Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1200: Kharkiv suffers record attack since full-scale invasion began

Exclusives

Putin's "neutral" athletes cheer Russia's atrocities in Ukraine — but FIFA can't wait to get them back. While the Kremlin's so-called 'neutral' athletes win Putin's war medals and cheer on Russian crimes in Ukraine, the world's top sports leagues are slowly preparing their grand comeback.

Putin's nuclear magic trick has no rabbit — Why Russia can't actually use captured Ukrainian reactors. Energy analyst Mykhailo Gonchar says Russia is chasing symbolism, not power—yet the seized plant lacks water, staff, and compatible systems to run.

What rose from bottom of Kakhovka Reservoir after Russia's dam blast?. The sludge Russia stirred up from the Dnipro has reached the Black Sea, Romania, Bulgaria—and may be irreversible.

Ukraine learned how to jam Russian bombs. So Russia made them fly beyond the jammers. Extended-range glide bombs now fly twice as fa, beyond Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.

Russia's ghost riders are storming Sumy—and they're not meant to come back. Small groups, motorcycles, reconnaissance by fire—Russia's textbook opening move.

Russia's thickest "red line" just went up in smoke — now the West has to go all in. As Ukraine razed Russia's most feared nuclear bombers, the West has no choice but to call Putin's nuclear bluff once and for all.

Military

Russian industrial infrastructure faces dual fire crisis affecting 28,100 square meters in total. Emergency crews deployed over 150 rescuers to extinguish simultaneous industrial fires in two Russian oblasts on 7 June, with blazes consuming a bitumen production facility near a major Lukoil refinery and a fuel storage depot outside Moscow. Frontline report: Ukrainian Spiderweb operation triggers mass paranoia as Russia hunts threats in every truck. Widespread arrests targeting alleged drone strike collaborators have escalated into deadly mob justice, with one truck driver brutally killed by panicked civilians, even though Zelenskyy claimed that they were unaware of their cargo. Zelenskyy: Russian truckers had no idea they were transporting Ukraine's secret drone arsenal. Ukrainian President revealed that Russian truck drivers who transported the drones used in Ukraine's devastating attack on Russian airfields were unaware of their cargo, believing they were hauling mobile houses rather than concealed weapons systems. Trump says Ukraine's drone strike on Russian military planes justifies bombardment of civilians. The US president said the Ukrainian Spiderweb airfield operation "gave the reason to go and bomb the hell out of them last night" in the retaliatory strike that killed four civilians and injured dozens of people. Russia's estimated losses in Ukraine as of day 1200 of its all-out war, according to the Ukrainian Army's General Staff.

Intelligence and technology

Canada sends $ 35 mn military aid to Ukraine: Coyote armoured vehicles and anti-jamming systems delivered. Coyote and Bison armoured vehicles worth $30 million Canadian headline Canada's latest military aid package to Ukraine, complementing 64 vehicles delivered in December 2024. French carmaker to produce military drones in Ukraine alongside defence firm. France will manufacture military drones in Ukraine through a partnership between a French carmaker and defence firm, with Ukrainian forces providing combat experience to train French military units.

International

Poland's newly elected president says he is "currently" against Ukraine's accession to EU. Poland's president-elect Karol Nawrocki told Hungarian media he opposes Ukraine's European Union membership, citing unresolved bilateral issues including agricultural competition and the exhumation of Polish massacre victims. "Force Putin to negotiate," Finnish PM warns against weakening Russia sanctions. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo warned against weakening Russia sanctions as the Trump administration pressures Senator Lindsey Graham to soften his sanctions proposal, Wall Street Journal reports. Czech President warns Ukraine war shows same warning signs that led to WWII. "We must do everything," Petr Pavel warned that Europe must prevent the Ukraine war from spreading westward, drawing direct comparisons to the 1930s. Baltic states issue joint statement backing Ukraine's NATO and EU membership and further pressure on Russia. The three Baltic parliaments argue that Ukrainian membership would provide "a more effective and enduring framework for safeguarding Euro-Atlantic security." Yermak confirms Zelenskyy-Trump meeting likely at G7 summit in Canada. Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office confirmed that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will likely meet with US President Donald Trump during the June 15-17 G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, following a preparatory Ukrainian delegation visit to Washington. Netherlands orders 1,000 Ukraine war refugees to leave in four weeks. Students, workers and other non-EU citizens who escaped Ukraine's war zone for the Netherlands face a September deadline to leave the country, ending their temporary protection that began in 2022.

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukrainian mother and daughter stabbed to death and their refugee housing set on fire in Belgium. The woman's husband remains fighting on the Ukrainian front lines while her 16-year-old son was at school during the attack. Kharkiv endures most extensive attack since full-scale invasion began. Three civilians killed, dozens injured. Among the 21 wounded are a 1,5 month old baby and a 14-year-old girl.

Political and legal developments

Kremlin official: US Senate "hotheads" don't realize Russia won't change its demands to end war. Deputy Foreign Minister argued that threats of sanctions cannot change Russia's approach to potential peace deal based on what the Kremlin terms as eliminating the "root causes" of the war. Zelenskyy rejects Trump's comparison of war to "two little kids fighting." He says Putin is murderer who kills these kids. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that anyone "thousands of miles away" from the war cannot comprehend the suffering of families who lost their loved ones. Read our earlier daily review here.