Newsletter 20/06/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Zelensky says another POW exchange held with Russia
Another prisoner-of-war exchange between Ukraine and Russia has taken place, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Most of the warriors returning today from Russian captivity had been held for over two years. And now, at last, they are home," Zelensky said.
According to him, those released include defenders of Mariupol, the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions, warriors of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service.
One killed, 14 injured in Russian drone attack in Odesa
In Ukraine’s Odesa, one person died and 14 were injured as a result of an overnight attack by Russian drones.
As per the investigation, on the night of June 20, the Russians launched a massive drone strike against Odesa. According to tentative reports, the enemy deployed at least 10 UAVs. The city's civil infrastructure was affected.
As a result of the attack, one person died and 14 others sustained injuries of varying degrees. Among the injured are three rescuers. Reports on other possible victims are being verified.
A 23-storey building, a number of other apartment buildings, one of which was completely destroyed, outbuildings, an educational facilities, shops, and cars were damaged.
The survey is ongoing, and a full damage assessment is yet to be completed.
Zelensky imposes sanctions on Russian drone producers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted a decision by the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in the development and production of drones in Russia, as well as those involved in schemes to circumvent sanctions.
Russian military could be blocked from Schengen zone
On June 19, the Baltic, Nordic, and Polish interior ministers met in Tallinn, approving a joint decision to ban Russian citizens who had participated in the war against Ukraine from the Schengen zone.
Ukraine hits Russian base in occupied Tokmak - official
In Tokmak, the town temporarily captured by the Russian army, their military base came under Ukrainian attack overnight Friday.
“Tokmak. The invaders’ base was hit last night. There is confirmation from our sources on the ground. According to HUMINT data, groups of UAV operators were based here. There are definitely wounded servicemen who were taken to hospital in Polohy (at least three),” Andriuschenko wrote.
He added that other details of the strike are yet to be verified, but this is “simply great news”.
War
DIU releases archive footage of Russian Volunteer Corps battles in Kupiansk direction
During the spring campaign, fighters from the Russian Volunteer Corps, part of Timur's Special Forces, carried out a daring assault operation and captured enemy positions.
An assault group on two M113 armored personnel carriers broke through the invaders' positions—one of these vehicles was hit by an enemy FPV drone, but this did not stop their advance.
The fighting took place at close range, under constant fire from Mavics and heavy enemy artillery.
Despite everything, the assault group managed to capture enemy positions, repel enemy forces, repel several counterattacks, and capture two Russian servicemen.
Intelligence intercept exposes cannibalism cases in Russian army
Ukrainian defense intelligence intercepted Russian military radio communications where an incident is discussed involving a Russian soldier, who was considered missing, being killed and “eaten” by his comrade.
A commander of one of the units from the 68th motorized rifle division says a soldier, call sign “Foma”, who was considered missing, was in fact murdered by a fellow soldier, call sign Brelok, who subsequently went on to consume his flesh for the next two weeks.
Eventually, the cannibal was also found dead.
“They say there were both dead. Well, in fact, he ate his partner, let that sink in," the Russian commander is heard saying on the radio.
Defense forces destroy Russian “Solntsepyok” in Kharkiv region
Russia’s assault teams become less active in Sumy region – border guards
Enemy regrouping in south, preparing to intensify attacks soon – Voloshin
Russian forces launch airstrike on border community in Kharkiv region
Three injured, 50 cars damaged in Kharkiv drone attack
Fire extinguished at site of Russian drone strike in Sumy
Politics
Ex-US ambassador: Middle East tensions won’t reduce Washington’s focus on Ukraine
The US will continue to focus on the need to end Russia's war against Ukraine despite new serious escalations in the Middle East, as Russia remains a problem for US national security interests in Europe.
“Russia is clearly the problem. Russia is a threat to security in Europe and, therefore, to the United States' security as well. So we can't take our eye off that problem,” stressed US Ambassador to Kyiv (2006-2009) William Taylor..
At the same time, he stressed that the policies of the United States, Ukraine, and European countries should not be based on what might happen in Russia.
Zelensky discusses Ukraine support with WFP executive director
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), to discuss continued support for Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression.
Economy
Russia mulling shutdown of several steelmaking enterprises
"In Russia, there is talk about the possibility of stopping the operations at a number of metallurgical enterprises. Such outlooks emerge against the background of a significant reduction in metallurgical output due to extremely low domestic demand, loss of multiple foreign markets, as well as due to sanctions and unfavorable conditions in the remaining markets," report Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine
According to statistics, steelmaking output has been on decline since last year, which threatens production halts, closures of enterprises, and mass layoffs. The situation is being worsened by crises in other branches of Russian industry, primarily in construction, which has an extremely negative impact on domestic demand.
The Central Bank noted that the harmful effects of the war against Ukraine and sanctions keep mounting in Russia, becoming more and more obvious for ordinary Russians, despite propaganda efforts to create an optimistic picture on television.
Taylor says frozen Russian assets could be used to buy US weapons
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor believes that while it may be difficult, it is a sound and realistic goal to confiscate frozen Russian assets and use those funds to purchase U.S.-made weapons to support Ukrainian forces.
Society
Dutch Parliament recognizes 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars as genocide
"This is a powerful gesture of solidarity with the Crimean Tatar people, who are still facing persecution under Russia’s temporarily occupation of the Ukrainian Crimea peninsula. Recognizing this historical injustice is critical not only for establishing truth and justice, but also for preventing future atrocities," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported this on X.
Through terror, Russia aiming to sow disbelief among Ukrainians - watchdog
This was stated on national television by the chief of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Kovalenko.
Russia's guidebook of destabilizing Ukrainian society is not changing. As he noted, compared to previous years, Russian terror has become more massive so it might seem at first glance that Russia has changed its approaches.
"Russian tactics have been around since imperial times: they choose a point on the wall and then try to break through it with your head. Here they are trying to break through (the resolve of - ed.) Ukrainian society," he said.
Ukraine, stay united.