European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s ongoing support for Ukraine at a NATO summit in The Hague on June 24.

“We have designed a funding program of 50 billion euros, we call it Safe, where member states, but also Ukraine and other partners, can take these loans to invest in the (Ukrainian) defense industry,” she said, addressing President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We are integrating our defense industries as if Ukraine was in the EU. This is good for Ukraine. And just as good for Europe, as Ukraine is now home to extraordinary innovation,” von der Leyen later said in a post to social media.

NATO is holding a summit in The Hague from June 24-25 with world leaders, including Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump present.

"(M)y dear friend Volodymyr, you’re here among friends and we stand by Ukraine from the very first day on and you can count on us also for the future," von der Leyen said.

The leader described the EU’s 18th sanctions package as a “biting one” to apply pressure on Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Secondly, of course, there’s constant financial support to Ukraine because we know you’re fighting a war that is also protecting our values and our principles, and thirdly, indeed, we have to put pressure on President Putin (so) that he comes to the negotiation table,” von der Leyen said.

She noted that members of the Group of Seven (G7) will also be implementing additional sanctions against Russia.

“All this shows you are among friends, you can count on us, we stand by your side,” von der Leyen said.

The White House has confirmed that Trump and Zelensky will hold a meeting at the NATO summit.

Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’

Key findings: * Despite international sanctions, Russia’s strategic missile plant was able to import complex machinery to dramatically increase missile production. * The Kyiv Independent has identified the equipment supplied to the plant, as well as the supply chains, mostly from China. * We located the plant’s new premises, built to house the

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

Lithuania has signed a memorandum with American defense firm Northrop Grumman and Norwegian Nammo to secure the production of ammunition amid Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry announced on June 24.

“By strengthening our national defense industry, we are investing in both technological capabilities and Lithuania’s resilience to crises. This Memorandum of Understanding will allow us to better equip our armed forces and help Lithuania become an important link in international supply chains,” Lithuanian Vice Minister of National Defense Loreta Maskalioviene said.

“The investment and expertise of our allies… will significantly contribute to strengthening of the national defense industry and security not only in Lithuania, but also in the entire region, including Ukraine. The development of the defense industry and investment in production must come without delay,” Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius said.

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has sparked concern in Europe that Russia could attack NATO’s eastern flank, including Poland, the Baltic countries, and Finland.

Ukrainian intelligence has evidence that Russia is preparing new military operations in Europe, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 22.

The partnership will be implemented at the state-owned Giraite Armament Factory, the announcement said, adding that the factory is set to be integrated into Northrop Grumman’s international supply chains.

Northrop Grumman will supply ammunition produced in the Lithuanian defense factory to the international market.

Nammo, as a subcontractor, will provide Northrop Grumman with the 35 mm ammunition production technology.

“It will enhance national strategic autonomy in defense and deepen partnerships with NATO allies, the United States, and Norway. The planned production of ammunition is of critical importance to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, our allies, and Ukraine,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said.

The memorandum will initiate negotiations for the production of medium caliber ammunition, ranging in size from 20-50 mm.

The Giraite Armament Factory will be provided with 35 mm ammunition production technology from the two defense firms, the announcement said.

Sakaliene noted that the new partnership will ensure an uninterrupted supply of ammunition to Lithuania’s Armed Forces.

NATO is holding a summit in The Hague from June 24-25 with world leaders, including Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump present.

The White House has confirmed that Trump and Zelensky will hold a meeting at the NATO summit.

‘Like any technology, it’s a race’ — UK’s largest ammo maker rebooting chemistry to break NATO’s dependence on explosive imports

Russia’s war in Ukraine has drained Western ammunition stocks. Despite years of claimed weapons ramp-ups, NATO’s arms manufacturing is still not refilling those stocks apace, let alone making it to Ukraine in needed mass. The West has come to recognize that these shortages are due to the offshoring

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Italy has pledged 1.5 million euros (approximately $1.6 million) to support humanitarian demining efforts in Ukraine, deepening its partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ukrainian government.

The agreement was formalized during a high-level ceremony in Kyiv on June 23 attended by Italian Ambassador Carlo Formosa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and new UNDP Administrator Haoliang Xu, Jaco Cilliers, Resident Representative of the UNDP in Ukraine, and Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.

“Demining is not just a technical operation; it is a deeply humanitarian act that combines cooperation and innovation to restore hope in Ukraine,” Ambassador Formosa said. “This project is not only a response to the emergency — it’s a step toward recovery. It’s about returning land to farmers, playgrounds to children, and safe roads to families."

The funding will support UNDP’s mine action program, which focuses on clearing land contaminated by mines and explosive remnants of war, ensuring the safe return of land to Ukrainian communities.

The initiative comes as Ukraine continues to grapple with one of the world’s largest demining challenges. According to the State Emergency Service, the total area of potentially mined land has been reduced by over 20% since late 2022. However, approximately 137,000 square kilometers (52,900 square miles) — much of it farmland — remain contaminated. Demining operations are carried out by the emergency service personnel, National Police, Ministry of Defense, and non-governmental organizations.

Currently, 112 certified demining operators, including eight international groups, are active in Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported on June 24. Their combined capacity includes more than 9,000 personnel, 278 specialized vehicles, and over 13,000 metal detectors.

While significant progress has been made, Ukrainian officials stress that continued international support and funding are critical to accelerating clearance efforts.

Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’

Key findings: * Despite international sanctions, Russia’s strategic missile plant was able to import complex machinery to dramatically increase missile production. * The Kyiv Independent has identified the equipment supplied to the plant, as well as the supply chains, mostly from China. * We located the plant’s new premises, built to house the

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Moscow has launched 28,743 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine — with 2,736, or roughly 9.5%, fired in June 2025 alone, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a speech to the Dutch Parliament in The Hague.

Speaking on June 24, he stressed that Russia would never have been able to carry out such  drone attacks without support from Iran, and Ukraine, in turn, could not have intercepted most of the drones without the help of its international partners.

Zelensky called for accountability and emphasized that rules must apply to all — including the Kremlin: “Putin pretends not to understand the rules that shape the modern world. And here, in The Hague, I want to say this very clearly to him: There is a rule — do not kill. There is a rule — do not treat people like beasts. There is a rule — do not destroy cities and villages. There is a rule — do not sponsor terror. There is a rule — do not steal children. And if you break these rules, you will be held accountable."

According to Zelensky, these principles — though difficult for Russia to grasp — form the foundation of international norms, from the UN Charter to Europe’s shared vision of life.

To achieve lasting peace, Zelensky outlined two key strategic priorities. First, he called for maximum isolation of Russia which includes full political isolation, comprehensive sanctions, and the termination of any cooperation that allows Russia to survive and continue waging war.

