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

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

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

Key findings from KIIS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of preserving transatlantic unity.

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

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

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) caught a Russian agent red-handed as he was filming a military airfield in preparation for a Russian strike, the agency reported on June 15.

According to the SBU, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) recruited the unemployed 24-year-old via the Telegram messaging app to collect coordinates for air attacks on airfields and logistic depots.

The FSB had allegedly instructed him to find military facilities and carry out reconnaissance on the ground in exchange for “easy money.”

The man was detained outside an airfield in Rivne Oblast while filming its outer perimeter with a hidden camera in his car. The SBU seized a phone and the camera on the scene, while other evidence was taken from the agent’s apartment.

If found guilty, he faces life imprisonment for high treason.

The SBU regularly announces it has foiled Russian agents and terrorist plots against military and civilian targets. The FSB usually targets unemployed people, those with criminal records, or addicts, according to the SBU's data.

In April, the SBU detained an instructor at a training center in Lviv Oblast who was planning to assassinate the base's commanders. That same month, the SBU detained nine FSB agents, including five minors, for plotting terrorist attacks in central and eastern Ukraine.

More than a fifth of FSB recruits in Ukraine are minors.

Power cut off in Russia’s Kaliningrad in sabotage operation, Ukrainian military intelligence says

In the early hours of June 14, Ukrainian agents drained the coolant from the substation’s power transformer before setting the facility on fire.

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) ignited an electrical substation during a sabotage operation in the Russian city of Kaliningrad, causing $5 million in damage and cutting electricity to a military production site, a source in HUR told the Kyiv Independent.

In the early hours of June 14, Ukrainian agents drained the coolant from the substation’s power transformer before setting the facility on fire. The inferno inflicted major damage on the facility and caused a power cut, impacting nearby Russian military sites.

"We once again remind you that Russia no longer has a rear either in the east, in the west, or anywhere else on the planet. Everything Russian involved in the war against Ukraine will burn, sink, and be destroyed regardless of its level of protection or location," the source said.

Ukraine continues to carry out numerous secretive attacks within Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, targeting military sites, like airfields, as well as key infrastructure like railways and oil refineries.

The attacks involve HUR, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) as well as partisan and sabotage groups.

HUR was behind explosions near Desantnaya Bay in Russia's far eastern Vladivostok on May 30, which reportedly damaged military personnel and equipment. The operations took place approximately 6,800 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, making it Ukraine's furthest incursion into Russian territory, if confirmed.

On June 1, the SBU launched Operation Spiderweb, a game-changing drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes.

Ukrainian drones destroy Russian air defense systems in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military intelligence says

Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) destroyed three Russian air defense systems using drones in the occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast on June 14, HUR says.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

Russia made more territorial gains in Ukraine in May 2025 than in nearly any month since the end of 2022, but the Kremlin’s aim is not only battlefield progress but also to shape perceptions in Western capitals, making a Russian victory appear inevitable and discouraging future support for Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Kremlin intensifies multi-front assaults to create momentum

WSJ reports that the Russian offensive has expanded across several fronts, with the Kremlin probing for weaknesses while forcing Ukraine to defend along the entire 1,000 km front line. Moscow seeks to exploit its manpower advantage and the onset of summer foliage, which hampers Ukrainian drone visibility.

George Barros, an analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, told WSJ:

“The center of gravity for this war is not terrain—the place where it’s being decisively waged is the perception space in Western capitals.” He added, referring to the Russian reasoning behind the strategy: “If the map is moving, they’re able to say, ‘We’re making progress. Ukraine is screwed. How many more billions are you going to spend?’”

Putin counting on US fatigue to win what his army cannot, WP op-ed argues

Kostyantynivka becomes key focus in eastern Ukraine

In Donetsk Oblast, Russia has shifted troops toward Kostiantynivka from Pokrovsk, surrounding the city on three sides. The city, a vital logistics hub, is under increased attack. A senior Ukrainian lieutenant fighting in the area told WSJ: “The city is rapidly transforming into a front line.” He also warned of frequent, precise Russian drone strikes enabled by fiber-optic drones capable of traveling up to 40 km — double their range a year ago.

Russian airstrikes intensify on Ukrainian second defensive line northeast of Pokrovsk

Northern front sees renewed Russian push toward Sumy

In Ukraine’s north, Russian troops have entered Sumy Oblast after amassing over 50,000 soldiers. According to WSJ, one Ukrainian sergeant in the region said the Russians outnumber local troops roughly two-to-one. Russian forces appear to be attempting to seize Yunakivka and ultimately reach the regional capital of Sumy, located less than 30 km from the border.

Even where Russian forces have not advanced, assaults continue to fix Ukrainian forces in place. A Ukrainian captain in the Pokrovsk area told WSJ that Russian attacks happen at all hours:

“They want to reach the border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast—it’s important to them symbolically.”

Russia captures Sumy’s Kostiantynivka village as Russians try to widen frontline in region

Zaporizhzhia buildup raises concerns of wider offensive

Ukrainian officials and sources familiar with the matter told WSJ that Russia is also increasing its troop presence in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukrainian special forces have been sent there to reinforce defenses.

A senior lieutenant near Kostiantynivka summarized the toll of the ongoing campaign:

“We anticipate worsening conditions across all directions this summer. Personnel are exhausted. There are not enough rotations. Everyone is operating at the edge of their limits.”

They call you — and suddenly, you’re an “agent,” without even realizing it. Ukrainian law enforcement is reporting a surge in cases where the Russians target pensioners by phone, impersonating officers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) or the National Police. Victims are then blackmailed into carrying out sabotage missions for Russia, according to the National Police.

Russia’s strategy is clear: recruit people who are unaware they have become pawns in a campaign of international sabotage.

In Ukraine, elderly people are typically contacted via Viber. The goal: coerce them into following “orders” based on fake draft notices, fabricated criminal cases, or alleged links to Russia through purchases of medicines or dietary supplements.

One common scheme involves telling a pensioner that a drug they bought is banned because it was “produced in Russia.” That, the scammers claim, amounts to “collaboration with the enemy.” What follows is extortion — and a so-called “way out”: either wire money or complete a “small task.”

Pensioners in Kyiv have already contacted police after being defrauded or drawn into dangerous schemes. Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasizes that legitimate security agencies never issue illegal or covert orders to citizens.

According to the SBU, Russian operatives are also attempting to recruit minors. These efforts often begin with photographing sensitive sites or tagging graffiti, and escalate to acts of sabotage against railway and energy infrastructure.

Moreover, in Europe, the Russians recruit Ukrainian agents to cause a double wave: shock in the West and propaganda within Russia. 

A Russian Ural military truck was destroyed, allegedly killing "several occupiers" near occupied Melitopol overnight on June 12, the pro-Ukrainian Atesh partisan group claimed.

"(O)ur fighters set fire to an army Ural truck, and several occupiers on duty now remain in the fields of Zaporizhzhia forever," the Atesh group said in a post to Telegram.

On June 10, the Atesh partisan group claimed they destroyed a vehicle used by drone operators in the Russian 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade in occupied Melitopol.

The group says the June 12 attack will mark the start of Russia's annual national holiday.

"A gift for Russia Day: Atesh agents carried out sabotage in the Melitopol region... Atesh agents conveyed 'congratulations' to the occupiers: one of our fighters set fire to an army Ural truck," the group said.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the group's claims.

The Atesh partisan group regularly conducts sabotage attacks in Russia and Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories.

