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Zelensky expected to speak at Council of Europe parliamentary session next week
President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the summer plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), scheduled for June 23-27 in Strasbourg, France.
According to the draft agenda, Zelensky is slated to address the assembly on June 26, though his attendance has not yet been confirmed.
While the content of Zelenky’s speech has not been disclosed, the PACE summer session is expected to focus on women’s rights in Europe as well as the war in Gaza.
Legal and human rights issues related to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, and a corresponding resolution, are also listed on the agenda.
The spring session, which took place in April 2025, focused predominantly on Georgia, Turkey, and Ukraine.Ahead of the PACE session, Zelensky is also set to attend next week’s NATO summit in The Hague on June 24. He is expected to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
PACE is the parliamentary arm of the Council of Europe, an international organization of 46 countries, including Ukraine, that promotes democratic values and human rights. Russia was expelled from the body in early 2022 in response to its invasion of Ukraine.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the assembly has issued a number of resolutions regarding Russia, calling for the establishment of an international special tribunal to hold Russia accountable for war crimes and recognizing Putin as an illegitimate dictator.
Most recently, PACE adopted a resolution addressing the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, stressing the urgent need to ensure accountability and avoid impunity for the serious breaches of international law committed.
Pro-Russian ‘peace protestors’ set to descend on NATO summitDutch protesters who regularly call for an end to military aid to Ukraine will descend on The Hague next week to protest the upcoming NATO summit, which is set to take place on June 24-25. The group will protest against NATO alongside several other organizations and has urged supporters on
The Kyiv IndependentLinda Hourani
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Russia launches drone attacks on Kyiv, injuring 2
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated as new details emerge.
Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Kyiv overnight on June 23, local officials reported.
As of 1:40 a.m. local time, two people had been reported injured, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. The two injured people have been hospitalized.
By 2:59 a.m. local time, reports indicated that the Darnytskyi, Solomianskyi, and Svyatoshynskyi districts had been affected.
In Darnytskyi, debris from a drone strike fell on a two-story residential building, but no fires or casualties were reported.
Fires broke out in the Solomianskyi district, where debris also struck a residential building.
In the Sviatoshynskyi district, a high-rise apartment building was damaged, though there were no fires or casualties. Drone strike debris also landed in an open area of a stadium in Sviatoshynskyi, again without injuries or fire.
Air defense systems remained active across the city.
Russian attacks kill 7, injure 23 in Ukraine over past dayRussia launched two Iskander-M or North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, an S-300 anti-aircraft missile, and 47 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, primarily targeting Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
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Norway to invest $400 million in Ukraine's drone, air defense missile production
Norway will invest $400 million in Ukraine’s defense industry to support drone and air defense missile production, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on June 22.
The announcement followed a visit to Ukraine by Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Onshuus Sandvik.
“Today, Norway’s Minister of Defense visited Ukraine. A decision has been reached to invest $400 million in our production – new funding, primarily for drones,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky added that the two countries are also working together to establish joint air defense production inside Ukraine.
“We are working together to create all the necessary conditions to produce air defense systems in Ukraine — jointly with partners, jointly with Norway,” Zelensky said.
He added that Norway’s largest defense company – Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace – has already opened an office in Ukraine as part of the cooperation.
“We are expediting all processes to the maximum extent,” Zelensky said.
On X, Norway’s defense ministry confirmed that Kongsberg has signed agreement with a major Ukrainian company to jointly develop and produce missiles for air defense systems in Ukraine.
The collaboration will focus on producing missiles for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS.
“The Norwegian NASAMS system saves lives in Ukraine every day, and is crucial in protecting critical infrastructure. That is why it is important for the Norwegian Government to finance this development of cheaper missiles for the NASAMS system in Ukraine,” said Minister Sandvik.
The announcement marks deepening ties between Kyiv and Oslo as Ukraine seeks to expand its domestic defense industry amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion and reduced military aid from the United States.
Ukraine war latest: ‘Ukrainian drones for the foot of every Russian soldier’ — Zelensky responds to Putin’s threat to conquer all of UkraineKey developments on June 21-22: * ‘Ukrainian drones for the foot of every Russian soldier’ — Zelensky responds to Putin’s threat to conquer all of Ukraine. * 3 killed, 14 wounded as Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility. * Russia seeks to advance along almost entire eastern front, Ukraine holding ground in Kursk Oblast,
The Kyiv IndependentSonya Bandouil
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My duty to Ukraine! An American volunteer on why he helps in Dobrobat #shorts
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Ukraine war latest: 'Ukrainian drones for the foot of every Russian soldier' — Zelensky responds to Putin's threat to conquer all of Ukraine
Key developments on June 21-22:
- ‘Ukrainian drones for the foot of every Russian soldier’ — Zelensky responds to Putin’s threat to conquer all of Ukraine.
- 3 killed, 14 wounded as Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility.
