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 14, 2025. (Maksym Kishka/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukraine, Russia conduct fourth prisoner exchange this week. “Today, among those returning to Ukraine, many have been in captivity since 2022,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine confirms drone strikes on Russian chemical plants tied to explosives production. “As part of efforts to reduce (Russia’s) ability to produce explosives and ammunition, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ drone systems, in coordination with other Defense Forces units, struck critical facilities of Russia’s military-industrial complex overnight,” Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement.
Russia transfers 50 Ukrainian children to so-called ‘rehab camp‘ in Kalmykia, Kyiv says. Russia has transferred 50 children from the occupied Antratsyt district of Luhansk Oblast to a so-called rehabilitation camp in Kalmykia, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation reported on June 14.
Ukraine aims to boost drone intercept capabilities after record Russian attacks. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said he held a meeting focused on strengthening defenses against Russian strike drones, particularly Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russian forces to target Ukrainian cities.
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Putin, Trump hold phone call, discuss Ukraine, Middle East conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call on June 14 in which the two leaders discussed Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Ukrainian drones destroy Russian air defense systems in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military intelligence says. Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) destroyed three Russian air defense systems using drones in the occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast on June 14, HUR says.
Ukraine repatriates bodies of 1,200 citizens in latest swap with Russia. The Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War said the bodies, which Russian authorities claim belong to Ukrainian nationals, were returned as part of an ongoing phased exchange process.
Ukraine arrests two suspects accused of extorting foreign defense supplier. The suspects allegedly demanded $200,000 in exchange for facilitating the successful testing and adoption of five radio electronic warfare systems provided to Ukraine at no cost.
Read our exclusives
High stakes, low resolve: What Ukraine can expect from the upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit
As world leaders prepare to gather in the remote community of Kananaskis in Canada for the G7 Leaders’ Summit on June 15-17, Russia’s war in Ukraine once again holds center stage — but views on how to address the three-year conflict diverge sharply.
Photo: Dmytro Basmat / The Kyiv Independent
Trump gave Putin a ‘two-week’ deadline to consider peace in Ukraine. Instead, Russia launched more drones
A “two week” deadline imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to see if Russia is serious about peace in Ukraine has come and gone, with Moscow’s escalation of attacks on civilians during this period failing to draw the slightest condemnation from the White House.
Photo: Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)
Europe hasn’t decided what to do if US steps back’ — key takeaways from Zelensky’s closed-door briefing
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office has confirmed plans for a meeting with Donald Trump at the upcoming G7 summit on June 17, according to the Kyiv Independent journalist who attended a closed-door briefing with Zelensky.
Photo: Chris Kleponis / Bloomberg via Getty Images
From buffer zone to new front: Russia pushes deeper into Sumy Oblast
In March 2025, as Ukrainian forces made their final retreat from Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, new grey spots began to appear on open-source maps on the other side of the state border, in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast.
Photo: Vlada Liberova / Libkos via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian attacks kill at least 3, injure 11 across Ukraine over past day. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 58 attack drones, primarily Shahed-type UAVs, and decoys from multiple directions.
International response
Berlin wants more defense, no budget hike in EU plan, FT reports. Germany aims to increase domestic military spending in response to Russia’s ongoing threat and amid calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for Europe to shoulder more of its own defense.
In other news
9 Ukrainian students hospitalized after deadly bus crash in France. The group, made up of students and teachers from Chernivtsi Oblast, was returning from an academic exchange when their bus veered off the road in the Sarthe department of France on June 13.
Kyiv Pride march takes place, gathers international representatives, faces counterprotesters. Kyiv Pride held a parade with over 1,500 participants in the Ukrainian capital on June 16 and was met with counterprotests.
Israel strike reportedly hits Iran’s gas sector, halting production at world’s largest field. Iran has partially suspended production at the South Pars gas field — the world’s largest — after an Israeli airstrike triggered a fire at the site, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on June 14.
Israel asks US to join strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, officials told Axios. The request comes as Israel continues its assault on Iranian targets and warns that it lacks the capability to destroy Fordow uranium enrichment site alone.
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