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

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

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

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

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

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

Among the downed targets were:

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

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

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

Ukraine’s new ballistic missile may already be used on the battlefield. In May 2025, the Ukrainian Armed Forces sharply increased the number of destroyed Russian command posts, indicating new strike capabilities, including ballistic ones, says military expert Valery Ryabykh, Espreso reported.

The expert says that remarkably interesting developments are happening on the battlefield. Ukraine has expanded its ability to strike Russian occupiers.

“This includes the successful operation to destroy a division of three Iskander missile systems. All points to the fact that Ukraine has acquired all the necessary elements for such strikes,” Ryabykh continues.

In addition, all elements have been linked together using the Link system for F-16 aircraft.

He suggests that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have likely been using ballistic missiles for about a year, as experts could not clearly identify the strike means in many cases.

“This system, apparently, is already undergoing real combat testing. We are talking either about the start of serial production or it just begins now,” the expert explains.

In 2024, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had successfully tested its first domestically produced ballistic missile. However, no more details on timing, production, and the number of missiles have been disclosed. 

The Israeli Patriot systems that once defended Tel Aviv in the ’90s are now saving Ukrainian cities from Russian missile strikes.

Israel has been helping Ukraine militarily, specifically by transferring Patriot air defense systems that are currently operating to protect Ukrainian skies. This was confirmed by the Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky.

“These systems are now in Ukraine. These are Israeli systems that were in service in Israel in the early 1990s. We agreed to transfer them to Ukraine,” Brodsky said in an interview with Marichka Dovbenko.

The ambassador stressed that claims that Israel is not providing military aid are false.

“When people say Israel didn’t help militarily — that’s not true,” Brodsky emphasized.

The Patriot systems in question recently proved their effectiveness — on the night of 9 June, Ukrainian forces shot down all four Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles launched by Russian troops.

“The existing Patriot systems performed at 100% today. There is no other way to intercept such targets,” said Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat during a live broadcast on Channel 5.

He noted that the Patriots allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to effectively destroy not only Kinzhal missiles but also other complex targets, including Iskander systems, capable of launching 800 kg missiles. 

After the large-scale Ukrainian strike on Russian airfields, Russia was preparing an Iskander missile attack on Kyiv, but Ukraine’s Defense Forces launched a preemptive strike on the launchers in Bryansk Oblast.

Four days after the airfield attack, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in coordination with the Security Service and other units of the Defense Forces, launched a missile strike on a Russian missile unit concentration area.

“The 26th missile brigade of the Russian military, operating from the area of Klintsy in Bryansk Oblast, was preparing to strike one of the Ukrainian population centers—most likely Kyiv,” the Ukrainian report states.

Due to effective intelligence and coordinated action by the Ukrainian units, the intended targets were successfully hit. 

“One Russian missile launcher detonated, and two others were likely damaged,” the statement adds.

The extent of the damage is still being verified.

The General Staff emphasized that the timely and effective combat actions by Ukraine’s defenders helped prevent civilian casualties.

The Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile carries a conventional warhead weighing nearly 800 kilograms.  Ukraine counters the missiles with the US-supplied Patriot system. Russia recently modernized the Iskander-M to make interception more difficult: it can now deploy radar decoys and perform evasive maneuvers during its terminal flight phase. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that “with every new strike, with every delay of diplomacy, Russia is showing the middle finger to the entire world—to all those who still hesitate to increase pressure on it.” 

Ukrainian forces launched a missile strike on June 5 targeting a concentration of Russian missile troops near the city of Klintsy in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported.

The strike reportedly destroyed one Iskander missile launcher and seriously damaged two others. The targeted unit, part of Russia’s 26th Missile Brigade, had attempted to fire on Ukrainian territory — likely aiming at Kyiv — before it was hit, according to the military.

"Thanks to effective reconnaissance and the coordinated efforts of the Armed Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine, the targets were successfully hit," the General Staff said.

The agency added that there were no civilian casualties, and assessments of Russian losses are ongoing.

The Iskander is a short-range ballistic missile system used by Russia for precision strikes against military and infrastructure targets.

With a range of up to 500 kilometers (some 311 miles) and the ability to carry conventional or nuclear warheads, the system remains a key component of Russia's tactical missile forces.

Bryansk Oblast lies just northeast of Ukraine's Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts, making it one of the key Russian regions bordering northern Ukraine.

The strike came as part of Ukraine's broader effort to degrade Russia's offensive capabilities.

