Russian media: Russian proxies in Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts demand sham ‘referendums’ to join Russia

10:45 PM

Minerals

Loss of Ukraine lithium deposit to Russia won’t impact minerals deal, says investor

10:40 PM

Ukraine receives 2nd $1.7-billion-tranche from Canada under G7 loan covered by Russian assets.

Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has received about $17.6 billion from Russia's frozen assets.

10:23 PM

Norway to deploy F-35 fighter jets to Poland to protect Ukrainian aid hub.

"We are helping ensure that support to Ukraine reaches its destination, and that Ukraine can continue its fight for freedom," Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik said.

10:03 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces push Russian army away from Sumy

8:57 PM

Ukrainian forces push Russian army away from Sumy, General Staff says.

Ukrainian troops advanced near the village of Oleksiivka and liberated the village of Andriivka, the statement read.

8:50 PM

Middle East

Russia-Iran alliance wavers as Tehran suffers major blows

8:34 PM

Drones

Smashing previous monthly record, Russia launches 5,337 kamikaze drones against Ukraine during June

1:35 AM  (Updated:  June 30, 2025 8:22 pm)

'A brutal strike' — Massive Russian missile and drone attack hits Kyiv, killing 30, injuring 172.

30 people have been killed and 172 others injured after a mass Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight on June 17.

3:11 PM  (Updated:  June 30, 2025 7:39 pm)

US lifts Russian sanctions that hindered expansion of Hungarian nuclear power plant.

"Construction of the major pieces of equipment for the Paks nuclear plant is proceeding in Russia and France," Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said, as cited by Bloomberg.

6:54 PM

Ukrainian military again denies reports on Russian troops entering Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Since June 29, the Ukrainian battlefield monitoring group DeepState has marked a "gray" zone in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, identifying potential fighting in this section of the front line.

10:08 AM  (Updated:  June 30, 2025 6:45 pm)

Russia reportedly closes Crimean Bridge amid explosions in Kerch.

Witnesses reported hearing multiple blasts and observing Russian air defense systems in action.

5:26 PM  (Updated:  June 30, 2025 6:37 pm)

Azerbaijan detains alleged Russian spies as relations with Moscow nosedive.

The move comes amid a major deterioration in Russian-Azerbaijani relations that followed the detention of over 50 people of Azerbaijani origin as part of a murder investigation in Yekaterinburg on June 27.

5:16 PM

China

China unveils its new 'graphite bomb' — here's how they work.

3:58 PM

The Kyiv Independent launches 'How to help Ukraine' newsletter.

The first edition sent on June 12 raised $16,500 in just four days for the Leleka Foundation, a U.S.-Ukrainian charity that procures medical supplies for those on the front lines.

1:30 PM

Amid Russian economy warnings, Lavrov says NATO's increased defense spending will lead to 'collapse' of alliance.

Two high-ranking Moscow officials recently issued separate warnings about the state of Russia's economy.

11:45 AM

Germany vows to pursue 'every path' to boost Ukraine's air defenses, FM Wadephul says in Kyiv.

Speaking at a press conference during his visit to Kyiv, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany is working with its defense industry, European allies, and the United States to urgently secure more systems for Ukraine's air shield.

11:30 AM

At least 6 killed, 26 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over past day.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, Ukrainian air defense hit 74 out of 107 drones launched overnight by Russia.

11:02 AM

'Russia will hit your other cheek as well' — Ukraine rebukes Slovak FM's call to 'perhaps forgive' Moscow.

"Russia's sense of impunity is the root cause of its crimes," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote in a post on X. "It's naive to expect a criminal to stop if their crime is forgiven instead of punished. Russia will hit your other cheek as well. And those who have lost no one in this war have no right to make such statements."

9:51 AM

After months of stalling, Russia blames Ukraine, US for slow pace of peace talks.

The Kremlin said the pace of negotiations hinges on Ukraine's position, the effectiveness of U.S. mediation, and battlefield developments.

8:07 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,020,010 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,070 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:59 AM

Kim Jong-un meets Russian culture minister amid deepening North Korea-Russia ties.

The visits come amid growing North Korea-Russia engagement across multiple sectors, including military cooperation.

5:17 AM

CIA says US strikes dealt years-long blow to Iran’s nuclear program, AP reports.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe told U.S. lawmakers that most of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium likely remains buried under rubble at the Isfahan and Fordo nuclear sites, two of the three key facilities targeted by U.S. strikes.

3:37 AM

Slovak FM suggests forgiveness for Russia, calls for dialogue to end Ukraine war.

"Let us return to respect for international law and seek ways to communicate with the Russian Federation," Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said on June 29.

12:49 AM

US, Russian spy chiefs agree to keep direct line open, Moscow says.

"I had a phone call with my American counterpart, and we reserved for each other the possibility to call each other at any time and discuss issues of interest to us," the Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin said.

10:13 PM

Azerbaijan cancels Russian events over 'extrajudicial killings' of 2 citizens in Russia's Yekaterinburg.

Azerbaijan has cancelled all planned cultural events hosted alongside Russian state and private organizations, the country's Culture Ministry announced on June 29, over the deaths of two Azerbaijani citizens during police raids in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.