Ukraine updates in English

[US7IGN]

The last few days in Kyiv have been quiet, but every day the russians continue to attack other regions of Ukraine with drones and missiles. There is currently no reason to talk about a nationwide food shortage due to russian attacks, but the russians are systematically destroying food warehouses and production facilities. On June 3, a direct drone hit completely destroyed the distribution center of the largest retailer in Ukraine, the ATB corporation, in the suburbs of Dnipro - one of the largest logistics hubs of the network in southern Ukraine. On June 5, the aggressors used drones to strike the food industry enterprise "Yagotynske for Children" in the Brovary district of the Kyiv region. https://informator.ua/uk/rosiyani-sistemno-znishchuyut-prodovolchi-skladi-ta-virobnictva-ekspert-skazav-chogo-ochikuvati-ukrajincyam

russia says Ukraine has launched an "unprecedented attack" on and around St Petersburg, as the city hosted the final day of an economic forum. More than 140 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region, governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said, while the city's governor, Alexander Beglov, urged residents to stay indoors for the first time since russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces had hit russia's arsenals and a naval base, calling it a just response to russian attacks.

It comes a day after russian President Vladimir putin said there was no point in meeting Zelensky, who had called for direct talks to end the war. In his open letter to Putin on Thursday, Zelensky called for a ceasefire and face-to-face negotiations with the russian leader to end the war, which began with russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg7498kz808o
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2ypyp4x4o

This strange, rambling letter, with its openly offensive and humiliating passages, left putin no room to interpret it as an invitation to peace. Rather, it was addressed to Ukrainians and the West as a demonstration of his desire to continue the war. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/vidkritij-list-prezidentu-rosijskoyi-federaciyi-vid-preziden-104769

In response, the russians invited Zelensky to come to Moscow.

Among other things, Zelensky (or whoever did it for him) wrote about russia’s complete dependence on China. China’s role is very interesting, in general. China is undoubtedly interested in a weakened russia, which is transforming from a competitor into a low-tech supplier of raw materials. Given that without Chinese components, neither the russian nor the Ukrainian army would have been able to develop drone production to this extent, the same can be said about Ukraine’s dependence on China.

On the other hand, Ukraine should make efforts to become China's partner in the region, turning its geographical location into an advantage, becoming a bridge between East and West on the European continent. With access to Western and Chinese technologies, which compete with each other in the world, Ukraine could become an extremely powerful country.

Unless russia resorts to a nuclear strike or forced mobilization, which could quickly increase the size of its army many times over, expanding the use of missiles will finally allow Ukraine to gain the upper hand. This very cautious assumption is based on the fact that Western military aid, which has been significantly reduced under Trump, is likely to gradually increase again.

NATO countries are considering a new €70 billion military funding commitment for Ukraine that would be unveiled during the alliance’s summit in Ankara next month, four NATO diplomats told POLITICO. The proposal — circulated by Germany last month — would include a new mechanism to increase transparency around funding for Ukraine, the diplomats said. https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-allies-weigh-new-e70b-military-aid-pledge-for-ukraine/

The House passed legislation Thursday that would aid Ukraine and sanction key segments of the russian economy, overriding objections from Republican leaders who warned the bill would undermine negotiations designed to achieve a comparable but stronger result. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., seeks to cement U.S. assistance for Ukraine by providing more than $1 billion in security and reconstruction aid. It would make another $8 billion available for Ukraine’s defense through loans. https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-congress-aid-trump-discharge-petition-c01c9e068b63d195d26e3134ed586a71

Perhaps successes on the front lines will also increase the number of people willing to fight in Ukraine. But for now, the situation regarding mobilization remains grim. On the one hand, there is high social tension; on the other, there are questions of effectiveness. Stories about how an elderly or sick person who has been mobilized is shuttled around for months, offered to combat units that refuse to accept them, and then sent home with a substantial sum of money are no longer isolated incidents.

The reform of medical-social examinations and military medical commissions has changed procedures but has not resolved practical issues. People face the non-issuance of documents, formalistic decisions, delays in evaluations, and difficulties in proving their actual state of health in specific life situations. The situation is complicated not only by procedural violations and improperly prepared documents, but also by the fact that the law does not require the reasoning behind a decision on suitability for service to be stated. Consequently, it is very difficult to appeal a certificate that does not include an assessment of the submitted documents and the examinations conducted. https://unba.org.ua/news/11794-novi-pravila-stari-problemi-u-naau-obgovorili-robotu-ekopfo-ta-vlk.html

Attitudes towards soldiers in the army also vary, but this issue hardly ever becomes public due to strict censorship.

The Military Ombudsman from time to time makes statements about the need to regulate the issue of liability of officials of mobilization centers for violations, although in my opinion nothing additional needs to be regulated. There are enough laws according to which violators can be punished, but law enforcement agencies almost always turn a blind eye to this.

According to government data, about 200,000 Ukrainian soldiers have at some point been away without leave, many fleeing within days of arriving at basic training. To fix the problem, military commanders had been asking for punishments: rules that would freeze bank accounts, revoke driver’s licenses or increase criminal liability.

But the issue of desertion from a military unit, in addition to its criminal-law implications, requires a separate analysis of its underlying causes. These include unaddressed reports, problems with rotation and medical care, psychological exhaustion, and the lack of effective mechanisms for appealing the inaction of the command. These issues were discussed during the roundtable “Problematic Aspects of Military Service, Ways to Resolve Them,” initiated by the Ukrainian National Bar Association. A servicemember’s motivation cannot be based solely on fear of accountability. If a person faces humiliation, disregard for their rights, or the inability to resolve a legitimate issue within the service, this does not strengthen discipline; on the contrary, it erodes trust in the system. https://unba.org.ua/news/11790-ne-lishe-pokarannya-u-naau-obgovorili-problemu-szch.html

[KD8ZM-Brady]

I had not heard reports that Z's letter to P had contained denigrating passages - no mention of that in US reports, at least none that I've seen. Hardly the way to make peace overtures!

[US7IGN]

I had not heard reports that Z's letter to P had contained denigrating passages - no mention of that in US reports, at least none that I've seen. Hardly the way to make peace overtures!

It seems to me that the purpose of this letter is anything but achieving peace through negotiations and concluding a peace agreement, at least with putin. This was confirmed directly by Zelensky, who stated that the open letter proposing an end to the war, which he recently sent to Kremlin leader Vladimir putin, yielded “the result that was needed.” He said this during a media briefing alongside the leaders of Northern European and Baltic countries. “I got a result, but I can’t share what that result was right now. But I did it, and I had a goal in mind when I sent the letter to putin, and I think I got the result I needed,” the President of Ukraine noted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo6eeILFrJQ

Of course, the serfs don't need to know about this.

