Ukraine Invasion: Part 57

[MagicFox]

Welcome to 57. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

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The budget is at a minimum a month away from final form. We haven't even seen the version the Senate is working on, and that will have to be reconciled with the House version.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Israeli Foreign Ministry denies sending (kyivindependent.com/israel-denies-sending-patriot-systems-to-ukraine-amid-conflicting-claims/) Patriot systems to Ukraine amid conflicting claims.
The denial contrasts with statements made by Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky, who said in a recent interview that Israel had agreed to transfer retired Patriot missile systems — originally supplied by the U.S. in the 1990s — to Ukraine.

⚡️US-Russia talks to be held (kyivindependent.com/us-russia-talks-to-be-held-in-moscow-very-soon-russian-ambassador-says/) in Moscow 'very soon,' Russian ambassador claims.

⚡️ NATO summit statement omits Ukraine's entry bid, $40 billion pledge, Bloomberg reports. (kyivindependent.com/nato-summit-statement-wont-mention-ukraines-entry-bid-40-billion-pledge-bloomberg-reports/)
The one-page draft recognizes Russia as a threat to NATO but not as an aggressor in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.

⚡️EU unveils (kyivindependent.com/eu-unveils-18th-package-of-sanctions-against-russia-targeting-energy-banking-oil/) 18th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting energy, banking, oil.
The EU has proposed for the first time a ban on transactions involving the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, as well as a reduction in the oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel, among other measures.

⚡️ Ukraine, Russia conduct second prisoner swap (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-russia-conduct-second-prisoner-swap-under-istanbul-deal/) under Istanbul deal.
"All of them require immediate medical attention," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️Russia significantly improved (kyivindependent.com/russia-helped-to-significantly-improve-north-koreas-inaccurate-kn-23-ballistic-missiles-budanov-says/) North Korea's shoddy KN-23 ballistic missiles, Budanov says.
It was reported last year that around half fired at Ukraine by Russia malfunctioned and exploded in mid-air.

⚡️Allies won't impose new sanctions (kyivindependent.com/allies-wont-impose-new-sanctions-on-russia-because-of-ukraines-refusal-to-mobilize-at-age-18-zelensky-says/) on Russia because of Ukraine's refusal to mobilize at age 18, Zelensky says.
"I do not believe that we should mobilize people from the age of 18, as the leaders of other countries have thought," Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️ Western firms reportedly paid at least $46 billion in taxes (kyivindependent.com/western-firms-paid-at-least-46-billion-in-taxes-to-russia-amid-full-scale-war-in-ukraine-investigation-says/) to Russia over the past three years, according to an investigation by investigative outlet Follow the Money published on June 10.

⚡️Fire, explosions reported at gunpowder (kyivindependent.com/fire-explosions-reported-at-gunpowder-plant-in-russias-tombov-oblast-amid-drone-attack/) plant in Russia's Tambov Oblast amid drone attack.

⚡️Slovak PM threatens to veto (kyivindependent.com/slovak-pm-threatens-to-veto-18th-sanctions-package-against-russia-over-energy-concerns/) 18th sanctions package against Russia over energy concerns.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he would block additional sanctions unless the EU finds "a real solution to the crisis situation that Slovakia would face following a complete halt in the supply of gas, oil, and nuclear fuel from Russia."

⚡️ Russia's State Duma passes bill to create state messaging app (kyivindependent.com/russias-state-duma-passes-bill-to-create-national-messenger/) as it considers blocking WhatsApp.
The new app "combines the features of a messenger and the functions of government services," the Duma's press service reported.

⚡️Zelensky imposes sanctions against individuals, organizations involved in deportation of Ukrainian children (kyivindependent.com/zelensky-imposes-sanctions-against-individuals-organizations-involved-in-deportation-of-ukrainian-children/).

⚡️ Serbia's president travels to Ukraine (kyivindependent.com/serbias-president-travels-to-ukraine-for-his-first-ever-visit/) for his first-ever official visit.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will visit Ukraine on June 11 to take part in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, Serbia's Presidential Office announced.

⚡️ Romania’s President Dan travels to Ukraine (kyivindependent.com/serbias-president-travels-to-ukraine-for-his-first-ever-visit/) in his first official visit.