- Russia seeks to advance along almost entire eastern front, Ukraine holding ground in Kursk Oblast, Syrskyi says.
- Ukraine approves Termit ground drone for battlefield deployment.
- Ukraine’s deep strikes cost Russia over $10 billion this year, Syrskyi says.
- Ukraine destroys 80% of Russian drones despite air defense missile shortage, Syrskyi says.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 21 responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent statements on Ukraine, saying that Ukraine intends to defend itself and that the government had made several decisions to bolster security in light of the Kremlin’s threats.
Putin said “all of Ukraine” belongs to Russia in a speech on June 20 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, pointing to Moscow’s maximalist territorial ambitions in Ukraine.
“Wherever the foot of a Russian soldier steps is Russian land,” he said.
In his evening address on June 21, Zelensky described Putin’s speech as a “performance” but said Ukraine was taking the threats seriously.
“But when a murderer says he wants to kill, we take it seriously and will respond together with our partners,” Zelensky said.
“I hope with all our partners,” he added, likely referring to the United States' diminishing support for Ukraine under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Zelensky said he held meetings with Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha about how to bolster Ukraine’s defense and international support.
“Of course, we will find Ukrainian drones for the foot of every Russian soldier,” he said. “Of course, Ukraine will defend itself."
The Ukrainian government has made several decisions in light of Russia’s overt threats, Zelensky said. These include a complete diplomatic overhaul and transformation of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, intensified efforts to coordinate international sanctions, and more funding for drone development.
Kyiv’s instructions for the SBU remain confidential, Zelensky said.
Russia recruits Central Asia migrants as ‘cannon fodder’ in Ukraine war, HUR saysCitizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and other countries in the region are increasingly being drawn into Russia’s war effort, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) says.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
3 killed, 14 wounded as Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facilityRussia launched a missile attack on June 22 on the training ground of a Ukrainian mechanized brigade, where military personnel were being trained, the Ground Forces reported.
“Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded,” the statement read. The Ground Forces said that greater personnel losses were avoided thanks to the timely security measures taken when the air raid alert was issued.
Around 5:30 p.m., the Ground Forces initially said that three people were killed in the attack and 11 were wounded.
The number of injured was later updated, at around 7:30 p.m., to 14 people.
A special commission has been set up at the Ground Forces Command to investigate the incident, according to the statement. Law enforcement agencies are also working at the scene.
It is the second officially confirmed Russian attack in June that led to military casualties in the training facilities, adding to a chain of such attacks in the past few months.
Former Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi had promised to ensure new safety standards on the training grounds and hold accountable those responsible for the deaths after a Russian strike on March 1 on the training ground in Dnipropetrovsk during exercises.
Yet on May 20, another Russian missile strike against a shooting range in Sumy Oblast killed six service members and injured over 10, according to Ukraine’s National Guard.
After another Russian attack on June 1 on a Ukrainian military training ground killed 12 and injured 60, Drapatyi submitted his resignation as the Ground Forces Commander. He was appointed Commander of the Joint Forces on June 3.
Ukraine’s swift release of the statement and casualty number in the latest Russian attack stands out, as both Ukraine and Russia rarely acknowledge successful enemy attacks against their military facilities.
Former Ukrainian POW dies month after being released from Russian captivitySerhii Dobrovolskyi, a Ukrainian soldier who had been in Russian captivity since 2023, has died just a month after his release at the end of May as part of a 1000-for-1000 prisoner swap, an official from the soldier’s home region announced on June 21.The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak
Russia seeks to advance along almost entire eastern front, Ukraine holding ground in Kursk Oblast, Syrskyi saysRussian forces are attempting to advance along almost the entire front in eastern Ukraine while trying to establish a buffer zone in northeastern Sumy Oblast, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi told journalists on June 21.
The comments come as Moscow launched a new summer offensive against Ukraine, disregarding calls by Kyiv and its Western partners for an unconditional ceasefire.
The offensive’s goal is to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the east, and create a buffer zone in the border areas of the Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, Syrskyi said at a meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent.
As of mid-June, Ukrainian defenders are fighting close to 695,000 Russian troops in Ukraine across a 1,200-kilometer (750-mile) front, the commander said, adding that Moscow recruited about 440,000 contract soldiers this year.
According to the open-source intelligence group DeepState, Russian forces occupied approximately 449 square kilometers (173 square miles) in May, the highest monthly figure this year.
Ukraine has managed to stop the Russian advance in Sumy Oblast at the moment, Syrskyi noted. “The situation there has been stabilized… we have recaptured Andriivka, and advanced between 200 and 700 meters in Yunakivka in a week,” he said.
Russian forces are also attempting to fully oust Ukrainian troops from Russia’s home territory in the Kursk and Belgorod oblasts.
“We control about 90 square kilometers (35 square miles) in the Glushkovsky district of Russia’s Kursk Oblast,” Syrskyi said.