On the same night, Russia launched 103 drones — including Iranian-designed Shahed suicide drones — and one Iskander-M ballistic missile against Ukrainian territory.

Targeting missile assets there may disrupt Russia's ability to launch precision strikes, particularly in advance of an anticipated new summer offensive.

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

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.

Russia aimed what may have been an Iskander missile at apparent high-value targets—and missed. The drone-hunting plane or planes the Russians hoped to blow up weren’t there. 

On or just before 23 May, Russia’s strike complex—aerial or satellite intel cueing Russian missile strikes across Ukraine—identified what the Russian planners clearly believed were active Ukrainian warplanes at an airfield in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, 50 km from the front line in southern Ukraine.

A ballistic missile, potentially a $3 million Iskander missile—one of Russia’s best missiles—streaked down. The Russian missile strike turned the airfield into flames. 

The targets, according to Russian bloggers, were three propeller-driven “drone-destroyers.” A clear reference to the old Yakovlev Yak-52 piston-engine training planes Ukrainian forces fly on anti-drone patrols using Russian missile defense tactics.

Yak-52s would’ve been worthwhile targets for Russian missiles. Ukrainian airmen have been taking charge of the 1970s-vintage planes, apparently buying or borrowing them from civilian flying clubs, and flying them over front-line cities in southern Ukraine with a pilot in the front seat and a shotgun-armed gunner in the back seat.

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Ukraine’s WWI-style drone hunter worked so well that Russia had to steal the idea

The shotgun-armed Yak-52s—inexpensive, slow-flying, and maneuverable—are perfect drone hunters that have frustrated Russian missile targeting. In a heady three months starting last May, one Ukrainian Yak-52 shot down a large number of Russian drones over Kherson Oblast, prompting increased Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian positions.

Fans of the World War I-style barnstormer posted videos and photos of the Yak-52 in action and on the ground. A growing number of kill markings on the side of the old trainer spoke to its effectiveness against Russian missiles and drones. It worked so well that the Ukrainian intelligence directorate also began training gunners to hunt Russian unmanned aerial vehicles from locally-made Aeroprakt A-22 sport planes.

That first Yakovlev drone killer was so irritating to Russian planners that, in July, they targeted the plane at its apparent base near Odesa using an Iskander missile strike. On 15 July, a Russian drone surveyed the airfield, pinpointing several parked Ukrainian UAVs, as well as hangars where the Yak-52 may have sheltered.

Successful and unsuccessful Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s drone hunters

An Iskander missile streaked in, exploding between the drones and the hangars. One analyst scrutinized video and satellite imagery and concluded that the Russian missile strike damaged three drones and several hangars on 15 July.

It’s unclear whether the Yak-52 was in one of the damaged hangars when the Russian missile hit. But it’s telling that, after the Iskander missile strike, there were no new sightings of the famous piston plane.

There are scores of Yak-52s in Ukraine. And there was nothing stopping the Ukrainian defense ministry from acquiring a replacement plane after the Russian missile attack. Eight months later, a second Yak-52 drone killer took to the air. 

A screengrab from the video feed of a Russian surveillance drone that circulated online on 24 March depicted a dramatically painted Yak-52 maneuvering into position so its back-seat gunner can take a shot at the drone with a rifle, despite the threat of Russian missile strikes.

It was that plane, or its equivalents, that the Russians were apparently targeting with their Iskander missile on 23 May—obviously hoping to duplicate their July success with another precise Russian missile strike.

Footage of Russian missile strike on a small airfield located near Kyslychuvatka in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

The only planes stationed at that airport are Soviet-era Antonov An-2 biplanes. As Google Earth satellite imagery show, those An-2s have been there for years (pic… pic.twitter.com/wxRkIFFZpE

— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) May 23, 2025

A four-ton, 500-km-range Iskander missile is a powerful weapon in Russia’s arsenal. And the Russian deep strike complex using these missiles is a constant threat to Ukrainian forces everywhere in the war-torn country.

But a Russian missile strike is only as effective as its supporting intel. In this case, the intel was bad. So the expensive Russian missile likely blew up old, grounded An-2s instead of active Ukrainian aircraft.

Ukraine’s Yak-52—or Yak-52s—survived to fight another day, continuing to evade Russian missiles and hunt drones.

The bad news for Russian missile strike planners is good news for Ukrainian airmen and the troops and civilians they protect from Russian missiles and drones.

