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EU considers adding Russia to money-laundering 'gray list,' Financial Times reports
The European Union is considering placing Russia on its “gray list” of countries with inadequate controls against money laundering, the Financial Times reported June 6, citing officials from the European Commission.
Inclusion on the list would damage Russia’s global financial standing and compel banks to apply stricter scrutiny to transactions involving Russian individuals or entities — raising compliance costs and increasing operational burdens.
Although the decision was expected this week, the European Commission delayed a final ruling due to “administrative or procedural reasons,” according to the Financial Times. A decision is now expected early next week.
“There is huge support for putting Russia on the list,” said Markus Ferber, a German MEP who oversees economic affairs for the European People’s Party, the EU’s main center-right bloc.
Most European Parliament members reportedly back the move, though no consensus has yet been formalized. The EU’s gray list generally mirrors the assessments of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international watchdog on money laundering and terrorism financing.
Russia’s FATF membership was suspended in 2023, after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Efforts to list Russia on the grey list have faced resistance, as countries with close ties to Moscow are likely to block any formal move for enhanced monitoring.
The EU’s most recent internal draft of the gray list includes countries such as Algeria, Kenya, Laos, and Venezuela. Several others — including Barbados, the United Arab Emirates, and Senegal — are expected to be removed.
If implemented, the designation would further isolate Moscow from global markets and tighten compliance obligations on any remaining cross-border financial operations involving Russian institutions.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers; Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctionsKey developments on June 5: * Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military says * ‘Deadline is in my brain’ — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions * ‘Not destroyed but damaged’ — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation Spiderweb * Trump privately praises Ukraine’s drone
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Russia plans to occupy Ukraine east of Dnipro, cut Black Sea access, Ukrainian official says
Russia aims to occupy all Ukrainian territory east of the Dnipro River and advance toward Odesa and Mykolaiv in a broader plan to sever Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa said, Politico reported on June 6.
The remarks come amid continuing Russian offensives in eastern and northern Ukraine, along with escalating diplomatic efforts that have yet to yield a ceasefire.
According to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), Moscow hopes to seize the entirety of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by this fall and establish a buffer zone along Ukraine’s northern border with Russia.
The second phase of the plan envisions more ambitious territorial gains, including an advance into southern Ukraine aimed at cutting the country off from the sea.
“Unfortunately, they are not speaking about peace. They are preparing for war,” Palisa said during a press briefing at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington.
The warning comes days after Russia presented Ukraine with a so-called “peace memorandum” during a second round of negotiations in Istanbul on June 2.
The document, published by Russian state media outlet TASS, demands that Kyiv recognize Russia’s claimed annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts — Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk — and fully withdraw from them.
Moscow also calls for Ukraine’s demobilization and a formal ban on NATO membership.
During the talks, Ukraine’s delegation submitted a separate proposal calling for an all-for-all prisoner exchange, the return of abducted Ukrainian children, and the release of civilians held in Russian captivity.
Kyiv also reiterated its call for a Western-backed 30-day ceasefire as a foundation for future negotiations — a proposal Moscow again rejected.
Ukraine’s military leadership has warned that Russian forces are preparing for a major summer offensive in Donetsk Oblast, where daily assaults have continued since 2022.
Despite suffering heavy losses, Russian troops are advancing through mass wave attacks that gain only tens of meters per day. According to the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Moscow currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers; Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctionsKey developments on June 5: * Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military says * ‘Deadline is in my brain’ — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions * ‘Not destroyed but damaged’ — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation Spiderweb * Trump privately praises Ukraine’s drone
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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General Staff: Russia has lost 993,910 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 993,910 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 6.
The number includes 1,160 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,889 tanks, 22,685 armored fighting vehicles, 50,913 vehicles and fuel tanks, 28,794 artillery systems, 1,406 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,180 air defense systems, 413 airplanes, 336 helicopters, 39,193 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers; Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctionsKey developments on June 5: * Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military says * ‘Deadline is in my brain’ — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions * ‘Not destroyed but damaged’ — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation Spiderweb * Trump privately praises Ukraine’s drone
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Russian weapons plant hit by drones in Tambov Oblast, media reports attacks across country
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Drones struck a Russian military plant in Michurinsk, Tambov Oblast, in the early hours of June 6, according to media outlets in Russia.
Attacks were also reported in Russia’s Saratov, Moscow, Tula, Belgorod, and Kaluga oblasts.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these reports at the time of publication.
The JSC Progress Plant in the city of Michurinsk in Tambov Oblast came under fire overnight, Russian Telegram news channels reported, citing local residents. A drone allegedly hit the plant’s workshop, causing a fire.
Russian officials have not yet commented on the attack.
The JSC Progress Plant produces high-tech aviation and missile control systems, along with equipment for gas and oil pipelines. The plant was reportedly hit in a previous attack in December 2024.
On the same night, Russian outlets also reported that an oil refinery in Saratov Oblast came under attack. The Kristal Plant, which supplies fuel to the Engels-2 military airfield, was engulfed in flames after a drone strike. Ukraine has targeted the facility in past attacks.
A train derailed in Belgorod Oblast after an explosive device detonated under the tracks, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed. Part of the track was damaged, but there were no casualties, he said.
In the Russian capital, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed that air defense units repelled 10 drones bound for Moscow. Sobyanin said that emergency services had been dispatched to the sites of the fallen wreckage, but did not disclose information regarding any damage.
Kaluga Oblast Governor Vladislav Shapsha reported that five drones were downed over the region, damaging cars.
In Tula Oblast, air defense units reportedly intercepted two drones. Three people were injured, according to Governor Dmitry Milyaev.
