Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Russian forces were preparing an impending massive attack and warned residents to take special care as Russian strikes in different regions killed at least six people.
On Saturday, Russian forces attacked the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia with glide bombs, killing five people and injuring 10, Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram. Near the Russian border, a bomb attack killed one person on the outskirts of the city of Sumy, local officials said.
In southern Kherson region, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said one person had died in a drone attack on a village north of the region's main city, also called Kherson.
In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said: "Tonight and in the coming hours, it is especially important to pay close attention to air raid warnings. The Russians have prepared for a massive attack. Please take care of yourselves."
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov previously warned of “massive coordinated strikes on a regular basis” in response to Ukraine's attack on a Moscow oil refinery for the second time this week.
Hundreds of drones targeted Moscow on Friday night, hitting the Russian capital's oil refinery in one of the biggest aerial assaults on Russia of the war so far.
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Key Points
- Nato and Russia escalation could lead to nuclear strikes, says Lavrov
- EU extends sanctions against Russia for 12 months
- UK testing long-range missiles as part of military aid for Ukraine
- Russia says Ukraine drone attack hit Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
- Four children among nine injured in Russian attack
- Zelensky says he wants years-long war to end before winter
IAEA says Zaporizhzhia NPP loses power for 20th time
01:00 , 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.
EU not seeking mediating role in Ukraine war, Costa says
23:01 , Alex CroftThe European Union does not intend to be mediators in case of peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, as it sides with Kyiv, European Council president Antonio Costa said on Friday.
A diplomatic overture to the Kremlin by European Council president Antonio Costa has exposed divisions at a summit of EU leaders over how to handle relations with Russia.
Costa at a press conference after the summit said there were "no credible signs" that Russia wanted to engage in serious negotiations.
"What I'm doing through my office is to establish a diplomatic channel, because we cannot depend only on others to interpret Russian messages and we must be able to convey to Russia our own messages," Costa said.
Watch: Russian forces hit energy facilities in Ukraine's Sumy region
22:00 , Alex CroftLavrov says Nato and Russia escalation could lead to nuclear strikes
21:01 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that an escalation between Russia and Nato could lead to a nuclear strikes exchange with catastrophic consequences.
“A direct confrontation between Nato and Russia could rapidly escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes, with catastrophic consequences,” he wrote in an article posted on the Russian foreign ministry’s website.
“Under the banner of ‘strategic autonomy,’ Europe is witnessing a significant build-up of its military capabilities, including in the nuclear sphere.
“Paris's intention to extend its ‘nuclear umbrella’ to several EU and NATO member states is a source of deep concern.
“This will do nothing to strengthen the security of France itself or the recipients of its so-called protection.”
Recap: Ukraine accepts proposal from Brazil's Lula to work for peace, Kyiv adviser says
20:00 , 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.
New UK strike weapons can hit targets up to 500km away – and they could be sent to Ukraine within a year
19:02 , Alex CroftBritain has tested new long-range strike weapons, with the government hoping for delivery to Ukraine within months.
The initiative aims to produce munitions more quickly and affordably than existing systems like Storm Shadow missiles.
New systems, capable of hitting targets at least 500km away and carrying a 225kg warhead, have been fired at a range in the Hebrides, with further UK trials planned.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) challenged firms to develop weapons exceeding 600km per hour, costing around £400,000 per unit, and producing at least 20 a month within months of an order.
Some 27 industry bids were received, with "Dragon's Den"-style pitches held last February. Six companies were then awarded contracts worth around £5 million each to design and test the weapons in just seven months.
By last December, only three suppliers remained – MBDA UK, which makes Storm Shadow; MGI Engineering, a UK SME with a background in Formula 1 technology; and Rotron Aerospace, another UK SME with a history of working with the MoD.
Zelensky chief of staff renounces Polish state medal
18:00 , Alex CroftPresident Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff said on Saturday he was renouncing a Polish state medal after President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of Poland's top honour over a historical dispute.
The move by Kyrylo Budanov threatens to deepen a diplomatic rift between the close strategic partners as Kyiv rallies allies to push Russia to end its war on Ukraine.
