Newsletter 01/06/2026
ISW: Russia may use ZNPP as pretext for new large-scale attack on Ukraine. Russia may be forced to transport military equipment, fuel across Kerch Bridge – Navy spokesman.
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ISW: Russia may use ZNPP as pretext for new large-scale attack on Ukraine
The Kremlin is using the issue of strikes on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to justify the escalation and intensification of long-range strikes against Ukraine.
Analysts note that on May 30 and 31, the occupying administration of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported two strikes allegedly carried out by Ukraine against the plant. It was claimed that on May 30, the machine room of the sixth power unit was damaged, and on May 31, the transport workshop.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Southern Defense Forces refuted these accusations, emphasizing that this is an attempt to divert attention from Russia’s illegal occupation of the plant.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Russia intensifies such accusations ahead of every meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Meanwhile, on May 31, the IAEA reported that its representatives at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had documented damage to the machine room consistent with the effects of a drone strike. However, the agency did not specify whether the drone was Ukrainian or Russian.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, used claims of an alleged Ukrainian strike to threaten escalation. He stated that Russia would launch “symmetrical” strikes against nuclear power plants in Ukraine or NATO countries if the attacks resulted in damage to the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
The ISW emphasizes that the Russian military has repeatedly threatened and endangered Ukrainian nuclear power plants during the war. Russia has also militarized the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) by stationing military equipment near nuclear reactors and deploying troops at and around the plant, as well as launching drones from within the ZNPP grounds.
Lublin removes Ukrainian flag from city hall after Ukrainian unit named in honor of UPA heroes
The Ukrainian flag has been removed from the city hall in Lublin in eastern Poland following Ukraine’s decision to name a Special Operations Forces unit after the “Heroes of the UPA” (the Ukrainian Insurgent Army).
The Ukrainian flag had flown above Lublin alongside those of Poland, and the EU since 2022, when it was raised as a gesture of solidarity following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, the blue-and-yellow flag was pulled down sometime between Friday and Saturday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree granting the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” to the Independent Special Operations Center “North” of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces.
Lublin city officials said that the decision to remove the flag was “directly related” to Zelensky’s recent decree.
“The glorification of formations responsible for crimes against civilians harms the historical memory of our nation, wounds the memory of Polish victims, and makes it harder to build a sincere dialogue between our countries,” the city said in a statement to Polish news outlet Interia.
Russia may be forced to transport military equipment, fuel across Kerch Bridge – Navy spokesman
Russia may eventually be forced to use the Kerch Bridge to transport military cargo once its reserves of military equipment are depleted and fuel supplies run low.
“I think we will eventually see a point when they are truly under pressure and will have no choice but to start transporting hazardous cargo across the bridge,” Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk stated. “There are serious restrictions in place regarding fuel shipments and railway transportation, both for safety reasons and because of the damage the so-called Crimean Bridge suffered in the past.”
In his opinion, once Russia runs short of fuel for its military vehicles and exhausts its reserves of military equipment, it will be compelled to rely on this logistical route as well.
Pletenchuk noted that ferry transportation is currently unavailable to Russia because railway ferries have been damaged or destroyed. Conventional ferries, he said, are incapable of handling the required cargo volumes, while railway ferry services are not operating.
Romania confirms residential building was struck by Russian Geran-2 drone
A final technical report by Romanian specialists has confirmed that the drone which crashed into a residential building in the city of Galați on the night of May 29 was a Russian Geran-2 drone.
War
Defense forces clear Novoplatonivka in Kharkiv region of Russian troops
Soldiers from the 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army’s Ground Forces demonstrated how they liberated the village of Novoplatonivka in the Kharkiv region from Russian invaders and refuted Russian claims that they had allegedly captured the village.
Zelensky awards participants of SSU’s Spiderweb special operation
President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded state honors to officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) who took part in the special operation Spiderweb.
Volgograd oil refinery halts processing after drone attack – Reuters
The oil refinery in Volgograd, owned by Lukoil, suspended oil processing on May 29 after a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire and damage.
Shellings
Russian drone attack on Odesa region leaves six people injured
Six people were injured as a result of a massive Russian drone attack on the Odesa region.
On the morning of June 1, the Russian military struck the maternity ward of the city hospital in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi with a drone, where six women who had recently given birth were staying.
Russians attack Dnipropetrovsk region more than 40 times since morning, leaving two people injured
Russians attack Chernihiv, Chernihiv region with drones, leaving houses damaged, one injured
Russian attacks in Kherson region leave one civilian killed, seven more wounded
Russian drone strike damages cultural center in Vilniansk, one injured
Defense
Contributions to PURL sufficient to continue US weapons deliveries to Ukraine — Ministry of Defense
The volume of contributions from partner countries to the PURL program is sufficient to ensure the continued supply of critical U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine. Military aid is currently continuing to arrive.
Politics
Lithuanian PM rejects Russian accusations over Baltic states’ airspace use by Ukraine
Any rhetoric from the Kremlin suggesting that Lithuania or another Baltic country might have granted Ukraine permission to use its airspace for drone strikes is propaganda.
China slams Japan’s decision to send military personnel to NATO’s Ukraine support mission
China has expressed concern over Japan’s decision to send members of its Self-Defense Forces to NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU).
Romanian president warns Russia’s ambassador could be expelled over future drone incidents
Romanian President Nicușor Dan has said that Bucharest may take stronger diplomatic measures, including the expulsion of Russia’s ambassador, if incidents involving Russian attack drones entering Romanian airspace continue during strikes on Ukraine.
Society
Ukrainian men of conscription age may be denied temporary protection in EU – media
The EU is discussing the possibility of not extending future temporary protection to new male applicants of conscription age.
The proposal emerged during discussions about the future of the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), which allows Ukrainians to live and work across Europe without going through national asylum systems. The program, launched after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, is currently in force until March 2027 after an extension agreed last year.
According to an internal EU Council document seen by Euractiv, among the options under discussion is extending temporary protection while narrowing its scope, in particular by “excluding men of conscription age” or people who left Ukraine on unlawful grounds.
Any such restriction would apply to new applicants seeking temporary protection status.