The reported attacks come the same night that Russia launched another large-scale drone and missile attack against Ukraine. The attack killed four people in Kyiv and caused casualties and damage to cities in western Ukraine, far from the front lines.
As peace negotiations stall and Russia refuses the accept a ceasefire, the war has escalated.
Russia intensified aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities in late May, launching some of the heaviest assaults of the full-scale war over three consecutive nights. Less than a week later, Ukraine launched Operation Spiderweb, an audacious mass drone strike that reportedly damaged 41 Russian military planes.
In the days since, Ukraine has continued to target key Russian military assets, launching strikes against missile bases and the Crimean Bridge.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers; Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctionsKey developments on June 5: * Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military says * ‘Deadline is in my brain’ — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions * ‘Not destroyed but damaged’ — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation Spiderweb * Trump privately praises Ukraine’s drone
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Explosions rock Engels in Russia's Saratov Oblast amid reported drone attack
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Explosions and fires were reported in Engels, located in Russia’s Saratov Oblast, during an overnight drone attack on June 6, according to Russian officials and media outlets.
Located in Russia’s Saratov Oblast, around 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the front lines in Ukraine, the city is home to the Engels-2 military airfield and an oil refinery — both of which have been targeted in previous Ukrainian strikes.
Residents shared footage of major fires breaking out in Engels following a drone attack, according to the independent Russian Telegram news channel Astra. Locals reported that the refinery was under attack and that a residential building had been hit.
Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin claimed that drones caused damage to a residential building in Engels. There were no casualties, he said.
Busargin later said that a fire had broken out at an unspecified “industrial enterprise” and that emergency responders had been dispatched to the scene.
The Kyiv Independent could not confirm these claims.
The reported drone attack comes after a series of major Ukrainian strikes against military targets inside Russia.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on June 1 launched Operation Spiderweb, a daring mass drone attack that damaged 41 Russian heavy bombers at four key airfields throughout the country. The operation reportedly targeted A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22 M3 planes parked at the Belaya, Diaghilev, Olenya, and Ivanovo air bases, causing approximately $7 billion in damage.
In the following days, Ukraine carried out strikes against Russia’s Crimean Bridge, a military base in distant Vladivostok, and a missile base in Bryansk Oblast.
The Engels-2 base has been a frequent target of Ukrainian strikes since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The airfield houses three types of strategic bombers regularly used in missile attacks on Ukraine: the Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160.
An attack against the air base on March 20 destroyed 96 air-launched cruise missiles, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers; Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctionsKey developments on June 5: * Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military says * ‘Deadline is in my brain’ — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions * ‘Not destroyed but damaged’ — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation Spiderweb * Trump privately praises Ukraine’s drone
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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'Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight,’ Trump says on Russia-Ukraine war
U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 5 that it might be best not to intervene in Russia’s war against Ukraine for now, speaking during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.
The U.S. president, who has repeatedly claimed he alone can resolve the war, appeared to walk back that promise amid stalled negotiations, rising casualties from Russian drone strikes, and no signs of compromise from either side.
“Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy,” he said. “They hate each other, and they’re fighting in a park, and you try and pull them apart. They don’t want to be pulled. Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart."
Trump said he used the same comparison during a 75-minute call with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day before, casting himself not as a direct participant but as a referee observing the conflict.
“You see it in hockey. You see it in sports. The referees let them go for a couple of seconds,” he said. “Let them go for a little while before you pull them apart.”
Trump said he would take a tough stance and could impose sanctions on both Russia and Ukraine if the fighting continues without progress. While he did not name a specific date, he added, “Yes, it’s in my brain the deadline."
Calling Ukraine “the apple of Putin’s eye,” Trump claimed the Russian leader wants to take control of the entire country. Following a reported Ukrainian drone strike on Russian aircraft, Trump said Putin now plans to retaliate.
Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in RussiaRussian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 accused Ukraine of being governed by a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians and claimed it is continuing to lose the war. He rejected the possibility of holding talks.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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Trump isn't trying to stop him: Putin threatens Ukraine with new strikes #shorts
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In show of unity, US nominates next chief of NATO's European command
U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich as the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) on June 5, reaffirming a key American role in NATO’s military structure.
The expected appointment marks a reversal of earlier speculation that the Trump administration was considering relinquishing the U.S. military position, traditionally held by an American four-star general for nearly 75 years.
The role oversees all NATO operations in Europe and is considered one of the alliance’s most critical posts. The U.S. has filled the role since its creation after World War II.
Grynkewich, who currently serves as Director for Operations of the Joint Staff, will replace Army General Christopher Cavoli who has been serving in the post since July 2022. His term is expected to start once his nomination is approved in the coming months.
Trump personally informed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte of the decision, Reuters reported on May 30.
The move is likely to offer short-term reassurance to NATO allies wary of a potential American drawdown. Trump’s “America First” doctrine has repeatedly cast doubt on the U.S. commitment to multilateral alliances, especially NATO.
In recent years, Trump has questioned whether Washington should defend alliance members that do not meet military spending benchmarks. The comment sparked alarm across Europe, where several countries, including Italy, Canada, and Spain, still fall short of the 2% of GDP goal.