Nawrocki said on Friday he was revoking the Order of the White Eagle from Zelensky after he renamed a military unit in honour of World War Two-era Ukrainian insurgents blamed for massacring Poles.
Budanov said he was renouncing the Golden Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, awarded to him last year, to protest against a move he described as "a gift" for Russia.
"Our nations have long-standing relations and different pages of history - both heroic and tragic," he posted on social media. "However, this should be an occasion for deep reflection, not crude political speculation."
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha had earlier called Nawrocki's decision a "strategic error", and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, a Nawrocki opponent, urged both leaders to remain calm.
Ukraine launches attack on oil refinery in Siberia
16:30 , Alex CroftRussian air defences repelled a drone attack on an oil refinery in the Western Siberian region of Tyumen, the regional governor said on Saturday.
"A drone attack on the Tyumen oil refinery has been repelled. Emergency services are working at the site where the debris fell. According to preliminary information, the refinery has not been damaged and staff have been evacuated," governor Alexander Moor wrote on Telegram.
Tyumen, more than 2,500 km (1,550 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, is one of Russia's most important oil and gas producing regions.
The Tyumen refinery, one of the country's most modern and complex, has a nominal capacity of around 8 million metric tons per year. It processes roughly 6 million tons of crude annually, producing about 0.5 million tons of gasoline and 2.5 million tons of diesel, according to industry estimates.
Watch: Kherson emergency services put out fires as Ukraine reports Russian attack
16:01 , Alex CroftIAEA says Zaporizhzhia NPP loses power for 20th time
15:16 , 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.
UK testing long-range missiles as part of military aid for Ukraine
12:30 , Arpan RaiBritain has tested new long-range weapons system that it could soon offer to Ukraine to hit Russian targets, The Telegraph reported.
These systems can hit targets situated more than 300 miles away and have been tested at a range in the Scottish archipelago Herbrides.
The weapons system have experimental platforms, each carrying a 250kg warhead, and the range allows it to potentially reach Moscow.
Further trials for the new systems are expected to take place in the UK over the coming months.
EU not seeking mediating role in Ukraine war, Costa says
11:00 , Arpan RaiThe European Union does not intend to be mediators in case of peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, as it sides with Kyiv, European Council president Antonio Costa said on Friday.
A diplomatic overture to the Kremlin by European Council president Antonio Costa has exposed divisions at a summit of EU leaders over how to handle relations with Russia.
Costa at a press conference after the summit said there were "no credible signs" that Russia wanted to engage in serious negotiations.
"What I'm doing through my office is to establish a diplomatic channel, because we cannot depend only on others to interpret Russian messages and we must be able to convey to Russia our own messages," Costa said.
Zelensky stripped of Poland's top honour over Second World War conflict
10:00 , Arpan RaiPoland's president has decided to strip Volodymyr Zelensky of the country's top honour after the Ukrainian president caused outrage by renaming an army unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), nationalists who massacred Poles during the Second World War.
President Karol Nawrocki's decision looked likely to unleash a severe diplomatic crisis between the neighbours just days ahead of a conference on Ukraine's reconstruction in the Polish city of Gdansk.
"In light of President Volodymyr Zelensky's consent to name one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Heroes of the UPA,... I have decided to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from the President of Ukraine," Nawrocki said in a statement.
"At this point, I would like to emphasize: this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people. It does not signify a change in the strategic direction of Polish security policy."
While Warsaw is a strong supporter of Kyiv's war effort, public sentiment towards Ukraine has become more and more negative in recent years due to weariness with refugees, disputes over grain imports and the legacy of the Second World War massacres.
Zelensky says Ukraine is 'Nato's de facto second army'
09:27 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Nato needs Ukraine as Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants the restoration of the Soviet Union.
“Today, Ukraine is de facto the second army of Nato – one that is not inferior to the second army in the world. And that is why Nato needs us – specifically us – de jure. This is already a fact recognised by all leaders,” Zelensky said yesterday.
“Putin will remain in the Kremlin until his death, and he has one goal: the restoration of the Soviet Union. Without Ukraine, this is impossible, and that is why things are so difficult for us,” Zelensky said, underlining Kyiv’s proximity to Russia as a key threat.
