A 17-year-old boy has died in hospital from injuries sustained during the Russian rocket artillery strike on the city of Sumy on 3 June, raising the total death toll to six. “Doctors fought for his life for nearly a week,” local authorities reported on 10 June.

On 3 June, Russian forces shelled central Sumy city in northeastern Ukraine, reportedly using the Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the strike was a deliberate attack on civilian areas.

“Russians savagely hit Sumy. Just the city, ordinary streets – with rocket artillery. A completely deliberate strike on civilians. A rescue operation is underway now,” Zelenskyy said back then.

The President also highlighted that at least one rocket did not detonate. The unexploded munition penetrated the wall of a ninth-floor apartment.

Russia kills civilians in central Sumy with Tornado-S cluster munitions. “Hypersonic” Kinzhal hits near Mykolaiv (updated)

Casualties and aftermath

On the evening of 3 June, officials reported four people killed and 28 injured in the attack. Among the wounded were three children.

On 4 June, the death toll rose to five after an 86-year-old woman died in hospital from injuries sustained during the shelling.

Now, the latest victim, the 17-year-old boy, passed away nearly a week later despite intensive efforts by medical personnel.

Russian troops are piling onto motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles and attacking in small groups in Sumy Oblast in northern Ukraine. But the shift to smaller, lighter assault groups doesn’t mean the Russians are losing momentum in Sumy.

In fact, they may be preparing to march farther south—toward the city of Sumy itself.

50,000 troops, 20 kilometers to target

In late May, a powerful Russian force—50,000 troops plus hundreds of vehicles—rolled toward the border and into Sumy Oblast, reversing modest Ukrainian gains along the border region. Two weeks later, the Russians had captured several border villages in a 150-square-kilometer pocket.

Sumy lies just 20 kilometers to the south.

As the offensive grinds on, the Russians’ assault tactics have begun to shift.

“On the Sumy direction, Russian forces have changed tactics and conduct assaults in groups of eight to 10 personnel, use motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (quad bikes) for rapid movement, secure positions and mass forces for further attacks,” the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies reported Thursday.

Trading armored vehicles for unarmored ones, and fighting in smaller groups, can make individual Russian troops more vulnerable to Ukrainian drones. But that’s all part of the plan, as analysts Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds at the Royal United Services Institute in London noted in a pair of reports from this year and last.

Costly reconnaissance by fire

According to Watling and Reynolds, small probes are just the first phase for major Russian assaults. “First, they send sections/squads of poorly trained troops, perhaps eight personnel at a time (although some larger attacks consist of up to 30 personnel supported by one or two infantry fighting vehicles),” Watling and Reynolds explained.

“These are ordered to advance towards where they assess Ukrainian positions to be, conducting reconnaissance by drawing fire,” the analysts added. “If the group encounters resistance, Russian commanders assess where they believe the best lines of approach are, and in particular, where the boundaries between defensive units lie.”

Next, Russian artillery and precision glide bombs rain down.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Russians are now dropping nearly 180 of the glide bombs every day all along the front line. That’s up from 100 as recently as last year.

“When rotation or disruption of the defense is achieved, Russian units aim to conduct more deliberate assault actions,” Watling and Reynolds wrote.

The small, vulnerable assaults are just the preludes to larger, more powerful attacks. This probe-then-attack approach to ground warfare, with light infantry doing the probing, can be costly in lives. It’s not for no reason that Russian casualties have exceeded 1,000 a day for the better part of a year.

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Apocalypse comes to Kostiantynivka: every tenth Russian soldier marches on strategic town

Ukraine’s difficult math

But as long as recruitment remains robust, the Kremlin doesn’t seem to mind, Watling and Reynolds explained. “The Russian group of forces continues to take significant casualties, but is nevertheless growing in size.”

The pro-Ukrainian Conflict Intelligence Team initially described the Russian offensive in Sumy as “gradual.” But another analyst is worried it might accelerate as Ukraine shifts more forces to the south to block Russian advances around the eastern city of Pokrovsk.

“Ukraine shifted tens of thousands of troops” from Sumy, noted Tatarigami, the founder of Frontelligence Insight. That had the effect of “leaving that front undermanned and accelerating Russia’s gains there.”

The destruction of a few smaller Russian assault groups, most likely conducting reconnaissance missions, belies the overall superiority of the Russian force in the north—and the growing likelihood of further Russian advances.

“Unless the loss ratio begins to shift decisively in Ukraine’s favor, Russian forces are likely to continue advancing,” Tatarigami warned.

The Ukrainian air force has responded by sortieing more of its precious, ex-European Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters for bombing raids targeting the attacking Russians. But it might take more than a surge in air power to halt the Russian march on Sumy.

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Ukraine’s F-16s launch desperate strikes to stop Russia in the north

Russian forces launched a massive drone assault on Ukraine overnight on 4 June, deploying 95 strike drones and decoy aircraft across multiple oblasts.

Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 61 Russian drones, according to the Air Force Command.

The attack targeted Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Donetsk Oblast. Russian aircraft struck seven locations across the country.

Russian forces attack Ukraine daily with various types of weapon. Russian leadership denies that its army deliberately targets civilian infrastructure during the full-scale war, killing civilians and destroying hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and energy and water supply facilities. Ukrainian authorities and international organizations classify these strikes as war crimes by the Russian Federation and emphasize their deliberate nature.

Kharkiv under fire

Kharkiv bore the brunt of the attack. Russian forces used nine Shahed drones and two missiles of undetermined type against the city, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

The attack lasted 90 minutes. Russian forces struck civilian infrastructure, enterprises, residential buildings, a car service station, and a park across seven locations in Novobavarian district.

According to the Situation Center, missile strikes occurred in the Novobavarian district at a civilian enterprise.

