All articles tagged with #ukraine russia war
Ukraine intensified strikes on Russian tankers and energy infrastructure supplying Crimea, and on refineries inside Russia, triggering fuel shortages in Crimea and in parts of Russia while Moscow seeks to reroute supplies; Kyiv says the strikes aim to disrupt Russia's energy logistics, with Zelenskyy urging decisive use of air power in the war.
Ukraine completed another prisoner swap with Russia, releasing 160 Ukrainian POWs in a 160-for-160 exchange confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry; Zelensky said authorities will verify every name and aim to return all captives, including Azovstal defenders. Separately, the EU extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 2028 but will bar military-age men from using it, at Kyiv's request. In Crimea, Russian-installed authorities declared a regional state of emergency as Ukraine intensified drone strikes targeting infrastructure and Russian vessels, including strikes on ships near Kerch and the Kerch Strait area.
President Zelenskyy announced a 40-day operation against Russian targets to pressure Moscow to end the war, with Ukraine claiming strikes on oil refineries in Ufa and an oil depot in Krasnodar; Crimea faced power shortages after Ukrainian drones hit Sevastopol, Belarus relay stations were silenced, and Chernihiv evacuation orders were issued. Kyiv also warned Russia was moving air defences toward Moscow while prioritising protection of the Kerch Bridge and other key assets.
Ukraine is stepping up pressure on Russia by targeting Crimea’s logistics: Sevastopol faces power outages after intensified Ukrainian strikes, authorities restrict fuel sales to government bodies and suspend summer camps for children, and Kyiv continues attacks on transport routes linking the peninsula to southern Russia to disrupt military logistics. Officials frame the campaign as a calculated move to push Moscow toward peace, but analysts warn the measures may harden domestic support for the war without necessarily changing Putin’s calculations.
Zelensky says Ukraine’s Security Service has approved a 40-day influence operation against Russia aimed at pressuring an end to the war, following a briefing with SBU head Yevhen Khmara. He referenced plans for long- and medium-range sanctions and highlighted the Alpha Center’s front-line results, while offering few specifics. The SBU is also involved in drone strikes on Russian territory as Moscow grapples with a fuel shortage tied to refinery attacks.
ISW’s June 22 update notes a Ukrainian strike near Moscow—the third attack on the capital region in a week— hitting the Dubna Space Communications Center; Moscow reported downing most drones and no damage, while Russia reinforces air defenses around Moscow. In the broader conflict, Ukraine is expanding intermediate- and long-range strikes, including against Russian oil facilities and a Voronezh defense plant, worsening fuel shortages in occupied Ukraine and parts of Russia. The campaign has produced numerous long-range strikes in May–June, with Zelensky claiming Fire Point drones can reach up to 2,070 km (aiming for 3,000 km). Belarus remains pressured to halt support for Russia. ISW also notes ongoing infiltration tactics and cautions some battlefield footage may be AI-generated.
Ukraine says its strikes on the Chonhar Bridge cut fuel to Russia’s 37th Motorized Rifle Brigade, contributing to a fuel shortage that reportedly led its battalion commander, Bato Munkuyev, to take his own life days after the attacks. Ukrainian sources say the Russian command pressured him to continue combat tasks despite insufficient fuel, ammo, and reinforcements as the strikes halted fuel movement from Crimea to the southern front.
ISW notes Russia is withdrawing from Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv as Ukraine’s intermediate-range strikes disrupt Russian supply lines in occupied areas, signaling a shift in battlefield dynamics and possible further withdrawals. The Kremlin remains unreconciled with peace efforts despite Ukrainian outreach, while NATO reports a drone downed in Latvia after Russian EW diverted it into Baltic airspace. Russia launched about 155 drones with Ukrainian defenses intercepting most, and Ukraine continued strikes against Russian energy and logistics assets—including oil terminals and railway facilities in Russia and occupied Crimea—driving fuel shortages and fuel-quota measures there. Across Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk, Ukrainian forces conduct intermediate-range strikes and counter-infiltration operations amid ongoing ground fighting. Belarusian and Chinese engagement around Moscow’s strategic posture also features in the broader picture.
Ukraine’s improving drone campaign and strikes on Russian rear logistics are eroding Moscow’s battlefield edge, with Ukrainian gains in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions contributing to a cautious tilt in Kyiv’s favor while both sides remain locked in a stalemate. Analysts warn that sustained pressure could push Russia toward a limited mobilization or diplomatic talks, but a large-scale Ukrainian offensive remains unlikely in the near term.
Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and a Baltic Fleet facility in St. Petersburg hours before Putin’s high-profile SPIEF economic forum, in what Kyiv described as a bid to embarrass the Kremlin and show Russia’s vulnerabilities. Moscow said it shot down 59 drones and reported damage and injuries but no fatalities, while the city faced flight disruptions and heightened security as foreign guests attended the event.
DeepState reports that in May 2026 Ukraine gained more territory than Russia occupied, pushing Russian advances into the negative for the first time since 2023. Russian assault activity rose, Shahed-type drones struck Odesa, and Romania confirmed a drone strike linked to Russia near Galati. Ukrainian officials, including Budanov, say ending the war before winter is realistic and that a window for peace talks remains open.
Ukraine is deploying fixed-wing, mid-range drones to strike targets 20–300 km from the front, hitting Russian warehouses, transport hubs, and command posts to disrupt logistics and erode morale. Officials say the tactic turns previously “safe” areas into new kill zones, with Western partners aiding production of mid-range drones. Analysts warn the shift could redefine battlefield dynamics and expect continued scaling in 2026 as Kyiv intensifies these strikes.
A Russian drone struck an apartment building in Galati, Romania, a NATO member near Ukraine, injuring two as Moscow attacked a nearby Ukrainian port, Izmail. The incident marks the 28th time Russian drones breached Romanian airspace since Moscow began targeting Danube ports. Romania scrambled fighter jets and engaged targets amid rising tensions with NATO members.
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was struck by a large missile and drone attack early Sunday, following a warning that Russia could launch the hypersonic Oreshnik missile. Explosions shook the city, at least three people were injured and several residential buildings damaged, with debris burning near a central school as Kyiv braces for potential retaliation.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) says its Alpha Center struck the Russian FSB HQ in occupied Kherson, destroying the building and a Pantsir-S1 system; President Zelenskyy says roughly 100 Russian personnel were killed or wounded, and Kyiv vows to continue precision strikes on enemy rear targets as the war drags on; exact location and officer identities are still being verified.