In any case, the appearance and content of this letter must be considered in the context of other circumstances. It turned out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Kyiv with russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who conveyed a message from the russian side regarding possible negotiations. He spoke about this in an interview with Sky News. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/08/ukraine-war-briefing-zelenskyy-roman-abramovich-kyiv-meeting-putin-message

In other words, for ordinary Ukrainians, contact with Russians is subject to sanctions and criminal liability, but this, of course, does not apply to the hypocritical authorities. Not to mention that it turns out russians can travel to Ukraine illegally. So, are the borders closed only from the inside and only for Ukrainians? This is, of course, sarcasm, but a law that does not apply to everyone is no longer a law.

[US7IGN]

On the night of Wednesday, June 10, russian forces launched a massive attack using strike drones on three major Ukrainian cities: Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia. According to local authorities, strikes and damage have been reported in residential areas, and there are casualties among the civilian population. https://today.ua/490732-rf-masovano-vdarila-odrazu-po-troh-velikih-mistah-ukrayini-ye-rujnuvannya-ta-postrazhdali-foto/

Although attacks on cities like Odesa or  Kharkiv continue virtually every day. https://glavred.net/war/rf-udarila-po-odesse-povrezhdeny-transport-ostanovka-i-energoobekt-est-ranenye-10771244.html?utm_source=ukrnet_news
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c8j272g8d91o

The VNIIR-PROGRESS facility in Cheboksary, russia, which is one of the key enterprises of the russian military-industrial complex, has been attacked. The facility manufactures navigation equipment and devices capable of operating in the presence of electronic jamming. In particular, the plant manufactures “Kometa” series navigation antennas, which are crucial for the russian military. The primary function of this antenna is to protect weapons from electronic warfare systems. Thanks to their compact size and high efficiency, “Kometa” antennas are widely used in russian weaponry. They are installed on Shahed strike drones, Orlan reconnaissance drones, Iskander-M missiles, cruise missiles, and guided aerial bombs equipped with UMPK modules. https://zn.ua/ukr/war/prilit-u-cheboksarakh-u-rf-atakuvali-oboronnij-zavod-shcho-robit-zakhist-dlja-shakhediv-ta-iskanderiv.html

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have confirmed that they struck the Chongar Bridge—one of the two bridges connecting Crimea to the mainland—again on the night of June 9. The attack completely destroyed the bridge. https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/zsu-povtorno-urazili-chongarskiy-mist-ruh-perekrito-na-trivaliy-chas-50614801.html

The occupation administration banned passenger transportation along a number of strategic routes, closing the "land corridor" to Crimea and key routes in Luhansk Oblast, using the roads exclusively for military transportation. https://cxid.media/news/rosiiany-zaboronyly-pasazhyrski-perevezennia-trasamy-do-krymu-ta-luhanshchyny/

Against this backdrop russia's deputy foreign minister has said the country is prepared to use all means "including nuclear ones" for its security. https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-latest-russian-drone-hits-extremely-critical-nuclear-facility-near-chernobyl-as-zelenskyy-expected-in-london-12541713

The situation could change with the development of long-range weapons, as Ukraine has so far only been able to ramp up production of short-range drones, and only a small number of drones with limited payloads can reach medium ranges. They are capable of setting oil refineries on fire, but cannot destroy bridges or inflict other major damage on russian territory. Thus, most of the Ukrainian army’s successes so far have been limited to the occupied territories.

It is also not yet clear whether the gasoline shortage in the occupied territories will affect the russians’ ability to conduct military operations, or whether this is an attempt to worsen the population’s conditions in the hope that they will revolt. I do not believe the latter, since russian propaganda is skillfully exploiting this to turn the local population against Ukraine. Although, in reality, the answer may be much simpler—the Ukrainian army is attacking whatever it can with the resources at its disposal.

What upsets me is that relations with Poland are deteriorating again. As we know, whenever Ukraine and Poland are at odds, russia always stands to gain. During his trip to Poland, Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Vladislav Kosiniak-Kamysh. The main topic of discussion was Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to name one of Ukraine's military units after the "Heroes of the UPA." Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Ukrainska Povstanska Armiia, abbreviated UPA) https://www.polskieradio.pl/399/7975/Artykul/3695451,budanow-w-warszawie-rozmowy-po-sporze-o-bohaterow-upa

In Warsaw, this move immediately became the subject of heated political debate. In Kyiv, however, it sparked concern due to its extremely poor timing: the scandal could significantly impact the course of the major conference on Ukraine’s recovery, which is set to take place in Gdańsk at the end of June.

If the current fire in relations between Kyiv and Warsaw cannot be quickly extinguished, anti-Ukrainian rhetoric may once again become one of the main themes of the campaign ahead of the critically important Polish parliamentary elections scheduled for next year.

The procedure initiated by Polish President Karol Nawrocki to strip Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s highest state award—the Order of the White Eagle—can be seen as a symbol of this crisis.
The problem lies in the fundamentally different perceptions of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in Ukraine and Poland.

In mainstream Ukrainian historiography, the UPA is viewed as an underground military organization that operated from 1942 until at least the late 1950s and set itself the goal of creating an independent Ukrainian state. During World War II, UPA units fought simultaneously against Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. In the contemporary Ukrainian narrative, this struggle against significantly stronger opponents is associated with the current war that russia is waging against Ukraine. The black-and-red flags associated with the UPA have in recent years become one of the unofficial symbols of the Ukrainian military.

During the war, the UPA also fought against the Polish Home Army (which was essentially the Polish counterpart to the UPA) in the territory of Ukraine, which had been part of Poland prior to World War II. A large number of Ukrainians and Poles, mostly civilians, were killed in the clashes. The UPA also continued to carry out guerrilla operations after the war in the territory that had already become part of the Soviet Union. My grandfather told me that he survived only because he was warned of the attack in advance and hid in the forest for some time. And although during the Soviet era, Polish crimes against Ukrainians were not publicized due to the russians’ unwillingness to recognize Ukrainian independence and subjectivity, in Poland, accusing Ukrainians of genocide has always been part of official policy and history. Although no one knows the exact figures, it is likely that more Ukrainians died than Poles.

In Ukraine, the events in Volyn are linked to the anti-Ukrainian national policy of pre-war Poland, and there is discussion of the role that Soviet intelligence agencies may have played in those events. But in Polish historical tradition—and, just as importantly, in the view of most Poles—the UPA is a criminal organization responsible for the mass killings of ethnic Poles in Volyn between 1943 and 1945.

