Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 06-25-2024

Vucic acknowledged that the country had sold hundreds of millions of euros worth of ammunition to Western countries that has likely been shipped to Ukraine to help fight off invading Russian troops.

Serbia's new government is prepared to make “compromises” over Kosovo, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic told AFP during a wide-ranging interview on Tuesday.

Since taking office in May, Vucevic has helped Serbia tread a delicate diplomatic line, as Belgrade simultaneously seeks to join the European Union, secure its place in future energy markets, and remain on friendly terms with both the East and West.

On Monday, June 24, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov for alleged international crimes committed in Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Tuesday that it had issued arrest warrants the day before for Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former Russian defense minister, and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of Russia’s General Staff for alleged crimes committed during Russia’s war with Ukraine.

The warrants say that they were each allegedly responsible for directing attacks at civilian objects, a war crime; secondly the war crime of causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects; thirdly the crime against humanity of committing or allowing inhumane acts to be carried out.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that the first batches of ammunition sourced outside Europe under his country’s initiative have been delivered to Ukraine.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala posted on his X/Twitter page Tuesday, June 25 that the first batch of ammunition purchased as part of Prague’s initiative had already been delivered to Ukraine.

He did not specify what type of ammunition or what quantity had been delivered but said, “The first batch of ammunition on our initiative arrived in Ukraine some time ago. We are doing what it takes.”

Media reports say modified Ukrainian anti-ship missiles of the same type that sank the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship Moskva hit a secret drone facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

A punishing attack on a Russian base that operated and stored Shahed / Geran kamikaze drones destroyed dozens of the robot aircraft in a warehouse and hit a barracks used by Iranian flight instructors, Monday’s Ukrainian Navy statement said.

The June 21 attack was carried out by Ukrainian maritime forces supported by operators from Ukraine’s security services (SBU) resulted in multiple strikes on an air operations and air defense training base in Russia’s southwestern Krasnodar region, close to the Azov Sea coastal town of Yeysk, according to Kyiv’s official announcement.

A group of individuals, allegedly acting on Mykola Tyshchenko's orders, unlawfully detained a former member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for unclear reasons.

The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) stated that it searched Ukrainian lawmaker Mykola Tyshchenko's Kyiv region home Tuesday, June 25 on suspicion that he was involved in the abduction and assault of a veteran.

While searching Tyshchenko's home, the lawmaker reportedly broke his phone to prevent investigators from seizing it as evidence.

France's Le Monde, Germany's Der Spiegel and Spain's El Mundo were among the media outlets Russia named, as was the website of digital newspaper Politico.

Russia said Tuesday it was blocking access to dozens of European media outlets, including AFP websites, in response to the EU slapping broadcasting bans on several Russian outlets last month.

France's Le Monde, Germany's Der Spiegel and Spain's El Mundo were among the media outlets Russia named, as was the website of digital newspaper Politico.

The Conservatives provide a detailed and robust plan, Labour offers vague assurances, and the Liberal Democrats fall short in specifics.

The UK general election is a crucial moment for the relationship between Britain and Ukraine, with the public deciding how Britain will engage with Russia and assist Ukraine, in the polls on the 4th of July. With defense and security matters reaching the highest level of priorities for the public since April 2022, as evidenced by YouGov polling, what do electoral promises mean for Ukraine and British national security?

This election is not just about Ukraine and the Ukrainians in the UK. For Britain to support Ukraine means upholding what people globally associate with the UK: a steadfast defender of democracy and human rights.

HUR strikes an ammunition depot in Russia’s Ukraine-bordering Voronezh region. Local governor reports explosions.

Special forces from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) struck an ammunition depot about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the border with Ukraine in Russia’s Voronezh region early morning Tuesday, HUR’s press service stated.

“On June 25, 2024, a field ammunition depot belonging to the aggressor state of Russia was struck in the Olkhovatsky district of the Voronezh region,” it wrote on the X social media platform.

Reuters says his plan calls for a ceasefire based on current battle lines and delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership to encourage Russia to engage in peace talks.

Two key advisers to Donald Trump have put forward a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine if he wins the presidential election, according to a Reuters report.

The plan involves telling Ukraine that it will only receive more US weapons if it enters peace talks with Russia. At the same time, the US would warn Moscow that refusing to negotiate would result in increased US support for Ukraine, said retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, one of Trump's national security advisers, in an interview.

Spanish sources said Patriot missiles from Madrid’s stockpile arrived in Ukraine on Friday as part of the first shipment of Madrid’s latest military package for Kyiv.

A new batch of Patriot missiles from Spain arrived in Ukraine on Friday, June 21, as part of Madrid’s latest military pledge for Ukraine as renewed Russian missiles continued to pound Ukraine’s dwindling energy infrastructure.

Madrid officials confirmed to Spanish news outlet El Mundo the delivery, which included the second batch of Leopard tanks, ammunitions including 155mm artillery shells, anti-drone systems, optical surveillance and tracking systems, and remote weapon turrets.

The situation remains quiet on the border between Ukraine and one of Putin's key allies, Belarus, and locals are attempting to return to normal life

Currently some 4.2 million Ukrainians are registered as refugees across the EU, with Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic hosting the biggest numbers.

The European Union on Tuesday extended the right of Ukrainian refugees to stay in the bloc for another year to March 2026, as Russia's war ravages their homeland.

