Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian forces have struck energy and military infrastructure either side of a key bridge linking occupied Crimea and Russia.
The Russia-appointed Crimean governor Sergei Aksyonov said fuel stations across the peninsula suspended sales to the public and businesses, with supplies restricted to government agencies responsible for essential services and security.
Russian authorities said at least five people were killed and 28 injured in the attacks, adding that air defences had downed 239 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Meanwhile, Zelensky and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk voiced concern over a growing dispute between their two countries after the Polish president revoked Zelensky's Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honour.
The controversy stems from Zelensky's decision to rename a Ukrainian military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, a nationalist force responsible for massacres of Poles during the war. In protest at the revocation, three former Ukrainian presidents and several senior officials returned Polish honours they had received.
Zelensky warned of a "very dangerous escalation", while Tusk said the dispute would "harm both sides: business-wise, geopolitically, and reputationally".
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Key Points
- Ukraine strikes near Crimea bridge as Zelensky warns of ‘new massive strike’ by Russia
- Ukraine attack kills five as Crimea halts public fuel sales
- Tusk warns Poland-Ukraine political row will damage both countries
- Zelensky again urges Belarus to dismantle relay stations
- Ukraine launches attack on oil refinery in Siberia more than 2,500 km away
- Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia kill four and injured six
Tusk warns Poland-Ukraine political row will damage both countries
05:22 , Namita SinghPolish prime minister Donald Tusk has warned that a growing political dispute between Poland and Ukraine is a strategic error that risks damaging both countries, as he attempts to ease renewed tensions over events dating back to the Second World War.
The row escalated after Polish president Karol Nawrocki on Friday revoked Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky's highest Polish state honour. In response, three former Ukrainian presidents and several senior officials returned the awards they had previously received from Poland.
Nawrocki withdrew the Order of the White Eagle after Zelensky drew criticism in Poland for renaming a Ukrainian military unit in honour of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, a nationalist force responsible for massacres of Poles during the Second World War.
“Wading into a conflict between politicians in Poland and Ukraine is a strategic mistake that will harm both sides: business-wise, geopolitically, and reputationally. And in politics, as we know, a mistake is worse than a crime,” Tusk wrote in a post on X.
The pro-European leader returned to power in 2023 after heading a coalition that defeated the nationalist Law and Justice party, with which Nawrocki is politically aligned.
In an interview published on X, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine and Poland could only remain “partners and friends”, warning that political tensions could lead to a “very dangerous escalation”.
“Our service members choose a heroic name for their unit themselves, and as president and supreme commander-in-chief, I must support them,” he said.“Without Ukraine, no one will be able to defend Poland. It is simply impossible.”
Ukraine strikes near Crimea bridge as Zelensky warns of ‘new massive strike’ by Russia
05:16 , Namita SinghUkraine targeted the energy and military infrastructure near the Crimean Bridge, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on 21 June.
"This night, our long-range sanctions were applied to the occupiers' military logistics, oil industry, and air defence," Zelensky said in a Telegram post.
"Targets on both sides of the Crimean Bridge were hit: maritime logistics for oil transportation in the Krasnodar region and an oil depot in temporarily occupied Kerch," he added.
Zelensky warned the citizens to be vigilant earlier on 20 June about a possible Russian attack.
"Tonight and in the coming hours, we must pay particularly close attention to air raid alerts," Zelensky has said on Saturday. "The Russians have prepared for a new massive strike. Please, stay safe."
Ukraine drone attacks kill five in Crimea, Krasnodar region, Russian authorities say
04:55 , Namita SinghFour people were killed and 28 wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian-controlled peninsula of Crimea, the Russian-installed governor said.
Separately, local authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region said a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person on a passenger ferry and set an oil terminal ablaze.
The ferry service across the Kerch Strait, separating Crimea from the Krasnodar region, has been temporarily suspended, the authorities said.
Ukraine attack kills five as Crimea halts public fuel sales
04:40 , Namita SinghFour people were killed and 28 wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian-controlled peninsula of Crimea, the Russian-installed governor said.
Separately, local authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region said a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil transport facility, confirmed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, killed one person on a passenger ferry and set an oil terminal ablaze.
The Russian defence ministry said 239 Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight.
Crimean governor Sergei Aksyonov said fuel stations across the peninsula suspended sales to the public and businesses, with supplies restricted to government agencies responsible for essential services and security.
Ukraine has recently intensified drone attacks on Crimea, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, targeting the peninsula's supply routes and triggering a fuel crisis as the holiday season starts.
A local power grid operator reported outages in several areas after damage to electricity networks, while ferry traffic across the Kerch Strait, separating Crimea from the Krasnodar region, was temporarily suspended.
