Russian strikes killed at least two people and wounded two others in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy after Moscow threatened escalation for Ukraine’s biggest assault so far.
Another five, including three children, needed medical assistance in Kharkiv, which was attacked with guided aerial bombs, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov previously warned of “massive coordinated strikes on a regular basis” in response to Ukraine's attack on a Moscow oil refinery for the second time this week.
The Kharkiv attack comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned that “Moscow will burn” if strikes continue.
Ukraine earlier launched a heavy drone strike on Russia in retaliation for damage done to a historic monastery in Kyiv this week. Hundreds of drones targeted Moscow overnight, hitting the Russian capital's oil refinery for the second time this week, in one of the biggest aerial assaults on Russia of the war so far.
Zelensky told an EU summit on Thursday that the future of Europe was being shaped by the defence of Ukraine and the best security guarantee for the bloc's future would be to grant Kyiv fast-track membership.
Key Points
- Two killed as Russia launches retaliatory attack on Ukraine
- EU extends sanctions against Russia for 12 months
- Russia says Ukraine drone attack hit Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
- Four children among nine injured in Russian attack
- Zelensky says he wants years-long war to end before winter
- Russian attack kills ship crew member on Black Sea
UK to provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine
06:47 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Britain will provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of 2026 as part of a £752m funding package, defence minister Dan Jarvis said on Thursday at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels.
The package, funded by Britain's £2.26bn loan to Ukraine, includes 350 air defence missiles and ground-based radar systems.
Russia says drone attack hit transport workshop at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
06:42 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The transport workshop of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in eastern Ukraine came under a massive overnight drone attack, with at least 14 strikes recorded, the Russian-installed management said this morning.
A fire broke out in one section and buildings were damaged, but no casualties were reported, the management said, adding that damage could not yet be fully assessed due to ongoing threat of further attacks.
Russian attack kills ship crew member on Black Sea
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A Russian drone strike has killed a crew member of a Panama-flagged ship in the Black Sea waters, claimed the Ukrainian deputy prime minister.
Oleksiy Kuleba said that another vessel under the Saint Kitts and Nevis flag was also hit and its three crew members were lightly injured.
Russia appears to have launched coordinated strikes targeted multiple cities in Ukraine after vowing to retaliate for Ukraine's drone attack on Moscow.
Ukraine develops naval drone to hunt Russian aircraft
06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine has developed a new maritime drone equipped with electronic warfare capabilities and missiles to target Russian aircraft, according to local reports.
The SIRENA unmanned trimaran, designed for high-risk missions, debuted at the Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris, where it was showcased as a purpose-built platform for electronic warfare operations in confined maritime environments.
The drone has an integrated multi-band jamming system that operates across a wide frequency range from 300 to 6000 MHz, which allows it to simultaneously block enemy communications, navigation signals, and control channels of other unmanned aerial vehicles.
Four children among nine injured in Russian attack
06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Four children were among the nine injured in Russia's attacks on Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv with bombs.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the city was targeted by guided aerial bombs in the early hours of the morning.
Watch: Russian attacks energy facilities in Ukraine's Sumy region
06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US issues Russia warning
05:54 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US State Department has issued a security alert for its citizens in Russia following Ukraine's massive drone attack on Moscow.
It advised American citizens to move away immediately in the event of a drone sighting and seek cover if necessary.
“In an emergency, you should follow instructions from local Russian authorities and seek shelter,” the alert said.
It also warned citizens against touching or photographing drones and debris of other unmanned vehicles.“
Russian law prohibits sharing or publishing photos or videos depicting the aftermath of drone attacks, including images of UAVs or UAV parts,” the alert said. “Violating this law may result in a fine or imprisonment.”
Ukraine allies announce $1bn weapons package
05:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine's allies have announced contributions to Nato's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List programme for $1bn at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, known as the Ramstein group, defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
Fedorov, speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, said that the total value of support packages could exceed $4bn.
Two killed as Russia launches retaliatory attack on Ukraine
05:28 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
At least two people were killed and another two wounded after Russia hit the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy with bombs, drones and missiles.
Another five, including three children, needed medical assistance after Russia hit Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv with bombs, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.
