Russian losses 'entirely justified,' Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 19 that he held talks with the SBU about deep strikes in Russia. "Russia must continue to suffer entirely justified losses due to its aggression."
Ukraine
Trump administration doesn't like working with Zelensky's top aide, Politico reports
"All the people here who want to withdraw and abandon Ukraine are thrilled to have Yermak around," one source told Politico.
American volunteer 1st US civilian killed in Russian strike on Ukraine, NYT reports
Fred Grandy, a 62-year-old American artist and volunteer who was killed in Russia's mass missile attack against Kyiv on June 17, appears to be the first U.S. civilian killed by a Russian strike on Ukraine, the New York Times (NYT) reported on June 19.
Ukraine war latest: Russia accidentally admits to its staggering troop losses in Ukraine
Key developments on June 19: * Russia accidentally admits to its staggering troop losses in Ukraine * Ukraine, Russia carry out another POW exchange under Istanbul deal * North Korea considers sending 25,000 workers to Russia to help produce Shahed drones, media reports * Zelensky appoints Brigadier General Shapovalov as new Ground Forces
There's loads of video of Israeli air defenses, and none of Ukraine's — this is why
As Israel and Iran continue to trade salvos, dramatic footage of air defenses battling ballistic missiles have flooded the internet. Several prominent online commentators have compared the videos coming out of Israel with those from Ukraine, questioning why Russian attacks like those on Kyiv are portrayed in relatively sparse detail,
Ukraine documents 366 cases of war-related sexual violence, most victims women
The victims include 231 women, 134 men, and 19 children, according to Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.
Zelensky appoints Brigadier General Shapovalov as new Ground Forces chief
Brigadier General Hennadii Shapovalov, born in 1978 in Kirovohrad Oblast, is a career officer who graduated from the Military Institute of Tank Troops in Kharkiv and later studied at the National Defense University of Ukraine.
'Unwanted by their homeland' — Ukraine confirms Russia returned bodies of its soldiers disguised as Ukrainian
"This is yet another proof of how Russia treats its people with contempt," Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.
Russia's prison chief sentenced in absentia for torture chambers in Kherson Oblast
Arkady Gostev, head of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service, was found guilty of orchestrating the transformation of captured Ukrainian prisons into torture sites.
Once firm, support for Ukraine among its neighbors wavers amid a populist surge
In the fourth year of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the decisive support Kyiv found among its neighbors to the west is beginning to show cracks. Once resolute Poland is seeing rising skepticism toward Ukraine, underscored by President-elect Karol Nawrocki's election victory. Slovakia's pro-Ukrainian government was ousted by Russian-friendly populists
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 30
Editor’s note: This is issue 30 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from June 9–June 15, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks
Trump's peace push falters in both Ukraine and the Middle East — for similar reasons
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed a wide range of subjects during his inauguration speech. When speaking about international relations, he was adamant — "Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity," he said, talking about Russia's war against Ukraine and the fighting in the Middle
Putin-Trump meeting currently not on the table, Kremlin says
"Until the necessary 'homework' is done to remove the irritants in our relations with the United States, it makes no sense to organize a meeting," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Ukraine, Russia carry out another POW exchange under Istanbul deal
"These are warriors of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. Most of them had been held captive since 2022," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, without revealing their numbers.
EU reportedly eyes riskier investments for frozen Russian assets to boost Ukraine aid
According to Politico, the proposed plan would redirect the frozen Russian assets into a special investment fund under EU control, allowing for higher returns without confiscating the principal.
Russia just accidentally admitted to its staggering troop losses in Ukraine
A senior Russian official on June 19 inadvertently confirmed the staggering troop losses incurred by Moscow's forces during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with CNN, Russian Ambassador to the U.K. Andrey Kelin was asked about Moscow's maximalist intentions in Ukraine and its ability to recruit enough
Diplomacy in crisis: G7 letdowns reveal limits to Western solidarity on Ukraine
KANANASKIS, Canada — The Group of Seven (G7) Leaders' Summit ended on June 17 with no joint statement in support of Ukraine, no commitments to provide desperately needed U.S. weapons, and no meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Ukrainian delegation headed into the summit,
Ukraine must accept Moscow's demands or 'surrender,' Russia’s ambassador to UK says
Russia's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, said Russia is continuing its offensive and sees no need to stop hostilities, publicly acknowledging Moscow's disregard for U.S.-backed ceasefire efforts.
'100 days of Russian manipulations' — Ukraine blasts Moscow over disregarding US ceasefire effort
A hundred days since the U.S. and Ukraine agreed on a ceasefire, "Russia continues to choose war," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on June 19, urging international pressure to push Moscow toward peace.
'If we don't help Ukraine further, we should start learning Russian,' EU diplomacy chief says
Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas cited a sharp increase in Russia's military spending, noting that Moscow is now allocating more money to defense than the EU combined, and more than its own health care, education, and social policies put together.
Russia kills 1, injures at least 27 across Ukraine over past day
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 40 drones, while 48 disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,008,240 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,080 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
9 people injured in Russian strikes on Kherson Oblast
Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast injured nine people and damaged residential infrastructure on June 18-19, according to local authorities. The strikes targeted 34 settlements with artillery and drones.
Putin says he's ready to meet Zelensky if West 'stops pushing' Ukraine to fight
Russia wants to end the war in Ukraine "as soon as possible," preferably through peaceful means, and is ready to continue negotiations — provided that Kyiv and its Western allies are willing to engage, Vladimir Putin said.
Russia turns sound into weapon
When I was at school and learned about World War II, my grandmother told me what she remembered of her wartime childhood on the English coast. Growing up near a Royal Navy base, she survived countless nighttime air raids. Most of all, she remembered exactly how the Blitz sounded — the
Kremlin hardliners 'in shock' after Operation Spiderweb, tell Putin to declare all-out war in Ukraine, Telegraph reports
Russia’s hardline nationalist elite reportedly argues that only a formal war declaration would permit true escalation—full-scale mobilisation, regular missile strikes, and potentially the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
Ukraine war latest: 'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer
Key developments on June 18: * 'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer * Ukraine kills collaborator tied to POW torture in occupied Berdiansk, intelligence source claims * Zelensky may reportedly skip NATO summit over uncertainty about Trump's attendance * Ukraine dismisses Russia's 'absurd' ceasefire condition
After speaking out against Trump, former US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink launches congressional bid
"My next mission: fighting for what's right here at home," Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink wrote.
Ukraine kills collaborator tied to POW torture in occupied Berdiansk, intelligence source claims
Mykhailo Hrytsai, a senior collaborator with the Russian occupation authorities, was shot dead in the city with a silenced PM pistol, according to a source.
Ukraine preparing to evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran as Middle East conflict escalates
As of the morning of June 18, 293 Ukrainians in Israel and 85 in Iran have requested evacuation, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.
4 months after striking Chornobyl, Russia warns Israeli attacks on Iran risk nuclear 'catastrophe'
Russia on June 18 warned the world is "millimetres away from catastrophe" due to Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, just four months after one of its own drones struck the Chornobyl nuclear site in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Israel of escalating the risk of a
Slovak police tried to detain ex-defense minister over Ukraine aid deal, media reports
The Slovak police reportedly also seek to detain a former Defense Ministry official and have detained an ex-head of the Konstrukta Defense state company in a move denounced by Nad's opposition Democrats party as politically motivated.
(Updated: )
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