The Ukrainian military says it has begun pushing back Russian troops in the northeastern Sumy region, where it is preparing a counteroffensive following advances by Moscow.
Fighting has intensified despite a return to direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in recent months. Russian forces have carved out a 200 square kilometre (77.22 square miles) chunk of Ukraine's Sumy region and first entered the Dnipropetrovsk region last month.
“Our troops maintain defenses along the designated border, conduct preparation and counter-offensive measures to repel the enemy,” the Ukrainian military’s General Staff said on Facebook.
“Yes, as a result of the successful actions of Ukrainian soldiers, the settlement of Andriyivka was liberated. In addition, our units advanced in the area of Oleksíivka, pushing the opponent away from Sumy.”
The General Staff also claimed on Monday that Russia has lost more than one million troops during its invasion of Ukraine after losing more than 1,000 in the past day alone.
The figures from Kyiv have not been verified by independent sources - but the Center for Strategic & International Studies reported earlier this month that up to 250,000 soldiers have been killed with up to 950,000 casualties.
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Key Points
- Ukrainian military says it is pushing back Russian forces in Sumy region
- Kyiv claims more than one million Russian troops lost since war began
- At least six killed in fresh Russian attacks on Monday, say Ukrainian officials
- Watch: Ukrainian troops 'destroy North Korean missile launcher'
- Russia seizes first village in central Dnipropetrovsk region, says Moscow
- Nato defence spending increase could lead to its collapse, says Lavrov
Watch: Ukrainian troops 'destroy North Korean missile launcher'
15:57
,
Alex Croft
In the Novopavlivka direction, operators of the 413th "Raid" Battalion detected and destroyed an M1991 MLRS manufactured by North Korea.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 30, 2025
The pilot hit one of the rockets in the launcher pod. The munition detonated, pierced the crew cabin, and then triggered the full ammunition… pic.twitter.com/OGFEbpX94c
Russia claims to take control of Ukrainian village in new advance
15:44
,
Alex Croft
Russian forces have reportedly seized their first village in Ukraine's east-central Dnipropetrovsk region, according to Russian state media and war bloggers, marking a new advance in the ongoing conflict.
There has been no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian sources or the Russian Defence Ministry regarding the claim.
This reported advance comes as Moscow's forces have gained significant ground in recent months, seizing approximately 950 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory over the past two months.
This includes a 200 square kilometre chunk of the Sumy region and an earlier entry into Dnipropetrovsk last month, even as both sides discuss potential peace.
Read more here:
Russia summons Azerbaijan ambassador over detention of journalists
15:19
,
Alex Croft
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it had summoned Azerbaijan's ambassador to Moscow over what it described as Baku's "unfriendly actions" and the "illegal detention" of Russian journalists working in the country.
Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan rose earlier on Monday after the Kremlin said it disagreed with a decision by Azerbaijan to cancel Russian cultural events in response to the arrest in Russia of a group of ethnic Azerbaijanis suspected of serious crimes.
Ukrainian military says it is pushing back Russian forces in Sumy region
14:54
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine’s military has said it is has began pushing back Russian forces in the Sumy region as it prepares a counteroffensive after Russia has seized hundreds of square kilometres.
Here is what the military’s General Staff posted on Facebook, according to Ukrainska Pravda:
Currently, the situation is stabilized, the advancement of the enemy has been stopped along the line of Junakivka - Yablunivka - Novomikolaivka - Oleksiyivka - Kindrativka - Border of the Russian Federation - Placdarm on the territory of the Russian Federation in the Glushkov district of the Kursk region.
Our troops maintain defenses along the designated border, conduct preparation and counter-offensive measures to repel the enemy. Yes, as a result of the successful actions of Ukrainian soldiers, the settlement of Andriyivka was liberated. In addition, our units advanced in the area of Oleksíivka, pushing the opponent away from Sumy.
Germany to explore 'every possible path' to boost Ukraine's air defence, says foreign minister
14:38
,
Alex Croft
Germany will explore “every possible path” to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems as Russia launches increasingly intense missile and drone attacks, foreign minister Johann Wadephul said.
Speaking during a press conference, Mr Wadephul said Germany is working with its defense industry, European allies and the US ensure Kyiv is provided with more systems.
"We are going down every path available," Mr Wadephul said according to RBK-Ukraine. "The German defense industry is trying to expand its capacity. We're speaking with our European partners, and I believe we must also move forward with the United States."
Ukraine's Ministry of National Unity may be dissolved - report
14:19
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine’s Ministry of National Unity, which aimed to establish engagement with Ukrainians abroad, may be dissolved, according to a report.
The ministry was headed by deputy prime minister Oleksii Chernyshov, Ukrainska Pravda reports that part of the reason it was initially created was to give Mr Chernyshov a role in government.
