A Russian military plant producing artillery systems and components for missile launch systems in the Volgograd region was struck by Ukrainian-made Flamingo missiles, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.
Explosions were heard while a fire was seen in the city as authorities issued a missile threat alert for Volgograd, Russian independent outlet Astra reported, citing locals. Zelensky claimed that the airstrike caused a fire at the premises of the Titan-Barrikady plant.
The attack comes after Zelensky told Vladimir Putin to “get out of Ukraine” and “take that step toward peace” after approving a 40-day offensive to “influence” Russia to end the war.
In a post on X, Zelensky wrote: “Russia must get out of Ukraine with its war – we want no war.
“Ukraine has put forward proposals to our key partners, and Putin’s friends have also heard from us that a meeting is possible and that ending this war is possible. Russia must now take that step toward peace.”
Zelensky said he made the decision of ordering a 40-day offensive after consulting the head of the Ukrainian security service.
Read MoreZelenskyy says Russia is shifting air defenses to Moscow and other key sites after drone strikes
Putin is asking for peace talks. It’s time to kick him while he’s down
The bitter historical feud between Ukraine and Poland amid war against Russia
Key Points
- Zelensky says Russia launched 1,400 drones and 1,500 bombs at Ukraine
- Ukraine strikes Russian oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai
- Ukraine hits defence plant in Russia's Volgograd region
- Drones hit industrial facility in Russia's Tula, governor says
Drones and artillery killed civilians on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine border
06:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDrones and artillery killed civilians on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine border yesterday, local officials said.
In the Russian border region of Bryansk, a Ukrainian drone strike killed two people in their car in a village near the border, the region's acting governor Yegor Kovalchuk said on Telegram.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin issued a long series of statements about Ukrainian drones heading for the capital being intercepted. An informal tally kept by Russian news agencies put the number at 24 during the day.
In Ukraine, the governor of the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk Region, Oleksandr Ganzha, said a combined total of more than 40 drone strikes and artillery fire had killed one person and injured one near Nikopol.
The town, lying on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River from the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, is a frequent Russian target.
Rachel Reeves visits Ukraine
06:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russia launches overnight strikes on Kyiv
05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia launched ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv in the early hours of Sunday, injuring two people and damaging several sites within the city.
Explosions were reported just before 2am local time and later another wave of missiles struck around 2.35am, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Fires were also reported elsewhere in the area, including near a residential building, at a service station, and at an unspecified non-residential building.
Ukraine strikes Russian oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA Ukrainian drone attack reportedly set an oil refinery in the Russian city of Slavyansk-na-Kubani on fire.
Photos circulating on social media appear to show large flames rising from storage tanks at the refinery in Krasnodar Krai region.
The regional operational headquarters said the fire was caused by falling debris.
Zelensky says Russia launched 1,400 drones and 1,500 bombs at Ukraine
04:23 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPresident Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russian forced deployed almost 1,400 attack drones, 1,500 guided aerial bombs, and 19 missiles against Ukraine over the past week.
He said that 15 Ukrainian regions were subjected to Russian attacks in that time, including Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy, which faced the harshest bombardment.
“Using various types of weapons, the Russians are striking people, ordinary residential buildings, and our civilian infrastructure,” Zelensky said
RECAP: Ukraine strikes Russian military plant after approving 40-day offensive
03:00 , Amy-Clare Martin- Ukraine has struck a Russian military plant with Flamingo missiles, president Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after approving a 40-day offensive campaign aimed at influencing Russia to end the ongoing conflict. This decision was made after consultations with the head of the Ukrainian security service, though it is unclear if the offensive has commenced.
- Ukrainian forces also attacked two Russian oil refineries in Ufa, 1,500km from the frontline, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, 300km from Ukraine, targeting Russian infrastructure.
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Sumy
02:00 , Amy-Clare Martin
Ukraine secures return of seven civilians held by Russia for years
01:00 , Amy-Clare MartinUkraine has secured the return of seven civilians who it says have unlawfully detained by Russia for years.
The returned civilians, aged between 35 and 66, were captured during the occupation of Mariupol and parts of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022, Kyiv Independent reported.
“After years of unlawful detention by Russia, our people are finally home and can breathe free Ukrainian air,” Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said.