America’s weak strongman

Over the past two months, financial investors have hit upon a new trading strategy, based on a simple rule: TACO — Trump Always Chickens Out. America’s president threatens to slap massive import tariffs on friends and foes alike, or to remove the Federal Reserve chair, only to back down when

The Kyiv IndependentTimothy Snyder

A neighborhood in Springfield, Oregon, on June 10 renamed a local street from "Kiev" to "Kyiv" — a move initiated by members of the Kyiv Independent's global community.

Photos shared with the Kyiv Independent show the newly installed blue-and-yellow street sign, reflecting both the correct Ukrainian transliteration and the national colors of Ukraine.

The change comes amid a broader effort by Ukraine and its allies worldwide to move away from Russian-derived place names and honor Ukraine's linguistic and political independence.

"We're very proud of our city (Springfield, OR, U.S.) for supporting our efforts to make this happen," one community member told the Kyiv Independent.

The spelling "Kiev," pronounced "kee-yev," is the Russian version of Ukraine's capital. "Kyiv" (pronounced "keev") is the correct Ukrainian form, based on the native pronunciation and Latin transliteration.

For decades, global usage favored Russian-based spellings, a legacy of the Soviet Union's dominance and the widespread misconception that Ukrainian cities and culture were merely extensions of Russia. Even after Ukraine declared independence in 1991, much of the international community continued using names like Kiev, Lvov, and Odessa — all Russified versions.

That began to change after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its war in eastern Ukraine. The full-scale invasion in 2022 accelerated the shift, prompting governments, media outlets, and advocacy groups to adopt Ukrainian transliterations such as Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has promoted the change through campaigns like #KyivNotKiev, arguing that the use of correct names respects Ukraine's sovereignty and resists Russian imperial narratives.

Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, have long emphasized historical ties to Kyiv in their justification for expansionist policies. Renaming streets and using correct spellings is one way communities abroad are pushing back.

Kyiv, not Kiev — How Ukrainians reclaimed their capital’s name

English speakers the world over long referred to Ukraine’s capital as Kiev, not realizing they were using the Russian name for the city.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Belokur

A car used by drone operators in the Russian 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade was destroyed by the Atesh partisan group in occupied Melitopol overnight on June 10, the group claimed.

The Atesh group says they destroyed a military vehicle which contained a "mobile electronic warfare system," claiming they temporarily "paralyzed" the work of the Russian unit.

"The resistance in southern Ukraine is alive and we are increasing the pressure every day," the Atesh group said in a post to Telegram.

Meanwhile, Russia conducted a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and Odesa. One was killed, and seven were injured in both cities.

In Odesa, a medical facility and maternity hospital were damaged in the Russian attack.

"An incendiary mixture was used, which engulfed the car in a matter of seconds and completely destroyed it," Atesh said.

The group claims they destroyed the car while it was left unguarded after studying the location and habits of the Russian crew.

"This vehicle was used for covert movement and tactical missions in the south of Ukraine. Now the enemy is left without critical transport," the Atesh group said.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the group's claims.

The Atesh partisan group regularly conducts sabotage attacks in Russia and Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories.

Ukraine begins new major prisoner exchange with Russia

Among those freed are defenders of Mariupol who had spent more than three years in captivity.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

A secret Russian intelligence document obtained by The New York Times shows the FSB’s growing alarm over Chinese espionage, despite Moscow’s repeated public claims of an unbreakable friendship with Beijing.

Although President Vladimir Putin has hailed a “limitless” partnership with Xi Jinping, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) refers to China as “the enemy” in an internal memo that outlines counterespionage priorities. The undated eight-page planning document was likely written in late 2023 or early 2024 and was authenticated by six Western intelligence agencies contacted by The New York Times.

The FSB accuses Chinese intelligence of attempting to recruit Russian scientists, officials, and businesspeople, collecting military secrets related to Russia’s war in Ukraine, and using corporate and academic fronts to gather information in sensitive regions, including the Arctic and Central Asia.

The intelligence standoff unfolds as Putin and Xi continue to tighten their alliance, having met over 40 times since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Though bound by economic needs, the two powers operate with deep mutual distrust, NYT says. Russia relies heavily on China for oil exports, electronics, and alternatives to Western companies. According to an FSB document, tensions persist within this strategic relationship.

Origins and validation of the document

The document was obtained by cybercrime group Ares Leaks, according to NYT. Although the group did not disclose how it accessed the file, six Western agencies deemed it credible. It is the most detailed known insight into the Russian counterintelligence view of China.

China provides 80% of critical electronics for Russian drones, intelligence agency says

Espionage targets and recruitment

The FSB claims Chinese agents are particularly focused on Russia’s military tactics in Ukraine, especially drone warfare, modernization methods, and countermeasures against Western weapons. Chinese defense-linked institutions reportedly flooded into Russia soon after the 2022 invasion, seeking firsthand data from the conflict.

The memo also mentions Beijing’s interest in Russia’s discontinued ekranoplan project and the recruitment of aviation scientists. Dissatisfied or financially pressured employees of aircraft research institutes were considered likely targets.

Digital surveillance and WeChat monitoring

The FSB directive includes the monitoring of Chinese messaging app WeChat and mandates hacking into phones of espionage suspects. Officers are instructed to accumulate data using internal software tools to identify threats and intercept leaks of strategic information.

Concern over territorial claims and historical revisionism

The FSB warns of Chinese academic efforts to find “ancient Chinese peoples” in Russia’s Far East and spread revanchist narratives. A 2023 Chinese map labeled areas of Russia with historical Chinese names. Officers are ordered to investigate such activities and restrict access for involved foreigners.

Russia, China declare joint front against US as Xi wants “end to external interference” in Moscow

Intelligence tension in the Arctic and Central Asia

The document also highlights Beijing’s growing interest in Russia’s Arctic development and the Northern Sea Route. FSB analysts believe Chinese spies use mining companies and academic research to access strategic data.

Managing risk without disrupting ties

Despite these concerns, the FSB is cautious not to trigger diplomatic fallout. The document advises against public statements labeling China a threat and requires high-level approval before any sensitive actions.

Two Russian agents were arrested by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on June 7 after allegedly planting a car bomb targeting a Dnipro prosecutor on June 6.

"As the investigation established, the enemy agents turned out to be two men whom the Russian Federation recruited through Telegram channels," the SBU said.

Russian intelligence regularly attempts to recruit Ukrainian civilians over social media to carry out terrorist attacks or gather information in exchange for money.

The two men allegedly planted an improvised explosive device (IED) under the car of a Dnipro prosecutor's office employee.

"As a result of this crime, the law enforcement officer received minor injuries, and his vehicle was completely destroyed. According to doctors, the prosecutor's life is currently not in danger," the SBU said.

The detainees were instructed by Russian intelligence services to monitor the prosecutor, his daily schedule, and transport routes prior to the attack.

The two agents were then instructed to plant a car bomb and take photos and videos of the aftermath of the explosion.

"Currently, both detainees are giving law enforcement officers incriminating evidence against their curator and subversive work in the interests of the Russian Federation," the SBU said.

The two suspects are being charged with committing a terrorist attack and could face up to 12 years in prison.

On June 5, the SBU said Russian intelligence operatives are impersonating the SBU in an expanded effort to recruit Ukrainian civilians for sabotage operations.

Ukrainian drone strikes Russian Tu-22 bomber: SBU releases new footage of Operation Spiderweb

The video shows the flight path of an FPV drone from the moment it takes off from the roof of a modular building to the moment before it strikes a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber at the Belaya air base in Siberia.

