Newsletter 13/06/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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Ukraine recovers from Russia 1,200 bodies of fallen soldiers
Another 1,200 bodies of fallen Ukrainian defenders were repatriated to Ukraine.
"As a result of the repatriation effort, the bodies of 1,200 soldiers were returned to Ukraine. According to the Russian side, these are the bodies of Ukrainian citizens, in particular military personnel. The repatriation took place in accordance with the agreements reached in Istanbul," reported the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Ukraine's HUR launches massive cyberattack, disrupts key Russian state service
From June 10 to 12, cyber specialists from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) conducted a series of cyberattacks on the Russian tax and customs services, temporarily paralyzing internal document processing systems.
According to the source, Russia’s Federal Customs Service acknowledged a DDoS attack, but downplayed it, referring to it as "complications in information exchange with foreign trade operators."
The cyberattacks also targeted related Russian digital services, including:
·Kontur – a leading Russian developer of accounting and business digital services;
·Chestny Znak – the national product labeling system;
·GosKlyuch – the electronic signature server.
HUR hackers also launched a repeat attack on the website and mobile service of Russian Railways (RZD). Throughout the day, Russian users were once again unable to buy train tickets via the site or mobile app. The highest number of complaints came from residents of Saint Petersburg, Tver, and Sverdlovsk regions.
Russian Railways confirmed the technical issues, attributing them to a powerful DDoS attack. The company advised customers to purchase tickets at station kiosks instead.
According to intelligence sources, RZD, the tax service, and the customs service in Russia fully support and enable the Russian aggression against Ukraine and are therefore considered legitimate targets for cyberattacks.
Drone strikes hit Russian military targets in occupied Crimea – partisans
In the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, drone attacks during the night of June 12 to 13 struck Russian military sites in the Simferopol district, reportedly damaging an air defense missile system and causing casualties among Russian personnel.
According to the partisans, due to the negligence of Russian commanders, valuable military equipment -- likely an air defense missile system -- was damaged.
The group also noted there are casualties among the Russian troops, though the exact number of those killed and wounded remains unclear.
Ukraine receives additional EUR 1B from EU using frozen Russian assets
According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, this is the fifth tranche of macro-financial assistance provided under the EU's Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative.
"The funds raised will be directed toward key expenditures in the state budget," he said.
In total, Ukraine has received EUR 7 billion through the ERA initiative, with resources secured from the proceeds of immobilized Russian assets.
Ukraine shows its MiG-29 engage enemy targets in Zaporizhzhia axis
The Air Force of Ukraine showed how a MiG-29 fighter jet operating over Zaporizhzhia region delivers a high-precision strike involving guided aerial bombs, targeting a Russian UAV control point.
Source: Ukraine’s Air Force
World
Israel eliminates chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
As a result of Israeli strikes on Iran overnight Friday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, General Hossein Salami, was eliminated.
It is noted that the senior military official was killed in a night aerial attack by Israel.
Salami had headed the secretive agency since 2019. As head of the IRGC, he reported directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He was at the helm of the IRGC when Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in April and October last year, in the first direct strikes by Iran on Israeli territory.
The IRGC oversees Iran’s ballistic missile development, crushing dissent at home and projecting Iranian and military operations in the Middle East.
It is not only Iran’s most powerful military institution, but it also holds deep influence over domestic politics and the economy, with interests extending to and beyond the construction, telecommunications, auto and energy industries
Rubio says U.S. “not involved” in Israel’s strikes against Iran
The United States is not participating in Israel's military operation against Iran, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.
"Forgot to look at the mirror”: MFA Ukraine on Russia's Middle East statement
Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhyi, said Russia “forgot to look at the mirror” when condemning Israel for "unprovoked military strikes against a sovereign UN member state" Iran.
"This awkward moment when Russia’s Foreign Ministry made a statement about the Middle East but forgot to look at the mirror," the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry noted.
War
Ukraine is actively implementing artificial intelligence in all unmanned systems used on the front lines
"Artificial intelligence is part of all unmanned systems that we use on the front lines. We are trying to integrate it into air, sea, and ground systems. And recently, we started using autonomous guidance for strike drones, the so-called kamikaze drones. And what we need on the front lines on a large scale is swarms of drones. And that is what will bring us even greater changes," said the President's Advisor on Strategic Issues, Oleksandr Kamyshin.
According to the presidential adviser on strategic issues, limited manpower is forcing Ukraine to look for solutions.