It is noteworthy that some Poles (to be fair, not all) constantly accuse Ukrainians of the Volyn Massacre, but fail to mention Operation Vistula and other crimes against Ukrainians. They also avoid mentioning crimes committed by russians against Poles, such as the execution of Poles in Katyn in 1940 or the assassination of their president and members of the government in Smolensk in 2010.

Some media outlets say there was an informal agreement allegedly reached in early 2022 between Volodymyr Zelensky and then-Polish President Andrzej Duda. It allegedly stipulated that Kyiv would refrain from glorifying certain figures associated with the UPA, whom Poland holds responsible for the events in Volyn, while Warsaw, in turn, would not demand that the Ukrainian authorities condemn the entire Ukrainian nationalist movement of the interwar period and World War II.

For a time, this agreement held. However, the situation changed last year when Karol Nawrocki—a historian with nationalist views who actively used anti-Ukrainian rhetoric during his election campaign—was elected president of Poland.

In the Polish media, however, a different explanation dominates. There, it is believed that Zelensky was well aware of the reaction this decree would provoke in Poland but deliberately took this step, hoping to gain certain domestic political dividends.

Which ones, exactly? Polish observers have put forward several theories. Some suggest that the Ukrainian president was attempting to divert the Ukrainian public’s attention from a corruption scandal involving the former head of his Office, Andriy Yermak. It is important to note that Zelensky’s decision was condemned by all influential political forces in Poland.

If the current dynamics in relations between Kyiv and Warsaw persist, this could lead to Ukrainophobia becoming a key theme in the campaign for the Sejm elections scheduled for 2027, and then turning into a permanent trend in Polish politics. And that certainly does not bode well for either Ukraine or Poland. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cn0veqrp45yo

In any case, there is a feeling that Ukrainian diplomacy and cultural work are not enough to promote an alternative version of those events in Poland and the world to change the attitude of Poles. For example, a good film could be made to show those events in a light favorable to Ukraine. It is important that this is not primitive propaganda, which can create the opposite effect.

It should also be taken into account that at a deeper level this may be a manifestation of the Poles' fear and subconscious awareness that Ukraine, if successful, will become a competitor for Poland and create a confrontation for regional dominance. Of course, good relations between Ukraine and Poland, which, if combined, can become a major power in Europe, are a threat to both russia and the rest of Europe. This may explain much of what is happening...

[KD8ZM-Brady]

This is an interesting dynamic impacting Russia that had heretofore escaped my attention:
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/russias-chechnya-problem/?tpa=ZjQwYWZkOTdlOTgzYjEzMGNkMDQ1NjE3ODE3OTgxODBhMGQ4YTc&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3A%2F%2Fgeopoliticalfutures.com%2Frussias-chechnya-problem%2F%3Ftpa%3DZjQwYWZkOTdlOTgzYjEzMGNkMDQ1NjE3ODE3OTgxODBhMGQ4YTc&utm_content&utm_campaign=PAID%20-%20Everything%20as%20it%27s%20published

[US7IGN]

This is an interesting dynamic impacting Russia that had heretofore escaped my attention:
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/russias-chechnya-problem

This issue is important for russia if you look at it not from the perspective of a problematic region with oil that Russia does not need, but with the understanding that for Russia the Caucasus is the same buffer from the south as Ukraine is from the west, which it has always tried to control and expand. Geopolitically, the Caucasus is the goal of Turkey, which already has a strong alliance with Azerbaijan. After Armenia's defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, the positions of Turkey and Azerbaijan have strengthened, and those of russia and Armenia have worsened. Influence on Kazakhstan has also passed from russia to China. So russia has never been in such a bad state as it is now in terms of geopolitical position and influence. And the only thing left of russia's past greatness is its Soviet nuclear weapons stockpiles.

In a moment of gloomy geopolitical news, Ukraine has become a bright spot. Kyiv is faring better on the battlefield than at any time in years. russia’s costs are surging even as its military gains shrink. If Ukraine can sustain this trajectory, perhaps it can finally force Moscow to make a decent peace. But the optimism should be tempered: There are nagging questions about how long this period of Ukrainian advantage will last and how dangerous a cornered russian President Vladimir putin could be. Despite the successes of Ukrainian forces, experts warn that the Russian army remains a dangerous adversary, and further escalation by Moscow could create new threats to European security, writes Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-06-12/ukraine-s-drones-are-beating-russia-for-now-at-least

russian dictator Vladimir putin is hoping for a Hail Mary winter offensive against Ukraine, experts said — as russia’s economy is in a death spiral and the war-mongering leader is growing increasingly desperate. After a lackluster spring offensive left Russia losing more territory than it conquered for the first time in three years, the Kremlin is now likely eyeing a large-scale assault come winter to inflict maximum damage on Ukraine, Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow with the CSIS think tank’s Europe, ussia, and Eurasia Program, told The Post.

The expert warned that the strikes would be even larger than last winter’s, when russia fired a record number of drones and missiles daily against critical civilian infrastructure. russia will also likely expand its attacks further by targeting Ukrainian railways to disrupt supply lines and attacking water infrastructure, added Kateryna Stepanenko, the Russia team lead and deputy director of the Cognitive Warfare Project at the Institute for the Study of War think tank. https://nypost.com/2026/06/10/world-news/putin-planning-hail-mary-winter-offensive-against-ukraine-experts-say/

[US7IGN]

Surprisingly, there haven't been any major attacks from the russians lately. Have they really lost steam? But almost imperceptibly for society, other bombs were exploding, this time informational.

Remember the russian statements in 2022 about American biological laboratories in Ukraine, which were called disinformation? https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/international_safety/1873584/

The russians then said that they should stop the development of biological weapons. At the time, both the Americans and the Ukrainian authorities denied it. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-oon-biolaboratoriyi-rf/32104946.html How could we not believe them?

Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, who is set to step down in a few days, has released a report on “U.S. biolaboratories” that are allegedly located around the world, including in Ukraine. The intelligence agency’s press release states that “after months of searching through the intelligence community’s archives and files,” Director Hubbard decided to disclose “new evidence of long-standing U.S. government funding of more than 120 biolabs in over 30 countries.”

"These biolabs include facilities in Ukraine that may be at risk of compromise due to the ongoing russia-Ukraine war. For example, the intelligence community previously warned that a U.S.-funded biolaboratory in Ukraine likely contains dangerous pathogens and remains vulnerable to ongoing threats of attack, seizure, or damage by russia," the National Intelligence report states.
https://www.dni.gov/files/BIOLAB_Slides.pdf
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c4gyp5e774po
https://www.radiosvoboda.org/amp/news-ssha-biolaboratorii/33779317.html

Great! How many more sensational revelations will we see over time?