Analysis: Putin is asking for peace talks. It’s time to kick him while he’s down
Sunday 28 June 2026 00:00 , Amy-Clare MartinPutin is rattled and Trump needs a win – this is the chance for Ukraine and her allies to force the collapse of Russia’s army and push back against its land grab, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
What is a Flamingo missile and why is Ukraine using them?
Saturday 27 June 2026 23:00 , Amy-Clare Martin- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed Ukraine used domestically-produced FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles to strike a Russian military plant.
- The FP-5 Flamingo missile, which entered service in 2025, has a 3,000km range and can carry a tonne of explosives.
- It is designed for low-altitude flight to avoid detection and has been used for long-range targets deep inside Russian territory, aimed at disrupting their war economy.
Ten wounded in strike, Volgograd governor says
Saturday 27 June 2026 22:00 , Amy-Clare MartinVolgograd’s governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed an attack on a business in the region’s Krasnooktyabrsky district, saying 10 people had been wounded and taken to a hospital. He said production facilities at the site were damaged but did not identify the company.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky claimed they had struck a Russian military plant in Volgograd producing artillery systems and components for missile launch systems.
The said the attack on Saturday used Ukrainian-made long-range Flamingo missiles and caused a fire at the premises of the Titan-Barrikady plant.
Explosions were heard while a fire was seen in the city as authorities issued a missile threat alert for Volgograd, Russian independent outlet Astra reported, citing locals.
Royal Navy shadows Russian warships in UK waters for three months
Saturday 27 June 2026 21:00 , Amy-Clare MartinThe Royal Navy has disclosed it maintained a continuous, three-month surveillance operation on Russian warships navigating UK waters, including a frigate that fired a warning shot at a British yacht.
Five naval vessels were deployed to track the Admiral Grigorovich, the ship involved in the 16 June incident with the Bright Future yacht south of the Isle of Wight.
Read more:
Royal Navy shadows Russian warships in UK waters for three months
Strikes come after Ukraine announced 40-day offensive
Saturday 27 June 2026 20:30 , Amy-Clare MartinThe latest missile attacks on a Russian military plant comes after Volodymyr Zelensky told Vladimir Putin to “get out of Ukraine” and “take that step toward peace” after approving a 40-day offensive to “influence” Russia to end the war.
In a post on X, Zelensky wrote: “Russia must get out of Ukraine with its war – we want no war.
“Ukraine has put forward proposals to our key partners, and Putin’s friends have also heard from us that a meeting is possible and that ending this war is possible. Russia must now take that step toward peace.”
Russia is shifting air defences to Moscow after drone strikes, Zelensky says
Saturday 27 June 2026 20:00 , Amy-Clare MartinUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed Russia is moving air defences to protect key targets like Moscow as Ukrainian drones hit deep inside the country.
Read more:
Zelenskyy says Russia is shifting air defenses to Moscow and other key sites after drone strikes
What has Zelensky said about the strikes?
Saturday 27 June 2026 19:30 , Amy-Clare MartinUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said every Russian defence facility that serves the war is a “just target for our long-range sanctions” in a post on X.
“Last night, FP-5 Flamingo missiles successfully struck the Titan-Barrikady facility in Volgograd,” he added.
“It is a major industrial complex where the enemy produces artillery systems and specialized military equipment, including components for missile launch systems used in attacks against our people.”
Every Russian defense facility that serves the war against Ukraine is a just target for our long-range sanctions.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 27, 2026
Last night, FP-5 Flamingo missiles successfully struck the Titan-Barrikady facility in Volgograd. It is a major industrial complex where the enemy produces artillery… pic.twitter.com/JB5JmRjTAe
Ukraine wants to bring Russia to negotiating table with strikes
Saturday 27 June 2026 19:00 , Amy-Clare MartinUkraine struck a major industrial facility in the Russian city of Volgograd on Saturday, while a Russian drone attack killed a man in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region overnight.
Ukraine has stepped up its long-range aerial attacks on Russian military industries and energy facilities, aiming to cut Moscow’s revenue for the war and make Russians feel the consequences of the invasion, now in its fifth year.
The campaign, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said aims to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, is said to have choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries.
