Kim Jong Un reaffirms 'unconditional' support for Russia's war in Ukraine during Shoigu visit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed that his country "unconditionally supports the stand of Russia and its foreign policies."
Ukraine
Ukraine, US plan to launch minerals investment fund by year's end
"We discussed very concrete steps how to make this fund operational during this year," Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said during a visit to Washington.
General Staff: Russia has lost 992,750 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 930 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
5 killed, 6 injured in Russian drone strike on Chernihiv Oblast
According to Chernihiv Oblast Governor Viacheslav Chaus, at least six Iranian-designed Shahed-136 drones were used in the assault.
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.
Trump administration redirecting anti-drone tech from Ukraine to US forces in Middle East, WSJ reports
According to the Wall Street Journal, 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.
Russian missile, drone attack on Kharkiv injures 17, including 4 children
Russian missile and drone attacks on the city of Kharkiv overnight on June 5 injured 17 people, including four children, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
Russia launches over 48,000 aerial attacks on Ukraine in 6 months, Zelensky says
Zelensky said on social media that Russia 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.
Putin tells new pope Kyiv seeks to escalate war, urges Vatican support for Moscow-linked church in Ukraine
Russia wants the Vatican to "take a more active role" in advocating for what it described as freedom of religion in Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement on June 4 following recent diplomatic contacts.
Zelensky to consider allowing private army formations after latest ultimatums from Russia
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a briefing on June 4 that he may consider allowing the creation of private armies in Ukraine.
Putin stays silent on Ukraine’s drone attack that hit 41 Russian bombers, caused $7 billion in damage
On June 4, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the incident, saying Putin had been informed about the strike and that Russia’s Investigative Committee had launched a probe.
Putin 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's attack on Russian bombers, Trump says after call with Kremlin chief
Trump 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."
Ukraine war latest: Kyiv hacks Russian bomber maker; Putin's 'disregard' for troops highlighted as Russian losses near 1 million
Key developments on June 4: * Ukraine hacks Russia's Tupolev bomber producer, source claims * Putin's 'disregard' for troops highlighted as Russian losses approach 1 million, study finds * Ukraine expects to exchange 500 POWs in next swap with Russia, Zelensky says * Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility in Poltava Oblast, military says
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 28
Editor’s note: This is issue 28 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from May 26–June 1, 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
With music festival honoring fallen combat medic, Ukrainians reinvent memorial culture
Editor’s Note: The following is the latest in a series of reports by the Kyiv Independent about the memorialization of Ukraine’s fallen soldiers. "We weren’t taught to live side-by-side with death in schools and universities, but it's always near," the speaker Anton Liahusha, the dean of the
Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in Russia
Russian 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.
Ukraine's SBU releases exclusive footage of Operation Spiderweb targeting Russia's strategic aircraft
On June 1, the SBU conducted an operation using first-person-view (FPV) drones that were smuggled deep inside Russia and concealed in trucks, successfully striking 41 Russian heavy bombers and causing an estimated $7 billion in damage.
Exclusive: Ukraine could face 500+ Russian drones a night as Kremlin builds new launch sites
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, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) has told the Kyiv Independent. According to the source, Russia's production rate for one
Putin's 'disregard' for troops highlighted as Russian losses approach 1 million, CSIS report shows
The total number of military casualties on both sides is nearing 1.4 million, including approximately 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed or injured.
Ukraine wouldn't launch Operation Spiderweb if Russia agreed to ceasefire, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that roughly half of the 41 Russian planes targeted in the attack on June 1 will be impossible to repair.
Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility in Poltava Oblast, military says
"Thanks to timely and carefully planned security measures... the worst has been avoided," the Ground Forces press service said, saying that no soldiers have been killed in the attack.
Ukraine expects to exchange 500 POWs in next swap with Russia, Zelensky says
Ukraine will bring home a total of 500 prisoners of war (POW) from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia on June 7 and 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a meeting with journalists on June 4 attended by the Kyiv Independent.
US hasn't decided yet on new Ukraine aid, focuses on peace, NATO envoy says
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stressed that Washington counts on European leadership in providing Ukraine with the resources needed to achieve a lasting peace, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
Ukraine passes Budget Code changes to implement US mineral deal
The legislation, supported by 309 members of parliament, enshrines financial provisions critical to executing the U.S.-Ukraine deal signed on April 30 and ratified by Kyiv on May 8.
'Nothing secret left' — Ukraine hacks Russia's Tupolev bomber producer, source claims
HUR's cyber corps accessed over 4.4 gigabytes (GB) of internal data, including official correspondence, personnel files, home addresses, resumes, purchase records, and closed meeting minutes, a source claimed.
Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb ranks with 'raid on Bin Laden,' US Senator Blumenthal says
"Just in the skill and audacity of these attacks, it will rank with the United States raid on Osama bin Laden and the Israeli pager operation as one of the great military achievements in recent years," U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal told Politico.
Kremlin confirms explosion at Russia's Crimean Bridge after Ukraine's sabotage, claims 'no damage'
"There indeed was an explosion. There was no damage, the bridge continues to function," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed.
In second fire at Russian engine plant in 2 days, fire engulfs US-sanctioned Yaroslavl facility
Located roughly 280 kilometers (174 miles) northeast of Moscow, the Yaroslavl Motor Plant has been under U.S. sanctions since May 2024.
Trump raises steel, aluminum tariffs to 50%, hitting key Ukrainian export
Steel production is one of Ukraine's core industrial sectors and its second-largest source of foreign currency after agriculture.
'Risk level goes up' — Ukraine's strike on Russian bombers could escalate war, US envoy Kellogg says
"I'm telling you the risk levels are going way up," U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said.
7 killed, 52 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 36 out of the 95 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force said.
Ukraine's drone strike on Russia's air bases under 'investigation,' Kremlin says in first reaction to Operation Spiderweb
"The president received information about the incident online," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
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