Weekly Exclusives
Weekly Exclusives - a newsletter that contains author publications, interviews, exclusive comments, photos and videos.
The sky in Kyiv after a nighttime enemy attack/ 04.07.2025
Downed Russian weapons, remains of Oreshnik, and missile that hit Okhmatdyt become exhibits
Interview
Herman Isayev, second in command, ASGARD Battalion
The ASGARD unit, part of the Unmanned Systems Forces, has so far logged thousands of successful missions. Started as a team of three volunteers, it eventually developed into one of the most effective UAV units within Ukraine’s Armed Forces. ASGARD continues serving in the hottest sectors of the frontline, changing the game on the battlefield. The team stepped on its combat path in 2022, when the world did not yet see the massive use of drones in combat.
Herman Isayev – deputy commander of the ASGARD Battalion, part of the 412th NEMESIS Regiment within the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) – spoke in this Victory Commanders series interview about his unit’s combat history and the battlefield situation, and shared his views about potential peace negotiations with the Russian Federation and the feasibility of mobilizing 18- to 24-year-olds for war. This conversation was recorded on December 11, 2024.
Danish Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen
Recently, Denmark, a reliable and long-standing friend of Ukraine, announced another package of military aid to Ukraine worth almost $1 billion, and on June 25, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen agreed on joint Ukrainian-Danish production of drones and missiles. The “Danish model” of investments in the Ukrainian military-industrial complex has proven effective, while Denmark itself continues to transform its own armed forces in view of the new challenges facing the country and Europe as a whole.
Danish Ambassador to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen sat down for an interview with Ukrinform, explaining the specifics of government assistance, including in recovery issues, separately touching on countering the Russian shadow fleet and the threat Russia poses to Europe. Considering that Denmark will assume the presidency of the Council of the EU on July 1, 2025, the ambassador also spoke in detail about the priorities within the framework of this work, including in the context of Ukraine's European integration aspirations.
Piotr Lukasiewicz, Charge d’Affairs a.i. of Poland in Ukraine
Shortly after the farewell visit to Ukraine of Polish President Andrzej Duda, Ukrinform sat down the Charge d'Affaires a.i. of Poland in Ukraine Piotr Lukasiewicz. It has been eight months since our last conversation, so it was interesting to hear from the head of the Polish embassy about the dynamics of bilateral relations in rather turbulent times, his observations on the progress in resolving complex historical issues between the two neighboring countries.
We also heard interesting news about the prospects for defense cooperation, plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine, the fight against Russian disinformation, situation of displaced Ukrainians, and the possible development of regional cooperation formats.
I believe Putin will face justice in The Hague for the abduction of Ukrainian children, - Carina Odebrink, Special Rapporteur of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Swedish MP
Carina Odebrink, a member of the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) and Special Rapporteur of the OSCE Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, is convinced that in the end, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will stand trial in The Hague and be held accountable for his crimes, particularly the abduction of Ukrainian children.
At the annual session of the OSCE PA, which concludes on July 3 in Porto, she presented a thematic report focused on the mass abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia, their forced adoption, and the erasure of their Ukrainian identity — "directed and supported from the very top of Kremlin leadership."
The report also includes a series of recommendations for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which, according to Odebrink, "should take more resolute action to enforce the decisions of the annual declarations concerning the Ukrainian children."
In an interview with Ukrinform, Carina Odebrink spoke about the political implications of her report, the mechanisms for returning the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia, and why no peace agreement can afford to ignore this tragedy.
Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office
The end of June saw a number of significant highest-level international events. The NATO summit took place in The Hague, the Netherlands, on June 24-25, resulting in the shortest communiqué in the history of such gatherings. It contains only five paragraphs, including particularly on Ukraine's security interests. On top of that, EU leaders, excepting Hungary, gathered at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, on June 26 to endorse the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession (the opening of the first cluster), but the 18th package of sanctions against Russia has not yet been approved.
On the previous day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset signed an agreement on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression by Russa against Ukraine. But the question is: will this help restore justice and bring Russia’s top war criminal Vladimir Putin to justice? Ukrinform sat down for an interview with Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Presidential Office, to discuss this and the most important results of the highest-level meetings that took place in The Hague, Strasbourg and Brussels.
Volodymyr Ohryzko, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister, head of the Center for Russian Studies
In modern politics, what is said in public rarely matches what happens behind closed doors. This is an era of hybrid threats and political theater, where every word has a subtext and each and every gesture carries a hidden purpose. Donald Trump calls Volodymyr Zelenskyy “nice” but avoids a direct answer to the question about the transfer of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. Viktor Orbán appeals to the “voice of two million Hungarians” who, according to him, are “objecting Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” while he is actually relaying the Kremlin’s messages. How should Kyiv and Brussels respond to cut the Hungarian prime minister down to size? The final communiqué of the most recent NATO summit declares unity, but will it stand a real test of strength, or will Article 5 be invoked immediately if Russia still dares attack a NATO member nation? Meanwhile in Strasbourg, the foundation of the future Nuremberg-2 Tribunal for Russian’s crime of aggression has been laid down: an agreement has been signed to establish a Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. But what’s next? When can we expect real charges and verdicts for Putin and his accomplices?