"We don't have enough people on the front lines. We don't have a numerical advantage. We don't have access to all the necessary equipment. So we have to be smarter. And that's what we're creating in Ukraine — we call it a ‘smart force’. This is an attempt to counter Russian massiveness with our smart approach. And artificial intelligence is definitely part of it," he said.
Russian army amassing forces for new assaults on Kramatorsk axis – military
"In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy is likely to intensify activity in response to any successes or gains, particularly in the Toretsk sector, since the enemy is currently amassing personnel there [in the Kramatorsk sector]," said Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Zaporozhets, spokesperson for the Luhansk Operational and Tactical Group of Forces.
According to him, there are constant enemy movements recorded in the area of Novyi Chasiv Yar toward the refractory plant. Although there are no large-scale assaults currently taking place, there are isolated assault attempts involving groups of two to three individuals targeting Ukrainian positions.
"Nevertheless, we maintain constant surveillance of such personnel movements. Using FPV drones and reconnaissance UAVs, we try to detect any concentration of enemy forces and destroy them," Zaporozhets said.
Air defenses down 43 out of 55 drones used by Russia in overnight attack on Ukraine
Several more Ukrainian children brought back from occupation and Russia
Russians kill two Donetsk region residents over past day, five others injured
Ukrainian drone forces destroy Russia's Groza-M EW system, Rosa radar/Video
Russian forces shell Nikopol district with artillery, killing elderly man
Politics
Volker: Peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved this year
Former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker does not see the prospect of achieving peace in Ukraine by the end of the year, though he allows for the possibility of a ceasefire.
Russia plotting crisis in Transnistria to meddle in Moldova elections - Sandu
Moldovan President Maia Sandu believes Russia may provoke an even greater crisis in Transnistria in order to destabilize Moldova ahead of parliamentary elections this fall and influence public votes on the left bank of the Dniester.
"All these years, Russia has been exploiting residents of Transnistria and at any moment it can provoke an even greater crisis if this suits its plans in Moldova. We can expect that crisis to deepen in the coming months, in the run-up to the elections," Sandu noted.
She expressed the opinion that Russia may try not only to bribe voters on the left bank of the Dniester, but also to blackmail the population, deliberately provoking instability in the region.
The president added that Moscow “may promise assistance in exchange for voting on the Right Bank”.
At the same time, the head of state assured that the designated bodies are looking into these risks and will do everything possible to ensure that the elections this fall are free and fair.
Volker: Minerals deal should shift Ukraine narrative in U.S.
Russia facing new inflation wave amid fuel price hike - Ukraine intelligence
Russians intensify assaults near Yablunivka on Toretsk front — military
One killed as Russians unleash 20 strikes on Nikopol district
Society
Ukraine brings back 11 more children from Russian occupation
The return was made possible thanks to President Volodymyr Zelensky's Bring Kids Back UA initiative and the efforts of the Save Ukraine team. Among the returned children are eight girls and three boys from nine different families. The youngest is just four years old, and the oldest is seventeen. One of the children is an orphan.
Bus accident involving Ukrainians occurred in France — four dead, at least 30 injured
In a car accident in the Sart department of France, near the city of Le Mans, four people died, and at least 30 others were injured, 11 of them in serious condition.
“According to preliminary information, the mentioned bus was carrying Ukrainian citizens, including a group of children. Currently, it is known that four people died as a result of the accident, at least 30 people were injured, 11 of whom are in serious condition. The injured have been hospitalized,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed.
Photos of war: world’s first gallery train debuts in Odesa
The first gallery train in the world, featuring exhibitions dedicated to the war in Ukraine, was unveiled in Odesa.
Legendary Sea Baby drone that struck Crimean bridge now on display in Kyiv museum
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has donated one of its legendary Sea Baby maritime surface drones to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War. This particular drone is known for having struck 11 Russian naval vessels and played a key role in damaging the Crimean Bridge during the full-scale invasion.
The showcased Sea Baby successfully carried out several missions, covering over 4,000 kilometers across the Black Sea. Notably, it engaged in combat with Russian aircraft in December 2024. Although it sustained significant damage, it completed its objectives and returned to base. Due to the extent of the damage, the drone is no longer operational, and it has now been fully secured and transferred to the museum.
Crime
Ukraine launches massive crackdown: over 500 raids target illegal weapons trade
The National Police of Ukraine is carrying out a large-scale nationwide special operation targeting illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition, during which more than 500 searches are underway.
“These actions aim to increase public safety, prevent crimes related to the use of illegal weapons, as well as their unlawful circulation,” the statement reads.
It is noted that the operation is conducted in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General and other law enforcement agencies.