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Satellite images show expansion at 5 Russian nuclear sites near Europe
Satellite images reveal that Russia has expanded and modernized at least five nuclear-related facilities near European borders in recent years, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported on June 16, citing new imagery obtained from Planet Labs.
One of the most notable developments is in Kaliningrad, where the suspected nuclear weapons storage site has undergone significant reconstruction.
Images taken in May 2025 show the addition of triple-layered fencing, new buildings, and advanced communications equipment. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski previously said that up to 100 tactical nuclear warheads might be stored at the site.
Kaliningrad, a militarized Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania, is a key concern for NATO because of its advanced missile systems and expanding nuclear infrastructure.
A map of the Baltic Sea Region. (Lisa Kukharska / The Kyiv Independent) The Osipovichi base in Belarus, a former Soviet nuclear storage facility, is also being renovated. Satellite imagery shows new air defense installations and a modernized loading platform for rail-based logistics.
In Novaya Zemlya, a remote Arctic archipelago long linked to Soviet-era nuclear testing, several new buildings have appeared, reinforcing its role as a potential site for future test activities.
On the Kola Peninsula, near the borders with Finland and Norway, Russia has built about 50 storage bunkers for submarine-launched ballistic missiles and constructed a specialized pier for loading those missiles onto submarines, according to the imagery.
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson responded to the findings, saying Stockholm is “closely monitoring” Russian nuclear capabilities. Sweden officially joined NATO in March 2024 after years of non-alignment, citing escalating Russian threats as a primary reason.
The Kremlin has repeatedly used nuclear threats to pressure Ukraine and Western countries since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
‘Russians lie about everything’ — Ukraine hits out at Kremlin claims after yet another drone strike on Kyiv“This is a deliberate tactic of terror,” Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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'Russians lie about everything' — Ukraine hits out at Kremlin claims after yet another drone strike on Kyiv
Ukraine has accused Russia of “lying about everything” after yet another drone attack on Kyiv injured two people overnight on June 16, saying the strike once again rubbished Kremlin claims that only military objects are being targeted.
The strike hit Rusanivka Gardens, a private neighborhood in the capital’s Dniprovskyi District, creating a crater near civilian homes, and injuring a 20-year-old man and a woman, Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said.
“The Russians lie about everything. When they claim to have hit military targets, they are actually targeting our homes and our people,” he wrote on Telegram.
“This is a deliberate tactic of terror."
The injured man was hospitalized in serious condition, while the woman is being treated on an outpatient basis, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
“Miraculously, significant damage and casualties were avoided,” Tkachenko said.
Despite Moscow’s denials, Russia has repeatedly hit civilian areas throughout its full-scale war. On July 8, 2024, one of the deadliest strikes on Kyiv killed 33 people and wounded 121 others, including patients at Ohmatdyt, Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital.
The Russian Defense Ministry continues to insist it targets only military infrastructure, dismissing reports of civilian casualties as “absolutely untrue.” The pattern of destruction across cities like Kharkiv and Kherson shows civilians are often the primary targets.
Moscow launched 138 drones at Ukraine overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that air defenses intercepted 125 of them, while another 41 went off radars — likely used as decoys to overwhelm air defense systems.
The strike comes as Russia intensifies its air campaign against Ukraine and continues to reject Western-backed proposals for a ceasefire. Kyiv, located along the Dnipro River in the country’s north-center, remains one of the most heavily targeted cities in the war.
‘Spit in the face’ — Zelensky condemns Russia’s mass attack, dismisses idea of Putin as peacemaker“This is Russia’s spit in the face of everything the international community is trying to do to stop this war … At the same time as Putin tries to portray himself as a mediator for the Middle East. The level of cynicism is staggering.”
The Kyiv IndependentLucy Pakhnyuk
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HUR identifies Russian tanker evading oil sanctions with illegal transfers near Greece, Cyprus
An uninsured Russian Aframax-class tanker has been illegally conducting ship-to-ship oil transfers in international waters near Greece and Cyprus since July 2024, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported on June 16.
According to the agency, the vessel, operating without Western insurance, is part of Russia’s expanding shadow fleet used to bypass G7 and EU sanctions on Russian oil exports.
HUR said such transfers “pose an environmental threat, allow the aggressor to conceal the origin of oil, evade international control, and ensure its supply to third countries in circumvention of sanctions.”
Ukraine has identified the tanker as IMO 9247443 and listed it on the War&Sanctions platform, along with 159 other tankers allegedly belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet and 55 captains involved in sanction-busting operations.
Despite price caps and Western restrictions, Russia continues to profit from oil and gas exports, which remain a vital revenue source. According to HUR estimates, roughly one-third of those profits are expected to fund Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2025.
In May, the EU approved its 17th sanctions package, targeting nearly 200 shadow fleet vessels. The U.S. Treasury had earlier sanctioned over 180 tankers, which together accounted for nearly half of Russia’s offshore oil shipments.
While the Biden administration ramped up pressure on Russia’s oil trade early in 2024, U.S. President Donald Trump has since declined to impose new sanctions, despite Moscow’s continued refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
EU leaders call for tougher sanctions on Russia at G7 summit“To achieve peaceful strength we must put more pressure on Russia to secure a real ceasefire, to bring Russia to the negotiating table, and to end this war. Sanctions are critical to that end,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert
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General Staff: Russia has lost 1,005,060 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost 1,005,060 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on June 16.