The attacks come after Russia vowed to launch a "massive" retaliation against Ukraine after Kyiv launched its biggest attack on Russia.
How Ukraine’s new drone tactics are causing chaos in Russia
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine launched a powerful barrage of drones on Moscow, triggering a huge explosion in one of the Russian capital’s key oil refineries.
Kyiv’s strategic deployment of medium-range drones is inflicting significant damage on Russia's struggling war effort, experts have said as Moscow’s ground offensive stalls.
Kyiv has scaled up its targeting of Russia’s critical oil infrastructure, the lifeblood of the Kremlin’s wartime economy, as part of a wider campaign to weaken its capacity to continue its war on Ukraine.
More here.
How Ukraine’s new drone tactics are causing chaos in Russia
Putin hails ties with Southeast Asia at summit in Russia
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
President Vladimir Putin has hailed Russia's ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as he hosted a summit intended to strengthen economic and political ties with the bloc.
The leaders who took part in the meeting in Kazan agreed to further expand "strategic partnership" between Russia and Asean nations that include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam.
"It is a strategic partnership that serves as an essential stabilizing factor in the Asia-Pacific amidst geopolitical turbulence, contributing to the formation of a balanced security architecture and equitable mutually beneficial cooperation," Putin said at the summit, which marked the 35th anniversary of Russia-Asean relations.
Putin noted that Russia and Asean have "expanded the scope of practical cooperation in such areas as combating new security challenges and threats, as well as trade and investment, energy, agriculture, digitalization, science and technology, tourism, and humanitarian contacts.
"In a declaration signed at the summit, its participants reaffirmed their shared aspiration toward a "just multipolar world as guided by international law and the principles of the UN Charter to promote mutual benefit and respect for all states."
Russia strikes Kharkiv
04:53 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian forces struck Kharkiv with guided aerial bombs in the early hours of Friday after Moscow vowed to retaliate against Ukraine's biggest attack.
Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said the attack hit the city’s Kholodnohirskyi district and damaged almost 15 homes and injured people.
“As a result of the KAB strike on the Kholodnohirskyi district of Kharkiv, there are injured people. Their number and condition are being clarified,” Terekhov said.
EU extends sanctions against Russia for 12 months
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The EU leaders have agreed to extend sanctions against Russia over its war against Ukraine for another 12 months.
The decision was taken during a European Council summit in Brussels, which saw the participation of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
The decision marked the first time such sanctions, which target certain sectors of the Russian economy, have been renewed for a year. They had previously been rolled over every six months.
Zelensky says he wants years-long war to end before winter
04:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine wants to end the war this year, pesident Volodymyr Zelensky said in comments posted on Telegram.
"Of course, we want to end this war before winter – through diplomacy and by putting pressure on Russia. But we understand who we're dealing with," he said."Putin is war," he added, referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine would need gas, diesel fuel, the energy equipment and a missile package of at least 300 missiles if the war extends further, Zelensky said.
The security of Europe depended on securing funding for Ukraine's military, and the EU and the "coalition of the willing" countries supporting Kyiv could develop the financial instruments to ensure that, he added.
Zelensky says EU membership for Ukraine will guarantee Europe's future
04:18 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told an EU summit that the future of Europe was being shaped by the defence of Ukraine and the best security guarantee for the bloc's future would be to grant Kyiv fast-track membership.
Zelensky said he told member states that Ukraine wanted the war against Russia to be over by the end of the year and urged them to help Kyiv prepare for another winter with air defence missiles and fuel.
Every democratic nation in Europe deserved to be in the EU and "Ukraine merits this because it has paid more than any other country for its right to be free, independent and ... European", Zelensky said in excerpts of his address posted on X.
"The future of Europe – free, united and of course in peace – is being decided in our defence. That shows how unique our situation is.
"Hours earlier, Ukrainian air strikes struck targets deep inside Russia, including an oil refinery in Moscow, the latest long-range attacks in a campaign Zelensky highlighted as proof of Ukraine's capabilities in meetings with US president Donald Trump and other G7 leaders in France this week.
