Poland’s Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on 17 June that Poland has recorded GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea, attributing the interference to Russian activities.

Speaking to journalists on 17 June, Kosiniak-Kamysz addressed mounting concerns from drone operators who have reported system failures across northern Poland, according to Polish public broadcaster RMF24.

“According to our sources, this is largely related to the actions of the Russian Federation, including acts of sabotage,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated during the press conference. “We are monitoring these disruptions. They are recorded over the waters of the Baltic Sea, also by our NATO allies – both in the Baltic countries and in Northern Europe.”

The minister confirmed that Poland is actively responding to the situation. “According to our sources, these actions are related to the activities of the Russian Federation, including sabotage,” he emphasized.

Kosiniak-Kamysz revealed that a special security committee was convened several weeks ago to address the disruptions. General Maciej Klisz, the operational commander, prepared recommendations for military aviation while authorities shared information with civilian aviation, flight control agencies, and the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency.

The defense minister stressed the need for heightened vigilance due to increasing incidents of signal interference.

The Polish announcement follows broader regional concerns about navigation system disruptions. Lithuania and 12 other EU countries recently called on the European Commission to take action regarding Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) communication disruptions across member states.

In their letter to the Commission, the countries characterized the GNSS signal disruptions as systematic, repetitive, and targeted actions by Russian and Belarusian regimes aimed at undermining stable infrastructure operations in the region, particularly communications systems.

Days later, Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa announced that the scope of Russian-blocked GPS signals continues to expand.

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The United Nations condemned Russia’s proposal to exchange abducted Ukrainian children for Russian prisoners of war, with a senior UN official stating that civilians should not be used as bargaining chips.

“Obviously, all innocent civilians, including innocent children, should not be used as bargaining chips,” Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq told Ukrinform when commenting on the Russian proposal revealed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Haq emphasized that this principle applies to conflicts worldwide. The UN has repeatedly stressed that deportation of children during conflict constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

President Zelenskyy disclosed that Russians had proposed exchanging Ukrainian children for their military prisoners. The Ukrainian leader characterized the occupiers’ proposal as “beyond understanding and beyond the bounds of international law.”

The issue gained prominence during negotiations in Istanbul, where the Russian delegation acknowledged that Russia had abducted Ukrainian children, according to Zelenskyy’s 2 June statement.

First Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Kislytsia provided details of the negotiations on 5 June, reporting that Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky cynically stated during talks that Russia “has a couple of dozen, maybe a hundred Ukrainian children.” The same Putin associate confirmed receiving from Ukraine a list of 339 abducted children, Kislytsia said.

Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets reports that as of October 2024, Russian forces have abducted more than 20,000 children from Ukraine. An additional 1.5 million children could potentially be deported, according to his data.

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Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) counterintelligence detained a 44-year-old Kyiv resident suspected of collaborating with Russian military intelligence and directing missile and drone attacks against the Kyiv region, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The suspect worked with the “Senezh” special purpose center of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, according to the investigation. Russian military intelligence first noticed him during a “Roulette” chat broadcast where he expressed pro-Russian views.

After recruitment, the man began tracking locations of local enterprises that he believed could be involved in producing military equipment for Ukraine’s Defense Forces. The detained suspect planned to use the collected data to prepare strikes on the capital region while bypassing Ukrainian air defense systems, according to investigators.

The Security Service documented the suspect’s activities and implemented comprehensive measures to protect Ukrainian enterprises before arresting him at his residence in Kyiv.

Authorities seized two phones from the detained man containing photos of Ukrainian facilities with Google Maps coordinates attached.

The man has been charged with high treason under martial law conditions. He faces life imprisonment with property confiscation.

The detention represents the latest in a series of recent SBU operations against alleged Russian agents. On 6 June, the SBU reported detaining men who prepared terrorist attacks in Dnipro and Lviv oblast on Russia’s orders. On 9 June, authorities arrested a Kyiv resident accused of identifying air defense positions in the capital and coordinating strikes. On 11 June, a 57-year-old unemployed local resident was detained in Lviv Oblast on suspicion of providing Russian special services with data about airfield operations and preparing new attacks on the oblast.

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The Fahrenheit clothing company suspended operations indefinitely after Russian forces damaged its production facility during a massive overnight attack on Kyiv on 17 June. The strike hit the factory where the company manufactures clothing and underwear for civilians and military personnel.

“We are forced to report that due to another barbaric attack by Russia, our production was damaged,” the company announced on Facebook. “The blow fell on the place where we have been creating clothes for everyone for years, including for our military.”

The attack forced Fahrenheit to cancel all current orders and halt acceptance of new ones for an indefinite period, according to the company’s statement.

The June 17 strike was part of what authorities called “one of the most extensive bombardments in recent months,” killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more across Ukraine. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the attack involved more than 440 drones and 32 missiles launched overnight, targeting multiple oblasts including Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv oblasts.

Kyiv authorities confirmed 14 fatalities and more than 100 injuries in the capital by 9:30 am. In Odesa, regional administration reported one person killed and 17 injured during the bombardment.

The attack on Fahrenheit represents another blow to Ukrainian businesses supporting the war effort. The company’s facility produced essential clothing items for the Armed Forces of Ukraine alongside civilian garments.

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Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics, located 50 kilometers from the EU’s external border with Belarus, is developing underground infrastructure, shelters, helicopter landing sites and autonomous systems to function without electricity or water supplies, according to Politico.

The hospital’s preparations mirror those across the region. Estonian authorities are procuring body armor for ambulance crews and satellite phones to maintain communications if traditional networks fail. Plans include generating an independent internet network if necessary.

“We know for certain that Russia targets the civilian infrastructure and energy structures, and that means that you cannot have these kinds of situations where the hospital doesn’t work because there are some power plant problems,” said Ragnar Vaiknemets, deputy director general of the Estonian Health Board.

Electrical generators are being installed across healthcare systems, following Ukraine’s experience with Russian strikes that routinely cut off civilian power. Many hospitals in Eastern Europe — built during the Soviet era — present particular vulnerabilities as large, high buildings concentrated in single complexes.

“I can’t imagine working on a top level … of the hospital just waiting to get hit,” Vaiknemets said, explaining plans to repurpose basements as operating theaters.

Capacity and supply challenges

European countries average 11.5 intensive care beds per 100,000 population, but wartime needs could require three to five times this capacity, according to Bjørn Guldvog, special adviser at the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Most facilities can sustain only 120-150 percent of normal surgical volume for 24 to 48 hours.

Estonia has allocated €25 million for mass casualty supplies, including orthopedic gear, tourniquets and trauma kits — “the only heavy investment we have made,” Health Minister Riina Sikkut said in February.

Latvia requires healthcare institutions to maintain a three-month supply of medicines, a policy established during Covid-19. “I have never thought that I would say thanks to Covid, but thanks to Covid … we found financial resources,” said Agnese Vaļuliene, health ministry state secretary.

The Baltic states’ proximity to potential front lines creates additional challenges for emergency supply storage. Jos Joosten, a medical adviser at the European External Action Service, said other EU countries must identify scarce resources for smaller nations and surrender some sovereignty to enable EU-level distribution decisions.

Workforce uncertainty

Staff shortages present a fundamental challenge for Baltic healthcare systems already stretched thin in peacetime. Estonia, with 1.3 million people, has nearly half the healthcare workforce per capita of Germany.

A Lithuanian survey found that over a quarter of health workers would likely flee during war, while fewer than 40 percent would stay and a third were unsure. Estonia anticipates similar patterns, with officials estimating 50-60 percent of the population don’t yet know how they would respond.

“There are patriots, the first responders, the people that we know without question will stay,” Vaiknemets said. “Of course, there are naysayers that talk about going to Spain straight away.”

Paramedic Noreikaitė signed a declaration committing to work if war breaks out in Lithuania, but acknowledged uncertainty about actual response rates. “But how it would really be — who would come and who wouldn’t — I don’t know. Personally, I don’t have children or a family yet, so I think I would stay,” she said.

Latvian pulmonologist Rūdolfs Vilde said some doctors were considering fleeing if war breaks out, especially parents who “don’t see how it would be suitable for them to ditch the children somewhere and be in the hospital in times of military crisis.”

Learning from Ukraine’s experience

Baltic medical professionals are traveling to Ukraine to observe firsthand how hospitals manage missile strikes, mass casualties and power outages. Vaiva Jankienė, a nurse who has volunteered over 20 times in Ukraine since April 2022, described the scale of injuries as “difficult to comprehend.”

“After the drone attacks, the consequences are hard to imagine,” Jankienė said. “Injuries like these,” she sighed, “every single medical professional who saw them said the same thing: We couldn’t have imagined it would look like this.”

While a trauma doctor in Lithuania might perform one amputation annually, Ukrainian hospital wards are filled with patients suffering amputations of multiple limbs plus other severe injuries. “We have very little experience treating such complex, multiple traumas,” she said.

Regional evacuation planning

The use of advanced weaponry in Ukraine — including long-range missiles and military drones — means the front line is no longer a fixed boundary. Attacks can reach targets hundreds of kilometers away, making evacuation plans essential for countries throughout the region.

Joosten warned that EU solidarity will be tested if conflicts escalate. “If Lithuania is overrun, who’s responsible for Lithuanians, because there’s no Lithuania anymore? But the European Union is (still there),” he said.

He urged EU institutions to create funds for handling civilian and military casualties, as well as displaced populations, noting that casualty numbers could dramatically exceed Ukraine’s experience. “Those 4,000 patients we moved away from Ukraine, that’s nothing, 4,000 in three years,” he said. “Let’s talk about 4,000 in two weeks, and then the next two weeks again.”

The preparations reflect a shift in mindset across NATO’s eastern flank. “It’s not a question of if [Russia] will attack,” Vaiknemets said. “It’s a question about when.”

As Lithuania’s deputy health minister Daniel Naumovas put it in February: “We have bad neighbors here: Russia and Belarus.” While all EU countries face similar challenges, some are “in the vanguard where the water is cold,” he said. “Water is splashing on our face; water of war.”

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Ukrainian drone operators have begun teaching Estonia’s volunteer Defence League military warfare tactics in a program now in its third week, ERR reported on 16 June.

The training near Tapa base involves teams of volunteers hunting each other’s drones. “The specific task for this course is for the third weekend – we’ve split into two teams that have to find each other, report it, and call in long-range fire,” said operator Erki.

Ukrainian instructors currently on leave from the front lines are leading the program. “Artillery – that’s like the ‘weapon’ of God. I would say drones – those are the ‘eyes’ of God. Right now, nothing gets to happen without a drone,” said instructor “Max.”

Another instructor, “Picasso,” described combat reality: “In the evening we’re taken to our position – between 7 and 8 PM. You get out of the car, grab your gear, carry it into the dugout and start work right away. It lasts six hours. After that, you sleep for six hours. You fly, you bomb.”

Front-line deployments can last weeks. On average it is seven days and nights. “But the longest I’ve been there was 29 days,” “Picasso” said. Soldiers use Starlink because a 4G solution reportedly only shows the enemy the target.

Estonia’s new “Kullisilm” (Hawk’s eye) drone unit was announced last month. Current trainees will become instructors this fall, teaching new students in forest and bunker locations.

The program builds on Estonia’s purchase of over 100 training drones two years ago. Baltic neighbors Latvia and Lithuania also operate drone manufacturing facilities and transfer portions of production to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Politico reports Baltic countries are preparing hospitals for possible war with Russia.

