Exclusives
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“We have done everything”: Ukraine’s EU membership talks expected to start in June, Zelenskyy says. Kyiv says it has completed all preparations and is now awaiting a decision from EU leaders. |
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Sanctions on Russia: Do they work? Why? Why not? Blame? Changes?. For the past 50 months, the West has steadily increased its sanctions on Russia – at least on paper. A conference in Kyiv this weekend is analyzing sanctions roll back, accountability, the role of civil society, war profiteering, Putin’s enablers, and which sanctions have worked and not. |
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EU just held its first summit without Orbán, and discovered his obstruction was covering deeper divisions. Without him in the room, diplomats acknowledged behind closed doors that Orbán had long absorbed the blame for conflicts that were never really his alone. |
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A low-tech transport plane firing high-tech interceptor drones is Ukraine’s newest Shahed-hunter. One in three Russian aerial targets over Ukraine is now destroyed by an interceptor drone that costs less than a used car. This week, Ukraine added a new launch platform to that fleet: a 1969 Antonov An-28 transport plane. |
Military
What's left of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea comes under fire as Ukraine hits three warships in Sevastopol strike. The SBU also reported strikes on Belbek airfield, including a MiG-31 and airfield infrastructure, as part of the same operation.
Ukraine takes aim at Russia's fuel lifeline, hits major refinery in Yaroslavl. The facility processes about 15 million tons of oil a year and supplies fuel critical for military logistics.
Syrskyi: Ukraine's strikes have cost Russia $25.5 billion. Ukraine holds the front not through numbers, but through asymmetric warfare, drones, and forcing Russian forces to operate under continuously unfavorable conditions.
"The Urals, Karl!": Drones struck Russia's Yekaterinburg for first time at record distance of 1,800 kilometers. The residential complex "Trinity" in the city center sustained damage, and six people were injured. No air-raid warning was issued. No alert reached residents.
After days of crawling through Sumy pipes, Russia is now trying same tactic in Kupiansk.
Ukrainian strikes have wiped $25.5 billion off Russia's war machine, Syrskyi says. Ukrainian drones now kill Russian troops faster than Moscow can replace them – for four months running, Syrskyi says.
Intelligence and technology
"Grandma, get on": Ukrainian robot carried 77-year-old from grey zone near Lyman (VIDEO). Ground evacuation was impossible. Enemy drones saturated the area. So Ukraine sent a robot instead.
Ukraine's prominent drone expert "Flash": Russia's cheap Molniya drones fly too low for radar. Molniya drones fly at low altitude and use materials that reduce radar visibility.
Ukraine's "points-for-kills" procurement system has delivered 181,000 items to the front this year. Units earn points for confirmed battlefield activity, then order their own equipment via Brave1 Market – 95% of drone units have signed on.
Ukraine details its "deep strike center" – the coordination unit behind long-range drone operations on occupied territories. The structure within the Unmanned Systems Forces plans and executes precision strikes on high-value Russian assets.
International
Drones, drones, and more drones: Ukraine sets spending priorities for €90B EU package. Kyiv says the first tranche of the €90 billion EU loan will go primarily to scaling up drone production, with energy infrastructure protection identified as the second key priority.
Ukraine warns of energy funding gap despite €100M partner pledge for winter preparations. Officials said Ukrainian teams have already identified usable equipment from decommissioned power plants in several EU countries for transfer to Ukraine.
Ukraine is holding Russian forces away from Moldova, Sandu says. Moldovan President Maia Sandu visited Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy on security, EU integration, and regional cooperation.
IT Coalition co-led by Estonia just crossed €1.4 billion with Ukraine's drone programs as focus. Estonia reaffirmed its commitment to allocate at least 0.25% of GDP to support Ukraine.
Zelenskyy's first official visit to Azerbaijan: Six bilateral deals, with defense industry as key area. "We have a very high level of relations, and it is important that they are based on mutual respect," Zelenskyy said.
At post-Orbán EU summit, Zelenskyy proposed Europe build integrated air, missile, and drone defense. Zelensky thanked the EU for its 20th sanctions package against Russia and urged the first tranche of a €90 billion support package to arrive as soon as possible.
Humanitarian and social impact
Russia hit Ukraine's nuclear energy infrastructure 155 times, creating serious risks for nuclear safety – Shmyhal. Officials say repeated strikes on substations linked to nuclear plants threaten the stability of Ukraine's power grid.
Ukraine opens special fund to restore Chernobyl shelter damaged in Russian drone strike. The initiative aims to raise more than €500 million to restore the structure damaged in last year's drone strike.
68-year-old man and woman on motorcycle were killed by Russian FPV drone in Kherson this morning. While police officers responded to the scene, Russia carried out a second strike, deliberately hitting the service vehicle of first responders.
Russia attacked Dnipro for more than 20 hours. Five people are dead, up to six may still be under rubble. At least 40 people were injured, including children. Twenty-three required hospitalization.
Russia struck Ukraine's railways 1,200 times in 2025 – more than the previous two years combined. Ukrzaliznytsia reports 17,300 rail sites hit since 2022 and 40 workers killed as Russia shifts targeting to trains themselves.
Political and legal developments
Tougher sanctions needed as Russia turns nuclear sites into war zones, Zelenskyy says. Zelenskyy called for tougher sanctions on Russia, including its nuclear sector, saying Moscow is using Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear sites in its war.
After years of vetoes, Ukraine expects first EU accession talks to open in weeks. Kachka tells Politico Kyiv still sees 2027 as a realistic milestone for closing the majority of chapters and drafting an accession treaty.
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