Watch: Trump claims Moscow losing more troops than Kyiv as he admits Putin on ‘the offensive’
03:00 , Bryony Gooch
Austria's chancellor encourages EU to reopen negotiations with Putin
02:00 , Bryony Gooch
The European Union should take advantage of "momentum" around peace talks in Ukraine to push ahead with efforts to reopen negotiations with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Austrian chancellor Christian Stocker told the Financial Times in an interview published on Thursday.
"Wars end not with weapons, but with successful diplomacy. And for diplomacy to be successful, you need conversations, you need negotiations, and those channels need to be opened first,” Stocker told the newspaper.
At least 150,000 drones and 350 missile and radar systems to be delivered to Ukraine by the UK by end of year
01:00 , Bryony Gooch
The Ministry of Defence has promised at least 150,000 drones and 350 air defence missiles and radar systems will be delivered to Ukraine from the UK by the end of this year.
The new package announced on Thursday “will strengthen Ukraine’s crucial protection against Russia’s indiscriminate attacks”, the ministry claimed.
In pictures: Zelensky attends Ukraine Defence Contact Group on the sidelines of a Nato Defence Ministers meeting
Friday 19 June 2026 00:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russia-Singapore cooperation curbed by sanctions, Putin says
Thursday 18 June 2026 23:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russian president Vladimir Putin told Singapore's prime minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday that the potential for economic cooperation between their two countries had not been fully realised due to the impact of sanctions.
A wide range of countries have imposed sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict.
Nato’s Rutte refuses to criticise US over Hegseth attack on allies
Thursday 18 June 2026 22:00 , Bryony Gooch
Nato’s Rutte refuses to criticise US over Hegseth attack on allies
Nato allies should continue and increase weapons purchases to support Ukraine, US official says
Thursday 18 June 2026 21:00 , Bryony Gooch
Nato allies should continue their support for Ukraine's defence and even increase it by buying weapons made in the United States, a senior US defence official said on Thursday.
"It is important that Nato allies continue and indeed increase their support for Ukraine's defense through the PURL Initiative. This will help to ensure that key materiel continues to reach the Ukrainian front line, enabling Ukraine's forces to deny further Russian advances," said Elbridge Colby, the under secretary of war for policy, who spoke on videoconference at a meeting on Ukraine at Nato headquarters.
Russian nuclear chief accuses Ukraine of killing worker at Zaporizhzhia power plant in drone attack
Thursday 18 June 2026 20:00 , Bryony Gooch
The head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom on Thursday accused Ukraine of killing a key worker in a drone attack on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine.
There was no immediate response from Ukraine and Reuters could not independently verify the statement.
Russia took control of the plant, the largest nuclear power station in Europe, soon after its forces entered Ukraine in 2022 and both sides regularly accuse each other of endangering its safety with military action.
Alexei Likhachev, head of Rosatom, said in a statement that Ukrainian drones had attacked the nearby city of Enerhodar on Wednesday, where most of the station's employees live.
He said one power plant employee working at the station's central repair workshop had been killed and that doctors were fighting for the life of a second employee injured in the same attack.
"This is the plant's core personnel, on whom the safe operation of equipment at Europe's largest nuclear power plant directly depends," Likhachev said. In April, Russia said another worker from the plant had been killed in a Ukrainian drone attack.
Watch: Historic Kyiv cathedral catches fire after Russian strike
Thursday 18 June 2026 19:00 , Bryony Gooch
Ukraine, Germany sign agreement on anti-ballistic capabilities, Zelensky says
Thursday 18 June 2026 18:00 , Bryony Gooch
Ukraine and Germany signed an agreement on anti-ballistic capabilities, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, calling on other Western allies to join the effort and deliver results by winter.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, known as the Ramstein group, Zelensky said Ukraine urgently needed long-range artillery and unmanned vehicles. He also asked to develop additional financial instruments to finance the Ukrainian army long-term.
In pictures: Zelensky with Rutte at the Nato summit
Thursday 18 June 2026 17:00 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Trump claims Moscow losing more troops than Kyiv as he admits Putin on ‘the offensive’
Thursday 18 June 2026 16:00 , Bryony Gooch
Nato boss claims allies working 'very hard' to meet targets following Hegseth warning
Thursday 18 June 2026 15:30 , Bryony Gooch
Nato’s secretary general responded to Pete Hegseth’s warning that the US could pay less into the alliance if other allies didn’t meet their targets.
He said Nato was working “very hard” to meet targets, adding: “When you look at the individual countries, there are still some who need to do more.”
He went on to praise Poland and the Baltic countries for being “really ahead” when it comes to meeting targets.
Poland and Baltic countries have taken a more proactive approach to defence investment amid existential concerns with a number of drone skirmishes on borders as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues.
Russia has attacked Ukrainian ports with over 1,500 drones this year, deputy PM says
Thursday 18 June 2026 15:17 , Bryony Gooch
Russia has attacked Ukrainian ports with more than 1,500 drones since the start of 2026, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on Thursday.
Despite the attacks, the Ukrainian maritime export corridor is working, and Ukrainian ports have handled 40 million tons of cargo since the start of the year, Kuleba said on Telegram.
Putin 'has got to take a decision' one day, says Nato's secretary general
Thursday 18 June 2026 15:00 , Bryony Gooch
Vladimir Putin “one day has got to take a decision whether he wants to play ball or not,” Nato’s secretary general has said when asked about prospects of making progress with Russia.
“In the meantime we have to do everything to make sure Ukraine stays as strong as possible in the fight, so that is what we are working on.”
He added that up to 48 per cent of the Russian state budget is now being spent on defence. “These are crazy numbers,” he said.
“We cannot be naive about Russia,” he stressed, adding that Nato is “very strong” and “we will do everything to make sure that they understand that it will be their biggest mistake if they try” to attack the alliance.
And that ends the press conference.
Lavrov warns of 'massive coordinated strikes on a regular basis' against Ukraine
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:43 , Bryony Gooch
Russia’s foreign minister has warned that Russia will hit targets that affect the combat capability of Ukraine’s armed forces on a regular basis now, following a major attack in the Moscow region.
Vladimir Putin’s armed forces downed an estimated 180 drones heading for the capital alone had been downed on Thursday.
Russia will carry out "massive coordinated strikes on a regular basis" against Ukraine, Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.
Russian oligarchs call on Kremlin to retaliate with nuclear weapons
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:33 , Bryony Gooch
Russia’s more hardline oligarchs have called on the Kremlin to retaliate after a significant attack from Ukraine in the Moscow region.
Konstantin Malofeev, a Russian media mogul closely linked to Ukrainian separatists in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, said on Telegram: “Why aren’t we using the nuclear weapons that our ancestors created and stockpiled through the efforts of the entire country precisely for moments like this?”
Andrey Gurulyov, a retired lieutenant general and state duma deputy, called for Russia to “strike the enemy mercilessly” in response to the attack. “We need to strengthen our air defence system, but most importantly, we need to hit the enemy,” he reportedly told RTVI. “Hit the enemy mercilessly, without overthinking it.”
Zelensky says Ukraine urgently needs more long-range artillery as he outlines drone deals with 27 countries
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:31 , Bryony Gooch
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine needs more long-range artillery and unmanned vehicles urgently as the war continues.
He went on that 15 Nato countries and 12 non-Nato countries were now involved in drone deals with Ukraine.
“Every project supporting Ukrainian drones and our weapons production in Ukraine and together of course with you, with partners, every sanctions measure against Russia, this war, all of it must grow and of course we are ready to share our experience more actively ready.”
Watch: Starmer says Channel incident involving Russian warship 'reckless'
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:30 , Bryony Gooch
Zelensky calls attack on monastery in Kyiv a 'crime against humanity'
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:27 , Bryony Gooch
Volodymyr Zelensky reflected on the importance of a monastery attacked by Russia on Monday which was not only significant for Ukraine, but “for the entire Christian world.”
He said: “It was from the labyrinth and the hills of Kyiv that Christianity spread eastward across our part of Europe.
“Taking such places is in fact a crime against humanity,” he added, reflecting on the major attack on Moscow this morning.
“So our long range sanctions are hitting Russian oil facilities, refineries very, very effectively, and Russia is already facing fuel shortages.
“The federal budget revenues are falling significantly and at the same time our mid-range strikes are seriously disrupting Russian military logistics, but Putin is not stopping this war.
“He insists on continuing it, so the rhetoric must grow.”
Zelensky is speaking at Nato now
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:23 , Bryony Gooch
We will bring you the latest lines as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaks live from Nato.
Moscow fuel supply situation is 'normal' after Ukrainian drone attack, local authorities say
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:00 , Bryony Gooch
The supply of petroleum products to Moscow and the operation of petrol stations in the Russian capital is "proceeding as normal" after a major Ukrainian drone attack, local authorities said on Thursday.
U.S. open to Poland's offer to host permanent U.S. base, Polish minister says
Thursday 18 June 2026 13:48 , James Reynolds
The U.S. Department of War is open to Poland's offer to host permanent U.S. military presence in Poland, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Thursday after meeting U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Brussels.
Allies are stepping up to meet US demands, says Rutte
Thursday 18 June 2026 13:46 , James Reynolds
Speaking to the media following a Nato alliance meeting in Brussels, secretary-general Mark Rutte said allies are confirming plans to meet their increased defence spending target of 5 per cent of GDP by 2035.
“Some allies will already get there this year, way ahead of schedule,” he said.
He said the US, through attending Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, “expressed strong commitment to Nato very clear today”.
He says there is “broad agreement” between allies to “step up” their role as the US revises its commitments.
Russian regulator demands explanation after one Moscow chain of petrol stations hikes prices by 19 per cent
Thursday 18 June 2026 13:30 , Bryony Gooch
Russia's anti-monopoly watchdog on Thursday asked a major petrol retailer in Moscow for an explanation after it hiked prices for 95-octane petrol by 19 per cent in the last week.
FAS, the watchdog, sent the demand to Neftemagistral, a company which runs around 100 petrol stations in the Moscow region and in the capital itself.
The price hike followed Ukrainian drone attacks on a Moscow oil refinery, which supplies the Moscow region with fuel.
In pictures: A person sweeps up debris following a Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow region
Thursday 18 June 2026 13:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russia and Ukraine carry out another exchange of war dead, RBC reports
Thursday 18 June 2026 12:30 , Bryony Gooch
Russia and Ukraine carried out another exchange of war dead on Thursday, with Moscow receiving 33 bodies and Ukraine receiving 522 bodies, Russia's RBC news outlet reported, citing a Russian lawmaker.
Zelensky: 'Moscow will burn' if attacks continue
Thursday 18 June 2026 12:06 , Bryony Gooch
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday heavy drone attacks on Russia were retaliation for a strike that damaged a historic monastery in Kyiv this week, and that "Moscow will burn" if attacks continue.
Scores of drones targeted Moscow overnight, hitting the Russian capital's oil refinery for the second time this week.
“We don't want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it, and our partners know it," Zelensky said in a voice message sent to reporters on a WhatsApp group. "But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn."
At least 10 people were killed on Monday across Ukraine in a drone and missile attack that damaged the 1,000-year-old Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery.
Russia fires 246 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight
Thursday 18 June 2026 12:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russia launched seven missiles and 239 drones at Ukraine in an overnight attack, Ukraine’s air forces reported.
Forces were able to down or suppress 216 targets - including four missiles and 212 drones.
Missiles came from the Voronezh, Bryansk and Kursk regions. Drones were fired from Kursk, Orel, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, as well as the Russian occupied Crimea and Donetsk regions.
Suspect detained after Russian artist shot in Poland
Thursday 18 June 2026 11:30 , Bryony Gooch
A suspect has been detained by authorities after a Russian artist who was critical of President Vladimir Putin was shot dead, the Polish prime minister has confirmed.
Donald Tusk said that the suspect, using a Georgian passport, had been detained by Lublin police and the internal security agency as services work to “establish the mastermind”.
He warned on Wednesday that the killing had all the hallmarks of a political assassination.
Robert Kuzovkov, known by the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot and killed at close range near his home in the eastern Polish city of Biala Podlaska on Monday.
Podejrzewany o udział w zabójstwie Rosjanina w Białej Podlaskiej zatrzymany przez lubelskich policjantów i ABW! Posługuje się gruzińskim paszportem. Służby pracują nad ustaleniem zleceniodawcy.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) June 18, 2026