“Every loophole that allows them to keep going must be closed. We need a strong 18th EU sanctions package. We need tough, painful sanctions on Russian oil. Every reduction in Russia’s oil revenue helps bring peace closer,” he said.

Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’

Key findings: * Despite international sanctions, Russia’s strategic missile plant was able to import complex machinery to dramatically increase missile production. * The Kyiv Independent has identified the equipment supplied to the plant, as well as the supply chains, mostly from China. * We located the plant’s new premises, built to house the

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

Zelensky argued that the most effective step would be imposing a $30-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil exports.

“The world must reach this threshold — not just to help stop Russia’s war against us, but to prevent any future military operations that Russia might launch against Europe and the Alliance,” he said. “Military plans must become prohibitively expensive for Russia. We must fully block their tanker fleet and cut them off from international banking. That’s what works.”

Second priority, according to Zelensky, is the need for stability in defense support. “Russia must see that Ukraine will not be left alone, and that Europe will not back down.”

Recent U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities did not eliminate the core components of Tehran’s nuclear program and likely delayed it by only a few months, according to an early assessment by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), CNN reported on June 24, citing four sources familiar with the findings.

The analysis, based on a battle damage report from U.S. Central Command, contradicts public statements by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who claimed the operation had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“So the (DIA) assessment is that the U.S. set them back maybe a few months, tops,” one source told CNN, adding that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed and that most centrifuges remain “intact.”

The White House acknowledged the assessment’s existence but strongly dismissed it. “This alleged assessment is flat-out wrong and was classified as ‘top secret’ but was still leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program. Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”

Trump, for his part, stood by his assessment of the mission’s success. “I think it’s been completely demolished,” he said on Tuesday. “Those pilots hit their targets. Those targets were obliterated, and the pilots should be given credit.” Asked if Iran could rebuild, Trump responded: “That place is under rock. That place is demolished.”

While both Trump and Hegseth praised the strikes as decisive, others expressed caution. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine said it was “way too early” to determine whether Iran retained nuclear capabilities.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also avoided endorsing the president’s characterization. “I’ve been briefed on this plan in the past, and it was never meant to completely destroy the nuclear facilities, but rather cause significant damage,” McCaul told CNN. “But it was always known to be a temporary setback.”

The DIA’s assessment reportedly found that damage at the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites was mostly limited to aboveground infrastructure, such as power systems and uranium metal processing buildings. The underground facilities—where Iran’s most sensitive nuclear work takes place—were largely unaffected, the sources said.

According to CNN, Israel had been carrying out its own strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities prior to the U.S. operation, but relied on U.S. B-2 bombers equipped with 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs to finish the job. Despite over a dozen bombs being dropped on Fordow and Natanz, the sites’ key components remain intact, the sources said.

The U.S. also reportedly used Tomahawk missiles launched from a submarine to target Isfahan, rather than deploying bunker busters. A source said this was due to doubts over whether the bombs could penetrate Isfahan’s deep underground levels, which are believed to be even more fortified than Fordow.

Two sources also told CNN that Iran likely retains undisclosed nuclear facilities that were not targeted and remain operational.

Meanwhile, classified briefings for lawmakers on the strikes were postponed. The all-Senate briefing was rescheduled for Thursday, and the House briefing’s new date remains unclear.

More empty threats from Washington, more deadly bombs from Russia

The ongoing and escalating slaughter of Ukrainian civilians depends on two preconditions: Moscow’s determination to erase Ukraine, and the tacit permission it receives from America and Europe. On Monday, a Russian missile tore through a residential building in Kyiv, leaving at least six civilians dead and over a dozen

The Kyiv IndependentAndrew Chakhoyan

President Donald Trump refused to give a clear commitment to NATO’s Article 5 — the alliance’s collective defense clause — as he departed for a pivotal summit in The Hague, raising fresh concerns about his stance on one of NATO’s core principles.

When pressed by reporters aboard Air Force One on whether he would uphold the mutual defense obligation, Trump replied, “It depends on your definition of Article 5,” adding, “There’s numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends, you know, I’ve become friends with many of those leaders, and I’m committed to helping them."

Although Article 5 is central to NATO’s security framework, Trump has previously expressed skepticism about honoring it, often criticizing member states for not contributing enough to shared defense efforts.

Asked to elaborate, he said, “I’m committed to saving lives. I care about life and safety.” He added that he would explain his position in full once at the summit: “I’ll give you an exact definition when I get there — I just don’t want to do it from the back of a plane."

Trump’s remarks come as NATO faces what its leadership describes as its most significant threat in decades.

At a press briefing on June 23, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Russia remains the primary danger to the alliance, citing its growing alignment with China, North Korea, Iran, and Belarus.

“Moscow continues to wage war against Ukraine, with support of North Korea, Iran, and China, as well as Belarus,” Rutte said.

He added that NATO leaders plan to adopt a “historic” defense investment plan at the June 24–25 summit in The Hague, including a new 5% of GDP benchmark for defense spending and stronger backing for Ukraine.

“All leaders will take bold decisions to strengthen our collective defense, making NATO a stronger, fairer, and more lethal alliance,” Rutte said. “This is a leap that is ambitious, historic, and fundamental to securing our future.”

While at the summit, Trump is also set to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House confirmed on June 24.

Their last meeting was in April at Pope Francis' funeral, amid concerns over the U.S. role in peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. Details of the June 25 meeting are still being finalized, but the talks are expected in the “early afternoon,” a source told AFP.

Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’

Key findings: * Despite international sanctions, Russia’s strategic missile plant was able to import complex machinery to dramatically increase missile production. * The Kyiv Independent has identified the equipment supplied to the plant, as well as the supply chains, mostly from China. * We located the plant’s new premises, built to house the

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

In a move following accusations from Moscow, Serbia has completely stopped exporting weapons. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced the suspension of arms and ammunition exports, stating that henceforth, defense industry products will be used solely for the country's military needs.

When questioned if Serbia had taken sides in the Israel-Iran conflict by exporting ammunition to Israel, President Vučić asserted that the state has halted all exports, directing military supplies only to its own forces.

"We are not exporting anything now. We've stopped everything, and any further decisions will require special and specific resolutions. We will consider how to proceed in alignment with Serbia's interests. Major government bodies will be informed," Vučić stated.

He further clarified that exports to Israel were previously authorized following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, but noted that the situation has since changed.

"We have essentially stopped everything and are sending it all to our army," the Serbian leader emphasized. Radio Free Europe's Balkan Service reports that following a meeting of the extended General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense officially confirmed that the export of weapons and military equipment produced in Serbia is suspended according to the president's directives. The ministry's statement indicates that future arms exports would require approval from both the relevant ministries and the National Security Council.

