Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1225: Ukraine kills 11th Russian general as Trump admits no progress with Putin

Exclusive

One tank, three soldiers, and the end of Russia's Sumy offensive. Three Ukrainian soldiers fired 125mm shells at point-blank range near the village of Yablunivka, halting a month-long Russian offensive aimed at Sumy Oblast.

The weapons Ukraine just lost to US aid freeze, explained. It's not only about Patriots and air defense—Ukraine's entire military toolkit just got gutted

Ukraine just stripped the leader of Putin's favorite church—his 8,000 parishes are next. Metropolitan Onufriy's citizenship revocation is just the opening move—Ukraine's legal machinery is already grinding toward dissolving his Moscow-aligned Ukrainian Orthodox Church entirely.

Military

Frontline report: Ukrainian warplanes sweep over Russian lines to smash the Zaporizhzhia offensive before it begins. Ukraine struck the trains, fuel depots, and drone bunkers—before Russia could even move. First-of-its-kind strike: Ukraine destroys prized Nebo-M radar system in Crimea using sea-launched bomb drones (video). Video confirms quadcopters launched mid-sea destroyed the $100M Nebo-M's command center and two radars. Explosion rocks central Luhansk as top collaborator Manolis Pilavov killed (updated). A powerful blast targeted a high-profile quisling official as he walked past a city street. Ukraine kills Russian Navy general in Kursk—Putin's 11th general lost in war. Major General Mikhail Gudkov, Russia's Deputy Navy Chief, was inspecting positions in Kursk when a Ukrainian strike hit, killing him and other senior officers. "Dronocide" hits hard: 42 Russian drone positions destroyed in Zaporizhzhia (video). Ukrainian forces intensify their targeted campaign against drone operators with a coalition of elite units. Drones target Russia's maker of military-grade batteries and airbase (video). Energiya factory in Yelets was last hit in May. In Lipetsk, drones seem to have been intercepted before reaching the airfield. Videos show Russian ammo stockpile spectacularly destroyed in occupied Donetsk Oblast's Khartsyzk. This marks at least the third major incident involving ammunition sites in the city since 2022. Khartsyzk has been occupied since 2014.

Intelligence and technology

Defense One: Ukraine war drives US military to combine HIMARS rockets with suicide drones. Informed by Ukraine battlefield tactics, the US Army is integrating HIMARS and suicide drones to close mid-range firepower gaps. Russian battlefield gains expected after US aid pause, ISW warns. Think tank highlights how previous delays enabled Russian advances in Donetsk Oblast.

International

Trump admits "no progress" after sixth call with Putin on Ukraine. Trump's verdict on his sixth call with Putin? "Not happy … no progress at all." Russia, he says, still "won't back down" on Ukraine. Pentagon and State Dept defend Ukraine arms pause as "America-first agenda". The Trump administration claims it's not abandoning Ukraine, but allegedly prioritizing US military readiness. Russian intel ordered arson on Ukrainian restaurant in Tallinn, Estonian court rules. A GRU-directed Moldovan suspects carried out the attack in Estonia's capital after a trial run in Osula.

Humanitarian and social impact

Children injured in Odesa drone strike as US arms shipment stays suspended (updated). Russia's Shahed drone injured two children and three adults after a high-rise took a direct hit during the attack. Ukrainian soldier reveals what it's like to face Russian convicts from Butyrka prison in battle. Fighter Anton Shket endured 17 days of assaults by Russian "zeks" and foreign troops. Ukraine captures Russian soldiers who forced teachers, rescuers, volunteers to dig their graves in Kharkiv Oblast's torture chamber. They will be held accountable for their crimes, says Kyiv. Read our earlier daily review here.