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Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) detained former parliamentarian Aleksejs Rosļikovs on 16 June, following criminal charges related to his Russian-language outburst in parliament, Latvian Television reported.

The VDD opened criminal proceedings against Rosļikovs on 9 June on suspicion of assisting the aggressor state Russia in actions against Latvia and inciting national hatred and discord.

The case stems from Rosļikovs’ conduct during a 5 June parliamentary session, when he was expelled from the Saeima for rudeness and speaking Russian. During debate on a draft resolution titled “Declaration on the criminal Russification of Latvia by the Soviet occupation regime and the elimination of its linguistic consequences,” Rosļikovs took the podium to oppose including the project on the agenda.

At the end of his speech, he shouted a phrase in Russian that translates as: “There are more of us, our language is Russian!”

Following the incident, Rosļikovs told Latvian Television he did not regret his actions. “This was his response to restrictions on his native language, Russian,” the broadcaster reported.

The VDD had previously warned Rosļikovs “several times in preventive conversations about the expected criminal liability,” according to the security service.

Investigators identified signs of criminal offenses under Article 81.1 and Article 78 of the Criminal Law – assistance to a foreign state in actions directed against the Republic of Latvia, and inciting national hatred and discord. State officials face up to 20 years imprisonment for assisting foreign states in actions directed against Latvia.

The State Language Center initiated administrative violation proceedings regarding Rosļikovs’ actions, while the State Police will review complaints from several Saeima deputies about his conduct.

Rosļikovs, who represented the “Stability!” party, lost his parliamentary mandate after being elected to Riga City Council, meaning he can no longer be punished for potential ethics violations in his former role as MP.

Former President Valdis Zatlers commented that the deputy was trying to address his voters and that the incident demonstrated why it is important to participate in elections.

Russia could reach the borders of Romania, a NATO member, and attack other countries if Europe fails to help defend Moldova. On 11 June, at the Ukraine–Southeastern Europe summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that after targeting Moldova, Moscow plans to occupy the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, UNIAN reports. 

According to Zelenskyy, Southeastern Europe and Ukraine are among Russia’s targets for provoking chaos in Europe. Moscow has already stirred unrest in the Balkans, attempted to manipulate public opinion in Romania, and has kept Moldova in poverty and instability for three decades in an effort to bring it under its control, he said. 

“If Europe loses Moldova this year, it will encourage Russia to interfere even more in your countries, seizing your resources, your sovereignty, and even your history,” Zelenskyy warned.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that Russia does not see Ukraine as a sovereign state, but rather as a heap of resources and a military platform for future invasions.

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Regardless of what Putin believes, Zelenskyy said, European countries must put Russia in a position where the aggressor is forced to seek peace. He emphasized that this is entirely possible and depends on Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

“Air defense systems and drones are crucial. Another key tool is sanctions,” he claimed.

Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine needs stronger support, especially regarding Russian oil tankers and the aggressor’s financial sector.

“About the oil price cap: $45 per barrel is better than $60—that’s obvious, that’s true. But real peace will come with a cap of $30 per barrel,” he emphasized.

He also urged European countries to treat postwar security guarantees as a matter of practical necessity.

Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukraine’s defense forces have proven remarkably effective at targeting Russian rotary-wing aircraft, achieving key tactical victories that have impacted Russia’s air support capabilities. These incidents are not just statistics; they highlight evolving warfare dynamics, the ingenuity of defenders, and underscore the potency of modern weapon systems used against even advanced aircraft. Tracking confirmed losses and captures provides crucial insights into the ongoing air war. Here are five major incidents including notable captures and successful shoot-downs that have significantly impacted Russia’s helicopter fleet and made international headlines between 2022 and 2025.

Detailed Incidents

1. Captured Ka‑52 “Alligator” near Kyiv Airport (Feb–Apr 2022)

• Incident: During the initial, intense assault on Kyiv on 24 February 2022, Russian Ka‑52 “Alligator” attack helicopters played a key role in attempting to secure objectives like the Hostomel airport. Exposed to determined Ukrainian air defenses, several were hit by MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems). One specific Ka-52 sustained damage and crash-landed near Hostomel airport. Its wreck remained relatively intact in the field through early April 2022, after the initial Russian advance was repelled. Ukrainian special operations forces eventually secured the downed helicopter.


• Significance:
  
  
  
  • This incident was one of the earliest high-profile confirmed losses of Russia’s most advanced attack helicopter type.
  
  
  • Crucially, securing a relatively intact airframe provided Ukrainian forces, and potentially their Western partners, with rare access to modern Russian aviation technology.
  
  
  • Analyzing its systems, avionics, and countermeasures offered invaluable insights into Russian capabilities and weaknesses, informing defensive strategies and electronic warfare efforts.
  
  
  • The capture became a symbol of failed Russian air assault tactics during the initial phase of the invasion.
  
  
  
  

2. Russian Mi-8 Helicoper Captured by Defecting Pilot (Aug 2023)

• Incident: In a stunning and highly unusual incident in August 2023, a Russian Mi-8AMTSh transport helicopter, carrying parts for Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets, landed at a Ukrainian military airfield near Kharkiv. The pilot, Maksym Kuzminov, had deliberately defected to Ukraine in a pre-planned operation coordinated with Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR). The two other crew members onboard, unaware of the plan, were reportedly killed attempting to resist after landing.


• Significance:
  
  
  
  • This was a major intelligence coup for Ukraine, providing access not only to a modern Mi-8 variant but also to valuable aircraft parts and, most importantly, the pilot’s testimony and insights into Russian air force operations and morale.
  
  
  • The incident delivered a significant psychological blow to the Russian military, highlighting potential internal dissent and raising concerns about the trustworthiness of their personnel.
  
  
  • It demonstrated the effectiveness of Ukrainian intelligence operations aimed at encouraging defections.
  
  
  • The captured helicopter itself became a military asset for Ukraine and a subject of international media attention.
  
  
  
  

3. HIMARS Strikes on Ka‑52 & Mi‑8 in Russia’s Belgorod (Mar 2025)

• Incident: In a sophisticated deep-action strike in March 2025, Ukrainian forces successfully targeted a forward staging airfield in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located relatively close to the Ukrainian border. Utilizing M30A2-guided rockets fired from the US-provided HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), Ukrainian precision strikes reportedly destroyed two Ka‑52 attack helicopters and two Mi‑8 transports that were positioned on the ground.


• Significance:
  
  
  
  • This strike demonstrated Ukraine’s increasing capability to accurately hit high-value Russian military assets located deep behind the immediate front lines using Western-supplied long-range precision artillery.
  
  
  • Targeting helicopters on the ground, particularly advanced types like the Ka-52, is an effective way to degrade Russia’s air support capabilities before they can even reach the combat zone.
  
  
  • The incident underscored the vulnerability of even seemingly secure forward operating bases to modern guided missile systems like HIMARS.
  
  
  • It highlighted Ukraine’s intelligence capabilities in identifying and targeting valuable concentrations of Russian military equipment.
  
  
  
  

SOF, along with the military intelligence and Rocket Forces and Artillery, struck and destroyed 4 russian helicopters – two Kamov Ka-52 and two Mil Mi-8 – behind enemy lines at russia’s hidden position for rapid redeployment or attacks against Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/57swOQxZnc

— SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OF UKRAINE (@SOF_UKR) March 24, 2025

4. Significant Mi‑24/35 and Ka‑52 Losses in 2023 Combat Operations

• Mi‑24/35: The Mi-24 (Hind) and its modernized variants (Mi-35) have been workhorse attack helicopters for Russia. Throughout 2023, these aircraft continued to operate in contested airspace and faced significant threats. For instance, in early April 2023, a Russian Mi‑24VM variant was specifically reported as shot down in Kharkiv Oblast due to MANPADS fire.


• Ka‑52: The Ka-52 “Alligator” saw extensive use, particularly in supporting ground offensives in 2023. However, it also suffered heavy losses. Reports from open sources and visually confirmed losses tracked by organizations like Oryx indicate that numerous Ka‑52s were destroyed across combat zones including critical sectors like Vuhledar, Avdiivka, and areas in Belgorod Oblast. Visual confirmations alone account for over 64 losses of this type throughout the conflict by the end of 2023, with reports suggesting over 20 destroyed within that specific year.


• Significance:
  
  
  
  • These sustained losses underscore the persistent vulnerability of Russian attack helicopters to a combination of layered Ukrainian defenses, including shoulder-fired MANPADS, short-range air defenses, artillery fire, FPV drones, and electronic warfare that disrupts their targeting and navigation.
  
  
  • Despite their armor and countermeasures, both older Mi-24/35 and newer Ka-52s proved susceptible when operating in high-threat environments.
  
  
  • The attrition rate for these helicopters significantly degraded Russia’s ability to provide close air support and perform reconnaissance effectively.
  
  
  
  

5. Mi‑28N “Night Hunter” Wreckages Found in Hostomel (2022)

• Incident: During the initial invasion in February 2022, Russian forces attempted to seize key airfields, including Hostomel, using helicopter assaults spearheaded by attack aviation. Among the types deployed was the Mil Mi-28N “Night Hunter,” intended as Russia’s premier all-weather attack helicopter. Following the failed assault on Kyiv and the withdrawal of Russian forces from northern Ukraine in late March and April 2022, the wreckage of at least two Mi‑28N attack helicopters was discovered in the vicinity of Hostomel and other northern areas like Kharkiv Oblast. These losses were attributed to successful engagements by Ukrainian ground forces using MANPADS and other ground-based anti-aircraft fire.


• Significance:
  
  
  
  • The loss of Mi-28N helicopters, similar to the Ka-52 losses, demonstrated that even Russia’s newer, technologically advanced attack helicopters were not immune to Ukrainian air defenses.
  
  
  • It showed that aircraft intended for high survivability in contested environments could be effectively neutralized by relatively low-cost, portable weapon systems when operating at low altitudes or during vulnerable phases of flight like landings and takeoffs.
  
  
  • The presence of their wrecks among others near key objectives like Hostomel highlighted the heavy cost Russia paid in rotary-wing assets during the initial, unsuccessful attempts to achieve rapid air superiority and capture strategic points from the air.
  
  
  
  

Quick Stats on Russian Helicopter Losses (as of mid-2025)

Based on aggregated data from open sources like Oryx and reputable military analysis sites, the confirmed visual losses of Russian helicopters in Ukraine are significant:

• Ka‑52 “Alligator”: Around 60 visually confirmed destroyed, with others damaged or captured. This represents a substantial portion of Russia’s operational Ka-52 fleet entering the invasion.


• Mi-8/Mi-17 Transports: Over 23 visually confirmed destroyed, including various transport and specialized variants, with some captured (like the notable incident in August 2023). These losses impact troop and cargo movement capabilities.


• Mi-24/Mi-35 Attack Helicopters: Over 13 visually confirmed total losses of these older, but still widely used, attack helicopters.


• Mi-28N “Night Hunter”: Around 13 visually confirmed destroyed, with others damaged. These losses are particularly impactful given the Mi-28N’s intended role as a premier attack platform.


• Other Types: Additional losses include Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters, Ka-29, and other types, though in smaller numbers.