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

The water began rising quietly, like a whisper. On the morning of 6 June 2023, residents of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast watched small streams seep through their streets. This happened after Russian troops pulled the trigger and blew up the Kakhovka Plant’s dam to prevent a Ukrainian military advance across the Dnipro. What they unleashed that day terrified scientists. 

By evening, a 4-meter wall of water had swept away everything in its path. But as the floodwaters receded weeks later, they left behind something far more sinister than destroyed homes and drowned livestock reaching the Black Sea. 

“We know that garbage and heavy metals from the bottom of the Kakhovka reservoir didn’t go anywhere—they settled on the sea floor, and during storms they rise again to the upper layers of seawater,” warns Yulia Markhel, leader of the ecological movement Let’s do it Ukraine.

What the water carried from the reservoir’s depths would prove to be one of the most severe environmental disasters of the 21st century, a toxic legacy that had been accumulating in silence for over 60 years, the Ukrainian National Ecology Center reports. 

The sleeping giant awakens

When Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Dam exactly two years ago, they unleashed 18 cubic kilometers of water in just four days. But the water was merely the messenger. What it carried would transform the Black Sea ecosystem for generations.

Local resident Liudmyla Boretska watched the catastrophe unfold from her rooftop refuge.

“Everything was flooded—cemeteries, garbage dumps, cattle burial grounds. Everywhere there were mosquitoes, the smell of death, horrible screams of people and animals, she told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 

But beneath the visible horror, something hidden and far more dangerous was stirring.

The destruction exposed lake bed sediment containing more than 90,000 tons of dangerous heavy metals, a toxic cocktail that had been quietly accumulating on the reservoir floor since 1956.

For decades, industrial waste from mines and factories across the Dnipro basin had settled into the sediment like layers in an archaeological dig.

Each year brought new deposits: manganese, arsenic, lead, cadmium—the metallic signatures of Soviet-era industry.

The contamination spreads

Within days, the contaminated flood surge reached the Black Sea, impacting more than 50% of the northwestern Black Sea area. Satellite imagery revealed a massive brown plume spreading across azure waters, carrying decades of accumulated poison.

Viktor Komorin, who studied fish, mussels, and dead dolphins for toxic substances after the disaster, discovered the true scale of contamination.

“In mussels we found toxic substances exceeding the norm by thousands of times,” he reported.

The filter-feeding mollusks had become living repositories of decades of industrial waste.

What lurks beneath

A couple of days later, all this pollution began reaching the shores of Romania and Bulgaria. Freshwater from the Kakhovka Reservoir entered the Black Sea about 3–4 days after the dam burst and reached the coast of Odesa, reducing the normal salinity of the seawater from the usual 17–18‰ to just 4‰.

The contaminated sediments stretched across 620 square kilometers of exposed lake bed—an area larger than many European cities. In this toxic wasteland, previously absorbed heavy metals were absorbed by vegetation and animals and moved through the local food web.

Historical echoes from depths

As the waters receded, they revealed more than industrial poison. Kherson historian Oleksii Patalakh describes what emerged.

He says the area where the reservoir once stood was a true natural treasure—the green lungs of southern Ukraine. It was a system of rivers, lakes, and islands with incredibly diverse flora and fauna and vast fish stocks, including sturgeon, Suspilne reports. He explains that sturgeon disappeared from the Dnipro after the Kakhovka Reservoir was created.

“In addition, this territory is an archaeological landmark. It includes about five of the eight Zaporizhzhian Sich strongholds. There are fortresses from the time of the Late Scythians, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Ulus of Jochi, more commonly known as the Golden Horde,” he continues. 

There were many ports and fortresses on the islands, such as on Tavani Island, between Beryslav and Kakhovka. There were two satellite fortresses: Mustrit-Kermen, which was connected to Gazi-Kermen, and Mubarek-Kermen, which was connected to Islam-Kermen, present-day Kakhovka. 

He adds that shortly after the water receded in 2023, specialists in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast discovered the remains of a submerged Sich-era church, reconstructed in the early 19th century — the site of Nova Sich.

Patalakh emphasizes that the territory from Khortytsia and downriver lies Zaporizhzhia, the historic land of the Cossacks, Ukrainian national warriors-heroes. According to him, these are ancient Cossack territories, home to many winter settlements and numerous submerged Cossack cemeteries. On the one hand, the water could destroy all this. On the other hand, researchers now have the opportunity to study these objects of historical heritage.

The reckoning ahead

The scale of environmental destruction has prompted calls for new international legal frameworks. This disaster may become the first test case for prosecuting environmental war crimes under international law.

Truth Hounds and Project Expedite Justice researchers concluded that the case “may become the first application of the ICC’s Article 8(2)(b)(iv) of the Rome Statute, which concerns causing ‘excessive’ environmental damage compared to expected military advantage”.

Moreover, there is evidence that Russian troops prevented people from evacuation from the flooded areas, despite the deadly threat they unleashed to reach their ghost objective. 

Much of the damage caused by the breach of Ukraine’s Kakhovka dam is irreversible, with likely changes to the environment that could have impacts on ecosystems and human health. The total damage is estimated at nearly $14 billion.

In the early hours of 6 June, Russia conducted one of the largest air attacks since the start of its full-scale invasion, targeting Kyiv, Ternopil, Lutsk, Lviv, and several other cities using a combination of missiles and drones. The Russian assault resulted in civilian casualties — with four people known to have been killed and 25 injured — along with widespread damage to infrastructure and multiple fires.

At the time of reporting, the attack was still ongoing, with several Russian drones remaining airborne over multiple regions.

Here’s what we know so far.

Known details and air defense response

So far, there is no official count of the missiles and drones used in the attack, but live reporting from Ukrainian monitoring channels indicated that Russia launched over 100 missiles, along with a significantly higher number of drones.

The Ukrainian air monitoring channel Monitor summarized that the Russian assault involved Kh-101 cruise missiles launched by Tu-95MS bombers from Volgograd Oblast, Kalibr missiles fired by the Black Sea fleet, and Iskander-M ballistic missiles launched from Kursk and Voronezh Oblasts. The attack also included Shahed drones and other types of UAVs.

The assault affected Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Lviv Oblast, Lutsk, Ternopil and Ternopil Oblast, Rivne Oblast, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Poltava Oblast, and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district of Odesa Oblast. Energy infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian sites were hit, as confirmed by local authorities and military administrations.

Monitor stated the missile phase of the assault lasted from 03:10 to 04:40, while drone waves began at 20:10 and continued for over 10 hours.

Kyiv: Fires and casualties

Ukrainian airspace monitoring channels reported that Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital with cruise and ballistic missiles, and Shahed explosive drones. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitaliy Klitschko, confirmed that as of 6:00, one person was killed and 20 others were injured, 16 of whom were hospitalized. Strikes hit multiple districts, including Solomianskyi, where a school and residential buildings were damaged.

Drone debris caused fires in Darnytskyi, where vehicles were destroyed, and in Holosiivskyi, where building structures were reportedly damaged. Fires also broke out in Shevchenkivskyi and Sviatoshynskyi. Debris fell in Desnianskyi and other parts of the city. Metro lines between “Darnytsia” and “Livoberezhna” were damaged. Some areas on the city’s left bank experienced temporary power outages.

“They were working under fire to help people. Another nine emergency workers were wounded. Some are in serious condition — doctors are fighting for their lives,” Klymenko wrote on Telegram.