The number includes 1,200 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,939 tanks, 22,811 armored fighting vehicles, 52,096 vehicles and fuel tanks, 29,208 artillery systems, 1,418 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,187 air defense systems, 416 airplanes, 337 helicopters, 40,804 drones, 3,337 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
With no new US aid packages on the horizon, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia?The U.S. has not announced any military aid packages for Ukraine in almost five months, pushing Kyiv to seek new alternatives. But time is running out quickly as Russian troops slowly advance on the eastern front line and gear up for a new summer offensive. “While Ukraine’s dependence on
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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EU leaders call for tougher sanctions on Russia at G7 summit
The Group of Seven (G7) nations need to impose harsher sanctions on Moscow in order to secure a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said at the start of the G7 summit in Canada.
The G7 Leaders Summit kicked off on June 15 in Kananaskis, Canada, with official talks held June 16-17. While Ukraine hopes to win economic support and unified pressure against Russia, the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran may dominate this year’s conference.
“To achieve peaceful strength we must put more pressure on Russia to secure a real ceasefire, to bring Russia to the negotiating table, and to end this war. Sanctions are critical to that end,” von der Leyen said at a press briefing on June 15 attended by a Kyiv Independent journalist.
Economic sanctions have been an effective intervention since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, von der Leyen said. She noted that combined G7 and European Union sanctions have decreased Russian oil and gas revenues by nearly 80% since February 2022.
"(T)he sanctions are working, and we will do more," she said.
Von der Leyen urged the G7 to adapt the economic restrictions proposed in the EU’s 18th sanctions package, announced on June 10. The new measures target Russia’s energy and banking sectors and propose a further reduction in the oil price cap, bringing the cap down from $60 to $45 per barrel.
“I will invite all G7 partners to join us in this endeavor,” she said.
With no new US aid packages on the horizon, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia?The U.S. has not announced any military aid packages for Ukraine in almost five months, pushing Kyiv to seek new alternatives. But time is running out quickly as Russian troops slowly advance on the eastern front line and gear up for a new summer offensive. “While Ukraine’s dependence on
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
Costa echoed the call for sanctions and the necessity of economic pressure in order to achieve a ceasefire. Europe is committed to “increasing additional sanctions to cripple (Russia’s) ability to wage war and pressing for an unconditional ceasefire,” he said.
Europe’s call for unity may meet with resistance from the United States, which has assumed a dramatically different posture towards Ukraine and Russia since President Donald Trump took office in January. Trump has not imposed any new sanctions against Russia, even Moscow blatantly obstructs peace efforts and escalates mass strikes against Ukrainian cities.
The U.S. also reportedly opposes lowering the G7 oil price cap — a measure first introduced in December 2022 that prohibits Western companies from shipping, insuring, or otherwise servicing Russian oil sold above $60 per barrel.
The price cap debate has become more urgent as oil prices, which had fallen below the $60 cap in recent months, surged following Israel’s recent strikes against Iran.
Despite U.S. resistance, the EU and the United Kingdom — backed by other European G7 countries and Canada — have said they are prepared to move forward with the proposal, even without Washington’s endorsement.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, has said the EU sanctions and proposed price cap drop don’t go far enough. Zelensky on June 11 said the EU’s 18th round of sanctions “could be stronger” and proposed further slashing the oil price cap to $30 per barrel.
“A ceiling of $45 per barrel of oil is better than $60, that’s clear, that’s true. But real peace will come with a ceiling of $30,” he said. “That’s the level that will really change the mindset in Moscow."
Zelensky and Trump are expected to meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit on June 17. The meeting will mark their third in-person encounter since Trump took office.
High stakes, low resolve: What Ukraine can expect from the upcoming G7 summitAs world leaders prepare to gather in the remote community of Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders’ Summit on June 15-17, Russia’s war in Ukraine once again holds center stage — but views on how to address the three-year conflict diverge sharply. In the five monthsThe Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
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Trump arrives at G7 summit ahead of high-stakes meeting with Zelensky
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders' Summit late on June 15, according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground.
Trump’s arrival comes ahead of his expected high-stakes meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 17 in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Canada, which holds the G7 presidency in 2025, invited Zelensky to participate in the 3-day summit, which will mark Zelensky’s fourth G7 Leaders' Summit since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
After a disastrous first in-person meeting between the two leaders in the Oval Office in February — during which Trump and Vice President JD Vance lambasted Zelensky over what they described as “a lack of gratitude for U.S. support” — a second meeting in the Vatican led to Trump reiterating calls for a Russian ceasefire and even threatening to impose sanctions on Russia.
In the month since their last in-person meeting, tensions between Trump and Zelensky have risen again. Despite issuing several threats, Trump has not followed through on implementing additional economic pressure on Moscow.
Zelensky said in a closed-door meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent on June 13 that his priority is to speak with Trump about sanctions against Russia, peace talks, weapons purchases, and U.S.-Ukraine economic cooperation.
The anticipated third meeting could signal the future of Trump and Zelensky’s relationship, as well as offer insight into the United States' commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Amid increased anxiety around Trump’s commitment to ending the war, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced that the Pentagon will reduce funding allocated for military assistance to Ukraine in its 2026 defense budget.
On June 12, Zelensky decried Washington’s lack of urgency around sanctions, suggesting that Russia is “lying to Trump.” He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategy is to maintain the illusion of dialogue without ever committing to a ceasefire.
“There are steps forward we can take — but we need the political will of the U.S. president, if he wants,” Zelensky said on June 13.
High stakes, low resolve: What Ukraine can expect from the upcoming G7 summitAs world leaders prepare to gather in the remote community of Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders’ Summit on June 15-17, Russia’s war in Ukraine once again holds center stage — but views on how to address the three-year conflict diverge sharply. In the five months
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
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'Spit in face' — Zelensky condemns Russia's mass attack, dismisses Putin as peacemaker
President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 15 condemned Russia’s latest mass attack against Ukraine, calling the strikes on energy infrastructure “a spit in the face of everything the international community is trying to do to stop this war."