Vučić's statements come amidst allegations from Russia of Serbian arms being supplied to Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service has claimed that Serbian defense companies continue to supply munitions to Ukraine by using "detours" through NATO countries.

The allegations mostly involve munitions for heavy long-range systems, purportedly sent as complete assembly kits, thus allowing them to be formally designated as manufactured not in Serbia, but at weapons factories in NATO member countries. "Ammunition manufactured by Serbian defense companies, primarily for heavy long-range systems, is sent to serve Ukraine's interests in NATO countries as full assembly kits. This allows Kyiv to subsequently receive it as if it were not Serbian military products but assembled in Western arms factories," the statement claims.

Russia's intelligence service cites transactions between Serbia's "Krušik" factory in Valjevo and the Czech company "Poličske Strojirni," which, according to the claims, purchased large batches of 122-mm rocket assembly kits for the "Grad" system. Additionally, the Serbian company "Eling" in Loznica allegedly supplied the Bulgarian company "EMKO" with similar kits, including 120-mm mortar shells.

Previously, President Aleksandar Vučić indicated that Serbia is prepared to aid in the reconstruction of one or two regions in Ukraine.

Russia has authorized stateless individuals to enlist in its military, aiming to recruit 5,000 new soldiers.

Russia’s State Duma has given its backing to legislation that permits stateless people to join the Russian armed forces under contract. According to The Moscow Times, this development reflects the Kremlin’s ongoing efforts to bolster military ranks for continued operations in Ukraine.

The approved measure amends current laws on military service and defense, equating stateless individuals to foreigners in terms of military enlistment. One of the primary incentives for these recruits is the opportunity to obtain Russian citizenship through a fast-tracked process upon completion of service.

The proposal now advances to the Federation Council for final voting before being signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. If signed, it will take immediate effect.

Kremlin officials anticipate that this new law will draw as many as 5,000 stateless individuals into military ranks.

FSB reports indicate nearly 90,000 stateless individuals have entered Russia since the start of 2024. However, this figure may include repeated entries by the same individuals. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs notes that almost 6 million foreigners and stateless persons have registered for employment, though less than 1% have officially obtained work permits.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has highlighted the potential of Ukraine's defense industry, estimating it as a $44 billion sector. However, he pointed out that production is cut by nearly half due to a lack of financial resources. Meanwhile, Russia's missiles reportedly rely heavily on foreign components for their construction.

During his address to participants at the Defense Industry Forum in the Netherlands on June 24, Zelensky emphasized the enduring threat posed by Russia. "We all acknowledge this is a long-term threat, and that threat is Russia. But we're not alone facing it; we're opposing both state and non-state actors supporting this aggression," he stated.

According to Zelensky, this "network" supporting Russia includes countries like North Korea, Iran, and some Chinese companies, as well as "many, many schemers" globally. Ukraine's priorities are clear - co-production of weapons and sanctions against companies collaborating with Russia. Investment and technology have been pinpointed as crucial issues for production. Zelensky expressed that the potential of Ukraine’s defense sector exceeds $44 billion.

"This covers nearly a thousand military assets, from artillery to drones, advanced missile warfare systems, and rockets. But around 40% of this potential lacks adequate funding, and that's a problem," he noted.

Zelensky explained that while Ukraine is capable of producing about 8 million drones of various types annually, financial limitations remain a hurdle. In contrast, Russia leverages its oil revenues and resources from Iran and North Korea, alongside corrupt dealings with other countries.

"Our collective solidarity is the best response to Russia's military network," Zelensky asserted.

He urged partners to boost investment in joint weapon production with Ukraine, assuring that all arms produced by Ukrainians will contribute to Europe's security framework.

Zelensky reiterated that there is no indication that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to halt the conflict. Russia consistently dismisses peaceful propositions, including those from the US. Ukrainian intelligence has also confirmed Russia's plans for new military operations on NATO territory. The Ukrainian leader called on European nations to increase their defense budgets.

"It's better to curb Russia where the war began," he emphasized.

Additionally, Zelensky mentioned that no remarkable Russian weapon is produced without materials or components from foreign origins. These foreign parts are present in every missile and most drones used by Russian forces.

Reminder: President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged being fatigued by the war in Ukraine and expressed that he is “always ready” to cede power if the nation wishes for a change.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov signed a Letter of Intent on June 24 with his Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen to launch Ukrainian defense production in Denmark, Umerov announced on Facebook.

The document envisages facilitating the deployment of Ukrainian defense companies in Denmark and integrating of the defense industries of both countries through the “Build with Ukraine” initiative.

Denmark has already allocated $47 million for the project, and Ukraine’s partners will provide further funding for production.

“I thank the Danish government for its trust, steadfast support of Ukraine, and commitment to developing a deep partnership between our countries,” Umerov said. “This partnership enhances the security of Ukraine, Denmark, and all of Europe — today and into the future."

The agreement between Ukraine and Denmark also provides coordination between the Danish Defense Ministry, the Business and Industry Ministry, and the Foreign Ministry to integrate Ukrainian enterprises into the European defense system.

“By providing Ukrainian defense companies the opportunity to start production in Denmark, we are creating a basis for close cooperation between defense companies in both countries. This will also provide the Danish Armed Forces with access to the latest technologies and the experience of Ukraine,” Poulsen said.

Denmark has pioneered efforts to support Ukraine by investing in its defense industry, creating the so-called “Danish model” of purchasing arms for Kyiv from Ukrainian producers. Copenhagen has provided around $9.8 billion in military aid under its Ukraine Fund for the years 2023-2028.

‘Like any technology, it’s a race’ — UK’s largest ammo maker rebooting chemistry to break NATO’s dependence on explosive imports

Russia’s war in Ukraine has drained Western ammunition stocks. Despite years of claimed weapons ramp-ups, NATO’s arms manufacturing is still not refilling those stocks apace, let alone making it to Ukraine in needed mass. The West has come to recognize that these shortages are due to the offshoring

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Ukraine’s national oil and gas company Naftogaz has submitted a payment demand to Russia's Gazprom, claiming $1.37 billion in line with a final arbitration decision from Zurich, dated June 20, 2025, as announced by Naftogaz's press service on Tuesday, June 24. The Ukrainian energy company states that the figure covers the principal debt for gas transit services under a 2019 agreement, penalty fees, and legal expenses incurred by Naftogaz.

"If Gazprom declines to comply with the decision voluntarily, Naftogaz will launch a strategy to forcibly recover assets from the Russian company," the statement says.

The arbitration centered on Gazprom's cessation of gas transit payments in May 2022, breaching contractual obligations based on "take or pay" principles. Naftogaz initiated arbitration in September 2022, which Gazprom attempted to block through Russian courts. Eventually, a tribunal consisting of arbitrators from Sweden, Switzerland, and Israel ruled in favor of Naftogaz.

Simultaneously, Naftogaz continues enforcing an arbitration ruling for Russia to pay $5 billion for the unlawful expropriation of assets in Crimea in 2014, according to Naftogaz's press service.

"The enforcement process is ongoing in ten jurisdictions at various stages. Finland and France have already seen initial results with Russian assets being seized. Work continues in other nations, but further details are not disclosed due to legal strategy considerations," Naftogaz reports.

Key developments on June 24:

• ‘Dead and wounded everywhere’ — Russian attack on Dnipro kills at least 17, injures almost 280
• Council of Europe, Ukraine to sign accord on June 25 to set up Russian aggression tribunal
• Ukraine can produce 8 million drones annually but needs funding, Zelensky says at NATO summit
• Trump to meet Zelensky during NATO summit, White House confirms
• UK to fund joint drone production with Ukraine

Russia launched a deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on June 24, striking civilian infrastructure and a passenger train, killing at least 17 people and injuring scores of others, local officials reported.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said the morning strike ignited a large fire and also damaged a dormitory, a gymnasium, and an administrative building in the city.

The Russian military also struck the nearby town of Samarske, Lysak said. Casualties were reported in both locations.

“Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded everywhere,” he said.

In Samarske, two people were killed, and 14 injured. Eight were hospitalized, with half of them in critical condition.

“As of now, more than 160 people are known to have been injured. Unfortunately, 11 people have died,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on social media, adding: “The rubble is still being cleared, so the death toll may, unfortunately, increase."

Around 8:30 p.m. local time, the death toll rose to 17, while the number of wounded increased to 279, including 27 children, Lysak reported.

Almost a hundred of the victims remain in hospital, according to Lysak.

Ukraine’s national railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, said that a train traveling from Odesa to Zaporizhzhia was damaged in the attack.

“Ukrzaliznytsia is preparing a replacement train in Dnipro to evacuate passengers to Zaporizhzhia,” the company said in a statement.

In an update, Ukrzaliznytsia said no passengers or railway workers were killed in the attack, though several people sustained injuries and are receiving medical care.

The attack came as NATO leaders convened for a high-level summit in The Hague. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on June 23 that Russia remains the alliance’s most immediate and long-term threat.

Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’

Key findings: * Despite international sanctions, Russia’s strategic missile plant was able to import complex machinery to dramatically increase missile production. * The Kyiv Independent has identified the equipment supplied to the plant, as well as the supply chains, mostly from China. * We located the plant’s new premises, built to house the

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

Council of Europe, Ukraine to sign accord on June 25 to set up Russian aggression tribunal

The Council of Europe and Ukraine will sign an agreement on June 25 to set up a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression, Yevheniya Kravchuk, a member of Ukraine’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said on June 24.

The move marks a milestone in international efforts to hold President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials accountable for launching the full-scale war against Ukraine.

“What seemed like a dream of justice will soon become a reality. Ukraine, together with the Council of Europe, will sign an agreement that will bring Russia to justice,” Kravchuk wrote on Facebook.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna stressed that the special tribunal will have jurisdiction over the Russian president, prime minister, foreign minister, and other top officials.

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"It is not a matter of debate anymore, only a matter of time. Some will get into the hands of justice sooner, some later, but they will all be held accountable. There are no exceptions," Stefanishyna told the Kyiv Independent. "It's critical to restore the international rule of law and prevent future acts of aggression."

The tribunal's jurisdiction covers all aspects of the crime of aggression, including the planning, preparation, initiation, or execution of acts of aggression, according to Stefanishyna.

"The tribunal's design makes it clear that the official status of the accused at the time of the crime does not exempt them from responsibility," she said. "Functional immunity does not apply here; high-ranking officials can be prosecuted even while holding office. The statute provides rules for conducting proceedings if the accused is absent."

The tribunal will be authorized to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure jurisdictional effectiveness and share information, Stefanishyna added.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has long advocated for the tribunal to ensure that Putin and other senior Russian officials face justice for launching the invasion three years ago.

Ukrainian prosecutors have documented thousands of war crimes committed by Russian forces, including attacks on civilians, cultural and medical sites, and acts of torture and deportation.

While war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide can be prosecuted against individuals at any level, the crime of aggression applies exclusively to state leaders responsible for planning and waging a war.

The ICC has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Ukraine can produce 8 million drones annually but needs funding, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelensky said during NATO summit on June 24 that Ukraine has the capacity to produce over 8 million drones of various types each year, but lacks the financial backing to reach that potential, a shortfall he said must be urgently addressed to defeat Russia's growing military network.

"Our defense production potential has surpassed $35 billion," Zelensky said during a speech at the NATO Defense Industry Forum in The Hague. "This includes nearly 1,000 types of products... but around 40% of this potential lacks proper funding. For example, we can produce over 8 million drones of different types each year, but the financing allows for far fewer."

Zelensky urged allies to scale up investments in joint weapons production, including drone technologies, artillery, and interceptors. He argued that Ukraine's defense capabilities are not only key to defending its own territory, but essential to strengthening NATO's long-term security.

"We must lead in the drone race, both in strike drones and interceptors," he said. "Please increase your investments in Ukraine and joint weapons production. All the weapons we produce become part of a new, stronger European defense and security system."

The Ukrainian president emphasized that Russia is not acting alone, but as part of a broader network of state and non-state actors, including North Korea, Iran, and Chinese companies, which support its war effort against Ukraine and pose a long-term threat to Europe.

More empty threats from Washington, more deadly bombs from Russia

The ongoing and escalating slaughter of Ukrainian civilians depends on two preconditions: Moscow’s determination to erase Ukraine, and the tacit permission it receives from America and Europe. On Monday, a Russian missile tore through a residential building in Kyiv, leaving at least six civilians dead and over a dozen

The Kyiv IndependentAndrew Chakhoyan

"The source of this war and the long-term threat to Europe is Russia," Zelensky said. "But in reality, we are not just facing Russia alone. We are facing a network of state and non-state actors."

Zelensky also called on NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP and to dedicate at least 0.25% of GDP to support Ukraine's military needs directly. He thanked countries such as Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands for their elevated commitments, but urged others to follow suit.

Zelensky warned that Russia is planning "new military operations on NATO territory" and that the war in Ukraine must be stopped now to prevent broader European conflict.

"There are no signs that Putin wants to stop this war," Zelensky said. "So long as he kills, he lives. And our intelligence confirms this."

He also appealed for a crackdown on the supply chains that allow Russia to sustain its weapons manufacturing, referring to Western-origin components found in Russian missiles, drones, and armored vehicles.

"It's not just China, also Taiwan. Some of these parts come from European countries and from the United States," Zelensky said. "Every single tool delivered to Russia's defense sector helps prolong the war and is a crime against peace."

Zelensky's speech comes as NATO leaders gather in The Hague for a high-level summit on June 24-25. NATO leaders are expected to discuss raising the alliance's defensespending target to 5% of the GDP, a proposal the U.S. has championed but from which it considers itself exempt.

Amid relentless Russian strikes, Ukraine’s businesses rebuild alone

It took firefighters two days to extinguish the flames at Oleksiy Tarnopolskiy’s warehouse in Kyiv after a Russian attack on June 10. Nothing inside could be saved from his tea and coffee business. Tarnopolskiy arrived on site to an “apocalyptic” scene at 5 a.m., one hour after a Russian

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Trump to meet Zelensky during NATO summit, White House confirms

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky during a NATO summit in The Hague, the White House confirmed on June 24.

The last time Zelensky and Trump met was in April on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral amid concerns that Washington would withdraw from mediating peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

The White House did not provide any further details about the meeting between the two leaders.

The talks between Zelensky and Trump were scheduled for the "early afternoon" on June 25, the source told AFP, adding that "the teams are finalizing the details" of the meeting.

Trump and Zelensky are expected to discuss Ukraine's "purchase of a defense package, a large part of which consists of air defense systems," according to the source.

The discussion will also focus on "sanctions against Russia, and a price cap on oil," the source added.

Earlier, Trump said that he "would probably meet" Zelensky in The Hague after the two presidents did not manage to talk during the G7 summit in Canada earlier in June, AFP reported on June 24.

When asked what he would say to Zelensky, Trump replied: "I'll say: 'How are you?' He's (Zelensky) in a tough spot, he shouldn't have been there at all".

Zelensky also said in an interview with Sky News that he planned to meet Trump in The Hague. Asked whether the meeting would be a formal discussion or an informal encounter, Zelensky said it was a matter of scheduling: "They are talking about timing. It's timing."

Zelensky expressed hope that Trump's approach to Russia is tactical, intended to pressure Putin into peace negotiations. "I would like this approach to be only a way to force Putin to the negotiating table and to end the war. And let us hope so," he said.

Zelensky was scheduled to meet Trump at the Group of Seven (G7) summit, held June 15-17. However, the U.S. president left the multilateral event early due to the renewed conflict between Israel and Iran.

Zelensky also left the summit early, citing Russia's mass drone and missile attack on Kyiv.

UK to fund joint drone production with Ukraine

Ukraine and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement to jointly produce drones, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on June 24.

Britain will finance the procurement of Ukrainian-designed drones manufactured in the UK, he added.

The deal comes as Ukraine has rapidly developed its drone capabilities since 2022, evolving from modifying commercial aircraft to producing military UAVs, attack drones, and reconnaissance systems at scale.

The agreement was reached between President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Umerov said.

Under the three-year program, the UK will finance the procurement of a wide range of Ukrainian drones to be produced by British defense companies.

"This will enable British defense companies to rapidly design and produce state-of-the-art drones on a large scale," Umerov wrote on Facebook.

According to Umerov, all production will be directed to meet the needs of Ukraine's Defense Forces. After the war ends, the UK and Ukraine will share the produced drones between themselves.

The initiative will support the scaling of advanced technologies, increased drone production, and the integration of Ukrainian and British defense industries, Ukraine's defense minister wrote.

Ukraine has ramped up domestic drone production over the recent years of its war with Russia, as well as the development of new missiles.

Various aerial, naval, and ground drones have been developed and often successfully used for reconnaissance, combat, and other tasks throughout the full-scale war with Russia.

In January 2025, Umerov announced that the United Kingdom would finance the production of air defense systems and long-range weapons in Ukraine.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

‘Like any technology, it’s a race’ — UK’s largest ammo maker rebooting chemistry to break NATO’s dependence on explosive imports

Russia’s war in Ukraine has drained Western ammunition stocks. Despite years of claimed weapons ramp-ups, NATO’s arms manufacturing is still not refilling those stocks apace, let alone making it to Ukraine in needed mass. The West has come to recognize that these shortages are due to the offshoring

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) and the Foreign Ministry have evacuated 31 Ukrainian citizens from Iran on the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelensky, the agency said on June 24.

The news follows a war between Iran and Israel that began on June 13. The countries reached a ceasefire deal on June 24.

Israel and Iran attacked each other hours after the ceasefire was announced. Despite the initial violations, the agreement appears to be holding now.

Ukraine evacuated 14 children, 12 women, and five men, according to HUR.

The evacuation was carried out through Azerbaijan and Moldova to Kyiv, the statement read.

“We felt completely unprotected all the time in Tehran because there were no air raid alerts. In addition, the Internet was down, and we had no idea what was happening,” Varvara from Kyiv Oblast, who was evacuated from Iran, told HUR’s press service.

Earlier, Ukraine evacuated 176 people from Israel, including 133 Ukrainian citizens. The evacuation from Iran is the final stage of a joint operation by HUR and the Foreign Ministry to rescue Ukrainian citizens from high-risk areas, according to the agency’s statement.

Tensions between Iran and Israel had already been rising after Iran launched missile strikes on Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on June 13, killing multiple civilians, including five Ukrainian nationals. The attack came in retaliation for Israeli military action.

On June 24, Trump announced that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel had come into effect, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and a retaliatory Iranian attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar.

Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’

Key findings: * Despite international sanctions, Russia’s strategic missile plant was able to import complex machinery to dramatically increase missile production. * The Kyiv Independent has identified the equipment supplied to the plant, as well as the supply chains, mostly from China. * We located the plant’s new premises, built to house the

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

Russia’s war in Ukraine has drained Western ammunition stocks. Despite years of claimed weapons ramp-ups, NATO’s arms manufacturing is still not refilling those stocks apace, let alone making it to Ukraine in needed mass.

The West has come to recognize that these shortages are due to the offshoring of explosives production. But a flurry of new investment incentive schemes from NATO members into defense industries is not yielding results that compare with Russia’s alarming success at arming itself, even beset with sanctions.

Western arms makers are scrambling to buy up or expand factory space to fill in for, particularly, Chinese explosive chemical imports. But one is choosing to reconsider the standard chemistry of modern gunpowder.