Zelensky also said that Putin “fears the return of his army home”.
“That is why he is so afraid of the war ending without victory. And there will be no victory. He is physically afraid of his own army. That is why, if there is no ceasefire backed by specific security guarantees, he will return to war. And this time, others may be the ones under attack,” Zelensky said.
One killed in drone attack on Panama-flagged ship in Black Sea
09:24 , Arpan RaiOne crew member was killed and two more injured after a drone attack on a Panama-flagged ship in the Black Sea, Panama's Maritime Authority (AMP) said late on Friday.
The AMP said the incident occurred on Thursday and that one of the injured sailors was in serious condition. The ship was able to continue on its course, it added.
The authority added that it has "activated the relevant protocols to gather official information on the incident and maintains communication with the parties involved."
The AMP did not say where the drone attack came from, but advised ships to avoid traveling through Ukrainian and Russian waters in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, to the north.
Panama operates the world's largest ship registry with roughly 16 per cent of the global merchant fleet sailing under its flag.
Lavrov says Nato and Russia escalation could lead to nuclear strikes
09:02 , Arpan RaiRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that an escalation between Russia and Nato could lead to a nuclear strikes exchange with catastrophic consequences.
“A direct confrontation between Nato and Russia could rapidly escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes, with catastrophic consequences,” he wrote in an article posted on the Russian foreign ministry’s website.
“Under the banner of ‘strategic autonomy,’ Europe is witnessing a significant build-up of its military capabilities, including in the nuclear sphere.
“Paris's intention to extend its ‘nuclear umbrella’ to several EU and NATO member states is a source of deep concern.
“This will do nothing to strengthen the security of France itself or the recipients of its so-called protection.”
UK testing long-range missiles as part of military aid for Ukraine
08:37 , Arpan RaiBritain has tested new long-range weapons system that it could soon offer to Ukraine to hit Russian targets, The Telegraph reported.
These systems can hit targets situated more than 300 miles away and have been tested at a range in the Scottish archipelago Herbrides.
The weapons system have experimental platforms, each carrying a 250kg warhead, and the range allows it to potentially reach Moscow.
Further trials for the new systems are expected to take place in the UK over the coming months.
Watch: Russian forces hit energy facilities in Ukraine's Sumy region
07:38 , Arpan RaiPoland committing 'strategic error', says Ukrainian foreign minister
07:15 , Arpan RaiPoland’s decision to strip Volodymyr Zelensky of the top honour is a "strategic error", Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Poland's president Karol Nawrocki has decided to strip Zelensky of the country's top honour after the Ukrainian president caused outrage by renaming an army unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), nationalists who massacred Poles during the Second World War.
"We regret that instead of looking for solutions, the Polish side decided to escalate this conflict to an unacceptable and inappropriate level," he wrote on Facebook.
"No president of another country is going to dictate our history to us." Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, a political opponent of Nawrocki who had sought to defuse the dispute, called for both presidents to cool emotions late on Friday.
"The conflict between Poland and Ukraine delights Putin and shocks our allies. The task of presidents Zelensky and Nawrocki is to calm emotions, not to stoke tensions. The front line runs elsewhere," he wrote in a post on X.
Zelensky says Ukraine is 'Nato's de facto second army'
07:00 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Nato needs Ukraine as Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants the restoration of the Soviet Union.
“Today, Ukraine is de facto the second army of Nato – one that is not inferior to the second army in the world. And that is why Nato needs us – specifically us – de jure. This is already a fact recognised by all leaders,” Zelensky said yesterday.
“Putin will remain in the Kremlin until his death, and he has one goal: the restoration of the Soviet Union. Without Ukraine, this is impossible, and that is why things are so difficult for us,” Zelensky said, underlining Kyiv’s proximity to Russia as a key threat.
Zelensky also said that Putin “fears the return of his army home”.
“That is why he is so afraid of the war ending without victory. And there will be no victory. He is physically afraid of his own army. That is why, if there is no ceasefire backed by specific security guarantees, he will return to war. And this time, others may be the ones under attack,” Zelensky said.
EU not seeking mediating role in Ukraine war, Costa says
06:47 , Arpan RaiThe European Union does not intend to be mediators in case of peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, as it sides with Kyiv, European Council president Antonio Costa said on Friday.
A diplomatic overture to the Kremlin by European Council president Antonio Costa has exposed divisions at a summit of EU leaders over how to handle relations with Russia.
Costa at a press conference after the summit said there were "no credible signs" that Russia wanted to engage in serious negotiations.
"What I'm doing through my office is to establish a diplomatic channel, because we cannot depend only on others to interpret Russian messages and we must be able to convey to Russia our own messages," Costa said.
EU leaders squabble over outreach to Moscow as Ukraine war rages on
06:23 , Arpan RaiEuropean Union leaders have been unable to agree on setting up a back-channel with Moscow to ensure that the bloc’s interests are protected should progress be made in negotiations to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, some of them said yesterday.
European Council president António Costa, who chaired their two-day summit in Brussels this week, had directed his office to reach out to the Kremlin and proposed a senior official to make contact.
Costa said his aim was not to mediate or set up a parallel negotiating track to the one led by the United States, which is making little progress.
“We needed to immediately establish this direct contact,” Costa said, clarifying that Brussels would not seek to mediate in negotiations but rather open communications.
“We cannot depend only on others to interpret Russian messages and we must be able to convey directly to Russia our own messages," he added.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she supported Costa's approach because “our entire continent is at risk, and this is why Europe must be one of the architects of a just and lasting peace."
Zelensky stripped of Poland's top honour over Second World War conflict
06:06 , Arpan RaiPoland's president has decided to strip Volodymyr Zelensky of the country's top honour after the Ukrainian president caused outrage by renaming an army unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), nationalists who massacred Poles during the Second World War.
President Karol Nawrocki's decision looked likely to unleash a severe diplomatic crisis between the neighbours just days ahead of a conference on Ukraine's reconstruction in the Polish city of Gdansk.
"In light of President Volodymyr Zelensky's consent to name one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Heroes of the UPA,... I have decided to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from the President of Ukraine," Nawrocki said in a statement.
"At this point, I would like to emphasize: this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people. It does not signify a change in the strategic direction of Polish security policy."
While Warsaw is a strong supporter of Kyiv's war effort, public sentiment towards Ukraine has become more and more negative in recent years due to weariness with refugees, disputes over grain imports and the legacy of the Second World War massacres.
Ukraine accepts proposal from Brazil's Lula to work for peace, Kyiv adviser says
03:00 , Daniel KeanePresident 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.
Zelenskiy again urges Belarus to dismantle relay stations
23:51 , Alex RossUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged authorities in neighbouring Belarus for the second day running to dismantle relay stations he said were playing a role in staging Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian regions.
Belarus, under longtime President Alexander Lukashenko, has been one of Moscow's closest allies in the more than four-year-old war against Ukraine and allowed the Kremlin to use its territory to launch the February 2022 invasion.
Lukashenko, in power since 1994, has repeatedly said he wants no further involvement in the conflict, but Mr Zelensky has urged Belarus to prove that it will not provide direct support for Moscow's war effort.
Mr Zelensky did not refer directly to Lukashenko in his nightly video address and alluded to his contested re-election to new terms in office. But he said Ukraine knows of four relay stations in Belarus assisting Russian military activity.
"Belarus still has time to dismantle this equipment. We also know about every factory in Belarus that works for Russia and supports the war," he said.
Watch: Russian forces hit energy facilities in Ukraine's Sumy region
02:00 , Daniel KeaneRussian attacks kill three in Ukraine's Kramatorsk, governor says
01:00 , Daniel KeaneRussian shelling killed three civilians in Ukraine's frontline city of Kramatorsk in the eastern Donetsk region, a local official said on Friday.
Vadym Filashkin, governor of Donetsk region, said on the Telegram app that six others had been injured in two attacks on the city, with strikes occurring near a high-rise apartment building and a car park.
Kramatorsk is in the so-called "fortress belt" of cities in eastern Ukraine seen by Russia as a key target in its slow advance to capture the entire Donetsk region.