Meanwhile, yet another shocking incident has come to light through a court case. A court in Chernihiv has handed down a verdict to 27-year-old Bohdan Koshel, a native of the region. He was found fully guilty of the intentional murder of two servicemen and the attempted murder of a third person, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The bloody tragedy, which claimed the lives of experienced army instructors, unfolded on July 16, 2025, directly on the grounds of one of the military training centers in the Chernihiv region. https://subota.online/dovichnyj-vyrok-u-chernihovi-mobilizovanyj-iz-psykhichnymy-rozladamy-rozstriliav-instruktoriv-na-polihoni/

According to the case file, the man was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine in June 2025. During the court hearings, his attorney stated that Bohdan Koshel had an officially documented third-degree disability since childhood due to chronic mental disorders and regularly received corresponding social assistance from the state. Moreover, after his forced deployment to a military unit, the mobilized soldier’s mother repeatedly sent official written complaints to state agencies and the command regarding violations. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the motive was revenge against the instructors for their strict demands regarding discipline.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada’s Human Rights Commissioner, has issued a strong demand that officials who approved the mobilization of an individual unfit for service be held accountable. The Ukrainian ombudsman notes that, according to preliminary information, the conscript had a confirmed mental disorder but successfully passed the military medical examination. He was then deemed fully fit for military service, received a weapon, and was sent for training.

“He then used that same weapon to shoot and kill two instructors with his own hands; they died at the scene, and another was wounded,” Lubinets noted.

The Ombudsman emphasized that a verdict has already been handed down to the direct perpetrator of the crime, but the public deserves answers regarding the actions of the officials who made the decisions regarding his mobilization and fitness for service. https://glavcom.ua/country/politics/ombudsmen-ukrajini-vimahaje-rozsliduvati-mobilizatsiju-cholovika-jakij-ubiv-vijskovikh-na-chernihivshchini-1125313.html

And if he had reached the front and killed his colleagues there, would he have made it possible for the russians to break through into the weakened area?

Or his condition starts to flare up, and they send him to a unit behind the front lines—to live in a tent and sweep the parade ground for 21,000 UAH a month. Plus food, plus a uniform and gear worth over 100,000 UAH, all flushed down the toilet. Then he goes for a new medical exam, where his actual diagnosis is suddenly confirmed—and the state starts paying him benefits and a pension again. It’s ridiculous; after all, he went in “completely healthy.”

So far, the system works flawlessly: first, the state pays you for being mentally ill, then declares you fit for duty overnight, and when you kill your own people—they lock you up for life. And all of this at the taxpayers’ expense. Not a single doctor on the medical board or military commissar was harmed in the process. Wonderful!

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is aware of "busification" during mobilization events and does not support such methods of work by representatives of mobilization centers, said Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, in an interview with Radio Svoboda, answering a question about the regularity of meetings with the head of state and discussions of this problem with him. https://censor.net/ua/n4007831

Also a very convenient position. But instead of real actions, we once again hear only encouraging statements.

Ukraine is preparing to strengthen the financial stability of its defense sector and ensure the continued transformation of the Armed Forces, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. https://armyinform.com.ua/2026/06/12/novi-kontrakty-chitki-terminy-sluzhby-ta-vidstrochky-prezydent-anonsuvav-transformacziyu-syl-oborony/

So far, the parliament has passed a law that has doubled police salaries. https://suspilne.media/1327486-zarplati-policejskih-zrostut-majze-udvici-rada-uhvalila-novij-zakon/

The authorities have long since set their priorities: they will methodically protect those who defend them from within, while stripping the country’s defenders of their rights—just as they have done to the entire nation. A police state will first and foremost nurture its own power structure, and only then its defense capabilities. For the monopoly on force makes them all-powerful.

Yuriy Butusov, commander of the UAV company of the 23rd Assault Regiment within the National Guard’s 2nd Corps “Charter” and a well-known journalist, points out that instead of hiring foreign assault troops, the state is taking taxpayers out of work, which is why the army has neither motivated fighters nor those who can finance the maintenance of mercenaries. https://censor.net/ua/r4007664

Realizing that it is running out of people, Ukraine is asking the EU not to grant protection to men aged 23 to 60. https://www.dw.com/uk/ukraina-prosit-es-ne-nadavati-zahist-colovikam-vid-23-do-60-rokiv-evrokomisar/a-77426757?maca=ukr-rss-ukrnet-ukr-all-3816-xml

Lubinec also stated that at least four cases have already been recorded in Ukraine in which illegally detained citizens died inside mobilization centers. He commented on the issue of “busification.” He explained that people are crammed into minibuses and taken to unknown destinations, after which their relatives may go several days without any information about their whereabouts.

Information about the detainees is concealed, and only later do human rights activists manage to determine that a person is being forcibly held inside the premises of mobilization centers.
Lubinec emphasized that the consequences of such actions by mobilization center's military personnel are increasingly becoming tragic. It is not uncommon for citizens to end up in hospital beds with severe injuries after a stay at the mobilization centers, and, as the ombudsman emphasized, hospitalization is not the worst possible outcome.

"We have cases where people simply died as a result. In the premises of the mobilization centers, at least according to my information, there have already been four recorded cases where people simply died right inside the mobilization centers premises. For unclear reasons, which, unfortunately, cannot even be determined later through internal investigations," he stated. https://censor.net/ua/n4007142

Meanwhile, there are virtually no mechanisms in place to protect the rights of those who have already been drafted into the army; therefore, the only way for soldiers to escape rights violations and the impunity of their commanders is to desert.

Instead, propaganda makes films that are supposed to show mobilization with humor and humanity. The Ukrainian short film "Easter Day" by director Mykola Zaseev won the award for best European film at the 66th Krakow Film Festival and was nominated for the European Film Academy Award in the short film category. https://espreso.tv/kultura-paskhalniy-den-pro-ofitseriv-ttsk-stav-naykrashchim-evropeyskim-filmom-na-festivali-u-krakovi

Of course, hours-long documentary footage of people being beaten and abused will never make it to the big screen.

[US7IGN]

The drone and missile attacks continued all night, most of which targeted Kyiv. After the hit, something burned heavily nearby for several hours and the smoke made my throat itch. It rained for half the night, which probably helped put out the numerous fires in the city.

russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones in the overnight attack.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gy037gjz3o

The most attention was focused on the Dormition Cathedral on the territory of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, on the roof of which a fire broke out. Although the original structure was built in the 11th century, it was completely destroyed in 1941 and rebuilt only in 2000, but the entire complex is under the protection of UNESCO. https://hromadske.radio/news/2026/06/15/cherez-udar-po-kyievu-zahynuly-chetvero-liudey-poshkodzheni-kyievo-pecherska-lavra-mystetskyy-arsenal-i-kinostudiia-dovzhenka-foto

When I drove downtown to the courthouse during the day, I had to look very carefully to notice the damage and black spots on the walls. There weren't many cars on the streets, but one might have gotten the impression that it was just an ordinary day and people were going about their business as usual, even though few had slept more than two hours that night.

