Russian authorities report large-scale fire in Moscow

4:15 PM

Kazakh opposition activist injured in assassination attempt in Kyiv.

An unidentified person opened fire in Kyiv on June 18 on Aidos Sadykov, a Kazakh opposition activist and journalist based in Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.

3:16 PM

Russian court sentences Ukrainian lawmaker to 10 years in prison in absentia.

The lawmaker was sentenced under the charges of spreading "disinformation about the military on the grounds of political hatred, justifying terrorism, and inciting hatred with the threat of violence," though the exact reasons for the launch of the proceedings were not disclosed, the outlet wrote.

3:11 PM

Estonian court finds ex-professor guilty of espionage.

Viacheslav Morozov was arrested in January 2024 on suspicion of spying for Russia.

2:54 PM

Media: Italy may send Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, sources say.

"A batch of" Storm Shadow missiles and another SAMP/T air defense system will reportedly be included in the ninth aid package for Ukraine, which Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto will present by the end of June, Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano reported on June 18, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

2:31 PM

France signs deal to sell Caesar howitzers to Armenia.

The announcement did not say how many Caesar howitzers would be included in the deal, or when they might start arriving in the country.

1:43 PM

Zelensky signs law on single roaming zone with EU.

Under the "roam like at home" (RLAH) program, Ukrainians will not pay additional charges to use their mobile phone for communications and the Internet in the 27 EU countries. The same rules will apply to users of European operators traveling to Ukraine.

1:15 PM

Rutte offered Orban opt-out of Ukraine support to secure top NATO job, FT reports, citing sources.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte promised Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban the possibility to opt out of NATO activities in support of Ukraine if made the alliance's secretary-general, the Financial Times reported on June 18, citing its undisclosed sources.

12:17 PM

SBU drones hit Russian oil depots in Rostov Oblast, source says.

Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) hit two oil depots in Russia's Rostov Oblast overnight on June 18, a source in security and defense forces told the Kyiv Independent.

12:08 PM

Poll: More than 70% of Ukrainians say LGBTQ people should have same rights as any other citizen.

Support for LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine has grown significantly in recent years.

11:17 AM

Ukraine must win the war first before joining NATO, White House says.

His statement came a few days after Kyiv and Washington signed a 10-year bilateral security deal at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy, which is recognized by the parties "as supporting a bridge to Ukraine's eventual membership in NATO."

10:41 AM

Ukrainian sentenced to 12 years in Russia over peaceful protest.

Krystyna Liubashenko, the 35-year-old mother of two, was sentenced under the charges of "spreading disinformation about the war" and "taking part in a terrorist organization," the Russian independent media outlet wrote.

9:54 AM

Ukraine gradually pushing Russian troops out of Kharkiv Oblast, Zelensky says.

"Our forces are gradually pushing (Russian troops) out of Kharkiv Oblast. And I thank every warrior and every unit for this, who are clearly fulfilling their tasks, including those who are also replenishing our (prisoner) 'exchange fund' with Russian soldiers," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

9:37 AM

Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 3, injure 28 over past day.

Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day killed at least three people and injured at least 28, regional authorities said on June 18.

9:13 AM

Ukraine to receive Frankenstein air defense tank from Rheinmetall.

The Frankenstein air defense tank consists of an advanced German Skyranger anti-aircraft gun mounted on a Leopard 1 battle tank. The system can shoot down both drones and missiles, according to The Telegraph.

8:27 AM

Ecumenical Patriarchate signs global peace summit communique, Rwanda's signature removed.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople added its signature to the joint communique of the global pace summit for Ukraine, while Rwanda's signature has disappeared as of June 17, according to the Swiss government website.

8:12 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 528,620 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,230 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:32 AM

Ahead of his summit with North Korea’s Kim, Putin promises they’ll overcome sanctions together.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for backing his actions in Ukraine and affirmed that their nations would work closely to counter U.S.-led sanctions.

5:53 AM

Petroleum storage tanks on fire in Russia's Rostov Oblast.

Several oil storage tanks in the town of Azov in Russia's Rostov region caught fire overnight on June 18 following a drone strike, Vasily Golubev, the regional governor, said.

2:57 AM

Stoltenberg: China should face consequences for its support of Russia.

China should face consequences for its continued support of Russia amidst the ongoing war with Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on June 17.

1:17 AM

Moscow confirms A-50 aircraft was shot down by Ukraine.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation confirmed that the Ukrainian Air Force shot down a rare Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft over the Azov Sea back in February, killing ten crew members.

12:02 AM

Japan allocates $188 million for grant projects for Ukrainian businesses.

"This project opens up opportunities for businesses to receive a grant of up to $10 million, and the total project budget is $188 million," the statement said.

11:46 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones target industrial facilities in 3 Russian regions

11:31 PM

Air raids last 16 hours per day on average in Kharkiv Oblast obstructing business operations, governor says.

Nearly 50,000 residents of Kharkiv Oblast are without electricity supply due to the destruction caused by the Russian attacks, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

11:03 PM

Putin appoints relative to defense ministry post in yet another shake-up.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sacked four deputy defense ministers and appointed a relative to fill one of the resulting vacancies in the latest shake-up of the ministry.

2:43 PM  (Updated:  June 17, 2024 11:00 pm)

Updated: Russian strike against Poltava injures 22, including children.

Russia attacked Poltava Oblast on June 17, hitting a civilian infrastructure site, Governor Filip Pronin reported.