United 24 Media:
☢️ Ukraine informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about a drone strike on the Centralized Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
According to the agency, the IAEA team stationed at the site will soon inspect the facility and assess the consequences of the attack.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia deliberately targeted this nuclear infrastructure facility.
⚡️ Angela Merkel said she has been asked for advice on negotiating with Putin.
The former German chancellor made the remarks in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.
“I know from my own experience that you can negotiate with the president of the Russian Federation only if you have political power. In a democracy, that power is granted only for a limited period. Neither François Hollande nor I would have asked someone else to negotiate with Putin in Minsk on our behalf. Today, this is also the responsibility of those who have power and legitimacy. But that does not mean I keep my knowledge to myself when someone asks me for advice,” Merkel said.
When asked who had sought her advice, she declined to answer.
“I won’t tell you that. But it is already happening,” Merkel said.
The former chancellor also reiterated that, in response to the threat posed by Russia, Europe should not only strengthen its defense capabilities but also engage in diplomacy and maintain direct contacts with Moscow rather than leaving that role solely to the United States.
“I consider it insufficient for only the United States to maintain contact with Russia. In 2021, President Biden met with Putin in Geneva. At my final formal meeting of the European Council, I said that we should not leave this task to the US president alone. It directly affects European interests. That is why I proposed that the European Union develop its own format for such contacts. At the time, it did not work. Some argued that we did not have a unified policy toward Russia. My response was that we should continue meeting until we do,” Merkel said.
🤔 Russians close the Chongar checkpoint after a Ukrainian drone attack
Russian authorities have closed the Chongar checkpoint following a Ukrainian drone strike.
Reports also indicate that traffic through the Dzhankoi checkpoint has been suspended. According to preliminary information, the bridge deck was damaged during the attack.
☢️ Russia deliberately struck the Centralized Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Zelenskyy said.
“Today, the Russians once again attacked the special zone around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. A Shahed drone hit one of the buildings of the spent nuclear fuel storage facility — an extremely important piece of infrastructure. It was an exceptionally cynical Russian strike.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Energy, and all relevant services are already working to ensure that all our partners are informed about what happened.
At present, radiation levels remain within normal limits. But what has exceeded all limits is Russia’s already sky-high audacity.
Ukrainian rescuers extinguished the fire that broke out after the strike. The world now needs to take real new steps so that Russia feels that its terrorist war is ultimately a blow against itself.
⚡️ Last night, Russia also attacked civilian facilities in 13 regions of Ukraine. Over the past week alone, Russia launched 88 missiles, more than 3,250 attack drones, and about 1,800 guided aerial bombs against our country.
We must increase pressure on Russia. Thank you to everyone who is helping,” Zelenskyy said.
🗣 Russia maintains both open and closed channels of communication with Ukraine, Ushakov says
“We have both open and closed contacts with Ukraine. Open contacts existed when we held several rounds of negotiations,” said Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian leader.
He also confirmed the Russian leader’s statement that “a fairly prominent Russian businessman, known to many,” visited Kyiv in May and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ushakov declined to identify the businessman.
⚡️ President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the United Kingdom for talks with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
In addition, he will meet with King Charles III tomorrow.
🔥 Ukrainian military strikes the Semykolodezyanske oil depot and an oil terminal in temporarily occupied Crimea
Ukrainian forces struck the Semykolodezyanske oil depot and a maritime oil terminal in temporarily occupied Crimea.
According to the military, the occupiers use the oil depot to store and transport fuel oil, diesel fuel, and bitumen, while the oil terminal in Feodosia serves as a backup fuel supply facility.
❗️“We will not die quietly. We will respond to these attacks,” President Zelenskyy said, declaring that Ukraine will bring the war back to Russian territory.
President Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron have arrived at the residence of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for talks.
According to Sky News, a new military aid package for Ukraine may be announced following the meeting of the E3 leaders.
Zelenskyy’s visit to London also comes amid what analysts describe as an improving situation for Ukraine on parts of the front line. The Institute for the Study of War has reported that Ukrainian forces have regained some territory in recent months.
Sky News writes that the meeting is intended to signal to both the Kremlin and Washington that Europe intends to play a key role in ending the war.
“We met in the important E3+Ukraine format and discussed our defense in detail. We briefed our partners on the situation on the battlefield and Russian losses,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“For five consecutive months, the aggressor has lost more than 30,000 soldiers killed and wounded.
It is important that our assessments align with those of our partners: Russia is not winning on the battlefield, and our medium-range and deep strikes are significantly limiting its ability to expand aggression.
At the same time, protection against ballistic threats, which Russia uses to terrorize our cities and communities, remains critically important.
We also discussed ways to intensify diplomatic efforts and Europe’s role in this process.
It has always been a priority for Ukraine that Europe’s position and voice in negotiations remain strong.
I thank Britain, France, and Germany for their support and willingness to help. We agreed that our teams would work on the next steps.”
⚡️National Police Prevented an Attempted Assassination of a Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) official and detained an agent of Russian special services.
According to the investigation, a 38-year-old Kyiv resident was recruited to assassinate the head of an intelligence unit in exchange for $100,000, of which he received $10,000 in advance.
The suspect studied the target’s routes and daily routine, planned to carry out the attack using an FPV drone, and searched for an accomplice with the necessary skills.
He has been charged with preparing a premeditated murder for financial gain. The offense carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment.
❗️Five people killed, 14 injured in Zaporizhzhia region as a result of Russian attacks — National Police
Russian forces carried out 949 strikes across the region over the past day.
Two people were killed in a UAV attack on the village of Balabyne — a 58-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman. Six others, including a 17-year-old boy, were injured.
In Zaporizhzhia district, a UAV attack killed three people — two women aged 72 and 76, and a 76-year-old man. Eight others were injured, including four men and four women aged between 47 and 69.
⚡️ Oil prices rose by more than $3 per barrel following new strikes in Lebanon and Iran, Reuters reported.
Brent crude futures climbed $3.20, or 3.39%, to $96.24 per barrel, while U.S. WTI crude futures rose $2.87, or 3.17%, to $93.41 per barrel.
The increase fully offset Friday’s losses, when prices fell amid expectations of a de-escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran, according to the report.
Amid concerns over supply disruptions, OPEC+ countries agreed on Sunday to increase oil production for the fourth time in the past four months. However, analysts said the impact of the decision is likely to be limited, as many OPEC+ members are unable to meet their production targets due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and, in Russia’s case, infrastructure strikes that have reduced production capacity.
😡 Russians launched a drone strike on a residential area of Zaporizhzhia — Fedorov
The head of the Regional Military Administration reported that two people were killed and 15 others were injured as a result of the attack.
🇪🇺 The EU has authorized its naval mission to detain and inspect vessels belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said.
According to Kallas, the goal is not only to enforce sanctions against Russia, but also to strengthen maritime security and reduce the revenues the Kremlin uses to finance its war against Ukraine.
Launched in March 2020 and based in Rome, Operation IRINI was originally created to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya. The mission also monitors illegal oil exports and helps combat human trafficking.
The decision to expand IRINI’s powers comes amid growing pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet — a network of aging tankers and cargo vessels used to circumvent Western restrictions on oil exports. European countries have increasingly taken action against such ships.