about nuclear proliferation. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute noted in its annual report that an arms race between nuclear powers resumed, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier suggested Russia could potentially attack NATO within five years.

Over 60% of residents have evacuated from dangerous territories in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast amid continuous shelling of civilian infrastructure and intensified offensive operations along the border.

The evacuation pace has accelerated in recent days, with more than 400 residents leaving border communities during the week of 9-15 June alone.  Among those evacuated were 26 children, according to the head of Sumy Regional Military Administration, Oleh Hryhorov.

The scale of the evacuation encompasses 213 settlements across Sumy Oblast, with 60 communities now completely abandoned by their residents. 

Russian forces now conduct an average of 80 to 120 strikes daily against the region, Hryhorov reported in a recent interview with Suspilne Sumy. Seven civilians were killed since the beginning of June, including one child. 

The intensity of attacks created a state of near-constant danger, with air raid alerts lasting an average of 14-15 hours daily.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that Ukrainian forces had successfully halted Russian advancement in the Sumy direction. However, he also indicated that Russia has concentrated 50,000 soldiers in the area as part of an attempt to establish what he described as a “buffer zone” within Ukrainian territory.

Current occupation data from the analytical project DeepState shows 12 settlements in Sumy region remain under Russian control as of 14 June.

The Institute for the Study of War and Ukrainian officials, however, assessed that Russia lacks sufficient manpower and resources for a major breakthrough in Sumy, with many targeted villages evacuated and of limited strategic value.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to meet during the G7 summit taking place 15-17 June in Alberta, Canada, according to Axios sources.

The 51st G7 summit is being held in Kananaskis, a remote resort town in western Alberta that previously hosted a G8 summit in 2002. Along with Zelenskyy, Trump will also meet separately with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, according to a White House official cited by Axios.

The summit brings together leaders from the US, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain, with European Union representatives and other invited heads of state also attending. First-time participants include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Trump’s attendance comes amid heightened tensions with Canada following months of statements expressing interest in annexing the country and imposing tariffs in what has been characterized as a trade war.

During their White House meeting last month, Carney reportedly made clear to Trump that Canada has no interest in becoming the 51st US state.

On 14 June 2025,  President Trump also held a 50-minute phone call with Putin during which the Russian president warmly wished Trump a happy 79th birthday. They mainly discussed the escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, and postponed the talks about the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump revealed that Putin informed him Russia is ready to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine, while the US president reiterated his interest in a speedy resolution to the conflict.

Ukrainian medical specialists have started procedures to remove a “Glory to Russia” inscription from the body of a serviceman who recently returned from Russian captivity, according to reports from medical professionals involved in the case.

The treatment is being conducted under the “Unburnt” national program, which provides free external rehabilitation and treatment for deformational, post-military injuries, burns and scars for people affected by the war. Maksym Turkevych, director of the program, confirmed the medical intervention alongside dermatologist Oleksandr Turkevych.

According to Oleksandr Turkevych, the Ukrainian serviceman was captured more than 15 months ago following combat injuries. The medical professional explained that when the soldier regained consciousness after surgery while in captivity, he discovered the inscription had been left by the operating surgeon.

The removal process began with an injection of polynucleotide, a substance commonly used in cosmetic and medical procedures to stimulate cellular and tissue regeneration. The treatment represents the initial phase of what doctors expect to be a multi-stage process.

Maksym Turkevych indicated that medical teams are preparing the scarred tissue for more intensive interventions. He projected that within several months, only minimal traces of the inscription would remain visible.

The case came to public attention when Clash Report initially published photographs of the released Ukrainian fighter. The images showed the “Glory to Russia” text visible on the man’s body alongside battle scars, with reports indicating the marking was made by occupying forces during his captivity.

Andrii Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, verified the authenticity of the photographs. Yusov explained that a Ukrainian medical professional took the images during a routine examination of the freed defender.

Ukrainian actor-turned-soldier Yurii Felipenko was killed in action at age 32. On 15 June, his wife, YouTube show host Kateryna Motrych, announced his death on social media, stating that her husband had been her “world, soul, and light” and describing the loss as devastating.

Felipenko was originally from Zaporizhzhia, a southeastern Ukrainian city close to the front line and under constant Russian bombardment since 2022. 

The actor began his screen career in 2014, appeared in numerous famous Ukrainian TV series and also performed extensively at Kyiv’s Academic Drama Theater. His transition from entertainment to military service reflects the broader mobilization of Ukrainian civilians across various professions.

Yurii served as a drone operator with the 429th separate “Achilles” unmanned systems regiment after voluntarily joining the military in 2024. His role involved operating drones, a critical component of modern warfare. The exact cause of his death in combat is yet unknown.

“Yura is gone. Yura was, without exaggeration, my world, my soul, my light. It’s impossible to convey this loss. I feel like I’ve been destroyed,” his wife Kateryna wrote on Instagram.

Ukrainian intelligence operatives destroyed an electrical substation in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on 14 June, cutting power to military and industrial facilities in the surrounding area.

The HUR carried out the operation at approximately 4 a.m. local time. Agents drained cooling fluid from a power transformer at the industrial substation before igniting it, sources told the Ukrainian news outlets Hromadske and Ukrainska Pravda.

The resulting fire damaged the transformer and disrupted electricity supply to nearby Russian enterprises, including facilities belonging to the country’s military-industrial complex and armed forces. A HUR source estimated the financial damage from the sabotage at nearly $5 million.

“Russia no longer has a rear, neither in the east, nor in the west, nor at any point on the planet. Russian assets involved in the war against Ukraine will burn, sink and be destroyed regardless of protection level or location,” the HUR source said, according to Hromadske.

Neither Russian authorities nor local officials have publicly confirmed the power outage or provided details about the incident’s impact on regional infrastructure.

On 1 June, Ukraine also conducted a surprise drone operation, called Spiderweb, destroying or damaging  41 Russian military planes on four key airfields, with damage estimated at over $7 billion. It involved launching 117 first-person view (FPV) drones that were smuggled into Russia and hidden in trucks. The operation took 18 months to plan and execute.