Ukrinform discussed these and more topics in a conversation with a person who knows international politics from the inside - an authoritative Ukrainian diplomat, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Volodymyr Ohryzko (2007-2009).
Publications
Rome URC-2025: Ukraine is unveiling robust partnerships and new projects
The fourth edition of Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2025) will soon be held in Rome, Italy. The forum will be held on July 10-11 and will follow up to a series of high-level political events dedicated to the rapid recovery and long-term reconstruction of Ukraine, which is suffering from external aggression. This time around, the Ukrainian delegation will unveil practical projects that are either being kick-started already, even as the war persists, or are almost ready to be launched. That is to say, Ukraine is not going to request money for the future - "beautiful and unknown" -- but will invite investors to mutually beneficial partnership based on a clear vision and calculations. What is Ukraine expecting from this year’s URC event?
Fact Checks
Russia spreads fake news about Ukrainian commander Andrii Biletskyi
Russian Telegram channels are circulating a video featuring the commander of the Third Army Corps, Andrii Biletskyi. In the video, he allegedly claims to have been present during the transfer of fallen soldiers' bodies and states that the Ukrainian authorities deliberately avoid identifying the bodies to avoid paying compensation to the soldiers' families.
This is fake news. Biletskyi has never said that the Ukrainian government intentionally avoids identifying fallen soldiers. The video was edited using artificial intelligence. An audio file mimicking Biletskyi's voice was generated and inserted into the original footage.
Evidence of this includes the unnatural facial expressions of the serviceman in the video and results from Hive Moderation, an AI-content detection service, which indicate that 99% of the audio in the video was artificially generated.
The original video used to create the deepfake was published on May 16, 2025. In the video, the serviceman does not mention anything about identifying the fallen or compensation for their families. Moreover, Colonel Andrii Biletskyi is the commander of the Third Army Corps and not the commander of the Azov Regiment, as falsely stated in the Russian disinformation. The current commander of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine "Azov" is Colonel Denys Prokopenko (aka "Redis").
This is yet another example of Russia using the issue of returning the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers as a tool for manipulation and propaganda. Previously, Ukrinform debunked claims about 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers' bodies allegedly being held in Russia and the false claim that bodies were returned only for those whose families refused financial compensation.
Russia had also spread a fake story about the "escape" of the military commandant of the Kursk region, Eduard Moskaliov, to France.
Andriy Olenin
Video
Army aviation delivered letters from Ukrainians to the front line
July 3 is the Day of the Army Aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They perform extremely important combat missions, provide air support for infantry, evacuate the wounded, and deliver aid to where it is needed most. This year, anyone can personally send words of support to our defenders. There are already boxes in public places with postcards in the form of helicopter blades. You can write words of gratitude to our soldiers. Put them back in the box, and the army aviation crews will deliver the message directly to the front line - where every kind word matters. Join the campaign "Send greetings to our people at zero"
News:
War
Danish ambassador on assistance to Ukraine: Weapons, weapons, and weapons
Ukraine contributes a lot to European security - ambassador
Danish model of defense industry support can become Ukraine’s competitive advantage – ambassador
Congresswoman Kaptur: Pause in arms supplies to Ukraine will lead to inevitable loss of life
Pause in military support for Ukraine must end as soon as possible, says Trump's spiritual advisor
Pentagon says it continues to provide Trump with options for Ukraine military aid
OSCE PA Special Rapporteur calls for tougher sanctions on Russia to return abducted Ukrainian children
Politics
Canada must bolster its own armed forces to sustain aid to Ukraine, expert says
PACE resolutions to serve as case material for Special Tribunal – Ukrainian MP
Moscow's hand visible behind misunderstandings between Ukrainians and Poles – Poturaiev
Pause in arms shipments to Ukraine signals U.S. weakness - Pifer
Denmark’s EU Presidency could help open negotiation clusters for Ukraine – Korniienko
World
Brazil supports peace in Ukraine through broader international dialogue – ambassador
Brazil sees Ukraine as important actor in global food security chain – ambassador
Expert: NATO’s top priority was keeping Trump on board
Orbán may lose EU voting rights – Ohryzko
Economy
Ukrainian ports handle 78,000 TEU of containers over five months
Brazilian envoy outlines promising areas of economic cooperation with Ukraine
Danish businesses believe in Ukraine – ambassador
Society
Ukrposhta reveals number of branches operating in Donetsk region
See you next Friday!