Zelensky says Belarus should remove equipment used in attacks on Ukraine in one week
Saturday 20 June 2026 00:01 , Daniel KeaneUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that a week should be enough for Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to remove equipment from his country used by Russia in its attacks on Ukraine, adding a threat of Ukrainian action if Lukashenko did not do so.
Zelensky said signal relay stations were located in two Belarusian regions bordering Ukraine that were used by Russian forces to help with steering during attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
"What's the point of saying he (Lukashenko) doesn't want to be in the war? Let him remove this equipment, let him switch it off. I think a week will be enough for him to do that," Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv.
"If he doesn't do it, we'll do it," he said, without elaborating.
Tusk calls for calming of emotions between Poland and Ukraine
Friday 19 June 2026 23:00 , Daniel KeanePolish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that the task of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Karol Nawrocki was to calm emotions, not to stoke tensions, following Nawrocki's decision to strip Zelenskiy of a top honour.
Nawrocki's move came after Zelensky caused outrage by renaming an army unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), nationalists who massacred Poles in World War Two.
Lavrov says Nato and Russia escalation could lead to nuclear strikes
Friday 19 June 2026 22:00 , Maira ButtRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that an escalation between Russia and Nato could lead to a nuclear strikes exchange with catastrophic consequences.
“A direct confrontation between Nato and Russia could rapidly escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes, with catastrophic consequences,” he wrote in an article posted on the Russian foreign ministry’s website.
“Under the banner of ‘strategic autonomy,’ Europe is witnessing a significant build-up of its military capabilities, including in the nuclear sphere.
“Paris's intention to extend its ‘nuclear umbrella’ to several EU and NATO member states is a source of deep concern.
“This will do nothing to strengthen the security of France itself or the recipients of its so-called protection.”
Germany's Merz says current EU budget proposals unaffordable
Friday 19 June 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that the current proposals for the European Union's budget were unaffordable, underlining the split within the 27-member bloc over its 7-year funding plan.
Speaking after a summit in Brussels, he said what was so far on the table was "not feasible. It's not affordable."
'No credible signs' Russia wants to engage in serious negotiations, says EU's Ursula von der Leyen
Friday 19 June 2026 20:00 , Maira ButtUrsula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission has said that the EU has had “no credible signs” that Russia wants to engage in serious negotiations to end the war with Ukraine.
“We must be able to convey our own messages directly to Russia,” she said on Friday.
“We will need a united European message when Russia comes to the negotiating table.”
How Ukraine’s new drone tactics are causing chaos in Russia after largest-ever attack on Moscow
Friday 19 June 2026 19:00 , Maira ButtUkraine 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.
Watch: Russian forces hit energy facilities in Ukraine's Sumy region
Friday 19 June 2026 18:10 , Maira ButtUkraine's military hits railway bridges in Russian-held Crimea
Friday 19 June 2026 17:40 , Maira ButtUkraine's military has struck railway bridges in Russian-held Crimea, Ukraine's general staff said on Friday.
It said on Telegram that the bridges, located in the area of Rozdolne and Vladyslavivka, were used by Russian forces to facilitate military transport and supplies.
Ukraine has intensified attacks in Russian-occupied areas in the south and Crimea to hamper Moscow's logistics.
UN reports record violations of children in conflict, with government forces the main perpetrators
Friday 19 June 2026 17:10 , Maira ButtNearly 25,000 children caught in conflict were victims of a record number of violations last year, including killings, rape and recruitment to fight, and for the first time, government forces — not armed groups — were the main perpetrators, a new United Nations report says.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ annual report, released this week, has a blacklist of violators against children: government forces from eight nations and 67 armed groups from 16 countries and territories.
UN reports record violations of children in conflict, with government forces the main perpetrators
In pictures: Aftermath of Russian strike in Ukraine
Friday 19 June 2026 16:40 , Maira Butt
Europeans must be at the table when Ukraine peace talks occur, says Macron
Friday 19 June 2026 16:10 , Maira ButtEuropeans must be at the table as and when there are peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, said French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.
