Key developments on June 12:
- Ukrainian forces 'step by step pushing again' Russian troops from Sumy Oblast, Zelensky says
- Germany to produce new Iris-T air protection techniques to Ukraine, guidelines out Taurus missiles
- Ukraine, Russia perform one other alternate of POWs below Istanbul deal
- 'Juicy goal' — Ukraine says it struck Russian electronics plant in Moscow Oblast
- For first time since invasion of Ukraine, US congratulates Russia on Nationwide Day
Ukrainian forces are step by step driving Russian troops again from components of Sumy Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on June 12, amid escalating cross-border assaults within the area.
"At present, there was a report from Commander-in-Chief (Oleksandr) Syrskyi — the entrance and, above all, the Pokrovsk course, the Kursk operation, the border space of Sumy Oblast," Zelensky mentioned in a video deal with.
"Our models in Sumy Oblast are step by step pushing again the occupiers. Thanks to every of our troopers, sergeants, and officers for this end result."
The assertion follows weeks of intensified Russian offensives alongside the northeastern border. Russian troops have superior into Sumy Oblast since Ukraine's withdrawal from most of its positions in Russia's Kursk Oblast in March.
Russia has reportedly taken management of about 200 sq. kilometers (80 sq. miles) in northern Sumy Oblast, together with roughly a dozen small villages. As of Might 31, necessary evacuations have been ordered for 213 settlements.
In Might, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his navy to create a so-called "securitybuffer zone" alongside the border with Ukraine, whereas Zelensky mentioned on Might 28 that Moscow had massed 50,000 troops close to Sumy.
In a separate interview with Bild on June 12, Zelensky dismissed Moscow's claims of serious territorial good points as "a Russian narrative" geared toward shaping international perceptions. He confused that Ukrainian forces have managed to carry off a renewed offensive for almost three weeks.
Sumy Oblast, which shares an extended border with Russia, has been below near-constant assault because the begin of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
On June 3, Russian strikes on the town of Sumy killed six folks and injured 28 others, together with kids.
The Kyiv IndependentChris York
Germany to produce new Iris-T air protection techniques to Ukraine, guidelines out Taurus missiles
Germany will ship new IRIS-T air protection techniques to Ukraine below a three-year provide plan, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned throughout a joint press convention with German Protection Minister Boris Pistorius, who added Berlin has no plans to supply Taurus long-range missiles.
The announcement comes amid escalating Russian aerial assaults, together with a June 10 missile and drone strike on Kyiv, one of many largest because the begin of the full-scale invasion.
"We’re grateful for the provision of IRIS-T air protection techniques," Zelensky mentioned on June 12. "We perceive that deliveries are at the moment being deliberate… for the following three years. This is essential help."
The IRIS-T is a German-made medium-range surface-to-air missile system able to intercepting drones, plane, and cruise missiles.
Since first being delivered to Ukraine in late 2022, the system has at been on the core of the nation's transition to Western-made high-end air protection techniques.
Pistorius confirmed the supply timeline however firmly dominated out the potential of sending Taurusmissiles — weapons Kyiv has repeatedly requested to strike deep into Russian territory.
"You requested me whether or not we’re contemplating this, and my reply isn’t any," Pistorius mentioned.
Earlier than taking workplace, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled openness to lifting former Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ban on the missiles. That stance has not but resulted in a coverage shift.
Ukraine has already obtained long-range missiles — together with ATACMS from the U.S. and Storm Shadow and SCALP from the U.Okay. and France. Initially restricted to make use of inside Ukrainian territory, Western allies solely started easing these limitations in late 2024.
Germany is Ukraine's largest navy donor in Europe. Zelensky mentioned that Berlin will present 7 billion euros ($8.1 billion) in help this yr, with investments in protection manufacturing being thought of.
"At present, we mentioned that this help will proceed," he mentioned. "We agreed on further investments in manufacturing… each in Ukraine and in Germany."
Zelensky visited Berlin on Might 28 for talks with Merz, a part of an ongoing effort to bolster Ukraine's protection business amid uncertainty over U.S. assist below President Donald Trump.
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
Ukraine, Russia perform one other alternate of POWs below Istanbul deal
Ukraine has introduced residence one other group of service members from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced on June 12, saying the most recent alternate centered on "severely wounded and significantly sick warriors."
The prisoners of conflict (POWs) have been launched as a part of a prisoner alternate with Russia agreed upon throughout current peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Therapy of the POWs mentioned.
The June 12 launch follows the same alternate on June 10, which additionally prioritized severely injured and sick captives. As through the earlier swap, the variety of personnel launched was not instantly disclosed.
Russia's Protection Ministry has additionally introduced that its troopers had been launched from Ukrainian captivity as a part of the swap, with out disclosing their numbers.
A number of the POWs had been held by Russia for greater than three years, in keeping with the headquarters. Most of the launched defenders had been categorised as lacking in motion.