Collectively, the confirmed visually verifiable losses of Russian helicopters in the conflict likely exceed 100 airframes by mid-2025. While challenging to give an exact real-time figure (actual losses are likely higher than visually confirmed), this represents a significant percentage of Russia’s pre-war rotary-wing force and seriously degrades their air assault, close air support, and logistical capabilities. 

Why These Losses Matter

These specific incidents and the overall high rate of Russian helicopter losses are important for several reasons:

• Technological Evolution of Warfare: They powerfully demonstrate the rising efficacy and proliferation of modern anti-air systems, ranging from advanced MANPADS and short-range air defenses to guided missiles (like HIMARS against ground targets) and the increasing threat posed by various types of drones.


• Shifting Air Warfare Dynamics: The vulnerability of rotary-wing assets in contested airspaces signals a significant shift from earlier conflicts where helicopters could often operate with relative impunity. This forces changes in tactics, requiring greater caution, better electronic warfare support, and adaptation to operate in environments where the “air is not clear.”


• Impact on Ground Operations: Helicopters are vital for rapid troop deployment, close air support, medical evacuation, and logistics. Their significant attrition rate directly impedes Russia’s ability to conduct these operations effectively, impacting the pace and success of ground offensives.


• Intelligence Gathering: The capture of intact or relatively intact airframes (like the Ka-52 and Mi-8) provides invaluable intelligence on Russian technology and tactics, aiding Ukraine and its allies in developing countermeasures.


• Psychological and Morale Impact: Capturing and destroying expensive, high-profile military assets like attack helicopters not only has operational consequences but also serves as a powerful symbol of resistance and success for Ukrainian forces, undermining Russian morale.

Takeaway

The cases of Russian helicopters captured or destroyed in Ukraine showcase the brutal realities of modern warfare and the effectiveness of determined defense against technologically advanced adversaries. The evolving methods used by Ukrainian forces ranging from proven surface-to-air missiles and precise HIMARS strikes against ground targets, to innovative uses of drones and successful intelligence operations leading to captures highlight Ukraine’s strategic innovation and adaptation.

These incidents not only shift battlefield dynamics by making rotary-wing assets significantly more vulnerable but symbolize a broader recalibration of air power effectiveness in the face of widely available and capable defensive systems in 2025.

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Western security officials continue to assess that Russia is preparing for a protracted confrontation with NATO, according to recent intelligence briefings and statements from alliance leadership.

NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte disclosed on 9 June that intelligence assessments indicate Russia will produce 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armored vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles in 2025. The production figures may include both new vehicles and refurbished equipment from Russia’s Soviet-era stockpiles, though Rutte did not specify the breakdown between these categories.

“Russia is cooperating with the People’s Republic of China, North Korea, and Iran and Russia is reconstituting its forces with Chinese technology,” Rutte said during the briefing.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed on 9 June that Russia does not need to reconstitute its forces to pre-2022 levels before posing a threat to NATO states. According to ISW’s analysis, Russia could launch military operations against a NATO state before 2030.

Rutte also announced that Russia “could be capable of launching military operations against NATO within five years,” aligning closely with the ISW assessment timeline.

In response to these threat assessments, NATO defense ministers agreed on 5 June to increase air and missile defense spending by 400 percent. The spending increase aims to protect against large-scale drone and missile strikes similar to those Russia has deployed against Ukraine.

ISW reported on 8 June that Russian officials are establishing groundwork to exit international arms control agreements as part of preparations for potential military confrontation with NATO. The assessment indicates Moscow may exploit the ongoing Ukraine war to justify renouncing participation in additional international arms control frameworks as it prepares for expanded confrontation with Western powers.

Russia’s potential withdrawal from arms control mechanisms would eliminate key constraints on weapons development and deployment that have maintained strategic stability since the Cold War era, according to the ISW analysis.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will call for a 400% increase in air and missile defence systems during a speech in London on 9 June, Reuters reported, citing Rutte’s office.

The proposal represents one of the key priorities for the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for 24-25 June in The Hague, where alliance members will discuss enhanced defence capabilities.

The NATO chief argues that current defence levels are insufficient for maintaining credible deterrence.

“The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence. The fact is, we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defence plans in full,” he said.

Rutte’s call comes as European nations face mounting pressure to increase military spending following signals from US President Donald Trump about shifting American policy priorities. The Secretary General is pushing alliance members to boost defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, with an additional 1.5% allocated to broader security-related expenditures.

This would meet Trump’s demand for a 5% target, which Rutte said last month he assumed would be agreed at the June summit.

Bloomberg previously reported that NATO has asked European member countries to increase ground-based air defence forces by five times, though individual targets for each nation vary and implementation timelines remain undetermined.

Several countries have already announced spending increases. Britain pledged to raise defence expenditure from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a target of 3% at a later date. Germany indicated it will need approximately 50,000 to 60,000 additional active soldiers under new NATO requirements.

The enhanced defence call reflects ongoing concerns about regional security amid Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine.

Ukraine’s military intelligence has disclosed technical specifications of Russia’s V2U strike drone, which employs artificial intelligence for autonomous target selection and operates primarily in the Sumy Oblast, according to a report from the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

The drone’s computational system runs on a Chinese Leetop A203 minicomputer powered by an NVIDIA Jetson Orin high-speed processor assembly, intelligence officials revealed. This configuration enables the aircraft to identify and engage targets without human intervention.

“V2U is equipped with only one GPS module, which likely indicates Russians’ abandonment of satellite navigation due to Ukrainian electronic warfare systems,” the intelligence reported. “Navigation is likely implemented through ‘computer vision’ — the drone compares camera images with pre-loaded terrain photos.”

The aircraft incorporates FPV control capabilities through LTE communication, utilizing a Microdrive Tandem-4GS-OEM-11 modem-router that operates with Ukrainian mobile carrier SIM cards, according to the intelligence assessment.

Ukrainian analysts determined that despite Russian markings, the modem’s components originate from China. The drone’s construction relies predominantly on Chinese-manufactured parts, including the engine, GPS module, servos, solid-state drive, rangefinder, speed controllers, and power elements.

“A Japanese light-sensitive Sony sensor, an electromagnetic relay from Irish company Te Connectivity, and the mentioned American Jetson Orin module are installed,” intelligence officials added.

The disclosure follows Russia’s 29 May deployment of another new weapon system — the Dan-M jet-powered strike drone capable of reaching altitudes up to 9 kilometers. Military communications expert Serhiy Beskrestnov said that Dan-M represents a converted aerial target originally designed for air defense training and testing.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed on Facebook that Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, together with other Defense Forces components, struck the Russian enterprise VNDIR-Progress on the night of 9 June.

The facility produces components for Shahed drones and is located more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

“A military-industrial complex facility where antennas for Shaheds were manufactured has been hit. The strike on the facility by at least two UAVs and the subsequent large-scale fire have been confirmed. The results of the strike are being clarified,” the General Staff reported.

The attack occurred as part of efforts aimed at “reducing the Russian capability to manufacture means of air attack,” according to Ukrainian military officials.

The General Staff specified that VNDIR-Progress is a facility of Russian military-industrial complex that manufactures navigation equipment. The enterprise produces adaptive “Komet” antennas used in Shahed-type strike UAVs, unified planning and correction modules for guided aerial bombs, and other precision weapons.

Ukrainian forces had previously targeted four Russian airports with temporary flight restrictions on the night of 9 June, while explosions were reported in Cheboksary, the capital of the Chuvash Republic. Later reports confirmed that the drone attack in Cheboksary caused a fire at the VNDIR-Progress facility, which produces “Komet” receivers that protect Russian military drones from Ukrainian electronic warfare systems. The plant suspended operations following the strike.

Russian forces launched a massive nighttime aerial assault on Ukraine’s Rivne Oblast early on 9 June, injuring one civilian, according to regional military administration head Oleksandr Koval.

Rivne Mayor Oleksandr Tretyak said that it was the most extensive assault on the oblast to date. Russian forces deployed dozens of Shahed drones and missiles against the oblast, Tretyak said.

Air defense forces destroyed numerous targets during the bombardment, Koval said. Defense forces and emergency services personnel are working at the strike sites, though the regional administration chief did not specify additional consequences of the Russian attack.

Explosions were heard overnight in Rivne, Dubno, and other settlements across the oblast. Ukraine’s Air Force had warned of missiles and drones heading toward Rivne and Dubno.

The assault extended beyond Rivne Oblast as Russian troops attacked Ukraine with Shahed drones from multiple directions while launching cruise and ballistic missiles. Kiev experienced explosions, with one drone striking an office building in the Darnytskyi district, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko.

The attack also affected Kyiv Oblast’s Boryspil district, where a residential building, outbuilding, and vehicle sustained damage, Kyiv Oblast police reported on Telegram.

The attack damaged a private house, car, and farm building in Boryspil district. No casualties has been reported.

Patrol officers, an investigative team, and explosives experts are working at the scene in Boryspil district. The air raid alert lasted over six hours as air defense systems operated across Kyiv and the surrounding oblast.

The overnight assault represented Russia’s latest large-scale drone attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities across the country.

A drone strike sparked a fire at a defense contractor in Cheboksary, Chuvashia Republic, forcing the facility to halt production of military equipment used by Russian forces in Ukraine.

AT “VNDIR-Progress” suspended operations after two drones struck the facility, according to Chuvash Republic head Oleg Nikolaev. The company manufactures “Kometa” satellite signal receivers that help Russian military drones evade Ukrainian electronic warfare systems, Telegram channel Astra reports.

“Two UAVs fell on the territory of AT ‘VNDIR’, which led to a decision to temporarily halt production to ensure employee safety,” Nikolaev said on Telegram. “One more drone each fell in fields of Cheboksary and Krasnoarmeysky municipal districts – there is no threat to people.”

The official made no mention of fire damage at the plant, noting only that there were no casualties and “all services are working in enhanced mode.”

However, Astra published photos and videos showing flames engulfing sections of the factory complex. The facility is located over 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine.

AT “VNDIR-Progress” operates as part of the “ABS Electro” manufacturing group. According to the company website, it develops and produces “scientific and technical products, software and hardware systems, automation and control systems, electrical products, electronic component base, electronic modules and radio-electronic products.”

Astra reports the plant specifically manufactures “Kometa/Kometa M” family satellite signal receivers for Russian armed forces. These devices enable Russian military units to circumvent Ukrainian electronic warfare capabilities.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed air defenses destroyed and intercepted 49 Ukrainian unmanned aircraft overnight. The ministry reported shooting down 13 drones each over Kursk and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts, nine each over Voronezh and Orel oblasts, two each over Bryansk Oblast and Chuvash Republic, and one over Belgorod Oblast.

On the night of 9 June, authorities imposed temporary flight restrictions at four Russian airports while explosions echoed through Cheboksary.

Poland’s president-elect Karol Nawrocki said he opposes Ukraine’s European Union membership at this time, according to an interview with Hungarian publication Mandiner.

“Currently, I am against Ukraine’s entry into the European Union,” Nawrocki said when asked about Brussels’ push for accelerated Ukrainian accession procedures.

The president was elected late in May, securing 50.89% of votes in the second round against Rafał Trzaskowski’s 49.11%.

He emphasized in the interview with Mandiner that Poland must support Ukraine strategically while protecting its own interests. Nawrocki argued that Ukraine must understand “other countries, including Poland and Hungary and other European countries, also have their own interests.”