Ukraine launched the cross-border offensive into Kursk Oblast — bordering Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast — last August, initially seizing 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) but losing the vast majority of this territory in a Russian counteroffensive earlier this year.
Moscow initially declared to have fully liberated the region on April 26, but this claim was rejected by Ukraine and later disputed by Russian officials themselves.
Kyiv has said the incursion was meant to preempt a Russian offensive into Sumy Oblast and force Russia to redirect troops fighting in Donetsk Oblast.
Syrskyi stressed that at one point, the Kursk operation drew in almost 63,000 Russian soldiers, which, in addition to North Korean soldiers, amounted to about 70,000 troops deployed in the region.
“In April 2025, Russian units – and this, I remind you once again, is about 60 thousand people… were tasked with moving to new sectors and reinforcing Russian assault groups in the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson directions,” Syrskyi said.
“But our actions in the Glushkovsky district of Russia’s Kursk Oblast thwarted these plans.” At the moment, about 10,000 Russian soldiers are fighting in the Glushkovsky district, the commander added.
Syrskyi also said Russian assault units approached the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast but were thrown back.
“As for our plans and intentions. Of course, we will not simply remain in a blind defense… Therefore, we combine defensive actions with active defense and active offensive operations,” Syrskyi said.
For this purpose, the Ukrainian military is scaling up its assault units, which were created at the beginning of the Kursk operation and are currently deployed in all areas of the front, he added.
Ukraine planning diplomatic overhaul to win stronger global support against Russia“The president has already made certain personnel decisions regarding the heads of some foreign institutions, because the criterion is very simple: results,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on June 21.The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert
Ukraine approves Termit ground drone for battlefield deploymentUkraine’s Defense Ministry has officially approved the new domestically produced unmanned ground vehicle, known as the Termit, for front-line use, the ministry announced on June 21.
The tracked robot is a next-generation version of Ukraine’s existing ground-based unmanned systems already deployed across the front. These systems have supported operations by transporting supplies, conducting reconnaissance, and carrying explosives in contested areas.
Termit, the newest model in the series, features improved mobility and modularity. The drone can carry up to 300 kilograms and operates on various terrains thanks to its low profile, tracked design, and improved weight distribution.
Subscribe to Ukraine Daily newsletterNews from Ukraine in your inbox<span data-sanitized-id="ud-snippet-info" data-sanitized-class="ud-snippet__info"></span> <button data-sanitized-id="ud-snippet-subscribe-btn" data-sanitized-class="ud-snippet__form-btn"> <span data-sanitized-class="ud-snippet__form-label">Subscribe</span> </button> </div>Its traction battery system allows for several hours of continuous movement over dozens of kilometers. According to the Defense Ministry, Termit drones can be equipped with combat modules, used for medical evacuations, or for transporting specialized equipment as needed.
Ground drones such as Termit are being used more frequently to minimize soldier exposure to front-line risks. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Kyiv has prioritized the development of unmanned systems across all domains — air, sea, and land.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the production of at least 30,000 long-range drones in 2025, alongside expanded investment in strike-capable hybrids such as the Palianytsia and Peklo missile-drone platforms.
Russia ‘afraid to admit’ scale of losses, trying to hide by dumping soldiers’ bodies on Ukraine, Zelensky saysUkrainian authorities have confirmed that at least 20 of the bodies Russia returned as Ukrainian were actually Russian soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Ukraine's deep strikes cost Russia over $10 billion this year, Syrskyi saysUkrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory between January and May have cost Russia over $10 billion, including $1.3 billion in direct damage to industrial facilities and infrastructure, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi told journalists on June 21.
The indirect damage caused by the disruption of Russian industrial activities is estimated at $9.5 billion, putting the cost-to-result ratio of Ukrainian deep strikes at 1:15, Syrskyi said at a briefing attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Kyiv has ramped up drone attacks against Russian military and industrial sites far behind the border as part of its DeepStrike strategy, seeking to undermine Moscow's ability to wage war.
The attacks targeted Russia's oil refining sector, the fuel and lubricants facilities, energy and transport support, and strategic lines of communication.
"Remember that during negotiations, the Russian side listed a halt to strikes against the oil refining industry as one of the conditions. This shows that our strikes are truly effective," Syrskyi said.
Oil and gas exports are among Russia's key revenue sources and play a crucial role in sustaining its war effort.
"Of course, we will continue (attacking deep inside Russian territory). We will increase the scale and the depth," the commander added, stressing that the attacks target solely military facilities.
Ukraine has increased the production of long-range drones with the support of Western partners and developed new tactics in striking Russia behind the lines.
In one of the most audacious attacks, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on June 1 struck dozens of Russian bombers and other aircraft across four different air bases in an operation dubbed Spiderweb. SBU drones were smuggled to Russia in trucks and then deployed to attack airfields thousands of kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Russia’s Oreshnik missile production can be halted by ‘urgent’ sanctions, Zelensky saysRussia first launched the experimental Oreshnik missile in an attack against Dnipro on Nov. 21.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova
Ukraine destroys 80% of Russian drones despite air defense missile shortage, Syrskyi saysUkraine is downing approximately 82% of Russian Shahed-type drones during Russian massive aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities despite a serious shortage of surface-to-air missiles, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi told journalists on June 21.
