Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1218: Putin kills 20 in Dnipro as Trump and Zelenskyy meet at NATO

Exclusives

Frozen conflict Ukraine's "best case scenario" because Russia has nukes, Kurt Volker says. Ukraine's regular destruction of red lines is no argument, former envoy claims

The elephant in the room: How Ukraine's victory vanished from Western goals. The culprit wasn't Russian strength—it was Western fear of threats that never came.

Jammers are no longer enough: Ukraine's drone war demands reinvention, EW commander says. What worked last year is obsolete today, as drone tech forces EW back to the drawing board.

Trump says NATO meeting was "nice." Zelenskyy wore a suit. The war goes on. They spoke for 50 minutes — three times longer than last time. Still, they left with different stories.

Ukraine just brought back its Bayraktar TB-2 drones—and they're breaking through Russia's air defenses. Missile-armed TB-2s are flying again over southern Ukraine.

GLOBSEC mapped seven Ukraine war scenarios through 2026. Even the "best case" spells future disaster.. The supposed "good" scenario, with 2% propability—a ceasefire with European peacekeepers—would merely give Russia time to regroup for the next assault.

Russia is churning out hundreds of new T-90M tanks — but why aren't they all in Ukraine?. Moscow is stockpiling its best armor. The question is: for what fight?

Military

"We're all going to die" little boy cried in terror as Russian missiles struck civilian areas in Dnipro. The June 24 strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast hit schools, kindergartens, cultural venues and a passenger train, killing 21 civilians and injuring hundreds as NATO leaders convene in The Hague. Russian systematic terror strikes wound 14 civilians, damage dozens of homes across Ukraine. Drones and guided bombs targeted residential buildings in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia during the night assault. Frontline report: Russia's troops could melt into the Suwalki fog—and march out inside NATO. At the Suwalki Gap, Russia doesn't need a blitz—just fog, forest, and time. Ukraine hits Russian plant producing military drones used to terrorize Ukrainian civilians. The Atlant Aero facility in Taganrog, which according to Ukrainian sources, manufactures combat drones used against Ukraine, experienced an explosion and fire following the strike.

Intelligence and technology

The Telegraph: Iran may reduce missile shipments to Russia due to Israeli strikes. Iran's missile transfers to Russia face disruption as Tehran prioritizes its own stockpile amid escalating conflict with Israel, with Western officials reporting the Islamic republic now holds 1,445 missiles from an estimated 3,000 original inventory. Defense News: Ukraine used a Pringles can to blow up a Russian tank. When shells ran out, a Pringles can did the job. Ukraine is proving cheap beats heavy. Britain weaponizes seized Russian money to arm Ukraine with air defense missiles. Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared that "Russia, not Ukraine, should pay the price for Putin's barbaric and illegal war." Zelenskyy: Ukraine could produce 8 million drones per year if it had enough funds from allies. Meanwhile, Russia draws on substantial resources from North Korea, Iran, and Chinese companies to sustain its weapons manufacturing.

International

Brazil won't shield Putin from ICC arrest — so he'll zoom into the BRICS summit. The BRICS summit in Brazil just got awkward: Putin's staying home to avoid arrest over Ukraine war crimes, and Xi isn't showing either. Switzerland approves draft bilateral agreement with Ukraine on reconstruction. Switzerland has approved a mechanism allowing its private companies to access $620 mn in government funding for Ukraine reconstruction projects, with the legal framework set for signing in Rome next month. NATO Summit with US participation recognises Russia as long-term threat to entire Alliance. NATO member states committed to spending 5% of GDP on defense by 2035 after unanimously identifying Russia as a "long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security" at the first alliance summit under Donald Trump's presidency. Russia's nuclear warnings ring out after US strikes on Iran, but Moscow's unwillingness to trigger American aid for Ukraine signals real limit. Amid escalating US strikes on Iran, Medvedev's apocalyptic rhetoric sparks a criticism from Trump.

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukraine opens first rehab center for torture survivors after Russian captivity. The facility features both traditional therapy spaces and art workshops to help individuals recover from beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence and psychological torture as 90% of Ukrainian POWs experience some sort of abuse. Ukraine clears 20% of mined territory since 2022, 137,000 sq km remain contaminated. Ukraine reduced potentially mined territory by more than 20% since late 2022, leaving approximately 137,000 square kilometers still contaminated, primarily agricultural land, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced Tuesday.

Political and legal developments

Ukraine and Europe launch war tribunal — just not for Putin. President Zelenskyy signed a deal with Europe to launch a tribunal for Russian agression — but it can't prosecute Putin while he's in office. SBU detains US citizen in Kyiv wanted for 30 years for sexual crimes against children. A 66-year-old American who disappeared before his sentencing for child sexual abuse in Arizona has been arrested in Kyiv Oblast, ending a 32-year international manhunt that began when he fled the United States in 1992. Read our earlier daily review here.