Authorities also halted traffic on the bridge linking Crimea with Russia's Krasnodar region for more than nine hours, leaving 11 trains running behind schedule.
Ukraine's battlefield shift has not solved its humanitarian crisis, IRC says
04:22 , Namita SinghUkraine's stronger position in the war with Russia has yet to relieve the humanitarian crisis felt by millions of displaced Ukrainians and worsened by a plunge in aid spending, the head of the International Rescue Committee said.
Ukraine has slowed Russia's advances on the battlefield to a virtual halt in recent months, prompting G7 leaders to recognise at a summit last week that momentum in the war has shifted.
Speaking during a visit to Ukraine, David Miliband, the IRC's president and CEO, said it was still vital to recognise the impact of aid cuts, led by the US, that have halved the IRC's budget in the country to a current estimate of $20m in 2027 from $40m last year.
"It feels particularly important at a time when there is this new sense of a different geopolitical narrative to recognise the brutality and strain that's being faced by millions of Ukrainians," Miliband said on Saturday, World Refugee Day.
The UN calculates roughly 118 million people are displaced globally, often as a result of conflict, violence and persecution. Ukraine accounts for around 10 million, with nearly four million of those internally displaced inside the country.
One killed, three injured as Russia hits Odesa region with Iskander missile, governor says
04:04 , Namita SinghOne person was killed and three were injured after Russia hit Ukraine's southern Odesa region with an Iskander ballistic missile on Sunday evening, Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, said on Telegram. He said vehicles and fuel storage tanks caught fire after the strike hit an agricultural facility in the Odesa district.
The details could not be independently verified.
Post office and apartments damaged as 8 injured in attack on Sumy - ICYMI
03:00 , Alex CroftRussia launched a fresh attack on Sumy on Sunday, with several buildings damaged.
Eight people were injured in the overnight attacks, according to Serhii Kryvosheienko, head of Sumy City Military Administration.
A post office, petrol station, apartment blocks and houses were damaged in the attack, he said.
Ukraine's strengthening position in war has not relieved humanitarian crisis - IRC
01:30 , Alex CroftUkraine's stronger position in the war with Russia has yet to relieve the humanitarian crisis felt by millions of displaced Ukrainians and worsened by a plunge in aid spending, the head of the International Rescue Committee said.
Ukraine has slowed Russia's advances on the battlefield to a virtual halt in recent months, prompting G7 leaders to recognise at a summit last week that momentum in the war has shifted.
Speaking during a visit to Ukraine, David Miliband, the IRC's president and CEO, said it was still vital to recognise the impact of aid cuts, led by the U.S., that has halved the IRC's budget in the country to a current estimate of $20 million in 2027 from $40 million last year.
"It feels particularly important at a time when there is this new sense of a different geopolitical narrative to recognise the brutality and strain that's being faced by millions of Ukrainians," Mr Miliband said on Saturday, World Refugee Day.
Watch: Zelensky warns Ukrainians of ‘massive attack’ from Russia as strikes kill at least six people
Monday 22 June 2026 00:00 , Alex CroftUkraine drone attacks kill five in Crimea and Krasnodar region
Sunday 21 June 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftAt least four people were killed and 28 wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian-controlled peninsula of Crimea, the Russian-installed governor said.
Separately, local authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region said a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person on a passenger ferry and set an oil terminal ablaze.
The ferry service across the Kerch Strait, separating Crimea from the Krasnodar region, has been temporarily suspended, the authorities said.
Bulletin | Zelensky tells Belarus to dismantle tech used by Russia – or face force
Sunday 21 June 2026 22:02 , Alex CroftUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Belarus to dismantle relay stations he claims are crucial for Russian drone attacks on Ukraine.
Here’s all you need to know in five bullet points:
Zelensky tells Belarus to dismantle tech used by Russia – or face force
Former Ukrainian PM latest to return Polish state honour
Sunday 21 June 2026 21:00 , Alex CroftFormer Ukrainian prime minister Volodymyr Hroisman is the latest Ukrainian politician to return the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
Mr Hroisman received the honour in 2011 while serving as mayor of Vinnytsia, for developing regional cooperation with Polish cities during this time.
"I am returning the order as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine and President Zelensky. Not out of resentment towards the Polish people, but with deep respect for them and gratitude for all the years of support, for the millions of Poles who opened their hearts and homes to our people after 24 February,” he said on Facebook.
It comes as part of an ongoing dispute over Poland and Ukraine’s shared history, after Polish president Karol Nawrocki stripped Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle after he named a Ukrainian military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army - which Warsaw says carried out a genocide of Poles in the 1940s.