A 30-year-old man was injured in the attack, according to Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

The strikes damaged a civilian enterprise workshop and caused a major fire at another facility. A car service station burned down along with a private house, garage, and outbuilding. Seven nearby homes sustained damage.

Ground crews found an unexploded Shahed drone. The attack damaged electrical networks and burned 600 square meters of grass.

Odesa hit by drone swarm

Russian forces conducted a mass drone attack on Odesa overnight. Air defenses destroyed most targets, but civilian infrastructure sustained damage, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said.

“There is damage to civilian infrastructure in the city, including residential buildings and a car service station,” Kiper said.

One person suffered a leg injury. Nine people sought psychological support following the attack, according to govenror.

Sumy Oblast factory targeted

Russian drones struck a bioethanol production plant in Sumy Oblast’s Lebedyn community. The attack caused fires and damaged cisterns, leading to depressurization and molasses spillage.

Approximately 10 private houses were destroyed in the assault. Specialists are assessing environmental consequences of the incident. No casualties were reported, according to Sumy Oblast Military Administration.

At least 12 drone impacts were recorded in the oblast during the night attack.

Dnipro Oblast

The Russian forces attacked Dnipro Oblast with artillery and drones, overnight into 4 June.

The attack damaged utility company, cars, medical institution in the oblast, according to Dnipro Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak. There were reportedly no injured.

Air  defense response

Ukrainian forces deployed aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, drone systems, and mobile fire groups to repel the assault. The defense destroyed 36 drones with fire weapons and neutralized 25 others through electronic warfare systems.

Russia has conducted nightly drone attacks on Ukraine. The previous night of 2-3 June, Russian forces launched over 110 drones from five directions.

The attack came a day after Ukraine struck the Kerch Strait Bridge, a key Russian military bridge connecting occupied Crimea to mainland Russia. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed on 3 June that it carried out an underwater operation to damage the bridge, marking the third Ukrainian strike on the Russian-built structure.

Something has changed in Ukraine’s skies. Russian air defenses that once dominated the battlefield are being picked apart with surgical precision—not by lone wolf pilots, but by something entirely new.

The Ukrainian F-16 pilots fighting to hold back 50,000 Russian troops in Sumy Oblast aren’t fighting alone anymore. More and more, the air force’s jets fight as teams.

A dramatic video that circulated online on Monday depicts a Sukhoi Su-27 from the Ukrainian air force’s 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade blowing up a Russian air-defense vehicle somewhere along the 1,100-km front line of Russia’s 39-month wider war on Ukraine.

When Soviet jets learned Western teamwork

The pilot of the Soviet-vintage supersonic fighter wasn’t just hunting random Russian air defenses. No, he was targeting Russian defenses “like a scalpel,” to borrow one Ukrainian pilot’s simile, to clear a path for other Ukrainian warplanes to perform their own missions.

As the Ukrainian air force takes delivery of up to 85 Lockheed Martin F-16s from a Danish-Dutch-Norwegian consortium, as well as a dozen or more Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters from France, the flying branch’s fleet is getting much more diverse.

The upgraded Western types complement a pre-war fleet that had around 125 Sukhoi Su-24 bombers, Su-25 attack jets, Su-27s, and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters.

In all, the Ukrainian air force is probably bigger than it was in February 2022—and it’s certainly much more modern as more Western jets arrive and the Soviet leftovers get their own upgrades, including Western bombs and missiles.

This specialization, and teamwork, first became possible as US contractors helped Ukrainian airmen modify their Su-27s and MiG-29s to fire American-made AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, which home in on enemy radar signals from as far away as 148 km. 

Ukraine’s ex-Soviet jets lack internal radar-jamming equipment, so they need help fighting their way through dense Russian defenses. Sukhois and MiGs armed with HARMs can escort bomb-laden Sukhois and MiGs to their targets. 

It was a HARM that the Su-27 pilot fired at the Russian air-defense vehicle on or before Monday.

“The Cossack in the Su-27, performing the task of covering the strike group, did a good job,” noted Sunflower, the Telegram channel that first posted the video of the attack.   

From solo missions to strike packages

The arrival of the first F-16s back in August, and the first Mirage 2000s in February, allowed even more complex strike packages. Unlike the Sukhois and MiGs, the F-16s and Mirage 2000s do have internal radar-jammers.

“Sometimes when we arrive, there are already F-16s waiting there, or sometimes Mirages,” a Ukrainian fighter pilot said in an official video from March. 

The F-16s and Mirages “either cover the whole package that is sent there to [strike] our enemies, or also strike [themselves],” the pilot said.

So while some F-16s are flying attack sorties over Sumy with American-made precision glide bombs, others may be flying jamming missions to protect the attackers—while other Ukrainian fighters, perhaps Su-27s, target the Russian air-defenses that the F-16s and Mirages can’t jam.

These complex fighter packages still don’t risk striking very deep inside Russia, where the air defenses might be prohibitively dense. “Currently, we can only strike at tactical depth,” the pilot in the March interview conceded. That means tens of kilometers rather than hundreds of kilometers.

But the fight for Sumy is a fight at tactical depth—inside Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force’s fighter packages should be up to the task.

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Ukraine’s F-16s launch desperate strikes to stop Russia in the north

Russian forces have captured the village of Kostiantynivka in northern Sumy Oblast — not to be confused with the strategic town of the same name in Donetsk Oblast — and are intensifying multi-axis assaults toward Sumy City, according to Ukrainian and Western sources.

Expanding the northern frontline

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on 2 June, Russian troops are attempting to widen the northern Sumy Oblast frontline via three axes north and northeast of Sumy City. Geolocated footage confirmed recent Russian movements near Andriivka and Yablunivka. Russian milbloggers claimed that Oleksiivka, Novomykhailivka, and Kindrativka had been seized, with troops pushing into northern Andriivka, west of Yablunivka, and toward Kostyantynivka.