The decision to name a new SACEUR suggests the U.S. will remain engaged in the alliance’s military command structure for now, even as Trump continues to push for a rebalancing of defense responsibilities among NATO members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly called on NATO allies to contribute 5% of GDP towards military spending.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers; Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctionsKey developments on June 5: * Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military says * ‘Deadline is in my brain’ — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions * ‘Not destroyed but damaged’ — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation Spiderweb * Trump privately praises Ukraine’s drone
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers; Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions
Key developments on June 5:
- Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military says
- ‘Deadline is in my brain’ — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions
- ‘Not destroyed but damaged’ — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation Spiderweb
- Trump privately praises Ukraine’s drone strike on Russian bombers as ‘badass,’ Axios reports
- 5 killed, 9 injured in Russian drone strike on Chernihiv Oblast
Ukrainian forces launched a missile strike on June 5 targeting a concentration of Russian missile troops near the city of Klintsy in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported.
The strike reportedly destroyed one Iskander missile launcher and seriously damaged two others. The targeted unit, part of Russia’s 26th Missile Brigade, had attempted to fire on Ukrainian territory — likely aiming at Kyiv — before it was hit, according to the military.
“Thanks to effective reconnaissance and the coordinated efforts of the Armed Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine, the targets were successfully hit,” the General Staff said.
The agency added that there were no civilian casualties, and assessments of Russian losses are ongoing.
The Iskander is a short-range ballistic missile system used by Russia for precision strikes against military and infrastructure targets.
With a range of up to 500 kilometers (some 311 miles) and the ability to carry conventional or nuclear warheads, the system remains a key component of Russia's tactical missile forces.
Bryansk Oblast lies just northeast of Ukraine's Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts, making it one of the key Russian regions bordering northern Ukraine.
The strike came as part of Ukraine's broader effort to degrade Russia's offensive capabilities.
On the same night, Russia launched 103 drones — including Iranian-designed Shahed suicide drones — and one Iskander-M ballistic missile against Ukrainian territory.
Targeting missile assets there may disrupt Russia's ability to launch precision strikes, particularly in advance of an anticipated new summer offensive.
Russia’s response to Operation Spiderweb is likely ‘not going to be pretty,’ Trump saysU.S. President Donald Trump warned on June 5 that Russia’s response to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb is likely “not going to be pretty,” following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day prior.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
'Deadline is in my brain' — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctionsU.S. President Donald Trump sidestepped questions on June 5 as to when he can be expected to impose additional sanctions on Russia, as the Kremlin continues to reject a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on Russia if he does not see progress in peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
When asked by reporters in the Oval Office as to whether a deadline exists for the implementation of sanction, Trump replied: "Yes, it's in my brain the deadline," without specifying a date.
"When I see the moment where it's not going to stop... we'll be very tough," Trump added.
Previously, Trump said he had not yet imposed new sanctions on Russia because he believed a peace deal might be within reach.
"If I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that," he said, but added he is prepared to act if Moscow stalls further.
On May 28, Trump said that "It'll take about two weeks, or week and a half," to know whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about ending the war in Ukraine, suggesting that sanctions may be on the horizon if efforts are stalled.
Despite two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul, Russia continues to reject a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Following Operation Spiderweb that pre-empted the peace talks, Putin on June 4 blamed Ukraine’s top leadership for the attacks: "The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all," he said during a televised meeting with senior officials. "What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?"
Republican Senator Roger Wicker said on June 4 that Trump asked the Senate to delay voting on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill.
The bill, introduced on April 1 by Senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D), seeks to impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian oil and raw materials.
The legislation currently has broad bipartisan support, with 82 out of 100 U.S. senators backing it. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson also voiced his support for the bill.
Trump on June 5 said that he has not yet seen the bipartisan bill.
"I have to take a look. (Senators) are waiting for me to decide what to do. And I will decide. Maybe very soon," Trump said. "But (senators) will be guided by my instructions. That's how it should be."
‘Time to put an end to insanity of war,’ Brazil’s Lula told Putin, calls for restraint following Operation Spiderweb“I said (to Putin) it’s time to open our eyes and to put an end to the insanity of war, which destroys everything and builds nothing,” Brazilian President Lula da Silva told reporters during a visit to France.The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
'Not destroyed but damaged' — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation SpiderwebRussia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed on June 5 that Russian bombers damaged during Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb will be "restored," adding that the planes were not completely destroyed in the attack.
"The equipment in question, as was also stated by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, was not destroyed but damaged. It will be restored," Ryabkov told Russian-state media outlet TASS.
Ukraine on June 1 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 has claimed it had disabled 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet in what is seen as one of the most daring operations during the full-scale war.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters on June 4 that Ukraine struck as many as 20 Russian military aircraft during Operation Spiderweb, destroying around 10 of them — a claim that stands in contrast with the SBU's estimates.
Independent confirmation of the damage caused is so far limited to satellite images of Belaya air base, which appear to confirm the destruction of at least three Tu-95MS strategic bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft, with an additional Tu-95MS visibly damaged.
Another image shows two more likely destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers on the field.
Ryabkov did not specify a timeline as to how quickly the country can allegedly repair the damaged aircraft. In addition to supply-chain challenges brought upon economic sanctions, Russia would also likely face challenges due to the complexities of Soviet-era technology present in the aircraft, if it were to attempt to restore the bombers.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that roughly half of the planes damaged will be impossible to repair, while others will require significant time to be put back into service.
During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Putin vowed that Moscow "will have to respond" to the attack.
Russian officials have made few public acknowledgements of the attack. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on June 5 that Moscow will respond when and how the military deems necessary.
Trump privately praises Ukraine's drone strike on Russian bombers as 'badass,' Axios reportsU.S. President Donald Trump privately described Ukraine's drone strike on Russian strategic bombers as "strong" and "badass," Axios reported June 5, citing sources familiar with his reaction.
"He thought it was badass," one source told Axios.
A second said Trump told a confidant the strike was "pretty strong."