He cited specific Polish concerns, including the exhumation of Volhynian massacre victims and protecting Polish agriculture from what he termed “unfair competition” with Ukraine. “During the campaign I did not agree, and as president I will not agree to unfair competition with Ukraine against Polish agriculture or the logistics sector,” Nawrocki said.

Despite his EU stance, Nawrocki described Russia as the region’s primary threat. “For me as an anti-communist, and in my opinion for the entire region, the greatest threat is the Russian Federation. This is a post-imperial, neo-communist state headed by Vladimir Putin, a war criminal,” he said.

The president-elect revealed personal stakes in the war, noting Russian authorities pursue him with criminal charges. “I am very critical of the Russian Federation, where, incidentally, they persecute me as president of the Institute of National Memory. Five years in prison camp threatens me,” according to Mandiner.

Nawrocki acknowledged Poland’s leading role in supporting Ukraine under outgoing President Andrzej Duda. However, he argued this support justifies Poland’s right to protect its interests. He called for “compromise and consensus” on contentious issues between the neighboring countries.

The president-elect, who takes office 6 August, previously said in January he saw Ukraine “neither in the EU nor in NATO.” Ukraine’s foreign ministry then rejected those comments as “biased and manipulative.”

Nawrocki’s position contrasts with the current government led by Donald Tusk, whom he criticized throughout the campaign. The president-elect promised to restore “balance” to Polish politics and serve as a voice for citizens whose concerns “are not heard in Donald Tusk’s Poland.”

Two major industrial fires erupted in Russia on 7 June, with blazes at facilities in Kstovo and Pushkino, prompting large-scale emergency responses and raising questions about the causes of the incidents.

In Kstovo, located in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, a bitumen production plant with a capacity of about 200 cubic meters caught fire, according to local emergency services. The facility is situated near the Lukoil oil refinery, one of Russia’s ten largest petroleum processing plants by design capacity.

The area of the fire reached 20,000 square meters, there is a threat of new explosions. Emergency services deployed over 100 rescuers and approximately 35 units of equipment, including a fire train, to combat the blaze.

The Russian Emergency Ministry confirmed that gas cylinders exploded during the incident. Large bitumen storage tanks were burning, with the substance spreading across approximately 100 square meters, according to official statements.

Social media users initially suggested the fire resulted from a drone attack. However, Regional government press services later stated that the fire could have started due to safety violations. No casualties have been reported from the Kstovo incident as of 17:00 local time.

A fuel and lubricants warehouse also caught fire in Pushkino, a town in the Moscow Oblast. Over 50 rescuers and 12 vehicles are involved in firefighting efforts, according to emergency reports.

Russian media outlet Mash reported that the Pushkino facility contained flammable liquids stored in barrels, gas cylinders, and pallets. The fire area initially covered 8,100 square meters but expanded significantly throughout the day.

Both incidents occurred amid ongoing tensions, with the Kstovo Oblast having experienced previous attacks earlier in 2025. In January, Ukrainian intelligence reportedly struck a Lukoil oil depot in the same town, and a Sibur petrochemical plant in Kstovo suspended shipments following what the company described as a Ukrainian drone strike.

The Lukoil refinery in Kstovo processes petroleum products that support Russian military operations, making it a strategically significant facility. The refinery has a processing capacity of 17 million tons annually and is located approximately 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Canada’s Defense Minister David J. McGuinty announced over $35 million Canadian (approximately $25.5 million USD) in military assistance to Ukraine during the 28th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels, according to Canada’s National Defence press service.

The aid package includes $30 million Canadian for Coyote and Bison armoured vehicles, and new equipment and ammunition from Canadian companies. This builds on Canada’s previous delivery of 64 Coyote armoured vehicles that arrived in Ukraine in December 2024.

Coyote armored vehicles provide advanced battlefield surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence-gathering capabilities, allowing commanders to make informed decisions and maintain situational awareness against Russian forces.

An additional $5 million Canadian will fund electronic warfare anti-jammer kits from Canada’s defense industry.

Warfare anti-jammer kits are vital as they protect and enhance the effectiveness of Ukraine’s precision-guided munitions and communications by countering Russian electronic warfare, ensuring that weapons and drones remain operational despite enemy jamming attempts

“As a founding member of NATO, Canada believes that the Alliance is the cornerstone of transatlantic security and we are moving quickly to accelerate our defence spending,” McGuinty said.

The minister participated in the Ramstein-format meeting at NATO headquarters, where Ukraine and partner nations agreed to establish a defense production mechanism. The US Defense Secretary did not attend the Ramstein meeting for the first time.

Canada also assumed leadership of F-16 pilot training for Ukraine through a $389 million investment over five years, including critical airfield equipment provided by Canadian industry.

Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $19.5 billion in total assistance to Ukraine, including $4.5 billion in military aid.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called for the United States to accelerate implementation of Russia sanctions, warning that Trump administration efforts to weaken proposed measures represent “the wrong direction,” yle reported on 7 June.

“I hope that the United States will put it forward as quickly as possible and as it is,” Orpo said during a press conference in Helsinki as his National Coalition Party’s council convened.

The comments follow Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration is attempting to dilute Russia sanctions legislation pending in the Senate. According to the newspaper’s sources, administration officials have pressed Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to soften his sanctions proposal.

Orpo described Graham’s prepared package as “very strong” and emphasized the need for swift action. “Now we should get decisions,” the prime minister said.

The Finnish leader framed the sanctions push as part of broader strategy to end the war in Ukraine. “We have to force Putin to the negotiating table,” Orpo said.

According to Wall Street Journal reporting, the planned US sanctions would target key Russian officials. In recent weeks, administration representatives have contacted Graham urging him to add exceptions to the proposal and soften the legislative language.

The bipartisan Senate bill, introduced by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham with 80 co-sponsors, includes provisions for additional economic sanctions against Russia for refusing a ceasefire. The legislation proposes implementing 500-percent tariffs on goods imported from countries purchasing Russian oil.

White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt indicated that Trump will make the final decision on potential sanctions escalation against Russia.

Czech President Petr Pavel called for maximum efforts to end the war in Ukraine and prevent war from reaching the Czech Republic during a memorial ceremony honoring American soldiers killed in World War II, Ceske Noviny reported on 7 June.

Pavel made the statement while commemorating fallen US troops at monuments in the Šumava Mountains, where he honored their memory in two extinct Šumava villages, the southwestern part of the Czech Republic.

“We must remember the sacrifices of all those who contributed to our ability to live in freedom and peace,” Pavel said in Žlutice. “And although we call what happened here a tragedy, unfortunately, in the context of the entire Second World War, this was only a small episode. But in the context of the people who went through this and their relatives, it was an even greater tragedy, because it actually happened at the end of the war.”

Pavel emphasized the absurdity of deaths occurring so close to the war’s official end, with young people dying senselessly when only days remained until the war’s conclusion.

“And unfortunately, this is happening today as well,” he said. “If today there is war in Ukraine, and people are dying just as senselessly, just as absurdly, as it was here, for reasons that many of us do not even understand, that is why we must do everything in our power not only to end the war in Ukraine, but also to prevent it from reaching us, as it was in the past.”

At Gruberg, Pavel added that it was important to remember what led to the start of World War II in the 1930s.

“If we are not careful enough, if we do not respond to these signals in time, then perhaps our successors will wonder how it is possible that we did not see how this happened,” Pavel said. “Just as we can wonder today when we look at the 1930s and ask ourselves how it is possible that they did not see it then.”

The president’s remarks come as European officials express growing concern about Russian military intentions. EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius shares Western intelligence assessments that a Russian attack on EU states could occur within the next few years.

Recent evaluations by Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and Armed Forces indicate Russia views itself in systemic war with the West and is preparing for a major war with NATO.

French automotive and defence companies will establish drone production facilities on Ukrainian soil, Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on 6 June, describing the arrangement as a “win-win” partnership with Kyiv.

“We are launching a completely unprecedented partnership where a major French car manufacturing company – I won’t give the name because it’s up to them to announce it – will ally with a French defence SME to arm production lines in Ukraine to be capable of producing drones,” Lecornu told LCI television channel.

The minister did not specify the type of drones to be manufactured but confirmed they will serve Ukrainian forces while also benefiting French military units “to have permanent tactical, operational training that matches the reality” of the Ukraine war. Ukrainian forces will provide feedback on battlefield drone usage in return.

According to Lecornu, French citizens will not be required to work on the Ukrainian production line. He credited Ukrainian expertise, saying that Ukrainians “are better than us in the capacity to imagine drones and especially to develop the doctrine that goes around them.”

Ukraine plans to deploy over 4.5 million drones in 2025, with drones accounting for 70% of Russian equipment destruction at the front, Le Monde reports. The French military, which operates several thousand drones, seeks to close its capability gap in this domain.

The announcement follows discussions between Ukrainian and French defence ministers in Brussels on 5 June regarding joint weapons production for Ukrainian defence needs. At the 28th Ramstein meeting at NATO headquarters, Ukraine and partner states agreed to establish a defence production mechanism.

 Several European partners have recently invested in Ukraine’s drone production

Finland established a drone manufacturing factory in cooperation with Ukrainian partners to produce drones for both Ukraine and the EU, with mass production starting in early 2025. The Netherlands announced a €700 million ($798 mn) investment focused on advancing drone technology and supporting Ukraine’s defense industry. The UK is also investing hundreds of millions of dollars to scale up drone production for Ukraine in 2025. Norway has redirected funds to support Ukrainian-made drone production. 

Independent data organization ACLED systematically reduces Russian Defense Ministry casualty claims from hundreds to just 10 deaths when cross-verification fails, according to researchers tracking the war in Ukraine.

The organization, which employs over 200 specialists documenting conflicts worldwide, maintains a team of six researchers in Ukraine processing a fixed list of sources daily.

“In some countries, only a few sources report on war. Ukraine has many sources. But this doesn’t always make analysis easier: repetition, intensity and oversaturation make identifying new trends difficult,” Senior analyst Nikita Gurkov said.

ACLED’s methodology involves checking Russian government sources, Ukrainian government sources, and independent media, but uses a broader range of materials for verification. Researchers examine additional resources, study photo and video materials, and employ OSINT methods to confirm or refute data from primary sources.

“We simply reduce these numbers automatically from 150 or 300 to 10, so as not to create false trends,” explains Olga Polishchuk, ACLED’s research director for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The organization marks such entries with low accuracy ratings and mandatory notes indicating the Russian Defense Ministry as the source.

ACLED’s database shows the stark difference between Russian claims and verified data. A chart tracking the period from January 2024 to April 2025 displays Russian Defense Ministry casualty claims in gray and ACLED’s corresponding database entries in red. The visual demonstrates how the organization systematically reduces unverified Russian numbers to a standard 10 deaths when no independent confirmation exists.

ACLED’s database shows the stark difference between Russian claims and verified data. When Russian forces claimed massive Ukrainian casualties that other sources could not confirm, the organization entered the events but reduced death tolls to 10 with notes about the Russian Defense Ministry source.

The organization treats Ukrainian government reports as biased but finds them easier to verify due to independent Ukrainian and international media operating in Ukraine-controlled territory. ACLED often confirm the statements of the Ukrainian side. The difference is most often due to the fact that the Ukrainian side reports the total number of killed and wounded, while ACLED only reports deaths.

