Wednesday, June 26
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers return from Russian captivity as part of a prisoner exchange on June 25, 2024, in Sumy Oblast. Ukraine and Russia each returned 90 prisoners of war, one among several periodic swaps in more than two years of the war. (Liberov Kostiantyn/Libkos/Getty Images)
International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Russia’s Shoigu, Gerasimov. The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on June 25 that it has issued arrest warrants for ex-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, now secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian army, for war crimes against Ukraine. The charges relate to Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the ICC said.
Ukraine brings back 90 POWs from Russian captivity. The released captives include 32 personnel of the National Guard, including those who defended the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, 18 border guards, 17 personnel of the Navy, 15 soldiers of the Armed Forces as well as eight of the territorial defense, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported.
Zelensky says he’s sure Ukraine will become EU member as accession talks kick off. “As of today, we have full confidence — Ukraine will definitely become a full member of the European Union,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address. “Now, the focus is on the technical work between Ukraine and the EU, adapting our system to the EU, and Europe’s political will to make the European project truly complete.”
Defense Ministry bought plastic flasks for army at 3 times market rate, investigation finds. The State Logistics Operator (DOT), a government procurement agency established in December 2023, spent more than 54 million hryvnias ($1.3 million) on 153,000 flasks in 2024 alone.
Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.
Pentagon chief, new Russian defense minister talk for the first time. “During the call (with Belousov) the secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amidst Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine,” Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder said at a briefing on June 25.
Satellite image shows fire at ammunition depot in Russia’s Voronezh region. Satellite imagery obtained by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) shows at least two pockets of fire, consistent with local accounts of two drones attacking the field ammunition depot in the region’s Olkhovatsky district overnight on June 25.
Over 3,000 Nepalis joined Russian army, captured POW estimates. “I guess around 3,000 to 4,000 Nepalis joined the Russian army,” Rai Bikash, the captured POW said, after estimating that he saw around 200 Nepalis with his own eyes during his short time in the Russian military.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: IСС issues arrest warrants for Russia’s ex-Defense Minister Shoigu, Russian army Chief Gerasimov
Sergei Shoigu, head of Russia’s Security Council, and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian army, are charged with war crimes, particularly “directing attacks at civilian objects,” and “causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects.”
Photo: Gavriil Grigorov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
| Learn more |
Human cost of war
Russian guided bomb attack on Kharkiv Oblast injures 4. Two women, aged 40 and 87, as well as two men, aged 56 and 67, suffered injuries after the Russian attack, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
General Staff: Russia has lost 536,840 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
This number includes 1,180 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.
International response
CNN: US may allow deploying its military contractors to Ukraine. Such a move would help the Ukrainian military maintain and repair weapons systems provided by Washington much more quickly. U.S.-supplied military equipment that has been heavily damaged in combat has to be taken out of the country to Poland, Romania, or other NATO countries for repair, which took a long time, CNN wrote.
Czech PM confirms Ukraine received first batch of shells under Prague-led initiative. “The first shipment of ammunition from our initiative arrived in Ukraine some time ago. We are doing what it takes,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on 25 June.
European Court of Human Rights finds Russia guilty of violating human rights in occupied Crimea. The decision stems from several complaints Ukraine brought to the court in the years following Russia’s occupation of Crimea.
Von der Leyen reportedly nominated for second term as European Commission president. EU leaders have reportedly nominated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a second term, Politico reported on June 25, citing five EU officials.
EU Council approves draft security agreement with Ukraine. “We have been preparing for the next European Council, which will take place at the end of this week in Brussels. This European Council will give a full picture of our support for Ukraine in all its forms,” Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said at a press conference in Luxembourg on June 25.
Finland’s Gasum to cease Russian LNG imports in compliance with EU sanctions. Finland’s Gasum, a major gas supplier to the Nordic region, announced on June 25 that it will cease purchasing and importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in July in accordance with new European Union sanctions.
Media: German authorities find no evidence of Russian attack on metal factory. The factory, which belongs to Diehl Metal Applications, a subsidiary of the Diehl group that manufactures IRIS-T air defense systems used by Ukraine, caught on fire in May, resulting in the destruction of much of the building.
In other news
Ukraine to demand extradition of suspects accused of attempting to assassinate Kazakh journalist. The Prosecutor General’s Office is preparing to request the extradition of two suspects accused of attempting to assassinate the Kazakh opposition activist and journalist Aidos Sadykov in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s GDP increased 6.5% in first quarter, estimates suggest. Preliminary estimates suggest that Ukraine’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 6.5% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023, Ukraine’s State Statistics Service reported on June 25.
Court orders house arrest for controversial lawmaker Tyshchenko. The Kyiv Pechersk District court on June 25 approved the prosecutor’s request to impose round-the-clock house arrest on controversial Ukrainian lawmaker Mykola Tyshchenko.
Want to get the news faster? Follow our website: kyivindependent.com.
Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Francis Farrell, Nate Ostiller, Chris York, Oleg Sukhov, Kateryna Denisova, Elsa Court, Olena Goncharova, and Abbey Fenbert.
If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to react!