One of Trump's advisers reportedly likened the situation to a small but aggressive force managing to hurt a more powerful opponent, using a metaphor about a "chihuahua" attacking "a much bigger dog."
While Russian propagandists have attempted to downplay the strike, Putin himself has yet to make a public statement.
Operation Spiderweb marks one of the most far-reaching Ukrainian operations of the war and underscores Kyiv's expanding capacity to strike targets far beyond the front lines.
Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in RussiaRussian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 accused Ukraine of being governed by a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians and claimed it is continuing to lose the war. He rejected the possibility of holding talks.The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
5 killed, 9 injured in Russian drone strike on Chernihiv Oblast
A Russian drone strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Pryluky overnight on June 5 killed at least five civilians, including a one-year-old child, and injured nine others, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.The attack, which hit residential neighborhoods, sparked large fires and left multiple homes in ruins. Chernihiv Oblast Governor Viacheslav Chaus said at least six Iranian-designed Shahed-136 drones were used in the assault.
"Five deaths have been confirmed so far, including two women and a one-year-old child who were found under the rubble," Chaus said. "Police, rescuers, and other emergency services are working at the sites of enemy strikes."
Emergency crews worked through the night to extinguish the fires. The State Emergency Service said the strike completely destroyed two residential buildings, two garages, a farm building, and a car.
Chaus added that six people were hospitalized and are receiving urgent care. According to the State Emergency Service, a 5-year-old child was injured in the attack.
Pryluky, located in Chernihiv Oblast, lies in northern Ukraine near the border with Russia and Belarus. Before Russia's full-scale invasion, it had a population of roughly 51,500.
The deadly attack is part of a broader campaign of drone and missile strikes by Russia targeting civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.
Ukraine's northern regions, including Chernihiv, have been targeted in recent weeks as Russian forces escalate their air campaign despite mounting international calls for a ceasefire.
Russian missile, drone attack on Kharkiv injures 17, including 4 childrenRussian missile and drone attacks on the city of Kharkiv overnight on June 5 injured 17 people, including four children, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
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Russia's response to Operation Spiderweb is likely 'not going to be pretty,' Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump warned on June 5 that Russia’s response to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb is likely “not going to be pretty,” following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day prior.
Trump previously said he spoke to Putin over the phone for approximately an hour and 15 minutes on June 4.
“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump said at the time.
Ukraine on June 1 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 has claimed it had disabled 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet in what is seen as one of the most daring operations during the full-scale war.
The operation, dubbed Spiderweb, took 18 months to plan and was overseen directly by President Volodymyr Zelensky and carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU said 117 drones, launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously struck airfields in at least four regions — including sites thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
“They went deep into Russia and (Putin) actually told me we have no choice but to attack based on that, and it’s probably not going to be pretty,” Trump said.
“I don’t like it, I said don’t do it, you shouldn’t do it, you should stop it,” Trump added.
Putin on June 4 blamed Ukraine’s top leadership for the attacks: “The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all,” he said during a televised meeting with senior officials. “What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?"
Russian officials have made few public acknowledgements of the attack. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on June 5 that Moscow will respond when and how the military deems necessary.
‘Time to put an end to insanity of war,’ Brazil’s Lula told Putin, calls for restraint following Operation Spiderweb“I said (to Putin) it’s time to open our eyes and to put an end to the insanity of war, which destroys everything and builds nothing,” Brazilian President Lula da Silva told reporters during a visit to France.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
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'Deadline is in my brain' — Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions
U.S. President Donald Trump sidestepped questions on June 5 as to when he can be expected to impose additional sanctions on Russia, as the Kremlin continues to reject a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on Russia if he does not see progress in peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
When asked by reporters in the Oval Office as to whether a deadline exists for the implementation of sanction, Trump replied: “Yes, it’s in my brain the deadline,” without specifying a date.
“When I see the moment where it’s not going to stop… we’ll be very tough,” Trump added.
Previously, Trump said he had not yet imposed new sanctions on Russia because he believed a peace deal might be within reach.
“If I think I’m close to getting a deal, I don’t want to screw it up by doing that,” he said, but added he is prepared to act if Moscow stalls further.
On May 28, Trump said that “It’ll take about two weeks, or week and a half,” to know whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about ending the war in Ukraine, suggesting that sanctions may be on the horizon if efforts are stalled.
Despite two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul, Russia continues to reject a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Following Operation Spiderweb that pre-empted the peace talks, Putin on June 4 blamed Ukraine’s top leadership for the attacks: “The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all,” he said during a televised meeting with senior officials. “What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?"
Republican Senator Roger Wicker said on June 4 that Trump asked the Senate to delay voting on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill.
The bill, introduced on April 1 by Senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D), seeks to impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian oil and raw materials.
The legislation currently has broad bipartisan support, with 82 out of 100 U.S. senators backing it. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson also voiced his support for the bill.
Trump privately praises Ukraine’s drone strike on Russian bombers as ‘badass,’ Axios reportsWhile Trump has remained silent in public about the attack, he reportedly expressed enthusiasm behind closed doors.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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'Not destroyed but damaged' — Russia claims it will repair bombers struck in Operation Spiderweb, official says
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed on June 5 that Russian bombers damaged during Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb will be “restored,” adding that the planes were not completely destroyed in the attack.
“The equipment in question, as was also stated by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, was not destroyed but damaged. It will be restored,” Ryabkov told Russian-state media outlet TASS.
Ukraine on June 1 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 has claimed it had disabled 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet in what is seen as one of the most daring operations during the full-scale war.