The US Department of Defense faced criticism after posting a Flag Day greeting that appeared to contain Russian flag colors.

However, the image actually contained only two stripes – white and red – with a gap between them. The blue background of the image created the optical illusion of a blue stripe between the white and red ones, giving the appearance of the Russian tricolor.

The Pentagon’s post featured an image that, alongside the American flag, displayed what initially appeared to be two small Russian tricolors.

The post included a message stating: “Let us honor the emblem of our nation and the stars and stripes that unite us all. As we display our nations flag and reflect on the values it represents, let’s celebrate the freedom, courage and resilience that makes our country great.”

The apparent error drew immediate attention from observers. Former Voice of America Ukrainian correspondent Ostap Yarish questioned the design, writing: “Who made this design? I understand it wasn’t intentional, but these white, blue, and red stripes look exactly like the Russian flag.”

Despite numerous comments from users pointing out the perceived mistake, the Defense Department did not remove the image, which remains on their social media platforms.

On 14 June, the US held its first military parade in decades to mark the army’s 250th anniversary. The parade featured thousands of servicemembers and various military equipment, while simultaneously, Americans across the country participated in protests against Trump under the slogan “No Kings.”

US President Donald Trump disclosed details of a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sharing the information through his Truth Social platform.

According to Trump, Putin initiated the call to congratulate him on his birthday. The conversation covered multiple international issues, with Iran featuring prominently in their discussions. Trump indicated that Putin “knows this country very well,” suggesting the Russian leader’s familiarity with Iranian affairs influenced their dialogue.

Earlier, Putin’s assistant Yuri Ushakov told Russian state agency TASS that both leaders discussed the Israel-Iran conflict extensively, with Putin offering Russia as a mediator between the countries while condemning Israeli actions. Trump assessed the situation between the nations as “alarming” but noted the effectiveness of Israeli strikes against Iran.

The US President revealed that while Russia and Ukraine were discussed, these topics received limited attention during this particular call.

“We talked at length. We spent much less time talking about Russia and Ukraine, but that will be next week,” Trump stated, indicating future discussions on the conflict are planned.

Trump disclosed that Putin is also coordinating a prisoner exchange involving “a large number of prisoners” from both sides, describing the exchange as imminent.

Ukraine and Russia conducted a series of prisoner exchanges in June 2025, with the fourth swap occurring on 14 June, marking intense ongoing efforts to repatriate captives following an agreement reached during talks in Istanbul on 2 June. These exchanges primarily focus on releasing severely wounded, seriously ill soldiers, and military personnel aged 18 to 25, many of whom have been held since 2022.

Both leaders addressed peace negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, with Putin declaring that Russia is ready to continue dialogue with Ukraine after 22 June, according to Ushakov. Trump confirmed his desire for the quickest possible end to the war in Ukraine.

However, on 15 June, shortly after Putin congratulated Trump on his birthday during a phone call, Russia launched its largest missile and drone strike on the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, targeting critical energy and agricultural infrastructure. The strike hit Kremenchuk Thermal Power Plant and oil refinery, vital for Ukraine’s energy and defense systems.

The assault, involving nearly 200 missiles and drones, caused around 30 explosions and fires that burned for hours, damaging residential buildings and vehicles but reportedly causing no casualties due to effective Ukrainian air defenses that intercepted most of the attack.

On his birthday, Trump also attended a military parade in Washington, D.C., featuring over 6,000 troops, 128 tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, and a 21-gun salute, as part of the US Army’s 250th anniversary celebration.

Despite the grandeur, attendance was much lower than expected, and the parade occurred amid widespread protests nationwide under the “No Kings” movement, denouncing Trump’s perceived authoritarianism and criticizing the parade as an extravagant, ego-driven display amid ongoing political and social divisions.

President Donald Trump’s long-desired military parade proceeded down Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C. on 14 June, featuring tanks, troops and ceremonial displays, while demonstrators across the country organized “No Kings” protests against Trump denouncing what they characterized as authoritarianism.

According to Associated Press, more than 6,000 American military personnel and 128 tanks participated in the parade, which featured a 21-gun salute and a demonstration jump by the “Golden Knights” parachute team over the National Mall. The event included exhibitions of armored vehicles, helicopters and military equipment, alongside sales of army merchandise and Trump-branded items.

Trump had pursued such a parade since his first presidential term, drawing inspiration from a 2017 Paris military display. The Washington event finally materialized as part of the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration.

The celebration included Trump personally administering oaths to 250 army recruits and contractors, along with musical performances and fireworks. However, organizers canceled the planned flyover of American fighter jets due to weather conditions.

Attendance fell significantly short of projected expectations, with many designated spectator areas remaining empty despite predictions of 200,000 attendees.

Meanwhile, protest organizers coordinated “No Kings” rallies in hundreds of cities on the same day, explicitly designed to counter what they described as Trump’s ego-driven celebration. Washington demonstrators carried signs reading “Where’s the due process?” and “No to Trump’s fascist military parade” while marching toward the White House. Protesters displayed a large Trump puppet wearing a crown and sitting on a golden toilet, along with messages referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

They called for the defense of democracy, immigrant rights, and civil liberties, highlighting deep divisions in the country.

The parade addition to the Army anniversary celebration drew criticism for its estimated $45 million cost and potential street damage from heavy tanks. Army officials implemented protective measures including metal plates along the parade route.

A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 60 % of Americans considered the parade an inappropriate use of government funds, while 78 % expressed neither approval nor disapproval of the event overall.

On US President Donald Trump’s birthday, millions of Americans participated in coordinated “No Kings” protests across nearly 2,000 locations nationwide. The participants voiced opposition to President Donald Trump while advocating for democracy and immigrant rights protection.

The demonstrations were organized by the 50501 Movement, which takes its name from “50 states, 50 protests, one movement,” according to CBS News. 

Organizers stated the protests aimed to reject what they termed authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and militarization of democracy. 

Demonstrators gathered in major cities including Seattle, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Denver and Houston, among others, the Associated Press reports. 

Additionally, protesters assembled in cities ranging from small towns to major metropolitan areas, with Seattle alone drawing over 70,000 participants.

