The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
This newsletter is brought to you by Medical Bridges.
Medical Supplies for Ukraine’s Hospitals. Partnering for global health equity.
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul lay flowers at the Wall of Remembrance for the Fallen for Ukraine in Kyiv on June 30, 2025. (Maxym Marusenko / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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.
‘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.”
Russia reportedly closes Crimean Bridge amid explosions in Kerch. Witnesses reported hearing multiple blasts and observing Russian air defense systems in action.
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.
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.
Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.
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.
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.
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.
Russian logistics hub burning in occupied Luhansk Oblast amid reported drone attack, explosions. A Russian logistics hub in occupied Luhansk Oblast is on fire amid a reported drone attack overnight on July 1.
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.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces push Russian army away from Sumy
Ukrainian forces have stabilized the situation in Sumy Oblast and pushed the Russian army further away from Sumy, the region’s capital, Ukraine’s General Staff reported on June 30.
Photo: Nikoletta Stoyanova via Getty Images
Smashing previous monthly record, Russia launches 5,337 kamikaze drones against Ukraine during June
Russia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in June, according to data from the Ukrainian Air Force and Dragon Capital, smashing the previous record of 4,198 set in March.
Photo: Oles Kromplias / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
China unveils its new ‘graphite bomb’ — here’s how they work.
China’s state TV broadcaster has revealed details of a new “graphite bomb” that can cause a “complete loss of electricity” across an area of 10,000 square meters, or knock out entire power stations, the South China Morning Post reported on June 29.
Photo: South China Morning Post / Screenshot
Russia-Iran alliance wavers as Tehran suffers major blows
Tehran, Russia’s main ally in the Middle East, has been dealt a heavy blow as Israel dismantled its network of proxies and then struck targets in Iran. The recent Iranian-Israeli war, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24, showed that the regional balance of power has shifted.
Photo: Kremlin Press Office / Anadolu via Getty Images
Loss of Ukraine lithium deposit to Russia won’t impact minerals deal, says investor
Russian troops have taken over the site of one of Ukraine’s most valuable lithium deposits near the village of Shevchenko, Donetsk Oblast, as Russia ramps up its summer offensive.
Photo: Viktor Fridshon / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
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.
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.
International response
‘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.
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.
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.
In other news
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.
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.
The Kyiv Independent delivers urgent, independent journalism from the ground, from breaking news to investigations into war crimes. Your support helps us keep telling the truth. Become a member today.
This newsletter is open for sponsorship. Boost your brand’s visibility by reaching thousands of engaged subscribers. Click here for more details.
Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Chris York, Anna Fratsyvir, Oleg Sukhov, Kateryna Hodunova, Olena Goncharova, and Volodymyr Ivanyshyn.
If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today.