Elements of Russia’s 18th Motorized Rifle Division and 177th Naval Infantry Regiment are reportedly operating in the area, alongside airborne regiments from the 76th VDV Division. Military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets noted that the 752nd Regiment and 200th Brigade were recently redeployed from Lyman and Chasiv Yar to bolster forces in Sumy Oblast.

SBU hits Crimean bridge underwater in third major strike, video shows massive blast (updated)

Russia’s strategic goals near Sumy

ISW notes that Moscow aims to approach the Khotin-Khrapivshchyna line, roughly 12–15 km from Sumy, placing the city within tube artillery range. The reported use of drones and artillery strikes is likely part of preparations for a potential offensive on Sumy City. However, ISW assesses that Russian forces are unlikely to capture the city in the near term.

Russia kills civilians in central Sumy with Tornado-S cluster munitions. “Hypersonic” Kinzhal hits near Mykolaiv (updated)

DeepState and Suspilne confirm ground situation

Citing analysts of the Ukrainian group Deep State, monitoring the frontline situation, Suspilne reported that Russian forces occupied Volodymyrivka and Kostiantynivka and made advances in Oleksiivka, with portions still in a grey zone. Ukrainian Border Guard Service spokesman Andrii Demchenko identified Yunakivka and Khotin as key targets. He warned that if Russian forces manage to move artillery closer, threats to Sumy will intensify.

Military expert Pavlo Narozhny told Suspilne that the push toward Yunakivka aims to cut off Ukrainian supply lines from the Sumy-Yunakivka-Sudzha highway, which supports troops on the border and in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Narozhny said Yunakivka offers intact infrastructure suitable for Russian consolidation and future advances.

Ukrainian positions under pressure from Russian “meat-wave assaults”

Fighting continues near Bilovody and Loknya, with attempted incursions into Yablunivka. Deep State co-founder Ruslan Mykula told Suspilne Russian forces were repelled in some villages but remain focused on isolating Yunakivka from the west.

Narozhny also described earlier attempts to sever logistics using drones near Novenke and claimed Russian forces now push through small villages like Volodymyrivka. He emphasized that their main objective remains Yunakivka, a staging ground for further operations toward Sumy.

Russia tries to break through to northern Ukraine’s Sumy city amid ceasefire talks

A combat medic anonymously told Suspilne that enemy drone and equipment superiority complicates evacuations and supply runs. A frontline sergeant described Russia’s tactic as “meat assaults,” sending successive small units using motorcycles and ATVs. Survivors regroup and continue advancing through tree lines and villages.

Threat level and troop presence

Narozhny estimated around 60,000 Russian troops are now deployed along the border, posing a significant but not yet critical threat. He said Ukraine must maintain 20,000–30,000 troops in the area due to the length of the frontline.

Zelenskyy: 50,000 Russian troops mass near Sumy bordering Russia’s Kursk for new offensive

Former intelligence chief Mykola Malomuzh stated that the current Russian grouping had earlier pushed Ukrainians from Kursk Oblast and now aims to secure new positions for potential strikes on Sumy. He said the “buffer zone” narrative masks broader offensive ambitions. Ukrainian defenses are reportedly holding due to well-fortified positions developed over time.

Narozhny also pointed to the forest between Yunakivka and Sumy as a major obstacle. He compared it to the Serebryanskyi forest in Luhansk Oblast, where Russian troops remain stalled after two years.

Russia occupies four empty border villages in Sumy Oblast

Territory under Russian control

As of 2 June, Russian troops controlled around 125 square kilometers of northern Sumy Oblast, with another 70 km² in the grey zone, according to Deep State. Villages under Russian control also include Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka.

Overnight on 3 June, DeepState reported that Russian forces had captured Kostiantynivka in Sumy Oblast. The status of Kindrativka, Vodolaha, and Oleksiivka remains under clarification. DeepState noted that “the situation continues to deteriorate due to constant enemy pressure and large infantry numbers,” adding that “after targeting enemy concentrations, new waves rush in so fast that our forces struggle to destroy them in time.”

Russia’s Sumy ambitions unlikely to succeed soon, says ISW

Related:

• Russian motorcycle units storm Ukrainian border villages seeking Sumy buffer zone in new offensive
• Russia tries to break through to northern Ukraine’s Sumy city amid ceasefire talks
• Russian drone blows up civilian shuttle bus, leaving nine dead in Sumy border town
• Russia bombs Sumy Oblast on first day of its own declared ceasefire

In the early hours of 3 June 2025, Russian forces launched a massive drone assault on Ukraine, using 112 UAVs including Shahed explosive drones and decoys from various directions. The Ukrainian Air Force reported 75 drones were neutralized, while 11 locations were struck, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in multiple oblasts, according to local authorities.

Later in the morning, Russia shelled Sumy with rockets, killing two civilians and injuring about 20 others, and targeted Mykolaiv with an air-launched ballistic missile:

Russia kills civilians in central Sumy with Tornado-S cluster munitions. “Hypersonic” Kinzhal hits near Mykolaiv (updated)

Odesa: five civilians injured, fires break out

According to the Odesa Oblast Military Administration and the regional prosecutor’s office, Russian drone strikes injured five civilians. One person was hospitalized in moderate condition, while others were treated at the scene. Fires erupted at multiple sites, including a major blaze at a food warehouse. Two cars burned down in a detached house area, and damage was reported to garages and residential buildings.

The State Emergency Service (DSNS) deployed 22 vehicles and 72 personnel, supported by three more units and 12 additional responders from the National Guard and local authorities. Air raid alerts were issued at 03:00, and explosions began around 03:32. According to Suspilne, Ukrainian air defense warned earlier that drone groups were advancing from the Black Sea toward Odesa Oblast.