Given this scope, Republican governors in Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and Missouri mobilized National Guard forces to assist law enforcement agencies in managing the demonstrations.

Lawmaker assassination prompts protest cancellation in Minnesota

Minnesota officials canceled all scheduled “No Kings” protests after state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, while state Senator John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in politically motivated overnight shootings targeting Democratic lawmakers. Police found “No Kings” fliers and a list of potential targets in the suspect’s vehicle.

Texas state legislators received credible threats ahead of the planned Austin capitol protest, leading to one arrest by the state’s Department of Public Safety.

Trump organizes military parade on his birthday

The demonstrations coincided with Trump’s attendance at a military parade in Washington marking the Army’s 250th anniversary, which also falls on the president’s birthday. The parade involved hundreds of military vehicles, aircraft and thousands of soldiers, with costs estimated at $45 million.

The celebration, however, drew far fewer spectators than the predicted 200,000, with many viewing areas remaining empty.

About 200 protesters assembled at Logan Circle in northwest Washington, chanting “Trump must go now” and displaying a large puppet depicting Trump wearing a crown and sitting on a golden toilet, according to the AP. 

The No Kings Coalition stated after Saturday’s events:

“Today, across red states and blue, rural towns and major cities, Americans stood in peaceful unity and made it clear: we don’t do kings.”

Previous anti-Trump Hands off protests 

In April 2025, tens of thousands of people across all 50 US states and in major cities throughout Europe staged “Hands Off!” protests against President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk, voicing opposition to sweeping government overhauls, mass federal layoffs, and aggressive cuts to social programs led by the newly created Department of Government Efficiency headed by Musk.

The largely peaceful demonstrations demanded an end to what they called a “billionaire power grab,” condemned attacks on immigrants and marginalized communities, and criticized the administration’s moves to downsize government and restrict rights.

Ukrainian officials report that Russia is expanding its presence and influence across Africa through educational programs and youth initiatives designed to cultivate political leaders and “cultural elite” favorable to Moscow.

According to Andrii Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Russia maintains government-funded university quotas specifically for African students. The programs focus on agriculture, engineering, education, and medicine, with students receiving state-sponsored education in Russian institutions.

“African education and sports are increasingly being used by the aggressor state as instruments of hybrid influence aimed at forming a new generation of political and managerial elites loyal to the Kremlin,” Yusov stated.

The intelligence assessment indicates that Russia plans to establish Russian language courses at major African universities alongside professional development programs for local educators. The long-term objective involves synchronizing African educational curricula with Russian Federation standards.

This educational strategy represents part of what Ukrainian officials describe as an effort to embed Russian perspectives within African education systems permanently. 

Pushkin’s days in Africa

Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation also reported that Russia utilized celebrations of poet Alexander Pushkin’s birthday to advance its influence campaign. Events marking the occasion occurred in several African capitals on 11 June, organized by Rossotrudnichestvo, Russia’s state agency for international cooperation.

According to the Center, these cultural events served dual purposes. While featuring poetry recitations and Russian language instruction, the gatherings also included anti-Western messaging and justifications for Russian foreign policy decisions.

“‘Pushkin days’ are just a façade that Russia uses to cover its true intentions of increasing its influence in Africa. By holding such events, Russia presents itself as a supposedly powerful country with a great culture, while simultaneously fostering a negative perception of the ‘collective West,'” the Center writes.

The Ukraine Conflict Observatory, a Yale University-led initiative that has documented Russian war crimes including the deportation of Ukrainian children, is preparing to close within weeks after the Trump administration terminated its funding.

Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, told CNN the program is “running on fumes” with approximately two weeks of funding remaining from individual donations.

“As of July 1, we lay off all of our staff across Ukraine and other teams and our work tracking the kids officially ends. We are waiting for our Dunkirk moment, for someone to come rescue us so that we can go attempt to help rescue the kids,” Raymond said.

The observatory was launched in May 2022 with State Department backing to “capture, analyze, and make widely available evidence of Russia-perpetrated war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine,” according to sources familiar with the program.

Over three years, it has compiled a database containing information on more than 30,000 Ukrainian children allegedly abducted by Russia across 100 locations.

The initiative’s work contributed to six International Criminal Court indictments against Russia, including two cases related to child abductions, Raymond stated. The program’s closure will create what sources describe as a significant intelligence gap, as no other organization has tracked Ukrainian child abductions with comparable scope and detail.

Funding was initially cut as part of Department of Government Efficiency reductions, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio temporarily reinstated support to facilitate data transfer to Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency. The transfer of evidence documenting alleged war crimes – including attacks on energy infrastructure, filtration sites, and civilian targets – is expected to occur within days.

Meanwhile, congressional representatives have mounted efforts to restore permanent funding through bipartisan letters to Rubio. A group led by Democratic Representative Lloyd Doggett wrote that “research must continue unabated to maintain the rigorous process of identifying every Ukrainian child abducted by Russia.” The lawmakers stated the observatory “has verified that at least 19,500 children have been forcibly deported from occupied areas of Ukraine, funneled into reeducation camps or adopted by Russian families, and their identities erased.”

The congressional letter emphasized that “the Conflict Observatory’s work cannot be replaced by Europol or other organizations, none of whom have access to specific resources that have made the Observatory’s work so successful.”

A separate congressional correspondence from Democratic Representative Greg Landsman and colleagues questioned whether $8 million in previously allocated funding could still be disbursed to the program. The letter warned that “withholding these funds could appear to be a betrayal of the thousands of innocent children from Ukraine.”

The lawmakers noted that the actual number of affected children likely exceeds documented cases, citing a Russian official’s July 2023 statement that Russia had relocated 700,000 children from Ukrainian conflict zones. Additional children remain unidentified due to the Kremlin changing their names, place of birth, and date of birth.

During Istanbul talks on 2 June, Ukraine’s Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak said the Ukrainian team provided Russia with a list of deported children requiring repatriation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated the list contained nearly 400 names. Russian representatives disputed claims of having taken 20,000 children, maintaining the number involved only “hundreds.”

Germany will not supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed during a visit to Kyiv on 12 June.