⚡️Russian jet suspected of violating (kyivindependent.com/russian-jet-suspected-of-violating-finnish-airspace-defense-ministry-says/) Finnish airspace, Defense Ministry says.
The alleged violation occurred on June 10 near the city of Porvoo, located about 50 km east of Helsinki, according to the Finnish Defense Ministry.

⚡️Ukrainians among foreign nationals in US targeted (https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-among-foreign-nationals-targeted-for-transfer-to-guantanamo-washington-post-reports/) for transfer to Guantanamo, WP reports.
The detainees reportedly include individuals from countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Ukraine. The move is part of a broader plan to free up capacity at overcrowded domestic facilities.

⚡️Russia ships weapons to Africa (kyivindependent.com/russia-ships-weapons-to-africa-violating-sanctions-ap-reports/), violating sanctions, AP reports.
Russian-flagged cargo ships delivered howitzers, radio jammers, and other military equipment to a port in Guinea in late May. The weapons were then transported to Mali, the AP reported on June 10.
The deliveries represent another sign of Russia's expanding military footprint in Africa.

In African universities, Russia’s war against Ukraine finds new supporters
(https://kyivindependent.com/african-universities-must-abandon-pro-russian-bias-in-favor-of-scholarly-objectivity/)
"Russian invasion of Ukraine has exposed a troubling trend within certain African academic institutions: a marked bias toward Russian narratives that undermines the very principles of academic integrity and intellectual honesty that universities claim to uphold," writes Ngotho Gichuru, a Ph.D. student at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, in this op-ed.

⚡️ Ukraine's SBU releases fresh video (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-sbu-releases-new-footage-of-operation-spiderweb-teases-new-surprises/) of Operation Spiderweb, teases 'new surprises.

⚡️ Update: 3 killed, 64 injured in Russian mass drone attack on Kharkiv. (kyivindependent.com/massive-russian-drone-attack-kills-2-injures-at-least-28-in-kharkiv/)

⚡️Russian attacks kill (kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-10/) 4, injure 73 across Ukraine over past day.
Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia deployed 85 attack drones, including Shahed-type UAVs and decoy drones, along with one Iskander-M ballistic missile launched from Russia's Kursk Oblast.

⚡️Ukraine repatriates (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-repatriates-bodies-of-1-212-fallen-soldiers/) bodies of 1,212 fallen soldiers.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
‪
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — JUN 11, 2025
■ Most combat engagements in over a month, casualties also up
■ Drone interceptions remain well above the 7-day average
■ Strike ratio stays in the single digits

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

US to cut Ukraine military aid in 2026 — Hegseth
The United States will reduce its arms supply budget for Ukraine in 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
“The budget provides for cuts. This administration has a different vision of the conflict. We believe that a peaceful settlement through negotiations is in the interests of both sides, as well as in the strategic interests of the United States, especially given the many global challenges,” he said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has officially confirmed that the European Union is proposing to introduce restrictions against the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the new sanctions package, as well as lower the "price cap" for Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel.
It is also proposed to introduce restrictions against another 77 vessels of the "shadow fleet", 22 Russian banks and banks that help the Russian Federation circumvent sanctions.
At the same time, restrictions against the Russian nuclear industry were not included in the 18th package of proposed sanctions.

The second stage of the exchange has taken place, with another group of Ukrainian defenders returning from the Russian captivity.

Ukraine negotiates next stage of prisoner exchange under pressure — Yusov
Ukraine is engaged in difficult talks with Russia over the next stages of a large-scale prisoner exchange, said Andriy Yusov, Deputy Head of the Coordination Headquarters and representative of the HUR.

Russia's budget deficit nears annual target amid weak oil revenues — The Moscow Times
Russia’s federal budget deficit reached 3.4 trillion rubles in the first five months of 2025, or 1.5% of GDP, the Finance Ministry reported. In May alone, the deficit grew by 168 billion rubles.
The figure is nearly five times higher than last year’s and close to the full-year target of 3.8 trillion rubles, or 1.7% of GDP. The original plan projected a deficit of 1.2 trillion rubles, or 0.5% of GDP, but this was tripled in May.
The budget shortfall is driven by low oil prices and a strong ruble. Oil and gas revenues in May fell to 513 billion rubles, the lowest level in 2.5 years. Over five months, they totalled 4.24 trillion rubles, down 14.4% year-on-year.
Non-oil and gas revenues reached almost 2 trillion rubles in May and 10.5 trillion over five months, up 12.3%, roughly in line with inflation. Government spending for the period rose to 18.1 trillion rubles, 3.1 trillion more than a year earlier.