Ternopil and oblast: Infrastructure and industrial sites hit

Ternopil mayor Serhii Nadal reported that industrial and infrastructure targets in the city were struck. Part of the city was left without electricity and water pressure dropped. Emergency services were working at the scene.

Head of the Oblast Military Administration, Viacheslav Nehoda, described it as “the most massive air attack on our oblast,” noting multiple strikes and ongoing firefighting efforts. Explosions were first reported during an air raid starting at 03:16.

Lutsk: Injuries and extensive property damage

In Lutsk, mayor Ihor Polishchuk confirmed five people were injured in the strikes. According to him, the Russians targeted the city with 15 drones and five missiles. It is the largest attack on the city since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

A residential building suffered partial destruction and windows were shattered in multiple buildings. Commercial facilities and private vehicles were also damaged. The Oblast Military Administration added that people were evacuated and received medical help, noting that air defenses “destroyed a lot of [aerial] targets.”

Russia kills Ukrainian baby and seven more people as Trump keeps pushing predictably doomed peace talks

Lviv Oblast: Air defense in action

Lviv mayor Andrii Sadovyi and regional head Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed that air defenses operated successfully and no Russian strikes reached Lviv community infrastructure. Loud explosions were heard during the air raid, which started at 00:53 and ended at 05:01.

Chernihiv: Shahed struck near apartment block

Chernihiv City Military Administration head Dmytro Bryzhynskyi reported that a Shahed drone exploded near a high-rise building on the city’s outskirts. No casualties or damage were mentioned.

Khmelnytskyi Oblast: Explosions heard during air raid

Explosions were reported by Suspilne correspondents in Khmelnytskyi during an air raid early in the morning. The Ukrainian Air Force noted that cruise missiles entered the oblast around 04:05.

Read the followup:

Russia launches 407 drones and 44 missiles against Ukraine in overnight assault, Air Force says

An explosion on a rail line in Russia's Voronezh Oblast on June 5 caused damage to the track and disrupted train travel along the line, regional Governor Alexander Gusev claimed.

The explosion occurred in a remote area between the communities of Yevdakovo and Saguny in Voronezh Oblast.

Gusev claimed that no one was injured in the explosion that immediately disrupted the travel of at least 19 passenger and commercial trains. The explosions was allegedly caused by an improvised explosive device.

The Kyiv Independent cannot verify claims made by Russian officials. The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

Russian officials have not yet laid blame publicly as to the cause of the explosion.

Ukraine's intelligence agencies as well as Ukrainian partisan movements have previously been involved in sabotage attacks on Russian railways, disrupting the transport of military cargo toward the front line.

Neither the Ukrainian military nor the partisan movement Atesh commented on the alleged attack.

Ukraine's Military Intelligence Agency (HUR) said Ukrainian drone operators destroyed three Russian fuel tanks during a strike on a train moving through occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast on May 24.

Overnight on May 31, following the collapse of an overhead road bridge, a train derailed in Russia's Bryansk Oblast killing seven people and injuring 69.

Voronezh Oblast neighbors Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast and is often used as a launch point for Russia's attack on the front line as well as the city of Kharkiv.

Russia plans to produce 2 million FPV drones in 2025, Ukrainian intelligence says

The ramp-up marks a critical expansion of Moscow’s drone warfare program, as both Ukraine and Russia increasingly rely on unmanned systems for reconnaissance and front-line attacks.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Russian intelligence operatives are impersonating Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in an expanded effort to recruit Ukrainian civilians for sabotage operations, the SBU said June 5.

The new tactic, described by the agency as a “false flag” operation, involves contacting Ukrainian citizens while posing as SBU officials conducting official inquiries. The SBU said this marks a notable escalation and shift in Russia’s recruitment strategy.

"This is a so-called special operations technique known as 'false flag,' which has not been used by Russian invaders until now, but which they are actively trying to apply now," the agency said in a statement.

According to the SBU, targeted individuals typically receive messages via instant messaging apps, instructing them to report to an “SBU investigator” regarding fabricated criminal charges.

That “assistance,” however, comes with strings attached. Victims are pressured into carrying out tasks ranging from surveillance and courier duties to transferring funds. In more serious cases, they are asked to purchase chemicals for explosive devices, set fire to Ukrainian military vehicles or conduct sabotage against government buildings.

"In some cases, Russian curators also demand that malicious software be installed on the victim's phone, allowing them to monitor activity and location in real time," the SBU statement said.

While earlier recruitment efforts focused largely on teenagers, the SBU warned that elderly Ukrainians are now increasingly being targeted. The agency said it has disrupted several of these operations in recent weeks but did not provide specific examples.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian officials say the Kremlin has stepped up intelligence-gathering and subversive activity inside Ukraine, with particular focus on coercing civilians into supporting reconnaissance and sabotage efforts.

Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 accused Ukraine of being governed by a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians and claimed it is continuing to lose the war. He rejected the possibility of holding talks.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Ukraine launched overnight drone strikes on Russian military infrastructure and Russian-occupied power facilities, including an airfield in Rostov Oblast and energy infrastructure in occupied parts of southern Ukraine, leading to damage and power outages.

Millerovo air base targeted in drone attack

In the early hours of 5 June, explosions were reported across Russia’s Rostov Oblast, adjacent to eastern Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. According to Russian news Telegram channel Astra, local residents claimed that a military airfield in Millerovo came under drone attack. Acting governor of Rostov Oblast Yuriy Slyusar later confirmed that drones were active in the Millerovo district, though he did not explicitly confirm an attack on the airfield.

He stated that debris from the downed drones allegedly caused damage in the village of Sulin, hit structures on two properties on Dachna Street. One house ostensibly had a partially destroyed roof, while another suffered broken windows and torn electric wiring. He added that “No civilians were injured according to emergency services on the ground. The military continues to repel the enemy’s attack. Information is being clarified.”

Occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts suffer blackouts

In a separate development, Russian-installed “Kherson Oblast governor” Vladimir Saldo claimed that more than 120,000 people in Russian-occupied parts of Kherson Oblast were left without electricity and water after a strike on a main transformer substation.

The hit allegedly occurred at 23:10 and resulted in a total blackout for 192 settlements across seven “municipal districts” – a term not used in Ukraine’s territorial structure – including Henichesk, Novotroitske, and Velyka Lepetykha.

Occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast reportedly also experienced blackouts. Head of the Russian occupation administration in the region, Yevgeny Balitsky, blamed Ukrainian forces for shelling the area, stating that “no fewer than five explosions were recorded over Melitopol,” along with an attempted strike on a power substation. Power outages were reported in parts of Melitopol, Prymorsk, Enerhodar, and Akimivka.

Exclusives

Ukraine’s jets adopt Western tactics, learn to hunt in packs. More Ukrainian air force pilots are flying and fighting in complex teams.

Bedtime stories and ballistics: How Ukraine’s children are growing up fast. Ukrainian psychologist Oksana Pisareva says kids in therapy talk about missiles, not monsters.

“They trample corpses”: Ukraine’s Muslim leader-turned-medic exposes what Russians really fight for. As Russian soldiers crawl over their own dead, Ukraine’s ex-mufti saves the lives they claim — revealing what really drives the world’s second army to raze peaceful cities.

Military

Russia captures Sumy’s Kostiantynivka village as Russians try to widen frontline in region. ISW and DeepState report mounting pressure as Moscow’s troops seize new ground in Sumy Oblast.

This is how Ukrainian drones destroy Russian bombers that attack Ukraine in surprise Spiderweb operation

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) revealed that when communication was severed, the drones continued missions using pre-programmed routes and AI algorithms before automatically activating warheads at designated targets.

