Newsletter 24/06/2026
Drone signal relay stations in Belarus no longer operating. Sybiha urges world to remain vigilant amid Belarusian ‘mobilization exercises’. EU ambassadors agree to extend sanctions against Russia.
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Drone signal relay stations in Belarus no longer operating - Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that signal relay stations in Belarus that had been used to coordinate Russian strikes against Ukrainian territory have ceased operating since June 22.
"According to the information reported to me by the Commander-in-Chief and our intelligence services, the relevant relay stations stopped operating on the territory of Belarus on June 22. Whether they have been dismantled or not, I honestly do not know yet, but we are working on it. I am monitoring the situation very closely and receive daily reports. The fact is that the relay stations are not operating at present," he said.
Sybiha urges world to remain vigilant amid Belarusian ‘mobilization exercises’
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on the international community to remain vigilant amid “mobilization exercises” taking place in Belarus’ Grodno region.
“From June 20 to July 2, the military commissariat of the Oshmyany district is notifying approximately 2,000 conscripts and setting up preliminary assembly points. While officially categorized as routine data verification, these actions serve as a tactic of intimidation toward neighboring states,” Sybiha said.
The Ukrainian foreign minister stressed that the Belarusian leadership has shown no intention of de-escalation. Instead, Minsk is increasing its military presence near the borders of Ukraine and NATO member states.
According to Sybiha, this strategy aligns with the Kremlin’s interests and constitutes a form of political blackmail that directly contradicts the Belarusian leadership’s public statements about peace.
Russia redeploying air defense systems to Moscow and Kerch Bridge because of Ukrainian strikes – Zelensky
Ukrainian intelligence has obtained internal Russian documents indicating that Russia is redeploying air defense systems from various regions to Moscow and the Kerch Bridge, weakening protection in other areas of Russia and in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
“Intelligence also obtained internal Russian documents with a real assessment of the consequences of Ukraine’s long-range sanctions. Measures taken by the Russian leadership in response to the situation have also been documented. One such measure is the redeployment of air defense systems from Russian regions to Moscow and to the Kerch Bridge. Basically, these are the two perimeters the Russians have been ordered to protect by weakening other areas on their own territory and in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. We will draw the necessary conclusions,” Zelensky wrote.
He added that a separate report concerned the state of Russia’s missile production and strategic military aviation.
Read also: Zelensky on relations with Poland: Important to have constructive cooperation
“We are preparing new, entirely just steps in response to Russia prolonging the war and its strikes on Ukrainian territory. It is important that as many Russians as possible come to understand that it is the Russian leadership’s rejection of diplomacy that is prolonging the war. Ukraine has put forward substantive diplomatic proposals. Thank you to everyone who defends our state and our people,” Zelensky said.
General Staff confirms strikes on gas processing plant and Russia’s only helium plant in Orenburg region
The Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out strikes in the Orenburg region on a gas processing plant and Russia’s only helium plant.
The Orenburg gas processing and helium plants form a single complex. The former produces purified natural gas and sulfur, which is used, among other things, to produce explosives and black powder. The latter processes purified sulfur-free gas and, through deep cooling, extracts its most valuable components—helium (an inert gas used in liquid-fuel rocket engines and guidance systems) and ethane (a key raw material for the synthesis of specialty plastics, cable insulation for aviation, and key plasticizers for solid rocket propellants and gunpowder).
The Orenburg Gas Processing Plant is one of the world’s largest gas chemical complexes. It was commissioned in 1974 and built with foreign participation. The facility has a capacity of 45 billion cubic meters of gas per year. This plant accounts for 60% of all the gas processed by Gazprom Pererabotka.
The Defense Forces also struck a Russian army FPV drone depot near Alekseevka in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation; enemy drone command posts in the areas of Tyotkino and Popovo-Lezhachi in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation; Zhuravlyovka in the Belgorod region of the aggressor country; as well as Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, Basan and Hrozove in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Data analysis has confirmed the destruction of two unmanned naval vessels belonging to the Russian invaders on June 23 of this year in the northwestern waters of the Black Sea.
War
Voloshyn: Russians near Mala Tokmachka make no gains despite assaults and regrouping
In the Zaporizhzhia sector, near Mala Tokmachka, Russian forces carried out assaults and attempted to push back Ukrainian units last week, but failed to make any advances. No combat engagements were recorded over the past 24 hours, although the enemy continues reconnaissance, mining operations, and force regrouping.
Freedom of Russia Legion disables six gas distribution stations in Moscow and Tver regions
The Freedom of Russia Legion announced that it had carried out Operation “Torch” on the territory of the Russian Federation, during which six gas distribution stations in Russia’s Moscow and Tver regions were put out of operation.
Unmanned Systems Forces show video of strike on Zakhidnokrymska Power Substation
Units of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have released a video showing the strike on the Zakhidnokrymska Power Substation in Crimea, which is temporarily occupied by Russia.
SSU strikes air defense systems and Saky and Hvardiiske military airfields in Crimea
Soldiers from the SSU’s Center of Special Operations “Alpha” carried out successful strikes against Russian troops’ air defense systems in the Kerch Strait area, as well as against infrastructure at the Saky and Hvardiiske military airfields in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Russia may stage “foreign flag” provocation on its own territory, says Sikorski
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski suggested that Russia may be planning to stage a provocation on its own territory under a foreign flag.
Naval Forces show how they destroyed three Russian unmanned surface vehicles
The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in coordination with the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, detected and destroyed three unmanned surface vehicles belonging to the Russian invaders.
Air Defense Forces shot down 95 of more than 100 Russian drones
War update: 251 clashes on front line over past day, fiercest fighting in Pokrovsk sector
Russia’s war casualty toll in Ukraine up by 1,260 over past day
Shellings
Russian drone strikes car in Zaporizhzhia region: Driver killed, two passengers injured
Injury toll after Russian strike on cinema in Konotop rises to six
Casualties reported as 1,021 strikes hit Zaporizhzhia region over past day
Defense
Ukraine strengthens its defense industry, needs support in three key areas – Fedorov
Ukraine is strengthening its defense capabilities, and to achieve a just peace it is important to expand support in air defense, drone and missile production, and the supply of long-range artillery ammunition.
Denmark to provide Ukraine with 15,000 long-range artillery rounds
Ukraine will receive an additional 15,000 long-range artillery rounds from Denmark, some of which have already arrived.
Politics
EU ambassadors agree to extend sanctions against Russia for one year
Heads of mission of EU member states in Brussels today decided to extend sectoral economic restrictions against the Russian Federation for 12 months in line with the political decision adopted at the June 18 summit; the decision could already be approved by the EU Council tomorrow.