Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces reported striking 48 Russian vessels over five days, including tankers, cargo ships, and ferries in the Sea of Azov, as part of a campaign to disrupt maritime fuel and supply routes to occupied Crimea. The campaign targets Russia's shadow fleet under international sanctions. Satellite imagery shows burning tankers near the Kerch Strait, and Russian tanker traffic has declined sharply. Ukraine also struck the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, fuel depots in Taganrog and Azov, and the Ust-Luga gas condensate complex. The Institute for the Study of War assesses this marks a new phase in isolating Crimea after road and rail routes were degraded.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced a new package of air defense measures for the Sumy region following intensified Russian strikes that have killed at least 122 people and injured over 1,200 since the start of 2026. The strikes include missiles, drones, guided bombs, and FPV drones, damaging over 2,600 residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Fedorov stated that some decisions are classified but aimed at significantly strengthening protection against aerial threats, with additional measures to be announced soon.

On June 24, 2026, Ukrainian drones struck the Gazprom Neft-owned Omsk oil refinery, Russia's largest, located over 3,000 km from the border. The attack damaged the CDU-10 crude distillation unit, causing a fire, and forced the shutdown of the CDU-11 unit due to infrastructure damage. The refinery, which processes about 440,000 barrels per day and is Russia's top gasoline producer, has halted operations. Russian Su-57 stealth fighters were deployed to intercept the drones but downed only one, highlighting limitations in their anti-drone capability. The halt is expected to exacerbate fuel shortages; Omsk's largest gas station chain, Topline, suspended gasoline sales to private customers. This is Kyiv's deepest strike into Russia to date.

Russian forces launched a missile strike on Kharkiv on Wednesday morning, killing two people (a man and a woman in their 60s) and injuring 42, including three teenagers aged 14, 16, and 17. A missile struck a five-story apartment building in the Nemyshlianskyi district. Preliminary findings suggest the use of a Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system. A separate drone strike hit a gas station in the Kyivskyi district, causing a fire with no casualties. The attack occurred amid a broader overnight aerial assault across Ukraine involving missiles and 169 drones.

Background: Ukraine has been accelerating development of AI-controlled drone swarms to counter Russia's manpower advantage. A new documentary reports that by spring and summer 2026, Ukraine combined air and ground drones, autonomy, and swarming tactics to recapture territory while reducing its own casualties and increasing Russian losses. Analysts and NATO officials describe this as a shift in military technology and warfare, with Russian President Vladimir Putin facing dwindling military options.

Background: In late 2025, China secretly trained approximately 200 Russian military personnel at PLA facilities, some of whom were later deployed to Ukraine. Today: Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) reveals that over 550 Chinese soldiers have undergone internships at Russian military institutions, and more than 180 Russian troops trained in China in November 2025 alone, indicating a consistent and broader pattern of bilateral military training than previously known. HUR described a 'consistent' pattern of mutual internships involving cadets, instructors, and staff at higher military educational institutions and training centers of both countries. The Russian training in November 2025 covered infantry, armored, engineering, aviation, and military air defense specialties. This update indicates broader and more sustained military cooperation than previously reported.

Alexei Zhuravlev, a member of the Russian State Duma, stated in an interview that up to 50% of Ukraine's population should be exterminated to eradicate what he called 'Nazism.' He argued that armed Ukrainians should be killed and that those unwilling to change their views should be deported or destroyed. The remarks echo the Kremlin's 'denazification' narrative used to justify the invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed it shot down a Russian Su-35 multirole fighter jet on the eastern front, calling it 'another Russian air terrorist eliminated.' The Su-35 is one of Russia's most advanced combat aircraft. Ukraine's General Staff reports Russia has lost 436 aircraft since the war began. The incident follows a recent strike on a Russian MiG-29 in occupied Crimea.