Speaking at a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Pistorius gave a direct response when asked about potential missile deliveries amid intensifying Russian attacks on Ukraine.

“You asked me whether we are considering this, I answer you — no,” Pistorius stated.

Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz categorically opposed providing the cruise missiles to Ukraine, arguing that such transfers risked drawing Germany directly into the Russian-Ukrainian war. In late 2024, Scholz said that “a German missile that can reach Moscow” and this would carry unacceptable risks.

Merz, by contrast, supported supplying these weapons systems to Ukraine even before assuming the chancellorship. He defended his position claiming that this step would significantly enhance Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian military targets and supply lines up to 500 km (310 miles) away, helping it defend against Russia’s unlawful aggression. 

Germany pledges €9 billion in military aid to Ukraine

Pistorius also stated that Germany plans to allocate €9 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2025, with portions of this funding designated for long-range weapons production.

“Supporting Ukraine is the task of all European peoples. We must take responsibility and recognize that this is not only Ukraine’s defense. Ukraine is fighting this war to ensure peace in Europe, so helping is our common task,” Pistorius stated.

Pistorius emphasized the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone technology and the technological expertise Ukraine has developed during its defense against Russian aggression.

“We all must learn from this. And I think that in the industrial sector we must also develop. Therefore, it’s about joint ventures that we want to build. We want more of these joint ventures both in Germany and in Ukraine in order to produce weapons faster for the common good and thus strengthen deterrence potential and defense potential,” he explained.

Zelenskyy and Pistorius discussed localizing air defense system production in Ukraine and agreed on additional investments in defense manufacturing. The leaders committed to expanding joint weapons production in both countries.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine documented nearly 50% more civilian casualties in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

In May alone, at least 183 civilians were killed and 836 injured across Ukraine, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

The data shows that attacks using long-range missiles and loitering munitions caused the most widespread harm across the country. Near frontline areas, short-range drones equipped with high-resolution cameras for precision targeting produced the highest civilian casualty rates. 

“This year has been devastating for civilians across Ukraine, with significantly more deaths and injuries than during the same period in 2024,” stated Danielle Bell, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. 

Bell described the combination of intensified long-range attacks and frequent short-range drone strikes along the frontline as “a deadly combination for civilians.”

The attacks affected cities across the country, with Kharkiv experiencing particular impact, along with Kyiv, Odesa and other cities located far from active frontlines.

Bell characterized the sustained nature of the attacks as particularly harmful to civilian populations.

“Hours-long nightly attacks with hundreds of weapons sow fear among families who spend their nights in bomb shelters, listening to the sounds of drones flying overhead,” she said. “At this pace and scale, further loss of civilian life is not just possible—it is inevitable.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly condemned countries that sent congratulatory messages to Russia on its national holiday, specifically targeting recent greetings from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Speaking before a “Weimar+” format ministerial meeting in Rome, Sybiha expressed his displeasure at what he described as inappropriate diplomatic gestures toward an aggressor nation.

“As a minister of a country at war, it was particularly unpleasant for me to read public congratulations from some countries addressed to the Russian aggressor on their national holiday this morning. There can be no reward for aggression. There can be no reward for an aggressor country,” Sybiha said, according to reports from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sybiha argued that his position stems from direct exposure to the war’s realities. The minister referenced a recent visit to Kherson with his Lithuanian counterpart, noting the city’s proximity to active fighting at just 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the front line.

This short distance to active hostilities makes Kherson vulnerable to heavy and continuous shelling and drone attacks by Russian forces. Sybiha described observing children attending classes in underground schools as evidence of what he termed “Russian terror.”

The minister’s comments came in response to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Russia Day message, in which Rubio stated that the United States remains committed to supporting the Russian people who “continue to build their aspiration for a better future.”

Rubio also emphasized a desire for “constructive engagement with the Russian Federation to bring about a durable peace between Russia and Ukraine. It is our hope that peace will foster more mutually beneficial relations between our countries.”

His greeting came as the Russian troop losses in Ukraine have surpassed one million and the recent polls indicated that approximately 75% of Russians still support the ongoing invasion. 

Sybiha also claimed that Russia presented what he called “old and unrealistic ultimatums” during peace talks in Istanbul. Russia demands Ukraine withdraws from four occupied regions, adopts a neutral status, abandon aspirations to join NATO, and recognize Russian as an official languag.

Meanwhile, Ukraine rejects any veto over its NATO aspirations and insists on strong Western security guarantees. The country also accepted a US ceasefire proposal 100 days ago, which Russia continues to reject. Russian President Vladimir Putin also avoided meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul even though this was proposed to him. 

The foreign minister stated Ukraine’s goal of ending the war within the current year, emphasizing the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia to achieve a ceasefire that could lead to broader negotiations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in Russia’s chargé d’affaires for questioning following a suspected airspace violation on 10 June, marking the second such incident within a month.

Finnish authorities suspect a Russian military aircraft breached the country’s airspace on 10 June near the coastal city of Porvoo. The Border Guard has launched an investigation into the incident, according to Yle.

The diplomatic meeting is scheduled for 11 June, though ministry officials have not disclosed specific details about the proceedings.

This latest violation follows a similar incident that occurred at the end of May. Following that previous breach, Finland’s foreign ministry summoned Russian Ambassador to Finland Pavel Kuznetsov and formally delivered a diplomatic note addressing the matter.

Russia builds up forces along Finnish border

The airspace incidents come amid broader concerns about Russian military activities along Finland’s border. In May, Major General Sami Nurmi, head of the strategic department of Finland’s Defense Forces, indicated that the country anticipates further Russian military buildup along their shared border after the conclusion of the war in Ukraine.

Earlier, Western media outlets have published satellite imagery showing Russia’s expansion of military installations near the Finnish border. The images revealed new military housing facilities and enlarged storage areas for military equipment.

Finnish intelligence services assessed that Russia could strengthen its military presence along the Finnish border to what they describe as a “threatening level” within the next five years.

