Kyiv Independent defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko inspires custom-designed LEGO figurines

5:06 AM  (Updated:  June 29, 2025 7:20 am)

Russian mass missile attack targets Ukrainian regions far from front lines.

"Despite the complexity of this overnight combined attack, no one was injured and no civilian buildings were damaged in Lviv," Mayor Andrii Sadovyi reported the morning after the strike.

6:09 AM

Russia reviving efforts to expand LNG exports after US sanctions, Bloomberg reports.

An LNG ice-class tanker has reportedly docked at Russia's Arctic LNG 2 facility for the first time since October, according to ship-tracking data and satellite images.

4:15 AM

Serbian police crack down on protestors at mass anti-government rally in Belgrade.

The 100,000-person rally marks the latest mass action in a protest movement that started last fall, with activists calling for an end to corruption and the 12-year rule of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

3:06 AM

McDonald's to open 10 new restaurants in Ukraine this year, NYT reports.

The 10 new locations will bring the total number close to 120 — more than were operating in Ukraine before the war.

1:29 AM

Pope Leo says Ukraine 'martyred' in Russia's 'senseless war.'

Pope Leo XIV welcomed Ukrainian Greek Catholic pilgrims to the Vatican on June 28 and offered his blessing to mothers of soldiers killed on the front lines.

10:59 PM

Former Kharkiv deputy mayor charged with embezzling funds allocated for defense fortifications.

A former deputy mayor for Kharkiv is facing multiple charges related to creating and leading a scheme that allegedly embezzled 5.4 million hryvnias ($130,000) of budget funds allocated for fortifications, law enforcement agencies announced on June 28.

8:02 PM  (Updated:  June 28, 2025 9:46 pm)

Ukrainian drones strike missile, drone arsenal in Russia's Bryansk Oblast.

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) struck on June 28 the 1060th Material-Technical Support Center in the city of Bryansk, Ukraine's General Staff said. The facilities store a Russian missile and drone arsenal, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing a source in HUR.

9:28 PM

Ukraine's parliament working on bill to organize post-war elections, speaker says.

The reason for separate legislation on a post-war election, Stefanchuk said, was due to the fact that Ukraine's Constitution does not not provide clarity on the details of holding elections following the end of a martial law period.

6:59 PM

Slovak PM sees 'no reason' to meet with Zelensky, claims Ukrainian president 'hates' him, after reportedly blocking Russian sanctions.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on June 28 that he does not intend to meet directly with President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming that the Ukrainian president "hates" him, as relations between the two countries continue to sour.

5:45 PM

Germany reportedly scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian spy plane over Baltic Sea.

The incident adds to a series of aerial provocations reported by NATO allies since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as Moscow is suspected of using the aircraft to spy on the alliance's positions.

11:06 AM  (Updated:  June 28, 2025 4:28 pm)

Poland's Duda arrives in Kyiv to meet with Zelensky.

"Andrzej has been with Ukraine since the first days of the war, always side by side, a reliable ally and a true friend. This is undoubtedly the level of relations we want to preserve and strengthen with Poland," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

3:37 PM

Ukrainian drone strike on Crimea air base destroys 3 Russian helicopters, SBU claims.

The attack destroyed Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28 attack helicopters, and a Pantsyr-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system, the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent.

3:06 PM

Russia revives obsolete T-62 tanks amid equipment shortages, Ukraine's intel claims.

"The key factors limiting the ability to produce modern armored vehicles in Russia are a lack of industrial capacity and a shortage of imported high-tech components," Ukraine's military intelligence said.

2:29 PM

Ukraine downs new Russian Grom-1 bomb missile near Dnipro city, official says.

To date, neither Russian guided aerial bombs nor the Grom-1 bomb missile had previously reached the city of Dnipro.

12:53 PM

Pro-Ukraine partisans disrupt Russian military logistics in occupied Donetsk Oblast, group claims.

The Atesh partisan group set fire to a signal cabinet that helps control traffic on a railway line near the Russian-occupied city of Yasynuvata in Donetsk Oblast, a route used for Russia's military logistics, the group claimed on Telegram on June 28.

11:08 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 10, injure at least 50 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 21 out of the 23 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones and decoys, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

7:58 AM  (Updated:  June 28, 2025 9:54 am)

Married couple killed in Russian drone strike on Odesa high-rise.

Russian drones hit a 21-story building, causing a fire on the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors that left residents trapped in their apartments. A couple was killed and 14 others were injured, including three children.

9:10 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,017,720 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,000 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:25 AM

Half of Americans support sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil and gas, poll finds.

In a YouGov survey conducted June 12-16, 24% of U.S. adults said they "strongly support" sanctioning Russian energy buyers while 25% said they "somewhat support" secondary sanctions against these countries.

6:08 AM

Ukrainian weapons account for more than 40% of arms used in defense against Russia, Zelensky says.

The government and Ukrainian businesses now provide over 40% of the weapons used to defend the nation's independence against Russia's full-scale invasion, Zelensky said on June 27.

5:28 AM

Zelensky to impose long-term moratorium on business inspections in Ukraine.

The moratorium is intended to "protect businesses from any pressure by unscrupulous individuals in various government positions," the president said at the State and Business Forum in Kyiv on June 27.

4:12 AM

Russia has amassed 111,000 troops near Pokrovsk, Syrskyi says.

Pokrovsk remains the "hottest spot" along the front line but "the situation is under control" and Russia has not crossed the administrative border from Donetsk to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

2:49 AM

Ukraine imposes new sanctions on Russian individuals, Chinese company involved in Shahed drone production.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on June 27 imposing sanctions on 52 Russian citizens as well as an additional 34 Russian companies and one Chinese entity involved in the production of Shahed-type drones and chip manufacturing machinery.

12:45 AM

Despite escalating war plans, Putin claims Russia will cut military spending starting in 2026.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on June 27 that Moscow plans to cut its military expenditure beginning next year, in a rebuke of NATO members' plans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.

11:55 PM

'Without question' — Trump says US would consider bombing Iran again, halts plans to ease sanctions.

The United States would consider bombing Iran again if the country's nuclear program once again became of concern, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters during a press briefing on June 27.