At least five people were killed and more than 30 were wounded in the attack on the city, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Across Ukraine in total, at least 11 people were killed in the russian bombardment.

In a statement Monday, russia’s Defense Ministry said it had carried out strikes on “targets within the defense-industrial complex in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.” https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/14/europe/kyiv-pechersk-lavra-monastery-fire-russian-attack-intl-hnk

We will learn about the full consequences of this attack much later, but as censorship allowed, the press reported that several residential buildings, office centers, and a logistics center were also destroyed, and Ukrainian Railways reported delays to many trains. This time again, many drones and missiles were not intercepted. At least there were no widespread power or water outages.
https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/naydovshiy-naukoviy-eksperiment-istoriyi-1781276790.html
https://trueua.info/news/cherez-poshkodzhennya-infrastrukturi-nizka-poizdiv-ukrzaliznici-zatrimuetsya-spisok-reysiv

[US7IGN]

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which was attacked on June 15 by the russian federation’s military using strike drones, will be restored using funds from the reserve fund that the Cabinet of Ministers will allocate today. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this to the media after inspecting the site of the russian attack. https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2026/06/15/novyna/bezpeka/kyyevo-pechersku-lavru-vidnovlyat-koshty-rezerviv-zelenskyj

Once again, a tragedy is being used as a convenient media opportunity for self-promotion at someone else’s expense—at the expense of taxpayers who lost their small businesses and homes during this very same attack, but for whom no funds will be allocated for reconstruction. That’s what I think about when I see news like this alongside videos on social media showing the aftermath of the destruction in less spectacular locations, where ordinary people are looking at their burned-down homes and small shops.

This is undoubtedly yet another russian crime, but shouldn’t people be a country’s greatest asset—the ones who should receive assistance first and foremost? Even in Kyiv, dozens of damaged buildings have stood unrepaired for years. In my opinion, priority should be given, for example, to hospitals, rather than religious buildings, which can be repaired at the expense of religious organizations and communities. But in Ukraine, one has to be careful with such opinions. Criminal convictions have already begun to be handed down for criticizing the authorities in Ukraine... https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7472521493227229185/

There have been many official statements lately that Ukraine is prevailing and perhaps with the hope of victory, it does not need a peace agreement yet. Indeed, drones are already reaching Moscow and St. Petersburg, and oil refineries are burning throughout the European part of russia, causing a shortage of gasoline even in Moscow. https://www.reuters.com/world/moscow-oil-refinery-damaged-ukrainian-drone-attack-mayor-says-2026-06-16/
https://24tv.ua/naftobaza-stanitsi-poltavskiy-palaye-16-chervnya-2026-roku-detali_n3088393

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, russia may have lost more than 70% of its combat-ready long-range Tu-22M3 bombers, writes Defense Express. https://defence-ua.com/army_and_war/z_2022_roku_rf_mogla_vtratiti_blizko_70_bojezdatnih_strategichnih_bombarduvalnikiv_tu_22m3_tozh_skilki_jih_mozhe_buti_teper-23321.html

It's truly inspiring and keeps people from giving up, but then an unremarkable news item in the local press catches my eye, which compromises all the triumphant official bravado. On June 17, in the Synelnykivskyi District of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the forced evacuation of families with children began from another 23 settlements. The decision was made by the regional military administration due to the deteriorating security situation in the region. According to its head, Oleksandr Hanzha, a total of more than 49,500 people have already left the Synelnykivskyi District, and nearly 750 residents have left the Nikopolskyi District. https://ua.news/ua/all-news/na-dnipropetrovshchini-ogolosili-primusovu-evakuatsiiu-shche-z-23-naselenikh-punktiv

On June 16, a Su-24M frontline bomber belonging to the 7th Petro Frank Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force crashed in the Khmelnytskyi region. https://news.novyny.live/na-khmelnichchini-rozbivsia-bombarduvalnik-su-24m-zaginuli-dvoie-pilotiv-331293.html

A video from the Regional Joint Mobilization Center in Odesa has become popular on social networks. The author of the recording claims that people are being held in inappropriate conditions and can be kept there for several days. After the footage appeared, an official check was launched to clarify all the circumstances. https://odesa.novyny.live/skandal-v-odeskomu-ttsk-pereviriaiut-umovi-dlia-mobilizovanikh-330992.html

The State Bureau of Investigation have uncovered a large-scale scheme of illegal coercion of citizens to mobilize in one of the district mobilization centers of the Odessa region. According to the investigation, the men were forcibly held, beaten, intimidated and psychologically pressured. Nine members of the organized group were detained. https://censor.net/ua/photonews/4008639/katuvannya-i-nezakonne-utrymannya-cholovikiv-u-ttsk-na-odeschyni-zatrymano-9-figurantiv

In the Zakarpattia region, police confirmed a report from doctors at the Volovets District Hospital stating that a man had been brought in from the local mobilization center with broken ribs and a chest injury, and that he subsequently died. https://incident.obozrevatel.com/ukr/crime/na-zakarpatti-cholovik-pomer-pislya-kontaktu-z-ttsk-politsiya-rozslidue-mozhlive-pobittya.htm

But it seems that even the authorities now recognize that the way mobilization is being carried out is flawed and that changes are needed. It would be good if this were more than just empty rhetoric. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is preparing changes to the mobilization process. First and foremost, the next stage of the reform will concern those subject to military service who are wanted for violating military registration rules, Deputy Minister of Defense Mstislav Banik said at a briefing.

In particular, the Deputy Minister of Defense stated that work is currently underway on the next phase of reform within the Armed Forces of Ukraine regarding the mobilization process and mobilization centers. According to him, this reform will affect 2 million conscripts who are wanted by the authorities and are not currently serving in the military.

He said that the reform should provide a clear understanding of the terms of service.

"Because someone who currently sees their future as being drafted and never being discharged—serving in the infantry on combat missions, without knowing when that service will end… This is precisely the answer for those people who are now gaining new prospects for military service. They are quite clear and understandable. And this is part of our mobilization reform. This is also so that the people we are mobilizing now understand what their prospects are in a protracted war,” Banik said.

At the same time, he declined to explain in detail how the mobilization reform will take place.

