UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights
According to Bloomberg, European Council President António Costa sought to establish an informal channel of communication with the Kremlin.
The agency reports that, through a senior adviser, Costa twice contacted a high-ranking Russian official close to Vladimir Putin in an effort to create conditions for potential negotiations aimed at ending the war.
😁 Russia has begun importing gasoline by sea amid growing fuel shortages, Reuters reports, citing industry sources.
According to the agency, Russia is expected to receive gasoline shipments from Asia through its western ports in June — the first such imports in a long time. The situation is notable given that Russia is traditionally one of the world’s largest exporters of petroleum products.
⚠️ According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia is likely left with only one combat-ready “Oreshnik” missile system.
Ukrainian private intelligence and analytics firm Dallas Analytics reported on June 16 that Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered accelerated production of four additional Oreshnik-type missile systems after a missile was launched over the Dnipro River in 2024.
Since then, three of the four missiles have reportedly been used: one over the Lviv region in January, and two over Bila Tserkva in May, with one allegedly missing its target and falling in occupied Donetsk region. [///]
The report also cites a source described as linked to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, who allegedly said that manufacturers bypassed quality assurance procedures to meet production deadlines.
Dallas Analytics further claims it obtained internal Russian procurement documents from March 2025, which point to a technical vulnerability in the Soviet-era GU-503 aviation gyroscope affecting guidance accuracy, potentially causing significant targeting deviations.
🇧🇪🛩🇺🇦 Belgium will transfer more F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine than previously announced, according to the country’s Defense Minister.
He said Belgium will deliver seven F-16s this year: four will be used for spare parts, while three will be combat-ready and capable of performing missions in Ukrainian airspace to help defend against Russian attacks.
The minister also stated that the Belgian Ministry of Defense plans to expand future deliveries of fighter jets.
🇪🇺🇦🇲 The European Union is preparing to reduce tariffs on Armenian goods that were recently banned by Russia, the Financial Times reports.
According to two sources cited by the newspaper, the tariff reductions would apply to most of the roughly 20 categories of Armenian products affected by Russian import restrictions. The proposals could be formally presented in the coming weeks and would require approval from a majority of EU member states.
In May and June, Russia banned imports of nearly all agricultural products from Armenia, including flowers, vegetables, herbs, peaches, strawberries, apples, and fish. The restrictions were introduced shortly before Armenia’s parliamentary elections on June 7.
❗️Russia accused Ukraine of a drone attack on a bus carrying a children’s football team from Belarus. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied the Russian lie.
According to Russian and Belarusian investigative committees (Sledkom), the bus traveling from Gomel to Gelendzhik was carrying a team from the Belarusian city of Rechitsa: 44 passengers, including 28 children, along with coaches, parents, and accompanying persons.
[...] A Belarusian citizen, the wife of one of the coaches, was killed, and seven passengers were injured, including five children. One child is in serious condition.
Ukraine has denied any involvement in the incident involving a bus in Russia’s Bryansk region, according to Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, commenting on Moscow’s accusations that Ukraine attacked civilians.
🇳🇱🇺🇦 The Netherlands will allocate €500 million to Ukraine for drones and air defense equipment, Reuters reports.
Of this amount, €250 million will be used to purchase drones from Dutch defense companies. The remaining €250 million will be allocated through the PURL program.
With this new package, the Netherlands’ total contribution to the program will reach €1 billion.
🇫🇮 Finland repeals its ban on nuclear weapons.
The new legislation allows the import, transportation, and possession of nuclear weapons for national defense purposes. The law was approved by 125 members of parliament, while 61 voted against it. The Finnish government emphasized that it does not plan to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime.
Ukraine and France are officially launching BRAVE FRANCE, a major joint defense-tech initiative, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced.
[...]Together, we have established a joint €20 million budget-contributing €10 million from each side-to fund breakthrough military solutions.
This joint grant program will unite Ukrainian and French companies to co-develop cutting-edge technologies that directly address our most critical frontline challenges. With individual grants reaching up to €1 million, the first call for projects will launch this September. The primary focus will be placed on advanced missile technologies, unmanned systems, and next-generation aerial countermeasures. [...]
⚡️Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out a unique operation known as “Auchan,” during which approximately 1,000 UAVs reportedly destroyed nearly 800 Russian armored vehicles over the course of three days, according to Mykhailo Fedorov.
According to Fedorov, the operation deprived Russian forces of the ability to conduct large-scale armored assaults for the following six months.
He also said that a second phase of the operation was recently conducted. During it, Ukrainian specialists developed a special munition designed to detonate inside an artillery barrel. Fedorov stated that approximately 250 Russian artillery pieces were destroyed in just two nights using this method.
According to him, video evidence exists documenting the results of both phases of the operation.
Bulgaria has objected to parts of the European Union’s proposed 21st sanctions package against Russia, according to Politico, citing two diplomats familiar with the discussions.
According to reports, Sofia's concerns relate to several elements of the package rather than opposition to sanctions as a whole.
Meanwhile, European Pravda, citing EU diplomatic sources, reports that Bulgaria opposes proposed sanctions against Patriarch Kirill, arguing that such measures could be viewed as interference in religious affairs.
The sanctions package remains under negotiation, and unanimous approval by all EU member states is required before it can be adopted.
🇺🇦 NATO estimates that Russia has lost more than 1.4 million soldiers since the start of the war against Ukraine.
[...]Russian troops continue high-intensity operations along the entire front line, particularly in the Pokrovsk direction, where they are attempting to consolidate positions and advance toward Dobropillia, according to the statement.
A man has died as a result of a Russian strike in Dnipro, according to the Regional Military Administration.
In addition, the number of injured has increased to nine. Eight of them have been hospitalized.