The operation, dubbed Spiderweb, took 18 months to plan and was overseen directly by President Volodymyr Zelensky and carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU said 117 drones, launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously struck airfields in at least four regions — including sites thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters on June 4 that Ukraine struck as many as 20 Russian military aircraft during Operation Spiderweb, destroying around 10 of them — a claim that stands in contrast with the SBU’s estimates.
Independent confirmation of the damage caused is so far limited to satellite images of Belaya air base, which appear to confirm the destruction of at least three Tu-95MS strategic bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft, with an additional Tu-95MS visibly damaged.
Another image shows two more likely destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers on the field.
Ryabkov did not specify a timeline as to how quickly the country can allegedly repair the damaged aircraft. In addition to supply-chain challenges brought upon economic sanctions, Russia would also likely face challenges due to the complexities of Soviet-era technology present in the aircraft, if it were to attempt to restore the bombers.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that roughly half of the planes damaged will be impossible to repair, while others will require significant time to be put back into service.
During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Putin vowed that Moscow “will have to respond” to the attack.
Russian officials have made few public acknowledgements of the attack. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on June 5 that Moscow will respond when and how the military deems necessary.
‘Time to put an end to insanity of war,’ Brazil’s Lula told Putin, calls for restraint following Operation Spiderweb“I said (to Putin) it’s time to open our eyes and to put an end to the insanity of war, which destroys everything and builds nothing,” Brazilian President Lula da Silva told reporters during a visit to France.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
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Fact Check: President Trump Did NOT Delete Truth Social Post About Call with Russian President Vladimir Putin
Did President Trump delete his June 4, 2025, Truth Social post discussing his phone call Russian President Vladimir Putin? No, that's not true: The post was still visible on Trump's timeline as of 12 p.m. ET on June 5, 2025. Lead Stories confirmed this 22 hours after it was initially posted and 17 hours after the false claim was posted saying it had been deleted.
The claim appeared in a post (archived here) shared by the @DemocraticWins on X on June 4, 2025. It included a screenshot of the Trump post with the caption:
BREAKING: Donald Trump just deleted this post because he doesn't want you to see that he has completely capitulated to Vladimir Putin. Make sure everyone sees this.
This is what the post looked like at the time of writing:
(Source: screenshot of X.com by Lead Stories)
This is the orginal Trump Truth Social post (archived here):
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'Time to put an end to insanity of war,' Brazil's Lula told Putin, calls for restraint following Operation Spiderweb
Brazilian President Lula da Silva reiterated calls for peace on June 5, urging Russia to restrain attacks on Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to “respond” to Operation Spiderweb.
Ukraine on June 1 launched a game-changing drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes.
The operation, dubbed Spiderweb, took 18 months to plan and was overseen directly by President Volodymyr Zelensky and carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU said 117 drones, launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously struck airfields in at least four regions — including sites thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
During a phone call with Putin on June 4, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Putin vowed that Moscow “will have to respond” to the attack.
“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump said of the call following the conversation with Putin.
“I see that Trump tweeted saying he had discussed this with Ukraine and that things are not looking good, and that Putin had said he would take revenge for this attack on Ukraine,” Lula told reporters, urging restraint on additional attacks.
Lula added that he urged Putin to end the war in Ukraine during a phone call with the Russian president in May that urged Putin to physically attend peace talks in Istanbul. Putin ultimately did not attend peace talks and instead sent a delegation to meet on his behalf.
“I said (to Putin) it’s time to open our eyes and to put an end to the insanity of war, which destroys everything and builds nothing,” Lula told reporters during a visit to France.
Despite two rounds of negotiations, Russia continues to reject a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Putin on June 4 blamed Ukraine’s top leadership for the attacks: “The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all,” he said during a televised meeting with senior officials. “What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?"
Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in RussiaRussian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 accused Ukraine of being governed by a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians and claimed it is continuing to lose the war. He rejected the possibility of holding talks.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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Art through the eyes of wartime children
Editor’s Note:
Unicef reports that as of Feb. 2025, more than 2,500 children have been killed or injured by the war. Millions more have experienced violence, displacement, or the loss of family members.We write stories which you find on no other news publications.
Please support us as we continue to do this work. May and June are our toughest months.
Yaroslava's drawing ‘Cats,’ June 2022. Yaroslava’s tiny cat could have been drawn by any little girl around the world.
But looming over the cat, a tank with a familiar blue and yellow flag shows that the young artist is from Ukraine.
As the war progressed, Yaroslava sketched what words couldn’t express. As the years have passed, her drawings are still a silent conversation about her fears and dreams.
It's an outlet for Yaroslava, a way to find peace at a time when everything around her is unstable, her mother says.
The drawings children create during the war are more than just art. They express emotions that cannot always be put into words: fear, anxiety, homesickness, hope, dreams of peace, and the warmth of family.
As someone who will soon become a mother, these drawings resonate deeply with me — they serve as a poignant reminder of how even the youngest try to make sense of war, and how much they need safety, love, and hope. Behind every crayon line is a child longing not just for peace, but for a world where their fears no longer need to be drawn.
"I always wanted to keep a diary, but I hate writing, [it] is my least favorite thing. I showed my emotions in drawings – it made me feel happy, or just like I was ready to dance off the floor," Yaroslava told The Counteroffensive.
Yaroslava and her mother Anna, France, 2022. She was only seven when the full-scale invasion began. Just before that, her mother, Anna Gorozhenko, had bought a large classical piano for her to start lessons, recognizing her artistic talent and hoping she would pursue music.
After temporarily settling in the UK, a host family sought to support her by paying for musical lessons.
But Yaroslava suddenly refused to continue.