"Whether there will be raids or something else - I won't tell you for sure. But I will say for sure that the format of forced mobilization that is currently in society is having a pretty bad effect on us. We'll see what it will be later," Banik said. https://www.unian.ua/society/reforma-mobilizaciji-v-minoboroni-anonsuvali-novi-zmini-13413027.html#goog_rewarded

The pay raises for military personnel were implemented without additional funding from the budget. The Ministry of Defense secured the necessary resources through internal audits, cost optimization, and anti-corruption efforts, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said. “A colossal amount was saved because we began cracking down on corrupt officials within the Ministry of Defense and shifting everything to competitive bidding and transparent rules,” he said. https://finance.novyny.live/zrostannia-viplat-viiskovim-u-minoboroni-poiasnili-zvidki-vziali-groshi-331302.html

I have no comment on this at all, since I haven’t heard anything about any punishment for those responsible for previous losses incurred by the budget. Of course, there is no way to objectively verify what he said.

[US7IGN]

I was really surprised last night when I heard the Patriot interceptors being launched. The russians don’t usually launch ballistic missiles in the middle of the week. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/letili-droni-ta-balistika-mayzhe-30-prilotiv-1781760158.html

Because of that, I didn’t get much sleep again; this morning I took an extra-strong dose of my medication and headed out to my scheduled meetings. I was absolutely exhausted, and by evening I could barely get through my last call. Starting your own business isn’t all that easy. Even without any clients yet, you still have to put in a lot of effort to meet new people and promote a company that not even internet search algorithms know about right now.

But also today Moscow has come under the largest Ukrainian attack since the start of the full-scale war, with close to 200 drones hitting targets around the russian capital and setting columns of thick smoke billowing high into the sky. Fires broke out as the Kapotnya refinery in south-east Moscow was hit for the third time in a month and the second time this week, colouring the sky black with smoke. Numerous videos showed the lid of a large oil storage tank blown dozens of metres into the air by the force of an explosion. A nearby shopping centre was also burning, reportedly after drone debris fell on the building, and several residential high-rise blocks were evacuated. Moscow's four airports were temporarily shut and more than 500 flights were cancelled or delayed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98291g5rr1o
https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/moskva-samogo-ranku-pid-udarom-droniv-gorit-1781752385.html

This time it looked truly impressive and made an impression on the russians. It seems something has changed significantly, and attacks on Moscow are now possible.

[US7IGN]

Fully autonomous drones with no human oversight have killed soldiers on the battlefield for the first time. This is according to a senior figure in the Ukrainian defence industry, marking a watershed moment in warfare, wrote New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529849-fully-autonomous-drones-have-killed-human-soldiers-for-the-first-time/
“We tried it,” says drone-maker Alexander Kokhanovskyy, who supplied the technology and spoke to New Scientist at a press event hosted by the Ukrainian embassy. “It’s a test. We never implemented it [more widely].” “We just launch it and we know everything will be dead – everything that will be found there in this particular area will be dead,” says Kokhanovskyy. “There is no connection to the drone at all, you cannot see the video, nothing… Everything it sees will be killed.”

I am reminded of Isaac Asimov with his Laws of Robotics and other ethical and moral issues related to the use of artificial intelligence, but robots are just tools and there is nothing that humanity cannot use as a weapon. And if artificial intelligence ever gains self-awareness and independently decides to kill people, it will only be because humans have always done so and it is natural for them.

But in the short term, this seems like a good solution to even the odds, since there are simply not enough Ukrainians physically to kill all the Russians who continue to come to Ukraine with the aim of killing Ukrainians. Especially against the background of rumors that russia is planning a general mobilization.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's relations with Poland are rapidly deteriorating. Well, maybe they are deteriorating not with Ukraine, but with Zelensky personally, but this certainly has a bad effect on Ukraine and Ukrainians both in Ukraine and in Poland. It seems that history is repeating itself when, due to Trump's personal attitude towards Zelensky, Ukraine lost a significant part of US support. Now, Polish President Karol Nawrocki has decided to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle and stated that Poland will not allow those who do not understand the need to abandon the "cult of totalitarianism and violence" to join the EU.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky has been stripped of Poland's highest state honour, the Order of the White Eagle, over Kyiv's decision to name a military unit after controversial World War Two fighters. Polish President Karol Nawrocki branded Ukraine's decision late last month to name the unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) "outrageous", "incomprehensible" and "deeply disappointing". Nawrocki stressed the diplomatic row would not impact Poland's support for Ukraine against russia.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr7xzg3dmj8o
https://inshe.tv/politics/2026-06-02/998035/

But this will undoubtedly have a negative impact on Ukraine. Moreover, as a sign of protest, the head of the President’s Office, Kyrylo Budanov, and Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga have declined Poland’s highest honors. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cwy0lz5p7wgo Thus, through their efforts, the focus of attention is shifted directly from Zelensky to the entire Ukraine as a state.

Although some Poles even publicly condemn Navrotsky's decision, pointing out that it weakens both Ukraine and Poland and that russia is once again the only beneficiary of the disputes between our countries, intelligent people are always in the minority, and political populism is addressed to the illiterate majority.

[US7IGN]

The conflict with Poland is escalating. Polish President Navrotsky’s insidious provocation has drawn significant attention and is undoubtedly intended to divert the Poles’ attention from both domestic problems and to shift the focus from distant russia—which is, in fact, a common enemy of both Ukrainians and Poles—onto the Ukrainians. Former Ukrainian presidents Petro Poroshenko, Viktor Yushchenko, and Leonid Kuchma have also renounced their White Eagles. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cwy0lz5p7wgo

The manner in which this was done is particularly noteworthy. In Zelensky’s case, however, it was done in his typically insulting manner—demonstratively through a private carrier. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c36yx73kjjlo

But this is a Ukrainian carrier that has only just begun its expansion into Europe and, because of this gesture, risks losing the Polish market. Yet returning the order via a private carrier rather than through diplomatic channels shows that this was done intentionally to be offensive—so that every Pole would feel the attitude toward them and toward Poland. Isn’t the president supposed to represent the entire country?

And I have to ask: why was this done? To impress the Ukrainians? Yes, most people liked it—they rightly expect that no one should interfere in their internal affairs or tell their president what to do and how to do it. For Navrotsky? Well, for him, it means the provocation was successful and only reinforced his message to his voters. As for the Poles? Most of them, who were scared since childhood by stories of "UPA criminals", saw Ukraine’s hostile attitude toward Poland. And psychology has long established that people will reject any logical arguments if they contradict their worldview. So, it’s not clear to me exactly how this will help Ukraine, but it’s obvious that it will lead to a deterioration in Poles’ attitudes toward Ukrainians. So perhaps the real goal of this show is to force Ukrainians to return to Ukraine? But what if people simply choose to go somewhere else? Then both Ukraine and Poland will suffer, as Poland will lose consumers, a workforce, and taxpayers. The only winner is russia. What’s the point of helping russia?