“The whole industry is going through this disruption period,” said Steve Cardew, director of business development and strategy for BAE Systems, in an interview with the Kyiv Independent. “That then provides the catalyst to really look at new technologies."

BAE Systems is the U.K.’s largest ammunition maker and one of the biggest in Europe. Its U.S. affiliate is likely the largest supplier of “energetics,” the raw materials for explosives and propellants, that remains geographically within NATO.

Like all of its competitors, BAE is hastening to fill the demand that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created for armaments both in Ukraine and elsewhere. Its U.K. branch is, however, unique in banking on a new chemical process that moves away from a key import entirely — and may well be the template for Ukraine to make more explosives of its own.

Wartime reshoring

NATO is patching up its supply chain to compete with Russia and China. BAE in particular is trying to make the energetics in the U.K. itself, where the last such plant — for TNT — closed in 2008.

“Historically, ammunition has been a cyclical business,” said Cardew. “Conflict happens, we build capacity — that capacity takes time to build, it’s very expensive to sustain — and then we go through relative periods of peace and stability, and questions are asked in terms of: Why do we need such big real estate?"

Western militaries largely downshifted from heavy artillery after the end of the Cold War. General ammunition production waned as the War on Terror subsided, particularly after the U.S.’s pullout from Afghanistan.

Western arms makers like BAE have jump-started artillery factories since Russia invaded Ukraine, kickstarting what Cardew termed “a need for continual supply to make sure that the Russian advance into Ukraine doesn’t get any worse."

But the revamping of, especially, high-caliber ammunition production quickly exposed a glaring oversight further up the supply chain. Most modern propellants that drive munitions ranging from 9 to 155 millimeters are based on nitrocellulose, most of which the West was buying from China. Nitrocellulose itself derives from cotton linter, of which the primary producer is, likewise, China.

“The cheapest way of doing it was relying on supply chains that were not in the U.K.,” Cardew said. “The fundamental bit is the thing that feeds nitrocellulose, the cotton linter – that’s a really scarce material, there are only a few places that you can buy it from."

BAE Systems’ U.S. affiliate runs the Radford Ammunition Plant in Virginia on behalf of the U.S. military, which owns the plant.

The largest producer of military-grade nitrocellulose left inside of geographical NATO, Radford is itself an example of the shoddy condition of the alliance’s supply chain, playing host to constant chemical spillages and losses, accidental explosions, and delayed launches.

But blow-ups are the nature of the nitrocellulose business. Like much heavy manufacturing, China took it on because it boasts looser environmental controls and a lower risk of public outrage when factories explode, in addition to cheaper labor costs.

Today, weapons firms are buying up existing nitrocellulose factories throughout Europe, either abandoned or used for non-military purposes like paint and lacquer that demand lower purities than ammunition. This is faster than building new plants de novo in part because European countries are hesitant to license them when their environmental impact takes decades to clean up.

Alternative energetics

The other major BAE Systems facility in the U.S. is the Holston Ammunition Plant in Tennessee, which is one of NATO’s last producers of another major explosive, RDX, also known as hexogen. A core ingredient in plastic explosives like C4, RDX is typically paired with other chemicals to slow its explosive power, particularly if it’s going to be propelling ammunition.

For decades, arms chemists have floated various methods for turning RDX into a propellant of the type that can send a 155mm shell flying. With China selling nitrocellulose cheap, Western producers did not explore those compounds industrially. But RDX in particular has a long history of filling in gaps.

The U.K. military was the first nation to work out how to stabilize hexogen into usable explosives, which came in handy at the outset of the Second World War. Between the Nazi takeover of Poland and France in 1939 and the entry of the USSR and the U.S. in 1941, the U.K. was effectively alone in fighting Germany. Wracked with U-boat attacks on shipping, the U.K. depended on homemade RDX, which periodically goes by the name Royal Demolition eXplosive.

Once the U.S. joined the war effort, it set up RDX production en masse at the Holston facility, which, per one account, was producing around 340 tons of the explosive per day at its peak.

Cardew noted that the BAE’s bet today is not to build another British Holston. The new plan is a schema of smaller "nodes" that are easier to bring on and offline and more resilient in the face of accidents, or even attack from a foreign power.

"Factories that generate explosives are large enterprises — hundreds, thousands of acres,"  Cardew said, handling bulk shipments of explosives at once.

"Our approach is to reduce that down, to duplicate, so that you have many, many nodes operating continuously — that means each one is easier and cheaper to build, and needs less space around it."

Specifically, the new plan entails shipping containers re-outfitted to make RDX in undisclosed locations throughout the U.K. Cardew noted the need for a “distributed network” for resilient production.

"One big explosive facility in the U.K. or indeed anywhere is clearly a risk because of a variety of reasons. If you have 10 and they are geographically dispersed, it is a much better position to be in," Cardew said.

These are indeed likely lessons for Ukraine, whose weapons makers are beset by Russian air attacks on major manufacturing facilities. When asked about the application of BAE’s new methods inside Ukraine, Cardew said, "clearly, there will be conversations at some point, probably around what the U.K. wishes to do and how it wishes to share that technology."

Hexogeneration

BAE is looking to go even further up the supply chain to make more of the core chemicals needed to make RDX.

RDX is also known as hexogen, and primarily derives from hexamine, which in turn comes from a fairly simple combination of ammonia and formaldehyde — two chemicals that are themselves byproducts of universal organic processes like excretion and decomposition.

Indeed, there is a great deal of overlap among the families of fertilizers and explosives. It was 2,750 tons of the fertilizer ammonium nitrate that blew up the port of Beirut in 2020.

Hexamine is itself a less potent flammable, historically used for things like fuel tablets for cooking included in military field kits. Blended with nitric acid, hexamine turns into the more explosive hexogen.

BAE is considering synthesizing more of the precursor chemicals, especially hexamine. "We don't do that today, but we are looking at how we would do it,” said Cardew. "I can't say too much about that, but that is a next step for us."

A lingering question in Ukraine is whether Western producers will continue their respective rearmaments. In the event of a ceasefire in Ukraine, would BAE and its competitors go back to their pre-2022 business plans?

"Defense, munitions — it’s all an insurance policy, isn’t it?" Cardew said. "How much you pay for your personal insurance depends on your circumstances, your view of the context that you operate in — so that could play out, but I don't think we'll see that happening in the next five to ten years."

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Kollen, the author of this article. Thanks for reading. NATO is convening in the Hague this week, making it a good time to remember the uneven weapon delivery to Ukraine over the three years and three months since Russia’s invasion. The alliance’s ability to take unified action is coming under doubt, as is its capacity to produce what Ukraine needs to defend itself. If you want more stories like this, consider joining our community today to help support our work.

Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’

Key findings: * Despite international sanctions, Russia’s strategic missile plant was able to import complex machinery to dramatically increase missile production. * The Kyiv Independent has identified the equipment supplied to the plant, as well as the supply chains, mostly from China. * We located the plant’s new premises, built to house the

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

The Council of Europe and Ukraine will sign an agreement on June 25 to set up a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression, Yevheniya Kravchuk, a member of Ukraine’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said on June 24.

The move marks a milestone in international efforts to hold President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials accountable for launching the full-scale war against Ukraine.

“What seemed like a dream of justice will soon become a reality. Ukraine, together with the Council of Europe, will sign an agreement that will bring Russia to justice,” Kravchuk wrote on Facebook.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna stressed that the special tribunal will have jurisdiction over the Russian president, prime minister, foreign minister, and other top officials.

“It is not a matter of debate anymore, only a matter of time. Some will get into the hands of justice sooner, some later, but they will all be held accountable. There are no exceptions,” Stefanishyna told the Kyiv Independent. “It’s critical to restore the international rule of law and prevent future acts of aggression."

The tribunal’s jurisdiction covers all aspects of the crime of aggression, including the planning, preparation, initiation, or execution of acts of aggression, according to Stefanishyna.

“The tribunal’s design makes it clear that the official status of the accused at the time of the crime does not exempt them from responsibility,” she said. “Functional immunity does not apply here; high-ranking officials can be prosecuted even while holding office. The statute provides rules for conducting proceedings if the accused is absent."

The tribunal will be authorized to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure jurisdictional effectiveness and share information, Stefanishyna added.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has long advocated for the tribunal to ensure that Putin and other senior Russian officials face justice for launching the invasion three years ago.

Ukrainian prosecutors have documented thousands of war crimes committed by Russian forces, including attacks on civilians, cultural and medical sites, and acts of torture and deportation.

While war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide can be prosecuted against individuals at any level, the crime of aggression applies exclusively to state leaders responsible for planning and waging a war.

The ICC has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

‘Dead and wounded everywhere’ — at least 160 casualties as Russia strikes Dnipro with ballistic missiles, hits civilian train

Russia launched a deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on June 24, striking civilian infrastructure and a passenger train, local officials reported.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

It took firefighters two days to extinguish the flames at Oleksiy Tarnopolskiy’s warehouse in Kyiv after a Russian attack on June 10. Nothing inside could be saved from his tea and coffee business.

Tarnopolskiy arrived on site to an “apocalyptic” scene at 5 a.m., one hour after a Russian drone struck a warehouse of his company, Gemini, in Kyiv’s Obolon district. Luckily, none of Gemini’s employees were hurt.

The company couldn’t salvage any inventory, and over a week later, the air is still thick with the smell of charred plastic and coffee. Walking around the warped remains of the warehouse, which supplied 30-40% of Gemini’s customers, Tarnopolskiy picks up ashy coffee packets that somehow remained intact.

“It’s good packaging,” he jokes as he displays them on a blackened metal beam. The company’s showroom stands behind the warehouse, littered with glass shards and rubble.

Gemini is one of many Ukrainian companies to have suffered from Russia’s relentless attacks since it launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Reconstruction costs for businesses are estimated at $64.4 billion over the next 10 years. By November 2024, Russia had damaged 500 large and medium-sized private and state-owned companies, with countless smaller businesses affected, according to the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).

Unlike residents of damaged apartments and houses, Ukrainian businesses lack government-backed support programs, while war risk insurance is hard to get. Like Gemini, companies have to rely on their own funds to get back on their feet.

Raising money to rebuild businesses is deemed socially unacceptable amid a wartime culture of donating to the army. Companies that have accepted donations have been harshly criticized. Instead, most businesses are left with limited options, like loans, which often don’t cover the full extent of the damage.

“As a business person, I would like some kind of compensation, for example, a no-interest credit program. But there is nothing,” Tarnopolskiy said.

Tarnopolskiy says that after the attack, Gemini’s more than 1,000 customers built up over 29 years, largely gas stations, supermarkets, and fast food restaurants, said they have no plans to abandon the company. He hasn’t had to let go of any of the 150 employees either, and those working at the warehouse were relocated to a production site in the suburbs that was spared from strikes.

Nevertheless, the losses are huge, and Tarnopolskiy doesn’t expect to recover this year. The 3,500 square meter warehouse alone will cost $2 million to rebuild, and the company is hiring a private team to investigate and calculate exact damages that it’ll pay for out of its own pocket.

Not content with waging war inside Ukraine, Russia has now taken it into the virtual world

The new game is the first to focus on Russia’s war in Ukraine, featuring real battles and characters.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

No support

As the smoke settled, Tarnopolskiy reached out to other companies that had previously been hit to find out what to do next. He had long accepted the risks of operating during war, but never expected to suffer such massive damages.

None of the companies had found government-sponsored compensation schemes. Instead, they all logged the losses, expecting that some program would be established in the future, perhaps even in the form of Russian reparations, said Tarnopolskiy.

Maksym Brevda, a businessman from Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, has been waiting to hear back from the Mykolaiv city administration for two and a half years after a Russian missile destroyed his car wash in 2022.

After filling out forms describing the damages to his business, a commission organized by the city administration assessed the car wash. The commission explained that the information will be used when a compensation program starts, but nothing has come of it yet.

Denmark, which 'adopted' Mykolaiv’s reconstruction effort, has support programs through partners like the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), but these are mostly for agri-businesses, while its Export and Investment Fund (EIFO) focuses on large loans of over 3 million euros. Brevda, who co-founded local business association MriyDiy, says the Danes have limited options for other smaller companies.

It would be extremely hard for Ukraine’s fiscally restricted government to introduce a program while the war continues, as the military and housing are top priorities, said Volodymyr Landa, a senior economist at the Center for Economic Strategy (CES), a think tank in Kyiv.

Judging by the lengthy process to document damages and the lack of full compensation for damaged homes, any future program for businesses is unlikely to be efficient and comprehensive, he added.

"For example, the compensation mechanism for the Iraq-Kuwait War 35 years ago just finished its work in 2022, paying about 15% of the total damage," he told the Kyiv Independent.

Alternative options

Businesses are instead utilizing available instruments. Some are applying for favorable loans under the government's 5-7-9% program, which offers reduced interest rates for businesses, although there is no specific option for damaged businesses.

This hasn't worked for everyone. Brevda needed $80,000 to repair his car wash, but could only take out a maximum of $6,000 under the program, and the process was excessively slow. Instead, he sold 50% of his business to private investors to fund its reconstruction. Many other damaged companies he knows have had to do the same.

