Russia claims it thwarted Ukrainian drone attack over Bryansk Oblast

11:49 PM  (Updated:  June 5, 2025 3:51 pm)

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.

3:42 PM

Slovak parliament urges government to oppose new Russia sanctions.

The non-binding resolution argues that the sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have driven up energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and harmed Slovak industry.

2:45 PM

Russia plans to produce 2 million FPV drones in 2025, Ukrainian intelligence says.

The ramp-up marks a critical expansion of Moscow's drone warfare program, as both Ukraine and Russia increasingly rely on unmanned systems for reconnaissance and front-line attacks.

2:21 PM

Trump privately praises Ukraine's drone strike on Russian bombers as 'badass,' Axios reports.

While Trump has remained silent in public about the attack, he reportedly expressed enthusiasm behind closed doors.

8:49 AM  (Updated:  June 5, 2025 1:08 pm)

5 killed, 9 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.

12:35 PM

Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers, Ukrainian military says.

The strike reportedly destroyed one Iskander missile launcher and seriously damaged two others.

11:59 AM

Russia impersonating Ukraine's security service to recruit saboteurs, SBU warns.

The SBU said this marks a notable escalation and shift in Russia’s recruitment strategy.

11:31 AM

8 killed, 46 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched 103 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones and one Iskander-M ballistic missile.

10:22 AM

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."

10:03 AM

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.

9:08 AM

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.

4:36 AM  (Updated:  June 5, 2025 7:57 am)

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.

6:57 AM

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.

5:42 AM

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.

3:58 AM

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.

2:36 AM

Trump urges Senate to postpone vote on Russia sanctions bill, Senator says.

U.S. President Donald Trump has asked the Senate to delay voting on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, Republican Senator Roger Wicker said on June 4.

1:05 AM

Russia seeks to deploy 10,000 troops to Transnistria, potentially undermining election, Moldovan PM Recean says.

Russia aims to deploy 10,000 troops to Transnistria and install a pro-Kremlin government in Moldova to enable it, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean told the Financial Times in an interview published June 4.

11:16 PM

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.

8:48 PM

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.

8:02 PM  (Updated:  June 4, 2025 8:38 pm)

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."

7:46 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Kyiv hacks Russian bomber maker; Putin's 'disregard' for troops highlighted as Russian losses near 1 million

7:43 PM

Investigations

Hiding in plain sight — how Russia’s cultural centers continue to operate in US, Europe despite espionage claims

6:40 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 28

6:18 PM

memorialization

With music festival honoring fallen combat medic, Ukrainians reinvent memorial culture

6:01 PM

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.