Ukraine needs to have many times more surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft missile systems to ensure reliable defense of cities and critical infrastructure facilities, Syrskyi said at a briefing attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Russian attacks against Ukraine have surged in May and June as Moscow has launched several record-breaking mass strikes against Kyiv and other cities. The latest attack on June 17, primarily targeting the capital, killed 30 people and injured over 170.
"Since we have to save anti-aircraft guided missiles, mobile fire groups are the priority for defending from the Shaheds," Syrskyi said.
Despite Russia's changing tactics of massive air attacks, mobile fire groups account for the largest share of destroyed drones. The fire groups' effectiveness is up to 40%, according to Syrskyi.
Aviation is used almost every night to repel Russian air attacks, featuring the Defense Forces' helicopter crews and fighter aircraft of the Air Force, which includes U.S.-made F-16 and French Mirage-2000 aircraft.
"One promising area in countering Shaheds is the use of light aircraft," Syrskyi said, adding that "there are new projects thanks to financial and material assistance from our foreign partners."
"We are receiving modern light aircraft, which have modern weapons and navigation, which will increase the effectiveness in countering Russian strike drones."
Syrskyi stressed that "cooperation with partners, primarily Canadian ones, enables us to obtain modern surveillance and targeting systems that enhance the combat capabilities of our helicopters."
Regular Air Force reports show that the majority of Russian drones are intercepted during overnight attacks, some by air defenses and others by electronic warfare systems. However, these reports do not always clarify how many of the intercepted drones were actual attack drones and which were only decoys launched to overwhelm air defenses.
Ukraine works to develop other means of protection against Russian air raids in the non-front-line oblasts as it scales up the use of interceptor drones.
Syrskyi said that over five types of interceptor drones have been cleared for use in the army, and new units are being formed and taught to operate them. Some of these Air Force units have already downed dozens of Russian Shaheds, according to Syrskyi.
The effective use of interceptor drones is hindered by the lack of tactical radar systems in Ukraine, such as Israel-made radars by RADA Electronic Industries and their analogues.
Syrskyi said the Ukrainian army needs hundreds of tactical radar systems instead of the few currently in service for radar reconnaissance, which is key to the use of interceptor drones.
Russia has over 1,950 strategic missiles, Ukraine’s military intelligence tells mediaRussia produces up to 195 missiles per month, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the news outlet RBC-Ukraine.The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert
Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko released after four years of Russian detention
Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko was released on June 20 after more than four years of detention in Russian-occupied Crimea, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
Yesypenko, a freelance contributor to Crimea.Realities, a regional project of RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, reported on various issues in Crimea before being detained by Russia’s FSB in March 2021.
He was accused of espionage and possession of explosives, charges he denied, and later sentenced to five years in prison by a Russian-controlled court.
Yesypenko said he was tortured, including with electric shocks, to force a confession, and was denied access to independent lawyers for nearly a month after his arrest.
RFE/RL welcomed his release, thanking the U.S. and Ukrainian governments for their efforts. Yesypenko has since left Russian-occupied Crimea.
“Vlad was arbitrarily punished for a crime he didn’t commit… he paid too high a price for telling the truth about occupied Crimea,” said RFE/RL President Steven Kapus.
During his imprisonment, Yesypenko became a symbol of press freedom, receiving several prestigious awards, including the Free Media Award and PEN America’s Freedom to Write Award.
His case drew support from human rights groups, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, and international advocates for media freedom.
Russia invaded and unlawfully annexed Crimea in 2014, cracking down violently on any opposition to its regime.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin toughened its grip on dissent, passing laws in March 2022 that prohibit what authorities label as “false” criticism of Russia’s war.
Crimean Tatar freed from Russian captivity: ‘Recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea would legitimize crime’For nearly two years in Russian captivity, Leniie Umerova clung to a single hope: that one day, she would return home — to Crimea. “I thought about Crimea all the time,” Umerova told the Kyiv Independent. “I dreamed of going there without the permission of the occupying forces, without going through
The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko
All you need to know about Kharkiv’s Army Corps
MilitaryLand has obtained new information about the recently established 16th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The corps is now confirmed to be headquartered in Kharkiv, a major city…
“Dobrobat“ and David Greco: how volunteers are rebuilding destroyed homes in Ukraine
Ukraine calls for an end to Iran’s nuclear program in wake of US strikes
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said on June 22 that Iran’s nuclear program must be dismantled to prevent it from threatening the Middle East or the wider world, following U.S. air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
“The Iranian regime’s aggressive actions and long-standing destructive policy aimed at undermining global peace and security – particularly its hostility toward Israel and others – have led to the current situation,” the ministry said in an official statement.
These comments come after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on June 21 that the U.S. air strikes targeted three nuclear sites in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, joining Israel’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear program amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The ministry added that Iran continues to destabilize the region through its support of proxy groups and is complicit in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Iran is complicit in the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The Iranian regime is providing military assistance to Russia, including the supply of UAVs and technologies that Russia consistently uses to kill people and destroy critical infrastructure,” the statement read.
The ministry noted that although the U.S. and other nations have made peaceful diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, these efforts have ultimately failed to produce meaningful results.
“As early as this spring, the United States warned Iran of the consequences in the absence of constructive steps.”
Ukraine also asserted its unique moral position on nuclear issues, having given up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal in the 1990s, and argued that the elimination of Iran’s nuclear ambitions would enhance global safety.
Meanwhile, Moscow has diplomatically backed Iran after Israel launched the initial air strikes against Iranian military and nuclear targets on June 13, an operation that sparked further waves of aerial attacks from both sides.
In its statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged a response from the U.N. Security Council, saying that “the confrontational actions of the U.S. and Israel must be collectively rejected."
Iran’s top diplomat to meet Putin in Moscow after US air strikes on nuclear sites“We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said with reference to Russia.
The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak
Zelensky: Russia plans military operations in Europe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia is planning new military operations in Europe, despite suffering notable economic losses due to imposed sanctions. This information will be shared with Western partners, Zelensky added.
Zelensky revealed that he received a report from Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence, discussing numerous facets of the current situation in Russia. This included an analysis of the Russian defense industry and identifying key vulnerabilities, aimed at significantly reducing Russia's potential for aggression.
"We are documenting the ongoing intellectual regression of the Russian leadership and have evidence that they are preparing new military operations on European soil. Additionally, we observe significant economic damages caused by the sanctions, which reinforce our strategy of compelling Russia to end the war through increased sanctions and other pressures," Zelensky stated.
He emphasized that Ukraine will keep its partners informed about the intelligence gathered, and preparations are underway for joint defense strategies with the United Kingdom and the European Union, he concluded.
Earlier, Zelensky mentioned that Russia is gearing up for a possible new attack from Belarus this summer, under the guise of military exercises.
Meanwhile, questions remain about the potential threat to Ukraine from Belarus. Military expert Agil Rustamzade noted that another offensive on Kyiv from Belarus currently seems unlikely due to insufficient attack groups and logistical support.
NEWSFLASH: What Trump’s Iran strikes mean for Ukraine; democracy in Iran
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Maziar Mian (center) on Kyiv’s Maidan square protesting Iran’s support for Russia in 2022. “I'm not happy that my country is under attack,” said Maziar Mian, an architect from Iran who has built his life in Kyiv. “But I'm happy that the Islamic Republic is weakened. I'm happy that this regime could be nearing its end.”
Maziar learned the news just like the rest of us: after Donald Trump announced live to the world that the United States had launched strikes on the Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Photo of Iranian nuclear sites (Getty Images). Israel began targeting military and nuclear sites in Iran a week ago. Overnight, the U.S. decided to join the war, launching ‘bunker buster’ strikes on the three Iranian nuclear sites.
In America’s 21st-century Middle Eastern interventions, one pattern repeats: consequences spiral beyond control, often in ways we all fail to foresee. Tensions are now at their highest since the Cold War. Instead of ending the war in Ukraine, as he promised, Trump appears to have joined a new one.
The escalation between the U.S., Ukraine’s strongest ally, and Iran, a close Russian ally, could divert attention from the European war.
It’s a double-edged sword: Iranian supplies of missiles and kamikaze drones to Russia may slow as the theocracy seeks to tighten its grip on power. But on the other hand, the United States may now have an excuse to divert military assistance away from Ukraine, focusing instead on protecting its interests in the Middle East amid likely Iranian reprisals.
And then there is the question of what happens to the Iranian regime itself. Maziar, an Iranian pushing for a democratic future in Iran, wants to see the theocracy topple.
But strikes on foreign countries often prompt a rally-around-the-flag effect, in which governments tighten their grip on power by uniting domestic audiences against a foreign adversary. Or, the toppling of the regime could lead to an even more sinister and oppressive government – rather than one in which Iranians can freely choose their own destiny.
AFTER THE PAYWALL:
–Could this be the end of Iran’s theocratic regime? Or could hopes for Iranian democracy be dashed as the country rallies around its government?
–What the strikes against Iran mean for Ukraine as it defends itself against Iranian drones and ballistic missiles
–Could the new war over Iran provide Trump with an excuse to engage with Russia/Ukraine entirely?
Iran considers closing Strait of Hormuz in retaliation to U.S. strikes on nuclear sites
Iran's parliament has decided that the Strait of Hormuz must be closed in response to U.S. strikes on the country’s nuclear facilities, according to Major General Ismail Kowsari. A member of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Kowsari revealed the decision on Iranian state television Press TV, stating, " The Parliament has reached the conclusion that the Strait of Hormuz should be closed, but the final decision in this regard lies with the Supreme National Security Council.."
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime pathway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, vital for approximately 20% of global oil and gas transportation. Reuters reports that shutting down this strategically crucial route could lead to a sharp increase in energy prices and severely disrupt global supplies. Already, benchmark Brent crude prices have jumped by 10%, reaching over $77 per barrel following the initiation of Israeli strikes on Iran.
Iran has persistently threatened to close the strait amid escalating tensions. The country possesses the technical ability to obstruct this waterway—from laying mines to seizing vessels with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' forces. Historically, Iranian forces have commandeered tankers in the Persian Gulf, such as Chevron’s oil tanker Advantage Sweet in April 2023, which was only released a year later.
The parliament’s decision comes as a reaction to U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan this past Sunday. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the strikes aimed to limit Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, urging Iran to agree to "end this war" or face more severe repercussions. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth declared the "destruction of Iranian nuclear ambitions." The Iranian-Israeli conflict escalated further after Israel launched significant airstrikes on Iranian territory on June 13.
Any attempt to close the strait would provoke an immediate and stern response from the U.S. Navy, likely minimizing the duration of supply disruptions. They point out that history typically shows even severe global oil supply disruptions are short-lived, as demonstrated by the 1991 Iraq invasion of Kuwait and the 2022 Russian aggression against Ukraine, both causing only temporary price spikes that eventually stabilized.
Ukrainian Forces advance towards Yunakivka following liberation of Andriivka in Sumy region
Ukrainian forces, following the liberation of Andriivka, immediately launched an assault on Yunakivka. The Ukrainian military is advancing without pause after successfully freeing Andriivka, now setting their sights on the strategically significant Yunakivka, near the Russian border. This development was confirmed by Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, during a press briefing, including a correspondent from Militarnyi. According to Syrskyi, Ukrainian units have advanced by 200-700 meters over the past week, pushing Russian forces from their positions. The Ukrainian forces are capitalizing on the momentum gained from Andriivka's liberation, situated just 5 km from the Russian border.
Just a day before the official announcement of controlling the village, on June 13, Volodymyr Bytsak, the deputy head of the Sumy district council, reported that a Russian offensive was halted, allowing Ukraine to initiate a counterattack. Analysts from DeepState reveal that approximately one-third of Yunakivka remains in a "gray zone"—an active combat area where control frequently shifts. The complexity of the situation is intensified by Russian assault groups, employing small-unit tactics devoid of heavy equipment. However, it is this very tactic that has enabled Ukrainian forces to find vulnerabilities in the enemy's defense and begin their offensive.
During clashes in this sector, troops from the 225th Separate Assault Regiment eliminated Major Andrey Yartsev, a battalion commander in the Russian Army's 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment. Ukrainian troops published his documents as proof of their successful operation. Beyond assault units, Ukrainian special operations forces are actively contributing to the advance, conducting sabotage missions and reconnaissance behind Russian lines. In early June, Ukrainian special operations forrces successfully destroyed a group of Russian soldiers heading to launch an assault.
Despite these tactical gains, fighting in the Novomykolaivka – Varachyne – Yablunivka – Yunakivka direction remains intense. According to DeepState's assessments, the Russians are attempting to secure these settlements and edge closer to the front line. Analysts are paying particular attention to the Loknya area, where Russian infantry is trying to advance into eastern forests towards Sadky. Should they establish a foothold there, dislodging them will become exceedingly challenging.
Ukrainian Forces liberate Andriivka in Sumy Region counteroffensive
Ukrainian armed forces have launched a counteroffensive in the Sumy region, successfully liberating the village of Andriivka from Russian troops. According to analysts from DeepState, the village has been cleared of Russian troops and is now back under Ukrainian control.
As recently as Saturday, June 21, Andriivka—located in the Khotin municipal community of the Sumy district and just 5 km from the Russian border—was still under Russian control. Now, the 3.89 square km area has been fully liberated, marking a crucial victory for Ukrainian forces.
DeepState reports that after prolonged battles and clearance operations, soldiers from the 225th Independent Assault Regiment took control of the village. These strategic actions also served to divert Russian forces from other settlements, halting further Russian advancement towards Khotin and Pysarivka. Following the victory, Ukraine deployed the 110th Independent Mechanized Brigade named after General Khourunzhyi Marko Bezruchko to secure the area.
In the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces have repelled 17 attacks from invaders on the North-Slobozhansk and Kursk directions, according to the General Staff. The Russians launched 12 airstrikes and used 26 guided aerial bombs, along with 260 artillery strikes, eight from multiple launch rocket systems.
At the same time, Senior Lieutenant "Alex" of the Ukrainian Defense Forces notes that despite the liberation of Andriivka, challenges remain. "Andiivka is liberated but the situation has not become easier. As I said, this is Volchansk direction 2.0," the military officer emphasized.