Earlier in the day, Russia targeted the city of Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast with a combined missile and drone attack, damaging energy and agricultural facilities. The strike involved nearly 200 drones and missiles, including both cruise and ballistic missiles. The attack came shortly after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his nightly address, Zelensky said the attack on Kremenchuk was “deliberately and treacherously planned to target our civilian infrastructure” and that Russia intended to damage energy facilities.
“This is Russia’s spit in the face of everything the international community is trying to do to stop this war,” Zelensky said in his nightly address.
“It happened right after Putin’s conversation with Trump. After the Americans asked us not to strike Russian energy facilities. At the same time as Putin tries to portray himself as a mediator for the Middle East … The level of cynicism is staggering."
Following his call with Putin, Trump claimed he would be “open” to the Russian president acting as a mediator in the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Zelensky rejected the idea of Putin — who has waged war against Ukraine for over 10 years and has taken no steps towards a lasting ceasefire — playing the role of peacemaker.
Putin “is war itself,” Zelensky said, urging the international community not to fall for “Russian manipulation and lies.”
Zelensky also warned that Russia may be planning additional attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector, including nuclear power infrastructure. According to the president, Ukrainian intelligence agencies have obtained evidence of Russia’s threat and shared the information with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Trump administration.
“Russia is planning further attacks on our energy sector — attacks that may be less visible to the world right now because all eyes are on the situation in the Middle East,” he said.
Throughout the full-scale war, Russia has attempted to disrupt Ukraine’s power grid through targeted attacks on energy infrastructure. After rejecting a U.S. proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in March, Moscow instead agreed to a month-long ceasefire on energy attacks.
Russia subsequently violated the partial ceasefire, which ended in in April. The Kremlin continues to refuse calls for an unconditional truce.
With no new US aid packages on the horizon, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia?The U.S. has not announced any military aid packages for Ukraine in almost five months, pushing Kyiv to seek new alternatives. But time is running out quickly as Russian troops slowly advance on the eastern front line and gear up for a new summer offensive. “While Ukraine’s dependence on
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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Russia attacks Kyiv Oblast with drones, injuring 1
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated as new details emerge.
Russia launched a series of drone attacks on Kyiv Oblast overnight on June 15-16, targeting both the capital city and regional settlements, according to government officials.
In the Obukhiv district of Kyiv Oblast, a 60-year-old man was injured as a result of Russia’s drone strike, reported regional governer Mykola Kalashnyk at 1:37 a.m. local time.
The injured man received medical assistance, Kalashnyk confirmed.
Civilian targets, including a private home, were also damaged in the attack. Emergency services are currently working at the scene.
Earlier in the night, explosions were also heard in Kyiv.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that the city’s air defenses were operating and that drones were entering the city late on Sunday night, at about 11:29 p.m. local time.
Russia reports Ukrainian drone attack on drone factory in TatarstanThe drones were shot down, but the debris fell on a plant in the town of Yelabuga, where Shahed-type attack drones are manufactured, causing a fire.
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell
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North Korean losses exceed 6,000 in Russia's Kursk Oblast, UK intelligence reports
North Korea has suffered more than 6,000 casualties during offensive operations in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, according to a June 15 report from the United Kingdom’s defense intelligence.
According to the report, North Korea’s losses account for more than half of the approximately 11,000 troops initially deployed to Kursk in fall 2024.
U.K. intelligence attributed the high casualty rate to large, highly attritional dismounted assaults.
Open source intelligence reports have also suggested that small numbers of additional North Korea troops have been deployed to make up for the losses.
Earlier this year, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea transferred approximately 3,000 additional soldiers to Russia in January and February.
North Korea has emerged as a key military ally of Russia through its invasion of Ukraine, supplying Moscow with artillery shells, missiles, and even soldiers in exchange for oil products and advanced military technology, such as ballistic missile upgrades.
In April 2025, Russia confirmed for the first time that North Korean forces were fighting alongside Russian troops in Kursk, although North Korean troops have been reportedly involved since fall 2024.
Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II. The operation aimed to disrupt a planned Russian offensive on the neighboring Sumy Oblast and draw Russian forces away from the embattled Donbas region.
Russia launched a push to recapture the region in early March 2025, with Ukraine being forced to pull back from much of the initially taken territory.
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian MiG-29 strikes Russian drone hub, ammo depot in Zaporizhzhia direction, releases videoKey developments on June 13: * Ukrainian MiG-29 strikes Russian drone hub, ammo depot in Zaporizhzhia direction, releases video * Ukrainian military denies NYT claims about Russian presence in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast * Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns * Ukraine repatriates bodies of 1,200 citizens, soldiers under Istanbul deal
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Ukraine war latest: Kyiv strikes Russian drone factory, Moscow targets Boeing's office
Key developments on June 14-15:
- Russia reports Ukrainian drone attack on drone factory in Tatarstan
- Russian strike hit Boeing office in Kyiv in deliberate attack on US business, FT reports
- Ukraine catches Russian agent secretly filming airfield, Ukrainian Security Service says
- Russian shelling kills 1 in Kherson, mass attack hits infrastructure in Poltava Oblast
- Ukrainian drones destroy Russian air defense systems in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military intelligence says
- Ukraine arrests two suspects accused of extorting foreign defense supplier
Ukraine allegedly launched drones at Russia’s Tatarstan region, killing one and injuring 13, Governor Rustam Minnikhanov reported on June 15.
The Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down, but the debris fell on a plant in the town of Yelabuga, where Russian Shahed-type attack drones are manufactured, causing a fire.According to Minnikhanov, it was an automobile plant, but some Telegram channels, including Astra, said that the well-known drone factory was the target.
Ukraine’s General Staff subsequently confirmed details of the strike, including that it was directed at Shahed-style drone production in Yelabuga.
“Despite the attempt to sow fear and panic, all enterprises and life support facilities in the republic are operating stably. Emergency services are on constant alert,” said Minnikhanov.
A video of the attack was shared on Telegram, showing smoke billowing over the town, which lies some 1,500 kilometers from Kyiv. There has been no official statement from Kyiv on the alleged strike, and the Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.
The so-called Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts a factory producing Shahed-type long-range attack drones as well as other reconnaissance drones, and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces since its launch in 2022.
The factory aims to produce 6,000 Shahed-type drones a year, with each one estimated to cost as little as $20,000.
Last year, Ukraine confirmed attacking military facilities in Tatarstan at least twice with long-distance drone strikes. Most recently, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the plant on May 25.
Facing a workforce problem, the factory began recruiting African women under false pretences via a work-study program. As a result, Interpol began an investigation into the company in April for human trafficking.Russian strike hit Boeing office in Kyiv in deliberate attack on US business, FT reports
Russia deliberately targeted a building used by the U.S. aerospace and defense giant Boeing in a recent attack on Kyiv, the Financial Times reported on June 15.
Overnight on June 9-10, Russian forces launched hundreds of drones and seven missiles in one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine, damaging buildings across the capital. One of the targets included Boeing’s office, according to two Boeing employees, three Ukrainian officials, and the head of the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in Ukraine, whom the FT spoke with.
“This is not just an attack against Ukraine, but also an attack where American business is being hit,” Andy Hunder, president of the ACC in Ukraine, which represents nearly 700 U.S. and international investors and corporate members, told the Kyiv Independent.
“This is a war against a world where American businesses are making money and thriving,” he added.
The strikes on Kyiv came after Ukraine surprised Russia with Operation Spiderweb that saw hundreds of drones target four airbases in Russia and damage dozens of war planes. Moscow promised to retaliate in response.
Boeing, one of the largest American companies operating in Ukraine, cooperates with the Ukrainian aerospace and defense company Antonov, with the two companies exploring several joint ventures and opportunities, including in defense.Boeing told the FT that none of its employees were injured in the attack and that it continues to operate in Ukraine, where it employs some 1,000 people.
Antonov has also suffered from Russian strikes, as have other defense production sites. As Ukraine pushes for domestic defense production instead of relying on foreign imports, Ukrainian officials say that Moscow is attempting to hinder Ukraine’s efforts to manufacture arms.
German defense company Rheinmetall opened up a factory in Ukraine last October to produce a batch of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. Moscow threatened the company, saying it was a legitimate target, although Rheinmetall said its facilities are well protected.
Russia has repeatedly targeted other Western businesses. Nearly half of the ACC’s members have had facilities damaged or destroyed, but 90% still continue to operate in Ukraine, Hunder said.
“The American business community is here, it continues to operate, and it’s united,” he added.Ukraine catches Russian agent secretly filming airfield, Ukrainian Security Service says
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) caught a Russian agent red-handed as he was filming a military airfield in preparation for a Russian strike, the agency reported on June 15.
According to the SBU, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) recruited the unemployed 24-year-old via the Telegram messaging app to collect coordinates for air attacks on airfields and logistic depots.The FSB had allegedly instructed him to find military facilities and carry out reconnaissance on the ground in exchange for “easy money.”
The man was detained outside an airfield in Rivne Oblast while filming its outer perimeter with a hidden camera in his car. The SBU seized a phone and the camera on the scene, while other evidence was taken from the agent’s apartment.
If found guilty, he faces life imprisonment for high treason.
The SBU regularly announces it has foiled Russian agents and terrorist plots against military and civilian targets. The FSB usually targets unemployed people, those with criminal records, or addicts, according to the SBU’s data.In April, the SBU detained an instructor at a training center in Lviv Oblast who was planning to assassinate the base’s commanders. That same month, the SBU detained nine FSB agents, including five minors, for plotting terrorist attacks in central and eastern Ukraine.
More than a fifth of FSB recruits in Ukraine are minors.Russian shelling kills 1 in Kherson, mass attack hits infrastructure in Poltava Oblast
Russia attacked Ukraine with nearly 200 missiles and drones and shelled residents in Kherson and Donetsk oblasts, killing one and injuring three, Ukrainian authorities reported on June 15.
Russian forces unleashed drones, artillery, and airstrikes on Kherson Oblast and the city over the last day, killing one person and injuring another, the oblast administration reported. Russian attacks damaged apartments, homes, and gas pipelines, as well as other infrastructure.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks injured two people in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported.
Russia’s combined mass missile and drone strikes largely targeted Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast. No one was injured or killed, but the attacks hit energy and agricultural facilities, said Poltava governor Volodymyr Kohut.
Of 183 drones Russia launched, Ukrainian air defense neutralized 159, the Air Force said in their morning update. Ukraine also shot down 2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles and six out of eight cruise missiles.
Drones were also spotted flying through Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts.
Despite talks of peace negotiations, Russia has amped up its drone attacks on Ukraine over the last month. On May 26, Russia launched 355 drones at Ukraine, a record that was broken on June 1 with 472 drones, and on June 9, when Russia fired 479 drones and 20 missiles against Ukrainian cities.
Ukrainian drones destroy Russian air defense systems in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military intelligence says
Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) destroyed three Russian air defense systems using drones in the occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast on June 14, the HUR said.