Writing on X, Zelensky said that FP-5 Flamingo missiles hit the Titan-Barrikady facility in Volgograd in southwestern Russia, describing it as a “major industrial complex” where Russia “produces artillery systems and specialized military equipment, including components for missile launch systems.”
Crimea declares 'emergency'
Saturday 27 June 2026 18:29 , Harriette BoucherAuthorities in Russian-annexed Crimea have declared an “emergency situation” in a bid to ease the fallout from increasing Ukrainian aerial attacks on the peninsula.
Friday’s announcement came amid fuel shortages and power cuts triggered by the Ukrainian attacks on logistics chains and oil facilities across Crimea, the rest of Russian-occupied Ukraine and southern Russia.
Kyiv calls its stepped up air attacks fair retribution for Russia’s near-daily barrages on Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying on social media: “We are doing everything to force Russia to end the war and restore justice. And it is Crimea that is at the centre of this policy of ensuring justice.”
Ukrainian strikes
Saturday 27 June 2026 18:01 , Harriette BoucherThe Ukrainian hit on an artillery manufacturing plant in Russian Volgograd Friday night, in another show that Ukraine is ramping up its strikes inside Russia.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones struck several targets in and around Moscow, setting an oil refinery on fire and forcing all four of Moscow’s airports to temporarily suspend departures and arrivals.
Ukraine has also taken aim at Russian-occupied Crimea this week, with drones knocking out power in the Russian-occupied peninsula’s largest city, Sevastopol.
Zelensky stresses Russian sanctions after 15 regions targeted this week
Saturday 27 June 2026 17:00 , Harriette BoucherVolodymyr Zelensky has stressed the importance of sanctions on Russia and its partners, saying they must be “enforced where they will be felt most.”
“Strengthening air defence – primarily anti-ballistic protection – expanding cooperation within the Drone Deal format, and increasing pressure on the aggressor are key priorities,” the Ukrainian president said.
“Sanctions on Russia and its partners over this war must be enforced where they will be felt most. We need strong and rapid steps that will force Russia to move toward ending this war.
“Everything that strengthens Ukraine helps bring peace closer. I thank everyone who is helping us.”
It comes after Russia bombarded 15 Ukrainian regions with thousands of drones and bombs this week.
Ukraine secures return of seven civilians held by Russia for years
Saturday 27 June 2026 16:30 , Harriette BoucherUkraine has secured the return of seven civilians who it says have unlawfully detained by Russia for years.
The returned civilians, aged between 35 and 66, were captured during the occupation of Mariupol and parts of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022, Kyiv Independent reported.
“After years of unlawful detention by Russia, our people are finally home and can breathe free Ukrainian air,” Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said.
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Sumy
Saturday 27 June 2026 16:00 , Harriette Boucher
Russia targeted 15 regions with thousands of drones and bombs this week
Saturday 27 June 2026 15:30 , Harriette BoucherRussia has targeted 15 regions in Ukraine this week, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
He said there had been almost daily attacks on Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
“The Russians are using various types of weapons to strike people, ordinary residential buildings, and our civilian infrastructure,” the Ukrainian president wrote on X.
“Unfortunately, there are casualties from this terror almost every day. And the threat of these Russian attacks remains constant.
“Over the course of this past week alone, there were around 1,400 attack drones, almost 1,500 guided aerial bombs, and 19 missiles of various types, including ballistic ones.”
ICYMI: Ukraine launched one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia and Crimea
Saturday 27 June 2026 15:01 , Amy-Clare MartinUkrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on Russian territory and illegally annexed Crimea, with Russian air defences claiming to intercept 660 unmanned aerial vehicles across 12 regions, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea during a major overnight assault on Friday.
Read more:
Ukraine launches one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia and Crimea
RECAP: Ukraine strikes Russian military plant after approving 40-day offensive
Saturday 27 June 2026 14:30 , Amy-Clare Martin- Ukraine has struck a Russian military plant with Flamingo missiles, president Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after approving a 40-day offensive campaign aimed at influencing Russia to end the ongoing conflict. This decision was made after consultations with the head of the Ukrainian security service, though it is unclear if the offensive has commenced.
- Ukrainian forces also attacked two Russian oil refineries in Ufa, 1,500km from the frontline, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, 300km from Ukraine, targeting Russian infrastructure.
What are Flamingo missiles?