Norway has transferred 14 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine — 2.3 times more than the officially declared six — according to the government’s annual report on imports and exports of conventional weapons.
In addition to the fighter jets, Norway also supplied 20 Dingo 2 light armored vehicles and three NM189 armored engineering vehicles to Ukraine in 2024.

All Tu-95 bombers leave Olenya air base after Ukrainian strike — OSINT
Following Ukraine’s Operation “Pavutyna” (“Spiderweb”) , all Tu-95 strategic bombers have left Russia’s Olenya air base in the Murmansk region, OSINT researcher MT Anderson reported.

Ukrainian Armed Forces’ aviation dropped precision bombs on a building housing Russian soldiers in the village of Tyotkino, Kursk Region.

❗️Fires from Russian strikes cover over 24,000 sq m, — emergency service
Russian overnight strikes triggered fires spanning more than 24,000 square metres — the equivalent of 3.5 football fields — according to State Emergency Service spokesperson Oleksandr Khorunzhiy.
Five regions were hit: Odesa, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv region and the capital. A total of 111 sites in 10 settlements were damaged. Two people were killed and 14 injured.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Hungarian intelligence tried to gather information on the locations of air defense systems and military units in Ukraine — Zelensky

Zelensky exposes Hungarian intelligence operations in Transcarpathia, (www.kyivpost.com/post/54314) targeting Ukraine’s border vulnerabilities and testing locals’ response to “peacekeepers.”

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief says Russia is helping North Korea to build long range drones that (www.kyivpost.com/post/54275) could threaten South Korea or be use by Moscow to bolster attacks on Ukraine.

New investigation exposes Telegram’s server links to Russian intelligence contractors. (www.kyivpost.com/post/54339) Telegram denies it—but key questions about your privacy remain unanswered. Why this matters most in Ukraine.

The US hopes that the UK and the EU will be willing to step up and lead a fresh bid to chase down more surface-to-air missiles for Ukraine (www.kyivpost.com/post/54310) in the coming days, a senior US administration official told Kyiv Post.

Russia wants to label the Renault logo a fascist symbol following (www.kyivpost.com/post/54301) the French carmaker’s announcement of a potential partnership with a defense company to produce drones in Ukraine.

Russia is downplaying Ukraine’s recent drone strike (www.kyivpost.com/post/54348) on its nuclear-capable bombers, calling the impact “exaggerated.”

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇭🇺 Hungary sought vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region and made “dozens of attempts” to interfere in Ukraine’s internal affairs, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated.
According to him, Hungary’s Military National Security Service was searching for information on the locations of air defense systems, Ukrainian military units, and local attitudes toward the possible presence of Hungarian peacekeepers in the region.
This Hungarian intelligence network had been under development since 2021. Military-related issues were reportedly raised in 2024–2025, and the last transmission of information took place this March.
“How are we supposed to respond to this during a war? I’m not saying Budapest is necessarily planning anything, but if not, then who are they gathering this information for? I asked NATO representatives whether they had requested Hungary to collect such data. They said no. I’m the president of a country at war—how would you respond in my place?” Zelensky said.
He added that this was the reason why, in May, Ukraine publicly exposed the Hungarian intelligence operation in Zakarpattia. Zelensky also noted that Ukraine possesses additional photos and videos from various meetings organized by Hungarian intelligence.

🇭🇺 President Zelensky is “openly campaigning for the Hungarian opposition party Tisza” — this is how Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács reacted to Zelensky’s interview.
Zelensky had stated that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is using the war in Ukraine for his own political gain. Kovács claimed that Zelensky is “sucking up” to EU elites and demanding that others “finance his war.”

In Amsterdam, a Ukrainian man carried out a knife attack on several people. According to NOS, he was a deserter who wanted to end up in prison.
Journalists found that 30-year-old Roman D. deserted during an overseas leave. Even before leaving Ukraine, he had repeatedly expressed a desire to be imprisoned in Europe.
“He often said he wanted to kill someone in Norway to end up in prison and live under care for the rest of his life,” said his former commander. Fellow soldiers described Roman as a moody recluse.