Drone hits house in Russian Kursk oblast, woman injured. Russian air defense systems intercepted seven Ukrainian drones across three regions overnight, with two shot down over Kursk region, the Defense Ministry claimed.

Russian missile hits Ukrainian training ground in Poltava, servicemen wounded. A Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training facility in Poltava Oblast on 4 June left servicemen wounded, marking the second such strike on Ground Forces training units within four days.

As of 4 JUN 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 991820 (+1020)
    • Tanks: 10884 (+3)
    • APV: 22678 (+7)
    • Artillery systems: 28711 (+88)
    • MLRS: 1402
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 1176
    • Aircraft: 413
    • Helicopters: 336
    • UAV: 38924 (+176)
    • Cruise missiles : 3271
    • Warships/boats: 28
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 50730 (+123)

Intelligence and technology

Russia ramps up Shahed production to 170 daily, eyes 190 by year-end. Russian engineers have doubled the explosive payload in Shahed drones from 50 to 90 kilograms while introducing new warhead types targeting specific objectives, according to Ukraine’s intelligence services.

UK drone deliveries to Ukraine jump from 10,000 to 100,000 in 2025. The UK government will invest a record $474 mn in drone production for Ukraine this year, scaling up from the 10,000 drones delivered in 2024 to an ambitious target of 100,000 units, the Defence Ministry announced.

International

Netherlands announces new maritime security support package for Ukraine worth $456 million. The package will consist of over 100 naval vessels, including ships, patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations vessels, and 50 maritime drones, according to Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans

Putin tells Trump in phone call he will retaliate recent Spiderweb drone operation on Russian airfields. Trump also emphasized that this was not a conversation that “will lead to immediate peace.”

US senator compares Ukrainian Spiderweb drone operation to anti-terror bin Laden killing. Richard Blumenthal believes that the recent Ukrainian surprise drone attack that hit 41 Russian aircraft could “shift momentum in Washington in favor of increasing aid for Ukraine.”

Trump envoy warns Ukrainian strikes on Russian bombers push conflict toward dangerous escalation. Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine warned that recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian strategic bomber bases might push the war toward dangerous escalation

Ukraine’s diplomat slams UN for passing World’s Horse Day resolution while ignoring more pressing global issues. Serhii Kyslytsia contrasted this decision with years of resistance Ukraine faced in the UN when trying to establish a day against disinformation while fighting Russia, who remains a UN member.

US Defense Secretary skips Ukraine meeting for first time since creating it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will miss Wednesday’s gathering of 50 defense ministers coordinating military aid for Ukraine. The absence marks the first time since 2022 that America’s top defense official has skipped the meeting the US originally created.

Frontline report: Putin knew Serbia’s weapons were in Ukraine — now he’s making it personal. Serbian ammo has been showing up in Ukraine for years. Only now, with a factory in flames, is Putin pretending to be shocked.

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukraine and Russia to exchange prisoners of war this weekend — only result of Istanbul peace talks. The exchange is expected to involve 1,200 prisoners from each side.

95 Russian drones target Ukraine overnight: Kharkiv hit for 90 minutes straight. Russian forces pummeled Kharkiv with drones and missiles for 90 consecutive minutes overnight, leaving one man hospitalized and seven buildings damaged across Ukraine’s second-largest city.

Ukrainian media groups demand True Story Festival drop Russian speakers, add Ukrainian journalists. Ukrainian media organizations demanded True Story Festival organizers remove Russian speakers from the June event in Bern, citing five Russian representatives scheduled for war-related sessions while no Ukrainian journalists appear on the programme.

Other developments

ISW: Russia continues to want Ukraine’s “complete destruction.” Russian missile stockpile only grows. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev stated that Moscow’s peace negotiations in Istanbul must result in the Ukrainian government’s elimination rather than compromise.

Read our earlier daily review here

The Netherlands has committed €400 million ($456 million) in maritime security assistance to Ukraine, including over 100 vessels and 50 maritime drones, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced before the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels on 4 June, according ro European Pravda.

The new support package reportedly will include more than 100 ships, patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations vessels. That is, a wide range of more than 100 vessels, Brekelmans said.

European Pravda also reported that the comprehensive package extends beyond vessels to include over 50 maritime drones, weapons systems, sensors, spare parts, and training programs for Ukrainian specialists. Brekelmans characterized the aid as “a complete package to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime security.”

The Dutch defense minister linked the assistance to escalating Russian maritime threats. “This is very important because we see that Russian threats, both in the Black Sea and around Kherson, are growing,” Brekelmans stated. “It is very important for Ukraine to protect itself from this.”

The Netherlands positioned the maritime aid within broader strategic objectives of supporting Ukraine’s shipping freedom and preserving commercial sea routes, Brekelmans explained.

This announcement follows the Netherlands’ completion of F-16 fighter jet deliveries to Ukraine. The Dutch Defense Ministry confirmed in late May that it had dispatched the final batch of 24 F-16 fighters designated for Ukraine. The Netherlands and Romania are establishing a joint training center for Ukrainian F-16 technical personnel.

The maritime security package comes amid political instability in the Netherlands. Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced his resignation after the governing coalition lost its parliamentary majority. The coalition collapse was triggered by Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom’s withdrawal over disagreements on stricter anti-migration measures.

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

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

Hidden danger of Kharkiv Oblast town

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

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

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

The flaw in the river

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

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

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

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

Ghosts in the trees

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

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

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

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

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

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

The escape corridor

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

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

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

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

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

Operators left behind: the shadow war begins

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

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

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

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

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

An explosion occurred at Kerch Strait Bridge this morning. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on 3 June confirmed it carried out an operation to damage the Kerch Bridge from below the waterline, marking the third time Ukrainian forces have struck the Russian-built structure connecting occupied Crimea with mainland Russia. 

According to the SBU, the operation targeted the underwater supports of the Crimean bridge—known by Russia as the Kerch bridge—with specially planted explosive devices. The agency reported that the attack was launched precisely at 4:44 a.m., damaging the bridge at the level of its underwater support pillars.

The explosives used amounted to 1100 kg in TNT equivalent, the SBU stated, describing the bridge as now in a critical or near-emergency condition. The SBU emphasized that the explosion caused no civilian casualties.

SBU head Vasyl Maliuk personally coordinated and supervised the planning and execution of the mission. He stated:

“God loves the Trinity (Ukrainian saying used when something occurs for the third time, – Ed.), and the SBU always finishes what it starts and never repeats itself. We struck the Crimean bridge twice before, in 2022 and 2023. Today, we continued that tradition—this time from underwater.”

Legitimate military target

Maliuk justified the strike as a response to Russia’s continued occupation of Ukrainian territory and the use of the bridge as a key supply route for Russian military operations in southern Ukraine.

“No illegal object of the Russian Federation has any place on the territory of our state,” he said. “The Crimean bridge is an entirely legal target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops. Crimea is Ukraine, and any signs of occupation will be met with a tough response.”

Damage remains unverified

The full extent of the underwater damage has not yet been independently verified. However, the SBU’s statement indicates significant harm to the bridge’s structural supports at the seabed level. Russia has not yet commented on the event at the time of publication.

A fire and explosion occurred at the Zavolzhsky Motor Plant in Russia’s Zavolzhye, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, reportedly injuring one worker, according to Astra and official statements from regional labor authorities.

Truck fire erupts in chemical workshop

The Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported on 3 June that the incident took place at night when a long-haul truck caught fire inside a workshop containing chemical substances.