"It was a kind of 'craft' ministry. We gave it a try – it didn’t work,” said a source within the governing Servant of the People party.
“Maybe it’s not worth dragging it along any further. So far, there’s no final certainty that anything will change. The president and Yermak [Head of President's Office – ed.] have returned from their NATO and EU summits, and everything’s gone quiet. No one’s being pushed. We’ll see".
Which European countries are leaving landmines treaty?
13:55
,
Alex Croft
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that he had signed a decree to pull Kyiv out of a treaty restricting the use of anti-personnel landmines.
First signed in December 1997 the treaty to eliminate the use of the landmines, but during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces have reportedly been the first signatories to use them in combat.
Mr Zelensky said Kyiv would pull out of the treaty because Russia - which has not signed to the so-called Ottowa Treaty - has used anti-personnel mines extensively in parts of Ukraine during the 40-month-old war.
All the European countries bordering Russia, apart from Norway, have now announced plans to quit the global treaty, citing the increasing threat of direct conflict with Moscow.
Norway only has a 200km border with Russia in the remote Arctic far north, and says it is important to maintain stigma around the weapons. Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have all withdrawn or indicated that they will do so.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres in mid-June raised grave concerns about recent withdrawal announcements, and urged all states to adhere to existing treaties and immediately halt any steps towards their withdrawal.
Watch: Ukrainian military shares footage of drone attacks on Russian forces
13:41
,
Alex Croft
A clear message to the occupiers: you're not welcome here.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 30, 2025
: 43rd Mechanized Brigade pic.twitter.com/NH9AZW1nLm
Lammy discusses Ukraine with Turkish foreign minster during Turkey trip
13:25
,
Alex Croft
Foreign secretary David Lammy is set to discuss the Ukraine conflict with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan during his first bilateral visit to Ankara.
The trip comes as talks on a new free trade agreement between the UK and Turkey get under way.
The UK and Turkey are also in talks to export Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey.
Mr Lammy said: “In an increasingly volatile world, the UK and Turkey remain the closest of friends and partners as we work together to find peaceful solutions to conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“Ours is a relationship which delivers directly for Turkish and British citizens at home – trade between our nations is responsible for thousands of jobs, while our security and defence links help keep our people safe.”
Ukraine to withdraw from anti-personnel landmine treaty
13:09
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine has joined other countries bordering Russia in signalling that it will withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, in the face of what they say are growing military threats from Russia.
Nato members Finland, Poland and the three ex-Soviet Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - have either withdrawn from the convention or indicated that they would do so, citing the increased military danger from their neighbour.
The moves threaten to reverse decades of campaigning by activists who say there should be a global ban on a weapon that blights huge swathes of territory and maims and kills civilians long after conflicts have abated.
Countries that quit the 1997 treaty - one of a series of international agreements concluded after the end of the Cold War to encourage global disarmament - will be able to start producing, using, stockpiling and transferring landmines once again.
Ranked: Russia's top five heaviest airstrikes on Ukraine
12:52
,
Alex Croft
All of Russia’s largest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine have come in the past month.
Here they are in order:
- 29 June 2025 - 537 drones and missiles
- 9 June 2025 - 499 drones and missiles
- 1 June 2025 - 479 drones and missiles
- 17 June 2025 - 472 drones and missiles
- 6 June 2025 - 452 drones and missiles
Russia launches the biggest aerial attack since the start of the war, Ukraine says
12:35
,
Alex Croft
Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, a Ukrainian official said Sunday, part of an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the 3-year-old war.
Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine’s air force said. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
Full report here:
Kim Jong-un drapes coffins with North Korean flag at Russia treaty anniversary
12:18
,
Alex Croft
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been filmed draping coffins with the national flag in what appears to be the repatriation of soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, the country’s state media showed.
It comes as the two countries marked a landmark military treaty signed in June last year in Pyongyang, which included a mutual defence pact and came before thousands of North Korean troops were sent to help fight Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.
In a series of photographs displayed in the backdrop of a gala performance by North Korean and visiting Russian artists in Pyongyang, Kim is seen by rows of a half a dozen coffins, covering them with flags and pausing briefly with both hands resting on them.
The scene followed images of North Korean and Russian soldiers waving their national flags with patriotic notes written in Korean. Kim is seen at the gala seemingly overcome with emotion and audience members wiping away tears.
Zelensky warns Russia could attack Nato country within next five years - ICYMI
12:02
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Alex Croft
Germany expects EU plans for 18th sanctions package to be adopted this week
11:45
,
Alex Croft
Germany expects that the EU’s plans for an 18th sanctions package against Russia will be adopted this week, a Berlin government spokesperson said on Monday.