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Ukraine can’t shoot down all of Russia’s missiles. So they’re blowing them up before launch.

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Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support. Together, we can give David the best fighting chance he has.

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Russia’s missile-drone terror is a direct result of Western indecision, says Dmytro Zhmailo, co-founder and executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, ArmyInform reports. 

Zhmailo emphasizes that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin cynically talks about negotiations while continuing the war, and will continue to do so until he faces an adequate response.

According to him, Russia’s strategy is simple: act decisively while Europe and the US issue hollow ultimatums, observe passively, and make empty peace declarations.

“Trump said Putin would face sanctions — but nothing followed. His latest statement was: What if Russia doesn’t come to the negotiating table? If there’s no ceasefire? I’ll leave the process,” Zhmailo notes.

In contrast, autocracies, Putin’s allies, act with far more determination. Chinese technologies support Russia’s military-industrial complex, North Korean troops are fighting, and Iran supplies Shahed drones and ballistic missiles, all of which flow into Moscow’s power arsenal. 

“Israel promised that if Iranian ballistic missiles ended up in the Russian army, it would unblock military aid to Ukraine. That hasn’t happened at all. So, Putin sees the West’s inaction, and simply raises the stakes,” he adds. 

While the Russian dictator escalates, Ukraine urgently needs to unblock Western military assistance. Fresh US aid packages are unlikely to be approved in the short term. The last $8 billion in support was backed by the previous Joe Biden administration. Recently, US Secretary of State Rubio confirmed that no new aid packages are planned.

“That’s why Europe must wake up,” Zhmailo belives.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered separate funding to be allocated to Ukraine’s ballistic missile program in response to Russian aerial terror.

Moscow strikes cities while pretending to pursue “peace initiatives.” In response, Ukraine is accelerating the production of ultra-fast missiles. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered separate funding to be allocated to Ukraine’s ballistic missile program.

President Zelenskyy addressed the situation in his evening speech, following the record-breaking Russian strike. Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and his circle have no intention of ending the war, according to intelligence, he said.

“On the contrary, there’s plenty of evidence that they are preparing new offensive operations. Russia is counting on a long war,” the Ukrainian president claimed.

During the meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff, Zelenskyy ordered Ukraine’s leadership to thoroughly analyze the consequences of the Russian strikes, their drone tactics, and responses.

“I also ordered separate funding to be allocated for our Ukrainian ballistic missile program — to speed up missile production,” Zelenskyy said.

Earlier, Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that Russia has upgraded its Iskander-M ballistic missiles to make them harder to intercept.

Each upgraded missile can now deploy radar-decoying countermeasures during its final approach to the target. According to Ihnat, this modernization has reduced the effectiveness of the Patriot air defense systems against Russian ballistic missiles.

“I believe our partners are working on this — to improve the system in response,” Ihnat stated.

Earlier, Umerov met with representatives of Raytheon, one of the key producers of Patriot systems, the only weapons in Ukraine that are capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

The top agenda issue was Kyiv’s urgent need for additional air defense systems and missiles.

On 25 May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy harshly condemned the overnight Russian attack that struck more than 10 regions of Ukraine. He accused the world of silence, which, he said, only encourages Putin to commit further crimes. 

During the 24-25 May night assault, Russia launched 14 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and deployed 250 Shahed drones and decoys.

“Today, rescue workers were active in over 30 Ukrainian towns and villages following the massive Russian strike,” Zelenskyy said.

Nearly 300 strike drones were launched by Russia overnight — most of them Shaheds. Almost 70 missiles of various types, including ballistic ones, were also used, the Ukrainian leader reported.

According to him, the targets included Kyiv and the surrounding region, as well as Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy oblasts.

“Residential buildings were destroyed and damaged. In Kyiv, university dormitories belonging to the faculty of history were hit. There were also strikes on industrial facilities. Tragically, there are fatalities, including children. My condolences,” he wrote on social media.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia is dragging out this war and continues killing every day.

“The world may go on a weekend, but the war goes on — regardless of weekdays or holidays. This cannot be ignored. America’s silence, the silence of others around the world, only emboldens Putin. He must be forced to think not about launching missiles, but about ending the war,” the Ukrainian president said.

He called for new sanctions against Russia and stressed that this brutality cannot be stopped without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership.

“Sanctions will absolutely help. Determination matters now—the determination of the US, of European countries, of all those in the world who seek peace,” he added. 

The Russian attack killed 12 people and injured more than 50 civilians.