ACLED reportedly does not directly cooperate with the Ukrainian government for data collection, relying instead on public sources: official reports, media, social networks, and partner organizations.

Each researcher processes at least 100-200 events weekly. When different versions of events exist and researchers cannot confirm details, they choose the most conservative option, such as lower casualty numbers. Events that cannot be verified at all receive notes stating “number of casualties unknown.”

“If you want to compare data from December 2024 and May 2025, you must be sure we collected them the same way, and didn’t add new sources between those months, which could distort trends,” Polishchuk said.

When ACLED expands its source list, researchers first adjust previous period data based on new sources before publishing updates publicly, typically in six-month blocks.

The war’s scale presents unique challenges for analysts. Many settlements, high event concentration, and intensive information flow create both advantages and obstacles for documentation efforts, according to Gurkov.

Russian forces launched a missile strike on 4 June, targeting a training unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in Poltava Oblast, according to the Ground Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Prior to this, Poltava Oblast Governor Volodymyr Kohut informed about an explosion in the Poltava community.

The attack resulted in wounded personnel, according to the Ground Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Military servicemen were conducting training exercises at a training ground when the strike occurred.

“Thanks to timely security measures, including dispersal of personnel, use of shelters and adherence to protocols during air raid alerts, it was possible to prevent a large number of casualties,” the Ground Forces Command said.

A special commission has been established to investigate the circumstances of the incident and assess the damage. The commission’s findings will be made public after the investigation is completed.

The strike follows a previous attack on 1 June, when Russian forces hit another Ground Forces training unit, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 60.

Following that tragedy, Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi submitted his resignation, saying he “failed to fully ensure the implementation of his orders” as commander.

Drapatyi later remained in his position within the military.

US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg warned that Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian strategic aviation airfields have increased escalation risks.

The United States works to prevent such scenarios, Kellogg told Fox News.

The statement comes after a successful Ukrainian Spiderweb operation on 1 June that targeted four Russian military airbases deep inside Russian territory. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) used 117 AI-powered FPV drones, smuggled into Russia hidden in trucks. The attack reportedly destroyed and damaged over 40 strategic aircraft—including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers and A-50 radar planes—used in attacks on Ukrainian cities. The operation inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage, hitting about 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers at their bases.

Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web targeted Russia’s nuclear triad components. However, the US special envoy warned about the consequences of such attack, saying,“When you attack an opponent’s part of the national survival system – which is their triad, their nuclear triad – that means your risk level goes up because you don’t know what the other is going to do.”

The envoy called the operation bold but risky. “It’s a very emboldened act. And when you do that, it’s very clear that the risk levels will go up. That is what we try to avoid,” he stated.

Kellogg emphasized the psychological impact over material damage. The strikes embarrassed Russia and showed Ukraine’s resolve. “Ukraine is not lying down on this, basically saying: we can play this game too,” he explained.

Kellogg said that this operation demonstrated for Russian leadership and military Ukraine’s capability to hit targets deep inside Russian territory.

Earlier, US Senator Richard Blumenthal compared the Ukrainian strikes to the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Operation Spider’s Web as proof of Ukraine’s tactical decision-making abilities.

Britain will deliver 100,000 drones to Ukraine this year in a tenfold increase from 2024 targets, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 4 June.

The country delivered more than 10,000 drones to Ukraine last year.

The record £350 million ($474 mn) investment in drones forms part of Britain’s £4.5 billion ($6 bn) military support package for 2025, according to the ministry statement.

“The UK is stepping up its support for Ukraine by delivering hundreds of thousands more drones this year,” Defence Secretary John Healey said at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels.

Ukrainian forces have proven drone warfare’s effectiveness against Russian attacks, prompting Britain to double its investment in drone technology with British defence companies.

The announcement came as Healey joined German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to host Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov at the 50-nation contact group meeting at NATO headquarters.

Britain completed delivery of 140,000 artillery munitions to Ukraine since January 2025, Healey confirmed. The country will spend an additional £247 million ($334 mn) this year training Ukrainian forces through Operation Interflex, which has trained more than 55,000 Ukrainian recruits since 2022.

Ukrainian units confirmed that UK-provided drones helped stabilize frontline positions by repelling Russian attacks. Defence Intelligence data showed drones currently kill more people than artillery on Ukraine’s frontlines.

British-made drones include first-person view models for precision strikes, interceptor drones for air defence, and fiber-optic drones resistant to Russian electronic jamming. Low-cost explosive-dropping drones and FPV systems account for 60-70% of damage to Russian equipment, according to the ministry.

Britain will invest £40 million ($54 mn) in NATO’s NSATU mission trust fund for Ukraine to provide vehicle spare parts, fuel, training and combat supplies.

Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked Russia’s Kursk Oblast overnight on 4 June.

Three unmanned aircraft were spotted over the city of Rylsk, according to the Russian Telegram channel Mash.

One drone fell on a private house in Rylsk, causing a fire. A 66-year-old woman was injured in the attack, oblast governor Alexander Khinshtein said.

Another Russian Telegram channel Shot wrote that local residents heard several explosions near Rylsk and the village of Krupets. Russian air defense shot down several unmanned aircraft, including FPV drones, the channel claimed.

Local Telegram channels published video footage showing a fire that allegedly resulted from the attack. No official information about casualties and damage was available.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems shot down seven aircraft-type drones overnight. Four drones were destroyed over occupied Crimea. Two were shot down over Kursk Oblast. One drone was intercepted in Belgorod Oblast.

Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a Russian military command post in Rylsk on 31 January. The General Staff called this operation part of systematic work to destroy Russian command posts. The goal was to deprive Russia of the ability to coordinate combat operations and logistics effectively.

A water supply tower and treatment facilities were also targeted. The water supply system continued functioning despite the strikes, the governor said. Explosions were also heard in the village of Terekhivka.

Massive drone attacks hit Russia on 2 June. Explosions were heard in various Russian cities, including Lipetsk and Kursk.

This also comes after a successful Ukrainian Spiderweb operation on 1 June that targeted four Russian military airbases deep inside Russian territory. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) used 117 AI-powered FPV drones, smuggled into Russia hidden in trucks.

The attack reportedly destroyed and damaged over 40 strategic aircraft—including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers and A-50 radar planes—used in attacks on Ukrainian cities.

The operation inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage, hitting about 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers at their bases.

Russians are advancing — after a breakthrough in the region, Sumy may come under direct fire.
On the border of Sumy Oblast, Russian occupiers have intensified their offensive and advanced 6–7 kilometers deep into Ukrainian territory.

Russia does not intend to stop at creating a so-called “buffer zone,” adds Shevtsov. Its goal is the full occupation of Sumy Oblast, as well as Kharkiv Oblast and other regions in eastern Ukraine.

According to Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), about 50,000 Russian troops have been concentrated in Kursk Oblast near the Russian border, UNIAN reports. 

The offensive is accompanied by intense shelling from drones, artillery, and aircraft using glide bombs and guided missiles.

All of this aims to complicate the defense of Ukrainian positions and push even deeper.

“The situation is not easy — in fact, it’s difficult. The Russians are sending infantry groups toward Yunakivka and Khotin. If earlier we observed activity in the areas of Basivka and Zhuravka, now the zone has expanded,” Demchenko says.

So far, heavy armored vehicles have not been used. Instead, Russia is deploying infantry, including units on quad bikes and motorcycles, to quickly break into Ukrainian territory.

The invaders are trying to entrench themselves in forest belts and hideouts while awaiting reinforcements.

“We must pay tribute to our soldiers, who are bravely holding the defense and destroying dozens of invaders every day… But unfortunately, the enemy does not care about its losses — some die, others keep coming,” the military spokesperson emphasizes. 

According to Demchenko, the occupiers’ goal is to gradually expand the combat zone and move closer to strategically important logistical hubs to increase pressure on Ukraine’s defense forces.

Aircraft thundered over Finland’s forests as soldiers stormed an airstrip. Amid threats from Russia, the country held joint drills with Poland in which NATO allies simulated both an attack and a defense of an airfield, based on the example of Russia’s failed 2022 operation in Hostomel, Kyiv Oblast, Business Insider reports. 

The drills Northern Forest Saber involved airdropping a red team, consisting of Polish airborne forces and Finnish units, onto a runway in a forest. Their objective was to capture and hold the airfield to enable the arrival of reinforcements and heavy weapons.

At the same time, the blue team, composed exclusively of Finnish troops, had to repel the assault and retake control of the site.

Finland, which lacks its own airborne forces, gained invaluable experience through cooperation with its Polish counterparts. Colonel Matti Honko of the Finnish army acknowledged: “You need to suppress air defenses and secure air superiority. Before you can do that, there’s a lot you must be capable of.”

Polish Brigadier General Michał Strzelecki added that airborne operations are even more complex today than in the past but remain critical in the early phases of war: “Rapid deployment of troops through airborne operations can be decisive.”

NATO openly acknowledges that such training incorporates lessons from the war in Ukraine.

Despite Russia’s plan’s failure, NATO allies, especially those bordering Russia, are determined not to repeat the enemy’s mistakes and are preparing today for potential scenarios of aggression.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on occupied Crimea on the evening of 31 May.

Russian air defense systems allegedly destroyed one Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle around 6:45 pm, according to the ministry’s statement.

The Russian military did not specify the exact location of the incident and provided no evidence to support their claims. Kyiv has not commented on these allegations.

The Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported two explosions in the Dzhankoi district at 6:45 pm. Earlier, Russian monitoring channels had warned of drone attack threats in the areas of Dzhankoi, Chongar, and the southern part of the Arabat Spit.

Explosions have been regularly heard in Crimea since August 2022. In August 2023, Head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov said that Ukrainian forces have “the ability to reach any point of occupied Crimea to strike the enemy.”

Budanov said there are “many different options” for Crimea’s de-occupation, but added that “without military, combat actions this is impossible.”

Read also:

• Second Russian pocket emerges in Sumy Oblast near Oleksandria village – Deep State
• “Not very serious”: Zelenskyy criticizes Russia’s lack of clarity before talks
• Swedish music competition secretly funded Russian war supporters, investigation finds

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said neither Ukraine nor its partners have clear information about Russia’s agenda for upcoming negotiations in Istanbul scheduled for 2 June, calling the situation “not very serious.”

“As of now, there is no clear information about what the Russians are going to Istanbul with. We don’t have it, Türkiye doesn’t have it, the USA doesn’t have it either, nor do other partners. And so far this looks not very serious,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address on 31 May.

The comments come ahead of a second round of peace talks proposed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. After the first round of direct talks on 16 May in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine agreed to prepare memorandums detailing their conditions for peace. Lavrov announced that the Russian delegation would present its list of ceasefire conditions in Türkiye.

Ukraine has already transmitted its demands to Russia and called on Moscow to do the same. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeled Kyiv’s request as “unconstructive.”

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is preparing new diplomatic steps with European and American partners. The president maintains daily contact with allies, he said.

“Everyone in the world wants diplomacy to work and for there to be a real ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said. “Everyone wants serious peace, and Russia must go for it. This is exactly what the agenda of meetings should be. We gave our agenda. We hope that the American side will be decisive on sanctions to help peace.”

Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak confirmed on 30 May that Ukraine is ready to participate in the next meeting with the Russian delegation in Istanbul.

Kyiv said it was committed to the search for peace, but that it was waiting for a memorandum from the Russian side setting out their proposals.