“She said to me that she doesn’t want to play music… She told me she wants to be an artist. After the invasion, she recognized herself in art, not music. She needed to put this situation on paper,” Anna told The Counteroffensive.
For Yaroslava, painting is more than a hobby; it's a way to regain a sense of security. Unlike music, which requires concentration and tension, drawing is a form of relaxation for Yaroslava, a way to express her emotions.
"Children cannot express their feelings. It's much harder to say what they are going through. So, they put it all together in an image and put it on paper," psychologist Yana Hryvchuk told The Counteroffensive.
One of Yaroslava’s favorite artwork tells the fictional story of a woman enslaved in Russia. She lived in conditions resembling hell, which is depicted in the drawing by burning buildings and fire.
Later, after many years, the heroine returns home to a field surrounded by trees under a peaceful sky. She is happy and free, and wings grow on her back to symbolize liberation.
“Several of my friends were held captive: her grandmother in Hostomel under occupation, her other grandmother in besieged Chernihiv, and her grandfather in Kherson under occupation. We were all very worried about them, as we knew what occupation was like,” Yaroslava’s mother, Anna, said.
This drawing is vital to Yaroslava because it shows everyone will eventually find freedom.
Yaroslava’s drawing about an enslaved woman in Russia, 2025. Experts believe that drawing helps children deal with the hardships of conflict. In one exhibition, ‘Mom, I See War,’ over 15,000 drawings were collected, demonstrating that drawing is a common way for children to cope with their emotions.
Children often turn everything around them into drawings — for example, their dreams, stories from books or cartoons, what they see in the news on TV, and so on.
"A child may feel powerless because he or she cannot influence or stop the war. However, they can imagine changing something. This isn't about escaping reality; it's about restoring [mental balance]," psychologist Hryvchuk said.
In addition, such drawings clearly indicate that the child's psyche is actively processing the experience; it is not frozen, Hryvchuk believes. This is a positive sign, as it suggests the child is gradually working through their emotions, and that gives hope for a healthier psychological state in the future.
According to research by the analytical company Gradus Research, Russian war has traumatized 75 percent of Ukrainian children.
However, studies show that drawing can be a tool of coping with trauma. Art therapy is often used for people who struggle to recognize and express their true emotions. This is especially relevant for children.
Adults express their trauma directly through words and conversations, while children do so through symbols.
"A drawing is perhaps the simplest form of art for a child to express a feeling. Anyone can draw something; it doesn't necessarily have to hold any classical artistic value," Svitlana Osipchuk, Program Director of the War Childhood Museum.
Moreover, the psyche tends to suppress traumatic experiences — a phenomenon known as traumatic amnesia. The associated emotions and repressed feelings can accumulate over time and eventually erupt like an emotional ‘explosion.’ Through art, children can bypass these defense mechanisms.
A drawing, ‘Base of a Good Soldier’. Source: War Childhood Museum Ukraine. The youngest author of the documented drawing by the War Childhood Museum Ukraine reflecting his wartime experience is five years old, Osipchuk said. His drawing depicted an imaginary base of soldiers and was titled ‘Base of a Good Soldier’.
“We [adults] know that there is the Armed Forces… For them, at the age of five, they are still too young to understand [it]. They somehow imagine it more in a mythological, fairy-tale way, that there are good heroes and bad heroes. And he [the boy] said that the good soldiers shoot back [at] the zombies,” she explained.
Usually, children stop drawing at the age of 16-17, if they decide not to take it up professionally, according to Osipchuk. They just overgrow it.
Last year, Yaroslava and her mother returned to Kyiv after years abroad. During that time, constant danger had become normal: explosions outside the window, waking to shelling, and quickly taking cover under stairs.
"I was really annoyed because I couldn't fall asleep. I was like, 'Oh, I'm so angry,'" Yaroslava said.
Yaroslava especially loves drawing winged and tailed creatures – fantastical beings, her mother says, who can fly away to other worlds. Her art is both an escape and a way to process her experiences.
A drawing by a 14-year-old girl who was leaving Kyiv, where she spent some time under fire. She drew a train and sun rays. But they resemble Grad attacks. In the lower corner are people in a bomb shelter. Source: Zn.ua This emotional logic of children’s drawings – blending danger with rescue, fear with hope – is not unique to today’s war.
For children during the Second World War there was a similar resonance.
The street exhibition ‘Mom, I Don’t Want War’ in Kyiv highlights this connection, displaying Polish children’s drawings from 1946 and contemporary works by Ukrainian kids side by side. Though the stories differ, their experiences of war feel remarkably alike.
Part of the exhibition. Source: Courtesy of Poland's National Archives. 
A child's drawing that says: “Putin is dead”, 2024. Source: Facebook/Освіторія. 
Items made by Ukrainian girls who fled to Norway during the war, including Uliana's blue and yellow pot and a Norwegian flag with a heart in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, Norway, 2025. For a child, art is not just a creative outlet; it's also a way to organize their inner world. In moments of anxiety when one doesn't understand what is happening, drawing adds structure, said the psychologist Hryvchuk.
A drawing turns scattered feelings into a story – something a child can see, touch, and explain. This helps ease anxiety by giving shape to what’s inside.
Just as important is an attentive adult. By noticing and asking about a child’s drawings, parents can better understand their emotions and open space for conversation.
They feel that the most important thing is to make a child feel that the world still has colors and is not destroyed.
NEWS OF THE DAY:
RUSSIAN TROOPS TO TRANSNISTRIA TO SPOIL MOLDOVA ELECTIONS: Russia plans to send an additional 10,000 troops to pro-Kremlin Transnistria to sabotage Moldova’s parliamentary election, the Financial Times reported.