Earlier, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, shared with journalists that Ukrainian troops are efficiently repelling Russian attacks toward Yunakivka.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on June 14 that the 225th Independent Assault Regiment drove Russian forces out of Andriivka in the Sumy region. President Zelensky also highlighted that Russia has amassed 53,000 troops in this area.
3 killed, 11 wounded as Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility
Editor’s note: This is a developing story.
Russia launched a missile attack on June 22 on the training ground of a Ukrainian mechanized brigade, where military personnel were being trained, the Ground Forces reported.
“Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded,” the statement read. The Ground Forces said that greater personnel losses were avoided thanks to the timely security measures taken when the air raid alert was issued.
Around 5:30 p.m., the Ground Forces added that three people were killed in the attack and 11 were wounded.
A special commission has been set up at the Ground Forces Command to investigate the incident, according to the statement. Law enforcement agencies are also working at the scene.
It is the second officially confirmed Russian attack in June that led to military casualties in the training facilities, adding to a chain of such attacks in the past few months.
Former Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi had promised to ensure new safety standards on the training grounds and hold accountable those responsible for the deaths after a Russian strike on March 1 on the training ground in Dnipropetrovsk during exercises.
Yet on May 20, another Russian missile strike against a shooting range in Sumy Oblast killed six service members and injured over 10, according to Ukraine’s National Guard.
After another Russian attack on June 1 on a Ukrainian military training ground killed 12 and injured 60, Drapatyi submitted his resignation as the Ground Forces Commander. He was appointed Commander of the Joint Forces on June 3.
Ukraine’s swift release of the statement and casualty number in the latest Russian attack stands out, as both Ukraine and Russia rarely acknowledge successful enemy attacks against their military facilities.
Ukrainian Land Forces Commander resigns after Russian attack that killed 12 soldiers on training groundMajor General Mykhailo Drapatyi submitted his resignation on June 1.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
Russia preparing military operations in Europe, Zelensky says, citing intelligence
Ukrainian intelligence has proof that Russia is preparing new military operations in Europe, said President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 22 after a report from military intelligence (HUR) chief Kyrylo Budanov.
“We are observing a continued intellectual decline within the Russian leadership and have evidence that they are preparing new military operations on European territory,” Zelensky said on X.
Zelensky added that Ukraine will inform foreign partners regarding the information obtained by intelligence. The statement follows earlier warnings by Kyiv that Russia may be preparing aggression beyond Ukraine’s borders.
The president did not provide further details on the planned Russian operations, their dates, or countries that might be targeted.
“We are preparing joint decisions for defense, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union,” Zelensky wrote.
Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine will continue its efforts to weaken Russia’s army.
“We’re aware of… (Russia’s) key vulnerabilities and will strike accordingly to defend our state and people, as well as to significantly reduce Russia’s capacity for aggression,” the president said.
Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has ramped up sabotage operations across Europe, aiming to destabilize the security situation in countries supporting Kyiv against Russian aggression.
Ukrainian foreign intelligence warned in May that Russia would be able to restore its combat capabilities and launch aggression against Europe between two and four years after hostilities in Ukraine ended.
Foreign officials and EU diplomats have increasingly called for the preparation for a potential full-scale conflict between NATO and Russia. On June 2, the United Kingdom announced its largest defense spending increase since the Cold War in the face of “the war in Europe,” according to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Russia ‘afraid to admit’ scale of losses, trying to hide by dumping soldiers’ bodies on Ukraine, Zelensky saysUkrainian authorities have confirmed that at least 20 of the bodies Russia returned as Ukrainian were actually Russian soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Iran-Israel implications for Ukraine | Ukraine This Week
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the implications the burgeoning war in the Middle East may carry for Russia’s war against Ukraine, as well as a particularly cynical act of Russian torture brought to light this month.
Iran's top diplomat to meet Putin in Moscow after US air strikes on nuclear sites
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that he plans to travel to Russia on June 22 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The statement was made during Araghchi’s press conference in Istanbul on June 22, according to Associated Press.
“We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,” Araghchi said with reference to Russia.
Araghchi also said that there is “no red line” that the U.S. has not crossed in its recent actions against Iran.
Earlier that day, Russia condemned the U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them a violation of international law and Iran’s sovereignty, a statement in stark contrast to Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry urged a response from the U.N. Security Council, saying that “the confrontational actions of the U.S. and Israel must be collectively rejected."
Tehran provides Moscow with ballistic missiles and thousands of Shahed attack drones for its war against Ukraine as part of Russia and Iran’s close strategic partnership.
Russia and Iran have cooperated to develop their own nuclear programs as both countries face Western sanctions. Russia supplied Iran with the Middle East’s first nuclear power plant despite objections from the West.
