Newsletter 26/06/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Zelensky announced completion of another stage of prisoner exchange
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the completion of another stage of prisoner exchange, most of whom had been held captive since 2022.
“We are continuing the exchanges, another stage. Today, soldiers from the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Service are returning. Most of them had been in captivity since 2022. We are doing everything we can to find everyone and verify the information about each surname. We must bring all of our people home,” Zelensky said.
He also thanked everyone who is helping Ukraine in conducting the exchanges.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War noted that representatives of the Navy, Army, Air Force, Troop Forces, as well as soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Service have returned to Ukraine.
It is noted that the vast majority of the defenders released today had been held captive for more than three years. A significant number of them were captured during the defense of Mariupol.
The Coordination Headquarters reported that the specificity of today's exchange stage is that it was possible to return young soldiers home. The youngest defender is 24 years old and was captured during the defense of Mariupol in April 2022, at the age of 21.
It was also possible to free the National Guard soldiers who were guarding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant from captivity.
The oldest soldier who was returned to his homeland is 62 years old.
Among those released today are officers.
Zelensky signs agreement to establish Special Tribunal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a bilateral agreement with the Council of Europe at the Palace of Europe in Strasbourg to create a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
“This is a truly important step. Today we are launching the process of creating a tribunal to try Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. Every war criminal must know that there will be justice — and that includes Russia,” Zelensky stated after the signing. “We are now significantly strengthening the legal front. There is still a long road ahead, but politically, we have already made substantial progress.”
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset affirmed the organization’s commitment to justice and accountability: “The Council of Europe’s role is to uphold justice and accountability — through the European Court of Human Rights, through the Register of Damages and Assets, and now through the Special Tribunal. Ukraine can count on the Council of Europe.”
Crimean Tatar flag raised outside MFA Ukraine HQ in Kyiv
On the Day of the Crimean Tatar Flag, the national flag of the indigenous people of Crimea is flying in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The flag was raised as the Crimean Tatar anthem Ant Etkenmen (I have sworn) was being performed, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov noted that today, the flag is a symbol of resistance to Russian occupation.
“There is no doubt among Ukrainians that Crimea will be liberated thanks to the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, in whose ranks Crimean Tatar soldiers are fighting with dignity... There is a Ukrainian state – the Crimean Tatar people will stand, and our flag will fly,” he noted.
CinC Syrskyi: Russian summer offensive stalling, advance in Sumy region halted
Based on developments in May and June, this year’s attempted “summer offensive” by Russian forces from the territory of the Russian Federation is failing, and their advance in the border areas of Sumy region has been halted as of this week.
“A busy day working on the Northern Slobozhanshchyna front. The defense of Sumy region is currently one of our key priorities. Based on May–June developments, it’s clear that this year’s wave of attempted Russian offensive actions from across the border is collapsing, just like last year’s failed assault on Kharkiv region,” Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote this in a post on Facebook.
War
PM Shmyhal reports number of mines cleared in deoccupied Kherson region
Currently, 68% of the deoccupied territories of Kherson region have already been demined. Previously, this was expected to take up to 15 years.
Zaporizhzhia NPP reliant on single power line for seven weeks – IAEA
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which remains under Russian occupation, has been dependent on a single power transmission line for the past seven weeks, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Air defenses down 24 out of 41 Russian drones overnight
Russians shell pharmacy in Kostiantynivka, injure two civilians
Russia infiltrating saboteurs into Sumy region, mainly in two communities – SBGS spox
Ukrainian paratroopers capture 15 Russian soldiers in Sumy region
Injuries reported as Russian drone hits apartment building in Bilozerske, Donetsk region
War update: 79 clashes on frontline since day-start, fighting ongoing in six sectors
Defense
President Zelensky: Denmark becomes first country to launch joint defense production with Ukraine
The development of defense co-production, Ukraine’s priorities during the upcoming Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and continued support for the Ukrainian Army were the key topics at a meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen.