Balakliia: one dead, one injured in drone strike

Overnight on 3 June, Russian drones struck Balakliia in Izium district, Kharkiv Oblast. Balakliia City Military Administration head Vitalii Karabanov reported several impacts in the town. A civilian was killed, and another person was injured.

Some strikes hit a civilian enterprise and open areas, causing wildfires. The DSNS later confirmed drone attacks on a postal terminal on the outskirts of Kharkiv, resulting in a fire that consumed two warehouse buildings and containers over a 3,000 m² area.

Postal company Nova Poshta, which operated the terminal, confirmed that part of its sorting facility was destroyed. The company stated:

We are contacting clients whose parcels were destroyed in the Russian attack regarding compensation.”

Chernihiv: four civilians injured, private and public buildings hit

Around 02:27, Russian drones hit Chernihiv. Chernihiv City Military Administration head Dmytro Bryzhynskyi reported that a Shahed drone struck a detached house, injuring two people — one critically. Later, the Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration confirmed four total casualties: two women and two men, all hospitalized with serious injuries.

A one-family home burned down, and a five-story residential building was damaged along with several other homes. Bryzhynskyi and regional head Viacheslav Chaus also reported damage to a school, multiple shops, a bus stop, and an industrial facility.

Sumy Oblast: guided bombs hit center of Khotin village

On 2 June, Russia launched three KAB guided bombs on the center of Khotin town in Sumy district. According to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, there were no casualties, but significant damage was reported.

A medical facility, school, church, and about 20 detached houses were damaged in the attack.

Nationwide air assault

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 112 Shahed-type and decoy drones overnight from Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Chauda in occupied Crimea. The main axes of attack were Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Odesa, and Donetsk oblasts. Ukrainian air defenses — including aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, EW systems, UAV units, and mobile fire groups — were activated. Of the 75 drones neutralized, 60 were shot down and 15 suppressed or lost via EW.

The Air Force’s data suggests that at least 37 Russian drones may have reached their intended targets.

On 3 June mining, Russia continued deadly attacks on Ukrainian territory, striking central Sumy city with a long-range rocket system, equipped with cluster warheads, and launching a Kinzhal aeroballistic missile that landed outside Mykolaiv, according to local authorities and airspace monitoring sources. The Sumy attack killed at least two civilians.

Sumy: Russian cluster rocket attack kills civilians, injures children

At approximately 09:18, multiple explosions were reported in central Sumy. According to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, Russian forces struck one of the city’s main streets, damaging vehicles.

Two civilian men were confirmed dead, and seven others injured, including children. Rescue services responded at the scene. The Sumy Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported to public broadcaster Suspilne:

“As of 10:00, two civilians are confirmed dead and seven injured, including four children.”

Sumy City Military Administration head Serhii Kryvosheenko added that many of the wounded were being transported to medical facilities.

Ukrainian airspace monitoring Telegram channel YeRadar reported at 10:30 that Russian forces used the Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system with a cluster warhead in the attack. According to the monitoring post, “There were four impacts within the city,” at the time.

The Tornado-S is a modernized version of the Smerch (9K58), with improved accuracy and a range of up to 200 km when equipped with newer rockets. The combination with cluster munitions increases its lethality against exposed personnel, vehicles, and infrastructure.

Update

The Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported that nearly 20 people were injured in the Russian attack on Sumy, with a 17-year-old among the wounded and some victims in critical condition.

“Unfortunately, two people were killed. Our condolences go out to their families,” the administration stated.

According to preliminary data, five impacts from long-range MLRS were recorded in the city center around 09:00. The strikes damaged a medical facility, vehicles, and residential buildings, with one of the hits occurring on Remisnycha Street.

A resident told Suspilne that he had gone out to the store when his apartment was struck:

“If I had been home, I would have died.”

A day of mourning has been declared for 4 June in the Sumy community, acting city head Artem Kobzar confirmed.

Deputy director Mykola Savchenko of the regional hospital told Suspilne that 20 wounded had been admitted, five of whom were in extremely serious condition. One 40-year-old woman died in surgery. He also shared a photo of the MLRS fragments recovered from the Remisnycha Street apartment.

In another part of the city, a woman was wounded by shrapnel at the entrance to a pharmacy on Shevchenko Avenue.

Pharmacist Ruslan told Suspilne:

“The woman was in critical condition. We pulled her into the pharmacy and did everything we could. It was a severe abdominal injury. Later, we helped paramedics carry her to the ambulance. Fortunately, all our staff are safe.”

Mykolaiv: Kinzhal missile tracked from Russian MiG-31K

Ukrainian airspace monitoring channel Nikolaevsky Vanyok, linked to the military, reported at 09:51 that MiG-31K jets took off from Akhtubinsk. At 10:02, the channel stated:

“For the first time during the war, a Kinzhal has struck near us (outside the city).” 

At 10:41, the same source reported: “All is OK.”

YeRadar detailed the event further, confirming the launch from the Kamyshin area in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast and noting a projected trajectory of approximately 1,200 km westward toward central or right-bank Ukraine. The missile, an Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, is capable of maneuvering mid-flight, deviating from typical ballistic paths. It can adjust altitude and direction at hypersonic speeds due to its aerodynamic surfaces, complicating interception efforts.

The channel observed the missile traveling at approximately 7,200 km/h over the northwestern outskirts of Kyiv, heading south. It later received information about a probable impact on the outskirts of Mykolaiv. Due to the Kinzhal’s ability to adjust its path in real time, YeRadar noted it would not attempt to chart the exact route. 

Update

Monitoring channel Raketa UA noted that the Russian MiG-31K fighter jet carried out its first-ever combat sortie from the Akhtubinsk airbase on the day of the strike. Previously, such launches had only been conducted from Savasleyka airbase.

“Russia is again changing its tactics,” the channel stated, adding that this new development would make it even harder to predict potential Kinzhal launches.

Ukraine is running out of choices. Russia has 50,000 troops threatening to besiege Sumy, a city with a pre-war population of 250,000 just 30 kilometers from the border. Ukraine’s response: gamble its rarest aircraft on missions they might not survive.

The Ukrainian air force is sortieing its small fleet of ex-European F-16s to drop American-made glide bombs on Russian regiments rolling into Sumy Oblast. 

Two months after an elite Russian drone group cut the supply lines feeding the Ukrainian force clinging to a 600-square-km salient around the town of Sudzha in western Russia’s Kursk Oblast—ultimately driving the Ukrainians from Kursk after a bitter, six-month battle—the Russians are pressing their advantage on the northern front of their 39-month wider war on Ukraine. 

In all, there are no fewer than 50,000 Russian troops in Kursk. The Ukrainian brigades holding the line in Sumy, just across the border from Kursk, have many fewer troops—especially now that at least one formation, the elite 82nd Air Assault Brigade, has rushed south to Donetsk Oblast to block a Russian attack on the town of Kostiantynivka, a critical strongpoint in Ukrainian defenses in the east.

The arrival of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade and other reinforcements in the east has helped to slow the Russian advance along the stretch of front line between Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar—can could save Kramatorsk and other key cities comprising the so-called “fortress belt” threading through Donetsk toward the border in the north.

“On the Sumy direction, the enemy offensive is intensifying,” the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies warned. “The Kursk group of forces is concentrating reserves in the border zone, attempting to break through between Yunakivka and Vodolahy.” 

The Ukrainian air force has received just a few dozen of the 85 American-built F-16 fighters that a Danish-Dutch-Norwegian consortium has pledged from European surplus stocks. Three of the single-engine, supersonic fighters have been lost since they first flew into action in August.

NATO’s “military Wi-Fi” arrives

The F-16s are precious assets, but the dire situation in Sumy warrants risking them. The pro-Ukraine Conflict Intelligence Team noted F-16s lobbing US-supplied Small Diameter Bombs—114-kg precision glide bombs—at Russian forces in and around Kursk.

“The application of F-16s in this role came as somewhat of a surprise,” CIT observed, “as they were initially utilized as ‘flying air defense’ deep within Ukrainian territory and only began appearing near the front line in the Sumy region in late winter 2025, accompanying Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter aircraft that launched guided aerial bombs.”

“It is possible that the [Ukrainian air force] has begun using their F-16s closer to the front line due to the recent arrival of new aircraft or due to an acute need to increase firepower,” CIT proposed.

The F-16s are being upgraded for more dangerous missions. Kateryna Chernohorenko, the Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization, announced that the F-16s—as well as Ukraine’s French-supplied Mirage 2000 jets—will get software allowing them to plug into the Link-16 radio network.

Link-16, which Chernohorenko described as “NATO’s military Wi-Fi,” connects command posts, radars, surface-to-air missile batteries, and warplanes in a single network. It can share data so that each HQ, missile battery, and plane sees what the others see. 

The Link-16 upgrade may not save all the Ukrainian F-16s as they fly into the danger zone to bomb the Russian troops threatening Sumy. But the Ukrainian command is running out of options as it struggles to hold back Russia’s dual offensives. 

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Apocalypse comes to Kostiantynivka: every tenth Russian soldier marches on strategic town

Russian military forces increased their offensive operations by 19% in May compared to April, according to data from DeepState, a Ukrainian open-source project that tracks real-time military operations.

Data from DeepStateUA shows that Russian forces carried out an average of 183.6 assaults per day in May. In contrast, April saw a daily average of 154.8. 

In April, Russian troops exceeded 190 assaults per day only twice. However, in May this threshold was crossed on thirteen separate days. The single most intense day came on 4 May, when Russian forces launched 269 assault actions.

However, the increased attack frequency contrasts with declining territorial gains and high casualty rates. The Institute for the Study of War estimates Russian territorial advances dropped from approximately 627 square kilometers in November 2024 to roughly 203 square kilometers in March 2025.

The ISW assesses that Russia lacks sufficient manpower and resources amid growing personnel losses and a deepening recruitment crisis for a successful large-scale offensive operation in Sumy.

Nevertheless, Russian troops continue their advance, increasing their use of small, mobile assault groups on motorcycles and quadbikes to evade Ukrainian drone strikes.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow is amassing over 50,000 troops near Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast, where Russia reportedly intends to establish a 10-kilometer “buffer zone” inside Ukrainian territory along the border with Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

At the end of May, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi also reported that Russian army activity significantly increased on the Zaporizhzhia direction, where active offensive operations are underway.

At current territorial gain rates and casualty levels, the Institute for the Study of War estimated it would take over 80 years for Russia to capture remaining Ukrainian territory.

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.

A Russian guided aerial bomb strike killed a 9-year-old girl and wounded a 16-year-old boy in southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast during a massive overnight assault on Ukraine. 

Russian military forces conducted an extensive air assault on Ukraine during the night of 30-31 May, deploying over 100 drones and 5 missiles across the country, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The attack involved 107 Shahed-type strike drones and various decoy unmanned aircraft, supplemented by two reactive strike UAVs of undetermined classification.

Russian forces also fired two S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles and three Kh-59/69 guided aviation missiles. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted 71 of the 114 launched weapons. 

The strikes primarily targeted the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk oblasts, located near the frontline. Ukrainian forces destroyed 42 UAVs through direct fire engagement, while electronic warfare systems suppressed an additional 30 drones that were “locationally lost.” 

Russian strike kills little girl in Ukraine

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian forces specifically targeted the village of Dolynka in Polohivskyi district using guided aerial bombs against residential area, according to the head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration. (ZRMA)

The attack killed a child, destroyed one house completely and damaged several buildings, vehicles, and agricultural structures through blast effects.

A 16-year-old boy who was injured in the strike remains in stable serious condition.

“Multiple injuries, amputation, contusion — the boy who suffered from the Russian shelling is in serious condition under the supervision of doctors,” wrote the head of ZRMA.

Russian forces conducted 628 separate strikes against 24 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast over a 24-hour period. The attacks employed aviation, drones, rocket artillery, and conventional artillery systems.

Russia causes damage in agricultural areas

In northeastern Sumy Oblast, a drone attack struck a bread delivery vehicle in Nedryhailivska community, injuring the driver with shrapnel wounds requiring hospitalization. In Romenska community, drone hit a farm facility, resulting in a fire that killed livestock.

Trostyanetska community agricultural enterprises faced bombardment from two missiles and 13 drones, causing fires that destroyed enterprise buildings and transportation equipment.

The attacks ignite fires in Kharkiv

In eastern Kharkiv on the border with Russia, night strikes ignited fires across multiple districts. The Kyivskyi district saw an enterprise building roof burn across 250 square meters, while Shevchenkivskyi district experienced fires at a garage and two vehicles on enterprise grounds, according to regional emergency services. 

Kyrylo Ilyashenko, 13, who helped people escape a burning bus during a Russian attack in Sumy on 13 April, has won a silver medal at the European Beach Wrestling Championships in Poreč, Croatia, acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, said on 30 May.

The event brought together youth, cadet, and junior athletes. Another boy from Sumy, Yaroslav Shoshura, won bronze.

Kyrylo competed just weeks after undergoing surgery for injuries he received in the April attack. His mother, Maryna Ilyashenko, told Suspilne that he started training again shortly after the operation.

“At first, he only did light exercises, stretching, and breathing recovery,” she said.

His father and coach, Oleksii Ilyashenko, prepared a special training plan.

“Given his condition, the physical load increased gradually,” Maryna Ilyashenko said. “In Croatia, Kyrylo stepped onto the sand — not as a war victim, but as a real wrestler. And he took the silver medal.”

Sumy Oblast Governor Oleh Hryhorov called him “the pride of Sumy region.”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the 13-year-old teen a new state honor — the “Future of Ukraine” badge, according to the regional administration.

On April 13, Kirill was traveling on a bus in Sumy with his mother when a missile hit the area. The bus caught fire. Its doors were stuck. Kyrylo managed to escape and helped others get out. Among those he helped were relatives of his classmates. Doctors later found three pieces of shrapnel in his head.

Most people on the bus died, including the driver. The vehicle became known as the “bus of death.”

That day, 35 people died in Sumy. Two of them were children. Another 120 were injured.

The situation on the border of Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts with Russia must be treated with the utmost seriousness, warns Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Zhorin, deputy commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.

Zhorin stresses the urgent need to prepare logistics, cover roads with anti-drone nets, and build fortifications. He notes that Russia lacks sufficient forces to capture regional centers but may attempt to push deeper into Ukrainian territory to use this as leverage in negotiations.

“Their goal isn’t to seize entire regions, but to add two more to their propaganda narrative — and claim they could have taken them, but chose not to,” Zhorin says.

Even without a critical mass of troops, the threat remains — and not just in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, warns that Russia may also launch an offensive in the Chernihiv direction, 24 Channel reports. 

This is a critical threat, as Chernihiv borders Kyiv Oblast and was a key invasion route in 2022, when Russian forces advanced through Hlukhiv, Bakhmach, and Chernihiv in an attempt to encircle Kyiv from the northeast.

“We must disrupt Russia’s plans to create a buffer zone. That zone must be on Russian territory, not in Ukraine,” Kovalenko emphasizes.

He adds that Russia has long ceased to hide its strategic goal — the occupation of all of Ukraine. However, having a plan does not mean the enemy is capable of executing it.

Ukraine’s military leadership urges not to delay in strengthening the border and preparing for a multi-directional defense.

Exclusives

Russians bullied and threatened Ukraine in Istanbul — but Putin banned his men from one move. Russia came to Istanbul armed with a script of threats. But Ukrainian delegate Kyslytsya now reveals there was one thing they absolutely couldn’t do.

Yes, Tucker, Christians are really killed in Ukraine — for refusing to spy for Putin. While Russian propaganda claims Ukraine persecutes Christians, evidence from occupied territories tells a different story: pastors are tortured with electrodes and needles for refusing to transform their confession booths into FSB listening posts.

Russia’s asbestos tank armor didn’t work. Ukraine’s drones did.. Death by poison, death by fire—Russia chooses both.

Military

Frontline report: Germany sends secret Gepard convoy as Ukraine prepares for a summer of fire. As ceasefire hopes fade, Germany sends air defenses and allies deliver firepower to help fortify Ukraine.

Russian motorcycle units storm Ukrainian border villages seeking Sumy buffer zone in new offensive. Russian assault teams abandon traditional heavy equipment for speed-based infiltration.

Drone attack triggers airport closures across Russia, claims of 99 drones intercepted. Several airports temporary suspended flights following reported drone strikes in Tula, Voronezh, and Kaluga.

Following a record 355-drone attack, Russia launches 60 drones—Ukraine intercepts most. Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy oblasts face damage, with two civilians injured.

Russia occupies four empty border villages in Sumy Oblast. Evacuated zones now under Russian control, but defenses hold elsewhere, local authorities say.

Russian missile with 400 kg explosive mass was flying 1,000 km to kill — but met Ukrainian kindergarten teacher. Nataliia Hrabarchuk once soothed children to sleep. Now she stalks the skies with a Soviet Igla launcher.

Intelligence and technology

UK intel: Wagner-linked Russian general Surovikin resurfaces in first public role since 2023. His first known public role since 2023 is now tied to the Russian Embassy in Algeria.

ISW: Russia committed to war goals through rising missile and drone buildup. Russia’s evolving tactics point to a plan for grinding Ukraine down over time.

Zelenskyy orders to accelarate ballistic missile production in Ukraine after Russia’s record strike. While Moscow pretends to talk peace, Ukraine arms up for the long war ahead.

International

Russia raises stakes in Ukraine while West issues empty ultimatums, expert says. The Ukrainian security expert argues Putin escalates missile terror due to Western hesitation while autocratic allies provide decisive military support.

UK uses Russian frozen profits to back Ukraine with $ 3 bn defense deal. The ERA initiative aims to bolster arms production and repairs through 2026.

EU’s return to quotas on Ukraine food exports undermine path to single market, Ukrainian agriculture minister says. Vitalii Koval urged EU partners to finalize a long-term trade framework by July.

Ukraine weapon range limits still in place, says German vice chancellor, contradicting Merz. Lars Klingbeil refuted Chancellor Merz’s remarks, saying Germany has not changed its policy.

Sweden allocates half a billion dollars for Ukraine defense and security. The funding will be distributed across multiple international procurement initiatives rather than direct weapons transfers.

Humanitarian and social impact

Russian-speaking Ukrainians overwhelmingly oppose Moscow despite Kremlin protection claims, poll shows. Moscow’s primary justification for invading Ukraine collapses under scrutiny as the very population Putin claims to protect demonstrates overwhelming negative stance toward Russia, with Russian-speakers choosing European integration over Moscow’s influence by massive margins.

AP: Ukrainian POW Serhii Hryhoriev died in Russian prison—he is one of over 200. The tragic toll highlights abuse and neglect in Russian detention facilities, according to Ukrainian and international reports.

Political and legal developments

Media: Leaked memo shows Trump-era US pulled out of EU sanctions plan. Top European envoys warn of major risks if unity continues to collapse.

Read the daily review for Tue May 27 2025 here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

In the early hours of 26 May, Russia launched what Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as the “largest drone attack since the start of the full-scale war.” A total of 355 explosive and decoy drones and 9 air-launched cruise missiles targeted Ukraine from various directions including Bryansk, Kursk, and occupied Crimea, according to the Air Force. The air assault targeted factories and residential areas in multiple cities, injuring a teenager in Odesa. Other Russian attacks killed four and injured at least 17 Ukrainian civilians, according to local authorities and Ukraine’s Emergency Service.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting all 9 Kh-101 missiles and neutralizing 288 drones, using a combination of aviation, air defense missile systems, electronic warfare, and mobile fire groups. Despite these efforts, drone impacts were recorded in five locations, and debris fell in ten areas.

Figures from the Air Force indicate that over 60 Russian drones may have reached their targets — marking a notably lower interception rate compared to previous attacks.

Trump slams Putin as “crazy” after deadly Russian attack, but also blames Zelenskyy and Biden

Kharkiv Oblast: Explosions, fires, and casualties

According to Suspilne Kharkiv, 13 explosions were heard starting at 00:33 in Kharkiv. Kharkiv and its suburbs were under Russian drone attack, confirmed by Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration (OVA). In Vasyshcheve near Kharkiv, a private enterprise caught fire after being hit by drones, as reported by the State Emergency Service.

While not attributing any casualties to the Shahed drone assault, Syniehubov stated that over the past 24 hours, other Russian strikes on six settlements in Kharkiv Oblast killed two women, 84 and 58, and injured a 60-year-old man and two women aged 76 and 68. 

Kyiv: Third night of aerial terror

According to Kyiv’s City Military Administration, Kyiv was attacked for the third consecutive night. A six-hour air raid saw damage in Dniprovskyi and Desnianskyi districts, including shattered windows in a residential building and drone fragments hitting a garage and a restaurant area.

Officials reported no injuries.

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

Odesa Oblast: Teenager injured, homes damaged

Odesa’s OVA and Emergency Service confirmed that drones caused the destruction of a detached home and fires in Velikodolynske. Several private homes, outbuildings, and vehicles were also damaged.

A 14-year-old boy was injured, suffering leg wounds, and received on-site medical treatment.

Khmelnytskyi Oblast: Missiles and drones hit Starokostiantyniv area

In the Starokostiantyniv community, hosting one of Ukraine’s airbases, Russia used a combined missile and drone strike, according to Khmelnytskyi Oblast head Serhii Tiurin.

Though no civilians were hurt, four enterprises suffered damage to warehouses, workshops, and admin buildings, while 18 residential homes, one outbuilding, and a power line were damaged.

Zaporizhzhia: Two injured in Yurkyvka

Zaporizhzhia’s Yurkyvka village was shelled by Russian forces on 26 May, said oblast head Ivan Fedorov. A 60-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were injured and received medical assistance. A detached house was destroyed in the attack.

Sumy: One dead, one wounded in artillery strike

Russian artillery hit Kindrativka in Sumy’s Khotin community, killing a 48-year-old man and injuring a 52-year-old civilian, who was treated at the scene, the Oblast Administration reported.

Donetsk Oblast: Six civilians injured

On 25 May, six civilians were injured in Donetsk Oblast due to Russian attacks, regional officials confirmed.

Russia attacks Ukraine with record 273 drones, leaving one dead, multiple injured in Kyiv Oblast

Kherson: Civilian deaths and injuries

Between the mornings of 25 and 26 May, one person was killed and four others wounded in Kherson Oblast, according to its administration.

At around 10:00 this morning, a drone strike in Kherson’s Korabelnyi district injured a 46-year-old woman, who suffered a blast injury and concussion, and was treated as an outpatient.

Poland scrambles jets as precaution

Due to Russian air activity over Ukraine, Poland’s Armed Forces deployed Polish and allied aircraft, warning of increased noise over southeastern Poland.

The operational command called it the second consecutive “very intense night” for their air defense systems.

Zelenskyy: Political message, not military strategy

President Zelenskyy commented that the sheer scale of the Russian air attack had “no military logic”, arguing it was instead a political signal.

“Only the feeling of total impunity can allow Russia to strike like this,” he said.

The Ukrainian President called on international partners to increase sanctions and block Russian oil trade and financial flows to deprive Moscow of its war resources.

“This is how Putin shows his contempt for a world that puts more effort into “dialogue” with him than into applying pressure. Like any criminal, Russia can only be restrained by force. Only through strength — the strength of the United States, the strength of Europe, the strength of all nations that value life — can these attacks be fully stopped and real peace achieved,” Zelenskyy said.

Exclusive

Russia tests new “porcupine” anti-drone armor. Ukraine’s drones still win.. From cope cages to turtle tanks, Russian anti-drone armor kept evolving. The latest iteration—a porcupine bristling with metal spikes—just met Ukrainian drones and lost, but likely won’t be the last.

The diplomatic delusion driving Trump’s appeasement of Putin. A president too arrogant to study his enemy thinks he can divide the world’s closest autocrats.

Russia bombs Ukrainian hotels full of journalists — 31 times, on purpose. A new report calls it a calculated assault on the press.

“They care about your lives more”: Viral Black journalist shatters illusions about Ukraine war support. Social media dubbed him “Harriet Tubman” for helping Ukrainians flee the war. Then they turned on him for demanding solidarity for all.

Military

Drone-on-drone: Ukrainian police show destruction of Russian FPV ambush drones. A new video reveals how patrol police drone operators are countering hidden drone threats.

Ukraine captures 971 Russian troops during Kursk operation since August. The Kursk offensive operation became Ukraine’s most successful campaign for taking Russian prisoners, netting 971 captives over nine months.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian military train with fuel in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast (video). Footage shows the fiery aftermath of a 24 May attack on a key railway supply line.

ISW: Russian salient near Donetsk Oblast’s Kostiantynivka grows, threatening the city. Recent advances southwest of the town may enable a future assault toward Kostiantynivka or Pokrovsk, ISW reports.

Russian Migalovo airbase hit by kamikaze drones, reports confirm (video). The base in Tver Oblast hosts Il-76 and An-124 military transport aircraft. During the drone assault, Russian air defenses reportedly targeted at least two Russian planes.

Russian forces attempt border probes in Kharkiv Oblast, no signs of large-scale attacks, military says. Earlier, Sky News claimed Russia has concentrated 50,000 troops near Kharkiv Oblast’s border.

As of 25 MAY 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• Personnel: 980850 (+1020)
• Tanks: 10854 (+2)
• APV: 22633 (+11)
• Artillery systems: 28269 (+68)
• MLRS: 1396 (+1)
• Anti-aircraft systems: 1169
• Aircraft: 372
• Helicopters: 336
• UAV: 37367 (+190)
• Cruise missiles: 3203 (+6)
• Warships/boats: 28
• Submarines: 1
• Vehicles and fuel tanks: 49751 (+112)

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine needs strategic command for defense innovation to challenge Thales and Rheinmetall, says EW systems producer. Ukraine must establish an engineering command center to transform frontline needs into mass-produced miracles, says Anatolii Khrapchynskyi at the Ukraine–EU defense forum in Brussels.

YLE: Recycled fishing nets become Ukraine’s frontline anti-drone tool. Old gear once used by Danish and Swedish fishermen now protects Ukrainian soldiers from aerial attacks.

China provides 80% of critical electronics for Russian drones, intelligence agency says. Ukraine’s intelligence service confirmed that about 20 Russian factories receive Chinese machine tools, special chemicals, gunpowder and components specifically for military enterprises.

Ukraine to get last pledged Dutch F-16 fighter jets tomorrow. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed the delivery will complete the pledged shipment of 24 aircraft.

US intelligence: Putin remains ready to fight through 2025— war determines his legacy. Despite heavy losses, Moscow “seems comfortable with the current cost of its slow advances,” betting on a war of attrition that intelligence officials say will likely favor Russia through 2025 without increased Western aid for Ukraine.

Russia is secretly building nuclear air-to-air missiles—for killing drones, apparently. A Cold War-era missile gets a nuclear upgrade—for a 21st-century enemy: drones.

Bloomberg: Europe can’t make enough weapons for Ukraine—so it wants to buy American. Europe can’t build fast enough—so it’s eyeing American weapons for Ukraine.

International

“War goes on regardless of weekends,” Zelenskyy blasts US silence after massive strike. As Trump pushes peace talks, Putin answers with ballistic hell across Ukrainian cities.

Russian navy now guards shadow fleet oil tankers in Gulf of Finland, minister says. The presence of military escorts to tankers is something Finnish officials haven’t seen before.

WP: Trump softens on Putin as Russian battlefield edge declines. The Kremlin faces military strain, yet Trump appears reluctant to escalate pressure.

Humanitarian and social impact

No Azov soldiers freed in 1000-for-1000 prisoner swap. More than 800 soldiers of the Ukrainian National Guard’s Azov unit remain in Russian captivity since 2022.

Russia kills two women in Kupiansk, hitting the city with 500 and 1,500 kg bombs. Two air-dropped FAB bombs with UMPK guidance kit destroyed dozens of homes.

Zelenskyy: “303 defenders are home” after final stage of 1000-for-1000 prisoner exchange. Soldiers from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and more are now receiving medical aid and support. Among the freed are National Guard members, border guards, and Mariupol defenders.

Russia’s massive missile and drone assault kills at least 12 civilians, injures 52, between two prisoner swaps. Ukraine’s Air Force reports over 350 aerial weapons launched in one night.

Read our earlier daily review here.