“We have always backed the idea that when the talks take place, Europeans must be at the table, because this concerns the interests of Europe,” said Macron, speaking at an EU summit in Brussels drew to a close.
Macron added that Antonio Costa - president of the European Council - could have his place at such negotiations, if his role in this capacity was clearly specified.
Pentagon chief's review appears out of step with what Nato allies are already doing
Friday 19 June 2026 15:41 , Maira ButtHours after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth upbraided his Nato allies and announced a Pentagon review of their performance, the leaders of many European nations were assessing a check list of progress made on security priorities.
In essence, Hegseth was telling the Europeans things they already know.
The list included their hike in defence spending, investment in industry to boost the production of military equipment, best use of lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, and the need to buy or develop drones, air defence systems and long-range weapons.
Pentagon chief's review appears out of step with what NATO allies are already doing
The European Union has quietly sought to reopen communication with Russia
Friday 19 June 2026 15:00 , Maira ButtThe European Union has reached out to Moscow in a tentative bid to open a line of communication so the continent is not sidelined in any potential talks to end Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine, officials said Thursday.
The news emerged as Ukraine launched one of its biggest drone attacks since Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbour more than four years ago, Russian officials said Thursday. A major Moscow oil refinery was hit for a second time in a week and commercial flights at Moscow airports were disrupted.
Against the backdrop of conflict, the EU has been quietly seeking to reopen communications with Moscow even as it doubles down on its support for Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, has tried to cut out Europe and Kyiv and negotiate Ukraine’s future with Washington.
The European Union has quietly sought to reopen communication with Russia
Crew member killed as Russia attacks two vessels in Black Sea
Friday 19 June 2026 14:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAt least one crew member was killed after Russia attacked two vessels in the Black Sea, Ukraine's deputy prime minister Oleksii Kuleba said.
"One crew member of a Panama-flagged ship was killed as a result of a Russian UAV attack on civilian vessels in the Black Sea," he said on social media.
He added that two more sailors had been injured, one of them critically.
The minister said three other crew members on board a vessel sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis suffered injuries following a Russian attack.
"This is further proof that Russia is waging a war against freedom of navigation, international trade and global food security. Civilian crews, merchant vessels and maritime infrastructure that supports humanitarian and export routes are all under threat," he added.
Russia rejects Europe's 'ultimatum' on Ukraine
Friday 19 June 2026 14:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Europe’s latest proposal for peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv amounts to an ultimatum.
Lavrov argued that Moscow cannot negotiate based on EU's earlier demands.“
Trust cannot be restored, nor can dialogue be resumed, through ultimatums such as the one issued to Russia in London,” he wrote in an op-ed his ministry said was prepared for Politico-Europe. The essay was later pulled from publication, Bloomberg reported.
Watch: Russian forces hit energy facilities in Ukraine's Sumy region
Friday 19 June 2026 13:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarLavrov says Nato and Russia escalation could lead to nuclear strikes
Friday 19 June 2026 13:09 , Maira ButtRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that an escalation between Russia and Nato could lead to a nuclear strikes exchange with catastrophic consequences.
“A direct confrontation between Nato and Russia could rapidly escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes, with catastrophic consequences,” he wrote in an article posted on the Russian foreign ministry’s website.
“Under the banner of ‘strategic autonomy,’ Europe is witnessing a significant build-up of its military capabilities, including in the nuclear sphere.
“Paris's intention to extend its ‘nuclear umbrella’ to several EU and NATO member states is a source of deep concern.
“This will do nothing to strengthen the security of France itself or the recipients of its so-called protection.”
EU extends sanctions against Russia for 12 months
Friday 19 June 2026 12:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe EU leaders have agreed to extend sanctions against Russia over its war against Ukraine for another 12 months.
The decision was taken during a European Council summit in Brussels, which saw the participation of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
The decision marked the first time such sanctions, which target certain sectors of the Russian economy, have been renewed for a year. They had previously been rolled over every six months.
Latvian PM says no point in having diplomatic channel with Russia
Friday 19 June 2026 12:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarLatvian prime minister Andris Kulbergs has said there is no point in having diplomatic channels with Russia if Moscow doesn't want to engage in diplomacy.
Kulbergs previously told Bloomberg that the EU needs to appoint an envoy for peace talks with Russia when the time is right as the bloc seeks to play a role in ending the war in Ukraine.
“Europe has to be at the table,” Kulbergs said, adding: “There should be one person if the peace talks are in place who has the political mandate to do that."
Employees work at a mall previously destroyed in Russian strike
Friday 19 June 2026 11:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Recap: Zelenskyy says G7 leaders pledge more vital help for Ukraine
Friday 19 June 2026 11:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine has won key pledges of further support for its fight against Russia from world leaders attending the Group of Seven summit in France, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday.
The leaders of the world’s leading industrial economies promised to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and ensure its energy supply, as well as step up international economic pressure on Moscow, as Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s all-out invasion stretches into its fifth year with no end in sight.
“The G7 Summit in France delivered important results for Ukraine. Most importantly, we agreed on additional strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense,” Zelenskyy, who attended the gathering, said on X.
More here.
Zelenskyy says G7 leaders pledge more vital help for Ukraine against Russia
Russian gas returns to pre-war levels in Belgium
Friday 19 June 2026 10:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBelgium imported more natural gas from Russia in 2025 than it did before Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, data from the Belgian economy ministry showed.
Russian gas made up more than 11 per cent of Belgium’s gas imports in 2025, climbing back to pre-war 2019 levels after dropping to around 5 per cent in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While Belgium has phased out Russian pipeline gas, imports of Russian LNG have surged, offsetting much of the decline and driving a renewed rise in Russian gas imports.
Slovakia’s government faces confidence vote
Friday 19 June 2026 10:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Slovak government is set to face a parliamentary confidence vote that was triggered by the country’s debt surpassing fiscal limits set by the Constitution.
The motion was called after the Constitutional Court, the country’s highest authority, ruled Wednesday that the government has to ask for such a vote without delay.
Populist Prime Minister Robert Fico said he respected the court's ruling and called for the vote.
His coalition government has a majority of 78 seats in the 150-seat parliament, known as the National Council, and is therefore expected to win the vote. Coalition lawmakers limited the time for the debate to 12 1/2 hours.
More here.
Slovakia’s government faces confidence vote as debt exceeds constitutional limit
Pope laments rising deaths in Ukraine
Friday 19 June 2026 09:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPope Leo reportedly lamented the growing number of deaths in Ukraine due to intensified Russian attacks.
“There are many innocent victims, rescuers killed, churches, and places of cultural heritage devastated by flames,” he said, according to Vatican News.
“I am close to all those who mourn their loved ones, to the wounded, and to those who, amid violence, continue courageously to serve life.”
How Ukraine’s new drone tactics are causing chaos in Russia
Friday 19 June 2026 09:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine 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.
More here.
How Ukraine’s new drone tactics are causing chaos in Russia
Russian court hands Romanian citizen 15-year jail term for espionage
Friday 19 June 2026 08:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA Romanian citizen has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Russian court for carrying out espionage on behalf of Ukraine, the Interfax news agency reported this morning, citing Russia's Federal Security Service.
Zelensky says EU membership for Ukraine will guarantee Europe's future
Friday 19 June 2026 08:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told an EU summit that the future of Europe was being shaped by the defence of Ukraine and the best security guarantee for the bloc's future would be to grant Kyiv fast-track membership.
Zelensky said he told member states that Ukraine wanted the war against Russia to be over by the end of the year and urged them to help Kyiv prepare for another winter with air defence missiles and fuel.
Every democratic nation in Europe deserved to be in the EU and "Ukraine merits this because it has paid more than any other country for its right to be free, independent and ... European", Zelensky said in excerpts of his address posted on X.
"The future of Europe – free, united and of course in peace – is being decided in our defence. That shows how unique our situation is.
"Hours earlier, Ukrainian air strikes struck targets deep inside Russia, including an oil refinery in Moscow, the latest long-range attacks in a campaign Zelensky highlighted as proof of Ukraine's capabilities in meetings with US president Donald Trump and other G7 leaders in France this week.