Saturday 27 June 2026 14:00 , Amy-Clare MartinAt the start of the war, Ukraine mostly relied on its old Soviet-era arsenal. Now, the country is at the global forefront in developing unmanned systems like drones.
By mid-2025, the country was producing more than half of the weapons it uses on the front line, according to President Zelensky, including most of its long-range weapons.
The FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile, developed by Ukrainian defence firm Fire Point, entered service in 2025. It has a 3,000km range and can carry a tonne of explosives. It is designed for low-altitude flight to avoid detection and has been used for long-range targets deep inside Russian territory, aimed at disrupting their war economy.
Analysis: Putin is asking for peace talks. It’s time to kick him while he’s down
Saturday 27 June 2026 13:30 , Amy-Clare MartinPutin is rattled and Trump needs a win – this is the chance for Ukraine and her allies to force the collapse of Russia’s army and push back against its land grab, writes The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Why is Putin asking for Ukraine-Russia peace talks now?
EU moves to prolong protection for Ukrainians but not new arrivals eligible for military service
Saturday 27 June 2026 13:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe European Union yesterday moved to prolong temporary protection status for millions of people who have fled the war in Ukraine, but not for new arrivals who would be eligible to serve in the armed forces.
Ukraine is desperate to boost the size of its fighting force more than four years into its full-scale war with Russia. It's estimated to have suffered around 600,000 military casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in February that 55,000 troops have died and many are missing.
More than 4.4 million Ukrainians have been welcomed into the EU since 2022. Most are living in Germany and Poland. They’ve been given temporary residency permits and support, including accommodation or help to get housing, social welfare benefits, medical care and access to schools.
More here.
EU moves to prolong protection for Ukrainians but not new arrivals eligible for military service
Rachel Reeves arrives in Ukraine for one-day visit
Saturday 27 June 2026 12:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russia claims it has taken control of village in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region
Saturday 27 June 2026 12:00 , Amy-Clare MartinRussian forces have taken control of the village of Novoskeliuvate in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, the state-owned RIA news agency said on Saturday, citing the Defence Ministry.
Zelensky: Ukrainian pressure 'lays the groundwork for a dignified peace'
Saturday 27 June 2026 11:30 , Amy-Clare MartinUkrainian-made Flamingo missiles hit a plant producing artillery systems and components for missile launch systems in Russia's Volgograd region overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said.
The strikes caused a fire at the premises of the Titan-Barrikady plant, he said on the Telegram app on Saturday.
Ukraine's SBU security service also said its drones attacked the "Vtorovo" oil pumping station in Russia's Vladimir region for the second time this month. The station is a key logistics hub used to ship petroleum products to Russian domestic consumers and also for export, the SBU said on Telegram.
"The reach of Ukraine's long-range sanctions continues to expand," Zelenskiy said, referring to Kyiv's strikes deep inside Russian territory.
"It is precisely our pressure, day after day, that lays the groundwork for a dignified peace in the end."
Ukraine has intensified mid and long-range drone attacks on the Russian oil facilities and weapon production in recent months in response to Russia's devastating strikes on the capital Kyiv and other cities.
With the war now in its fifth year, fighting rages along more than 1,200 km of the frontline, and Russia launches hundreds of drones in nearly nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukraine's energy company, Naftogaz, said its production facilities in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions in the northeast had been damaged following Russian missile and drone attacks over the past two days.
Zelenskiy said Russia launched nearly 1,400 drones and 19 missiles during last week's attacks on 15 Ukrainian regions, adding that air defence supplies and drone cooperation with allies remained key priorities for Kyiv.
Royal Navy shadows Russian warships in UK waters for three months
Saturday 27 June 2026 11:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Royal Navy has disclosed it maintained a continuous, three-month surveillance operation on Russian warships navigating UK waters, including a frigate that fired a warning shot at a British yacht.
Five naval vessels were deployed to track the Admiral Grigorovich, the ship involved in the 16 June incident with the Bright Future yacht south of the Isle of Wight.
A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed the frigate's presence in the Channel across several periods: 30 April to 4 May, 8 to 12 May, and 22 to 28 May.
More here.
