Wednesday, June 12

Russia’s war against Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky reacts as he holds a press statement with German defense minister after a visit to a military training area in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, north-eastern Germany, on June 11, 2024, where Ukrainian soldiers are trained on the ‘Patriot’ air defense missile system. (Jens Büttner / POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Zelensky says Ukraine ‘will end this war on our terms.’ President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered his first in-person address to German lawmakers in the Bundestag on June 11, expressing Ukraine’s gratitude for Germany’s support in resisting Russia’s invasion.

Ukrainian strikes on Russia have helped reduce attacks on Kharkiv, mayor says. Ukrainian forces have struck missile launch positions in Russia, helping to reduce the number of Russian attacks on the embattled city of Kharkiv, Reuters reported on June 11, citing Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine. Russian forces launched missile attacks overnight on June 12, targeting multiple Ukrainian regions across the country. In the capital Kyiv, multiple Kyiv Independent journalists reported hearing explosions around 3 a.m. local time.

It’s time for allies to give Ukraine all arms needed to defeat Russia, Zelensky says. The time has come for Kyiv’s partners to provide all the weapons necessary to push Russia out of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on June 11.

Ukraine wants to restore energy facilities damaged by Russia by winter with allied help. “We are asking you for equipment from your shutdown power plants and direct financial support. This will allow us to respond to the situation here and now. To preserve normal life,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said at Berlin conference.

Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.

Ukraine controls Ivanivske near Chasiv Yar, battles ongoing in Staromaiorske, military says. Kyiv controls the situation in Ivanivske near Chasiv Yar, and Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian troops in Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast, Nazar Voloshyn, the spoksperson of the Khortytsia group of forces, told the Kyiv Independent on June 11.

Russia has seized almost $24 million in Ukrainian assets from occupied Crimea since 2022, proxy leader says. Proxy leaders in the occupied peninsula have issued a series of decrees since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine enabling the seizure of property and assets in Crimea owned by individuals deemed to be supportive of Kyiv.

Russia may store 100 nuclear warheads in Kaliningrad Oblast, Polish FM claims. Russia might be storing up to 100 nuclear warheads in Kaliningrad Oblast, located approximately 260 km (160 miles) from Warsaw, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski claimed on June 11, during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

Russia, Belarus begin second stage of tactical nuclear weapons drills. The latest drills will see Russian and Belarusian forces working on training “for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons”, the Russian Defense Ministry said on June 11.

Read our exclusives

Worst-case scenario in Ukraine’s energy system ‘very close to realistic,’ largest private energy company says

Ukrainians could face up to 20 hours of blackouts a day under a “worst-case” scenario if the country cannot repair its energy infrastructure from Russian attacks, Executive Director of Ukraine’s largest energy company DTEK Dmytro Sakharuk told the Kyiv Independent.

Photo: Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: Major reconstruction aid announced at Ukraine Recovery Conference

The Ukraine Recovery Conference, hosted in Berlin, has already yielded efforts from states and international organizations toward addressing Ukraine’s reconstruction needs. Germany announced additional military aid, including a third Patriot system.

Photo: Presidential Office

Russia’s Su-57 – hype vs. reality

In the latest blow to Russia’s military prestige, Ukraine this week claimed to have for the first time struck at least one – and possibly two – of Moscow’s cutting-edge, fifth-generation fighter jets, the Su-57.

Photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Why are Ukrainian banks so profitable during war?

Ukraine’s banks are flush with cash. The banking sector has turned its fortunes around after hemorrhaging money in the first few months of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russia attacks residential area in Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, injuring 6. Russian troops carried out an airstrike on the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast with overnight on June 10, injuring at least six people, Donbas Realii news outlet reported on June 11 citing police.

International response

US to deploy additional Patriot missile battery to Ukraine. The United States will provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot missile system, senior administration and military officials told the New York Times on June 11. This will be the second Patriot system supplied by the U.S. to Ukraine.

Ukraine to receive additional 68 Patriot missiles from German-led initiative, German defense minister says. Berlin will send an additional 68 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, on June 11.

Von der Leyen: Ukraine to receive 3.4 billion euros from EU this summer. Ukraine will receive 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in Russian frozen assets revenue in July and 1.9 billion euros ($2 billion) under the Ukraine Facility already this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on June 11.

Media: G7 to create Ukraine aid fund using income from frozen Russian assets.

A final agreement on the issue is expected at a G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, on June 13-15, which President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend.

EIB to give Ukraine 100 million euros for social infrastructure restoration. Kyiv signed a financing agreement with the European Investment Bank under the Recovery III project at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

US to announce new Russia sanctions at G7 summit. “We’re going to continue to drive up costs for the Russian war machine,” White House spokesman John Kirby said on June 11.

Baltic states to disconnect from joint Russian power grid in February 2025. The Baltic nations initially aimed to join the European system by the end of 2025. However, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they advanced the timeline by nearly a year.

EBRD to provide 1 billion euros for Ukraine’s battered energy infrastructure. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has pledged 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) to assist Ukraine in repairing its damaged energy infrastructure, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said on June 11.

In other news

Bloomberg: Russian operative spreading Kremlin disinformation across Europe. A Russian intelligence operative already identified as heading a Kremlin disinformation campaign in Africa has also been courting European journalists to spread Moscow’s false narratives across the continent, Bloomberg reported on June 11.

Daughter of Poltava’s convicted ex-mayor charged with collaborating with Putin’s party. Oleksandr Mamai, the former mayor of Poltava, received a five-year suspended sentence in 2023 after being convicted of abuse of office and forgery.

Want to get the news faster? Follow our website: kyivindependent.com.

Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Kateryna Denisova, Nate Ostiller, Teah Pelechaty, Kateryna Hodunova, Chris York, Dmytro Basmat, and Olena Goncharova

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today.