“Strike drone masters of the Department of Active Operations of the HUR of the Ukrainian defense ministry discovered and destroyed expensive air defense systems of the Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region,” HUR reported in a post to Telegram.
Ukraine’s military regularly strikes military targets in Russian-occupied territories and deep within Russia in an attempt to diminish Moscow’s fighting power as it continues its war against Ukraine.
A Russian Buk-M3, a Pantsyr S1, and a 9S19 Imbir radar from the S-300V air defense system were destroyed in the Ukrainian drone attack.
“The video shows a stunning maneuver of a Ukrainian drone dodging a Muscovite anti-aircraft missile, as well as episodes of successful fire strikes,” the HUR’s statement said.
On June 1, Ukraine launched a game-changing drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes.
Kyiv claimed it disabled 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet in what is seen as one of the most daring operations during Russia’s full-scale war.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency was behind explosions near Desantnaya Bay in Russia’s far eastern Vladivostok on May 30, which reportedly damaged military personnel and equipment, a source in the HUR told the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine arrests two suspects accused of extorting foreign defense supplier
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has arrested two individuals in Kyiv accused of attempting to extort $200,000 from a European defense company, potentially jeopardizing the delivery of electronic warfare (EW) systems to Ukraine’s military, the SBU reported on June 14.
The suspects allegedly demanded the payment in exchange for facilitating the successful testing and adoption of five radio electronic warfare systems provided to Ukraine at no cost, according to statements released by the SBU and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The devices, supplied by a private foreign manufacturer, were financed by Ukraine’s international partners. The producer had already delivered five systems to Ukraine, with additional contracts possible if the equipment performed well in combat conditions, the SBU said.
According to investigators, the suspects falsely claimed to have influence within Ukraine’s Defense Ministry and promised to use their connections to ensure positive evaluations of the equipment.
“Under the guise of having contacts within the ministry, the men demanded $200,000 from the company in exchange for ensuring no obstacles during official trials of the equipment,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said in a statement.
Both men have been formally charged under Ukraine’s Criminal Code for alleged obstruction of the Armed Forces and receiving unlawful benefits through influence peddling. The charges carry a possible sentence of up to eight years in prison and asset confiscation.
The arrests were made as part of a broader investigation led by the SBU and conducted under the procedural oversight of the Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing to identify all individuals involved.
Ukraine continues to rely heavily on international military assistance as it defends against Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year. Ukraine uses EW systems during Russian attacks on its cities and on the front line.
Kyiv and its Western partners launched an electronic warfare coalition in April, which consists of 11 countries and comes on top of other eight Western coalitions to support Ukraine. Other similar initiatives include an artillery coalition, a fighter jet coalition, and a demining coalition, organized within the framework of the Ramstein format.
5 Ukrainians dead in Israel after Iranian missile strikeUkraine’s Foreign Ministry told the Kyiv Independent that the five Ukrainian citizens, including three children, came under fire in an attack on a residential building in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv.
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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5 Ukrainians dead in Israel after Iranian missile strike
Five Ukrainian citizens were killed in an Iranian missile attack on Israel on June 14.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry told the Kyiv Independent that the five Ukrainian citizens, including three children, came under fire in an attack on a residential building in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel is, the ministry said, still gathering details and identifying the deceased. An estimated 23,000 Ukrainian citizens currently live in Israel, including 11,000 who fled since Russia’s invasion in 2022, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Israel launched mass attacks on Iran on June 13, primarily targeting nuclear infrastructure as well as specialists in Iranian nuclear power. The Ukrainian government has come out in support of Israel against Iran, which is a major supplier of weapons to Russia. Russia, in turn, has criticized the Israeli attack as “unprovoked aggression.”
Roughly a million Israelis or approximately 15% of the total population is Russian-speaking, including sizeable communities from across the former Soviet Union. Israel has historically maintained relatively friendly ties with Russia.
U.S. President Donald Trump earlier on June 15 commented on the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could take on a mediating role between Israel and Iran.
“Yeah, I would be open to it,” Trump said.
“He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it. We talked about this more than his situation. This is something I believe is going to get resolved."
Israel strike reportedly hits Iran’s gas sector, halting production at world’s largest fieldIran has partially suspended production at the South Pars gas field — the world’s largest — after an Israeli airstrike triggered a fire at the site, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on June 14.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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Trump says he's 'open to' Putin mediating between Israel, Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 15 that he is considering his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as a potential mediator between Israel and Iran.
“Yeah, I would be open to it,” Trump said, as cited by ABC reporter Rachel Scott on X. “He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it. We talked about this more than his situation. This is something I believe is going to get resolved.”
Since June 13, Israel has carried out several massive air strikes against Iran, particularly the country’s nuclear facilities and scientists. The Israeli government justified the attack by saying that Tehran was on the verge of creating a nuclear bomb.
The situation has escalated, with Iran retaliating by striking Tel Aviv and other targets in Israel.
Reports have indicated that Israel approached the Trump administration to take a more active role in the strikes.
Scott said that Trump denied the U.S. was actively participating in the Israeli-Iranian conflict.
“We’re not involved in it,” he said, as cited by Scott. “It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment."
Trump is seemingly eager to see a deal between Israel and Iran sooner rather than later.
“Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on June 15. “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran!"
The Ukrainian government has condemned Iran as a major supplier of weapons to Russia — most notably the Shahed deep-strike drones.
“We would like to remind you that the Iranian regime supports Russia in its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and provides Moscow with weapons to kill Ukrainians,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on June 13.
How Russia’s Shahed drones are getting more deadly — and what Ukraine is doing about itEditor’s note: Due to the security protocols of the unit featured in this story, the Ukrainian soldiers are identified by first name only. Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bring
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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Russia reports Ukrainian drone attack on drone factory in Tatarstan
Ukraine allegedly launched drones at Russia’s Tatarstan region, killing one and injuring 13, regional governor Rustam Minnikhanov reported on June 15.
The Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down, but the debris fell on a plant in the town of Yelabuga, where Russian Shahed-type attack drones are manufactured, causing a fire.According to Minnikhanov, it was an automobile plant, but some Telegram channels, including Astra, speculate that the well-known drone factory was the target.
“Despite the attempt to sow fear and panic, all enterprises and life support facilities in the republic are operating stably. Emergency services are on constant alert,” said Minnikhanov.
A video of the attack was shared on Telegram, showing smoke billowing over the town, which lies some 1,500 kilometers from Kyiv. There has been no official statement from Kyiv on the alleged strike, and the Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.
The so-called Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts a factory producing Shahed-type long-range attack drones as well as other reconnaissance drones, and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces since its launch in 2022.
The factory aims to produce 6,000 Shahed-type drones a year, with each one estimated to cost as little as $20,000.
Last year, Ukraine confirmed attacking military facilities in Tatarstan at least twice with long-distance drone strikes. Most recently, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the plant on May 25.
Facing a workforce problem, the factory began recruiting African women under false pretences via a work-study program. As a result, Interpol began an investigation into the company in April for human trafficking.Russian strike hit Boeing office in Kyiv in deliberate attack on US business, FT reports“This is not just an attack against Ukraine, but also an attack where American business is being hit,” said Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell
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Ukrainian intelligence disables Russian military infrastructure in covert Kaliningrad operation
In a covert operation conducted overnight on June 14, Ukrainian military intelligence agents successfully targeted an electrical substation in Kaliningrad, Russia, cutting power to critical components of the Russian military-industrial complex and Armed Forces units. Chennel 24 reports, citing sources within the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, the meticulously planned sabotage rendered significant Russian facilities completely powerless.
Taking place around 4 a.m. on that Saturday, the operation is reported to have caused nearly $5 million USD in damages for Russia. Ukrainian operatives employed a unique strategy, first draining the coolant from a power transformer at the substation, then setting the site ablaze. The resulting fire inflicted substantial damage, effectively halting the energy supply to military enterprises.
"As we've reiterated, Russia no longer has a rear, whether in the East, West, or any other place on the planet. Every Russian entity involved in the war against Ukraine will face burning, sinking, and destruction, irrespective of its protection level or location," a source emphasized.
This incident illustrates the expanding capabilities of Ukrainian special forces to execute effective operations deep within hostile territories.
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Ukrainian actor Yuriy Felipenko killed on the front line
Ukrainian actor Yuriy Felipenko, who worked with Kyiv Independent reporters, was killed at the frontline, his wife Kateryna Motrych wrote on social media on June 15.
Felipenko was well known for his role in the 2024 television series “A Promise to God” before joining the Achilles Strike Drone Battalion, then part of Ukraine’s 92nd Assault Brigade, in April 2024.Having since been upgraded to a separate regiment and one of the founding units of the Line of Drones initiative, Achilles is one of the most effective drone units in the country.
“Yura was killed. Yura was, without exaggeration, my world, my soul, my light. It is impossible to convey this loss. I feel like I have been destroyed,” Motrych wrote on her Instagram page, accompanied by a photo of Felipenko.
Soldiers of the Achilles Strike Drone Battalion including Ukrainian actor Yurii Felipenko (R) in a dugout near Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Aria Shahrokhshahi/The Kyiv Independent) Felipenko’s drone team was featured in a report by the Kyiv Independent on Ukraine’s use of first-person view (FPV) drones against Russian infantry assaults in December 2024 as they defended the area around Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast.
Details of Felipenko’s funeral will be announced later, Motrych said.
Russia has killed numerous actors, artists, and writers since the start of the full-scale invasion. Many have fallen on the battlefield while others were killed during attacks on civilian areas.Ukrainian opera tenor and volunteer killed in Sumy OblastVladyslav Horai, a renowned tenor and soloist of the Odesa National Opera, was killed in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast while on a volunteer mission, the opera house reported on June 8.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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Russian strike hit Boeing office in Kyiv in deliberate attack on US business, FT reports
Russia deliberately targeted a building used by the U.S. aerospace and defense giant Boeing in a recent attack on Kyiv, the Financial Times reported on June 15.
Overnight on June 9-10, Russian forces launched hundreds of drones and seven missiles in one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine, damaging buildings across the capital. One of the targets included Boeing’s office, according to two Boeing employees, three Ukrainian officials, and the head of the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in Ukraine, whom the FT spoke with.
“This is not just an attack against Ukraine, but also an attack where American business is being hit,” Andy Hunder, President of the ACC in Ukraine, which represents nearly 700 U.S. and international investors and corporate members, told the Kyiv Independent.
“This is a war against a world where American businesses are making money and thriving,” he added.
The strikes on Kyiv came after Ukraine surprised Russia with Operation Spiderweb that saw hundreds of drones target four airbases in Russia and damage 41 war planes. Moscow promised to retaliate in response.
Boeing, one of the largest American companies operating in Ukraine, cooperates with the Ukrainian aerospace and defense company Antonov, with the two companies exploring several joint ventures and opportunities, including in defense.Boeing told the FT that none of its employees were injured in the attack and that it continues to operate in Ukraine, where it employs some 1,000 people.
Antonov has also suffered from Russian strikes, as have other defense production sites. As Ukraine pushes for domestic defense production instead of relying on foreign imports, Ukrainian officials say that Moscow is attempting to hinder Ukraine’s efforts to manufacture arms.