Royal Navy shadows Russian warships in UK waters for three months
Zelensky says Russia must get out of Ukraine
Saturday 27 June 2026 11:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia must get out of Ukraine as he outlined Ukraine’s core diplomatic priorities ahead of the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara.
Moscow must now take a step toward peace, the president emphasized.
He thanked everyone working with Ukraine to push Russia toward diplomacy, as well as those helping defend the country and protect human life.
“Ukrainian warriors prove the strength of Ukrainian precision every day. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions and medium-range sanctions are being fully implemented. These are our fair responses to Russia for this war — the war that Russia started and that Russia must end," he said.
“Russia must take this war out of Ukraine. We do not need war,” the Ukrainian leader added.
Crimea declares emergency
Saturday 27 June 2026 10:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAuthorities in Russian-annexed Crimea declared an “emergency situation” in an effort to ease the fallout from increasing Ukrainian attacks.
Yesterday's announcement comes amid a fuel shortage and ongoing power cuts caused by incessant Ukrainian attacks on logistics chain and oil facilities across Crimea.
"A decision has been made... to sign decrees declaring a regional-level emergency situation in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," the Moscow-installed governor Sergey Aksyonov said.
Russia and Ukraine swap 160 soldiers each
Saturday 27 June 2026 10:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia and Ukraine have exchanged 160 captured soldiers each in the latest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced the handover, saying: "We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 service members were released."
Russia's defence ministry confirmed that "160 Russian servicemen have been returned" and "160 Ukrainian prisoners of war handed over in exchange."
Russia damages Ukraine's Naftogaz production facilities
Saturday 27 June 2026 09:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia fired ballistic missiles and drones to attack production facilities of Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz in the northeastern Poltava and Kharkiv regions, causing damage, Naftogaz said this morning.
Ukraine hits defence plant in Russia's Volgograd region
Saturday 27 June 2026 09:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkrainian-made Flamingo missiles hit a plant overnight producing artillery systems and components for missile launch systems in Russia's Volgograd region, president Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning.
He said on the Telegram app that the strikes caused a fire at the premises of the Titan-Barrikady plant.
Russia, China military planes enter South Korea air defence zone
Saturday 27 June 2026 08:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian and Chinese military aircraft flew through South Korea's Air Defence Identification Zone this morning but did not violate the country's airspace, South Korea's military said.
South Korea was monitoring about 10 military planes as they approached the air zone and scrambled jet fighters that conducted tactical manoeuvres in case of any incident, it said.
The military in a short statement did not report whether there was any incident from the incursion into the area, which many countries have established as part of their air defence.
European Commission extends protection for Ukrainian refugee
Saturday 27 June 2026 08:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe European Commission has on Friday proposed to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians who have sought refuge in the European Union until March 2028.
The move underlines the need for flexibility regarding Ukrainian refugees, as Russia's war in Ukraine drags on in its fifth year.
The proposal would limit access to temporary protection for newly arriving men who are not authorised by Ukrainian authorities to leave Ukraine because of their military obligations.
Ukraine strikes Russian military plant - report
Saturday 27 June 2026 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine has reportedly struck a Russian military facility in the city of Volgograd during today's early hours.
Explosions were heard while a fire was seen in the city as authorities issued a missile threat alert for Volgograd, Russian independent outlet Astra reported, citing locals.
Astra said it geolocated footage filmed on Moskovskaya Street, approximately 6.5km from the facility, and assessed that the smoke appeared to be coming from the direction of the plant.
The outlet reported that the Ukrainian strike was carried out using Ukrainian-made long-range Flamingo cruise missiles.
Putin is asking for peace talks. It’s time to kick him while he’s down
Saturday 27 June 2026 07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPutin is rattled and Trump needs a win – this is the chance for Ukraine and her allies to force the collapse of Russia’s army and push back against its land grab, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
More here.
Why is Putin asking for Ukraine-Russia peace talks now?
Polish minister criticises leader for stripping Zelensky of top honour
Saturday 27 June 2026 06:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPolish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said president Karol Nawrocki's decision to strip Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland's Order of the White Eagle was an inappropriate response to the recent diplomatic dispute.
Sikorski told TVN24 that Poland's reaction "was inappropriate, because it humiliated the president of Ukraine personally".Had he been consulted, he would have recommended a different response, such as renaming Jasionka Airport after victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, the foreign minister said.