“They want to consolidate their military presence in the Transnistrian region,” said Dorin Recean, Moldova’s PM. Such efforts to establish a military presence on the other side of Ukraine’s borders include online propaganda and illegal payments to voters.
Moscow has already tried to put a pro-Russian government during elections in Romania – a NATO member – to interfere in the EU’s support for Ukraine. As Ukraine refuses Russian demands for non-alignment, the Kremlin is trying to stand between Ukraine and NATO.
TRUMP DELAYS RUSSIA SANCTION BILL AFTER PUTIN CALL: Trump urged the Senate to delay voting on a bill proposing 500 percent tariffs on imports from countries that continue to purchase Russian oil, said GOP Sen. Roger Wicker.
That happened following a phone call between Trump and Putin, in which the Russian dictator warned he would seek retribution after Kyiv’s massive ‘Spiderweb’ operation.
The bill is currently backed by 82 out of 100 senators and has been seen as a major escalation in economic pressure on Russia, signaling U.S. resolve.
SHADOW FLEET FAILS TO BOOST RUSSIA’S DECLINING ECONOMY: More and more industries in Russia are slowing, causing concern among authorities that ‘controlled cooling’ may spiral into deeper stagnation, the Moscow Times reported.
Maxim Reshetnikov, Economic Development Minister, warned that the trend is no longer isolated, with heavy vehicles sales halved and domestic machinery output down 14% in early 2025.
This comes despite the Kremlin’s continued use of its so-called ‘shadow fleet’ to circumvent Western oil sanctions and keep revenues flowing.
But the effort is failing to stabilize the broader economy. With high interest rates curbing lending, ministers are pressing the Central Bank to cut rates and expand stimulus.
CAT OF CONFLICT:
Today’s cat of conflict is a cat Veronika saw next to her dorm. He was very glad to be petted.
Stay safe out there.
Best,
Veronika -
Trump privately praises Ukraine's drone strike on Russian bombers as 'badass,' Axios reports
U.S. President Donald Trump privately described Ukraine’s drone strike on Russian strategic bombers as “strong” and “badass,” Axios reported June 5, citing sources familiar with his reaction.
The operation, carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on June 1, targeted four Russian air bases deep inside the country. According to Kyiv, 41 aircraft were struck in the raid, causing an estimated $7 billion in damage.
The targeted bases reportedly housed Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers — long-range platforms frequently used to launch cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities amid Russia’s full-scale war. While Trump has remained silent in public about the attack, he reportedly expressed enthusiasm behind closed doors.
“He thought it was badass,” one source told Axios.
A second said Trump told a confidant the strike was “pretty strong."
One of Trump’s advisers reportedly likened the situation to a small but aggressive force managing to hurt a more powerful opponent, using a metaphor about a “chihuahua” attacking “a much bigger dog."
On a TruthSocial post on June 4, Trump confirmed he had discussed the drone attack directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call lasting over an hour.
“We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,” Trump wrote.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later confirmed that Putin had informed Trump of Russia's intent to respond to Ukraine's attack, according to state-run media outlet TASS.
U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg earlier warned that the operation could lead to escalation.
"When you attack an opponent's national survival system — their nuclear triad — the risk level goes way up," Kellogg told Fox News on June 3.
Ukrainian officials say the drone assault — codenamed Operation Spiderweb — took 18 months to plan. SBU sources claim the attack was carried out using 117 drones launched from trucks inside Russian territory.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the scale of the damage.
While Russian propagandists have attempted to downplay the strike, Putin himself has yet to make a public statement.
Operation Spiderweb marks one of the most far-reaching Ukrainian operations of the war and underscores Kyiv's expanding capacity to strike targets far beyond the front lines.
Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in RussiaRussian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 accused Ukraine of being governed by a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians and claimed it is continuing to lose the war. He rejected the possibility of holding talks.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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Reuters: Ukraine struck fewer Russian bombers during Operation Spiderweb than estimated, US officials claim
Two U.S. officials told Reuters on June 4 that Ukraine struck as many as 20 Russian military aircraft during Operation Spiderweb, destroying around 10 of them.
The claims stands in contrast with estimates made by Ukraine’s security service (SBU) which claimed more than 40 aircraft were hit in the June 1 attack.
A source in the SBU told the Kyiv Independent on June 1 that Ukrainian first-person-view (FPV) drones smuggled deep inside Russian and hidden inside trucks has hit 41 Russian heavy bombers at four airfields across the country.
The attacks rendered a significant number of aircraft irreparable, with others expected to take years to restore. The strikes targeted four key airfields—Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya—used by Russian strategic aviation involved in bombing Ukrainian cities.
The SBU claimed the operation caused approximately $7 billion in damage and disabled one third of Russia’s cruise missile bombers.
The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the claims made by Ukrainian or U.S. officials.
The SBU on June 4 released new footage from its Operation Spiderweb, showing targeted strikes on Russian strategic aircraft across multiple airfields. From the footage, it is not immediately clear as to how many aircraft were destroyed.
Kyiv did not inform U.S. President Donald Trump about the operation ahead of its execution, and President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that Ukraine would not have carried out its drone strikes on Russian strategic bombers if Russia had agreed to a ceasefire.
Trump held an hour and 15 minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, which Trump described as a “good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace."
“President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump added, without making further comments regarding the “response” and did not say whether the U.S. had urged restraint.
Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, warned that the attack could lead to escalations in the full-scale war.
“I’m telling you the risk levels are going way up,” Kellogg told Fox News on June 3. “When you attack an opponent’s part of their national survival system, which is their nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don’t know what the other side’s going to do."
