Here’s the current status as of Monday, June 30:
Conflict
- During the night of Sunday, Russia executed its largest airborne assault on Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion. The Ukrainian military announced that a total of 537 air weapons were discharged by Russia, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles.
- Ukraine’s air forces managed to counter 475 of these at the cost of losing Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustimenko, an F-16 pilot, who died while repelling the “massive invasion”.
- At least four more casualties were reported from the bombings in Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kostiantynivka regions.
- Attacks struck as far west as Lviv, igniting a fire at an industrial complex in Drohobych and leading to power cuts in the area.
- Poland activated defensive maneuvers along with its NATO allies to secure Polish airspace, with no Russian missiles penetrating into Poland.
- Two deaths were added to the tally from Russian shelling, including a 70-year-old woman found dead under the debris of a nine-story building in Zaporizhia region.
- According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, they downed three Ukrainian drones and secured control over the village of Novoukrainka in Donetsk region.
- Luhansk reported one death from a Ukrainian drone in the Russia-controlled area, while the Kursk acting governor cited two injured in a Ukrainian strike on the border region.
Military Support
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for additional support from the United States and Western allies to bolster the country’s ability to defend its skies.
- He also issued an order for Ukraine to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the creation and use of anti-personnel mines, amid claims of Russia’s flagrant violation of the treaty using such mines.
- Roman Kostenko, a leading Ukrainian legislator, stated that parliamentary endorsement is required for such withdrawal and that a vote on the measure will be conducted.
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified this political decision by contending it led to a strategic advantage for Russia.
International Reactions
- US Senator Lindsey Graham announced that Congress will start the legislative process for new Russian sanctions following an instruction from President Donald Trump.
- Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin’s spokesperson, warned European nations about the ramifications of intensifying sanctions on Russia.
- Russian intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin revealed in a statement on Sunday his conversation with CIA Director John Ratcliffe where they agreed on a mutual hotline for direct communication.