Ukraine, New Zealand discuss investment in military equipment production
On the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon to discuss investment in Ukraine’s military equipment production.
Politics
Hungary announces results of Orbán’s “referendum” on Ukraine’s EU accession
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claims that according to the results of the Voks-2025 “national consultations” conducted by the country's government, 95% of Hungarians allegedly opposed Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
According to Orbán, 2,284,732 people took part in the “consultations,” of whom 2,168,431 were allegedly against Ukraine's accession to the EU.
However, according to Bloomberg, critics have questioned the credibility of these “consultations.” They pointed out that Hungarians could vote online by providing only their name, age, and email address, which potentially allowed the same person to vote multiple times.
UN condemns Russian attacks on densely populated areas in Ukraine, leading to "foreseeable” casualties
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) condemned Russia's latest attacks on the country's civilian population, noting that none of the targeted facilities where people died were military.
Finland probing company suspected of selling sanctioned goods to Russia
Finnish customs are leading a major criminal case targeting a company from the east of the country that could have supplied Russia with components subject to sanctions in 2022-2023.
The company purchased various components, including semiconductors, microcircuits, processors, and connectors, in the USA, Europe, and China before reselling them to companies in the EU and Hong Kong. Some of the goods, in violation of sanctions, were sent directly to Russia, mainly through the Vaalimaa border crossing.
According to customs data, the supplied components are worth nearly EUR 2.7 million.
Ukraine proposes suspending Russia from UN peacekeeping over child rights violations
Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Andrii Melnyk called on the Security Council to impose sanctions against states and individuals responsible for serious violations of children's rights during armed conflicts.
Society
Russia rewriting history of CIS countries to sanitize Soviet past – CCD
Russian Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov has launched an initiative to rewrite the history of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries in order to remove the “negative portrayal” of the Soviet past.
“Russia is taking historical revisionism to a new level by pressuring CIS countries. Minister Kravtsov has stated that there are ‘problems’ with how history is taught in those countries — specifically, that the Soviet past is portrayed negatively in school textbooks. Moscow is already in talks with education ministers from those countries to promote a ‘unified interpretation of our shared past’,” the CCD said.
The CCD stressed that this represents an attempt by the Kremlin to impose a favorable version of history on neighboring states. The war in Ukraine has sparked widespread historical censorship within Russia, and now Moscow is trying to export that policy, disguising it under slogans about a “common educational space” and “Eurasian mental unity.”
Ukrainian writer Viktoria Amelina posthumously awarded Orwell Prize 2025
The book War & Justice Diary: Looking at Women, Looking at War by Ukrainian author Viktoria Amelina has been awarded the 2025 Orwell Prize in the Political Writing (nonfiction) category.
Crime
Russian agent arrested in Kyiv for attempted bombing of Ukrainian soldier
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and National Police have detained a 19-year-old agent of Russian intelligence who lured a Ukrainian soldier in Kyiv under the pretense of a date and attempted to kill him using an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden in a scooter.
The suspect had been preparing to carry out a series of terrorist attacks in northern regions of Ukraine.
One of his tasks was the assassination of a National Guard serviceman in Kyiv. To execute the plan, the agent posed as a woman on a dating app to lure the target to a courtyard in the capital. When the soldier arrived, the explosive device concealed in a parked scooter was remotely detonated by Russian handlers.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the attack.
The investigation revealed that the agent was a resident of Kyiv region who had been recruited via Telegram, where he was seeking “easy money.” After recruitment, he relocated to Kyiv, rented an apartment, and — following instructions from his handler — assembled the explosive device.
He then purchased a scooter, hid the IED in its trunk, and delivered it to the location of the planned attack.
After the failed bombing attempt, the agent received a new assignment: to travel to Pryluky in Chernihiv region, check into a hotel, and prepare for further attacks. These included arson of a military vehicle and planning another terrorist act.