The upcoming talks follow the first direct high-level negotiations between the two countries since 2022. The Russian delegation said after the meeting that it was satisfied with the talks and that negotiations will continue with each side presenting its detailed vision for a ceasefire.

Read aslo:

• Russia “significantly” intensifies activity in Zaporizhzhia sector – Syrskyi
• “Let’s get real”: European officials abandon hope for US backing in Ukraine
• Who is dancing and where if journalism is dead? Trump and Orbán know

Russian forces have advanced near the village of Oleksandriia in Sumy Oblast, DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, reported on 31 May.

The analytical project marked part of the territory near the border village as occupied by 30 May, with another section designated as “gray zone.”

The situation changed rapidly over 24 hours. On 29 May, the occupied area was minimal, according to DeepState. Ukrainian forces controlled territory on the other side of the border. By 30 May, Russian forces had seized additional ground near Oleksandria.

This creates another pocket of Russian-controlled territory in Sumy Oblast. The area joins the existing Zhuravka-Novenke-Veselivka-Basivka section under Russian control.

DeepState also reported the occupation of Yelyzavetivka in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on 31 May that Russian forces “have ramped up assault operations across key fronts in Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Sumy oblasts.”

Russian forces have continued cross-border raids, shelling, and sabotage missions in Sumy Oblast. On 29 May, State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said Russia had amassed “sufficient forces” in neighboring Kursk Oblast to launch an incursion into Sumy.

Ukrainian forces are reinforcing high-risk areas with reserves and intensifying firepower to repel attacks, according to Syrskyi.

Read also:

• Lithuania at risk: Ex-CIA chief warns Russia to target Baltic State after Ukraine
• Erdogan urgently calls Zelenskyy as Istanbul braces for Russia peace talks
• Russia throws down ceasefire conditions – Istanbul awaits Ukraine’s reply

The Stockholm International Music Competition maintains extensive Russian ties despite Swedish government directives prohibiting cultural cooperation with Russian actors, an SVT investigation revealed.

According to the investigation, the competition employs Russian jury members, accepts fees through sanctioned Russian banks, and partners with state institutions supporting Ukraine’s invasion. Fourteen jury members work for Russian state organizations that publicly back the war.

Stockholm’s Historical Museum terminated its agreement after learning of the connections. “This contradicts government policy,” the museum announced. However, Nacka municipal music school continues hosting events this week.

Competition co-founder Galina Erngren denied political involvement. “There is no politics in the competitions. It’s just music, nothing more,” she told SVT.

The investigation found Russian participants pay entry fees directly to Sberbank accounts due to Swift sanctions. Co-founder Dmitry Mikhailov, registered in St. Petersburg, launched the Stockholm competition in 2010 after creating the original Russian version.

SVT identified 18 of 47 jury members with Russian origins. Fourteen work at state institutions directly supporting the invasion, including Herzen University, which sends humanitarian aid to the front, and the Mariinsky Theatre, which provides free tickets to soldiers since 2023.

The Swedish government banned cultural cooperation with Russian actors in 2022. The competition has operated annually in Stockholm for 15 years.

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• SBU detains four Kherson residents who worked for Russians during occupation

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States failed to do enough to stop Russia’s war and restore peace in Ukraine in 2014, European Pravda reported on 31 May.

Pompeo said US representatives could not prevent Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s plans or stop the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 despite all efforts, Pompeo said during the second international Black Sea Security Forum on 30 May.

“I regret that there was not more done in 2014, that there was not more done in 2022, and that deterrence was lost,” he said. “And now the challenge is putting it back to a place. I was adjacent to the Minsk conversations (…) We’ve been at the negotiating table an awful lot, and there was no hammer.” 

Pompeo acknowledged that it was a “different time” and Russia’s aggression was “not as massive,” but he pointed out that the documents discussed during the Minsk negotiations were almost identical to what is being discussed now, according to the media report.

“That must remind us all: when Vladimir Putin lays down his weapons for a moment, you can’t go back to Russian gas,” Pompeo emphasised. “When Vladimir Putin lays down his weapons for a moment, there can’t be life as it once was.” 

The former Secretary of State assured that the US cannot afford to abandon Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Pompeo drew attention to the fact that many Republican Party members “expressed views that contradict America’s deep national interests on this issue.”

“But I think they all also know that, in the end, there is no walking away from this for the United States. It is not the case where you can say, ‘Godspeed, you’re on your own’. This will continue to chase all of us who believe in basic human dignity, property rights, all the indicia of sovereign nationhood that we will ultimately come to prevail,” Pompeo said.

During Pompeo’s tenure as US Secretary of State, the “Crimean Declaration” was adopted and published on 25 July 2018, ten days after the official meeting between Trump (during his first presidential term) and Putin in Helsinki.

That document stated that “Russia, through its invasion of Ukraine and attempt to annex Crimea in 2014, sought to undermine the fundamental international principle adhered to by democratic states: no country can change another’s borders by force.”

However, when Trump returned to power in 2025, controversial statements about Crimea appeared repeatedly. In April, the Trump administration reportedly handed Ukraine a one-page document in Paris, presented as a “final proposal” for peaceful settlement. Among other things, it allegedly stated that the US was ready to recognize Russia’s control over Ukrainian Crimea.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not recognize Russian occupation of Crimea. Trump criticized the statement, saying that “Crimea was lost many years ago” and that Zelenskyy’s words “harm peace negotiations.”

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington for his inaugural meeting with US President Donald Trump next week, Bloomberg reported on 31 May, citing German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius.

According to the spokesman, Merz’s and Trump’s topics of conversation will include the Russian-Ukrainian war, the situation in the Middle East, and trade policy. Following the meeting, Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump plan to hold a joint press conference at the White House.

The first personal meeting between the two politicians will take place at the White House on 5 June.

The planned meeting also follows Merz’s talks with President Zelenskyy in Germany on 28 May, where the leaders of both countries announced the signing of a joint agreement on the production of long-range weapons.

The German Ministry of Defence later said, German long-range missiles could be in Ukraine in a few weeks, but they did not say what kind of long-range weapons they were or whether they were TAURUS missiles with a range of 500 km. But there are reportedly no other alternatives to this. 

The US stance under Biden administration on providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine has been supportive, having secretly supplied Ukraine with ATACMS missiles, and hoping this would encourage Germany to also supply its Taurus missiles. However, the US emphasized that the decision to use such weapons is ultimately up to Ukraine, while Germany has been more hesitant earlier due to fears of escalating the war.

The German and US administrations spent several weeks negotiating the date and format of the event. This will be the first meeting between the new chancellor and Trump. Merz was elected chancellor on 6 May 2025.

In his new position, Friedrich Merz has already visited France, Poland, Northern European countries, and Ukraine. On 29 May, Merz responded to comments by US Vice President Vance, who criticized the EU’s approach to freedom of speech during the Munich Conference in February and questioned what Europeans were defending.

In response, the German chancellor said that Europe is ready to fight, if necessary, for its fundamental values of freedom and democracy. Merz also said in his speech that Europe does not want an escalation of the tariff dispute with the US, which would harm both sides.

The meeting comes as Merz and Trump agreed on the need to quickly resolve trade disputes in their first phone call since Merz took office. The chancellor has previously expressed concerns about changing relations with Washington under the Trump administration.

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• “Let’s get real”: European officials abandon hope for US backing in Ukraine

Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on 31 May that Russian forces have “significantly” increased their activity in the Zaporizhzhia direction and are conducting “active offensive actions” there.

Russia has concentrated its main efforts on the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, and Novopavlivsk directions, as well as border areas of Sumy Oblast with Russia, Syrskyi said in his summary of Armed Forces activities for May 2025.

According to Syrskyi, Ukrainian forces struck 58 targets on Russian territory in May, including drone production facilities. Syrskyi said that Russian occupiying forces lost over 34,000 personnel during the month.

The targets included facilities for producing explosives and strike drones, according to the commander.

Operations continue on the Kursk direction, where Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces are causing significant losses to the Russian forces and protecting northern borders.

Russian forces maintain an advantage in using fiber-optic drones, which significantly complicates the fight against them, Syrskyi said.

Former CIA director David Petraeus warned that Russia will invade a NATO country if it succeeds in Ukraine, Daily Mail reported on 29 May. 

Lithuania would be the most likely target, according to Petraeus.

Russia’s next target after Ukraine

Speaking at Policy Exchange in London, Petraeus warned Russia could test Western resolve through a Lithuanian incursion.

“Once that’s done, you are going to see them focus on one of the Baltic states,” Petraeus said. “Lithuania has featured prominently in his speeches and we should have listened a lot more.”

The former general said Russia wants to topple President Zelenskyy and “install a puppet leader and to control all of Ukraine.”

Russia has suffered nearly a million battlefield casualties including 500,000 killed or unfit for duty. Petraeus called the losses “unimaginable.”

US policy criticized

Petraeus criticized delayed weapons deliveries: “The US also temporised far too long over individual decisions such as M1 tanks. A blind man on a dark night could see it had to be the F-16.”

Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg said Ukraine NATO membership is “not on the table” and called Russian expansion concerns “fair.”

Ukraine’s Security Service detained four Kherson residents who collaborated with Russian forces during the occupation of the right-bank part of Kherson Oblast, the SBU reported on 30 May.

Russian forces occupied the city of Kherson on 1 March 2022, shortly after invading the Kherson Oblast from Crimea on 24 February 2022. Ukrainian forces liberated Kherson on 11 November 2022, ending a 255-day occupation.

Among those arrested is a chief specialist from one of the Kherson city council departments. The woman worked as a private accountant before voluntarily joining Russia’s local occupation administration, where she headed a unit called the “labor and social protection management,” according to the SBU.

Law enforcement established that the woman transferred personal data of local residents to occupation “election commissions” for conducting Russia’s fake referendum. After Kherson’s liberation, on 11 November 2022, the woman “went underground” and later returned to work at the city council, hiding her collaboration with Russia, the SBU said.

Two other suspects are local residents who joined the administration of occupation prisons after the regional center was captured. One became an “assistant on duty” to the head of the so-called “investigative detention center.” His duties included guarding prison cells where Russians brought resistance movement participants from the region, investigators found.

The second man voluntarily agreed to guard the perimeter of an occupation prison that Russians opened on the basis of a captured correctional colony, the investigation said.

The fourth detainee is a Kherson resident who joined the occupation Russian Interior Ministry at the start of the full-scale war. She became an “inspector of the analysis, planning and accounting group of the Korabelny department.” She guided armed Russian units to the homes of Ukrainian patriots, law enforcement noted.

All suspects received charges of collaboration and are held in custody without bail. They face up to 15 years in prison with property confiscation.

On 29 May, a taxi driver was detained in Dnipro for correcting Russian strikes on the city. On 30 May, the SBU detained a Russian agent from Khmelnytskyi Oblast who guided missiles to military airfields.

Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia appointed by former President Donald Trump, said that the United States is ready to discuss Russia’s demand to stop NATO’s expansion eastward.

In an interview with ABC News published on 29 May, Kellogg said this position could be part of a larger peace agreement aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

“That’s one of the issues that Russia will bring up,” Kellogg told ABC News. “They’re not just talking Ukraine – they’re talking the country of Georgia, they’re talking Moldova, they’re talking, obviously, Ukraine. And we’re saying ‘Okay, comprehensively, you know, we can stop the expansion of NATO coming close to your border’. That’s security concerns from them.”