"It will now be raised at ambassadorial level and reconsidered after a visit by the Commission to Slovakia later this week," they said.
The European Commission on June 10 proposed a new round of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, targeting Moscow's energy revenues, banks and military industry.
Backers of sanctions bill should question how it will impact peace efforts, says Kremlin
11:29
,
Alex Croft
The Kremlin said on Monday that backers of US senator Lindsey Graham's bill - that would impose tough new sanctions on Russia and its trading partners - should ask themselves how it would affect efforts to reach a peace deal on Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was responding to a question after Graham said in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that president Donald Trump had told him the sanctions bill could be brought forward for a vote.
Mr Peskov said Russia was aware of Graham's stance and that it regarded him to be an "inveterate Russophobe."
If implemented, the bill would impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian goods like oil, something which China and India buy in large quantities.
Ukrainian foreign minister hits out at Slovak counterpart over Russia comments
11:13
,
Alex Croft
Andrii Sybiha, the foreign minister for Ukraine, has hit out at his Slovakian counterpart for suggesting Russia should be forgiven for its actions in Ukraine.
"Let us return to respect for international law and seek ways to communicate with the Russian Federation," Juraj Blanar said in an interview. "And perhaps even forgive everything that has happened."
Mr Sybiha hit back strongly at Mr Blanar, warning that Moscow would “hit your other cheek as well”.
He wrote on X: “Juraj, Russia's sense of impunity is the root cause of its crimes. 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.”
Juraj, Russia's sense of impunity is the root cause of its crimes. 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. pic.twitter.com/ALLzGT6ugP
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) June 30, 2025
At least six killed in fresh Russian attacks, say Ukrainian officials
10:51
,
Alex Croft
At least six people have been killed and 26 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the past 24 hours, according to local officials.
Russian forces fired a total of 107 drones at Ukraine overnight, 74 of which were shot down, according to Ukraine’s air force.
Two people were killed and eight injured in the Kharkiv region, following an attack on six different settlements and villages, governor Oleh Syniehubov said according to The Kyiv Independent.
Kherson region governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that two were killed and eight injured in the southern region, where Russian drones struck residential areas and civilian infrastructured.
Two other people were killed in the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, while further casualties were reported in the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions, local authorities said.
One killed in Russian attack on Dmytrivka village in Mykolaiv region
10:29
,
Alex Croft
One person was killed and another injured during a Russian attack on the village of Dmytrivka in the Mykolaiv region.
"In the morning, the Russians shelled the Kutsurub hromada with artillery,” wrote head of the Mykolaiv military administration Vitalii Kim on Telegram.
“As a result of the shelling, a 49-year-old man was killed and a 37-year-old woman was injured in the village of Dmytrivka."
Houses and a shop were damaged during the attack, Mr Kim reported.
Nato defence spending increase could lead to its collapse, says Lavrov
10:23
,
Alex Croft
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that a decision by Nato members to increase defence spending was catastrophic for the alliance and could ultimately lead to its collapse, state news agency Tass reported on Monday.
Nato "needs to be guided by common sense", Lavrov said.
Allies within the alliance last week agreed to raise their collective spending goal to 5 per cent of gross domestic product over the next decade.
Asked about remarks by Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who was reported to have said that an arms race between Russia and the West could trigger the fall of president Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said he thought Nato could collapse.
"Since he is such a predictor, he probably foresees that a catastrophic increase in the budget of Nato countries, according to my estimates, will also lead to the collapse of this organisation," Lavrov said.
In pictures: Ukrainian troops train in armoured vehicles near frontline
10:16
,
Alex Croft
German foreign minister visits Kyiv, pledges continued support for Ukraine
10:00
,
Alex Croft
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Monday, in a show of continuing support for Ukraine’s fight to repel Russia’s invasion as U.S.-led international peace efforts fail to make progress.
Wadephul was due to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Wadephul said in a statement that Germany will help Ukraine “continue to defend itself successfully — with modern air defense and other weapons, with humanitarian and economic aid.”
Germany has been Ukraine’s second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support is in doubt.
Read the full report:
Kyiv claims more than one million Russian troops lost since war began
09:43
,
Alex Croft
Russian forces have suffered more than one million casualties since its invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the Ukrainian military’s General Staff has claimed.
The update came after Russia reportedly lost 1,070 troops in the past day alone, it added.
Alongside personnel, Russia has also lost: 10,980 tanks, 22,922 fighting vehicles, 53,593 vehicles and fuel tanks, 29,718 artillery systems, 3,436 cruise missiles, 42,796 drones, 1,427 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,190 air defense systems, 420 airplanes, 340 helicopters, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
Russia suffers heavy daily losses amid its strategy of sending vast numbers of troops towards a heavily fortified Ukrainian frontline in an attempt to overpower it.
