Newsletter 11/06/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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Three killed, 64 injured: Zelensky urges world to increase pressure on Russia after Kharkiv attack
Following a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv that left three people dead and 64 injured, President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the international community to take immediate action and adopt new measures to increase pressure on Russia.
"Recovery efforts are currently underway in Kharkiv following last night's Russian Shahed drone strike. The attack hit ordinary residential buildings. As of now, 64 people have been reported injured, including 9 children. Tragically, three people were killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. There were many fires in the city, but as always, our rescuers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine acted swiftly," Zelensky said.
On the night of June 10 to 11, Russia launched a massive Shahed drone attack on Kharkiv, hitting residential buildings and a business facility, sparking multiple fires.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, starting at 22:00 on June 10, Russian forces launched 85 attack drones (Shaheds and decoy UAVs) from several directions, including Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, as well as Chauda and Hvardiiske in temporarily occupied Crimea. Additionally, Russia fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile from the Kursk region. The primary targets were the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Odesa regions.
Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 49 out of the 85 drones.
Bodies of 1,212 fallen defenders repatriated to Ukraine
The bodies of 1,212 fallen defenders have been returned to Ukraine as part of repatriation efforts, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The return of the fallen was made possible through the joint efforts of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Joint Center under the Security Service of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Interior Ministry, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing under Special Circumstances, the State Emergency Service, and other structures within Ukraine's security and defense sector.
Russian forces still 10–15 km from Dnipropetrovsk-Zaporizhzhia border – Ukrainian military
In the Novopavlivka sector of the front, Russian troops are still around 10 to 15 kilometers away from reaching the administrative border between Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
"This is the southeastern direction toward Dnipropetrovsk region. For the enemy to reach the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions in the Novopavlivka sector, they still need to pass several settlements, including Zelene Pole, Novopil, Vilne Pole, and Novosilka. So, in principle, they are still about 10 to perhaps 15 kilometers away," explained Vladyslav Voloshyn, Spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine.
He also clarified earlier claims that the Russian forces were merely 600 meters away, saying that may apply to other directions, but not to Novopavlivka.
Yesterday, the Russians struck the Odesa Film Studio—one of the oldest in the world. Production facilities, costume and prop warehouses were damaged, and part of the historical set decorations was destroyed.
Thanks to the swift actions of the security team, the fire was extinguished in time, the destructive consequences were contained, and unique costumes, props, and artifacts tied to the studio’s 100-year history were saved. Fortunately, none of the staff were injured.
War
Russian drone hits sappers during demining in Kharkiv region, one dead, several wounded
Russian military attacked rescuers with a strike drone while they were clearing mines from agricultural land in the liberated territories of the Izium district of the Kharkiv region.
The invaders directed the drone directly at the working part of the Minewolf MV-370 demining machine while sappers were servicing it and checking its operation.
One pyrotechnician was killed in the enemy attack. Two of his colleagues were wounded and are in hospital, where doctors are fighting for their lives.
Source: SBU used custom-designed drones for Operation Spiderweb
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) deployed UAVs specifically developed and manufactured by its own engineers for the special operation known as "Spiderweb," a source within the SBU has told Ukrinform.
"These drones are a unique development by the Security Service of Ukraine, utilizing advanced technologies that allowed remote control in real time from thousands of kilometers away from Ukrainea's state border. They were able to bypass enemy countermeasures and effectively strike strategic aviation targets," the source said.
The drones were created specifically by the SBU to operate deep behind enemy lines and were designed to meet the requirements of the targeted missions, the source added.
Russian air strike on Kupiansk damages over 80 houses
On the night of June 11, Russian aircraft dropped two aerial bombs, including one weighing one and a half tons, on the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. More than 80 houses, a kindergarten, and cars were damaged.
“Kupiansk has once again been subjected to Russian air strikes. According to the investigation, on June 11, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Russian armed forces carried out a series of air strikes. Preliminary reports indicate that the enemy used FAB-500 and 1500 bombs with UMPC,” the report said.
General Staff reports 99 clashes on frontline, one-third in Pokrovsk sector
Ukrainian troops destroy enemy convoy of 19 motorcycles and buggies, take prisoners
Coordination Headquarters warns POWs’ relatives about increased scammer activity
North Korea sends Russia 120 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems - Ukraine defense intel
Defense
Ukrainian Government eases procurement rules for domestic drones, EW systems
The Cabinet of Ministers has simplified the acceptance procedure for domestically produced tactical-level unmanned systems and electronic warfare (EW) equipment.
According to the amendments, the acceptance of drones and EW systems can now be carried out without the involvement of representatives from the state contracting authority. Instead, acceptance is based on a quality certificate provided by the contractor for each unit of equipment. This certificate guarantees that the product meets the manufacturer’s declared specifications, quality, safety, and technical condition.
Politics
Putin’s team claims US will collapse “soon”
Russian MP Aleksey Pushkov, head of the Federation Council Committee on Information Policy, claims that the US is allegedly “the main candidate for collapse in the near future” due to growing internal conflicts.
Moscow increasingly appears permanent target for Kyiv drone strikes – media
The Kremlin is well aware of the capabilities of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. At the same time, Moscow is no longer perceived as untouchable: it increasingly looks less like a global center of power and more like a permanent target for drone strikes from Kyiv.
Serbian President Vucic makes first-ever visit to Ukraine – Reuters
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic travelled to the Ukrainian city of Odesa for a regional summit on Wednesday, the first time the Moscow-friendly leader has visited the country during his 12 years in power.
Economy
EU, Germany pledge additional EUR 18M to Ukraine’s Energy Efficiency Fund
The European Union and Germany are allocating additional €13 million and €5 million respectively to the Energy Efficiency Fund of Ukraine.
Society
A farewell ceremony was held on Independence Square for serviceman Kostiantyn Yehoshyn, who gave his life in battle.
He will forever remain 23.
Six dimensions of accessibility: Zelenska launches 'When You Can' campaign
First Lady Olena Zelenska has announced the launch of the national social change campaign "When You Can, "aimed at raising awareness about six key dimensions of accessibility.
She presented the campaign and the flagship projects of various ministries during the rollout of the National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine through 2030, Ukrinform reports.
"Barrier-free means when you can. This is the core message of the campaign launching today. It seeks to explain six key areas of accessibility: physical, informational, digital, civic and social, educational, and economic," Zelenska said.
She stressed that the term "invalid" was officially removed from Ukrainian legislation back in 2018.
"So how do we speak properly? The key principle — and really the only one — is this: the person comes first, then their experience. For example, a person with a disability, and only in that form. A condition or diagnosis should never overshadow a person's identity. Why does this matter? Because words have power — they can cause real harm," Zelenska said.
Murder of Ukrainian women in Belgium: Consuls visit 16-year-old suspect
Ukrainian consular officials in Belgium have visited a 16-year-old Ukrainian national who is under arrest on suspicion of murdering his mother and six-year-old sister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine told Ukrinform.
"Yesterday, on June 10, consuls from the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgium visited the Ukrainian citizen currently being held at a secure facility for juvenile offenders. The detainee is in satisfactory health. All necessary conditions for his detention have been ensured. Investigative authorities are working to establish the circumstances and possible motives behind the crime," the ministry said.
It added that the embassy remains in contact with the relatives of the victims and the suspect, as well as with local police, prosecutors, the management of the detention center, and other Belgian authorities. The case remains under close consular supervision.