Kellogg confirmed that Trump is willing to offer such a guarantee to Russian President Vladimir Putin if it becomes a condition for ceasefire.

After three months of attemps to make a deal with Russia over the war in Ukraine, Trump has warned recently that he would withdrew from the peace negotiations. Trump also said on 29 May he would determine within “about two weeks” whether Putin is serious, following their phone call during which Russian President claimed he’s willing to end the war and take actions towards it.“We’re going to find out whether or not he’s tapping us along or not, and if he is, we’ll respond a little bit differently,” Trump told reporters. 

The US special envoy also said Ukraine’s accession to NATO is not currently under consideration. “We’ve said that, to us, Ukraine coming into NATO is not on the table,” Kellogg said. 

According to the interview, security advisers from the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will take part in the next round of ceasefire negotiations in Istanbul on 2 June. These officials had already helped draft a 22-point Ukrainian memorandum during meetings in London and Paris. Kellogg confirmed their involvement in Istanbul.

He said the main aim is to reach agreement on a full ceasefire. “We have to compare the Ukrainian and Russian proposals, identify areas of possible agreement, and determine which topics are not subject to compromise,” he said. “Let’s see what we come up with during the meeting in Istanbul.”

However, Moscow has not yet sent its official response. Kellogg said that neither the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, nor Ukrainian Defense Minister and chief negotiator Rustem Umerov has received the Russian version of the memorandum.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had promised Trump during a phone call that he would provide the Russian memorandum within one week, Kellogg told ABC News.

The proposed ceasefire would apply on land, in the air, and at sea. It would also aim to protect civilian infrastructure.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Ukraine’s future membership in NATO remains irreversible. However, he also said that it would not be part of any peace agreement with Russia.

On 28 May, Czech President Petr Pavel said that Ukraine is unlikely to be invited into NATO in the near future. He linked this partly to Trump’s position.

Ukraine has persistently pursued NATO membership since 2008, with its parliament officially adopting it as a strategic objective in 2017 and embedding it in the constitution in 2019. Despite Russia’s aggression, Ukraine has continued to seek an invitation to join NATO, an alliance that would guarantee its security against further Russian aggression.

The United States warned on 29 May it may withdraw from peace negotiations if Russia continues the war, following some of the largest Russian attacks since the war began.

“If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from negotiation efforts to end the conflict,” said John Kelley, acting US alternate representative to the UN, during a Security Council meeting.

Kelley said the US has “worked tirelessly with both sides, seeking a path to peace” since the UN called for an end to the war three months ago. 

“Ukraine has unequivocally agreed, awaiting Russia’s agreement to do the same,” he said.

The diplomat condemned Russia’s weekend missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. “This disregard for human life does not indicate a desire for peace. This must stop,” Kelley said.

Russia has conducted its most extensive missile and drone strikes of the full-scale war from 23 to 25 May.

He warned that stepping back from talks would not mean abandoning allies but would “recognize Russia’s refusal to cooperate with us to achieve the desired outcome.”

“There is no military solution to this conflict. The deal now on offer is the best possible outcome for Russia. President Putin should take this deal,” Kelley said.

He added that the US is considering additional sanctions on Russia.

UN Undersecretary General Rosemary DiCarlo said hope in the negotiations is “just barely” alive. The massive weekend attacks show how quickly the war can escalate, she warned. “The people of Ukraine, especially, cannot wait” for peace efforts to resume.

Meanwhile, disputes emerged over proposed talks in Istanbul on 2 June. The Kremlin said it was awaiting Ukraine’s response to its proposal. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser said Ukraine is ready to participate but wants to see Russia’s proposals first.

Peskov called that demand “nonconstructive.”

Zelenskyy accused Russia of “yet another deception” for failing to provide its peace proposal. “Even the so-called ‘memorandum’ they promised and seemingly prepared for more than a week has still not been seen by anyone,” he said in his video address.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on 28 May that Russia’s delegation “is ready to present a memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation” during the 2 June Istanbul talks.

President Trump warned on 29 May he would determine within “about two weeks” whether Putin is serious about peace. “We’re going to find out whether or not he’s tapping us along or not, and if he is, we’ll respond a little bit differently,” Trump told reporters.

The warnings came as the Security Council met to discuss Ukraine following record Russian attacks over the weekend.

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, known as the Ramstein format, will convene at NATO headquarters on 4 June, the Alliance’s press service announced.

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group was established on US initiative in April 2022. Three years ago, Ukraine’s allies first gathered in this format at Ramstein Air Base. At that time, the Contact Group brought together 40 countries, including NATO and EU members and their international partners, to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

According to the press service, the United Kingdom and Germany will convene the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters next week.

The previous Ramstein format meeting took place on 11 April in Brussels. It was also convened by the United Kingdom and Germany.

Following changes in the US administration, Ramstein continues to operate under British and German leadership, while the US remains an important participant in the Contact Group. Previous Ramstein meetings under the Joe Biden administration, beginning in 2022, were chaired by the United States.

At the 11 April meeting, Germany and other countries created an “electronic warfare coalition” for Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Ramstein participants from Kryvyi Rih, calling for the provision of 10 Patriot systems. The Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih on 4 April was the deadliest single attack on children in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s all-out war.

The day after the Ramstein meeting, on 5 June, NATO defense ministers will meet at the Alliance’s headquarters to prepare for the bloc’s leaders’ summit in The Hague in June.

Türkiye and Belgium have expressed their intention to join the international drone coalition supporting Ukraine, Latvia’s Defense Minister Andris Sprūds said on 28 May during a drone coalition summit.

An international alliance, established in February 2024 and led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, brings together over 18 member states to supply Ukraine with drones and related technologies. The Drone Coalition aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and support its fight against Russian aggression

“The international Drone Coalition is becoming increasingly stronger – we will be able to deliver more drones to Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening the defence industries of Latvia, the EU, and NATO countries,” Sprūds said.

He said that Türkiye and Belgium, joining the coalition, will enable the alliance “to provide Ukraine with the much-needed support in its fight against the aggressor.”

The drone coalition currently includes 18 member states. With Türkiye and Belgium joining, the coalition will expand to 20 countries. The admission of new members requires approval from existing coalition participants.

Coalition member states have contributed approximately 180 million euros ($204 mn) to a joint procurement fund managed by the United Kingdom, according to Latvia’s Defense Ministry. The fund enables centralized purchases of drone technology alongside individual national support measures from each member country.

Latvia announced it will allocate 20 million euros ($23 mn) for drone purchases in 2025. The country will provide an additional 10 million euros ($11 mn) for cooperation projects between Latvian and Ukrainian industries.

The drone coalition has provided substantial support to Ukraine since its establishment in February 2024. Member states delivered 1.8 billion euros ($2 bn) in assistance during 2024 alone. They plan to allocate 2.75 billion euros ($3 bn) for Ukraine support in 2025.

Over two years, the coalition has committed a total of 4.5 billion euros ($5 bn) to Ukraine, according to the Defense Ministry. 

The coalition was founded on 14 February 2024, and is led by Latvia and the United Kingdom. Current members include Australia, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, and the UK.

In March, the drone coalition allocated 20 million euros ($23 mn) to purchase tactical reconnaissance drones for Ukraine. Norway recently agreed to Ukraine’s request to direct a larger portion of its support funds toward Ukrainian drone production.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said a meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is possible.

The meeting can only happen as a result of agreements between delegations from both sides, Russian propaganda agencies RIA Novosti and TASS reported, citing Peskov.

This announcement follows 16 May trilateral negotiations, which took place in Istanbul between delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Türkiye. The same day saw a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations with Türkiye’s participation. These became the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.

“There are no changes in the position regarding the fundamental possibility of such a meeting,” Peskov claimed. “But such a meeting should be the result of specific agreements of two delegations in various directions.”

Peskov also said that no decisions have been made about the location for the next round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The location must be convenient for both sides, he said.

The comments follow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement to journalists that he is ready for a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the United States in any format.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia will insist on canceling “discriminatory laws” regarding restrictions on the Russian language at the next round of talks with Ukraine. Russia will also demand Ukraine’s non-bloc and nuclear-free status, Lavrov said. The date for the next round will be announced soon, according to Lavrov.

The Russian side refused to consider the Holy See as a venue for “peace negotiations” with Ukraine. Russia cites EU sanctions as one reason for this refusal.

US President’s special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Fox News that the United States received a list of conditions from Kyiv for ending the war. The US now awaits such a list from Russia, Kellogg said.

The latest Eurobarometer survey shows that a majority of European Union citizens back the bloc’s military assistance to Ukraine, with 59% agreeing that the EU should finance the purchase and supply of military equipment to the war-torn country.

The survey, conducted between 26 March and 22 April 2025, across all 27 EU member states, interviewed 26,368 citizens face-to-face. It revealed continued strong support for the EU’s response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Some 80% of European respondents agree with welcoming into the EU people fleeing the war, the survey showed. Additionally, over three quarters of Europeans (76%) support providing financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

The latest survey showed that “60% of the EU citizens approve of the EU granting candidate status to Ukraine.” This represents solid support for Ukraine’s European integration aspirations despite the ongoing war.

Security concerns drive much of this support, with 77% of European respondents agree that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of the EU.

The war remains at the forefront of European concerns. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to be considered as the most important issue at EU level (27%) out of 15 items,” followed by the international situation at 24% and security and defense at 20%.

The survey also revealed record levels of trust in EU institutions. “52% of Europeans trust the EU, the highest result since 2007,” with particularly high trust among young people aged 15-24 at 59%.

Defense cooperation has gained priority among Europeans. More than eight in ten (81%) support a common defence and security policy among Member States – the highest result since 2004.

When asked about EU budget priorities, “European citizens would like the EU budget to be spent on defence and security (43%), employment, social affairs and public health (42%) and education, training, youth, culture and media (34%).”

The Eurobarometer survey was conducted by the European Commission across all EU member states, as well as in nine candidate and potential candidate countries and the United Kingdom.

Ukrainian drones attacked a drone development facility in Dubna, a city in the Moscow Oblast, according to Russian Telegram channels Astra and Baza citing local residents.

Social media videos show drones flying over Dubna and explosions with fires after impact. Local residents in the footage say “Kronshtadt got hit again.”

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin posted 17 messages about drone attacks since the start of the day. He said air defenses destroyed at least 31 drones heading toward the Russian capital.

Sobyanin also reported repelling drone attacks on Zelenograd. The official said that both Moscow and Zelenograd had “no serious damage or casualties” and that “emergency services specialists are working at the debris impact sites.”

Dubna is known as a “science city.” The city sits 121 kilometers north of Moscow in the Moscow Oblast.

Russia’s Defense Ministry later claimed that from 9 pm on 27 May to 7 am on 28 May, air defenses allegedly destroyed and intercepted 296 Ukrainian drones over Moscow region and 12 other Russian oblasts including Bryansk, Belgorod, Vladimir, Voronezh, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kursk, Orel, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tver and Tula.

The Russian defense ministry reported neither the total number of drones allegedly flying toward Russian territory nor the consequences of attacks.

Earlier, Moscow’s mayor announced drone attacks on Russia’s capital. Moscow and other Russian airports suspended operations during the incident.