"That is a part of a serious alternate that continues in phases," the headquarters mentioned in an announcement. "These troopers require pressing medical care and can obtain full help, together with psychological rehabilitation and monetary compensation for his or her time in captivity."
Troopers from a number of Ukrainian navy branches, together with the Armed Forces, Air Assault Forces, Navy, Air Pressure, Territorial Protection Forces, Nationwide Guard, Border Guard Service, and the State Particular Transport Service, have been freed within the alternate. Many had served in fight operations throughout Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
The Istanbul deal was reached throughout a second spherical of direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations on June 2. Whereas no political breakthrough was achieved, either side agreed to a phased alternate of prisoners and the repatriation of fallen troopers’ stays.
As a part of that settlement, Russia pledged to return the our bodies of as much as 6,000 Ukrainian service members.
Ukraine has introduced again the our bodies of 1,212 fallen service members on June 11. Vladimir Medinsky, aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed Ukraine launched the stays of 27 Russian service members, whereas Kyiv didn’t affirm this.
The current prisoner swap comes weeks after the most important such alternate of the conflict so far, which came about between Might 23 and 25, with every sidereleasing 1,000 captives. Since Russia's full-scale invasion started, greater than 5,000 Ukrainian POWs have been returned residence, in keeping with official figures.
Ukraine continues to push for an "all-for-all" method to convey each captured Ukrainian soldier again, however Moscow has thus far rejected such a complete settlement. In the meantime, the Coordination Headquarters mentioned preparations are underway for the following part of exchanges within the coming weeks.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
'Juicy goal' — Ukraine says it struck Russian electronics plant in Moscow Oblast
Ukraine's Unmanned Techniques Forces attacked the Rezonit Technopark in Russia's Moscow Oblast in a single day on June 12, with explosions reported on the facility, the Ukrainian navy mentioned.
The operation was designed to "scale back Russia's capacity to provide high-tech weapons and gear," as the power assembles circuit boards and electronics for the Russian military-industrial advanced, the Common Workers of Ukraine's Armed Forces mentioned.
The results of the assault are being clarified, in keeping with the assertion.
"The Rezonit plant within the Zubovo technopark… is a juicy goal, situated roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Moscow's heart," Ukrainian Nationwide Safety and Protection Council official Andrii Kovalenko mentioned.
In response to Kovalenko, the circuit boards manufactured at Rezonit are used for flight management and navigation in Iskander, Kalibr, and Kh-101 missiles, in addition to Orlan and Lancet drones and different techniques.
Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ revealed alleged footage of an explosion in Zubovo, with drones audible within the background. The strike tore a gap within the plant's roof, the channel wrote.
Russia's Protection Ministry claimed its forces shot down 52 Ukrainian drones in a single day, together with three over Moscow Oblast. Russian officers haven’t but commented on a potential assault in opposition to the technopark.
Zubovo is situated round 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of the Russia-Ukraine border.
Ukraine has repeatedly deployed long-range drones to focus on Russian navy and industrial services deep within the rear, aiming to disrupt Moscow's capacity to wage its all-out conflict.
In one of the crucial daring operations, the Safety Service of Ukraine (SBU) attacked 4 Russian air bases on June 1, allegedly hitting 41 Russian bombers and different plane.
The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir
For first time since invasion of Ukraine, US congratulates Russia on Nationwide Day
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the Russian folks on June 12, Russia's Nationwide Day, and expressed a need for "constructive engagement" to convey peace to Ukraine.
"On behalf of the American folks, I need to congratulate the Russian folks on Russia Day," Rubio mentioned in an announcement revealed on the State Division's web site.
"The US stays dedicated to supporting the Russian folks as they proceed to construct on their aspirations for a brighter future."
After taking workplace in January, the brand new U.S. administration took a pointy break from ex-President Joe Biden's coverage on Ukraine and Russia.
U.S. President Donald Trump's crew has sought to dealer a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow whereas being reluctant to commit further funds or navy help to the besieged nation.
"It’s our hope that peace will foster extra mutually helpful relations between our international locations," Rubio mentioned.
Washington has additionally signaled an intent to revive ties with Moscow, with either side discussing venues for potential financial cooperation.
Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha later mentioned that he discovered it "disagreeable" to learn the congratulations from "some international locations" on Russia Day.
"Because the minister of a rustic at conflict, I discovered it significantly disagreeable this morning to learn the general public congratulations from some international locations to the Russian aggressor," European Pravda quoted him as saying.
The minister additionally added that he "has the ethical proper to say this" and additional famous that "there could be no reward for the aggressor nation."
Whereas the Biden administration imposed large sanctions on Russia and sought to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin on the worldwide stage, Trump has usually boasted about his shut ties with the Russian chief and refused to impose further financial restrictions.
Russia Day, often known as the Day of Adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, has been celebrated yearly on June 12 since 1992.
The day commemorates the declaration of Russia's state sovereignty from the Soviet Union, marking the beginning of a constitutional reform that ultimately led to the breakdown of the united states.
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