Michael Bociurkiw: Checkmate. Putin has the West cornered

9:57 AM  (Updated:  June 16, 2025 2:58 pm)

Russia evading oil sanctions with illegal transfers near Greece, Cyprus, HUR says.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), 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.

1:59 PM  (Updated:  June 16, 2025 2:55 pm)

Ukraine receives 1,245 bodies of fallen soldiers and citizens, concluding Istanbul repatriation deal.

The latest repatriation marks the final stage of the exchange agreement, bringing the total number of Ukrainian bodies returned under the deal to 6,057.

2:54 PM

Zelensky's trust rating drops 11 points to 65%, poll shows.

The survey found that 65% of Ukrainians currently trust the president, while 30% do not, yielding a trust balance of +35%, the lowest recorded since March.

1:19 PM

Russia to demand Ukraine destroy Western weapons to end war, senior Kremlin official says.

The remarks reflect Moscow's growing list of maximalist demands presented in its so-called "peace memorandum."

1:11 PM

Opinion

Let Ukraine join JEF countries. Especially now.

12:54 PM

6 killed, 18 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 138 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones, Ukraine's Air Force said.

12:23 PM

Zelensky proposes Ruslan Kravchenko as new Prosecutor General.

The nomination ends a six-month vacancy at the top of Ukraine's prosecution service, following the resignation of Andriy Kostin in October 2024.

11:45 AM

Satellite images show expansion at 5 Russian nuclear sites near Europe.

One of the most notable developments is in Kaliningrad, where the suspected nuclear weapons storage site has undergone significant reconstruction.

10:06 AM

'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.

8:16 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,005,060 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,200 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:09 AM

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.

6:22 AM

Trump arrives at G7 summit ahead of high-stakes meeting with Zelensky.

The anticipated third meeting, scheduled for June 17, will focus on sanctions, peace talks, weapons purchases, and economic relations — and may shed light on the future of U.S. support for Ukraine.

4:59 AM

'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."

3:06 AM

Russia attacks Kyiv Oblast with drones, injuring 1.

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. A 60-year-old man has been injured.

2:02 AM

North Korean losses exceed 6,000 in Russia's Kursk Oblast, UK intelligence reports.

North Korea has lost over 6,000 troops in Russia’s Kursk Oblast—more than half of its deployed force, according to a June 15 UK defense intelligence report.

11:26 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Kyiv strikes Russian drone factory, Moscow targets Boeing's office

9:57 PM

5 Ukrainians dead in Israel after Iranian missile strike.

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.

8:01 PM

Trump says he's 'open to' Putin mediating between Israel, Iran.

"Yeah, I would be open to it," U.S. President Donald 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."

7:22 PM

Russia reports Ukrainian drone attack on drone factory in Tatarstan.

The 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.

5:55 PM

Ukrainian actor Yuriy Felipenko killed on the front line.

Felipenko was well known for his role in the 2024 series “A Promise to God” before joining the Achilles Strike Drone Battalion, part of Ukraine’s 92nd Assault Brigade, in April 2024.

5:14 PM

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.

3:47 PM

War analysis

With no new US aid packages on the horizon, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia?

12:40 PM  (Updated:  June 15, 2025 3:45 pm)

Ukrainian agents cause millions in damage during secret sabotage operation in Russia, HUR source says.

In the early hours of June 14, Ukrainian agents drained the coolant from the substation’s power transformer before setting the facility on fire.

3:19 PM

Video

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.

3:05 PM

Another 1,200 bodies of fallen Ukrainians return home after exchange with Russia.

Law enforcement investigations and institutions from Ukraine’s Interior Ministry will examine and identify the bodies in the near future, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said.