The Russian Defense Ministry previously claimed that on the evening of 27 May, from 9 pm to midnight Moscow time, their air defenses allegedly intercepted and destroyed 112 Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine has been conducting an air campaign against Russian strategic targets such as ammunition depots, command centers, military factories, oil processing and storage facilities, but rarely comments of the attacks.

Day 1189

On 27 May, there are a lot of interesting updates from Ukraine.

Here, as peace talks collapse and diplomacy fades, Russia is making its move. With fresh troops, heavy weapons, and political timing on their side, Moscow has begun what appears to be the opening phase of its long-anticipated summer offensive.

Recently, Trump’s proposal for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the Vatican by the end of May was rejected by Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov said that the Vatican is an unrealistic option for negotiating, under the excuse that it is inelegant for two Orthodox countries to discuss negotiations on a Catholic platform.

Trump told the European leaders that Putin does not plan to end the war, as the Russians believe they are winning. Meanwhile, Putin stated that Russia needs to expand its buffer zone along the Ukrainian border for security and wants this to be addressed in future negotiations. Furthermore, during the peace talks in Istanbul, Russian diplomats even threatened to seize two more regions of Ukraine, implying Kharkiv and Sumy. 

The Russian army is expected to conduct a new offensive in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, where the summer offensive is underway. Andrii Pomahaibus, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian 13th National Guards Brigade, confirmed that Russians are preparing a large offensive beyond their initial buffer zone goal in Kharkiv and Sumy. Ukrainian commanders also confirmed that the Russians are preparing up to 50 thousand additional troops for this upcoming offensive, with 4 months of favorable weather left to conduct it.

As Russian offensive preparations became evident, Ukrainian forces began targeting concentrations of enemy troops along the Kharkiv–Sumy border. Geolocated footage from the Kharkiv direction confirmed the Russian deployment of TOS-1 thermobaric artillery systems, which are rarely used except in major operations, as the blast wave of these explosions can easily penetrate through walls and fortified bunkers. Ukrainians rapidly detected one of these powerful systems and immediately directed FPV drones to strike and destroy the target, preventing it from being used to target Ukrainian positions.

In a separate precision attack, Ukrainian forces struck a key Russian command post in the rear, located in the town of Rylsk, eliminating the deputy commander of the 40th Marine Brigade, Alexander Danilov. 

Such decapitation strikes undermine Russian planning by disrupting command structures and delaying the coordination of upcoming assaults. Additionally, Russians conducted a company-sized mechanized assault on the town of Lyptsi, to test for weak points in the Ukrainian defenses. This was the largest assault in Kharkiv direction seen in months, with Russians deploying tanks, BMPs, quad bikes, and motorbikes to assault Ukrainian positions. However, the attack, which relied heavily on surprise, was anticipated by the Ukrainians, who had already tracked Russian redeployments and prepared their forces.

Within minutes, Russian units were decimated by coordinated artillery fire and drone strikes, destroying nine BMPs, eight motorbikes and quads, and one tank, before the Russian assault could even cross the border. Along with the vehicles, Russians lost up to one hundred soldiers killed and wounded in the attack, of which only a few could escape alive.

Until now, Russian attacks in this area had involved small, pure-infantry assaults in harassing-style attacks only, making this sudden escalation a strong indicator that Russia may indeed be preparing for a broader offensive.

However, Ukrainians do not stand alone, as Europe is waking up and is massively increasing its defense production output. As you might remember from previous reports, the EU has already provided over two-thirds of their promised two million artillery shells to Ukraine, Germany is massively increasing its development and production of AI-guided HX-2 drones, and both France and the UK are sending hundreds of self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine as well. These developments, among many others, are massively increasing Ukraine’s arsenal and capabilities, putting it in a much stronger position to repel the Russian summer offensive.

Overall, the Russians are escalating their probing attacks and increasing their military buildup in preparation for a summer offensive in Ukraine, following their rejection of any ceasefire offer. The rising military aid from the European Union to Ukraine will allow them to counter significant Russian assaults with a correspondingly greater density of fire from EU-supplied artillery, drones, ammunition, air defenses, and heavy equipment.

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.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is working to build capacity for producing 300-350 drones per day. He made the statement during a meeting with journalists.

This announcment comes after Ukraine experienced Russian attack with 439 Shahed-type drones on 26 May, an all-time record. In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered separate funding to be allocated to Ukraine’s ballistic missile program to accelerate the production of ultra-fast missiles. 

On 27 May, Zelenskyy met with journalists, revealing that Russia is preparing for production of 300–350 drones per day.

“This is their real situation. They received a task to have 500 per day. I don’t think they have this,“ the president said, according to Suspilne.

Zelenskyy did not rule out that Russia could accumulate stocks and launch up to 1,000 drones against Ukraine on certain days.

“I don’t accept the figure of 1,000, although we must understand that they can accumulate for several days, and then there will be such a day. You can’t say this won’t happen,” he explained.

The president described a recent successful Ukrainian operation using large numbers of drones. Ukraine struck simultaneously with 400 small drones and destroyed more than 40 pieces of equipment at once, according to Zelenskyy.

“We took such a step. It was used exclusively by the military on the battlefield. And we will demonstrate to them many times more than this operation,” he said.

Ukrainian forces are using Mirage and F-16 aircraft to shoot down Russian drones, Zelenskyy said. Ukraine is also developing drone interceptors that can fight unmanned aerial vehicles at high altitude.

Ukraine has the technology but needs funding to scale up production, according to Zelenskyy. He cited Germany as a potential source of financing for interceptor production.

“I say that I have a range of questions for Germany. And one of them is financing interceptors, financing domestic production. We spend more than we planned. Because everyone is developing, the ‘Russians’ are developing, and our new technologies are appearing,” he said.

The German government has explicitly stated earlier that it will not provide fighter jets to Ukraine, citing a lack of available F-16s and the complexity of training and logistical support required for different aircraft types. The Mirage 2000 jets have been supplied to Ukraine by France, as part of a military aid package announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in June 2024, with the first jets arriving in Ukraine in February 2025.

Zelesnkyy also said during the meeting that Ukraine can already launch up to 100 long-range drones daily. With partner support, Ukraine could match Russia’s drone production levels.

“I think Ukraine also needs to have a thousand drones. By the way, long-range drones, which are complex – we can use 100 per day. And we will have the same as the ‘Russians’, 300–500 per day. We are very close to this. The question is not about production capabilities. The question is financial,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Russia advances step by step in Sumy Oblast. The invaders storm in on motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, says Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, Hromadske reports.

Moscow has intensified its use of small assault groups in the region, attempting to break deeper into the Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian defenders are engaged in daily battles, destroying Russian units. Moscow’s main objective is to gain a foothold and await reinforcements.

Ukraine builds its own Mad Max unit to outgun Russian motorcycle swarms

Demchenko says Russian forces have expanded the area of activity for their small assault group tactics, especially around the villages of Basivka, Zhuravka, and, more recently, Veselivka and Volodymyrivka settlements.

The Russians are trying to penetrate deeper into our territory by using speed. These are constant Russian actions that we’ve been recording for several weeks now, he explains.

These groups often operate on foot or ride in on light vehicles. Once they cross into Ukrainian territory, they attempt to dig in and wait for reinforcements, with the goal of continuing the offensive with larger forces.

Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups (SRGs) have been most active in northern Sumy Oblast, near the border with Chernihiv Oblast, and in the south, closer to Kharkiv Oblast. In the central part of the region, Russian forces continue to attempt to breach the border.

“Defense forces and border guards are destroying these groups both during attempted border crossings and troops before the line,” the Border Guard spokesperson adds.

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian forces seized four settlements in the northern region of Ukraine.

Hryhorov emphasized that residents of these villages had long been evacuated, stating there is no threat to civilians. The official did not specify when Russian forces took control of the settlements.

On 26 May, EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius urged the United States to fully commit to strengthening Ukraine, stating that the widely supported “peace through strength” principle—supported by both American and European leaders—requires reinforcing Ukraine.

Ukrinform reports that Kubilius said, speaking to journalists in the Italian parliament:

“For me personally, it is very clear that Putin does not want a ceasefire, he does not want peace. It is likely that the US administration has also begun to understand that Putin wants to continue the war because he feels like a winner in it. The ‘peace through strength’ formula, which has been supported by the US administration and Europeans, requires, first and foremost, the strengthening of Ukraine.”

Kubilius emphasized that if the US truly embraces peace through strength then the first step must be reinforcing Ukraine’s military capacity.

He noted that Ukrainians are already using every available resource to defend themselves against Russian aggression and can only gain additional power from their partners, particularly the European Union and the United States.

“I would like to see the American administration also begin to understand that additional strength for Ukraine is the most effective way to achieve peace,” Kubilius added, according to Ukrinform.

European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius says Russia lacks the military strength often attributed to it and will not achieve victory in Ukraine, according to an interview with LRT.lt.

This comes after Russia’s massive air attack on Ukraine over the weekend, during which over 600 drones and dozens of missiles were launched from Friday to Sunday, amid ongoing US efforts at peace negotiations. These attacks were confirmed as one of the heaviest attacks of the war to date.

“Russia is not as powerful as it is sometimes thought to be, and I do not see any evidence of Russia’s great power,” Kubilius said. He emphasized that Ukraine has demonstrated remarkable resilience over three years of war.

The Commissioner outlined Europe’s growing defense spending plans. The European Union envisions investing €800 billion in defense capabilities. However, member states will need to borrow most of this money themselves.

Kubilius acknowledged the challenge of convincing countries already facing high debt levels. “This is a question of politicians and leaders taking responsibility. They have to find ways of convincing their electorate that there is a real need to invest in defence,” he said.

The Commissioner also said that European forces must be capable of holding defensive positions for approximately ten days before NATO reinforcements arrive, he explained.

He said that the American presence in European defence is likely to become smaller, as the Americans concentrate more on the Indo-Pacific.

 “450 million Europeans should not be begging 340 million Americans to protect Europe from 140 million Russians who cannot take on 38 million Ukrainians,” he said.

Kubilius revealed that only 20% of European military acquisitions come from European industry, while over 65% originate from the United States.

“We have to avoid a chaotic divorce” with America while preparing for reduced US involvement, he said.

Regarding China, Kubilius described it as an authoritarian state but distinguished it from Russia. “There is a big difference between those authoritarian states that because of their size and geopolitical weight do not try to become aggressive,” he explained.

The Commissioner revealed details about Western support for Ukraine. America has provided €60 billion in military aid over three years, while the European Union contributed about €50 billion. Including Britain and Norway, European support also reaches approximately €60 billion.

He characterized this spending level as modest relative to economic output. Annual support totals about €20 billion from each side, representing less than 0.1% of GDP for both America and Europe.

The Commissioner outlined potential scenarios if American support withdraws. Europe maintains clear positions on the war and will never recognize occupied territories, he stated.

Kubilius said tha the fundamental commitment to supporting Ukraine remains essential, he argued, despite Russian efforts to create confusion through hybrid warfare tactics.

He sees opportunities for increased European support. “I am not convinced that 0.1% of GDP is the limit,” Kubilius said, suggesting room for higher contribution levels from member states.

The Commissioner concluded that European leadership must demonstrate clarity amid uncertainty about American policy directions. “It is good that, in the confusion caused by the new American administration, there is an effort in Europe to show much clearer leadership,” he said.