In brief
Over the course of the night, Russian drones and missiles struck several Ukrainian cities, claiming 14 lives across Odesa, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and other regions. Ukrainian forces responded by striking 20 Russian vessels – 17 of them oil tankers – in the Black Sea. The United Nations report highlighted a spike in civilian casualties due to long‑range weapons, prompting international concern. Amid the battles, Ukraine’s leadership saw significant changes as Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stepped down, while President Zelensky remained in office. European officials visited Kyiv to discuss military cooperation and Ukraine’s EU accession pathway.
Russian Attacks Kill 14 While Ukraine Strikes Black Sea Oil Tankers
Fourteen people were killed in Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine overnight, officials said. The fatalities occurred in Odesa, where a heavy strike hit a multi‑storey building and port infrastructure; in the north‑eastern city of Sumy; in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia; and in several south‑eastern regions.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that its drones hit 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea, including 17 oil tankers. Russian officials said they specifically targeted port facilities used for petroleum and lubricant handling.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported 293 civilian deaths and 1,990 injuries in Ukraine during June, noting that long‑range weapons accounted for 45% of casualties and were most lethal in urban centres far from the front line.
Russia’s military claims the strikes were aimed at sites involved in the production and transport of military hardware. The attacks highlight the ongoing contest over Ukraine’s deep‑water Black Sea ports, vital for its wartime economy and global grain trade.
Concurrently, Ukraine’s political landscape shifted as President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after less than a year in office. Parliament accepted her resignation, and the Naftogaz head Serhiy Koretskyi is poised to become the new prime minister.< /p>
Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov also stepped down, with Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko rumored as a possible successor. Zelensky has yet to comment publicly on the changes.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to discuss defence cooperation and Ukraine’s integration path within the EU. The visit underscores the international dimension of a conflict that began with Russia’s full‑scale invasion in February 2022.