German defense company Rheinmetall opened up a factory in Ukraine last October to produce a batch of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. Moscow threatened the company, saying it was a legitimate target, although Rheinmetall said its facilities are well protected.
Russia has repeatedly targeted other Western businesses. Nearly half of the ACC’s members have had facilities damaged or destroyed, but 90% still continue to operate in Ukraine, Hunder said.
“The American business community is here, it continues to operate, and it’s united,” he added.With no new US aid packages on the horizon, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia?The U.S. has not announced any military aid packages for Ukraine in almost five months, pushing Kyiv to seek new alternatives. But time is running out quickly as Russian troops slowly advance on the eastern front line and gear up for a new summer offensive. “While Ukraine’s dependence on
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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With no new US aid packages on the horizon, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia?
The U.S. has not announced any military aid packages for Ukraine in almost five months, pushing Kyiv to seek new alternatives. But time is running out quickly as Russian troops slowly advance on the eastern front line and gear up for a new summer offensive.
“While Ukraine’s dependence on the U.S. has lessened, U.S. aid remains pivotal for maintaining battlefield effectiveness,” Emil Kastehelmi, a Finnish military analyst and member of the Black Bird Group open-source intelligence collective, told the Kyiv Independent.
Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has chosen an uncanny strategy to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, mostly expecting that Moscow would just stop.
In the meantime, stockpiles of American weapons, which cover nearly 30% of all Western supplies, are dwindling in Ukrainian warehouses, and the recent statement by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who announced that military aid to Ukraine would be cut in 2026, brought Ukraine into even greater turmoil.
“The president and the administration are interested in ‘peace,’ which doesn’t necessarily mean justice, however,” Federico Borsari, a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told the Kyiv Independent.
“This position obviously undermines Ukraine’s negotiating capital while emboldening the Kremlin to continue with its military aggression without real consequences, for now,” Borsari added.
How crucial is US assistance for Ukraine?Throughout the all-out war, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with pivotal weapons and equipment, which account for 30% of all weapons used by Ukrainian forces at the front, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
These weapons included multiple launch rocket systems, such as HIMARS and GMLRS guided missiles, which gave Ukraine an advantage on the front line in the summer of 2022. Washington also gave Kyiv the most advanced air defense system available, the Patriot, as well as long-range ATACMS missiles, which Ukrainian forces have used to strike deep into Russia.
“Ukraine’s Armed Forces can withstand the absence of American weapons. But Ukrainian cities can’t.”
Over more than three years of the full-scale war, Washington has provided Ukraine with nearly $74 billion in military aid, according to the Ukraine Support Tracker project conducted by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
There is also $3.8 billion left over from the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) program that remains unused.
However, considering Trump's previous moves, it is questionable whether Ukraine will receive the remaining assistance promised under the Joe Biden administration in full and on time.
In early June, Washington redirected 20,000 anti-drone missiles intended for Ukraine to the Middle East, and in March, it temporarily suspended all military shipments to Ukraine and the sharing of its intelligence after a heated argument in the Oval Office between Trump, Zelensky, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 28, 2025. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Ukraine has no option but to prepare for the worst if the U.S. refuses to provide further assistance.
"If U.S. military aid stops, it would affect the Ukrainian capabilities significantly, but the impact would be gradual, not instant, as there are stockpiles and there would be attempts to solve issues by alternative ways," military analyst Kastehelmi said.
"The effect would be a constantly degrading set of capabilities, but the outcome would depend on European reaction and efforts to fix the most critical issues," he added.
From buffer zone to new front: Russia pushes deeper into Sumy OblastIn March 2025, as Ukrainian forces made their final retreat from Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, new grey spots began to appear on open-source maps on the other side of the state border, in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast. For the first time since 2022, when Moscow’s forces retreated
The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell
Searching for alternativesFollowing the temporary suspension of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Kyiv's European partners said they were ready to do more to meet its war needs.
Amid the looming Russian threat, the European Commission also presented on March 4 the ReArm Europe plan, which aims to strengthen the continent's defense capabilities. The plan is designed for 10 years and is worth 800 billion euros ($842 billion) in defense expenditures, including 150 billion euros ($158 billion) in loans to EU member states to invest in their defense sectors.
"We may soon see contracts being signed for the direct purchase of weapons, likely using the funds from frozen Russian assets or even funds from European partners."
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the initiative will also allow EU countries to increase their support for Ukraine "significantly."
Yet, this spring, Europe was far from ready to fully replace U.S. aid, according to a study by the Kiel Institute.
The Kiel Institute estimated that to reach the target level of support for Ukraine, Germany needed to increase its annual spending from $ 6.7 billion to $ 10.2 billion, France from $ 1.7 billion to $ 6.7 billion, Italy from $ 905 million to $ 5.1 billion, Spain from $565 million to $ 3.4 billion per year, and the U.K. from $ 5.6 billion to $ 7.3 billion.
"Our data show that Europe would be able to compensate for much of the U.S. aid — but only if policymakers act decisively. So far, Europe has been moving too slowly in this area," said Christoph Trebesch, research director at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Ukraine is also trying to organize direct purchases of U.S. weapons. In April, Zelensky said that Kyiv was ready to spend $50 billion on the arms purchase, but as of early June, no contract had been publicly announced.
"We may soon see contracts being signed for the direct purchase of weapons, likely using the funds from frozen Russian assets or even funds from European partners. This more transactional and business-oriented approach is very aligned with Trump's vision, so it could emerge soon," military expert Borsari said
A Ukrainian soldier flies an FPV drone in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, on March 19, 2025. (Alfons Cabrera/NurPhoto via Getty Images) "But this aspect ultimately depends on a political decision from the new administration, which has been notoriously slow in unlocking new support for Ukraine," he added.