Sikorski also argued that Zelensky should have taken Poland's historical sensitivities into account when approving the name of a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces unit honoring the Heroes of the UPA.
"He should have thought: all right, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fought against Soviet rule, but it also killed Poles," Sikorski said, suggesting that Ukraine could instead have honored "a specific hero who fought against Soviet occupation."
Zelensky says Russia must get out of Ukraine
Saturday 27 June 2026 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia must get out of Ukraine as he outlined Ukraine’s core diplomatic priorities ahead of the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara.
Moscow must now take a step toward peace, the president emphasized.
He thanked everyone working with Ukraine to push Russia toward diplomacy, as well as those helping defend the country and protect human life.
“Ukrainian warriors prove the strength of Ukrainian precision every day. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions and medium-range sanctions are being fully implemented. These are our fair responses to Russia for this war — the war that Russia started and that Russia must end," he said.
“Russia must take this war out of Ukraine. We do not need war,” the Ukrainian leader added.
Russia strikes Zaporizhzhia
Saturday 27 June 2026 05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russia intercepts 660 drones as Ukraine unleashes heaviest bombardments
Saturday 27 June 2026 05:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine launched a major nighttime attack on a dozen Russian regions, Russian-held Crimea and the surrounding seas, Moscow’s defence ministry said yesterday.
Russian air defenses intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones, the ministry said.
Initial damage reports from Russia after the overnight attack provided scant information. The defence ministry usually doesn’t say what was targeted in Ukraine’s drone attacks, nor does it detail any damage.
Russian independent online outlet Astra reported that a chemical plant and a hydroelectric plant in Novomoskovsk were attacked and caught fire.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 47 Ukrainian drones were downed as they flew toward the Russian capital.
Sergei Ivanov, Putin ally and former Russian defence minister, dies at 73
Saturday 27 June 2026 04:42 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFormer Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov, once seen as a possible successor to president Vladimir Putin, has died at the age of 73.
Ivanov was a key member of the group known as the "siloviki," or "strongmen," who, like Putin, had risen through the ranks of the Soviet KGB security service and wielded huge influence after Putin took power at the turn of the millennium.
The Kremlin issued a brief statement, saying only: "Vladimir Putin expressed his deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sergei Ivanov on his passing."
Ivanov helped shape Russia's post-Soviet security state and oversaw the armed forces during the early years of Putin's presidency. He was defence minister during the second Chechen war, launched by Putin to crush a separatist insurgency in the Muslim region of Chechnya that tried to break away from Russia after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
A fluent English-speaker, Ivanov was a combative figure who regularly jousted with journalists at the Munich Security Conference and cast himself as a pragmatist seeking to move beyond Cold War divisions.
At the same time, he consistently warned that Russia's security interests were being undermined, particularly by US missile defence plans and the erosion of arms control agreements.
Russian drone strikes kill two in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk, one in Sumy
Saturday 27 June 2026 04:12 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA Russian drone strike killed two passengers aboard a minibus in Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region and one person in the border Sumy region, regional officials said.
Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said two people died and 12 were injured, including two children, in the strike in Nikopol. The town, on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River from the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, is a frequent target of Russian attacks.
In the Sumy region, which is under nearly constant Russian attack on the border, regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said a drone strike killed a man in a village outside the main regional centre, also called Sumy.
In the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, governor Mikhail Fedorov said two people were injured in day-long Russian strikes, which also damaged the facades of apartment buildings.
Russian-installed Crimean authorities impose state of emergency over fuel shortages
Saturday 27 June 2026 03:00 , Alex CroftRussian-installed authorities of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol have imposed a state of emergency on the peninsula to deal with economic issues, they said on Friday.
Crimea has suspended tourist activities and children's summer camps until September citing both fuel shortages and security concerns, and fuel stations halted all fuel sales to individuals and businesses from June 21.
The shortages come as Kyiv scales up its attacks on Russian oil and energy infrastructure.
Ukraine releases footage claiming to show destruction of key Crimean rail bridge - ICYMI
Saturday 27 June 2026 01:29 , Alex CroftEuropean Commission extends protection for Ukrainian refugee
Saturday 27 June 2026 00:01 , Alex CroftThe European Commission has on Friday proposed to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians who have sought refuge in the European Union until March 2028.