Russia pulls its scientists out of Iranian nuclear plant, as Israeli strikes threaten decades of collaborationIsrael’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have alarmed none more than Russia, the country that first brought nuclear power to Iran in defiance of Western objections. We’re “millimeters from catastrophe,” said Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on June 18 in response to a bombing campaign that Israel launched against
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
Trump could free all Belarus's political prisoners 'with a single word,' released oppositionist Tsikhanouski says
Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a Belarusian oppositionist recently released from prison, thanked the U.S. on June 22 for brokering his release and appealed to President Donald Trump to help free other political prisoners in Belarus.
“President Trump now has the power and opportunity to free all political prisoners in Belarus with a single word. And I ask him to do so, to say that word,” Tsikhanouski said in Vilnius during his first press conference after the release.
Tsikhanouski, a popular blogger who planned to challenge Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, was arrested shortly before the vote and later sentenced to 18 years in prison on politically motivated charges.
The opposition leader and at least 13 other detainees were released from Belarusian prisons on June 21 after Lukashenko met U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, in Minsk.
Speaking at the press conference alongside his wife and opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Tsikhanouski affirmed that both of them “will continue to support Ukraine and call all of the perpetrators accountable."
Tsikhanouski confirmed that he used to do business both in Ukraine and in Russia but refuted allegations of pro-Russian sympathies, affirming his support for Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I believe Crimea is Ukrainian. Zelensky has the hardest fate and a heavy load that no other president has. Zelensky is my hero,” Tsikhanouski said.
He also said that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya remains the leader of the Belarusian opposition, and he will not challenge that.
Tsikhanouskaya stepped in as the opposition candidate in 2020 after her husband’s arrest, but was forced into exile after Lukashenko declared victory in what was broadly seen as massive election fraud.
“Do you think that anybody who serves in prison automatically becomes a leader? We have 1,200 such leaders,” Tsikhanouski added, referring to the number of political prisoners who remain in prison under Lukashenko’s regime.
“Belarus can’t be free until the Putin regime collapses. If it wasn’t for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, we would not be sitting here; it would have been over (after the Belarus' popular protests against Lukashenko) in 2020-2021,” Tsikhanouski said.
Lukashenko, in power since 1994, is a close ally of Putin and has allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory for military operations against Ukraine.
The Belarusian dictator has maintained a tight grip over his country by electoral fraud, surveillance, and brutal crackdown on free press, civil society, and political opposition, prompting Western countries to impose sanctions on Belarus.
Russia ‘afraid to admit’ scale of losses, trying to hide by dumping soldiers’ bodies on Ukraine, Zelensky saysUkrainian authorities have confirmed that at least 20 of the bodies Russia returned as Ukrainian were actually Russian soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Zelensky slaps new sanctions over business activities in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an order on June 22 to impose sanctions on individuals and legal entities doing business in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea.
According to Zelensky, the sanctions are targeting “those who cooperate with the (Russian) occupier on our land,” as they “help justify the aggression, consider it normal to make money in the occupation, and pay taxes” to Russia.
The order, which follows a decision of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, was published on the Presidential Office’s website together with the lists of sanctioned individuals and companies.
The order is only the beginning of a larger plan for sanctions against such individuals, with more steps coming soon, Zelensky wrote.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian authorities are also working to fully synchronize Ukrainian sanctions with the steps by foreign partners.
“Justice must prevail in all jurisdictions and truly restrict all those who choose Russia and war,” he added.
The lists of sanctioned individuals and companies published on the Presidential Office’s website did not clarify the nature of their business activities or collaboration with the Russian occupation authorities and state.
The list includes lawmaker Artem Dmytriuk, who fled Ukraine in August 2024 and is suspected of assaulting a police officer and a military service member.
Fugitive ex-lawmaker Oleksandr Onyshchenko, who was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for large-scale fraud in the gas sector between 2013 and 2016, is also among the newly sanctioned individuals.
Arricano Real Estate PLC, which owns several large shopping malls in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, was also sanctioned together with its former majority auctioneer, Estonian businessman Hillar Teder. Until 2024, Arricano’s shareholders included Dragon Capital, Ukraine’s largest investment company owned by Czech businessman Tomas Fiala.
Ukrainian laws on collaboration had long raised discussions among members of the public, academics, and practitioners.
According to an article from 2024 by the Zmina Human Rights Center, Ukraine’s law recognizes doing business in occupied territories as a crime of collaboration. Human rights defenders have conducted research that has highlighted the law’s flaws and problems with its application.
A 2023 report by the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union said that enacting legal consequences for collaboration according to the law could breach the International Human Rights Conventions in some cases.
“The law does not take into account cases when a person conducts economic activities to cover the basic needs of his or her family or when such activities support the livelihood of the population under occupation,” the Zmina Human Rights Center wrote.
Russia ‘afraid to admit’ scale of losses, trying to hide by dumping soldiers’ bodies on Ukraine, Zelensky saysUkrainian authorities have confirmed that at least 20 of the bodies Russia returned as Ukrainian were actually Russian soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