Dependence on American and European partners is also gradually being overcome by increasing domestic military production and foreign partners' investments in the Ukrainian defense industry.
In February, Zelensky said that in 2025, Ukraine plans to increase the amount of its own weapons supplied to the army from 40% to 50%. In March, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also announced that Ukraine would be able to provide itself with 100% of its own artillery this year.
Ukraine has also significantly improved its drone production, as demonstrated by Operation Spiderweb, which used FPV (first-person-view) drones hidden in trucks in Russia to destroy 41 Russian military aircraft.
Mykhailo Samus, military expert and director of the New Geopolitics Research Network, told the Kyiv Independent that Ukrainian specialists have also learned how to repair American weapons without involving foreign specialists, which allows them to return to service faster without involving third parties' assistance.
According to the expert, the termination of U.S. military aid will not significantly affect the events at the front line. Yet, there is still one type of weapon that Ukraine cannot replace either on its own or with the help of its European allies.
"The only thing that makes us critically dependent on the U.S. is the Patriot air defense system," Samus said.
Trailers with launchers for guided missiles of the Bundeswehr’s Patriot air defense system stand in a field in southeastern Poland on April 3, 2023. (Sebastian Kahnert / dpa / picture alliance via Getty Images) "Ukraine's Armed Forces can withstand the absence of American weapons. But Ukrainian cities can't, as Europe is just launching a mass production of SAMP/T systems similar in characteristics to the Patriot."
The parliament's Defense Committee Secretary Roman Kostenko added that the U.S. has been deeply involved in cooperation with Ukraine's special agencies and the Armed Forces over the years, and "a lot depends on them."
Kostenko said that without the help from allies, Ukrainian troops would not be able to monitor the deployment and launch of ballistic missiles, which would significantly reduce the amount of time Kyiv would have to respond to potential attacks.
The termination of U.S. intelligence could also affect long-range strikes deep into Russia, as Ukrainian forces use U.S. satellite data to identify the location of Russian military equipment and troops. However, European partners can still provide help.
"American intelligence can be replaced," Samus said. "But it will require money, time, and political will."
Trump gave Putin a ‘two-week’ deadline to consider peace in Ukraine. Instead, Russia just launched more drones.A “two week” deadline imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to see if Russia is serious about peace in Ukraine has come and gone, with Moscow’s escalation of attacks on civilians during this period failing to draw the slightest condemnation from the White House. “We’re going to find outThe Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk
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Russia hits 1 million losses in Ukraine | Ukraine This Week
Ukraine This Week with host Anna Belokur returns to break down the top stories of the week, including Russia’s advances in Sumy Oblast. This week also marks Russia’s 1 million casualties in its war on Ukraine.
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Another 1,200 bodies of fallen Ukrainians return home after exchange with Russia
Ukraine recovered another 1,200 bodies following the latest round of repatriation efforts, following agreements with Russia in Istanbul, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on June 15.
The last repatriation took place on June 14 when the bodies of 1,200 fallen Ukrainians were given back. Before that, 2,412 bodies were returned on June 13 and June 11 respectively, following the talks in Istanbul on June 2.
Law enforcement investigations and institutions from Ukraine’s Interior Ministry will examine and identify the bodies in the near future, the coordination headquarters said. The bodies reportedly include military personnel.
The repatriation operation was coordinated by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War alongside the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ombudsman’s Office, the Armed Forces, the Interior Ministry, and other government and defense bodies. The International Committee of the Red Cross also provided assistance during the process.While the Istanbul talks failed to foster a ceasefire, both sides agreed to new POW exchanges. Ukraine has long pushed for an “all-for-all”prisoner exchange to bring home all Ukrainian captives, but Moscow has resisted such a comprehensive deal.
After the talks, Russia said it would transfer 6,000 bodies to Ukraine, including soldiers and officers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would need to check the bodies that Russia is willing to return, as only 15% of the 6,000 have been identified.
“We had instances when they returned bodies that later were identified as their own,” Zelensky said on June 2.Russia transfers 50 Ukrainian children to so-called ‘rehab camp’ in Kalmykia, Kyiv saysRussia has transferred 50 children from the occupied Antratsyt district of Luhansk Oblast to a so-called rehabilitation camp in Kalmykia, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation reported on June 14.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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Ukraine catches Russian agent secretly filming airfield, Ukrainian Security Service says
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) caught a Russian agent red-handed as he was filming a military airfield in preparation for a Russian strike, the agency reported on June 15.
According to the SBU, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) recruited the unemployed 24-year-old via the Telegram messaging app to collect coordinates for air attacks on airfields and logistic depots.The FSB had allegedly instructed him to find military facilities and carry out reconnaissance on the ground in exchange for “easy money.”
The man was detained outside an airfield in Rivne Oblast while filming its outer perimeter with a hidden camera in his car. The SBU seized a phone and the camera on the scene, while other evidence was taken from the agent’s apartment.
If found guilty, he faces life imprisonment for high treason.
The SBU regularly announces it has foiled Russian agents and terrorist plots against military and civilian targets. The FSB usually targets unemployed people, those with criminal records, or addicts, according to the SBU’s data.In April, the SBU detained an instructor at a training center in Lviv Oblast who was planning to assassinate the base’s commanders. That same month, the SBU detained nine FSB agents, including five minors, for plotting terrorist attacks in central and eastern Ukraine.
More than a fifth of FSB recruits in Ukraine are minors.Power cut off in Russia’s Kaliningrad in sabotage operation, Ukrainian military intelligence saysIn the early hours of June 14, Ukrainian agents drained the coolant from the substation’s power transformer before setting the facility on fire.
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell
