On June 22, Kharkiv suffered a tragic drone attack on a private kindergarten that resulted in one fatality and seven injuries. Fortunately, no children were harmed. During the night and day, air defense forces intercepted 349 drones and missiles, including 333 UAVs of various types, Iskander and MKN-23 missiles, and aerial bombs. The main strike targeted Kyiv region, with other areas affected including Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and Odesa regions.
After the heavy attacks, scheduled power outages have been imposed across Ukraine, with the most severe situations in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Odesa.
Ukrainian troops have liberated Kucheriivka and V’yane Dobropillia, capturing dozens of Russian soldiers and raising the Ukrainian flag. The General Staff confirmed strikes on Russian targets: a mechanical plant in Mordovia and an oil refinery in Dagestan.
President Zelensky visited Norway and Sweden, reached new agreements for support, and announced plans to supply Gripen jets to Ukraine from 2026. The Verkhovna Rada passed the first reading of the 2026 budget, with over 3,300 amendments filed, amid a deficit in defense and social expenditures.
Russia conducted strategic nuclear exercises, while ahead of a potential US-Russia summit, Moscow officially maintains active preparations. Putin will not attend the G20 summit in South Africa due to risk of arrest.
The EU is increasing support: Belgium lifted its objection to transferring a portion of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. Russian sociological surveys show many people are willing to endure hardship for the war effort.
