Newsletter 09/06/2026
Zelensky: “I got result that was needed” from his letter to Putin. Ukrainian drones “reduce” Russian cargo traffic to Crimea by 71%. Zelensky: June and July could be decisive for Ukraine.
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Zelensky: “I got result that was needed” from his letter to Putin
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his series of appeals to international leaders and institutions, including an open letter to Vladimir Putin, had produced the expected result.
Zelensky said that he had had a goal when he sent the letter to Putin and that he believed he had achieved the result he needed.
Zelensky clarified that through the letter he wanted to show different allies who is ready for peace and who is not.
In addition, Zelensky said that over the course of a month he sent several letters to various institutions, including the EU, Congress, and the President of the United States.
He added that he had had different objectives. Regarding the United States, he said that he had wanted to do everything possible to shift at least some of its focus from the Middle East to the situation in Ukraine. He noted that he did not want to and could not share all the details, but stressed that Ukraine needed a very significant amount of anti-ballistic capabilities. Zelensky said that he had obtained a result but could not disclose what it was at that time, adding that he had achieved what he set out to do.
Von der Leyen unveils new sanctions package against Russia
The European Commission on Tuesday proposed a new, 21st package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, targeting, among other areas, the energy sector, financial services, cryptocurrency trading, and, for the first time, the fishing industry.
Brovdi: Ukrainian drones “reduce” Russian cargo traffic to Crimea by 71%
Over the past 14 days, thanks to the fire control provided by Ukrainian drones over the land corridor to Crimea, military cargo traffic by the Russian Armed Forces has decreased by 71%.
“From now on, the occupier’s logistics death marches to Crimea are permitted only via detours. The official schedule, in its own helplessness, has been deemed a failure.
As of June 7, by order of the commander of the Vostok Operational-Tactical Group, military cargo traffic is prohibited on the E58-Desolation route (the Russian R-280 Novorossiya), specifically the section in the temporarily occupied territory of Mariupol-Berdiansk-Melitopol-Simferopol, which has already decreased by 71% over the past two weeks,” stated on Facebook by Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert “Magyar” Brovdi.
Zelensky: June and July could be decisive for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he expects important decisions for Ukraine to be made at the EU, G7, and NATO summits in June and July.
“The main thing that is very important today is to prepare for the negotiations and decisions we all expect from the summits at the level of the European Union, the G7, and NATO. June and July of this year could determine a great deal,” Zelensky said.
According to him, the first thing Ukraine needs is clear diplomatic action “so that Russia does not think the war can bring it anything.”
“Ukraine’s positions on the front lines are strong. Russia loses over 30,000 of its soldiers every month, either killed or seriously wounded. Our long-term impact on Russian logistics, oil refining, and military production is also significant. In temporarily occupied Crimea and parts of Russia, there is already a gasoline shortage, and in some places, there is no stable connection; the Russian budget is in tatters. We must keep up the pressure and bring Russia back to the diplomatic track,” the president noted.
Ukraine urges UNSC to consider resolution on immediate ceasefire
Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andrii Melnyk, has called for the preparation and submission of a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Melnyk urges UN to ban Russia from peacekeeping missions over sexual violence crimes
Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Andrii Melnyk has called for Russia to be excluded from UN peacekeeping operations after Russian armed and security forces were included on the UN’s list of parties responsible for conflict-related sexual violence.
Defense
Ukraine, Latvia sign Drone Deal
In Tallinn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs signed a Drone Deal.
Ukraine, Estonia sign declaration to strengthen defense cooperation
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal signed a Joint Declaration on strengthening cooperation in the fields of security and defense.
Zelensky discusses air defense missile supplies with Stubb and Støre
The supply of missiles for air defense systems, as well as international efforts to achieve peace, were the main topics of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Air defense systems and Gripen jets for Ukraine: Zelensky meets with Swedish PM in Tallinn
In Tallinn, as part of the Ukraine – Nordic-Baltic Summit, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the implementation of agreements regarding Gripen fighter jets during a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson; the parties also coordinated their next steps.
War
Ukrainian Defense Forces strike several Russian military targets overnight
Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a number of Russian military targets on June 8 and overnight into June 9, both on the territory of the aggressor state and in the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
The targets hit include:
an ammunition depot near Prokhorovka in Russia’s Belgorod region;
command posts of Russian forces near Naumivka in the Belgorod region and Iskra in the Kursk region, as well as Mykilske and Shevchenko Pershe in the Donetsk region;
drone command posts in Shevchenko Pershe (Donetsk region), Zaliznychne (Zaporizhzhia region), and Oleshky (Kherson region);
a logistics hub near Fedorivka in the Donetsk region;
storage facilities for military supplies in Mykhailivka (Luhansk region) and Huniivka (Zaporizhzhia region).
Ukrainian drones strike deployment site of Terek brigade in occupied Luhansk region
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces struck the deployment site of the Russian Army’s 5th Cossack Reconnaissance and Assault Brigade “Terek,” as well as enemy air defense systems, logistics facilities, and infrastructure targets in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and inside Russia.
Bridge in Chonhar damaged again following overnight attack by Ukrainian drones
Russia’s war casualty toll in Ukraine up by 1,380 over past day
Shellings
Attack on Zaporizhzhia: Casualty toll climbs to 32, two dead
In Zaporizhzhia, the number of casualties from the Russian attack has increased to 32.
Russian drone strikes civilian car in Kharkiv region, killing one, injuring four
Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk region leave three people injured
Politics
‘Gray’ logistics schemes allow Russia to circumvent sanctions, Vlasiuk says commenting on Jenty investigation
European journalists’ investigation into the Belarusian logistics holding Jenty has revealed how a network of companies is being used to bypass EU sanctions restrictions against Russia. Ukraine is awaiting the results of an official Swedish investigation.
Bulgaria not to supply weapons to Ukraine any longer, Defense Minister says
Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov has announced that Bulgaria will no longer provide weapons to Ukraine.
“Ukraine needs more people, not more weapons. It has enough weapons, so we do not envisage providing more weapons to the Ukrainian army,” Stoyanov said.
In his view, “the war in Ukraine will not be resolved on the battlefield.”
“We see a positional war and no matter how much armament is accumulated, the only thing that is achieved is the loss of human lives,” Stoyanov said.
According to him, “it is time to sit down at the negotiating table.”
“It is time to seek a just peace, which just peace must be determined by the two parties involved in the conflict,” he added.
Zelensky outlines ideal format for peace talks: Europe must be represented
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Europe must be represented at future peace talks with Russia.
Zelensky hopes to develop anti-ballistic missile system with UK
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes to develop a European anti-ballistic missile system in collaboration with the United Kingdom.
Zelensky plans to invite Charles III to Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he plans to invite King Charles III on a state visit to Ukraine, provided the security situation allows it.