Currently some 4.2 million Ukrainians are registered as refugees across the EU, with Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic hosting the biggest numbers.

Moscow’s Foreign Ministry accuses US of “waging a hybrid war against Russia” after Ukrainian ATACMS strike while the Pentagon says Kyiv makes its own targeting decisions.

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Lynn Tracy, US Ambassador to Moscow on Monday, June 24 to protest the use of US-supplied weapons by Ukraine in Sunday’s attack on Sevastopol, when at least four died and more than 150 were injured.

Russia said that not only did Washington supply the weapons but also accused “US military specialists” of carrying out the “targeting” of the ATACMS missiles. That, Moscow says, makes the US guilty of “waging a hybrid war against Russia and has actually become a party to the conflict.”

Participation in this summer’s tournament has given Ukrainians a sense of optimism in an otherwise difficult period in their history.

Ahead of EURO 2024, players from Ukraine’s senior men’s national team stated they would do everything they can to portray their country in a positive light during the tournament. When Ukraine qualified for the competition back in March 2024, the players and staff dedicated their successes to the soldiers and citizens defending their country. Now, having recently defeated group opponents Slovakia, the Ukrainians will know that they are one victory away from advancing to the knockout stages in EURO 2024.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the entire country has felt the war’s devastation. One-fourth of the population remains displaced, and tens of thousands have died due to Russia’s brutality. Several cities and towns have been destroyed, and it will cost over one trillion dollars to rebuild the country.

A list published in the EU's Official Journal includes several companies located in Hong Kong as well as two global satellite giants.

The European Union Monday imposed sanctions on 19 Chinese companies aimed at punishing what the West believes is Beijing's support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

A list published in the EU's Official Journal includes several companies located in Hong Kong as well as two global satellite giants.

The move is aimed at sending a vote of confidence in Ukraine's future as Moscow has momentum on the battlefield almost two-and-a-half years into the invasion.

The European Union formally launches accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on Tuesday, setting the fragile ex-Soviet states off on a long path towards membership that Russia has tried to block.

The landmark move is aimed in particular at sending a vote of confidence in Ukraine's future as Moscow has momentum on the battlefield almost two-and-a-half years into the Kremlin's invasion.

According to military blogger Guzenko (“The Thirteenth”), the published footage showcases one of the basements in the “Donetsk People’s Republic” where military personnel deemed guilty are kept.

Russian military blogger Yegor Guzenko released footage from a basement in the “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DNR”) where Russian soldiers who showed disobedience are being held, as reported by the Russian Telegram channel Astra. Many of them are severely injured, with amputated arms and legs.

“We’re sitting in this f*****g basement, f**k. There are people here without hands, broken, abandoned, f**k,” Guzenko (“Thirteenth”) said.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Head Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov stated that Western military assistance is arriving in Ukraine, but that it will likely not arrive at a scale that will significantly impact the frontline situation until at least mid to late July 2024.
• Budanov stated that a sufficient quantity of US-provided long-range ATACMS missiles could allow Ukrainian forces to strike the Russian-built Kerch Strait Bridge in occupied Crimea and sever an important Russian ground line of communication (GLOC) between occupied Crimea and Russia.
• Current US policy regarding Ukraine's use of Western-provided weapons allows Ukraine to strike anywhere within Russian-occupied Ukraine, which presumably includes using long-range ATACMS to strike the portion of the Kerch Strait Bridge within Ukraine's internationally recognized land and maritime borders.
• Kremlin officials absurdly attempted to link the June 23 Ukrainian strikes on legitimate military targets in occupied Sevastopol, Crimea and the likely Islamic State (IS) affiliate Wilayat Kavkaz terrorist attack in the Republic of Dagestan.
• The Kremlin is attempting to maintain a veneer of stability and normalcy in response to the Dagestan terror attack.
• The European Union (EU) adopted its 14th package of sanctions against Russia on June 24, including new restrictions against Russian funding to political parties and other "opinion-forming" organizations and Russian state media broadcasts within the EU.
• The EU approved a first tranche of up to 1.4 billion euros (about $1.5 billion) in military assistance for Ukraine from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.
• The Kremlin continued efforts to coopt former Wagner Group personnel by introducing a new bill that would exempt much of the Wagner force from criminal responsibility for their participation in the Wagner armed rebellion on June 23 and 24, 2023.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced Joint Forces Commander Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol with Brigadier General Andriy Hnatov on June 24.
• Ukrainian forces recently regained lost positions near Vovchansk and Starysta, and Russian forces recently advanced near Siversk and Toretsk.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) proposed depriving all Russian military districts of their status as joint headquarters.

Foreigners fighting for Ukraine as part of the International Legion can opt out after six months while Ukrainians serving in the military can’t, but not all positions are open to foreigners.

Foreign nationals can join the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and become an official service member of Ukraine – not mercenaries – through the International Legion a military unit founded in 2022, after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion, that primarily consisted of foreign volunteers.

However, foreign nationals are only eligible for non-officer roles, though military and combat experience is only a preferred but not mandatory requirement.

Sodol had been the Joint Forces Commander since February 2024. His tenure faced criticism from military observers.

Late night on Monday, June 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol as the Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Joint Forces with Brigadier General Andrii Hnatov.

"I have decided to replace the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Joint Forces commander, Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol, with Brigadier General Andrii Hnatov," Zelenskyy announced on Telegram.