The move underlines the need for flexibility regarding Ukrainian refugees, as Russia's war in Ukraine drags on in its fifth year.
The proposal would limit access to temporary protection for newly arriving men who are not authorised by Ukrainian authorities to leave Ukraine because of their military obligations.
Recap: Russia attacks Ukraine with 7 ballistic missiles and 189 drones
Friday 26 June 2026 23:01 , Alex CroftRussia attacked Ukraine with seven ballistic missiles and 189 drones overnight going into Friday, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
Three of the missiles and 174 drones were shot down, it added.
The air attack was launched from Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions, targeting largely the Kyiv and Poltava regions of Ukraine.
"As of 09:00, air defence had shot down or jammed 177 aerial assets – three Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 174 enemy UAVs, including Shahed, Gerbera and Italmas drones, as well as drones of other types, over the north, south, centre and east of the country,” the Air Force said.
Strikes were recorded by four ballistic missiles and 11 attack drones at 12 locations.
Ukraine launches one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia and Crimea
Friday 26 June 2026 22:01 , Alex CroftUkrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on Russian territory and illegally annexed Crimea, with Russian air defences claiming to intercept 660 unmanned aerial vehicles across 12 regions, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea during a major overnight assault on Friday.
This significant barrage marks one of the most extensive drone operations targeting Russian regions and the occupied peninsula since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine over four years ago.
Kyiv has increasingly deployed long-range drones to strike deep inside Russia, focusing on critical oil production and energy facilities.
Western officials and analysts suggest this strategy aims to cripple Russian fuel and military supplies, thereby hindering Moscow's battlefield operations and intensifying pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
The extensive drone assault followed remarks from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X, where he announced an order for a "40-day influence operation."
Read the full report here:
Ukraine launches one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia and Crimea
European Commission president to visit Armenia as it faces pressure from Russia
Friday 26 June 2026 21:01 , Alex CroftEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will go to Armenia next week, said the EU on Friday, in a move aimed at highlighting Brussels' support for Armenia as it faces political pressure from Russia.
The EU said von der Leyen would also go to Azerbaijan.
Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is working towards the goal of European Union membership, won re-election this month despite what international monitors said was blatant interference and pressure from Russia.
In turn, Moscow accused Western countries of interfering in the vote in favour of Pashinyan.
Pictured: Firefighters shelter during an air raid alert as they work at the site of a Russian military strike
Friday 26 June 2026 20:47 , Rebecca Whittaker
'We want no war' Zelensky says in a call for Russia to take 'step towards peace'
Friday 26 June 2026 20:42 , Rebecca WhittakerUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has told Putin to “get out of Ukraine” adding that “we want no war”, in a video posted to X., as he called for Russia to make a step towards peace.
In the caption he wrote: “Russia must get out of Ukraine with its war – we want no war.
“Ukraine has put forward proposals to our key partners, and Putin’s friends have also heard from us that a meeting is possible and that ending this war is possible. Russia must now take that step toward peace.”
Russia must get out of Ukraine with its war – we want no war. Ukraine has put forward proposals to our key partners, and Putin’s friends have also heard from us that a meeting is possible and that ending this war is possible. Russia must now take that step toward peace. pic.twitter.com/IZeXDAIqS5
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 26, 2026
Ukraine strikes Russian chemical plant for second time in two weeks
Friday 26 June 2026 20:02 , Alex CroftUkraine struck a chemical plant in Russia's Tula region for the second time in two weeks as part of a massive wave of overnight drone attacks, according to Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels.
Regional governor Dmitry Milyayev said an industrial facility in Novomoskovsk, 200 km (125 miles) south of Moscow, had been damaged.
Multiple news reports named it as the Azot plant, which has been described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as critical to Russia's production of explosives.
Azot, which describes itself as Russia's largest producer of ammonia and nitrogen fertilisers, was previously hit on June 14, according to Zelenskiy.
Ukraine has intensified drone strikes deep inside Russia this year as part of a strategy to inflict economic pain and undermine Moscow's ability to sustain the war. Its targets have included oil refineries, terminals and ports as well as industrial facilities.
Milyayev, the governor, said electricity lines in the Tula region were also damaged and one woman was injured.