As the war drags on, some war risk insurance options have emerged through international financial institutions like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ukrainian government. The rate goes up the closer the asset is to the front line, and there are still no options for those right next to the fighting.

CES says one solution is to bring in reinsurance options, i.e., insurance for insurance companies, sponsored by financial organizations or private investors, to provide more options for businesses. This means risks can be spread across multiple insurance companies, allowing for greater lending capacity and higher returns.

In the meantime, businesses have found the most support from each other and their partners. Customers and suppliers rallied behind OMG Shoes after the company lost 35% of its production capacity and 1 million hryvnia ($24,000) in materials during the same attack that hit Gemini on June 10.

"Many of those goods weren't even fully paid off with our suppliers yet, which now puts us in a double bind: no product and a debt to cover," owner Oksana Holod told the Kyiv Independent.

After the attack on the factory, suppliers called to postpone payments, and customers shared messages on social media, leading to a tenfold surge in orders. In one day, nearly all the remaining stock was sold out.

Gemini received similar support from partners who offered donations, which Tarnopolskiy turned down, insisting that money go to military or humanitarian needs.

"The best way to help a business is more orders, more clients, and more purchases. We want to set an example. We are open and we want to work," Tarnopolskiy said.

Note from the author:

Hi, it’s Dominic, thank you for reading this story. I've spent three years meeting businesses in Ukraine, from small startups to state-owned giants, and I'm always amazed by how determined they are to keep going in the face of Russian aggression. It's extremely hard for companies right now, and more support is clearly needed to help them bounce back from the horrible attacks that keep hitting the country daily. To help us keep bringing you stories like this, please consider joining our community for as little as a cup of coffee a month.

Investing in wartime Ukraine requires ‘nuanced understanding of risk’ but worth it, says global trade expert

When John Denton first visited Ukraine weeks into Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, he knew that for the country to survive, businesses needed to stay alive. Denton is the secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business organization. Active in 170 countries, the organization

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

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The ongoing and escalating slaughter of Ukrainian civilians depends on two preconditions: Moscow’s determination to erase Ukraine, and the tacit permission it receives from America and Europe.

On Monday, a Russian missile tore through a residential building in Kyiv, leaving at least six civilians dead and over a dozen wounded — including women and children pulled from the rubble in the early hours. “This is what happens when the U.S. withholds air defenses because it doesn’t want to upset the killers in the Kremlin,” remarked Yaroslav Trofimov, Ukrainian-born American journalist, in a post on X.

Russia commits these war crimes, but the dithering of the Free World has let murderous aggression go unpunished for decades. The cost of empty threats from Washington, Berlin, and Paris is measured in lives lost in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa. If that doesn’t weigh on our collective Western conscience, then we’re not just deluded. We’re complicit.

“While all eyes are on the Middle East, people are dying in Kyiv as Russia bombs Ukraine every day,” EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, grimly observed. Between Israel’s first strike on Tehran’s military leadership and American B-2 bombers dropping bunker busters on nuclear sites, Moscow hit Kyiv with its deadliest attack since 2022 — 472 aerial weapons overnight, including nearly 280 Shahed drones. Thirty civilians were killed. One hundred seventy-two injured.

A recent UN report finds that “97% of civilian casualties occurred in areas under the control of the Government of Ukraine.” That’s diplomatic-speak for: Russia targets civilians deliberately, systematically, and relentlessly. No thoughts or prayers will bring back 4-month-old Tymofii Haidarzhi, who never got to say his first word.

When America flinches — issuing threats to Moscow it won’t enforce and promises to Ukraine it won’t keep — this kind of weakness destroys all prospects of peace and prolongs the carnage and stains our national honor. “Vladimir, stop,” said Donald Trump in April: words of steel followed by deeds of mush.

Even those who like to hide under the rock of “not our war” must understand that this isn’t just repeated incoherence — it’s the erosion of American credibility at lightspeed. And when our enemies no longer believe our words, they stop respecting American power.

The U.S. president signaled frustration with Russia’s war-making on April 24th — then promptly declined to support congressional secondary sanctions. Reports suggest the administration is quietly trying to dilute a bipartisan bill meant to choke off Russia’s oil profits and has now blocked European efforts to tighten the G7 price cap.

Then came the infamous "two weeks" deadlines. On April 24th, May 19th, and again on May 28th, Trump repeated the same hollow threat. Peter Dickinson rightly called "two weeks" a shorthand for "too weak."

And astonishingly, just 14 days after the latest ultimatum, instead of delivering consequences to Moscow, Trump’s Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, revealed the plans to slash U.S. military aid to Ukraine in the next defense budget. Fear us — or else we’ll retreat. Is that really the message America wants to send?

To add insult to injury, on June 12th, the State Department issued a tone-deaf press release celebrating "Russia Day." While Ukrainians buried their dead, Washington congratulated the country doing the killing. At the G7, Trump was effectively lobbying for Putin’s rehabilitation — lamenting Russia’s expulsion from the G8, as if the invasion of a sovereign neighbor were a minor diplomatic hiccup. One could almost hear the laughter — and the champagne corks popping— in the Kremlin.

This isn’t about party. It's about a pattern. In 2012, President Obama drew a bright red line in Syria. Assad crossed it, and America blinked. But let’s be honest, this era-defining foreign policy misstep didn’t happen in a vacuum. In 2008, Russian tanks rolled across a sovereign border and occupied Georgian territory. The White House responded with handwringing and hollow statements — completely incommensurate with the gravity of the moment. A territory was effectively annexed, and the precedent was set. Moscow learned that every act of overt aggression would be met with deep concern, not deep strikes. In 2014, Russia’s war on Ukraine began.

Thankfully, there’s another model of pairing rhetoric with resolve instead of regret. Ronald Reagan didn’t bluff. He followed through — methodically, consistently, and with purpose.

He called the Soviet Union an "evil empire"— not as a slogan, but as a signal. Then he rebuilt America’s military, strengthened our alliances, and confronted Soviet aggression wherever it appeared — from Poland to Afghanistan to Libya. Reagan didn’t posture. He didn’t just issue threats—he made them real. And he understood a lesson today’s leaders seem to have forgotten: deterrence is capability plus credibility.

That’s the difference. Peace through strength isn’t a bumper sticker. It’s a doctrine grounded in history. And when powerful nations abandon it, the inevitable result is dishonor through weakness. The next time the U.S. president draws a red line or tweets a threat, it had better mean something.

‘Dead and wounded everywhere’ — at least 160 casualties as Russia strikes Dnipro with ballistic missiles, hits civilian train

Russia launched a deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on June 24, striking civilian infrastructure and a passenger train, local officials reported.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir