Ukraine invited to NATO summit, Zelensky says
"We were invited to the NATO summit. I think this is important," President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a June 2 online press conference attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine
US House Speaker Johnson backs Senate bill to toughen sanctions on Russia
"There's many members of Congress that want us to sanction Russia as strongly as we can," U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said. "And I'm an advocate of that."
Russia lost 12 aircraft, Ukraine's military claims days after drone strike on Russian bombers
The report came two days after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched a mass drone attack against Russian strategic aviation parked at four different air bases on June 1.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 7, injure 42 over past day
Ukrainian forces downed 60 out of the 112 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Fifteen drones were intercepted by electronic warfare or disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement.
Russian strike on downtown Sumy kills at least 3, injures around 20, authorities say
"The Russians launched a savage strike on Sumy — directly targeting the city and its ordinary streets with rocket artillery. It was a fully deliberate attack on civilians," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukrainian delegation arrives in US to discuss defense support, Russia sanctions
Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, is traveling to the U.S., a source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent on June 3.
Ukrainian attack causes blackouts in Russian-occupied territories, Moscow's proxies claim
Yevhen Balytskyi, the Kremlin-appointed head of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, claimed that 457 settlements in the region were left without power, affecting more than 600,000 homes.
General Staff: Russia has lost 990,800 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,100 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
UK government 'fully prepared' to sue Russian oligarch Abramovich over Chelsea FC sale
The U.K. government is ready to sue sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich over the sale of the Chelsea Football Club, U.K. Treasury Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a joint statement.
Russia stalling, staging 'diplomatic show' in peace talks with Ukraine, Umerov says
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on June 2 slammed Russia for only providing its memorandum of a peace proposal at talks earlier in the day, saying that "the Russians are once again stalling for time."
'We face war in Europe' — UK announces major defense spending boost amid Russian threat
Every part of society, every citizen of this country, has a role to play because we have to recognize that things have changed in the world of today... The front line, if you like, is here," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
Russia admits to taking Ukrainian children during latest peace talks, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that during the June 2 negotiations in Istanbul, Russian representatives dismissed Ukraine's efforts to raise the issue of abducted Ukrainian children as a "show for childless European old ladies."
Norway to help Ukraine cover 1 billion euro gas shortfall, Zelensky says
"We agreed that we will look for opportunities to close any deficit, which may arise if everything is not restored (Ukrainian gas production infrastructure affected by Russian attacks), if we cannot fully provide our population with gas," Zelensky said.
Zelensky says he's ready to meet with Putin, Trump in Turkey
"I told (Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan) that I support a meeting at the level of leaders, because I have the impression that there will be no ceasefire without our meeting," Zelensky said on June 2.
DTEK to build one of Europe's largest energy storage facilities, company announces
Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK secured a $72-million loan to build one of the largest battery energy storage complexes in Eastern Europe, the company said on June 3.
‘Closer to victory’ – Operation Spiderweb gives much-needed morale boost to Ukrainians after 3 years of full-scale war
A large-scale drone attack carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), which reportedly destroyed or damaged 41 Russian heavy bombers on June 1, brought a much-needed morale boost to Ukrainians. Codenamed "Spiderweb," the operation targeted the strategic aircraft that Russia uses for long-range missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. The
'Grounds for a nuclear attack’ — Russian propagandists react to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb
Russian officials and propagandists have chosen different strategies for dealing with the unprecedented Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airfields that took place on June 1. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that, as part of an operation dubbed Spiderweb, it had destroyed or damaged 41 Russian aircraft parked at
Growing up under missiles — Ukrainian childhoods shaped by war (Photos)
Ukrainian children are growing up in a world entirely reshaped by Russia’s war. Sirens, blackouts, and bomb shelters are nothing extraordinary — but a part of everyday childhood. This photo story follows five families as they raise their children in the shadow of the ongoing invasion. It’s not about
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine, Russia agree on new prisoner swap, return of fallen soldiers
Key developments on June 2: * Ukraine, Russia conclude talks in Istanbul, a 1,200-for-1,200 prisoner exchange is in the works, Zelensky says * 5 Ukrainian regions, ban on NATO, limits on Kyiv's army — Russian media publishes Moscow's official peace demands * 34% of Russian strategic Russian bombers at main airfields damaged
'Idiots' — Zelensky slams Russia’s proposal for brief truce to retrieve fallen soldiers' bodies
"They just don’t see a ceasefire as such at the moment," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 2, commenting on Russia's proposal. "I think they’re idiots, because, fundamentally, a ceasefire is meant so that there are no dead."
Who is Nawrocki, Poland's new president, and what could his narrow victory mean for Polish-Ukrainian relations?
In a closely contested presidential runoff, conservative historian Karol Nawrocki has been declared the winner of Poland's 2025 presidential election, securing 50.89% of the vote against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski's 49.11%. The result marks a significant shift in Polish politics, with consequences for both the domestic and
5 Ukrainian regions, ban on NATO, limits on Kyiv's army — Russian media publishes Moscow's official peace demands
Among Russia's key demands, according to the document, is the official recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea, as well as the annexation of Ukraine's Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts, none of which Moscow controls in full.
Ukraine seeks to bring back up to 1,200 people in next prisoner swap with Russia, Zelensky says
The next prisoner exchange will reportedly include young people between the ages of 18 and 25, as well as people with serious injuries.
Operation Spiderweb — everything we know about Ukraine's 'audacious' attack on Russia's heavy bombers
Ukraine was jubilant on June 1 as news filtered through of a stunning drone attack targeting Russian heavy bombers, that simultaneously targeted four air bases, two of them thousands of miles inside Russia. "Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia — this is the result of a special operation
Russia proposes 2-3-day ceasefire in some areas of front to retrieve bodies of the fallen, Medinsky says
According to a source in the President's Office, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Russia declined a ceasefire proposed by Ukraine.
Ukraine, Russia preparing for new prisoner exchange following 2nd round of peace talks, Zelensky says
Russia and Ukraine are preparing to hold a new prisoners of war (POWs) exchange mediated by Turkey after the second round of peace talks.
Ukraine ready to make concessions on sanctions against Russia amid ongoing peace talks, demands ceasefire first
Some of the sanctions against Russia could be lifted following a potential full ceasefire, according to Ukraine's official proposal, seen by the Kyiv Independent on June 2. Yet, the condition proposed by Ukraine is that sanctions are automatically renewed if the ceasefire agreement is broken.
Portnov family bought Dubai properties worth over $2 million, media investigation says
According to property records leaked from Dubai's Land Department and state-owned utilities, six properties were purchased in 2022–2023 by Portnov's civil partner, Anastasiia Valiaieva, and his daughter, Liliia Portnova, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
Russian double-tap attack injures 12 emergency workers in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Russian drone attacks against a State Emergency Service building in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on June 2 injured 12 employees, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
Ukrainian military responds to commander’s claim of no state-supplied FPV drones for 3rd Brigade
In a written response to a request from Babel, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said the brigade had received a total of 7,992 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types between Jan. 1 and May 27, 2025.
Trump reportedly wasn't informed in advance about Ukraine's drone strike on Russian bombers
The White House was not notified about the plans, which were being prepared for a year and a half, Axios reported, citing a Ukrainian security official. CBS News' sources in the Trump administration also confirmed that the Trump administration was not informed.
Zelensky urges Trump to enforce tougher sanctions if peace talks with Russia stall
"If the Istanbul meeting brings nothing, that clearly means strong new sanctions are urgently needed,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
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