The local Gostrudinspektsiya – a labor conditions inspection body – confirmed the event and said one worker sustained burns covering 10% of the body, and added that all circumstances and potential causes of the workplace incident are being investigated.

Authorities noted the blaze began on 2 June and are awaiting notifications from both the employer and the medical institution treating the injured worker. 

Plant linked to military engine production

The Zavolzhsky Motor Plant produces gasoline and diesel engines and is located in the city of Zavolzhia. Media reports emphasized that the factory manufactures engines used in military equipment. Astra reiterated that point, stating:

“The plant also produces engines for military vehicles.”

Russian publication Kommersant previously reported in 2003 that the plant had received a state contract to develop a line of competitive multipurpose diesel engines ranging from 2.2 to 3.4 liters in displacement. At the time, the plant’s director claimed the new engines would be reconstructed versions of the ZMZ-514 and suitable for a range of vehicles, including off-road models, class-D vehicles, 4-ton trucks, and military hardware.

Meet First Contact’s Osa: Ukrainian FPV drone used to strike Russian bombers in Spiderweb operation

Russian intelligence services are actively attempting to recruit Ukrainian nationals for illegal operations across the European Union, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said on June 2.

In a statement, the agency warned that Kremlin-linked operatives are offering money to vulnerable Ukrainians, particularly those from Russian-occupied territories, to conduct surveillance of critical infrastructure and carry out other tasks for the benefit of the Russian state.

"The recruitment of Ukrainians for hostile operations in Europe is yet another tool of hybrid aggression that the Russian Federation is waging against Ukraine and the entire European community," the agency said.

The intelligence agency urged Ukrainian citizens abroad to immediately report any contact with suspicious individuals to local law enforcement or Ukrainian diplomatic missions.

The warning comes amid a growing number of suspected Russian-directed sabotage and arson plots across Europe involving Ukrainian nationals.

British security officials are currently investigating possible Russian involvement in a series of arson attacks targeting properties linked to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Financial Times reported on May 23. The incidents include fires at Starmer's family home, a vehicle, and a former residence in London earlier this month.

Three men — Ukrainian nationals Roman Lavrynovych and Petro Pochynok, and Romanian Stanislav Carpiuc — have been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Prosecutors allege they acted in coordination with unknown individuals, and U.K. authorities are examining whether Russian agents may have recruited them.

German authorities have also accused three Ukrainian nationals of being involved in a Russian-orchestrated parcel bomb plot, according to Der Spiegel. The suspects were arrested in May during coordinated raids in Germany and Switzerland.

In a separate case on May 12, Poland charged two Ukrainians in connection with suspected Russian-backed arson attacks at an IKEA store in Vilnius and a shopping mall in Warsaw in 2024.

Additionally, Russian intelligence is believed to be behind a July 2024 fire at a DHL airport logistics hub in Leipzig, Germany. Investigators said a flammable package sent from Lithuania was marked for delivery to a fake address in Birmingham, U.K.

Western officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of using covert sabotage, cyberattacks, and disinformation as part of its broader campaign to destabilize European nations that support Ukraine during the Russian large-scale war.

The Ukrainian intelligence agency emphasized that such operations rely on exploiting desperate individuals and weaponizing them against host countries. It called on European governments to remain vigilant and closely coordinate with Ukrainian security services.

As Trump fails to sanction Moscow, few expect breakthrough during upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks

As Ukraine and Russia prepare for peace talks scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, few observers expect a breakthrough. While the U.S. and Ukraine have pushed for an unconditional ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected it. Instead, Moscow has regularly voiced maximalist demands that are unlikely to be accepted by

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

At least seven people were killed and dozens more injured after two bridges collapsed in Bryansk and Kursk oblasts overnight on 1 June, striking passenger and freight train routes and raising questions over infrastructure failures or sabotage. Russian law enforcement initially attributed the incidents to Ukrainian sabotage, but later removed the claim.

Train hit by collapsing highway bridge in Bryansk

According to the governor of Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, Alexander Bogomaz, a highway bridge on the federal A240 route allegedly collapsed onto a moving passenger train near the settlement of Vygonichi. The train was operating on the Moscow–Klimovo line. Regional sources, including Telegram channels such as Astra and Baza, reported that a freight truck was crossing the bridge at the moment of the collapse.

Bogomaz confirmed the incident involved both vehicles and a passenger train. Moscow Railway stated that the train derailment resulted from the collapse of the bridge, which occurred due to “illegal interference in transport operations.” The Russian Investigative Committee later reported the bridge had been blown up at 22:50 local time.

Astra published photos and videos of the aftermath.

As of the morning of 1 June, Russian reports indicated at least seven alleged fatalities and 66 injured individuals in the Bryansk collapse, with 47 hospitalized.

Freight locomotive derailed in Kursk after second bridge collapse

In Kursk Oblast’s Zheleznogorsky district, another collapse occurred on a railway bridge during the movement of a freight train. Acting governor Alexander Khinshtein reported that part of the train allegedly fell onto the highway running below the bridge. A fire broke out on the locomotive, and one crew member was reportedly injured.

The Investigative Committee of Russia, launched investigations into both incidents on terrorism-related charges.

Astra shared visuals showing the destruction at the 48th kilometer of the Trosna–Kalinovka road, confirming the scale of the incident.

Unconfirmed third incident

Telegram channels SHOT and 112 reported another incident in Bryansk Oblast, claiming that railway tracks were blown up near the settlement of Unecha on 1 June as a track inspection train was passing. Governor Bogomaz later stated that as of 10:52, railway workers discovered track damage in the Unecha–Zhecha section during an infrastructure inspection, with no casualties reported.

Previous Russian infrastructure collapses noted by Ukrainian Stratcom

Ukraine’s Centre for Strategic Communication listed prior incidents of Russian bridge failures, pointing to chronic infrastructure decay and mismanagement. These include:

• April 2024 – Vyazma, Smolensk Oblast: Paninsky overpass collapse killed one and injured five.
• October 2023 – Buryatia: A railway bridge over the Dzhida River collapsed due to rainfall and neglect.
• July 2022 – Zabaykalsky Krai: Bridge on the Chita–Khabarovsk highway fell due to erosion and neglect.
• November 2020 – Primorsky Krai: A bridge collapsed under a truck near Vladivostok.
• July 2018 – Nizhny Novgorod: A pedestrian bridge collapsed during a festival.
• May 2015 – Krasnoyarsk Krai: Logging truck caused a collapse near Kansk.

Stratcom concluded:

“Corruption and decay are Russia’s problems, not Ukraine.”

Russia launched 479 aerial weapons, including seven missiles and hundreds of drones, on Ukraine overnight on 1 June 2025, marking the largest drone and attack since the full-scale invasion began, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The drone attack injured four civilians, yet one of the missiles reportedly hit a military training facility, killing 12 soldiers and injuring dozens others.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that between 19:30 on 31 May and the early hours of 1 June, Russian forces attacked with 472 Shahed-type strike UAVs and decoy drones from directions  in Russia, including Millerovo, Shatalovo, Kursk, Oryol, Bryansk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

Additionally, Russia launched three Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Kursk and Voronezh oblasts and four cruise missiles — both air- and ground-launched — including Kh-101 and Iskander-K types.

Air defense forces responded using aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, drone units, and mobile fire groups.

As of 13:30, a total of 385 aerial threats were reportedly neutralized, including 210 Shahed-type UAVs and three Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles. Of those, 213 were shot down by kinetic means, while 172 were either jammed or disappeared from radar due to electronic warfare.