Explosions heard as bridge in occupied Crimea comes under Ukrainian attack - reports
09:38
,
Alex Croft
A bridge in the Russian-occupied region of Crimea came under a drone attack overnight on Monday, according to a number of Telegram channels
The Crimean bridge was temporarily closed after explosions were heard as
"Explosions heard in Kerch, Russian air defense is firing, and the lighting on the Crimean Bridge has been turned off," the Crimean Wind channel on Telegram said, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Traffic on the bridge was completely suspended during the attacks, the channels reported.
The Crimean Bridge has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Russia seizes first village in central Dnipropetrovsk region, says Moscow
09:06
,
Alex Croft
Russian state media is now reporting that Russia has seized the first village in the east-central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk.
The past two months has seen Russian forces take control of 950 square kilometres of territory.
Fighting has intensified despite a return to direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in the past few months. Russian forces have carved out a 200 square kilometre (77.22 square miles) chunk of Ukraine's Sumy region and first entered the Dnipropetrovsk region last month.
The authoritative Ukrainian Deep State map shows that Russia now controls 113,588 square kms of Ukrainian territory, up 943 square km over the two months to June 28, Reuters news agency reports.
Moscow currently controls significant parts of four different eastern regions in Ukraine, as well as the entirety of Crimea.
The eastern areas include more than 99 per cent of the Luhansk region and over 70 per cent of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions - along with fragments of the Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
How is Russia able to fire record-breaking numbers of drones at Ukraine?
08:42
,
Alex Croft
The five largest Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have all come in the past month, with yesterday’s air bombardment the biggest yet.
But how is Russia able to keep boosting the number of drones it uses?
Iran began supplying Russian forces with Shahed drones in 2022 - but experts believe Tehran’s importance as a supplier has declined as Russia has localised production.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia is seeking to reduce its reliance on Iran-made drones.
“The increases in Russia's strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia's efforts to scale up its defense industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles,” the ISW said.
Huge strike packages aim to “overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes”, it added.
Citing Ukrainian electronic and radio warfare expert Serhiy Beskrestnov, the ISW said Russia is preparing to build a new Shahed production facility, and warned that Russia strike packages could soon incorporate up to 800 drones.
German foreign minister arrives in Kyiv to discuss support for Ukraine
07:13
,
Arpan Rai
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul has arrived in Kyiv to discuss support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, the foreign ministry said this morning.
"We will continue to stand firmly by Ukraine's side so that it can continue to defend itself successfully – with modern air defence and other weapons, with humanitarian and economic aid," Mr Wadephul said in a statement.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called for help from Washington and Western allies to bolster Ukraine's air defences after a Russian attack yesterday that involved hundreds of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles.
Germany is Ukraine's second-biggest military backer after the United States, whose commitment to Kyiv has been called into question, putting pressure on Europe to step up.
Six killed in Russia's latest drones and missiles onslaught on Ukraine
05:19
,
Arpan Rai
At least six civilians were found dead across Ukraine as Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against the war-hit nation overnight.
Three people were killed in each of the drone strikes in the Kherson, Kharkiv and the Dnipropetrovsk regions, according to the three governors.
Another person was killed by an airstrike in Kostyantynivka, local officials said.
In addition to aerial attacks, a man died when Russian troops shelled the city of Kherson, and the body of a 70-year-old woman was found under the rubble of a nine-story building hit by Russian shelling in the Zaporizhzhia region.
In the far-western Lviv region, a large fire broke out at an industrial facility in the city of Drohobych following a drone attack that also cut electricity to parts of the city.
Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine’s air force said.
Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
The onslaught was "the most massive airstrike" on the country since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, said Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine's air force.
Ranked: Russia's top five heaviest airstrikes on Ukraine
04:03
,
Arpan Rai
- 29 June 2025 - 537 drones and missiles
- 9 June 2025 - 499 drones and missiles
- 1 June 2025 - 479 drones and missiles
- 17 June 2025 - 472 drones and missiles
- 6 June 2025 - 452 drones and missiles
Ukraine F-16 pilot killed in large-scale Russian attack
03:57
,
Arpan Rai
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot died in a crash while repelling a Russian air attack that involved hundreds of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, authorities said yesterday, as Moscow intensifies night-time air barrages in the fourth year of war.
“Tragically, while repelling the attack, our F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko died,” said president Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Today, he destroyed 7 aerial targets.
“My condolences to his family and brothers-in-arms. I have instructed that all the circumstances of his death be investigated. Ukrainian aviation is heroically protecting our skies. I am grateful to everyone who is defending Ukraine."
Mr Zelensky called for more support from Washington and Western allies to bolster Ukraine's air defences after the attack, which damaged homes and infrastructure across the country and injured at least 12 people, according to local authorities.