This problem is not new, but those who came to power in Ukraine through the manipulation depicted in the TV series “Servant of the People” did not even attempt to resolve it constructively by leveraging cultural opportunities—for example, by producing and screening a film for Ukrainians and Poles that highlighted the necessary priorities.

And there’s also a strange coincidence in timing on the eve of The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026), which will be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine and will take place in the city of Gdańsk on June 25 and 26, 2026. URC 2026 seeks to bolster international support for the country’s reconstruction as well as catalyze investments for Ukrainian businesses. https://www.urc-international.com/

[US7IGN]

If you want a quiet life, it's best to stay as far away from war as possible. In recent days, partly because of the heat, I have been feeling unwell all the time, but a visit to the doctor has not helped much. My tests are almost good and I don't think that the new pills will help where the cause needs to be eliminated. At least, unlike the occupied territories, there are no problems with fuel in Ukraine. A humanitarian catastrophe is looming in the occupied Crimea and the east, but at least people there can leave. Although in the case of Crimea, this has also become a problem, since drones are attacking all the roads leading from the peninsula to the mainland and you have to find fuel to fill up your car. Due to damaged bridges, the railway connection is broken.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyx2lk9d15o

Yesterday, from morning to afternoon, russian drone attacks on various regions of Ukraine continued. Even in Kyiv, I heard explosions from air defense. There were missile hits in the western regions. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c0jy4l5q50no https://uatv.ua/uk/iskandery-kyndzhaly-ta-105-bpla-zapustyla-rf-po-ukrayini-shho-vidomo-pro-naslidky/

Ukraine used Storm Shadow missiles to strike the Voronezh Semiconductor Plant, which is involved in the production of components for Russian weapons, including the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun complex, Kh-101 cruise missiles, and Iskander-K missiles. https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/rakety-vluchyly-u-voronezhskij-zavod-napivprovidnykovyh-pryladiv-vzpp-s/

Meanwhile, russian troops have infiltrated the strategic city of Kostyantynivka in eastern Ukraine and are now trying to surround it. Kostyantynivka is a gateway to the rest of the Donbas region. If it falls, russian forces would be able push towards Ukraine's last remaining strongholds in the east, the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and move closer to seizing Donbas completely, one of the Kremlin's key objectives in this war. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9w2g0ewk95o

In good news, the tenth KyivPride march for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people took place in Kyiv. https://detector.media/infospace/article/250650/2026-06-21-v-ukraini-proyshov-desyatyy-marsh-kyivprayd/

[US7IGN]

Ukrainian attacks on fuel infrastructure have finally become noticeable in russia, and not only in the occupied territories, whose residents are suffering the most.

russia is considering ​a diesel export ban, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said yesterday, while a newspaper reported on possible fuel imports to ‌tackle shortages, especially in Crimea, which tightened restrictions on public services and activities. russian President Vladimir putin also made his first comments about Ukraine's recent strikes on civilian infrastructure, including on Moscow's oil refinery, saying they were a ploy to destabilise society. He also called on the government to take additional measures to offset the consequences from the strikes. Numerous ​regions across russia, the world's third-largest crude producer, have reported restrictions on fuel sales, rising prices of oil products and long queues ​at filling stations, Reuters writes.
https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-says-ukrainian-infrastructure-attacks-are-an-attempt-destabilise-russia-2026-06-23/
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-discusses-importing-fuel-amid-ukrainian-strikes-newspaper-says-2026-06-23/

russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on ​Tuesday that russia was ready ‌to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine from the point where they ​left off. "We are ready ​to talk with Kyiv, as ⁠we have always been," ​Lavrov told reporters, referring to talks ​that took place in Istanbul soon after the start of the ​war in 2022 and were ​resumed in 2025. However, he did not ‌signal ⁠any shift in Moscow's demand, rejected by Kyiv, for Ukraine to surrender the remaining part ​of ​the Donbas ⁠region that it has successfully defended from ​russian forces. https://www.reuters.com/world/lavrov-says-russia-is-ready-resume-talks-with-ukraine-point-where-they-left-off-2026-06-23/

russia is trying to strengthen its influence in Belarus and gain additional opportunities for implementing military plans against Ukraine. To this end, Moscow is increasingly putting pressure on the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, writes The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-pressures-belarus-in-bid-to-open-new-front-in-ukraine-war-8020d37e

Some believe that one of the goals of Navrotsky's provocation to blow up the scandal surrounding the UPA was to prevent Ukraine from receiving EU funding that Poland could have received. It seems that he got what he wanted, since Volodymyr Zelensky will not go to Gdansk for the Conference on the Restoration of Ukraine. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cql1ekxyyqpo

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko will go instead. So this once again confirms that there are no friends in big politics and each country cares first of all about its own interests. Well, almost every one. It is surprising that the Ukrainian authorities do not understand that it is in Poland's interests for Ukraine to fight, and production to remain in Poland, which wants to sell everything it needs to Ukraine, and not compete with it. So, an event of great importance for Ukraine will take place at a lower level than planned.

The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said that of the volume of complaints about the actions of mobilization center employees that his office receives daily, less than 1% are openly disclosed. According to him, this is done so that such information is not used by russian propaganda.

“We understand that, unfortunately, the russians are using this information. But, on the other hand, now only publicity is influencing the ministries to really carry out reforms,” the ombudsman said.

Among the most common offenses:
physical violence without legal grounds;
detention of people without the opportunity to contact their relatives;
seizure of personal belongings and documents;
formal passage of military medical commissions.

"The approach to mobilization processes requires immediate changes. Citizens should join the army not out of fear, but out of trust in the state, which must ensure respect for human dignity and support for the families of servicemen. If this is not done, tension will grow not only at the front, but also within the country," Lubinets said. https://politarena.ua/lubinets-zaiavyv-shcho-opryliudniuie-mensh-iak-1-otrymanykh-skarh-shchodo-porushen-ttsk-177425/

Unfortunately, as follows from Lubinets' words, there is almost no reaction to the violations. But how did he mildly call criminal crimes that are no different from what the russians did in the occupied territories.

However, I haven't heard a single good word about mobilization centers at all, especially from colleagues who are contacted by victims. And this is given that not everyone has the money and the opportunity to turn to lawyers to protect their rights.

In the army itself, despite its secrecy, the most horrific incidents also become public from time to time. Journalists from Babel have discovered at least 26 non-combat deaths among recruits of the 425th separate assault regiment "Skelya" from the fall of 2025 to the spring of 2026. Most are healthy men who have not been in the regiment for even a month. The investigation describes the practices of torture, beatings and suicides in the ranks of the regiment. The text cites testimonies from more than 30 sources - relatives of the deceased, soldiers of the regiment and those who left the unit without permission, in particular, according to them, due to inhuman treatment of mobilized people.