The air strikes targeted Kyiv Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast, Odesa Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Strikes caused impacts in 18 separate locations, Air Force says.

Following a record 355-drone attack, Russia launches 60 drones—Ukraine intercepts most

Civilian impact in Kyiv oblast, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa

In Kyiv Oblast, local authorities reported that 15 Russian drones were shot down. Ten detached houses were damaged in Bila Tserkva district, but no casualties were reported.

In Zaporizhzhia, according to the National Police, seven Shahed drone strikes and one missile hit the city and surrounding area between 04:06 and 04:33. Three civilians — two women and a man — were injured and received medical aid. Private homes and critical infrastructure were damaged. Zaporizhzhia Mayor’s Office reported emergency services boarded up windows in 13 homes and two apartment buildings.

A Zaporizhzhia resident named Serhii said his home, built over 10 years, was significantly damaged, Suspilne reported. He said something struck about 10 meters away, but he and his family hid behind a masonry stove, which saved their lives.

The Zaporizhzhia regional prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into a war crime under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

In Odesa Oblast, Shahed drones struck Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district. Odesa Oblast Military Administration head Oleh Kiper confirmed private homes and a vacation facility were damaged. A fire broke out but was extinguished by emergency workers. No injuries or deaths were reported.

Drone strikes across Kharkiv Oblast

According to Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration head Oleh Syniehubov, 13 drones struck Izium, Lozova, and Kupiansk districts.

A 45-year-old woman in Lozova suffered acute stress, the State Emergency Service reported. Local authorities reported impacts on a school and a critical infrastructure site.

In Balakliia, seven strikes hit, damaging a civilian residential area and a factory.

A warehouse fire occurred in Izium. In Velykyi Burluk, a strike caused a fire on the second floor of an administrative building, damaging windows and a car. Power lines were also hit in Bunakove, Lozova community.

Russia’s massive missile and drone assault kills at least 12 civilians, injures 52, between two prisoner swaps

Missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk: 12 killed, over 60 wounded

On 1 June, the Russian army launched a missile strike on a Ukrainian Ground Forces training unit in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, according to Ukraine’s Ground Forces command. As of 12:50, 12 servicemen were confirmed dead and over 60 wounded.

The Ground Forces stated:

“No formations or mass gatherings of personnel were taking place. After the air raid alert was announced, most of the personnel were in shelters.” 

Commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, General Mykhailo Drapatyi, announced his resignation:

“As commander, I failed to ensure full execution of my orders. I didn’t push hard enough, didn’t convince, didn’t change attitudes. That’s my responsibility.”

Ukrainian Ground Forces commander quits after training base attack kills 12 and injures 60 troops

Ground Forces spokesperson Vitalii Sarantsev told Suspilne the preliminary weapon used was an Iskander missile. He emphasized that any officials found guilty, regardless of past service, will be held accountable.

A Russian military train was blown up near the occupied town of Yakymivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast overnight on 31 May, damaging fuel wagons and a vital supply route used by Moscow’s forces to support occupied Crimea, Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency reported.

According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, the explosion occurred on the railway line close to Yakymivka in the Melitopol district. The freight train, which included fuel tanks, was moving toward occupied Crimea when the blast hit. As a result, freight cars and tanker cars went off the rails, and the track was severely damaged.

HUR described the targeted section as “a key logistical artery of the Russians on the occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Crimea.” The agency stated that this disruption undermines Moscow’s ability to maintain military logistics in the south.

In response to the attack, Russian occupation forces declared a standard police “interception plan” across the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, HUR reported. Authorities increased the number of military patrols in local settlements and intensified checks at checkpoints.

Recent attacks and incidents on Russian trains and infrastructure

On 25 May, Ukrainian military intelligence reported a drone strike on another Russian freight train transporting fuel in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian military train with fuel in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast (video)

That same evening, a train in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast was damaged after hitting an explosive device, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

In the early hours of 1 June, two bridge collapses occurred in Bryansk and Kursk oblasts. In Bryansk, a car bridge collapsed onto a passenger train, killing at least seven people. In Kursk, an accident on a railway bridge involving a freight train was reported, with no initial casualties mentioned.

The Atesh partisan group sabotaged a railway in occupied Donetsk Oblast, disrupting Russian logistics, the group claimed in a Telegram post on June 1.

Operatives with the group destroyed a relay box on the new Volnovakha-Mariupol railway, which was recently built by occupying Russian forces. As a result, the railway signalling and traffic control system was disrupted, Atesh said.

The impacted railway has been reportedly used by Russian forces to deliver fuel, equipment, and ammunition directly to the frontline.

The Volnovakha-Mariupol railway connects occupied Donetsk oblast to Taganrog, a city in southwestern Russia, allowing Moscow's military forces to bypass Crimea and transfer cargo faster and with fewer risks, according to Atesh.

Atesh further claimed that damaging infrastructure in this direction is key to disrupting supply lines and increasing the vulnerability of occupying Russian forces.

"We continue to hit the enemy's critical points. Each hit reduces their combat effectiveness," Atesh wrote.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

The Atesh movement regularly commits sabotage attacks on Russian territory and in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

Partisans reported a similar railroad in Russia's Smolensk Oblast in May.

Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) was behind the explosions near Desantnaya Bay in Russia’s Vladivostok on May 30, which reportedly damaged military personnel and equipment, a source in HUR told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

A vast majority of Russian-speaking Ukrainians — those how primarily speak Russian at home — view Russia negatively, according to a survey published on May 27 by Kyiv-based think tank Razumkov Center in cooperation with the Kyiv Security Forum.  

The poll, conducted between April 24 and May 4, 2025, surveyed 2,021 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older in territories under Ukrainian government control. According to the survey, only 11% of respondents said they primarily speak Russian at home.

Of those, 82% said they had a negative view of Russia.

The results come as Russia continues to invoke the supposed plight of Russian-speaking communities to justify its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But the data suggests this narrative is widely rejected by those it claims to defend.

As recently as May 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Moscow "cannot leave" Russian-speaking residents in Kyiv-controlled areas and would "protect them."

Only 13% of Russian-speaking respondents maintain a favorable opinion of Russia. By contrast, admiration for Western countries remains strong — 79% of respondents view France positively, and 75% feel the same about the United Kingdom.

The survey also found that 42% of respondents identified the European model of social development as the most attractive. Just 6% expressed a preference for the Russian model, further undermining Kremlin rhetoric about cultural and political alignment.

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Support for Ukraine's military remains resilient. Some 81.5% of those surveyed said they trust the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a reflection of sustained public confidence despite ongoing Russian attacks. Only 14% expressed distrust.

Before the war, many of the cities now devastated by Russian attacks and occupation — Mariupol, Kharkiv, Sievierodonetsk — were predominantly Russian-speaking.

Rather than protection, these regions have endured mass displacement, forced deportations, and indiscriminate bombardment by Russian forces.

The war has also catalyzed a national shift in language use.

According to a 2024 Rating Group poll, 70% of Ukrainians now speak exclusively or primarily in Ukrainian at home — up from 50% in 2015 and 46% in 2006.

In 2014, just after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, a separate Rating Group poll showed that 56% of Ukrainians already opposed granting Russian the status of a second state language.

Sanctions on Russia are working, Ukraine just needs more

Sanctions on their own won’t end the war, but they are a crucial tool in the West’s efforts to pressure Putin.

