The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Families of Ukrainian POW’s turn to those released during the 66th prisoner exchange, hoping to find out about their missed loved ones on June 12, 2025 in an unspecified area of Ukraine. Ukraine returned the third group of military personnel, most held in Russian captivity since 2022, as part of a new prisoner exchange that was agreed upon by the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, Turkey. (Maksym Kishka/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukrainian forces ‘gradually pushing back‘ Russian troops from Sumy Oblast, Zelensky says. “Our units in Sumy Oblast are gradually pushing back the occupiers. Thank you to each of our soldiers, sergeants, and officers for this result,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said
‘They are not so successful’ — Zelensky rejects claims of major Russian advances. President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected claims of Russian advance as “a Russian narrative,” insisting that Ukraine’s forces have been holding off a renewed offensive for nearly three weeks.
Ukraine, Russia carry out another exchange of POWs under Istanbul deal. The prisoners of war (POWs) were released as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia agreed upon during recent peace talks in Istanbul, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the POWs said.
‘Juicy target’ — Ukraine says it struck Russian electronics plant in Moscow Oblast. The facility assembles circuit boards and electronics for the Russian military-industrial complex, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said.
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Germany to supply new Iris-T air defense systems to Ukraine, rules out Taurus missiles. Germany will deliver new IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine under a three-year supply plan, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a joint press conference with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who said Berlin has no plans to provide Taurus long-range missiles.
Russia ‘lying to Trump,’ using peace talks to stall US sanctions, Zelensky says. “It’s important for them to show (U.S. President Donald) Trump that there is a diplomatic bridge between Ukraine and Russia,” President Volodymyr Zelensky told Bild.
Ukrainian forces ‘gradually pushing back’ Russian troops from Sumy Oblast, Zelensky says. “Our units in Sumy Oblast are gradually pushing back the occupiers. Thank you to each of our soldiers, sergeants, and officers for this result,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Russia reportedly redeploys bombers to Far East bases after Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb. The relocation comes in the wake of Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a June 1 drone strike that targeted four Russian air bases deep inside the country.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces ‘gradually pushing back’ Russian troops from Sumy Oblast, Zelensky says
Ukrainian forces are gradually driving Russian troops back from parts of Sumy Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 12, amid escalating cross-border assaults in the region.
Photo: Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images
As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 1 million, Putin’s war economy heads toward breaking point
Russian losses in Ukraine hit a massive, and grim milestone on June 12 — 1 million Russian soldiers killed or wounded during the 39-month-long full-scale war, according to figures from Kyiv.
Photo: Contributor / Getty Images
Why can’t the West match Russia’s ammunition production?
The Western world never thought it would need to make this much gunpowder again. It’s now struggling to compensate for ‘strategic bottlenecks,’ including dependence on China.
Photo: Axel Heimken / AFP via Getty Images
‘I feel like I lost 3 years’ — Ukrainian author turned soldier Artem Chapeye on culture during war
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian writers have found themselves grappling with questions not just of survival, but of voice, purpose, and audience.
Photo: Artem Chapeye / Facebook
Human cost of Russia’s war
15 injured in Russian drone attack on Kharkiv, day after fatal drone bombardment. A Russian drone attack on Kharkiv overnight on June 12 injured 15 people, including at least four children, authorities reported.
Death toll of Russia’s June 7 strike on Kharkiv rises to 5. The death toll of a Russian attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv on June 7 has risen to five, as two more bodies were found in the rubble, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on June 12.
Over 100,000 Russian families seek missing soldiers through Ukrainian project, Kyiv says. In May 2025 alone, the project received a record 12,320 inquiries — the highest monthly figure since the program began in January 2024.
Russia’s Wagner Group abused civilians in secret prisons in Mali, investigation finds. Since 2021, Russian Wagner mercenaries have detained, tortured, and forcibly disappeared hundreds of civilians in secret prisons across Mali, according to a joint investigation published on June 12 by Forbidden Stories, France 24, Le Monde, and IStories.
Opinions and insights
‘Ukrainians have been stripped of illusion of control’ — Filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai on Russia’s war, cinema and reclaiming the narrative
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, film director Kateryna Gornostai found herself questioning whether she would continue working.
Photo: Elena Kalinichenko/The Kyiv Independent
International response
Israel targets Iran’s nuclear program in ‘preemptive strikes,’ Netanyahu says. Israeli forces launched “preemptive strikes” on Iran overnight on June 13, the country’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
Zelensky holds first meeting with Romania’s new president Dan. President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted a trilateral meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu and newly elected Romanian President Nicusor Dan.
With only 2 weeks of funding left, US group tracking Russian abduction of Ukrainian children prepares to shut down. “Right now, we are running on fumes,” Nathaniel Raymond, the lab’s executive director, told CNN. “As of July 1, we lay off all of our staff across Ukraine and other teams, and our work tracking the kids officially ends.”
NATO expands satellite surveillance to monitor Ukraine, eastern flank. The initiative, named Smart Indication and Warning Broad Area Detection (SINBAD), will allow NATO to scan vast territories with unprecedented frequency, using AI-powered analysis to detect changes and alert allies to potential threats.
Russia cultivates pro-Kremlin African elite through education, Ukraine’s intel warns. According to Andrii Yusov, the agency’s spokesperson, the Kremlin’s strategic aim is to shape a future generation of African elites that are politically and ideologically aligned with Moscow’s interests.
US Ambassador to Russia Tracy leaving post, embassy says. The U.S. Embassy said that Ambassador Lynne Tracy is “concluding her mission at the U.S. Embassy in Russia,” without providing further details.
EU approves new tariffs on Russian, Belarusian agricultural goods. The measures target those goods that have not yet been subject to additional customs duties and will enter into force on July 1. The tariffs on fertilizers will increase gradually over the next three years.
For first time since invasion of Ukraine, US congratulates Russia on National Day. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the Russian people on June 12, Russia’s National Day, and expressed a desire for “constructive engagement” to bring peace to Ukraine.
G7 ready to lower Russian oil price cap without US support, Reuters reports.
Most G7 members are prepared to lower the Russian oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel even without U.S. support, Reuters reported on June 12.
EU names special envoy for Ukrainian refugees, POLITICO reports. Ylva Johansson, former European Commissioner for Home Affairs, will serve as the European Union’s new special envoy for Ukrainians, overseeing long-term strategy for Ukrainian refugees in the bloc.
Ukrainian writer turned soldier on wartime creativity
In other news
Russia converts Kerch Airport in Crimea into military base, investigation shows. On March 4, 2025, the Russian-backed authorities officially transferred part of the airport’s land to Russia’s Defense Ministry for indefinite use, according to the investigation.
Russia exploits medical exemptions to bypass sanctions, Lithuania says.
Lithuanian customs authorities blocked 28,854 goods in 2024 that were allegedly destined for Russia and Belarus “under the guise of medical exemption,” Lithuania’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gabija Grigaite-Daugirde said.
Putin announces creation of separate drone branch in Russian military. “We have accumulated a great deal of experience to create this branch of the armed forces,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
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