"Skelya" is the largest assault regiment in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Unofficially, it is also called the "Regiment of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky", since it is not part of any corps, but directly subordinates to the higher command. "Skelya" took part in the most difficult battles of the russian-Ukrainian war. Despite this and its combat merits, the regiment is often criticized by the military, journalists and relatives of those who ended up there. Due to accusations of heavy losses, the regiment has gained a reputation as a "meatball". However, "Skelya" loses people not only on the battlefield, but also during combat training.

The seriousness of the revelations is confirmed by the fact that even such media outlets as Deutsche Welle are publishing it, and the State Bureau of Investigation was forced to launch an official investigation, since it is unlikely that everyone died from pneumonia, and the number of suicides also hints at murders that were passed off as suicides. Also, traces of torture cannot be hidden on the bodies of those who have not yet died. It also once again drew attention to the consequences of the brilliant decision to allow the mobilization of drug addicts and the mentally ill.
https://dbr.gov.ua/news/dbr-pereviryae-fakti-oprilyudneni-u-zmi-shhodo-shturmovogo-polku-skelya

The State Bureau of Investigation also completed a pre-trial investigation into the torture of a man in one of the mobilization centers in the Mykolaiv region. At the end of 2025, during mobilization activities, the staff of the recruitment center delivered a man who was raising five children and had health problems to the mobilization center. Despite this, he was found fit for military service after a forced military medical examination. When two military units refused to accept the man due to his health condition, the mobilization center officials decided to fulfill the mobilization plan at any cost. For nine days, they illegally detained the victim, including in the basement, applying physical violence and psychological pressure to him. The man was demanded to agree to mobilization allegedly voluntarily or to sign documents stating that he had no complaints against the mobilization center employees.

The victim was released only when they saw the consequences of the beating — numerous swellings and injuries. Once free, the man immediately sought medical help. As a result of the unlawful actions, he suffered a concussion, a fractured arm and ribs, numerous abrasions, and infected wounds from the tying. https://dbr.gov.ua/news/zakrivali-u-pidvali-ta-katuvali-cholovika-za-materialami-dbr-suditimut-kerivnictvo-rtck-ta-sp-na-mikolaivshhini
https://www.dw.com/uk/rozsliduvanna-zmi-v-skeli-za-piv-roku-pomerli-26-novobranciv/a-77682009
https://babel.ua/texts/127938-shturmoviy-polk-skelya-maye-boyovi-zaslugi-i-dobre-zabezpechennya-a-shche-kazhut-ochevidci-tam-katuyut-i-zabivayut-lyudey-na-smert-rozsliduvannya-babelya

So, even for a healthy person, this means that anyone can be grabbed on the street, then abused and killed, writing in the official conclusion that he committed suicide. And how many more such cases are there that society does not know about? It seems that Ukraine has already turned into russia in some places.

[US7IGN]

On the evening of June 25 and into the night of June 26, russia launched missile and drone strikes on Ukraine. The main targets were Kyiv, Kremenchuk and Myrhorod in Poltava region and Vylkove in Odesa region. Zaporizhia, Sumy and Hlukhiv were also under attack. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c17yp24dzpqo

Two deaths and ten injuries, fires and power outages in a number of cities are known. After 9 pm on June 25, russia attacked Kyiv with several ballistic missiles. Although the missiles were actively shot down, after one hit nearby, they could not extinguish the fire until morning. It was a warehouse and black smoke covered half the sky.
 
For the first time since 2022, the whole family finally got together. The kids have changed a lot, but I'm glad they're doing well. It is very interesting to discuss with them issues of politics and economics, in which they are already well-versed.

After several days of blackouts, fuel shortages, and transport restrictions, a state of emergency has been imposed in occupied Crimea. Lines have been artificially created on the bridge connecting the peninsula to the mainland. It is obvious that the russians are thus hiding behind civilians. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c0eyxjp2w57o

On June 26, a new prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and russia in a 160-by-160 format. This was reported by the russian Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian authorities. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cwyl7r77v7ro

The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), held in Gdansk, Poland, brought Ukraine over 10 billion euros in new international support, the launch of several large investment funds and dozens of agreements in the fields of energy, transport, housing, the defense industry and private business. This was reported by the Ukrainian delegation led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

The conference took place against the backdrop of diplomatic tension between Kyiv and Warsaw. due to disputes over the UPA, the deprivation of Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle and the mutual "order fall".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not participate in it, as did Polish President Karol Nawrotsky. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine did not go either, who significantly refused the Polish award. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cx2vpv37zxqo

The participants only gave positive feedback, and there were no noticeable problems for Ukraine at this event, although there is reason to believe that Ukraine missed an opportunity due to the political crisis, which is why Zelensky did not go there.

Ukraine, for example, was unable to participate in the summit of the so-called Eastern Flank of the EU because of this. Only the highest-ranking officials were invited there (in the Ukrainian system, this is the president), so the organizers did not contact Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Zelensky's personal visit would also have given him the opportunity to support Prime Minister Donald Tusk - who is more pro-Ukrainian than other players in Polish politics - in his conflict with President Karol Nawrotski.

The list of top URC participants was impressive. The heads of the European Commission and the European Council; the president of Lithuania, the head of the presidency of Bosnia. The heads of government, that is, the highest leaders of 11 countries with parliamentary government: Poland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Albania, as well as the Baltic Four (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland).

Romanian President Nikusor Dan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson flew to Gdansk on Thursday along with all the other leaders, but not for the Ukrainian gathering, but to participate in the EU Eastern Flank Summit, which was held in parallel. And in general, it seems that such a high level of representation of other states at the URC was achieved primarily thanks to this summit.
And the list of confirmed bilateral meetings Svyrydenko held in two days in Gdansk reinforces the feeling that some partners do not consider it correct to downgrade Ukraine's representation at the URC. Based on government reports, the Ukrainian prime minister met with colleagues from the Czech Republic, Finland and Estonia, as well as the host of the event, Donald Tusk.

A dozen other leaders - at least according to official reports - did not find an opportunity to meet with the head of the Ukrainian delegation and the conference on the restoration of Ukraine.
There were also no reports of negotiations with the leadership of EU institutions. https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/articles/2026/06/26/7240464/

On Friday, the European Commission proposed extending temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing war for another year, until March 4, 2028. At the same time, the commission proposed not to extend this protection to newly arrived Ukrainians liable for military service, who are prohibited from leaving Ukraine. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_1462