Send us good weapons in quantity, not just a few excellent weapons.
Ukraine's defense industry says the fight against Russia has shown it that the West's approach to weapons is all wrong

Don't know how reliable this is. Say if you want me to report it.

Suspected Sabotage and Systemic Failures in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Reveal Deepening Military Strains

I don't think the west's approach is all wrong, but (as Rutte and others point out in the article) you need a balanced mix of high end and less high end kit if you insist on fighting or are trapped in a long lasting conflict, which TBF to NATO was never their game plan.

However if you go down that road and e.g. ten need conventional artillery pieces instead or as well as one Archer I suspect (over to @MissConductUS ) you need to buy more support kit and you need lots more trained person power....that costs and as we have seen on thread various the general public in the west generally don't like the idea of their boys and/or girls doing military service.

@notimagain has a very good point in that complex platforms like Archer are very capable, but have what's called a long logistical tail and require a lot of maintenance and support personnel to keep them operating. Something like the M777 Howitzer towed artillery piece isn't much more complex than a bicycle. It's not as capable, but only needs a crew of four and almost never breaks down.

There needs to be a mix of capabilities. There are some high-value targets that really justify an expensive munition, like an ATACMS or JDAM missile, and you probably want to fire several of them to increase the probability of success—hitting enemy command posts or high-end, long-range air defenses, for example.

Other targets are of somewhat lower value but more numerous, like enemy ammunition stores or troop concentrations. Something like HIMARS is a good solution for these middle-tier targets.

Finally, you have combat situations that require high-volume suppressive fire that forces an enemy to pull back or halt what they're doing to dig in. Here's where the King of Battle (aka tube artillery) is the right trade-off between mission requirements and cost.

There's always been a focus on developing gold-plated, exquisite weapons, sometimes to the detriment of common sense. One reason the Germans lost WWII was Hitler's obsession with Wunderwaffe. They do have a role to play, though. Fancy new features first appear on luxury cars, then trickle down to more ordinary, less expensive vehicles. The same thing happens with weapons systems.

I do think the West is finding a better balance here. Drones have been around for ages, but the early ones (like the Predator) cost north of $10m. Much cheaper ones for the squadies are now widely used. APKWS is another good example. They took some cheap Hydra air-to-ground rockets that have been around for ages and fitted some off-the-shelf guidance and fuzing components to them, and voila!, you have an anti-drone munition that aircraft can carry in large numbers.

New defense contractors like Anduril are now getting a lot of funding because they focus on building cost effective, high volume "good enough" weapons with commercially available components. This is one area where I think Hegseth is actually doing some good at the Pentagon.

Sorry for the ramble. 😁

Sorry to derail (and I wasn’t sure if I should mention this) but I thought many of you would find The Wargame podcast really interesting. Ben Wallace plays the British prime minister and Keir Giles represents the Kremlin as they play out a potential attack on the UK. It’s interesting for all sorts of reasons - episodes 1 and 2 are out now, awaiting 3: https://pca.st/podcast/badcd9a0-3304-0139-330c-0acc26574db2

Thanks. Not much encouragement to enlist either, when ex soldiers are being prosecuted in old age. Then the awful treatment and death of the Irish Guardsman at Catterick.
We treat our forces badly, we have to be more like the US.

Ex minister Kuleba said today that Ukraine must recruit 18 year olds .
In the meantime Zelensky said he wouldn't, as war isn't always numbers, but using weapons such as drones intelligently.
So not looking to increase numbers but use them more effectively? That should also result in fewer casualties.

Sorry if I've repeated news from the thread. I read so much and it goes in, but rarely do I remember where from.

Imagine how drone technology will have advanced in three or four years time.
There could be more employed flying drones from cabins in air bases than needed on the ground. That would suit British mums who say they won't allow their boys to fight.

Anyone know where Russia found all those troops for the Finnish border?
I thought they were short in Ukraine.

I listened to the first half of episode two on my lunch break, and it's a corker. At some point in the past @notimagain pointed out how Iimited the UK's abilities are to defend against ballistic missile attack. This podcast should bring that point home to people.

One quibble - a Russian first strike would have a lot more than 40 missiles. If you're going to throw the first punch, you try to make it a knockout, not a bloody nose.

At this point, the concern is that they are building new military infrastructure that could someday accommodate large numbers of troops once fighting stops in Ukraine.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/finland-expects-russia-to-build-up-troops-at-border-after-ukraine-war-ends

I’m half way through the second episode. It’s so unsettling to think that people in Ukraine went through exactly this in 2022.