Ukraine’s drone strike followed several days of Russian escalation as Moscow launched some of the heaviest aerial attacks in the full-scale war over a span of three nights. Operation Spiderweb targeted some of the very bombers that rained destruction on Ukrainian cities and civilian targets.
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb. (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent) Putin ‘will have to respond’ to Ukraine’s attack on Russian bombers, Trump says after call with Kremlin chiefTrump said he spoke to Putin over the phone for an hour and 15 minutes on June 4 and that it was “a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.”
The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert
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Trump administration redirecting anti-drone tech from Ukraine to US forces in Middle East, WSJ reports
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is redirecting anti-drone technology earmarked for Ukraine to its own troops based in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on June 4.
According to the WSJ, special fuzes used in ground-to-air rocket systems that protect against drone attacks will be redirected towards units in the Middle East, as the U.S. braces for conflict with Iran as well as Houthi militants in Yemen.
The Pentagon notified Congress last week in a previously undisclosed message that the redirection of the fuzes, used in Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, was identified by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as an “urgent issue.”
The fuzes were initially bought for Ukraine by the Biden administration.
The decision comes as Russia has intensified its drone attacks in recent months, targeting cities across Ukraine. On the night of June 1, Russia launched its largest swarm of attack drones since the start of the full-scale invasion, topping out at 472 total units at once.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that Russia has launched over 20,000 drones towards Ukraine since the start of 2025.
A source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent on June 4 that Russia will soon be able to deploy more than 500 long-range drones a night to attack Ukraine as it ramps up production and builds new launch sites for them.
Russian drones launched at Ukraine by month (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent) Since the start of his presidency, Trump has been critical of providing Ukraine with additional military aid. The U.S. temporarily halted military supplies for Ukraine in March before restarting them after Kyiv agreed to the truce plan during talks in Jeddah on March 11.
Hegseth, who reportedly ordered a temporary halt of military aid flights to Ukraine, has also been critical of providing additional aid to Kyiv. Earlier in the day on June 4, Hegseth did not attend a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, marking the first instance since the start of the full-scale war that the U.S. Defense Secretary was not in attendance.
Since Trump’s second term began in January, no new aid packages have been approved.
Following a call on June 4 with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said that Putin “will have to respond” to Ukraine’s recent drone attack on military airfields.
Ukraine has called upon its partners to invest more in its arms production and to provide additional air defenses, namely Patriot systems, to help fend off intensifying Russian aerial attacks.
Trump urges Senate to postpone vote on Russia sanctions bill, Senator saysU.S. President Donald Trump has asked the Senate to delay voting on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, Republican Senator Roger Wicker said on June 4.
The Kyiv IndependentSonya Bandouil
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Russia launches over 48,000 aerial attacks on Ukraine in 6 months, Zelensky says
Russia launched approximately 48,600 aerial attacks since the start of 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4.
Zelensky said on social media that Russia has launched nearly 27,700 aerial bombs, 11,200 Shahed drones, approximately 9,000 other types of attack drones, and over 700 missiles at Ukraine in 2025.
Russia has intensified its aerial attacks in recent months, targeting Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones. On the night of June 1, Russia launched its largest swarm of attack drones since the start of the full-scale invasion, topping out at 472 total units at once.
For three consecutive days over May 24-26, Russia launched one of the heaviest attacks of the war to date with a series of mass drone and missile attacks at Ukrainian cities, during which more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles were launched.
The significant uptick in attacks comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Despite two rounds of negotiations, Russia has continued to reject a ceasefire.
“Russia has restructured its entire state, society, and economy to be able to kill people in other countries on a massive scale and with impunity,” Zelensky added. “It means, that with every new strike, with every delay of diplomacy, Russia is giving the finger to the entire world — to all those who still hesitate to increase pressure on it."
A source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent on June 4 that Russia will soon be able to deploy more than 500 long-range drones a night to attack Ukraine as it ramps up production and builds new launch sites for them.
According to the source, Russia’s production rate for one type of drone — Shahed-type Gerans — is up to 70 units per day, from a reported 21 a day last year, and Moscow will soon have 12-15 new launch sites in operation.
Russian drones launched at Ukraine by month (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent) Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in RussiaRussian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 accused Ukraine of being governed by a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians and claimed it is continuing to lose the war. He rejected the possibility of holding talks.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
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Trump urges Senate to postpone vote on Russia sanctions bill
U.S. President Donald Trump has asked the Senate to delay voting on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, Senator Roger Wicker said on June 4.
“I know that he (Trump) asked the leader (Senate Majority Leader John Thune) not to bring the bill to a vote this week,” Wicker told reporters.
The bill, introduced on April 1 by Senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D), seeks to impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian oil and raw materials.
Its aim is to tighten economic pressure on Russia and discourage third-party nations from enabling the Kremlin’s energy exports.
The legislation currently has broad bipartisan support, with 82 out of 100 U.S. senators backing it. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson also voiced his support for the bill.
Previously, Trump said he had not yet imposed new sanctions on Russia because he believed a peace deal might be within reach.
“If I think I’m close to getting a deal, I don’t want to screw it up by doing that,” he said on May 28, but added he is prepared to act if Moscow stalls further.
The Senate was expected to begin considering the bill this week, prior to the request made by Trump.
European leaders shift focus to defending Ukraine without US support, the Telegraph reportsAccording to the Telegraph, senior European diplomats meeting in The Hague agreed to shift their focus from deploying troops to enforce a ceasefire to preparing long-term strategies for supporting Ukraine without American backing.
The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
