US House passes record $858 billion defense budget, including more aid for Ukraine.

8:17 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,020,980 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 970 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:44 AM

Zelensky, German FM discuss supplying IRIS-T air defenses, joint weapons production, strengthening Russia sanctions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met in Kyiv on June 30, where the two leaders discussed Germany supplying additional IRIS-T air defense systems, joint weapons production, and strengthening sanctions against Russia, Zelensky said.

6:24 AM

UN analysis finds Russia responsible for 2022 Olenivka prison explosion killing Ukrainian POWs, ombudsman says.

"(A)n internal analysis of the UN showed that it was the Russian Federation that planned and carried out the attack," Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.

5:08 AM

Russian logistics hub burning in occupied Luhansk Oblast amid reported Ukrainian drone attack.

A Russian logistics hub in occupied Luhansk Oblast is on fire amid a reported drone attack overnight on July 1.

1:28 AM

EU seals new trade deal with Ukraine, key details still pending.

The new deal replaces the autonomous trade measures that allowed Ukrainian agri-food exports to enter the EU tariff-free since 2022.

12:47 AM

'Russia cannot continue to stall for time' while bombing Ukrainian civilians, Kellogg says.

"Peskov’s recent comments on the state of negotiations are Orwellian. Russian claims that it is the US and Ukraine stalling peace talks are unfounded," Special Envoy Keith Kellogg said on June 30.

11:50 PM

Oil tanker damaged by blast weeks after visiting Russian ports, Bloomberg reports.

The blast caused flooding in the Vilamoura’s engine room, though the cause of the explosion remains unclear, according to a company spokesperson.

10:45 PM

Minerals

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

10:40 PM

Ukraine gets $1.7 billion loan from Canada backed 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."