I'm not sure. The war game was suggesting the attack as a "response" to the suggested false flag attack on its own harbour by terrorists. The attacks the speak about from Russia in the war game is supposed show to a proportionate attack not aimed dat starting a full blown war but a huge show of force to tell Britain to "back off" and test the waters of article 5.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-10-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be switching between rhetoric focused on Russian ethnic nationalism and Russian multinationalism, but remains committed to promoting anti-Western sentiment and the militarization of Russia's youth.
• Russia is reportedly working to increase the number of North Korean labor migrants in Russia, likely to support Russia's workforce and to directly join the Russian military.
• Ukraine and Russia conducted the second round of prisoner of war (POW) exchanges on June 10, in accordance with agreements the parties reached in Istanbul on June 2.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Vovchansk, Borova, Lyman, and Toretsk. Russian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk and Toretsk.

Quite possibly. I haven't heard the first episode and it wasn't until I heard the rest of episode two that I heard about the false flag attack in Murmansk, but that does make sense.

The podcast certainly makes clear the risks of the UK's greatly depleted conventional warfare capabilities. You're in serious trouble if your primary missile defense ships have to sail with half empty missile magazines.

Exactly what is stark is they are playing it out with the idea that the US and NATO don't automatically come to assist and try to down play and de escalate things appeasing Russia. The worrying thing is this is a very real possibility now. It clearly shows that conventionally without support we haven't got a hope in hell of lasting more than a week without having to at least threaten the nuclear card, unless we can guarantee support from other. Incredibly worrying.

It clearly shows that conventionally without support we haven't got a hope in hell of lasting more than a week without having to at least threaten the nuclear card,

TBF that's not new, it was pretty much the NATO policy in Europe for many decades, even with US support.

When I was directly involved in this on many an exercise the simulated situation had escalated to nuclear at some level in not many days..

Having the equipment/materiel to fight a long lasting conventional war in Europe wasn't really something the politicians wanted to consider - reason being cost..

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-11-2025-0

Key Takeaways:

• Reducing US military aid to Ukraine will neither lead to a sustainable peace in Ukraine nor compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to reassess his theory of victory.
• The Kremlin continues to attack Ukraine using rhetoric presenting an anachronistic reading of Ukraine's history, denying the existence of an independent Ukrainian language and culture, and discrediting the Ukrainian government.
• Russian officials are also attempting to rhetorically split Ukraine from its Western partners and advocating for an escalation of Russian strike tactics in Ukraine as part of wider efforts to intimidate the West into weakening its support for Ukraine.
• Russian officials continue to promote anti-NATO and anti-Western rhetoric, likely as part of the Kremlin's continued efforts to prepare Russian society for a potential future war against NATO.
• Ukrainian forces continue to strike Russian military and defense industrial targets in the Russian rear.
• Ukraine and Russia exchanged the bodies of killed in action (KIA) soldiers on June 11, in accordance with agreements previously reached during talks in Istanbul.
• Ukrainian forces advanced near Borova. Russian forces advanced near Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Ukraine to get $2.26 billion from UK (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-to-attract-2-26b-for-air-defenses-missiles-under-new-uk-arms-deal/) for arms purchases, PM says.
The new funding will be used to buy Rapid Ranger air defense systems and Martlet light multipurpose missiles, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said

⚡️EU could impose Russian oil price cap (kyivindependent.com/eu-could-impose-russian-oil-price-cap-without-us-support-kallas-says/) without US support, Kallas says.

⚡️ Transnistria again declares economic emergency (https://kyivindependent.com/transnistria-again-declares-economic-emergency-over-russian-gas-cut/) over Russian gas cut.
The unrecognized region, located in eastern Moldova along the Ukrainian border, has faced growing energy shortages since January, when Russian gas giant Gazprom halted deliveries to the territory.

⚡️EU, Germany boost (https://kyivindependent.com/eu-and-germany-boost-ukraines-energy-efficiency-fund-with-18-million-euros/) Ukraine's energy efficiency fund with 18 million euros.
The EU and Germany have topped up Ukraine’s Energy Efficiency Fund (EEF) with an additional 18 million euros ($20.7 million) to expand their support for Ukraine’s energy independence and green recovery, the EU Delegation to Ukraine said on June 11.

⚡️ German Defense Minister Pistorius (kyivindependent.com/german-defense-minister-pistorius-arrives-in-ukraine-to-discuss-military-aid/) arrives in Ukraine to discuss military aid.

⚡️Russia boasts world's top nuclear force (kyivindependent.com/russia-boasts-worlds-top-nuclear-force-must-improve-ground-forces-putin-claims/), must improve ground forces, Putin claims; Russian state media reported on June 11.

⚡️Drapatyi ends tenure (kyivindependent.com/drapatyi-ends-ground-forces-tenure-citing-reforms-says-he-leaves-with-clear-conscience/) as Ground Forces chief, says he leaves with 'clear conscience'.
Mykhailo Drapatyi said on June 11 that he had concluded his six-month tenure as commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, summarizing his accomplishments and stating that he is leaving with "a clear conscience."

⚡️Republicans press Pentagon chief over Trump’s plan to end Russia's war (kyivindependent.com/republicans-press-pentagon-chief-over-trumps-plan-to-end-russias-war-against-ukraine-politico-reports/) against Ukraine, Politico reports.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on June 11 stood by the administration’s approach, portraying a U.S.-brokered peace deal as a sign of strength and admitting that any agreement would inevitably leave “plenty of people on both sides” dissatisfied.

⚡️ Rubio congratulates (kyivindependent.com/rubio-congratulates-russian-people-on-russia-day/) Russian people on Russia Day.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the Russian people on June 12, Russia's National Day, and expressed a desire for "constructive engagement" to bring peace to Ukraine.

⚡️Vucic offers to help rebuild Ukrainian cities (kyivindependent.com/vucic-offers-to-help-rebuild-ukrainian-cities-reaffirms-support-for-territorial-integrity/), reaffirms support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
"I would like to take one or two cities or regions that we could rebuild. I think that would be very clear and noticeable to the Ukrainian people," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.

⚡️Ukraine grants (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-grants-poland-permission-to-exhume-1939-war-graves-in-lviv/) Poland permission to exhume 1939 war graves in Lviv.
In a reciprocal gesture, Ukraine has received Poland's approval to carry out its own search and exhumation activities in the Polish village of Yurechkova.

⚡️ Ukraine strikes Russian electronics plant (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-russian-electronics-plant-in-moscow-oblast-military-says/) in Moscow Oblast, military says.

⚡️ Russia’s nuclear deterrent (kyivindependent.com/russia-nuclear-deterrence-operation-spiderweb/) against US not 'significantly' affected by Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, official claims.
"Our nuclear deterrence potential against the U.S. and any other potential adversary has not suffered significant damage," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. [not sure why I bother posting anything a Russian minister says, really ]

⚡️With only 2 weeks of funding left, US group tracking Russian abduction of Ukrainian children prepares (https://kyivindependent.com/with-only-two-weeks-of-funding-left-group-tracking-russian-abduction-of-ukrainian-children-prepares-to-shut-down/) to shut down. 
"Right now, we are running on fumes," Nathaniel Raymond, the lab's executive director, told CNN. "As of July 1, we lay off all of our staff across Ukraine and other teams, and our work tracking the kids officially ends."

⚡️Partisan group destroys (kyivindependent.com/partisan-group-destroys-russian-military-truck-in-occupied-ukraine-allegedly-killing-soldiers-atesh-claims/) Russian military truck in occupied Ukraine, allegedly killing soldiers, Atesh claims.

⚡️ Russia sentences top Navalny ally Volkov (kyivindependent.com/russia-sentences-top-navalny-ally-volkov-to-18-years-in-prison-in-absentia/) to 18 years in prison in absentia.

What Russia's 1 million casualties mean for Ukraine ()
The Kyiv Independent's Chris York sits down with George Barros, team lead for the Russia and Ukraine portfolio at the Institute for the Study of War, to discuss what Russia’s approaching one million casualties mean for its war effort in Ukraine. They explore how the Kremlin might generate more forces — and what impact this could have on Russia’s economy.

Putin’s suspected daughter found working in anti-war galleries in Paris

• (kyivindependent.com/paris-art-scenes-unexpected-dilemma-can-you-employ-putins-suspected-daughter/)* The revelation that Putin’s alleged daughter Luiza Rozova works at Paris anti-war galleries has sparked backlash. Some questioned the ethics of her role, while others defended her, saying she shouldn’t be judged for her family ties.

⚡️Russia killed (kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-kill-3-injure-37/) at least 3, injured 37 across Ukraine over past day.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched 63 drones, including Shaheds and other unmanned aerial systems, from multiple directions, including Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, and occupied Crimea.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 21m
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — JUN 12, 2025
■ Russian casualties reach 1M (~285K KIA)
■ Combat intensity remains high, significant unarmored vehicle & artillery losses
■ Visually confirmed losses: 25 🇷🇺 35 🇺🇦 (0.7x, 30-day at 1.4×)
■ Single digit strike ratio

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

❗️Russia plans to capture Odesa and reach the border with Moldova and Romania, — Zelenskyy
The President said Europe cannot afford to lose Ukraine and Moldova, warning that Russia would then increase pressure on Europe and interfere in its affairs.

In 2024, there were 61 interstate conflicts worldwide, including 11 full-scale wars — more than in any year since World War II.
This is stated in a study by Swedish researchers published in the Journal of Peace Research.
The 11 full-scale wars included the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the fight against a terrorist organization in Nigeria, and clashes in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
The number of conflicts has been steadily increasing: 56 were recorded in 2022, 59 in 2023.
“2024 was the fourth most violent year since the 1994 Rwandan genocide,” said Sean Davis, senior analyst at the Uppsala Conflict Data Program.

🇬🇷🇺🇦 Greece has proposed to Ukraine the creation of a transport corridor connecting the port of Alexandroupolis with Odesa
The corridor would pass through Varna in Bulgaria and Constanta in Romania, said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“I would like Odesa to be at one end of an ambitious, comprehensive connectivity project that would start at the port of Alexandroupolis, pass through Varna, Constanta and finally reach Odesa. This is a project that could be proposed for EU funding,” he noted.
Mitsotakis added that the corridor could include railways, electricity networks and gas pipelines.

According to him, this would provide Ukraine with a new, fast logistics route, much more efficient than sea transport.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine used aerial bombs to demolish a building where Russians were stationed in one of the directions.
The occupiers had stored valuable electronic warfare systems and other equipment in the building. t.me/United24media/32428

🤬 In the Izyum district of the Kharkiv region, the Russian Federation attacked a demining machine with a drone. A sapper was killed, and two of his colleagues were injured — State Emergency Service.
The enemy directed a strike drone at the working body of the MINEWOLF MV-370 demining machine precisely when the sappers were servicing it and checking its operation, the report says.

Ukrainian Veteran Returns to Lyre Playing Thanks to Special Prosthesis
Taras Kozub, a veteran of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura,” has returned to playing the lyre after losing his left hand during a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia direction.
Thanks to support from caring individuals, raised funds, and a specially designed prosthesis, he can once again perform music on the ancient Ukrainian instrument.
https://t.me/United24media/32416

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Pentagon chief Hegseth admitted that his department had diverted thousands of anti-radar missiles originally intended for Ukraine (www.kyivpost.com/post/54369) to US forces in the Middle East.

Serbian President Vučić refused to sign the final statement of the “Ukraine – South-Eastern Europe” summit condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine — Le Monde
All other participants of the forum signed the declaration.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇪🇺 The EU has updated its blacklist of countries with a high risk of money laundering — once again excluding Russia.
Recently, Members of the European Parliament have been pressuring the European Commission to include Russia on the list. Their efforts intensified after the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) failed to do so last year despite clear evidence, due to resistance from BRICS countries.
The updated list now includes Venezuela, Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Namibia, and Nepal. At the same time, the European Commission removed the UAE and Gibraltar from the list.
In 2024, the European Parliament initially rejected the move to delist the UAE, but opposition weakened after the country committed in writing to strengthening judicial cooperation with Brussels and Europol.

🇩🇪 German Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Jäger may become the head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), according to Spiegel.
In Germany, the head of the intelligence agency is appointed by the Chancellor, as the BND reports directly to them. Spiegel notes that Martin Jäger is one of Germany’s most experienced crisis diplomats, and in recent years he has had extensive contact with intelligence work both in Berlin and globally.
▪️Martin Jäger has served as ambassador to Ukraine since July 2023.
The photo shows Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Martin Jäger in Kyiv.