NATO intelligence sources also told a Finnish newspaper that Russia is actively maintaining and updating plans for a potential multi-front offensive against NATO’s eastern flank, targeting Finland, Norway, and the Baltic states, with intelligence indicating it could amass up to 600,000 troops along these borders despite its main forces being engaged in Ukraine. 

Germany’s intelligence chief disclosed that Russia intends to challenge NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense pact, which states that an armed attack against one NATO member in Europe or North America is considered an attack against all members. 

“We are absolutely certain and have intelligence evidence confirming that Ukraine is just one stage on its path westward,” Kahl stated.

“They don’t need to send tanks for that,” Kahl added. “They just have to send ‘little green men’ to Estonia to defend the allegedly oppressed Russian minority.”

However, Kahl clarified that German intelligence does not anticipate conventional military operations involving large armored formations moving from east to west. This suggests Russia may pursue alternative methods, such as cyberattacks or energy coercion, to challenge NATO’s resolve.

Sinan Selen, deputy head of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), reported escalating Russian cyber operations and sabotage activities targeting Western nations. According to Selen, Russian aggression in Ukraine has intensified pressure on German cyber defense and counterintelligence capabilities.

According to Kahl, Russia’s objectives include reversing NATO’s eastward expansion to 1990s boundaries, removing American military presence from Europe, and expanding Russian influence regardless of cost. The intelligence chief emphasized the need to counter these efforts immediately. Despite tensions, Kahl noted that German-American intelligence cooperation remains stable. 

Previous warnings of NATO-Russia conflict 

Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that Russia could potentially attack NATO countries by 2029 or 2030 due to its rapid military industrialization and expansion of armed forces, which are expected to reach 1.5 million troops by 2026.

He highlighted that Russia currently produces more weapons and ammunition in a few months than all EU countries combined produce in a year, signaling a significant buildup. 

NATO intelligence sources told a Finnish newspaper that Russia is actively maintaining and updating plans for a potential multi-front offensive against NATO’s eastern flank, targeting Finland, Norway, and the Baltic states, with intelligence indicating it could amass up to 600,000 troops along these borders despite its main forces being engaged in Ukraine. 

NATO officials and intelligence sources, including Sweden’s Armed Forces Commander and US Vice Admiral Douglas Perry, assess a Russian attack as inevitable rather than hypothetical, emphasizing Russia’s willingness to accept massive casualties and use missile strikes on civilian targets, mirroring tactics used in Ukraine.

An American English teacher Stephen Hubbard, captured by Russian forces in 2022, has been located in Russia’s Mordovia penal colony after months without family contact, with former fellow prisoners reporting he endured systematic abuse because of his nationality. 

Stephen James Hubbard, now 73 and a native of Michigan, is being held in the IK-12 penal colony in Mordovia, a southwestern Russian Oblast known for its extensive prison system, according to the New York Times.

He is the only American remaining in Russia who has been designated by the US State Department as “wrongfully detained,” indicating that the United States considers the charges against him to be fabricated.

Russian authorities captured Hubbard in April 2022 from the eastern Ukrainian city of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast, where he had been living since 2012 after meeting a Ukrainian woman named Inna. He had retired to Cyprus that year and moved to Ukraine to be with her, earning income by teaching English online to Japanese students. When the relationship ended Stephen continued living in Ukraine.

According to Russian court documents reviewed by the Times, authorities accused Hubbard of joining Ukraine’s territorial defense forces the day after Russia’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022. The documents claim he signed up at a recruitment center in a kindergarten, seeking to earn at least $1,000 monthly, and was given the call signs “Samurai” and “Ninja” while manning a checkpoint on a bridge.

However, text messages between Hubbard and his son Hisashi Tanaka contradict this narrative. The communications show no evidence of military involvement. Instead, Hubbard sent daily updates describing civilian life during the invasion, including taking shelter in a church and continuing to teach English lessons when possible.

His final message, sent through a friend’s phone after Russians seized Izium, stated: “I am well, waiting for the war to end.”

Earlier, his sister Patricia Fox told Reuters that Hubbard was “so non-military” and “more of a pacifist.” She said he “never had a gun, owned a gun, done any of that” and was unlikely to take up arms at his age. Fox also noted that her brother held pro-Russian views, making the mercenary accusations even more implausible.

Russian authorities convicted Hubbard of being a mercenary in October and sentenced him to nearly seven years in prison. Following his conviction, his case file was removed from public view in an unusual move by the Russian judge.

Ukrainian prisoners of war who were held with Hubbard told the Times that he was repeatedly tortured because of his American citizenship. They reported that he was beaten, forced to stand all day, given inadequate food, and denied proper medical care. The released Ukrainian prisoners said they feared for his life.

Hubbard’s family lost contact with him after his conviction until recent weeks, when he was able to call one of his sons. His lawyer, Martin De Luca, said his team has spoken with Hubbard three times since April.

“He’s had a rough three and a half years,” De Luca said.

American officials have raised Hubbard’s imprisonment with Russian counterparts and demanded his immediate release. The United States Embassy in Moscow has not been granted access to Hubbard despite Russia’s obligations under international law.

In a 19 May phone call, President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a potential prisoner exchange involving nine people from each side. Given Hubbard’s wrongful detention designation, he would likely be a top candidate in any such exchange.

Germany releases Russian hitman, enabling largest post-Cold War prisoner exchange

Ukrainian drones struck the Tambov Gunpowder Factory in Russia’s Tambov Oblast during the night of 11 June, marking the latest attack on a facility that supplies explosives to Russian military forces.

Acting governor of Tambov oblast Yevgeny Pervyshov confirmed that authorities repelled what he described as a “massive drone attack” on the city of Kotovsk, 700 km (434 miles) away from the Ukrainian border. Pervyshov said law enforcement officers responded to the scene and that “the situation is under control.”

Russian Telegram channels Astra and Mash provided additional details about the incident. Local residents told Astra that the drones targeted the gunpowder factory, which subsequently caught fire. Mash reported that 15 explosions occurred during the attack.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, noted that the facility has been attacked “not for the first time” and indicated that the factory has paused operations following the strike.

The Tambov Gunpowder Factory produces ammunition and gunpowder for small arms, artillery, and rocket systems, as well as colloxilin used in explosives manufacturing. The enterprise manufactures over 200 product types, including pyroxylin gunpowders for small arms, hand grenades, grenade launcher ammunition, and artillery shells.

The factory operates as part of the Rostec state corporation and serves as one of Russia’s primary suppliers of explosive materials to its armed forces. Production at the facility increased substantially following the start of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine.

This attack continues a pattern of Ukrainian strikes on the facility. Previous drone attacks occurred in January 2024, July 2024, and November 2023, demonstrating the site’s recurring status as a military target.

Three people died and 60 others were wounded, including nine children, when Russian forces conducted a large-scale drone assault on Ukrainian territory during the night of 11 June.

Ukrainian air defense intercepts 49 out of 85 drones

Russian forces deployed 85 Iranian-designed Shahed type drones along with decoy drones and one missile in the overnight attack, according to the Air Force of Ukraine. Ukrainian defense forces successfully intercepted 49 of the aerial targets across multiple regions. The primary targets were Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Odesa oblasts.

Of the 49 neutralized targets, 40 were destroyed by fire weapons while nine were lost or jammed through electronic warfare measures. The attack resulted in confirmed hits at 14 locations, with debris from downed aircraft falling at two additional sites.

Russia kills three people in Kharkiv Oblast

Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv suffered the most severe impact from the attack. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that enemy forces struck with 17 Shahed-type drones in the midnight, targeting the Slobidskyi and Osnovianskyi districts and killing two civilians.

“There were direct hits on apartment buildings, private homes, playgrounds, enterprises, and public transport,” Terekhov stated, describing damage to burning apartments, destroyed roofs, and broken windows.

The attack also damaged trolleybuses, contact networks, and utility infrastructure. Terekhov emphasized that the targeted locations were “ordinary objects of peaceful life” that should not become military targets.

Kharkiv Regional Administration Head Oleh Syniehubov provided updated casualty figures, confirming that the death toll rose to three after a 65-year-old man died in intensive care from severe burns.

The regional official reported that 60 people were injured in Kharkiv city alone, with nine children aged 2 to 15 among the wounded.

Beyond the drone strikes, Russian forces also deployed various weapons systems against Kharkiv Oblast, including 13 guided aerial bombs, two Molniya-type drones, and two FPV drones.

Odesa Oblast under attack

Odesa Oblast came under assault during the same timeframe, according to the State Emergency Service. The attack caused damage to summer houses, outbuildings, passenger vehicles, and civilian watercraft, with fires breaking out at several locations.

Emergency responders quickly extinguished the blazes, and officials reported no casualties in the region.

Sumy Oblast sees agricultural damage

In Sumy Oblast, a Russian drone struck the Lebedyn community, igniting a fire in a non-residential building used to store agricultural equipment, the State Emergency Service reported. Firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze, and preliminary reports indicated no injuries occurred.

Utility and emergency services across all affected regions continued working to restore damaged infrastructure and assist victims, according to local officials.

When Vitalii’s skull was shattered near Avdiivka in August 2022 during military operations defending Ukraine, doctors gave no guarantees that he would survive and could not even predict how far his recovery path would go.

Today, Vitalii Shumey is speaking in full sentences, cracking jokes with his nurses, recovering memories, and preparing to walk again. Just a year ago he was not able to eat and respond to his surroundings at all.

For nearly three years, his father Serhii Fedorovych has refused to leave his son’s bedside, believing in his recovery and supporting his progress like no one else. His  unwavering smile has become a beacon of hope at the rehabilitation center Modrychi in Lviv Oblast, where the workers called him a hero for his determination and fatherly love. 

“This is my child,” Serhii said to Suspilne News. “While my hands and legs work, I won’t leave him. Never. Because this is my child. He defended our country so we could live peacefully. This is my duty.”

The father plays harmonica for his son, jokes with him, reads him, and maintains the constant conversation that helped bring Vitalii back from the brink of nothingness.

“Hope, hope. Cling to every goal, to every straw. Cling and hope that everything will be fine. Don’t give up. Because if we, parents, give up, it will be bad for our children,” Serhii believes.

Defender of Ukraine

Vitalii Shumey, standing over two meters tall, began his military service in 2014, when Russia covertly supported separatists in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and illegally annexed Crimea. 

As commander of a long-range anti-aircraft missile complex, he defended Ukraine across multiple fronts – from Kyiv and Chernihiv in the early days of the full-scale invasion to the brutal fighting in Donbas,  earning three concussions before his final, nearly fatal encounter with war.

“Since 2014, he constantly was in ‘hot’ spots on Donbas,” his father explains with evident pride. “When the full-scale war began, he commanded a unit near Kyiv. He eliminated a lot of the enemy there. And he fought near Chernihiv. Then they transferred him to Donbas and he was there again – it was a nightmare there.”

“I’m proud of him. I never tried to talk him out of this,” he adds.

A deputy brigade commander once remarked, “If I had five such sergeants in the battalion, I wouldn’t need anything else.” Vitalii’s courage and leadership on the battlefield earned him such respect that in February 2025, a petition was created to award him the title of Hero of Ukraine.

Darkest hour: life-changing war injury 

In August 2022, near Avdiivka of Donetsk Oblast, Vitalii’s life changed forever. A mine-blast caused severe trauma and a skull fractured on both sides. The prognosis was grim – doctors gave no chance for survival.

“The scariest was when he got injured, how his head was broken, how bad he felt,” Serhii recalls, his voice heavy with emotion. “When they transferred him to Chernihiv, he was hopeless. But I held on. I knew that everything should be good.”

Vitalii couldn’t move, speak, eat, or respond to his surroundings. He underwent three operations on his head in different hospitals across Ukraine – Dnipro, Kyiv, and Chernihiv. Doctors removed sections of his skull to allow his injured brain room to heal, placing him on tube feeding while his father watched, waiting for any sign of awareness.

“He didn’t even blink his eyes, he looked down and that’s it,” recalls volunteer Iryna Tymofieieva in 2023, who witnessed those darkest days. “In Kyiv, he was on tube feeding, and then our doctors stabilized him.”

For almost two years, Vitalii remained paralyzed and bedridden, his powerful frame reduced to stillness, his voice silenced. In those long months, his father was absent from his son’s side for only two days – when he himself was hospitalized with respiratory illness.

Father’s love works miracles

Five months after the injury, while in Chernihiv, came the first miraculous sign. Serhii had developed a routine of reading letters from well-wishers and books about local history to his seemingly unresponsive son, talking to him constantly, believing somehow that love could reach through the darkness.

“I realized that he hears, that he understands that they are reading to him,” Iryna remembers the breakthrough moment. “At some point he was touched and tears came from Vitalik. From that moment, he began to blink his eyes, then his eyes began to look left and right.”

These tears became the foundation of a new language between father and son. Serhii learned to read every minimal movement, every expression.

“By his eyes I can see when he wants water. When he needs to be changed, he starts making some movements – that’s enough. I already hear what needs to be done.”

Without medical training, the father learned to provide round-the-clock care, performing procedures himself and supporting medical professionals.

He feeds Vitalii, massages his limbs, reads to him, plays harmonica, and maintains constant conversation. All while also worrying about his older son Roman, who continues to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“My older son also serves in the Ukrainian military, defending Ukraine. Sometimes he doesn’t call for two or three days, though usually he calls constantly: ‘Dad, Dad, everything is fine with me.’ But I can hear from his voice whether it’s fine or not,” he shares.

Sometimes Roman manages to find time off his military duty and visits the rehabilitation center to see his brother.

Serhii beams as he watches his two sons finally talk again – something they had waited for so desperately long. Vitalii peppers Roman with questions about family, asks eagerly about his nephew, remembers old friends, and his humor flows naturally. These conversations that once seemed impossible now fill the room with warmth and hope.

A remarkable breakthrough: first words after serious injury

In March 2023, Vitalii and his father traveled to Barcelona, Spain, for specialized treatment. The Ukrainian football club Shakhtar stepped in to cover expenses for the operation and rehabilitation. There, surgeons installed plates to protect Vitalii’s brain and removed remaining blood clots.

For seven months, father and son lived together in a foreign country, Serhii learning medical procedures, providing round-the-clock care, and never losing faith.

The defining moment of their time in Spain came unexpectedly. Serhii bent down to his son’s face and asked, “Do you know who I am?”

After a pause, Vitalii responded: “Papa.” [father]

“I got goosebumps,” Serhii remembers. “Then I asked – what should I give you: water or juice? He said – juice. I quickly poured it for him.”

These first words gave way to more communication, but progress faced a serious setback when Vitalii suffered an epileptic seizure in late summer 2023. His condition regressed to what it had been immediately after surgery, devastating his father but not diminishing his determination.

“I will never get on my knees. Never. Not in front of the Russians who came to us,” says Serhii. “I can only kneel in church and in the garden near the flower beds. I will crawl, but I will get him on his feet. This is my dream!”

Progress that inspires and gives hope 

In November 2023, father and son returned to Ukraine, continuing rehabilitation at the specialized Modrychi center in western Lviv Oblast. There, Vitalii began an intensive program – more than five hours daily of various therapies with physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech specialists.

“At this stage, we spend a lot of time in a vertical position,” explains his physical therapist Mykola Nadych. “We stretch Vitalii, keep his joints in tone, and provoke him to do something: say something, show something.”

Serhii remained constantly at his side, living at the center, hanging photos of Vitalii before his injury and military chevrons from Spanish soldiers above the bed as reminders of how far they had come.

By early 2025, Vitalii’s progress accelerated dramatically. He began speaking not just in short phrases but in complete sentences. His cognitive abilities improved significantly – he could identify his location in Lviv Oblast and remembered his home address. He began commenting on television programs and politics. His memory includes much of his pre-injury life, with gaps only around the time of injury and his coma in Kyiv and Chernihiv.

“He started talking and controlling his head more, showing various emotions, such as, laughter, crying, and sadness. It’s the achievement of the occupational therapist and the speech therapist, we work as a team. The father also communicates a lot, tells stories – this makes a significant contribution to the result,” says physical therapist Mykola Nadych.

His physical progress is equally remarkable. Vitalii strengthened his shoulder girdle muscles and cervical spine, learning to hold his head independently. He tenses and makes movements with his arms and legs, learns to hold a spoon and eat independently.

One of the most emotionally significant moments came when Vitalii’s recovering memory led him to ask about his absent mother.

“About two weeks ago we were having lunch and he said to me: ‘Dad, can I ask a question?'” Serhii recounts. “I said: ‘Yes.’ And he asked: ‘Tell me, has Mom probably died, since Mom doesn’t call, doesn’t visit, I haven’t heard Mom’s voice for a long time.'”

Having hidden this painful truth throughout his son’s recovery, Serhii finally confirmed that Vitalii’s mother had indeed passed away. Though the news brought tears, Serhii comforts his son by telling him, “Mom is in heaven, Mom sees us, prays for us, and wants everything to be good for us.” He then turns to journalists saying “Mom is not here so I must be with him.”

Sadly, it’s been discovered that Vitalii has practically gone blind – his vision will be studied further to understand if there’s a chance for recovery. Ahead also lies leg surgery to remove contractures from his feet, which will help him sit better in a wheelchair, verticalize, and eventually try to take steps and learn to walk again.

But his transformation from an unresponsive patient given no chance of survival to an engaged, communicative person with improving physical abilities represents an extraordinary testament to medical care, rehabilitation, and above all, unwavering familial support.

This story of recovery inspired others at the rehabilitation center and outside its borders. Recently, American and French filmmakers visited Modrychi to document Vitalii’s journey for a film about Ukrainians who refused to surrender.

For Serhii, whose life has been entirely dedicated to his son’s recovery for nearly three years, the ultimate goal remains clear:

“I think a little more and we will get up. I assure you, we will achieve our goal. And we will go home healthy.”

A young couple planning to marry died in their home when a Russian missile struck their apartment building in Lutsk, burying them under the rubble.

Russian forces deployed six missiles and 15 Shahed drones against the city of Lutsk in western Ukraine. The strikes resulted in 30 people sustaining injuries, while the targeted eight-story residential building experienced partial destruction.

Mykola and Ivanna lived on the eighth floor but were found dead in the basement after the structure collapsed suffering direct impact from the strike. 

“Their car is parked next to the building, but they are not responding. We hoped for a miracle… But unfortunately, they were killed by Russian terrorists,” said Roman Kravchuk, a deputy on the Lutsk City Council.

Emergency responders found Mykola’s body on 6 June, while Ivanna’s remains were located at 4:15 a.m. the following day.

The large-scale attack on 6 June targeted also Kyiv, Ternopil, Lviv, and several other Ukrainian cities with a massive barrage of over 400 drones and more than 40 missiles, including cruise and ballistic types. The assault resulted in six people killed and around 80 injured alongside widespread destruction of residential buildings, infrastructure, and energy facilities.

Ukrainian refugees — a 46-year-old mother Lilia and her six-year-old daughter Anna  — were found dead with stab wounds after a deliberately set fire at their home in Haasrode, Belgium. The Leuven prosecutor’s office has opened a double murder investigation.

Emergency services responded to the blaze at approximately 9:30 a.m. on 6 June at a former rectory-turned shelter for refugees on Milsestraat. Firefighters brought the fire under control by 10:20 a.m. but discovered two bodies during their search of the first-floor apartment, according to VRT, Sudinfo, and La Libre.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while paramedics attempted to resuscitate the child before she died from her injuries. Both victims had sustained stab wounds across their bodies, the prosecutor’s office confirmed Friday evening.

Fire experts determined the blaze was intentionally set, leading prosecutors to launch a formal investigation into double homicide. An autopsy is scheduled for 10 June to determine the exact cause of death.

The family had lived in Belgium for three years after fleeing Ukraine due to the war. The woman’s husband remains fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, while their 16-year-old son was at school during the incident and is now receiving care from authorities.

The building where the family lived is owned by the local church but rented by the Oud-Heverlee municipality to house Ukrainian refugees.

Acting mayor Francis Van Biesbroeck expressed the community’s grief, stating that “the death of a young child affects an entire community, and certainly also the school.” He praised the rapid response of emergency services and support staff.

Father Mykola Paliukh of the Leuven parish described the incident as “a tragedy,” noting how the family had “fled Ukraine because of the war and hoping to build a better life” before being “struck by such a tragedy.”

The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and arson attack.

The foreign affairs committees of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania released a unified statement declaring comprehensive support for Ukraine’s integration into NATO and the European Union, while reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine’s victory against Russian aggression.

The committees stated that Ukraine’s victory over Russian aggression and its NATO membership “would consolidate a just and lasting peace not only in Ukraine but also in all of Europe and help to preserve the rules-based international order globally.” They argued that NATO membership would provide “a more effective and enduring framework for safeguarding Euro-Atlantic security.”

The statement emerged from a meeting held in Birstonas, Lithuania on 6 June, according to Žygimantas Paviljonis, head of the Lithuanian parliament’s foreign affairs committee. The three Baltic nations outlined five specific commitments regarding Ukraine’s future security and political alignment.

Five Key Commitments:

• Support Ukraine until its full victory, including liberation of all temporarily occupied territories, accountability for war crimes, and full implementation of international justice
• Support Ukraine’s EU membership with the goal of concluding accession negotiations and welcoming Ukraine as a full member by 1 January 2030
• Support Ukraine’s path toward NATO membership and call on the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague to take concrete political steps for Ukraine’s accession
• Welcome growing defense cooperation between Ukraine and partners and encourage Ukraine’s invitation to join the Joint Expeditionary Force as “a meaningful step towards deeper regional security integration”
• Continue diplomatic efforts to isolate Russia and its supporters, expand sanctions regimes, and ensure full legal and political accountability for crimes against Ukraine

The Baltic committees urged other national parliaments, international assemblies, and governments to endorse their position and take corresponding actions supporting Ukraine’s integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Earlier media reports citing Finnish intelligence sources revealed that Russia was actively maintaining and updating plans for a potential multi-front offensive against NATO’s eastern flank, including Finland, Norway, and the Baltic states.

Intelligence sources warned that a Russian attack is considered inevitable rather than a possibility, with Russia willing to accept massive casualties and likely to use missile strikes on civilian targets, mirroring tactics seen in Ukraine.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that without “eliminating the root causes of the conflict” Moscow will not permit Ukrainian forces to use any potential pause in fighting for “rest and regrouping.”

“It is necessary to exclude any possibility for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to take advantage of a pause for respite and regrouping of forces,” Ryabkov stated in an interview with Russian state-funded TASS.

The Russian official said this position has been consistent since Putin outlined it to Foreign Ministry leadership nearly a year ago. Ryabkov argued that Washington is well aware of Moscow’s stance and that sanctions threats will not alter Russia’s position.

He criticized what he termed “hotheads who have lost the remnants of common sense in the US Senate” for not acknowledging this reality.

Despite expressing openness to negotiations, Ryabkov set conditions for talks.

“We are open to honest negotiations based on consideration of Russian interests and mutual respect, but we are not deluding ourselves,” he said, adding that Russia will continue efforts to achieve what it calls the goals of its “special military operation.”

Ryabkov said Russia expressed gratitude for US support in resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which Moscow claims were interrupted by Ukraine in 2022. 

The Institute for the Study of War warned earlier that peace terms modeled on 2022 proposals would amount to Ukraine’s capitulation, as Russia seeks to weaken Ukraine militarily and diplomatically to eventually destroy its statehood, seize resources, and use its population for further aggression.

Ryabkov also indicated that Russia views the return of Donald Trump to the White House as grounds for cautious optimism regarding potential normalization of US-Russia relations. He confirmed that the two presidents have held four telephone conversations since Trump’s inauguration.

This statement follows earlier comments by Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, who said that Russia seeks the “complete destruction” of Ukraine, signaling a lack of genuine interest in peace negotiations despite recent talks in Istanbul.

Militarily, Russia is expanding its capabilities, stockpiling over 13,000 missiles and increasing drone production, preparing for a prolonged war.