Russia frees 24 Filipinos after Marcos talks with Putin
Sunday 21 June 2026 20:01 , Alex CroftRussia has freed 24 Filipinos who were detained for months without charges in a Siberian city, after Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised concern for them in a meeting with president Vladimir Putin, Philippine officials said on Saturday.
The 24 arrived in Manila aboard two flights early Sunday, and the first batch was welcomed by Philippine foreign secretary Theresa Lazaro, who accompanied Marcos in his talks with Putin on Wednesday in the Russian city of Kazan, the department of foreign affairs in Manila said.
Migrant Workers secretary Hans Cacdac welcomed the final batch of freed workers before dawn. His agency provided unspecified aid to the workers, who were detained in a Russian region known for its extreme winter temperatures.
Trump claims Moscow losing more troops than Kyiv as he admits Putin on ‘the offensive’ - ICYMI
Sunday 21 June 2026 19:02 , Alex CroftRecap: Ukraine accepts proposal from Brazil's Lula to work for peace, Kyiv adviser says
Sunday 21 June 2026 18:00 , Alex CroftPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has accepted an offer from Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to help work for a peace deal in Russia's war in Ukraine, a Ukrainian presidential adviser said on Friday.
Zelensky and Lula met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in the French resort of Evian-les-Bains on Wednesday, where the Ukrainian leader urged allies to increase pressure on Russia to end the more than four-year-old war.
The two presidents discussed what could reactivate diplomacy and Lula proposed several ideas, including contacts with permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn told reporters.
"They agreed that, in particular, based on such ideas and contacts, they would try to achieve something and later they would discuss it based on the results," Lytvyn said.
Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant says external power link restored
Sunday 21 June 2026 17:02 , Alex CroftThe Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine said yesterday that external power had been restored after the station had been obliged to rely on diesel generation for a time.
Russia seized the plant in the first weeks of the war and each side has since regularly accused the other of military action that compromises nuclear safety.
A statement issued by the plant's Russian management on Telegram said the plant was operating normally after the transition back to external power. Radiation levels were normal.
The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also reported the restoration of the external line after a break of four and a half hours.
Ukraine's energy ministry said Russian military activity was responsible for the disconnection, the 20th such occurrence since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, produces no electricity, but needs power supplied by two external links to keep nuclear fuel at the plant cool.
How Ukraine’s new drone tactics are causing chaos in Russia after largest-ever attack on Moscow
Sunday 21 June 2026 16:01 , Alex CroftUkraine launched a powerful barrage of drones on Moscow on Thursday, triggering a huge explosion in one of the Russian capital’s key oil refineries.
Kyiv’s strategic deployment of medium-range drones is inflicting significant damage on Russia's struggling war effort, experts have said as Moscow’s ground offensive stalls.
Kyiv has scaled up its targeting of Russia’s critical oil infrastructure, the lifeblood of the Kremlin’s wartime economy, as part of a wider campaign to weaken its capacity to continue its war on Ukraine.
"One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is 'What is going on?' I can answer. Your country started a war of aggression against ours. For years, it has been killing our people. Now that you know what's going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it," Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X. on Thursday.
Take a look at how Ukraine’s new drone tactics are causing major problems for Russia:
How Ukraine’s new drone tactics are causing chaos in Russia
Watch: Kherson emergency services put out fires as Ukraine reports Russian attack
Sunday 21 June 2026 15:02 , Alex CroftIAEA says Zaporizhzhia NPP loses power for 20th time
Sunday 21 June 2026 14:00 , Alex CroftThe International Atomic Energy Agency said on Saturday Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost off-site power for the 20th time during the conflict with Russia due to an issue with the site's internal power lines affecting its only remaining 330 kV connection, Ferosplavna-1.
Emergency diesel generators were activated to maintain reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety functions, the agency said in a post on X.
Ukraine's strengthening position in war has not relieved humanitarian crisis - IRC
Sunday 21 June 2026 13:01 , Alex CroftUkraine's stronger position in the war with Russia has yet to relieve the humanitarian crisis felt by millions of displaced Ukrainians and worsened by a plunge in aid spending, the head of the International Rescue Committee said.
Ukraine has slowed Russia's advances on the battlefield to a virtual halt in recent months, prompting G7 leaders to recognise at a summit last week that momentum in the war has shifted.
Speaking during a visit to Ukraine, David Miliband, the IRC's president and CEO, said it was still vital to recognise the impact of aid cuts, led by the U.S., that has halved the IRC's budget in the country to a current estimate of $20 million in 2027 from $40 million last year.
"It feels particularly important at a time when there is this new sense of a different geopolitical narrative to recognise the brutality and strain that's being faced by millions of Ukrainians," Mr Miliband said on Saturday, World Refugee Day.