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Kremlin lies crash into reality, new Ukrainian poll reveals. According to the survey, 82% of Russian-speaking Ukrainians hold a negative view of Russia.

In contrast, only 13% of Ukrainians confirm a positive attitude toward Russia. For comparison, 79% view France positively, 75% the UK, and 71.5% Poland.

As for religious affiliation, 11% identify themselves as followers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, while nearly twice as many, 20%, say they belong to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

When asked which societal model they found more appealing, 42% chose the European model, while only 6% favored the Russian one.

Among Russian-speaking Ukrainians surveyed, 81.5% trust the Ukrainian Armed Forces, while 14% expressed distrust. Some 4% say they are either serving in the Armed Forces or are involved in volunteer defense efforts, and 24.5% of respondents support the defense of the country financially.

When asked, “If it were up to you, what would you be willing to concede in negotiations with Russia?” only 17% of Russian-speaking citizens said they would agree to ceding Ukrainian territories. 

The survey also reveals that 26% of respondents are willing to concede Ukraine’s pro-Western course of development, and 54% believe Ukraine should not agree to reduce its Armed Forces, even if that’s a condition for a peace deal with Russia, with only 27% ready to agree to that.

Some 55% of respondents in this group believe Ukraine will win the war against Russia, while 33% do not. Only 40% think a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow is possible in the near future, whereas 48% do not consider it so.

Hungary's European Affairs Minister Janos Boka said on May 27 that it is difficult to lead constructive negotiations with Ukraine on its EU accession, as Kyiv is allegedly conducting "information and intelligence" operations on Hungary's territory.

The statement comes after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on May 9 that it had dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast, detaining two agents accused of espionage against the Ukrainian state.

The Hungarian government denied the accusation as a smear campaign and instead declared it had exposed two Ukrainian spies operating in Hungary. The controversy has put a further strain on an already fragile bilateral relationship.

Talking to journalists ahead of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels on May 2, Boka said that constructive negotiations on Ukraine's entry to the EU would be difficult in this context.

Hungary, whose government is widely regarded as the most Russian-friendly in the EU, has been blocking the opening of accession negotiation clusters with Kyiv. After the scandal broke out, Budapest announced it is suspending talks with Ukraine on national minority rights, long presented by Hungary as the main roadblock in accession negotiations.

Budapest has repeatedly accused Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority concentrated in southwestern Zakarpattia Oblast, an accusation that the Ukrainian leadership denies. Much of these disputes center around Ukraine's language laws that require at least 70% of education above the fifth grade to be conducted in Ukrainian.

In turn, Kyiv has long accused Budapest of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty through political interference and dual citizenship schemes. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also consistently obstructed sanctions against Russia and military aid for Ukraine within the EU.

Amid the escalating controversy, Orban has also accused Ukraine of meddling in Hungary's internal affairs and colluding with the Hungarian political opposition.

The agenda of the May 27 meeting in Brussels includes the possibility of stripping Hungary of its voting rights as the EU is looking for ways to override Budapest if it vetoes Ukraine's accession.

This will be the eighth hearing regarding Hungary since the European Parliament triggered Article 7 procedures against the country in 2018. Article 7 of the EU Treaty allows for the suspension of Council voting rights if a member state consistently breaches EU founding principles.

Decision on lifting range restrictions on arms for Ukraine made months ago, Germany’s Merz clarifies

“In this respect, yesterday in Berlin, I described something that has been happening for months: namely, that Ukraine has the right to use the weapons it receives, even beyond its own borders, against military targets on Russian territory,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Following a record 355-drone attack, Russia launched 60 drones on 27 May, targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure. Air defense intercepted 43 drones, but two civilians were injured in Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy suffered significant damage.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 60 Shahed-type explosive drones and decoy UAVs targeting various regions of Ukraine overnight on 27 May. The attack began at 23:50 on 26 May, and continued through the morning.

Ukraine’s air defense system, which included aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups, successfully neutralized 43 of the attacking drones. Of these, 35 were downed by firepower, while 8 were lost due to electronic warfare suppression.

The Air Forces data suggest that at least 17 drones may have reached their intended targets.

Despite these efforts, Russian drones and the debris of downed UAVs caused damage in several regions.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast hit with injuries and infrastructure damage

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, two people were injured during the attack. Serhii Lysak, the head of the regional military administration, reported that drone strikes targeted agricultural enterprises, detached homes, and a vehicle in the Synelnykive district, specifically in the Mezhivska and Malomykhailivska communities. The attack injured a 54-year-old man, who was hospitalized in moderate condition. Another civilian man was injured in Samar district, according to the report.

Additionally, the Nikopol district was struck by artillery, FPV drones, and explosive devices dropped by drones. The communities of Nikopol, Marhanets, and Pokrovsk also suffered damage. The attacks resulted in the damage of a medical emergency vehicle and a car.

Five Russian drones were reportedly intercepted over Dnipropetrovsk.

Sumy Oblast faces damage to industry and residential areas

Russia also targeted Sumy City, where early morning drone strikes caused significant damage. According to the Sumy Regional Military Administration, around 1:30 AM, a drone strike set fire to an industrial building, causing damage to transport vehicles.

Later, at around 4:30 AM, another strike targeted residential buildings, damaging at least seven private houses and one two-story home. The strikes also caused damage to several cars. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in Sumy, the authorities said.

Cooperation between the United States and the European Union on preventing Russian sanctions evasion has broken down, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on 27 May. According to a cited leaked internal report from Germany’s Foreign Ministry, the EU’s Special Representative for Sanctions, David O’Sullivan, told a closed-door meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May in Brussels that there is “no joint outreach” with the US anymore. He also noted that G7 cooperation on the matter had “lost momentum.”

The leak suggests that European hopes for a united front against Russia’s sanctions circumvention are rapidly eroding. While a new 18th package of EU sanctions is being prepared in response to renewed Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, the lack of US participation raises doubts about global enforcement capacity.

Trump’s presidency and Chinese role in sanctions evasion

Süddeutsche Zeitung notes that some experts suggest that US President Donald Trump “would rather resume doing business with Russia today than tomorrow.” Normalization with Russia “will mean an end to the global sanctions regime,” Green MEP Sergey Lagodinsky warned. German MP Johann Wadephul warned that the new EU sanctions “will be financially painful for Russia” but acknowledged doubts about future American involvement, despite stating that “there will be a clear reaction from the West” to Russia’s attacking Ukraine instead of negotiating peace.

China plays a key role in sanctions evasion, the leaked report finds. EU sanctions commissioner David O’Sullivan told the EU Foreign Affairs Council that “around 80%” of such cases are tied to China, which denies involvement. Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Chief of Ukraine Oleh Ivashchenko said Chinese firms are supplying essential materials to 20 Russian arms factories.

EU cracks down on third countries, Russia’s shadow fleet, and eyes Russia’s energy and banking sectors

Despite the breakdown in US-EU coordination, the EU has reportedly achieved some success in blocking war-related exports via third countries. Export channels through Armenia, Serbia, Uzbekistan, and India have seen disruptions. However, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, and the UAE remain problematic transit points, the document notes.

Efforts against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — tankers and cargo ships used to bypass sanctions — have seen some progress. According to O’Sullivan, multiple nations have stripped Russian-linked ships of their flags following EU pressure. However, he urged further measures against ports used frequently by these vessels, including those in Türkiye, India, and Malaysia.

The next EU sanctions package is expected to hit Russia’s energy and financial sectors, though Russia’s ally Hungary opposes these measures and has shown “no willingness to compromise,” the document adds.